5OJTE WASJIUfOTOTT SOSSIP.
A'dmiral Porter has submitted to tho
-secrotary of tho navy a report nnd sug
-Ccstions for promoting the efficiency of the
navy. He considers the question of homo
"defense of vastly more importance than
than nuy oilier connected with the subject.
The navy requires a vessel of G.OOO to
" 8,000 tons and nineteen and a half knots ,
one of 5,000 tons and nineteen knots ant
ono of 3,000 tons nnd eighteen knots.
TSvery year three or four double-tiirrettct
monitors should Be constructed whether
any. cruisers be built or not. Tho admiral
is in favor of the government encouragin ; ,
'the private ship yards of the country ant
advocates permanent iron ship-building
yards.
The compilation of llio congressional
scomniitlce reports , prepared by Ihoaiilhor-
ity of congress and under t he'direction ol
Major T. IL McKee , wercicady on the 29th
'Cor inspection by Senator Manderson , the
chairman , anil other members of the print
ing committee. The compilation on the
part of the IIOHRC consists of 355 volumes
of which ninety-three are devoted lo the
-reports of select committees anil 2 < 12 to
the regular standing committees. Tin.
work begins with the Fourteenth congress
ns the burning of the capilol by Ihe Rr.tisl :
"in Ihe war of 1812-15 deslroyed Ihe con
gressional reports and documents prior lo
that ueriod.
Tim president appointed Thomas P.
* Ashby , of Riverton , Neb. , regisler of the
land office at Lloomington , vice Simon W.
"Swilzer , resigned.
ACTING SURGEON GENERAL , RAXTEK of tho
-army has submitted his annual report to
the secretary of war. The report shows for
the army a year of exceptional freedom
H from disease , although it has been one ol
; unusual hardships and activity for the
"troops stationed on the southwestern
frontier. The men of Irish birth furnished
the highest mortality rale. English stood
next and Germans third.
GEXHISAL. Supini.vn\iixT : KIMHALL , , in
'his annual report , presents a very interest
ing account of the operations of the bureau
during Ihe last fiscal year. At the close of
the year tho life saving establishment cm-
| braced 211 stations , 1C5 being on the
Atlantic. 38 on the lakes , 7 on the Pacific
and 1 at the falls of the Ohio at Louisville.
The number of the disasters to vessels
within the field of station operations du
ring the year was 322. There were on
i. "board these vessels 2,72G persons , of
.
whom 2,000 were saved , and 27 lost. The
\ number of shipwrecked persons who re-
J -ceived succor at the stations was 807 ,
-and lo whom 2,000 days of relief in tho
aggregate was ofierod. The estimated value
of the vessels involved in the disasters was
61,228.320 , and that of their cargoes $2-
073,805. making the value of the property
imperiled § 0,502,135. Of this amount § 5- ,
073,078 wa.s saved , and 81,429,037 lost.
The number of vessels totally lost was 88.
SUIT. RII.T.I , of the foreign mail o'lice ic
ports a dispatch from Ihe poslmasler gen-
% -eral of IJeigium , informing Ihe department
"that the United States mail for Russia ,
while passing through that country last
night wa.s robbed of 111 registered pack-
ngc3. This is believed to have been the
mail that left New York on the 17th on
the stcainc-r Elder nnd left London for St.
Petersburg on the 2Glh.
A delegation of F.oslon , New York ar.d
1 -Chicago business men are urging the presi-
tlcnl to recommend in his message to con
gress the passage of a bankrupt bill.
The secretary of war has granted a re-
quest recently made by General Hazcn to
-iillow Lieutenant A. W. Greeley to remain
on duty in the .signal service as assistant
to the chief signal officer. General Hazen's
health is not good at present and he de-
sireJ to be relieved of some of the duties of
Iiis position.
Great importance is attached by the
"Washington newspapers in announcing
that Lcutennul James is. Powell , of Ihe
signal office , has been detaded to proceed
"to Omaha to organize the meteorological
service of the Union Pacific railroad , which
is to co-operate with the United States sig
I nal service bureau. It is believed that this
is lo be the inauguration of a valuable
epoch in meteorological utility.
New York is becoming alarmed over tho
prospects of removing the depot of Indian
supplies from that cityzto Omaha or some
other western point. A delegation from
the New York board of trade and trans
portation has laid before Secretary Lamar
5in elaborate communication on the sub
ject , showing the advantages in retaining
it where it now is. It is claimed that New
York is the headquailers for Indian sup
plies ; that most of them are either manu
facture. ! there or come there before they
reach consumers , and that , therefore , it ia
tho best market for the government and
one that must be patronized in any event.
The Omnha delegation , expected here early
' next week , is anticipated with genuine in
terest at the Indian otlice. The impression
at the interior department seems to be
of
that Omaha has a good chance of being
successful if the depot is removed.
I'ACIFIC WEATHER SERVICE.
Washington d'.spatch : .Lieutenant.oseph !
