Newspaper Page Text
THE MORNING NEWS.
Etlabllshed iSSO. - - Incorporated ISSS.
J. H. ESTILL, President.
BOERS NEAR BLOEMFONTEIN.
assembling ax An my to Aispite
LORD KOUERTS’ INVASION,
An Estimate Marie of Tlielr Numbers.
Atilt Slay He UO.tNfcO Men—t'ronje Still
Holds His Position and Their Is no
Reliable Information as to His
J audition—He Has Hires Boers
rime to Get Together to Receive
Lord Roberts.
London, Feb. 27, 4:20 a. m—The Boers
ii assembling an army near Bloemfon
tein. With which to dispute the invasion
o Lord Roberts. This intelligence comes
from Pretoria by way of Lorenzo Mar
tinez. The commandoes are described as
"hastening from all quarters ot the two
re-publics."
No estimate is made of their numbers,
tat the withdrawal of the Boers from
•most of the places where they have been
in contact with the British, except the
district near Ladysmith, may raise the
resisting force to 30.000 men. This figurfe
assumes that the Boers have between
lii.OOO and 70,000 men in the field.
Tie gathering of this army across the
path of Lord Roberts gives significance
to Gen. Cronje’s steadfast defense. He
has Engaged the corps of Lord Roberts for
hen days now, and w hether he Is relieved
or noi, he has given time for the dispersed
lioer factions to get together and to pre
pare positions to receive the British ad
' a rise when Cropje is overcome and Ird
Roberts moves forward.
It is difficult to conceive that the Boers
iit*‘ strong enough to take the offensive
**nd to rescue Gen. Cronje from his pre
i arious situation.
The war office has nothing after mid
idght to indicate his collapse, and he may
hold out for a few days. The corre
> -ndents seem to have no exact informa
tion respecting his resources-. Some say
ho has plenty of food, but is short of am
munition. Others assert that he abm lo .ed
his food supplies, but kept abundant sup
plies of cartridges.
Gen. Buller on Saturday faced the last
and strongest positions of the Boers who
bar his way to Ladysmith. The strenu
ous fighting indicates a battle between
armies, rather than rear guard actions
protecting a retreat.
On Thursday and Friday he lost forty
three officers killed and wounded, repre
senting probably a total loss of from 169
I o 500.
Gen. White’s guns worked on Saturday
mpon the Boer positions and a heliogram
from Ladysmith reported that the Boers
were retreating and that larger rations
were being issued in view of the fact that
relief seemed ot hand.
Nothing has been heard from Mafeking
since Feb. 12. The movement on the
veldt away from the railway is becom
ing increasingly difficult for large bodies
of troops, as the grass is burned up. Gen.
French has to wagon forage for his horses
t)d even the infantry' finds long marches
harder than before, as forage for the
transport animals must be carried. This
tequires the formation of garrisoned de
pots. '
The ordinary- campaigning season is
ceer, but sickly season for bolii men and
animals has set in.
Technical military writers take these
things into consideration in forecasting
events.
The Daily Chronicle says it learns from
1 rivate letters that British rifles and am
munition have been landed on the south
ern coast of Cape Colony, presumably for
t te Dutch colonists.
Lord Roberts has recently received sev
enty-two additional pieces of artillery.
IV hrther all have been sent to Paardeberg
Is not known.
Probably the Eighth division will leave
England next Monday.
CRGNJH’S force under cover.
bald to Have Shcll-Proif Positions
in River Ilnnk.
london, Feb. 26.—Dispatches from
t aardeberg show that Gen. Cronje’s
torus have far mote protection from Field
trsbal Ixtrd Roberts’ heavy lire than at
1 ’ indicated. A special dispatch from
■ -tuuleberg, published in the second edi
ion of the Daily Chronicle and dated
Ft iday, Fob. 24, says:
•' hfllloon has discovered (lie enemy
FI covered by a system of buriowing
n ' ' river bank, which resembles a rab
-111 " 'iron, and affords sheli-proof pesi
lot
"111 not be much of a surprise if to
ft* 1 ' and to-morrow, which is the nnni
ff* 1 ' "V of Majubn Hill, pass without be
■ J marked by the surrender or annililla-
B 1 i lie gallant band so overwhelmingly
■ 11,1,1 and In, though the elosi ness of the
■ incut appears open lo criticism.
1 odics oj Boers, apparently, are
B " u > make their escape, causing coin-
H" n here between the Boer methods
V investment, with their quickly dug, sur-
■ u,l "hi trenches, impassable barbed
■ etc., and those of the British.
