Indianapolis Journal, Volume 50, Number 62, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 March 1900 — Page 4

THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL, SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 1900.

4

THE DAILY JOURNAL SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 1900.

Telephone Cals. Fusing OfTir i"8 Editorial Boom SC tersis of subscription, daily by mail. Pally only, one month Iatly cnly. three months 2 00 lally only, n yar 00 lallv. including Sunday, one year 1? 00 Sunday onlv. eh year 2.00 WHEN FUltNISIIHD BY AGENTS. rallT. per week, by carrier 15 cts Sunday, lnl copy 5 eta Dally and Sun-Jay. rr week, by carrier.... 23 eta WEEKLY. Per yea....... ;. 1100 .Reduced Rates to G'lnbs. Subücribe with any of our numerous agents or end subscription to the JOURNAL NEWSPAPER COMPANY. Indianapolis, Ind. Persons inIintf the Jourr.al throueh th malls In the L"n1tei 8tt euouit put on an elht-pe paper a ONE-CENT rtage turnp: on a tweiv or elxtcen-i.ace rapr a TWO-CENT poftaxe. ttamp. Foreign pottage Is nnually double thc$a rate. All communication) Intended for publication In this paper mut. In order to receive attention, be accompanied by th name and address of the writer. Rejected manuscripts will not be returned unless postage ia Inclosed for that purpose. THE IXDIAXAPOMS JOURNAL Can found n l'ae following place: NEW YOKK Asfor House and Firth Avenue Hotel. CTIICAGO-ralmer House. P. O. Newa Co.. 217 Dearborn street. CINCINNATI J. R. Hawley & Co., 134 Vine street. Lonsvir,LK C. T. Deerlnr. northwest comer of Third and Jefferson streets, and Loulsvllla Iiook Co.. ZA Fourth avenue. ET. LOUIS Union News Company. Union Depot. WASHINGTON. D. C-RIxjs House, Ebbitt House and Wlllard'a Hotel. It certainly can do no harm for Republicans and others who are disfranchised by Goebel and like laws In other States to hold a convention to call the attention of the country to such outrages. Philadelphia seems to be paying for the Republican national convention on the Installment plan. She has paid $25,000, and a dispatch says the remaining $73.000 Is "in sight" This sort of huckstering ought to top. The Senate Porto Rlcan bill as substituted for the House bill distinctly provides for free trade between the United States and the Island after March 1, 1902. Then why not grant It at once? He gives twice who gives quickly. The "intelligent contraband" who figured In our civil war as purveyor of alleged news has turned up In Africa as "a wellinformed refugee,"' with this difference, however: that while he was black .here in Africa he Is white. To defeat the regular Democracy In Louisiana the opposition has made up a ticket composed of two Democrats, three Republicans and two Populists. Perhaps It .Is fortunate that such an unnatural combination has never succeeded in any State. Awards have been made In Havana for furnishing school desks, maps, bookcases and other suppllesto the amount of 300,000. One hundred thousand desks were ordered. This is much better news than we used to get from Cuba before the United States Intervened. The SL Louis Globe-Democrat predicts that any State which has a Goebel law or a Nesblt'Iaw like that designed for the disfranchisement of the Republicans of St. Louis will have an account to settle with Congress when the certificates of their electoral votes are considered. Tho prediction should be verified. To Mr. Bryan, who makes free with the name of Abraham Lincoln, the Hartford Ccurant says that the Bryans of Lincoln's time denounced him as a buffoon and a blood-soaked tyrant. When now the Bryans applaud him, the Courant is reminded of the text: "Ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them." It Is the purpose of the authorities to hold municipal elections in Cuba in May. An educational test is made a qualification for voters, but all those who were soldiers in the Cuban army will be permitted to vote. If the outcome of such municipal governments is satisfactory the transfer of the government of the island to the Cubans will follow. ' . The New Tork correspondent of the Philadelphia. Ledger has seen a statement prepared by a New York banker, based upon actual returns made to him by some of the largest mercantile houses in the country in fifteen trades in fourteen States, taken at random, in order to secure a fair exhibit, which presents a remarkable showing. Sixty houses, representing the whole sale and retail trade In every line, with a capital of $122,432,000, show net profits dur ing 1S09 of $35.225.000. or at the rate of 2S.S per cent. This is proof of the unprecedented prosperity of the country. J. Pierpont Morgan, the banker, who is largely Interested In leading railroad Interests, has written a letter in which he declares against discriminating rates for favored shippers. He declares that no one interested in railroad properties has any In terest in a policy which gives one shipper an advantage over another. Railroads and all other shippers except the one favored are injured by discrimination. The remedy Is absolute publicity of all rates and the punishment of all who Illegally continue to make such rates secretly. One of the evils of the trust is that It is alleged to receive advantages in the matter of railroad rates. The Pittsburg Dispatch was complaining a few days since because the House com mittee refused to indorse a bill to place the consular service upon the merit basis. Of course It laid the whole blame to the Republican members of tho committee. In spite of the fact that all of them, with a single -exception, voted to report the bill, while every Democrat voted against It. One Republican absentee and one Re publican voting with the Democrats tied the vote and defeated the motion to re port the bill to the House. Since that time the committee has reconsidered its action and the Republicans have voted to report the bilL It Ij now generally accepted in the East that Mr. Bryan will be" the Democratic candidate and that silver will again be the fuv, or at least one of them. It is a mat ter of discussion whether the Democrats who did not vote for Mr. Rryan four years ago will come back, but It is a fact that all the Democratic papers in the Eat that refused to support Mr. Bryan In 1S06 are ftlil true to their faith. A very promt nent Democrat In New York who did not support Mr, Bryan says that while all the

