OPPOSED Ml. F2XK.
Ttie Jiulh-oail
ConniiiMloner Hot Please
With lite Inter-Stale Commerce BUI.
Is'ew York dispatch : The Wall Street
Daily Ledger prints the views of Co in mis
aioner Albert Fink , chief of the railway
poolingeystcm , on theinter-statecommerc
bill in congress. Mr. Fink says :
If a pool is formed to extort unreasona
ble charges it is illegal. But when it is
formed for the purpose of maintaining uni
form and reasonable tariff to all shippers
and prevent unjust discrimination am
fluctuating rates , which is the object o
every pool now existing , it is in tho public
interest and is , in my opinion , the simplesi
.and most practical means by which the
proposed law of congress to prevent unjusl
discrimination can be carried out. If the
iill is passed making the change for the
'short haul tho same as the long , it will rev
olutionize tho whole tariff of the country
Jt will stop competition between the rail-
vrays and waterways. It will deprive some
.roads of traffic and probably throw 51
upon others. The shorter lines will obtain
the business. The tendency will be to in-
increase through rates and reduce tho facil
ities generally for through traffic. Tho ef
fect on the business from New York to
Memphis and New Orleans will be an illus
tration. The rail rates to these points nro
regulated by the water rates and are very
low. The railroads could not afford to
reduce rates to exterior points in the soutt
to the basis of Memphis rates , and would
therefore have to go out of the Memphis
business. All water rates are not con
trolled by the bill. All rail and combinet
rail and water rates are. Water routes
would therefore monopolice most of tho
"business for which the railroads now com
pete , and in tho absence of that competi
tion they would be able to exact higher
rat'es than they do now. There are some
features of the bill that I approve. I am
in favor of the publication of railroad tar
nlfs ad their strict maintaintmce without
favoritism. This office was established by
the voluntary action of the railroads to
Accomplish theso results in the absence o ,
governmental control or support. If tho
government can enforce the maintenance
ofjfariffs there will be no need for pools
J3ut I do not think it is practicable.
The difficulty in the whole problem is the
establishment of proper tariffs , and no pro
vision in made for that in the bill. If each
road is at liberty to make its own tariffs
there might be a hundred tariffs for the
same service , and if the government at
tempts to maintain those tariffs it would
legalize "injusfc discrimination instead o
preventing it. If congress would leave out
of the proposed conference bill the clause
affecting the long and the short haul , am :
prohibiting pooling , and give the rest oi
the bill ji trial , it would be proceeding in a
more Htatcsman-like and sensible way ,
Further legislation if any is required
could be left to future consideration. The
experiment which it is now proposed to
make , if the bill passes , will be a very ex
pensive one , and lead to so much dissatis
faction that it will bring into permanent
discredit all efforts by legislation to regu
late transportation tariffs.
THE AMOUNT OF WORK DONE.
What Progress Has Been Made in Improving
the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.
The annual report of the Mississippi
river commission for the fiscal year ended
June 30 , 1S8G , was transmitted to the
bouse of representatives on the 10th by the
secretary of war. The report shows that
no field survey work was done during the
year beyond the care and preservation ol
the property and small repairs. No con
struction was done below Cairo , owing to
the failure of appropriations. The value
of the government plant emploj-ed be
tween the Des Moines river and the passes
is approximately stated at § 1,061,000 ,
which is a diminution in value of § 200,000
since the date of the list report , repre
senting a deterioration during the period
of disuse.
i Operations between the Des Moines river
and Cairo were confined to the construction
and repair of dams , revetment work , and
minor work of shore protection. Between
the Illinois and Ohio rivers , owing to the
lack of funds , operations have been con
fined to such repairs as were necessary to
prevent Ions , and additions that seemed
advisable in view of existing works. The
minimum channel depth of eight feet has
been maintained for twenty-five miles be
low St. Louis , while the least depth of five
and one-half feet is reported in that part of
the river which has been improved.
At the beginning of the fiscal year the
balances on hand were § 1,278 for surveys
and $115,871 forgeneral improvement. It
is estimated for the next fiscal year an ap
propriation of $1,000.000 will be required
for survey work. § 100,000 for salaries and
expense of the commission , § 5,000,000 for
continuing the improvement on the Missis
sippi river ; and § 1,095.600 for improve
ment of the harbors of Columbus , Hick-
nian , Memphis , Greenville and New Orleans.
The report of the Missouri river commis-
bion is also transmitted to congress to-day.
After detailing the work done during the
.year , the commission recommends that at
least $100,000 be appropriated forcontin-
. uing the improvement of the river in addi
tion to any sums which congress may see
fit to devote to the work at special locali-
tics. K r surveys , examinations , salaries
and expenses , the commission recommends
an appropriation of § 150,000. The esti
mate general improvement of the Missouri
aiver river from its mouth to Sioux City is
-1,000,000. On July 1 , 1886. there was
-an available balance on hand of § 93,046.
NATIONAL BANKS.
