Newspaper Page Text
THE ROME TRIBUNE
VOL. VI. NO. 1.96 i
SICKLES’ SEAT.
■
He Will Hold It and Draw His
Army Pay Too.
COMPTRbLLER REPORTS.
The Senate Committee Has the
Tariff Bill Ready for Con
sideration.
Washington, Fpb. 24. —The secretary
■of war has .received from the second
■comptroller a decision in the case of
©eneral Sickles, which, while setting
forth a strong constitutional argument
against the qualification of a retired
army officer to enter congress, finds that
©•neral Sickles cannot be divested of
his retired pay, amounting to $5,625 an
nually, and continues to hold his mili
tary office.
However, in his conclusion upholding
the claim the comptroller shows himself
pearly of the opinion that General Sick
,«ls is ineligible to election as a member
« •congress, and w«» not qualified to
ke the oath of off.ce. This will tend to
4jjrevent<retired arsny officers in the <u
'••tuxe from entering congress.
The t uiff jjill ’"-si practically completed
xaud will bh .laSd before the full senate
'committee on finance at a special meet
■ thig-without.dAay. When it will Teach
'the senate is eot known. Senators Voor
ihees and Mills stated that they expected
'the bill to be reported before the end of
- v the week. The coal people say they
Tiave secured 50 cents per ton on coal.
Iron ore'will be by an ad
valorem duty of not less than 20 per
-■•ent, and it is by no means settled that
wool will be en the free list. Lumber
will be taken care of in consideration of
votes from the united party. Sugar has
finally reached the stage where the com
rtjittee may be said to be in accord with
•ne another.
Louisiana senators wiTl not gst the
•ent and a half per pound they have held
•tit for so strongly, but they will be con
tent with the duty that hovers near a
•ent a pound with a graduated system
above, probably. Sugar is standing the
test of 80 degrees.
la <lmj ■House.
Washington, Feb. 24.—Speaker Crisp
’ was in his place wl»u the ibouse met.
©n a motion to take up the seignorage
bill and close the deflate ins3o minutes,
the vote stood, yeas, 152; nays, 7—no
quorum, and a call of the house was or
dered.
A call of the house showed that 273
members were present. Mr. Wilson, of
Washington, moved to adjourn. The
motion was lost by a vote of 43 to 175.
A* Indian Agency BnHdtaff Destroyed.
Washington, Feb. 2-I.—The Indian
bureau has received a dispatch from
Agent Powell at Leah -Boy, .Indian
agency, Washington announcing the
total distraction of the main agency
building and contents by fire.
THE BRITISH WHIPPED.
A Disaatrous Fisht with Slavctradera In
Wart Africa.
London, Feb. 24.—Dispatches just re
wived state that the cruiser Raleigh,
flagship of the British squadron, on the
West African coast, and ;the gunboat
Widgeon, had arrived at Bothurst, the
capital of the British West African col
< ony of Gambia.
Landing parties were sent a shore to
■ punish Fadislah, the notorious slave
traders. The sailors landed in force and
marched some distance on the island
and in a fight with Fadislahs followers,
were repulsed with a loss of three
officers and 10 men killed and 47 wouned.
Several machine guns, provisions for
a few days and an ample supply of am
munition were taken ashore. Force was
led into ambush.
An attempt was made to use the ma
chine guns, but the attack was so sud
den and fierce that the British were un
able to do so and were quickly routed.
BUSINESS IN BIRMINGHAM.
The Iron luterests Are Booming aud Him
deeds Are Getting: Work.
Washington, Feb. 24.—A special
from Birmingham, Ala., says: The in
dustrial revival continues. The Clifton
Iron company has just blown in its two
big furnaces after an idleness of two
years. The Birmingham Rolling mill,
which resumed last week, has just added
AGO more men to the force. I
The Tennessee Coal, Iron and Rail- I
joad com patty’s immense ore converter '
by which ordinary iron oro can be con
•verted into Bessemer ore for steel mak
ing, is nearly complete. Its success,
which is now assured, means the early ■
erection of a big steel mill. Several
large shipments of coal iron has just
been made to foreign ports.
CYCLONE SWEPT AN ISLAND.
Nifty Person. Killed and Many Injured
oh a Kail road Train.
