St. Joseph County Independent, Volume 15, Number 42, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 12 April 1890 — Page 2

Xjj^jjcnEDST tstiu'Wjs BI TELEGRAPH. TIIE NEWS RECORD. SUMMARY OF THE EVENTFUL HAPPENINGS OF A WEEK. Political. Commercial, and Industrial News from All Over the Land—Fires, Accidents, and Crimes—The Gist of the News in a Few Lines. PENSION LEGISLATION. A Vote on a Substitute Measure Reached in the House. In the Senate, on the 7th inst.. the House amendment to the joint resolution for the removal of the naval magazine from Ellis Island, New York, was concurred in. The House bill to allow the erection of a bridge across the lowa River at Wapello, lowa, was reported and passed with an amendment in the way of a substitute. The Montana election case was then taken up, and Mr. Vance, a member of the Committee on Privileges and Elections, made an argument in support of the minority report declaring Clark and Maginnis (the Democratic claimants) entitled to the seats. Mr. Vance was followed by Mr. Spooner, who spoke in favor of Powers and Saunders, the Republican contestants. At 10:15 o’clock the Senate went into executive session and adjourned at 5 ;30. In the House, Mr. Morrill, of Kansas, moved to suspend the rules and pass (with a substitute) the Senate bill gran dug pensions to soldiers and sailors who are incapacitated from the performance of labor, and providing for pensions to minor children and dependent parents. Mr. Morrill briefly explained that the substitute provided a service pension of $8 a month to soldiers who have reached the age of 6-2 years or who are dependent. He thought the same principle which ha 1 been applied to the veterans of the war of 1812 and tne war with Mexico should be applied to the veterans of the war of 1861. The Senate bill would require an annual expenditure of $36,1 000,000 and the House substitute $30,000,000. A vigorous opposition was developed to the motion to suspend the rules because it did not afford time enough for the discussion of so important a measure, and the vote resulted: ’ na y 8 ’ —not Die necessary twothirds in the affirmative. The army appropriation bill was then taken up. The Committee on Appropriations reported the legislative appropriation bill, carrying an appropriation of s2l- - The Committee on Railways and Canals reported the bill for a ship canal around Niagara Falls. SWEPT BY A TORNADO. Prophetstown, 111., Reported to Have Been Completely Destroyed. A Burlington, lowa, dispatch says: It is reported here that the village of Prophetstown, across the river in Illinois, has been destroyed by a terrific cyclone, which wrecked everything in its course and killed a large number of people. The rumors cannot be definitely verified, as all the wires are down, but there is grave reason to fear that they are true. Every indication points to the fact that a severe storm had passed over a portion of Illinois. Prophetstown, the place reported to have been destroyed, was a beautiful village of about eight hundred inhabitants, situated on a branch of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, about forty miles southeast of Fulton, 111. The report was secured here by a railroad wire in the Cedar Rapids depot from an operator in the vicinity of Prophetstown, who said the whole town had been blown away, and that a great many people had been killed. A special stock train was just leaving the town W’hen the storm struck it, tearing everything to pieces. MOSES FRALEY GOES UNDER. The Big St Louis Speculator “in the Soup.” Moses Fraley, the big wheat speculator of St. Louis, has failed. It is said he is short about $50,000. He has been carrying a heavy stock of contract wheat and was unable to respond to calls for margins. At the time the wheat was delivered Fraley was a strong bull. He changed to the bear side about the time wheat reached its lowest point, and stuck to bearish operations till they floored him. The market, which was against him, suddenly advanced 2 cents and he “laid down.” Fraley declined to make any tangible statements for the press. A panicon the Merchants’ Exchange was averted by Frank Ryan appearing personally and selling May wheet freely. It is not thought Fraley’s failure will involve other firms. MR. CLARKSON WILL RETIRE. The First A s stant Postmaster General About to Tender His Resignation. A Washington dispatch says: It is definitely announced that J. S. Clarkson, First Assistant Postmaster General, will retire on June 1. Mr. Clarkson’s resignation to take effect on that date, has been prepared and will be handed in shortly. Mr. Clarkson is tired of the place and its drudgery. The pay is $4,000 a year, and this is not at all commensurate with his duties. Besides, as he says, he only took the place temporarily, and he has been ready to leave it for a number of months. He has b^en importuned to hang on until now, when he can turn over the office to other hands. MME. TSCHIBRIKOVA IN EXILE. Taken to Penzt in