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About The Hillsboro argus. (Hillsboro, Or.) 1895-current | View Entire Issue (March 17, 1898)
TilT HILL VOL; IV. IIILLSJiORO, OltEGON, THURSDAY, MAHCII 17, 1898. NO. 52. SBR6 n NEWS OF THE WEEK From all Parts of the New and Old World. BRIEF AND INTERESTING ITEMS Comprehensive lie view of the Import ant Happening! of the Cur rent Week. Thirty-six carloads of ammunition; have been sent to Turn pa, Fla. Clmi. A. Behlbredo hiiH been ap pointed ounmilaaioner (or the district of Aluska. Not alnoe the civil war, it is anid, has Biich ncrivlty boen seen at Sandy iiook. The first step looking to consolida tion of the Amorioan and Pacific Ex- 'j'priws Companies has beon taken. J. ''A. Browster, of New York, lute head ' clerk in the accounting department of the American company, has taken charge of the auditing department of the Pacific. A patient at the Oregon Katate in sane asylum, O. D, Chatflcld, pualied unaittondant, Artliur Moore, through a window and jumped nut himaelf. The fall was from the third story, and the attendant and patient are now in Iho aaylum hospital, under treatment for fraoturud bones and bruised flesh. Two estimates of appropriations to meet the oost of the recent addition of two regiments of artillery to the army have been sent to congress by Hoc re tury Alger. One was of a supplemental estimate of $ 10, 18 1 fur the pay of tho army for the fiscal year, and tho other of a deficiency of $154,150 in t ho cur rent year appropriations to defray the expenditures fur the remainder of this year. The Washington state superintend ent has refused to issue certificates to applicants in the recent examination on account of violation of the rules which prescribe that no communication shall be allowed during the time the caudidute is writing upon the ques tions. This ia the third time tho su perintendent has enforced the law re lating to certification. One of the cases is held in the courts of Pierce county still undocided, upon the de cision of which rests the superintend ent's rights in the premises. Benjamin Cluff, jr., president of the Briglmm Young academy at Provo, Utah, has returned from a visit to the Hawaiian islands, where he went at the solicitation of Unltod Stutes Sena- tor Frank J. Cannon, to determine tho "V status of the annexation sentiment among tho Hawaiian islands. lie said: "As a result of my investigation I would aay that probably one-lnilf of tho intelligent natives of the islands are pronounced advocates of annexation. Of the remaining one-half I would say that the great majority are primarily in favor of the Restoration of the mon- . archy, and secondly they would much prefer annexation to the United States to a continuation of the present govern ment." Dispatches from Western Ontario tell of the overflow of the Grand and Thames rives, oausing serioua damage along their valleys. Sections of Loiv don, Brantford and Oalt are sub' merged to a depth of from five to seven feet. In London 1,500 people aro homeloss. Bridges and buildings were swept awuy by tho rushing torrent. In Brantford the firemen and citizens fought the raging water an entire day, but were finally beaten out, and Woat Brantford ia a regular lake. At Gait a heavy loss ia sustained by the business portion. , Tho ice jam in the Grand river gave way and the flood following it tore away bridges, treoB and wrecked a number of factories and private resi donees. Charles Cutten, night agent of the Adams Express Company at Orrvillo, O., disappeared with a $10,000 pack age. The United States supremo oonrt has affirmed the decision of Judge Bellin ger, of the cironit court, upholding the mortgage tax law of Oregon, passed October 28, 1803. Tho PnnlUn naKla kill l.ni !..... i Agreed to in the house committee on .-.(interstate and foreign commerce. It jprovidos for the oonstruotiou of a cable from San Francisco to the Hawaiian islands. Advices from the Orient, brought by the steamship Empress of India whioh has arrived in Vancouver, B. C, tell of the almost complete destruction of Manila, Philippine islands, by fire Five million dollars' worth of property was destroyed. There has been a heavy fall in stocks of all kinds in London in consequenoe of rumors from China, West Africa, Spain and Amerioa, with rumbling thunder all around the sky. There are signs of alarm in every section of the stock list, Amencaa securities showing the greatost weakness. Nothing short of a miracle can' preserve the peace of the world, it is believed among British statesmen and politicians, wires the New York World s London correspond ent. Not sinoe the Napoleonic wan has