Indianapolis Journal, Volume 49, Number 77, Indianapolis, Marion County, 18 March 1899 — Page 4

THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL, SATURDAY, MATICH 18, 1899.

THE DAILY JOURNAL

SATURDAY. MARCH IS, 1890. Washioxton Office 1503 Pennsylvania Avenue Telephone Cell. Business OfTlce Z.1 Editorial Rooms SC THIOLS (IK SLHSCIUPTION. DAILY BY MAIL. Dally er.lr. ene month ."" Ially only, three months , 2 Daily enly. one year k.M Dally. Including Sunday, one year leo Sunday enly, cne year -.00 WHEN FURNISHED DY AGENTS. Pally. per veek. by carrier 33 cts Sunday, single copy 5 cts Dally ar.J Sunday, jer week, by carrier 2. cts WEEKLY. Ter year Ti 00 Krdureil Hates to Claim. Subscribe with any of our numerous agents r Bond subscriptions to the JOURNAL NEWSPAPER COMPANY, Indianapolis, fnd. Tenrns sending the Journal through the malls la the L'nlted states should put on an eljfht-pase paper a ONE-CENT postage t.vmp: on a twelve cr Ixteen-paee paper a TWO-CENT postajc5 ftamp. Foreign postage Is usually double these rates. All communications intended for publication In this paper mu.t. in order to receive attention, be accompanied by the urine and address of the vrrtter. Till: IXDIAXAPOLIS JOURNAL Can be found at rhe following places: UEW YOHK Astor House. CHICAGO Palmr Rouse. P. O. News Co., 217 Dearborn tret. Creat Northern Hotel and Grand Pacific Hotel. CINCINNATI J. It. Hawley &. Co., 334 Vine street. LO CIS VILLI? C. T. Deerinsr. northwest corner of Third and Jefferson streets, and Louisville Uook Fourth avenue. ET. LOU'S Union News Company, Union Depot. "WASHINGTON. D. C RIssa House, Ebbltt House and WMard'a Hotel. If Admiral Dewey ncoCta a rest the government might send him as a delegate to the Czar's peace -conference. lie contributed materially to the disarmament of Spain. If. as Mr. McWhlrter said In the 3-cent meeting, the Citizens' Company Is running toward bankruptcy, how can it be earning such Immense dividends as others In sympathy with him assert? Mayor Harrison, of Chicago, may be said to have trumped ex-Governor Altgeld's trick by declaring for the municipal ownership of street railways which shows the necessity f Immediate copyright or patent when one Las a captivating issue. President McKinley has gone to a good place for a brief rest and outing. The genial Southern climate, the absence of crowds and social functions and the pleasant drives over country roads are Just what he needs. The people will be glad to think of the President thriving through pine groves In a straw hat. The grand old Democratic party in New Dfork has become so demoralized that it canrot even get up a Jefferson day banquet without a row. At present there are two rival banquets on the tapis, with side fights end personal controversies Innumerable. It may take a free lunch, or barbecue to harmonize things. The postoffico appropriation act of the late Congress declares that no part of the money voted shall bo paid to clerks or other employes permanently incapacitated for the discharge of their duties. That 1?, Congress lias como to the conclusion that It is not well to keep men on the pay rolls who cansot earn the salaries. Treasury officials say that within threo years the stock of free gold In the treasury and in the reserve- of national banks has cere than doubled. That means that the currency of the country has been enriched iird strengthened in that proportion, If Mr. Bryan had been elected President in the situation would now be very different. A few days since a man on trial for murder In one of the stato courts got clear with n. sentences so light that it was the cause of general surprise. On Thursday a lawyer Ju another county was assaulted with intent to kill by a man who has a. record of three homicides. "Why should such men bo allowed to bo at largo? It seems that when a man has committed a second murder ho should bo placed where he can commit no more. The rural free-delivery system Is gaining :tn popularity and usefulness to an extent that inspires its continuance and extension In well-populated districts. The first appropriation fur the experiment was $30,000. This was followed by an appropriation of $150,000, and the lat Congress appropriated $300,000. ."Wherever it has been introduced the farmers ore much pleased with it, the only opposition coming from village postmasters, who miss the custom from the stores they operate In connection with the postoffice. Those who have read the testimony before the "beer board at Chicago must see that Commissary General Eagan Is responsible for the sending of the large quantity of roast canned beef to tho army when it was a food of untested utility. It also appears that thero Is a serious discrepancy between the time which the contractors agreed to keep refrigerator beef In good condition In the hot weather and the period which General liigan gave in his testimony as that of the agreement. The written contracts will show the one of the two who Is correct. In Georgia, where the blacks have no voice in the courts, and where all the officers of tho courts and the men who sit as Jurors ere whites, tr-ere can be no axcuse lor wholesale lynching of colored men. If the men were guilty of the crime with which they wero charged It would be easy to prove It. If it could not bo proved and the charge was simply a pretext to get rid of some men who were suspected of lawlessness the lynching Is all the worse, because no man's life, that is, no colored man's life, is safe who may te made an object of suspicion on the part of lawless whites. People who cite the experience of the city of Glasgow aian argument In favor of municipal ownership of public utilities forget, or probably never knew, how different the government of Glasgow Is from that of American citie3. Glasgow Is governed by a lord mayor and a Council of seventy-five members. Members of the Council receive r.o compensation whatever, but no person can bo elected lord mayor or to any other executive office In the city go eminent who has not served time? as a member of the Council. In ad.lition to this the candidate tnust pay taxes on at least $".) worth of property, and none but property owners can vote for him. If a man owns property In several precincts he can vote In each one at tho same election and for the game oaJvdUiate. Under such a system as that municipal ownership implies business management, while in this country it would mean something very different. The street railroad of Glasgow, which has been much talked about, consists of thirty-seven miles cf double-track road, with a debt upon It of ?,&&;7). The longest distance one can