London, Feb. 24.—A dispatch from
Port Louis, Mauritius, reports that a
cyclone swept the islapd, doing great
damage to property and killing aud in
juring many persons.
A crowded railway train was blown
from the track and rolled down an em
bankment into the Coromandal river,
killing 50 persons and injuring a large
number of others. I
SHE GOT A SHINE. I <
i
A Brooklyn Young Lady Who Did Not <
Quibble at Trifles. ’
New York, Feb, 24. —Two modest
young women, quietly dressed, crossed
Broadway at 8:15 p. m. The young
Women had very rosy cheeks. They >u;>y ' ?
have been from the country or they may
live in a remote suburb of Brooklyn.
One wore gold rimmed eyeglasses. As
her toes peeped in and out from . under
her dresses everybody could see that she
wore brand new shoes. She could see
them through her eyeglasses and they
worried her, they spoiled the effect of
her fine dress and coat and bonnet. The
shoes were entirely innocent of polish;
dull black, they had never been
“shined.”
On the north side of Park place, near
Broadway, stood a bootblack’s chair.
'Of a sudden impulse the girl with the
eyeglasses jumped into the chair and
seated herself. She put her feet—very
pretty little feet—on the pedals, and the
matter-of-fact l ootblack set to work to
shine her shoes. The other girl stood
bravely by. A great many people
passed, and the unusual sight affected
them differently. Seme of the women
turned up their noses when they saw the
girl in the chair. Th* thoughtless men
who passed grinned. One man scowled
and said: “Humph! they'll be in the bar
ber chairs next. “Another looked on
admiringly and complimented the young
woman thus; “Th.re's a girl with good
sense.”
; When the two yoting women saw
• 'they were attracting attention they then
blushed Until their eheeks were even
tedder. Then the girl with the glasses
( recovered her self-possession and stared
, stoutly at those who stared at her. It
was noticeable that th* bootblack, per
haps from sheer force of habit, turned
I up the hem of his customer’s dress about
an inch When he had put a “patent
leather shine” on her shoes. the young
’ woman jumped down from the chair,
paid him and walked away with her
j friend, looking at her shoe tips with the
: ’greatest satisfaction.
' -.BRADSTREET'S REVIEW.
The State of Trade in the South for the
W.< k.
New York, Feb. 21.—1 n their weekly
' review of the state of trade, Bradstreet
’ says: The demand for fertilizer s remains
i moderately active at Charleston and Au-
■ gnsta, and at the latter city collections
, have improved, as has the demand for
1 cotton factory products.
Trade in Atlanta is dull, but at Qhat
v tano iga the season’s business in hard
[ ware is reported more satisfactory than
j last year. General trade is unchanged
at Savannah and quiet at Nashville,
where collections .are only fair.
Memphis reports, moderately* active,
with a tendency to improvement if. busi-
3 ness. At Birmingham and at Galves
■ ton no change is reported in business.
3 Heavy rains have affected dealings at
, New Orleans, although needs active and
» the corn export movement heavy. Dallas
- reports a growing volume of business,
with cold weather stimulating request
i and immigration enhancing values of
f farmlands. _
I .
Indians Are Growing Ugly.
Guthuik, O. T., Feb. 24.—Thu pro
crastinating policy of the federal govern
-1 ment in regard to turning oyer to, ths
' Kiowa Indians $60,000 of pasturage
i money has led to much discontent
• among them and It is feared they will
’ take to the warpath. The Cheyennes
are concentrating in large bodies at one
of their villages where Lone Wolf is in
hiding. He recently got out of jail at
El Reno and if any attempt is made to
1 capture him there will be fighting, so
the Indiana say. He wae in jail on the
charge of continually assaulting’ a little
white girl.
The Doctor Was the licit -Shot.
Indianapolis, Fab. 24.—Dr. F. M.
Abctt, a well known } hysician of this
city, was shot by highwaymen at 3 p.m„
aud in turn he shot aud fatally wounded
one of his assailants. The highwaymen
pointed revolvers at the doctor and com
manded him to throw up his hands, but
instead of doing so their intended victim
drew a revolver and fired at the robbers
hitting one of them in the abdomen.
The other robbers then fired four shots
at the doctor, one of which caused a
slight wound in the abdomen.
The Poor Miners Are Doomed.
