The Hemingford Herald.
VOLUME IV
HEMINGFORD, BOX BUTTE COUNTY, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, MAY 6, 1808.
NUMBER 12.
X
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BLOWN SKY HIGH.
SPANIARDS' WESTERN FLEET
MEETS AN AWFUL FATE.
GREAT AMERICAN VICTORY.
TVO
FIERCE ENGAGEMENTS
END THE AFFAIR.
The Austria Blown Up Spanish
Captain Shot Down on Flag Ship
Two Crack Cruisers Burned
Desert Their Flag Ship Scuttle
Their Own War Vessels Details
of the Battle.
Madrid, May 3. The American squad
ron, under Commodore Dewey, appear
ed off the bay of Munila at 5 o'clock
Sunday morning' and opened a strong
cannonade against the Spanish squad
1011 and forts protecting the harbor.
The Spanish second-class cruiser, Don
Juan de Austria, was severely dam
aged and her commander killed. An
other Spanish vessel was burned.
The American squadron retired, hav
ing also sustained severe damage.
A second naval engagement followed,
In which the American squadron again
suffered considerable loss and the Span
ish warships Mindano and Ullia were
slightly damaged.
During this engagement the Cavlte
torts maintained a steadier and
stronger tire upon the American squad
ion than in the llrst engagement.
Admiral Bermejo, the minister of ma
rine, expressed himself as highly pleas
ed with the heroism of the Spanish ma
rines, and telegraphed congratulations
to Admiral Montijo and the valorous
crews of the Spanish squadron under
tiro of superior warships.
Manila, May a. Saturday night the
batteries at the entrance to the port
announced the arrival of the enemy's
squadron, forcing a passage under the
obscurity of the night. At daybreak
the enemy took up positions, opening
with a strong tire against Fort Cavite
and the arsenal.
The Spanish fleet engaged the enemy
in a brilliant combat, protected by the
Cavlte and Manila forts. They obliged
the enemy, with heavy los, to maneu
ver repeatedly. At 9 o'clock the Amer
ican squadron took refuge behind the
foreign merchant shipping on Hip east
side of the bay.
The Spanish fleet, considering the en
emy's superiority, naturally suffered a
, severe loss. Tito Maria Christina is on
lire and another ship, believed to he the
Don Juan de Austria, was blown up.
There was considerable loss of life.
Captain Cudorzo, commanding the Ma
ria Christina, is among the killed. The
spirit of the army, navy and volunteers
Is excellent.
SPANISH ADMIRAL EXPLAINS
Why He Deserted the Burning
Flag Ship.
Madrid, May 3. The Americans re
main in the harbor, but the forts and
what remains of the Spanish fleet are
keeping up a resistance."
The insurgents have attacked from
the land side of the city, but have been
held in check.
The ministry admits severe Spanish
losses in the fleet, but claims virtual
victory, as the city of Manila has not
capitulated.
It Is insisted that the Americans were
forced to take refuge in the foreign
shipping, and that this accounts for the
failure to drive It out to sea.
El Heraldo declares that the losses of
the Spanish fleet, though severe, were
honorable. It excuses the desertion of
the flagship Maria Christina by Ad
miral Montejo by saying that he trans
ferred his flag to the transport Ilsa de
Cuba in order to better direct Hie
maneuvers.
The killing of the captain of the
Maria Christina, and the loss of the
ship, are greatly deplored, as she was
the most powerful of Spain's warships
In Pacific waters, and the captain had
a record for distinguished gallantry.
It seems that the American squadron
was sighted off Subic last evening. Ap
parently Its commander expected to
tlnd the Spanish fleet there, but Ad
miral Montejo had retired to Manila
and the protection of the forts of the
bay.
So Admiral Dewey kept on and
passed the forts at the entrance to the
bay Just before dawn. There was some
tiring from the butteries, but the squad
ron did not reply, and there has been no
leport whether the shots took effect.
OLYMPIA'S RETORT.
With the dawn, Cavlte opened lire
from her heaviest guns, and at once the
Olympla tired her eight-Inch forward
cannon In reply.
