Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 60, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 March 1899 — Page 6

WEEKLY REPUBLICAN. GEO. E. MARSHALL, Publisher. ■ - INDIANA.

ONE AGAINST THREE.

BURGLARS TAKEN BY A PLUCKY OHIO YOUNG MAN. Kg Ralph Hoyt, Single-Handed, Captures a Trio of Crooks Who Robbed a Postoffice Brigandage Being Forcibly Discouraged in Santiago Province. Ralph Hoyt, a well-known young man of North Fairfield, Ohio, without any assistance save a Winchester, has succeedin tracing and capturing three heavily ginned burglars who broke into and robbed the postofflce and a store at North Fairfield a few nights ago. The three burglars were tracked to a barn four and a half miles from Fairfield by the prints of new rubber boots in the mud. When found the men were sound asleep in the haymow, and were dazed and astonished when they were awakened by the loud call of Hoyt to get up and come along with him, which request was supplemented by a cocked Winchester near their heads. The coolness with which young Hoyt made his demand demoralized the trio, and they were meekly marched to Fairfield and handed over to the authorities. Hoyt will receive S6OO reward. The burglars were well provided with revolvers, dynamite and tools for cracking safes. SENTENCED MAN DENIES GUILT. Kansan Given tbe Death Penalty for the Murder of Hie Father. At Topeka, Kan., John Henry Collins received the death sentence for the murder of his father with the same placid demeanor that has characterized his actions from the first. When asked by Judge Hazen if he had anything to say, •he made a sensational speech, which brought tears to the eyes of many of those who crowded the court room. Among other things he said: “I know that I am innocent; I know that I did'not kill my father. I wish, if it were possible, that he might come back here to-day from beyond the grave and be before you so you might learn from him that I am not guilty.” CUBAN BANDITS ARE KILLED. Officials at Santiago Take Vigorous Steps to Suppress Brigandage. Five more bandits have been captured and two others killed at Santiago de Cuba. The citizens express satisfaction at the capture of Matamoras and Trucon, wellknown brigands, and it is thought that with their capture the backbone of brigandage in the district is broken. Col. Juan Vian, the new chief of gendarmie, is showing much more energy than was displayed by his predecessor, Col. Francisco Valiente. Indeed, the recent captures are due to his zeal and he believes Chat little, if any, further trouble will . arise from brigands for a time at least. Cut to Pieces by a Train. • While inspectors in the Lake Shore yards at Cleveland were looking over the trucks and wheels of a freight car which had just arrived from the east they were horrified to find the lower part of a man’s body clinging to the iron work of the trucks. The body had been severed at the hips. As yet the upper part of the body has not been found. Burglar Is Eliot Down. At Brady Island, Neb., Willard afid Walter Eavey, who were sleeping in a store in which the postofflce is located, were awakened by some men trying to enter. They armed themselves and when the intruders appeared both fired. One of the robbers fell, wounded in the hip by a charge from a shotgun. The other burglar escaped. Claim to Be Tyson’s Heirs. Dr. L. B. Tyson and his two sisters of Kenton, Ohio, claim to be heirs of the mysterious and eccentric James Tyson, tile multimillionaire who has just died in Melbourne, Australia, leaving $4,000,000 to the Government and many millions to heirs unknown. Played Robber and Shot His Sister. At San Francisco, Kitty Wannenmacher, aged 15 years, was shot and fatally wounded by her foster brother, Joseph Miller, 19 years old, while the young man Was playing that he was a highwayman, with a rifle which was not supposed to be loaded. Bob Burdette Is Married Robert J. Burdette, the humorist, and Mrs. Clara B. Baker were married at Pasadena, Cal. Mr. and Mrs. Burdette • will make their future home in Pasadena, .where Mr. Burdette will fill the pulpit of the First Presbyterian Church. |; i Large Loss for Armonr. ' The five-story brick structure of the Ar- • jnour Curled Hair and Felt Company in • Chicago was destroyed by fire, with all its •'contents. The loss will reach $250,000. Many of the employes had narrow escapes from death. F . Texas Ehip Canal Opened. At Port Arthur, Texas, seven miles of ship canal connecting the waters of Sabine lake and the Gulf of Mexico were opened with a celebration in which 5,000 people participated. fe* Brothers Slay Two Men. At Hoytsville, Ohio, G. H. Westenbaven of North Baltimore and Clarence WJttenmier of Hoytsville were shot dead by Paul and John Zeltner. The Zeltneni are in custody. McCoy Gets the Decision. : “Kid” McCoy got the decision over Joe before tbe National Athletic Club at Ban Francisco, and 8,000 persons Haw the fight. E Killed by Unknown Robbers. rNear Oregon, Mo., Samuel Crow, aged ijg|j?ars,' an eccentric character, was murdered while asleep by robbers who beat & head to a pulp with an ax handle. Robbery was the motive, Crow being conwealthy. The amount of booty, if Pfo aecnred is not known. Hjgxplosion In Fireworks Factory. BHk Hoboken, N. J., a small manufactory was destroyed by an explo-