danger threatened from so many quarters. Three Italian laborers were killed by dirt cart which fell upon them while they were at work in the new Bast river bridge. The Russian demands upon China have oaused the greatest excitoraent at the Japanese legation in Pekin, and the Japanese minister has had several in terviews with officials of the Chinese foreign office, urging the rejection of the Russian demands. In addition, it is reported that Japan has threatened to take vigorous action if the demands of Russia are oonoeded. WILL ACT AS ONE. England anil Japan Combine to Keslst KuMla'i Kuoroachnients In China. New York, March 16. A dispatch to the Herald from Tokio says: The Herald correspondent learnB on un questionable authority that Japan is a party to the negotiations now going on betwoen England and Russia at St. Petersburg, and that while no alliance exists between England and Japan, they have a definite understanding and are acting in harmony. A high diplo matic oflleml said: "You may say positively that Japan will bark up England against Russia, ami if England maintains a firm atti tude, all immediate danger of war is passed, unless Russia is resolved to light at onco. In view of England's great superiority at sua and her pos session of all the available coal in tho Eastern ports, Russia will probably take a conciliatory tone for the pres ent." Tho Herald correspondent visited Marquis Ito today, and asked him whether tho Jajanese government would sell tho cruisers Cliitose and Sakugi to America. The marquis hesi tated a moment, and replied: I will make intiniries of my naval colleagues, but I think I may say that Japan prefers to get possession of all tho ships building for her as soon as possible. Orders have already been made to bring tho ships to Japan, and the builders liave boen requested to hasten their completion." After a pause the marquis continued slowly and impressively: The news of the last few days in dicates a critical stato of affairs else where than on the Western continent, and we consider it only prudent to con tinue our provisions for the national dofense. I hope the people of tho United States will not take offense at Japan's unwillingness to part with these cruisers. I have always appreci ated their kindly feelings for Japan. The United States is a nation above all others where public sentiment abso lutely controls the national policy, and for that reason I wish to have the peo ple there understand that Japan re tains the ships, not from a luck of willingness to oblige the United Ktates, but because she needs them herself." "In case of war between the United States and Spain, your excellency," the correspondent asked, "will Japan al low the warships of both belligorents to take coal at Japanese ports, or refuse it to both?" "That opens a long vista of possibil ities," he replied. "Some authorities contend that coal and evon provisions should be contraband of war, as both aro necessary to maintain hostilities at sea. whenever war is deciured be tween two or more powers, Japan, if neutral, will bear in mind in deciding the coal question the manner in which her decision will affeot all the belliger ents and her own interests," The Herald correspondent learns that Japan has received a cable from Eng land for all the warships building for hor in English private yards, consist ing of three 15, 000-ton battle ships and threo first-class armored oruisers of about 10,000 tons each. The offer has boon refused. . NEW REVENUE CUTTERS The Senate Fas a Kill for the Con struction of Klglit Washington, March 16. During tho session of throe hours today the senate passed a considerable number of bills from the general calendar, among them being one authorizing the seoretary of the treasury to have constructed eight vefiBols for the revenue cutter Bervice, as follows: One to take the place of the Seward, cost not to exceed $160, 000; one to take the place of the Me Lane, cost not to exceed $160,000; one to take the place of the Boutwell, cost not to exceed $160,000! ono for servioe on and in the vicinity of the Columbia river bar, Paoifio coast, cost not to ex ceed $260,000;. one for harbor service at Philadelphia, to replace tho steamer Washington, cost not to exceed $45, 000; one for harbor sorvico at Boston, to replace the steamer Hamlin, cost not to exceed $45,000; one for harbor ser vice at New York, to replace the Chan dler, cost not to exoeed $45,000. The national quarantine bill was made the regular order, and will bo taken up probably on Friday. The proceeding in the house today were utterly devoid of public interest. The time was devoted to District of