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About The Abbeville chronicle. (Abbeville, Ga.) 1896-1953 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 3, 1898)
VOL. II. RETIRING CHIEF EXECUTIVE RE. VIEWS HIS ADMINISTRATION. IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS. Biennial Legislative Sessions Advocated. Ballot Reform Urged and Equaliza tion of Taxes Favored. The farewell message of Governor W. Y. Atkinson, which was read in the two houses of the general assem bly Thursday, was a strong and inter esting review of his administration, with recommendations of such legis lation as he thinks would be advan tageous to tbo state. Tbe most important features of the message are here presented: Gentlemen of tho General Assembly of Georgia: In obedience to the requirement of law, I send this communication to Inform you 0 / such transactions since the adjourn ment of your predecessors In ’office as may better enable you to discharge your duties as members of tho general assem bly; and make to you such recommenda tions as will, In ray opinion, aid In the perfection of our laws and promote the growth of our material interests. Temporary Loans. Early in July I received an official com tnunlcatlon from the state treasurer, in which he informed me that, in order to carry out the law providing for the quar terly payment of the salaries of teachers, It would be necessary for th9 state to bor row $200,000. This condition of the treasury was due to the fact that the increase In the appropriation for common school pur poses of $400,000 would not reach the treoa ury until tho collection of the taxes for this year, and would not likely he avail able until some time in December. It be came necessary, therefore, for me to de cide whether It would be better to Ignore teriy°'r g to 10 e n x a erclse a3 ; h e h< amhoH e t r ; gWen me by the last general assembly to bor row money and meet the demands promptly. I reached the conclusion that It would be better for the state to pay the Interest upon this amount than to Ig nore the obligation to the teachers and require them to discount at ruinous rates their claims against the state. Expe-se of Organizing the Troops. Soon after the declaration of war the federal government declined to furnish a regular army officer to assist the state In the office of adjutant general, as had been done for a number of years. On this account, and because of the large In crease of the work incident to organizing the military forces, it became necessary for me to employ some one to aid in the adjutant general’s department. Colonel \V. G. Obear. an able and experienced militia officer, was employed at a salary of one hundred and fifty dollars per month, which was paid out of the mili tary fund. This employment, which has been necessary, has continued up to the present. There was necessarily a large expense to be incurred in raising the troops, and the problem was presented to roe of determining from whence this fund should be derived. On account of tho expense which would have been Incurred by so doing, It was considered Inadvisable to convene the general assembly and ask for an appropriation for this purpose; find It was therefore determined to use the fund appropriated by the state for military purposes. . Northeastern Railroad. The last general assembly conferred up x>n the governor authority to sell the Northeastern railroad whenever ho thought advisable. I have not offered this property for sale because I did not deem It advisable in the present condition of the country, but I feel sure that soon a sale can be per fected in compliance with the conditions imposed, for as much or more than the amount of the bonded debt for which the state is liable. Pensions. It has become the just, humane and set tled policy of the state to pay pensions to Confederate soldiers ana their widow's, where the circumstances justify it. Since ‘1866 all legislative action has tended to ’that end, and on three several occasions the question has been submitted to the people, and each time by a practically unanimous vote they have fixed or amen ded the constitution for that purpose. It is a patriotic and noble spirit which in spires and puts in active operation the discharge of this obligation. j legislating for that purpose such re etrictionjs should be kept In view as will tend to keep the pension roll as a. roll of honor. The following table shows payment or pensions during my administration,' and two years previous; Number. Paid. For 1S93.. .. ..... 7,290 $429,080 For 1894..... . .. 7,232 424,820 For 1895..... . .. 7,308 426,340 For 1896..... . .. 9,291 645,140 For 1827..... . .. 10,445 673,460 For 1898..... . 