CORVALLIS GAZETTE. WEEKLY. UNION F.Xah. July, 1897. GAZETTK Etb. Dec, 1862. Consolidated Feb, 1899. CORV ALIUS, BENTON COUNTY, OREGON, FE1DAY, MAY 18, 1300. VOL. XXX VII. NO. 21. EVENTS OF THE DAY Epitome of the Telegraphic News of the World. TERSK TICKS FROM THE WIRES An Interesting Collection of Items From tile Two Hemispheres Presentel in a Condensed Form. Plague has broken out at Hong Kong. Ira Williams, a logger, was diowned in the Necanicum river, near Astoria. The government ot the Orange Free ' State has been moved from Kronstadt to Heilbron. Republicans of Illinois in convention assembled, indorsed the McKinley ad ministration. Two men and two boys were killed by the wrecking of a fruit train, near Rawlins, Wyo. i Excessive customs duties imposed by the military government are fast kill ing American trade in the Philippines. The First and Second Irish Fusiliers sailed from Cape Town for Athlone, Ireland, to recuperate from their try ing experiences in the field. President Powell, of the Order of Railway Telegraphers, issued an order formally discontinuing the strike of the Southern railway telegraphers. During a riot between strikers and workmen at the Bnttonwood mine of the Parish Coal Company at Wilkes barre, Pa., about 20 men were badly injured, the strikers dispersing the workmen. The British iron ship Sierra Nevada, Captain Scott, from Liverpool, Janu ary 16, for Melbourne, Aus., was total ly wrecked outside the harbor of the latter place. Five of her crew were saved, but 22 others, including the cap tain, perished. One hundred and fifty-seven Japanese immigrants have landed in San Fran cisco, of which number 75 were admit ted by certificates of landing signed by the United States immigration com missioner at Vancouver, B. C, and 82 on certificates from the commissioner at Seattle. Franklin W. Fisk, D. D., whose res ignation after 41 years incumbency of the office of president of the Chicago Thoelogical seminary, takes effect at the close of the current year, has been elected professor emeritus of the chair of sacred rhetoric of the institution. The election is for life. The secretary of the treasury has di rected Collector Jackson, at San Fran cisco, to detail an inspector from the Chinese bureau to attend to the making out of papers for Chinese merchants doimciled in this country who are on the eve. of departing for China with the intention of returning. They will have these papers on their return to this country to facilitate their landing. Russians and Chinese clash in Man churia, many being killed on both sides. Admiral Dewey attended a reception by the colored people at Memphis. Tenn. Astoria will ofler a bounty for seal scalps in order to protect the salmon industry. The steamer Tosa Mara has arrived at Seattle from Yokohama with 700 more Japs. The bill for Alaskan lighthouses prob ably cannot be passed at this session of congress. President McKinley sent birthday congratulations to the crown prince of Germany. Two persons were buined to death by the destruction ot the American hotel at Genessee, N. Y. New York's naval reserve refused to accept the navy department's offer for a cruise and practice. Charles F. Neely has been arrested for embezzilng $36,000 in the Cuban postoffice department. Three Forest Grove people are thought to have perished in the sinking of the Dora B. in Alaskan waters. Three Americans were killed and seven wounded in an engagement with rebels on the island of Pariay. Middle-of-the-road Populists at Sioux Falls will hold their convention in a big tent. Ignatius Donnelly is talked of for the presidency. Martin Sievert, who killed one Christenson at Latuya Buy, Alaska, asked the miners there to hang him and was accommodated. The chiefs of Tutuila, of the Sa moan group, have formally ceded the island to the United States, and the American flag has been hoisted. Representatives of the FieW museum in Chicago will soon be in the North west for a three months' tour for the purpose of seeking curios among Ore gon Indians. Twenty-six hundred street-car men are on a strike in St. Louis, and every line in the city is compelled to sus pend operaton. The police are power less. Greece has forbidden the exportation of antiquities. A railroad across Gieece, to cost $9,000,000, will be finished in four years. During the present decade the United States produced half of the world's cop per supply. The Alaskan winter was the coldest on record. The temperature ranged from 17 to 69 degress below zero at Dawson. LATER NEWS. Congress will adjourn about June 20. Burglar rifled the postoffice and store it Jefferson, Or. Duller has taken Boers' stronghold Dn the Biggarsberg. The British were received at Kroon stad with open arms. The minority report on the ship sub sidy bill is strongly against a subsidy. The governor of Missouri has offered lid to the police in the St. Louis strike. Nationalists won two-thirds