Columbia business. This was oonclud ed at 4:15 P.M. The senate bill waB passed to change the name of the port of collection at Suspension Bridge, to Niagara Falls, The senate bill was passed which granted a right-of-way through the Indian territory to the Dennison, Bonham & New Orleans railroad, also a senate bill granting a right-of-way through the Winnebago Indian reservation to the Northwestern road; also to authorize the Monroe company to construct a bridge across the Bed river at Grand Ecore. MRS. THURSTON DEAD. The Senator's Wife Expired on thi Anita In Cuba. Havana. March 1A. Cnnmil-Gnn eral Lee received ..the following tele gram this afternoon from Mr. Barker, united oiaies consul at Bagua Grande: 'The wife of Senator Thurston died on the Anita today. Shall give every attention and wire you from Boca." Meager advices say that Mrs. Thurs ton died from apoplexy about 8 o'clock this morning, when the yacht was in sight of port. The Anita left Matanzas last night with all the party except Representa tives Smith and Cummings, who went to Sagua by rail. The passage from Havana to Matanzas was very rough, and that to Sagua even worse. It is thought that this, together with the rough passage down the coast, may have hastened the end, but ' nothing definite is known here. FEEDING THE CUBANS America Doing What Spain Has Failed to Do. WORK OF DISTRIBUTION BEGINS Senator Tractor Believe! That the Maine Eiploilon Came From the Outside. Havana, March 18. Everything in dicates that the distribution of relief stores Bent from the United Statea will go forward hereafter more speedily and effectively, attaining better results than ever before. While much good has been done, no doubt there ia more room for improvement. Matters appear to have reached a crisis yesterday in Matanzas, where there was a want of proper preparation on the part of certain relief agents ap pointed from Havana, where, in view of the large daily average of deaths, it was felt that there should have been greater dispatch in delivering supplies and in arranging to have them properly cooked. But it is stated that tho United States consul-genreral and Lewis Klopsch, of President McKinley's special commission, will not only ex ercise a close business supervision, but will insist that the work of today shall not be put off until tomorrow. Everyone Ib gratified to learn that a famous Catholic priest, who will not allow his name to be published, will give all the aid in his power to Consul General Lee and Mr. Klopsch, not only in Havana, where the suffering is much alleviated, but outside, where re lief ia most urgently needed. The United Stales consuls at Matan zas and Sagua and the consular agents in other cities can be relied upon, it is believed, with the help of the local Spanish committees, to push forward the good work with all due speed. The need of relief supplies is praotioally undiminished, and there is no fear that tho contributions already here or to come will not be properly used. A correspondent at Matanzas saya the governor has appoionted a distribution committee. They secure his signature to orders for food, which ia then deliv ered by United Statea Consul Brioe from the warehouse. The local firemen see that food ia delivered to the needy. They have been active in relief work hitherto, and have made a careful can vass from house to bouse. Mr. Brioe has appointed three Amer ican women with power to give aid in dependently of the governor's signature to those who are called silent suffer ers," the class who have sold or pawned everything, but are too proud to let their wants be known. The Fern and Bergen have gone with supplies. Mr. Brioe is satisfied with the arrangements and is much en couraged, lie says great good will be accomplished in the course of a week. Condensed milk, of which too muoh has been sent to Havana, is badly needed at Matanzas and Sagua. One woman in the Matanzas hospital, on hearing the word "milk", went frantic, shrieking "milk" for hours. Mr. Brice has supervision of the en tire relief work, with full power to give personally in cases he knows to be deserving. Senor de Annas, the gov ernor, is said to be a humane and good man. !" The Anita, with the congressional parcy, left today for Sagua. ,5; TO MEET THE EMERGENCY. Policy Said to Have Boon Formulated by the' Administration. . St. Paul, March 15. The Globe's Washington special Bays: The.: presi dent and his oubinet know officially the result of the Maine inquiry. They are prepared to act. They, have canvassed the course of events so far as they can foresee them, and have formulated a polioy to meet the emergency. Along ita line, the