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l THE MORNING NEWS. 1
1 Establishes! 1850.I*c<)poiuted1398. >
| J. H. ESTILL, President. f
I SOLID PHiLill
None of tie Speakership Lines
Yet Broken.
Crisp and Mills Both Still Sure
of Victory.
Springer's Seventeen Faithful Follow
ers to Stand By Him Till the End.
Each of the Secondary Candidates
Hopeful for a Break In Bis Favor.
Col. Livingston Anxious to bo the
Warwick of the Battle With the
Alliancemen as His Tools.
Washington, Deo. 6.— None of the
speakership candidates went to ohuroh this
morning. They were all too tired to get
up. Most of them bad not slept muoh Fri
day night, and, in spite of their anxiety,
most of them slept last night; and Mills, at
least, went to bed early this evening, after
taking a long walk. All the candidates are
still confident, or say they are,
of election, even Springer and
Hatch. Denuded of strength, as they
are now to-night, they all claim that combi
nations are to be made to-morrow which
will elect them. Apparently all that can
be slid for any one of them Is that he is
holding his own. From present indications
the strength of each on the first ballot to
morrow will be just about what it was on
the last ballot last night. Mills holds bis
91, Crisp his 94, Springer his 17, Mo-
Millin bis 19 and Stovens his 1,
and this, in spite of attempts
at combinations ever since noon,which have
kept the shepherds busy guarding their
flocks. The troublo with all the attemps at
combination was that McMillin, who with
his 19 votes holds the koy of the situation,
would nit combine to elect anybody but
himself, believing that to be the destined
outcome of the contest. The efforts of the
lea ling candidates to induce Springer and
Hutch to turn and support one or the other
had this difficulty to encounter. Springer or
llatoh could as out-ily get the oil necessary
and indispensable jsupport of MoMillin as
Mills or Crisp couid. Springer actually
figured out his own eleotion in an elaborate
calculation to-night which took votes from
b>th Mills and Crisp as well as from Hatch
and McMillin. Springer’s is now
17 and Hatch’s 5; they would divide about
half and half between Mills and Crisp if the
two minor camlidatos were out, giving
Mills, say 103 and Crisp say 105, and Me-
Milliu whoso men resolved to-night
to stand by him to tho last,
a<l who mean it, because
they think they will win, would still hold
tne key. Of course the danger of a dark
horse is present to the mind of every candi
date. If the deadlock lasts until noon, as is
feared by Mills and Crisp, unless one of
them can make a combination sooner,it will
of course go over until after the formal
meeting of the House for swearing in mem
bers, and so may last through tho after
noon. A determined and vigorous move
ment, started by the Mills men and backed
up by the Crisp men, would, if it was clev
erly sprung, nominate William L. Wilson,
for example.
LIVINGSTON WANTS TO BE A WARWICK.
The eight or nine Jerry Simpsonites are
in a kind of deadlock also, in spite of the
fact that after caucusing for several nights
at Senator Peffer’s room they last night
practically agreed to support Tom Watson
for speaker. The fact Is that the Simpson
ites, while professing entire independence
of the democratic caucus, hove been ooquet
iug with Col. Livingston of Georgia, who,
ambitious to bo the Warwick of the speak
erstiip contest, has boen endeavoring to
form a combination of democratic allinoco
moo from the south and west who, by
plumping their votes together to one of the
secondary candidates, would stampede the
caucus to him.
HATCH AT FIRST HIS CHOICE.
Mr. Hatch as the fanner par excellence
of the candidate was Col. Livingston's first
choice for this honor, but Mr. Hatch having
nut five votes has lost attract ventS3 to
Livingston, who now regards Mr. Mo-
Millin as the man for his demonstration.
He has apparently been hopeful that in
some way he could get the Simpsonites
into the democratic caucus and
ntillze their votes to advance
nis scheme and has been
keeping in tune with them for that purpose.
If they feel sure that they can get in, and
that being in they can havo the next speaker,
the Himpsonitos will drop Col. Watson and
independence and follow Col. Livingston
into the caucus, but Col. Livingston will
probably diseovor that in leaving Mr. Crisp,
he would only elect Mr. Mills.
EACH HARD AT WORK.
(By the Associated Press.)
Washington, Deo. 0. —The speakership
contest has lost none of its Interest within
the Inst twenty-four hours. Since the ad
journment of the causus last night, a
j*|'v minutes before midnight, more
than one member of congress has
forgotten sleep and rest in the tireless
struggle to promote the success of his favor
ite candidate. Night caucuses and early
“Bd late missions in pursuit of votes have
orn hard upon tho trusted lieutenants of
™in'L arioua candidates; but it is likely there
“I to no respite from the battle of politi
„ ‘HP'omaoy until tho meeting of the cau-
U m at o’clock to-morrow morning,
finds but little change in the
ativo strength of tho various candidates,
izens °f combinations have been at
mpted but they have generally fallen to
because of the general convic
ts .11 “ be thiuor candidates that they hold
me balance of power and that all trades and
, na k ,romi ® es should be rejected. Enormous
, al l day been brought to boar
MoMiir 16 of Messrs. Springer.
canHii 11 ? Hatch by the two leading
Imm .W ? ' n an effort to win accession
fai r.,1 ranks ' but they have signally
and it,?t ’'Re statement of the minor candi
lates themselves are to be relied upon.
springer's FAITHFUL seventeen.