Washington dispatch : Comptroller Tren-
'holm appeared before the house committee
on banking and currency , by request , to
state his views torching the national bank
ing system. The comptroller stated to the
committee that he was not yet fully pre ;
pared to suggest a plan of reorganization
of the present system , but believed that ho
would be able to suggest a practical plan
* ome time in January next. Meanwhite he
-submitted for the consideration of the com
mittee a draft of the bill amendatory of
iaws relating to the national banking sys
tem. The bill , after proposing a number of ;
unimportant chances in the present system.
Tcquires that bonds be required to be kept
on a deposit in the treasury as a basis for
circulation , shall be interest-bearing
nnd when such bonds are called
they must be replaced within three months
-after notice by interest-bearing bonds , and
in default the comptroller is authorized to
appoint a receiver to close tip the affairs of
the bank. In case the bonds deposited to
seciire circulation exceed the minimum
amount required fay law. the excess maybe
placed with other interest-bearing bonds ,
or the circulation secured by the excess
shall be surrendered by the association , x
whereupon the excess shall be delivered by
the treaurer of the United States to the
le
secretary of the treasury fur redemption ,
with instructions to deposit from the pro
ceeds of the treasury lawful money to the
.amount of the outstanding circulation se
cured by such bonds , nnd hold the residue
on the account-of the association holding
the bonds.
It is feared that the French steamship Cban-
-dernajor , with twelve hundred troops on
boardfoundered during a recent cyclone. ;
INTER-STATE COMMERCE TALK.
A Delegate from Nebrasl t Defeats a Resolu
tion Endorsing Pools and Pooling.
Des Moines ( la. ) special to the Omaha
Bee : The convention of railroad commis
sioncrs for the northwestern states rens
sembled in the capital this morning. Yes
terday's proceedings had been so much of a
preliminary character that there was agen
eral interest in what should bedone to-day
But , in this respect , the public was some
what disappointed. This being a transi
tory period in the matter of railroad legis
lation , there seemed to be a manifest re
luctance on the part of the different com
missioners to take any very decided stant
on any question until after tho nationa
legislation proposed has had a chance to be
tried. In the language of Commissioner
Becker , of Minnesota : "We are nil ham
pered by our limitation. People expect us
to correct evils that pertain to inter-state
commerce when we have only state powers
nnd quite restricted at that. " The first
order of business this morning was a repoil
from the committee on "uniformity of an
nual returns. " This committee has been
expected to make some suggestions as to
what changes could he made in order to
secure more uniform returns from the rail
road companies on the subjects presentee
by law. Tho committee , through Judge
Felker , of Colorado , reported that in view
of the probable establish ment of a nationa"
commission for the regulation of inter-state
commerce , it would be advisable to leave
the whole matter to a subsequent meeting o
tho commissioners of the several slates
who should co-operate with the nationu
commission. After some informal discus
sion on this subject Commissioner McDill ,
of Jowa , moved that an executive com
mittee be 'appointed ' who should call nl
some place , at a date to be designated , a
convention of the commissioners of all the
states and territories of the northwest.
This was agreed to and subsequently the
date was fixed at the second Wednesday in
June next. The committee on the subject
of freight classification reported through
Commissioner McVay , of Dakota , that
they were not able at present to make
any recommendations except that the
matter should be left to a special com
mittee , who should endeavor to secure uni
formity of classifications and report to the
next meeting of the convention. The com
mittee was instructed to co-operate with
railroad managers to this end and see
what could be accomplished. The chair
appointed as the executive committee com
missioners , Gillette , of Kansas ; Baker , o
Minnesota ; Harding , of Missouri. As com
mittee on classifications , Coffin , of Iowa
Greig , of Dakota ; Humphrey , of Kansas ;
Becker , of Minnesota ; Cowdery , of Ne
braska ; Harding , of Missouri , and Felker ,
of Colorado.
The committee that had been appointee
to report recommendations on the subject
of inter-state commerce presented the fol
lowing resolutions :
Resolved , That the convention of rail
road commissioners of the states of lown ,
Kansas , Missouri. Nebraska , Colorado and
Minnesota , and of the territory of Dakota ,
while regretting the differences which have
occurred between the true friends of inter
state regulation , leading to the failure o !
the Cullom bill , yet we rejoice to learn that
the conference committee of the senate ant
house of representatives of the congress ol
the United Stnteshaveagreedupon a meas
ure retaining the essential features of the
Cullom bill.
That it is the sense of this convention
that the state railway commissioners will
not attain to the full measure of their use
fulness till they are supplemented by a na
tional commission having control of inter
state commerce , and that we regard any
regulation of rates , based upon a pro rata
scale of mileage , as detrimental to the in
terests of our respectivestates and territo
ries.