administration expects to move, unless it is swept off its feet by a wave of popular dissatisfaction. The Globe's special correspondent is able to present the foreoast of events as viewed by the president and his cabinet. It can be outlined thus: First The board of inquiry will re port that the explosion was external. Seoond The president will imme diately,, through Minister Woodford, demand from Spain an indemnification of $10,000,000. Third Spain is expected to reply, ex pressing her willingness to pay if she is responsible, but maintaining that her own investigation shows that the ex plosion was internal and purely acci dental. She will, therefore, suggest reference to an international board of arbitration. Fourth In such an event, the ad ministration would be disposed to com ply with the suggestion, unless there is a conflict in Havana or an irresistible demand for war sweeps through con gress. Fifth If congress acquiesoes in the suggestion, the attempt will be made to adjourn the body and leave the whole matter in the president s hands. Sixth It is expected that a large majority of congressmen will olaim that Buoh a matter of honor cannot be arbi trated. It is further expected that the leaders of both houses, including Sen ator Davis of Minnesota, will favor arbitration. Senator Froetor's Return. Washington, March 15. Senator Proctor and his companion, Colonel Parker, who have been Bpending some time in Cuba, returned to Washington tonight. To a Post reporter, Senator Prootor said: "Concerning the Maine disaster, I feel free to say that such information s I have obtained Indicates that the .explosion was from the outside. It does not show that the Spanish govern ment or any of ita officials in Havana were participants in the crime. TWO FINE CRUISERS. The Government Secures Pair of Bra clllan Vnuli, Washington, March 16. A week's negotiations closed today by the tri umphant purchase by the navy depart ment in London of the two fine cruisers Amazonaa and Admrral Abrenall, built and building at Eleewick for the Bra zilian government. Possibly the offi cials took more pleasure in closing the business in this matter because of the knowledge ; that Spanish agents had been driving to secure these very ships, and that to Spain, it is said, they would be of muoh greater value in case of trouble than to the United States. The next question is how to got the ships home, and that has not yet been settled, according to the secretary of the navy. The United States flag will be hoisted over the new ships within a week, probably, and just as soon as the crew can be put aboard the Amazonas, she will start for the United States. The other vesselwil follow at the earliest possible moment. The terms of the Bale are secret. The availability of the two Brazilian ships was first brought to the attention of the navy department by Mr. Lane, agent of the Nordenfeldt Company, who was authorized to dispose of these ships building at Elsewick, and two others in course of construction in France. Mr. Lane said today that the two ships purchased would be a most desirable acquisition to the American navy, as they were the latest and best products of the famotiB Armstrong yards. One of the ships is complete in every re spect, has her coal supply and ammuni tion on board, and steam can be raised at any time. There will be no trouble in bringing this ship across, as an ade quate force from the local yards can be secured for the service. It is said the coal and ammunition on board passed with the sale to the United States. The ammunition is not of the Kind in use by the American navy, 'so that the supply of ammunition is a necessary adjunct of the new ships. The other ship has been launched, but it will take some time to make her ready for sea. Mr. Lane believes, how ever, that there will be no difficulty in bringing her over immediately if it is desired to make the move without de lay, as the hull of the ship is so well along that she could be towed, and her own sail power utilized for the trip. Senator Proctor visited the White House and up-town departments today, and his calls excited a great deal of in terest. He spent half an hour with Seoretary Alger, explaining, it is be lieved, the military situation in Cuba, and afterwards held a conference with Judge Day, assistant secretary of state. Then he went to the White House, and was closeted with the president for two hours.. When he' emerged from the room he courteously declined to speak regarding the nature of the informa tion he has communicated to the presi dent. The two Brazilian ships will be ex tremely valuable additions to the Uni ted States navy