From this the firing became general.
Admiral Montejo, in the Maria Chris
tina, went boldly to meet the foe. He
wna soon engaged with the Olympla, a
cruiser of much superior force, and
though he Inflicted much Injury, his
ship was set on fire and crippled by the
Olympla's heavy guns.
Admiral Montejo was urged to leave
the ship, which was In a sinking oon-
dltlon, ami was at last forced to do so.
and transfer his Hag. The captain was
shot dead by the admiral's side ns'lu
was leaving his doomed tlngshlp. and
devoted men Were falling ail around
him.
The transfer of the Hag was n deed
of desperate daring, for all the ships .f
the Spanish Heet were under n terrible
lire. The admiral was forced to seek
the armed transport Isla de Cuba,
which had suffered less damage than
the others.
Meantime some of the American
ships withdrew to the west of the bay,
and the Olympla and Baltimore fol
lowed. Wounded were- sent ashore in a
position out of range of the Spanish
lire, and the Americans returned to the
attack.
With the Maria Christina destroyed
and many of his other ships shattered,
gallant Admiral Montejo was hard put
to It for a defence. He forced the Amer
icans to maneuver and got them into
positions of great danger from the lire
of the forts.
In the second attack the Baltimore.
Olympla, Concord anil Boston made
straight for the crippled Spanish ships,
llrlng their heavy guns with great ra
pidity. The Spanish gunners stood
nobly to their guns and answered shot
for shot as best they might.
But weight was on the American side
and soon the large wooden cruiser Cus
tllla was on lire and all the efforts of
the crew to extinguish the blaze were
unavailing.
The Americans continued to pour
their lire upon the devoted vessel, and
to prevent the magazine from exploding
she was scuttled and the crew made for
the shore in their1 boats or upon pieces
of the shattered spars.
The Don Juan de Austria was less
fortunate. She, too, was crippled by
the shots of the Americans, and In bet
helpless condition could not escape the
storm of shot and shell.
Suddenly her magazine exploded. A
great cloud of smoke, from which llame
seemed to leap, was seen to rise above
the faithful ship and she was seen no
more.
The little gunboat Mlndanoa and the
cruiser Don Antonio de Ulloa were in
the thick of the combat and sustained
a heavy lire for an hour. Then they
were able to draw away under the
forts, though suffering serious Injury.
SINK BOATS IX DESPAIR.
Xo ureuter show of courage was made
by any of the heroes of Spain than by
those on the smaller gunboats. Seeing
that they weie apt to fall Into tin
hnnds of the enemy they sunk their
vessels or set them on flte. and risked
their lives in the wnters of the bay.
All the time the guns in the forts
were llring at the American warships,
the gunners showing great patriotism
and cool courage.
Great damage must have been done
the attacking ileet, though the effect
iveness of the lire was somewhat In
terfered with by fear of damaging the
foreign met chant ships in the bay.
The governor general had given or
ders that under no circumstances was
any Injury to be inflicted on the foreign
shipping, so when the American squad
ron moved into the vicinity of the mer
chantmen the guns of the forts wore
forced to silence.
The American squadron remains in
the harbor of Manila, but the forces of
Spain are undismayed and will resist to
the hitter end.
It is believed that the Invades are
not in a condition to resume the bom
bardment tomorrow, and as they have
no port in which to repair for coal or
obtain supplies of ammunition the na
val experts here insist that they must
retire, and consequently are proclaim
ing a victory for Spunlsh valor.
Admiral Montejo has been congratu
lated by the minister of marine, Ad
miral Bermejo, but there is much sor
row over the death of Captain Cadarso
of the Maria Christina, and public
masses will be said for the repose of his
The Maine's Hulk Destroyed.
Washington, D. C, May 3. The state
department has learned, through its
secret agents, that the wreck of the
battleship Maine, lying in Havana har
bor, has been destroyed by the bpanlsii
authorities. It Is supposed by otiiclals
of the administration that this action
on the part of the Spanish authorities
had been taken to prevent the raising
of the wreck after the capture of Ha
vana. This Information has intensified the
desire to "avenge the Maine." Plans
have been mapped out, and it is the in
tention of the government Just ns soon
as Havana Is in possession of the Unit
ed States troops to start an investiga
tion that will end In several hangings.