Democrats who d.d not vote for Mr. Bryan J

would support Gorman or Olney, not more than 15,000 of the 01,000 Democrats who did not vote for the 16-to-l candidate four years ago will do so next fall under any circum stances. In spite of the objections to the President's expansion policy and other Is sues this prominent gold Democrat, Conrad N. Jordan, predicts that 45,000 Democrats In New York will vote for him in the event of the renomlnatlon of Mr. Bryan. A JUST AXD GEXEROUS ACT. President McKinley's special message to Congress yesterday should command the instant approval of every fair-minded American. He recommends, and his recom mendation was promptly adopted by the House, that all of the customs duties collected by the United States on imports from Porto Rico 'since its annexation. amounting to $2,005,455, be at once appro priated for the immediate relief and improvement of the Island. The sum thus generously to be returned for the benefit of the Island is considerably more than would have been raised in a year under the bill as passed by the House. Chair man Payne of the ways and means com mittee, in introducing the bill, said: The best estimates that can be obtained show that this will produce a revenue of 11,750,000 from customs duties, which, added to the internal revenues of the island, will produce $2,500,000. a sum sufficient to pay all the expenses of the government, including the postal service, and also $325,000 for the public schools. The amount now to be appropriated and returned for the benefit of the Porto Rlcans exceeds by $345,455 the estimated annual revenue under the House bill. It gives the Journal greater pleasure to approve this action of the President and the House because it has felt obliged to condemn the tariff bill recently passed. It is still of opinion that the bill should not become a law. The-present measure has the double advantage of supplying a larger sum for the needs of the island than the proposed tariff bill would, and of supplying it Immediately. The Porto Rlcans are im poverished and discouraged. They welcomed tho American flag with delight and our troops with open arms, but as yet they have experienced none of the benefits of free government. Robbed for centuries by the Spaniards, they have been further Impoverished by storm and stress, until their condition is such as to excite the pity of every generous mind. They need to be treated with more than scant Justice. They deserve" generous treatment. That Is what the President has recommended and the House approved. It Is not only practical statesmanship, but it is a magnanimous act on the part of a nation that can well afford It. and it is a splendid assurance to the inhabitants of Porto Rico of what they may expect from the United States until such time as they may become a self-supporting territory. TUB RIGHT TO TAX. Those members of" Congress who are maintaining the constitutional right to tax the Inhabitants of Porto Rico in whatever manner Congress may see fit to adopt are wasting time. " The right is unquestiona ble; the only question U as to the manner of its exercise from the standpoint of Jus tice and policy. As to the right. Congress has never hesitated to exercise it in all the territories of the United States as far as internal revenue taxes are concerned, though never by customs duties. During the civil war the Territories of the United States were Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Nevada and Washington. The people of all these Territories paid Internal revenue taxes the same as those of the States, and as those of New Mexico and Arizona do at present. The power to impose taxes is an attribute of sovereignty, and it extends, as of course, over every port and possession of the United States. Chief Justice Marshall asserted it as early as 1820 in a decision of the Supreme Court1 relative to the power of Congress to impose a direct tax on the people of the District of Columbia, He said: The eighth section of the first article gives to Congress the "power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises" for the purposes thereinafter mentioned. This dfrant is general, without limitation as to place. It consequently extends to an places over which the government extends. If this could be doubted, the doubt ia removed by the subsequent words which modify the grant. These words are, "but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States." It will not be contended that the modification of the power extends to places to which the power Itself does not extend. The power, then, to lay and collect duties, imposts and excises may be exercised, and must be exercised, throughout the United States. Does this term designate the whole or any particular portion of the American empire? Certainly this question can admit of but one answer. It Is the name given to our great Republic, which is composed of States and Territories. The District of Columbia, or the territory west of the Missouri, is not less within the United States than Maryland or Pennsylvania; and it is not less necessary, on the principles of our Constitution, that uniformity in the imposition of imposts, duties and excises should be observed in the one than in the other. The same rule applies to every Territory and possession of the United States. The argument carries with it the conclusion that all tax laws . enacted by Congress, whether direct. Internal revenue or tariff laws, apply to every Territory and possession of the United States, unless Congress provide otherwise by special laws. To what extent Congress can enact exceptional tax laws for any particular Territory or possession is an open and doubtful question, but as to its unrestricted right to tax any and all of them there is no o'oubt. But it is not always Just and expedient to exercise an unquestioned constitutional right. Admit for the sake of argument though the admission represents an extreme view of congressional power over territories but admitting that Congress has the right to impose a special tax on the people of the Territories, either greater or less than that Imposed on the people of the States, it would be extremely unwise to do so.. In the case of Porto Rico the Imposition of a special tariff duty on its commerce with the. United 8tates would be not only of doubtful constitutionality, but exceedingly unwise, unjust and ungenerous. Because Congress may have the power is no reason why it should exercise iL Practically the same question arose between Great Britain and her colonies In the time of George III and before. Tho exercise of the right of Imposing duties m on goods Imported Into the American colonies brought cn the revolution. The tax on tea was the straw that broke the camel's back. In the latter part of the seventeenth Century when the Inhabitants of North Carolina, then a feeble colony. were carrying on a Small trade with New England, they were surprised when agents of the British government appeared who

