Newspaper Page Text
The Banner Will Hire You All
The News of Conyers and Rock¬
dale County.
VOL. XXV.
PORTO RICAN
TARIFF BILL
Before the House and Great
Debate Is inaugurated.
fiEEAT QUESTIONS INVOLVED.
Deni ocrats Are Solidly Arrayed
Against Measure and Discus,
sion Will Invoke Interest.
A Washington special says: The
Late on the Porto Rican tariff bill
Lued in the house Monday.
On all hands it is agreed that this
,01, although it applies only to Porto
Rico involving as it does the question
,(the power to govern our new poe
«sions outside the limitations of the
, institution, e is the most important
beaEure which will come before this
bongress. [ the bill intense among
L Interest in is
members on both sides and there
Urgent demand for time. The Dem
Uts Lsure are solidly arrayed against the
import and they will have powerful
from the Republican side in
l[r Erl McCall, of Massachusetts, Maine, both able and
Littlefield, of
M forceful debaters. How far the
Republican disaffection will extend,
|r whether impossible it will to endanger at tbis time, the bill,
I is say the
j Mr. Payne, the floor leader of
Majority, refused taken to agree substitute that a vote to
hoold be upon a Tbis sub
* offered by the minority. framed,
lilate,which has not yet been
lilt be in substance the bill originally
Produced by Mr. Payne providing for
jee trade with Porto Bico by the ex
Lion of the customs and revenue
bs of the United States over the
land.
The debate Monday was in the na
hie oU long range bombardment be
jmettiedMli h Mr. of Payne the contending opened with forces
battle. a
fmeml argument in support of the
fill, going largely into the material
ide of the situation which the bill is
lesigned to relieve.
j jf ThehonBe the whole then with went all questions into committee relat
Dg to the close of the debate open.
|r. bening Payne, in charge of the bill, in
the debate, received marked
tendon.
"This bill by its terms,” he ex¬
plained, "relates only to the island of
rorto Rico. It cannot be taken ns a
(reeedent of any legislative action in
Kereuce to the Philippine islands
(lien the present insurrection shall
kve boen overcome except in so far
ib we assert in it our view of our pow
[r under the American constitution.
"But onr constitutional power is
pestioned. hestion I find directly no case involved where the
was or
|i)ieh I “It is is decisive.
now universally concoded
N we have the power to acquire ter
py bv conquest or by treaty. I
pi b no limit in the constitution to
power. In respect to Porto Rico
pte le not hampered by treaty stipu¬
plate 118 by act of congress. We have
power.”
I mchardson leads OPPOSITION.
|Mr. per of Richardson, the minority, of made Tennessee, the the
ly open¬
atgument in opposition to the
are.
iam not an alarmist,” said he,
in my judgment the pending bill
' E »re dangerous to the liberties of
,e people of this republic than any
Insure before seriously presented to
j® p American far reaching congress. in its It provisions will prove
pd disastrous in the results that must
Necessity N follow if it should be en
mto law than any act ever pass¬
MJ congress.
I bill is framed upon the idea
assumption that congress enters
F 1 me government of Porto Rico
F™ rained by the provisions of the
In 1 8 'v ^ao '° oppose n ' this we deny. Those I be
e without measure,
' , ' exception, maintain
cannot be enacted into
UrJ °'not » simply total disregard the and vio
express letter, spirit, but
of the constitu
“British aided Spain.”
the Declaration Made By Pre¬
It mier Silvela at Madrid.
'pecial dispatch received in Lon
Madrid says that Premier
inn de<dared in the senate that
“ 8 to ‘he war with the United
.we , British
'°let Spain government con
®*®e , have 8,500 shells
'he being manufactured for
Maxims factory at Pla-
1 ^. atement has created the
aD ^ * S i ft lk of
Such a statement com
#ed ae P rem8er Spain is cal
t 0 T; 0l iuce unfriendly
ata denied feelings
on every hand.
