St. Joseph County Independent, Volume 22, Number 27, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 23 January 1897 — Page 6

Independent. W. A. ?2JXr>UISY, ?’ubll»h»r. WALKERTON, - - - INDIANA «' .■■.— ■■ —| TO FREE AMERICANS. AMNESTY FOR POLITICAL PRISONERS IN CUBA. Competitor’s Crew, Julio Sancuilly and Henry Delgado Among Those Who Will Be Released—Balance of Trade in 1896—Filibusters Win. Alfonso to Celebrate His Birth. Washington dispatch: The amnesty proclamation to be issued by the Spanish government on the king’s “saint day,” . it is said, will give pardons in full to all political prisoners now confined in Cuban jails. Among those to be released by its provisions are: The Competitor prisoners, Captain Alfredo Laborde, William Gildea, Mate John Melton. Dr. Elias Bedia and Teodora Mata; Julio Sanguilly, who has been condemned to what is practically life imprisonment: Henry Delgado, said to be a corresponhdent of a New <York newspaper; Dr. Betancourt, who was arrested. recently under suspicion of lie- ynev citizens are said to be in jail in various parts of the island, and in the general jail delivery contemplated on young Alfonso’s birthday they will be set free. The Madrid Heraldo asserts that the 1 nited States has refused to continue the negotiations to restore peace in Cuba on the ground that the time for such negotiations has passed. In official circles, however, it is reiterated that such negotiations were never instituted. In Favor of Three Friends. At Jacksonville, Fla., in the Three Friends filibustering case, the point was raised by counsel for the defense that inasmuch as the Cuban insurgents had not been recognized by the United States government they were neither a people . nor a body politic as defined by section 5.283, under which the libel was drawn. This was sustained by Judge Locke. The officials of the Department of Justice at Washington state that if the Judge at the final hearing sustains the decision an appeal will likely be taken to the I nited State Supreme Court. Should Judge Eocke’s decision be sustained by the court of last resort it would appear that every inhibition in the act against fitting out hostile expeditions of every character against a foreign state with which the United States are at peace becomes of no effect. After the Union Pacific. The Government is making extraordinary haste in preparing the papers in the Union Pacific foreclosure proceedings. Secretary Carlisle, Attorney General Harmon and ex-Governor Hoadly. on behalf of the Government and Chairman Fitzgerald of the Union Pacific reorganization committee, and Winslow S. Pierce, its attorney, on the other side, have been in continuous session, and the formal order has issued to file cross bills in pending foreclosure suits to make the Government a party thereto. This move is a stab at the Huntington scheme for a commission to settle the Pacific roads indebtedness. Foreclosure and the survival of the fittest is the program. Our Trade with the World. The figures of the Bureau of Statistics, for the calendar year 1896, show that the excess of exports of merchandise from this country over the imports for that period amounted to the sum of $325,322,184. This breaks the record of this country's excess of exports over imports. The year that came nearest to it was 1878, when the excess of exports over imports was $305,279,590. Coming at the same time with other conditions analogous to those obtaining in early days at the time of prosperity that began in 1879, the figures of the Bureau of Statistics cause many persons to believe that a similar era of good times is beginning. A Fiend Confesses. Sam Palatka has confessed at Atlanta, Ga., that he caused the great Cahaba (Ala.) bridge disaster, which sent thirtyfive persons to death and wounded and maimed a score more. "I did it, said Palatka. “I wanted money. It’s nobody’s business what 1 wanted it for. There were plenty of dead folks with money—one man had ssoo—-but before I could* get at it the live ones got up and the crowds came. I skipped out then. NEWS NUGGETS. Charles Warren Fairbanks was elected United States Senator to succeeu Daniel W. Voorhees by the Indiana Legislature Tuesday. The Countess Castellano, formerly Miss Anna Gould, gave birth to a son at Paris Monday. Mother and child are doing well. Miss Gould was married to Count Castellane March 4, 1896. William Ernest Mason, of Chicago, won the Illinois Senatorial battle at Springfield Tuesday night, after a sternly contested effort in which fourteen candidates participated. He was finally nominated by acclamation, Martin B. Madden having withdrawn several days before, and — William Lorimer withdrawing when he saw his case was hopeless. At Bombay the situation is growing rapidly worse and the exodus from the city on account of the plague continues. The official returns issued Monday show that there have been 3,633 cases of the plague recorded and 2..>92 deaths from the pestilence. The Times of India complains that the sanitary conditions of Bombay have been allowed to deteriorate for ten years past. It adds that the whole future trade of the city is involved and that no expense upon the part of the Government to stamp out the plague can be too costly. Rudd Smith, one of the best-known newspaper writers and editors in New York, was accidentally killed by gas escaping from a defective jet in his room. Ex-Mayor Frank McGowan, of Trenton N. J., is reported to have married Mrs. Barnes, with whose husband he recently compromised a suit for alienating her affections. The Supreme Court of the United States has decided that portion of the South Carolina dispensary law providing for the inspection of liquors imported into the State, to be unconstitutional.