Strioj. . ?T entfien followers, who will
Bnrm^, SOIU . te y . *? m 9t 0 tb " end.” said Mr.
to-night. "I have confideat
m* ,° f materlallv increasing
otinv r lng earl J r In the bal
nv'* to-morrow. Ail talk about
tV ae’r,^" 8 ° r w,thdrawa ' U ridiculous so
uni-. oonCor .ned. Every minor can
maate has more in the situation to give
Mm hope to-night than ho hodforty-efght
wTrmf 81 ? ,^ ,ore leot our friends,
puhlm'how Cnßp - Were showing the
Wasth.ilT ““thematically certain each
ballot nS T“ ld 00 sleeted on the second
Mexifilln d Hst W h the , force * f Messrs,
seek Vh-i. Hatoh ftnd m >' s lf were to
under ,°? tho °ond ballut
under the impetus of the laws of political
gflje Jlflfttinfl ffctog.
gravitation. Well, they have had exactly
ten hours of balloting, and both of these
gentlemen have not cnly failed of election,
but our forces have ‘gravitated’ to them so
little -hat they are each about twenty-five
votes short of election.
springer’s expectation.
Having failed to at sorb our following,
having failed of election on the second bai
l'd, or even after ten hours balloting, they
have demonstrated not only the inaccuracy
of their predictions ,but the weakness of their
position, I expect the leading candidates
to gradually decline after the first ballot
tomorrow. Each of course will endeavor
to make his beet showing on the first ballot
to-morrow in order to demonstrate appar
ent gains since the adjournment of the
caucus aud euoourage a stampede to his
candidacy. We are prepared for this, oud
tt e only stampede my supporters are ex
pecting is that which will come when the
friends of the other candidates flock to
Springer of Illinois.”
m’millin means to stick.
“You may say,” said Mr. MoMillin,
oheeriiy, "that I am in this fight until a
speaker is elected. There is everything in the
situation to encourage me and nothing to
discourage me. Both Messrs. Mills and
Crisp have shown their greatest strength,
and now I expect the tide to turn to
me, I have to-day received
not only renewed assurances of support of
those who stood by mo through yesterday’s
caucus, but also promises of support from
dozens of other gentlemen who aru to come
to me as their second ohoice when con
vinced of the inability of their favorite can
didate to win.”
1 ‘No candidate can make a combination
with me," said Mr. Hatch. "I am in this
fight to win, not to trade. I expect an in
creased vote on the first and all succeeding
ballots to-mdtrrow."
CRISP STILL CONFIDENT.
“I can only say to you,’’ said Mr. Crisp,
‘‘that I am still quite hopeful of success in
the speakership contest. lam not prepared
to siv that the matter will bo settled on the
first ballot to-morrow or that it will be set
tled at all to-morrow; but 1 expect to re
ceive the nomination when it is settled. Tho
claims of the minority candidates as to the
gains they expect to make are purely
speculative.”
Mr. Mills deolined to give an expression
and designated Mr. Bynum of Indiana as
his spokesman. “Weoro still confident of
winning,” said Mr. Bynum. “There is no
doubt that Mr. Mills is the second choice of
a largo majority of tho members
and when the break from the
other candidates comes he will be
a winner. We expect him to receive an in
creased vote on tho first ballot to-morrow
and then to advance steadily until he is
nominated. That result we expect to real
ize before the time of the mooting of the
Houso.”
M’MILLIN’S PHALANX.
The nineteen members who voted so
steadily for Mr. McMillin last night, and
who to-day doclare that they will support
him indefinitely, are his seven. colleagues
from Tennessee, Messrs. Richardson, Enloe,
Washington, Patterson. Cox, Snodgrass,
and Pierce; two members from Ken
tucky, Messrs. Stone and Goodnight;
three from Louisiana, Messrs. Price, Boat
ner and I.agan; two from Now York,
Messrs. Covert and Bunting; two from
Mississippi, Messrs. Stockdalo and Kyle;
one from Pennsylvania, Mr. Beltzhoover,
and two from Michigan, Messrs. Chip
man and OormaD.
The seventeen members who voted for
Mr. Springer on the last ballot and who
also promise to support him through the
prolonged contest are seven of his
Illinois colleagues, namely, Messrs.
Cable, Newberry, Snow, ’ Stewart,
Busey, Dubarrow and McGann; five
Indiana members, Messrs. Holman, Shively,
Martin, McClelland aud Patton; two from
Wisconsin, Messrs. Babbitt and Miller; one
from Nebraska, Mr. Bryan; one from Ohio,
Mr. Houk, and one from Michigan, Mr.
Stout.
GOTHAM’S BOMB THKOWE3.
A Cranky Friend of the Dead Man
Taken Into Custody.
New York, Dec. 6.—lnterest In the at
tempt to kill Banker Russell Sage with
dynamite Friday continued to-day by the
arrest of William D. South worth, the man
who sought to interest Harry Horne, the
dime museum lecturer, in an organization
for the general betterment of mankind by
the overthrowing of monopoly. It
was said yesterday that Southworth
had gone to Central America, but he
was found by Inspector Byrnes near the
city, and taken to polioe headquarters.
Southworth is undoubtedly a crank, and
confessed to Inspector Byrnes that be had
been an inmate of a luaatio asylum, Ha was
taken to tho morgue and shown tho head of
tho dynamiter but said he had never seen
it in life. In that particular he con
tradicted the story of Mr. Horne, who said
that the dead man introduced Southworth
to him at the museum two months ago.
SOUTHWORTII’S scheme.
V. B. Shaw called at police.headquarters
during the day and identified Southworth
as a man he bad met Oct. 9, on which
date there appeored in a morning paper the
following advertisement:
WANTED, a young man who has traveled
considerably, to act as advanoed agent
for a lecturer. Address MORRIS HOTEL, 4
West street.
