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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 1894)
SILVER THE TOPIC Time of the House Taken Up by the Discus sion of Eland's ' New Bill. SOME NOVEL ARGUMENTS ADVANCED Messrs. Bland , Stone , McKeighan , Barter and Eilgore Give TLeir Views. ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO CAUSE DELAY Peculiar Parliamentary Question Eaised by Yesterday's Proceedings. ONE VIEW OF THE SEIGNIORAGE' BILL Btone of IVnn } Uaiilii Denounce * It ii un Attempted lliiilie/r.leineiit Hnrl T Cro- AiniiHi-ineiit by III * Reference to tlie DrinoiTiitle Party. WASHINGTON , Feb. 9. The entire day In the. house was consumed In the debate on the Bland seigniorage bill , the speakers being Messrs. Bland , C. W. Stone , Mc- Kclghan , Harter and Kllgorc. The debute will bo Interrupted tomorrow by the special order setting aside the rest of the day for eulogies upon the late Representative O'Neill of Pennsylvania. It Is expected a vote on the bill will be reached Tuesday , and Mr. Bland is confident that It will pass. This opinion IB generally shared by the leaders un both sides , although there probably will bo some modifications of the bill Ahat will make It more acceptable to the democrats who are now opposing It. The house was In n tangle at once after the opening of the session over the Bland nclgnlorage bill , several members Insisting they had been wrongly lecorded. Babcock of Wisconsin explained that ho had not voted upon that roll call , and Mr. Tracey and Mr. Reed attempted to make the point that this broke the quorum and the subse quent proceedings of yesterday were there fore vitiated. It was discovered , however , that Mr. Marshall of Virginia and Mr. Sheel of South Carolina were recorded as not voting ing , and as their votes would complete the quorum no further objection to the approval of the bill was made. After some unimportant routine business , on motion of Mr. Bland , the house went into the committee of the whole for the con sideration of the seigniorage bill. Mr. Bland explained in a few- words that he had never , as stated in some of the public prints , agreed to strike out the second sec tion of this bill , which provides for the coin age of all the bullion In the treasury. Ar.ide from the question of raising revenue he re garded tlie second section as more Important than the first. . "If we are'to deal with the bullion In the treasury , " said he , "let us deal with It as a whole. "We have already repealed the purchasing clause of the Sher man act. No more bullion will come Into the treasury. Why should we not coin what In there ? To coin only the seignior age , 533.000,000 , wotild be tantamount to de claring that the rebt should remain there nn worthless. It should be dedicated to a monetary use. Aslar as I am concerned I never will consent to stop half way. " "What advantage , " asTied Mr. Coombs , democrat , of New York , "would accrue Ironl the coinage of this bullion when no one wants It ? " "The people want every dollar they can fet , " replied Mr. Bland. NOT ENOUGH MONEY. "Tho difficulty Is that there is not enough money In circulation. " "Is It the Intention after this bill goes Into effect , " Inquired Mr. Tracey of New York , "to redeem the silver certificates In gold ? " "Do you understand that silver certifi cates are redeemable hi gold ? " abked Mr. Bland In turn. " 1 do. " "Well , " replied Mr. Bland , "the secretary of the treasury has never so held. The secretary of the treasury has maintained that all that was necessary to keep all classes of currency at par was to keep the greenbacks atpar. . They are gold obliga tions and therefore incontrovertible , and while silver certificates have not been re deemed In gold , greenbacks have never been refused for them. This keeps all our currency at par. I am speaking now from the Rtandpoiut of a gold monometallic view. " Proceeding , bo declared that It was only necessary to keep enough gold In the treasury to meet foreign exchanges. Under the Sher man law ho Insisted that every dollar of treasury notes outstanding was redeemable In silver. "And If I wore secretary of the treasury I should so hold , " ho added em phatically. "I would not use my discretion In the In terest of the gold gamblers of this country. This bill , however , " he continued , "does not go bo far as the Sherman bill , In this re- Epect. u only provides that having been re deemed ( In gold or otherwise ) , these notes bhall not bo reissued , but shall bo destroyed and coin shall take their place. In other words , the holders will no longer bo able to force their redemption again , and again In gold. " Mr. C. W. Stone of Pennsylvania , who Is at the head of the minority committee on coinage , weights and measures , replied to Mr. Bland. He agreed , ho said , with Mr. llliind , that If the flrbt section of the bill were to be passed the second section should be. "If wo are prepared to agree to the practical embezzlement of n trust fund In the first section wo should not hesitate nt thu Irregularity contained In the becond sec tion. " He contended that there was no existing seigniorage ; that It was purely Imaginary us yet. Seigniorage , he said , was the profit arising to the government out of the coinage of bullion. But bullion not having been coined there was no seigniorage. There might bo In time , but there was none now. One might as well take out of a tank ten gallons of oil and say this Is paraIIno and the other Is oil , or chop off fifty pounds of a bullock and cay this is leather and that Is beef , because In future processes so much parafinu or so much leather could be separ ated from a tank of oil or a bullock , as to claim that thcro was so much bullion and so much Bclgnlorago before the bullion was coined. To coin this Imaginary seignior age would be breaking faith with holders of the treasury notes Issued against all the bul lion , which should be held sacred for their redemption. There were In thu treasury J40.fiiS,858 ; ounces of silver on which had been IsEiiod J1S3.0S5.1S1 treasury notes. U cost the government J1-0.57S.CSO and Its coin age value was $1R1'JH.1 and its present markft. value but $37.717.072. To coin this alleged solenlorago would be a virtual em bezzlement of $30.000,000 worth of the bul lion bo hi nd the treasury notes. His appro- lienalon wu that this policy would involve the country In financial ruin. WATERING THE TUEASUnY NOTES. If S5S.KK,000 ) additional treasury notes wore Isbuatl at lequired by the provisions of this bill , without n dollar for uhlan cer tificates were Issued being dci > oslte < l Inthe treasury , each certificate will be on lt face u Hen. It was in effect "waterlnc" the I trcarury notes to the extent of JDo.ooo 000 ; v.hun the face value of the e notei already extends the market value of the bull Inn * ' rurlty bclilud them by over lES.