WiLKESBARRE, Pa., Feb. 24.—The res
cuers at work in the Gaylord shaft aro
now working under great difficulties.
Late in the afternoon there was a cave
in of serious proportions, but the nrne
owners will not admit that it is going to
stop the work of the rescuing party. '
There seems to bo little hope, however,
of recovering the bodies within the next
10 days.
To Spring: a Trap on Bomb Throwers.
Vienna, Feb. 24. —The recent fre
quency of bomb throwing and other afii-
I archistic villainy has lead to the erection
| of an apparatus in the chamber of the
I Reichsrath which will enable the presi
dent in the event of an outrage to im
mediately close all the doors of the
house. The authorities have also taken
other measures to protect public build
ings.
Mansfield Rioters Sentenced.
Pittsburg, Feb. 24.—The Mansfield
coal region rioters were sentenced by
Judge Ewing. Os the 35 foreigners con
victed seven were sentenced to the peni
tentiary for terms ranging from 15 '
months to two years ami six months, and
28 were sent to the workhouse for terms
ranging from two months to one year.
An Important Arreat In London.
London, Feb. 24.—The police hava
arrested in a workshop in Melbourne a
I'ieuch anarchist named Petijean, an
intimate friend of the anarchist Martial
Bourdm, who was killed by the explo
sion of one of his own bombs near the
Greenwich observatory on the evening :
of r eb. 15. His arrest is regarded as
very important.
William Congratulates Caprivi.
Berlin, Feb. 24.—Emperor William i
visited Chancellor Von Caprivi, and con- j *
gratulated him upon his birthday. J 1
ROME- UA„ SUNDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 25, iav4.
WIMAN’S FALL.
He Will Confess and Ask for
Judicial Clemency.
BUILT UP DUN’S BUSINESS
The Firm Knew, a Year Ago’
the State of Affairs as Well
as it Is Known Now.
New York, Feb. 24.—Erastns Wi
man, whose indictment for extensive
forgeries, followed by arrest and impris
onment in the tombs, has caused such
general surprise to the.publio and sor-
1 row to the thousands of friends and ac
' quaintances he has made during his busy
! life, will plead guilty and throw himself
. upon the mercies of the court if he ac«
1 cepts the counsels of those who are »d
--' vising him in his present extremity.
In a long interview, upon the various
, phases of the case, one of Mr. Wimau’s
i most trusted advisers and staunchest
1 friends said:
1 “We do not propose to get bail for
1 Mr. Wiman today or at any other time.
: In fact, if Mr. Wiman follows the ad-
• vice of his friends, as I have no doubt
I that ho will, and the advice of those
t who are thoroughly conversant with bis
; affairs and his relations with R. G. Dun
; & Co., he will enter a plea of
. guilty.
: “There is nothing else for him to do.
> Ex-District-Attorney Nicoil, who pre
pared the complaint in behalf of R. G.
Dun & Co., did not go too far when,
speaking of the matter, ho said it was
an ‘open and shut case.’ It is much
» better for Wiman to.throw himself upon
the mercy of the court. He is not the
. sort of a man who would attempt along
' defense on the flimsy hope that in some
c manpef he might escape.- That is nit
’ his nature. There is pot a cowardly
- bone in his body <or a drop of evasive
g blood in hiS veins. He knows his re
, sponsibility for his acts and he will shoul
der it. 1
H. Made Don What Ho <«.
“So, it is much better to throw hirn
-1 self upon the mercy of the court. He
1 can submit to the court or to the prose-
> cuting officer all of the facts which con
cern these criminal charges. Theta
• facts are not without weight, I can as
‘ sure you, as the public, I confidently be
’ lieve, will agree when acquainted with
• them. Mr. Wiman did forge the names
5 of E. W. Bullinger and Ogden Brower,
1 as the indictments .charge. That he can
-1 not and will not deny.
■ “But he made R. G. Dun & Co. the
“ great paying property that it is today.
*■ He had the absolute management of the
business. He was a practical printer.
The books which they formerly got out
two or three months alwpys had
" out on time. He increased the number
-of agencies from 16 to more than 100.
a - “Now, R. G. Dun & Co., in the state
ment of complaint against Mr. Wiman,
J prepared by De Lancey Nicoil, state
? that Mr. Wiman was in no sense a part
-1 ner in the business, but was, in ftlfct,
’ dependent upon a certain percentage
3 profits as bis salary. That is rather a
J remarkable statement in view of the
fact that the books of R. G. Dun & Co.