Shaw wont to the place designated and
met Southworth, who unfolded a soheme
for the organization of a secret society with
branches in the larger cities. South
worth was to be the head of the
sooiety. The organization was to bo of
a political nature, aud should promulgate
the idea of getting the votes of tho people
to take away all telegraphs, railroads and
other monopolies from individuals and place
them in the hands of the general govern
men t.
In conversation he referred repeatedly to
Gould, Sage and other capitalists. They
had controlled things too long, he said. He
thought the people ought to bo able to go to
San Franoiseo for $\ aud thought three or
four meetings of the society to get the peo
ple inlerested would be necessary.
RGHTS OF BONDHOLDERa
Tho Englishmen of the Ohio and Missis
sippi Road Seek Advloe.
London, Deo. 6.— The committee of the
English holders of Ohio and Mississippi
bonds have obtained a legal opinion on the
validity of the English vote in electing
three directors charged to carry out
the polioy of the union with the Baltimore
and Ohio. The counsel they have employed
advises them that there is not the slightest
doubt of tho legality of the vote and that if
the case is earned to tho courts the English
bondholders are sure to triumph.
Firs In a Publishing House.
Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. o.—Fire to
night gutted the four-story building, Nos.
719 721 and 723 Vine street. The building
was owned by the Shaw Publishing Com
pany, whioh conoern occupied the
lower floor of No. 731, and nearly all of the
upper portion of the building. The loss to
the Shaw company on buildings “acMn
ery, plate*. iock, etc., Is estimated at 200,-
O °Hofstotter Bros., bookbinders, wbooccu
pied No. 619, sustained a loss of M.OOO.
SAVANNAH, GA., MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1891.
FIRST DAY OF CONGRESS.
TEE SESSION NOT APT TO BE OF
MUOH IMPORTANCE.
The Delay In the Speakership Fight
Will Cause a Speedy Adlournment.
The President's Message to Be Read
To-morrow—The Sessions During the
Week Likely to Be Short.
Washington, Dec. 6.—To-morrow at
noon, in acoordance with tho constitutional
requirement, the Fifty-second congress will
assemble. With one branch of the national
legislature in possession of each of the two
greqt political parties, and both striving
to shape the course of legisla
tion so as to affect their
interests in the approaching presidential
campaign and secure supremacy in tho con
trol of the government, it may be fairly as
sumed that the Fifty-second congress will
take a prominent place in the history of
legislative assemblies. In view of the con
flicting majorities in the two branohes it is
not probable that when it has con
cluded its labors it will have added
to the statutes many new meas
ures of national importance; but beyond
a doubt many fierce battles will be waged
upon leading issues between tho two great
parties—the tariff and silver coinage—while
the members of the small but lively alliance
element may be counted upon to lose no
opportunity in debate for bringing their
demands and principles before the Oouutry.
ASSEMBLING OF THE SENATE.
The usual decorous quiet is expected to
characterize the assembling of the .Senate
to-morrow. An unusually large number
of senator* will stand before the vice Presi
dent to take their oath of office, for thirty
two of them, nearly one-half of the mem
bership of the Senate, are either new to that
body or begin new terms of service.
David B. Hill, governor of New York, is
not expected to appear in the Henate for
some time, and his credentials have not yet
been filed with the secretary.
Red field Proctor, lato Secretary of War,
has also failed In this respect, but be may
yet hand his letter of appointment to tho
secretary in time to have it presented to
morrow.
In two cases there are rival claimants to
seats. Mr. Dubois of Idaho, is challenged
as to the validity of his title by Mr. Clag
gett, but as the name of the former appears
on the secretary’s list, he will be sworn in
and Mr. Claggett’s claim will bo examined
by the committee on privileges and
elections. Mr. Cali of Florida also
finds a contestant in Mr. Davidson, who is
armed with a governor’s certificate, and
this case may possibly be referred to tho
same committee for a report before either
party is admittod. Hhould the House
fail to organize to-morrow, the
Senate will not be able to transact
business, for its inability to notify
the President through a joint'eommittee of
its readiness to receive his communications
will operate to defer for a time the presenta
tion of the annual message, as well as a large
accumulation of reoess appointments that
must bo sent to the Henate for confirma
tion.
Conferences will be held by the senators
of the different parties early in the week
to arrange tho membership of the commit
tees; a task of more than ordinary im
portance this time, in view of the incomlug
of fifteen new senators.
APT TO MEET WITHOUT A SPEAKER.
Unless there should be a radical change
In the speakership situation to-nlgbt or
early to-morrow morning, the House
of Representatives for the first time
since the Thirty-sixth congress, when
the last deadlock over the speaker
ship ocourred, will meet without pre
vious selection by the dominant party of
a presiding officer for the popular branch of
the legislative department. Though this
condition of affairs hag not existed in re
cent years, it was not so raro in the stormy
years between the Mexican and civil wars,
when the conflict over the slavery question
drew lines without aud within the parties
tense and close. Thus, in the Twenty-sixth
congress, a speaker was not elected
for eleven days, aohairman meantime boing
appointed to administer the rules of the
House. In the Thirty-first congress nearly
a month elapsed before the speaker was
elected, and this period of praotioal inter
regnum was prolonged to two months in the
Thirty-fourth and Thirty-sixth oongresses.
In the two last named cates the olerk of the
House presided over its deliberations and
controlled the formalities made requisite by
the federal constitution.
■ HOW THE VACANCY WILL BE FILLED.
