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About Western news-Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1898-1900 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 10, 1898)
NEWtocK > tocK Journal. YQLIDIE XIII. VALENTINE , NEBRASKA , NOVEMBER 10. NUMBER 4'2 , LATEST NEWS FROM EVERY LAND. MRE DI THE CAPITOL IRREPARABLE DAMAGE DONETO OLD DOCUMENTS Explosion and a Resultant Fire Wreck the Supreme Court Quar ters and Rooms Adjoining on the Main Ploor Other Items. Old Records Lost. An explosion and fire at 5:15 o'clock ) Sunday afternoon wrecked the supreme' ' court room and the rooms immediately ad joining it on the main floor of the capitol in Washington. The damage is enormous. The entire central eastern part of the T great marble pile , from the main floor to the subterranean basement , practically is a mass of ruins. Fire followed the ex plosion so quickly as to seem simultaneous with it. The explosion occurred in a small room tightly enclosed by heavy stone walls in the .subterranean basement im mediately below the main entrance to the old capitol building. In this room was a 500-light gas meter , which was fed by a 4-inch main. Very little gas is used in that part of the building , but at the lime of the explosion the gas had not been turned off at the meter. The meter itself was wrecked , and the gas pouring from the main caught fire. Before the flames could be subdued the priceless documents in the record room of the supreme court had been almost de stroyed , and serious damage had been done in the marshal's office and some minor rooms in the immediate vicinity. The library of the supreme court , located immediately below the supreme court room , was badly damaged by fire , smoke and water , practically destroying ttje great collection of law reference books. The library contains about 20,000 volumes , and was used not only by the justices ol the supreme court , but by members of con gress and lawyers practicing before the supreme court. Justice Jlarlan said that the library was very valuable. Many of the works it contained would , he thought , be difficult to replace. Librarian Clarke , after a cur sory examination , necessarily-made bj- the light of lanterns , expressed the opinion that many of the books could be saved , although they had been badly drenched by , vater. The most serious damage , in the opinion of the justices of the supreme court , is to the records stored in the sub- basement. These include all of the rec ords of the supreme court from 1792 to 1832. MARIA TERESA LOST. Resurrected Flagship Goes Down to Rise No More. The ocean tug Merritt arrived at Charleston , N. C. , Sunday morning for supplies and reported the loss of the cruiser Maria Teresa off Salvador , Baha mas , November 1 , in a storm. The Maria Teresa was sunk by American warships near Santiago July 3 with the rest of Cer- vera's fleet , and was raised by Lieut. Hobson - son and starctd for Norfolk , Va. , to be repaired. She left Calmanera , Cuba , October 3. She had already passed Cape Mays ! and started northeast around the Bahamas. A furious storm , warning of which had been sent out overtook her and she was unable to weather it. The strain opened the rents in the hull which had been patched to en able her to make the journey , and she be gan to fill rapidly. The Merritt took off apt. Harris and the crew , and she went down. The Merritt brought in the captain and 136 men. No lives were lost. FOURTEEN WORKMEN KILLED Half Finished Wonderland Theater Collapses in Detroit. The new five-story Wonderland Theater building in Detroit , Mich. , is in a hope less looking state of collapse , and fourteen lives have been sacrificed by an appalling accident \vhich occurred theiein. Satur day afternoon shortly before 2 o'clock , while some thirty-five men were at work in various parts of the half-finished theater , portions of the roof fell in with out warning. Nearly every workman was ca.Jed down into the theater pit ; the top gallery was crushed down on the lower gallery , forming a sort of fatal hill side down vkliich slid broken steel girders , planks , timbers , brick and a great quan tity of cement from the roof , and carrying along a struggling company of men into the pit below , very few of whom escaped injury. Negro Ijyiiched in Florida. Arthur Williams , a negro under arrest lor the murder of Miss Elina Ogden , at Wcllborne , Fla. , on Friday , made a con- lession Saturday night , implicating two other negroes , Buck James and Monroe Leggitt. At 11 o'clock Sunday night the -constable and his guards were overpowered by a crowd and Williams was taken from their custody , riddled with bullets and n lire built upon his body. New Japanese Cabinet. Field Marshal Marquis Yaraagata has formed a ministry tosucceedthe cabinet of Count Olcnmu Stagawi the first party cabinet in the history of Japan which took office on June 28 last and resigned on October 81 , owing to the differences upon the question of filling the portfolio of pub- lie instruction. FRIDAY'S JOINT SESSION. tJnlted States' Proposition Rejected by the Spaniards. The joint sessions of the peace commis sions in Paris Friday lasted two hours , The Spaniards refused to meet the propo sitions made by the Americans Monday last , but the negotiations were not broken off. While it is believed no formal counter proposition was made , there was discus sion of the Philippine question outside the lines of the American propositions. The commissions then adjourned till Novem ber 7. There is no truth in the statements made that an ultimatum is contemplated by the United States and there is no prob ability of drastic measures being taken by the Americans. The Americans expect to patiently weigh all the points involved and carefully consider the arguments of the Spaniards. The administration in Washington is awaiting results from the peace commis sion with equanimity in the realization that the government is perfectly well pre pared for any turn negotiations may take. The navy especially is in a state of pre paredness should it come to a resumption of hostilities far in advance of its condi tion at the outbreak of the war. As far as the army is concerned , while the orig- .inal force of nearly 250,000 has been ( largely diminished by the mustering out of the many regiments and organizations , lit is the opinion of expert military officers that the army as a whole is really a more formidable weapon now than at any period during the war. In fact , all branches of the military and naval ser vice have profited by the experience ol the war , and are now , as previously stated , in better shape than ever before * WILL MARRY AGAIN. Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria to Take Another \Vife. Direct from Austrian court circles corned the sensational announcement that tha Austrian emperor , Francis Joseph , con- 'templalcs a second marriage as soon as the time of official court mourning has ex pired. The archduchess , Maria Therese , Slaughter of Don Miguel , is said to find most favor in his majesty's eyes and stands the best chance of mounting the Austrian throne. The prospective hasty marriage is the result of a desire for a direct heir to the Austrian throne and all friends of the ( emperor are urging him to take the con templated step. In fact , the future union and peace of the country depends upon the successor of Francis Joseph , who him self has had all he could do to handle the rebellious provinces. The lutnre empresy is attractive and exceedingly ambitious. SOUDAN HERO HONORED. Gen. Kitchener Receives a Great Ovation in London. The streets of London were crowded Friday morning by an immense number of people seeking to witness Gen. Kitch ener's triumphal progress to Guild Hall , to receive the freedom of the city and the sword of honor presented him in recogni tion of his defeat of the dervishes at Om- durman. The general received a great ovation as he drove through the streets , WAR CLOUDS FLOAT AWAY. Semi-OfflcSal Note Says France Will Yield to Britain. A semi-official note issued Friday even ing in Paris says the French government has resolved not to retain the Mnrchand mission at Fashotla , adding that "tho de cision was arrived at after an exhaustive examination of the question. " Attempts to Shoot His Wile. J. K. Hardy of Kansas City and St. Louis attempted to shoot his wife at Wichita , Kan. , but was prevented by a waiter and Detective Sutton. He is in jail , held on the charge of assault with intent to kill. The wife lives at Arkansas City , and the husband's grievance is that she refuses to live with him. Cuba to Have Thanksgiving Day. General Wood at Santiago is preparing a Thanksgiving proclamation , being of the opinion that the Cubans ought to give thinks for the blessings they have re ceived. The Americans want to keep the day in old-fashioned style and are writing to their friends in the north to send on turkeys. Liquidating Standard Oil Trust. The liquidation trustees of the Standard Oil trust have recently divided from the income of the corporate stocks still remain ing in their hands , a sum equal to $3 per share , and a further sum equal to $4 per share , both payable December 16,1898. Chicago Banks Consolidate. The Bank of Commerce of Chicago , a fixate bank with $500,000 capital and $1.