Indianapolis Journal, Volume 48, Number 108, Indianapolis, Marion County, 18 April 1898 — Page 3

New York Store Established 1833. Sole Agents for Botterlek Patterns. An Unusually Magnificent Collection of More than 1,000 Oriental Rugs Carpets aud Hangings will be on Exhibition in our rug room tO'day and lo*morrow and will be Sold at Auction Beginning Wednesday morning, and continuing through the week, at 10:30 a. m. and 2:30 p. m. —THIRD FLOOR. Pettis Dry Goods Cos.

(j &i'adirsm/ -dtfUrCA'' li't'lStrKfXU&ng&i, Ag ftIJNTKT Dr. a7e. BUCHAN AN 1/ljil 1101 il .u When Building.

AMUSEMENTS. At English’s to-night and Tuesday matinee and night Indianapolis theater goers will have an opportunity to judge that musical burlesque "Gayest Manhattan.” with the Koster & Bial trade mark. Its .story deals with the adventures of a stagestruck girl who visits New York to elevate the stage and herself. Her mission is shared by her rich father, wno is innocent of metropolitan life. The story runs from Central Park, with music on the mall, to the mansions of the Van Asters and Van Schuylers, from the studies of bogus instructors to the mazes of summer night roof gardens. It is said that from the rise of the curtain on the first act to its descent on the last there is not a dull moment in the play. This is due to the several clever vaudeville people who take the leading rolesand are well-known entertainers. The interest being evinced in Sousa's coming big spectacle, "The Trooping of the Colors,” indicates a great reception for the march king and his band, now augmented by a large chorus as well as soldiers and marines, all to take part in the Tomlinson Hall performance Wednesday and Thursday. Nearly three hundred people will be used In the spectacle, which will be precoded by a concert by Sousa’s band. The programme for this concert is different on each occasion, there being a complete change for the Thursday matinee as well as for Thursday night’s performance. Mr. Plrnestlnoff Is now drilling the chorus. Sousa’s soloist on this short tour preceding hls departure for Europe Is Ada. May Benzing. a contralto of remarkable power, whose singing has attracted unusual attention In the East. Musical events are coming in a. bunch at the tall end of the season in Indianapolis. The Baggetto Italian Opera Company, which cpmes to English’s Friday and Saturday of this week, offers for Its opening night an attractive morsel that should excite tho interest of every music lover and student of the stage in the city. "La Bohcme”' has been accepted In Europe since its first pro-i duedon two years ago as the best of all the modern operas coming out of Italy. Its author, Giacomo Puccini, is declared to have broken away from the well-beaten path of ancient musical composition in Italy and produced a work that challenges the attention and admiration of the continent. He has taken the French, story found in Murger’s emotional novel, which is accepted by many as the book from which Du Maurier got the inspiration and much of the material for his "Trilby,” and delicately woven through it his masterly musical phrases. The work is being produced by the Bagetto company with the sole American rights, and Indianapolis .will see it before it has been talked and played to death in the large cities. The other operas to be given here are “Lucia di I>ammermoor” at Saturday's matinee and "Faust” Saturday night. * The Park has an attractive bill beginning this afternoon and to-night, when Charley Blancy's "Baggage, Check” company will return for a half week's engagement. James T. Kelly Is at the head of the company. A long list of good performers is announced for Manager Zimmerman’s benefit at the-Empire to-night. This will close the season at that theater. More judgments were entered in New York last week against Mr. A. M. Palmer. Frank V. Strauss wants $6,835 for programme privileges which he didn't, get and tor notes whlcn he did, and Harper & Brothers want a iillle matter of $2,107, part of which is mentioned in u I. O. I'. ts Miss Mattie Ferguson, who plays the Swedish servant girl in “What Happened to Jones,” was a bit nervous during the performance at the Grand Opera House last night she had a good excuse to give her friends. It was her wedding day. Eate in the afternoon shn was married to Mr. Charles F. Retched. secretary and treasurer of tho Central Fnlon Gas Company. The ■> remony was performed at the New York Presbyterian Church. One-hundred-and-twepty-elghth street and Seventh avenue, and her husband watched Her from the audience last evening. This afternoon Mr. and .Mrs, Reichelt will hold a reception at the, Imperial Hotel. The bride was presented with a cut-glass punch howl and silver ladle by the members of the "Jones” company.—Saturday's New York Herald. Henry E. Dixey lias decided to drop conjuring. He has been engaged to play a leading role in "Wine. Woman and Song,” the new Casino review, which comes on in June. Mr. Dixey is anxious to give the Londoners another chance to appreciate him. and if the new review is a success he has been assured that he w ill he taken across the water with tho show in the autumn. Miss Eetticc Fairfax, the English actress who was brought over from Condon this season by Mr. Augustin Daly as a member of his company, will join Richard Mansfield as his leading lady in "The First Violin,” at the Garden Theater, next week. A dispatch from Chicago says that Mr. K. 8- Willard's physicians hope he will be able to go ti* tjgkewood, N. J., tills week. Eater tie intends to go to his home In England. Fanny Davenport Is reported better, but still a very sick woman. Julia Arthur is reported still confined to her bed at the Parker House, In Boston. Baharrt, the Australian ilansru.se, who has been a great New York favorite for two years and is coming to English's next week with Rice's "The French Maid” forces, attracted considerable attention here over two years} ago. She was then with "A Baggage Check or some similar company, playing • t the Park. Eater she reached New York, scoring her greatest triumph at Koster & Bial’s. Walter Hehrode, oii of the trio of acrobats appearing at Hammerstein's Olympia, met with a peculiar accident last week. During one of the feats the three men stand in a. pyramid on cadi other’s shoulders Willie, the top man, turns a somersault, the middle man jumps to the floor and Willie alights on the remaining man’s, Walter’s shoulders. Willie landeo heavily on Walter’s shoulders one night and the latter audder ly c ollapsed and fell to ihe stage The curtain was hastily rung down and it was found that one of Walter's knee caps was broken In four places. An ambulanc e was called and tho Injured man was taken tm Roosevelt Hospital, suffering intensely.