-Ooa.ocm. i\\ \ \ } ixmcjuhlau , In fepeaking uf the Bllver nuns- . Tion. bo declared himself | ti favor of the' : larger use ut tillver If un international agree ment rouM bo reached. Horeferred to the' , disturb , uco In England a&d PrusxU over lllver. Europe , " said be , "la v.aliuns tlie floor. Lot us pursue the 'Fabian policy' of nonartlon and we can make terms for the use of silver. " Mr. McKelghan of Nebraska made a free Oliver argument. A gold basin and a high tariff , he said , were discriminating against thu west In the Intercut of the east. "If I had the power , " said he , "I would strike down the tariff that protects the cast and force It into competition with the west , as the east forces us Into competition. " Ho went on to endorse the seigniorage bill as a Mtep In the right direction. At the end of Mr. McKolghan's npeech , which consumed an hour nml a half , Mr. Harter of Ohio took the floor In opposition. There were three means of relieving the treasury , any of which would suffice. The first was to reduce salaries C per cent. Including mem bers of congreHS , the second method pro poned by Mr. Harler was a novel one which would provide $35.000.000 by an Increase of the whisky tax to J1.20 a gallon and which would furnish J20.000.oOO by a tax on beer and the duty on tea and coffee. A tax of one-tenth of a cent u cup on tea and coffee , he nald , would yield a revenue of $20,000.000. "The papers today , " said Mr. Slbley of Pennsylvania , "announced that silver had touched the lowest point In Its history and the same papers showed that wheat was never so low. " "And today , we see the result of the prophecy. " added Mr. Bland , supplementary to Mr. Slbley's remark. "The country was saved from disastrous consequences , at least , " replied Mr. Harter. "It would have been worse If we had taken your udvlcL. " "You do not know that , " retorted Mr. Bland , "and we do not know the resuh of your prophecy. " Mr. Harter created some amusement by his reference to the manner In which the democratic party was delineated In the comic papers us a jackass. He thought It was perfectly fair , perhaps , for republican papers to portray the democracy ab a jack ass , but he did not see why , when a propo sition like the Bland bill was brought Into the house , democrats should flap their ears and bray to show they were Jackasses. Mr. Kllgorc of Texas , who made the con cluding argument of the afternoon , con tended that if the government was In need of money it was better to coin the silver seigniorage than borrow money and pay In terest upon the loan. Without completing his speech Mr. Kllgore acceded to the mo tion that the committee rise. Mr. Gelssenhalner , from the committee on naval affairs , presented the report of that committee on the Holnmn resolution on the premiums paid to the contractors for vessels. 'At 5 o'clock the house adjourned. HUNTING ItCILDINCS. Expenditure * ) of the ( Jmeminent for this I'urim e lirlnj ; In\estlgntt > ( l. WASHINGTON . Feb. S. An investigation of the policy of renting buildings for gov ernment use has been started by the house committee on public buildings and grounds. Representative Ciombs of Brooklyn Intro duced a resolution last fall , which was called forth by the Ford's theater disaster , and which provides for a complete Investi gation of the subject. How many buildings arc rented and at what rale , the number of clerks employed in them , the rents paid and the condition of the buildings are some of the points to be looked into. Several at the largest government bureaus in Washington are housed In rented buildings , among them the census bureau , the geological survey. Interstate Commerce commission. Civil Service commission , sixth auditor's office , Department ; of Labor and the record and pension division of the War department , which was lu the Ford's theater building when it fell. The impression prevails that for most of these buildings the government is paying much larger rentals than the owners -would demand If they were dealing with business firms. Mr. Coombs considers It a ruinouB financial policy , and no good business man with good credit would pay in rents much more than the interest upon the uecesbary investments to build suitable quarters for the unattached bureaus and overflow force from the departments. Judge Holman , who Is considered the most ultra-economist In the house , expresses the same view , but ho thinks that the Kcat- tered bureaus might all be housed within five years in the new congressional library and city postoffice , both of which are to be finished within that time and will afford more room than will be demanded for their special purposes. Chairman Bankhead of the committee also thinks that on a general policy the govern ment bhould erect buildings for its clerical forces. In view of the present condition of the treasury , however , there are not likely to bo any steps taken by this congress which in volve a large increase of expenditures by new appropriations. The committee ex pects to secure valuable information on the mutter of public buildings , and will .probably make some recommendations of policy when It has finished the investigation. ANSWUP.KD Till : SUMMONS. George W. llnuek , Congressman from the Third Ohio District. Dies Middenly. WASHINGTON , Feb. 9. Representative George W. Houck of Dayton , O. , died sud denly at 4:30 : this afternoon of heart disease. Mr. Houck was apparently a man of robust constitution and the news of his death came as a shock to his many acquaintances and was at first received Incredulously by con gressmen and public men generally. He had attended to his congressional duties during the day and was , to all appearances. In the full vigor of health. The fact of his death was dillleult of confirmation , as Mrs. Houck was hastily summoned to the side M her stricken husband and had not left word as to