All the port officials who were on
duty at the time the Maine was an
chored to the fatal buoy, and ngaln on
the day when she blew up, will be
placed under arrest for complicity In
this crime. They will be forced to piove
their innocence.
A cabinet minister is nuthorlt for
the following statement:
"We shall make it part of our first
business ns soon as we take possession
of Havana to find out who were the
perpetrators of that bloody crime of the
night of February 15. We will ascer
tain who was In charge of the harbor
that night, and we will find everybody
who possibly could have been connected
with the affair, if they are still in Cuba.
When we put hands on those who were
responsible for blowing up the Maine
we will punish them as they deserve,
by stringing them up.
"If we find that they have escaped
from tile island and have gone back to
Spain we will follow them there nnd tell
Spain that the war shall not stop until
they have been delivered up to us for
punishment. Those men will not escape.
They have got to suffer for their in
famous and cowardly murder of sleep
ing sailors, and if they are yet alive
they will hang for it."
"American labor," exclaims Senator
Chandler, "now has a protective tar
iff." And much good it Is doing Amert
can labor, isn't it. Senator Chandler?
The wholesale reduction of the wages
of ew England cotton operatives lmme
diately following the increase of 8 per
cent in the "protection" accorded to the
cotton industry tells the story. There
are affected by the cut In wages 125,000
operatives whose wages average only
$C per week.
Every corporation enterprise that re
quires a public franchise In Its opera
tion Is an enterprise that should be
owned nnd operated by the public, and
not by private speculators.
BLANGO FORTIFYING HAVANA
DIE LIKE DOGS WHILE DIGGING
IN THE TRENCHES.
The Fever's Awful Work Officers
Curse anil Urge Them OnDe
serted Houses -Blnck Wattled
Vultures on the Fencos,
Havana, May 3. Ten thousand Span
ish soldiers are In the ditches around
Havana and Matanzas preparing for a
despetate defense. Bare to the waist,
sweating like bullocks under the yoke,
they are digging a series or ditches
about the city to which the passage of
Weyler's trocha would be mere child's
play.
These earthwoiks encompass Havana
In the segment of a great circle from
a point near Chorrea, back of the ceme
tery, where repose the bodies of some
of the dead heroes of the Maine, half
a mile beyond the bend of the harbor
and around the heights of Regla, down
to the shoie some live miles east of the
Morro castle.
Banks of enrth are thrown up and on
the Inner side of the resulting ditches
an placed sharp stakes, and along the
top of the entire works are lines of
barbed wire fence. These can be seen
in a black band like a mourning border
around the city.
Day and night the regular soldiers
have been kept at work in rain and
shine, In sunlight nnd shadow, until
scores of them have dropped dead In
the terrllllc heat. Those have been
carted out and buried alongside the
ditches they have died in. Others lie
down dogwise and loll under the torrid
shadows of the palms and under the
mule carts, which are used to carry
their Implements.
Up and down the trenches ride the
ofllcers, cursing the men nnd urging
them on. These men have not been
paid in months, but they wont on
dumbly and herlocnlly, knowing us they
do that the time will come when every
soudeful of earth will crow Into an ad
ditional chance against the American
Invaders.
OBSTACLES TO INVADERS
Xobody but the experienced soldier
can realize the difficulty that our sol
diers will encounter in this ling of
earthwoiks and natural obstacles. The
battery at Punta Brava has been
strengthened into a position that will
lequlre some hard battering from the
warships. After Punta Biava and the
ditches about it are curried, as carried
they must be, the stlffest kind of a
military water jump will be found In
Castle del Principe, half a mile to the
rear. Although this battery is on a hill,
It is surrounded by a ditch, which the
heavy rains have half filled with dirty
yellow water.