of the vacant seats in the Paris municipal gov ernment. The Chicago & Rock Island railway will probably build to Portland, Or. Surveyors are now in the field Dreyfus is in Paris and France is worried. Officials will try to hurry liim away, owing to fear of demonstra tions. Landing privileges at Manila are held by an unscrupulous monopoly that is accumulating a fortune and throt tling trade. The number of cases of bubonic plague at Sydney, N. S. W., officially reported to this date is 216, of which 76 proved fatal. Chicago and other Mississippi valley cities are expecting the hottest May weather in years. There were four prostrations in Chicago. Joe Barker, found guilty of man slaughter for the killing of Charles Johnson, in Seattle, three months ago, was sentenced to 15 years' imprison ment. After writing a note of farewell to his former sweetheart, Harry S. Bar rett, of Chicago, prosperous in business and heir to an estate worth $75,000, took carbolic acid and died. Fifteen thousand Mohammedan weavers met in Benares and indorsed a memorial to the Indian government against the plague rules, declaring that they were contrary to the laws of Mo hammed. In the United States supreme court at Boston, Charles H. Cole, former president of the now detunot Globe National Bank, who recently pleaded guilty on an indictment charging him with misappropriation of funds of the institution, was sentenced to serve eight years in Greenfield. Alec Whitney, aged 25, a society leader, was shot and killed on a street car at Augusta, Ga.t by a negro in a quarrel over a seat. The negro, Gus Wilson, was taken off a Georgia rail road passenger train at Harlem, 25 miles from Augusta, by a mob and lynched. He was being taken to Atlanta for safekeeping. A cheese trust has been formed in Chicago. Arbitration with regard to the St. Louis street car strike has failed. Lord Roberts entered Kroonstaad, which had been evacuated by the Transvaal forces. Honolulu has been officially declared a clean port, the plague being efficient ly stamped out. The senate, by a close vote, rejected the proposition for an armor-plate plant operated by the government. The towns of Hilongos and Maasin, in Leyte, have been captured by the Americans with few casualties. The American pavilion at Paris was turned over to the exposition authorities with impressive ceremonies. Z A woman and 8-year-old child were burned to death at South Omaha, Neb., by starting a fire with gasoline. Germany is said to be supplying the Filipinos with arms to enable them to continue their fight against the United States. Charles Panstein, a murderous ath lete of Butte, Mont., shot and killed a butcher, his wife and then committed suicide. The Populist national convention at Sioux Falls nominated W. J. Bryan for president, Charles A Towne for vice president. Before leaving Kroonstaad, President Steyn issued a proclamation makin Lindley the seat of government Orange Free State. Middle-of-the-Road Populist conven tion at Cincinnati, nominated Wharton P. Barker for president and Ignatius Donnelly for vice-president. The work of the Chicago city di rectory enumerators for 1900, almost completed, shows that the population of Chicago is not less than 2,001,000. Seven men were killed and 20 or more firemen hnrt by a collision in a tunnel in Philadelphia. The wreck caught fire, and the total loss is $140, 000. Owing to the alarm being taken in America over the influx of Japanese and the probability of anti-Japanese legislation, the Japanese government is making efforts to turn the tide of its surplus population to Formosa. The cholera continues to rage in the famine camps of India. There have been 400 deaths in three days at Man dive So numerous are the cases at Godra that it is impossible to collect i the bodies, which lie for days in the ' sun. The people have fled and cannot be induced to return. A similar state of things prevails at Broach. Louisville, Ky., is to have Mormon temple. large There are 9,321 officials on the New York state pay roll. Census enumerators begin work on June 1 and finish in SO days. The Alaskan gold output for the sea son is estimated at over $20,000,000. ! Major Arms says he has 'sent nearly 23,000 Americans to South Africa to join the Boer forces. THE POPULIST TICKET Bryan for President, Towne for Vice-President. NOMINATED AT SIOUX FALLS Both by Acclamation Platform Bounces Gold Standard wd Imperialism. for President W J Bryan, of Nebraska. For Vice President Charles A. Towne, of Minnesota. Siuox Falls. S. D., May 12. The National Populist convention conclud ed its session and adjourned sine die after nominating Hon. W. J. Bryan for president and the Hon. Charles A. Towne for vice-president. The nomin ation of Mr. Towne was only accom plished after a struggle of several hours' duration, in which an effort was made to have the question of the nomination of a vicS-presidential candidate