10,390 609,620 There are now pending In the pension office 2,716 claims, of which, probably 1,000 under the proofs are entitled to be paid; and to cover such payments $60,000 should ■ be appropriated for 1899 in addition to the sum appropriated for 1898. Fee System. I am persuaded that the Interest of the state will be conserved by abolishing the fee system, and suggest the passage of a law providing a different method of com pensation for our public officials. All of ficers who are compensated In this way should be required to keep an Itemized account of their receipts, and make re turn^ tVbreof under oath. A maximum limit ought to be fixed, and receipts In excess of this limit covered into the treas ury. The limitation should be sufficiently liberal, however, to secure the services of our best men, and I apprehend no dif ficulty in adjusting the new system so as to satisfy requirements. I commend the matter to cour serious attention. Biennial Session*. Another step in the direction of re trenchment which I would propose, Is an amendment to the constitution providing for biennial sessions of the legislature. Heretofore much of the time of our as sembly meetings has been taken up In balloting for Judges and solicitors, but now that tn* constitution has been so The Abbeville Chronicle amended as to require the election of these officials by the people, ample time will be allowed for the purpose* of need ful legislation within the period now fixed tor a single session—fifty days. This change will result not only In a net sav lng to the state of 170,000 for the session dlspensed with, but will have a good ef fect tn other respect*. Annual session* are prolific of much needles* legislation, and too much legislation ha* a disturbing effect upon business and commercial af fairs. All states of the Union, except Georgia and five others, now have bi ennial sessions, and the experiment has proven so satisfactory that It will be only a question of a short time when the plan will be adopted also In the state* to which I have referred. • i . Tax on Inheritance*. As a means of adding to the state’s rov enue, I Teeommewd the imposition of a tax on Inheritances, direct as well as col lateral. Other states have set us a goo i 3 example on this line, which we would do well to follow. A measure providing for a levy of thl3 sort would. I believe, re ceive the approbation of the people, and add materially to the state's revenue. Education. The state has made most gratifying progress in matters affecting Its educa tlonal advancement. Perhaps never be fore In the history of Georgia has there been such widespread Interest in the cause of popular education. The legislature. In answer to the demands of the people, -has made liberal appropriations for the sup port. of all our schools. These large In vestments that the state Is annually mak {ng for the education of the masses, will yield larger returns than the state could derive In any other way. The problem before us as a people Is to make our own children capable of developing our own resources. It is extremely gratifying to me to note the steady and rapid Improve ment In our educational conditions. The public school term has been length ened from one hundred days to one hun- 3raa anfl tWrt Y’ ’ n>e R ubUc 9ch ° o1 fun3 has grown from $937,871.12 In 1894, to $1,- 140.881 In 1898. Within the same length of «»• added to our teaching force me thousand teachers who have been pro fessionally trained in normal schools The enrollment „ . of , children of ... school age In the common schools has also largely In crease a 0V er the enrollment of previous years. The building of new and comfort able modern schoolhouses is steadily go Ing on In all parts of the state. Tho two normal schools supported by the state— the Georgia Normal and Industrial school at Mllledgeville and the State Normal ichool at Athens—have been taxod to their utmost capacity to make room for tho pupils that apply for entrance In both in stitutions. During the present year, In deed, a large number of applicants have been denied admission in both of the^b seliools for lack of room. Teaching Is no longer an avocation. It Is now a profes sion, and teachers who are wanted every where are those who have had professlon al training. These two schools, therefore, that are providing professional training to our teachers, deserve the liberal sup port that the legislature has provided. Georgia School of Technology. By giving our young men the opportuni ty to obtain practical and scientific educa tion of high grade In the different fields of engineering and industrial science, we continually add to the population a class of citizens familiar with our resources. capable of organizing manufacturing plants, and qualified to increase the wealth and Importance of the state. In view of these facts. I recommend for your continued support the Georgia School of Technology. The University. I recommend the continuation of the state’s support of the university. The intellectual supremacy of a people is the key to prosperity and material greatness, and the University of the state, if properly supported, will continue to add to the growth and greatness of the state. I advise that the excellent dormitory system now existing at the School of Technology he provided for at the univer sity, so that young men of limited means may obtain the advantages of the insti tution at small cost and that parents may f ee i ^at their sons are under the contin ua j guardianship and protection of the authorities. School Books Question. I would again Invite your attention to the Importance of legislation looking to a reduction of the cost of school books used In the public schools of this state, and urge upon your body the growing neces sity for action thereon. Industrial Education. We have come to a time when practical education is demanded for the changed conditions that confront ns. Our children must be taught In the schools to do what the world want* done. Most of the man ual labor of the future will be done with a machine. This will be true, not only