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THE UNIVERSITY DEFENDED.
TRUSTEES WIN A VICTORY IS THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
GRAY’S PROHIBITION BILL KILLED
A Brief Summary of Encli Day’ll Pro
ceeding* In the House and
the Senate.
The entire day Wednesday in the
house was given up to the university.
Borne routine business was transacted
and then the fight of the day on the
university hearing came up.
The university was on trial and
was ably represented by Hon. N.
J Hammond, president of the
hoard of trustees. Another feat
ure of almost sensational interest,
in that it was not on the program, was
a speech by Dr. William H. Felton, of
Oartersville, introduced to the general
assembly as “the old man eloquent. ”
The friends of the institution in the
house won a fight in securing the
hearing for the trustees. The house
lia,l run counter to the wishes of the
senate and a sensational conflict was
promised. The house resolution pro
vided for the hearing before a commit
tee of the whole. The senate resolu
tion called for a joint session. This
precipitated the fight.
When the senate resolution came up
before the house it was sought to
amend it so as to fix the hearing for
Wednesday night. The time mention
ed in the resolution was 10:30 a. m.
That hour came and went while the
fight was still on in the house.
Then an amendment to this amend
ment, fixing the time for the hearing
at 11 o’clock was offered. This was
put and carried amid applause.
There was then a bare margin of 6
minutes aud the trustees awaited the
result on the outside. Doth houses
then convened in joint session and the
trustees, headed by Governor Atkin
son, were ushered into the hall They
were greeted with applause, and after
an introduction by President Berner,
of the senate, Colonel Hammond be
gan his speech.
The first thing done by the senate
Wednesday morning was to send the
bouse the resolution for a joint session
at 10:30 o’clock to hear the university
trustees. Pending the receipt of in
formation touching the address of the
house ou the subject, the senate trans
acted routine business.
It was nearly 11 o’clock when a
message from the house announced
that the resolution had been adopted
with an amendment fixing the time at
11 o’clock. This was immediately
concurred in and the house was noti
fied.
These two bills were passed by the
.senate: Mr. Felder’s bill to expedite
■habeas corpus cases; Mr. Hawes’ bill
prohibiting arresting officers from ad
vising or procuring se'tlements in
• criminal cases and fixing a penalty for
<eo doing.
Saturday in the House.
When the house convened Saturday
•morning there were scarcely half the
•members present. The first business
was that of reading bills for the sec
ond time, as there was no quorum
■■pteseut. A large number of bills came
■up for a second reading. The next
-work was receiving reports of commit
tees.
Only one -eport was deserving of
notice. That was the minority report
from the committee of county aud
county matters. This report was sign
ed by four of the committee, and was
in favor of the court house and county
Beat of DeKalb being retained in De
catur.
Thirty thousand unmarked graves
of confederate soldiers may be marked
and provided with tombstones as a re
sult of a resolution adopted by the
house. The resolution was by Mr.
Calvin, of Richmond, and provided for
the appointment of a commission of
Seven members to confer witb legisla
tures of other southern states in re
gard to a plau to mark the graves of
soldiers who lie buried in unmarked
graves in tlie far north.
Two hills were introduced which if
passed will place very stringent re
strictions around the street railways.
Behind the intronction of at least one
of the bills may lie a scheme to secure
transfers in Atlanta. Mayor Collier,
the advocate of the transfers, was ou
the floor of tlie house for quite a w hile
during the morning, and it was whis
pered around the house that the mayor
was working for his cherished idea of
street car transfers.
Mr. Fogarty, of Richmond, intro
duced a very important bill which
exactly fit s the present commercial
conditions in this country. The meas
ure is intended to break the too com
mon practice of firms breaking full
banded. So many firms and business
houses have recently gone to tlie wall
after making mortgages to members of
tbo families of the members of the
firms, that Mr. Fogarty thought some
law was necessary to stop this.
Monday'* Proceedings.