- 000,000 deposits , has voted to go into voluntary liquidation. Its deposits and | equal amounts of bills receivable will bq taken over by the Union National. Buffalo Sails for Philippines. The navy department received wcrd Friday from New York that the cruiser Buffalo sailed at noon for the Philippines , via the Suez canal. The gunboat Helena sailed for the same destination the day before. Wagon Factory Burned. The Thomson Wagon factory at St. Louis park , a suburb of Minneapolis , has burned to the ground with seven loaded freight cars. The factory had just beeij leased by Lindsay Bros. Loss , $60,000. Two Killed and n. Dozen Hurt. By an explosion in the Oil City , Pa. , boiler works , Charles McClosley and John Frawley were killed , B. J. Gidders and Dennis McMahon fatally hurt and a dozen1 i others slightly injured. 1 FLOWERS FOR MAINE VICTIMS Graceful Act ol' Cubans in Prepar ing Floral Cross. ' General Wade and General Butler of the United States evacuation commission went to the Colon Cemetery in Havana Thursday morning to lay flowers on the graves of the victims of the Maine disaster. In the course of the afternoon a number of pther officers visited the cemetery. Just after Gens. Wade and Butler had left the Hotel Trocha for the cemetery , carrying the floral crown made by the committee of young Cuban girls who had asked the privilege of paying this tribute to the dead a carriage was driven up to the hotel with representatives of the Cuban Club , who brought an immense floral cross to lay upon the grave. On learning that Generals Wade and Butler had already gone to the cemetery the Cubans followed and overtook them in time to place boll ; offerings together. PANAMA IS SAFE. iPransport Steamer Reported Lost Stops at Havana. The transport Panama , from Santiago , fears for whose safety have been enter tained , arrived at Havana Thursday morn ing. The Panama landed seven American passengers , including some military offi cers. cers.The The party landed includes Congressman John F. Dalzell , J. F. Slagle , E. M. Gross , j J. II. Savage , jr. , C. S. Burgesman , ex- j Congressman George F. Huff and W. L. Howes. They have just visited Ponce , San Juan de Porto Rico and Santiago de Cuba. The Panama acted upon the orders of Gen. Wood in landing the American officers at Havana. They expected to take the next Tampa boat on their way to Washington. The Panama did not en i counter any bad weather. KRUPP PLATE RECEIVES A TEST Withstands Perfectly the Impact of a 353-Pound Projectile. Armor plate manufactured by the Krupp process was given its first test Thursday by the Bethlehem Iron Company at its proving grounds near Bethlehem , Pa. Many notable engineers witnessed it , be sides the Russian ordnance engineer , who came from Philadelphia. It was the first test of Krupp armor of American make and was a great success. Three ghots were fired from an 8-inch gun , the pro jectiles weighing 253 pounds and the velocity ranging from sixteen to eighteen hundred feet per second. The plate was not cracked. The Bethlehem Company ; has received a big order for this make of plate from Russia. Passenger Steamer Destroyed. The passenger steamer Pacific , owned 6y the Great Northern Transit Company , burned at the Grand Trunk wharves in Colliawood , Out. The railway freight 3heds , filled with Canadian and American1 goods , were also destroyed. The Pacific was valued at $65,000 and was insured for $25,000. The loss from the burning of the freight sheds will be very heavy. Last of Williams Gang Arrested. Paul Andrews , who killed Bill Nave over a jrear ago , has been captured after a hard fight with marshals near Yinita , I. TJ Andrews was injured seriously while re- | sisting. He was once leader of the Will iams gang of outlaws , all of whom have been killed in resisting arrest. Trust Raises Price of Envelopes Evidence that the long threatened trust among the manufacturers of envelopes has become a fact has reached the paper stationery trade in the shape of circulars quoting an advance averaging 25 per cent , in all grades of envelopes. Large Manufactory Burned. The works of the National Starch Com pany at Glencove , L. I. , were visited by 9 disastrous fire last Friday. QUOTATIONS Chicago Cattle , common to § 3.00 to $6.00 ; hogs , shipping grades. ? 