■Lu i Roberts holds a lwsluon almost
log,)i Ig with that held so long by the
ft 01 '" ai Ladysmith. As Gen. Crotije is
ft 1 *' 1 "and to have plenty of food, the plan
■ starving him out can scarcely avail, as
■rod Roberts must either wait until his
which is saiil io be short,
■ns out, or those of Gen. Cronje's forces
■ho are counseling surrender prevail. So
■definite is the information that either of
■esc alternatives may occur at any mo
■ent. Meanwhile, Lord Roberts’ engl
■ers are sapping steadily towards the
ft* t ' r laager, and, according to a special
■om Paardeberg, dated Sunday, Feb. 25,
■e cordon Is gradually drawing closer,
■len. Puller's march on Ladyemlth Is
■ng marked by sharp fighting. A Ple
■ maritzlieirg dispatch of to-day’s date,
> he Is still heavily engaged In lighting
fpje JUjrfitittjj ifctogl
In Grower's kloof Gen. Buller seems to
have discovered a hornet’s nest.
In Cape Colony the British arms are
steadily advancing.
Barkly East is now In their posses
sion, according to a dispatch from that
district, the Boers evacuating the place,
retreating on Ladygrey and wiring Pres
ident Steyn for reinforcements to pre
vent their surrender.
The Pretoria government proclaimed
Feb. 25 and Fob. 27 days of thanksgiv
ing and prayer, presumably in memorv
of the battle of Majuba hill.
A dispatch from Kimberley says its in
habitants have planned to erect a statue
to Cecil Rhodes, in recognition of his
services during the siege.
AT Tfn: MERCY OF THE BRITISH.
Cronje’s Position Now Almost Con
fined to the River Red.
London, Feb. 27.—The Daily 'Mail has the
following dispatch from Paardeberg, dated
Sunday: w
“There are about 6,000 men beleaguered
in Gen. Cronje’s camp, exclusive of the
losses he has hitherto sustained. His fam
ily is not with him, although there are
women and children in the camp. The
Boer position is now almost exclusively
confined to the river bed. The enemy are
entirely at our mercy, but Lord Roberts
is treating them with great consideration
from motives of humanity.”
SERIES OF INTERESTING FIGHTS.
Details of tlie Activities Around
Paardeberg; Cast Friday.
Paardeberg, Saturday, Feb. 24.—Yester
day there, was a most interesting series
of fights along the British front. One
thousand Boers, commanded by Gen. De
wet, who were known to be operating in
the immediate front, at early dawn yes.
terday, determined to attempt to break
through the British lines to aid Gen.
Cronje. A body of 500 Boers moyed to
ward the British left and cantered in
the direction of a kopje, with the ob
ject of occupying it: Unfortunately for
the Boers, however, the kopje was held
by a company of Scottish Borderers, who
opened a heavy fire. The'Boers galloped
off, but moved again toward another Brit
ish position, with exactly the same re
sult.
Then they made a third attempt to occupy
another position, but the Borderers were
again ready to receive them. The third
repulse thoroughly disconcerted the Boers
who galloped away in a panic. Later, per
ceiving another kopje, the Boers moved
quickly toward it. This kopje was unoc
cupied, but the Borderers,not to be beaten,
raced the Boers for the position and won,
occupytng the kopje and driving off the
Boers. A portion of the latter ultimately
occupied a kopje flanked partially by the
Borderers and facing another kopje held
by- the Yorkshires. A vigorous fusitade
ensued, the British firing accurately and
succeeding in silencing the Boer fire.
Meanwhile the Buffs were ordered
to reinforce the Yorkshires in
case the Boers should 'be reinforced. The
British attack worked around to the right
of the kopje held by the Yorkshires, where
the Seventh Battery was stationed, the
Sixty-second Battery being placed ot a
farm near the center ot the Borderers' po
sition. A vigorous shelling, accompanied
by a British fusillade, completely silenced
the Boers. A company of Yorkshires
were sent to clear out the Boers, but the
attempt failed, Ihe Beet's opening a heavy
fire, and the British having no cover.
The British then again opened a heavy
rifle tire, which silenced the Boers. The
Boers made several attempts to run, but
the Maxims opened upon them effectually
and checked them.
The Buffs now worked carefully and cau
tiously around and' got within 150 yards of
the Boers. Eighty Boers surrendered, but
many it appears escaped, going singly.
Most of the prisoners had just arrived
from Ladysmith. They complained of the
bad generalship of their leader. Nearly
every man carried explosive bullets, and
five British were wounded with these mis
siles. I have seen the bullet, of which one
Boer carried fifty.
There Is no logger'-ithe slightest doubt
that (lie Boers are gradually discarding
all rules of civilized warfare. The other
day they poured the contents of a Vlekers-
Maxim gun into an ambulance, which hap
pened, however, to be empty, some 300
yards away from the nearest troops.
The war balloon is doing excellent ser.
vice. Early this morning it arose to a
great liight find discovered in the bed
of the river four wagons, which con
tained ammunition. These were exploded
by the British shells an hour afterword.
The balloon observer also discovered a
number of horses concealed near by, and
these also received attention from the
British shrapnel.
The Gordons are now incorporated in
the Highland Brigade, making four kilted
regiments. The Highland Light Infantry,
who ore not kilted and are n fine body of
mi n, are going to join Gen. Smith-Dor
rien’s regiment.
NATIVES ATTACK BOERS.
Chief Llneluvo Reports an Engage
ment Near Seq nilni.