The fight on the state university be
gan in the house Monday morning
when Speaker Jenkins introduced a
resolution providing that the general
assembly in joint session hear the
trustees of the university on the criti
cisms which havo been made of the
management of that institution.
This was objected toby Mr. Blalock
#tid ex-Governor Boynton, of the com
mittee, whose report recommends the
withdrawal of tlie agricultural' funds
fioiti the university.
Apeak or Jenkins and Mr. Slaton of
Fulton, replied with spirit, saying it
was a sorry day when Georgian’s re
fused a hearing to public servants.
Mr. Blalock declared his willingness
to give the trustees a hearing, but in
sisted that it be done in committee of
tlie whole, where the trustees eouhk
lie questioned by
lioii.se. Ilis siibstitul|^B
V ptl'.l
I ~ -drfS
governor urged the genera! assembly
to hear the trustees at a time when a
full attendance could be had.
The remainder of the session was
devoted to the consideration of new
hills and other minor matters.
Monday morning’s session of the
mint ■ was opened by Senator Battle,
of the Twenty-fourth, asking a recon
sideration of the senate’s nction Fri
day on the house bill by Mr. Calvin
regulating the benefits of debentures
or redemption companies. He stated
as his reason for a reconsideration
that the senate journal does not dis
close what amendments were made to
the bill or whether hey were adopted.
On motion of Senator Stewart the
bill was recommitted to the committee
on bunks.
A message from the governor was
read stating that the trustees of the
university had written him a letter re
questing an opportunity to explain to
the legislature their management of
the university.
The message was referred to the
committee on rules.
Tuesday’* Proceeding*.
The convict bill was up in the house
Tuesday as the special order, and the
fight on this important question is now
well under way.
Two substitutes were offered. One
of them is a straight lease bill, differ
ing only in detail from the present
lease system, except that it provides
for the election by the people of the
principal keeper of the penitentiary.
This substitute comes from Mr. Stone,
of Walton. The other substitute is
the Hall bill, which reflects the senti
ment of the present administration,
and looks towards a reformation of the
lease system.
The fight did not progress far dur
ing the day. The house went into a
committee of the whole to consider the
measure, which it was proposed to
take up section by section. The house
got no further, however, than the first
section. The matter went over until
Wednesday and the house took up the
consideration of other matters.
Among the great number of new
bills introduced was one by Mr. West,
of Lowndes, providing for state uni
formity in school books and for a book
commission. The bill is in line with
the minority report of Mr. Beauchamp.
Mr. Hill, of Troup, wants to increase
the revenue of the State university by
charging tuition and introduced a bill
to that effect.
In the senate, Tuesday, Mr. Cal
vin’s resolution for the appoint
ment of a commission to mark
soldiers’ graves in the northern states
was taken up on motion of Senator
Blalock and unanimously passed.
The following bills were also passed:
Making Stafford’s almanac legal evi
dence from 1400 to 2000; to create a
new charter for the town of Lyons; to
abolish the city court of Coffee county;
to establish the city court of Douglas;
to provide for the validation of bonds;
the 'possum bill, requiring county
boards of education to have a seal and
use it on teachers’ license.
The senate, after a lively discussion
decided to invite itself to attend the
hearing given the university trustees,
and, in order to show its independence,
changed the hour at which the hearing
was to be hold.
Thursday's Routine.
Along with the first business in the
house Thursday the West resolution
to limit discussion on the oonvict bill
from 11 to 1 o’clock each day came up
and after some discussion was passed.
The house then took a nibble at the
convict bill. A few more amendments
to the first section were presented, all
of which were discussed without re
sults, and then the committee of the
whole reported progress.
The DeKalb court house fight ran
amuck of tho convict bill and both
came to a standstill. An effort was
made to secure the consideration of
the former measure at the expense of
the latter, and an interesting fight re
sulted. The convict bill gained the
right of way, however, and was under
discussion during the remainder of
the day.
Mr. Gray’s prohibition bill came up
in the senate as the first business
Thursday morning, and after a brief
statement by the author, it went to a
vote. The bill prohibits the sale of
liquors in smaller quantities than one
pint, and prohibits the drinking of
liquor ou the premises where it is sold.