81111 PURSUING BOERS.
Trooper* Are Being Harassed
Kelly.Kenny.
‘tee r' ces State, °f Friday from Jacobsdal,
2*1 Kelly-Kenny were to the effect
N the Boers. was still
than hundred Hehasnowcap
one wagons.
bri 8 ade re-enforced him
lu** 1 march.
Ch has left Kimberley
pursuit of the I>csf army,
The Rockdale Banner.
FAVORABLE TO CANAL.
House Committee Makes Report
Showing Feasibility and Profit
of Proposed Waterway.
Chairman Hepburn, of the house
committee on interstate and foreign
commerce, has submitted the report
of the committee in favor of the Ilep
bnrn bill for constructing the Nicara¬
guan canal. The report says in part:
“If the provisions of the bill can he
carried out the United States will,
within a few years, (from six to eight)
be in full ownership and control of a
waterway connecting the oceans that
it can defend and that it can use in the
interests of its navy and its merchant
marine as wisdom may dictate. There
seems to be but little doubt that the
states of Nicaragua and Costa Bica
will give their consent for the con¬
struction of tbis great work.
After reviewing the several surveys,
the report countiues:
“These reports above referred to,
the opinions of the engineers and scien¬
tists believed to be entirely competent
for their work, justify your committ e
in recommending the undertaking of
the enterprise as one that is eutirely
practicable and that can be completed
for a sum of money the expenditure of
which will be wise.
“It is true that the estimates ol cost
are variable, ranging from less than
$10,000,000 to a possible $145,000,
000. It is, however, proper to say
that the size and character of the
canal estimated for is as variable as
is the cost. Fifteen feet depth and
fifty feet width was the size of the
earlier project. Thirty feet depth
and 100 feet width are the dimensions
of the later proposed canal.
“Your committee suggests in dis¬
cussing the cash remuneration that
will come to the United States from
the ownership of this canal estimates
only can be made.
“Gentlemen connected with the
Maritime Canal Company gave it as
their opinion that five or six millions
of tonnage would be the amount that
would pass through the canal an¬
nually. At present $1.55 per ton is the
toll charged for tLe use of the Suez
canal. If that rate was the rate
charged at the Nicaragua canal and
4,000,000 be the tonnage passing
through it, an aggregate sum of more
than $6,000,000 would be the receipts.
It is estimated that the cost of main¬
taining and operating the canal would
be $1,000,000 annually, leaving a profit
of five millions.
COL. BRYAN IN FLORIDA.
Nebraskan Benches Home of His Kins¬
man Where Reception is Held.
On his arrival at Brooksville, Fla.,
Saturday, Mr. Bryan was met by a
large crowd which gave him a ronsing
welcome. He was at once driven to the
residence of his cousin, Judge Jen¬
nings, where an informal reception was
held.
At noon a barbecue was served in
the courthouse square, after which
Mr. Bryan was escorted to a stand
erected for the occasion, from which
he addressed the people at length on
the questions of the day.
He affirmed his undying faith in
free silver, advocated the adoption of
the income tax, denounced tho trusts
and imperialism and declared for the
freedom of the Philippines.
He was especially emphatic in his
statements as to the silver qnestion
and closed by saying that the old issue
of 16 to 1 was the “only relief in store
for the common people.” Hissjsech
aronsed much enthusiasm and was
applauded throughout.
PORTO RICANS KICK.
Merchant* Make Load Protest Against
Prohibitive Duty.
Several of the largest merchants of
San Juan, Porto Rico, upon being in¬
terviewed, unanimously expressed
the opinion that immediate congres¬
sional action is absolutely essential to
the interests of the island. They say
that the crops are immovable, the pro¬
posed duty, under the Foraker bill,
on sugar and tobacco, being prohibi¬
tive.
The estates are idle and bankers re¬
fuse to advace funds on account of the
extension of mortgages; the planters
are desperate, and the people dis¬
couraged and they demand absolute
free trade.
The local press expresses the opin¬
ion that the conditions on the isladds
were better during the dark days of
the Spanish regime.