Hhould there be a failure to decide upon
a speaker at the cauous to-morrow forenoon
it will be necessary for the House to adopt
ono or tho other of the two methods estab
lished by precedent for such events,namely,
to electa "temporary chairman,” or a "tem
porary speaker,” according to the titular
designation which may be agreed upon for
tho person selected; or else, oommit the
duty of presiding to the olerk. In the ab
sence of an agreement for the perfection of
the organization of the House, the oourse of
the proceedings during the coming week is
a matter of pure speculation with but
few and Insignificant facts upon
whioh to base conjecture. In any event,
very little busiuess will be transacted in the
House during the week. The President's
message will be received and read, accord
ing to custom, on' Tuesday, if the House
completes its organization to-morrow, aud
for the rest of the week brief
sessions and adjournments over
for a day or two at a time are
probable. The committees are not ex
peoted to be appointed before the Christ
mas holidays, with the exception of the
committee on rules, on enrolled bills, and
on miloage and accounts, whioh are usually
named within a few days after the speaker
is inducted into office.
NAVY OF THE NATION.
A List of the Formidable New War
ships Lately Built.
Washington, Deo. 6.—The Secre
tary of the Navy has made publlo his an
nual report. The following are brief ex
tracts from it:
Diaplace-
Name. merit. Commit-
Tons. atoned.
Chicago 4. tOO Apr. 17, 1899
YorktowD 1,700 Apr. 83, 1899
Petrel 670 Dec. 10, 1889
Charleston 3,787 Dec, ?, 1889
Baltimore 4,400 . Jan. 7, 1690
Cushing 99 Apr. 9k, 1890
Vesuvius . ■■ - 970 June 7, 1890
Philadelphia 4.800 July 98, 1890
San Francisco 4,093 Nov. IS, 1890
Newark 4,088 Feb. 2, IS9I
Concord.... 1,700 Feb. 14,1891
Bennington 1,700 June 20, 1891
Miantonomoh. 8,813 Oot. 87, 1891
The vessels remaining under construc
tion, with the acts authorizing them, are os
follows:
Act of Aug. 3,1886 Puritan, Amphitrite,
Mouodnock, Terror, Maine, Texas.
Act of March 3, 1887—Monterey.
Act of Sept. 7. 1883—New York, cruiser
No. 6. Cincinnati (No. 7), Raleigh (No. 8),
No. 9, Detroit (No. 10), No. 11. and the
practice vessel.
Act id March 9, 1889— Harbor defense
ram, gunboat No. 5, gunboat No. 8.
Act of June 30, 1830—Indiana, Massa
chusetts, Oregon, protected cruiser No. 13,
torpedo oruiser, feirpedoboat No. 2.
Act of March 3, 1891—Protected cruiser
No. 13.
All the above vessels, with the exception
of the torpedo cruiser, already referred to,
are making rapid and substantial progress.
projectiles.
Until the present year the United States
has been entirely destitute of any armor
pieroing projectiles. It was stated in the
last report that a contract bad been made
for a quantity of armor-piercing shell
manufactured ia America by one of tho
foreign processes. All the 6-iuch and about
one-half of the 3-lnch shell under that con
tract have been delivered and have passed
the required tests, and ore now issued to
ships as required. The Carpenter Steel
Company, the firm which is mauufaot
uring these projectiles, has made gradual
departures from the original designs, which
have resulted in distinct improvements; and
the difference in the effective force of the
navy to-day as compared with its situation
a year ago, when it bad not a siaglo pro
jectile that could pierce modern armor, is
incalculable. It may be added that this
change, little more than a revolution, by
whioh we may obtain in America all the
armor-piercing shell that wo need, has been
brought about at very moderate expendi
ture.
IKCREABB OF THE NAVY.
The old woeden ships of tho navy have
now practically passed out of existence.
They no longer count even as a nominal
factor in naval defense. The solo reliauoe
of the United States to-day for the protec
tion of Its exposed seaboard is the now fleet.
This hss advanced slowly, but its develop
ment has been sure. It is a novel branoh
of industry, but there have boen no failures
thus far, and the outlook for the ships still
iu progress Is satisfactory. It may fairly
bo claimed for the work of reconstruction
in the future that it will not fall behind the
measure of suocesa attained up to the pres
ent time.
The course of events during the past year
has shown anew the necessity of continuing
the developmeut of the navy. Tho demands
upon it have been constant, aud they aro
constantly growing. The rapid extension
of commercial relations has doubled the
importance of our interests, especially iu
the Pacific. It was said a few years ago,
by a keen foreign observer: "Some day or
other there will boa great rivalry of three
or four nations in tbu Pacific for the com
merce of those seas, and the country whioh
has cultivated its strength with a view to
that contingency will carry off a chief part
of the prize.” The rivalry has already be
gun, and the signs are evident on every
hand of a sharp competition.
MORE VESSELS RECOMMENDED.
Tho estimates for increase of the Navy
tor the ooming year, including hull, ma
chinery, armor, armament, and equipment,
show a reduction of $5,300,000 below tho
appropriations for the current year, or $12,-
300,000 in place of $17,600,000. A much
larger reduction will take place iu the fol
lowing vear, which will substantially com
plete all the work in progress under exist
ing authorizations of congress. In view of
the largo reduction in current estimates,
and the still larger reductions In tho im
mediate future. It would seem that some
new construction might properly and safely
be authorized during the present session.
The department also reooramends the
early construction of a largo armored
cruiser, similar in general design to tho New
York. This magnificent vessel, whose func
tions cover a far wider range than those of
an ordinary cruiser, presents an extraordi
nary combination of groat ooal endurance,
high speed, and efficient armor protection!