Powell , of the signal bervice has been de
tailed to proceed lo Omaha to organize a is
meteorological service of the Union Pncific
railroad , which is corporate with the Uni
ted States signal service bureau. About
thirty stations will be established along
the line of the railroad. It is stated the
Northern Pacific and Canada Pacific rail
road companies contemplated the estab
lishment of meteorological stations , and
Hie sii'iial service bureau will aid the pro
ject to the end of its ability , as the services
lire expected lo materially assist the bureau
in weather prozuoslicalions. With these
.aids it is believed a cold wave or any
other dreaded change of temperature can
be readily traced in its eastward course.
A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
Louisville dispatch : A Times special
says : A report has reached Williamsburg ,
Ky. , that the Poe family , thought to have ev
leen destroj-ed by fire in Knox county a se
month ago , were murdered by Neighbor lai
-and his concubine , whom the Poes had co
slighted. The ten-year-old son of Neighbor ch
PO
says the father cut the throats of each of th
eight people while they slept and that his 111
mother dragged the bodies to tho middle of Al
Almi
th'e room and set them on fire. On the mi
boy's statement arrests and investigation
followed and articles belonging to the Poe
family were found in the house of the sus
K pected party. They are now in Bourbon- in
ville jail. the
rjlOGRESS JLV AGRICULTURE.
Reference TJiercto by Commissioner Colanai
i n Jlla Annual Report.
Washington dispatch : Norman Colman
comniishioner of agriculture , to-day sub
mitted his second annual report to tho
president. He describes in general terms
tho progress made in agriculture during re
cent years aud the conditions which con
tribute to make this "the best fed nation
on the globe. " He sets forth at length the
benefits derived and lo be expected froir
ngricullural experiments. The stations
and colleges of the several states are con
s.tanlly urged to enlarge experiments , nut'
often find themselves striking "new leads'
which they cannot follow , all for want o
means. Hence , general interest in the bil
now before congress "for the establishment
of agricultural experimental slalions in
connneclion with agriculturral colleges , "
and the prevalent opinion of its imi ort-
auce and the desire for its early enactment.
No measure , he says , is now pending , or
proposed , of greater import , or bearing a
brighter promise of deep-seated and lasting
benefits to the agricultural interest of the
United Stales and all their branches. In
commenting upon the work of the bureau
of animal industry , he describes the spread
of plcuro-pncumonia , and says :
Every effort possible under existing laws
has been made to locate the diseased ani
mals and isolate all that have been ex
posed. It would have been most fortunate
if every animal exposed to disease and
liable to contract it could have been sum
marily slaughtered and the contagion thus
eradictcd. With a disease of this character
nt Chicago it has been truly said that the
callle iiuluf.lry of this country has reached
a crisis. There can be no doubt that it
will be soon and widely disseminate unless
prompt and effectual action can be insti
tuted for its speedy suppression. Even
now it may have been scattered to some
extent in the west , and the investigation
of ne.xtycar will probably briijg other out
breaks to light. The matter is a most im
portant one , overshadowing in urgency all
others effecting our agricultural populalion ,
and vital interest also to every consumer
of beef , of milk , of butter , and of cheese.
To prevent the spread of this scourge , which
has already greatly affected our foieign
and inter-slate commerce , additional legis
lation by congress is now essential. Much
laluahlework has already been done in
Maryland and the danger of dissemination
of contagion from that state has been
gieatly lessened. No work has been done
in the state of New York because it was
evident that the appropriation was not
sufficient to secure any favorable results
theic on account of the infection. The di
sease also exists in New Jersey , Pennsyl
vania and Virginia , but the authorities
have not yet accep'led the rules and regu
lations of the department of co-operation.
I greatly regret the necessity of announcing
the existence of this dangerous disease over
such a wide area , but the serious results to
be apprehended from it make it imperative
that the truth should be known in order
thai such legislative action may be laken
as is indicated by t'ic emergency.
Upon forestry he says theie is practic
ally : io reproduction attempted or forest
planting done worth mentioning in compar
ison with the enormous annual consump
tion.
tion.As
As the first step of reform , undoubtedly ,
the land policy of the United States , in the
limbered regions , requires a change accord
ing lo the conditions of the localities. De-
bides the good example whiih the govern
ment may set in taking better care of its
own timber lands , it might appropriately
extend its operaliont * by planting on a
large scale in bodies of several contiguous
sections in the treeless states aud territoi-
ies of the west. The military reservations
in these stales , owned by Iho general gov
ernment , would form a most desirable field
of operation. Only by such extensive
planting can a desirable modification of
the extremes of climate on the western
plains be expected.
The co'iiimiss-ioner calls attention lo Ihe
need of a fund to be used intending special
ists to foieign countries in response to in-
vitations to take part in scientific investi
gations of all sorts. He thinks reports
made from a standpoint of the needs ol tl
this country , instead of from a foreign
view would be very valuable.
o
HITHER AXD THITHER.
The total vote for congressmen in Colorado *
as given by the state canvassing board is as 0
follows : Svme , republican , 27,732 ; Heed , c.i
democrat.0 020 ; Murray , prohibition , . ' 5,597.
