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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 1899)
'Mfl THE RED CLOUD CIEER It 14 POYHTERBPROMPT NEBRASKA GOVERNOR-ASKS COR INVESTIGATION. Chargei rnbllrljrmnilo Itjr Chief Intmrnnce Clark Utility to lin Thoroughly Inveiill (ted1 Governor Want the Public to Know tli 8 Truth. VHelow Is given tho history of the trouble in tho ofllco of tho auditor of public accounts now being investigated by tho'lcglslaturc, Tho Oovornor'i Action. Governor I'oy liter's message la as follows: To the Member of the Twenty.slxth Gewrlon of the Legislature of Nohrus. ta Gentlemen: 1 would respectfully call your attention lo nrot grave and serious charges made in til is public prints, and especially to un artuie ap. pcaring in the Omnha lice, und Stale Journal of tills date which Implicates the executive department of the state In gross irregularities in the manage, incut of the affairs of the mult tor's of. flee. The charges arc made spucltlc In the article above referred to as to tho department of insurance In that office. These charges are of so sevl. our a character that I deem it my duty to ask your candid and careful consideration of them. They came to my attention last week as rumors, hut of such grave import that I considered It necessary to op. point a committee consisting of Hon. W, P. Porter, secretary of state, Hon. C. J. Smyth, attorney genet al, and Hon. J. V. Wolfe, commissioner of pub. lie lands and buildings, to investigate and report io me. What were rumors t that tlnic have become sprclllo charges now by the publication of the articles above referred to. If these charges arc not true a very great wrong is being dono to the elected representative of the people In tho auditor's office, and Auditor Cor. nell should be given the fullest oppor. tunlty to vindicate his honor. It they aro true, prompt action should be ta. ken to disclose anil stamp out ofllclal corruption. In cither event whatever jrour wisdom may dictate, either to uppletnent the action already taken ly me, or 'to pursue a special line of Investigation of your own, In the in. terewt of good government, I beg to assure you that whatever assistance this department can render you will be cheerfully granted. Wm. A. PoYJJTKn, Governor. Upon motion of Weaver of Rich, ardson, tho houco appointed Messrs. Evtum of AdauiH, Weaver, and 1'isher f Dawes. Tho senate appointed Uessnt. Currlc, Prout and Hule. Mr. I.lclity't Letter of Cliurccu. I am usked to state the reasons that led to my discharge from tho btato auditor's office. In bhort, I tun bounced from the state cupltol be cause of my continued protests against free railroad pusses in the pocket of popullsl officiate uud be cause of my opposition to hold ups, lawlessness uuu Mealing ol state funds. 6tato Auditor Comell has had a hard road to truwl for months. He tells we that state officers have "been pro fane and severe on him for tolerating e. man so disloyal to our highly re spected ruleiu. ,lf an uppolnteo of mine ever opposed me us I have on posed the state auditor I would not tolerate it a duy. I told Cornell long ago that 1 would cheerfully walk out any day he ten dered mo a written discharge. While 1 never asked for the office, Mr. Cornell In December, l&'JO, insist ed on my accepting the position. I felt I ehould not resign; i don't be lieve in runnlnc awav from a llirht. Boon after tho populists entered the. state house the corruptor.s of mankind came also. They distributed no end of railroad passes. Many had Pullman passes and express and telegraph (ranks laid on their desks. T protested that this was an Insinuation that pou. ullsUi were base deceivers. I was as tonished to find that the gifts were generally received and that I was lone In protesting against this bad faith. I deserved to be tired thus curly In the game. A little later, and just before the rnllroods were assessed for 1897, with the auditor as chairman of tiho assessing board, an elegant rail road train was backed up to one of the depots of this city. This train had Pullman sleepers, dining ear und nil the luxuriant apDolntments heart could wish. Everything on this pal ace on wheels wos as free as t'he air and it carried the state auditor and his family, with a number of his friends and Deputy Auditor Pool and a long list of others from the Capitol a