T,orenzo Marquez, Monday, Feb. 26.—A
dispatch from Ne-aberones, dated Thurs
day, Feb. 22, says:
‘‘Chief Linchwo has reported that he
made reprisals front the Boers near Se
quanl. killing a few mm and capturing
several wagons and oxen. There were
some casualties on both sides.
"The Boers at Crocodile Pools notified
Col. Plumer that fearing the natives would
attack the wounded, they had placed their
hospitals within the laager. Col. Plumer
replied that the ambulance would, of
course, be respected; but the Boers, he
said, could not expect good behavior from
the natives while they were invading
the teritory of the natives.”
IIOER * CONCENTRATING.
Statements Thnt liner Generals Are
Now Fnrnrln(r Peace.
London, Feb. 27,—A dispatch to the
Dally News from Lorenzo Marquez, dated
Friday, Feb, 23, says:
••It is reported here that 5,(100 burghers
have left Ladysmith for the Free State.
The Boers are concentrating 4helr forces
Continued on Filth Pag*.
SAVANNAH. GA.. TUESDAY. FEBRUARY 27. 1900,
TILLMAN TIRED OF TAUNTS.
WARMED UP IN THE HAWAIIAN
lIIUL DISCUSSION.
I rged the Suffrage Provision id tlie
< onstitution of South Carolina.
The Property ((iinliHeatloii a Pro
vision for the Benefit of the Ne
gro—Formal Discussion of the
Runy Matter Began by Mr. Turley
of Tennessee Opposing the Seating
of Mr. Runy.
Washington, Feb. 26—Forma! discussion
of tlie right of former Senator Quay to a
seat in the Senate as a member from
Pennsylvania was begun to-day by Mr.
! ur.ey of Tennessee in a constitutional ar
gument against the seating of Mr. Quay.
Consideration of the Hawaiian govern
ment bill brought out a lively discussion
between Mr. Tillman of South Carolina
and Mr. Spooner of Wisconsin, In which
the former admitted the ballot boxes had
been stuffed, and negroes had been shot
in the South to maintain white domina
tion. An amendment was mado to the
bill striking out the property qualification
for voters for members of the legislature,
but little other progress was made.
Mr. Frye of Maine reported the shipping
subsidy' bill.
The Quay Resolution.
Mr. Turley, who prepared the majority
report of the committee on the Quay reso
lu—on, then spoke. He said Ihe Governor,
under the constitution, was powerless to
fill the vacancy, and his action was “in
the teeth of every provision of the Con
stitution. bearing on the subject.”
Mr. Turley agreed ifi.it the representa
tion in the Senate from each state ought
at all times be kept full, but he did not
believe the framers of the constitution had
intended deliberately to confer upon some
body else the duty to fill the vacancy in
case the Legislature failed to pefform its
duty.
"it Is not possible,” he said; “to coprce
the Legislature or to coerce the people, and
when they fail of their duty its a piaLe
where our system breaks down.”
Mr. Turley then entered upon a detailed
discussion of the constitutional and tech
nical points involved in Ihe ease, his de
sire being, -he said, to present every legal
phase of the question.
Should Be Put on Notice
“ Every state,” he said, “should be noti
fied, in language that cannot be mistaken,
that its permanent representation In this
body shall depend upon its electing a Leg
islature that will dolts duty.' ' |
"Let it once be understood," he contin
ued," that these contests are not personal
questions, and will be decided on legal and
constitutional grounds, and the bringing
of contests will soon cease. In my ex|>eri
ence I cannot now recall an honest divis
ion of a Legislature on party tines. There
are nearly always three or more ambitious
candidates in the same party who create
all the trouble. In not one single instance
in seventy-five years has a senator been
admitted here who was appointed by the
state executive after the Legislature had
had an opportunity to elect; and never in
the history of the government Iras a can
didate lieen sealed when tlie vacancy oc
curred during the session of the Legisla
ture.”
On unanimous consent the ease was
then postponed.
The Bill.
When the Hawaiian bill was (nken up
Mr. Cullom offered several minor amend
ments, and one, striking out the property
qualifications of thbse who desired to vote
for representatives and senators lit the
Hawaiian Legislature.
Mr, Tillman argued that his amendment,
substituting the suffrage provisions of the
constitution of South Carolina, was in all
senses a better provision than that of
fered by the committee reporting the bill.
M hat South Carolininna Have Done.
Mr. Tillman said: “The people of SJbuth
Carolina, in their constitution, have done
their level best to prevent the ’niggers’
from voting. What I now ask you to
do is to give the Kanakas and Portuguese
of the Hawaiian Islands the same power
of suffrage as we in South Carolina have
given the ’niggers.’ ”
In reply to a question of Mr. Spooner,
Mr. Tillman said tlnft the S2OO property
qualification had been put into the South
Carolina constitution for the benefit of Ihe
negro. “No provision was needed for the
whites,” said Mr. Tillman, “because thy
whites would get through, anyhow. We
have some conscience In the South as to
the treatment of the ‘nigger.’ You have
been sneering at us a long time, and I
don’t like it.” .