FACTORIES YYANTED.
Mississippi Eejcislature Adopts Concur¬
rent Resolution Inviting Capital.
A concurrent resolution has passed
both houses of the Mississippi.leg
legislature inviting home and for¬
eign capital to invest iu manufactur¬
ing enterprises, especially cotton fac¬
tories, and setting forth the advantages
of Mississippi as a manufacturing state.
Senator Butler Denounced.
Populist Congressman Atwater, of
Fourth North Carolina district, has
published a letter denouncing Senator
Butler, also Populist, for antagonizing
the amendment, after having said ten
months ago that he would support it.
BRINSFIELD’S SHORTAGE.
Expert Accountant Shows Amount to Be
Over Six Thousand Hollars.
Saturday Alonzo Richardson, the
expert accountant, completed work on
the books of Kelly Brinsfield, the ab
sconding bookkeeper of James T.
Prince, southern agent of the Man
hattan Life Insurance Company, at
Atlanta, Ga., with the result that he
has found a shortage amounting m the
neighborhood of 100.
CONYERS. GA.. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1900.
BOERS DESERT
BRITISH LAND
They Are Now Bent Oa Defense
of Transvaal.
THE QUEEN MAKES AN APPEAL
Calls For Retired Soldiers To Form
Royal Battalion For Home
Defense.
A London dispatch says: The Boers
are leaving all the positions held by
them on British territory and are con¬
centrating for the defense of their own
—the Transvaal. Sir Bedvers Buller
thinks he is able to raise the siege of
Ladysmith, and this was the large
news of the day Tuesday.
General Clements reports that the
forco confronting him has been greatly
diminished. Ten thousand men are
estimated to have gone from the Cole
burg district alone. The Boers are
also retracing their steps from Zulu
l an 'T
Tlms they are relaxing their , holds
on nil sides in order to assemble to
oppose Lord Roberts. He is pressing
steadily toward Bloemfontein. This
is shown by his inconsequential tele
gram from Paardeberg, fifty or sixty
miles away. Doubtless he is miles he
hind the column that is pursuing the
Boers and the next important news
may be the occupation of Bloemfon¬
tein.
Nothing has been heard from the
chase of Oronje for two days. Although
the last words of the war office Tues
day night were that there was no news
for publication, there is a strong dis
position to believe that favorable in
formation has been received but is be
ing withheld until tho operations cul
minate in something more conclusive.
There is an equally strong disposition
to think that Cronje has got away.
Owing to lack of transport, the
British are not likely to invade terri
tory except where Lord Roberts is
operating. General Buller will have
to stop at the Drakensberg mountains,
Probably part of the 49,000 men will
ultimately join the legions of Lord
Roberts.
If, as General Buller avers, the
Boers are retreating from him, then
the news on every side is favorable to
the British. Nevertheless troops con
tinue to go tip.
The war office thinks that the call
to veterans to rejoin the colors, to¬
gether with the bounty, will bring
43,000 men to the home defense. The
urgency with which home defense is
pressed excites some wonder.
With the casualties just reported,
the British losses in killed, wounded
and captured now aggregate 11,102.
FOR HOME DEFENSE,
The queen, prior to leaving Osborne
house Tuesday morning, on her
turn to Windsor, inspected , the ,, Fourth ~
battalion of the Lincolnshire militia.
Her majesty announced with a grati
fied smile that good news had
been received from the seat of war.
Another account says the queen spec¬
ified the good news from Ladysmith.
The queen, through her private sec¬
retary, Sir Arthur John Biggs, sent
the following letter to the commander
in-chief of the forces, Field Marshal
Lord Wolseley: 17.—Mr. Dear Lord
Osborne, Feb.