Pending the adoption of this resolution
it was suggested ihnt two representatives
of the railroads present be invited to speak
on the subjects under discussion. Accord
ingly Mr. E. P. Ripley , of Chicago , genera'
freight agent of the Chicago , Burlington &
Quincy road , read a carefully prepared
paper on "The Proper Basis for Freight
Rates. " This was followed by a pa per by
Mr. J. W. Midgley , of Chicago , commission
er of the Southwestern Railway associa
tion , on the subject of "Pools. " It was an
elaborate argument'in support of the pool
ing system and was listened to with great
interest , several of the commissioners say
ing that it gave them much new light on the
subject. Then followed an informal discus
sion of the topics raised , Mr. Ripley and
Mr. Midgley answering many questions
about pooling , classification of rates , long
and short hauls , etc.
On reassembling after dinner a little
breeze was raised by the introduction of
a resolution deploring the evil effects upon
railroads if the pending inter-state .com
merce bill should be passed , "especially on
account of the provisions regarding pool
ing and the long nnd short hauls. This
brought to his feet Judge Mason , one of
the Nebraska commissioners , who spoke
very warmly against the resolution. He
declared that the pooling system was the
jreat enemy of Lincoln , and kept it from ,
having the advantages which Omaha , St.
Joseph and Kansas City enjoyed , and he
thought the railroad men had stated only
one side of the question. He was followed
by Coffin , of Iowa , who said he believed
that no system of arbitrary rates and
cast-iron rules , whether fixed by state or
national legislation , could be successful ,
and he was opposed to that featyre of any
bill Reagan vor Cullom that attempted
io control by arbitrary rules. After a little
more talk the offending resolution was
withdrawn , and thn convention proceeded
to adopt the one resolution by the com
mittee , ordered it engrossed and sent to the
committee on inter-state commerce in both
senate and house at Washington.
The convention then agreed to recom
mend the holding of a convention of the
commissioners of all the states soon after
lie appointment of a national commis
sioner , if congress provides for one , and
hen adjourned.
SMOTHERED TO DEATH. n
Chicago dispatch : The McClure family ,
consistingof motherdaughter and sonliv ,
ing at Maplewood , died from escaping gas
Friday night. The mother and daughter
retired early , leaving the son to attend to
the stoves. In filling them with coal he for-
ot to replace the top of one , and the escap
ing gas during the nightsmothered the trio.
They were found by a man who lived in the
same house , who knocked ut their dooi
about noon to-day , and getting no re
sponse , forced the door and was horrified
to find the three corpses in various posi
tions about the mom , as if they had been ;
seeking fo'r pure air but had been too weak
to open the door or window , which had
been tightly closed.
XOT THE LIBELLER.
is. . Dec. ] 3. A letter was
read In court this afternoon from Edward
;
> ew , Anarchist Grottkuu's private secretary
nd the city editor of Ms paper , stilting that
alone was responsible for the libelous a-ti-
iles directeil against Judge Sloan and that
irottkau had not written them. Jinliie Sloan :
iisnatehcil the > hi > rill In quest of L ew who
lad been in court all forenoon and it was as-
a
ertaniftl that he had tiikttn the next train to
Chicago. The t-ie against Grottkau was ad- 3I
ourueJ until next Tuestlav.
A citizen of La Porte , Indiana , offert to
urnish a man who can eat a ttvel re-pound
oose each day for a month.
A'E.IRLY ALL Iff LIMBO.
All But Two of the Haddock Murder Con
spirators Within the Grtp-oflhe Late.
Sioux City dispatch : The first intima
tion of the line of defense of John Arens-
dorf , who is under indictment for the mur
der of Dr. Haddock , is derived to-day from
an interview with him. Arensdorf is re
ported as saying that at the time of tho
murder , it lias been correctly stated that
he was in Champion's saloon. He saya
that he could not have been many feet dis
tant , and that he was down on lower
Fourth street when he heard of the murder.
Now the situation is this : Dr. Haddock
was killed on Upper , that is West Fourth
street , at the missing of Water street.
Champion's saloon is east t-vo blocks , and
n half on Fourth street , on the north side.
About midway between Champion's and
the spot of the murder , on thejjouth side ,
is Junk's saloon. Arensdorf , Leavitt ,
Treiber , and the rest of the crowd were at
Junk's saloon when "BiHinarck , " who had
been watching for Dr. Haddock's buggy ,
came in and said : "The buggy has come
back. " Aldrrman Grady and a street
commissioner were in the saloon , and they
swore before I he grand jury that Arensdorf
was there and went out with the crowd ,
which started west. Having only a block
and a half to go to meet Dr. Haddock , us
he came directly out of the liverv stable
after driving up , and had only l.in feet to
go to the place where he was shut , it can bo
seen that Arensdorf. if ho loft the crowd ,
would have to make great hu ti * l < > reach
ChnmpionX two blocks in the opposite di
rection , before the shot was fireil. The two
confessing conspirators , Leavitt and "Bis
marck , " of course stale positively that
Arensdorf did not leave I he crowd , and that
he walked up to Dr. Haddock and shot
him. It has been regarded as incredible
that Arensdorf would attempt to prove an
alibi in the face of the evidence. Tho de
fense of nn nlibi involves his absolute vin
dication of the utter collapse of the de
fense. There can be no other alternatives.