thousand miles Into the resorts of tho northwest, I unhesitatingly de nounced such jaunts as suicide for our party leaders and sure destruction to the populist party. Prom this on X eaw the state house converted Into sv gTeat free pass broker shop with tome of our $2,000 and $2,500 a year officials doing very little besides get. wng- iree passes lor themselves and friends. I saw populists well paid to work for the state, 1ut Instead of feel, log- like hired men they felt like rulers of the people and were continually seeking free jaunts from the Atlantic to Uie rnclflc and from tho gulf as lap north nas it was comfortable to f. I of course kept on protesting end thus the feeling grew that I was disloyal to the gang nnd deserved to fce bounced. I said. "Hounre away, wd I will try to find business among consistent honest peonle." We had been in offco at the capttol only n few monts when I discovered that C. C. Pool, deputy state auditor, had drawn a warrant for $235 with out authority of law. I spolre to Senn. tore Mutz nnd Ileal of tho investigat ing' committee, nnd they looked into the wffnir. They entirely ogreed with tne and demanded that tho money bo returned to the treosury. Mr, Pool reftwied nnd Auditor Cornell imported blm. Mutz and Hal referred the dis pute to the atorney general's office nd tooth Smyth nnd Smith said it was unlawful nnd cannot be tolerntcd. The tate auditor and Deputy Pool strong ly resisted nnd I have never yet heard 3hat the money hns hcen returned to the treasury. This man Pool draws nil the atate warrant nnd Imndlrs tho appropriation ledgers. The $2.15 was of ujc 1895 appropriation and If Pool had not drawn It Just when he did it would by law have lapsed into the treasury. It might be wise to see if any other sums have been kept from lniwlng In u similar manner. Tho state auditor Keeps Messrs Price and Whittnker in his office for political reasons. I think nn investi gation would prove -that' these men aro hurdly worth the $1,000 n year each which they receive. I have seen the state's money used to hire work done In their room which these men could and should have done had they been competent. Hut yet when tho auditor set these men to packing books and blanks to be sent to county scats he gave them good sized state warrants ns atij extra tip. Whittnker confessed to me at his house lust June that he did wrong in taking tills mon ey from the treasury. I have not heard of any money being returned. Tho legislative Investigating com. mlttce told me that they found that one of our $1,000 appointed officials had taken $700 wrongfully from the state treasury some years ngo. The report of this finding Is on file. Is it any wonder that a man gets the grand bounce when he Is constantly object ing to crookedness In his own camp and insisting on contributions to the conscience fund? It seems to mo men should straighten up their ac counts or quit the public service. Or, betcr yet, pay back and quit both. Section 28 of the insurance law says: "The auditor shall not appoint anyone to examine insurance compa nies thot is nn officer, agent or stock holder of any insurance, company." In defiance of this law the auditor has nil along had Mr. 0. W. Palm of Lin coln ns his Insurnnce examiner, al though it is said Mr. Palm Is one of the largest and most' prosperous insu rance agents in the state. Serious pro. tests en mo Into the office against this and I have for n long time naked the auditor to discharge Pnlm nnd obey tho law. My pleadings have been In I'nln nn1 nn llllrt no iwn tAnntlltt fl rt ithls man Pnlm was east "holding up" companies, ns he very properlv terms It. This lends mo to sny that there is a rule In our Insurnnce. department approved by Auditor Cornell thnt ex aminers of' Joint stock nnd old line rompnnlcs &hull have not to exceed $10 a day and expenses for their work. I can prove this by copy of n Ictja-'r to the' Krle Tire Insurance company of Huffalo, N. Y., dated January 9, 1S09, and copied on Insurnnce letter book of thnt dale, pages 149 nnd 1.10. I affixed the nudlttor's name to that letter upon his orders after he read the letter. Now the fact is that dur ing Inst year letters nnd documents fell into my hands evidently not in tended for me and they prove conclu sively that the auditor's Insurnnce cx--nmlnera were violntiug not only this wholesome rule, but