SEVEN IN THE FIRST 1 CI*CIS*ATI Pll>l-:n I P 111 NS AT THE OPENING OF THE GAME. * Cleveland I liable to Rat Hawley— Colonels Beaten by Pirates—Muyton Defeated by Hoodier*, Cincinnati ... 13— Cleveland ....1 Pittsburg .... Louisville .... 4 Chicago 14—81. Lout*, 1 To-Daj'* Games. Boston at New York. Brooklyn at Philadelphia. Chicago at St. Eouls. v Baltimore at Washington. Pittsburg at Louisville. Standing: of the CuhM. Clubs. Played. Won. Lost. Per ct. Chicago 2 2 0 1.000 Boston lio 1.000 Baltimore 1 l 0 1.000 Brooklyn 110 1.000 Cincinnati :! 2 l .667 Pittsburg 2 1 .667 Cleveland 3 12 .333 Louisville 3 12 .333 St. Louis 2 0 2 .000 New York 10 1 .000 Washington 1 0 1 .000 Philadelphia 1 0 1 .000 BIG CROWD AT CINCINNATI. 15.504 People Saw the Home Team Almoat Shot Out Spiders. CINCINNATI, April 17.—Kelb was given miserable support in the first inning to-day, and this, together with two triples and a single, gave the Reds seven runs. After the first inning Kelb fared better. Hawley was In fine form and had tho visitors at his mercy. The fielding of Irwin, Wallace, Corcoran anj McPhee was the best ever seen here. A crowd of 15,504 witnessed the game. A ground rule giving three bases on a ball hit into the crowd was established. Score: Cincinnati. A.B. R. H. O. A. E. Holliday, c. f 5 1 3 10 0 Smith, 1. f 4 113 0 0 Beckley, 1 5 1 0 7 0 0 Miller, r. f 2 2 1 3 0 0 McPhee, 2 .. 4 2 2 5 2 0 Corcoran, s 5 2 1 2 3 1 Irwin, 3 4 113 2 0 Peitz. c 4 0 0 3 1 0 Hawley, p 5.2 2 0 1 o Totals 38 12 11 27 0 1 Cleveland. A.B. R. H. O. A. E. Sockalexis, 1. f 4 0 13 10 McKean, s 4 0 0 0 3 2 Childs, 2 3 0 0 3 4 2 Wallace, 33 0 1 0 4 it McAleer, c. f 4 0 2 2 0 0 Blake, r. f 4 0 0 2 0 0 Tebeau, 1 3 0 0 15 l o Criger, c 3 1112 0 Kelb, p 3 0 0 1 2 0 Totals 31 1 5 27 17 4 Score by innings: Cincinnati 7 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 o—l 2 Cleveland 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 o—l Stolen base—Holliday. Ihree-base hits— McPhee (2), Holliday, Corcoran, Miller, Criger. Double plays—Sockalexis and Childs: McPhee and Beckley. Bases on balls—Off Hawley, 4; off Kelb, 1. Hit by pitched ball—By Kelb, 3. Struck out-Haw-ley, 1. Time—l:ss. Umpires—Swartwood and Wood. Tanneliill Won for PJttMbargr. LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 17.—Tanneliill won his own game to-day. Besides keeping the hits of the Colonels scattered he knocked out a scratch home run which brought In the winning run. “Dummy” Hoy batted in three of the home team’s four runs. About thirteen thousand people saw the game and ground rules had to be adopted on account of the crowd In the field, A hit into the crowd entitled the batter to three bases. Score: r. h. E. Pittsburg .. ..0 0 0 0 1 2 2 0 0-5 8 0 Louisville 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 1 o—4 12 1 Batteries—Tanneliill and Schriever: Frazer and Wilson. Stolen bases—Padden. Gray Two-base hits—Hoy t 2). Nance. Wilson. Three-base hits—Carey, Davis. Homo run— TannehiU. Sacrifice lilt—RUohev. First base on balls—Off Frazer, 2; off Tannehill 1 Hit by pitched ball—Gray. Struck out—By Frazer, 2; by Tannehill, 2. Passed ball- Schrievbases—Louisville, 7; Pittsburg. |. Time—l:oß. Umpires—Cushman and Heytl-

St. Lonitt Made Eleven Errors. Sr. LOl IS, April 17.—The Chicago team badly defeated the Browns to-day, almost making it a whitewash. Numerous errors marked the playing of the home team, whose members were seemingly demoralized by tho terrible fire that interrupted yesterday's game. During the night a large gang of workmen erected anew fence in place of that burned yesterday and put up a teinpor*?r Y seats, which only accommodated part of the crowd, estimated at more than 6,000 people. Score: „ R. H. E. Chicago 1 0 0 1 012 0 0 o—l 411 1 St. Louis ...0 00001000—1 011 Batteries—Thornton and Donahue; Daniels. Uarsoy. lfughey and Clements. Two-Three-base hits—Everett (**>, Ryaii, McCormick <2), Donahue, Cross. Base on balls—Off Hughey, 2; off Thornton, f*. hit by pitched balls—Clements, DoiihJ lUO * Struck out—By Oarsey, I; by Daniels, by Hughey, p ( ; hy Thornton. 4. Time, 1:4.>. Umpires—McDonnaid and O'Day. HOOSIERS GET REVENGE. Indianapolis Turns the Tables on Day ion and Wins a Game. Special tc the Indianapolis journal. DAYTON. 0.. April 17.-The Indianapolis dub defeated Dayton hero to-day in a very close game. In (lie first inning Motz made a home run and in the second Allen followed witli another four-bascr. After tTii.s Brown settled down and hits were few and far between. Wetzel, Gifford and McShane made errors at critical tinier or Dayton would have won out. Foiemati pitched four innings and allowed four hits and struck out five men. Hawley was hit safely six times and struck out two. The attendance was about 2.006. Hcore: Dayton 0 0 2 I 0 n 2 n Indianapolis ..2 2 0 0 0 2 0 6 <—6 11 2 Batterles-Brnwn and Zcigler; Foreman. Hawley and Kahoe. Two-base hits-Mc-ShHiie. Hawley Three-base hit- Brown. B;i*es on balls—Off Foreman, 1; off Haw- ! ,il *>' P'tfhed ball— Foreman, 1. 1 tme— l:oo. Umpire—Corcoran. “Hobby” Mtthfwn Dead. PHILADELPHIA. April 17.-A private telegram received here to-day announces the death in an institution near Baltimore Os Bobby” Matthews, the great baseball pitcher. Matthews was about forty-five years of age. and retired from the professional ball field about 1890, after fully twenty years' service in the profession, during all of which time he held a high reputation as a pitcher. No other ball pitcher ever held himself jq the first class for scarcely more than half that length of time. Matthews started in as a professional away back in the seventies with the Kekiongas of port VS aytie, lud., and in sulisoquent years played witli the “laird Baltimores ” Bostons Mutuals of New York, Athletics of Philadelphia and other clubs. Matthews was attacked with paresis about two years ago and has since been in a Baltimore institution for treatment. Toledo Defeat* t'olambtiK. At Columbus, O.— R. ii e Columbus ... I 1 0 10 0 3 2 1— 9 i:t i‘> Toledo 11 0 o 0 o 0 0 0 o—ll il s Batteries—Wright and Streit; Slagle and Arthur. A Straight Tip. Kansas City Journal. We give without extra charge this straight tip to aspiring and obscure poets. Get somecue to “discover" you, and your fortune is made. This may not be tho easiest thing in the world, bui It is much easier than writing good poetry and w'aitlng around for posterity to find out that it is good. Here is the young Jew recently discovered by Professor Wiener. He means well, and has his own way of looking at things, but there are four hundred and seventeen people writing fer the magazines who write as well. Then there is the ancient party, Bacchylldes, who. some centuries ago, burled a part of his product, and ts now* more or less immortal because someone dug it up. We have poets right here in Missouri that cun write about as well as Bacchylldes. If John

THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 1898.

Preston Campbell, of Salina. and T. Brower Peacock, of—well, where Is Peacock now?— Never mind! If they will get someone to discover their poems they may yet sell off the surplus stock. USED AN IRON CUSPIDOR. Pugilist "Sliine” I nwilling to Hurt Hin Fiats. John Edwards, a colored young man, well known about the city as "Shine,” and Wayman White, another colored man, became involved in a quarrel last evening in Archie Greathouse’s Indiana - avenue saloon. "Shine” and White aro both amateur pugilists, who appeared in the recent Tomlinson Hall "carnivals” conducted by “Kid” McCoy. "Shine” was the hero of the two "battles royal.” The trouble last night came about through some conversation as to their relative merits as pugilists. Both men were drinking, and they came to blows. "Shine” struck \\ bite with an iron cuspidor and felled him to the ground, seriously injuring him. Detective Benjamin Thornton tried to find Edwards to arrest him, but failed. In his report he said the tight occurred in the rear of the saloon. LOCAL GOVERNMENT. Suggestions for Its Reorganization In Cities and Towns. To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal: In respect to the reorganization of the government of cities and towns In this State the task is quite easy as compared with the subject of county and township reform. The light of experience has settled the more Important points. Perhaps more than fifteen years ago the best authorities on municipal government in this country agreed that the English plan of city government, which has always prevailed throughout the United States, by which all legislative and administrative powers of the city were vested in a common council or board of aldermen, was unsuccessful. They further agreed that the federal plan, with separation of legislative from administrative powers, which had succeeded so admirably in national and state governments, should be extended to the government of cities. Accordingly the experiment was tried in numerous cities with great success. In 1890 Indianapolis, through her Commercial Club and Board of Trade, took up this question for herself. At the request of a joint committee of citizens from the above organizations and from the city government the writer became the draughtsman of a reform charter for the city of Indianapolis. The citizens’ committee above mentioned devoted nearly a year to the revision and examination of the provisions of anew law for the government of the city. This charter became a law in 1891 and has proven a most satisfactory piece of legislation. The Supreme Court lias upheld the law as valid whenever it lias been questioned. Under it the tax rate for Indianapolis has decreased from 90 cents to GO cents, and a great improvement in the conduct of public business has taken place. In 3893 the cities of Evansville and Fort Wayne also procured the passage of reform charters, adopting the Indianapolis law, with a few changes in detail. The only task, therefore, which awaits other cities and towns in Indiana in respect to changes in their organization is to prepare legislation in which the same principles are applied to smaller communities.