demanded -a penny on every pound of tobacco sent to New England. Parliament claimed that It had supreme power of taxation over the colonies. If it had, this was an unwise exercise of it. The North Caro

lina colonists resisted the levy. Collisions occurred between the tax gatherers and the people, and finally the people, led by one of their number, seized the Governor of the colony and the public funds, imprisoned him and six of his councilors, called a new representative assembly, and appointed a new chief magistrate and Judges. This was in 1677, and for two years the colony of North Carolina was free from British control. Just a hundred years later the unwise exercise of the same right to tax brought on the revolution that deprived England of her colonies. It Is not asserted that similar results would follow the imposition of tariff duties on commerce between Porto Rico and the United States, Lu the principle is the same. It Is far better to err on the side of Justice and generosity than on the side of injustice and sordldness. The right to impose unusual taxes upon a colony does not necessarily Imply the wisdom of exercising It. AX IXFAIR STATEMENT. Mr. Watterson has no right to say, as he is reported, that the Republicans would like to make the Goebel law a pretext for throwing out the electoral vote of Kentucky. Republicans the country over would like to have Kentucky's Goebel law repealed and the laws and bogus constitutional amendments in other States the purpose of which la. to suppress the right of suffrage set aside. If States North or South desire to make an educational qualification that will bear alike upon all illiterates, Republicans generally will not object; but they are hostile to all schemes devised to deprive citizens of the right to vote because they belong to the colored race, or to enable a returning board to count in the candidates of one party by throwing out votes. Of these schemes to deprive citizens of the right to vote the Goebel law is the most infamous. It puts every election officer under the control of a commission of three, two of whom will represent the Democratic party. For the most part, under that law, every precinct election board is composed of two Democrats and an alleged Republican. They can make whatever returns they please. In Kentucky, last fall; these precinct and county boards threw out 25,000 Republican votes. To the surprise of the Goebelltes. the number excluded was not sufficient. Two members of the state board refused to throw out more, and Mr, Taylor, Republican, was declared elected Governor. Not satisfied, the Goebelltes appealed to the Legislature, which declared that Mr. Goebel was elected by throwing out more Republican votes. The old state election board went to pieces, but the one man who remained made a new board. To that board was referred the counting of the votes for the minor" state officers. They have performed that task by rejecting the entire vote in four Republican counties, which gave 21,961 votes for Taylor, Republican, and 16,862 for Goebel, Democrat. Thus a Republican plurality of 5,099 votes is wiped out, which is sufficient to show a plurality for the Democratic ticket, and, including 2,711 votes for Brown, Independent Democrat, 41,533 voters are disfranchised, which Is more than 10 per cent, of the entire vote polled at the election. It is evident to every fair-minded man that an election board which has absolute authority to throw out the votes of whole counties upon any pretext can control the result in that State. There is nothing to prevent the casting out of enough votes next fall by that board in Kentucky to give the electoral ticket to the Democrats if the precinct and county boards do not throw out enough in tho first count. If the Goebel law stands, Mr. Watterson is not wrong in assuming that the Republicans, having both branches of Congress, would reject the electoral ivote of Kentucky, whether the result of the election should turn upon it or noL Taking Mr. Watterson's declaration as to the purpose of the law, so often made, the Republican Congress would be bound in duty to do so. He should be the last person in the world to object, because he has declared a hundred times that the purpose of the law Is to count in Democratic candidates. The effect thus far of the Council Investigation of the Board of Safety has been to establish by the direct testimony of expolicemen what has been freely charged and generally believed before. The testimony shows that members of the force were systematically assessed for campaign purposes; that they had secret orders to watch and arrest certain saloon keepers and to let others alone; that they were directed to discriminate between saloons handling Indianapolls beer and those handling Terre Haute beer, and to do other dirty work for the Taggart administration. One former policeman testified that out of ten'saloons in his district he had orders to watch but two, and that no arrests for violations of the law should be made except in those two saloons. All of the testimony thus far adduced Is on these lines and goes to show how the police force was prostituted In the interests of the Taggart machine. In any other but an American city such revelations as these would come near causing a popular uprising and demand for a change of government. BUBBLES IN THE AIR. How Things Work. "What's a souvenir, Aunt Ann?" "Oh, It Is anything you keep so long that you can't remember where you got it." The Human Boy. "How old are you, Charlie?" "Purf near eight." "Eight? When were you seven?" "Yesterday." No Anchor "Whatever. A skeptic according to my plan (and I don't claim to be a pillar of wisdom) is Just a lawless man who won't believe in the fool-klller. The Billy-Coat noy. Some urchins have not much to say. And others talk the livelong day; When our Charles wants things naught Is said, He comes and butts us with his head. An Emergency Man. . He Wife, can't you make me a mustard plaster for my lame shoulder? She William, there Isn't an atom of mustard In the house. He Well, mir up something with tabasco eauce.