of the manufactory and workshop and print ing house, but It will be true to a large extent on the farm as well. We have come to the age of the machine. Such changes should be made, therefore, In the courses of study In our common sfchools as will broaden the foundation of popular education, by Including such industrial branches as the times demand of us. Ballot Reform. For some years past there has Jieen con siderable discussion In regard to a change In our election laws, making them con form, In some degree, to the advanced laws on this subject in other states. In my first message to the legislature in 1894, and In every subsequent message, I have adverted to this measure. Now, however, that the agitation has become general throughout the state, and Is being advo cated by those who formerly opposed It. I hope for definite action by your body, and again add my urgent appeal to the general demand. Better Election Law Needed. Fully as Important everywhere ae strin gent election laws, and a more crying de mand in Georgia, 1* th* necessity for th* ABBEVILLE. GA.. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3. 1898. strictest regulation of tho party primary, For thirty years past the welfare and destiny of this state have been In the hands of one party, and the recent elec tlon has but furnished a fresh demor.etra tlon that this condition le to continue in definitely, or at least so tong as the pres ent party alignments remain. The most vital part, then, of our poll ties, Is the primary, and any reform that docs not Include this Inceptive function In Its scope will fall to strike at the root of the real evils of which the people are complaining. Methods. Plea for Better The growing demand for better party methods was recognized by the legislature as far back as 1831, when an act was pass ed and approved by the governor "to pro tect primary elections and conventions of political parties In this state, and to pun ish frauds committed thereat." deercoy is Noodcd. Tn the first place, I cannot too strongly emphasize the statement that the ballot should be made absolutely secret, No possible opportunity should be given to the briber to see that the vote corruptly purchased Is faithfully delivered, and thus corruption will be discouraged. Neither should an employer have any method of ascertaining how his employes really vote, and thus the laboring man. whoso Interest may not always be the same as that of the capitalist, but whose views are equally worthy of expression In a free government, cannot be successfully co erced. This becomes more vitally Impor tant every year, as Industrial and corpo rate factors enlarge their scope and cm ploy' Increasing numbers of Intelligent suffragists, whose franchise cannot be loo vigilantly protected against any Improp er Influences. So satisfactory has been (he practice of holding state primaries on one day that I would by all means incorporate this in the law; and I would also advise that tho date of the primary be made a fixed dsy, at such season as may be most conven ient to the masses of the, voters. Equalization of Taxes. A great deal of comment has beon mada recently about the high rate of taxation in Georgia. „ ........ 1 hat the tax rate is , Higher ..... than the people who pay the taxes can well afford 1. an Indisputable propoel R° n * but I fall to see how the amount of appropriations made can be materially reduaed without receding from the posi tion which the state has taken respecting Its treatment of the old soldiers and the education of Its children, and against thl* policy of retrogression all are mutually P !e dscd. I am as much in favor of economy la state affairs as any one can ha. as I think the record of my administration will show'; but the proper and only way to reduce the taxes that everybody pays. Is to make everybody pay his taxes. If there were a Just and equitable system of tax assessment tn the state, Instead of leaving each tax-payer to swear to the amount that he is willing to pay taxes upon, according to Investigations that have recently been made In differ ent localities, and according to the painstaking report of Comptroller Gen eral Wright, to which your care ful attention Is called, the valua ation of property would be so increased— so much additional property would be placed upon the tax books—that the rate bf taxation would be decreased one-third and still afford the same amount of rev enue that we arc receiving today. I now appeal to your body to respond to an awakened public Interest on this auh l ec t. and am persuaded that effectual wlU taken In the direction In dicated. , Suppression of Lynching. I respectfully but urgently invite your attention to my message to your prede cessors, in which I asked for legislation for the suppression of lynching in this state, and suggested legislation for their consideration. The Democratic platform In 1896 declared in favor of legislation on the line of my recommendation, and I respectfully call attention to the fact that this pledge of the party has not been ful filled. Work of Last Four Years* Adminis tration. In sending this, my Inst official commu nication to the general assembly, I will take the liberty of calling your attention to many results which have been accom plished during my administration. The state now collects interest on its money deposited with banks. The Northeastern railway has