SLAIN Ry SCHOOL TEACHER. Fierce Fight at Caborn, Ind., in Which Wesley Hurt Is Killed. Wesley Hurt was killed by Thomas Wiggs, a school teacher, in Pike County, Ind. Wiggs is the son of State Senator Joseph W. Wiggs and has been engaged to teach school at Caborn for a few days in place of the tegular teacher. Hurt called at the school house, and drawing a revolver, said: “Wiggs, I have never had any use for you, and either you or I will die right here.” Wiggs attacked Hurt with a pocketknife and slashed him across the chest and abdomen, literally cutting him to pieces. Wiggs’ brother, 16 years old, who was attending school, attacked Hurt from behind, stabbing him several times in the back. The two brothers were arrested. Thomas Wiggs is 20 years old and was recently mustered out of the army, having served with Gen. Miles in Porto Rico. KLONDIKERS BRING GOLD. Passengers on the Laurada Are Said to Have Brought $150,000. Miners who arrived at Seattle several days ago on the steamer Laurada brought out $150,000 in Klondike gold. They kept their secret well, and it was not known until some more of the party arrived on the steamer Topeka. One of the richest of the party was Toney Page, a Dawson woman, who brought out many thousands. M. M. Odell and E. L. Aldredge of New York, Bonanza creek claim owners, were other rich passengers. Skaguay was frozen up when the Laurada left and every one was on short rations of water. Two of the rich Klondikers washed their faces in champagne in consequence. Two large Alaskan mining deals have just been closed which involve $6,000,000. Murdered in Sierra Leone. Inquiry among the officers of the foreign mission boards in New York regarding the dispatch from London reporting the murder of an American missionary and his wife and the taking into captivity of his two daughters by natives of the Mendi district, Sierra Leone, revealed the fact that none of the larger boards has missionaries in that part of West Africa. The Missionary Alliance has men in Sierra Leone, but one of its officers said that all its representatives were young and unmarried. From the same source it was learned that the murdered missionary was probably one of the United Brethren missionaries. Their headquarters are in Pennsylvania. Six or eight months ago several of the United Brethren missionaries of this same district were killed, and others of them driven to the coast and their property destroyed. It was not until the British Government sent troops that the natives were quieted and the missionaries dared to return to their stations. At that time a number of the natives were executed. These latest murders are probably the result of a recurrence of the former difficulties. Upholds the Tax on Banks. In the United States Court of Appeals at Cincinnati, on an appeal from the decision of Judge Ricks, sustaining the construction of the treasurer of Hancock County in listing property of two banks in Findlay for taxation, the court affirmed Judge Ricks’ decision. The contention of the banks was that the debts of the stockholders should be deducted from the amount of stock taxed.