rldo upon It Is six miles, for which one pays 6 cents. It costs 1 cent to ride flfty-eight-one-hundredths cf a mile, 2 cents to rfdo one and three-quarter mils. 3 cents for three miles, 4 cents for four miles, 5 cents for five miles and 6 cents for any distance over five miles. These fares are in lieu of all payments to the city. The pending offer of the new company in this city is better, especially when it is considered that the number of long rides will Increase every year. AX IXDEFKXSIHLE IEHFOR3IAXCE.

There can be no defense of the disgraceful disturbance in Tomlinson Hall Thursday night. Free speech la held to be one of the primary rights of the American citizen. If he abuses the right he Is answerable in law to those who may claim Injury. It would be Idle to say that a large part of those who were present In the body of the hall were thero for the express purpose of breaking up the meeting. Aside from the wrong involved In disturbing the meeting It was a blunder, which made the meeting much more effective than could all the speeches which were or would have been delivered. It Is hinted that the resentment of many men who are members of labor unions was aroused by holding a meeting under the auspices of their central organization by men who, so far as they publicly appeared, are not members of unions, and that this feeling was responsible for much of the disturbance. Even If this were true it does not help the matter. Tho hall had been engaged for a S-cent-fare meeting, and having engaged and paid for the hall, it was an outrage to molest the assemblage. It holds of all other organizations and Individuals. If men desire- to hire a hall to hear themselves or others talk upon any subject, that is their right, and one in which they should be protected. At the same time, tho outcome shows the futility of efforts to discuss important public questions in town meetings. It is not the first failure of the season. When the proposition of the proposed company was first made public and legislation suggested, a meeting was held In the Commercial Club rooms in which those who favored the proposition vere treated by those who called or contro'led the meeting with scant courtesy. The meeting Thursday night was called to Influence the Board of Public Works and ultimately the City Council. So far as thero were addresses they were directed against the consideration of any proposition made by the proposed company. There was no argument to show that the claim cf a perpetual charter by tho Citizens Company Is invalid. There was no proposition made to send a committee to tho Board of Iublic Works to ask for a modification of the propositions of the company that may be formed. Mr. McWhlrter seemed to express the purpose of those who incited the calling of the meeting whqn he said that the course to pursue is to let the Citizens' Company alone until the date of the expiration of Its charter draws near, when it will bo so near to bankruptcy that It will sell out to a syndicate of home capitalists for whatever it can get, who will take the franchise oh the basis of a 3-cent fare. It is not present settlement by the proposed company that those close behind the movement desire, but a putting off in the hope of something better by which they may be gainers. Whilo it is possible that the performance of Thursday night In disturbing the meeting may tend to exasperate lawabldin? citizens and divert their attention from the main issue, the Journal may say that It is more and more Impressed with the importance of Immediate settlement of the question substantially upon the basis of the propositions made by the company of which Mr. Wasson Is president. Such a proposition insures a more favorable system than that wc have heard so much about in Detroit. The line in that city which sells eight tickets for 23 tents Is one giving limited service. Outside of given hours the faro Is higher. All the tax the company holding this franchise pays the city Is 2 per cent, of its gross receipts, amounting last year to about JD.W0. Another line, which does more business, sells six tickets for 23 cents, single fares being 5 cents. All the tax it paid last year was 2 per cent, of its gross earnings, amounting to $13,000. There Is no transfer from one company's lines to the other on these cheap tickets, and, according to the statement of a citizen who has visited Detroit, the service on all but the leading streets is far Inferior to that which Indianapolis now has. In Detroit, at tho present time, those who arc in sympathy with the efforts of Governor Flngree favor municipal ownership, which a speaker advocated at the Thursday evening meeting. The whole matter Is with the Eoard of Public Works and City Council. Those who have suggestions to make touching the present propositions should go to the former tribunal whenever the temporary injunction shall be removed. This injunction was secured by the real managers of Thursday night's meeting. If tho injunction should not be revoked, tho incident has already ended. It will then be in order for some Interested party to seek another Injunction when tho next company may make a proposition. A series of delays by suits and injunctions Is what may reasonably be expected If tho present proposition, with modifications, shall not be accepted. OLIt POLICY TOWARDS CUBA. A Chicago paicr which, prior to the nomination of Mr. McKinley for President, advertised "Coin" Harvey's book and advocated free silver, is now undertaking to formulate a new Cuban policy for the administration. It Insists that the Idea of establishing stable government in Cuba and then leaving the people to govern themselves shall bo abandoned at onco In favor of forcible annexation to the United States. "Every dictate, of American self-interest and self-defense and every consideration of future Cuban welfare," says this paper, "demand that Cuba be row and forever a part of the United States, and that Cuba and the Cubans be made to realize this fact promptly. The American people never will tolerate the surrender of Cuba any more than they would tolerate the surrender of the Philippines. The island is ours and will remain ours." This is a new policy of infamy the most infamous that has been suggested since tho origin of forcible annexation of Cuba. In the early days of filibustering we would have had to deal with Spain a weak antagonist, indeed, but an organized government, to which we were under no special obligation or pledges. The only disgrace that would have attached to the forcible annexation of Cuba in those days would have been that of inaugurating a war of conquest against a weaker power. Now the ease is very different. Spain has been expelled from Cuba and there Is no organized government there. The Cubans are disorganized, weak and helpless, and for that very reason we should not take advantage of them. Because