where she was going. The full extent of what hud happened was not known until to night. Mr. Houck left his committee room this afternoon where he was engaged In dictat ing letters to bis stenographers , remarking that ho felt tired and would not do any more this afternoon. Ho made a short call on Mrs. Mrs. Reynolds and her sister at 127 Connecticut avenue , and at 4:30 : went to the window lu the parlor and looked out , presumably to BCU If a car was In Bight. At the window ho stooped , as if to pick up someUilni ; , and fell forward on his face. Medical aid was at once summoned , but It was found Mr. Houck K death had been In stantaneous. Mrs. Houck was the only member of his family now lu the city und Bho was at once Bent for. During the evening the remains were taken by direction of the sargeant-at-arms of the house to Leo's undertaking establish ment. The body will be taken to his home ut Dayton tomorrow. The announcement of Mr. Ilouck's death will be made to the bouse tomorrow , and that body will probably adjourn. Mr , Houcl : was bornIn Cumberland county Pennsylvania , September 25 , 1825. At an early ago bo removed to Ohio with his father and settled at Dayton , which place ho has since made his home. He was elected to the legislature In 1S52-3. and filled other positions of importance in the rtutu ; was elected to the Fifty-second con gress , and was last year renomlnated by the democratic party and elected to the present congress. < ) . > t luiid' l-fiilfiiry. WASHINGTON , Feb. 9. The president has acted upon the following applications for pardons ; S. K. Kennedy , convlel&d of falsifying the records ot the Omaha National bank , sentence commuted to two years and clx months. S. S. Snodaker , Utah , polygamy , granted , John C. Ostler. Utah , polygamy , granted. 6. . F. Lotigbough. New Mexico , violation of postal laws , granted. Richard. UutclIRe , Arkansas , perjury , sen tence commuted to one year. HefTi-li'iicy Appropriation. W-ASHINdTON , Fob. 9. The secretary of the treasury has went to congress an esti mate of the appropriations required by the departments to Tonipleto the service tor the fiscal year , amounting to J2.387.8S5. There h a oHclpncy appropriation of $1.057.952 re quired lor the postal service , which In pay able from iMst&l revenues. Action of Judges Dufldy and Jenkins Sharply Commented Upon. DISCRIMINATION IN FIXING SALARIES High Prices Paid for Ornamental tmieern AVlillo the Ilmnlplo Iliintlcr Who * l oe the Work fiunt-rn u Cut lu 11U Sumll I'uy. WASHINGTON BUREAU OF THE BEE. CIS Fourteenth Street , WASHINGTON , Feb. 9. A good deal of comment is being Indulged In by men In congress upon the recent ac tion of Judge Dundy relative to the employes of the Union Pacific and of Judge Jenkins of the United States district court In cn- jolnlng the employes of the Northern Pa cific from striking against a reduction of wages. It Is not unlikely that as a result of these decisions a bill will be Introduced In congress Intended to more clearly pre serve the Interests of wage earners under the conditions which led to the action of Judges Dundy and Jenkins and pointing out clearly what should be done for the offi cials. These decisions have been made the text for sharp editorials in today's New York Tribune and the Washington Post. The latter says : "The order of Judge Dundy of Omaha Is exaggerated by a supplemental order grantIng - Ing to each of the five receivers of the Union Pacific un annual salary of 18,000 , and there are many people who cannot comprehend the justice of treating the re ceivers , who have little or nothing to do , with such luxurious consideration , while tlie wage earners of the road are not- only sub jected to a cut in their pay , but inhibited from entering protest against it. " "It is no wonder , " says the New York Tribune , "that the men have -no friendly feeling toward the useless receivers who take tlie money , the judge who awards it , the government and laws that permit It , and tlie corporation that has not the courage to oppose it. " The Post further says : "Is It not high time that the Questions involved In these orders and injunctions of Judges Jenkins and Duudy were definitely settled by tlie highest of our Judicial tribunals ? While the necessity for receiverships implies the existence of conditions demanding retrench ment of expenditures , it may well be asked if the policy of retrenchment should apply only to the subordinate employes , and what sufficient ground there Is for paying Inor dinate and extravagant salaries to half a dozen or more- beneficiaries of federal pa tronage , whose positions are for the most part sinecures , while the means of subsis tence of dally wage earners are correspond ingly curtailed ? " INCOME TAX IN THE SENATE. It Is generally believed that the income tax scheme will be reported separate and apart from the Wilson or senate tariff bill when that measure comes from the finance committee to the senate next week. The determination to levy a duty of 1 cent a pound upon sugars of all grades and make coal and Iron ore pay a duty , and to Increase the whisky tax makes unnecessary as a revenue provision the Income scheme. If Income taxes are taken out of the Wilson bill by the finance committee It will not necessarily Indicate that the senate will refuse to pass them , as It Is held that in come taxes are stronger In the senate than in the house. But it will place the proposi tion on Us Individual merits and give either ( branch of congress an unhampered oppor tunity to reach Income taxes. OPPOSED TO OKLAHOMA'S ADMISSION. Captain J , J. S. Hassler , formerly of South Dakota and recently chief clerk of the Interior department , now receiver of the land office at Enid , Okl. , is here and is ad vancing remarkable arguments against the admission of Oklahoma to statehood. All democrats are opposed to taking Oklahoma Into the union of states , because she is republican. Captain Hassler says that there Is no property In Oklahoma for taxa tion , and that no revenue could be derived to pay the expenses of government ; that people prefer to let Uncle Sam pay their expenses of government and stay out of the union. The "people" referred to are doubt less democrats. It Is the understanding of those who have Investigated the question from an unbiased point of view that Okla homa Is as fit for statehood as Arizona , New- Mexico or