3.00 to $4.00 ; sheep , fair to choice , $2.50 to $4.75 ; wheat , No. 2 red , GGc to G7c ; corn. No. 2 , 32c to 33c ; oats , No. 2 , 23c to 25c ; rye , No. 2. olc to 52c ; butter , choice creamery , 21c to 23c ; eggs , fresh , 17c to 18c ; potatoes , choice , 30c to 40c per bushel. Indianapolis Cattle , shipping , $3.00 to $5.50 ; hogs , choice light , $3.00 to $4.00 ; sheep , common to choice , $3.00 to $4.50 ; wheat , No. 2 red , G7c to 69c ; corn , No. 2 white , 32c to 33c ; oats , No. 2 white , 2Gc to 28c. St. Louis Cattle , $3.00 to $5.75 ; hogs , $3.50 to $4.00 ; sheep , $3.50 to $5.00 ; wheat , No. 2 , f9c to 70c ; corn , No. 2 yellow. Sic to 33c ; oats , No. 2 , 25c to 27c ; rye , No. 2 , 51c to 5iic. Cincinnati Cattle , $2.50 to $5.25 ; hogs , $3.00 to $4.00 ; sheep , S2.50 to $4.25 ; wheat. No. 2 , G7c to t > ic ; corn , No. 2 mixed , 34c to 3Gc ; oats , No. 2 mixed , 25c to 27c ; rye , No. 2 , 54c to 5'oc. Detroit Cattle , $2.50 to $5.50 ; hogs , $3.25 to $3.75 ; sheep , $2.50 to $4.50 : wheat , No. 2. 71c to 73c ; corn. No. 2 yellow , 35c to 3Gc ; oats , No. 2 white , 27c to 2Sc ; rye , 52c to 54c. Toledo Wheat , No. 2 mixed , 70c to 72c ; corn. No. 2 mixed , 32c to 34c ; oats , No. 2 white , 23c to 25c ; rye , No. 2. 52c to 54c ; clover seed , old , $4.75 to $4.85. i Milwaukee Wheat , No. 2 spring , 66c to G7c ; corn. No. 3. 32c to 34c ; oats. No. 2 white. 25c to 2Sc ; rye , No. 1 , 51c to 53c ; barley. No. 2 , 40c to 49c : pork , mess , ' $7.50 to $8.00. Buffalo Cattle , good shipping steers , $3.00 to $5.75 ; hogs , common to choice , $3.50 to $4.00 ; sheep , fair to choice weth ers. $3.50 to $5.00 ; lambs , common to extra. $5.00 to $5.75. New York Cattle , $3.00 to ? 5.75 ; hogs , $3.00 to $4.25 ; sheep. $3.00 to $5.00 ; wheat. No. 2 red , 7Gc to 77c ; corn , No , 2 , 39c to 41c ; oats. No. 2 , 29c to 30cj butter , creamery , 15c to 24c ; eggs , West cm , 20c to 22c. - STATE OF NEBRASKA NEWS OF THE WEEK IN A CON DENSED FORM. T\vo Sauuclers County Farmers En gage in a Quarrel in which a Gun Js Used "Warrant Out Charging One With Intent to Murder. Two Farmers Quarrel. James Delaney and PatDonelly , both of Saunders County , had a fight at the Cullins farm , near Cedar Bluffs , which came near terminating fatally. Donclly says they got into a quarrel over some small matter and Delaney pulled a gun and fired directly at him , but doing no damage. A struggle then ensued. The affair took place in a room at the farm house and the people present loft for safer quarters - soon as the fust shot was fired , leaving the two men to fight it out. Donclly , who is a large , powerful fellow , finally wrenched the gun from Delany's hands and threw him. Ue then took from him a large , ugly looking knife ami , leaving him in charge of par ties at the house , went to Cedar Bluffs and swore out a warrant for Delaney's arrest on the charge of assault with intent to murder. The two men were under the inllnence of liquor and had previously had some liitle difficulty. THOSE CHRISTMAS BOXES. Soldiers in Kar O.T Manila Koiutd to lie Ileiiieinl ) < * r < Ml. There is an apparent conflict uf author ity between the state administration and ! the ( i. A. R. over the question of \\liicli j shall .send the Christina- x > s to tin * Ne braska soldiers. So far a > can be learned flu ; movement was stalled by Cone-nil Gage and other Grand Annv men ; ind a few days lat-r' was laken up by the j i state officials. General G.U' ' obtained a promise from th1 government that tlie boxes would be shipped from San 1'ian- cisco by the \\ar depuitmeif. : ( Soneral Harry soon alter received a similar assur ance. Cage then made arrangements whereby the boxes were to Iv shipped free from Lincoln , and directed that all boxes should be sent to him at Lincoln for shipment. A few days later Harry issued notice that the state would stand the ex pense of the shipment of the boxes from Lincoln to San Francisco , "the govern ment having refused to do so. " He has issued an order that all boxes .should be shipped to him. It is a most peculiar sit uation , but it seems that in any event the boys are to get the boxes. RAILROAD IS BEATEN. st-v Nebraska Supreme Court Decision in a Tax Case. The right of a city or town to assess an occupation tax on a railroad corporation has been sustained by the supreme court , which holds that such a levy is no ! in violation lation of the interstate commerce law nor void because it taxes a business transacted wholly within the city. It was a suit of the city of York against the Chicago , Bur lington & Quincy Railroad. The