Mr. Spooner deprecated a discussion of
tlie racial question, and added:
“The Senator has said that the people
of South Carolina have arduously exclud
ed tlie negro vote. .They are now accom
plishing their purpose through the. state
constitution, but they did not always do
it by constitutional amendment.”
Adverting to the pending amendment of
Mr. Cullom, Air. Spooner said:
Lay Aside tlie Bloody Shirt, ,
“I don't like a property qualification for
voters. There is something of reason In
an educational qualification, hut manhood
suffrage is one tiling and dollar suffrage
is Aiulte another." He then appealed to
Mr. Tillman to lay aside the bloody shirt.
Mr. Tillman replied that his only rea
son for rehabilitating the bloody shirt
before it was finally and Irrevocably laid
at rest was that he wanted the position
of the Southern people to be understood.
"I’m getting tired of these taunts and
sneers,” said he. "You won t let us
alone.”
“The Senator won’t let us let him
alone." suggested Mr. Spooner amid
laughter.
"In every state where the whites have
divided politics l>et.ween Ihe Democrats
and Populist*—anil it is so in every South
ern state except South Carolina, the ’nig
gers’ held Ihe balance of power. As such
they stand there as a menace to a pure
suffrage and to good government, because
they are a purchaaeatbl* quantity, educated
or uneducated.
"We are charged with fraud and cor
ruption and ballot box stuffing. Finally,
aftyr the bayonets had come to us again in
1876. we rose In righteousness and might.
Wo look the government. We stuffed bal
lot boxes, we bulldozed the ’niggers’ and
we shot ’em. And we are not ushamed
of It."
Leaning over toward Mr. Spooner and
shaking hlnUnger at the Wisconsin sena
tor. Mr. Tillman said:
"What would you have done? You would
have done the same thing: Is c it In your
eye." tLaughter.)
The amendment offered by Mr. Cullom
was finally adopted. So, too, was the
amendment of Mr. Platt of Connecticut,
which has been pending for several days
relating lo the appointment and tenure
of office of the Judges of the Hawaiian
courts.
Mr. Butler of North Carolina offered an
amendment restoring to Hawaii the postal
savings hunk system. Without cenchiding
discussion of the amendment the Senate,
at 5:13 p. in., adjourned.
GRANTED A TIME EXTENSION.
No to in |i rum ini' Alnile in Hie I’orto
Rican Hill Matter.
Washington, Feb. 26.—The general de
bate on the Porto Rican tariff bill In the
House to-day was extended until to-mor
row night, on announcement of Mr. Payne
of New A'ork, the floor leader, that no
compromise had been made with the dis
satisfied Republicans. The speakers to
day were Messrs. Boutell of Illinois,
Brown of Ohio, Mondell of Wyoming,
Graham of Pennsylvania, and Reeder of
Kansas, for the bill'; and Messrs Bartlett
of Georgia, Lanham of Texas, (Moon of
Tennessee, Williams of Illinois, Johnston
of West Virginia, Sutherland of Nebraska,
Jelt of Ilinois, Noonan of Illinois, and
Wilson of Arizona, against it.
When Mr. Payne proffered the request
for the extension of time. Air. Richardson,
the Democratic leader, said:
"This is a remarkable request to come
from the majority. We construe it to be
n frank and candid confession that they
have brought here a bod bill and on ad
mission in open house to the country that
they have not votes enough to pass it.”
The Democrats, he continued, were al
ways magnanimous. They would not
strike their foes when they were down.
He demanded, however, as condition to an
extension a night session to-morrow night
and permission to offer n substitute in
the House on Wednesday, when the final
vote was to be (alten. With these "con.
ditions,” he remarked, blandly, Ihe mi
nority would grant the "entreaty” of the
majority.
Mr. Payne smilingly replied that not
to be outdone in magnanimity he would
agree to the conditions.
Mr. Bartlett of Georgia then took the
floor with a half hour’s speech against the
bill. He laid down as an elementary prin
ciple of international law, that whenever
a country, whether empire,' monarchy or
republic, acquired territory by con
quest, purchase, or treaty, that
terrtiory became a part of such coun
try and subject to her laws. He pointed tq,
the Supreme Court for consolation on the
constitutional question in case the bill
passed.
Mr. Lanham of Texas declared that the
Porto Ricans were either Americans or
aliens. There could be no such tiling as
separating and dividing the immunities
and privileges of American citizenship.
Mr. Moon of Tennessee was opposed to
the hill. Mr. Boutell of Illinois followed
in advocacy of the bill. The people of
Porto Rico, he said, had certain fundefinen
tal rights, but not the rights of Ameri
can citizenship.
The fundamental rights of American
citizens, he argued, would be endangered
if the inhabitants of territory acquired
by conquest, or perhaps involuntarily, as
a result of war, c-atre into full fellowship
with our people without the consent of
the latter. He was opposed, he said, to
admitting the Porto Ricans and the Fili
pinos to fne competition with American
labor. It 111-became the other side. Mr.