The favorable committee report was
agreed to by a vote of 19 to 16.
Tlie question then came up on the
passage of the bill ar.d Senator Turner
rose to favor it. It fell far short of
what he desired, but was in the right
direction. Senator Gray called for
the ayes aud nnys and the vote was 20
to 17. The bill lacked only three
votes of a constitutional majority.
The football bill came up and passed
by a vote of 31 to 4.
Senator Turner’s bill prohibiting
the shooting at turkeys aud other
fowls for a prize, with chances stated
on hitting the bird, came on an adverse
report, which caused some discussion.
The adverse report was disagreed to
by a vote of 21 to 14 and the bill stands
for a third reading.
Mr. Felder’s bill to except the N. C.
and St. L. railway from the law pro
hibiting the running of freight trains
on Sunday was fought by Senator
Turner. When the bill came up Sen
ator Kilpatrick explained that it ap
plied to railroads running through the
state less than three miles, aud said
there were only six citizens who could
be disturbed by the noise of the trains.
Hal Lewis Honored.
Hon. Hal T. Lewis, of Greensboro,
has been appointed by Gov. Atkinson
supreme court judge to succeed Judge
Spencer R, Atkinson, who resigned to
accept a place on the Georgia state
railroad commission.
The appointment of Colonel Lewis
was a surprise all round, but it seems
that Governor Atkinson has long con
templated the appointment of Mr.
Lewis in the event that Judge Samps
Harris declined to accept the
meut. Tuesday Judg(JjUtfMfl||
! t : I'QfrSffiSgijjfe
COMPETITOR PRISONERS OUT
QUEEN REGENT OF SPAIN PARDONS
THE FOUR UNFORTUNATES.
ms ONCE CONDEMNED TO DIE.
DcLome Ha* a Conference With Assistant
Secretary J>ay In Kejjard to Weylcr’s
Tobacco Decree.
Minister Woodford at Madrid has
telegraphed the state department that
the Spanish cabinet has notified him
that the queen has pardoned the Com
petitor prisoners.
The state department now announces
that the Competitor prisoners were
turned over to General Lee last Mon
day and will be sent by him direct
to New York.
It is not doubted in Washington
that tho prisoners are liberated on
some such conditions as were imposed
in the case of former prisoners, that
is that they will not return to Cuba.
After their bitter experience in the
Cuban jails, it is not believed the
men will be disposed to violate any
understanding of this kind to which
they may be parties. It is singular
that the men should have been for
four days in the custody of Consul
General Lee without the fact having
become generally known, but it is
supposed that secrecy was observed
in order to secure departure from Ha
vana without exciting trouble from
the extreme conservative Spanish fac
tion.
There were four prisoners, namely,
Alfred 0. Laborde, tho captain of the
Competitor, a native of New Orleans;
William Gildea, the mate, a natural
ized citizen; Ona Melton, who claims
Kansas as his native state, and who
went on the Competitor in the capacity
of a newspaper correspondent; Charles
Barnett, of British birth, but who
claimed the protection of the United
States by virtue of his sailing on an
American vessel.
The conditions under which the
Competitor was captured April 25,
1896, off the Cuban coast while en
gaged in landing arms for the insur
gents have been often described. The
defense of the men was that they were
forced into the exposition against
their will by the insurgent party
aboard the boat. They were tried by
a naval courtmartial before which they
could make only a poor showing, prin
cipally because of their ignorance of
the Spanish language in which the
proceedings were conducted, so that
their conviction and the imposition of
the death sentence was not a matter of
surprise.
At that point, however, the case as
sumed diplomatic importance.
May Revoke Weyler’s Decree.
Senor Dupuy de Lome, the Spanish
minister, had a long conference with
Assistant Secretary Day Thursday
morning and it is believed that the
Spanish government is voluntarily
about to remove another troublesome
factor from the field of negotiations in
revoking the decree made by Weyler
prohibiting the exportation of tobacco
from Cuba.