Wolseley: As so large a proportion of
the army is now in South Africa the
queen fully realizes that necessary
measures must be adopted for home
defense. Her majesty is advised that
it would be possible to raise for a year
an efficient force from her old soldiers
who have already served as officers,
non-commissioned officers or privates,
and confident in their devotion to
the country and loyalty to the throne,
the queen appeals to them to serve her
once more in the place of those who,
for a time, side by side with the poe
ple of her colonies, are nobly resisting
the invasion of her South African pos¬
sessions. Her majesty has signified
her pleasure that these battalions shall
bo designated the Royal Reserve bat
tallions of her army.
APPOINTIVE POWER CURTAILED.
Mississippi Executive Office Deprived of
Considerable Patronage.
A bill has passed both houses of the
Mississippi legislature taking from the
governor nearly all of the appointive
power heretofore vested in the office,
and providing that when vacancies
occur in any state, district, county
beat or municipal office the same shall
be filled by a special election called
for ifiat purpose. is sweeping
The measure a very one
and robs the executive office of a large
amount of patronage which heretofore
has been used by incumbents as a
vehicle to further higher political aims.
Forty Horses Burned.
A five-story brick building at Cleve¬
land, O., used as a stable by Gibbons
<k Pettitt, agents for Armour & Co.,
was destroyed by fire early Monday.
Forty horses perished.
New Mill For Dnrham.
Durham, N. C., is to have a new
cotton mill with a capital of $300,000.
The new concern will consolidate with
hke Golden Belt Manufacturing com¬
pany, a smaller concern.
DR. TRACY “confesses."
Tells Senate Committee He Only
Offered Bribe To Test
Judge’s Honesty.
Senator Clark, of Montana, was
again the star witness before the sen¬
ate committee on privileges and elec¬
tions Monday, notwithstanding Dr.
Tracy was also hoard.
Dr. Tracy, Justice Hunt’s physician,
occupied the entire forenoon and a
part of the afternoon session.
His statement concerning his inter¬
view' with Justice Hunt corroborated
the testimony of the justice in all
essential details except that his recol¬
lection was that $50,000 and not
$100,000 was tho amount mentioned
by him as the price* which the justice
should get for having the Wellcome
disbarment case thrown out of the
state supreme court;
Ho said that Justice Hunt was an
intimate friend, and he asserted liis
j motive to be, in taking the course he
; did, to test his ability to withstand the
; corrupting influence of money. He
; had secured no funds from any source
! to pay the bribe suggested, and had
j been promised none for that purpose.
! Mr. Clark necessarily went over
; muc i 1 0 f the ground covered in his
> testimony Saturday. He was cross ex
j am j ted j 1]ed that by Mr. he had Campbell spent and still for in
j s s no money
corrupt purposes during the Montana
. j senatorial campaign.
He gave a detailed statement of ex
penditures for political purposes dur
ing tho legislative and senatorial Senator con
tests, which footed up, as
Turley announced, to $139,000.
lie declared that.his only purpose in
entering upon the campaign was the
j overthrow of Mr. Daly’s rule in the
8 tate, which, he said, was so tyranni
ca j that he would not desire to con¬
tinue his residence in the state if it
was to continue.
j j UNION MEN IDLE.
•
Savannah Builders’ Exchange Decide Up
j on a Lockout,
< All union men engaged in the bnild
ing trades in Savannah, Ga., were
j locked out at 6 o’clock Monday eveu
’ ing. This includes plumbers, joiners,
carpenters, plasterers, bricklayers and
| painters. Contractors will endeavor
to continue work with non-union men.
The Builders’ Exchange resolved upon
the lockout in anticipation of a strike
of the union men On Mnrch 1st.
j notice Tho to journeymen employers plumbers that they had would given
demand an increase of about 25 per
I cent in pay, with a reduction of one
hour’s time to the day.
Eighty per cent of the building
' trades workmen are affected. There
are hundreds of water pipes burst
! from the recent repair freeze them, and no plurn
bers at work to
i MARK HANNA’S ADVICE.