3 will show that in the mans libel suits
3 brought against the firm he was held re
-3 sponsible for one-fifth of the losses.
’ “Another strange circumstance is that
when 11. G. Dun & Co., at the time of
Mr. Wiman’s failure, filed a claim
against his estate, it was for $315,000.
• Now their claim is only for $229,018.00.
i Mr. Wiman has not paid the difference.
, Knew All a Year Ago.
“R. G. Dun & Co. were quite as thor
oughly cognizant of the facts a year ago
as they aro today. Mr. R. G. Dun is a
very old man. in feeble health. He is
now in California. I believe this action
would never have been taken if he had
been left to his own will. He has two
nephews, R. D. Douglass, who is his
manager, and another nephew of the
same name who is counsel for the firm.
They never nave liked Mr. Wiman, par
ticularly since he ended his connection
with the firm. The elder Dun and Mr.
Wiman during their SOyears of business
connection had many private money
transactions together, and Mr. Wiman’s
ipirit in all these was that he would
stand the lion’s share of all losses.
i “But he is guilty as charged, and
there is nothing for him to do but to so
plead and to throw himself upon the
mercy of the court, first submitting ell
the facts that are to his advantage con
cering his business relations with R. G.
Dun & Co.”
The statements that have so far been
given to the public by the district attor
ney's office only account lor $30,000 ot
the $229,000 which Wiman is alleged to
have appropriated to his own use from
the funds of Dun & Co., although the
general statement is made that it was ;11
appropriated in about the same way.
De Lancey Jicoll stated, after Mr. Wi
maii's arrest, that later on he might
give out a detailed statement as to just
how the entire amount ot $229,000 hrd
been obtained and just who were in
volved.
Ilf Dkl Glv* Bond.
New York, Feb. 24. —Erastus Wiman
i was released from custody at noon on a
$25,000 bail. Charles H. Deere, of Mo
line, Ills., deposited 25 SI,OOO bills in the
office of the city chamberlain. Recorc r
Smyth signed the bail bond. Deere is
the father-in-law of Wiman’s son, Wil
liam, now lying in a precarious condi
tion at his home on Staten Island.
Three Men Terribly Beaten.
St. Louis, Feb. 24.—Four masked
men entered the office of the Hazel Flom
mill in East St. Louis early in the morn
ing. beat a watchman and a boy into in
sensibility and then bound and gagge 1
them. They tried in vain to open the
safe, and after robbing the watchman 1
and two citizens who had comi in fi r
some flour lift. All three men were
terribly boatan.
BETTER STREETS.
■Tho Most Important Work Be- |
_ fore the City Council.
QAN BE VERY EASILY DONE
So Say Several of Rome’s
Prominent Citizens, Who
i Talk interestingly.
Street improvement is the subject
which is now causing many prominent
citizens to do some hard thinking. Since
Rome has taken the title of “city” the
condition of her streets and sidewalks
have been a source of mortification to
the citizens who have her best interests
at heart. The first floors of the build
ings which have been put up during the
last |ew months are several feet higher
thnn4he old ones, and the sidewalks and
streets' in their front are above those on
either side. This causes a hill here, and
a sink there. It must be admitted that
this is not exactly city looking. Some
few weeks ago the council had an en
gineer to establish a grade, but it has as
yet hot affected the property owners
along Broad street, so far as having the
first'floors of their buildings brought up
to the line.
A few nights ago a drummer staggered
into? the Armstrong, and said to the
clerk, “Please send me to my room; I
have been walking down Broad street,
and it has made me seasick.”