EASTERN. Devlin A- Co.. New York, dealers in clothing, have assigned to Edward Wantz. The company was incorporated in 1891 with a capital stock of $300,900. Thomas H. Platt won the nomination for United States Senator in the. New York Republican legislative caucus, defeating Rufus 11. Cheat by the decisive vote of 147 to 7. Four men were crushed to death at the Wadesville colliery of the Philadelphia Reading Coal and Iron Company by the breaking of a rope. Considerable damage was done to the colliery. Five persons were seriously injured and about thirty others more or less cut and bruised by an accident Thursday morning at Pittsburg, on the Penn avenue branch of the Consolidated Traction Company. 11. Cavalier Smith and Mrs. C. C. Pinkney Norris, prominent in Philadelphia society, have eloped and are on their way to Japan. Mrs. Norris deserted two children and Mr. Smith is the .ather of five children. Fire Thursday night destroyed the famous old stone barn, opposite the General Wayne Hotel, Narberth, Pa., which has been a familiar landmark for more than a century. General Washington's ■ troops were quartered there on one occasion during the revolutionary war. All the live stock was Saved. The Baltimore and Norfolk Line steamer Howard which left Boston Tncsdny flag at half-mast on account of the suicide of Captain John E. Taylor of the steamer. Captain Taylor shot himself through the head. His vessel some days ago had been in collision with the tug Job Wilson, in which two sailors of the tug were drowned. WESTERN. The District Court at Denver hits decided that gold contracts are valid. Richard C. Kerens has been nominated for United States Senator by the Republicans in the Missouri Legislature, defeating Chauncey Ives Filley. Marcus S. Parmele, the ex-real estate and loan broker of Rockford, who was indicted for embezzlement, pleaded guilty and received a sentence under the indeterminate law. John D. Rockefeller was re-elected superintendent of the Sunday school of the Euclid Avenue Baptist Church, Cleveland. It was announced that a donation of $20,000 had been made by Mr. Rockefeller for benevolent work.

The Missouri House of Representatives has shelved the Piper resolution asking for an investigation of the St. Louis police department by a decisive vote. The bills prohibiting the playing of football Thanksgiving Day and baseball Sunday were given the same treatment. A bill has been introduced in the House by request of the Missouri division of the Travelers’ Protective Association reducing railroad passenger rates to 2 cents a mile. Six hundred settlers, representing every section of the Chickasaw Nation, assembled in convention at Ardmore. I. T.. and adopted resolutions protesting against the Choctaw treaty negotiated by the Dawes commission. The terms of the treaty, it is claimed, make the settlers intruders and confiscate the improvements made by them on Indian lands. S. M. Talbert, a farmer, was delegated to go to AN ashing ton and present the claims of the settlers before Secretary Francis. A horrible accident occurred in the Adit Mining Company’s tunnel near Ward. Colot, kite Tuesday afternoon. John W. Glover and Harry Glover, contractors, and T. A. Degarmo and John AA . Schreiver were killed by the explosion of thirtyfive pounds of giant powder. The cause of the explosion is not known. The bodies of the men were terribly mutilated and identification was impossible, the walls of the tunnel being covered with shreds of human flesh for many yards. Alva Adams, the new Governor of Colorado. arrived in Leadville Friday morning, in company with Maj. Gen. Brooks of the State militia. The Governor will personally investigate the strike situation in the hope that some arrangement may be made for the arbitration of the strike, which for seven months has practically paralyzed the great mining camp and cost the State nearly a quarter of a million dollars for the maintenance of a military guard for the miners. Adj.