Moore Admits Hie Crime. John Moore, the Hutchinson, Kan., man who killed his five children, has made a tacit confession. He said: “If I committed the crime it was when I did not know what I was doing. I ought to have gotten into the fire and burned myself a little, then I suppose it would have been all right.” Moore set fire to the house after killing the children. Advance in All Departments. The engineers of the Jones & Laughlin Steel Company’s mills at Pittsburg have been notified that their wages will be advanced 10 per cent April 16. A representative of the firm is responsible for the statement that on the same date there will be a general advance in all departments, affecting fully 5,000 men. Robbers Wreck a Bank Office. At Medway, Mass., the Medway Savings Bank’s vault was blown open by burglars. From the fact that a second fuse, applied for the purpose of forcing open the strong box, had not been lighted, it is thought the men were frightened away by the noise of the explosion. The bank office was completely wrecked. Coal Company in Difficulties. The Central Trust Company has brought suit in the United States Court at Columbus against the Ohio Mining and Manufacturing Company to have a receiver appointed for the Perry County Coal Company. It is claimed that the company owes the trust company $700,000 and interest. Melba Has a Narrow Escape. Mme. Melba had a narrow escape from death while attending a reception given in her honor by M. H. De Young at San Francisco. She was hit on the head by a heavy bronze statue which fell from a pedestal, and was unconscious fifteen minutes. Storm Destroys a Village. Liberty, Tenn., is almost wiped off the map. A tornado swept over it, wrenching trees from their roots and felling houses in all directions. Damage to property in the storm’s path is enormous, but no fatalities are reported. Georgia Peach Crop Ruined. At a meeting of the Georgia Fruit Growers’ Association it was decided there would be no peaches for shipment from that State this year. The reason given is that the trees were injured by recent frosts. Jockey John Epperson Killed. At San Francisco, John Epperson, a jockey and part owner of the horses Texarkana and Bessie Lee, was stabbed to death by James J. Gilligan, a horse rubber, the men had been enemies for a long time. , Win a Hot Battle. A terrible battle was fought northeast of Caloocan, in which the Americans lost 100 men, including killed and injured, and the rebels lost about 500. Aguinaldo’s forces were completely routed. Operation on Mr. Hillis. Mrs. Newell Dwight Hillis, wife of the new pastor of Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, underwent an operation for acute appendicitis at Philadelphia the other day. Five Children Burned to Death. During the absence of John Dian and wife of Grenfell, Man., from their farm their residence caught fire and their five children ware burned to death. -

ADVANCE IN QUININE.

RISE OF SIXTY-FIVE PER CENT. IN THE PRICE. Consumption Has Overtaken the Eapply—Surplus of Bark Is Used UpFife Causes Loys of One Life and Much Property in Cleveland. . The New York Tribune, discussing the recent advance of 65 per cent in the price of quinine, says the United States consumes about ‘one-half of the world’s output. The cause of the present scarcity is attributed by some to efforts made by London speculators to corner the market. This may be true to a certain extent, but the fundamental cause is the fact that consumption seems at last to have overtaken the supply, and the surplus of bark which has existed for years is now used up. The recent war with Spain caused a big demand for quinine, and the opening up of new colonial territory by several countries in Africa and elsewhere has also been a potent factor in reducing the surplus of bark. The consumption of quinine during the last bubonic plague in India was also immense. It is said that many cultivators of cinchona have neglected their trees in recent years, when the price fell below a profitable figure owing to overproduction, and that this has caused the marked stringency in the supply, which is the basis for present high prices. It may take some years to bring the crop up to its former volume, if, indeed, there be any desire to do so, which is doubtful, on the part of the planters. STOVE WORKS BURNED. Fatal Fire at Cleveland—Property Lose of $450,000. Fire broke out in the japanning department of the Dangler Stove and Manufacturing Company’s plant in Cleveland, and notwithstanding the enormous quantity of water pouj-ed into the building by fifteen engines, the structure, filled with valuable machinery and large quantities of manufactured goods, was practically destroyed. The high wind which prevailed caused the fire to spread to the plant of the Cleveland Machine Screw Company, adjoining, and it was also destroyed. The loss on the Dangler works is conservatively estimated at $300,000, and on the Cleveland Machine Screw plant at $150,000. Three hours after the fire started a falling wall at the screw works buried beneath it Lieut. Roth of fire company No. 7. Later in the day Roth’s dead body was taken from the ruins, badly crushed and burned. Seven hundred men are thrown out of employment as a result of the fire.