The reason set up by General Wey
ler for the order was the necessity of
keeping in Havana the supply of to
bacco necessary to run the domestic
cigar factories and thus,by giving em
ployment to workmen,keep them from
drifting into the insurgent ranks. It
was a matter of common report, how
ever, that another potent reason was a
desire to cripple the Cuban cigar mak
ers in the United States, from whom
the insurgents drew funds.
SUICIDE'S CONFESSION READ.
Sensation Sprung at Trial of Arroyo’s
Lynchers In City of Mexico.
A profound sensation was made in
the course of the trial of the police
officials of the City of Mexico, who
1 are charged with the murder of Ar
royo, by the production of the confes
| sion of the late inspector general of
police, Velasquez, who suicided. It
is a most remarkable attempt at self
justificai ion, aud falsely states that a
mob of the common people lynched
Arroyo.
The prosecuting attorney in a strong
argument pleaded for the execution of
a death sentence on all the prisoners
except ex-Assistant Chief of Detectives
Cabrera and one other minor prisoner.
THE Will NOT SIGNED.
Beregford’g Wife Was Not Disinherited
After All.
An interesting piece of news has
come to light on information furnish
ed by Dr. Miller, a member of the city
council of Fitzgerald, Ga.
Dr. Miller says that the father-in
law of Lord Beresford alias Sydney
Lascelles, did not disinherit his daugh
ter as has been reported.
The will was drawn up and the
lawyer who had been employed for the
purpose was called away and during
his absence the much-abused father
suddenly died. Consequently the
document was never signed and is
harmless.
FOOTBALL PROHIBITED
By Grand College, Pa., and the Student.
Are Disappointed.
President Fetterolf of the Grand
college at Philadelphia has issued an
edict against football, aud henceforth
the students of the institution must
keep of the gridiron.
The ban ou football was the result
' of a boy having his leg fractured at a
practice game. As soon as President
Fetterolf learned of the accident he is
sued an order prohibiting all football
games. There are ncarhjdhgMgjlj
the cllcve
. 1
THANKSGIVING PROCLAM VTION.
Issued by Georgian Governor In Accord
ance With Time-Honored Custom.
The following thanksgiving procla
mation was issued by Governor Atkin
son Wednesday:
Georgia has been greatly blessed
during tho past twelve months by the
Giver of every good ami perfect gift.
She has been exempt from pestilence
that walketh in darkness and the dis
ease that wasteth at noonday. She
has enjoyed the blessings of peace;
floods have not mandated her fields
nor drought cut off her crops. Tho
harvest lias been abundant in her
borders. Progress lias marked her
footsteps and sons have been
protected in their inalienable rights
of life, liberty, prosperity and pur
suits of happiness. Throughout her
limits the smiles of a beneficent provi
dence have brightly beamed, and all
have been made to feel that their
“lines have been cost in pleasant,
places.”
Therefore, I, W. Y. Atkinson, gov
ernor of the state of Georgia, in ac
cordance with the time-honored custom
of our country and in conformity to
the proclamation of the president of
the United States aud in special recog
nition of the generous gifts of our
Heavenly Father, whose blessings have
fallen upon all alike, hereby designate
and set apart Thursday, November
25th, as a day of Thanksgiving and
praise, and I earnestly recommend that
all secular labor be laid aside on that
day, and that the people around their
family altar, as well as in their houses
of prayer and public worship, return
thanks to the Euler of heaven and
earth for the multitude of His tender
mercies and richest blessings.
Given uiulJt my hand and seal of
the executive department at the Capi
tol iu the city of Atlanta, this 17th
day of November, 1897.
W. Y. Atkinson, Governor.
COLORED EX-CONGRESSMAN DEAD
John M. Langston Horn a Slave and llose
To Distinction.
Ex-Congressman John M. Langston
of Virginia, one of the prominent col
ored men of the country, died at Wash
ington a day or two ago. He was 68
years of age, having been born a slave
in 1829.