S\mes' j lurajit3S 3 , a.s against 0,720 two
years ago. Thevte of tbe state was S,393
less than in 1884.
The London Standard says Ihat it is seri
ously poxsel ] at Sofia to nominate an Ameri of
can as a candidate lor the Bulgarian throne.
Mr. llaslett has been elected mayor of Bel
fast , Ireland.
France a d Mexico have concluded a treaty
of commeice.
1st
The French chamber of deputies has passed li
the Madagascar credits by a vote of 2S3 to 100. tli :
The West Africa telegraph cable connecting FU
St. Paul de Loanda with Europe took place Wl
September 28. sii
The British home rule association and the
home rule league of the United Kingdom will
unite under the name of the home rule uuion ,
December 'J. '
Oj
Baron Seckendorf. professor in the Austrian Ojn
college of agriculture , committed suicide by
shoolmg Lhndt in the mouth. 'o
'oa
It is believed in Belgium that Ibc thieves a
who stole the registered mail ia that country
are biding in England.
Mrs. W. n. Ferry , of Chicago , a daughter
John V. Farwell , has brought suit for
divorce , making statements which show aston
ishing penuriousness on the part of her hus
band. It is alleged tbat helias transferred all
his real estate.
of
Tiie commissioners of tbe military prison ,
upon investigating charges brought bj
General Miles , found tbat the best material
Dn
used at the Leavenwortli shoe factory , and
tbat tbe workmanship is good.
Tbe Baltimore and Ohio road holds that It / ,
has a binding contract for the use of the r
Itcading aud Jersey Central tracks between
Philadelphia and New York , and offers the °
public tbe benefit of competition by an hideIO1
pendent line between Baltimore dnd New nr
York.
iij
About 270 head of tbe cattle quarantined in TJ
Chicago have since Sunday morning been cn
taken from tbe Phoenix distillery j-ards to
Uridgcport ami slaughtered. Nearly GO per
cent , bore traces of infection. Twenty car- c
"
causes were rejected , and tbe remainder"were
found sulliciently bealtby for food. lis
t
de
GLADSTONE MILL PRESS GUTTERS. o
LOSDOX , Nov. 2o. Mr. Gladstone declines of
ofii
every request to speak until parliament reas iiei
sembles. He has sent letters to several of his ei
colleagues stating his programme for the
cominsr session. He approves an Immediate
challenge to the goveinment to state its Irish ic
policy m the debate upon the address , al Ol
though he expects that , the unionists will lis
maintain ! thenadhesion' to tbe government. dio
Aftenvard be will assist in an effective settle o
ment of the procedure question. brel
el
" eln
Rosairc" town in the Anrentine republic. Is uiei
infectedvith cholera ani other places along ei
llio de la Plata are exwscd. eie
1
THE CUyiSHKbSllfA-lL : LAX-VUT.
IinportatllZleamtrcatn Claim Attention in a
Short Passion.
Washington special : One week from yes
terday the forty-ninth congress begins ita
second session. It has a ureat deal of work
to do and very little time in which to do it.
The first session lasted nearly eight
months. The second session will last less
than three months , from December 6
18SG , to March 4 , 1SS7. The holidays
must come out of the session , and perhaps
a great consumption of time will have to
be allowed f. r speeches on the labor ques-
tion. More than 1,300 bills and joint res-
olutions were introduced into tho two
houses during the first session. It is true
that a good many of the bills still on the
calendar arc duplicates in the two houses
.
nnd that a good many of the measures in
troduced have already been finally dis
posed of by vetoes or by adverse action
either in the committee or the main body.
There is also no time to be expended in the
organization of the house as during a firsl
session. Still the calendars are overloaded
with measures in all stages of advance-
niont , and more than sufficient to take up
the time of several sessions. Various
presidential vetoes will confront congress
to begin with. There is the question
of the fisheries , which has been under
consideration by a senate committee dur
ing the recess. Our Mexican diplomacy is
interested by the Cutting cases. The Pan-
Electric investigation will quite surely
occupy some attention. Theie are various
bills to allot land in severally to the In
dians and to provide ior throwing open
part of the Indian territory to white settle
ment. Several important , and grant for
feiture bills await consideration , as does
also the bill prohi'.iting consrcssmeii from
acting as attorneys to land grant rail
roads. There is a Mexican pension bill
now suspended between 1 he senate and the
house , while several other tostly bills for
pensions and for equalizing bounties will
try to get a hearing. There are resolutions
for investigating strikes and the labor
problems which may take up time even
if they lead to nothing. The'tariff projects
and the financial measures are legion and
doubtless more of them will bo introduced.
The bill to increase the efficacy of the coiv
sular service is likely to be amended so ae
to call for still larger expenditures. The
army has its Log.iu bill , which has passed
the senate , and its Manderson scheme
for incieasing the infantry. The navy
lias a bill for an enlisted man retired list ,
for a deposit system for seamen , and
HO 011. There is the additional
legislation against polygamy to betaken
up , the international copy right bill , the
eight hour bill and the uniform bankruptcy
bill. Mr. Intjall's project to change inaug
uration day to April oO may claim a place ,
and Mr. Hoar's for increasing the length ol
the sessions by having congress assemble
in October and November in alternate
years. The free ship bill , the inter-state
commerce bill , Mr. Pry's subsidy bill foi
carrying tiie ocean mails , the Grant monu
ment bill , the Hennepin canal bill and the
ISads ship canal bill , will watch theii
chances for legislation. The bills to ad
mit Dakota and Washington may be urged
strongly , in view of the close array ol
parties in the senate.