referred to a committee to confer with- the Democratic and Silver Republican parties in their national conventions. A motion to this effect was defeated by a vote of 268 to 492. Both candidates wore nominated by acclamation, but before the result was reached various candidates were placed in nomination, and their names successively withdrawn. Both nomin ations were accomplished amid scenes of great enthusiasm. The Platform. "The People's party of the United States, in convention assembled, con gratulating its supporters on the wide extension of its principles in all direc tions, does hereby reaffirm its adherence to the fundamental principles pro claimed in its two prior platforms, and calls upoys all who desire to avert the subversion of free institutions by coi porate and imperialistic power to unite with it in biinging the government back to the ideals of Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln. It extends to its allies in the struggle for financial and economic freedom assurances of its loyalty to the principles which animate thn allied forces and the promises of honest and hearty co-operation in every effort for their success. To the people of the United States we offer the following platiorm as the expression of our un alterable convictions: "Resolved, That we denounce the act of March 14, 1900, as the culmina tion of a long series of conspiracies to deprive the people of their constitu tional rights over the money of the nation, and relegate to a gigantio money trust the control of the finances, and hence the people. "We reaffirm the demand for the re opening of the mints of the United States to the free and unlimted coin age of silver and gold at the present legal ratio of 16 to 1. "We demand a graduated income and inheritance tax. "We demand that postal savings banks be established by the govern ment. "With Thomas Jefferson, we declare the land, including all natural sources of wealth, the inalianable heritage of the people. The government should so act as to secure homes for the people and prevent land monopoly. "Transportation being a means of exchange and a public necessity, the government should own and operate the railroads in the interest of the people. "Trusts, the overshadowing evil of the age, are the result and culmination of the private ownership and control of the three great instruments of com merce money, transportation and the means of transmission of information. ' The one remedy for the trusts is that the ownership and control be assumed and exercised by the people. "Applauding the valor of our army and navy in the Spanish war, we de nounce the conduct of the administra tion in changing a war for humanity into a war for conquest. "We extend to the brave Boers of South Africa our sympathy and moral support in their patriotic struggle for the right of self-government. "We denounce the pratice of issuing injunctions in the cases of dispute be tween employers and employes. "We indorse municipal ownership of public utilities. "We demand that United States senators and all other officials, as far as practicable, be elected by direct vote of the people. Cargo of Coffee Spoiled. San Francisco, May 12. On the last voyage of the Acapulco, from Panama to this port, $12,000 worth of coffee was destroyed, and the Pacific Mail Company, not only is out the freight money on the shipment, but will have to stand the loss as well. The destruc tion of the cargo was the result of pack ing sheep dip into the same hold with the coffee. The matter is being in vestigated. Washington, May 12. Major-Gen eral John R. Brooke today assumed the duties of commanding general of the department of the East, succeeding Major-General AVesely Merntt, who to day, with Mrs. Merritt, sailed for Europe in search of health. Corn for Indian Sufferers. New York, May 12. The steamer Quito sailed today for Bombay with 200,000 bushels of corn for the famine district. This is the largest cargo ever carried by any vessel on a similar occa sion. It comes from the people of all denominations in every part of the United States. It is expected the voy age will be made in 40 days. Last year 4,700,000 cubic yards of material was dredged out of the Duluth- Superior harbor. BARKER AND DONNELLY. Nominated by Middle-of-the-Road Pop ulist Convention. For President Wharton Barker, of Pennsylvania. For Vice-President Ignatius Don nelly, of Minnesota. Cincinnati, May 12. What is com monly known as the Midlde-of-the-Road Populist party, but according to leaders of the movement is the one and only People's party, placed its national ticket in the field today. Middle-of-the-Road Platform. The People's party of the United States assembled in National conven tion this 10th day of May, 1900, affirm ing our unshaken belief in the cardinal tenets of the People's party, as set forth in the Omaha platform, and pledging ourselves anew to continued advocacy