in either war or peace, in the opinion of Seoretary Long, who acknowledges they have been bought by the United States. They are steel sheathed and Coppered, with twin screws. The ..Amazonas is rated at 1,400 tons displacement, with an indi cated k horsepower, under natural draught, of 7,000, whioh is calculated to develop 20 knots opeed. Thus, while the ship is about the size Of the Charleston, she is much faster.: Her armament is also much more formidable, not so muoh in cali ber, for the main battery is made up of six-inch guns, but the guns are what is known as 50-caliber length, giving them an unusual range and power. In addi tion to tli is they have 10 6-pounder auick-firine (runs, four 1-nounders. four .Maxim machine guns, and two boat or 01 d guns. , The torpedo tubes are ihree in number. ' The coal capacity is 850 tons, giving her an effective steaming radius of 8,000 knota, a most valuable feature, inasmuch as it would enable the ship to cross and recross the Atlantio with out coaling, Such a vessel as a com merce destroyer , would be vastly more effective than what appears to be more powerful oraft, because of their ability to get along on long oruisea without touching at. neutral ports to coal, and thus exposing themselves to capture. The bureau of ordnance of the war department opened bids today for a large supply of armor-piercing projec tiles, and for 13,000,000 rifle ball car tiidges. The bidding brought together a number of representatives of large steel and ammunition companies, some of whom took oooasion to give assur ances that in the present emergency, government would be given the prefer ence over commercial orders. The bidders for steal projectiles, varying in size from the 8-inch steel capped shot to the 1,000-pound shot, were the Midvale Steel Company, the Batha-Illlngsworth Co., the Carpenter Stoel Company and the Furth Sterling Company. The bids varied only slight ly on the various olasess of heavy shot, running from $116 each for the 8-inch to $185 each from the 1,000-por.nders. The bids for rifle cartridges were in two parts, 10,000,000 being standard metallic ball oartidges, with brown powder, and 2,000,000 new cartridges, with smokeless powder. There were three bidders, viz: The Union Metal lic Cartridge Company, the United States Cartridge Company, and the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, The bids were the same in eaoh case, $18.50 for the brown -powder cart ridges, and $37 for the smokeless pow der cartridges. One company offered to deliver 50,000 at once, and all the offers contemplated a delivery of 100, 000 a day after a few days. The bids for shot, shell and cart ridges will be considered, and the awards made within thejiext few days, Osaka has been called the New York of Japan. With the manufacturing villages that cluster around it, it baa a population of about a million. HE CALLS IT TREASON Governor Leedy's Denuncia tion of Supreme Court. A STARTLING PUBLIC ADDRESS Special Session of Kamai Legislature Will Be Called to Fait An other Rate Law. Topeka, Kan., March 14. The Popu list administration of the state of Kan sas gave out a startling public address today, one bristling with severe criti cism of the recent decision of the United States supreme court in the Ne braska maximum freight case. The ad dress is significant in that Governor Leedy has already taken steps prelim inary to calling the state legislature in special session, with the especial pur pose of enacting a maximum freight rate law. While the address ia given out over the signature of Governor Leedy, it had first been approved by Chief Justice Bosler, of the state su preme court and other prominent Pop ulists. In giving the address to the reporters Governor Leedy said: "How long do you suppose a man can write treason like this without getting into jail? You may nut my signature to it and make it a signed statement, so that if anybody goes to jail it will be me." The governor begins his address with the statement that for a year the press dispatches have said that the opinion in the Nebraska case would be adverse to the state. Then he says: "The opinion has been handed down, and the Associated Press dispatches say that it is a clean victory for the rail roads. On the contrary, it is an un clean victory in every respect of the' case, showing that no matter how care fully the robes of justice are folded about the personnel of the supreme court, the robes can no longer conceal the cloven hoof of official malfeasance and usurpation. As this decision was due a rear ago, and as there was no known reason for the delay, and aa the decision aa rendered confirms the state ments made in the Associated Press dispatches from time to time, strong color is given to the suspicion that the press dispatches emanated from some person in touch with the court, and were for the purpose of feeling the pulse of the public and preparing it for the decision which goes muoh fur ther in the direction of usurping power than any that has been made." The governor declares that the con stitution of Nebraska gives the legis lature power to establish maximum charges for transportation, and de clared that the supreme court has tried to abrogate it.