He was emancipated at the age of
six, and was educated at Oberlin, where
he graduated from the theological de
partment in 1854. He afterward stud
ied Viw, and practiced his profession
until 1869, during which time he held
several township offices in Ohio, being
the first colored man elected to office
in the United States by popular vote.
In 1869 he was Seven a professorship
of law at HowarußUiiiversity, remain
ing with that institution for seven
years.
From 1877 to 1885 he was United
States Minister and Consul General
to Hayti. Upon liis return to this
country he became president of tbe
Virginia Normal and Collegiate Insti
tute at Petersburg, Va.. where he re
mained for three years, when he was
elected to the fifty-first congress, and
was given his seat on contest. Since
1891 Langston had been prominent in
politics, but did not hold office.
GEORGIA DAIRYMEN
Hold Annual XpHPujt of Their Assoeia
tioii In Macon.
The Dairymen’s Association of Geor
gia met in Macon Wednesday morning
with Chairman R. J. Bedding presid
ing.
An address of welcome to the visit
ing delegates and the participants in
the program was first delivered by
Hon. Minter Wimberly, of Bibb, who
welcomed them in behalf of the Cen
tral City.
The annual address of President R.
,7. Bedding was an exhaustive review
of the work of the association and was
heard with close attention by the
members and those who had gathered
to hear the opening addresses.
BIG MONEY INVOLVED
In Decision of Judge Pardee In Georgia
Railroad Lease Case.
The argument in the Georgia rail
road lease case was concluded at At
lanta last Tuesday by Mr. Henry
Crawford, counsel for Thomas aud
Ryan.
It is now with Judge Don A. Pardee
to say whether or not Thomas and
Ryan are entitled to a half interest in
the lease of the Georgia railroad or
whether the entire lease belongs to the
Louisville aud Nashville railroad.
SETH TOW HOLDS ON.
Columbia College Will Still Retain Him
as Its President.
A New York special says: When Seth
Low decided to become the candidate
of the citizens’ union for mayor of
New York he sent his resignation as
president of Columbia college to the
board of trustees.
The latter, at their last meeting, de
cided to lay the matter of President
Low’s resignation over until the next
monthly meeting, which was held
Monday.
The committee, of which Rev. Dr.
Morgan Dix was chairman, decided
not to accept the resignation and re
quested Mr. Low to withdraw it. To
this President Low consented.
TO ENJOIN TAX COLLECTORS.
Tennessee Railroad* Will Fight Constitu
tionality of Assessment.
Chairman Thompson, of the Ten
nessee state railroad commission,
states that the attorneys of railroads in
the state will at once file a bill attack
ing the constitutionality of the state
assessment of railroads recently made.
Under this assessment the valuation
of railroads in the state was increased
$30,000,000, iliiiGMMgW
v ■.■
GERMANS ROUTE CHINESE.
WILLIAM’S SOLDIERS TAKE A
FORT FROM TIIE CELESTIALS.
PIGTAILS FEARED GERMAN CRUISER
The Sultan of Turkey Will Make Amend*
to Au*tria For In*tilt* Offered
tint Fatter’* Agents.
Advices received from Shanghai,
China, state that the commander of
the German cruiser Division, landed
troops at Kiao-Cban on the evening of
November 15th. The three forts were
held by 1,500 Chinese and their guns
commanded the fleet. Admiral von
Deiderich placed his four cruisers im
mediately opposite, ready to fire, and
sent an ultimatum ordering the evacu
tion of the forts within three hours.
Six hundred German troops and six
guns were then landed and began to
march forward. The Chinese hesi
tated a few moments and then the
\vholo body bolted belter skelter across
the hills behind the forts. The Ger
mans quietly entered the fortifications,
hauled down the Chinese flag and
hoisted the German standard, which
the warships saluted immediately. The
Chinese general, who had his family
with him, did not flee, but claimed
German protection. The forts are
now held by the Germans, who, it is
believed at Shangliia, intend to re
main permanently.