After these and twenty other measure !
quite as prominent and a thousand private
bills on the calendar are considered , it i
to be remembered that the regular appro
priation bills , in one of which is contained
the subject , of coast and harbor defense ,
are themselves important enough to take
up a great part of the time of congress IB
the short session.
fc
THE aorERXOR WfLL HEAD IT.
Bui There is Xot 2lueh T.iMiliootl of His
Tnti-fferiit'j in tttc C . * < :
Paris dispatch : M. Rouget , secretary of
the Paris municipal council , forwarded to
United Slates Minister McLane a petition
adopted by the council November 27 , ask
ing for his intercession with the governor
of Illinois in behalf of the condemned Chi
cago anarchists. Minister McLane sent
the following reply :
As the pitilion is destined for the 2ov-
rrnor of Illinois and made with the object
of ! sparing human life. I will not refuse my
issistauce if you p"r.sist in demanding it.
Now allow me to inform you tiiat in the
present case it is useless. You can , with
out , disadvantage ami with aa much effi
cacy as I , address yourself direct to the
chief executive of Illinois , who alone has
jhe power f "ranting a pardon. Without
raising any objection to the accomplish
ment of j-o'ur wishes. I beg you will ie t as
sured that capital punishment ia no state
the Union is prescribed for political of-
enses. It is prescribed for odious crimes
igainst the public , such as murder and
rape , committed under aggravating cir
cumstances and with premeditation. In
Kilitical matters there exists in the United
states a moderation which own profound to
lisagreements aie powerless to alter. In
he discussion of ureat political and
social : problems , touching the welfare of
workers , we procee I with a wide Ifberty ,
showing a spirit of fraternity and tolerance
which renders violence inexcusable , and
ilways prejudicial to its authors. When
lie majority pronounces every one sub-
nits. If this great and salutary principle
giving expression to the will of the
naiority. which forms the basis of Ameri-
an institutions , be ignored , social order ,
bunded on liberty and fraternity , col-
apses and society falls once more into
chaos.
Mr. McLaiie , at Roupet's rpqucst. con-
pented to transmit the council's petition to
Governor Oglcsby. is
GOT AWAY WITH $ VOOOOO.
Portland ( Me. ) dispatch : The directors
the Canal National bank authorize the
talement that Howard Blackstone , dis-
ouut clerk , has embezzled funds of the
bank to tinamount of § 20,000 and ab- f
conded. It appears that on Wednesday
ast ISIackstona obtained a vacation from
he bank and proceeded to New York. i
rroin there he sent a letter to his wife No-
ember 2.5 , s.o it must have b'-en written be-
ore he leit Portland and he must have
iremeditated the step for some time , fecl- >
! his guilt could not longer be hidden.
The letter stated the sad mis-fortune had
ome upon them , but they must bear it as
others done : .bcfore them. lie had begun
peculation in 1SS1 , and for a time was
cry successful. 'Then hHc turned and he f
osL heavy aud continuously. To retrieve )
loss he took the bank's money until his f
tealings < agregated § 25,000 , "when he
deemed it useless to go further and decided r
abscond. In his letter he enclosed a deed
the house with the land he owned in the
icinity and occupied by his family. He f
equested his wffe to turn this deed over to
he . bank and inform the odicers of his
rime. He made no menti-onof the method
pursued in stealing the money , and as h
only small sums were ever passed through f
hands during the course of business , the r
directors are unable to determine how he oe
ould have secured so much. He for a oTl
rief period acted cashier Tl
as and paying Tlv
eller and had charge of the ledger. "The v ]
alue of the house deeded to the bank s
uuounts to , § 16,000. Blackstone was a
eneral favorite at the bank. He is 32
ears old.
A DELEGATE J.V CONGRESS.
Tills ia triittt tin : Govrnior of AlKXlia Say *
that Country Should Jfnrf ,
Gov. Swineford , iW Alaska , in his annual
report to the secretary of the interior esti
mates the white population of the territory
at 2,350 , and thc nalive population at
32,000. Of the native Alaskians he says :
They are a very superior lace , intellect
ually , as compared with the people gener
ally known as North American Indians ,
and are , as a rule , industrious and provi
dent _ , and whollyself-sustajuiug. They live
in neat , comfortable homes of their own
construction. They arc shrewd and natu
ral born traders. Some arc passably good"
carpenters , and others are skillful workers
in woods and metals. Not a few can speak
English , and some of tho younger men and
women have learned to read and write , and
nearly all arc anxious for the education of
the'r children , and the governor comments
upon what he terms the widespread , erro
neous belief that Alaska is a le on of per
petual winter , and appends a meteorolog
ical summary for the year which bhows
that the coldest weather occurred January
5 , when the mercury sank to four degive.s
above zero , where it remained for half a
day only.