-Gen. Moses has wired orders to a Columbus clothing firm f<v uniforms for the ;>OO citizens of Leadville who have enlisted in the State militia since the occupation of the camp by the troops. This is believed to mean that the non-resident militiamen are all to be withdrawn. Much Kaffir corn was raised in the vicinity of Emporia. Kan., the last year, and most of the farmers have been feeding it generally to all kinds of live stock. For some time past the butter made in Lyon County has been tainted some, ami many complaints were made by customers. What the cause was could not be ascertained until Friday, when J. B. Bender, a farmer, reported to the officers of the Dairy Association it was caused by feeding Kaffir corn to milch cows. He says he made the discovery by happening for a few days to run short of Kaffir corn for the cows, himself and family immediately noticing the improvement in the taste of the butter. The association will take the matter up at its next meeting, and warn farmers not to use much Kaffir corn in the future. Before retiring from office Gov. Stone of Missouri pardoned Jim French, one of the most notorious criminals in the West. When Chief of Detectives Desmond of St. Louis heard of French's release he | wired nearby cities his description, and later mailed a circular to all the chiefs of police. There are numerous charges against French. He is wanted by the Federal authorities at De Soto. Mo., for blowing a safe at that place. He secured SI,BOO in the job. He is also wanted at Walden, Mo., for cracking a safe in the postoffice. in company with Johnny Burns, and taking from it S3OO in stamps. He is wanted also in luka. 111., for crooked work. His pal in the luka job was sentenced to twelve years in the penitentiary. Chief Desmond thinks he can convict him of complicity in the I’ope's Theater safe robbery in St. Louis four years ago. Denman Thompson’s celebrated “Old Homestead” is on for its annual engagement at McVicker's Theater in Chicago. “The Old Homestead” has been spoken of as the most brilliant skit on country life ever produced on the stage. Yet those who imagine it to be all froth and glitter are mistaken, for Denman Thompson tells a powerful story, and tells it well. He has tried to teach a lesson while amusing his audience. How well he succeeded is

known to everyone. The lines in “The Old Homestead” literally sparkle with that keen wit and telling satire for which the Yankee is famed, being like rap| er thrusts that tickle and raise the skin and anon pierce deep. The characters clean-cut, the moral is good, and the tendency of the play is toward that greater good will toward man, that believers i n the millennium are constantly seeking fo r Among the many excellent features which gave "The Old Homestead” such pop u . larity in past seasons were the musical features. Not dragged in to impede the action of the play, but coming in naturally, ami belonging to and being a part of the action itself. The double quartet that wns with them before is still one of the charming features of the play. The old songs seem appropriate. Hundreds of excited and indignant the-ater-goers took the high hat question into their own hands Sunday night at the> Columbia Theater in Chicago by hisses and yells that amounted to a tumult J They compelled every woman who was present at the first night of Sousa s “E1 Capitan” to sit bareheaded through the performance—all but those in the boxes and one woman in the parquet, who, in spite of the yells and catcalls that came down at her from the balcony and gallery, kept her wide-brimmed headgear on all through the opera. The noisy demonstra-I tion began before the curtain went up for I the first act, and continued till after the! opera had begun, drowning out. the music | and for a few minutes threatening to body knows who started the demonstra- i tion. From the suddenness of the outburst it might have suggested itself to Da hundred persons at the same instant. 1 I began with yells of “Hats off.” that we/ n interspersed with hisses and groans nsJ some of the women showed a disposition not to obey. When the hisses came the hats in the parquet and dress circle went off ns if they had been caught by a gale from behind. Every woman who entered the theater with her hat on made a nervous grab at the hat pins as soon ns she divined the import of the demonstration. Never did hats conn l off so quickly from feminine heads as they did for the five minutes before the performance began. Women came down the aisle with hair disordered from the quick withdrawn! of but pins, mid with faces more red than the plush upholstery of the seats.