Next comes the series of works be
yond Penalver in the low, swampy
grounds from which arise daily the
white death fogs of fever. There is- a
battery at Castle de Atores, upon which
work was begun a week ago, looking to
defense from a land assault. Here four
rapid llring guns have been mounted
and here the Insurgents, under Gomez
and Garcia, will probably make a point
of attack.
Twelve men died In two days last
week toiling at the awful nbattls work
around Jesus del Monte. The heights
beyond Regla, steep as those stormed
at Gettysburg, are the choice vantage
points for the half dead Spanish troops.
BLANCO MORE XERVOUS.
Heie the trade winds from the north
east have a full fc.veep and the fevered
lungs of the muddy nippers may oc
coslonallv catch a. breath of God's
fresh air from the ocean beyond. Three
times hns General Blanco and his staff
driven around this line of fortifications
from Regla to Punta Brava and three
times has he ridden back to Havana
and sent out fresh detachments of shov
elers to sweat and die. He Is worried.
He evidently believes that he cannot
llnlsh his preparations for defense In
time for the rumored onslaught of the
American army next week. Xso addi
tional defensive preparations have been
made In Morro castle, the Cubanas or
the Puntn.
Through Cuban sources In Havana
comes the rumor that General Blanco
does not depend so much on the big
guns of the forts ns on the hand to
hand lighting to be done afterward.
The volunteers do absolutely no work
at all. They loaf and swagger around
the streets, Insult women, till cafes
with discord and threaten.
"Blanco has to humor us If he wishes
us to fight. His regulars are only lit to
dig ditches; we will do the lighting."
This is their motto. Their uniforms are
still spick and span, while the regulars
may only be recognized by their pri
meval dirt and wretchedness. But
when It comes to the cool, steady fight
ing that heeds not the rush of bullets
or the plunge of cannon balls, those
same regulars, scarred by the stiff cam
paigns along the ennto und torn by the
swamp thorns of the Clenaga, will
prove Spain's strongest hope.
PALL HANGS OVER HAVANA.
To venture into Havana now requires,
for an American, much caution und a
thorough knowledge of the city. It
also requires a host of Cuban friends,
a quantity of grease paint such as act
ors use und some knowledge of the
Spanish language. The streets are de
serted save for the negroes nnd soldiers.
The stores are closed. The quick clang
of a church bell is startling. The street
venders do not exist. The bullock enrts
that used to roll down the Prado loaded
with heavy loads of beef are now no
more. The bullocks themselves have
been killed. The drivers have been
driven to the musket. The baried
lattices from which the Cuban beauties
used to gaze and flirt with passers-by
are closed. The occupants of the houses
have fled. Santa Clara Is full of them;
so Is Batabano and Clenfuegos.
Eight days ago two special trains
wera sent south to Batabano loaded
with refugees who intended to sail from
Clenfuegos for Spain. Although pro
visions nre exceedingly scarce In Ha
vana, actual starvation is out of the
question so long as the south coast Is
not guarded. Last week the big
Montserrat landed several hundred reg
ular troops, a great quantity of pro
visions and $1,000,000 for the soldiers at
Clenfuegos.
The last of the reconcentrados have
disappeared from Havana. They have
either starved to death or been driven
to the country and murdered. Some
days ago two of the unfortunate crea
tures, a woman nnd a boy, were found
stnived to death and lying in a de
serted place on Calle del Betilente Roy.
They were probably the sole remaining
teconcentrndos In the city.
Out In the country surrounding 1 lu
nula and Matanzan the soldiers have
other things to think of than iccon
centrndos. Blanco Is slowly drawing
them Into the defense of the principal
cities and they aie being slowly fol
lowed by the guerrillas of the Insuig
ents. The reconccntrados who have
survived are back In the fields trying
to scrape together enough food to keep
body and soul from separating.
SANTIAGO PANIC STRICKEN.
Fronzlod Population Throntonod
on all Sldos.