Boutell said, lo taunt the Republicans
with imperialism. The Democratic party
was the only party that had sold Ameri
can territory to a foreign monarchy. In
1819 a Democratic administration, against
the protest of the people of Texas, sold
280,000 square miles of territory with the
people on it to the King of Spain.
“Great God!" sadd Mr. Boutell, "if we
exercised Ihe prerogatives of an earthly
empire, the Democratic party exercised
the prerogatives of the Almighty."
Mr. Sutherland. Populist, of Nebraska,
declared that the antl-imi>eriallsts were
anxious to join their opponents upon the
issue ; The people, he said, would rally
to life standard of the great NoibraskStri,
who. In 1898, had announced that Imperial
ism would endanger the life of the repub
lic. There was no disposition to dodge the
issue. The platform of 1896 would be re
offirmed with Ihe Declaration of Inde
pendence added.
After other speeches, the House, at 5:10
p. m., adjourned.
SENN A LI, DENIES THE STORY.
He Never Forecasted the Defeat nf
the Democrats Tills Near.
Washington, Feb. 26.—Arthur Sewall,
who was the Democratic candidate for
Vice President in 1896, paid his respects
to President AlcKinley to-doy. Mr. Sew
ell has been to Hawaii on his way to
the Philippines, but was prevented from
continuing his journey by the plague out
break. He denied a recent interview, in
which ho was quoted os forecasting the
defeat of the Democratic party this year.
"I did not soy onythlng of the kind
without qualification," Mr, Bewail said.
"I believe in expansion In a certain way.
I believe in keeping Porto Rico and Ha
waii and extending lo them every law of
the United States. Make them a terri
tory of this country without discrimina
tion as to tariff or other lows. J also
want to keep the Philippines, but I think
we should ultimately establish a republic
there, with our protection extended over
It.”
HAVANA’S PRINCIPAL TOPIC,
Tlie .Split in tlie National Party Now
lli-init lll.rn.i.eri,
Havana, Feb. 26.—The split In Ihe Na
tional party is now the principal political
topic in Havana. Already seventy of the
190 delegates have resigned, and it Is ex
pected that thirty others will follow their
example. The resigning members Include
almost all the prominent newly enfran
chised Uubnn-Amerlcans,which lends point
to the assertion that the Cuban-Amerl
cans will endeavor to form a distinct po
litical party, ultimately joining force*
with the old autonomists. Such a com
bination would mean the introduction of
a powerful factor In the politics of Cuba.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS AGREE.
01*1211 ATIO\ OF PORTO lIICAV 1111. Is
LIMITED TO TWO V 111 It 9.
I)ut> lin |MiNcil t> It Reduced From
lio to 1.~ IVr Out of tin* American
Tariff—l* rm I dent McKinley Stilil
to \ |>|>ro\ e Ihe llill ami Will
11—Rcptihllcit iim Claim 'Flint the
I’liMMiiite of tin* Mod I lint llill Im Cer
tain
Washington* Feb. 26.—A1 the conference
of House Republicans to-night on the Por
to Rican tariff bill, assurances were given
that the President believed the metasure
constitutional, and would approve it if it
came to him, and an agreement was
reached to WmR the operation of the bill
to two years, and to reduce the duty im
posed by it iroin 25 to 15 i>er cent, of the
American '.ariff. Asa result the Repub
lican leaders claim that the hill will have
the support of all the Republicans except
four, Messrs. McCall of Massachusetts.
Littlefield of Maine, Lorimer of Illinois,
and Crumpacker of Indiana, and that this
loss will be offset by affirmative votes of
the opposition. They claim the passage of
the modllied bill Js certain.
After the conference adjourned at 11
oVloek Chairman Cannon gave out the
following statement of the amendment*
agreed upon by the conference:
Amendments Agreed I pun*
“The conference requested the Wars
ami Means Committee to offer an amend
ment to the bill as follow's:
" ‘Amend the title to make It an net
temporarily to provide revenue for the
Island of Porto Rico and for other pur
poses,’ and to add the following section:
“ ‘This act shall be taken and held to bo
provisional in its purjKxse, Intended to
meet a pressing, present need for revenue
of the Island of Porto Rico, and is not io
continue in force efier March 1, 1902.’
“These amendments were adopted wilh
practical unanimity. Another to reduce
the duty imposed by the act from 25 to
15 per cent, was adopted by a vole of 105
to 11. A further amendment is to be of
fered by the Ways and Means Committee
to make it clear that no double duty is Im
posed; that the payment of one internal
revenue tax is the total tax on importa
tions.”
President Favor* the llill.
About 125 Republicans attended the con
ference. Tlie leaders had been in consul
tation during the day discussing plans for
allaying the opposition to the bill and
tini reialettrants into line. The
Republican members of Ihe Ways end
Means Committee, except Mr. McCall of
Massachusetts, the dissenting Republican,
called upon tlie President at the Whltfe
House this afternoon to ascertain definite*
ly the President’s position. Assurance
that he favored the passage of the bill
was given out afterward.