Utah , and yet all of the demo crats In those territories are \ clamoring through their representatives here for state hood. It Is believed that four of the terri tories would be democratic If made states. Oklahoma would certainly be republican. ENTERTAINMENT BY COLONEL HENRY. Colonel and Mrs. Guy V. Henry enter tained at luncheon utthelr , quarters over at Fort Meyer , Va. , a splendid party of friends In honor of Mrs. Lament , wife of the secre tary of war. When the toasts were In order Colonel Henry offered one that had the ring of good feeling which nobody was taking any trouble to disguise. It was , "To the secretary of war and Mrs. Lament , who have done more to bring harmony into our midst than any other administrative force , without regard to politics. " This and other little Incidents of a similar nature gave the event such a distinctively pleasant char acter that It will long be remembered by both the guest of honor , Mrs. Lament , and the rest of those who participated. Among those present were : Captain Pitcher , Captain Stephenson , Lieutenant I. minis. Lieutenant Perry , Lieutenant Seawell , Lieutenant Paines and Lieutenant Merdett. The decor ations wore happy In yellow , tlie cavalry col ors. The party of ladles drove to the fort early In the day to witness the cavalry drill at 11 o'clock. SOME OFFICIAL CHANGES. George Fengler , surveyor of customs at Dubuque , la. , sent In his resignation today. William Klnsella was today appointed postmaster at Klmball , Brulo county , S. D. , vice J. II. Long , removed. Mrs , M. E. Faraday was appointed postmaster - . master at Three Creek , Owyheo county , Idaho , vice J. M. Bratton , resigned. The following fourth-class postmasters in Iowa were appointed : At Battle Creek. Ida county , J , E. Harvey , vice H. W. Cheney. removed ; Cleghorn , Cherokee county , Mat thew Bush , vice J < M. Mills , removed ; CllmliiK Hill , Woodbury county , J. P. Harrison risen , vice W. H , Hard , removed ; Holly Springs , Woodbury county , H. G. Wengert. vice E. A. Batman , removed ; Homer , Hamil ton county , II. G. Pierce , vice W. P. Elliott , resigned ; Ottervllle , Buchanan county , J. W. Flannerfelt , vice E. C. Gates , removed. PERltY S. HEATH. Imlgr I.OIIR'H I'un lm , WASHINGTON. Feb. 8. Commissioner of Pensions Lochrcn has just filed his answer to the bill of complaint of Judge Charles I ) , Long of Michigan , which asked for an In junction to restrain the commissioner from reducing his' pension from $72 to * $ uO a month. It is avered that the Issue of the certificate Hlgnod by Comm'ssloner Tanner was illegal , Irregular , and a nUlllty and that upon Its Issuance the prior one , dated May 19 , 1SSU. was surrendered. Thus , It is alleged , the complainant now holds no legal certificate and U not lawfully entitled to any pension ur.tll the restoration and accept ance by him of the last previous legal cer tificate Ubued to him , which this defendant U already and willing to allow upon nur- render of the Illegal certificate which was Issued without any new evidence or proof whatever , and upon a hearing of the evl- dtmce. The case will be heard before Judge Cox of the tiqulty court on Monday. Iiifrliicliiff I'uU-nt PITTSBVRG. Feb. 9. In the Unltod States circuit court a bill of complaint was filed yesterday by the Codes Electrical Smelt'ng uud Aluminium company Cleve land , U. , ueuinut the CorbonuJum company of Mononpsliela Clt , inwhich It U claimed that by the secret p ogess of smelting ores by an electric current 5ne rights of the Im proved electric furnace are being In fringed on. , * vovaitus's 'nersxiiK nnsr.s. Uml of the Long Trlnljln Chlengn In Nmv CHICAGO , Feb. 9. In the Coughlln case today Thomas Coughlln , brother of the de fendant , was called to the stand to show that the witnepi ) imcf Bent a man named Smith to the ex-detcctlve. and that It was for this man that Coughlln hired Dlnan's white horse on the night of May 4. After a long , heated argtfment Judge Tuthlll ruled the evidence was admlsBlble. Thomas Coughlln then returned to the stand. He told of giving a man a note of Introduction to Dan Coughlln In April , ISSfl. The man had rented n horse of the wit ness , who IB a liveryman In Hancock county , Michigan , and hearing that the latter had a brother In Chicago , necured the note of introduction , which WBB written on the back of a business card. The witness described the man us clean-shaven , cross-eyed and weighing about 160 pounds. This descrip tion tallied with that given by the defend ant. On cross-examination Mr. Coughlin said bo was a member of the Clan-a-Gacl , but had no acquaintance with Martin Burkt- . At the conclusion 'of the witness' testi mony. Jndge Wing a unounced : "Your honor , we. rest our caye. " The state's attorney stated that they would bring their rebuttal testimony at the afternoon session and a reeess was taken. The prosecution confined Its evidence in rebuttal to upholding the veracity of Mre. Hoertol which the defense so savagely at tacked. The final decision not to have the de fendant take the witness stand was decided on today. Judge Wing had prepared the questions he intended putting to Coughlln should he testify , and Jt was found that the prisoner could not remember one-half the events about which -he would bo Inter rogated by his own lawyer. Owing to this it was concluded It would be folly to put Coughlln to the ordeal of the witness stand. J.V COXTESIL'T Or VOV11T. Former Nehraskn Cltlrea In Trouble In ' .South Ilnknta. SIOUX FALLS , 6/D , . , Feb. 9. ( Special to The Bee. ) Contempt proceedings have been instituted against Joseph Pound by Attorneys Donovan & Glover. Mr. Pound arrived here several months ago from Madison , Neb. , and applied for a divorce from his wife , Caroline Pound , on the ground of desertion. The de fendant employed lawyers to fight the case. They filed a petition , which was granted by the judge , asking for alimony and attorney's fees. Pound has refused to comply With the order of the court and yesterday he was ar rested for contempt. . The warrant is re turnable tomorrow afternoon. The alimony and attorney's fees amount to $200. General Coe I. Crawford was In the city yesterday. He said concerning the revok ing of William Sross' 'teacher's certificate by County Superintendent Hunt- " ! have re viewed the matter and submitted It to State Superintendent Cortex Salmon , and It would hardly be courtesy .far me to announce the decision now. However , I will say that a county fcuperintendent lias no power to re voke a teacher's certificate without giving the teacher a hearing on specific charges. " Cross * certificate was recalled 'by ' County Superintendent Hunl. without a Bearing and without making speiific charges. CHAMBERLAIN . S. D. , Feb. ! ) . ( Special Telegram to The Be- > . ) The greater portion of the Slqux. belpnging at Crow "Creekiind Lower Br'jjle agenclelPare in. 