j they are at our mercy we owe It to them

and still more to ourselves not to strike them while they are down. This obligation would be oil us even if there were no other, but we are under a solemn pledge, voluntarily assumed before the world, not to annex Cuba without first having given the people a chance at self-government. The crowning feature of our war with Spain was that it was a war for humanity. Its primary object was not the acquisition of territory, but the liberation of Cuba. Every preliminary step to the declaration of war was based on the Idea that it was to be, so far as Cuba was concerned, a war for humanity and freedom. The President In his message to Congress, April 11, 1S05, asking for authority to intervene, said: In view of these facts and of these considerations. I ask Congress to authorize and empower the President to take measures to secure a full and final termination of hostilities between the government of Spain and the people of Cuba, and to secure In the island the establishment of a stable government, capable of maintaining order and observing its international obligations, insuring peace and tranquillity and the security of its citizens', as well as our own, and to use the military and naval forces of the United States, as may be necessary for these purposes. The joint resolution of Congress authorizing the ITesIdent to intervene, passed April 18, declared: That the United States hereby disclaims any disposition nr intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction or control over said island, except for the pacification thereof, and asserts Its determination, when that is accomplished, to leave the government and control of the Island to its people. Nothing could be more explicit than these expressions of the President and Congress. They do not relate to Porto Rico or the Philippines, which became ours by the fortune of war, but as far as Cuba Is concerned they constitute a solemn and continuing pledge the violation of which by tho United States would be a gross outrage on a helpless people and an act of infamy from which we could never recover. Our duty to Cuba Is plain. We must remain there until the pacification of the Island is accomplished, until law and order are restored and until the people shall have established a government of their own, and then we must, in the language of Congress, "leave the government and control of tho Island to its people." There Is a possible alternative to this course, and that is if the people should by a plebiscite or other fair expression of popular opinion express a desire for annexation instead of independence. They might do this before attempting to establish a government of their own or after such an attempt and failure. There is already some annexation feeling in Cuba, and it seems to be growing. After the army is paid off and disbanded it may grow so fast as to displace tho desire for an independent government, or, after that has been attempted and failed, it may take a new growth and become the dominant sentiment of the people. In either case the United States would be justified In annexing tho island, but not otherwise. The Initiative for annexation must come from the Cubans themselves. The only course for tho United States to pursue is one of strict regard for its word of honor. We can get along without Cuba, but not without the respect of tho world and our own self-respect. Several of tho Journal's exchanges are curious to know If the conference called at Buffalo in June by about one hundred citizens who are scattered over the country means the organization of a new party with Governor Pingree at its head. Considering the names, It does not seem probable. Doubtless Governor Pingree would like something in the way of political excitement since he has lately become much liko other people in Michigan, but just now, In the words of tho prospectus of a new newspaper adventure, another party is not needed to "fill a long felt want." Several men are out of a party, but this is due to tho fact that no party will submit to their leadership. There arc a few Populists scattered about the country with a large assortment of whereases and resolutions which were cut of place when the good times came, but these cannot bo counted for much. A party made up of such extremes as ex-Governor Altgtld, "Coin" Harvey, Mayor Quincy, of Boston, and Edwin D. Mead, of Massachusetts (mugwump), cannot accommodate themselves on a Pingree platform. It is not probable that ex-Governor Altgeld will abandon Colonel Bryan and 1G to 1 for PIngreo and anti-trusts and municipal ownership. It is scarcely possible that Eugene Debs and President Compers can get together for any other purpose than to disagree. A party cannot be made out of such elements, but they can get together, h!re a hall and put forth as many different fads as there are men. They call it a conference, but it will be an exhibit of fads and freaks. It is hoped that no evil-minded enemy will capture tho conference as the evil-minded did the 3-cent-fare assembly of public-spirited citizens. Everybody in Indianapolis is in favor of 3-cent street-railroad fares if we can get them, just as everybody is In favor of many other desirable things if they can be obtained. The question Is how to get them. That Is a business proposition which cannot bo settled or affected one way or another by forcible methods or intemperate language. Tho question is whether any company with any kind of a franchise can give the public first-class service, pay Its employes living wages and make a fair dividend on its Investment on a 3-cent fare. If the agitators for 3-cent fare can demonstrate that this can bo done they will have the public solid on their side, but until they do so their clamor should not be heeded. The people would rather pay 4 cents or even 5 cents and have first-class service with the knowledge that the company's employes are receiving fair wages and the company itself making a fair profit than to have a 3-cent fare under opposite conditions. Twentyfive years ago the people of Indianapolis willingly paid 5-cent fare on "bobtail" cars drawn at a snail's pace by horses or mules, depositing their own fares and getting the poorest kind of service and accommodations, while the average ride of that period was not one-fifth as long as that of today. Now some people demand a reduction of 40 per cent, in the fare for a ride five or six times as long, In modern cars, propelled at a high rate of speed and manned with polite and well-paid employes. The demand is exorbitant and unreasonable, especially in view of the other Important concessions offered by the new company. Readers of the Journal will remember the accounts published last summer of the performances of a submarine torpedo boat Invented by ono John P. Holland. The tests of the boat seemed to be very satisfactory, and the Inventor offered to take it to Santiago harbor and destroy the mines there, but the offer was not accepted. Having received r.o encouragement from this government, the Inventor has determined to try and Introduce his invention abroad, and on Wednesday ho sailed for England, accom