COSTLY ALL AROUND

THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SPENT IX THE 3IOXTAXA ELECTION, And the Sonnte Investigation of the Clark Cime Uns Already Cost Uncle Sam About $27,OlK. DIRECT TESTIMONY ALL IN AXD THE COMMITTEE HEADY TO HEAR ARGLMEXTS OF COUNSEL. Hovr State Senator Warner Ranch Warn Purchased by Clark Over lOO Witnesses Exumlaed. WASHINGTON, March 2.-Just before the adjournment of the Senate committee on elections to-day both the prosecution and the defense in the investigation of the election of Senator Clark, of Montana, announced that they bad concluded the presentation of testimony. There are some papers to be examined and argument is still to be heard. Arrangements for this will be made to-morrow. ' The committee reserves the right to call witnesses in its own behalf, but the feeling is general that the arduous part of the work is finished. All witnesses called by either side have been excused, and many of them left to-night for their homes. The investigation began on Jan. 5, and up to date 100 witnesses have been examined. Their testimony will fill between 2,400 and 2,500 pages. The expense to the government so far has been about $27,000. . A number of witnesses were examined to-day, but the only one who gave Important testimony was James W. Kemper, of Butte, whose statement bore on . the purchase of State Representative "Wood's ranch. E. L. Whltmore explained his relations with C. W. Clark as developed In the purchase of State Senator Warner's ranch. The defense introduced three or four witnesses in rebuttal, among them Mr. J. S. M. Neill, of Helena. He denied sending a message to the effect that the State Supreme Court could be Influenced in the Wellcome disbarment case. When the committee resumed its sitting to-day Mr. Campbell, still on the witness stand, made a general statement of his expenditures in connection with the prosecution of the case against Senator Clark, of Montana. The statement showed the following footings: Establishing and purchasing newspapers, $19,550; expenses in the present investigation and In the Wellcome disbarrment proceedings, $21,701. Mr. Campbell said the $19,550 had been expended on the three -papers the . Livingston Enterprise, the Bozenmn Chronicle and the Carbon County Democrat which had been purchased . or established to oppose what they believed were corrupt practices In politics. The money in these cases had enly been loaned. The other expenditures included all money spent to date on account of witnesses, attorneys and detectives In the prosecution of the case. It did not, however, include counsel fees in the pending investigation. Mr. Campbell did not know what these charges would be. All the money thus expended had been received from Mr. Daly. HILL'S, r STATEMENTS. State Senator Henry I Myers was recalled and questioned concerning Ben Hill's statements. He said that Hill's statement in his affidavit concerning himself was correct, while Hill's statement before the committee relating to him was, in the main, incorrect. It was true, he said, that Hill had frequently come to him during the session of the Legislature, telling him that he came from Senator Clark, that Clark wanted him to come to his room, and that he (Hill) could get him . $25,000 for his vote. He had told Hill that he thought $10,000 was enough for his vote, and that if Clark wanted to pay that sum for it he could put tho money In Mr. Whiteside's hands. Mr. Myers was also asked If It was true, as Charlie Clark had stated in his testimony, that he (Myers) had told him (Clark) that he appreciated that the $500 check sent to him by Clark was merely a business matter. "That statement," he said, "is absolutely false. If the check had been received by me as a mere business matter I should certainly have acknowledged Its receipt, as I do in all business matters. When I . received the check I regarded it . as a bait to a bribe, and I ignored it, as was proper I should." James W. Kemper, a real-estate dealer of Butte, was examined with reference to the indebtedness on the ranch of Representative E. B. Woods, of Ravilli county. which indebtedness had been paid off, the purchase price being $3,900. Documentary evidence was also produced by the prosecu tion to show that about the same time a chattel morgage given by. Woods for $1,000 had been paid and released. Miles Flnlen, a 'member of the Legislature from Silver Bow county, and a friend of Mr. Daly, said that he had not furnished an;wof the $30,000 used by Whiteside in his exposure. "I don't give money up so easily, he said. CLARK'S REAL-ESTATE AGENT. E. L. Whltmore, a supporter of Mr. Clark, said he had acted as agent for C. W. Clark in the purchase of real estate from State Senator Warner just prior to the meeting of the Legislature. The land, he said, had been purchased because of the prospect of the location of a smelter In the vicinity of the property, which would enhance its value. The title was taken in his name because of the difficulty of making deals at a reasonable price where a man of wealth Is known to be the prospective purchaser. He was in the habit of doing busi ness for Mr. Clark, the volume ranging from $10,00V to $70.000. He had paid Mr, Warner with cash because Mr. Warner desired the payment made that way. The witness said that of the money paid Mr. Warner $3,000 of it was in thousand-dollar bills and $4,C00 of the remainder was in $50 bills. He had not paid the money until alter the Legislature convened. When Mr. Whltmore left the stand Mr. Birney announced that the prosecution had completed its case and the defense ihen called William McDermott, who said. In contradiction to Mr. Campbell, that in Au gust, 1S9S, at the beginning of the antl Daly campaign, he had paid Mr. Campbell $200 to pay the latter's expenses to Park county In the Clark Interest. J. S. M. Neill denied the statement brought out In the statement of Justice Piggott to the -effect that he had sent a telephone message from Helena to Hutte on Aug. 4 last intimating that the State Supreme Court could be influenced. Mr. Neill said he knew nothing of the special train on which Messrs. Corbett and C. W. Clark went to Helena on Aug. 5 until after its arrival in Helena. Mr. Neill also said that his letter book had not yet arrived from Helena. " Thomas R. HInes denied that he had tried to Influence the anti-Clark witnesses to leave Washington. This was in reply to Mr. Campbell's statements. He admitted, however, tnat he had come to Washington In Mr. Clark's Interest without being subpoenaed. Mr. Hlnes was the last witness In the case. When he retired Mr. Faulkner announced that his side was ready to close. Senator Hoar, acting a chairman of the committee, stated that certain papers filed with the committee would be examined tomorrow. He also said that the committee itself would reserve the right to call other witnesses If it shouid think proper. The arrangement for the argument In the case will be announced at to-morrow's meeting. "Heroine of the Caroline Group." . VANCOUVER, B. C, March 2.-MIss Logan, twenty-one years of age. daughter of the late Rev. Robert Logan, the first missionary to the South Sea Islands sent out from Boston by the Congregational Board of the United States, has, according to ad-