To begin with, the legislative power of the city should be vested in a common council, possessing powers which are possessed by the council under the Indianapolis law of 1891. The power of the council should, however, be subject to the check of a mayor’s veto. Further, in respect to fixing the tax levy and making of appropriations, some officer of the city, hereafter spoken of, should each year be required to submit detailed estimates of the various appropriations for the comi:.g year. The council's power should extend to approving or reducing these estimates, but not 1 to increasing them. The administrative business of the city should be taken away from the council entirely and vested In separate officials. In small towns the mayor should constitute the sole executive official of the place. He should act as controller, submit estimates to the council and within the limits of money appropriated by the council make contracts for public work. This scheme of government is applicable only to the small towns of tho State. In the case of larger places provisions should be made in the law for the institution of one or more executive boards, to be appointed by the mayor, to conduct public business. Indianapolis, under her law, has a finance department, at the head of which is the controller, a Board of Health and Charities of three members, a Board of Public Works of three members, a Board of Safety of three members. Al! of these arc appointed by the mayor and subject to removal by him. The council may also impeach any city official and remove him from office. The law to be enacted should be elastic, allowing cities to exercise their own option by way of ordinance, or, still better, by popular vote, as to when they will authorize tin' mayor to institute any one or more of these boards, instead of performing the work himself. It is a question of the size*of the community, of the volume of public business, and of the relative expense caused by increasing the number of officials. Rut the principle is the same in all cases. The mayor is the executive head of the city. Whether he performs the work himself or wiiether lie leaves it to one or more assistants to do the public work should be optional with the various cities and towns of the State. If. however, a city should elect to institute a board of public works, then the law should explicitly define the powers and duties of such a board when instituted just as fully as is done in the Indianapolis charter. The same thing would bo true if a small city should prefer to have one commissioner of public works, instead of three. All of these executive officers, however, would he strictly limited in their power to incur liability for the city or town by the amount of money which iiad been appropriated for the purpose by tho council. The council, being the popular body, should hold the purse strings. By this plan tho two departments of the city government mutually check each other and secure economy and efficiency. The judicial powers of a city or town which desires to adopt a. reform charter should be taken away from the mayor entirely and placed in the bands of an independent magistrate, exercising powers now exercise,d by justices of the. peace and mayors. 1 strenuously insist that tills work of municipal reform ought to he undertaken by a, commission acting in behalf oi' ihe whole State. It will be an incalculable mischief as well as unnecessary labor if each city and town in the Stale prepares its own charter and has a special act of the Legislature, with such an artificial -classification as to exclude other places. These matters should ti*- settled by general laws embodying elastic provisions which leave a, large room for local option in respect to adopting the various features of the law in the particular community interested. Special or local laws are too subject to amendment and change to he very available or permanent. When the Indianapolis members of the Legislature ask for a series of amendments to our charter it is necessarily treated as a local matter and goes by consent ill the Legislature, with little or no public knowledge or investigation. Much more true is this of places which are located at a. distance front the capital of the State, whereas. in the case of a general law. no private clique or ring would be likely to secure an improper amendment to a law in which so many communities were interested, if we go forward with separate laws for each municipality in the State, we will have our statute books encumbered beyond measure and the resulting legislation will not be the best, nor the most successful. In concluding these articles, which are merely suggestive of possible reforms in our local government, I venture to repeat that suitable legislation on these subjects can only be properly undertaken and prepared by a non-partisan commission. For this purpose a bill was introduced in each of the last two Legislatures authorizing the Governor to appoint such a commission. At tho session of 1897 it passed the House, hqt was defeated in the Senate. The efforts of all good citizens, irrespective of party, who believe that our antiquated forms of local government should be improved and modernized and made more efficient and more economical, ought to be directed to the creation of a commission for the study* of the whole subject and the preparation of suitable bills to he submitted to the Legislature. AUGUSTUS L. MASON. Chairman. Committee on Municipal Affairs, Indiana State Board of Commerce. V llchl Fighting Editor. Des Moines Register. The Register will say that it dreads war. The editor of this paper spent nearly four years in the army. He knows what it is to go to war. He wants the young men of this generation to be spared the necessity of offering their lives. That Ls why the Rtgister has uphold the President throughout this long controversy. War must come only as a last resort. That last resort now seems at hand. We regret it. we still pray that it may not come, but If it does come, let then lie no mistake about the size or the nature of the blows we can and will strike.

SPAIN’S FOREIGN TRADE •— INTERESTING STATEMENT PREPARED RY SECRETARY WILSON. —4 Comparatively Little Commerce with luitetl States—Number of Merchant Vessels l nder the Spanish Flag:. WASHINGTON, April 17.—Secretary Wilson, of the Agricultural Department, has authorized the publication of a bulletin on the subject of Spain's foreign trade from 1891 to 1895, inclusive, prepared by Frank H. Hitchcock, the chief of the section of foreign markets. The facts brought out are of particular interest at the present time. Two general matters are treated in detail in the publication, namely, Spanish commerce proper and shipping and navigation. It is shown that of the total tonnage transsported to and from Spanish ports during the years 1891 to 1595, inclusive, 67.75 per cent, was carried by merchantmen entered and cleared in the trade with the United Kingdom. France ranked second, with 12.97 per cent, of the total, and the Netherlands, with 8.52 per cent., stood third. The United States, with a record of 3.91 per cent., was the fourth country in importers. Belgium fifth, with 2.35 per cent., and Cuba next, with 2.34 per cent. Os the merchandise carried by vessels entered at Spanish ports during the years 1891 and 1895, inclusive, 56.54 per cent, came from the United Kingdom. France furnished 9.43 per cent., Russia 6.80 per cent, and the United States 5.68 per cent. Os the goods carried by vessels cleared during 1891-95 the United Kingdom was the destination of 58.28 per cent. France received 14.48 per ce.pt., the Netherlands 11.33 per cent., the United States 3.1s per cent, and Cuba 2.62 per cent. Spain’s commercial transactions with the rest of the world amount annually to more than $300,000,000. In 1895 the merchandise imports amounted to $161,829,516, and the exports $156,355,759. The average value for 1891-95 was $315,077,440, as compared with $317,956,123 for the preceding five years. Spain’s foreign trade is largely maritime. Os the merchandise imported and exported during 1891-95 only 15.9 per cent, was transported by land, while 84.1 per cent, was carried in seagoing vessels. During the earlier years of the decade 1886-1895 more than one-half of Spanish maritime commerce was carried by foreign vessels, hut since 1891 there has been a change, and the national shipping now is in the ascendency. The imports and exports made under the Spanish flag during 1895 amounted to $146,965,806, and those under flags of other nations to only $115,145,676. Os the foreign commerce of Spain during 1891-1895 about 70 per cent, was transacted with four countries, namely, France, 31.11 per cent.; the United Kingdom. 22.05 per cent.; Cuba, 10.20 per cent., and the United States, 6.32 per cent. The total value of the merchandise annually exchanged between Spain and Cuba. Porto Rico, the Philippines, the Canaries and her various minor possessions exceed $56,000,000. The United States ranked third among the sources of Spain’s import trade during 1891-1895, furnishing 10.34 per cent, of the value of such imports. Cuba came next, with 4.46 per cent., while Porto Rico supplied 2.64 per cent. Os the merchandise exported from Spain during the same time 34.41 per eet. went to France, 23.32 per cent, to the United Kingdom. 16.53 per cent, to Cuba and 3.47 per cent, to Porto Rico, while the United State?* came eighth in the list of countries to wmett Spanish exports were consigned. The average yearly value of the goods transported by Spain to and front France in Spanish vessels was $23,655,478: to and from Cuba in Spanish,,ships. $32,064,536; the United Kingdom. $27,069,104; Porto Rice, $9,499,149, and the United States, $9,302,723. Os the merchandise shipped from Spain in Spanish vessels, 36.77 per cent, went to Cuba, 27.50 per cent, to France. 7.72 per cent, to Porto Rico. Coal, which constitutes the most important item among Spain’s nonagricultural imports, is procured chiefly from the United Kingdom, the receipts from thfSUrfitfld States amounting to less than ] per cent, op the total. During the calendar year 1895 there were entered and cleared at Spanish ports 36,856 merchant vessels. Os these vessels 19.169 carried the flag of Spain and 17.687 vessels the flags of other nations. The yearly average tonnage for the five years 1891-1895 was 24.374,939. while that for the preceding five years was only 22.499.590. This increase was due to the growth in the tonnage of the Spanish merchantmen. On Dec. 31. 18%. the latest date for which there are available statistics, the. merchant marine of Spain comprised 1,783 vessels, hav- , ing an aggregate tonnage of 719,572. Compared with the statistics for 1886 the figures of 1895 show a slight increase in the size of the fleet and a rather marked one in its tonnage. The steam vessels increased from 431 in 1886 to 523 in 1895. it is shown that for the five years from 1891 to 1895. inclusive. the Spanish shipping was conducted somewhat more extensively from the customs district along the Atlantic than from those on (he Mediterranean sea. The ships entered and cleared on the Atlantic amounted annually to 19,704, as against 15,738 along the Mediterranean.