- He challenges Justice Harlan's declaration that a corporation is a person under the 14th amendment to the federal constitution, and says: "I deny it, and so will everybody but a corporation lawyer or a subserv ient judioial tool of corporate inter ests." Governor Leedy then quotes the 14th amendment, and says: "How, in the name of God, can this apply to corporations? Corporations are not born; they are created made by law. They cannot be naturalized they can take no oath of allegiance; only human beings can do that." After more in the same strain, the governor, still referring to the 14th amendment, says: "Who are the persons who shall not, according to the provisions, be deprived of life, liberty or property, nor be de nied equal legal protection? Every body outside the asylum and off the judicial bench knows them to be and to only be natural persons. They are those . who, beside the capacity to hold property and enjoy legal protec tion, also have life and can enjoy lib erty, and that means human beings." Continuing, the governor quotes "Hare on American Constitutional Law," and a decision by Justice Woods, of the United States circuit court, afterward supreme court justice, to prove that the 14th amendment does not refer to corporations, and declares that the Woods deoision had been fol lowed in California, Rhode Island and other states from 1870 to 1882, "when Justice Field and another ' federal jus- tice of the peace named Sawyer decided the other way, and since then, when ever a corporation starts out to commit highway robbery, pick a man's pocket, or loot a pubho treasury, it diguisee it self as a 'person' and goes out on its mission of plunder. Nobody but slave or a knave will yield assent to the hideous distortion of meaning which Judge Harlan gives to the word 'per son,' as used in the 14th amendment. and upon which he bottoms his infa- mous decision, and whioh shows to what depths of iniquity the supreme court of the United States has de scended." , "I desire," the governor said, "to quote some of the decisions of the su preme court of the United States before it went into partnership with Morgan, Vanderbilt, Gould & Co., in opposi tion to the opinion they hold in the Nebraska case." (Long decisions by Marshall in 1860 are quoted). In conclusion, Governor Leedy states that his maximum rate bill will be presented to the Kansas legislature, in such shape that to decide against it the court must reverse its decision in the Nebraska case, and he states that "if the court still pursues the corrupt and rotten practice that it has heretofore, by chancing its decisions to suit the shifting interests of the railroad corpor ations," the remedy will be with the people in their dealings with thecouts or in building railroads oi tneir own. In 1860 the manufactured product of St. Louis only amounted to $27,000, 000. Last year the output was about $300,000,000. BOWERY MISSION FIRE. Eleven Men Were Burned to Death la the Flames. New York, March 15. Eleven men lost their lives in the fire which swept the Bowery mission lodging-house this morning and left it a blackened shell. Their bodies are bo charred that most of them may never be recognized. The dead are supposed to be: Ellas Cuddv, 29 years old, address not known. John Moran, Stapleton, S. I. McDermott, 29 years old, address not known. James O'Rourke. James Soden, of Spottswood, N, J. Six bodies unidentified. No. 105 Bowery is one of the beat- known lodging-houses on that thorough fare. It ia called the Bowery mission lodging-house, and is conducted by the Christian Herald. In one part of the building there is a cheap restaurant. Ihe second floor is used exclusively for mission purposes, gospel meetings be ing held there daily. The two upper floors were fitted up aa cheap lodgings, with accommodations for 150 males, who paid 10 to 25 cents each, accord ing to the location of the room. Last night almost every bed was was occupied. At 1:30 o'clock this morn ing, one of the lodgers discovered flames coming from a washroom on the third floor, but before he had time to