the Caucasus Under a Guard of PoUcn A Vienna cable says: Mme. Tschibrikova, who was reported to have been exiled for her letter to the Czar, is now at Penza, in the Caucasus, under a strict police watch. She was conveyed thither hurriedly in a carriage without windows. No halt was made except in the open air. Her food was abominable. She w r as constantly guarded by gendarmes and not allowed to speak to any one. Will Bui'd a Railroad to Deadwood. The Burlington & Missouri Railway will build a line from the crossing of the Cheyenne River, Wyoming, to Deadwood, , a distance of 10J miles. Wanted for a Double Murder. Antone Cheborad has been arrested at Forth Smith, Ark. He is wanted at Atwood, Kas., for complicity in a double 1 murder. A Boston Financier Dies Suddenly. Cal Long, one of the best financiers in Boston and the head of Jordan, Marsh & Co.’s credit department, died suddenly. ' To Negotiate R gardinz Behring Sea. ( Sib Charles TuPper, Canadian Minister of Marine and Fisheries, has gone to i f Washington, where he will assist the i British Minister in carrying on the nezo- ] ■'tions in reference to the Behring Sea ‘ er. e Pan-Americans’ Southern Tour. •) members of the international 1 ■ -onference will leave Washing- • oposed Southern tour Friday, m., and will return to j 10, at 2 p. m. ]

CURRENT IIAITENINGS. EASTERN OCCURRENCES. At New York Recorder Smyth has sentenced Joseph Wood, a colored aqueduct laborer, to die by electricity. Wood was convicted of murder in the first degree on the 12th ult. for killing Charles Ruffin, j The execution is to take place during tne week beginning May 12. An explosion occurred at the works of the Metallic Cap Company, at Beth Ayres, I Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, completely wre king the buildin". Ben Burroughs was ins’antly killed and Peter Riley was severely injured. A Wilkesbarre, Pa., dispatch says: By an explos on of gas in No. 4 slope of the Susquehanna Coal Company at Nanticoke three men were killed, four seriously injured, and two slightly injured. The killed are: James Ad ims, William A. James and Anthony Roseman. Os the injured, four are seriously hurt, the others suffering but slightly. Thev are: John Marshall, Morgan Price, John J, Griffith, Joseph D. Lousk, George EJone and John Noforski. The mine was not damaged. The gas is supposed to have ignited from a naked lamp. Governor Godell, of New Hampshire, being incapacitated by ill-health, the Council has summoned the President of the Senate, D. Arthur Taggart, to discharge the duties of the gubernatorial office. A Shamokin, Pa., dispatch says that the fire in the Cameron colliery is now beyond control. The entire mine, comprising twenty-five miles of galleries, will have to be flooded. Three creeks will be turned into the mine and it is estimated that it will take sixty days to flood it and nearly a year to repair the damage. The loss is estimated at $1(10,000. Seventy negroes from Halifax County, North Carolina, have arrived at Pittsburgh to work in the coil mines of W. P. Rend & Co., near there. The negroes are to be paid from $1 to $1.50 per day at the start. The miners say there will be trouble if the new men work for less than the scale rate. It is reported on good authority that a syndicate is beinz organized at Boston for the purpose of building twenty iron ; steamships to engage in a general coast- j wise and foreign trade as soon as the Farquhar tonnage bill is passed by Congress. A big landslide has occurred at Diefendorf Hill on the West Shore Road, east of St. Johnsville, N. Y. An east-bound freight train ran into the obstruction, and Engineer Potter and three other trainmen weie buried in the debris. The four men were afterward exhumed, one boing kille I. The engineer, F. S Potter, and Fireman Gorman were seriously injured, :nd the two others were badly hurt. Gorman may die. An attempt has been made to destroy documents in the New Yo.k Custom House by setting fire to a room on the fifth floor of that building. W. S. Darling, the confidential man of John F. Plummer, the dry goods merchant of New York, is missing. Forty-two buildings were burned at Theresa, N. Y., the loss being $125,00t. WESTERN HAPPENINGS. A wagon carrying $85,000 rolled away from the rear of the United States Express Company’s office at Chicago the other afternoon. The money was for various banks, and the safe which held it was j guarded by two men—Driver Erickson and Messenger William Simpson. Both were trusted employes of the company, picked for their places on the money wagon because of their good records. In spite of their vigilance, however, when the wagon came to the end of its route SIO,OOO, billed to the National Bank of Illinois, was missing. The receipt showed the package to have been turned over to the wagon men. There was nothing to show that it had been given out. Ihe safe was kept locked, excepting only as opened for an instant at a time to allow the different packages to be delivered. It