UNLUCKY SHIPS. "*■ >' tin* Hattie Ship Icviis lln Bern Called One. Philadelphia Times, Among the maritime menaces in the living' squadron to winch Commodore Schley has given wings—and second only to the buttle ship Massachusetts in forfnldableness—ts the Texas. Regarding her conies an inquiry as to whether or not she Is unlucky; whether or not she lias not been the victim of mishaps which have led superstitions sailors—and all sailors are superstitious—to look upon her as a hoodoo craft. This probably arises from, the fact that a little less than two years ago the Texas had a mishap while in flock in Brooklyn—the collapse of an injection valve hut it sufficed as a theme for. that large body of newspaper writers who were then making tun of Uncle Sam’s liavy and who are now clamming for war.. The inquiry makes I lie subject of that reddent pertinent. As the Texas is now upo.i the broad seas, with a possibility of being called upon to defend the honor of this dear country of ours, her possibilities and her possible defects are of of the utipost importance. The accident to the Texas was one which might happen to any vessel, and might be tlm result of any one of a largo number of • a uses. Injection valves have collapsed before and since. Bub the trend of criticism against the great battle ship, which was considered one of the triumphs of Uncle Barn’s Norfolk navy yard, was directed against her design, winch was declared to he faulty, and against the plans, which were alleged to be erroneous; and, therefore. from design and plans a successful ship could not be built. This kind of talk was entirely unwarranted, and has only succeeded in giving the Texas a bad name among sailors. Anyone who knows amthing about ship building, or who even enjoys an ordinary speaking acquaintance with a, tirst-rate ship builder knows that all designs of ships and machinery are defective, and all plans more or less erroneous in the, first instance or ns originally devised. These defects in designs and error’s in plans are discovered upon the attempt to apply them in practice, and it. is a verv important, if not the most important, part of the duty of it ship builder to detect, revise and make good such defects and errors as lie goes along. In fact, all contracts for navy work contain a clause requiring the contractor to do thist The Texas was a very difficult vessel to design, in the. first place, because the law authorizing her construction placed her maximum cost at a figure much too low for the requirements as to character and performance. The first and most important limitation which this imposed was that of the size, or displacement; and the requirements of the circular, upon which the competitive plans were made and offered to the secretary of the navy, prescribed a. larger range of engine power, armor protection and armament that could reasonably be compressed into the general dimensions, which the Unfit of cost, as provided by Congress, inexorably decreed beforehand. However, a design and plans were made which doubtless met ami overcame these difficulties as nearly as was possible to human skill. These plans being selected from a number in competition and adopted by William C. Whitney, then secretarv of the navy, were turned over to a navy yard for construction of the hull, and to a locomotive: building establishment for the construction of the engines. Nine years were then consumed in building the ship. In the meantime private shipyards, working on business principles and according to real ship and engine building practice, had turned out a fleet of over thirty vessels, some of which were of nearly twice the size and about four times the fighting efficiency of the Texas. Nothing of any consequence has happened to these thirty odd ships, which were built by ship builders, but nothing has happened