The industries of Alaska , says there-
port , aie. us yet. principally confined to
the fur trade , mining and the curing and
cannin 4 of fish , of which there are about
sixty food varieties ; the cod. salmon and
halibut are the most important. As to
the cod banks , he say.s a market is all
that is required to make them a scene of
even greater activity than was ever known
in those of New I'oumlland. As to the
salmon , he say.s they-0 as pleat fill as
the cod. and Keep in operation eight can
ning establishments.
The fur trade , the report says , may be
approximately htated at the market value
of § 2,000,000 annually , nearly all of
which is controlled by the AIaska Commer
cial company.
Coal has been found at various points in
the territory , but as yet no well-directed
effort has been made to develop any of the
sea ms.
The governor asks that § 40,000 be ap
propriated for school purposes. He coin-
plains that the odicers of theUnitcd States
steamer Pinta. stationed at Sitka. have
not afforded him the courjesii-s that United
Stales otlicials should have received at
[ heir hands , and t-o this lack of olficial
harmony and assistance he attributes the
non-punishment of the offenders in the
! . 'hine.sc outrages in that territory last
summer and the failure to bring back tho
Chinese who were bent to Wrangland.
Though the law prohibits the importa
tion of spirits into Alaska , the law , the
governor says , is not enforced , but much
contraband liquor is smuggled in. To
remedy this state f.f affairs he sug-ests
that the present law be repealed and htrin-
gent license icgiihitions be adopted , as
ihey wouM ln far preferable to "prohibi
tion which do s not prohibit. "
A law for the bet t-r protection of snnls
ind other fur-bearing animals is needed to
Jivvent 1h ' dos'.i uclion of this industry.
In conclusion , Ihc governor says Alaska
should have a delegate in congress , and
should have a territorial form of goveru-
iicnt similar lo that of other territories.
A * ' INCREASE X.V ZM-rjWf
A Recaiiiineiiilntioii in Jiclialfof the yalional
Grand Army.
Laurence ( Mass ! ) special : Maj. George
S , Morr'II has issued in behalf of the
national ; Grand Army pension committee ,
of ! which he is chairman , a recommend
ation of tha" ' committee on pension mat
ters to congret. i. It will be sent lo all the
Grand Armposts in the country. The
record of the acceptance and muster-in of
the soldier or sailor shall be prima facie
evidence that he was sound at that time ; !
the conlinuiincc of a pension lo a widow
or dependent relatives , whelher Ihe pen
sioner dies from the eficcls of wounds or
diseases as Ihe result of service or not ; an
increase of pension to minor children from
52 to § 5 per month , and extending the
limit of ago from 1C to IS years , and in
case a minor child is insane , idiotic or
otherwise helpless the pension to continue
during the life ol sai-1 child , a re-enactment
of anear.s laws ; pensions to parents if now
dependent , instead of requiring proof of
dependence at the lime of soldiers'en'ist-
menl ; pensions lo survivors of rebel pi-sons
who are suffering from disability with
out proof that said disability arose
from said imprisonment ; the following
special rales of pensions : To those who
lost both i-ycs , arms or legs , or an arm or
leg , or sustained disability equivalent
thereto , ? 100 per month ; for amputation
at the hip or shoulder joint , or so near si
thereto as to prevent wealing an artificial in
limb , § 50 per month ; for amputation of a tl
leg or arm above the knee or elbow , or am lit
putation so near the kneeor elbow joint as in
ind.
render thcj"int useless10 , per month ; d.t.i
for amputation below the knee or elbow t.i
830 per month ; pensions to all honorably- illm
discharged soHiets and sailors now dis m
abled or dependent upon their own labor enm
for support , or who are G5 years of age , m
without proof Ihat such disability arose of
from the service equalization of tho ofm
bounties j aid by the general government. m
Tlris would provide pensions for the wid ai
ows , the orphans , the dependent parents , co
the prisoners of war , the aged , the dis fa
abled , the dependent' absolutely for every CIS
one except tho well and the riclv , with a
large inrrease for all severe disabilities.
Senate bill 1SSG comprises substantially
the most important of the above recom
mendations. It has passed the senate and to
now pending in the house. tb
Se
A SECRET CTRCUL.IU. the
Philadelphia dispatch : The Press pub- oc
lishes a isecret circular issued by the gen- for
ral officers of the Knights of Labor , in po co
Inch the following are the principal points
general interest : The address opens with si
the
cference to the appeal issued for funds to the
ssist victimized and locked-out members he
various parts of the country and to the 12
nsalisfactory response which left many 22
liousand members who thrown
were upon an
he hands of the order by lock-outs , illy fem
rovided for , thereby crippling the power m
nd usefulness of the order. Powderly po six
lieu says the order has reached the most ho
rilical period in its history. He refers to an
he contract which employes are made to
ign compelling them to leave the Knights th an
Labor and says : Every man has ho
ledged himself lo do his duty in the cause a
mankind. No oath binds him to any cd
ct contrary lo the duty he owes to God nr
his country. Eutsomething more sacred wl
ven than an oath his pledge of honor '
inds him to legally defend the principles hi
truth , honor , justice and citizenship. kc
Two alternatives present themselves un-
onditional surrender or manly defense. be
Vhich should it be ? In order to alleviate tri
he distress of many knights thrown out
employment , the address says , the gen-
ral ; executive board unanimously resolve
levy an apsessment of 25 cents per mem- B
ers from all local assemblies of the order , br
'he assessment should be credited to thoso bj
vho responded to the previous call. The tt
sseesmenfc will be known-as the special sa
efense assessment. saTl
at
THE water works at Columbus are about Fi
readv for use. dc
SECRETARY WULTXEY.S RKl'ORT.