Santiago de Cuba, May 3.-Uon Ar
seno Llnnres I'ombo, commaudaute
general of this division of Cuba, pro
claimed four days ago that every man
between 15 nnd 50 yenrs of age must en
roll with the volunteers for military
service, under penalty of arrest and
military trial and death. Honor Chucho
Mtiudutey, magistrate of the high court
of Santiago, and known as an Intense
Spanish sympathizer, one of the most
prominent men In the city, left for the
camp of the Cuban brigadier general,
Chavelios. He was accompanied by
several kinsmen anil his going produced
a vivid Impression. The exodus from
the city continued by night, the Span
iards making no opposition except that
a few men have been arrested as exam
ples. Five thousand persons have left
for the country since the proclama
tion, four-llftlis being women and chil
dren. The Spanish soldiery now assume a
bullying attitude and threaten to kill
every Cubnn woman left In the city
when the blockade begins. When the
American fleet appears, as It Is dally
expected, all the non-combatants will
be expelled.
Though the governor of the city, En
rique Caprllles, lias seized for the gov
ernment all the large stores of food In
private hands, many shops still do bus
iness with small stocks, the prices dou
bling day by day. Monday meat was 40
cents a pound, Tuesday 70 cents, nnd
Wednesday It was $1 a pound. Other
prices In gold are: Rye, 24 cents a
pound; beans. 21 cents; flour, 1!) cents,
and lard 32 cents. Chickens are $2.50
apiece. The governor announced, to
quiet public alarm, that a ship loaded
with provisions was expected, but when
where from und what Its name nobody
knows. The story Is not believed.
The Stmnlsh soldiers, and especially
the sick, are also abominably fed. About
1,400 sick in the military hospitals acre
get nothing except bean soup three
times a day, with an ounce iff meat to
a plate. Two thousand soldiers in San
Luis hospital have had only salt tlsh
this week, nnd conditions aie now so
bad that the Spaniards would almost
rejoice to surrender after one good
light. The preparations for defense go
forward, however.
A new battery has been erected at
the west harbor entrance, with four
rapid-fire guns, nnd ten or twelve more
rapid-fire small caliber guns will be
mounted on Morro and the east side
battery. The Morro fort has at least
lifty ancient brass ennon. marked 1704.
There are reports about torpedoes in
the channel and harbor, but they are
confusing. Preparations have certainly
been made to lay torpedoes, but wheth
er It has actually been done Is not
known. Strong floating mines are ready
to be placed. The Spaniards assemble
nightly in the chief streets yelling
"Long live Spain!" and "Death to the
Yankees!" The military authorities
seem to have little control of the sol
diery und the disorderly element.
Spanish silver Is at 45 per cent pre
mium. The bank notes Issued by the
government bank at Havana are pruc
tlcally worthless and sometimes pass
for .'! to 5 cents on the dollar.
JEWS PRAY FOR UNCLE SAM.
Impressive Ceremonies In Chicago
Jewish Tabernacle.
Chicago, May 3. Three thousand Jew
ish residents of Chicago took part In
probably the most unique demonstra
tion of patriotism in the United States
since the war with Spain began. In the
language of the most ancient of nations
and according to the forms of the re
ligion of Moses, prayers were offered
in the Jewish tabernacle of Anshe
Knesseth Israel for the protection and
guidance of President McKlnley, for
the success of our arms In the wnrfare
with Spain, and for the continued wel
fare nnd prosperity of the United States
government. Rev Israel Upfer, the
rabbi of the congregation, conducted
the services, which took the place of
the principal Sabbath celebration. A
large number of thus in attendance nre
still unacquainted with the English
language, being chiefly Russjun refu
gees. The men had their shoulders
draped with the scarf and gown pie
scribed by their religious rites.
William Zolotkoff delivered the prin
cipal address. He declared It was a
peculiar and providential happening
that In a lnnd of liberty the Jews as
sembled as respected citizens of n great
nation to pray for the success of the
armies of their country as against the
armies of a nation that had persecuted
and oppressed their ancestors. "The
persecution of the Jews," he said, "was
tile beginning of the decline of Spain.
Today Spain is tottering to extinction,
while the people It sought to destroy
ure hopeful und strong. The Jew who
njoys, the freedom of this country Is
willing to give his life to extend that
freedom to the possessions of Spain In
tills hemisphere, and lie will rejoice in
the downfall of the nation that once
drove his people from its shores."