'the city this evening purchasing trinkets of various kinds. They have just Deceived n payment of $22,000 from the goverument'und are expend ing the money as rapidly as possible. This money is In part payment for lands ceded to the government three years ago. - ISO.ILLS H'Ji.VT W. " Sam Jones' Sermon Mined Him and Ho Was Uiu 1'lrAt to TleHjHiml. NASHVILLE , Tenn. , Feb. 9. There was a striking scene in the gospel tabernacle here last night. Rev. Sam Jones , the noted Georgia evangelist. Is preaching there and In his audience was ex-Senator John J. In- galls of Kansas. The ex-senator was deeply interested in .Mr. Jones' remarks , and when , as is usual at the-close , of the sermon , the call was made for th6so < who had repented and wanted tb lead better lives to come for ward and shake hands , the llrat. to responu was the cx-Htnator. "Mr. Jones , " ho said , "your- sermon has moved me. I endorse every word you have said. " "May God bless you ! " was the evangelist's response , and the dramatic scene closed. ATCHISON. Kan. . Feb. 9. The story that John J. Itigalls has been converted by Sam Jones at Nashville Is pronounced a canard by Mrs. Ingalls. "He. is a member of the Episcopal church , " she adds , "and not in need of conversion. ' " jfci.it rr Tin : Daring Work cif 11 Lone Train Ilohber Near CARSON , Nev. . Feb. S. About 7 o'clock this evening , when the Virginia & Trukee mall train was a mild 'out of tov.-n , the ex press car was smashed In and the box con taining money to pay wages to section hands along the road to Reno was taken from Jack Page , Wells , Fargo t CO.'B messenger , at the muzzle of u shotgun. It Is customary to pay the men at the 1st of the month , and George Mills boarded that train with a tin box con taining not much over $1,000 , though the exact amount could not be learned. The train moved slowly going out of town , and it IB evident the robber got aboard the tr.iln In the outskirts of the city. When about a mile from town the rear door of the express car was broken In and u man with a shotgun de manded the tin box. The robber then pulled the bell cord , giving the ulgnal to the en gineer to stop the train , which was done. After securing the box the robber jumped from the train and started toward town. Cll.tIK3l.tX lI'lLSOy. BlcknehK , Oiertukei tliq ( liuuiplon of Tariff Itcform Vllilln Knraato tu Mexico. CHICAGO , Feb. . Clinlrmun WJUon of the congressional woya'.and means commit tee is Berlously 111 ut the Palmer house with a throat affection. He.arrived In Chicago today with his wlfoj trod a physician was summoned , The doctor ) EOJ'B that Mr. Wil son's lllnesH is not'iiecessarllyof a danger ous character. Mr. Wilson is accompanied by his wife and daughter and Congressman J. C. Tarsney of Missouri. The party IB on Its way to Mexico , where Mr , Wilson hopes to recuperate from thd trying work of the preparation and passage of bin tariff bill. Enroute to Chicago Jlr.VJUon w-as taken with a chill , and on liia .arrival ut the hotel was compelled to secure jnudical attendance. Mr. Wilson's phyHlciui strongly urged him to remain In Ctildagp for a few days , but he declared tlmt itie fcooner he was In n warm cllmite. the rooner he would re cover , and v.'ent. on to Jlexkio. itiwi'Kh ritop j.rxLueus. I.lfv of u ricnd'Mlio < juutril ! u I.lttle CSIrl Hnied lOj"on ) < ' T < . W1LKESBARRE , Pa. . Feb.j 9. At Port Blanclmrd litst night a man named Cyrus Flanagan assaulted a 13-yaar-old girl named SunkUntile. . HeVJB urrunttHl uliortly after and a large crowd of men noon gathered with the Intension of lynching him. The officers with much difficulty succeeded In smuggling Flanagan out through the back streets 11 ml took him to Plttston. The girl will probably die. 1'recldeiit uf thu Vulntrr * . \LTIMORE , Feb. 9. The master paSnt'-rb convention today elected T 0. Ball of Cincinnati crcaliknt and adjourned. nPiv/\T/i iif v n 11 IM XT nr i MTM\ PEIXOT0MS BADIA SCARED Startling Bnraors dance Him to Issue a Popular Proclamation. PLOT TO TAKE HIS LIFENIPPEtMN THE BUD Thin Wn What Led to the Klertlon Decree Con-jilrulorn \ \ ere IliiKtlly Shot In- Giilnlni ; in thu .Smith ( iencnil Uuinom from Klo. Brazilian CaMt ropvrljMed , JSW. lii ] the Arrnrtattfl i'rtff. ] BUENOS AYRES , Feb. 9. Most sensa tional news has been received here from Rio , and It is believed at least to have pome foundation In fact. According to the dispatches the decision of Pelxoto to Issue a decree calling for a presidential election , as well as for an election for members of congress , on March 1 was only reached after the president had been badly fright ened by the discovery of a plot to murder him. There are several versions of the affair , and as they are contradictory. It Becms sufficient to Bay that the plot apppears to have been Widespread , and to have counted n number of influential people. In cluding spvoral officers , among the con spirators. So soon as the plot against the life of Polxoto was discovered the police were Instructed to arrest the ringleaders , which was promptly done. The trial of the conspirators is said to have followed closely upon the arrest , and there being. In the opinion of the court-martial , no doubt that they were guilty they were sentenced to death. The next morning , according to the dis patches , the persons convicted were taken to an unfrequented spot outside the line of fortifications and were shot while kneel ing at the foot of the freshly dug graves , which were prepared to receive their bodies. After the fatal volley , the bodies of the con spirators were hastily placed in the graves by the soldiers composing the firing party , the earth was shoveled upon them , and the soldiers were cautioned not to say a word about the affair under the threat of being shot. The discovery of the plot against Pelxoto'B life , the court-martial and secret execution , all seem to have been