plain statutory laws as well and were "holding up' companies shamefully by tho power of t'he great seal of the state. The fraternal Insurance law of 1807 provides In section 0 thnt men who ex amine frnternnl associations "shall be limited to $5 per day nnd necessary traveling expenses nnd "hotel bills." A few weeks ngo a director of the Na. tlonal Aid nuoclution of Topckn, Kas., a fraternity doing business in tius state, protested to mo because the au ditor sent his nephew, J. A. Simpson, to examine their books and records and after only two days' work Mr. Simpson filed a bill for $100, wthlch they pold rather than have trouble with the Btnte auditor. The Traders' Insurance company of Chicago seems to have had n call from Mr. Simpson recently, backed by n commission from his uncle, the auditor, nnd nftcr a few hours' visit paid $110. During 1S97 I succeeded in getting nil insu rance examinations recorded In a book kept for thnt purpose and there were no hold ups In the nnme of the stnto or violations of lnw in regard to ex aminations thnt 1 could learn. Hut durlmr the last year It was different. Not nn examiner could be induced to put n single dntc or data on tho rec ords In the office and my appeals to tho auditor to compel them to do so J. wero of no nvoll. Tne autlitor and the examiners combined to keep near ly all the reports of the examiners and everything elso touching examina tions of insurance companies nwny from me, although I often asked to have them so I could record the facts and file the papers In their' proper places. 1 declared that all thh un called for conduct wns simply to keep me from seeing their Crookedness nnd of course I deserved to wnlk the gang plank. It has long been the custom of the nudltor to lny all insurnn e mall on my desk and to open it and give It attention. After the scnndlous O. W. Palm letter of December 10, 1693, written at Chicago, fell into my hands I was not allowed to open nny more office mall. After that accident the ndultor always opened insurnnce mail and looked for compromising matter before turning it over to mo for re plies. On January 19, 1S99, two social letters very plainly addressed to me by friends fell Into Auditor Cornell's hands. There wns not 8 scratch on the envelope to indicate that the nudl tor had any right to them, 1nit -these two nlso came to me from the ihands of the auditor and like the office mnil they were wide open. C. C. Pool, the deputy auditor, "bunded me one of the letters addressed plainly to mo by typewriter and marked ''personal" and this one nlbo was ripped open. These men eecmed determined to know about my social correspondence with relatives, even if the lnws of congress nnu to uc violated, so i told the cap Itol mail carrier to deliver nil my let. tors to me and to no one else. I found this the only way to stop the outrage. The bitter controversy between the nudltor and myself wns about tho en forcement of section 33 of the old 1873 Insurance law. This section provides taxes to be paid Into the state treas ury by eastern Insurance companies. Other auditors had been Importuned to enforce this fccctlon of the stntute, but they never would do so and the state has lost about ihnlf a million dol lars by this disregnrd of law. Seotlon 32 of the same net hns nlwnys been en forced, which brought in about $10, 000 a year. Hut section 33, on which the state should realize about $25,ooo a year, lias laid as n dend letter since 1873. I thought wo wero put into the state house to obey and enforce nil law, not do like our predecessors, henco I was astounded in 1897 when Auditor Cornell told me I was only to do ns hnd been done nnd not try to en force section 33. In 1893 I secured n strong advocate to assist mo and made another effort to have the auditor al low tne enforcement of taction 23. Wo f showed Illinois and Kansas supremo court decisions to prove thnt section 33 was good law. Hut again the aud itor flatly refused to let me collect the money duo the state under this law. When tho nudltor was safely out of the way inpt fall campaigning I went nhend defiantly and sent bills to many of the outside companies nnd proceed ed to collect what belonged to tho state under section 33. I succeeded In collecting Into the state treasury nearly $12,000 before I was found out. To hedge against trouble I cnlled on Deputy Attorney Genernl Oldham, wliotn I knew be lieved In tho enforcement of section 33, and th collection of money due the ntafc from eastern' corporations. Mr. Oldhnm told Mr. Cornell nnd my Rclf thnt nn auditor nnd his bondsmen sould be held, If section 33 were not enforced, nnd thus the money lost to the state. Thus I wns not abused for disobeying orders to the tunc of $12. 