Vv asHINGTON. The civil service commission wifi hold mi examination in Washington mid all other large cities where there are applicants. Feb. 10, to fill a vacancy in the position of expert horticulturist in the office of experiment stations, Department of Agriculture. At a conference Friday at Canton between President-elect McKinley and Senator John Sherman there was consummated that which has been foreshadowed by the political incidents of several days pnst. Senator Sherman was formally tendered mid accepted the premiership of the incoming administration. The conference was held at the Major's home in Canton mid at its conclusion Senator Sherman said: "1 have been offered and have accepted the State portfolio.” Under the allotment of Government lands to the various agricultural colleges an error was made, charging the Missouri Agricultural College with 24,000 acres of land which it never received. Many <“ forts have be<»: made to correct the error without avail. Secretary Francis has just allowed the claim and issued an order permitting the college to select 24.000 acres of Government hind in Missouri. (Jen. J. B. I lougliisH. speehil Agent of the university, estimates the hind to lw worth $20,000. Washington dispatch: The strongest kind of pressure is being brought to bear upon I'resident-cleet McKinley to induce him to suspend the civil service law until he can have a chance to provide patronage for a reasonable number of Republican office-seekers. It is claimed by the civil service commission, ami by those who assume to be authority in the matter, that the President has no power to suspend the operation bf the law after the rules have been put in force, but upon tais point there appears to be a difference of opinion. Gov. Grosvenor, who has just returned^ from a conference with Major McKinley at Canton, is strongly of the opinion that the President has the authority to pdopt the plan suggested and also thinks that he ought to do so. The general believes that to the victor should be distributed a fair share of the spoils. He. like all other Republican members of Congress, is overwhelmed with demands from constituents for places, and he finds there are no places to give, or only a meager allowance at best. The general did not say the President-elect was impressed with the arguments brought by the spoilsmen, but he is very earnest in saying that all legitimate pressure will be brought to bear upon him to the end that Republican workers can secure more recognition than is now in siglit.

FOREIGK. Maximo Gomez is reported to have captured the town of Santa Clara and to be marching on Havana with 18,000 insurgents. During the fight at Santa Clara Insurgent General Banders is said to have been killed. The Cuban committee in Rio Janeiro continues active work in behalf of the revolutionists. The committee Tuesday renewed its demand upon the Government for the recognition of belligerency. The demand will be answered evasively or else entirely ignored. , The budget committee of the German reichstag has voted the initial grant of 50,000 marks to provide for Germany’s participation in the Paris exposition in 19(H). Dr. von Boetticher, minister for the interior, declared that the total to be asked for this purpose will not exceed 5,000.000 marks. A Rome dispatch to the London Daily News says that news has been received from Macedonia that bands of starving Turkish troops have sacked Greek and Bulgarian villages and have killed the villagers. This dispatch also says that Italy has ordered the squadron which recently returned from Turkish waters to be ready to start again at a moment’s notice. A dispatch received at London from Brass, Guinea coast, dated Jan. 4, announces that Captain Boisragon and Consular Officer Locke, two of the party headed by Consul Phillips, which was almost annihilated by the natives of Benin City while on a peaceful mission to that district and unarmed, have been saved after wandering in the bush for a week. Both men were wounded and there is no hope of any further rescues. Twenty of the native carriers have returned. The newspaper Heraldo, Valparaiso,