been sold and is now tho property of the state, yielding a net Income. The public debt has been decreased four hundred and ten thousand dollars. The annual Interest account of the state has been decreased $40,905, All state bonds which will mature prior te 1915, except those which can be paid with the sinking fund received annually, have been either paid and cancelled, or retired by substituting in lieu thereof bonds bearing a rate of interest much lower than the rate of the retired bonds. The state has borrowed money at the low rate of 2% per cent per annum. The amount of pensions to Confederate soldiers annually has been Increased one hundred and eighty-five thousand dollars. The annual common school fund has been Increased six hundred and ninety four thousand dollars. The state normal school at Athens has been opened and maintained by the state. New buildings have been erected at the fitate university, State Normal school, School of Technology and at the Georgia Normal and Industrial college. A textile department has been estab lished in the School of Technology. Large additions have been made at the lunatic asylum, and substantial improve ments made at the School for the Deaf and Dumb. The penitentiary question has been met and solved by the adoption of a system which will guarantee state control of all Its convicts, felony and misdemeanor, se cure just and humane treatment to all and yield to the state a net income ap proximating $1,000,000 per annum. A state board of medical examiners has been established. Our election laws have been improved by the passage of the registration act. The state school commissioner has been made elective by the people. Three additional justices have been ad ded to the supreme court, and the entire bench ts elected by the people. The constitution has been so amended as to provide for the election of the Judges and solicitors general by the peo ple. A new C0C ^ e been adopted and pub lishecl , An act hos been pa83e(J revising the criminal law* of the state, ____ The resources of the state have been exhibited at three expositions of a na tional charueter, to-wlt: The Cotton States and International exposition, at Atlanta; tho Tennessee Centennial expo sition, at Nashville, and the Trnns-Mis elsslpp! Internatlonal exposition at Omaha, Specimens of the products and resources of the state havo been collected, which inay at small cost, be transported for ex hibit at any future oxposltlon. The office of governor has been relieved of a large part of Its work and responsi bility because of the action of the general assembly In creating the office of pension commissioner .ltd giving to the prison commission the power of pardon, In so far as It could be done under our constitution. But for the Immense amount of work Im posed upon the governor In organizing tho volunteer force of the United States, the duties of the position would, this year, on account of the reduction of the work of the governor by the two above mentioned acts, havo been vastly lighter than K has been for years. During the Inst four years the Demo cratic party, which has been In control of the affairs of this state, has shown a dls position to correct existing evils and to Inaugurate such reforms as the Interest of the country demanded. The exhibition of this spirit has gone far to convince all the people of the state that there Is no good to come from divisions and dissen sions; but that within the ranks of this pnrty all may come who desire to take part In perfecting our laws and advancing our business Interests. There Is no reason to doubt that the same forces which have carried us for ward during recent years will continue In tho line of progress nnd reform, detecting and eradicating defects ami upbuilding every Interest which looks to the advance ment and progress of all the people. I cannot take leave of your body with out, through you, extending to the people of Georgia my sincere gratitude for their many kindnesses to me. If. in the dis charge of the duties Imposed by their par tiality, I have In any way contributed to the happiness of tho people and the great ness of my state, it Is to me a rich re ward. W. Y. ATKINSON, Governor. TO GIVE THANKS. President McKinley Issue* Proclamation Naming November 24th. President McKinley, after the cabi net meeting Friday, issued the follow ing Thanksgiving proclamation: “By the president of the United States. “A PROCLAMATION. "The approachiug November briugs to mind the custom of our ancestors, hallowed by time and rooted in our most sacred traditions, of giving thanks to Almighty God for all the blessings he has vouchsafed to us dur ing the past year. “Few years in our history have af forded such cause for thanksgiving. We have been blessed by abundant harvests, our trade and commerce havo been wonderfully increased, our pub lic credit has been improved and strengthened, all sections of our com mon country have been brought to gether and knitted into closer bonds of national purpose and unity. “The skies havo been for a time darkened by the cloud of war, but as we were compelled to take up the sword in the cause of humanity, wo are permitted to rejoice that the con flict has been of brief duration and the losses we have had to mourn, though grievous and important, have been so few, considering the great re sults accomplished, as to inspire us with gratitude and praise