000. There the mutter dropped. Af ter thnt the regular nnnunl rueh of work came Into the office so T could not give further attention to collection of old nccounls. The nudltor since, flint ihns been quiet, even so quiet thnt ho nerr says a word about trying to get some of the hnlf million due the state. When I stand ready to make affidavit to the above and nlso prove It if the auditor's appointees will tell the truth, it will seem n little luugh uble to rend in Cornell's forthcoming report, which 1 nm told will appear therein: "1 have made u fnithful ef fort to entorce section 33, tho recip rocal feature in our Insurance law, and have collected nnd placed Into the treasury about $12,000 as a result of such action." 1 argued with Mr. Cor nell that some people believed nit pre decessors received Cash In ihnnd for letting a low lie as u dead letter that might bring $25,000 n year Into the treasury; nnd whether guilty or not, wc will g out under the same cloud if wc don't make an honest effort to enforce section 33. Hut the fact remains that a popu list stnte nudltor on this subject Is just like a republican nudltor. He Is at heart opposed to collect tbat $500, 000 due the state. He Is not working nt it now, never has worked nt It a minute, but Jhns always bitterly ot posed at. He and Deputy Pool con tinually deprived me of the eervlces of the office stenographer when I needed her to aid In those collections and obliged her to do bookkeeping nnd other work In the auditing depart ment which should have been done by Price nnd Whlttakcr. It Is for the leg islature to sny if this kind of work nnd loss of money shall go on. If the legislature ndjourns without passing some such bill as house roll 191 or sen ntc file 71 then there Is no hope fir a change. What the state needs is nn Insurance department In a good sized room by Itself, with the cdvernor to supervise It nnd appoint people to do the work according to law. If the legislature ndjourns nnd leaves the stnte insurance business in the audi, tor's office, it -will be hard on Na. brnskn. The snme number of men with the unc salaries can do the work In some other room under dlrcc. tion of the govern if tho legislature says they don't worn tho work done bettor nor mora promptly than In tho past. And the same men and salurlcs will do It 'better for the governor, for then all law will be enforced nnd nil funds duo the stnte will be col. lectcd. Two of Nebraska's Auditors got away with whnt they ' collected from insurance compnnlcs under see. tion 32, and none in the history of the state has collected n dollar under see. tion 33. Or If any have, tt failed to reach the treasury. The governors of Kansas, South Dakota and some other states supervise the insurance depart, ment and a scandal from thoso do. ixirtmcnts has never been heard of. I hope our legislature will sec fit to make this greatly needed change In this state. SAMUEL LICHTY. Cornell's Side. Auditor Cornell has this to say in regard to tho case: , "The governor has appointed nn In. vestigatiug committee, as Hkcwlso has the legislature, nnd the public will be advised of the full details in due time. I am not shunning uic investigation; on the contrary 1 court it. Nothing has occurred, about this office during the present administration that will not stand the test of the judgment dny. If any examiner has 'held up' Insurance companies, it hns been done without my knowledge or consent and I do not recall any complaint ever having been made except by the A. O. U. W., and as I now. remember this it was simply n denial of our right to examine them at till. They have never paid anything for the examination. I have 'never seen the Palm letter and never heard of it except by rumor in the past Tew days. Tlio lirst uusoiute and definite knowledge that ever came to me was through the columns of the Hce. My letter discharging Mr. Lichty speaks for Itself: Lincoln, Feb. 10, 1809. Samuel Licit, ty, Chief Clerk in the Insurance De. pdrtment