Chill, commenting on the arbitration treaty between the United States and England, says: "It amounts to a solid alliance of two of the greatest powers of the world for the maintenance of peace between Europe and America,, anil what is more important from the American point of view is that it is an alliance to uphold the Monroe doctrine.” Other newspapers comment favorably on the. treaty and praise the work of President Cleveland, Secretary Olney and Lord Salis- . bury. । The New York Herald Thursday mornJig publishes a letter from Mrs. Hodson, tfife of the English manager of the docks near Cavite, the ednterof the rebellion of t^e Philippines. It says the Mestisos and other native Philippine employes of the dock rose against their employers and threatened murder, even against English people, who were hitherto regarded safe, as the native hostility was believed to he solely directed against the Spaniards. Mr. and Mrs. Hodson sent notes to friends U Manila, Hong-Kong and Shanghai from heir hiding place inside a large disused filer, where they took refuge from rifle Jots. Faithful natives carried their letVs safely. What steps were taken by he British gunboats at Manila to secure rf®!- rescue is not yet-known, but it is ■J ear that the immunity hitherto enjoyed Joy other foreigners than Spaniards is at I'm end. I Advices from Bombay say: The plague t'ontinues as bad as over and there is litjr^ prospect of its abating for some time | M ^jfilU£^_Xll£_£lflkjal_r<2£ords are getting fearer the truth now. but the real state affairs is certainly alarming. The »»)nic has been renewed and the exodus ■rom the city has commenced with a venBeance. Indeed, it may fairly be said that ■housands of people are running away rom the place. Going toward the Bun'ers the other day your correspondent aw crowds of people running along the oad, carrying bundles of their belongngs with them and dragging their chilren behind them. A few of them were |':ed the reason of their haste, and the iwer was that they were going off to ir villages down the coast to get away m the plague and the authorities, who re anxious to secure the lives of 19,0(10 ,ple for the recent outrage of the jen’s statue. They seriously believed t 10,000 innocents were to be slaughed and were determined not to be ong the number of victims. Hence y were hurrying to catch the steamer, ut,” it was pointed out, “there is plenof time. Why hurry? The steamer ^■ll not start for four hours more." The answer was returned that thousands more w^mld be hurrying to the spot directly and trfey were afraid of being left behind. IN GENERAL

The Dominion Savings Bank of Yar mouth N. S., has been closed by order of the Government. Ihe accounts will be transferred to the postotfice savings bank, n governmeiW institution, and dei>ositors will suffer no loss or inconvenience. The account given by the master of the Dauntless of the recent movements of the suspected filibuster, ns contained in his affidavit, which reached the Treasury DepnAmcnt Tuesday, is wholly unsatisfuc10’1 to the officials and this fact has been Cinmunicated to the collector ut JucksonvlL together with instructions not to gS| the clearance asked for. Nothing f J :,er in the mutter is likely to be done HfPjie officials, for the present at least. If^ne Dauntless attempts to leave the haß *>r sho will be forcibly detained by the reljiiuo cutters and possibly libeled. " A „ Wrekb Ko' ■ im- cn-nieHi growth and p r , "ie country hud ever seen came ■■ndenly in 1879, after several months of disamioinfment because specie resumptionwad not yet brought the benefits expectW. It takes time for new confidence to rdach through easier money markets, large .orders, resuming mills, expanding employment and large distribution, to the results which make still greater and lusting gain possible. Such gradual and steady improvement has 1 cen in progress for more than two months. Money markets feel a steady increase in demand for commercial and manufacturing loans. Additional works went into operation each week in January and the working force is larger than