to the Lord of Hosts. We may land and magnify His holy name that the cessation of hostilities came so soon as to spare both sides the countless sorrows and disasters that attend protracted war. “I do therefore invite all my fellow citizens,as well those at borne as those who may be at sea or sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe Thursday, the 24th day of November, as a day of national thanksgiving, to come together in their several places (J worship for a service of praise and thanks to Almighty God for all the blessings of tho year; for the mild ness of the seasons and the fruitful ness of tbe soil, for the continued prosperity of the people, for the devo tion and valor of our countrymen, for the glory of our victory and the hope of a righteous people, and to pray that the divine guidance which has brought us heretofore to sufoty and honor may be graciously continued in the years to come. (Signed) President, William McKinley. "By the “John Day, Secretary of State.” COL. BRYAN HAS TYPHOID. Ills Attending Physician Makes Known Tme Nature of .<>nip a n . A Savannah dispatch says, there be no ®°ulit now that Col. William J. Bryan has typhoid fever. IIis complaint has been so pro nounetd by his attending physician, Major Ole Grothan, regimental sur geon of the Third Nebraska regiment. He was much better Friday, however, and though he had no fever during the morning, it went up to about 100 in the eveniug. Friday was the first day that Col. Bryan has permitted himself to be seen by any one outside of his per sonal friends, his physician and nurse. SPAIN ENTERS PROTEST Against Our Sending the Battleships Iowa and Oregon to Manila. A Washington special says: brttlesh Spain has protested against the ps Oregon and Iowa going around Cape Horn to the Philippine islands and demands their return to the United Slates, claiming the action in sending these ships to Manila is a violation of the terms of the protocol. The protest was formally submitted to Secretary Hay Wednesday by M. Thebaut, the French minister to Wash ington. PERFECT ULISR. Noll—So you and Jack are really engaged, are you ? Bess—Yes; we have decided to en ter into a life partnership. of Jack Nell—And just think it, will be the silent partner, Isn’t that just too lovely ? COURT OF CASSATION DECIDES FOR REVISION V}' CASE. THE PENALTY IS KEPT IN FORCE. Result Accepted By the Public Without Demonstration—Text of Order Given. A Taris special of Saturday says: Tho court of cassation has decided to grunt a revision of the Dreyfus case, and will institute a supplementary in quiry. The court, however, has declined to order the release of Dreyfus. The decision of the court as follows: “In view of the letter of the minis ter of justice, of date September 1st, 1898; iu view of the arguments of the public prosecutor denouncing the court for the condemnation pro nounced by the first courtmartial of the military government of Paris, on December 22d, 1894, against Alfred Dreyfus, then a captain of artillery attached to tho general staff; in view of all the documents in the case, nnd also of articles 443 to 44(5 of the code of criminal procedure, amended by tho law of June 10th 1895, relativo to tho admissahility of an application iu proper form for revision. “Whereas, The matter has been brought before the court by the pub lic prosecutor in virtue of tbe express order of the minister of justice. “Whereas, The application comes within the category of the eases con templated in article 443 and has beon introduced within tho period fixed by article 444. “Whereas, The judgment, a revis ion of which is demanded, has the force of a choae jugee. "Whereas, The documents produced do not place the court in a position Ho decide all the merits of tho case, and there is ground for making a supple mentary inquiry. de “For these reasons the court clares tlie application to be in proper form and legally admissahle, and states that it will institute a supple mentary inquiry and declares there is no ground at the present moment for deciding on the public prosecutor’s application for a suspeusiou of the penalty ” The judges of the court were ocou pied for three hours and a half in con sidoring the judgment. The public, whose admission to the court was regulated with the greatest care, awaited the decision with mark ed calmness. No One Can Be Shielded. By the decision the court of cassa tiou obtaius tbo most absolute control over the Dreyfus case. It can demand and examine any documents whatever, including the dossier of any case bear ing upon tbe Dreyfus matter and can examine under oath any witness, how ever high his position. Iu short, if the court makes a sin cere use of its power the truth will re ceive a much better chance of being discovered than would have been the case had the revision been by another courtmartial whose members might have been actuated by a desire to shield the geueral staff. Its procedings will not be public and there can, therefore, be no object tion to a communication to it of Die alleged secret dossier, if this is still iu existence, while the numerous gen orals who have expressed their belief iu the guilt of Dreyfus will now be called upon to explain tho grounds of their convictions Although the liberation of Dreyfus lms not Been ordered, the court can order him brought to France at any moment and will probably do so at an early stage of