was constantly under the eyes of both men, but neither Simpson nor Erickson was able to give any idea of how the money was lost. They knew that it was gone, and that was all, and every effort since then to locate the money or the reason for its disappearance has been attended by complete failure. A St, Louis dispatch says: While six boys of R. H. Barkerville and K. P. Wommack, ranging in age from 11 to 19 years, were playing in a sand cave near Vernon, Texas, the bank caved in on them and all were killed. At Denver two thieves entered M. J. Mitchell’s jewelry store at noon and stole diamonds to the value of $5,200 while Mr. Mitchell was out to lunch and the store was in charge of a girl. While one man attr'cted the attention of the young girl on the pretext of buying a clock, the other stole nine diamond stones and forty-eight diamondset rings. The two men departed, and the girl was not aware of the loss. On Mr. Mitchell’s return he discovered that the artcles were missing, and notified the police. The girl was able to give a good description of the two thieves, but as yet the police have no trace of them. Ir is reported in St. Louis, Mo., that Jay Gould is seriously ill again, and that his stay in Mexico is to be prolonged almost indefinitely. He is troubled with a return of his old nervous spells, and the s.tories given out about the important deals he is arranging are regarded as pure fiction. The house of Wilhelm Brown, near Huron, S. D., has been destroyed by fire. Thiee of his children, who had been locked in the house while the parents went to the city, were unable ? to get out, and perished in the flames. The oldest was less than 5 years old. A Cheyenne, W. T., dispatch says: All the Northern sheriffs are on the trail of a desperate gang oi horse-thieves. The freebooters, inding themselves closely pursued, cut the telegraph wires, leaving Johnson, Sheridan, Big Horn and Northern Carbon Count es entirely without communication. The thieves have by this time reached Montana, with i 200 head of Wyoming horses. i A TERRIBLE accident occured at Adams ■ Canyon, near Santa Paula, Cal., causing ■ the death of six men. A tunnel was being bored for oil when an explosion of gas , occurred and a shiet of flame shot out blowing away the building one hundred 1 feet from the mouth of the tunnel. Two men were badly burned, one of whom has .

since died. A force of men was put to ■ work to clear out the tunnel and the same | afternoon another explosion took place, the sides of the tunnel collapsing ami burying in the ruins five men, who are certainly dead. The names of those known are Britton, Hardison, Taylor and i Young. The Duluth Board of Trade has de- । | cided not to gve U. cago quotations ! unless she can get them in return from 1 that city. । The Sioux Indians held a farewell । dance near Pierre, S. D., the other day, and at their final powwow nsohed they would not work. SOUTHERN INCIDENTS. There was a big riot among the colored coal-miners at Caperton, W. Vil, during : which rocks, revolvers, knives and clubs 1 were freely used. Howard Earnest was ' killed and William Derico and another man were fatally wounded. Half a dozen J others were shot, cut or clubbed, and a renewal of the trouble is very probable. The local officers seem powerless, Gen. Thomas C. Anderson, a prominent Republican politician, formerly Deputy Collector of the port of New Orleans, and a member of the famous Louisiana Returning Board of 1874 to 1876, died in that city, aged 70. A bloody tragedy occurred near Irondale, Ala. Four men were killed, and further trouble may grow out of the affair. Marshal England of Irondale, accompanied by Deputy Sheriff Fortenberry, attempted to arrest a crowd of negroes on a charge of larceny. The negroes resisted arrest and opened fire on the officers, fatally wounding Marshal England at the first volley. Depu y Sheriff Fortenberry succeeded in getting safely under, cover, and opening fire on the negroes shot three of them dead. Ihe others then turned and fled in confusion. The shooting created great excitement in the town, and a posse was soon organized and started in pursuit of the fugitives. THE NATIONAL CAPITAL. The Senate census committee has reported to the Senate the bill for the enumeration of the Chinese with amendments providing that all persons who t re now admitted (meichants, teachers, etc.) j shall bo admitted lifter the census, । whether they possess the certificate of the Superintendent of the Census or not, and that any person arrested under the piovisions of the net may show by competent testimony that he was present in i this country piior to June 1, and was I omitted from the enumerat on. The House Committee on Postoflice and Post Roads his authorized a favorable report on a bill introduced by Represen ative Bingham to fix the rate of postage on periodic! publications containing the print or reprint of books. It provides that all publications purporting to be issued periodically and