at any other time for six months. Best of all, there is so little crazy excitement that the gain may be ascribed <o the deliberate judgment of the ablest and most prudent men In .business. It is not n time of high prices. Many who are anxious to get early hold on the market are making for the moment lower prices than they could afford to maintain. Some have secured orders enough for months to come, and begin to be less keen in competition.” iMARKET REPORTS. Chicago—Cattle, common to prime, $3.50 to $5.75; hogs, shipping gradop, $3.00 td53.75; sheep, fair to choice, $2.60 to $4.00; wheaL No. 2 red, 77c to 78e; corn, No. 2,22 cto 23c; oats, No. 2, 15e to 17c; 'rye, No. 2,37 cto 39c; butter, choice creamery, 18c to 20c; eggs, fresh, 13c to 15c: potatoes, per bushel, 20c to ’3oc; broom corn, common green to fine brush, 2%c to 5 J 4c per pound. Indiankpolis—Cattle, shipping, $3.00 to $5.25; hogs, choice liglrt, $3.00 to $3.75; sheep, good to choice, s2.no to $3.75; wheat, No. 2, S7c to 89c; corn. No. white, 20e to 22c; oats, No. 2 white, -Tc i-Cattle, s3.e to $5.25; hogs, $3.00 to f 5.75; wheat, No. 2,89 cto 90c; corn, No. 2 yellow, 20c to 21c; oats, No. 2 white, ihc-to 18c; rye, No. 2,34 cto 36c. Cincinn iti—Gattie, $2.50 to $5.00; hogs, $3.00 t<K3.75; sheep, s2rso to $4.00; wheat, K, 2,92 cto 94c; corn, No. 2 mixed, 22a! to 23c; oats, No. 2 mixed, 19c to 20c; ryi, No. 2,35 cto 37c. Detroit--Cattle. $2.50 to $5.25; hogs. $3.00 tol 53.75; sheep. $2.00 to $3.75; wheat. No 2 red, 90c to 91c; corn. No. 2 yellow, 2f< to 23c; oats, No. 2 white, 19c to 21c; r* i 38c to 40c. Toledo— jkheat, No. 2 red, 91c to 93c; corn, No. jßnixed, 21c to 23c; oats, No. 2 white, ll^Ho 18c; rye. No. 2,37 cto 38c; clover see^®s.2O to $5.30. 51 ilwauk®-Wheat. No. 2 spring. 77c to 79c; cor^»o. 3,19 cto 21c; oats ; No. 2 white, 20c; barley, No. 2,25 cto 35c; ryes | '• 1,39 cto 40c; pork, mess, $7.50 to SBJ °- Buffalo—( attle, $2.50 to $5.00; hogs, $3.00 to $! 25 i sheep, $2.00 to $4.25; wheat, No. ’ re< ^- ’*4c to 95c; corn, No--2 yellow. 21 5 to oats, No. 2 white. 21c to 23c. ■ _ , New Yorl rCattle, $3.00 to $5.20; hogs. $3.00 to $< sheep, $2.00 to ^..>o; wheat. No ! red > 88c to 90c: corn ' 28c to 30c f S ’ No ' 2 White ’ f v- ? butter, crer U Cry ’ 15c to 21c; cggS ’ e era, 13c to f'

PRICES A RE TOO HIGH WHAT CITY PEOPLE HAVE TO PAY TO LIVE. Farm Produce of All Descriptions Very Plentiful but Retailers Tuck On the Charges — How Woodman AV ould Handle Panics —Bank Failures Life in a Great City. The Chicago Evening Post of Monday says: "Housewives who believe their grocers are charging tbo much for eggs, butter and vegetables would do well to remind tradesmen that: the conditions on South Water street do not warrant fancy prices on these necessaries just now. All over the city to-day grocers, with few exceptions, asked customers 22 cents or more for eggs. If your suave grocer charges you more than 15 cents for eggs this evening when you do your marketing lor morning so as to save an early trip out in the cold, refuse to pay that price. Tell him that the merohants on the street would consider themselves fortunate if they could dispose of large lots at 13 cents a dozen. Receipts of eggs continue large and besides there is a cold-storage stock of 40,000 cases, each containing thirty dozen. Seldom before at this time of the year have-eggs been so plentiful and so cheap in the market. There is a bountiful supply o/ vegetables, fruits and products of the dairy, all very reasonable in price, but the grocer who retails affects dense ignorance of this fact. By wilfully keeping up his prices rhe retailer is technically guilty of dishonesty. Those who pay cash for their purchases need not have any trouble on this score; the ‘book’ customers might try threats of transferring their trade from the greedy grocers.” More Banks Are Closed. National Bank Examiner Eseott Monday morning closed the doors of the German National Bunk at Louisville. Ky.. .1. M. McKnight. president. The capital stock of the institution is $251,5(1(1, with a surplus of s3l,<HM>. The bank is an old one. but for some