panied by a captain of the British navy, who will assist him In the matter. The fact that Franco has recently perfected a submarine torpedo boat la thought to make the time opportune for bringing the Holland invention before the British authorities. An officer of tne Hotchkiss Gun Company predicts that the Holland boat will be adopted by the British navy, and afterward by tho United States. "It was the same way with the Hotchkiss gun." he says. "American military experts frowned on the Invention until it was accepted and In use abroad." If our government experts are actuated by that sort of feeling the sooner they get rid of it the better. One of the President's newspaper critics Is troubled because he has announced no positive policy in regard to the movements now taking place in China. The critic believed that the United States should take an active part with other nations, or, at least, that the President should announce a definite policy for this government, and Is by no means satisfied because the President refused to sustain or to disapprove the course of Italy in that quarter when information was sought as to the attitude of this government. Furthermore, the critic is not pleased because President McKinley does not Indicate a purpose to take part in the partition of China with other nations. This criticism seems captious criticism for the sake of criticism. The United States has nothing to gain by active participation In the disposition of China, particularly since all the leading powers have assured our government that our commercial interests shall not suffer by anything that either of them may do. If the United States is on such friendly terms with all the governments which are interesting themselves In securing ports and concessions that our trade will not be Interfered with, why should we desire to participate In the contentions? Is It because we have power and should use it simply to show that we have it? There can be no reason Just now to demonstrate our capacity to assert authority? The progress of Americanization among foreign-born citizens is shown by the difference between the celebration of St. Patrick's day now and formerly. A generation or two ago such celebrations In the larger cities were almof.t sure to be accompanied by a collision between Catholics and Orangemen, and many a broken head has dated from St. Patrick's day. It has been many years since anything of the kind occurred, and there Is no more danger of trouble now on St. Patrick's day than there Is on ' Washington's birthday. The celebration is simply an occasion for American citizens of Irish birth or extraction to testify their affection for the Emerald isle, and it Is astonishing In how many and what unexpected places the Irish blood blossoms out In green. No celebration of the year is more epuiet and orderly, and no other class of citizens better represent tho assimilating inlluence and effects of American citizenship. The changing of popular impulse in Cubait cannot bo called sentiment now in this direction and to-morrow in the opposite, is one of the discouraging indications. For a few days after the dismissal of General Gomez by the so-called Military Assembly scntimsut ran in his favor, which was encouraging. This continued as many as two days, when a reaction was reported on the part of the populace at Havana. It has wearied of that leader. No cause is assigned, for a cause Is not necessary. The crowd wanted something nw, and Gomez cannot change every day. In a few days he may be denounced in tumultuous assemblages or derided when he appears on the streets. This is the discouraging feature of the situation. The populace is unreliable and fickle.

Ill HULL'S IX THE A III. Tho Practical Girl. He I would lay down ten thousand lives for you. She You would do better to lay up ten thousand dollars. Jaundiced Vlevr. "I see they are making an attempt to stop the use of the Hag for advertising purposes." "Oh! The politicians want a monopoly of that sort of thing for themselves, do they?" Ono Sure "Way, Tightfist I've been as far as the door of tho dentist's office three times, but I can't get up tho courage to go in. Watts I'll tell you what to do; send the money down in advance. That will make you desperate. Wanted a Manhattan. The theosophist leaned over the bar so wrapt In thought that the man with the white apron was kept standing for three minutes. "Gimme," said tho theosophist, partly coming back to earth, "a mahatma cocktail." THE STATE PRESS. The Indianapolis Journal advises the Democratic party to drop both Bryan and free silver. The adviee is sound, but then perhaps the Journal has never noted the effect water has on a duck's back. Kokomo News. Biennially we have complaint that Indiana's Legislature ought to have more time to consider proposed measures. Some faulty enactments nearly always creep in during the latter day rush, it is true, but until advocates can point to longer-session States where business Is not left for the hurry wind-Up they will not convince many that a change would be for the better. Layfayette Courier. County Clerk Wiltfong wants to know by what process of reasoning the county commissioners arrive at the conclusion that "government envelopes" (stamped envelopes) are supplies to be furnished by the county to Democratic county officers, "within the meaning of the law," while the itenv of "postage" Is not a supply to be furnished by the county to Republican county officers? Plymouth Republican. Under the new county and township reform laws It becomes the duty of the Judge cf the Henry Circuit Court to appoint in the neighborhood of fifty councllmen on the the county and various township councils. These positions are practically nonpaying, and It Is not probable, therefore, that there will be any rush of applicants for them. The Judge should, and probably Intends to, appoint the best men of his acquaintance in the various parts of the county without reference to applications that are made to him alleging political or personal obligations. New Castle Courier. Care In selecting the most capable and trustworthy men for the county council and township advisory board is necessary. These positions are practically nonpaying, and it Is not probable, therefore, that there will be any rush of applications for them. The success of the new system depends principally upon the people. The powers of government are placed nearer them than ever before. Citizens of high character who have public Interests at heart should be chosen. The position calls for patriotic service purely and solely for the public good. Hartford City Times. The new mortgage law is becoming very distasteful the more the people become acquainted with the law. It Is no party question. It affects every honest man's pocketbook, and th .t is generally conceded the next thing to his heart Every one realizes that so much money must be raised by taxation, and the man who has been thrifty and has no mortgage on his property realizes that under the present law he must pay for his neighbor's taxes, because the