How Spain Raises Revenue.
Madrid, May 3. The greatest efforts
are being made here and throughout
the country to Increase the national
war fund. It Is proposed, for instance,
to have tables, ornamented with the
national colors, at all the Madrid
churches throughout the month of May.
These tables will be attended by soci
ety leaders, whose names and the
amounts they collect will lie published
In the newspapers. The traditional fes
tival of May 2 was celebrated by a pro
cession of veterans to the monument In
the Prado, where oen air masses will
be celebrated, accompanied by artil
lery salutes. The Spanish colony In
Mexico telegraphs that, besides con
tributing a warship, a subscription In
aid of the national fund to Increase the
strength of the Spanish navy has been
opened In Mexico, and that 1,800,000 pe
setas have already been collected.
$500,000,000.00
BONDS AT THREE PER CENT
INTEREST PER ANNUM
HOUSE HURRIEDLY PASSED
THE BILL WITHOUT ANY OF
THE SILVER AMENDMENTS
Parllmontary Tricking won the Day
Tho Gold Bugs Stood Togothor
--What Moneyed Classes Have
Longed for Rushod UndorjClonk
of n War Measure A Dirty Job.
Washington, D. C, May 2. The house
has passed the war revenue bill, with
only the amendments agreed upon by
the republican mcuibers of the ways
and means committee added.
In order to accomplish this a par
liamentary maneuver was necessary,
as the whole time for amendments wns
exhausted by the minority In trying to
amend the bond feature of the bill.
Mr. Dlngley offered as a substitute
an entirely new bill containing these
amendments after the bill had been
reported to the house.
This was nn old parliamentary trick
resorted to freely years ago. The Mor
rill tariff law was passed in this way
In Its original form after It had been
loaded down with amendments In com
mittee of the whole.
Many amendments were offered to
the bond feature of the bill, ranging
from a proposition for the substitution
of an Income tax provision to an au
thorization for an Issue of $150,000,000
greenbacks, but all were voted down.
At the Inst minute the democrats
decided to offer to recommit the meas
ure, with Instructions to report back
the Income tax provision as an
amendment itistend of a substitute to
the bond provision.
Tills was duo to tho fact that a num
ber of democrats had declined to vote
to strike out the bond provision. Tho
motion was defeated. Four republi
cans voted with the democrats and
populists on this vote, but on the llnal
passage of the bill, which was carried
181 to 131 the democrats and popu
lists, with six exceptions, voted solidly
agalns tthe bill.
The democrats who voted for the bill
were Messrs. Cummlngs, McClellan and
Griggs of New York, Fitzgerald
(Mass.), McAleen (Peiin.), Wheeler
(Ala.). Two republicans, Messrs. Lln
ney of North Carolina and Thorp of
Virginia, voted with the opposition.
Quite a number of democrats declined
to vote.
The house convened at 10 o'clock
to allow two hours more of general
debate on the war revenue bill before
the bill was taken up at noon for
amendment under the live minute rule.
Mr. Bland (dem., Mo.) discussed the
bond feature of the bill, to which he
said the democrats could never agree.
They could not agree to the Issue of
any more "coin" bonds which would
be construed under a republican ad
ministration to mean nothing but gold.
So long as the mints were closed to
the coinage of one-half the money
metal of tho world, the democrats only
under circumstances of great stress
could consent to the Issue of such
bonds. He argued the advisability of
the immediate coinage of the sllxer
seigniorage.
The house continued its debate on
the war revenue bill. The debate was
slow and uninteresting. On behalf of
the minority Mr. McMillan offered an
amendment to strike out the bond pro
vision and Insert nn Income tax pro
vision. Mr. Walker (Mass.) offered an
amendment to make the bonds redeem
able after one yeur and payable after
three years, but It was defeated.
Mr. Xewlunds (sll. rep., Xev.) argued
that the war would be confined to the
navies of Spain and the United States,
and that its duration would depend
upon how long Spain could maintain
upon the sea the guerrilla warfare she
had been accustomed to wage on lunu.