Yesterday a prominent citizen in con
versation with a Tribune reporter, said:
“The discussion of the union depot
question has brought forward other mat
ters of much interest in the way of pub
lic improvement. Now, that the water
works issue is settled for all time to
comp, the most important matter that
can claim the attention of our our city
authorities is the grading and paving of
our streets —to get rid of the peaks and
canyons, the mountains and valleys,
the hills and dales, the beaver slides and
slip-downs, that ornament the principal
thoroughfare of the city—not very well
caloqgated to make a favorable impress
ioq’pn the passengers in the through
traiife to and from the union depot. The
present council has established a grade
linejor Broad street. This one long
step in the right direction, even if said
grade line be a little higher than it
should be. But it is established, never
theless, and there is now t a definite basis
for of peraianent street im
provement. T<-
“Heretofore, for many reasons, the
■ street work has been scattered, tempor
ary, and unsightly. This is not- the
farjlt of any one council noriof any one
individual; but it is the general result
of "many years of temporizing with the
streetNrtfiuestion and of using such “cow
ardly makeshifts”as were needed to tide
each successive council over its term of
office.
, But Rome is now large enough, and
> rich enough, to institute a system of
i street work —so that when a street or a
> block is paved, it is done with, and will
, need no further attention for a quarter
i of a century.
‘‘Now, let the incoming council select
some one block on Broad street; have
■ the street raised to the established grade,
' and pave it with vitrified brick. Have
i the work done by contract, under pro
, per supervision, and the result will be
, something durable, permanent, smooth,
, and highly satisfactory.
“Next year take another block, or two
blocks, if the condition of the city treas
ury will justify it, but make a start
' this year. Every citizen of Rome and
1 of Floyd county travels Broad street.
1 There can be no reasonable, objection
to having the first permanent work done
upon that street, because all use it.
“This brick paving will cost about
$1.75 per square yard—so that the cost
j of paving the block at the lower end of
Broad street will be, say, $9,000, or say
j about $35,000 for the four blocks from
the Central hotel to the Etowah bridge.
If it cannot be done in four years, take
Sx, or eight years—but make a start I
this year.
“Fifteen years ago, our county roads
were almost impassable in the winter;
now they are better that any street in
Rome, and their good condition is sim
ply the result of a little work each year
I —work that is done well and permanent
i and stops further expence on all that
| is done.
, If our city authorities had instituted
I a system of permanent street improve
ment fifteen years ago, we wouln now
have smooth, slightly thoroughfare—but
we haven’t.
It is always in order to begin a refor
mation. Begin it this year—do some
street work that will show for it oil,
and reflect credit on the council that
ordered it.
Somebody will doubtless say the times
are too hard to stand such work—but
hard times or not, the usual street appro
priation will be made, and if it be spent
in the usual manner, at end of the year
we will have nothing to show for it ex
cept the same old make-shifts,and growl
ing will go on as usual.
“So let us make a start this year, on
a systematic and permanent improve
ment of our streets. Is this plank in
the platform of the candidates now in
the field?”
Major W. F. Ayer says: “Improve
Rome’s streets? Well, now you are talk
ing sense. I have been in Rome a long
time, and I had rather see good level
paved streets than a union depot. There
has been much talk lately of building a
carshed. Well, I shouldlike very much
to see it done, but at present I fail to
see how it can be.
“The railroads can’t afford it, but the
streets can be improved. Now, stop
talking about things you can’t get, and
let s use our time, influence and money
on things there is some chance of get
ting. Everybody want good level streets
and sidewalks. The present condition '
of the city treasury would not allow '
much to be done at on rime; this how- ‘
ever, will not keep the work from start
ing. Establish a grade and fiqish one
block. When the city can afford it
finish another. In this way only few
years will pass before Rome will have
as good streets as any city in Georgia.”
THE INSURGENTS GAINING.
Another Victory Is Reported In Rrazil.
Peixoto’a Ships Deserting Him.
New York, Feb. 24.—A Herald Mon
tevideo special says: The Herald cor
respondent in Santos sends word that it
is expected that the city will be iu pos
session of the insurgents before the end
of a week. There is great excitement.
The streets are filled with soldiers and
citizens in terror.
The insurgent forces have won another
victory, the loyal troops being defeated
near Forkima, on the road from Stanore
to Sao Paulo. During the fight the na
tional police deserted Peixpto and joined
the rebels.
The Report Partly Confirmed.
Washington, Feb. 24.—The report
from Brenos Ayers via London that the
vessels fitted out in New York for ser
vice in Brazil, with the exception of the
Nictheroy, had gone over to the insur
gents has been partially confirmed in a
letter received nerd from au American
officer in the service of the Brazilian
government. This officer says while
these vessels ate not actually in posses
sion of the insurgents their officers have
such high personal regard for the insur
gent naval officers that they are unwil
ng to take any steps against the force
of Da Gama, although they would not
turn over the ships to him.