kept from the ears of the general public : but the effect upon Pelxoto Is said to have been great. He signed the decree for the election on March 1. In addition to the conspirators executed the dispatch also says that other Implicated persons were sentenced to long terms of im prisonment , and those who had property were notified that it had been confiscated for the use of the government. Others sought refuge in flight and are now on their way to England and the United States. Advices from the south of Brazil seem to show that the rebels are successful there. The Insurgent army Is approaching Port Alegro , the. capital of Rio Grande doSul , ICO miles from Rio Grande. In the couth the insurgents are said to be receiving re inforcements. They seem to be strengthen ing their position on ail sides. Regarding the approaching elections In Brazil , the belief is expressed here that if the government troops are not employed to terrorize the people the government can didates ( Senor Prtidente Morarez for presi dent and Senor .Manoel Perrier for vice president ) will be defeated ; but the govern ment or "constitutional" , party ls certain to use'all Its machinery in thei effort to elocl Its candidates , and'so the "popular" or In surgent candidates may "be defeated. If this results more trouble may be looked for. General Fernandez , who , with his staff of officers and a Castllhista brigade , number ing about 1,000 men , was taken prisoner by the insurgents near Bage , after 300 of them had been killed late In November , IB dying. The general was severely wounds * during the engagement , which Iai-.c5 all through November "S and was not decided until November 29. On tlie evening of November 28 General Lavarez called upon General Isadore Fernandez , but the govern ment commander replied that be would only give in when his last cartndgc had been fired. This actually took place und the gallant general eventually fell into the hands of the insurgents. KKACIIINH A feTATi ; ill * J'ANIC. London 1'iijirrn Orjlnt ; Loudly for Action on thu Sllter Quchtlon. LONDON , Feb. 9. A dispatch to the Times from Calcutta says : The condition of the money market Is rapidly approaching a state of panic. Government securities have fallen below par , and several failures in business circles have resulted. It Is urged that the condition of the money market which David Harbour looked to as a ne cessity to raise the value of the rupee IB at last reached , and that the secretary of state , backed by his credit of 10,000,000 , could continue to maintain It at almost any figure. But this action in abandoning the minimum utterly destroyed all confidence , and unless he shows that he appreciates the fact that he now controls the situation , the feeling of distrust will spread. The opinion is expressed on all Bides that the management of the council should be re moved and its course entrusted to agents ap pointed by the government of India who shall take their Instructions und bo In con stant touch with the Indian maiket. The Standard in its financial article says : The Indian government must at once reopen tlie mints. Halting between two courses may Imperil credit to the extent that both trade and the government may be paralyzed. Rupee paper has again declined below the lowest on record , being quoted today at C7 , against 57Myesterday. . Bar silver today Is quoted at 29U . \VKKCKKU err wivr : AI-ICICA. Steamer n Ith the liemoiod German ( .mernor tin llouril L < i t on tint Kockh. SIERRA LEONE , Feb. ! ) . The steamship Adulph Woerman , from Hamburg , has struck on the rockn off Nlfou. Governor Ztmmerer , who wan recently dismissed by Emperor William ( who In doing BO Is said to have In fringed upon the rights and duties of Chan cellor von Cajinvl , thereby causing u fraction between them ) was aboard the steamship when she went ashore. Governor Zlmmerer bad with him his staff. All were saved. The steamship , however , and her cirgo will prove a total less. There was r.o ICBI of life among the crew or among other pasHengers. Iliinqueted by Press Mm. LONDON , Feb. 9. A dispatch to the Times from Paris soys ; Forty foreign news paper correspondents tendered n banquet to M. Jules Simon , the noted French statesman , on the occasion of his both birthday. Snce , ! 1S33 M. Simon has been known a's a brilliant man In France , and he has been prominent us an orator and writer in all the troublesome timea that have occurred since that time. He was elected a senator life in 1S75 , and In 1S7C he became premier under Marshal MacMuhon. . Itumcir * < > f ( he Torpedo fleet. RIO IR ) JANEIRO , Fub. 9. It ls an- nouned In this city that sonui .disaster has befallen the fleet of torpedo boats which left Pernamhuco for the south. Details as to the' disaster do not seem to be obtainable , and all Information on the bubjttct Is refused at the government cifllce. In spite of the reticence of tha government officials it is akoarted that at least one of the torpedo bontti bas boon badly damaged , find the whole fleet has put back to I'ttrnambuco for reuHons which are not explulnwl In the dU- putclies recehud here. I III ( iUUlH'H ltl'U < tt ItefUM'lt. ROME , Feb. 9.-The Italian minister at Rio tie Janeiro IIOH cabled to the lUtliixn fe-om-nmuut taking that Italy , tin. Lulled j States and dreat Britain , through their rep- renentntiveB at Rio de Janeiro , have refund to recognise the insurgents ot Brazil as bel ligerents. to I'mncc. PARIS. Feb. 9. Senor Guanabara In to re turn to Rio de Janeiro. President Pelxoto , has appointed Itaron Snnta Aim to Micceed Senor Guanabara as special Brazilian dele gate to France. _ _ j'.titMMt * .iiuori\ : l.i : t DHJ'O rntPifMlliiKR of the Niitlotml .VI- lliinro-OIIIeer * iiicti : > cl. TOPEKA. Feb. Si. The National Farmers alliance adjourned tonight. The officers elected arc as follows : President , Marlon Butler of North Carolina ; vice president , J. L. Gilbert of California ; secretary and treasurer , U. P. Duncan of South Carolina ; executive committee , I. 13. Denn of New York , Mann and Page of Virginia , H. C. Demmlng of Pennsylvania and H. L. Loucks of South Dakota. The Judiciary committee was abolished and the president was authorized to appoint five lecturers and place each In charge of a dis trict , Instead of electing one us heretofore. The new constitution presented by II. L. Upaon of New York was turned over