Newspaper Page Text
I the morning NEWS, 1
J Established 1850. Incorporated 1888. -
I J. 11. ESTILL, President. )
A SWARM OF TARTY SPIES
OUTLINE OF THE BILL FOR SUPER
VISING ELECTIONS.
It Coni os from the Committee Strictly
a Party Measure—The Democrats of
th 9 Committee Opposed to it to a
Man in Every Detail—The Measure
Entirely a New One.
Washington, April 34.—The federal
election bill reported by Senator Hoar to
day from the privileges and elections com
mittee is a very elaborate measure, and
provides with great detail and minuteness a
scheme of national supervision of elections.
It differs widely from the Lodge bill, and it
is essentially a government supervisory
measure. The bill is strictly a party
measure as it is reported by the
committee, the democratic members being
utterly opposed to the measure, both in de
tail and as a whole. The republican mem
bers of the committee reserve the right to
offer amendments to the bill. It provides
that the chief supervisors of elections now
in office, their successors and such chief
supervisors as may hereafter bo appointed,
shall be charged in their respective judicial
districts, both in person and through the
supervisors of election who may be ap
pointed, with the supervision ot congres
sional elections, with the enforcement of
the national election laws and with the pre
vention of fraud and irregularities in natu
ralization.
HOW THEY MAY BE CALLED ON.
Whenever in any city having 20,000 in
habitants or upward, or in any congres
sional district not in such city, 100 or more
qualified voters shall petition the ohief su
pervisor, alleging that there is danger that
unless the election is guarded it will not be
fair and free, the chief supervisor shall
forthwith forward a petition to the United
.States circuit judge for the district, there
upon, it shall be the duty of the judge to
open the court for the purpose of trans
acting all business pertaining to regis
tration or election matters as may, by
any United States law there be transacted.
The court when so open shall bo always
open for the transaction of such business
until the second day succeeding the election,
and the judge may exercise his powers
either in oiien court or in chambers. Any
male citizen of good character, a voter in
the district, and able to read and write the
English language shall be eligible to ap
pointment as an election supervisor.
POWER OF THE SUPERVISORS.
These supervisors are given full power to
inspect the ballot-boxes, make a return of
the registration and verify the registry lists,
canvas the ballots and certify to the re
turns. Whenever the supervision of an
entire congressional district shall be peti
tioned for the fact shall be published by the
chief supervisor in at least two papers in
the district. Thereupon on the day of elec
tion the state or local election officers in
each election district shall present to the
supervisors of elections in their districts
the statement heretofore required to be
made. The supervisors shall compare these
returns with their own canvass. If they
find them to be correct they shall so certify,
iu duplicate, and if incorrect shall certify
in what particulars and also state all the
facts within their knowledge bearing upon
the fairness of the election. Minute and
elaborate directions are provided for with
regard to the inclosure, sealing and mailing
of these duplicate statements, one to the
United States board of canvassers, here
after provided, and the other to the circuit
court clerk for the district.
THE BOARD OK CANVASSERS.
This board of canvassers is to consist of
three persons of good repute, to be ap
pointed by the United States circuit judge,
upon receiving from the chief supervisor of
elections a petition requesting supervision
of the entire district, but not more than
two of them shall belong to the same polit
ical party.
In" short, the entire machinery for con
ducting an election is provided in the bill,
and every contingency that might arise is
anticipated. The bill provides that when
ever it shall appear by affidavit that errors
have occurred in the determination of any
board of canvassers the circuit court may
require the board to correct such errors, or
show cause why correction should not be
made; and where the board shall have been
dissolved it may require it to reconvene.
PENALTIES PROVIDED.
Every person charged with any duty with
regard to any election of a member of con
gress, who shall wilfully and for the purpose
of affecting the eleotion commit any fraud
thereon, shall be liable on conviction to a
fine of not exceeding $5,000 or to imprison
ment not exceeding five years, or both.
The same penalty is provided for bribery or
attempted bribery of voters.
The Australian ballot system finds no
place in the provisions of the bill, except
that it is provided that no state shall be
pi evented by the provisions of the bill from
printing ballots at the public expense, or
providing regulations to screen each voter
from observation and to keep his vote
sebret. Whenever an election of a member
of congress is held at the same time with
the eleotion of any other officer there shall
be upon each box for which the ballots for
members of congress are cast a suitable
label or inscription.
THE REPUBLICANS DIVIDED.
It is more and more evident that it will
he difficult, if not impossible, for the repub
licans to pass a national election law In spite
of the declarations in favor of it made by
the President and all the party leaders in
congress with rare exceptions. The an
nouncement by Chairman Rowell of the
committee on elections in the House repub
lic n caucus last night, that he had a
national election law which he preferred to
Mr. Lodge’s split the republicans of the
House in two, so that it will be hard to get
them together again.
HOW THEY STAND.
The best of those who believe that there
should be some legislation favor Mr. Lodge’s
bill on account of the Australian ballot
feature. The rest favor Mr. Rowell's
scheme, which is like that embodied in the
bill finally reported to-day by the House for
the majority of the Senate committee on
elections extending and strengthening the
supervisor system so as to put a ‘‘Johnny”
Havenport in every congressional district,
ihe House bill, which is twenty-five printed
pages long, has no other recognition for the
main feature of Mr. Lodge’s bill except the
gracious permission in the last few lines to
the states to adopt the Australian system if
they wish.
hoar’s BILL THE MOST SIMILAR.