of those grand principles of human liberty until right shall triumph over might, and love over greed, do adopt and proclaim this declaration of faith: First We demand the initiative and referendum and the imperative man date. Second We demand the public ownership and operation of those means of communication, transportation and production which the people may elect, such as railroads, telegraphs and tele phone lines, coal mines, etc. Third The land, including all natural sources of wealth, is a heritage of the people, and should not be monop olized for speculative purposes, and alien ownership of land should be pro hibited. Fourth A scientific and absolute paper money, based upon tne entire wealth and population of the nation, not redeemable in any specific commo dity, but made a full legal tender for all debts and receivable for all taxes and public dues and issued by the government only. Fifth We demand the levy and col lection of a graduated tax on incomes and inheritance. Sixth We demand the election of president, vice-president, federal judges and United States senators by direct vote of the people. Seventh We are opposed to trusts and declare that the contention be tween the old parties on monopoly is a sham battle and that no solution of this mighty problem is possible with out the adoption of public ownership of public utilities. FIGHTING. IN PHILIPPINES. Large Rebel Force Attacked American Scouts. But Were Routed. Manila May 12. A force of 500 in surgents attacked 25 scouts of the Forty-eighth regiment near San Jacinto, province of Pangasinan, Monday, but were routed by the scouts, 10 of their number being killed. The Americans lost two killed. April 26, the rebels burned and sacked the town of Trocan, near Bulu- can, murdering natives who were friendly to the Americans and two Spaniards. The Americans killed 37 of the insurgents. The same date, Major Andrews, with two companies of troops, attacked General Mojica's stronghold near Ormuc, Leyte island. Mojica had brass cannon and plenty of ammuni tion, but after three hours of fighting the insurgents fled. Their loss is not known. The Ameericans lost two killed and 11 wounded. They destroy ed the enemy's rifles, powder and stores The Insurgents have suffered a heavy loss at Tabako, province of Albay, Luzon. Two hundred riflemen and 800 bolomen were preparing to attack the town, and Captain Lester H. Simons, with a company of the Forty-seventh volunteer regiment, advanced to meet them and killed many. The insurgent leader, native priest, was wounded and captured after his horse had been shot from "under him. Three Ameri cans were wounded. WRECK DUE TO CARELESSNESS At Least Six Persons Killed in the Accident at O'Neill. Denver, May 12. A special to the Republican from Cheyenne, Wyo., says: The charred remains of two more victims of the Union Pacific accident at O'Neill sidetrack were found in the wreckage today. Both bodies was so badly burned as to render identification impossible. One of the bodies was that of a boy. Papers in the pockets of one of the unknown victims found yester day indicate that his name was Daniel Shay, and that ha had recently been employed at Rook Springs. The other unknown found yesterday has not yet been identified, and the remains of Fireman Louis Benta have not yet been found. When the accident occurred a car loaded with sulphur caught fire, and transformed the wreck into a sea of flames. The wreckage is still burn ing and renders the work of searching for additional victims exceedingly hazardous. Thus far, the remains of three men and three boys have been re covered and it is believed other bodies will be fonnd before the search is com pleted. An official investigation into the cause of the awful accident discloses the fact that it was due to the care lessness of an employe. The last train to pass O'Neill prior to the accident was a westbound freight, in charge of Conductor Hendricks' crew. New York, May 12. A dispatch to the Tribune from London says Lord Salisbury took the grace out of the recent visit of the queen to Ireland by the vehemence with which he warned Irishmen that recent events in South Africa proved that therejeould not be practical independence any where in the empire with opportuni ties for arraying hostile forces against the imperial government. It was a trenchant, but acrid speech, and was not well timed WAR ALMOST OVER British View of Situation in South Africa. THE BOERS' DEMORALIZATION Lord Roberts Was Welcomed to Kroon- atad Dutch, However, Have Suf fered Small Material Loss. London, May 15. "The war is prac tically over, " says the Daily Chroni cle's Kroonstad correspondent, and, in less d efinite terms, this is the view to be gathered from all the correspond ents. They picture the Boers as utter ly demoralized' and- disheartened by Lord Roberts' unexpectedly rapid ad vance, and by his facile turning of the carefully