I
Notifies Republicans That Office-Holders
, Are Not Wanted ns Delegates.
j Hon. Marcus A. Hanna has notified
Jeadiiig Republicans at Montgomery,
Ala., that it is considered by the party
leaders at Washington to be desirable
that federal office-holders should not
1 be sent to the Philadelnphia conven
ton which meets iu June. Mr. Han
na’s idea is explained to bo that the
! rank and file should name the official
j headg of the party and not the office
| ho!( ji D g mac hine. Practically office-holders all the
| leaders in Alabama perplexing are
and the advice is to them,
ABNER WELL PLEASED.
President’s Brother Enthused Over His
Trip to the South.
Mr. Abner McKinley, brother of
President William McKinley, returned
to New York Monday from a trip
south, takeifcfoi the purpose of look¬
ing into the industrial and economic
conditions in this section.
Mr. McKinley seemed to have been
not only deeply impressed, but even
enthusiastic in his observations upon
the southern industrial situation. He
expressed great gratification at the
cordial reception accorded him by the
business men of southern cities in
which he stopped, including Raleigh,
N. C.; Columbia, S. C.; Atlanta, Ga.,
and Charlotte, N. C.
“I suppose I might say that the
first impression made npon me.’’ said
Mr. McKinley, “was the lack of what
I might call the economy of land in
the south. I think in this connection
what is most needed jn the south to¬
day is what Minnesota and the north¬
west already have, namely, German
and Irish and Scandinavian farmers. I
mean small farmers, and that is why I
nse the expression economy of land.”
MONTE CHRISTO TAKEN.
General Buller Wires That He Has at Last
Gained a Victory.
The war office in London received
the following from General Buller
Monday:
“Chieveley Camp, Feb. 19.—I yes¬
terday moved around the enemy’s
flank. The queen’s guards, who ha.l
bivouaced on the northern slope of
Cingolo, crossed the neck, supported
by the rest of the Second brigade un¬
der Hildyard, assaulted and took the
southern end of Monte Christo.”
FOR A MONASTERY.
Ex-Governor Marks’ Old Home Has Been
Solti to the Catholic Church.
A special from Winchester, Tenn.,
says that “Hundred Oaks,” the palatial
home erected on the old homestead of
Ex-Governor Marks, has been sold to
the Catholic church for the establish¬
ment of a monastery. The building is
a very handsome and imposing castle,
snd was erected by Arthur D. Marks,
and was not quite completed when he
died.
jaCOBSDAL ENTERED
British Take Posassion of Boer
Town In Orange Free State.
MILITARY POLICE PATROL STREETS.
The Utmost Order Prevails and Inhabi¬
tants Show No 111 Will Towards
the Invaders.
Advices from JacobsAal, Orange
Free State, state that Roberts’ troops
entered the captured town Sunday.
The utmost order prevails there.
Military polico patrol the streots,
but not a stick of furniture has been
taken. A sentry has been placed be¬
fore each store, and the soldiers are
allowed to enter and purohaso wha‘:
they require. peaceful that the
Everything is so
inhabitants express the utmost sur¬
prise, as it had been diligently re¬
ported that the British occupation
meant instant looting.
Judging from the conversations of
tho inhabitants, the Free State is
weary of the war. It is openly said
that President Steyn betrayed the
people. When the latter becamo sat¬
isfied there was no truth in the stories
of the looting proclivities of the Brit¬
ish, the townspeople welcomed the
troops as friends. Since the battle of
the Modder river, the town has not
been garrisoned, but has been merely
used as a hospitable depot.
When the Boers fired on the British
Wednesday, the townspeople protest¬
ed. Although the British shell¬
ing considerably frightened the wo
men, tbe shells were only directed
at a ridge beyond the town, which was
intrenched.
The German hospital remains in
beautiful order. It is clean and sani¬
tary, and the wounded on both sides
are equally well attended.
A correspondent talked with a num¬
ber of the Boer wounded, and they ac¬
knowledged that the British move¬
ments had nonpnlsed the burgher
commanders. Even now, it is added,
they are under the impression that the
sole object vas tho capture of Jacobs
dal. When informed of the relief of
Kimberley, they were at first incredu¬
lous and then astounded. The landrost
remains in the town.