alarm the house, the fire was noticed by per sons on the street. By this time the flames had eaten their way to the top of the building, and were bursting through the roof when the alarm was given and the inmates aroused. Wild scenes of excitement ensued. Many of the lodgers became panic-stricken. They rushed into the halls and fell over each other in their efforts to reaoh the streets. Those on the lower floors got to the streets safely by the stair ways, while those on the upper floors groped their way through the blinding smoke to the fire escape in front of the building. A majority of them saved only portions of their clothing, while several of them were naked. Those who made their way to the streets by the fire escapes were superficially burned by the excessive heat of the iron ladders, which in many places had become redhot from the flames within. The firemen saved many lives. DOLE HOME AGAIN. He Believes That Annexation Will Ulti mately Succeed. San Francisco, March 15. The steamer China which left Hong Kong February 12 and Honolulu February 24, arrived today, bringing these Ha waiian advices: President Dole returned to Honolulu the morning of the 4th. After a cabi net meeting held immediately upon his arrival he was interviewed by a press representative. He spoke very frankly on matters pertaining to his mission to Washington. "Yes, I shall be very glad indeed to tell the people anything I may know relative to annexation," said the presi dent. "The Maine disaster absorbed the attention of the statesmen in Wash ington previous to my departure for Ha waii. When that has quieted down interest in Hawaiian annexation will be paramount in congress. When I was in Washington I met many frienda of Hawaii. They feel confident that annexation will come. While there was a doubt whether the treaty would secure the required politioal votes in the senate, still it was the concensus of opinion that a joint resolution would carry in both houses. I place muoh reliance in what was said to me by sen ators and representatives who are fight ing for Hawaii, for I know them to be working faithfully and earnestly.' "What is Speaker Reed's attitude?'.' When 1 was in the American capi tal I learned that he has always opposed annexation, although he has made no demonstration against the treaty. ' My impression of President McKinley? Well, I will reply that it is extremely favorable. I found him to be an unas suming, frank and sterling man.. He seems to have Bet his heart and soul on the annexation treaty. "Our reception was extremely cor dial and hospitable. All along the line to and from Washington throngs of people came to see me. We shook hands, and in many instances I was obliged to speak briefly from the car platform. It was from these people that I gathered the impression that the addition of Hawaii waa the popular sentiment throughout the land." GAVE UP THE ATTEMPT. Klondike Could Not Get In by the Sttckeen Route Port Townsend, March 15. The steamer Cottage City, which arrived from Alaska tonight, brought a num ber of passengers from Fort Wrangel who have given up the attempt to get into the Yukon oonntry by way of the Stiokeen route. Among them was A. L. Brown, of Massachusetts, who suc ceeded in getting about 40 miles above Wrangel with his outfit before the depth of the snow stopped further progress. Mr. Brown says about 1,000 men with their outfits are' snowed in between Wrangel and Glenora. Philadelphia, March 15. Over $0, 000 was realized for the fund of the wounded survivors and the families of those killed on the battle-sihp Maine by a monster theatrioal matinee given at the academy of music Insane Woman's Suicide. Pittsburg, March 15. While insane through illness, and grieving over the death of a favorite niece, Margaret Mo Adams, wife of G. W. McAdams, a well-known business man, drowned herself in the Ohio river. The body was found by her 14-year-old son, an only ohild. Traffic on the railroads between xienstm ana re kin has increased so muh that a double track must be laid at onoe, . v- flfORK IN NAVY YARDS Arming and Manning of the Merchant Marines. MANY UNAUTHENTIC RUMORS Vhe United State Not Buying Any Cart- On Warahlpa Large Number of Offers Have Been Made. Washington, March 12. The United States government has not acquired a single additional ship for the navy. This is true, not because of a lack of offers of warships from abroad, but simply for the reason that the navy de partment is proceeding with all the circumspection consistent with the needs of the case in looking to the prices and qualities of the craft. There strong disposition to refrain from being drawn into