When to this combination is added a main
battery of six 8-inch rifles, and twelve
heavy rapid-lire guns, she becomes one of
the most formidable vessels In our own or
any other navy, and one that can be
brought into use for any kind of aervico.
W itri the exception of tho three ships of the
ludiana class, she is tho most important
element of defensive strength whioh this
oountry now possesses.
KNTITTED MEN.
In the annual report for 1889 the condi
tion of the enlisted men was fully disou'ssed.
I desire to renew the recommendations
made at that time, and especially that the
number of apprentices be increased from
950, ns now allowed by law, to 1,500. The
measures proposed two years ago for the
purpose of securing a more permanent class
in the corps of enlisted men are agaiu recom
mended, aud it is strougly urged that the
principle be adopted of retaining the serv
ices of the men for life by substituting a
plan of continuous service for tho present
method of temporary enlistment The de
partment believes that for emergencies a
four years’ term of enlistment should bo
adopted, and recommends time the laws re
lating to honorable discharges after three
years of service, and to allowances upon a
three years’ re-enlistment, be amended ac
cordingly.
COST OF NEW VESSELS.
The cost of buildiDg the new ships of the
navy, excluding tugs, from beginning to
final completion, covering operations from
the fiscal year 188S-’B4 to 1894-'95, aggro
gates, during the twelve yearn, a total of
$69,993,382, or considerably loss tha i
$6,060,000 a year. The vessels included in
this statement are forty In number, with an
aggregate tonnage of 155,829 tons.
When it is considered that at the time of
beginning the first four cruisers not a single
steel ship bad been built In this country,
that no vessels, either of steel or of iron,
had been constructed by the navy sinoe the
war, with tho exception of three small
third-class iron gunboats built in 1874, aud
that the whole work upon these ships repre
sented practically anew branch of manu
facture, the stupendous character of the re
sults accomplished may be appreciated. For
the mechanical work actually done, the fig
ures are reasonable, while the moral
result, which has been to raise this country
from a position of absolute dofsnselessness
to that of a respectable naval power, has
been out of all proportion to the annual
charge upon tho revenues. No other ex
penditure of the government, of equal
am unt, during the period has been more
productive of benefit than teat whioh hss
been devoted to tho construction of an
American navy, out of American material,
and by American labor.
NAVY ESTIMATED
The total estimate for the navy for the
next fiscal year, including both running ex
penses and “Increase of tbe navy,” is %27,
194,039 80, as against the appropriation of
$32,626,145 78 of last year, being an ag
gregate reduction in current estimates be
low the last year’s appropriation of $5,331.*
005 98.
France and McKinley’B Bill.
Paris, Nov 6.—M. Roche, minister of
commerce, has forwarded a circular to the
different chambers of oommeroo requesting
them to prspare a comparison of tbe reports
to tho United States from their several dis
tricts during the three months before the
l>assage of tho McKinley bill and for the
same time subsequently.
A Royal Engagement.
London, Dec. 6. —Prince Albert Victor,
Duke of Clarence, eldest son of the Prince
of Wales, Friday proposed to and was ac
cepted by Princess Victoria Mary, only
daughter of the Duke of Teck.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
THE ANNUAL R3CPORT Off TBE
COMMISSION.
Thirty-Four Thousand Government
Employes on the List—lo,o3o Ap
plicants Examined During the Lust
Fleoal Year 12,757 Passed and
8,272 Palled—A Decrease of 3,086
In the Number of Applicants.
Washing TOR, Den. A—The civil service
commission, in its annual report to the
President, states that the classified civil
service now contains 84,000 government
employee.
From July 1, 1800, to June 30, 1891, 5,300
applicants wero examined for dopar' mental
service at Washington, of whom 3,337 passed
and 1,809 failed to pass. For tbe customs
service 1,570 were examined, 993 passed and
587 failed; for the postal service 8,538 were
examined. 5,840 passed and 3,0(18 failed; for
the railway mall service 8,700 were ex
amined, 2,588 passed and 1,118 failed to
pasa. The whole number examined for the
four branches of the classified servioe wa<
19,029, of whom 13,757 passed and 0,372
failed to pass.
A DECREASE OF APPLICANTS.
Compared with the previous year this
shows a decrease of 8,005 in the whole num
ber examined, a decrease of 1,190 in the
whole number who passed, and a decrease
of 2,775 in the whole number
who failed to pass. The whole
number appointed in the year covered by
this rep Tt is as follows: Departmental
service, 1,152; customs service, 330; postal
service, 2,801: railway mail service, 1,062;
total, 5,895—an increase of 230 over the pre
vious year.
EXTENSION OF THE SERVICE.
The report calls attention to the extension
of the classified service to inolude a portion
of Indian service oitd says that this exten
sion is especially important as for the first
time applying the principle of non-partisan
appointments to the ludiau service. What
the commission aims to do, it says, is to
furnish an intelligent and honost corps of
men and women from whom a choice
can be made to All subordi
nate positions, the higher positions
to be filled By promotion, of those who on
actual trial in the servioe prove bast quali
fied to perforin the peculiar duties incident
thereto. That the examinations will furnish
a better grade of employes than those
obtained under the old system is not, in the
opinion of the commission, open to doubt.
CHANGES IN THE RULES.