prepared positions of the Boers. There was practically no fight ing and there are no further details to give respecting the occupation of Kroon stad. The correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says: The Union Jack was hoisted in the market place by Mrs. Lockhead, the American wife of a Scotchman. Most of the horses of the Boers are in a wretched condition, but President Kruger declares he will continue the war." It appears that the Boers at Kroonstad had been reinforced by 3,000 men from Natal last Friday, and that altogether 10,000, with 20 guns, treked from Kroonstad on the approach of Lord Rob erts. The Boers made an ineffectual stand at Boschiand, and had elaborate entrenchments in front of Kroonstad, which offered great facilities for a rear guard action. Their only anxiety, however, appears to have been to get away safely with all their guns and convoys, which again they have success fully accomplished. The few stores they were unable to carry away, they burned. The Times says: "The signs point to military break-down on the part of the Boers, but after experiences of the past, we cannot accept the reports of demoralization without reserve. The game of war must be strictly played out to the end." Lindley, the new Free State capital, is 45 miles southeast of Kroonstad, half way to Bethlehem, and was probably selected as a convenient rendezvous for the command that is now retiring be fore General Brabant and General Run die, in the Thabanchu district. Bra bant has occupied Hoepelok, half way on the road from Thabanchu to Lady- brand. There is not a word of news regard ing General Buller's movements or from the far western side. Nothing is known, therefore, of the progiess of the Mafeking relief column. THREE KILLED IN STORM. Two More Seriously Injured Severe Electric Disturbance. St. Paul, May 15. Three persons were killed and two were seriously in jured during a severe wind and rain storm this evening. The wind played havoc with the telephone wires between this city and Minneapolis. The poles of the company for two blocks were strewn over the track of the Inter Urban trolley line, thus blocking traffic for the night. Sidewalks were dis placed and buildings suffered. Patrick Sexton, senior member of the firm of Sexton & Co., wholesale cigar dealers, had been at Como Park with his four children and they were driving home. On Dale street the storm dis lodged the sidewalk, which crashed into Mr. Sexton's carriage, killing him almost instantly and more or less in juring his daughter and 10-year-old first Republican Convention. New York, May 14. A special to the Herald from Washington says: Survivors of the first Republican Na tional convention are to be the guests in Philadelphia next month. Invita tions will be sent to them next Mon day. Only 15 survive of all those who assembled in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, on June 18, 1856, to enunciate the new principles and to bring into existence a new party. Of these only one con tinues a prominent figure in politics. He is Representative Galnsha A. Grow, who was the youngest member of the lower house when he first entered it and who is now its oldest member. The guests of the national commit tee will be given prominent seats on the platform. Wool Smuggling;. Boston, May 14. Special treasury agent, under the direction of Agent Converse J. Smith, of this city, have just unearthed an alleged swindling scheme, and, as a result, 100 sacks of wool, valued at $6,000, have been seized in this city, Lawrence and Bris tol, R. I. It is estimated $50,000 worth of wool has been smuggled through the port of Boston during the past year. America Ought to Send SI, OOO.OOO. New York, May 13. The Indian famine relief committee tonight issued an appeal asserting that despite sys tematic aid furnished 6,000,000 people in India, at least 6,000,000 are starv ing. The appeal says that America ought to send at least a mllion dollars. Scotch Banker Killed Himself. Edinburgh, Scotland, May 14. H. H. Norc, manager of the Union Bank of Scotland, was found dead this morning at his residence. His head was half blown away by a gun. Apparently he committed suicide. His action is attrib uted to the fact that he had been suffering from influenza. Mnrat Halstead has accepted the presidency of the new College of Jour nalism, an institution devoted to teach ing practical newspaper work. BULLER ROUTS THE BOERS. He Succeeds In Forcing the Big garsberg. London, May 16. A special dispatch from Stone Hill farm, near Natal, dated today, says: General Buller's advance commenced Thursday, when he left Ladysmith in strength. When within twu miles of Helpmaaker, the Boers opened a heavy fire of artillery and the British guns replied while a portion of Buller's troops worked around the Boer flanks. The British attack was pressed home Sunday. Bethuene on the right, out flanked the Boers, whose