But it now seems clear that he has resolved
to take the bold chance.
Information reaches here to-night that
Grauda. one of the fugitive defendants , in
dicted for murder and conspiracy in tho
Haddock case , was arrested to-day at Kan
sas City. He was in the crowd and stood
within a few feet of Dr. Haddock , when tho
latter was shot. Indeed , for a time it was
supposed tnat Grnndn himself fired the
shot. The murder was on the night of
August 3 and on the Friday night following
GnurJp , Mt the city , being supplied with
§ 125 , which was conveyed to him by George
Treiber , another fugitive conspirator.
Grauda left in a skiff , accompanied by his
wife. Otto Griebel and Fritz Henri ing , a
youth. He stopped at Blair , Omaha , and
later at Nebraska City , where they re
mained a week , Grnndn , repairing his boat.
Hero Griebel and Haerliug abandoned
Granda and started back to Sioux City.
Granda and his wife quarrelled. She want
ed to return but he refused. They left Ne
braska City and went down the river about
tho last of August. Chief Nolan , of the
police , getting a clue , started down the
river in a boat in pursuit. At one time he
was within twenty-four hours of the fugi
tives , but lost the trail. He , however ,
sowed the country with circulars , which
has at last resulted in Granda's capture.
Granda worked here for a while in the
packinghouse and was reported as a tough
character , always being heavily armed ,
and having been engaged in a shooting af
fray last spring. It is said that George
Trieber also has been located by the offi
cers. If so , this leaves only Lewis Plath
and Henry Peters , the brewery , driver , nt
large. When they have been captured the
whole circle of conspirators who are in
dieted for the bloody work of August 3d
will be within the grip of the law.
STANLEY CALLED BACK.
King Leopold Requests Him to Return at
Once.
New York special : While lecturing at
Amherst , Mass. , Saturday night , Henry
M. Stanley received a dispatch from King
Leopold summoning him to Belgium at
once. It is supposed the king w ints to
confer with him about the reported
destruction of the military station at
Stanley Falls on the Congo. Stanley came
at once to this city and cabled for further
information. A reply will decide whether
he will sail immediately or continue his
lecture tour , including England and Aus
tralia. To a Tribune reporter he said last
night concerning the trouble at Stanley
Falls : "J cannot speak definitely , but I
could hazard a guess. Stanley Falls is
1,400 miles from the mouth of the river.
There are fifty black soldiers there under
three Belgian officers. The station is can
toned on an island below the falls. Above
the falls on nn island only two miles from
the station is a camp of nn organized band
of cutthroats , 150 strong , under an Arab
chief , Hamid El Mohanied. The natives
have nicknamed him Tippu Tib from a
sound drum which he usually carries with
him. Probably Tippu Tib , from long im
punity , has concluded that he is ubleto
descend the Congo and wipe out all evi
dences of civilization. Probably an im
prudent ; and over zealous action of some
young foreign officer has provoked a
breach of peace and led to the attack on
the station by Tippu. The gang is splen
didly armed with new rifles. They doubt
less had easy work destroyiugthestntion. "
Stanley thinks the Arabs will endeavor to
travel down the Congo to Stanley pool ,
plundering and burning on the way unless
stopped by fighting or negotiations. It
may be his duty to return and check them.
The journey from here to Stanley Falls
takes two months.
AIT ASPIRIXG YOUXGSTER.
JL JfebrasJta Yonth JSnamored of a Dusky
Indian Belle.
Washington dispatch : The Evening Star
lias the following : A rather novel request
was received to-day at the interior depart
ment from a young man living in Nebraska ,
who wants to marry a daughter of Stand-
ng Bear , a Sioux chief. He states who ho
s and encloses a photograph of the girl ,
who is very nice looking and was educated
at Carlisle. The young man , however ,
wishes to go and live on the reservation
with his prospective wife and relatives ,
and for this reason it was necessary to ob
tain the permission of the interior depart
ment. White men are not allowed to stay
on the Indian reservation unless they have
authority from the governmeut to do so ,
md this young man was obliged to take
he Government into his confidence and re
veal his love affairs. The secretary of the
interior considered the matter from its
practical rather than its sentimental side ,
uid concluded that while he could not pre
vent the young man marrying the girl , he
could prevent him from going to live with
he old folks , and if he was anxious to
marry the young woman he proposed that
le might scratch around and provide her
with a home.
Secietary Lamnr will write a letter to a
he ambitions lover and. while not dis
couraging the ardor of his love , will suggest
practical view of the situation which
seems to have escaped hi.n. Until there is
some change in the present pl.ms of the
roung man , the paternal benediction of the
nterior department will be withheld.
A FLOWING oil well is a new discovery
near Ulysses , Butler county.
THE SIOUX CITY ASSASSINATION.
Excitement Jleeieed by the Arrest of Another
Conspirator to the Murder of Haddoclt.