PITIABLE ECENEBIN RUSSIA. Peasants, in Fear of Starvation, Are Compelled to Devour Garbage. The newspapers of St. Petersburg publish pitiable accounts of the condition of the famine districts of Russia, especially Samara, in the eastern part of European Russia. The efforts of the Red Cross Society have staved off the horrors of actual starvation, but the society’? funds are almost exhausted and the dire distress, compelling the consumption of all kinds of garbage, has produced an epidemic of terrible mortality, with typhus, scurvy and other pestilential diseases. The peasants are compelled to sell everything and are living in cold, damp and filthy cabins. Weakened by hunger, they fall ready victims to typhus and acute scurvy. Report on Canada’s Railways. The annual report of £he Dominion department of railways and canals shows the total number of miles of completed railways in the dominion to be 19,118. The paid-up capital amounts to $941,297,037. The gross earnings were $59,715,105, an increase of $7,361,829, and passengers carried was 18,444,089. Only five were killed in accidents. The deficit in working the federal government railways, of which the mileage is 1,742, was $461,956. Shut Out by a Soap Trust. Bernard Gross, a soap manufacturer of Milwaukee, claims that he is unable to buy tallow from any of the packing house men. Other soap manufacturers are in the same predicament and may have to shut down their works. It is said that the soap combine has shut off the supply of tallow in order to cripple the independent dealers. Murderers Miss Rich Booty. The body of a man identified as Christopher Diamond, an umbrella mender, was found in the canal at the Race street crossing in Cincinnati. Marks on the body indicated that he had been murdered and robbed. At the morgue, however, nearly S3OO was found concealed in his clothing. Prairie Fire in Nebraska. A bad prairie fire has been raging near Maywood, Neb., the tall, dry grass giving it a full sweep. Many stacks of unthrashed grain and hundreds of tons of hay have been burned. The town, which is poorly protected, was only saved by everyone turning out and beating back the flames. Tries to Kill a Texas Judge. At Sweetwater, Texas, F. P. Woodruff, a lawyer, attacked and shot Judge John H. Cochran in chambers with a revolver, the trouble growing out of the court’s refusal to approve a bill of exceptions in a lawsuit. A bystander named R. P. Watts was shot in the hip. Soldier Crushed to Death. Private Herman McCall of Company I, Ninth United States infantry, was crushed to death between the iron side of the transport City of Puebla and the piles of the Broadway wharf, San Francisco, while climbing down the side for his own diversion. Fire at Thomasville. At Thomasville, Ga., fire destroyed the opera house and three other buildings. Loss about $40,000. The large Piny Woods Hotel, filled with Northern guests, escaped uninjured, after an exciting night for its inmates. Try to Burn a Hotel. A desperate attempt was made to fire the Lafayette Hotel, the largest hotel in Philadelphia, by thieves for the sake of plunder. Bld Made by Americans. The American minister has made President Cuestas the offer of an American syndicate to construct the Montevideo harbor. Fatal Fire at Memphis. In a fire at Memphis, Tenn., fonr people lost their lives and several were seriously injured. •’ ; . ...

- * FT? -7 < • . • ; . , . • ’ ' 4 . ? ..« ■■"• ■. ' CHILDREN FIRE KEG OF POWDER. Several Persons Injured and Store Wrecked at Dewitt, Ark. A terrible explosion of powder occurred at Dewitt, Ark., as a result of which two children were fatally injured, several other persons badly hurt and property to the value of several thousand dollars destroyed. The explosion occurred in the store of S. L. Leslie. A report was beard and the explosion which followed wrecked the building. About a dozen people were in the building at the time, including Mr. Leslie’s family and some customers. Two of Leslie’s children were fatally burned. The others were more or less injured, several badly, but not fatally. It is supposed the explosion was caused by the children playing in the store, who, it is thought, accidentally set fire to the keg of powder. - MISSIONARY in peril. Attacked by Chinese Recruits and Deserted by Escort. Missionary Parsons of the China Mission Society was attacked by imperial soldiers while en route from Ching Kiang to Paoning last month. He left Ching Kiang with an escort of four soldiers provided by the Chinese Government. At one point, where they crossed a river, they noticed a great number of local militiamen who had just been drafted into the regular army standing on the opposite bank. As they were landing the soldiers started for Parsons with swords and knives. To save himself he jumped into the water and swam into midstream, while his escort ran away. A Chinese gunboat put out from shore and rescued him. Secretary Alger’s Determination. Secretary Alger has come to the determination to maintain summer camps for the United States troops in the Southern States, and the delegation of Georgians who called upon him recently to secure that object have been so informed. It is also the intention to maintain one of the camps in the neighborhood of' Atlanta. The only condition is that the present Georgia quarantine regulations, which operate so as to prevent tbe movements of troops absolutely demanded by the military needs- of the case, shall be adapted to the requirements. The number of troops to be located at any one camp will not be large, for it is said at the department that only about 15,000 soldiers will be so located, but there is likely to be much changing around among the men. Troops returning from Cuba are to be detained in the Georgia camps about twenty days, at least, before being sent to their homes or to the Northern posts. Rich Strike of Zinc Ore. Great excitement prevails in Pleasanton, Kan., over the rich strike in the zinc mine. For several days the miners have been following the lead and taking out rich ore, but the matter was kept quiet until now, when the company became satisfied that rich zinc was there in large quantities. Will Organize an American Party. The leaders of the Radical party in Porto Rico have decided to organize a Republican party with a thoroughly American platform. The platform will pledge fidelity to the American flag and hail the prospect of annexation to the United States.