There have also boon two or three note
worthy aud highly desirablo alterations of
tbe rules duriug the year. One of the most
important of these is that allowing
the establishment of competitive ex
aminations for promotion within
the classified service. Another impor
tant alteration of the rules was the
abolition of the provision allowing the pro
motion of persons in the lion-classified
servioe to positions in the classified
service after non-competitive examina
tion. One of the chief aims of the
commission, says the report, is to keen
the nublio thoroughly informed of the
workings of the law, and to simplify those
workings as much as possible with tnis end
In view; and, furthermore, to keep the pub
lic confident of the honesty with whtoh the
Ixw Is administered. For this reason every
back door entrance bo the classified service
should bo shut, and most emphatically this
system of promotion from the non-classiflod
service was such a back door.
THE NON-EXCEPTED FORCE.
Appointments to the classified non-ex
cepted foroc, save by competitive examina
tions, should be confined to tho fewest pos
sible oases. There should be no
transfers allowed on non-competi
tive examination from places that
were filled orignally by non-oompetitlve
examination, or without examination at
all. The commission is well satisfied that
a large number of places now sub
ject to non-oompetitive examination, or
exoepted from examination, might, with
great advantage to the servioe be filled by
open competition, or better still by promo
tion, as they almoec certainly would bo if
placed on the competitive list. At present
most of the highest positions ore filled
witbont examination, or by non-competi
tive examination.
PROMOTIONS OFTEN DECLINED.
A carious result of this is that men In the
lower gradus of the classified servioe often
decline to accept promotion to these higher
places, because they know that If they do,
aud if there is a change of administration,
they run great risk of being turned out for
purely political reasons.
In the d-partmsntal service at Washing
ton the commission expresses itself as en
tirely FAttsfled with tho way in which the
civil service law has been enforced. aDd re
ports that it is safe in saying that the ques
tion of politics has been entirely eliminated
in making promotions and making appoint
ments in the departmental servioe.
A FAIR DISTRIBUTION.
“No state," says the report, “now has ma
terially less that its quota of appointments.
During the last year the southern and
Pacific coasts havo been brought to a prac
tical level in this respoct with the northern
and eastern states. It baa come to tho knowl
edge of the commission that in ail proba
bility the great bulk of the white
men appointed from the south
ern, and especially from the Gulf stales,
wore in political faith opposed to the pres
ent administration. This was the case in
such states as Louisiana, Mississippi, Ala
bama, Georgia and South Carolina, whose
quotas were filled just prior to
the making of the lost annual
report of tho commission. It is
likewise the case in filling tho quotas of
other states, such as Texas and Arkansas,
which havo only now been brought up to a
level with the rest. From the southern
states, therefore, we are able to state that
appointments have beon made practically
without regard to tho party affiliations of
the applicants. Tbis has doubtless been
equally true of the northern states and we
mention the southern states merely because
their peculiar political circumstances render
it possible to make the assertion more de
finitely as regards them than It can be made
in regard to the north.
THE RACE QUESTION ELIMINATED.
•‘Another excellent feature of the exami
nations in tho southern states has been the
elimination not only of questions of politics
and religion, but of the question of race. A
fair proportion of men appointed from these
states have been colored, those successful
oolored applicants being in many oases
J'raduates of colleges or hlger institutions of
earning established especially for their
race."
It is stated to be a notioeable fact that a
larger proportion of oolored people receive
appointments under the oivil service law
than under tbe old patronage system. The
civil scrvlco law has been tbe means of
materially enlarging the fields of pursuits
open to those members of the oolored race
who have contrived to got a good education
and to fit themselves for the higher walks of
life.
IN LOCAL OFFICES.
“In local offices,” the report says„“tUe re
sults of the law have been much less satis
factory, taking these offices as a whole. In
some of tho postofflees and custom houses
the law has been SO well ob
served aud * with as good effects as
in the departmental service at Washington.
Of others at much cannot be said. Yet it
i* a faot that the showing is, on tho whole,
better than the showing made by tbe
pn-leceasors of the Incumbents of these
offices. This we attribute almost entirely
to the system of supervision of local offices,
which the commission has been able duriug
the last two years to maintaiu with
more thoroughness thau was before possi
ble, and to the vigorous efforts that have
been made to show certain of these local
otlloers, who were apparently Inclined to
ignore or evade the law, that the commis
sion would do its best to see that they were
not permitted so to aot with impunity.
EXTENSION RECOMMENDED.
‘ ‘The commission earnestly reoommends
that as rapidly as it can properly be done,
the classified service bo extended to all tbe
customs and internal revenue districts in
winch there ore twenty-five employes; to
clerks and writers iu the navy
yards; to the employes of the Dis
trict Columbia; to the mints and sub
treasuries, and to all free-delivery post-of
fices, find that congress be asked to grant a
sufficient lnofbase of appropriation to m *ot
tho increased expense that would result
from such extension.
“The commission bolds that no govern
ment office should tie used to control the
results of van elections whatever,whether it
is an election for state or federal officers, or
a primary held for the purpose of electing
delegates to a nominating convention. There
is no Intent to interfere with
proper political action of public officers, but
the commission holds that no officeholder
belonging to tbe dominant party should act
in any way which would cause scandal, or
create friction In any office if a person
belonged to the party in opposition instead
of to the party in power.
“The law in relation to political assess
ments should be amended so ns to prohibit
any individual, whether in tho government
service, or not, from soliciting any funds.
Government employes should be left free to
contribute or not to whichever party they
choose, without being subject to a particle
of outside pressure.”
FRANCE AND OUR PORK.
The Story of the Removal of the Pro
hibition Against It.