Kansas City special to the Omaha Re
publican : Sheriff McDonald , of Woodbury
county , came down from Sioux City this
morning to take back to that city Sylvester
Granda. alias , Charley Ganders , or "Steam
boat Charley , " the man who was arrested
in this city by Detective Greely on Wednes
day , charged with being tiie murderer of the
Rev. H. C. Haddock who was assaulted in
Sioux City on the night of Aug. 3. Sheriff
McDonald was preceded by his deputy , J.
W. Gambs , who arrived last night accom
panied by Mr. Hassler , a correspondent of
the Chicago News. Grnnda's wife , a young
German who married him in Sioux City
two years ago , came to the Central station
to see her husband this morning and gave
a full accountof hcrknowledgeof the crime.
From what she saw after the murder , and
what her husband told her , she is positive
that he did not fire the fatal shot , although
she admits that he assaulted Haddock and
had a revolver in his hand at the time.
The woman , who speaks English very
brokenly , said : "I know who paid the
money to my husband after the murder ,
and I know who killed Mr. Haddock. If
my husband will not confess , I will. I think
hecould get out of jail if he told all he
knows about the killing. " The woman gave
the names and accurate description of the
men who gave money to her husband after
the murder , and assisted them to escape
down the Missouri on a Hat boat. When
they started from Sioux City , Koshnitski ,
alias "Bismarck , " who was with Granda
on the night of the murder , started with
them on the boat. Koshuitski left them
about twenty-five miles below Sioux City ,
and went to San Francisco , where he was
afterwards found and arrested. Granda
and his wife came down the river all tho
way to Kansas Citv in the boat , and have
since been living in the boat , which was
mooredin theKansnsriverundertheWyan-
dolte bridge. When Granda , who has been
sullen and obstinate since his arrest , was
told that his wife had mudeacleanbreastpf
the affair , that Koshnitzkn , who is now in
jail , at Sioux City , had confessed , and that
Henry L. Leavitt , the dive-kerper who was
in the crowd which attacked the Rev. Mr.
Haddock , had turned state's evidence , lie
became scared and made a full confession
of his connection with the affair to Sheriff
McDonald and Chief Speers. The confes
sion of his complicity in tho crime is sub
stantially as follows : He sa3"8 lie was
drinking heavily on the day of the murder.
Ho was witll Koshnit/.ki , Leavitt , Triber ,
Arensdorf and others during theafternoon.
They were talking of cussing Mr. Haddock
and other prohibitionists , and said they
were riiiiniiii : the shite and ought to be
tarred and feathered or strung up. Triber
said he would give any of the boys § 200
apiece who would lay old Haddock out.
They were bitter against all the prohibi
tionists , but especially bitter against the
Rev. Haddock , Koshnitzki , G radii , and
others were given money to go and assault
several prohibitionists , among them the
Rev. Haddock. They were promised pro
tection and more money if they did the
work. Thej went to Rev. Haddock's
house , but returned and reported that he
had gone out in the country in a
buggy. They reported to Triber at
his saloon. Triber told them to
lay for Haddock at the livery stable
and knock him down when he came out.
The stable was on a dark and unfrequented
street. They all took anotherdrink. Granda
says he was not drunk , but admits that he
was under the influence of liquor. About
6:30 or 7 o'clock Granda and Koshnitzki
started for the livery stable. They were
followed by Triber , Arensdorf , Leavitt
and the other men about the saloon ten
or a dozen in all. The scheme was for
Koshnitski and Granda to assault the
Rev. Hjuldock first and then the others
would follow them up nnd help them out.
As they went toward the livery stable they
saw the Rev. Haddock coming along the
street. They went up to him a brisk way.
Granda had a revolver in his hand. He
did not know how he got it. He thinks
somebody gave it to him. He says he was
not going toshoot , and can't remember just
how he held the pistol. Justthen Arensdorf
rushed up and grabbed the pistol as he
( Granda ) was about to drop it on the side
walk. Arensdorf grabbed the pistol with
theremark : "You are too drunk too shoot ,
DerVerfluchter feigling ( coward ) dn. " Then
Arensdorf fired and the Rev. Haddock fell
to the sidewalk. They all fled. That night
Arensdorf gave Granda and Koshnitzki
§ 125 each and told them to skip nt once.
Instead of doing so they stayed in town
and got drunk. The next day Fred Folger ,
a butcher , who is Granda's brother-in-law ,
put him and his wifeand Koshnitzki on the
flat boat and started them down the river.
Things were growing very warm by that
time. About twenty-five miles down the
river they were signaled by a horseman to
the shore. They went ashore and found it
was Folger. Folger gave Mrs. Granda § 125
more and took Koshnitzki across the coun
try to a smallstation. where he left for San
Francisco. Folger is also a cousin to
Koshnitzki.
Granda is a rather intelligent German t
and was formerly a sailor. This and his ii
occupation as a river rat gained him the
sobriquet of "Steamboat Charley. "
Koshnitzki and others claim that when
Arensdorf fired , the Rev. Haddock was t1n
making for him with a heavy window sash n
weight which he drew from his pocket. a
Granda says he does not know wliut the
Rev. Haddock was doing when the fatal
shot was fired.