to subscribers, but which are merely books or reprints of books, issued complete or in j parts, bound or unbound, or sold by subscription or otherwise, when offered for transmission by mail, shall be subjected to postage at the rate prescribed by law for third-class matter. Senator Edmunds’ bill providing for the exportation of meat has passed the Senate. POLITICAL PORRIDGE. The President has sent to the Senate the following nominations: Georg > F. Turrittin, Surveyor General of Nevudn; Alexander F. McMillan, of Michigan, Deputy First Auditor of the Treasury. Pension Agents Johu G. Mitchell, al Columbus, Ohio; i Edward H Harvey, nt Detroit. Registers of ' 1 jind Offices .lames I. Flemming, al Topeka. Kam; H. (. Olney, nt Gunnison, Co 1 Receivers of Public Moneys G. C. Thaxter. at < arson City, Nev. ; J. J. Ijiml>ert, at Pueblo, Col. Indian Agents .lames Mil Atighlin, ut the Standing Rock Agmcy in North Dakota; Charles S. Kelsey, ut the Green Buy Agency in Wisconsin. Lewis A. Grant, of Minnesota, to be Assistant Secretary of War; Brigadier Genetail Nelson A. Miles, Major General ; Colonel B. IT Grierson. Brigadier General ; Henri Find, of Missouri, civil engineer, member of Mississippi River Commission. The Senate has confirmed the following nominations: Frank N. Tillinghast, Surveyor of Customs at Greenport, N. Y.; F. D. Allen, United states Attorney for Massachusetts; E. W. Eakin, Receiver of Public Moneys at Pierre, S. D. Collectors of Customs—F. H. Oakes, at !-a o, Me.; Mm Davis, Natchez, Miss.; G. M. Gleason, Oswegatchie, N. Y. A Providence, R. 1., dispatch says: “The vote for Senator in the recent election, which well represents the legislative vote, was as follows: G. T. Brown (Democratic), 7,147; E. B. Burton (Nationalist), 112; E. C. Pierce (Union), 281; Charles S. Smith (Republican), 6,284; D. F. Thorpe (Prohibition), 509. The next Legislature as iar as chosen stands: Senate—Republican, 21; Democratic, 11; to be chosen. 4. House—Republican, 24; Democratic, 25; to be chosen, 25. The election of Governor and general officer® is thrown into the grand committee of both houses of the new Legislature, and 55 votes are needed to assure a majority.” Creed Haymond, the ex-attorney of the Southern Pacific Railroad, it is said, is a candidate for United States Senator, to succeed Senator Stanford. RAILWAY GOSSIP. The Reading Railroad Company has issued orders to all its Division Superintendents to cut down expenses as much as possible and discharge men wherever their services aie not absolutely necessary. I i consequence a large number of men have been laid off in the Schuylkill Valley, and all work not given out by contract has been stopped. These discharges, coupled with tha 5,000 idle coal mines, will reduce the working force of the company at least 7.000 men. The dullness in the coal trade has stopped fully three-fourths of the collieries and placed the miners on half or one-third , time. ACROSS THE OCEAN. The Berlin correspondent of the Lon- , don Chronicle says that a partially sue- J cessful attempt has been made upon the life of the Czar. The name f the would- < be assassin and the kind of weapon used ; are not known. ( In an interview M. Etienue, French < Minister to the Colonies, said that the French forces in Dahomey were sufficient- * ly strong to cope with their adversaries, ! and that no re-enforcemeuts were neces- ’ sary. The French troops, he said, would ( shortly make an attack upon Whydah, the coast town of Dahomey, where the 1 Dahomians obtained their arms. ( A Zanzibar cable says: Emin Bey has < finally accepted Major Wissmann s proposal to enter the German service in < Africa at a salary of $5,C00 per annum, i has abandoned his contemplated re- (

। turn to Europe and will leave Bagamoyo by the middle of April with a large caravan and 200 Soudani ese under the command of German ; officers for Victoria Nyanza. Emin’s de--1 cision meets with strong disfavor in Zanzibar. Lieut. Ehlers, who left Pan- । gant for Mt. Kilima Njaro with a dei tachment of Major Wissmanu’s troops, । has sent a dispatch stating that Dr. I Peters and Lieut. Tiedemann, with forty ; porters belonging to Dr. Peters’ party, । are safe. Lieut. Tiedemann, however, the dispatch says, is suffering from a slight wound. During the progress of the races at Fowey, in Cornwall, England, a portion of the grand stand thirty feet long collapsed, precipitating 200 persons to the ground. Many of those who fell underneath were injured, some of them, it is feared, fatally. Ths student disorders at St. Petersj burg are pactically ended. Only those . implicated in the disorder of 1888 will be expelled. The American Consul at Plauen has been robbed in a hotel of jewels valued at $5,000. The Portuguese Government has invited one firm in America and several firms in other countries to make tenders for the construction of four uew cruisers. No tenders from English firms are invited. FRESH AND NEWSY. The Pan-American Conference has adopted