He thought the war should be vigor
ously prosecuted, and apparent extrav
agance now might prove economy In
the end.
Mr. Grosvenor (rep., O.) said at such
a crisis as this there were, us Stephen
A. Douglas had said, but two classes In
the country, patriots and traitors. He
was willing to accept the suggestions
emanating from the democratic side,
however wild or Impracticable, In good
faith.
He would not Impugn or even suspect
a lack of patriotism. Speuking of the
bond feature, he declared that the
bonds would be taken by the people of
the country not only ns a profitable
Investment, but as evidence to the
world that this country proposes to
free Cuba In the face of Spain, Austria,
or an yother nation that saw lit to fn
terfere. The other speakers before noon were
Messrs. Curtis (rep., Kan.), Shafroth
(sol. rep., Colo.) and Brown (rep., O.).
At noon the house went through the
formality of udjournlg and reconven
ing. Then, under the order, the bill was
tnken up for amendment under the live
minute rule.
Mr. McMIIHn (dem.. Tenn.) offerad, on
behulf of the minority, the amendment
to strike out section 27, the bond
provision, and Insert in lieu thereof the
Income tax provision of the Wilson tar
iff law, with the taxable Income re
duced from $4,000 to $2,000 per annum
nnd the per cent Increased from 2 to 3
per cent.
WALKER'S AMENDMENT.
Mr. Walker (rep., Mass.) offered ns an
amendment to the original section a
proposition to change the terms of the
bonds so as to make them redeemable
one year after the date of their Issue,
and payable after three years, or due
on a certain day within three yenrs. as
the secretary of the treasury may elect.
Mr. Walker declared that his amend
ment would save the people from $20,
000,000 to $50,000,000.
Mr. Walker declared that the bill
should be recommitted und every re
publican should vote for the motion.
Mr. Berry (doui., Ky.) called atten
tion to the remarkable coincidences
that by this bill It was proposed to
Issue $500,000,000, the amount which Sec
retary Gage had recommended for the
purpose of ledectnlug the greenbacks
There was no necessity for such an)
cnotinoiis loan. The fortifications on
Matanzas hud been reduced In tliirUt
minutes. Havana could be reduced iiA
two hours, and the war would he at mil
..nil
'Plwt ,,.,(. ulwml.1 lu. ..,alw.1 II... ..!.... "
j.n- ..in riii'ii.. .,.- iiii.iii;i nil- I turn
should be loosened. Havana would fall
before Sampson, the Philippines before
Dewey, and the Spanish licet, crowding
across the Atlantic, before the onset or
the flying squadron.
The seriousness of the situation was
thoroughly exaggerated. While our fleet
was being held In leash, the population
of Havana were starving and the end
for which we aimed, the relief of hu
manity, wns being defeated.
In ninety days, In his opinion, t til
ling would be flying over Porto Rico
and the Philippines. Mr. Walkers
amendment was lost without division
Many llve-mlmite speeches on the In
come tax amendment followed.
Mr. Brumm (rep., Pa.), in the cours
of Ills remarks, advocated an Issue of
$150,000,000 of greenbacks.
CUMMIXGS SUPPORTS liONDS.
Mr. Cummlngs (dem., X. Y.) aroused
considerable enthusiasm on the repub
llcnn side by announcing his purpose
to support the bond proposition, be
cause it was a popular loan.
Mr. Bland gave notice of a substitute
for the section authorizing a bond Issui
providing for an Issue of $150,000,000
treasury notes,
Mr. Henry (dem., Del.) offered nn
amendment, which wns voted down, to
reduce the bond authorization from five
to one hundred million.
On Mr. Dlngley's motion, the lowest
denomination of bonds to be Issued Un
der the section was reduced from $50
to $25.
A motion by Mr. Lewis (dem., Wash.)
to make bonds payable specifically In
gold or sliver coin at the option of the
government, wiih defeated, 100 to 13(1.
Another by Mr. Shnfroth, to make the
botisd redeemable one-half In gold and
one-half In silver, met a similar fate.