to the Texas, which was not. The above are the material facts In the case, but of course knowledge of them will have no effect toward dispelling the Jack tar superstition about an unlucky or a “Jonahed” ship. The Texas has already taken her place in that ill-fated category, and no human power can remove her from it in the estimation of the jolly old salt. There have been other ships before the Texas alleged to be unlucky. The Bonhomme Richard was one. Paul Jones himself on taking command of her at l’Orient, Prance, wrote a most doleful letter about her to one of his aristocratic patronesses in Paris. She was “a worn-out old Indiaman” and “her forecastle was a Babel.” “Fourteen different languages are spoken in my forecastle,” said Jones, dismayed at the appearance of his motley crew r . Two days out at sea the Bonhomme Richard was fouled by her consort, the Alliance, and had her jib boom and foretopmast carried away. Jones then put back to i’Orient to refit, perfectly convinced of the unluckiness of his ship. But that accident proved her salvation. On his return Jones found 114 American seamen who had just been released from English prisons by exchange. Among them was Richard Dale, whom Jones at once appointed first lieutenant. These all volunteered into the Richard. Jonqs promptly alscharging enough of his polyglots to make way for them. Prior to that he had only about forty Americans. This addition made 154 fighting Yankee seamen, and they were the men who made the Serapls sick a few weeks later oft the east coast of England. Thus it happened that the grandest exploit in naval history was achieved by an unlucky ship, and she obtained the means of achieving it through a distressing accident. May the Texas do the same. LODGE OF “MASONESSES.” Women Organise n Secret Society and Will I'se the French Ritual. NEW YORK, April 17.—The Herald says: Women yesterday organized a lodge of Masons at the Tuxedo, Madison avenue and Blfty-ninth street. They call it Manhattan Mystic Dodge. There had been talk of such a movement for several weeks, but the women were reticent. They met in a real lodge room, with queer insignia and a delicious air o.’ mystery. Rumor says much of this mystery was occasioned by doubt whether the real Masons would recognize their new feminine order. But fate and the Masons—a real lodge—were kind to the women. Mrs. May Banks Stacey, who is the head and front of the movement, was formally Initiated a few days ago, and yesterday site swore in with mysterious rites twenty of her followers. Kittle shivers of delight crept up and down their spines at the joy of being Initiated into the mysteries of grip, password, signal of distress and other Masonic possessions. The new title, "Musoness,” has a tine sound, too, and the insignia of membership—a circle, a Maltese cross and a rose—was pretty. Probably there will be many aspirants for these honors, but the order is to be exclusive, Mrs. Stacey says. The principal requisite for membership is that one must be the wife, widow, daughter, sister or granddaughter of a Mason. “The ritual used in Manhattan Mystic Lodge grill be that of the first woman’s lodge, founded in France in 1798, of which the Empress Josephine was a member,” said Mrs. Stacey, "Mistress Mason." to me. “In the event of war we will be ready to help all soldiers who are Masons.” It is possible the Mystic Lodge will soon give an entertainment, at which a curious public may have a chance to see these “Masonesses” in regalia—aprons, sashes and all. The meetings w'ill he secret, occurring on the first and third Fridays of each month. Among the members are Dr. Jessie Bogle, Mrs. Cecilia Plquero, Mrs. Larrabee. Mrs. Stephan. Mrs. Meredith, Mrs. Herbert Knowles, Mrs. Kimball. Mrs. Lucia C. Baicom and Mrs. Annette Place. There was talk of an associate and purely social chapter, which would include her Majesty Queen Lavinia, of the Holland Dames of the New Netherlands, and some of her ladies in waiting, but that idea was abandoned, and even Queen Lavinia must prove the possession of a real Mason in her family to be admitted to this exclusive circle.

Manning flic Yards. Washington Star. When Commodore Schley took formal command of the flying squadron, the other day, the “yards” of the flagship Brooklyn wer6 manned by the blue jackets, and on deck all involuntarily joined in the shout, of applause. In the old navy, when United States ships were actually ships with yards, the bo'sun’s mate’s call, "All hands cheer ship!” was followed by a much more picturesque ceremony than is possible now, .when the vessels of the naVy are fitted with but a single yard, and that only used for signaling. At the word of command “Man the yards!’’ there was an amount of acrobatic scurrying on the main decks of the old ships that was calculated to make the ship visitor hold his breath, the thing looked so dangerous. The men forward In bluejacket uniform would fairly leap up the rope ladders, and almost by the time the echoes of the command had died away every yard on each mast would support scores of men and hoys, all standing erect, most of them only held by the crossed arms of the men beside them. This representation of a cross was held by alt of the men, and it was their business to stand thus with absolute etatuesqueness. Then the command "Cheer ship!" would be bawled out on deck by the chief bo’sun’s mate, and there would be a yell from cathead to mizzen that couldn’t help but warm the blood of everybody within nearing of it. When the men manned the yards, with all sail, except tops'ls and stuns’ls. set. such a picture was really beautiful. the men's uniforms of blue sianding out in sapphire-like contrast to the cameo wdiiteness of the sails. This was a ceremony on all formal occasions, such as the visit aboard the old ship of distinguished men. And man the yards and cheer ship were commands always given when one of the old clippers of the United States navy was cither departing for or arriving from a foreign station. KccoKnition of t üba. Kansas City Journal. The question of a government for Cuba is one which cannot rightly be settled until the Spanish have been driven out and peace has come to all parts of the island. If it is to be a free and independent republic all of the people should have a voice in its construction. It is doubtful if the Cubans themselves would he satisfied with the provisional government which has been established in tlie field. It. is douhtful if one-half of them know any more about its character than Consul General Lee. When peace has come and with it the time and opportunity for the exercise of statesmanship, then will be. early enough to talk about, the government which tho United States should lie asked to recognize. In the meantime there is a popular suspicion that the course of tlm recognitionists in Congress has not been based upon a. desire for what is just and right so much as upon a dpsire to harass Ihe administration and gain a fancied political advantage. “< omntisninnrrs" Deceived. Philadelphia Record. A well-known American journalist and illustrator. recently returned to this country, has told some decidedly rich stories showing how visiting congressional "commissioners" have been, “stuffed’' by their interpreters. who habitually translated replies to questions to suit themselves. "I witnessed several incidents of this kind,” says the gentleman in question: "one was whn Senator GalHnger asked a woman through his interpreter: 'Where, is your husband?’ The woman answered: ‘lie is digging potatoes.’ The interpreter translated it to mean: ’He is in the Cuban army.’ ” The ease for recognition of the "republic” is based entirely upon "information'’ gathered in this manner or upon the deceptive testimony of the oracles of the Junto. God Save the Nation. Thou who ordainest, for the land's salvation. Famine, and fire, and sword, ami lamentation, Now unto Thee we lift our supplication— Ood ;save the Nation! By tho great sign, foretold, of Thy appearing, t'oming in clouds, while mortal men stand fearing. Show us. amid this smoke of battle, clearing, Thy chariot nearing! By the brave blood that floweth like a river. Hurl Thou a. thunderbolt from out Thy quiver! Break Thoti the stfong gsites! Every fetter shiver! Smite and deliver! Slay Thou our foes, or turn them to derision'— Then, in the blood-red Valley of Decision • Make the land green with Peace, as in a vision Os Helds slysian! —Theodore Tilton. Borrowing; Trouble. Chicago News. "f have heard a good deal about people who borrow trouble, but 1 think mv wife is a champion in that line.” "Why. I thought she was always cheerful and eonte ited with her lot.’’ "She was until our baby w r as born, six weeks ago. Now she is worrying be- < ause he may marry some girl w hom we may not like.” Casual Thought. Washington Post. Jefferson's birthday is a good thing for those persons who keep dress suits for hire.