The Iiifvriitntinn Which llr Convent Can-
rerniiifthe \arif.
The report of Secretary of IheNavy Whit
ncy opens with a renewal of his former
recommendation of Ihc consolidation o
Ihe bureau so as lo insure responsibility it ;
the purchase and care of supplies , anil so
far as his power extended ho hail consoli
dated , in one bureau , the general purchases
of Ihe department , the care and custody ol
tho stores , aud the creating of a system o
book-keeping by which responsibility for
cnreaud disposition can be had. The reporl
says :
_ ' 'There is at present no real responsi
bility for the care and disposition of tho
property. In one bureau a property ac-
counl is kepi ami in others none. Prop
erty lost , misused or stolen cannot bo
traced or accounted for , : uid no person
can be held responsible. The fourth audi
tor in his report , just issued , calls atten
tion to this remarkable circumstance ,
which , waa also referred to in my last an
nual leport. An inventory shows a very
large and unnecessaiy accumulation ol
stores and supplies by the different bu
reaus ' , aggregating over twenty millons of
dollars in appraised value. The board re
ports between three and four millions in
value to be absolutely useless at the pies-
ent time , only entailing an expense for
keepers and a constant care to preserve
Ihem in condition. Among these accumu
lations , some very absurd facts appear.
At eighty navy yards there have accumu
lated altogether of augurs anil bitsJ ( > ,5 ( ! < < ,
of which 25,27-J have been lying for several
years at closed yards where no work has
been or is likely to be done. "
Regarding the new cruisers the report
"The experience o. ' the depai tment in its
lir.st attempt at the creation of modern
ve.ssos ! of war has been Mich as to excite
the greatest concern and disappointment.
The examination of facts with reference to
them demonstrated that an entirely new
depart in c was necessary in undertaking
further similar construction. One charac
teristic which an nnarniored cruiser must
posses * is < jre.it speed. This is determined
by the function which she is expected to
pci form in modern warfare. She is a
'commerce destroyer. ' She must be able
to escape from ironclads and outrun , so as
lo oveihaul , merchantmen. If slower than
ironclads she could not keep the sea , and
if slower than nierrhanliiien she might as
well stay in port. This , division of ships ,
by the functions which they are expected
to pei-iorm , is one of the things which has
come about of recent years. When it be
came impossible to concent rate , in one ship ,
both the greatest , speed , ' the strongest
armament and ( he highest defensive power ,
without reach.ng a tonnage displacement
wholly out of the question , division into
cl.itsus , according to thi > duties which they
weie expected to perform , c.ime about.
lTnarmorcd cruisers have become a distinct
class , and the iharacter'stic absolutely in-
dispe-'sable lo this class is very gre-it
spied. When the Dolphin. Eoston , At
lanta and Cbiiago were projected and con
tract. ? for their con.slruction entered into ,
it was well known what speed ought to be
attained and what weight and ch.irnclcr of
machinery per ton of displacement was
necessary to obtain it. Comm-'ivial ves
sels had at that time obtained speeil rang
ing between sixteen and nineteen knots ,
and cruisr.s were built in other countries
attaining the same speed. "
The secietary compares the trial trips of
the Dolphin and Atlanta with tbo.so of the
English and French boati ? only iccently
completed , to Ihe disadvantage of the
foi mer. The Dolphin was designed for
2,300 indicated horse-power , and developed
le-s limn 2,300 , while the Alacrity and Sur
prise , English boats of 3,000 horse-power ,
developed 3,173 and 3,07' ) , respectively.
The Atlanta was designed to attain 3.500
burse-poncr , but 'ier engines developed less
than that. The report says :
These facts are. .stated without the in-
lenlion of locating Ihe responsibility or
blame upon any poison. It is impossible
tt ) ascertain where it should be placed.
IJul they indicate a simple abandonment ,
on the pnt of the department , or any
attempt lo le.ich the conditions which
should have been attained , and a failure
on thep : > rto [ the conlractor lo reach the
limited results expected by the department.
In considering tho ma'ttcr of constructing
additional vessels authorized by congress
in March , 1SS5 , it was decided by the de- '
partmentto exhaust every effort to avail
its.'lf of the most advanced thought and
knowledge attained by our own and other
countries on the subj-ct.