Sir: From clrcumstnn. ces and facts that have come under my observation from time to time nnd especially during the month just passed, I am convinced that you have not been fnithful and havo not excr. clscd your best judgment In perform, lug the duties of your office. Without authority of law and with, out mv knowledge nnd consent you collected from frnternnl societies $200, which you returned under my dlrec. tion. You have taken from my mail n letter addressed to mo and marked "personal" and have not advised me of its contents. You have, contrary to my instruc. tions. withheld agents' certificates un. der the pretense that you Knew more obout the revenue laws than did tho treasury department. You h ave tried to favor certain Insurance companies contrary to lnw, and at the same time have not acquainted me with your ac. tions. You have used your influence to the detriment of the office. You have not given tne tho ndavntage of your coun. sel. You have always objected to keeping the records of the ofllco nnd especially the fee book in such a shape that the office could not be properly cheeked. You pretend to have facts which, if they were dlvulpyd, would deprive me of my ofllee. You, for the cake of your position, withhold these facts. Such jioiietity would Bhamc .the devil, A 1 tremble while you are In the em. ploy of the utate, hence I discharge , you from its service, and demand papers, or other things in your possession belonging to toe state. JOHN F. CORNELL, Auditor of State. "Tho following letter which fell into mv innds was written and mailed by Mr. jshty without my knowledge or consent vi jdso be its own witness. I will add that although there is a rile of the office which change Ui not nat all official letters leaving the of. flee must be first copied, Mr. Lichty violated tho rule in regard to ths let. tor, ond Instead of placing the letter with the mall going out of the office, presumably carried It to the postofllco und mailed it himself; but hcres tho letter: Lincoln, Neb., Feb. JO, 1809.-- General Manntrer. , Iseb. Dear Sir: As per request of your recent letter I herewith hnnd you II. cense for the current yenr. If you hnve not remitted ten dollars to tho state treasury to pay your annual II. cense fee, please do so without delay. It is more convenient for me to spcnlt about it In this way thnti to go nnd look nt the books nnd see if the moucy hns arrived. 1 notice in your report that your assets arc n little over n hundred dol. lnrs and your liabilities n little over three hundred dollars. These nre not large liabilities, of course, but all tho same it makes your company appear Insolvent. It seems to me you might recall your report nnd list In your ns. sets printed blnnks, office furniture nnd assessments due In the next few months or something of the kind that might make the mutter look solvent. Under no circumstances should a fl. nnncinl corporation put out a state, ment showing liabilities In excess of assets. Very truly, JOHN F. CORNELL, Auditor of State." Per SA.MUBL LKtTY. Insurance Deputy. "I withhold names not desiring to Injure third parties. I will only nsk n just uud Impartial public not to chystallze Its opinion until In possc3, sion of all the facts!" The Palm letter referred to by the auditor is in the possession or Mr. Lichty. It was written by O. W. Palm, tho auditor's examiner of insurance companies. Tho letter reads as fol. lows: "Chicago, Dec. 16, 1898. John F. Cornell, Lincoln, Neb.: I will bo through here tomorrow. TI1I3 place means hard work: I have worked every day since Monday and will prob. ably have to do the same with tho other little snide compnny at Mllwau. kcc. I think that I can hold them up Tor about $120 apiece. You see that will be an nvcrage charge of $20 per day. I wisli I could do them up for about $250 each. But they are new beginners and too small. Still they are doing tho beet they can. "If you wish to communle-ato with mo after tomorrow, please address me at the Phliler Hotel, Milwaukee, lours in haste, O. W. PALM." The Hearing. In the office of the secretary of state, the committee appointed by Governor Poyn'ter, consisting of At torney General Smyth, Commissioner Wolfe and Secretary Porter.snt to hear an argument upon Its jurisdiction. This argument was made pro and con by Judge Hryant, who appeared for Mr. Cornell und Mr. Wolfenbarger, who