vices from Sydney, won for herself the

title of "Heroine of the Caroline Group." It is due not only to her fearlessness in facing famine and tropical diseases, but to her personal interference in a fight be tween two native chiefs in which she re ceived an accidental but severe injury. She has since become an invalid ea a result of the injury and will return home. PROPORTION OF FAILURES VERY S 31 ALL IX COMMERCIAL AXD 3 1 A X U FA CT I R I G LIXES. Cotton at Hlfthest Point for Over Sev en Years High Wages for Coke 3Ien The Cereal Situation. NEW YORK, March 2.-R. G. Dun &, Co.'s weekly review of trade to-morrow will say: Besides the SSI commercial failures for $3,931,013 which were reported today there were in February six banking failures for $620,121, and receivers were appointed for the United States Flour Milling Company, with $25,090,000 of stock and $15,000,000 of bonds authorized at its organization last April, and for the Thirdavenue Railroad Company after liens for several millions had been placed upon the property. Unless separated from such events commercial failures could not be compared with benefit. The manufactur ing failures for $4,257,63S were larger than In February of 1S96 or 1S93, but more than half the amount was in two classes, four large lumber and one clothing failure making 38 per cent, of the .whole. The trading failures were larger than in February of last year only, but 20- per cent, of these defaults were made in five failures. In most branches the comparison with previous years is encouraging, and analysis brings out in strong light the remarkably low average of liabilities in the smaller failures, which constitute the great majority. The rise of cotton to 9& cents, the highest point since January, 1S93, has done much to stimulate business, drawing from Southern plantations and country towns more than double the quantity marketed last year, distributing mlllons to producers, whose purchases of supplies are thus increased, and swelling beyond all expectation the purchases for export. Heavy selling of cotton by people who had none, but felt certain that 9 cents would mark the limit of the rise, had placed them quite at the mercy of holders. But the markets both for goods and for cotton have been affected all over the world, and the country will reap some benefit in a larger excess of merchandise exports over imports. The market for goods has been pushed to greater activity, though they have risen only 3 per cent, since the year began, while the material has risen over 25 per cent. The small rise in wheat last week, although the price is quite low, sufficed to call from the farms such receipts 4,105,601 bushels, against 3,195.437 last year-as to indicate that supplies are not nearly exhausted. Exports from Atlantic ports continue small, for the week flour induced only 1.812,306 bushels, against 4.0C9.9S4 last year, and In four weeks from both coasts exports have been 11,639,260 bushels, against 14.S23.373. Though exports run behind last year's, which were almost unequaled, they have already exceeded In eight months those of most full years, and the exports of com in four weeks 12,724,645 bushels, against 12,051,053 last year explain much of the difficulty, corn rising three-quarters of a cent during the week, while wheat declined i cents. The iron and steel Industry continues the greatest weekly output ever known, even while men speak of it as waiting for more definite assurance about the future. Prices of pig yield a little, some sales of bessemer having been made at Pittsburg for $24. and anthracite No. 1 Is quoted here at $23.50. Billets have been sold at $33 at Pittsburg. For most finished products prices are stronger than a week ago or as strong, bars and sheets beiner sfrpn?thpnoH hv large business, while only plates appear ta.er, Dcmg quoiea lor sizes not the widest. Coke Is scarce and