latter has a mortgage and is exempted. Mortgages will become the rage now to evade taxation. Attica Ledger. Since the filing of the sijlt that promises to reveal some facts concerning the lynching of Marlon Tyler. Scott county citizens ere getting active. They are more anxious than ever to locate the guilty parties and have petitioned the commissioners to offer a reward for their apprehension and arrest. They want to show that the people of Scott county generally do not approve the work of the mob that took Marion Tyler from the cell and hanged him. Tneir anxiety is commendable, but it would have been more so if their present activity had been shown two months and a half ago. Seymour Republican. We believe it a wise provision to pay commissioners and all other officers a fixed salary instead of a per diem, or any other kind of fees. (Many persons have asked us how the salaries would compare with the amount charged under the per dlera system. It will work differently in different counties. In Tippecanoe county, where the county officials and commissioners are "kind to one another," the compensation will be reduced from about I2,w) a year for each commissioner to $70u a year. In Hamilton county the new salary will amount to a Uttle more than the average salary under the old law. Iist year our commissioners received $307 for services as commissioners and 1 107 for services as gravel road directors, making a total of t'jU, an average of $31-3 tor each commissioner. Noblesviile Ixdger. PREJUDICE IX THE ARMY.

Theory Unfounded Unit West Pointers Have Preference. Washington Post. Quite the cheapest and most nonsensical talk one hears nowadays is that which refers to the supposed prejudice in the army against officers who are not graduates of the Military Academy. One would imagine, to hear it, that "the outsider" is an excetion and the West Pointer the rule. One would imagine that the great majority of the generals and field officers belong to the so-called professional clique, and that they make army opinion, to the discredit and disparagement of those who do not boast the academy cachet. It is a common experience to hear that this or that general has been held down throughout his career by the jealousy and hostile influence of his equals in rank who are West Pointers', and who resent his presence in the charmed circle as that of an interloper. The fact is that In the higher grades of the service the West Pointer Is the exception. When the war with Spain broke out a year ago, there was only one general officer in the whole army who had graduated at the Military Academy. There were nine officers of this rank then on the active list, but General Wesley Merritt was the one West Pointer. Out of fifteen adjutants general there were seven West Pointers, out of seven Inspectors general only two, out of fifty-six quartermasters of the upper grade only twenty-seven, out of twenty-six paymasters only four. On the 1st of December. 1SP9. we had eighteen major generals, five of whom were West Point men; fifty-six brigadier generals, twelve of whom were graduates. So that out of seventyfour general officers' only seventeen were educated at the Military Academy. It would be interesting, therefore, to know just where this hostile influence is located and of what material it is constituted. The general commanding the army is not a West Pointer, neither is Adjutant General Corbln in fact, so far as we know, only two bureau chiefs in the War Department, the chief of engineers and the chief of ordnance, are graduates, and, as we have already shown, only seventeen out cf the seventy-four general officers In the field. Of what, then. Is this direful influence composed and through what machinery does it :r : Nearly all the highest officials, either of the line or staff, are "outsiders." How in the world can the West Pointers, who re under their orders and in a great mriipuro -,tt their mercy, so far as fvor and promotion go-how can the alleged West Point ring run the army and keep down the deserving no v graduates? To us it sounds very much like the fable of the wolf and the lamb, if any gentleman appointed from civil life or transferred to the regular from the volunteer at my In 1V'G has failed to get tip as high as ho thought he deserved, the explanation certainly cannot be sought in tin; prejudice and the conspiracy of the West Point coterie, for, even If they ever had the inclination, they certainly have not had the power and authority to do these dreadful things. We fancy that popular Ignorance and credulliy have been played upon in the matter. Certainly there are no facts to justify the popular suierstition in the premises. Kansas Sots a Good Example. New York Times. When the hour came for the Kansas legislature to close the other day the executive council took the somewhat remarkable precaution of stationing detectives at every exit of the State-house, with Instructions to see that no public property was carried away. It has been the custom in the past, it seems, for a vast number of articles, ranging from typewriters down to inkstands in value, and from desks and chairs to bunches of envelopes in size, to disappear at the end of everv session, and the authorities decided that for once, at least, this sort of stealing should be discouraged. The detectives found plenty to do, and dozens of would-be thieves were forced to disgorge. The depredators were chiefly legislative e mployes, and they excused their conduct by saying that they regarded the property taken as perquisites of their positions. "It had always been done." they said. Two or three quite well-known members of both House and Senate participated in the raid and had to endure the humiliation of handing back plunder of one sort or another. A senator who was carrying off two volumes of state statutes became extremely angry when halted. He expected to return the books, he declared, and was only taking them away for temporary purposes. "Very well." replied the detective, "just give me a receipt for the books and take them along. I must do my duty or give some adequate explanation of why I did not do It." It would be interesting to know whether the Kansans are peculiar in looting their Capitol or In taking action to prevent the dirty business. There are other States In which legislative "souvenirs" are not quito unknown. Reed Will De Speaker Again. Washington Special. The movement to defeat Thomas Brackett Reed, of Maine, for speaker in the Fiftysixth Congress is already dead. It may well exclaim: "If I was so soon to be done for, I wonder what I svas begun for." This has been the most complete political fiasco Washington has witnessed in recent years. President McKinley was said to be involved in the effort to beat Reed. He promptly denied it, assuring a congressional caller that the report connecting him with the movement was "absurd" and "ridiculous." Representative Sherman, of New York, who was to be the man to down Reed, promptly denied that ho was or would be a candidate for the speakership. He was ono of the group of New York representatives, all personal and political friends and admirers of Kc-ed, who presented him with a loving cup and had a halcyon and hilarious time doing it. The talk about the President trying to defeat Reed was Idle. Even if he preferred some one else for the position, he is too good a politician to stir up factional strife in the House next session with its narrow Republican majority of thirteen and cn the eve of the presidential campaign at that. He will undoubtedly be renominated by hls party and be re-elected, unless something unexpected and untoward happens meantime. He certainly can be counted on not to help that something happen. Public Schools Aro Cuba's Salvation. Havana Letter in Leslie's Weekly. Public schools are the only salvation for the Island of Cuba, and it will be many years before they can bring about the standard of education required to make a people Intelligent enough for self-control. Once in a while one will find a man in the United States who cannot sign his name, but in Cuba, among the lower class, not one In a hundred can do even that, and very few can read or write, even in the common class of shopkeepers and general tradesmen. I watched the captains of the ships and schooners of this harbor taking tire oath of allegiance to the United States the other day, and not one of all I saw could sign his name. The ignorance of the Island Is not of the ordinary sort that means an ignorance of letters only, but it is deeper than that, and means an ignorance of cleanliness, of law and of humanity, and it will be a ho;eless task to do anything with the present generation. The only solution is to educate the rising generation. The narrow streets are overrun with children of all ages and colors. No effort has ever been made to give them any sort of education, and as this has gone on for hundreds of years it is no wonder that the present state of affairs exists. Her Name. Kansas City Journal. A woman with a family of starving children was offered a gift of a shoulder -of bacon, but indignantly declined It on tne ground that she much preferred ham. The woman's name Is Cuba. Appeal to CnrneKle. Kansas City Journal. Will Mr. Carnegie kindly report as to the number cf milestones the country has passed on. lis dizzy rush to destruction? Some of us scarcely realize that the awful crash Is coming.