Honduras' Capital Capitulated.
Washington, Feb. 24.—Senor Guz
man, minister from Nicaragua to the
United States, has received a cablegram
to the following effect from the minister
of foreign affairs of Nicaragua:
The capitol of Honduras, Tegucigalpa,
capitulated last night. • Publish this ca
blegram. Our victory pn‘s an end to
the war in Honduras. “So,” said the
minister smilingly, “Nicaragua came
out victorious.”
■■ *■
Sunk nn Insurgent Transport.
Buenos Ayres, Feb. 24.—Advices
from Rio de Janeiro says the government
battery at Ponto Madame has sunk the
insurgent transport, Murcurio. The
boiler of the transport burst and several
of the men were killed.
FROM THE BLIZZARD.
Extremely Cold Weather Reported All
Over the Country,
Atlanta, Feb. 24.—After an all night
drizzling rain a sleet began to fall in the
early morning, which soon changed to
Bh9: w ' , Housetops are covered, but the
ground being wet none remains under
lybt.
At Other Points. |
• CONASOHANE, N. Y., Feb. 24.—The
night has been the coldest of the season,
the mercury being 17 below zero, ft
was 22 below at Sharon Springs, and at
Cortlandt„N. Y., it w.ts 24 below zero.
Cold at Saratoga.
Saratoga, N. Y., Feb. 24.—The mer
cury is 25 degrees below zero; at North
creek it is 32, and at Utica, the ther
mometer stands 14 below.
Rllzzard In Mississippi.
Grenada, Miss., Feb. 24.—A blizzard
has been raging for'24 hours and every
thing is covered with ice and sleet with
no signs of abatement.
Cold in Gotham.
New York, Feb. 24.—This is the cold
est day of the winter. The mercury is
5 degrees below zero, with a nipping
north wind blowing.
Outlaws Refuse to ray Fare.
Cincinnati, Feb. 24. Conductor
Hayes put three men off the train from
Sandusky, between Franklin and Mia
misburg. They refused to pay their
fare, and when told to go into the
smoking car declined. The officers of
the road had been warned that an at
tempt to hold up the train would ba
made, and detectives boarded the train
at Franklin. When the men were pi t
off the detectives left also to watch ti. j
gang. The express messenger had $16,-
000 in his safe.
A Salvation Army Colony.
City of Mexico, Feb. 24.—A syndi
cate of capitalists interested in the work
of the Salva.ion Army has concluded the
purchase from the Mexican government
of 200,000 acres of land in southern
Mexico. With the aid of General Booth,
plans will be perfected by which 5,000
families from England and the Unitod
States will l i put on the tract for colo
nization purposes, operating under the
direction of j.dicers of the army. It is a
coffee growing region.
Other Roads Made Defendants.
-"iChijago, Feb. 24. The Farmers
Loan and Trust company, under whose
foreclosure suit receivers were appointed
for the Northern Pacific railroad, filed
an amendment to its bill in the United
States circuit Aonrt. The amendment
makes the Baltimore and Ohio and the
Chicago and Great Western Railroad
companies defendants on account of t. >
leases under which they use part of the
tracks of the Nortnern Pacific.
Tried to Destroy Hi* Brother** Proper t.
Lewisburg, Pa., Feb. 24.—“ Jimmy
Wolfe, brother of the late Charles f
Wolfe, who was a leading character ;■
Pennsylvania politics, is under ariosi i'o
trying to blow up a business bio k i
longing to his brother’s estate. H
claims he was cheated in the seltl j :i |
of the estate. I
PRICE hIVE CtfNTS.
BUYING VOTERS.
An Alleged Scheme to Legalize
the New Jersey Senate.
TO BE DONE BY BRIBING.
Four Democrats Were Needed
to Help the Republicans
Out--Names Are Given.
New York, Feb. 24.—A special to
The World from Trenton says:
While the lawyers were quarreling
among themselves about tlje constitu
tional status of the senate organiza
tions, and were preparing to appeal to
the supreme court to end the legislative
deadlock, some of the practical politi
cians of both parties, who are in public
for revenue only, appear to have been
plotting to bring order out of chaos by
the power of the almighty dollar.