In official Chinese circles Germany
is considered to have committed an act
of war,hut itis regarded as improbable
that China, on account of her weak
ness will take action upon it as such.
American and British warships have
been ordered to Kiao Chau to watch
developments. The greatest interest
is felt as to the result of Germany’s ac
tion, because the region is immensely
rich in minerals, and the harbor is the
best along the coast.
It is now asserted that the murder
of the two German marines near Yen-
Chu-Fu (Yeng-Tu) was not the work
of bandits, as originally understood,
but w r as deliberately planned by Li
Hung Hing, governor of the province,
prior to his departure for See-Chuoan,
of which he has been appointed vice
roy.
The Berlin correspondent of the
Daily Chronicle says:
“Emperor William is devoting con
siderable attention to the course of
affairs in China and on Wednesday
discussed the position of the mission
aries with Bishop An /ere, vicar of the
German Catholic missions in China.
Sultan Will Apologize to Austria.
A special dispatch from Vienna says
that a telegram has been received there
from Baron de Caliee, the Austrian
ambassador at Constantinople, saying
that the sultan has declared his will
ingness to give Austria full satisfac
tion for the Messina incidents and in
regard to the disputes in connection
with tne Oriental railroad, growing
out of the transportation of Turkish
troops dning the recent war between
Turkey and Greece.
Had not the Turkish government
yielded to the demands of the govern
ment of Austria for redress on account
of the indignities offered to an Aus
trian merchant of Mersina, Herr Braz
zafelli, the Austrian ambassador at
Constantinople, Baron de Caliee, would
have left the Turkish capital and an
Austrian warship would have bom
barded the port of Mersina, Asia
Minor.
SEAMEN INDICTED FOB MURDER.
Amlorson, the Cook, ami Others Charged
With Killing Captain Whitman.
The federal grand jury in the case
of the crew of the Olive Pecker con
vened at Norfolk, Va., Wednesday and
returned the following true bills:
John Anderson, for murder of Cap
tain John W. Whitman. Same for the
murder of Mate William Wallace
Saunders (two indictments.) Same for
the destruction of the vessel.
William Horsburgli, John Lind and
Manuel Barrial, accessories after the
murder of Mate Saunders. Same ac
cessories after the murder of Captain
Whitman.
John Anderson, William Ilors
burgh, John Lind and Juan de Dois
Barrial for destruction of vessel.
TWO BIG CITIES INNOLVEB.
Over Seven Million Acres of I.iiml iu Dis
pute in Minnesota.
An immense claim, embracing 7,000,-
000 acres of land in the northwest
aud including the cities of Minneapo
lis and St. Paul, was brought before
Commissioner Harmann of the general
land office at Washington Tuesday
and tbe assistance of t£e government
in securing official data was called for.
The claimants are C. B. Holloway,
of Holland, 0., and A. U. Gunn, of
Maumee, O. They are now making
an examination of the general land
office records witb a view to securing
copies of certified papers, which they
assert will establish their title to the
lands claimed by them.
CHINESE ARE COMPLACENT.
Say Russia, Germany ami France Are
Only Preparing to Attack Japan.
According to a special dispatch from
Shanghai Admiral von Diedrieh, com
mander of the German cruiser Divis
ion, before landing marines at Klao-
Clmu, notified the British,
Russian admirals of his
it is said the l*.-i -it'i
rd approval. /
PLUNGED INTO A CREEK.
Train Wrecked and llnrned —Only One
Heath, lint Many Injured.
Train 2 ou the Kansas City, Fort
Scott, and Memphis, which left Bir
mingham, Ala., Wednesday evening
for Kansas City, was derailed west of
Walliford, Ark., at 3 o’clock Thurs
day morning. The combination coach,
chair car and sleeper went over
the bank, the combination car going
into Spring river. Tho chair car and
sleeper were both consumed.
One passenger was fatally injured,
dying shortly afterward, aud about
thirty others more or less seriously
hurt. It is believed none of the lat
ter will die.