time past it has been regarded as unsafe. The First National Bunk of Newport, Ky.. closed its doors Monday morning. Heavy investments in real estate in that city are said to be the cause. The failure was a great surpris ■ to the business men of the city. The bank had a capital of $200,900, and Dec. 17. the date of its last report, it had surplus and undivided profits amounting to $79,453. owed depositors $419,805 and owed other banks about $2(1.000. The Minnesota State Savings Bank at St. Paul, Minn., closed its doo: Monday morning and filed a deed of assignment, naming William Bickel as assignee. An affidavit was filed stating that the assets would amount to about $250.(100. while the liabilities are in the neighborhood of $230,000. To Head Off P.mtcs. A Washington correspondent says: "Squire Woodman, of Chicago, has left the (’uban cause long enough to present an argument before the House Committee on Banking and Currency favoring the creation of a people’s emergency reserve fund for use in panicky times when mon cv cannot be hud through usual channels for love of diamonds. His plan is tor the (bo ernment to issue SI(M)JMKI,O(MI in low interest bonds of popular denominations, redeemable at the treasury, nt the option ~f (he hohhr. This, lie thinks, would be a safeguard for tin- minimization of individual bankruptcy in periods ot currency construction and business depression. It would be a species of Federal savings bank, preparations for which should be made in good or normal times. ’

BREVITIES, Gov. Budd of California declared Saturday a legal holiday, to celebrate the defeat of the funding b 11 in the House of Representatives. Edward AV. Emerson, of Concord, son of Ralph Waldo Emerson, has been chosen as poet for Phi Beta Kappa day at Harvard next June. The British Indian troopship Warren Hastings was wrecked off the Island of Reunion. Island of Mauritius, Thursday. The troops and crew, numbering 1,232 men, were all saved. Prof. Frederich. of Elbing, has notified the Vienna Academy of his discovery of a new kind of Roentgen ray. which will infallibly determine in a subject whether death or a catalepsy has intervened. Fire Friday morning caused the almost total loss of the finest business block in Milan. Mo. This is the fifth time in nine years that the business portions of the city have been ruined by fire. Each time the fire was of incendiary origin. Some parties are being (Severely censured for the fire, and if a reasonable amount of proof is found a lynching is sure to follow. The London Star follows the example of the Chronicle in seconding the suggestion that a day be appointed for a joyful celebration of the signing by the United States and Great Britain of a general treatv of arbitration. The Star, however, goes'a step, further than the Chronicle, favoring the appointing of a peace da> f or simultaneous l elefiration on both sides of the Atlantic ocean. ’ The Berlin Lokal Anzeiger publishes a dispatch from St. Petersburg reporting a lamentable incident which base occurred in the Czar's presence. The Czar, it seems beckoned to a gardener who was working in the park at Tzarskoeselo. The guard, seeing the man running toward the Czar shot him dead, supposing he was a would-be assailant. The Czar was deeply affected by this occurrence. From the latest Alaskan advices it is apparent that the former lawless spirit prevalent in the territory is being supplanted bv a wholesome respect for law and order of the District Court, which has just finished the winter session in Tuneau. A notable incident was the indictment of Joseph Murray by the Grand Jury for libel. Carl Christensen, a professor in M aterloo.'lowa. College, is under-arrest at Boston for stealing books from the I’ ll ]’'; 0 library Books from the Hanford Public Library were also found in his possession. He calls himself a kleptomaniac. Republicans of the Oregon L< gislature have renomiimted John 11. Mitchell for United States Senator. A portion of the Buckners Orphan Home, in the suburbs of Dallas, Tex., burned at midnight Friday rive boys perished and a number of others were injured.