WILL NOT BE SHELVED ♦ CURRENCY REFORM STILL A LIVE ISSUE AMONG REPUBLICANS. Members of tlie House Decidedly iu Favor of Action—View of Subcommittee*® Bill. Special to the Indianapolis Journal. WASHINGTON, April 17.—A strong expression in favor of action on the currency has just been obtained as a result of a canvass of the Republican members of the House. The question came up among the Republican members of the banking committee whether the majority of the party desired any action on the subject of currency. reform. One or two of the members believed that the present currency system did not call for radical change, and that it might be better to attempt no legislation during the present session of Congress. Mr. Hill, of Connecticut, expressed a desire to put the question to a test. He took a list of the Republican members and personally saw as many as possible within two or three days. It was during the time when the Cuban resolutions were under discussion, which made it easy to reach threequarters of the Republican members, bilt, on the other hand, the prevailing excitement had a tendency to divert the minds of the members from the importance of the currency problem. Some of the friends of currency reform feared that such conditions would result in a considerable adverse vote. They were happily disappointed. The Republican members declared in the proportion of five out of seven that they believed some action should be taken by the Republican majority of the House. The first day showed an affirmative vote of more than 100, with less than 40 in the negative, and the figures at the close of another day were 124 in the affirmative and 48 in the negative. Only twenty-seven Republicans were unacounted for, and a full canvass would show* a proportion of about 150 against 52 in favor of action. The feeling on the subject in the House is very different from what it was at the beginning of the present session of Congress. The strong sentiment for currency reform, which took definite shape in the Indianapolis convention. which indorsed the work of the Monetary Commission, has been felt in nearly every congressional district and has convinced many members of the political wisdom of meeting the wishes of the business community. The Republican members of the hanking committee are considering the subject of reporting a bill, in the light of the results disclosed by Mr. Hill's canvass, and may make such a report during the present , week. Some amendments have been suggested to the bill presented by the subcommittee, consisting of Messrs. McCleary, Prince and Mitchell, in order to insure harmony among the Republican members. The subcommittee bill does not go so far as the bill of the Monetary Commission in some respects, but nrnny letters are reaching membeis declaring that putting it upon the calendar of the House will be a long step toward crystallizing public opinion and securing proper action. Secretary Gage has addressed a letter to Chairman Walker, of the banking committee, in reply to one of Mr. Walker’s clean-cuf letters, requesting that tho secretary communicate to the committee any comment he might choose to make on the bill, in whole or in part. The secretary’s opinion of the principles governing the bill is distinctly favorable. He says, after acknowledging the letter of Chairman Walker: “The bill is a comprehensive one. It seeks to establish more firmly the credit of the government: to furnish better assurances that the ’parity’ between gold and silver will be steadfastly maintained; to relieve the treasury from the burden of current redemption of its legal-tender notes by throwing the cost and risk of this business upon the banks. It seeks to provide a method by which the volume of currency can be made more responsive to business needs, and. at the same time, to throw around, such currency the elements of a perfect security. If in fact the enactment of the bill into a law would surely accomplish all those results it is a piece of legislation for which the business and industrial interests of our country stand In great need. Would it accomplish these results? The question cannot be answered absolutely, nor could it be answered without qualification, were the terms of the bill changed in any or all of its particulars. “Tlie authors of the bill have recognized tlie fact that any law to become effectively operative must carry provisions which will induce public co-operation. At the same time they appear to have realized that such inducements should be only sufficiently attractive to secure needful co-operation, reserving to the government in the largest possible measure advantages which may justly be claimed as an offset to privileges conferred.. Whether the effort, to balance the question has been exactly and properly hit upon can he determined oniy by actual experiment. If any mistake has been made in this direction the mistake is on the side of safety to the government interests. So l’ar as I can judge the bill is equitable and just., well guarded in its provisions as relates to the public, and T have a high degree of confidence that it would work out substantially the good results contemplated. Some modifications may be necessary; either as to the privileges for circulation against, deposit of bonds or as to percentage allowed upon deposit of legal-tender notes: or as to the amount to be taken over into the issue and redemption division. But these do not touch tire principles of llie hill. They am debatable suggestions which will receive careful consideration if the. bill lie reported 1o the House, and much light will be thrown upon them by those outside of Congress who will be more or less affected by its provisions. I certainly hope the bill will meet the favor of the committee and lie reported to the House.”

ANOTHER TRUST PROPOSED. Manufacturer* of < tiaiulter Suita nml < asc Goods May Combine. V*" — GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.. April 17. Negotiations that weto begun during the January furniture season in this city, with a view of forming a trust or combination by the manufacturers of chamber suits and case goods, promises’ success in the near future. Meetings attended by representatives of Cincinnati. Chicago, Holland, and other < it its have been field here during the past week, and arrangements for incorporating the American Furniture Company, under the laws of New' Jersey, are near completion, it is stated that over 80 per cent, of tfie citambet suit manufacturers of the country, controlling nine-tenths of the output of case goods, have agreed to put their plants into tiie combine on a plan similar to that of the late nail trust. There is some earnest opposition to the move here, because it is thought it would endanger this city’s prestige as a furniture center, but the four principal companies that make 'case goods—the Berkey & Gay Company, the Widulcomh Company, the Rllgh Company and the Nelson Company— have agreed to go into tli< combine. It is understood that, negotiations with the Phoenix Furniture Company here have not yet been successful. owing to disagreement as to the value of the plant. Hard Rubber ••Combine.” AKRON, 0., April 17. Negotiations to consolidate the Goodrich, of Akron, the Goodyear, of Connecticut, and the Butler, of New Jersey, the three leading hard rubber companies of the country, have been <dosed. The consolidation will take effect on April 20 and the main office will he in New York city. CHILDREN’S LIBRARY LEAGI E. One of the Newest Movements in Library Work. New York Evening Post. "Decidedly the newest thing in library work.” saiti one ot tlie officers of Pratt Institute Library recently, "i* the ehUdreti’s department.” Children’s rooms have been known since 1890, vvhm one was opened iu Brookline, Muss., hut a novel experiment was undertaken by Miss Linda Eastman, first assistant librarian of the Cleveland Public Library. In the spring of is:97. She determined to form a Children’s League, something after the fashion of the children’s leagues organized in our own city to assist. In keeping the streets clean, bat ir this case with the object of teaching cure in the handling of books. The league aimed also at attracting children to the Public Library and creating a taste for good reading. Twelve thousand children are now wearing the badges of the league. This is too large a number to hold closely together, and tltt! plan Is not everywhere advisable, but tho librarians in Cleveland testify that