resolutions setting forth the supposed advantages of an international American monetary union, with coins of uniform weight and fineness to be used in countries represented by the conference, and recommending that a convention to perfect such an arrangement be held in Washington within a year. Missionary representatives of various religious bodies met at New York and expressed sentiments in opposition to the passage of the Chinese enumeration bill, alleging that it vio ates treaty rights and is inimical to the personal safety of American missionaries now in China. A Washington dispatch says that the Board of Ordnance an I Fortification ho’ds that experiments with high explosives should be restricted to what promises ultimate success. It says this is not the case with Americanite, “because the liquid form and the liability to become dangerous through evaporation or by lying m sto’e would forbid its use in the j military service, unless trials should I demonstrate that no other variety free ! from these object ons can be so used.” The steamer Chin । made her last t ip from Sun Francisco to Hong Kong in twenty davs, including the stop at Yokohama, beating the best previous record by two days. Robert Garrett, it is said, will leave Baltimore early next mouth for a European trip. His health is reported to be | much improved. The City of Mexico Diario Hogar save that a revolution has broken out near Iguala, in the State of Guerrero, the government of which is unpopular. The Nineteenth Regular Infantry and a regiment of rangers have left for Iguala. The I’resideut has approved the act to extend to 1 ampa, I la., the privileges of the immediate transportation act; the joint resolution for the relief of sufferers in the Mississippi Valley, and the urgent deficiency appropriation bill. Thirteen Chinese were arrested in au attempt to cross the line between Mexico and the United States at Tiojuaua. They bud come up overlan 1 fiom Ensenada, I ower California, and are thought to be part of the eighty-seven celestials taken there on the last trip of the steamer Newbern from San krancisco. They were transferred to that vessel from the steamer from China. At Portland, Ore., it is reported from a trustworty source that Silcott, the cashier of the Sergeant-at-arms of the House of Representatives, who absconded with about $79,000 belonging to members of the House, has been captured at that place, by a private detective from Denver, Col. President Stanford, of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, expects to resign soon, and go to Germany for his health. A match has been arranged between American and German riflemen. There will be fifteen marksmeu on each side. The crop report sent out ’by the Agricultural Department at Washington shows excellent prospects for farm work thioughout the Northwestern States and an improved condition of the plant in the winter wheat belt. MARKET REPORTS. CHICAGO. ■Cattle—Prime $4.75 ® 5.50 Good 3.50 (a. 4.75 Common 2.50 & 3.50 Hogs—Shipping Grades 3.75 @ 4.50 Sheep 4.00 & 6.50 Wheat—No. 2 Red 78’j@ .79 Corn—No. 2 29 *ig) .30 Oats—No. 2 22 <<U .22)4 Rye—No. 2 .42 & .43* Buttek—Choice Creamery. .20 (gi .22 Cheese—Full Cream, flats lO'a® .11^ Eggs—Fresh IO 1 ..® .11)$ Potatoes, Choice new, per bu... .48 ~®i .57 Pork—Mess 10.50 ©10.75 MILWAUKEE. Wheat—No. 2 Spring .73 @ .74 Corn—No. 3 31 @ .32 Oats —No. 2 White 24^(0) .25 Rye—No. 1 43K© .4D4 Barley—No. 2 .43 © .44* Pork—Mess 10.25 ©lO 75 DETROIT. Caltle 3.00 © 4.25 Hogs 3.00 © 4.25 Sheep 3.50 @ 5.50 Wheat—No. 2 Red 81 © .82 Corn—No. 2 Yellow 29V>© .So’a Oats—No. 2 White 25’«'>© .2614 TOLEDO. Wheat ri © .81^ Corn—Cash 30}^© .21 Oats—No. 2 White 23 *© .23)4 NEW YORK. Cattle 4.00 @ 5.25 Hous 4.25 © 5.00 Sheep 5.25 © 6.75 Wheat—No. 2 Red 88 @ .90 Corn—No. 2 38 @ .39 Oats—Mixed Western 27 © .30 Pobk—New Mess 11.75 @12.25 ST. LOUIS. Cattle • 4.25 © 5.00 Hogs 3,75 © 4.25 Wheat—No. 2 Red 74 @ .741^ Corn—No. 2 26k»@ .27)6 Oats—No. 2 .22 *© .23 Rye—No. 2 41)2© .42)6 INDIANAPOLIS. Cattle—Shipping Steers 3.03 @4.75 Hogs—Choice .Light 3.00 © 4.50 Sheep—Common to Prime 8.00 @ 5.75 Wheat No. 2 Red 79 © 'tso Corn—No. 2 White 30'6© ^31)6 Oats—No. 2 White 24 © 25 CINCINNATI. Hogs 4,00 @ 4.50 Wheat—No. 2 Red 80 © .81 Corn—No. 2 32 @ ‘33 ; Oats-No. 2 Mixed 24'£@ .2516 Rye—No. 2 50 © .61 BUFFALO. Cattle—Good to Prime 4.25 ©4.75 Hogs 4.00 @ 4.75 Wheat—No. 1 Hard 91 @ 92 Corn—No. 2 341^© ’.35^ ;