Other advices from Jacobsdal stated
that General Cronje, with 10,000 men,
was in full retreat toward Bloemfon¬
tein with General Kelley-Keimy fight¬
ing the rear guard and harassing the
retreat.
The Boers captured a large convoy
as a result of Thursday's fighting at
Riet river. The British casualties
were comparatively slight in view of
the tremondous bombardment. Less
than thirty men were wounded and
but one killed.
General French’s division was en¬
thusiastically welcomed at Kimberley.
The officers dined at the club in the
evening. The news of the entry into
Kimberley has greatly cheered the
troops, who are working splendidly.
ROBERTS ADVISES BURGHERS.
Issues a Proclamation Urging Them to
Cease Fighting.
A dispatch from Cape Town says:
Lord Roberta has issued a proclama¬
tion to the burghers of the Orange
Free State, saying that he feels it his
duty to make known to all the burgh¬
ers the cause of the coming of the
British as well as to do all in his pow¬
er to terminate the war, and that ho
issues the proclamation in order that
if the burghers should continue fight¬
ing they may not do so ignorantly, but
with a full knowledge of their respon¬
sibility before God for tho lives lost
in the campaign.
POSITION OF L. and N.
In Kreartl to the Political Fijjht In Ken
tacky Is Made Public.
Milton H. Smith, president of the
Louisville and Nashville railroad, has
given out for the benefit of the public
the correspondence which passed be¬
tween the officers of his road and
Henry Watterson, of The Louisville
Courier-Journal, bearing on tho Ken¬
tucky election for governor.
The correspondence is highly inter¬
esting, as it furnishes a missing link
in the tragedy of which Governor Wil¬
liam Goebel was the victim.
DEMOCRATS REACH DECISION.
Beckham's Followers Agree to Meet In
Frankfort.
The adjournment of the Democratic
legislature at Louisville Saturday to
meet in Frankfort revives interest in
the political contest and promises to
put an end to the lull which has pre¬
vailed during the last few days.
There were more Democratic mem¬
bers in Frankfort Saturday night
than had been together at any one
time since they adjourned and fled to
Cincinnati, Louisville and other points
to avoid being arrested by the militia
and taken to London, where the Re¬
publican legislature was then sitting.
LITTLE DAMAGE DONE.
Freeze In Florida Was of Too Short
Duration to Hart Much.
Reliable advices received by the
Florida state agricultural department
say the damage done in Florida by the
Sunday freezeup was comparatively
alight. The freeze was of too brief
duration to hurt greatly. Early veg¬
etables in northern Florida were killed
and fruit trees from Tampa north set
back, but not killed. Cattle 0 n ranges
were not hurt.
Official Organ of Rockdale t oon
ty. Has Largest Circulation in
The County.
BRYAN KEPT BUSY.
Nebraskan Speaks and Holds In¬
formal Receptions In Tampa,
Florida.
W. J. Bryan arrived in Tampa.,
Fla., Monday night, and was greeted
at the depot by a larggo crowd. At
10 o’clock Tuesday morning he was
escorted to the courthouse, from which
point he was taken for a drive through
the city. he
At 4 o’clock in the afternoon
hold an informal reception in the ro¬
tunda of the Tampa Bay hotel, and
thousands of people who had poured
in by every traiD passed through
and greeted him.
At 5 o’clock Mr. Bryan held a re¬
ception for ladies only and made them
a short address. Following this “six¬
teen Cuban boys, dressed in native
costume, appeared, each bearing a
large cigar wrapped in gold and silver
in tho proportion of 16 to 1. The ci¬
gars were presented to Mr. Bryan
amid the plaudits of tho crowd.
At 7:30 o’clock Mr. Bryan was es¬
corted to tho courthouse plaza.
Benches were provided to cover every the
inch of the ground surrounding
stand, and the scene was lighted by
hundreds of rod, white and blue elec¬
tric lights.