bad bargains and to insist on getting good vessels at prices not extortionate. Secretary Long was in receipt of a large number of cable messages today, almost all relating to offers of ships. Lieutenant Niblock, United States na val attache at Berlin, St. Petersburg and Vienna, is paitioularly active in quest of vessels. There was a good deal of talk during the day about the assignment of offi cers to the command of auxiliary crui sers, the St. Paul and St. Louis being especially mentioned, but Secretary Long set these stories at rest by the statement that he had not made any such assignments, and had only pro gressed to the point of informing him self of the possibility of getting the ships officered and manned quickly. While looking after new ships, the officials of the navy department are not neglecting the other vessels, and ar rangements have been made to make short repairs on several ships that in' the ordinary course would not be treated in that fashion, but would re quire an entire overhauling. Thus, in the case of the Philadelphia, which has had five years hard work, and has never yet been gone over, as is the custom, orders have gone to Mare island to put her in shape for sea within 40 days. The Yorktown. at the same yards, is not to be touched at present, not only because she is in fair condition, but also because Bhe is not bo formidable a craft as to make it desirable to divert to her repair the attention required elsewhere. At Norfolk the Newark is set down for 30 days' repairs, and as a good deal of work has already been done on her, she will be almost a new ship when she comes out of the yards. The big monitor Puritan has practi cally completed her repairs. The monitor Comanche at Mare island has been examined and found in tolerable condition. At League island the Mon itor Miantonomoh and the ram Katah din went into commission today, al though they have not yet received their orders. They will probably remain in the Delaware river or drop down into the bay. The torpedo boat Dupont sailed today from Mobile to attach her self again to the flotilla 'at Key West. Again it was said at the navy depart ment that nothing had been heard from the court of inquiry at Havana, nor from Admiral Sicard at Key West. The presence in the oity of persons connected with steamship lines and steel works led to the circulation of a number of sensational stories during the day, but perhaps none of these had the persistency of one, which met sum mary denial at the hands of Assistant Secretary Day, to the effect that Minis ter Woodford had notified the Spanish government that the president intended sending to congress a message announc ing his recognition of Cuban independ ence. ; ,r-;i A conference was held at 3 o'clock in the office of Assistant Secretary Roose velt, to map out plans for arming and equipping merohant vessels as auxiliary oruisers. This work, it is said, could be accomplished readily within two weeks' time, as all materials, except the guns, are on hand. The bureau) of ordnance could not supply all the guns required within that short time, al though aome 70 or more are now avail able. The supply would be adequate, however, for the most effective auxil iary oruisers and the complete arma ment of the merchant ships could pro ceed as rapidly as possible thereafter. As to the question of manning the auxiliary fleet, the navy department feels that the most effective step would be to enlist in the United States naval service the present merchant crews of the several ships. These crews are thoroughly famliiar with the vessels, and could handle them with far greater effect than green crews of bluejackets. The ships would be officered from the line of the navy. In the oase of enlist ing a merohant crew, the pay and allow ances would be about equivalent to the rates paid ordinary sailors, and the time of enlistment would doubtless be limited to short periods. In the Interest of Miles. Washington, March 12. The senate committtee on military affairs today deoided to recommend the passage of a bill authorizing the revival of the grade of lieutenant-general of the army. The bill authorizes the president to nomi nate any officer to this grade. The hill is in the interest of General Miles. Bastia Wants New Warships. St. Petersburg, March 12. The im perial ukase juBt issued orders the dis bursement of 90,000,000 rubles as an extraordinary expenditure for the con struction of warships. It is added that no loan will be raised to provide the money. . .... , Berlin, Maroh 12. The news of the Russian naval credit was received here with eqanimity as justifying the Ger man naval bill, Vi" fc.