JJAD FOR TIIE FARMERS. DISCOURAGING CROP REPORTS FROM TUE NORTHWEST. Correspondents in Many Places Report Widespread Damage—The Percentage of Condition Low in Illinois, Indiaqa, Ohio, Kentucky and Missouri—Kansas Holds Her Own. The following will appear in the next issue of the Farmers’ Review of Chicago: “Outside of Kansas the reports from our crop correspondents relative to the condition of winter wheat are very discouraging. Particularly is this true of Illinois and Indiana, where the average for the State will fall almost as low as that of Wisconsin. But six counties in Illinois out of the entire report for that State—viz., Carroll, Clay, Henderson, Kankakee, Lee, and Peoria —estimate the present condition of winter wheat 100 per cent. In all other counties t' e reports of damage range from 10 to 60 ] per cent, two counties, Edgar and Randolph. placing the injury at the Utter high figure. It is safe to say that the average condition of wheat in this State outside the favored counties mentioned above is from 30 to 40 per cent below the usual average at this season. OThe same state of affairs prevails in Indiana, but, seven counties —viz. Martin, Washington. Brown, Elkhart, Greene, Jasper and La Grange—reporting ‘comlition good.’ The per cent of damage is th same, three correspondents estimating the injury at 60 per cent, many others reporting 40 and 50 percent. The bottom lands in Floyd county have been twice overflowed and are now under water. “Our Ohio reports make a better average, but show a great decline in the last few weeks. Adams, Ashtabula, Athens, Butler, Columbiana. Erie, i Guernsey, Huron, Jackson. Noble, Portage, Ross, Trumbull, and Tuscarawas ! counties report condition 100 per cent or I over. In all other counties from which I we have reports the damage will range from 10 to 40 per cent, the average of injury being about 20 per cent. “Kentucky reports sho\v a falling off of about 12 per cent on the general average for the State since our last report. Wheat fields in many counties arc still uninjured and in promising condition, but the loss in other counties has been severe. “The average for Missouri runs about | 61J per cent lower than at the date of our last report, although there are many counties in which the condition is said to be good. “Kansas continues to hold her own bravely, the reports showing only .a slight decline from the average last reported. Fifteen counties report injury from frost and dry cold winds ranging ' from 10 to 20 per cent, but in the majority of the counties heard from condition is reported 100 per cent or over. “In Michigan and Wisconsin the con- , dition of wheat lias continued to decline. But two counties in the last named State. Dane and Eau Claire, report condition 100 per cent. Other counties have suffered from 10 to 50 per cent. Chippewa, Portage, and Sheboygan counties are still covered with snow and Waushara county Is said to be ‘mostly under ice and water.’ Barry is the only county in Michigan in which the wheat is said to be in good condition. Einmet and Grand Traverse counties are as yet snow-covered. “We summarize the reports of correspondents relative to condition as follows: Illinois, 76 per cent; Indiana, 76 p A r cent; Ohio. 88 per cent; Missouri, S 4 per cent; Kentucky, 87 per cent; Kansas. J 2 per cent; Wisconsin, 72 per cent; Michigan, 67 per cent.” NATIONAL DEBT STATEMENT. Outsiiinding Obligations of tlie Government ami Cash on Hand. Washington dispatch: The following is a synopsis of the government debt statemeht April 1: interest-bearing debt. Bonds at 4)4 per cent $113,847,000 Bonds at 4 per cent 690,444.153 Refunding certificates at 4 per cent 107,870 Navy pension fund at 3 percent 14,000,000 Pacific railroad bonds at 6 per. cent 64,633,512 Principal $802,122,532 Interest 8,904,025 Total $811,026,557 TOTAL DEBT. Principal $1,509,808,480 Interest 9,054,064 Total . y $1,599,862,544 Less cash items available for reduction of debt $444,089,030 Less reserve held for redemption of U. S. uptes 100,000.000 • 534.089,030 T : il debt less available cash items $1,035,773,514 Net cash in the treasury 32,615,842 Debt less cash in the treasury April 1, 1890 $1,023,157,672 Debt less cash in the treasury March 1, 1890 1,034,547.529 Decrease of debt during month....s 11,389,857 Decrease of debt since Jan. 30.1889 53,488.949 CASH IN THE TREASURY AVAILABLE FOR REDUCTION OF THE PUBLIC DEBT. Gold held for gold securities actually outstanding $ 134,938,079 Silver held for silver certificates actually outstanding 290,605,562 United States notes held for certificates of deposit actually outstanding 7 660 000 Cash held for matured debt and interest unpaid 10,885,170 L factional currency 219 Total available for reduction of the debt $ 454,089,030 RESERVE FUND. Held for redemption of United States notes, acts Jan. 14, 1875, and July 12. 18S2 $ 100,000,000 UNAVAILABLE FOR REDUCTION OF THE DEBT Fractional silver coin.s 22,814,564 Minor coin 233,254 Total $ 23,047,818 Certificates held as cash 20.012.101 Net cash balance on hand 32.615,842 Total cash in the treasury as shown by treasurer’s general aecoun t $ 628,764,791 Told In a Few Words. Louis Mogler, a Helena. Ark., saloonkeeper, was shot and killed by Louis Koehler. Noah L. Rosenburger of Philadelphia, dealer in woolens, has faileddebts $90,000. James Lamerson, the wealthie-t farmer in Warren county, New Jersey, has failed. Debts. $50,000. 1 he Berlin Post positively denies the truth of the report of the betrothal of Princess Victoria to Prince Albert of Saxe-Altenberg.