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS XOTES.
Prince Alexander , formerly of Bulgaria , hag
been made a knight of the bath by Queen is
Victoria.
Senator Jones will for some days be con
fined to his room in Detroit , from injuries re
ceived by being thrown from a carriage.
Marco Minghetti , an Italian statesman and
diplomat , is dead.
The explosion of a locomotive on the Beech
Creek railroad , In New Yoik , caused the In
stant death of five men.
The citizens of Galesburg , Illinois , appoint (
ed a committee to raise § 50,000 with which to CC
purchase right of way and depot grounds foi CI
the Atchisou extension. I
A bill has been Introduced in the parliament n
of Holland to temporarily suspend the sugar b
export duty In the Dutch East Indias. o
A fast train on the Pennsylvania road , while "
passing around a curve at Braddock , struck r
four persons standing on the track. Two §
were instantly killed ; the others escaped
with slight bruises.
Isaac Lea , the distinguished American nat
uralist , died in Philadelphia on Tuesday , in
his ninety-fifth year.
The famous stallion Rothcrhill. 14 years old ,
was recentlypurchased in England , on private
terms , by D tswigert , of Lexington , Kentucky.
G. A. Lnndstrom , of Pontlac , Rhode Island ,
after confessing the murder of a Swedish girl ,
killed himself with a razor. -
By the fall of Ballinamore castle , in Ireland ,
woman was instantly killed.
The army and navy hospital at Hot Springs ,
commenced two years ago , Is to be thrown
open to invalid soldiers and sailors next
mouth.
Lawrence Journal : The good Bishop Vail
formally and legally turned over the mort
gage , cancelled , held bv Bethanv college on
Trinity church of this city. It was a happy
Thanksgiving day for the church.
'ff
FARALYZIXG THE Ii.lir.RO.lD3.
Tlie Relations They Sustain to the Govern-
meat ainl People.
The entire morning's session of the house
committee on postoflices and post rands
on the 14th wn's occupied in the reading o !
the reports of Representative A. J. Warner ,
of Ohio , on the obligations of subsidized
railways' telegraph lines. The report is
based upon the investigation ordered by
the house Inst year under a resolution of
inquiry by Representative Anderson , of
Kansas. It is a very long document and
begins with H > suminnry of the several acts
providing for the construction of thePacific
railroad and telegraph lines for which
grants of land and bonds have been made.
Aiter an exhaustive argument the conclus
ions of the sub-committee on the several
poiut at issue are stated as follows :
1. Thai the obligation to construct ,
maintain and operate a telegraph lino is
the same as the obligation to construct ,
maintain and operate a line of railroad.
2. That a railroad company cannot re
lieve itself of this obligation , and cannot
transfer it to any other company.
3. That as public aid can be granted only
for public purposes , such telegraph lines , as
well as railroad lines , must be operated for
the equal benefit of all persons , companies
or corporations without discrimination in
favor or against anyone.
4. In order that all may enjoy equal
facilities , privileges and the use of such
telegraph lines , it is necessary that the
same facilities and terms as to the re
ception and transmission of messages
should be extended to one telegraph line
that are granted to another that in tins
matter there should be no discrimination.
Conceding that a subsidized railroad is
under an obligation to maintain and oper
ate a telegraph line for the benefits of all ,
it follows that it is bound to accept tele
graph matter at the terminus of its lined
from all telegraph companies.
5. The committee find , from the evi
dence before it , that the railroads are not
maintaining and operating by themselves
and for public use telegraph lines as re
quired by the several acts oi congress under
which they weie authorized to build their
lines. It is held that contracts entered into
between tho railroad company and the
Western Union Telegraph company , by
which the rights and privileges of the rail
road companies were transferred to the
Western Union are beyond the scope of
the law. [ These positions are sustained
by many references to granting nets and
decisions of the United States supreme
court. ]
6. The right of the Western Union or
any other telegraph company to construct }
and operate lines of its own to the Pacific
coast is not questioned , but it is held that
the construction of such lines cannot re
lieve the railroad companies from obliga
tions to maintain lines themselves as re
quired by. the several acts.
By way of remedial legislation , the sub
committee proposed a bill which extends
to the telegraph lines the provisions of the
act of June 20. 1S7Jrelating to railroads ,
and makes it the duty of the attorney gen
eral to institute proceedings in the federal
courts to adjudicate all rights of parlies
alleged to hold contracts ) or to have rights
under any agreement entered into with the
railroad companies and to annul and net
aside contracts unlawfully made , by which
the railroads have thought to relieve them
selves of their just obligations to maintain
and operate independent telegraph lines.
The penalties prescribed by the act of
June 20 , 1874 , as to railroads are made
applicable to telegraph lines as well. The
report was ordered to be printed and will
be taken up for discussion at an early day.