Paris, Dec. 6.—ln tho matter of tho do
crco withdrawing tho prohibition of tho im
portation of American pork, Fronch of
ficials aro desirous of having it understood
that thotr action was practically deoldod
upon a year ago, but aotuully settled last
July, when tho Chamber of Deputies gave
an ovorwhemlng voto In favor of
the bill. Tl.oy say nothing then prevented
tbe withdrawal of the decree, but acciden
tal delay In tbe Henate cause! by the two
oablnet crises in the last three days of the
session. At that time tho government fully
intended to withdraw the deoree
within a week, and had
all the necessary preparations
mode for tho evont. Tho Krenoh officials also
insist that they oausod tho removal of tbe
prohibitum by tho German government,
which did not Intend to withdraw its
prohibition unless Franoe did. The Ger
man embassy at Paris, French officials
declare, whs constantly sending to
the govornmont oflioe and to the American
legation trying to find out tho progress of
the negotiations. Tho voto in the French
Chamber of Deputies showed them that the
French government was absolutely com
mitted to removal of the prohibition and
could not decently withdraw from the posi
tion.
GERMANY STEALS A. MARCH.
The delay in tho Senate's action gave the
Germans a ohaneo to get in ahead. So they
instructed Count Aroo-Valley, the German
minister at Washington, to arrango the
matter through Gen. Foster as speuTlly as
possible. No considerable offort had
boon made in any other quarter
until tho negotiations were brought
nearly to a conclusion bore, and congress
had published some of tbe correspondence.
It was openly said in tbe debate and sai l
everywhere privately by Krenoh politicians
that they were foroed to defeat tho govern
ment efforts to restrict the duty
first to 13 francs aud after
ward to 30 francs by the potion
of Germany and Italy. They say if we hl
not named the same duty with these
countries, e would not have bean offering
a premium to bring all tiie American pork
hero in rivalry with cur farmers, and keep
it out of Germany and Italy.
minister übkd'h views.
The American minister to Franoe, Mr.
Whitelaw Hold, was called upon recently
by a representative of the Anooiated Press i
and urged to give his views upon these
points. Mr. Koitl hesitated at first to give
utteranoe to anything for publication,
but finally said: "Yes, it has been
a long struggle. Almost the first
instructions I received from the American
government were upon tbis subject. The
home administration was very rnuoh iu
earnest about it. Still so far as the French
government wo* concerned'the struggle bad
beon over since the close of tbe
diplomatic correspondence on the subject
in September, 1890. Since that date the
French oabioet has beeu absolutely unani
mous for tbe withdrawal of the duty, and
for al2 franc duty. It named that duty in
tho tariff bill soot to the Chamber
of Deputies, and ha* steadily and
unanimously opposed any advance. The
Chamber of Deputies gave the bill its ad
hesion in July last, But raised tbe pro
posed duty to 39 francs. The Senate made
a most determined resistance and finally
raised the duty again to 35 francs.”
RURAL FRANCE AGAINMT IT.
Mr. Keid said; “All rural France
seemed to he Its opponents and espooially
tho region about Nantes. Among its
friends, besides all the members of the gov
ernment and eepeo.ally Messrs. Ribot,
Constans, Roche, DeVelle and
Rouvier, whose departments were con
cerned, wo had M. Moline, the
gre it proleotionset leader In the chamber,
president of the tariff commission now und
president of the last ohamber; Jules Ferry,
former premier, now president of the Sen
ate tariff commission; Jules Siegfried and
Felix Favre, tbe deputies for Havre, and
scores of others in both houses. In one
debate four members of tbe cabinet Inter
vene! in behalf of our measure. M. Roche
made an especially oogeut argument, whiob
had the greatest influ-uoe. It pleased me
a* I listened to him to remember
that he is au old newspaper man. M. Mo
line accomplished a great thing too, last
July, wheu be got au unanimous report
from the tariff commission, consisting of
fifty members, in favor of the bill.”
FRANCE AND THE VATICAN.
Only Six Prelates Refrain from Indors
ing Alx’a Archbishop.
Paris, Deo. 6.—Out of the eigbteon arch
bishops and sixty-seven bishops throughout
Franoe only six have refrained from open
adhesion to tbe archbishop of Alx against
tho government in tbe ruattor of the decree
forbidding bishops to leave their dioceses
without permission.
According to the Eclair M. Ribot, tbe
foroigu minister, has instructed tbe Fronoh
ambassador at she Vatican to extend ex
planations to the pope regarding the policy
of France.
j VSSd“/JS¥’- t'
I WEEKLY, lI.K A YEAR, f
DEATH IN A COAL MINE.
BBVBNTY-THREE MSN LOSE TUEI3
LIVES AT ST. ETIENNH.
An Explosion of Fire Damp at High
Noon Proves Their Crack of Loom.
Bight Men Taken Out Unconscious
by Rescuers and Revived—Sad bcenoa
at the Mouth of the Pit.
Paris, I)ea 6.—Tbe report of s terrible
mining ala*tor comes from St. Etienne, In
the department of the Loire and tbe center
of oDe of tbe richest coal fields in Franca
Au explosion of firo-damp occurred at noon
to-day in one of the numerous coal pita in
that region, and many of tbe workers
wore unable to escape from ttRJ
mine. According to advices a
far received seventy-three miners porisbad
in the pit. Immediately after the explosion
donso volumes of ovil smelling smoke issued
from the mouth of this and the connecting
pit, and in a short time crowds of relative*
and friends of the Imprisoned workmen
gathered about the entrances of the pit and
prepared for the work of rescua
DRIVEN BACK BY FOUL FUMES.