THE SENATE AND HOUSR NATIONAL LAW-MAKERS AND WIIAT THEY AKE DOING. * Proceedings of the Senate and House of Representatives — Important Measiir eg Discussed and Acted On—Gist of the Business* In the Senate, on the Ist inst., the House biff authorizing the Mississippi River Commission to jiurchase or hire such boa:s as may be imine diatoly necessary to rescue inhabitants of th. overflowed districts und to use the boats tn that purpose was laid before the Senate and u’n passed immediately. Among the bills reported from the committees and placed on the calm <lar wus the House bill to amend the census la" in relation to Chinese residents. Then at p on motion of Mr. Edmunds, the Senate rrn! ceeded to the consideration of executive busl ness. When the doors were reopened the San ate adjourned. In the House Mr. Oates, of Ala buma.i from the Committee on the J lidiciarv reported u resolution reciting that it is allevZi by the Attorney, General that in many Unitsd Siates District Courts the practice of suspend ing sentence after conviction in criminal ciism prevails without warrant of law, and that in some parts of the country United States Dig triqt Attorneys, Marshals and deputies and United states ComurisHioners have leen guilty of maladministration and corruption in offiea and directing the Committee on J udiclary to in quire into the extent, cause, and effect of such illegal practice. Adopted. The followins bills were passed: Providing that depysi tions of witnesses before United (Kates Courts may be taken in the mode prescribed by the laws of the States in which such courts may be held. Limiting to six years tne time within which suits maybe brought against accounting officers and their bondsmen. To continue the publication of the Re" vised Statues. Exempting from the provisions of the law requiring steamers to carry life lines boats plying on inland waters. Author, izing the construction of bridges across the lowa River at or near Wapello, lowa. Transferring from Galena, 111., to Dubuque, Iowa" the offices of Inspectors of Hulls ami Boilers’ Senate bill creating the offices of Surveyors Gi neral in North and South Dakota. Admitting free of duty articles from Mexico to the St. Louis Exposition of lb9U. The fortifications anpropriation bill, with an amendment providing that the board which inquires into facilities for producing steel forgings shall extend its inquiries to the Indianapolis arsenaL The bill appropriates $4,521,678. Appropriitlilg s'J2,oi<lo r i la . I proving tne Zoological Park in the District of I Columbia, the District to bear half the expense The naval appropriation bill was reported by Mr, Bontelle and placed upon the calendar. Ths death of Representative Wilber, of New York, was anuounced, and us a mark of respect.to his memory the House adjourned. In the Senate on the 2d inst. the Judiciary Committee reported favorably the bill declaring trusts unlawful. The bill declare®every contract or combination in the form of a trust or conspiracy in restraint of trade orcoinmerca ami ng Tie several States or with foreign nations to be illegal. Every person who shall mate <Ry nuph contract or engage in any such 1 cuwbinaiion or conspiracy shall be deemed I guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction shall ■ be punished by u fine not exceeding $5,000 or by imprisonment not exceeding one year or by both. Circuit courts ore invested with jurisdietion over cases arising under the act. The Senate spent the afternoon in the discussion of the Montana election cui-e. Senator Gray, of Delaware, occupied most of the time with his argument in favor of McGinnis and Clark, the Demociutic contestants Senator Evarts introdiico.l a resolution expressing the Senate s deep regre‘ at the death of Congressman David Wilber. of New York. The Vice President appointed a joint committee to act with the House committee wiih reference to the funeral arrangements, after which, on motion of Mr. Evarts, us a further mark of respect the Senate adjourned. , In the House a bill was passed continuing ! in force the act authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Mississippi River at f orest River, S. Dak. The Senate bill authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Brazos River near its mouth was also passed. The following bridge bills were also passed : Across the Missouri River between lowa und Nebraska ; across the Arkansas River ut Pendleton, Ark. ; across the White River by the Mississippi and Little Rock Railroad Company. Authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Hudson River from Jersey City to New Y'ork. The House then 1 -oceeded to the consideration of the Idaho admissi. n bill and the debate had not closed when the House adjourned. The