Imprisoned Miners Released. The two mine pump men, Charles Reuss and Burt Froy, who were imprisoned in the Bon Air mine at Leadville, Colo., thirteen days before, were reached the other night and restored to their friends. They show little effects of their experience. Wreck on the Erie. Train No. 5, a fast through west-bound passenger train on the Erie road, jumped the track at Rittman, Ohio, the engine and baggage car going into the ditch. Engineer Wallace Logan was almost instantly killed and his fireman seriously injured. Alabama College Is Burned. Montezuma University, at Bessemer, Ala., was destroyed by fire. The fire originated from a defective flue and forty pupils got out of the building without injury. The building cost $30,000, insured for $5,000. Hurt in a Boiler Explosion. A boiler under the sidewalk at the corner of Washington street and Second avenue, Seattle, Wash., exploded. One man was killed and two fatglly hurt. Race War in Arkansas. An unknown number of negroes,have been lynched in Little River County, Ark. The whites claim the negroes were planning a race war. Boiler Explodes, Killing Three. Three men were killed and several injured, some fatally, by the explosion of the boiler in a sawmill at Mattie, Md. JIAitKET QUOTATIONS. Chicago—Cattle, common to prime, $3.00 to $6.00; hogs, shipping grades, $3.00 to $4.00; sheep, fair to choice, $3.00 to $5.00; wheat, No. 2 red, 70c to 71c; corn, No. 2,35 cto 36c; oats, No. 2,26 c to 27c; rye, No. 2,54 cto 55c; butter, choice creamery, 20c to 22c; eggs, fresh, 11c to 13c; potatoes, choice, 60c to 70c per bushel. Indianapolis—Cattle, shipping, $3.00 to $5.75; hogs, choice light, $2.75 to $4.00; sheep, common to choice, $2.50 to $4.50; wheat. No. 2 red, 68c to 70c; corn, No. 2 white, 34c to 36c; oats. No. 2 white, 31c to 32c. St. Louis—Cattle, $3.50 to $6.00; hogs, $3.00 to $4.00; sheep, $3.00 to $4.75; wheat, No. 2,73 cto 74c; corn, No. 2 yellow, 33c to 35c; oats, No. 2,27 cto 29c; rye, No. 2,55 cto 57c. Cincinnati—Cattle, $2.50 to $5.75; hogs, $3.00 to $4.25; sheep, $2.50 to $4.75; wheat, No. 2,71 cto 73c; corn, No; 2 mixed, 36c to 38c; oats, No. 2 mixed, 28c to 29c; rye, No. 2,58 cto 60c. Detroit—Cattle, $2.50 to $5.75; hogs, $3.00 to $4.00; sheep, $2.50 to $4.50; wheat, No. 2,71 cto 73c; corn, No. 2 yellow, 34c to 3Qc; oats. No. 2 white, 31c to 33c; rye, 59c to 61c. Toledo—Wheat, No. 2 mixed, 73c to 74c; corn, No. 2 mixed, 34c to 36c; oats, No. 2 white, 26c to 28c; rye, No. 2,54 c to 56c; clover seed, new, &J. 40 to $3.45. Milwaukee—Wheat, No. 2 spring, 67c to 69c; corn, No. 3,30 cto 32c; oats. No. 2 white, 29c to 31c; rye. No. 1,54 cto 55c; barley, No. 2,46 cto 48c; pork, mess, $8.75 to $9.25. Buffalo —Cattle, good shipping steers, $3.00 to $5.75; hogs, common to choice, $3.25 to $4.25; sheep, fair to choice wethers, $3.50 to $5.25; lambs, common to extra, $4.50 to $6.25. New York—Cattle, $3.25 to $5.75; hogs, $3.00 to $4.50; sheep, $3.00 to $5.25; 38c; butter, creamery, 17c to 23c; eggs, Western, 13c to 15c.

MANY REBELS SLAIN.