FIGHT ON THE BORDER

RATTLE RETWEEX AMERICANS AMI CAXADIAXS IX ALASKA. Unconfirmed Story Told by a German on Arrival nt Vancouver from the Porcupine River District. CANADIANS THE AGGRESSORS ALLEGED TO HAVE PLANTED TIIElIt FLAG OX AMERICAN" TERRITORY. Chnscd Hack After a Drlef Conflict, in Which Four of the Combatant Are Snltl to Have lleen Killed. NEW YORK. March 17. A special dispatch to tho World from Vancouver, B. C, saysr "Carl Slummerfelt, a German, who was a passenger on board the steamer Lees, which has arrived here from the Linn canal,' brought tho news that a battle had been fought between American and Canadian miners a few miles off the Dalton trail. Four men are report cd to have been killed outright and a number of others are said to have been seriously wounded. "When tho alien mining law of British Columbia was enforced a few months ago the American miners left Altln, the new Canadian gold district, and struck north. They found a short distance off the Dalton trail on the Porcupine rhvr a district rich in placer gold. It was generally conceded that the new placers arere In American territory, ard the miners vowed that no Canadian should sta'ke a claim. Some Canadian mounted policemen, however, did stake claims in the American territory and Justified their act by moving the Canadian flag from Mount Pleasant, on the trail, so ns to make the lino take in a rich part of the district. They were followed by at least forty Canadian miners, who all located claims. "A fortnight ago about one hundred American miners held a meeting and decided to send notices to all Canadians to leave the country within five days. The notices were sent out, but no heenl was paid to them. Slummerfelt, who left the Porcupine river district two weeks ago, says: 'Early on the morning of the sixth day the American miners met and proceeded to the Canadian camp. I don't believe they intended bloodshed, although they were armed. Before they could even state the object of their visit some one, I don't know from which party, fired a shot, and then every one seemed to be shooting. Several rounds were fired and four men. 1 was told, were killed outright an American end thiee Canadians. The battle was very brief and resulted In the Canadians, about fifty in number, flying across the border. The Americans then retired to their own camp. I was Informed that the following Americans were leaders in the battle, but I cannot ray for certain: C. G. Lewis and Charles Ieitch, of Los Angeles; W. S. Hawes, of Minnesota: A. McConagha, of Chicago, and F. Willborough, of Denver. I did not ascertain the names of the killed. From my location, about fifteen mi lev north of the Porcupine river, I heard that a quad of Canadian Northwest mounted police had left like Tagish for the Porcupine, the news of the light having reached them. The Americans aro determined, and I fear there will bo another conflict. Thero Is no doubt in my mind that the new district is in American territory.' "Slummerfelt's story is unconfirmed, but reports received here about two weeks ago from tho district predicted a clash If the Canadians did not leave the territory." CLASH WAS EXPECTED. Canadians Have lleen Aggressive and Harsh Toward Americans. WASHINGTON, March 17. Tho hostile collision between the American and Canadian miners reported from Vancouver is exactly what was apprehended by the representatives of the United States government in the late Canadian conference. It is said by one of these officials that they were sadly embarrassed In their efforts to settle the Alaskan boundary dispute by the British Columbia Legislature, which, so far from endeavoring to secure a peaceful adjustment of the boundary difficulties, had, by the passage of irritating legislation, elone much to retard an agreement. With infinite difficulty the joint commissioners had succeeded in reaching an agreement to which all could subscribe, looking to the settlement of the boundary question and of tho conflicting mining interests generally. Within a week the British Columbia Legislature had passed an act nullifying completely all of the interests which American miners had so painfully and expensively acquired in the new Atlin district. This caused great irritation and was the subject of considerable discussion before the commission. It was believed, however, that with " the ratlficat'on of the treaty which was expected 10 be negotiated, carrying with it the provision for the settlement of the mining controversies, the obnoxious law would be vacated by the superior force of the treaty. Apprehensive of trouble in the event of the failure of that instrument, the two governments, the United States and Great Britain, reached an arrangement in the nature of a modus Vivendi, roughly delining by certain landmarks the boundary between the British and American possessions from the Klondike sections down to British Columbia. The officials here cannot tell from the vague report brought by the Vancouver dispatches Just where the collision took place between the American and Canadian miners, so it is Impossible to tell who is at fault. It is said, however, that the Canadians have been particularly aggressive in this boundary matter right