This is, of course, just so much more than
“t® be found in either Mr. Chandler’s or
Mr. Sherman’s bill, but nevertheless Mr.
Hoar’s bill is more like theirs than like Mr.
Lodge’s. It is interesting to note that Mr.
Hoar’s bill is the administration measure,
een submitted to and approved by
the President, but this will make no particu
iar difference in its consideration. With
all this real difference of ODioion it will take
more than the ipse dixit of President Har
rison to bring ahout harmonious action.
PLACED ON THE CALENDAR.
The bill was placed on the Senate
calendar. Wben Mr. Hoar reported it
Mr. Pugh said: “Mr. President, as a
member of tim committee on privileges and
f|l)t IKO tiling |
elections, I desire to say that the favorable
report of this bill was opposed by every
democratic member of the committee. The
minority members of the committee regard
the bill as revolutionary in its character.
It substantially wipes out the regulation of
congressional elections by the states (that has
existed for a century) without any demand
from the people for the change, and without
any public necessity for the change. It ap
points republican supervisors to oversee
state officers, thereby insultiDg and degrad
ing these state officers.”
The Vice President—Debate is onlv in
order by unanimous consent.
Mr. Allison—l hope that unanimous con
sent will be given.
PROSTITUTES THE JUDICIARY.
There being no objection, Mr. Pugh con
tinued: “It prostitutes the judiciary of
the United States to political and partisan
uses. It is subversive of the fundamental
principles of local self-government. If the
bill becomes a law, its execution will in
sure the shedding of blood and the destruc
tion of the peace and good order of this
country. Its passage will be resisted by
every parliamentary method, and every
method allowed by the constitution.”
Mr. Reagan asked Mr. Hoar what he
meant by saying that the bill was roported
as an original measure.
Mr. Hoar replied that the oommittee had
had a large number of election bills referred
to it, and that, Instead of reporting the bill
as an amendment to any of these it was
thought best to report it as an
original measure. He went on to say:
“It quite unusual to debate a
measure on its first introduction, and
I do not wish to depart from that usage;
but in view of the passionate statement
made by the senator from Alabama it is
proper to say that this bill is, in substance, a
modification and perfection of the svstem
which has been the law of the United States
for many years. The bill is but an assertion
of the constitutional power, expressly
asserted, that the United States may regu
late the manner of electing the members of
its own congress or alter regulations in a
state.”
SESSION OF THE SENATE.
The Revenue Marine—A Btatue of
Gen. John Stark.
Washington, April 24 —ln the Senate
this morning, on motion of Mr. Gray, the
House bill to transfer the revenue marine
service from the treasury department to the
navy department was again taken up for
consideration. The amendments reported
from the eommittee on naval affairs were
agreed to.
A STATUE OF GEN. STARK.
The Senate bill appropriating $50,000 for
an equestrian statue at Manchester, N. H.,
of Maj. Gen. John Stark was taken up and
passed by a vote of 87 to Ift.
Consideration of the revenue cutter bill
was resumed, but at 2 o'clock it was dis
placed by the land forfeiture bill. The for
feiture bill was read, and the committee
amendments, after explanation, wore agreed
to.
Consideration of the land forfeiture bill
occupied all the remainder of the afternoon.
A NEW SECTION OFFERED.
Mr. Walthall offered as an amendment to
the land forfeiture bill anew section con
firming the sales and entries of lan Is on the
line of the Gulf and Ship Island railroad in
Mississippi; and providing that, if the com
pany shall relinquish its claims to such
lands within sixty days, the forfeiture pro
vided in the bill shall not apply to it until
one year after the passage of the law. This
was agreed to.
Mr. Hoar offered asd n amendment a now
section that where a railroad has teen sold
or conveyed in thd state of Alabama for
state or county taxes, and where a grant
has been or may be forfeited tho tax pur
chasers shall have the prior right to pur
chaes such lands from the United States at
the government price.
Mr. Pugh opposed the amendment on the
ground that the tak sales alluded to were
illegal, that iands containing valuable tim
ber had been sold at mere nominal prices
(10 or 12 cents an acre) and had been pur
chased by Massachusetts capitalists, and
that they should not be put in a position to
purchase them now at government prices.
HOAR CARRIES HIS POINT.
Mr. Hoar said he should not press the
amendment against the objection of the
senator from Alabama. But the same
amendment had been inserted in the land
forfeiture bill of 1887 with the approbation
of the two senators from Alabama, and had
only failed to be carried into effect because
of a misconception in the land office.
He explained that the purchasers under
tax sales had previously been
purchasers of alternate sections) and
having thus become owners of both the odd
and even sections they hadgoneonand con
structed at a large expense a canal on which
to remove the timber. If they could not
have all the lands through which the canal
ran they would have of course to abandon
the whole thing. After further discussion,
Mr. Pugh withdrew his opposition to Mr.
Hoar’s amendment, and it was agreed to
(modified so as to make the government
price $2 50 an acre.)
Mr. Call offered an amendment declaring
forfeited tho grant of railroad lauds to the
states of Alabama and Florida in 1856,
with reservation of the rights of bona fide
purchases and settlers, and made a long
speech in explanation and advocacy of it.
Mr. Call did not conclude his speech, and
his amendment was still pending when the
Senate adjourned.
REPUBLICAN WHEEL HORSES.
The Executive Committee of the Na
tional Committee to Meet.