to the executive committee to prepare it for the next session. The place of meeting next year was left with the executive committee. Before adjourning , the supreme council adopted an address warning all -true mem bers of the organization that they would make a fatal mistake because a political party has risen to champion the caime of the order to give up the organization , which the address declare * Is tlie only power that can enforce the needed reforms through any political party. The council calls upon the members to remember that It Urn ; n mission to per form outHlde of political reforms , and If the producers of America expect to keep pace with the march of civilization they must do It through social and Intellectual contact. Political reforms arc desired to carry out this mission , and in conclusion the supreme council "appeals to every one who believes in the principle ! ; ot the alliance to Maud by and support the demands of tlie organization , not only to secure the benefits to come from the organization , but also to niaKe cer tain that some political party shall enact these demands Into law. " . " 1I1XK" ir/7 SO.V .Murderer of DrlcclUr lluriry AV111 Die In ( he ( Imlr. SYRACUSE , N. Y. , Feb. 9. ( Special Tele gram to The Bee. ) "Dink" Wilson was brought from the Auburn penitentiary today to be rcsentenced for the murder of Detec tive Harvey. He was escorted by a strung guard and his hands and legs were manacled. The prisoner's chains were riveted and he was taken at once before Judge Williams , who sentenced him to be electrocuted during the week beginning March 12. Wilson asked if he was not to be allowed to speak before sentence and was told that this was a re- bentence and he could not be heard. He was very angry as ho was hustled downstairs to a cell. Then the reporters tried to talk with him , but the guards would not penult It. Then they appealed to the court and were told that the court had no objection. Still the guards refused and the warden of Auburn prison was telephoned , but he would not give permission. Frank and Clyde Wilson , his brothers , applied to Judge Williams for authority to talk with "Dink , " nnd by the judge'K advice the guards con sented to that , but allowed no one else to hear what was Bald. At the train , reporters made another eflort. Wilson said that he 'wanted to talk today , but the guards here shut him off again , and he was whirled away to Auburn , where his cell is closely watched. limits SOT itii > Tumtiv. , /i.egntc-eg of Governor IJlre Will Xot Worry Oti-r th' Siiimw'x Clniiii. ST. PAUL , Minn. , Feb. 0. ( Special Tele gram to The Bee. ) The heirs of the late Henry M. Rice received with calmness the report from SIous City that representatives of a Wlnnebago sqaw were going to try to break his will , for they had been given an Intimation Borne days ago that such a con test was In prospect. They refuse to ex press an opinion as to the merits of the case , but are Indignant at the wording of the Sioux City despatch , which says that "the will bequeaths an estate valued at upwards of ? 100,000 to a. woman who has for n num ber of years passed as his wife. " Mr. Rice was married over thirty years ago and his wife moved in first circles , both when he was governor and congressman. Some of the pioneers of Minnesota say that buck in tho,40's , when Mr. Rice was a fur trader , he was supposed to have a llason with a sqaw , but that there was no marriage and no evidence that would give her u wife's claim to a share of the estate. The exact status of the case will not be known until the will is brought Into question in the pro bate court here. The case Is regarded here as one of speculation by attorneys. MOSTUXI.IXS .IKK I'lll'inSII. They Tuki < Kxcepthm to the Art Deconit loni. on the Next Llhrury Itullding. BOSTON , Feb. 9. The common council has passed an order that the mayor be re quested to direct the trustees of the public library to cause the Immediate removal of the objectionable features of the art decora tion on the facade of the new public library building directly over the entrance. The art decoration referred to is a weal made from a design made by the artist Kenyan Cox , and accepted and turned over to Mr. St. Gaudens , the Bculptor , whoso reproduc tion of the seal which had been placed over the main entrance of the new building Is about four by six feet. The principal features of It are a shield or globe In tlie center , with a perfectly nude male figure on. each Bide holding a torch , while over the figures is the legend , "Omni Clvlum. " 7in : Itudyof i : . i : Whltrmorr to Ho Kcdiieed to Aitlii'H nt Kt. LouU Toduy. ST. LOUIS , Feb. 9. ( Special Telegram to The Bee. ) The remains of E. E , White- more will be cremated tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock at the Missouri crematory , 3211 Subletta avenue , this city. The Incinera tion vould have taken place this afternoon , but for the late ut rival of the body from San Antonio , Tex. The wife of the dead man and his brother , W. H. B. Whltemore , are stopping at the St. James hotel. The corpse is at Eberle i : K ) cs' undertaking rooms , 904 South Fourth street. It will be removed thence to the crematory tomor row afternoon In a hearse , accompanied by a carriage containing the relatives. T'liMlon of KolbltcK unit I'opullKlH. BIRMINGHAM , Feb. 9. The state con vention of JeffcrEonlan democrats , or the Kolbites , and the people's party van held here yesterday. A full state ticket was nominated to oppcs the regular democratic ticket. The people's party had their btnte con vention this morning and were later Invltud to Join in the Kolbites convention and ac cepted. The people's party adopted n plat form which endorses the Omaha platform. diiclures for an income tax. demands a free ballot and a fair count and oppones the re peal of the 10 per cent tax on Male banks. The ticliet , on completed lost night , 1 beaded by Reuben F. Kolb for governor. Toro Out thn LANSING , Mich. , Feb. if Some person d p rately luttirt ted In the result of the state Kalurlt * scandals broke Into the room of County Clerk May of Detroit In thu Downey hotel last night and tore out all the PJI S of ini aunty cli-rk'li book , whertton V.TTE rr-corUcl the fraudulent results ol tne vote un the salaries amendment. Natives of the Sondan Defeat Them iu a Bloody Battle. FIERCE FIGHTING NEAR TIMBUCTOO