No. 2 is a fast through train from
the south. Between Williford and
Hardy the Memphis tracks parallel
the Spring river, a little stream run
ning out of Mammoth Springs.
When near Williford the engineer
felt the train leap forward and found
that it had parted between the two
day coaches. The last three ears
bumped over the ties, the chair car
and sleeper turning over on their
sides and the combination ear finally
going into the river.
The engineer hacked up the front
part of the train and the work of res
cue was immediately begun. The ter
ror of the passengers who had gone
down into the stream with the combi
nation car was heightened by cries of
alarm from the chair car and sleeper,
both of which soon took fire. The
intense darkness added to the confu
sion and it was some time before an
organized effort at rescue was put into
effect by the train crew and those of
the passengers who had been able to
extricate themselves without nid. Tho
passengers in the burning ears were
luckily rescued before the fire had
reached its height, and but few in
those ears were injured.
The wreck is the first one of a seri
ous nature in the history of the Mem
phis road, nnd according to the state
ment of General Passenger Agent J.
E. LooKwood, Mr. Hoover is the first
passenger ever killed while riding on
a train on that road.
REPORT OF SECRETARY BLISS.
Document .Shows Work of Interior De
partment For Fust Year.
Secretary of the Interior Bliss, iu
his annual report, made public Thurs
day night, submits estimates aggregat
ing $156,532,419 for appropriation by
congress for tlie fiscal year ending
June 30, 1897.
Discussing pensions he says 200,-
000 pension claims are awaiting adju
dication and it is estimated that 40 or
50 per cent of these will be finally ad
mitted. If they are rapidly adjudi
cated they will swell tho pension roll
from $5,000,000 to $7,000,000. When,
however, these claims are adjudicated
and the first payments made thereon,
the amount of the pension roll will de
crease very rapidly, possibly to $125,-
000,000 or $130,000,000 the first year.
The total Indian population of the
United States exclusive of the New
York Indians and the five civilized
tribes, approximates 177,178, located
on 177 reservations, which contain
approximately 33,404,837 acres. Of
these, 4,545 have accepted allotments
of land which aggregate 644,147 acres.
Secretary Bliss says while the opening
of the Wichita reservation in Okla
homa to white settlement would great
ly promote the development of that
country, yet, in view of the unsettled
condition of the questions affecting
their rights, until there is further leg
islation ho does not see how it can be
done without causing great injury and
distress.
To guard against this recommendation
is made that the Dawes commission he
authorized to investigate questions as
to their rights and claims and report
recommendations from speedy aud just
e tlement.
DISASTROUS PRAIRIE FIRES.
Thi'efl Thousand Mieep Burned in Texas
Counties.
A terrific prairie fire has passed
through Lubbock, Hale aud Crosby
counties, Texas, doing great damage
to the ranges.
It originated east of Crosby conn!'}',
burned eastward through Crosby be
fore a severe west wind.
Tlie flames made a fire ten miles
wide, which traveled at great speed.
At least 400 square miles of territory
were burned. Cattle suffered and
many were burned to death. Three
thousand sheep were burned in one
flock aud many farmers lost all their
winter feed.
MAS DREYFUS BLACKMAILED?
Tlie Accused Man Said To Be Victim of a
Conspiracy.
Advices from Paris state that the
allegation that Alfred Dreyfus, the
former captain of French artillery,
was falsely accused and convicted by
a courtmartial of selling French mili
tary jilans to the agents of a foreign
government continues to be widely
discussed throughout France.
It is claimed that the documents
Dreyfus was charged with selling to
Germany were never really sold to the
agent of that country, but were pre
pared in imitation of Dreyfus’s hand
writing to blackmail him, his wife be
ing a wealthy woman and he himself
being in good circumstances.
LEE VISITS BLANCO.
Our Consul la Received Very ConrteogM
At Havana.