Washington, April 24.—1 tis announced
by authority here to-night that a call will
be issued to-morrow for a meeting of the
executive committee of the republican na
tional oommittee to be held in Washington
Wednesday May 7. The members of this
committee are M. S. Quay of Penn
sylvania. J. S. Clarkson of lowa,
W. W. Dudley of Indiana, J. Manchester
Haynes of Maine, Samuel Fessenden of Con
necticut, Garret A. Hobart of New Jersey,
J. Bloat Fassett of N@w York, A. L. Conger
of Ohio, George R. Davis of Illinois, and M.
H. DeYoung of California. There is one
vacancy, caused by the death of Col. Gcod
loe of Kentucky.
Pension Appropriations.
Washington, April 24.—The pension ap
propriation bill was reported to the Senate
to-day from the appropriations oommittee.
Tho only item in which it differs from the
bill as it passed the House is in an increase
from $220,000 to $250,000 of the appropria
tion for clerk hire at pension agencies.
Bond Purchases.
Washington, April 24.—The bond offer
ings to-day reached $312,300, all of which
were accepted at 142 for 4s and
for 4>£s. '
Missing Bonds Found.
Baltimore. April 24.-The legislative
oommitteo inquiring into the malfeasance
of ex-State Treasurer Archer discovered to
day missing registered bonds amounting to
over $56,000, which were supposed to have
been lost. The bonds were mixed with
other securities in the wrong box. The
defalcation tbvs remain* a flo~,ouu.
SPOILSMEN GET SAVAGE.
AN ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The Stab Aimed In the shape of an
Attempt to Kill the Commission by
Falling to Make Any Appropriation
for It—Tbe Debate a Lively One.
Washington, April 24.— The House this
morning went into committee of the whole,
with Mr. Payson of Illinois in the chair, on
the legislative appropriation bilL
The debate, as on the two previous days,
at once became political, and only inciden
tally recurred to the bill. In speaking to a
verbal amendment, Mr. Hooker ot Miss
issippi (in referring to the speech of Mr.
Kelley of Kansas) deprecated the idea
of holding a state and political
party responsible for outrages which may
be committed. He alluded to the assassina
tion of a colored man in Henry county,
Indiana, in February last. How would he
(Mr. Hooker) have looked if before the
House and country, he undertook to hold
the Republican party or state of Indiana
responsible for the murder! He was a friend
of the colored race, and be wished to pro
test against this race being ground between
the upper and nether mill-stones
of petty political trickery in the
struggle between the two great parties.
TApplause]. He was their real friend, not
their simulated friend. To say that the
white men of the south oppressed and assas
sinated the colored people was a vile slan
der upon them, as well as a vile slander
upon the bHck race. He insisted that the
party or parties, man or med, who under
took now to breed bad blood between the
old white people and tbe old black people of
the south, to the detriment, damage and de
struction of both, was neither true as a
patriot to his country, nor true as a Chris
tian to the obligations which rested upon
him to treat with good will and good feel
ing his brethern all over the earth. [Ap
plause.]
CONGRATULATED BY CANDLER.
Mr. Candler of Massachusetts, in reply
ing to the reference made by Mr. Hojker
to.Mossachusetts,congratulated that gentle
man on the tone and temper of his speech,
and tendered his congratulations to Mr.
Cothran of South Carolina for the tenor of
his remarks yesterday, declaring that they
stood in marked contrast with the doggerel
of another gentleman and tbe labored, long
drawn out speech of another gentleman.
When the clause appropriating salaries
for the civil service commission was
reached, Mr. Cummings of New York
made a point of order that it was not prop
erly in the bill. The commission was
neither legislative, executive, or judicial.
Mr. Cummings spoke at some length in an
attack upon the civil service commission,
and advocated its total abolition. Finally
his point of order was overruled.
Mr. Splnoladenounced the law as an infa
mous scheme, and an infamous imposition
ou the public. The whole country was op
posed to it, except here and there a scien
tific man. There were not ten men on the
floor who favored civil service reform.
A REPUBLICAN SUPPORTER.
Mr. Perkins of Kansas (republican) was
of the same opinion as Mr. Spinola, and he
added that he knew that the people of the
country generally were not in sympathy
with it.
Mr. Houk of Tennessee moved to strike
out the entire civil service paragraph.
[Applause.] He thought that it was not
proper at tnis time to make the appropria
tion. He was not here to oppose the highest
possible perfection to be attained in the
civil service of the government. Ho desired
that government employes, high and low,
should be selected by reason of their
merit; but the difference between
him and the professional civil service
reformers was that the latter divided man
kind into two classes—we, the saints and
pure people, and you, the spoilsmen and
rascals. He desired the government run on
business principles. He desired to see merit
recognized, but he did not believe in this
fifth wheel to a wagon.
Mr. Butterworth wished to limit the de
bate to one hour, remarking that appoint
ments could only be made through the civil
service commission.
NO NEED FOR HASTE.
Mr. Houk replied that there was no need
for haste. There were enough eligibles on
the list to last twenty-five years.
Mr. Butterworth said that that was as
incorrect as some of the gentleman’s other
statements. He warned the gentlemen on
his side not to make this hypocritical pa
rade. Mr. Butterworth moved that the
debate close in one hour.
Mr. McMiliin of Tennessee moved to make
it two hours, and this was agreed to by a
vote of 105 to 85.