road fought the ordinance and was sustained by the lower court. The supreme court reverses and remands. The ordinance ex pressly exempts interstate business from taxation. May Secure Exposition Organ. A project is under way at Lincoln to purchase the great concert organ , built for the exposition , for use in the chapel of the University of Nebraska. It is not thought advisable to ask the state for an appropriation at this time and an effort will be made to buy the instrument with money contributed by alumni and former students. A committee of six alumni has been appointed and will undertake the task of raising the amount. It is in tended to christen the new acquisition the "Alumni Organ" in case its purchase can be brought about. Supreme Court Decisions. The supreme court in session at Lincoln handed down a number of decisions , among them being affirmations in the cases of Stevens , the Sheridan County cattle stealer , and Chezem of Adams County , who was sentenced by the dis trict court for larceny. A case brought up from York County is decided , giving cities of the second class the right to levy an occupation tax against railroad companies where the lines of the company enter the jcity limits. Postmaster Gets in Trouble. 'Z. E. Minnick , postmaster at Millikin , Frontier County , was arrested by Deputy United States Marshal Keim on a charge of embezzlement of funds of the govern ment to the amount of $449. On being ar- ra gned before United States Commis sioner J. E. Cobbey at Beatrice he waived examination and was bound over to the federal court. As he was unable to secure bondsmen he was taken to Omaha. Many Nebraska Men Sick. Colonel .John P. Bratt of the Frst Ne braska regiment , who has been honorably discharged on account of Illness , says that ] 5 per c nt. of the Nebraska troops in Manila are. sick. Many of them are ill with dysentery because of their indiscre tion in drinking the vileso'la pop and eating - ing half rotten bananas that the natives cll on the streets. Oniiha Attorney Suicides. Charles Ofl'iitt well known Omaha * , a at torney , while Buffering from the effects of a long illness , shot himself through the head a ! his home in that city. Mr. Offult had buffered from nervous prostration for more than a year and had been so ill at JfSes that his life was despaired of. Prominent Omaha Man Dead. Champion Spalding Chase , who was recently appointed surveyor of customs for the port of Omaha , died recently from the effects of a fall received two weeks ago on the customs house steps , lie was a cousin of Salmon P. Chase. Supreme Court Adjourns. The supreme court adjourned at Lin coln without having taken action on the Hartley bond case or the motion in the Broatch-Moores case. DESERTED BY HIS BRIDE. Lacy Trusts a Matrimonial Bureau and Liives to Repent. Through the agency of a matrimonial bureau Patrick Locy of Harrison , aged 43 years , and Mrs. Maggie Schooley , aged 63 , of Marion , Ohio , were united in marriage a few days since. After having enjoyed the companionship of her newly found husband two nights and one day MrSt Lacey tired of the matrimonial venture and Lacey has now lost his bride , who left , together with her little daughter , for her Ohio home. Gross misrepresentations on the part of both parties in the case re- | suited in the marriage being a decidedly unhappy union , and Lacy does not regret his wife's early departure. It is stated that Lacy represented to Mrs. Schooley that he was a wealthy cattle ranchman , owning a large ranch in Sioux City , but when she arrived on the scene she discov ered her intended to be a day laborer with small means. Lacy , in turn , discovered that the woman , who had claimed to have several thousand dollars in her own right , had barely enough money in her possess ion to purchase a ticket home , so the match was broken with but little sorrow on the part o ( the two interested parties. SLEEP THE SLEEP OF BRAVE Three Nebraska Boyn Succumb to Disease in Philippines. The follo\vinir cable was received at the war department from Gen. Otis at Manila , announcing the following deaths since las ! report : K.irlV. . ( Morhout of Inn id City , pri vate. Company K , typhoid fever , Octo ber 21. Alfred .1. Eisiima of Rcnm-i : , private , Company I , typhoid fever , October 22. Arthur ( ' . Mmm.of Madison , private , Company K , acute dhivlum ; : , October . Cause oflheVrock. . The east-bound tiain vt iiicii v. as wrecked at Fremont a f.