The Republican members of the Ways
and Means Committee. together with
Speaker Henderson, remained at the Capi
tol canvassing the situation during the
interim between the adjournment of the
House at 5 o’clock and the assembling of
Ihe conference at 8 o'clock. Chairman
Cannon presided over the caucus. When
Mr. Payne submitted the twq amendments
mentioned (Jen. Shattuck of Ohio made a
vigorous inquiry regarding the President’s
position, to which Mr. Payne respondevl,
announcing emphatically that the Presi
dent was convinced that the bill was con
stitutional and that he woultl sign the
bill. Mr. Grow of Pennsylvania, the ven
erable ex-Speaker of ihe House, said that
the amendments proposed mode the hill
an emergency measures, against which
the question of constitutionality ought not
to be raised. Mr. McCall and Mr. Little-
Held spoke In good temper, but abated not
one jot their individual opposition to the
bill.
|
AW Alt DEI) CERTIFICATES.
Contestants for Minor State Officer*
Sworn In In Kentucky.
Frankfort, Ky., Feb. 26.—The Slate Con
test Board to-day awarded certificates of
election to all of the Democratic contest
ants for minor state, offices. Immediately
after the contestants were sworn in and
repaired to the State House in a body,
where they made a formal demand on the
Republican incumbents for possession of
the offices, but the demands were not ac
ceded to.
The Democratic contestants sworn in
arc: Secretary of State, C. B. Hill of
Clark county; Attorney General, Robert
J. Breckinridge of Boyle county; Auditor,
Gus C. Coulter of Graves county; Treasur
er, Wilbur Hager of Boyd county; Su
perintendent of Public Instruction, if. V.
McOhesney of Livingston county.
The principal grounds set out in the
report for the finding in favor of the
Democratic contestants arc:
Because of military Interference in
TiOufivftle on account of which the elec
tion there should he thrown out entire
ly; the alleged action of Judge Toney in
granting an injunction allowing Brown
inspectors inside the polls and also that
Judge Evans of the federal court contri
buted to the result by a threatening
charge to the United States grand jury.
It is charged that Judge Evans’ charge to
the grand Jury was a part -of a conspir
acy.
1 mined Holy after the swearing in of the
Democratic state official* injunction suits
were filed by each of the now officials
seeking io oust the present incumbents
from office, and enjoining them from ex
ercising the rights, duties and preroga
tives appertaining thereto. The installa
tion of the Democratic officials will have
the effect of tying up tightly every branch
of ihe sate government pending a decision
of all the contests by the courts. From
now until then tfve state will be practical
ly without a stale government.
Auditor Coulter to-night went out notices
to all county clerks, circuit clerks, sher
iffs and trustees of jury funds that he had
been elected and qualified as auditor and
warned them to pay over no public
moneys to any other than himself, ux>on
penalty of prosecution of their official
bonds.
Porto menu* Wont Fret* Trade.
Washington, Feb. 35—Secretary Root
to-day sent to the Senate a letter from
Gen* Davis with a petition from Porto
Ricans asking for free trade with the
United States. Gen. Davis strongly de
picts the urgency and gravity of the in
dustrial paraiys s.
WHAT SEN ITOH JONES THINKS.
Doesn't Venture n Statement as to
the l*n rn in mint Issue.
St. Louis, Feb. 26.—Senator J. K. Jones,
chairman of tlie Democratic National
Committee, in an Interview to-day, said:
“In the coming campaign the Demo
cratic party will be opposed to Imperialism
and by that I mean the acquisition of ter
ritory remote from the country and its
government, either as a part of the Unit
ed States or its colonies. The Democratic
parly has always favored the extension
of our commerce, while the Republican
party, by its protective tariff policy, has
always opposed and discouraged it. The
Democratic party will continue to favor
every legitimate meena of expanding and
extending the commerce of the United
States.”
“Will silver be as important an issue
as it was in the campaign of 1806?” he
was usked.
“If you will come to me about the 15th
of next November I will he better in
formed on that point,” answered tlie Sen
ator.
“Do you think silver has |>aled any as
an issue l>ofore the American people?”
“You know as much about that as I
do. Conventions and platforms do not
make issues. The wishes and opinions vot
ers make thorn. The Democratic is a party
of bimetallism and its declaration in the
next platform on this question will he as
strong as it was in 1896. But whether sil
ver, or opposition to trusts, or Imperial
ism will command most attention is
something 1 cannot tell you.”
“Will Bryan be the next Democratic
nominee for the presidency?”
*T think so.”
“From what section of Ihe country
should tlie vice presidential candidate
come in order to strengthen the ticket?”
“I don’t know'. I don’t think it makes
much difference if he is the right mart for
the nomination.”
“Will the rise in the price of cotton and
the probability of the Nicaraguan canal
being built have a tendency to weaken the
Democracy's hold on the South?”
'T think not.”
“Will you remain ot the head of the
National Committee throughout the cam
paign?”
“I will settle that question when I come
to It.”