the inquiry. The court refrained from ordering his release because it would have been a presumption of his innocence. KING GEORGE MAY <}UIT. Report Current That tie is on thoKvcof Abdication. According to advices received at Lo , )(]on from the court of Copenhagen, where King George of Greece is stay a ft er attending the funeral of the q uee n of Denmark, it is believed there tlmt j ie w ;u abdicate next spring in fftVor of t)ie <> own Prince Constantine, Duke ()f 8 ta _ DREYFUS LETTERS READ. Friday’s Proceedings In Court of Cassa tion Devoid of Sensation. A special from Paris states that Friday’s proceedings at the court of cassation were devoid of sensation. The only emotion caused ensued upon the reading of pathetic letters from Dreyfus. point the revela A significant was tion of the fact that General De Boisdeffre gave orders, after the Dreyfus case was supposed closed, for the dossier containing the bordereau to lie burned, and expressed surprise afterwards to find that his orders had not been executed. STEAMSHIPS COLLIDE. One Vessel Goes Down Irnmeillutely and Sixty Japanese Are Drowned. Advices from Kobe, Japan, state that tbe Japanese steamer Mijagala was sunk Wednesday, almost immediately after having been in collision with the Japanese steamer Kinshiu-Marn. The report states that sixty Japan ese, composing the crew of the Mija gala* were drowned; VETERANS MEET IN MAY. Hate of Confederate Veterans' Iteunlon In Charleston, By directum of General J. B. Gor don, commanding tho United Confed erate Veterans, Adjutant General Moorman has issued a general order announcing that under the resolution passed at tho lato reunion held at At lanta, and under the custom establish ed try the association, leaving the date of the next annual meeting and re union, which is to bo held in tho city of Charleston, S. C., to tho general commanding and tho department com manders; by unanimous agreement and at the desire of and acquiescence in by “our host,” tho noxt rennion will be held at Charleston, 8. C., upon May 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th, 1899, Wednesday, Saturday, Thursday, Friday and respectively. On account of the rapid growth of tho association and the immense accu mulation of business which demands urgent attention at the coming session, four days will bo given for this impor tant session, unless the business is soonor disposed of by the delegates. With pride the general commanding also announces that 1,170 camps have now joined the association, and appli cations have been received at head quarters for over 200 more. He urges veterans everywhere to send to head quarters for organization papers for camps at onco and join tho associa tion, so as to assist in carrying out its benevolent, praiseworthy and patriotic objects. _ COL. BARING succumbs. Tho Government'* Nanltary Expert a Vic tim of Tellow Fever. Colonel George Waving, Jr., diet! of yell w fever at Now York Saturday, where he had been since he arrived from Havana on the Yucatan a week ago. He was forty-seven years old. He was sent to Havana by President McKinley to investigate the sanitary conditions of Cuba. Dr. Blauevelt, who had been attend ing Colonel Waring during his illness, was summoned to the house at 1 o'clock Saturday morning. He found that Oolouel Waring had been attacked with the black vomit. This symptom continued nil morning without cessa tion. Everything possible was done for the dying man, but he only lived until a quarter of 8 o’clock. Three hours after the death of Colonel Waring his body, inclosed in * metallic casket, was taken from the apartment he had occupied to the dock at the foot of F ifteenth street, where the quarantine boat Governor Flower was in waiting. The body was placed on board and taken to Swinburn island. It was there placed tn a retort and Dr. Doty himself lit tho fire which cremated the remains. As soon as the body hud been removed from tho house the premises were put under quarantine and the apartments oj the Warmgs were fumigated uud disin fected. What disposition will be made of the ashes lias not yet been decided upon by Mrs. Waring. On account of the expressed wish of Colonel Waring there will he no public funeral. Colonel Waring often said that he wished his obsequies to be of the simplest character, PECK WAS SUCCESSFUL. Gets Concession For Additional Floor Space Ht Paris Exposition. Director of Exhibits J. H. McGib bon, at Chicago, has received . ftom General Commissioner F. W. Peck, at Paris “ telegram stating that he had been allotted 35,000 square feet of additional floor space for United States exhibitors and had also secured spo eial concession demanded. The tele gram was also sent as a contradiction to a number of reports which have re cently caused considerable misunder standing, SUNDAY SESSION OFUABI.NET. President and His Ministers Discuss Forthcoming Reports. An informal session of the cabinet was held Sunday night nt the white house. The president embraced the opportunity afforded by the presence of several members of the cabinet to Ji H cnss with them their forthcoming annUa [ reports. The peaeo negotiations at Paris were referred to but not seriously consid ere q j jt is said. This statement is borne out by the fact that Secretary of gtate Hay was not a party to the con ferenee. RELIEVED OF B AR TAX. judge Simon ton, of South Carolina, Make* His Injunction Perpetual. In