The report says that tlieilepnrlmenl has
accumulated a Iarg amount of informa
tion which will biutilized in Ihe construc
tion of vessels in the future. The report
gives a resume of the bids and awanl.s for
tiie new cruisers aud says , regard ing cruiser
No. 1 for which no bidswereiecuived within
the limit fixed by congress :
"Ordeis had been given to reduce her
size : , for the purpose of cairying out the
intention of emigresif possible , of bringinq
the ; expense of her construction within the
limit. $1,100,000. It requires a readjust
ments of all weights , and. in fact , the
designing . of a new vessel , which necessarily
taken some months. Meanwhile it is hoped
hat the limit ( : xe 1 by congress may be re
moved so as to lender available the pres
ent plans , which have bei-n the result of
many months of careful labor on the part
olliceis o"f the department. "
The reports treats of armor and guns for
monitois and armor-clads , at great length ,
and deprecates that this country should be
content to be dependent upon the manu
facturers of any other nation for the fabri
cation of armor and high powered guns.
A ItAIt FAILURE. '
WASHINGTON. Dec. 1. Secretary Whitney '
to-day maile public the oflici.il reports of the '
tbrec trial trips of the Atlanta last August ,
September andNovember. . The contract for
construction of the Atlanta provided that .
the trial her machinery should maintain
' six hours a collective mdie.itetS horse
power of : ! 5iX > , iutt there was nothing in the
contract relating to speed.
In the lirst trial. Au-iu-t 5 , no continuous
six-hour : irhd wapossible in consequence of
blowing nut of the water valve joint of
high prcsuncylinder , and the subsequent
healing ; of the crank pin. During the trial D
S-10 knots pt-r hour w ere in-d'\
The second trial wa.s made from September D
to 2(5. ( but the : fter main shaft bearings
and the thrust bearing became heated at dif
ferent times so her commander unable to D
maintain : successfully the collective hoi'e
power developed by the onsrines at 3 . .00 for A
? consecutive hour * . The li."ghe-t collective AG
horse power obtained S'optember 21 was 'J. ; > J G
and September 25 2W > f , r a few minute- .
Tiie third trial commenced November 10 , Si
and Jaste.l six days. During the wh.ile trip SiV
they were able but one day to run fur six V
hour < at the maximum attainable speed , and
leak in one of the boiler furnaces prevent
making cs high speed or developing as C
great horse power oa that day as on the next ,
when for a lew moments the engines devel Fi
oped a collective horse Lower of" . : { 50. The
highest ; speed for any one Lour was 14 7-10
knots.
It will be between two and three months K
before the Atlanta will be readv for another II
trial. "
IIUi
A. COSTLY GLUT : ELAZE. Ui
AJES , MASS. , Dec. 2. The William A. UiFi
Beder ( glue company , which occupied a large FiM
brick structure and a wooden building owned M
the Arnas plow company , was burned out
Ibis morning at an early hour. Nothing was C <
saved. The origan of the lire is unknown. Net
The glue companvestimate their loss on stock
'
§ 13OCO and on'machinery at § . " 5.000. The
Fitchburg railroad will lose several thousand
dollars.
XEXT MEX AX I > irosrcs :
Susan R. Anthony 1ms been-lecturing ia
Wisconsin. *
Mrs. Ocn. Hancock will make Washing
ton her permanent home. -
Mrs. Secretary Whitney is lending lady |
in flic piny of AVashington society.
Henry M. Stanley will write another
book. The public , will be glad to see it.
Mrs. Gen. Grant is to visit Washington
during the winter. Shehas not been them
since 1SS4.
Mr. Hoxvcll writes in Harper concerning
a "Mouse Trap. " lie recommends roasted
cheese for bait.
Isaac Murphy is a colored jockey not yet
so well known as Archer was , but his in
come is § 15,000 yearly.
Dr. Magoon , tho eminent Baptist divine ,
whose death occurred a few days ago , was
in his younger years a bricklayer.
Mrs. Cutting , divorced wife of the border
mi'.siinre , wa.s recently married at Kansas
City. She has three little Cuttings.
James Itussell Lowell enjoys a good din
ner or a Greek play. He regards a news
paper interview , however , with pronounced
disfavor.
Kx-Gov. Kirkwood's recent defeat in
Iowa was the lirst. he had sustained in
forty yeais , and he was always running for
something.
The oldest sou of the Prince of Wales is
coming to Una country. Grandma haa
said he might if she got her castle sold at a
good tiggcr.
.Jonquin Miller has cut off his curls. Im-
fortunate'y ' this action did not affect him
as a similar one did Sampson , and he still
has strength to misuse a pen.
Mrs. Lucy 1'arsons is a brunette , with a
suspicion of kimlinc.ss in her raven hair.
She is a bad crowd from away back , and.
often imagines herself a dynamite bomb.
The widow of ( ho dashing confederate
officer , ( Ten. Jerome , has just died in a New
York tenement. Her last years were
marked by abject poverty , but she steadily
refund assistance.