-\v days ago was in three sections. The special iiad or " .er. : to meet the first .section a ; Valley and the > eeond . section at Frciiion ! . Tin : west-bound train met second MJCIion .f No. 110 at Fremont , but evidently did not noiicethal it carried .signals for another section , and the en gineer on the second section of No. 2) . it is stated , did not give the whistle .signal calling the attention of ! he westbound train that another .section was following. This would place the bHme on the en gineer and conductor of the .secondsection of No. 20 and the engineer of the west bound train. Swindled by a Cattle Thief. E. Sholtz , who lives nine miles souln- west of Broken Bow. bought on October 24 sixty-live head of cattle of a stranger who said he was driving them through the country and gave his name as Wilkin son. Last week he was compelled to turn the cattle over to Mr. Plumer without ex pense , from whose range , on the Dismal , the cattle were stolen on the 22nd ult. Mr. Sholtz is out $1,500 which ho paid on the cattle. lie admits that he was swindled , but hopes to catch the thief. There were two men with tle cattle , but one had nothing to say and did not even give his name. _ Murder in Omaha. A drunken row in an Omaha saloon culminated in a stabbing affray in which J. K. Jones , the bartender , received a wound from the effects of which he died in less than five minutes. Two men were locked up in the city jail , as they were known to have been implicated in the affair. The names of the men arrested are S. J. Maher and AVilliam F. Grady , both being employed as machinists in the Union Pacific shops. Later the third man , George M. Challman , also a machinist , and who is supposed to have done the cutting , was apprehended by the police. Two Suspicions Deaths. People in and near Utica are excited over two deaths which recently occurred in that vicinity. Mrs. Gearhart Meinners , wife of a farmer living nine miles south west of Utica , died on October 26 , under somewhat suspicious circumstances. On October 28 Fritz Dobler , a man who had been working for the Meinuers , went to LTtica , where he was taken ill quite sud denly. The coroner is investigating. New Bank for N The officials of the FirstNationaI , Banlc of O'Neill have arranged to open a bank in Neligh. It is hoped that the stockhold ers of the Neligh Bank will make the con templated arrangement for the payment of depositors and either resume business or liquidate its indebtedness without se vere financial loss. No statement of the condition of the closed bank has yet been made uublic. Implement Wa'rehouse Burned. Fire in the implement building of J. C. Chalonpka at Tobias caused the complete destruction of that structure and its con tents. Loss is as follows : J. C. Chaloupka , implements j , $2,200 , insurance. $1,500 in Crete Mutual ; B. D. Howard , wagon shop , $150 , no insurance ; .7. M. Mecha , blacksmith. $200 , no insurance ; Charles Buchtell , owner of building , $1,600 , insur ance for $830 in Queen. Cause of lire un known. Tragedy at Omaha. .lust before midnight on October 29 John Belick , a bricklayer , shot and killed Al Seargent. Sergeant had gone to Belik's house for the purpose of eloping with Mrs. Belick , and had the woman's trunk in a wagon when the husband surprised him. Belick fired four shots , each taking effect. Belick and his wife are in jail. Small Epidemic of Diphtheria. 1 here have been two deaths from diph theria inthe vicinity -Sterling and it ha ? spread 10 live families. Yerj' strict measures are being taken to arrest its spreading further , guards being stationed at the residences of those haviji the dis ease. The schools are closed and services discontinued at the churches. Wild West's Suit. A $15,000 damage suit has been begun in Omaha by the Wild West show against the exposition for having allowed William F. Cody , Buffalo Bill , to bring his wild west show there and because of the Indian congress. Mattox & Root , the proprietors claim that it was contrary to the terms ol their concession. Although Admiral Sampson's report , Bent through the press dispatches' , does not contain a word of censure , criticism or complaint concerning the conduct of Ad miral Schley , but simply gives tlio corre spondence and orders in their sequence and allows the department and the public to judge it for themselves , it places the commander of the dying squadron in an embarrassing position , and explains why the Secretary of the Navy asked Congress not to pass resolutions conveying a vote of thanks to Admiral Sehley. It also con firms the story telegraphed from St. Louis that Schley's