The occasion of Senator Jones’ visit to
St. Louis is the marriage of his son. James
K. Jones, Jr., to Miss Annie. Taylor.
SENATOR IIA CO N AT TUB CAPITOL.
He Was Able to Get Out for the First
Time Yesterday.
"Washington, Feb. 26.—Senator Bacon
was out for the first time to-day. Al
though the weather was not as balmy as
It seemed to be from indoors, Ihe Senator
deckled to take a carriage and drive over
to the Capitol. He got there about 2
o’clock, and was very warmly greeted by
his fellow senators and congratulated
upon his apparent recovery. Be is nat
urally very weak after his long confine
ment, and is not yet fully able to taka
hold of his business affairs. He experts,
however, to get out now every day when
the weather Is favorable. Ho desires it
said that he has been unable to keep up
with his correspondence, owing to in*
doctor’s orders, bul he hopes soon to
catch up.
FOI It MEN KILLED IA A MINE.
They Were Descend I tig i Shaft When
tlie t nrrhiKe Lout Its llottoni.
Scranton, Pa., Feb. 26.—Four men were
killed this morning in the Mount Pleasant
mine by the breaking of mine carriage.
The killed are William Gilbert, Thomas
William*. John Regan and Frank Wood
ward.
The men were descending on Ihe mlno
carriage to the sixth vein. When it
reached the fifth vein, the carriage, whk'h
was going down at a rapid rate, struck
an adjustable shelf, which was left pro
jecting, breaking the bottom of the car
riage and dropping the men to the pit,
seventy-five feet below.
Gilbert and Regan were instantly killed,
while Williams and Woodward lived only
a short time.
CAPT. CARTER'S LAST lIOPK.
I nltcd State* Supreme Court Dcnlc*
III* Application.
Washington, I>b. 26. Capt. Carter’s last
hope short of presidential interference
with the sentence of the courts was swept
away to-ly, when the Supreme Court
announced its denial*of his application to
/have his case tried by that tribunal. It
was no written decision in the case, only
that announcement; but that Is fho only
thing necessary. This ends ihe possi
bilities of litigation in the case, and there
is every Indication now that he will have
to don the stripes, which he has far
escaped, and serve out his sentence.
WANTS Til GET HID OF THEM.
Denmark Wllllnif In Sell tlie Dnnluli
Writ liidle*. ’
N* w York, Feb. 26.—Carl Fleche-Hannon
of this rliy, who la acting for Ihe Danish
government In The negotiations for the
sale of the Danish West Indies to the
United Slates, said to-duy that Denmark
was willing to l*e rid of the islands be
tiause they have ceased to he of any use
to the mother country, and Involve an un
necessary expense of SIOO,OOO a year.
BLEW OPEN HANK VAULT.
Ferry l.oan nml Nnvlnws Ilnnk llnli
lied nf
Perry, Gn„ Feb. 26.—The Perry Loan and
Savings Bank was entered last night and
robbed of $3,500,
The vault door was blown open, as also
was the Inner money vault, by dynamite.
The loss is covered by burjrlaty insur
ance.
mtonrnsll Jackson Assoelatlnn.
Richmond, Vo.. Feb. 26.—The Senate to
day bussed a bill incorporating; Ihe Stone,
wall Jackson Memorial Association. The
purpose of the association is to buy tlie
t'hsndler home In Caroline county, where
Gen. Jackson died, and to preserve it as
nearly as can be in its original form.
DAILY, $8 A YEAR.
i CENTS A COPY.
WEEKLY 2-TIMES-A-WEEK A TEAK
WANT TO ANNUL CONTRACT.
AN ACTION REMOTELY CONNECTED
WITH THE CARNEGIE AFFAIR.
Certain tttncLliolrirr* nf the If. <5
Frlek Company Seek to Annul (bn
( nut met by \\ liieh ( oke I* Sold (a
Cnrnegle Steel Company, IJm
ited—The Rill Filed Yenterriny in
the Common l*lenn Court at I’liilo
delphln.
. Pittsburg, Feb. 36.-John Walker, Johnl
Walker, guardian of Andrew Camagid
Wilson, S. L. Sohootimaker and John Pen*
tefract, on behalf of th<em*elvea and cucif
other stockholders of the H. C. Frick Com
pany an may clhoose to Join in
Ihe. suit at* plaintiffs, filed thq
much talked of bill in equity td
annul the coke contract held with th
cV>ke company by ttvo Carnegie Steel Com
pany, Limited, in Common Pleas Oourl
No. 2 late this afternoon.
This action Is remotely connected wit If
ihe trouble now existing between 11. C„
Frick, former chairman of the Carneglo
Steel Company, Limited, and Andrew Car*
negie, and was precipitated by the receu#
filing of Mr. FrkJk’a bill to secure an ae
• ountlng of the affairs of the Car nog id
Steel Company, Limited.