appeared for Mr. Lichty. Mes srs, Lichty and Cornell wero both present. Judge Hryant for Respondent Cor nell moved that Mr. Lichty file his specific charges und indicate the lino of proof which he intended to pur sue. To this Mr. Wolfenbarger answered by nn objection to the jurisdiction, of tho committee to try tho ense or en force any orders. The argument upon these two prop ositions then followed. Judge Hrynn-t held that the governor charged with1 tho enforcement of the lnw, could J delegntc the authority to investigate Into nllecratlone of non-enforcement to n commission which commission, toi all intent nnd purposes would have! the same rights and prerogatives as the governor himself. The point raised by counsel for Mr. Lichty was that tho legislature had already taken action in the nppolnt ment of u joint committee, this com. mittte would be invested with plennry authority to summons witnesses, both voluntary and involuntary, and that tho committee appointed by the gov ernor would be Impotent to secure nny testimony except such ns was volun tnrily forthcoming. Mr. Liclvty's po sition before the latter commlttco would bo unfair to him inasmuch as lils testimony which would be forth coming would be entitled to be cor roborated by other witnesses who might not be willing to appear in the absence of a compulsory process. Judgo Hrynnt stnted that the pur poses of tho committee, wns to make nn Investigation into the facts and re port to the governor. Its jurisdiction aaiiI.1 ilinwnfnHA llA It rfl 11 Act tn A1 Tf Mr. Llohty desired to make specific 1 u 1. ...-1.1 n r - 1i n 1 n ' cnurcs liu ttuuiu iro uu iiuuij iu iiu so, If not the committee would pro ceed along such lines as it would elect. Mr. Wolfenbnrger wo not prepared to state how soon he otild tell the committee whether Mr. Lichty de sired to enter specific' charges. The attorney general suggested 2 o'clock this afternoon, but this wns too short for Mr. Wolfenbarger. It was agreed to meet at 9:30 Friday morning. Detirecn Acts. Llttlo 5-year-old Wllllo had been to tho theater and upon his return his mother asked him how ho liked the play. "Oh," ho replied, "the play was all right, but I didn't get to sea noar nil of it," "Why, how did that hap pen?" asked his mother. "Because," answered Wllllo, "the roller must have been broke for tho window blind fell down two or three times." PcltTered the Ooodi. The statement thnt Rudyard Kip ling had received a shilling n wo for a story In an English magazine Induced a wag to wrlto htm and fct closo a shilling postal order, "Hearing that wisdom was being retailed at a shilling a word," writes the Joker, "I Inclofso a shilling for a 'sample." Kip ling kept the order and sent back the word "Thanks." . thct you delvcr to me oil books, documents, moneys I INQUIRY Testimony of Army 0ffic6rs Con ccrointr the Beef Rations COLONEL POWELL TESTIFIES, Commnnder of tho Koventh Infantry Toll of tho Trouhlei of a IteglmenUl Coin mamier Aflor tho Surrender Men Tell at Their l'oita. WABiiiNOTOJf, Feb. 2.'. Tho session of tho Miles court of Inquiry began to-day with Colonel William II. Powell of the Soventh Infantry, who was stn iloned nt Mndison"barracks nt tho out break of tho war. Ho said that ho started for Tampa April 10 with a month's rations and Alld not come in contact with tho food from tho com missary department at Tampa till about ready to start for Cuba. Tho regiment went through the Santiago campaign. After tho city was 'cap tured and tho regiment quartered in tho city ho received requests from his men for money to buy stuff to cat. Ho investigated tho canned roast beef nnd had some of it served at his own table. VI could not-vcat It," ho continued. "It was a stringy, unwholesome look ing mass, more llko wot soawced than anything clso 1 can think of. The men wero sick nnd debilitated and could not keep- it on tliolr stomachs. Wo had at that time 152 sick. "fc'oon after that tho fresh beef be gan to nrrlvo and tho men nto readily und bogan to pick up in lioalth. After wards wo wero moved out of camp near tho San Juan battlefield. Hero much of our meat spoiled before wc could get It." Colonel Davis Inquired If "any other, complaints had been received." "I would llko to emphasize," said Colonol Powell, "that tho enlisted men of tho nrmy uro not in tho habit of complaining. Thoy scorn to feel