Mr. Houk then completed his speech, de
claring that tho commission was under
indictment and that no appropriation
should be made until the committee
charged with its investigation made its re
port.
patronage snouLD GO.
Mr. Moore (rep.) of New Hampshire an
nounced himself as a civil service reformer
without disguise aud without qualification.
He believed thoroughly that every element
of patronage, no matter how high or how
low, should be eliminated from any con
nection with the American House of Repre
sentatives.
Mr. Biggs of California (dem.) denounced
the civil service law, contending that an
administration should have its friends in
office. The law was conoeived in sin and
brought forth in iniquity. Pendleton
was its father, Curtis was its granny, and
Dorman Eaton was its nurse and clout
washer.
Mr. Lehlback of New Jersey would not
discuss now whether the commission should
be abolished or not. The House should have
waited until the report of the committee of
investigation came in. It would be cow
ardly on the part of the House to abolish
the commission in this way.
A COWARDLY ATTEMPT.
Mr. McComas of Maryland said that this
was a cowardly attempt to nullify existing
laws, and the Republican party had never
been a party of nullification. This back
door way of attacking the civil service
commission by attempting to starve it out,
was mean and cowardly, dishonorable aud
unworthy the great party which had won
victory on a promise to fulfil 1 its pledges
after the Democratic party had failed to
keep theirs.
Mr. Stockdale of Mississippi was in favor
of striking out the clause because he be
lieved that the appropriation was simply a
waste of money. Bo far as tho working of
the commission had developed itself it was
perfectly powerless to do any good.
Mr. Cutcheon of Michigan was opposed
to the motion at the present time, and in
its present form, and he was opposed to the
abolition of the present civil service com
mission at any time or in any form.
NOT IN GOOD TIME.
Mr. Hemphill of Booth Carolina thought
that it was unfortunate tbat tbe discussion
should have taken the turn it had. Civil
service was under examination; the com
missioners were under examination, and no
action to abolish the commission should be
taken until tbe committee had made its
report.
Mr. McKinley earnestly opposed the
SAVANNAH, GA., FRIDAY APRIL 25, 1890.
motion to strike out tbe appropriation. His
only regret was that tbe appropriations com
mittee did not give the civil service com
mission all the appropriation it asked for
tne enlargement of tho civil service.
If the Republican party of this country
was pledged to one single thing more than
another, it was tbe maintenance of the civil
service law. Every national platform of
the Republican party for the past twelve
years had declared for a continuance and
enlargement of the merit system. It was
only according to the best sentiments of the
Republican party throughout the United
States. Aye. more; it was sustained by the
best sentiment of the whole country alike;
and there was not a man on the floor
that did not know tbat there was
a party in tho country, democrat or repub
lican, that had the courage to repeal the
law. Now, when the Republican party was
in control of all the branches of the govern
ment. it was proposed to virtually repeal
this law, when, for four years during the
democratic administration, nobody on the
republican side had the temerity to rise in
his place and ask for the nullification of the
law. They thought it good enough for a
democratic administration, and he said to
his republican frleuds that it was good
enough for a republican administration.
The Republican party must take no back
ward step. The merit system was here and
here to stay.
BUTTERWORTH STANDS BY M’KIXLEY.
Mr. Butterworth indorsed every word
his colleague had said. Nothing savored
more of monarcial forms than the spoils
system. Could it be that men stood here
not representatives of the people, but repre
sentatives of political bummers, who be
came stronger than free, intelligent men *
Members expected to retain their places not
upheld by the virtue and intelligence of the
constituency they represented, but by gath
ering retainers, packing conventio is, and
using all the agencies thereunto appertain
ing. The Republican party had gone out
of power ou that issue. It was in power to
day because it had passed the civil service
law and had indorsed the merit system.
Mr. Hopkins of Illinois said that in mak
ing this motion tho gentleman from Ten
nessee (Mr. Houk) was out of joint with the
sentiment of bis party as expressed iu the
national platform.
AN INDIRECT STAB.
Mr. Hill of Illinois characterized the mo
tion to strike out the appropriation as an
effort to do by indirection what neither of
the great political parties had had the desire
or courage to do openly. The House was
not asked to repeal tbe civil service law, but
to violate tbat law. The law requires ap
pointments to be made under the rule of the
commission, yet it was propoted to deprive
the commission of the sinews of war.
“Repeal the law,” exclaimed Mr. Biggs of
California.
“Very well,” replied Mr. Hill, “but bri-g
in a bill to that effect. Do it directly.”
Mr. Spinola charged that bills to repeal
tbe law had been smothered in committee.
He believed that if they could be brought
before the House, a majority of tho mem
bers would so far respect the wishes of the
people, as to vote for them aud condemn
this un-American scheme.
GREENHALGE A REFORMER,
Mr. Greenhalge of MassachfLetts re
greted t hat this discussion bad been precip
itated upon the House at tbii time, when
the civil service commission was being
investigated by tho House committee. He
stood here as a civil service reformer, if he
wet e only oue of a dozen in this House. He
had not expected to be called upon to de
fend a principle in which he believed there
was life, energy and imm reality. He bad
not expected to ho called upon to defend
what he supposed had been written into the
political law of the Republican party. He
had not expected to hear attacks from tho
other side, when he remembered tbat the
same principle bad beon written into the
democratic platform. Were gentlemen to
stand here as mere hypocrites and humbugs
and say that when they wrote this princi
ple in their party platforms they did not
mean it. That it]waa for bunoom'.e, for a
sentimental declaration? Unfortunately
for him, he had been placed in such a posi
tion as to awaken violent political feeling,
but he did not believe that;wben the Demo
cratic party wrote that principle into its
platform they were hypocrites and
liars. He surely did not believe it of the
Republican party. Yet there were men sit
ting here who said it was meant for oun
combe and sound. He could tell why it
was put there. The partv put it there be
cause the politicians attending the conven
tion heard the voice of the American people
demanding that it should be put there.