FILIPINOS SUFFER GREAT LOSS NEAR CALOOCAN. American Lona Was 16 Killed and 130 Wounded—Brilliant Victory Won by Gen. MacArthur’s Brigade—Plans to Quickly Crush Aguiualdo’s Forces. Manila advices Saturday reported a terrible battle near Caloocan. The Americans won a splendid victory. Five hundred rebels were killed and wounded and as many more were taken prisoners. American losses were conservatively estimated at sixteen killed and about 130 wopnded. The insurgent losses are greater than during any previous engagement. Gen. MacArthur’s division is to be credited with the splendid work of the day, including the capture of several villages and complete demoralization of Aguinaldo’s forces. The capture of Malabon, the rout of the insurgents, the making prisoner of Aguinaldo and the complete occupation .of his so-called capital, Malolos, is the campaign mapped out by Gen. Otis. Elaborate preparations were made. Gen. Wheaton’s brigade was placed in the rear and Gen. Harrison Gray Otis’ and Gen. Hall’s were massed behind Gen. Hale’s. Under- the cover of the darkness Gen. Otis’ and Gen. Hale’s brigades left their trenches and advanced close up on the enemy’s line without being detected, Gen. Wheaton’s and Gen. Hall’s brigades occupying the vacated positions. At daylight Gen. Otis’ and Gen. Hall’s brigades advanced from La Loma church straight through the rebel lines, cutting the enemy’s foroe in two. Upon this occasion the rebels adopted the American tactics of holding their fire until the attackers were about 1,000 yards distant. The rebels also fired lower than usual. The Americans fired volleys with terrible effect and then rushed forward, cheering and carrying everything before them. Once through, Gen. MacArthur’s division was swung to the left, driving the rebels away on all sides. The natives stood until the Americans were within 200 yards of their position and then broke and ran for the woods. Thirty of them.were killed in the outskirts and seventy on the roads. The Montana and Kansas troops met the hottest resistance. Smoke from the burning huts marked the line of the American advance. Ambulances and horse litters, led by Chinese, brought in the wounded, among whom were a few Filipinos. The Americans who were wounded endured their injuries bravely.

WILL MARRY BOB BURDETTE.

Tbe Bride-Elect of the Humorist Is Wealthy and Gifted. Two recent events in the career of Bob Burdette will interest the admirers of the great American humorist. One is that he has turned preacher and will fill the pulpit of the First Presbyterian Church of Pasadena, Cal., and the other is that he will soon take unto himself another wife. The bride-elect is Mrs. Clara Baker of Pasadena. Her remarkable beauty and graciousness would distinguish her in any company, and to make matters all the

MRS. CLARA BAKER.

more pleasant she is possessed of no little share of the world’s wealth. Her home is one of the prettiest among Pasadena’s famous homes and its social atmosphere is delightful. She is the founder and a former president of the Ebell Club of Los Angeles, and is a writer of force and reputation. The friendship between these two brilliant persons began twenty years ago when they met on the lecture platform in a Wisconsin town, she as the president of a literary organization and he as the lecturer of the evening.

CURRENT COMMENT

Any old whistle would answer as well, Col. Aguinaldo, when a man wants to whistle to keep up his Plain Dealer. We hasten to assume the groundhog that he has been vindicated. Now let us have something like good weather.—Omaha World-Herald. Probably Mr. Molineux would have been happier had he employed a typewriter to address his bromo-seltzer packages.—Boston Herald. Mr. Roosevelt’s last magazine contribution treats of a bullet that missed him. Yet Mr. Roosevelt has never prided himself on his dodging ability.—Washington Post. That mothers’ convention in Washington is in favor of looser corsets. This is in line with the claim of other women that they’re too much held in.—Philadelphia Times. ■Admitting the appropriations of Congress are something stupendous, some may say the size of the American eagle presupposes a big bill.—Philadelphia Times. x Billion dollar Congresses are no longer a novelty. The late one exceeded that limit to such an extent that it looks like a very modest sum for the national expenses of a year.—Boston Globe, Apropos of our new holiday, the Boston Transcript rises to remark that “the Ist of May is more likely to be frosty than dewey.” But not in the vicinity of Manils.—Philadelphia Ledger. • ■ ■ - ■’ ,