in a campaign that tho officers aro doing all that can bo dono for them, and I can't say that I received anything that could bo termed complain tt. The offi cers discussed tho matter freely, and tho quality of tho canned beef was a matter of common talk." Itcgardlng tho refrigerated bcof Colonel Powell said there was little to bo said against it excopt that some of it spoilod baforo it was received. There wero no facilities for cooking while in tho city oxcept a flro in the gutter. All food had to bo boiled. "You mado no official report at tho tlmo, thon?" said Colonel Davis, "nor any effort to ntnellorato tho condition of thc-mon as to their moat ration?" "No, sir; I mado no official report until after returning to tho United States, when I was ordered by tho. wnr department to report upon tho canned roast beef." "Yes, I understand," said tho re corder. Colonel Davis then produced a report from Colonel Powell mado from Gov ernor's Island Soptembor 20, lu which he condemned the canned roast beef, 6nying It produced disorders of-the stomach. Colonel Powell said he had made that report on an order from tho adjutant general's offlco and that wus based on personal knowlcdgo and re ports from his company commanders. Colonel Powoll concluded by review ing the decreaso In sickness after the issuo of fresh bsef and removal of the camp to tho hills. Iteplylng to a ques tion, ho said ho attributed tho sick ness more to hyglonlc causes than to tho food. Ills command was over worked .and badly quartered and clothed, and appeared a completo wreck. Ho oxpressad inability to es timate tho percentago of sickness duo to tho food, llxplalnlng his expres sion, "want of nutritive value," he 6ald tho bsct gave no pleasure la cat-' lug nor sourco of strongth to tho body. Colonol Davis piled n number of questions to develop, if possible, tho responsibility for the fresh beef reach ing tho regiment In spoiled condition. Colonel Powell said to Colonol Gilles pie that tho fresh boaf was generally wholesome, but never thoroughly good when issued in tho morning, nnd often all was putrid when dollvorod late in tho afternoon. Iteplylng to another question ho said ho had declared to follow officers, cither at Santlngo or Montuuk, that tho refrigerated beef tasted as though it hao coino in contact with chloro form or kerosono. This was notlcably true when broiled. For years, ho said, lie nnu not personally used refriger ated hoof upon his own table, becauso ho felt it would nauseate him. In roply to a direct quostlon of Colonel Davis, Colonel Powell said ho had never entertained an idea at San tiago or Montauk that tho bcof Ifnd boon treated chemically to preserve it. Replying further ho expressed tho belief that had a herd of cattlo boon about tho camp in Cuba all killing would havo to bo dono after sunsot and all Issued before 8 o'clock In the morning. Rea soning from his expcrlonco in tho civil war, when cattle on tho hoof wore slaughtered aud issuod at night and satisfaction rcsultod, ho thought cattlo upon the hoof In Cuba would hafs boon preferable to tho refrigerated beef supply. Acteo on n Meaturo. Wasiiino-iox, Feb. 25. Tho lmprcs lon In tho Sonato is that the fntfi of tho array reorganization bill will bo dotermlued within tho noxt forty eight hours. Despite the most pos itive declarations by Senator Hawley. and tho administration senators that ft compromise, measure will nnvnr bo accepted by thom, and a similar doclo ration by Senator Cockrell and tho Democrats, there an distinct indica tions that both, will yield, that a coin promlso moasuro will bo tho outcotno of the situation, and an extra session thus obviated. CALMER IN THE ISLANDS. Encouraging Itcjiort ItccclVeil From M 4 nils nnd Hollo. Manila, Feb. 22 Tho United Statcj transport Newport has arrlvod here from Hollo with dispatches from Clcn cral Miller to General Otis. She re ports all quiet at Hollo. Tho Amerl can troops thcro aro occupying tho su burbs of Jaro and Molo, business has been resumed generally with tho out side world, somo rleo lias been coming in from tho outside provinces and thcro has been no fighting sluco Fob ruary IS. All is quiet at Manila. Tho heat ia causing somo Inconvenience, but no casualties have been reported. Washington, Feb. 31. Tho war de partment hns received tho following: "Mnnlln, Feb. 21. Adjutant Gon crnl, Wnshlngton: General Miller reports on 19th instant insurgent forces few miles out from lloilo bo lived Jo be disintegrating. Can main tain his position with present force. Business in city being resumed. "Ho has saut up four representative men, officials from capital of Island of Nogros, whero Amcrlcnn Hog raised and American protection requested against small Insurgent forco in isl ands. Affairs thcro and In Cobu aro very encouraging. Shall endoavor to maintain nnd improve present promis ing conditions. "Affairs hero quiet. Small insur gent foreo cast of city driven away yesterday with considerable loss to" enemy. Otis." FILIPINOS LEFT FIFTEEN DEAD. Manila, Feb. 2J. Tho enemy wero concentrating nil yesterday at tho wa ter works and in front of King's brig ade. They finally bcenmo so nagging In front of King's position that tho general sent two companies of tho First Washington infantry over tho Pasig river. They, swept the country for two miles and then swung ovor to the river bank, opposite tho Insurgent trcuches, facing tho American position at Ma catl aud opened n flank flro on tho in surgents across tho river. Two guns of the Sixth artillery, un-. dcr Lieutenant Scott, at Macati, pounded the insurgent position, while tho troops from Macati charged and drove tho onomy before thom. Fifteen Filipinos dead wero found nnd four wounded. Two American soldiers wero wounded by tho explosion of Spring field rifles. The declaration of Agulnnldo that he has made a humano war is another fabrication. In tho lust few weeks tho Red Coss has boon Ilka a red flag to tho Insurgents. Chaplain Pierce of' MncArthnr's staff testifies that ho has been shot at by sharpshooters fifty times in tho" provisional hospital. Every nmbulnuco or litter was tho sig nal for a shower of bullets. Tho surgeons of tho hospital corps, who were giving aid to the Filipinos as well as to the American wounded, were a target for tho sharpshooters. A wounded man who was being carrlod from tho field was killed by insur gents concealed in a tree. Tho Red Cross pcoplo arc now armed. WAR MONEY VOTED SPAIN, Homo Votoi to Appropriate the Noedod VUO.OOO.OOO. Washington, Feb 22. A separato bill appropriating 320,000,000 for pay ment to Spain under tho provisions of tho treaty of Paris was passed by tho Iiouso under suspension of tho rules. No amendment was In order, aud an attempt to securo unanimous consent to offer au amendment declaratory of our policy not permanently to annex tho islands wus objected to. Mr. Wheeler of Kentucky, upon whose point of ordor tho appropriation went out of tho sundry civil bill, mado tho only speech in opon hostility to tho measure, but upon tho roll call thirty four members thlrty-ono Democrats, two Populists and one silver Repub lican voted against It. Tho votos of 213 members wero cast for it. Tho Senato bill to reimburse tho governors of states for expenses paid by tho states in organizing volunteers for service In tho war with Spain be fore their muster into tho scrvlca of tho United States also was passed un der suspension of rules. Tho bill ap propriating SS0.OO0 for tho Pan-American exposition, to bu hold at Buffalo In 1900, was before tho Iiouso when absonco of u quorum compelled an ad journment. WAR SHIPS IN HEAVY GALES, Had Wcnther Delayed Sampion'i Squad ron In Kenchlnsr tho HormuiUi Washington. Feb. 22. Tho ndvanco guard of tho North Atlnntlo squadron, composed of tho flagship New York and tho battleship Indiana, arrived at tho Bermudas to-day and reported to tho navy department by cable. Ad mlrul Sampson stated that William J. Brownley, a first class gun captain, wns swept overboard last Friday morn ng from tho Indiana. Ho wus born In 187J at Drammon, Norway, and en listed In 1893. Tho squadron was between three nnd four days in making the trip from Jvow York to tho Bermudas, owing to terrlblo weather. It will proceed to Havana. A SON TO THE KHEDIVE, Kfrypt Itejoloes Over tno Adrout of an Heir to tht. Throne. Ai.KXANimiA, Fob. 22. Tho khcdlva lias given birth to a son at Montaiat. Ihere Is great rejoicing at tho faot that tho khedlve now 1ms au heir to tho throng The birth of three daughters in sue cession to the khedlve wus a sourco of great disappointment to tho peoplo of kffypt, nnd thero was somo talk of de posing the khedlve in favor of his only brother, Mohammed All. 2? O "r 4 y 4 asBwaa