Congressman S. M. Sparkman in¬
troduced Colonel Bryan to the im¬
mense throng as the Moses who had
arisen to lead the common people out
of the wilderness and place American
institutions on the foundations laid
for them by the fathers of the repub¬
lic.
Mr. Bryan elicited hearty applause
by anti-British remarks concerning
the South African war; said that trusts
meant simply tho centralization of all
power in the end and the subjugation
of all not interested; while the Repub¬
lican monetary policy would result in
one central bank controlling all tho
money in the coutry and all business
in consequence. The only safeguard
against this was the silver policy of
the Democratic party. He predicted
a popular uprising resulting in Demo¬
cratic victory in the next election.
GREAT JOY IN KIMBERLEY.
Illcajfuorod Cltliciis Welcomed llescners
With Great Demonstrations.
Advices from Modder River state
that although the rapid march _pt
General French’s division was marked
by a number of conflicts, the actual
entry into Kimberley was unopposed.
When the British were still eight
miles off the signaling corps intercept¬
ed a heliograph message from the be¬
leaguered garrison to Modder river
saying: “The Boers are shelling the
town.”
The advancing column replied:
“This is General French coming to
the relief of Kimberly.”
The garrison was incredulous and
thought that tho message was a Boer
ruse and flashed the query: “What
regiment are you?” defenders
The reply satisfied the of
Kimberley that the anxiously awaited
succor was at hand and a few hours
later General French at the head of a
column made a triumphant entry into
the place, the people surrounding the
troops and intermingling with them,
cheering wildly, grasping the soldiers’
hands, waving flags, hats and hand¬
kerchiefs and exhibiting in a hundred
ways the intensity of their joy.
Tho inhabitants had been on short
rations for some time, eating horse
flesh and living in burrows under
heaps of mine refuse.
IN JOINT SESSION.
The Kentucky Democrat!® I.eglslaiors
Reaffirm Goebel’. Title.
Tho Democratic members of the
two houses of the Kentucky legisla¬
ture met in joint session at 3 o’clock
Tuesday afternoon and by a vote of 74
to 2 ratified the former proceedings
by which William Goebel was declared
governor and J. C. W. Beckham lieu¬
tenant governor, and through which
Beckham, since tho death of Goebel,
claims title to the office of governor.
The Republican members of the
legislature remained away from the
joint session, having decided iu caucus
not to attend.
The senate had adopted tho resolu¬
tions Monday and the house Tuesday,
and the adoption of them by the joint
assembly, from the Democratic stand
point, puts the finishing touches as to
its action on the contests.
Senator Triplett and Representative
Grider voted against the resolutions.
BUSINESS BLOCK BURNED.
Disastrous Fire Visit* Decatur, Ala,, and
Much Property Bullied.
Decatur, Ala., was visited by a de¬
structive Are Tuesday morning which
swept away the major portion of one
of the main business blocks of the
south side of town.
All fire companies were quickly on
hand, but their utmost efforts only
availed to save the few frame stores.
Six buildings, all brick, were partly
burned with entire contents, except
one from which some goods were re
moved. The losses are estimated at
$150,000, but a conservative estimate
places the lo3S at something less than
$ 100 , 000 .
Canadians Begin Journey.
Three hundred mounted Canadian
volunteers for service in South Africa,
the third section of the Canadian con¬
tingent, arrived at Halifax N. S., Sun¬
day, from Toronto and Kingston and
will sail for Cape Town at once.
Appropriation Bill Passed.
Late Saturday afternoon the house
passed the legislative and judicial ap¬
propriation bill after having it under
consideration four days.
NO. 6.
FULL CONTROL
OYER ISLANDS
Plenary Powers May Be Applied
to Their Government.
PRESIDENT MAKES STATEMENT
Information Given Out By Henry
Loomis Nelson Is Published
In New York Papers.