SOME wAsnrxGioN GOSSIP.
The Iowa delegation will introduce and
press the passage of a bill to construct a
wagon bridge across the Missouri from
Omaha to Council Bluffs. The Union Pacific
bridge charter seems to have originally
contemplated a structure for wajrons and
foot passengers , but as it draws about two
millions annually out of the "transfer"
dummy arrangement , some of the people
who have paid 50 cents and 25 cents for
years begin to think it time to walk or at
least give tolls to formers at cheaper rates.
The report of the comptroller of the cur
rency contains a suggestion worthy of the
attention of stocidiolders in national
banks. Under the present law the presi
dent or cashier of a bank can commit per
jury in swearing to the condition of a bank
before a bank examiner , and escape pun
ishment therefor. He suggests a law to
make it the duty of the examiner to lay a
case of perjury before the United States
district attorney , and a law making such
false statement punishable.
This government has received through
the British legation in Washington , an
official invitation to participate in an in
ternational exhibition which is to be held
in Manchester , England , next year , to cele
brate the jubilee of her Britannic majesty's
reign. The object of the exhibition will be
to illustrate , as fully as possible , the prog
ress made in the development of the arts
and manufactures during the Victorian era.
Justice Harlan on the 10th made final
orders in the f llinois Midland railroad case.
The offer of Dow , the purchaser , to pay in
addition to his bid of § 1.127,000 , the sum
of $18,500 for the benefit of labor claims ,
accepted , and the sale is confirmed. The
purchaser is directed to pay his bid into
court in three installments , on the first
days of January , February and March
next. Tho court also settled all questions
of allowances.
A CONGRESSMAN CORNERED.
New York special The Tribune's Raleigh
N. C. ) special says : "The air is full of talk t
concerning the criminal conduct of Con
gressman James W. Reid. Before election
Reid was publicly charged with obtaining
money from tneMache via bank In Winston
by using an order of Ilockingliam county ,
of which he was treasurer , when in fact the
order was issued for the purpose of paying
the county debt. It is Known that Reid
raised § 30.000 on property not worth over
8,000 , and that he has pledged his salary
as congressman until March to more than
one person and raised money in this way.
He is reported to have gone to Canada.
NEGRO GAMBLERS SHOT DOWN.
r , ALA. , Dec. 14. A sheriff , dep
uty and four policemen made a raid on a ne
gro gambling den near this city last night
when a fusillade occurred between the occu
pants of the house and the oflicers. The re-
t-ult WHS that five of the gamblers were cap-
tunvJ and two were killed. None of the ofli
cers H-WC hurt.
A HOME FOR MRS. 1IAXCOCK.
WASHINGTON , D. C. , Doc1(1 ( The friends
of the late General W. Hancock have , as a
tribute to his memory , raised a sum of money
to purchase a home for his widow , and the
committee having the matter In charge has
decided , after a brief consultation with Mrs.
Hancock , to purchase a house in this citv ,
where , therefore , she will hereafter make her
home.
TILE TORIES DISAGREE.
Tlie Coerelee Paltry Checked by the Strength
of Public Opinion.
LONDON' , Dec. 15. The development ol tbc
tory coercive policy has been checked by a
strong division of opinion within the cabinet.
Lord Ashbourne insists upon instant action
based upon the judgment of Irish judges that
the anti-rent campaign Is illegal. He favors
the adoption of the severest measures and the
treating of national leaguers as engaged In an.
illegal conspiracy , while Sir Randolf Churchill ,
demands a mild enforcement of the ordinary
law.
law.Several
Several members of the government outside
the cabinet , supporters of Lord Ashbourne ,
have advised Lord Salisbury to dismiss Sir
Michael Hicks-Beach from the olllce of chief
secretary for Ireland anil appoint as his suc
cessor a man In favor of thorough coercion.
The St. James Gazette and the bulk of the
tory press violently assail the government for
the dilatory use of existing powers of suppres
sion.
IRISH TKXAXTS DISAGREE.
DcnuN , Dec. 15. The tenants of Baron
O'Neill at Shane's castle , near Randalstown ,
County Antrim , met to-dav to discuss the ad
visability of adopting "the plan of cam
paign. " The meeting was noisy anil trouble
some , and a majority of the tenants voted to
refuse to pay unv rent unless a reduction
should be made. The meeting broke UD In a
row , which might have resulted In a riot but
for the presence of 1EO policemen. A small
majority of the tenants adopted a rcsolutlou
declaring Baron O'Neill an indulgent landlord.
The executive has dissolved the new Ross
board of guardians for placing a wing of the
poor house at the di jxsil of the national
league and giving evicted tenants a special
diet , housing them in a "ward of honor , " and
allowing them the fullest freedom to receive
friends.
The tenants of the lord lieutenant's estates
In the CountDown have refused the proller-
cdreduction of 10 per cent in rents.
The landlords' society of Cork has received
a large fund to be devoted to resisting the na
tionalists' "plan of campaign. "
At a meeting of landlords to-day It was de
cided to take measures to recover from the
rent trustees the money deposited with them
by the tenants of the I'ont-onby estate.