They never put anything there except for
business, and because it was gomg to do
some good with the voting people
of the country. It was encouraging
to hear direct and manly attacks
on the principle and on the man
ner in which it was carried out.
He liked to hear charges of violation under
the last and present administration. It
meant the health and salvation of the law.
It had been written into the political law of
both parties and upon the statute books.
THE QUESTION AT ISSUE.
The question was whether the law should
be amended, repealed or revised. But let
not men go skulking in assassin fashion to
stab the law and principle in tbe back. The
gentlemen could not afford to take
that position. Let them stand like
men and defend principles. He believed
the proper thing tn do now was to pass this
appropriation bill and to execute the law as
long as it remained upon the statute books.
[Applause],
Sir. Coleman of Louisiana was opposed to
civil service reform: and he felt justified in
striking it whenever and wherever he could.
mr. Blount’s argument.
Mr. Blount of Georgia asserted that the
young men of the country—the stalwart
youth—were not disbarred from public
service by an examination intended to test
their intelligence. The law was enacted by
congress and afterward indorsed by both
political parties in their platforms. There
were gentlemen on his side—witnesses In
number—who knew that President Cleve
land had enforced the law; they
knew hpw many republican em
ployes bad been retaioed in
tbe government service. The republicans
possessed every means to give a perfect ad
ministration of tbe law, yet they proposed
to withdraw the appropriation for the sup
port of the commission. The majority of
this House would be held responsible.
Mr. Henderson of lowa said that there
was truth ih Mr. Blount’s declaration that
the republican majority would be responsi
ble, but the democrats also had their meas
ure of responsibility. Civil service reform
had come to stay, and the political party
that diverted it would not stay iu power,
and ought not. It was not
true that this administration had not en
forced the law. Benjamin Harrison, with
an integrity that no party could dislodge,
with a courage that never yielded in any
battle, bad enforced the law,and was enforc
ing it, “and that’s what is the matter with
the boys. If be had failed to enforoe it there
would not be so mnch kicking on the Lack
seats. I don’t want to go back to the old
spoils system. I want to get farther away
from it. I don’t want to become a lackey,
for the snoils system.”
When* it came to a vote tbe motion to
strike out was lost by 61 to 129.
Pending further action, the committee
rose and the House at 5:30 o’clock ad
journed.
BAYOU SARA’S BIG FLOOD
STEAMERS RESCUING THE IM
PERILED PEOPLE.
Hundreds of Lives Endangered Be
fore the Arrival of the Boata—Men,
Women, Children and Farm Ani
mals Huddied Together on tbe Stripe
of Dry Land.
New Orleans, April 34.—A special to
the Daily States from Bayou Sara, La.,
says: "The belief steamer Dacotab reached
Bayou Sara landing yesterday evening.
She has made a trip to Pointe ’Uoupee, aud
has come back to Bayou Sara. Her arrival
was a godsend to the people, whose Uvea
were in jeipardy, for she has not only al
ready saved an incalculable amount of
property, but a goodly number of Uvea
Tbe condition of things in the overflowed
district is just coming to light. No pen is
equal to the task of picturing the devasta
tlon of the country or the desolation of the
people. The entire front ot Pointe Coupee is
under water. More of tho levee has gone.
HUNDREDS OF LIVES IN JEOPARDY.
The water bock of the levee is so deep
now that hundreds of lives are in jeopardy.
The small stretches of the levee still stand
ing are crowded with men, women and
children, side by side witn horses, mules
and cows. In an old raised gin house 500
negroes were found huddled together.
Their condition was pitiable. They were
afraid of their lives, aud were piteously beg
ging to be taken to some place of safety.
ALLENDALE’S CREVASSE.
Tbe crevasse at Allendale will overflow
thirty of tile finest plantations ou the river.
It will reach tue Teche country several days
in advance of the Mnrganza water ami CoL
Rivers say ; when this water j fins with tho
Morganza it will flood the entire Atcha
falayn, La Fourcbe and Teche counties.
Tbe damage is incalculable. The distress in
the overflowed district cauuot ba told. The
Texas and Pacific boat, E. B. Whealock,
succeeded yesterday in saving 200 people
from tlio back country around Morganza.
RUIN AND DESOLATION.
“Ruin aud desolation moots the eye on
every ride in Pointe Coupee parish. The
destruction is complete, not a plantation is
left above the waeer and not a levee is un
broken, while hundetds of families are
homeless. Thousands of heads of stock
have been drowned, and from the meager
reports received from tho interior it is quite
probable that human life has been sacrificed
to the flood. Standing on the deck of the
relief steamer Dacotah as she passed down
within fifiy yards of the flooded district last
evening, .he full extent of the disaster
could be seen. Grouping together in little
knolls between the broken love- s through
which the water rushed with ungovernable
fury were scores of people, both white and
black, some with babios in arms, while
others had dogs secured by a cord. Many
of them had nothing else in the world
except the clothes they wore on their backs.