A statement made by President Mc¬
Kinley to Ilenry Loomis Nolsou as to
tho American policy toward tho newly
acquired islands has beou published
in the New York papers.
The article is vouched for as an au¬
thoritative interpretation of tho presi¬
dent’s views.
According to Mr. Nelson "it is Mr.
McKinley’s belief, and it will be his
purpose to carry the belief into opera¬
tion, that the constitution does not ap¬
ply to any of our new islands; that
those people are not fit for self
government beyond that possessions proposed for
Hawaii; that our new must
not be permitted to injure any of our
protected interests and that freo trade
with Porto Bico is right because our
protected interests will not be injured
thereby, believes—and this
“The president that
is the most important statement
can possibly bo made touching his
present beliefs—that congress lins
plenary power over Hawaii, Torto
Bico and the Philippines;
“He holds that congress may pass
one tariff law for Porto Bico, another
for Hawaii, another for tho Philippines
and that all maybe different from that
of the United States.
“It does not appear likely to bis
mind that any question can ever arise
os to the civil rights of the people of
these places. attitude, to¬
“Mr. McKinley’s then,
ward the natives is benevolent. Ho
desires to eleyate them, to educate
them, and be hopes that, in the end,
they will become worthy of being en
trused with local self government.
He does not think any of these natives
are worthy now, except tho fow in
Hawaii, upon whom it is intended
to bestow tho suffrage—a few more
than possessed the suffrage under the
Dole government. holds that the
“Mr. McKinley territory con¬
stitution only applies to a
when it sets up thereby a treaty or
by legislation. Upon this point there
are authorities in bis favor, but he
goes beyond tho authorities and holds
that congress is not bound by the lim¬
itation when it enters upon tho task of
legislatiugit, i. e.: natives and
“It may refuse to the
to tbo American citizens who may go
to our colonies, the right of jury trial,
tho right of free speech, the right to
bear arms, tbo right of peaceable as¬
semblage and of petition, freedom
from unwarrantable arrest, freedom
from search, and those rights which
the constitution guards so jealously.
But the main purpose of the president
is to deal with tho islands as markets
for America and as the subject of
commercial exploitation generally.
“The president is a thorough be¬
liever in the moral and intellectual
value of commerce, and he proceeds
on the theory that when a nation is
doing well as a buyer and seller, it is
presumptively well governed and its
people are morally sound. He looks
forward to benefiting the natives by
expanding the blessings of Protestant
Christianity and civilization by means
of commerce.”
It is important to digress a moment,
says Mr. Nelson, for the purpose ot
saying that the president is largely
under the influence of certain clergy¬
men, one of whom considers ho is the
chosen champion of Protestantism in
its imaginary war with Bomauism,
and this accounts in a large measure
for his conviction that in spreading
Christianity and civilization among
tho heathen he is gaining and
keeping the approval of good Ameri
cans. Mr. McKinley is a loyal Meth¬
odist and is naturally stirred and
moved by the enthusiasm and spirit
of that important denomination.
It does not follow, on the president’s
theory, that if free trade is established
between this country and Porto Rioo
there should not be a protective
tariff against the products of the Phil¬
ippines and Cuba; for Cuba is talked
about naturally, in administration cir¬
cles and in congress as if its annexa¬
tion to this country was a matter of
course.
One thing is settled definitely in re¬
spect to the Philippines. The open
door is not to be applied to them.
The Kepublican party will not consent
to give the Asiatic world an opportun¬
ity to land its geods in the Philip¬
pines free of duty, to enjoy whatever
modified tariff there may be establish¬
ed between the Philippines and this
country.
PRETORIOUS IS EXCHANGED.
Boer General Once More In the Ranks of
His Countrymen.
Advices from Arundel state that
Commandant Pretorius, who was cap¬
tured by the British at Elandslaagte,
and three other Boer prisoners Sunday. were
handed over to the Boers
A messenger under a flag of truce
had previously arranged the program.
The prisoners had a cordial interview
with General Clements, and were
taken half way to the Boer camp.