A special from Havana
General Fitzliugh IffM
visit*- Monday to
WALTER O’QUINN NOI GUILTY
JURY MAS QUICK IN MAKING UP
THEIR DECISION.
A MISTRIAL NARROWLY AVERTED.
Jury Was Allowed To Visit Scene of Mur
der— Stelnau and Simon Are Re
leased On Their Own Bond.
The trial of Walter O’Quinn at At
lanta ou the charge of having shot
and killed Patrolman J. T. Ponder
was concluded Wednesday morning
and he has been found not guilty and
released.
A sensation unlooked for occurred
when the court was called to order,
and for a time it looked as though
Judge Candler would declare a mis
trial; in fact, he so announced his
intention, but after the strongest of
arguments from tho attorneys for the
defense he decided to allow the trial
to proceed.
The sensation came when immedi
ately after court was called to order
Judge Anderson, of the counsel for the
prosecution, called the attention of
Judge Candler to the fact that the jury
had visited the scene of the murder
before coming into court.
No one had spoken to any member
of jury, he said, and the party had
simply walked by the place and noth
ing had been said about the killing or
the trial of O’Quinn.
When this had been done Judge
Candler said: “Gentlemen, I see no
reason why I should not declare a
mistrial in this case. The truth of
the entire matter hinges upon that
locality. This is an outrageous thing
and I do not see how I can keep from
declaring a mistrial.
“The jury, I suppose, did not know
what it was doing ami intended no
wrong, but such a thing as this is un
heard of.
“I attach no blame to any one and
if there is to be blnme it must rest up
on me, I suppose. The jury asked
for permission to take exercise and I
granted it without telling the officers
not to go near the scene of the killing.
Notwithstanding all this, at the re
quest of O’Qninn’s attorneys, the jury
was allowed to visit Stinean’s place
and inspect the premises. On their
return the trial proceeded. At 11
o’clock the state announced closed,
and then a consultation was held be
tween the attorneys for both sides,
and then one followed between all of
the attorneys and Judge Candler.
Judge Candler, when this confer
ence had ended, said to the jury that
the attorneys had decided that as the
points at issue were entirely of fact,
had decided to submit it without argu
ment. He then proceeded to deliver
his charge which was brief and to the
point.
The jury retired at exactly II :17,
and soon returned a verdict of not
guilty.
Louis Steinau and Julius Simon,
who were arrested at the same time
O’Quinn was and charged with being
accessories, were allowed to sign their
own bonds in the sum of sl,ooo^each.
CQUDOT MAS INNO< ENT.
Chief Justice Declares Lynchers Made
Horrible Mistake.
“An innocent man was liauged by
lynchers at Williamsport,” was the
startling statement made at Grand
Forks, N. D., by Chief Justice Cor
liss of tbe state supreme court. “I
have documentary evidence to prove
the statement,” continued the judge.
“The supreme court ordered anew
trial in Coudot’s case because it ap
peared that he was convicted on the
uncorroborated evidence of Hollytrack
nnd Ireland, both of whom confessed
to taking part in the murder of the
Spicer family, aud whose statements
were refuted by the strong alibi testi
mony given by Dr. Ross, the resident
agency physician at Standing Rock.
FIXING FREIGHT RATES.
Board of Control of Joint Trattle Associ
ation in Session at New York.
The board of control of the Joint
Traffic Association was in session at
New York Tuesday. Among the sub
jects discussed was that of passenger
and freight rates east and west bound
which have been iu a chaotic condition
for some time.
ORDERS FOR ENGINES.
Baldwin Works Will He Kept Busy Tarn
ing Out Locomotives
The Baldwin locomotive works at
Philadelphia have in the past few days
booked orders for fifty-six locomotives.
The orders include twenty-one loco
motives for the government state rail
way of Finland, the first order of any
magnitude that has ever been placed
in this country from that country.
Another order is for twenty-four
broad guage locomotives for the gov
ernment of Brazil, while the third or
der is from the Grand Trunk railway
of Canada and is for ten locomotives.
All of these orders call for the comple
tion and deli very
January,