lleet remained before the- harbor of Cicnfnegos for five days after he was informed that Cervera was in the har bor at Santiago , and that he started for Key "West for coal , leaving Cerveru free to go where he pleased until recalled by sharp orders from the Secretary of the Navy , who then placed Captain Sampson over his head. Every year rhc heads of the great de partments in Washington are having in creased trouble witUMini'i-anminted clerks. Many of these clerks- have been in public service from twenty-five to thirty-five years , and there are not a few on the rolls who have been working uninterruptedly for the ( lovernnu'iit for forty-live or fifty years. Many of these old clerks have been , lioldinir-salaried positions for n great many years , but the great majority are middle- class , where the salaries range from $1.- 000 to $1,400. With advancing years they lose in efficiency and Uieir retention on thu pay roils iu important positions is an in justice t6 younger and better clerks , who are doing a greater amount of work for less money. Ik-ads of departments can not nerve themselves to discharge these ( veteran clerks , and so they dnig on year after year , incuinhering the service. Officials or the quartermaster general's office of the War Department say that [ those Avho desire to avail themselves oC , the Government's order to transport 'Christmas ' packages to the American sol diers at Honolulu arid Manila should ad dress the quartermaster general , Wash ington , D. C. , for instructions. The de partment desires to regulate and control the number , size and contents of the pack ages so fur as > possible , and will not under take to pay oceaa freight upon everything that may he sent. Exportation uf wire nails frciti the L'uit- ed States has increased fifteen fold during the lai-'t ten years , going from 1,547,000 pounds in 1888 to 22,894,000 pounds dur ing the fiscal year 1898. This product of American workmen goes to every grand division of the globe and practically every country. Ten years ago the price per pound was 10 cents. To-day it is 2 cents. Thus , the 1,547,000 pounds exported iu 1888 brought $155,000 , while the 22,894- 000 pounds exported during the last fiscal year yielded only $458,000. - : : * Speaker R"fd is dead set against keep ing Congress in session any longer than is absolutely necessary. His influence may , therefore , be counted upon to be thrown against a special session. He can practically control the committees in a short session and keep matters back which he does not wish to have acted on. In a loLg session this is more difficult and there is constant danger of the House breaking away from him. This was done two or three times li > t spring and summer. The Lorui > u..fr of the Currency u that he cannot issuu a charier to a na tional bank in the Hawaiian Islands. This will L < ? a severe disappointment to several ambitious politicians in Washing ton , who have been planning for months to secure the first charter for a national bank at Honolulu. The same crowd is after national bank charters in Porto Rico and Manila. It is believed that Congress will have to give specific authorization be fore the Comptroller can issue charters in any of theo place ? . The cieik of tiic Supreme Court in in re ceipt of a large number of letters from lawyers in all parts of the country inquir ing of him when thp Supreme Court vriil issue rules and regulations for the govern ment of courts in the enforcement of the bankruptcy law. Having no definite ia- formation oil the subject. Major MeKen- ney is obliged to write nou-committal re plies to the effect that the court has not as yet promulgated the rules and regula tions. Gen. Fiusiiugh Lee hzu written a. ery complimentary letter concerning the work of the Young Men's Christian Association among the soldiers in Florida and has re quested that their representatives may be authorized to accompany his army to Cuba un < I prepare for even more extensive ivorfc The United States will have to take charge of the postal system in Cuba as soon as the Spaniards evacuate , for the Cubans have no governmental organiza tion of any sort and chaos would result at once if this action were not taken. f it to date L'.OOU claims for pensions luve bt-en tiled by soldiers and sailors and their dependents on account of the war with Spain. Seventy were for victims ot the Maine. I-V.T lac-k of something else to talk abou\ politicians in Washington are discussing the probabilities of an extra session o $ Contrress after the 4th yf next March.