When the first attempt wan made to
rescue dho imprisoned men tho rescaera
wore driven buck by the foul fumes that
poured from tho shaft and for nearly an
hour nothing could be done to aid the unfort
unate mlneri iu the pin At tho very outset
the rescuerf encountered a serious obstacles
as the main gallery was found to have col
lat sod, tbus preventing access to the im
prisoned men. Aft'r working several
hours in relays a party of rescuers bad
cleared away a portion of tho debris, and in
a few minutes they came across the
bodies of four minors. Tho men,
sltii'iugh unconscious, were still alive.
While the rescuers wore at work several
doctor- and a number of ambulances halt
been summoned from St. Etienne and a
supply of restoratives procured, so that ths
promptest assistance might be given to all
who should be brought from the pit alive.
FOUR MORE RESCUED.
Tho speedy revival of the men rescuod
gave hope that tbe others in tho nilno might
he saved and this hope was strengthened,
when a short tlrao afterward another rescu
ing party, which had entered a connecting
pit, sent to the surface font
more of the victims, all of
whom wom quickly restored t
consoloosncss. Tbe second party of res.
ouer*, however, found that it was utterly
impossible to rcaoh the other Imprisoned
men, and tboro is hardly a doubt that all of
the latter havo succumbed to tbe poisonous
fuses that fill tho chambers of tbs mines
bn work of rescue will be rammed to
night, when it is hoped the gases will have
dispersed.
The wives, ohlldron and relatives of th<
entombed miners still surround the mouth
of the pit, and most heartrending scenes art
witnessed as the bodies of the victim* ar
brought to the surfaoo.
BRAZIL'S DEAD BX-BMPBROB.
No Official Recognition of the Event
at Rio Janeiro.
Farm, Dea 6. — Cable dispatches from
Rio Janeiro say that the news of tho death
of ex-Emperor Dom Pedro mot with ng
official recognition in the Brazilian capital.
A number of merchants and shopkeepers
in Rio Janoiro closed their places of Dusihesl
for to-day, out of respect for tbe
ty-emperor, but otherwise the death
of tho former ruler of Draill was marked
by no demonstration of any kind. Tbs
King of Portugal, in a telegram of condol
ence to Countess D’ii (Princess Isabella),
daughter of ex-Emporor Don Pedro, offers
the use of tho vault of tho Braganaa family
for tbe burial of the ex-omporur.
HIB MIND UNAFFECTED.
Ex-Emporor Dom Pedro was In full pos
session of his mental faculties until the end.
During Friday afternoon, being conscious
that he was nearing death, he bad mnti
celebrated in his bedroom. Countees D’u,
Prince Ernest of Saxe-Coburg Gotha,
and ail tho other members oi
the dy'Dg man’s household attended
the cervioe, which ex-Emperor Dun Pedro
himself was able to follow and at which ba
received communion. Daring bis last boars
tho ex-emperor repeatedly exhorted bis
heir, tbe Princess Isabella, to pray with
him for tbe peace and prosperity of Brazil!
PARSED AWAY PAINLESSLY.
Boon after Abbe Rngours had admin
istered tho last sacrament, ex-Emperor Dots
Pedro went iuto a comatose condition. Ha
passed quietly away. His body Los boon
embalmed and other preparations made for
tbs funeral, wbloh is to be held on Thurs
day.
Ex-Emperor Dom Pedro’s family bare
received many cal)* of condolence. Among
those who have called and inscribed their
names lu the visitors’ book are Premier de
Freycinet aud a host of other notables.
The body of ex-Emperor Dan*
Pedro, attired in the uniform of a
Brazilian general, is lying iu state in tho
room iu wbloh the ex-empress died. Ths
King of Portugal has ordered that royal
honors b* paid to ths remains, unless the
Duke and Duchess D’u insist that any politi
cal attitude is likely to offend the govern
ment of Brazil.
TO DIE LIK3 RBMMLER
A Condemned Wife Murderer Enter*
Upon His Last Week of Life,
Bing Bing, N. Y., Deo. 6.—Martin Di,
Loppy, the condemned wife murderer,
spent bis last Buuday on earth quietly. Ha
will bo killed on tbe death chair some
time between midnight tc-night and
Saturday next. From present in*
dications the execution will
take place early Tuesday morning. Loppy
read his Bible, and to those who conversed
with bitn during the day he said he was
willing to die. He did not ask when he
would be coiled to tbe death obair. Tbs
other convicts in tbe prison are believed to
be fully aware that Loppy is to be executed
during tbe coming week.
OF COUR3E REPORTERS ARE ON DECK.
Warden Brown reooived newspapermen
and other callers in his offioo up to 5:39
o’clock this afternoon, when armed guards
took up their vigil for tho night. No one
is allowed to pas* the death line
except those holding Warden Brown’s
invitation to the execution. Up to a late
hour to-night hut few of the persons in
vited by the warden have appeared. Before
Warden Brown closed theqiiiion against
tho newspaper men to-night he addressed
them in bis office, saying that they might
go to bed and get a good night’s rest.
Tennille Topics.
Tennille, Ga., Dec. 6.— A tin-pan party
was given by Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Adams of
this place last night. It was attended by
most of Tenulllo’s young people, and the
occasion was very enjoyable to all on ao
oount of Mrs. Adams’ hospitality.
Mrs. W. J. Javuer died Friday. She
leave six little children and a husband to
mourn her loss.
Tne widow of tbo lato Gen. Jeff Worthen
was burled at tho old Worthen homestead,
near this place, Friday. She was the
mother of W. W. Carter’s wife, formerly oi
Savannah.