Frances Hodgson IJurnett's directions
for writing a novel are to have pen , ink
and paper in readiness and combine them
generously by the aid of brains and imag
ination. Some writers omit the brains
and imagination.
s o.v THE KAZOO * ' .
COKTLAND , N. V. , Nov. oO. The state con
vention of anti-saloon republicans met here
to-day. Delegates were present from all
parts of the state , General Conway explained
the A icws mid aims of the new movement.
While the limuh : niton convention , he said ,
had stsrtc-1 the icp'jbiiean party with its rad
ical resolutions they n < > \ - , - met with approval
from such men as Ex-arts , Miller , M > rtoa and.
lliscoek. lie said tluy were in the republican ,
party to stay. There were already 2JOOG re
publicans enrolle-l in the league , which in sx
mouthwould be incr.-a-ed to 100UK , ) , and
Ihat meariL control of the ie : > ublcan party of
NewYork _ _ , itiid al o that all statesmen ami
| ) clitKiaus should favor temperance measures
ind temperance Ihrihluiiiin. Committees on ,
the plan of wo k , etc. , were appointed.
At tic i.ifht session the con.niittce on the
plan of work reported. It provide ; that there
shall be a statement committee consisthi ! ; of
one memtier from each congressional district
whose tlutj it shall be to vigorously push the
work of tiie icauue. and that it is ol the pur
pose of the league to form a separate political
party , nor to iui.initcnndi'latts : fur ollicu
'Xiv'ut ; in estrt-meivia " 5 when republican nom-
iiati-nis are ni.ide in the interest of the liquor
tntllic
The rewrt of the cojiim'ttce on resolutions
dec ialrttt in f-vor of submitting a constitu-
ou l prohibitory amendment to a vote of the
H'Opkiid demani'c.l tliat tiie republiciu
bartv take a positive stand against the liquor
: railic. It creat'-d discussion and was laid
over till tomorrow.
( ' ( uator ] jair ] "poki * in favor of the move-
neat and said ihivt n.toiial prohibition waa
ucccsaarv.
THE 1'T'lir.lC DUliT STATEMENT.
W.i ! iiiN-fiTOX , Dec. 1. The following Is a
rccafiituLitiou of the debt statement issued
o-day :
nterest bearing debt
Jonds at4per cent S 2TAOOO.OOO
Sonds at 4 percent 7iift.WX >
ionds at :5 : jcr cent 71,154,250
Jefundmg ccrtilicatcs at 4 ner
cent " . . . 191.70
Navy pension fund at' ' per cent. 11,000,000
'acilic raiJro.ul Londs at ti per
cent ( > i 0'23illi
Vinplpal 1 S li7,7-Waii : {
utcrest ll.-'J:5,0J ! : ;
Total 5 1,14'J , 142,401
/ebt on which interest has
ci a--eil since maturity
Vincipal -S 0,2.50. %
utcivst 21t5,4'J7
Total S U.07 , , ? .J
Old demand and leiral tcnJcr
notes . ' S 541 73S.TJL
erticxte ! of dof.x > ; i : 7O2o. ( ) O
ioid ccrtilicates ft ) . : " > ' 2iJSI , (
ilvcr certilic.tes : 10o"jl'JS17
"racn'onal curn-ncy. lest. § J > 'i7. > . -
.t:54. : estimatedV.h lost or de
stroyed G.O.'H.TOS
'rincifial S 5r.O,7. > 74'- >
'otal ( itbt
'riiieial ] S 1,703.7JX .S7ft
utcre.-t 11.711.SJ7
Total § l,7ir7,530S
.ess cash items available for iv-
duction of the debt 221,071,25.1
ess reserve held for Tcdemption
of Unitetl States notes IfO COD.CO'i
Total di-bt. L-SS available
wish items § lSP1.4 : ,2. > t
Net cash in the treasury 40,09A.r)3' : ;
Debt. le ? . = cash in the troasurv.
December I. lsS-5 "S l.:5olnS2C9S :
Debt. Je.-s ru-h in the treasury ,
November 1. It-SiJ . . 1 3. > 1.7C47 : {
Decrease , of ilcjt during the
month ? o.Oa' ; . ]
Asi.ibifor ! ! the reduction of
thc-Jebt
Gold held for irold rertificatc.
actually out-tandin 5 OO.Sa.K. : !
Silver held for silver c-rtilicatcs
actually ontstandm-r 10o,519.S17
United : State * noteheld for cer
tificates < 'f det sit actually
" "
outstru'dinrr. . . . . 7,025,00)
Cash lirld ST mutnre.l debt and F
interest unpaid 21,091.002
Fractional currency 4.20L
Total available for reduc
tion of the debt S 2:4,071,533
Reserve fund
Held for redemption of United
States notes ( acts January
14. 1-J75 and July 12 , 1S82. ) ! 109.000,0:0
Unavailable for redemption of
the debt
Fractional silver coin 25,503,007
Minor coin 1G3.5SI
Total ? . 25.971.f it
Certificates held as cunh 4S.SS ( > ,979
cash balance on hand 40OUt,55 ( !
Total cash in the treasury
as shown by treasurer's
general account § 459,023,740