splendid de fensive positions on the Biggarsberg were practically taken. General Bui ler's march, subsequent to the attack, was carried out without a hitch. The British are still pushing on." London, May 16. A dispatch re ceived from Pietermaritzburg, Natal, brought the first intimation of success attained by General Bu Her, in Northern Natal. The sender of this dispatch evidently assumed that news of the affair had been received direct from the scene of hostilities, for he merely said: "General Buller's official telegram notifying of his success at Biggarsberg and received here an hour ago, has given keen satisfaction. It is confi dently anticipated that Dundee will be occupied by the British today. Resi dents of the north country are delight ed, as the forcing of the Biggarsberg means that they will speedily be en abled to return to their homes." Another dispatch from the Stone Hill farm says: "After four days' march eastward at the foot of the Biggarsberg ridges in the direction of Helpmaaker, which was occupied by the federals, the sec ond brigade on Sunday led the attack. Dundonald's cavalry broke the Boers' center, and Bethuene's horse advanced on their extreme right in the direction of Pomeroy. A small party of burghers occupied a ridge overlooking Help maaker, but they did not wait for an assault." Recent sconting in the direction of Dundee has shown that the federals were in great force on Biggarsberg, so apparently General Buller concluded that it was necessary to clear them from his rear before commencing a move ment in the direction of the Drakens berg range. KNOXVILLE'S WELCOME. Dewey Day Celebrated With a Parade and Banquet. Knoxville, Tenn., May 16. Today was Dewey day in Knoxville. It was clear and warm and thousands of peo ple visited the city from East Tennes see to welcome the hero of Manlia. After a day of rest. Admiral Dewey and his party this morning were escorted along Gay street for over a mile through a mass of cheering, yelling humanity. At the women's building, where the welcoming exercises were carried out, Admiral Dewey reviewed the parade, which required nearly an hour. The parade consisted of two battalions of militia, one battalion of cadets, veter ans of the Union, Confederate and Spanish-American armies, fraternal and labor organizations, professional men and city officials. The admiral was delighted with the novelties of the parade, consisting of the ' 'brother hood of old time fiddlers," who Addled as they passed in review. Mayor Heiskell, in delivering an ad dress of welcome, alluded to Knxoville as the birthplace of Admiral Farragut and spoke eloquently of the first as well as the third admiral. Thousands of people crowded around to shake hands with the admiral. "Ladies, I am glad you had this life-saving station ready," said the admiral. In the afternoon the admiral and wif?, accompanied by city officials, visited the school bnidlings. Patriotic songs were sung, flowers and souvenirs presented at each building, and as the party drove away, showers of roses fell into the admiral's carriage. When the tour had ben made, the admiral's car riage was full of flowers and he and his wife were literally covered with them . Tonight a banquet was tendered the admiral. EXTENSIVE SUNDAY FIRE. Started by Boys Playing Left 250 Peo ple Homeless. Camdeu, N. J., May 15. Fire today, which broke out in the Farmers' market house, at Fifth and Federal streets, completely destroyed that building, 10 stores and about 50 small dwellings, causing a loss estimated at $200,000, and rendering homeless about 250 persons. These people are tonight quartered in the armory, and are being fed at the expense of the city. Boys playing in the market honse set fire to a large pile of tarred lumber stored there. The flames spread rapid ly and were soon beyond control, mak ing it necessary to call on Philadelphia for aid. Among the structures damaged was the old postoffice building, which was partly destroyed. This building had been abandoned by the government only a few weeks ago. When the chemical laboiatory of William Cogswell, in Federal street, caught fire, there was a series of explo sions. The Cogswell establishment was gutted. The principal losses were the Farmers' market, $15,000; Cogs well laboratory, $10,000. Most of the other sufferers were small property owners. Many of the occupants of the dwellings lost all their household effects. Insurance partial. BombiExploslon icTParis. Paris, May 16. Some commotion was caused about 9 o'clock last evening on the Avenue des Champs Elysees by the explosion of a bomb under a car riage of M. Raphael, the banker, who was accompaned by his wife. The ex plosion occurred just as the carriage reached the junction of the avenue with the Rue Boithe. Although considera bly frightened, the occupants of the carriage were not hnrt. NAVAL BILL PASSED The Government May Make Its Own Armor. FREE