higher in spite of the largest output ever known, and the wages of hands have been raised 12 per cent, to the highest ever paid. The decline in hides at Chicago continues, having been over 2 per cent, the past week and 9 per cent, from the highest point in December. Leather has declined only 3 per cent,' from the highest- point, and part of that in exceptionally large transactions, presumably meant to be private. Failures for the week have been 222 In the United States, against 1S6 last year, and 28 in Canada, against 47 last year. WEATHER RETARDS TRADE. Underlying Conditions Very Favorable Recessions In Raw Materials. NEW YORK, March 2.-Bradstreet's tomorrow will say: Stormy weather has retarded the development of spring trade at many markets, interrupting telegraph and railway communication, and naturally checking the movement of merchandise. In prices aggressive strength is still the feature of the cotton and cotton goods market, while metals remain steady. Food products, however, have weakened, and some raw materials, like wool and hides, are quotably lower. Railway returns continue to reflect large gains over a year ago, though, as pointed out last week, comparisons from now on will be with better conditions in transportation matters a year ago., and phenomenal gains are less likely of attainment. That underlying business conditions are in a high degree healthful will be gathered from the fact that business failures for February are at a minimum as regards the number for that month and liabilities only slightly exceed those of the same month a year ago. Wheat, including flour, shipments for the week aggregate 3.8G3.3S7 bushels, against 3,CG0.S50 last week, 5,S15,55 in the corresponding week of 1S99, 3,252,003 in 1S98, 2,075,435 in 1S07 and 2,407.679 in 1S06. Since July 1 the exports of wheat aggregate 131.570.C2S bushels, against 103,712,874 last year and 164,456,753 in im. Corn exports for the week aggregate 4.533,730 bushels, against 2,896,175 last week, 5.794.S60 bushels this week a year ago. 5,051.694 in 1S9S. 5.255.785 in 1897. And 2 7TS Oil in 1806. Since July 1 corn exports aggregate 113,527,014 bushels, against 113,506,041 during the same period a year ago, and 119.302.739 in 1S97-98. Failures in the United States for the month or February number 745, with aggre 2itr liabilities of a rlprrmoo t per cent, in number from February a year uKo. Liidumues art- o per cent, neavier, but nr.sets r considerably smaller than in h same period a year ago. Failures were more numerous in tne anaaie states and in the Northwest, but were fewer in New Eneland. the central West, the South nnd the far West. Business failures for the weeK numDer im, against its last week. 1 in this week a year ago, 232 In 1S9S, 262 1S97 and 270 in 1S9C. in Thls Week Bank Clearings. NEW YORK, March 2. The followin table, compiled by Bradstreet, shows the bank clearings at the principal cities for the week ended March 2, with the per centage of Increase and decrease as com pared with the corresponding week last year: New York .. Boston Chicago Philadelphia St. Louis ... rMttsburg ... .$1 .041.063.262 Dec. Dec. Dec. Dec. Inc.. Dec. Dec. Dec. Inc.. Inc.. Inc.. Inc.. Inc.. .26.5 .13.3 119.376.972 146.281,16 108.5lfJ.!O4 34.117.914 32.206,651 22.311.772 19.436,950 16.123. 650 12.123.233 12.0M.42S 10.360,971 8.023.042 11.0S7.fcS3 X.0S2.03O 6.261. Ö0Ö ,110.295 4.608.167 4,027.231 6.417.041 5,ii.918 5,803,00) 919.801 . 7.7 .11.3 .13.7 .24.5 .36.2 . 2.7 .16.7 Baltimore San Francisco Cincinnati .... Kansas City .. New Orleans ., Minneapolis .. Detroit Cleveland Louisville Providence .... Milwaukee .... St. Paul Buffalo Omaha Indianapolis .. Columbus Evans vllle .... .11.2 .20.6 .28.6 t 7 inc.. i.t V Dec. 8.3 Inc.. 8.9 Inc.. .14.5 Inc.. 6.2 Inc.. 5.8 Inc.. 21.1 Inc. .65.3 Total United States.$l,715,196.397 Dec. .20.1 Total outside of New York 674,133,0 Dec. 7.5