Several other propositions of the same
tenor were voted down. The vote was
then taken on the McMillan Income tax
substitute, and it was defeated, 123 to
143.
Mr. Bland (dem., Mo.) offered a sub
stitute, a provision to Ibsuc $150,000,000
treasury notes. It was lost, 100 to 147
Mr. Brumm voted with the democrats
on this proposition nnd Messrs. Mc
Clellan and Handy with the republi
cans. Mr, Ianham (dem., Tex.) moved to
strike out the bond section and It was
lost, 103 to 131.
-Messrs. McMillan, Griggs and Culn
mlngB (democrats) voted with the re
publicans. Mr. Robinson (dem., La.) offeron it
other of the amendments prepared by
the minority members of the ways and
means committee. It provided for the
coinage of the sliver selgnorage. It was
ruled out on a point of order.
'. o'clock the bill, under the order,
was reported to the house. As Chair
man Dlngley hnd no opportunity to
offer the amendments agreed on by the
majority of tho ways and means com
mittee, he offered as a substitute a bill
containing these amendments.
There wns some question us to the
regularity of this proceeding, but the
speaker held It wns In order. There
were many protests from the demo
cratic side against this parliamentary
move and Mr. Bland Insisted upon the
reading of the substitute In full. The
reading occupied almost an hour.
Mr. Dlngley briefly explained the com
mittee amendments nnd demanded the
previous question. The substitute was
then adopted without division.
Mr. McMillan moved to recommit the
bill with instructions to strike out the
bond provision and Insert In lieu thereof
the Income tax provision, but withdrew
It and allowed Mr. Bailey to modify the
motion to Instruct the committee to add
the Income tax provision to the bill,
the bond feature being retained. The
motion wns defeated, 134 to 173.
The motion to recommit was defeated,
134 to 173.
The democrats, populists and four re
publicans, Messrs Bartholdt (Mo.),
Bromwell (O.). Johnson (Ind.) and
White (111.) voted for tho motion.
The vote was then taken on the tlnal
passage of the bill, and It was passed,
181 to 131.
PORTO RICO IN AWFIJL SHAPE
Internal Strife, Starvation, nnd
Disease Worse Than War.
St. Thomas, West Indies, May 3.
Famine and smallpox are killing men,
women and children In Porto Rico. The
conditions in the Interior ure horrible.
Children nre perishing of starvation
und tho villages are petitioning the gov
ernment for succor. Smallpox is epi
demic. Draught animals are dying and
the desperate, starving peasants are
killing beeves In the hlghwnys, cutting
them up and distributing the portions
among the hungry.
The mayors of municipalities insist
upon an extensive cultivation of veg
etables In anticipation of a siege. Tho
prohibition of the exportation of cattle
is ugitatlng the people. Their Indig
nation has been excited by the rapacity
of the merchants, who have decreased
the pound weight by one-third and In
creased prices. Rajlrond rates upon
provisional freight into the interior
have aggravated the situation. The
mad rush of frightened Porto Rlcans
to the interior upon learning of the
declaration of war has raised to ex
orbitance the rents of houses. Tem
porary palm huts have been thrown up
and freight cars have been converted
into human habitations. The asylum
near the castle was vacated by Its in
mates, who fled Into the interior. La
borers throughout the island hav
struck for higher wuges because of the
advance of the prices of food. Disor
der and discontent nre great.
The political situation is critical. The
hanks are suspending. Bankers refuse
to sell drafts. Paper Is discounted 90
per cent. The colonial bank refuses
Spanish paper. Spanish exporters in
New York exact prepayment on the
shipment of provisions. It Is reported
that Canadian merchants offer supplies
at current rates.
Twenty-five thousand troops ure ex
pected from Spain. Bakers are hurry
ing orders for 100,000 pounds of biscuits
for them. The militia is organizing in
all the towns. Captain General Maclas
has accepted the offer of an escort com
posed of natives. A subscription to
help defray the cost of the war and
the augmenting of the navy has been
raised. The tug Borquln hus been de
tailed to lay new mines. The Manu
ella towed two schooner laden with
coal to Maygles.
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