HOMES BILL ALSO PASSED Tongue Secures a Board to Invest! gate Columbia River Dry dock Question. Washington, Mav 16. After a dis cussion lasting five full days, the sen ate today passed the naval appropria tion bill. Practically four days were devoted to the consideration of the amor plate proposition, which was agreed to finally as reported from the committee, with the exception that the secretary of the navy is authorized to make contracts only for such armor as may be needed from time to time. The secretary of the navy is authorized to procure armor of the best quality at $445 per ton; but if he be unable to obtain it at that price, he is tbtut authorized to pay $545 per ton for the armor for the battleship Maine, Ohio and Missouri and proceed to erect an armor factory, the cost not to exceed $4,000,000, one-half of which amount is made immediately available. The committee's proposition carried by a vote of 32 to 19. The secretary of the navy is directed to pnichase five Hol land torpedo boats, at a price not ex ceeding $170,000 each. Just before adjournment, Nelson (Rep. Minn.) called up the "free homes" bill, and it was passed with out a word of debate. A bill for the establishment of a lighthouse and fog signal at Ship Point, Wash., at a cost of $12,000 was passed. A concurrent resolution was adopted for a survey of the outlet of Flathead lake, Mont., with a view to keeping the lake full. A bill providing for the appointment of a collector of customs for the cus toms district of Hawaii, at a salary of ,000 per year, and for such deputies as may be necessary, was passed. Hale (Rep. Me.) then called np the naval appropriation bill, the pending question being on th a amendment of Chandler (Rep. N. H.) substituting in Tillman's amendment $445 for $300 as the price of armor. The amendment was rejected, 25 to 27. Hoar (Rep. Mass.) offered the follow ing amendment to the committee prop osition with respect to the construction of an armor plate factory: "That if, under the operation of the above provision, no government armor plate manufactory is begun or built, the secretary of the navy shall submit to congress at the beginning of its next session a detailed report, in which he shall estimate the entire cost of a fully equipped government armor plate man ufactory, including site and the probable time at which the best modern armor plate could be produced at said factory and ready for delivery." The amendment was accepted by the committee and as amended the com mittee's proposition was adopted, 83 to 19. The next proposition of the committee provided for the pui chase of five Hol land submarine torpedo boats, at a price of $170,000 each, and it was adopted after some debate with an amendment making the purchase mandatory. Chandler offered an amendment re ducing the number of armored cruisers provded for in the bill from three to two and the number of protected cruis ers from three to two. His purpose in offering it, he said, was to direct attention to the fact that we are ex pendng too much money for our navy and too little for the development of our merchant marine. McBride (Rep. Or.) secured an amendment providing for the appoint ment of a board of officers to determine the desirability of constructing a dry dock on the Columbia river. Or. Pettigrew (Sil. S. D. ) declared that it was the purpose of the dominant party in congress to make these great con tracts for war vessels and armor in order that it might be then in position to obtain vast contributions to its cam paign fund. The bill then passed without division. Nelson (Rep. Minn.) secured the passage of an act providing for free homesteads on the public lands for actual and bona fide settlers and reserv ing the public lands for that purpose. In Central Africa. London, May 16. Lionel Decla, who is conudcting a Cape-to Cairo expedi tion, fitted up by the London Daily Telegraph, sends by wire and steamer from Uvila, north ot Lake Tanganyika, the following: "The situation here is critical. The Germans have forcibly seized all the Congo Free State territory up to Ruzizi river, occupying 3,000 square miles of Congo territory vi ith 1,000 soldiers, 15 officers and cannon. The Belgian officer withdrew from his station under threat of instant attack. The Germans burned the station. Their officers acted on instructions from Merlin." Two Oirls Drowned. Joplin, Mo., May 15. May MoNal ly, aged 16 years, and Edna Worden, aged 20, were drowned today in Neosha river, their boat capsizing. India Police Attacked by a Mob. Bombay. May 16. While the police were searching at Vizagapatan, capital of the district of the same name, for the murderers of two constables, they were attaked by a mob. They fired upon their assailants, killing 11 and wounding 16 others. There are three things the wise man keeps on good terms with his wife, Viio afnmaeh nnrl his onnHfiifinpfi. Chi. ' oago Dally News.