SENATE AND HOUSE. WORK OF OUR NATIONAL LAWMAKERS. A Week's Proceedings in the Halls of Congress—lmportant Measures Discussed and Acted Upon—An Impartial Resume of the Business. The National Solons. The Senate Thursday passed the freehomestead bill. It is a measure of farreaching importance to the West. The effect of the bill is to open to settlement all public lands acquired from Indians, free of any payment to the Government beyond the minor office fees, and to release from payment, those who have heretofore settled on these lands. The number of acres involved is 32.252,541, which would have yielded the Government, at the prices heretofore established, $35,343,006. The lands are mainly arid and those who have settled upon them are unable to make payment by reason of the scanty products of the soil. The Senate adjourned until Monday. The House spent almost the entire day debating the Grout bill, to subject oleomargarine and other imitation dairy products to the laws of the States into which they are transported. Tin* bill was passed by a vote of 126 yeas to 96 nays. The advocates of The’measure took the view that the States should be allowed to regulate the sale of a product sailing under false colors, and the opponents that the bill would establish a dangerous precedent, and invade the power of Congress to regulate interstate commerce. In a speech in support of the bill Mr. Henderson of lowa said with much emphasis: "The opposition to this bill comes from the capitalized institutions in Chicago and Kansas City. It comes from men like Armour and Swift, who are destroying the great cattle interests of my State and other States by keeping down the price of beeves and keeping up the price of beefsteak.” The proceedings in the House Friday were very tame. It was private bill day, but the whole time was consumed in passing House bills favorably acted upon in committee of the whole before the holiday recess. The widow of the late Maj. Gen. John Gibbon was the beneficiary of one of the bills passed, carrying SIOO per month, and the widow of Brevet Gen. W. A. Nichols of another, carrying $75 per month. The free homestead bill, which came back to the House with Senate amendments, was referred, under a ruling of the Chair, to the Committee on Public Lands. At the evening session fourteen private pension bills were reported with a favorable recommendation. Among them were bills granting a pension of SSO per month to the widow of Gen. Green Clay Smith and $75 per month to the widow of Gen. Henry A. Morrow. The last mentioned bill was advocated by Representative Mercer, who had the amount, increased from SSO to the amount named. A bill has been reported to the House for a subsidy of SIOO,OOO a year to the Pacific Cable Company of New York, in which James Scrymser and J. Pierpont Morgan are interested. Secretary Francis’ nomination was confirmed by the Senate in executive session Monday. The Senate also voted to take up the Nicaragua canal bill. This gives the measure the parliamentary advantage of being the unfinished business of the

Senate, so that it will be considered from, day to day until final action is secured. The canal bill provides for an issue of $190,000.(100 of Maritime Canal Company stock, of which the Secretary of the Treasury, in behalf of the United States, is to subscribe for $70,000,000 worth of .shares. The company is to issue bonds up to SIOO,000,000, these to be guaranteed by the United States. The building and control of the canal are given to American engineers and a board of eleven directors, of whom five are to be appointed by the President. It is substantially the measure passed by the Senate in the last Congress. The House passed three bills of public importance and devoted the remainder of the day to eulogies of ex-Speaker Crisp and to District of Columbia business. One bill passed prohibited the sale of intoxicating liquors to the Indians, one amended the existing patent laws in conformity with the recommendations of the American Bar Association and another provided for the use by the Government of patents secured by naval officers at a compensation to be fixed by a board of three officers. In the Senate Tuesday Senator Turpie spoke against the Nicarauga Canal bill. Senators Quay. Hale and Blackburn were appointed as conferrees on the army appropriation bill, and at 5:45 p. m. the Senate adjourned. There was a pathetic incident in the House in connection with the first bill called up. It proposed to grant a pension of sl2 a month to Margaret O’Donnell, a volunteer army nurse who devoted her Services from 1862 to 1865 to the wounded of the Twenty-sec-ond Regiment of New York light artillery. Iler claim has been pending before Congress for several years. When the bill was brought up Mr. Tuomas (Rep., Mich. I moved that it be laid on the table. "The relief carried by the bill for this poor woman.” said ho, “comes too late. Onr committee has just received word that the beneficiary is dead.” Several bills to grant pensions were passed. At 4 o’clock the regular order on the calendar was abandoned at the request of many members, so that each could, if recognized. call up any bill in which be was interested. Sparks from the Wires. Cardinal Richard of Paris has forbidden the priests of his diocese to attend dramatic performances. The Russian Academy has elected as honorary members Lord Kelvin and Dr. Simon Newcomb of Washington. A Bombay dispatch to the London Daily Mail reports that all of the leading journals there describe the famine as the most widespread of the present century. It is the general opinion that the Viceroy errs in refusing English aid. The Argentine Republic Senate has adopted a scheme providing for the issuance of $10,600,000 of cedules for the purpose of advancing loans and promoting agriculture. Rev. Dr. Kirkpatrick, pastor of the Second Universalist Church of Rochester, N. Y., who was arrested charged with impersonating an officer, has been unanimously acquitted by jury trial. An autopsy on the body of William H. Sinclair, the railway promoter and contractor of New York and' Galveston, who died suddenly at Rochester. N. Y., showsthat his death was caused by apoplexy.