WASSON'S. Monday’s Suit Selling. The very cream of this immense Suit assortment on sale to-day at prices which Defy Rivalry. Tailored Covert Suits, Silk-lined I c ~ Coat, Coat and Skirt oilltS trimmed with straps of material like suits; an $lB value; our price .• $12.50 I COVERT SUITS in mixtures, tailor stitched, skirt and jacket strap trimmed, coat satin-lined, perfect in style and finish; same suit advertised elsewhere a bargain at $12.50; our price $8.75 I.ot of handsome suits of Real Coverts. Imperials, Diagonals, Meu’s Suitings, Worsted, English Meltons, etc.; best styles, silk-lined throughout; regular price up to $00; all go to-day at.. $25 H. p. wasson & coT" HIP The Doctor 1 °PP OSe( l t° adul--5 s teration / \ 5 “Corn wheat” flour is an im--5 I I | pefect food product, because s S-l-rr-r { of the excess of starch. Princess Is the most perfect “wheat” flour that can be produced. BLANTON MILLING CO. | Your \ Grocer j | Will Tell That W'lXOlO Parrott- Wheat Taggarts Bread*** Is a perfect health food—palatable and highly nutritious. The price is only sc.

the condition of the books taken out by children has wonderfully improved. At Pratt Institute Library, where there is no such organization, much is done to attract and educate children, and tho boys and girl® have been trained to be very critical as to the appearance of the books. They often stop to look them over before going home, to see if they are in proper condition, and to report the fact if they are not. Repairing of hooka has always cost more in th children's department than in any other, and any means of lessening that expense Is of distinct value. In Milwaukee, Buffalo and Jamestown, N. Y.. work for children has also been attended with marked success. There, as everywhere, these duties have naturally enough been confined to the province of the women librarians, and two or three young women are now fitting themselves expressly for the position of children’s librarian, which will necessitate thorough courses in child study, as well a* wid® knowledge of literature for children. As an adjunct to the work for children in Cleveland, Miss Eastman has organized Mothers Clubs, among the manufacturing population, sending a speaker at stated times to various school houses with relays of books. The poor women have shown intense interest, attending tho meetings with their babies in, their arms, and taking hom® simple books on sanitation and care of children. as well as others of the lighter kind. Much has been done alsb by women library workers, especially in tho West, to keep the libraries in touch with- public schools. All such movements are full of promise for tho future. Another sign of the times is tho attention paid by women’® clubs all over tho land to the establishment and improvement of public libraries. Many of these clubs are working persistently against cverv obstacle to secure fuvorabl® legislation. The New York State Federation of Women’s Club® has kept itself closely allied through its library committee with the officers of the state library at Albany in their efforts for the advancement of the work In this State. PERSON ALAND SOCIETY. Miss Josephine Hyde Is spending two weeks with relatives near Newport News. Va. Mrs. l.on Boyd, of North Capitol avenue, was given a surprise party Saturday evening by her family and members of the Ladies' Pleasure Club, it being her birthday. The presents consisted of a real flower shower. Mrs. May Wright Sewall lias issued invitations to a small circle of friends Interested in French literature to two evening entertainments. At tho first Mme. P. Mariotlo Davies will read a paper on Zola and at the second Prof. Joafelm Relnhard will read one on Balzac. Tin- evening witii Mine. Davies is Friday, April 22, that with Professor Relnhard Saturday, April 30. BAIRD-BROWN. Sjs'cial to the Indianupoliß Journal. SEYMOUR, Ind.. April 17.—This afternoon. Mr. David A. Baird and Miss Lura Blown were united in marriage at the residence of the bride's parents. Rev. J. M. Baxter, of tlie First M. K. t'htireli. officiating. Tha Ini<lc is a daughter of Daniel Helper Brown, city editor of tlie Seymour Daily Republican. MUTING GOODS 111 CUSTOMERS. Measure* Should Re Taken In Attract South American Trade. Philadelphia Time*. An American warehouse has been opened in Patacas, and a delegation of manufacturers who were present at tlie opening have returned home to report an enthusiastic reception on the part of officials and private citizens at the Venezuelan capital. They report another fact of far greater Importance to the extension of our trade Ir. South America Ilian complimentary speeches and public and private entertainments, and that is that the greatest obstacle to< trade extension in South America is the utter ignorance of most of our manufacturers of South American wants. Tills was to have be>n expected, but it is well that the declaration of this unpalatable fact has been made by representative manufacturers after a visit and tour of inspection. Uncomplimentary and unwelcome as the declaration may lie it comes from a friendly source, and should put American manufacturers on their mettle to overcome the obstacle. American machinery and skill have enabled American manufacturers to sell steel rails In England, and American bicycles, si wing machines, locomotives and other machinery everywhere, for the simple reason that these things were in universal demand. For many of the products of human skill, however, climate and custom determine the forms in which they shall be prepared for sale, and it is absolutely essential that these conditions shall be studied and complied with. If those who have just returned from Caracas can Impress this truth upon the minds of our manufacturers they will have performed a most important public service. ir is well to establish Anurlcan warehouses in South American cities, and the more warehouses the better. It is vitally essential that the goods the South American people want shall be displayed in these warehouses or the opening of a hundred such exhibits will amount to very little. Along with the opening of each warehouse. and in advance when possible, ther® should be a careful study of the wants of trade in the section to he supplied, so that the warehouses when opened shall contain samples of the goods in demand. A warehouse full of suitable and seasonable good* in every chief Booth American city will prove important auxiliaries to American trade, but warehouses full only of goods suitable to the Chinese or Bornean trade might as well not he opened at all. MiacaUed. Chicago Tribune. First Senator—You lie! Second Senator (advancing toward hint)— Say. I’ll First Senator—l dure you! Come outside! President of the Senate— Gentlemen, gentlemen! (Derisive laughter in the gallerieibj

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