the United States circuit court at Charleston Saturday, Judge Sirnon ton handed down a decision in* the cases made by the telegraph company against the railroad commissioners of South Carolina. The commissioners had ordered the company to pay the war tax on mes sages sent in the state. The company obtained an injunction from Judge Simonton restraining the commission from enforcing the order. The cases were argued several days ago before Judge Simonton, and Satur day lie handed down a decision making his injunction perpetual. race track receiver. Chicago Association Will Hnvo Affairs Settled In Illinois Courts. A Chicago dispatch says: Edward B. Mackey has beon appointed receiver of the Chicago Racing Association upon petition of Dewitt H. Curtis,one of the stockholders, and George H. Kuhl, a creditor of the association, who filed a bill in tbe circuit court to wind up the affairs of the concern; NO. 41. GOMEZ SEEMS DETERMINED ON SECURING HOME GOVERNMENT. WANTS AMERICANS TO WITHDRAW £«neml Rodriguez Assorts That tho TIm«» Has Arrived When the Island Should llo Turned Over to the Cubans. A special from Santiago rays; Major Petit,in command of the United States troops at Manzanillo, and military governor of the city, telegraphed Wed nesday that tho Cuban general, Rios, offers to furnish armed men to tho Americans, merely asking rations in return. General Wood sent the fol lowing reply: “Certainly not. The only condi tions on which rations are to be fur nished are the complete disarmament nud disbandment of th*. troops.” Some of the Cubans insist that tho United States is treating its allies badly in not allowing the Cuban forces to remain armed. They contend that the Cuban sol diers who have been fighting three years and who speak the language of the country are better fitted for gar rison duty than “untrained volun teers.” The Cuban General Rodriguez, virt ually voices the sentiment of the Cu ban army when ho says: “We thank the United States for the assistance it has given us, but the time has now arrived when the Cubans should be placed in the higher offices and should be prepared to take over the isluud on the departure of the Spanish,” The Cuban extremists are jubilant at the reported attitude of the Cuban assembly at Santa Cruz del Sur, where the delegates, while espressing their gratitude to the Americans, prac tically demand a distinctive Cuban government. The Cuban moderates, on the other hand, regret this stand, thinking it best that the United States authorities should have charge of affairs for a year at least, so as to set things going and to prevent and complications with foreign governments. Those who advocate annexation to the United States are extremely anx ious as to the outcome. A prominent Cuban now employed under our gov ernment, who is a moderate and well able to judge of the feeling in Santi ago, says these three parties are well defined and would poll about equally, but fhat in the event of the extremists endeavoring to force an issue, a ma jority of moderates would join the an nexationists. Butler Predicts Trouble. A special from Havana says: Gen eral Butler has written to Secretary Algor, indorsing a modified form of the military plan of policing the island, recently advanced by ColoSei Waring. General Butler would give employment to ten or fifteen thousand insurgents. He would follow in a general way the system originated in Mexico by President Diaz. Goneral Butler, iu giving the plan, warns Secretary Alger that unless some show of strength is speedily made the United States will surely have to ftgbt the insurgents, who will become bandits. Hugh Thomason, an American, who was a lieutenant in the Cuban army under Jose Miguel Gomez, has arrived from Tunas. He is one of the three survivors of the Johnston expedition, which landed at the San Jnnn river July 1st. He says that Gomez is weeding out of his army all American sympathizers and those favoring an nexation, retaining only violent advo cates of independence, Thomason says ho was dismissed for this cause. MAY INDICT MRS. BOTKIN. Evidence In Cane la Submitted to San Francisco Grand Jury. A special dispatch from San Fran «isco, Cal., says: The grand jury has been asked to indict Mrs. Botkin for the poisoning of Mrs, Dunning and Mrs. Deane in Delaware. District Attorney Hosmer lias placed before that body all the evidence of the cele brated case, B ANT SECOND RETAINED. Senator Bacon Is Working In Interest o Georgia Troops. Hon. A. O. Bacon, United States senator, left Macon, Ga., IVedfiesday rooming for Washington for the pur pose of securing the retention of the Second Georgia regiment in the volun teer army. A movement to secure this action on the part of the war department was started Tuesday. A deputation of offi cers from the First and Second Geor gia regiments held a conference with Senator Bacon, and he promised to aid them in every way possible, on the condition that no man is to he retained in tho Second regiment who desires to bo mnstered out. YELLOB FEVER WANING. Refugees From Infected Districts Are Returning to Their Homes. A Jackson, Miss., dispatch says: The yellow fever situation throughout the state is most encouraging. Reports from infected points have almost ceased, and the epidemic is considered nt nt end. Refugees are returning to Jackson on each train, and the town has begun to assume a business-like appearance.