along: that they have several times advanced the lines of the boundary claimed by them, and that In each case this extension coincided or followed very closely the discovery of new gold fields in the vicinity. The indications arc that the United States government will be obliged to take some steps to police its side of the border in Alaska in a method corresponding to the Canadian system. There will be nothing threatening in the adoption of such a course, for. in tho official belief, there is much less risk of conflict between the regularly organized and responsible bodies, like the Canadian mounted jolice on the one side and the American military forces on the other, than between bands of miners as onposed to the Canadian police. Consequently it Is probable that as soon as Colonel Rayarrives here from 1'orto Rico, or perhaps even before, the War Department will take steps to organize a suitable force for this purpose. The reports sent by the United States army officers In Alaska refer to the Porcupine river locality, where this conflict Is reported. Lieut. Richardson reported that eighteen prospectors had gone up the Porcupine and Salmon rivers. He gave In detail tho geography of the Porcupine and its sudden and dangerous floods In the spring, but he dlcl not Indicate that any question existed as between the American and Canadian Interests. ALASKA TO I1E EXPLORED. Military Expeditions to Visit the Ter. rltory This Summer. WASHINGTON. March 17. Acting Secretary Meikeiljohn to-day issued orders for a military exploration of Alaska, one expedition to work Copper river region and another about Cook's Inlet. Both are to carry full equipments and supplies to Nov. 30 next and have authority to employ Indians and natives as guides. The former expedition, consisting of Captain Abercromble, Second United States Infantry, commanding; one acting assistant surge-on, one hospital stewward, one commissary sergeant, two non-eommlssionc-d officers, eight privates of infantry, including two cooks, will arrive at Valdez, on lTince William sound. Alaska, about tho 13th prox.. and ojn up a military road to Copper Center and thence by the most direct route to Eagle Ciy. Captain Abercrombio Is directed to make location at Valdez, Copper Center, th crossing cf

the Upper Copper and the Tanan.i. th head; of Forty-mile creek, and other proper point for military reservations and to declare them such. The peronrsi of the Cook's Inlet expedition I Captain Edwin F. Glecn, Twentyfifth Infantry, commanding: Capt. Ch.irba P. Elliot. l S. A., retired; First Liertm-int H. G. Learnard, Fourteenth Ir.'.ir.try; First Lieutenant J. C. Castner. Fourth Infantry, one acting assistant lurgeon, ona commissary sergeant. Sergeant William yariert, oi the Eighth Cavalry, and one sergeant. on corporal, eleven enlisted men. including five cooks and two hospital corps privates. It will reach Tyoonok. on Cook"s inlet, about the 13th proximo and there establish a camp and depot. En route a small detachment will be disembarked at Portage lay, on Prince William pound, to explore ard establish a trail thence to th camp at the head of the Knik Arm and from the permanent camp at Tyoonok exploring detachments will be dispatched north via the Matanuska. Sushltna. Yedno and Kuskokvlm rivers to determine tho most practicable and direct route from tidewater to the crossings of the Tanana river and thence to the military psts at Rampart and Circle City on the Yukon. Ooe detachment will explore the wes-t Lank of Cook's inlet from open tidewater to the head of navigation cf the Sushltna river for the most practicable overland trail. Its district of exploration will b bounded on tha north and west by the Yukon and Koyukulc rivers and on the east by the Copper river. Crop Experiments In Alaska. WASHINGTON. March 17.-1 rof. C. C. Georgeson, of the Department of Agriculture, will leave hero Saturday for Alaska to establish at Sitka an agricultural experiment station and look after the agricultural possibilities of that region. Prof. Georgeson Is a native of Denmark and thoroughly familiar with the fields of agriculture inj northern Europe and has had a long experience as an experiment worker In Japan. The inquiry will be conducted on a systematic basis and advantage will be taken of the experience of the past two seasons ir that rtgion. lTofessor Georgeson was conducting investigations in the territory last year and. despite late planting, he not reaching Sitka until the middle of May, the oats, barley, flax, potatoes and a number of different kinds of vegetables of good quality matured and clover and grasses made an excellent growth. 3Iany 111 with Scurry. SEATTLE, Wash., March 17. Passengers who arrived from Copper river, Alaska, on the steamer Excelsolr say that scurvy is reported to be present In all the camps la the interior and many miners are coming to the coast either to escape it cr to recover from its effects. Six deaths have occurrreii during the winter in the Copper river district, as reported yesterday. At Copper Center there are twenty scurvy patients in the hospital. The last reiort from Dr. Townsend was to the effect that they were all improving and that ho expected no further fatalities.