Senate spent most of the session in debating the Chinese enumeration bill, which finally went over. The Montana Senatorial contest was also discussed and laid over without action. Senate bills were passed appropriating $75,000 for a public building at Aurora, 111.; appropriating SIOO,OOO for a public building at Ixjadville, Col.; to reorganize and establish the customs district of Puget Sound. In the House Lfie Seriate concurrent resolution w its agreed to requesting the President to invite fifom time to Aime, as fit occasion may arise, negotiations with any Government with which the United States may have diplomatic relations, to the end that any differences or disputes arising between the Governments which can not be adjusted by diplomatic agency may be referred to arbitration. A bill was passed authorizing the Secretary of War to deliver to the State of Colorado flogs carried by Colorado rigiments. Mr. Lawler, of Illinois, introduced a bill to test the science of short spelling and to establish 100 schools for that purpose. Referred. The House then resumed the consideration of the Idaho admission bill. On the final vote for the passage of the bill the Democrats refused to vote, as no quorum of Representatives was present. The Speaker counted a sufficient number of Democrats to form a quorum and the bill was declared jiassed. The bill as passed declares Idaho to be a State of the Union and on an equal footing with the original States, and that the Constitution which the people of Idaho have framed for theins ves is accepted, ratified, and confirmed. The special feature ot the constitution adopted by the pi ople of Idaho, which hud attracted attention during the deoate, is that which disfranchises all persons who ara bigamists or polygamists, or living in what is known as patriarchal, plural or celestial marriage. or who in any manner teach polygamy, <>B are members or contributors to any’organization which teaches, advises, counsels or encourages polygamy. The House, after the passage of the bill, adjourned. The Senate was not in session on the 4th inst. In the House, after the reading of the journal the House proceeded to the consideration of various private pension bills. In speaking on one of these bills Mr. Stone, of Missouri, declared that no people had been so despoiled and burdened under the name of patriotism and under the guise of pension laws as had the people ( of the United States. He denounced the demands of the Grand Army of the Republic and asserted that the Presidency was put up and sold to the highest bidder. He believed that the Government had been generous enough to the soldiers. He favored a liberal system of pension laws, but he entered his earnest protest against indefensible extravagance in public expenditure. He favored the granting of liberal pensions to true and brave soldiers, but he was opposed to granting pensions to undeserving soldiers or to bounty-jumpers. Mr. Lane, of Illinois, in favoring the bills said the . Democrats of Illinois did not iud.«se the words of the gentleman from Missouri, but believed as he (Lane) did, that the Government hail not done justice to the men who had defended it in its hour of peril. Mr. Chipman, of Michigan, criticised and denounced the speech made by the gentleman from Missouri. It was not the time to talk of the cost of pensions. He well remembered the day when cost was not counted ; when the government was prodigal of money and lavish of blood ; when the motives which brought men under the flag w ere not scanned and analyzed; w r hen the man who enlisted was the hero of the hour. Then no man was mean enough to suggest that men went out to risk their lives for the paltry pay of sl6 a mouth. The gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Stone) cried a halt, but the time for a LaJ had not come and would not come until reasonable provision was made for the needs of every soldier of the country. The country needad a service pension; it needed an increased pension for the deaf and dumb; it needed a pension for widows, and it mailed a law estaJlishing a rule of testimony in pension cases, whereby the oath of a private soldier would receive as much credence as that of an officerThe pension system must .continue untM the last soldier who served the country in the war wife dead "and gathered to his fathers,- ’ ’ v4^ Ages of Rulers. Otho, King of Bavaria, 41X ears oldQueen Victoria, 70j£ years old, 52 years of reign. Carlo 1., of Portugal, 26 years old, 2 months of reign. Alexander 1., of Servia, years old, 9 months of reign. Leo NHL, who is 79% years old h» s reigned nearly 12 years. Alfonso NIU. of Spain, 3% years old, with 3X years of reign. Louis, Grand Duke of Russia, 52 years o4d with 12 years of reign.