Whenever the Dac t:h discovered a scene
like this the siago was swung out and
the stricken ones taken aboard.
CATTLE STARVING.
“Equally as sad a scene was the poor cat
tle standing in the water, actually starving.
Many of them had not tasted food in days.
Their gaunt forms contrast* i strangely with
their surroundings. The Dacotah was un
able to handle cattle yesterday. But to
day her boiler deck is a first-class stock pen.
“A family named Luke, who resided sev
eral miles above Bayou Bara, were rescued
this morning. There were fifteen people in
the family. Monday morning they were
prosperous, baing the owners of a large
plantation, a well-equipped store and over
100 head of stack. To-day nothing remains
above water but the eaves of their resi
de ices. A crevasse sixty feet wide broke
directly in front of their house at noon
Monday, and the family bad a lively time
to reach the levee before six feet of water
covered the place. The crevasse is now 40.)
feet wide. There are hundreds of such tales
to be told.
THE WORK OF RESCUE.
“Tbe Dacotah is a busy boat to-day.
After discharging her lumber and otner
material at Grand Bay she proceeded di
rectly to the old river and rescued 200 head
of cattle tbat had been in the swamp for
four days. Coming down, stock and people
were picked up everywhere, and when the
Dacotah reached Bayou Bara she had 1,000
head of cattle a.d nearly 500 people on
board. They were landed ad the boat
immediately left ou a return voyage. The
D .cotah is doing excellent work mid not
only is she blessed on every side but the
corporation which sent her as well.
“Maj. Martin Glinn, president of the
police jury, accompanies the boat on her
errand of mercy. Referring to their efforts
to hold the levee he said it was a hard fight
but thoy had lost. He cannot estimate the
damage, but says that thirteen parishes will
be overflowed. The crevasses now number
thirteen.
“At Grand Bay last night men were
busily engaged in an effort to hold the
Paten dyke, an immense earthwork that
protects ten large plantations iu lower
Pointe Coupeo from the flood. It rained
ail day yesterday and last night, but the
river is falling. The worst has come In
Pointe Coupee, and the j<eoplo are resigned.
It was a bitter light all round, but the
river got the best of it. Maj. Glinn last
night received a check for SSOO from the
police jury of Terre Bonne parish for the
benefit of the sufferers.”
A BREAK AT POINT PLEASANT.
United States Engineer Douglass tele
graphs that tho Point Pleasant levee in
Tensas parish gave way this morning.
Point Pleasant is twenty-three milos below
Vicksburg, and the levee there is one of the
most important on the Tensas front.
BEAUFORT’S REGISTRATION.
On* of the Men Interested Fears an
invasion from Georgia.
Charleston, S. C., April 34.—W. J.
Whipper of Beaufort turned up here to-day
with an affidavit in the matter of tbe arrest
of the state supervisor of registration of
Beaufort county, which has set everybody
laughing, The affidavit says that it is im
possible to havo the preliminary hearing at
Hardeeville, because the witnesses are in
timidated, and that a regiment of soldiers
from Georgia are expected to be preient,
and be asks that the hearing be hod at
Charleston. Judge Bimonton granted an
order to tbat effect. The charge against
the supervisor is that he did not open the
books on the first Monday in Mky.
Vote of the Presbyteries.
New York, April 24 .—The Independent
this week publishes the returns of the vote
in the PresDyterian church on the revision
of the confession of faith from 170 presby
teries. Of these 110 vote for revision, fifty
five against, and five do not vote at all.
Forty-four presbyteries are yet to be heard
from.
Tbe Saxton BilL
Albany, N. Y., April 24. — The Senate
recalled from the Assembly the Saxton
ballot reform bill, and again passed it,
changing it so as to agree with the amended
Baxton bill which was agreed upon last
Friday by Mr. Baxton and others.
DEATH INTHEPLAMSa
An Explosion at a Plre at Catasauqua
Costs Two Lives.
Catasauqua, Pa., April34.—At Bo’clock
this morning lire was discovered in the large
new building owned and occupied by the
Unicorn Silk Manufacturing Company of
New York, with offices at Nos. 33 and 85
Greene street. An alarm was quickly
sounded, but owing to the early hour the
fire companies, which are composed of vol
unteers, responded slowly. The workmen
employed in the different furnaces, tacto
ries and mills, were under the impres
sion that the whistles were calling
them to their [days’ work, ana
did not respond until the fire bad been
burning about twenty minutes. Upon
their arrival at the scene of the conflagra
tion considerable difficulty was experienced
in securing water for the ttro engines.
BUILT ON A BLUFF.
The mill wan built on a bluff overlooking
the Lehigh Coal aud Navigation Company’s
canal and the I-ehigh river, half a
mile from the town. They ran their
engines down the hill on the other aide to
the canal and soon bad two streams of
water on the building, which at this time
was a mass of flames. In spite of the in
tense heat the firemen worked like beavers
in the hope of saving the store rooms and
engine house, and at that piaae a
catastrophe occurred which has thrown this
quiet town into a state of intense excite
ment and cast a gloom over the entire
neighborhood. While the firemen and
others were working hard to control the
fire an explosion ot vitriol and other acids
occurred, and before the firemen could es
cape, several were caught by the falling
walls and many were injured by flying
debris.
DIGGING OUT THE CORPSES.
The following were soon taken from the
ruins:
John Good, aged 27, a prominent young
married man. killed by falling walls.