THE I'ACIFIC FUNDING BILL.
T/ie Jllll Jlrporteil l j Ilir. House lias a Fair
Ctmnce : of I'lixsliitj Jlutli Houses.
Washington dispatch : Congressman Hay-
dcn of the Pacific railroad commission
thicks that the Pacific railroad funding ;
bill reported by the house committee has
a fair chance of passing , if the opponents
to the bill shall not fillibuster against it.
The parliamentary status of the bill is
favorable , the previous question having
been ordered , and the subject , in the
absence of filibustering , might be con
cluded after an hour's debate. But
Springer , of Illinois , has announced that
it is his purpose to oppose the bill by all
the means in his power. One of the means
in his power is , of course , to have recourse-
to fillibustering. A New York gentleman
who is here has supplied some of the
opponents with figures which he chums
ahow that the bill would not require the
roads to pay all of their indebtedness by
§ 17,000,000. The figures have been sub
mitted to experts and are pronounced in
accurate , and the gentleman himself has
been compelled to admit that he was in
error. Mr. Elliott , the actuary of the
secretary , and other experts have been
carefully over the figures and report that
the bill provides for a l\A ] per cent interest.
This is a nominal extension for several
years at 3 per cent at least net , but prac
tically it is an extension for fifty-nine years
only , for the indebtedness does not mature
for eleven yearn. There is reason to be
lieve that the bill , if it should pass , would
be approved by the president. Senator
Hoar thinks that it would pass the senate.
It is quite certain the only chance to secure
any legislation on the subject will be to
pass the house bill , as the house would not
accept the senate bill. It can hardly be
said , however , that the prospects for tho
passage of the bill are favorable.
NEWS IN A NUTSHELL
A Mcuduza dispatch says the cholera reports
from Buenos Ayres are favorable and the epi
demic is on the decline. Ten new cases of the
disease and thirteen deaths arc reported from
Vrille Maria. Cholera has appeared in Canada
de Gomez and other localities near the rail
way line.
Washington advices say the treasury of
ficials are puzzled to know what to do with a
check for $25,000 drawn by Claude. Brabant
in favor of himself on the German national
bank , of New Orleans , and endorsed by T. S.
Merino. Before the check came to hand a
telegram was received from Mr. Brabant ask
ing if the check had been accepted and If so ,
that the subtreasury custom house and G. S-
Deitz , of New Orleans , be notified. Nothing
Is known at the department in regard to Bra
bant. Merino or Deitz.
Tlirce British soldiers have been killed and
MX wounded in an attack on a dacoit village
in Burniah.
The German ironclad Moewe has sailed for
Zanzibar to punish the murderers of the ex
plorer Jueheke.
Five Welsh farmers , leaders in the anti-
lithe movement , have been restrained for
failing to pay tithes.
The Bulgarian deputation will arrive in
London December 24 and ask for an Interview
with Lord Iddesleigh.
England has decided to reduce the Egyptian
standing army to 10,000 men and the army ol
occupation to 5,000.
The Bulgarian deputation has been ordered
by the home government to wait In Vienna for
written instructions , before starting for Berlin.
The pope has prepared instructions to the
Irish bishops to keep their clergy In the limits
of duty In regard to the anti-rent movement.
Mr. Gladstone writes to the Welsh liberal
association that he regards their designs with
interest , but at this age he must leave agita
tion to younger hands.
Henry M. Stanley's expedition for the relief
of Emt Bey will leave England in February.
The Egyptian government and a private gen
tleman will nav all the expenses.
TRAINS IN COLLISION.
LTNCHIJCUG , VA. , Dec. 14. A freight and a
material train on the western division of the
Norfolk and Western railway collided this
morning about S o'clock near Pulaskl City and.
Immediately afterward a train on the Cripple
Creek extension of that road , ran Into the dis
abled trains. The three engines were complete-
Iv wrecked , and four curs containing merchan
dise were destroyed by fire. Fortunately no
lives were lost"but one engineer was injured.
The damage to the company has not yet been
ascertained , though it is thought to be very
heavy. The loss is S50.00 > .
ROBBED BY ITS C.I SHIER.
CHARLES CITT , IA. , Dec. 13. The Flojd
countv savings bank suspended payment , a
defalcation of 520,030 on the part of the chas-
ier , Koseiene , having been unearthed. The
oflicers of the bank promise that all depositors
will be paid in full. The defaulting chashler
has been absent in Europe Jor some time.
ON TRIAL FOR POISONING.
PiTTsnrRRii. PA. Dec. 14. The trial of
Mrs. Runncll , charged with the poisoning ol
Eddie Thaw , who recently died under sus
picious circumstances , was begun In the crim
inal court this afternoon. The work of impan
eling a jury consumed the entire session.
Young Thaw was a nephew of Mrs. Runnell
and a relative of William Thaw , the millionaire
railroad official.