The World has discovered a conspira
,cy in which Republicans were and are
to pay $60,000 cash for the votes of four
Democratic senators. The negotiations,
which are not yet entirely completed,
have been carried on by ex-Mayor James
H. Edmunus, of Cape May City, for the
Democrats, and ex Riparian Commis
sioner Riclrard B. Reading for the Re
publicans.
Mr. Reading, when confronted with
the facts Wednesday, admitted his own
complicity with the plot and implicated
Edmunds and others, but he insisted
when he found that the facts were
about to be published that he had only
been amusing himself at the expense of
the Democrats, and did, not and does
not now intend to carry out the bargain
he made with Cape May’s ex-mayor.
There are good reasons for believing
that all the parties to the conspiracy
were in earnest, and that the votes were
to have been paid for and, if possible,
delivered.
Mr. Reading is generally understood
here to be the personal representative of
General W. J. Sewell. He is a tall,
slender, affable person, and has been
employed in the lobby several years.
His home is at Raven Rock. He is the
Republican boss in the counties on the
Delaware, north of Camden; is a shrewd
politician, and has made not a little
' monej' with his wits. When the known
facts regarding the conspiracy were re
lated to him he became very nervous,
and said:
‘‘Yrn, ca ” l .‘ 3 tn r.« several
weeks ago with a proposition to turn
over to the Republicans three or four or
five Democratic senators- -whatever we
needed—to enable us to organize a sen
ate in such a manner that its constitu
tionality couldn’t be questioned.
"How much did he want':”
“Well, he started at first at $100,006,
and afterwards scale 1 down. His latest
offer. I think, was $60,000, or something
like that.”
“Did he specify how the money was to
be divided?”
“No, wo didn’t go into that. His pro
gramme was to deliver tl e men to us,
and then wo’d give him the money to do
as he pleased with.”
“Whose votes did he promise to give
you?" -•
“He assumed to bo able to get us the
aid of Senators Miller, of Cape May;
Perkins, of Burlington; Martin, of Hun
terdon; Mi Mickle, of Sussex, and an
other if we really wanted five.”
“What shape are the negotiations
now in?”
“They are supposed to be still under
consideration.”
“Where do you propose to get the
money?”
"What money?”
“The price fixed by Edmunds?”
“My dear sir,” said Reading, who by
this time was still more nervous- than at
the beginning of the interview, “I never
had the slightest intention of making
such a contract.” Then as a new
; thought struck him, he said:
“It was all a jolly on my part. Ed
monds came to me with the proposition
and I just let him think that I was going
into the deal. I wanted to have some
fun and wished to see how far he’d go.”
“No sir,” he continued, as still an
other thought came, “the Republican
leaders wouldn’t give a cracker for all
the votes that Mr. Edmunds controls.
They are satisfied with the situation as
it is.”
“Did you consult with any of the
other Republican leaders about this?”
“Ah—no, not one.”
“Why not?”
“Oh, I knew they wouldn’t take any
stock in such business.”
At the conclusion of the interview Mr.
Reading repeated his statement that he
had been only having fun with Ed
munds, and he nervously and anxiow’y
tried to convince The World correspond
ent that he had never had a serious
thought about the matter.
To Save the
Nbw York, Feb. 24. The Merritt
Wrecking company, has submitted a
proposition to the navy department to
save the wreck of the corvette Kear
sarge. Secretary Merritt said that he
was waiting for a response to his offer
from the secretary of the navy. He says
the bid is very low.
Ohio Democrat* Make a Choice.
New York, Feb. 24.—A special from
Hamilton, Ohio, says the Democrats
have decided on Paul J. Sarg, the to
bacco king of Ohio, as their candidate
for congress to succeed the late Repre
sentative Houk. Bourke Cockran,
Chairman Wilson and Senator Brice
will speak for him. Reed, McKinley,
Sherman •and Foraker will be the Re
publican speakers.!
Another World’s Fair Building Gone.
Chicago, Feb. 24.—Fire was discov
ered in the dome of the agricultural
building at the World's Fair grounds,
and soon spread to all parts of the roof.
The dome was entirely destroyed and ’
building ruined. The monetary lose .4
practically nothing.