STANDARD OIL INQUIRY GEORGE D. RICE IJEXOl XCEI1 DV VICE PR ES ID EXT ARCHIIOLU. Foriner Proposition to Sell XVetl and n Refining Plant Regarded am an Attempt to Hlackmall. NEW YORK, March 17.-Virgll P. Kline, a Cleveland attorney, is here to-day taking , depositions in the interest of John D. Rockefeller and other defendants In the Standard Oil case. Attorney General Monnett, of Ohio, is also said to be in the city, with tho Intention, It is paid, of serving subpoenas on some of those who make depositions before Mr. Kline to appear before Special Commissioner John J. Nealish, appointed to take depositions In the proceeding1 of the State of Ohio against the Standard Oil Company. J. D. Archbold, vice president of tha Standard Oil Company, was examined before Allan T. Brir.smead. acting as a master under commission of the Supreme Court of Ohio. Mr. Archbold testified that he waj secretary of the Standard Oil Trust when that concern existed, and that he was ono of its liquidating trustees during the process of its dissolution. Mr. Archbold said that in IsMI George D. Rice made a proposition to him that the Standard Oil Company pay him KCO,0u0, half in cash and half in five years, for an oil refining plant and wells at Marietta, O., adding that if his proposition was not accepted he would make It cost the Standard Oil Company more than $1.0i.fA. Mr. Archbold said to the master that he had never considered Rice's proposition as a business one, but as "nothing more nor less than a pure and unadulterated attempt at blackmail." Mr. Archbold, at the afternoon hearing, told of the difficulties that bis company had encountered in its efforts to comply with the laws of Ohio. He said the shares were widely distributed and few of the holders, particularly the smaller shareholders, wanted to give up the Standard stocks for the securities of constituent companies. In answer to a question as to what the result would have been if the liquidation trustees had sold the stock of the Standard . Oil Company and distributed the proceeds among the certificate holders. Mr. Archbold paid that euch a course would hay been disastrous to small holders and would have thrown hundreds of people out of employment. . , Attorney General Monnett cross-examined Mr. Archbold. The witness denied that any arrangement had ever existed whereby the Standard Oil Company had been permitted to hip oil from Marksburg to Marietta over the Cleveland 61 Marietta Railroad at 1J ce-nts a barrel. ... . 'ihe testimony then turned to the matter or the liquidation of the stock of the Standard Oil Company of Ohio. This testimony was in large part technical It was interrupted! by Mr. Monnett requesting the commissioner to order that all letters brought up la the testimony in the morning be brought to court and Commissioner Brlnsmead eo ordered. The counsel of the Standard Oil Company said they could not advise their client to do this. Mr. Monnett then asked the commissioner to commit Mr. Archtxdd for contempt If he persisted in his refusal. Commissioner Brinsmcad refused to do this, but said ha would refer the matter to the SupremeCourt of Ohio. Considerable time was then devoted by Mr. Monnett to an endeavor to ascertain how the Standard Oil Company could liquidate the Anglo-American Oil Company, one of the constituent companies, when that company Is an English company and r.ot a corporation. Mr. Archbold had paid In previous testimony that the Anglo-American Company is an asset In the hands of the coirtiany and as such could be liquidated. The Standard's attorney objected to Mr. Archbold telling how the company could be considered an asset, and the objection was sustained, as were numerous others prompted by similar questions. . Mr. Monnett and his attorney, Mr. Flagg, held that such liquidation was impossible, as the English company did not. in tlKir belief, issue certificates of stock. Mr. Archbold said it could be done, and very easily, as had beM.'n explained when the liquidation was proposed. W hile the question of liquidation of the English company was- really foreign to the questions at ls.ue Mr. Monnett made the iint that its explanation ttndtd to show that the Standard Oil Company had not obeyed the order of the court in this one specific Instance. He gave a great deal of time to the question of liquidation. The hearing adjourned at 5 p. m., to be continued Saturday morning. Mr. Rice was present at the hearing today when Mr. Archbold testified. Trial Trip of the Pathfinder. NEW YORK. March 17. The United States survey steam-r Pathfinder had her official trial trip to-dny on Long Island s und and exceeded her f-pe.vl requirement. The boat made fourteen knots under natural draught, and under forced draught she attained a speed of slxtee-n knots. The cntract requirements are twelve knots. She will be turm-d over to the government in two weeks and will st am to Hampton Roads, where fho will te fitted out for her trip to Manila, which It Is said will be her first objective point. Hebrew Temple Dedicated. CHICAGO. March 17. Prominent Jewl?h ministers from all over the country participated to-day in the ceremonies connected with the formal tied lea t ion of Islah Temple, Fifty-fifth street and Vlneennts avenue, ono Of 'he Mu st lu:Iite C.t voted to Jewlh Worship iii the t'lnti J Staets. Dr. Isaac M. Wise, the venerable rabbi, of Cincinnati, presided over the ceremonies tnd was assisted bv Dr. Mix Heller, of New Orleans, lr. Erril G. Hirsch. of Chicago, and Dr. Henry Beikowltz, of Philadelphia.

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