James Ledigiana, an Italian, a boss
dyer, killed by falling walls.
It is belloved that there are two more
corpses lu the ruins.
MANY PERSONS WKRK INJURED.
The fire is supposed to have been caused
by spontaneous combustion in one Of the
packing rooms.
At 11 o’clock the flames were under con
trol.
The loss on the building is $50,000, on the
machinery $35,000 and on the stock $25,000.
The loss is partially covered by insurance.
OIL REFINERIES ABLAZE.
London, April 24.—Fire broke out in the
oil refineries at Backside, J/OOdon, last
night and caused damage amounting to
£13,000. _ .
SILVER BCH&MER3.
The Now Republican Measure Full of
Danger.
Washington, April 24.—The President
will sign the republic in silver bill. He ha*
been very careful to say nothing publicly
for or against the Witidom bill, or any
other silver proposition. He left his Secre
tary of the Treasury to fight the free silver
men all alone. Secretary Windom did not
choose the wisest way of fighting them, per
haps, but still he did stand up and fight.
It has been given out, more or lew, vaguely
that the secretary hail the sympathy of tho
President in his efforts to save the country
from free silver, but this was never con
firmed officially; henoa,4Je free silver
men, who in spite of letter* Mottling the
Senate, to-day feel that they huvo won a
greit victory aud expoot the to
ratify it, although tho Secretary of the
Treasury would tell him, as he probably
will, that the scheme agreed upon by the
republican caucus Is tho most dangerous yet
proposed as affording the greatest (agility
to the speculators to corner silver anil
squeeze the treasury, as they are now pre
paring to da
Senator Teller has introduced us a substi
tute for the Jones silver bill, a bill provid
ing for unrestricted coinage ot gold and
Bllver.
Chairman Conger of the coinage com
mittee to-day Introduced in tho House tho
sliver bill agreed upon by the republican
caucus last night, ft was referred to the
coi age committee, which will have a
fpecial meeting to-morrow to act upon the
bill.
AN ANTI-JEWISH BIOT.
Eleven of the Rioters Hilled Before
Troops Could Disperse Them.
Vienna, April 24. — A serious anti-Semite
demonstration has occurred at Baiilia,
forty-five miles southwest of Carow. About
4,000 persons made an attack upon the
Jewish quarter and wrecked and sacked a
number of dwellings and shops. Troops
were called out to disperse the rioters, but
did succeed in restoring order before eleven
men were killed and many injured.
Later reports from Biala show that the
first statement regarding the number of
persons killed was exaggerated. Only
three of the rioters were killed and twelve
wounded. The troops at first ustd blank
cartridges, but as this did not result in dis
persing the mob, ball cartridges were used.
Ten of tho leaders of the rioters were ar
rested and will tried.
Ninety-five per cent, of the striking coal
miners in the Ostran district have resumed
work.
LABOR DAY IN GERMANY.
Berlin, April 24.—1 t has finally been
decided that the government will remain
neutral in regard to the labor demonstra
tion May 1. The police, however, have
been ordered to take tha strictest precau
tions to protect men who work on that day
from interference and to suppress ail illegal
demonstrations.
AGITATORS AT WORK.
Los don, April 25, 3a. m.— The Stand
ard’n Vienna correspondent says: “Foreign
agitators have been at Biala several days
inciting the mob against the Jews. Women
inflamed with drink excited the men against
the troops. Uneasiness is felt throughout
Austria/’
ITS ORIGIN A MYSTERY.
Later dispatches from Biala say that the
origin of the outbreak is a mystery. There
is no strike in progress and nothing is known
to have occurred that could have given rise
to the disorders. The rioters were armed
with pickaxes and pressed the military hard.
Two revolver shots were fired at the
captain in command of the troop < t and the
soldiers then charged arnid a shower of
stones and bottles from the windows and
roofs of the neighboring bouses. The bay
onets failing to frighten the now infuriated
mob the troops were ordered to load with
ball cartridges, and two rounds were fired.
The mob broke under the fire and dispersed
in all directions. Ten of the rioters are so
badly wounded that their reoovery is doubt
ful.
Fresh strikes are reported at Prost-Nitz,
Innsbruck, Moran, Graz, Marburg, Znaim,
and Steyur. The papers are appealing
against the determination of the bakers to
raise their prices.
A Eplit in France's Ministry.
Paris. April 24. —1 tis rumored that there
are serious dissensions in the french minis
try, and an early collapse of the cabinet is
feared.
4 DAILY.SIO A YEAR, I
4 SC2NTSA COPY. >
| WEEKLY.I.B3AYEAB. |
BALFOUR UNDER FIRE.
GLADSTONE AGAIN OPENS HIS
GUNS ON THE LAND BILL.
It Complicates Without Solving tha
Difficulty—The Ex-Premier also Op
posed to Saddling ths British Tax
payer With the Burden Proposed
by the Bill.
London, April 24. —Mr. Gladstone re
sumed the debate on the land purchase bill
in the House of Commons this evening.
He said he was opposed to the bill under an
overwhelming conviction that It compli
cated without undertaking to solve the
difficulty. He had been encouraged to hope
for a solution by Lord Salisbury's declaring
that the measure would not impose a bur
den upon the British taxpayer. He was
disappointed, however, when Secretary
Balfour Informed the house that the meas
ure pledged the country to the extent of
£83,000,000, without mentioning the possi
bility of further amounts being asked.