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

Mormonism has met a foe at last that will test all its prowess. The women of Jamestown, N. Y., have passed strong resolutions against Mormon elders who have been doing missionary work in that place and a fight to which the fair combatants will give no quarter is being waged. To cultured women the religion founded by Joseph Smith and practiced by Brigham Young is particularly repugnant. It matters not that the law of the land has declared against the polygamous feature of Mormonism or that some elders in the Church of Latter Day Saints may have spoken against polygamy; the fact remains that, according to popular belief, the creed which made it right for men to transgress one of the most profound elements of the strongest human passion has in no way been altered. Woman was the greatest sufferer through the fullest exercise of that creed and it is not surprising that she should be the bitterest enemy Of those who would seek to make converts to it A religion which has aroused the antagonism of women is sooner or later bound to become moribund. We are likely to have a statue of Washington as well as of Lafayette to unveil in Paris on the 4th of July, 1900, for the association of American women which has been engaged for several years in raising funds to present one to the people of France in exchange for the Lafayette statue which stands in Jackson park in Washington has made .a contract with Daniel C. French, the well-known sculptor, to make an equestrian figure of heroic size, with the understanding that it shall be completed and ready for unveiling on the day named. Mrs. Field, wife of the associate justice of the Supreme Court; Mrs. Hobart, Wife of the VicePresident; Mrs. McMillan, wife of the Senator from Michigan, and Mrs. Phoebe A. Hearst are the committee in, charge, and have the co-operation of many prominent women in different parts of the country. A large portion of the funds has already been raised, but $15,000 more is needed, and an appeal will soon be made for contributions from the patriotic women of America. There has been an enormous falling off both in the number and the value of draft animals in this country since those faithful friends have had to compete with the bicycle and the electric motor. According to the statistics of the Agricultural Department on Jan. 1, 1893, there were 16,238,000 horses in the United States, representing a value of $1,007,593,636, which was'an average of about S6O each. On Jan. 1, 1899, there were only 13,961,000 horses, valued at $478,362,000, or an average of $34 a head. On Jan. 1, 1893, we owned 2,315,000 mules, valued at $175,000,000, and last January only 2,190,282, valued at $96,100,000, the decrease in the value per head in six years being from $75 to $44. Texas owns the largest number of mules and New York the largest number of horses. Pennsylvania, because of the coal and mining industries, has more than ten times as many mules as New York. Illinois comes second in the list of horses and Missouri second in the list of mules. All the volunteers in the Philippines are armed with the Springfield rifle. All the regulars now there and the re-enforce-ments now en route have the Krag-Jor-gensens. The volunteers use the Springfields because the military commanders consider it the more effective rifle in their hands. They are using smokeless powder and the effective range of the Springfield is almost as great as the Mauser, which is being used by sharpshooters among the rebels. The complex mechanism of the modern rifle is difficult to care for and to use, while the Springfield will stand any amount of rough handling. This reason, more than any other, influenced the experienced army officers to recommend their use by the volunteers. The destructiveness of the Springfield 45-caliber ball is far greater than the Mauser, as it is almost sure to kill, whereas the latter only wounds. The mechanism of the modern rifle would scarcely become familiar to the volunteers during their term of enlistment. -:—:-

As the bill for the establishment of a bureau of domestic sciences in the Department of Agriculture failed in Congress, Secretary Wilson has consented to take the matter up and encourage such instruction in the agricultural colleges and such investigations at the experimental stations as will carry out the object of the National Domestic Science Association in seeking this legislation? The State granges and farmers’ institutes will also encourage the movement, and it is hoped that at the next Congress authority may be given for the Secretary of Agriculture to disseminate information that will make farmers’ homes happier and farmers’ wives more competent in feeding their families as the farmer is now enabled by the aid of the Government in feeding his cattle and sheep. Since the approval of the war revenue act on June 15,1898, the collections under it have been $62,012,191.25. There have also been collected an additional tax on. tobacco of $778,487 and on fermented liquors stored in warehouses $164,927.62, making a total of $62,955,605.87 derived from the war revenue act from the time of Its passage up to the Ist of February. The largest part of this sum, $26,383,440, comes from the sale of documentary and proprietary stamps, $20,084,450 from the increase in the tax on beer, $8,162,621 represents the increase in the tax on snuff and tobacco and $2,503,058 on cigars and cigarettes. From legacies $253,951 has been realized. The Japanese minister has semi-offldal-ly notified the newspapers here that “the published statement that Japan is discussing a plan to adopt Christianity as its state religion is not true, and there is no possibility of this being done. Unlike Russia, England and other European countries, the Japanese Government has no state religion, but according to the constitution of the country every religion is given the liberty to exercise its functions so long as it does not interfere with or disturb the peace, order and morals of society.”