With Knives nad Spears the Tribesmen Win a Signal Victory. COLONEL BONNIERE'S ' COLUMN SHATTERED Put to Inglorious Flight and Forced to Fall Back on Tiinlmctoo. DARING ATTACKS UPON INTRENCHMENTS I'u/ry Wnrr.v Maintain * Ills lEfpiitutloii n it J'lrM-Cliiw righting Man-Modern Arm * UIIMI Xu Terrors fur Jllm-UOU Killed. * PARIS. Feb. S. ln on Interview Premier Cusimlr-Pcrler admitted that tlic French column hud been attacked and destroyed by tlie natives near Tlmbuctoo. Tlie premlur added tliat It was also true tlmt several of- flci-rs lind been hilled , but lie declared that they would not evacuate Tlmburtoo. and ro- InforcementH had already been forwarded to the French commander at that place. The governor of the Soudan has tele graphed that Colonel Bonnler's column left on December 1 from Tlmbuctoo on a le- connolMincc , and that the column wan mr- priscd , while asleep , \\hen ubout three dnytt march from Tlmbuctoo. The success of thu TtmrjlK is said to have greatly encouraged the other nathc tribes , and the route of the French was mjjsl dllllcult , as they were fou- tlnually harrassed In their retreat. Upon reaching Tlmbuctoo the commander of the French forces there decided that it was ad visable to prepare for the worst , and steps were Immediately taken to throw up en trenchments In anticipation of an attack In a force upon the part of the natives , who were said to be mustering their forces ami lie preparing for a combined onslaught of the French. ' * FAIRLY CUT TO PIECES. The following accounts of the disaster ars given out by the French government The Tuarjls , Captain Philllppe reports , were ixrmcd with lances and knives , which they used with terrible effect against the French native troops. The Tuarjls mutlu their first attack upon the leading ; portion of the French column , which secnm tu have been divided Into two divisions. Tim attack of the Tuarjls was BO desperate and well sustained that tho' first division wo * ' apparently cut to pieces. The news of the disaster was brought to the second portion of the column of the rear guard by CaptaOi Nugettc , a French officer w.ho , though badly , wounded In thu licitd , jnanaged to escape from the crowds of natives -who assailed the ad- vancu guard. The second division was encamped a few miles to the rear of the advance guard , which was surprised during the darkness of early ; morning. The officer in command of the rear , guard at once ordered his force under armx , abandoned his encampments and commenced to retreat upon Tlmbuctoo , leaving the unfortunate - fortunate vanguard , commanded by Colonel Bonnlere , to its fate. Reports are conflicting as to the number killed , but an official statement admits at least nine French officers. Including Colonel Bonniere , two European noncommissioned officers and sixty-eight native soldiers were mupsacred. The unofficial reports , emanat ing from the War department and colonial ofllcc , say the loss In killed and captured is at least liftO. The rear guard , after enduring consider able hardship and being pressed by tli enemy , succeedeJ In reaching Tlmbuctoa on December 17. carrying with them a. number of wounded. Several of tlin men , In addition to those admitted to have been killed when the vanguard was cut to pieces , .are sad ) to have been either killed or left along the route during the retreat to Tlm- buetoo. The French officers fought most bravely. Captain 1'hllllppo gathered his whole foreo together and began the work of throwing ; up entrenchments In order to secure his po sition at Timbuetoo , which shortly after wards was seriously threatened by the TuarJiH. The Tuarjls became so aggrpsslya and confident in their strength that they , pushed up clo.se to the French Koldlors ut work In the entrenchments and killed B V- tral of them. Captain I'hillippe organlrod two Miuill parties of soldiers , who made several spirited sallies unontlie Tuarjls. driving them backward and killing a num ber of them. . NIGHT ATTACKS. At least once or twice every night they would make an attack of some kind upon the French lines , killing and wounding several of the small garrison Opposed tn un enemy estimated to number Ire n 4,000 to 10,000 the French had only 300 men In the entrenchments at Tlmbuctou and this force was only supported by nix small field pieces. When Captain I'hlllippo was Informed by nativu musBengers that the Joffwre column WUH un Its way to relieve him he Kent u messenger to. Colonel Joffore to warn him that his forces were In danger of attack by the Arabs. Captain Philllppe also bei t a request to thi > governor of Soudan that the French flotilla on the Niger should not leave there until the Jolfore column hud reached Tlmbuctoo. The news of the disaster caused n de cided sensation In Paris and It Is said BC\- ural qucBtlonB on the subject will bo atfkecl as soon as possible in the Chamber of Dep uties. The Associated press Is informed upon good authority that the French government will say In reply to the questions referred to above , that Colonel Bonnlcrc's expedition was undertaken not only upon hlH own Initi ative , but against the order.s of the govern ment. It IB seml-olllelally stated that the governor of Soudan , who lb reported to bo at Kuldls , has taken extraordinary measures to relieve the French force nt Timbuetoo , and that , In addition , all the French outpouts have been doubled. A// ; ; Tinr.it TO SHOOT. Act of a M. Ixmls Wowun Whllo Insane front llliichH. ST. LOUIS , Feb. 0. While suffering from an attack of temporary Insanity brought on by Illness , an attempt wan mudii by o French woman to imoot tv.o , pf the counting room _ force of th j Post-Dispatch. Clerk Adolph SmJ th , stand ing at the receiving counter , was at first and all unaware * nttatkwl by the woman , who attempted to use u pistol on him , l lt w N nimble to get It clear of her klrt t" fire. Klin then , ns Smith dodged belou the ruun- tor , turned upon \V. W. Wltncr anothrr elark. and snapped her weapon twke , but the cartridges fullad to explode , lief'ie tlm could make another attempt \Vltnor leapt 1 over the counter , and w rusting the p nidi from her gave her Into police custody \t the liBadquarlors khu gave her n i > u Mrs. 0O. . Pierrot. Her reason * wli'ii asked , were but Intuhorent mumblingu a'.x t Insults. Slip Is u w iindor bolt and l > a < - , Her husband Is engaged In th printing business.