STORY OF SPION KOP

3LAIL. ACCOINTS OK A DESPERATE FIGHT 0 A HILL. Stealthr March In the Darkness Fol lowed by Bloody Work When the Morn I ns Mist Vanished. COLONEL TH0RNYCR0FT BRAVE TOLD THE ROERS TO GO TO HADES AXD COXTIMED FIRIXG. Advice Which Was Partly Heeded and Cost the Lives of Many Men Duller's Movements. Correspondence of the Associated Press. LONDON, Feb. 20. "Strengthen us to acquit ourselves like men." That is an extract from a' prayer written by 'the archbishop of Armagh which Lord Rob erts has ordered distributed to his soldiers In the field. Quoting from the full accounts of Buller's second attempt" to re lieve Lady smith and of the bloody fight at Spion kop the prayer was answered. For the last few days the London dallies have published four or five columns each of mail matter from their correspondents at the front. These show that the opera tions which began on Jan. 11 and ended with Buller once more going back across the Tugela on Jan. 25 were far more dramatic than could be imagined from the cabled dispatches. Men whose lives have been spent In describing fighting of every kind in every corner of the globe declare Buller's movement to have been one of the most carefully planned and Intensely Interesting from a military point of view that has marked the war history of the world. Starting from Chievely on Jan. 11, Gen. Buller brought his forces slowly to the south bank of the Tugela, Only a favored few knew what his Intentions were, but when within striking distance of the Tugela there developed, to quote Winston Churchill In the Morning Post, this plan of action: "Seven battalions, twenty-two guns and 300 horse under Lyttleton to mask the Potgleter position; twelve battalions. thirty-six guns and 1,600 horse to cross five miles to the westward, and make a turning movement against the enemy's right. The Boer covering army was to be Swept back on Ladj smith by a powerful left arm. the pivoting shoulder of which was at Potgleter's, the elbow at Trlegard's drift, and the enveloping hand the cavalry under Lord Dundonald stretching out towards Acton Homes." . AN AMERICAN HERO. Every step was made as planned. The Tugela was crossed with practically no resistance on Jan. 20. "The first position we took," writes the Daily Mail's correspond ent, "was Sugar Loaf hill on the left flank. the honor of the achievement being won by F Squadron of the South African Light Horse. Their determination so impressed the defending party that they fled, and when the squadron reached the summit the hill was deserted, x Corporal Tobin especially distinguished himself In the ascent, being the foremost throughout, and, aided by athletic physique, managed to reach the summit some paces berore his comrades, to whom he shouted: 'Come on, there is no one here Tobin is an American." Then men fought from kopje to kopje, and then, as the Times correspondent writes, "we were at a deadlock. There had teen four days' fighting. The first had been distinctly successful: 'we had forced the enemy back from all his advanced positions; the infantry had fought splendidly, and our losses, considering the strength of the position we were attacking, had not been great. Now, however, we had come to the main line of defense. Three days' fighting had not improved our position. His was probably stronger, for he had brought up more guns and improved his Intrenchments. It was obvious, therefore, that we could not hope for success In that direction, and so the attack on Spion kop was ordered." According to another account the attack on Spion kop, which was believed to dominate the Boer positions, was not declared until after a council of war, in which General Buller, while favoring an immediate retreat across the Tugela, allowed himself to be governed by the entreaties of his subordinates. ASCENT OF SPION KOP. On the ascent of Spion kop the Standard correspondent writes: "The night was Intensely dark. The troops were led by the guides over rocky ridges and through dongas, the men being warned to make as little noise as possible, so as not to attract the attention of the Boers posted on the mountain that towered above. To the west the fitful crack of rifle fire showed that the enemy there was sniping at our infantry on the left front. Led by General Woodgate and Colonel Bloomfleld the Fusiliers began the arduous ascent. Slowly but steadily pressing on in single file, the Fusiliers leading, the long line of silent figures crept up the height. Ledge after ledge was passed In silence, the orders being that no shots were to be fired. The work, before them was to be done with the bayonet. Col. Thornycroft now pressed to the front and led the way. "The crest of the mountain, fully two thousand feet above its base, was reached about 3:30 o'clock in the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 21. Far below could be seen the lights of. the field hospitals, dotted .An the plain. The right signals on Threetree hill hung like an arc of light in the near distance and told that all was well. The crest having been gained, the leading files of Thomycroft's Mounted Infantry and the Fusiliers advanced along the plateau. Bayonets were now fixed and the men peered intently through the blackness ahead. Suddenly, at 4 o'clock In the morning, when a third of the entire length of the plateau had been cautiously traversed, a Kaflir was heard singing out the alarm. A sentry challenged and the Fusiliers charged with a cheer. An officer bayoneted the sentry. The Boers thereupon clutched their weapons, fired a wild volley and bolted into the darkness beyond. "The first trench had been won without the loss of a man on our side, and the column, sent up a ringing cheer that pealed like a bell through the misty morning, About 5 o'clock a. m. the second trench was taken. There the troops silently await ed the grim work before them. "About S o'clock, when the misty cloud caD over Solon kop melted away sufnclent lv. the Boers, who were now crowding in thousands on the ridge, and in hundreds behind the rocks and in the trenches across the northern extremity, as well as almost un to the center of the mountain crest. opened a central fire on our devoted battalions. The hall-like rattle of the Boer rifles was replied to vigorously. GENERAL WOODGATE SHOT. "General Woodgate, who had been de tailed by General Warren to effect the cap ture of the position, walked to and fro amid the never-ceasing whistle of flying bullets to direct his men. No one seema to know precisely when the gallant offlcer was hit, there being no breathing space ai lowed to look at watches, but early In the engagement the general was shot over the left eye as he was coolly watching the ef feet of our fire. He was carried to the rear, suffering acute pain, but exclaiming. 'Let me alone. Of the fierce fighting that followed on Spion Kop there art many brilliant accounts, but none more graphic than Wlnfcton Churchill's. "The troops," Churchil writes, "were driven almost entirely off the main plateau, and the Boers succeeded in reoccupying some of their trenches. A frightful disaster was narrowly averted About twenty men In one of the captured trenches abandoned their resistance, threw up their hands, and called out that they would surrender. Colonet Thornycroft,