The bill names as defendants the H. C*
Frick Coke Company, a corpora Ron |
Thomas Lynch, H.O.Frick, George Lauder,,
D. M. t’hmiensoii, Andrew M. Moreland,,
James Gayley and Thomsit Morrison, com
posing the board *vf directors of said cor
!*>ratlon, and the Carnegie Steel Comi>#ny,
Limited.
Tim plaintiffs wek to restrain the dea
fondants by injunction from selling, ship*
f>ing or delivering any coke to the Carne*
gie Steel Company, limited, under a con*
trai l dated Jan. 1, lk!>9, at a price off 1 .i®
a ton; the contract to run for a jeriol ot
live years, and from settling with the steel
company for coke already delivered unde.*
Ihe contract.
It is also asked that the court annul that
contract and order an accounting. Thei
plaintiffs allege fraud In the obtaining ot
tho said contract to accuse a majority of
the board of directors of the coke com
pany of working solely for the interest of
the Carnegie Steel Company, Limited.with
the purpose of cheating and defrauding
nil stockholders of the coke company not
members of tho steel company. It Is also
claimed that if tho contract is carried
out, the Frick Coke Company will havo
to refund to the steel company $f96.0?0 oft
account of coke sold to said steel com
pany during the year IW9, and during the
year 1900 it will cause a loss to the coka
company of not less than $1,000,000.
The bill sets forth that at the time thn
grievances complained of happened,
Hchoonmaker owned 656 shares of tt\o
capital stock of the coke company, Walk
er 4,006 shares for himself and 116 shares
as guardian of Andrew Carnegie Wilson
and Pontefract 656 shares.
The coke company, It is stated, was
organized to buy, own- and mine coal*
manufacture and market coke, nionufac
luring upward of 6.000.000 tons of coke a
year in what is known as the Oonnells
vllfe Coke region, in Westmoreland and
Fayette counties, Pennsylvania. The cap
ital stock of the company is $10,000,000, di
vided in 200,000 aha res of the par valua
of ISO.
The Carnegie Steel Company, Limited,
capitalized at $25,000,000, it is stated, pre
tends to be a limited partnership organized
in 1892 and is engaged in the manufac
ture of pig iron and steel, requiring about]
2,500,000 tons of coke annually. The Car
negie Steel Company, Limited, was the
owner of 59,104 shares of the capital stock!
of the coke company nnd Carnegie waft
likewise hol<!er of 51,213 shares, whk'h, to
gether. const Hu ted more than a majority
of the coke company's capital stock*
This, It is claimed, enabled the Carneglft
Bleci Company. Limited, and Carnegie t<*
elect their as directors of thft
coke company nnd dominate and control
their action. )
TUB ADI LA A LAWFUL PRIZE. ]
Supreme Court Affirms Opinion oft
tlie District Court.
Washington, Feb. 26.—1n an opinion by
Justice Brown, the United States Supreme!
‘Court to-day decided the naval prizd
money case Involving the seizure of thft
British steamer Adula. The ship wail
owned by the Atla.s Steamship Companyl
of Kingston, Jamaica, and was leased to#
(he Spanish citizen at the rate of flOfll
per day for the purpose of carrying refu*
gees from Guantanamo, Cuba. The ves
sel was captured June 29, 1898, when enters
ing Guantanamo hay. and was condemned!
as a prize vessel. The opinion handed
down to-day holds that the American!
blockade was effective; that the purpose
of the voyage was pecuniary and not char
itable, and that therefore the vessel waft
lawful prize. The opinion of the District!
Court for th& Southern District of Georgim
was therefore affirmed. Justices Shirasg,
Gray, White and Peckham dissented.
An opinion was also handed down id
the case of the Spanish steamship Pana*
ma, sailing from Newi York to Havana,
which was captured as a prize off Havana!
on April 25. 1898. The vessel was carrying
United States mail, but was ow r n£d by
a Spanish corporation, and was under con
tract as a Spanish mail vessel, and car
ried arms as such. The court held tha#
tills vessel was a lawful prize, and there
fore affirmed the opinion of the court be*
low.
AGAINST TUB ADMIRAL.
Dewey Awarded ftff.ffTO for Destroy*
lug tlie Spanish Fleet.
Washington, Feb. 26.—The United States
Court of Claims to-day rendered A decis
ion on the claim of Admiral Dewey for
prize money on account of the destruction
of the Spanish fleet in Manila bay. Tha
court decided against the Admiral's con
tention that the enemy’s force was supe
rior to his. and awarded him $9,570.
The decision excludes the supporting
shorn batteries, mines and torpedoes in
tho determination of the enemy’s forces.
Admiral Dewey’s claim was for S2OO fot
each man bekxiging to the enemy’s fleet*
including fortifications. Counsel
for the Admiral may appeal to the Unit
ed States Supreme Court. The decision en
titles the Admiral personally to $9,570.
j
Had a Kongli Voyage.
Liverpool, Feb. 26.—Tho British steamer
Melbridge, Capt. Herbert, which arrived
here Feb. 24. from Savannah, passed
through heavy weather nearly the whole
voyage. Her decks wero considerably
damaged and she lost a. hundred barrel*
f rosin. i