Regarding Mr. Parnell’e plan i*
was new in principle. Its general
purpose was clear, but he was not certain
that be comprehended the details. [Con
serve lve laughter.] It was honorable—■
even chivalrous—ln Mr. Parnell, opposing
the government ae he did, to deem it proper
to propose an alternative. He strongly
sympathized with one object of Parnell’s
plan, whereby landlords would not be ex
patriated, but would be retained. It would
be a sorrowful conclusion of the life of tha
landlord class If, when local government
was established In Ireland, they aid not taka
part in adjusting affairs.
DUBIOUS POINTS.
Secretary Balfour’s bill presented *
number of dubious points which made it
difficult to discern fully the character of
the measure. Some of the prop isals were
so obviously objectionable as to Justify
their rejection. A bill of tins kind ought
to be confined to landlords already in pos
session. It should not encourage landlord*
to become buyers of land in order
to taks ail vantage of the enormous
bonus offered, rHear! Hear!] The provision
respecting two years arrears also required
a justification which it would be difficult to
flud [Cheers], Another objection cutting
near tho root of tho bill, was the method for
ascertaining the net rent of lund. It was so
bad that it would enable a landlord to
obtain compensation - upon a largo mass of
income that ha bad never reoeived. [Hear!
Hear!). There was to be no
charges for management, for rent, the ex
panse# of eviction nor of bad debts with
the other charges necaasarily falling upon
landlords. The effect of this was that they
might be giving, instead ot seventeen year®
purchase, twenty or twenty-five years.
CONSTITUTIONAL OBJECTIONS.
Coming to what he called the constitu
tional objections, any one of which formed
an absolute reason against the second read
ing of the measure, he urged it was
obvious that Ireland opposed the measure
in view of the fact that live-sixth* of tha
Irish members deliberately aud determinedly
oppose it, [cheers], as the government waa
going to make Ireland it* debtor, it was im
portant to consider what was the attitude of
the persons about to be subjected to the
debt. If they decline to recogDize the
binding character of the obligation, protest
ing that the country did not get value for it®
money, rvas it prudent to force the measure
upon the people? Was it possible to im
agine the government imposing a similar
measure upon .Scotland and in defiance of
the protest of sixty out of seventy Scotch
members? [Cheers], Ha objected also to
the use of British credit. He did not enter
tain an extreme view about the use of Brit
ish credit, but he thought that the govern
nment was preclude! 1 from large application®
of that oredit for the purchase ot land. The
last goneral election sottled the question.
In conclusion he said: “I feel it to be my
absolute duty to protest against principles
of so flagrant a character and so tending to
embark the country in immense pecuniary
risks while making the land purchase, not
an aim in the settlement in the general
Irish problem, but a means to further
plunge us into the deepest political embar
rassment.”
80SCHEN REPLIES.
Mr. Goeohen said that Mr. Gladstone’®
contention that the tenants would be de
prived of the benefits intended for them
destroyed Mr. Morley’s argument that non
purchasing tenants jwould agitate to get
their rent® lowered to the same scale as
purchasers’ rent. In regard to obtaining
the consent of the Irish members, it would
be seen, if the bill passed, with whom
the tenants were more satisfied, tha
unionists, who supported the bill,
or the Parnellites, who opposed
it. [Cheers.] The latter objected to tha
Ashbourne act, but the tenants did not, and
the present bill amplified the Ashbourna
act. It required an enormous effort of the
imagination to conceive of an analogous
case In Scotland. It could only exist 1$
Mr. Gladstone and other Sootoh members
should stump Scotland, advising them noB
to pay rents to Lord Rosebery and other
landlords. [Laughter.] He appealed to’
the Ho ise not to allow political opinions to
warp their judgment on the bill.
Messrs. Russell, Dillon, and other* also
discussed the bilk
France’s Imprisoned Pretender.
Paris, April 34.—1 tis stated that the
Duke of Orleans, now imprisoned at Clair- j
vaux for returning to France in violation of
the law banishing from the country all
pretenders to the throne and their heirs, has
refused tho proffer of bis liberty made by
the government, owing to the conditions
imposed. It is expected that the duke will
be married while undergoing his imprison
ment.
Revelry by Night at Brussels.
Brussels, April 24. — The ball given last
night in aid of the African Society, which
was attended by the king and queen and
Mr. Stanley, was a brilliant one. Among
other prominent persons at the ball were
the Countess of F.auders, sister-in-law of
the king, the members of the Belgian min
istry and all the leading diplomat® in Brus
sels.
Racing at baudown Parle.
London, April 24.— The second spring
meeting of the Sandown Park Club opened
to-day. The Prinoess of Wales handionp,
five furlongi, was won by Lord Randolph
Churchill’s 4-year-old L. Abhsse de Jouarre;
Capt. Mosenthall’s 5-yoar-old Admiral Ben
bow was second, and J. Hammond’s 5-year
old St. Symphorien was third.
Canada’s Modus Vivendi.
Ottawa, Ont., April 24.—1n the Hous®
of Commons to-day the bill extending tbs
modus vivendi with the United States for
another year passed its third and final read
ing. There was hardly anv opposition. The
bill is a copy of last year r s act with a few
changes. Licenses will be issued as soon as
the royal assent is given.
Carnot at Nice.
Paris, April 24. —President Carnot ar
rived at Nice to-day. He reviewed th®
troops this afternoon.