whose great stature mad him everywhere

conspicuous, and who wai from dawn till dusk in the first firing line, rushed to th5 spot. The Boers advanced to take the pris oner, and. as at Nicholson nek. wer scarcely thirty yards away. Thornycroft shouted to the B"er leader: 'You go to belL I command on this hill, and allow no surrmder. Go on with your firing!' "Which, later, they did with terrible ef fect, killing many of the British. The survivors, with the remainder of tho firing ine, fled two hundred yards, were rallied by theh indomitable commander, and. bo ng reinforced by two brave companies or the Middlesex Regiment, charged back, recovering all lost ground, and the position was maintained until nightfall." TWO VIEWS OF "SAPHO." The Play Criticised liy One Witness and I'nheld hy Others. NEW YORK, March 2.-At the "Sapho" hearing before Magistrate Mott to-day. Sewall Collins, a dramatic critic, described tue first act as a "riotous and noisy carni val, a fancy dress rarty, typically Parisian, and the guests represented, from what they say and the wy they act, are not the most respectable people in the world. They wero a crowd of artists, Bohemians, people of very loose morals, singing and dancing and drinking." He did not try to remember many of the lines, but a great many of them were very suggestive. The first witness called for the defense wa Theodore Moss, lessee of Walla ck's Thea ter. Counsel for the defense asked him if there was anything In "Sapho" that he would not take his wife and children to see. He paid that they had all been to see the performance and wished to go again. Mr. Moss said that there was nothing sug gestive In Miss Nethersole's costumes and that he had never heard any of the audi ence complaining about the immorality of the play. Louis Nethersole, Miss Nethersole's brother and manager, asserted there was nothing in any scene that could be considered immoral or suggestive. The de fense rested its case after some further testimony. It was adjourned to Monday, wnen District Attorney Gardiner, will sum up for the prosecution. PROMPT AND ZEALOUS ivonic OF LIEUT. CIRllOXS COM3IEXDED BY ADMIRAL WATSOX. Ilia Release of American and Spanish Prisoner Reported to Xavy Department Filipinos Amhusbed. WASHINGTON, March 2. The Navy De partment to-day received from Admiral Watson, at Manila, a more detailed account than was furnished by General Otis ot Lieutenant Glbbons's successful rald'lhto the southern parts of Luzon, where the Insurgents are said to be making their lat stand. The two officers of the hospital ship Relief referred to in Admiral Watson's cablegram are Fred Hoppe, third officer of the ship, and Charles Blandford, assistant engineer. Boatswain Mate Juraschka was one of five men attached to the gunboät Marlveles, who were captured Oct. 16 last off the southern coast of Luzon, while landing noncombatants. Some of the party were badly wounded, one fatally, but Juraschka was captured unhurt. Admiral Watson's commendation of Lieu tenant Glbbons's exploit will be placed on the records of the department, and may result in substantial reward for that young officer. He is a native of Michigan, and did much to organize the naval militia forces of the country. Admiral Watson cablegram Is dated Manila. March 1, and is as follows: "Armed transport Alava received from military governor on Sunday. Commissioned Immediately. Gibbons placed In command, with crew and marines from the Brooklyn. Proceeded same day, on information received, to the gulf of Rajay. Returned today with 508 rescued Spanish prisoners, eight American soldiers, two officers of tho hospital ship Relief, and three surrendered Filipino officers. Irornptness and zeal of Gibbons and detachment highly commended. All well. Boatswain's Mate Juraschka surrendered by Insurgents on Feb. 16. FILIPINOS A3II1US1IED. Their Ovrn Methods Employed by Col Anderson Twenty-Fonr Killed. MANILA. March 2. Colonel Anderson, with the Thirty-eighth Infantry, employing the Insurgents own tactics, has ambushed the enemy near Batangas. Through spies Colonel Anderson learned that a detachment of insurgents would pass a certain road. He posted his soldiers cdncealed , among the trees lining the road, and when the enemy arrived the Americans vollied unexpectedly, killing twenty-four insurgents, wounding thirty and capturing several. Some arms and ammunition also were captured. The effect of this blow has been salutary. Tho enemy in that locality are dismayed. Spanish Government "Sounded. MADRID. March 2. It is said here that the representatives of the United States, Great Britain and Germany have sounded the Spanish government to ascertain its intention regarding the Philippine Islands not Included In the cession to America. Senor Silvela, the premier, declares that the statements relative to a conversation between representatives of Great Britain and the United States upon the subject of Cagayan, Sulu and Sibutu Islands, said to have taken place at a recent diplomatic reception, are inaccurate. ONLY RHEUMATIC GOUT. Ex-Presldent Cleveland's Illness Plot Serious as Reported. NEW YORK. March 2. The Journal and Advertiser to-day said that ex-Presldcnt Cleveland was seriously 111 at his home In Irinceton. "He Is not confined to his bed, but he seldom leaves his room on the upper floor of his home," the puper said. "He rarely sees visitors, and takes practically no Interest In any events of tha world at large." When the information was conveyed to Mr. Cleveland that reports were blng circulated that he was dangerously 111 he expressed Indignation and was anxious to have the reports denied. Dr. Wykoff staid the ex-President, aside from being attacked by his old enemy, the rheumatic gout, was in his usual health. Mr. Cleveland exrx cti to leave for Florida as soon as he recovers from his present indisposition. A rumor to the effect that Mr. Cleveland will not be able to deliver his lectures before the university this spnng Is entirely without foundation. Mr. Cleveland wag found at his home comfortably seated In his librarj't busily engaged with his work. In reply to questions regarding his Illness the ex-President said that, although h had been suffering with severe attacks of rheumatism during tho fall, he was now practically in perfect health. As regards his lecture before the students. ' he eald that tht report that he would not deliver them was absurd, and that he fully expect to give them. Dr.-James Wikoff said that Mr. Cleveland had no symptoms whatever of Bright'! disease or any other serious complaint. Did Xot Kiss the Bible. NEW YORK. March 2. Archbishop Corrlgan was a witness for the defense In the contest of Mrs. Mary Johnson' will before Justice Stover, in the Supreme Court. To the surprise of all the prelate declined tha proffered Bible in the outstretched hand of the court offlcer. and, lifting his right hand, he affirmed Instead of taking the oath by kissing the book. It is presumed that, liks many other, for reasons of cleanllneas and health, he preferred to affirm' rather than to kiss the Bible which so many other lli have touched, pern affected by dlse&xa.