NEBRASKA CONGRESS
DAILY REPORT OF WHAT IS BE
ING DONE.
Measure ? of More or Loss Import
ance Arc Beins Introduced at tin
Present Session of the Tjoisla.tur <
Gifit of the Business.
Monday , Feb. lil.
Twenty-second ballot for .senator :
Allen . 41
Haywardj . 2 !
Thompson . . !
Webs ler . i
Field . 5
Weston . t
Scattering . i
In the House four petitions asking thai
provisions be made for paying bounty or
wolf scalps and one asking for tho-passagc
of an equal suffrage memorial to congress
were read and referred to committees. Or
recommendation of standing committees II
R.lSf. 853,373 , 897 , 876 and S. F. 70 Averc
placed on general file. II. R
835 was recommeded for indefinite
postponement , but , an explanation being
made by the introducer , it Avas placed on
general file. II. Rs. U2fl. 81G , 850 , 363 , 369.
182 aul 98 Avere indefinitely postponed. A
half dozen new bills came in and Avere read
the first time , as were also several Senate
files sent over during the forenoon session ,
The House resolved itself into a committee
of the whole , with Grosvenor of Hamilton
in the chair , the special order being H. R ,
137 , the revenue bill introduced by Pollard
of Cass. The bill provides that assessmenl
of property shall be between the dates ol
March 15 and May 15 , instead of beginning
on April 1 as under the old law. This pro
vision brought out a long discussion. The
measure was still under consideration al
adjournment.
When the Senate convened at 11 o'clock
S. F. 34. relating to the control of Soldiers' '
Homo was recommended 4o pass by the
Committee on Soldiers' Home. After the
read j HI ? of bills for a second time the Sen-
ale look a recess till 11:45 o'clock. A num
ber of University friends were in the lobby
and sallerv Avhen the Senate convened
at SVclock. as II. R. 171 , the Uni
versity bill , was a special order. Canahay
of Kearney , moved that the Senate go into
committee of the whole , with Owens oi
Dawson. in the chair , to consider II. R. 171.
His motion prevailed. After the reading of
the hill Prout of Gage. moved that when
the committee rise it report the bill back to
pass. After a good deal of discussion Sen
ator Trout's motion prevailed with only
one negative Arole. The committee then
arose and tlic Senate adjourned.
Tuesday , Feb. 14.
Tv.i'uiy-third ballot for senator :
/Vii'-A. . . . . * . . . . . . * . . . . . . * * . . ti
liny ward . - 36
* . * - I * * * * * * -Lv/
Lv10
10
t *
Scattering . 7
The first thing that came up in the House
was the message of the Governor relating
to tLc insurance department of the audit
or's office , and on motion of Weaver of
Richardson the chair Avas authorized to
appoint a committee of three to act with
a .Senate committee on investigation. Evans
of Attains , Weaver of Richardson and
Either of Dawcs were appointed.
S. F. TO. In Allen of Furnas. is an act to
traiiLfer certain funds to the general fund ,
and patted by a vote of 75 to 0. II. R. 189.
by Zellers of Dodge , relating to school dis-
tric < i axes , was passed by a vote of 07 to 6.
II. R. 115. by Slurgess of Donblas , an act
to protect the association and unions of
workingmen in the use of labels , Avas
passed by a vote of 71 to 11. li. II. 206 , by
Evans of Adams , an act to create a public
library commission. Avas defeated by a vote
of 29 to 59. II. R. 188 , by Wilcox of Lin
coln. act relating to the hours of employ
ment of certain railway employes , was
passed by a vote of 70 to 0. H. R. 158 , by
Rouse of Hall , an act for the establishment ,
maintenance and management of public
libraries in school districts. Avas passed.
H. R. 190 , by Zellcrs of Dodge , an act re
lating to the issuance of teachers' certifi
cates by county superintendents , Avas de
feated by a vote of 85 to 27.
The first matter of business in the Senate
was the report of the State Board of Trans
portation in answer to the resolution of
.Senator Schaal inquiring as to what
changes in the rates on lumber and coal
shipped into the State and grain and live
stock shipped out of the State might be
made- under the decision of the United
States Supreme Court in the maximum
freight rate cases. Its reply was that no
changes could be- made according to that
decision , as these were interstate matters.
Attached to its brief reply Avas a copy of
the lrigthy report made to the House con
cerning the advisibility of reopening the
rate * cases. The report was made a .special
order for Thursday. A committee of two
was appointed to investigate the charges
against Auditor Cornell. II. R. 171 , the
bill to prov.de a 1 mill levy for the .support
of tin- state University was placed upon its
third reading and passage. The bill re
echo ; ! 23 ayes and f nays and AVUS declared
passed v.ith the emergency clause. S. F.
20 ainl S. F. 245 ! were also passed.
Ti c sensation of the legblaihe session
Avar..prung Tuesday when Gov. Poynter
directed a message to both houses recom
mending an investigation of the office of
Auditor Cornell. The recommendation
wa.-j based on charges made by Samuel
Liu-iny. chief clerk of the insurance de
partment of the auditor's office until Feb.
11 , A\hen he was removed by Cornell.
Lichty charges that the insurance exami'i"
en * have been practicing 'hold up * ' methods
on K number of the insurance companies b\
extorting excessive fees for examination.
He further charges that the auditor knew
of these practices and permitted them to con
tinue. As proof he has submitted a letter
written by Examiner O. W. Palm , who is
in Clii'-ago conducting insurance examina
tions for Auditor Cornell. In this letter
Palm expresses a regret that he was not
able ; o " 1-oldup' ' certain companies for
? ] # > each , although he wished that it had
been $250. A fac simile of the letter ap
peared in the daily papers. Lichly
cluu'gc various other irregularities.
Wednesday , Feb. 15.
Twenty-fourth ballot for senator :
.
7clFCL * ol )
Webster . 10
Thompson . 10
o
OCtHiQlrlllQ * * *
The Senate held another strictly "busi
ness" session Wednesday morning , con
sidering a couple of bills in committee of
the whole , acting on the Governor's mes
sage relating to the misconduct unearthed
in the administration of the insurance de
partment of the auditor's office and in re
scinding its action concerning S. F. 273 , the
Crow concurrent resolution relating 'to the
sale of Union Pacific lands under foreclos
ure. Talbotof Lancaster requested that
the Governor's message and all motions
made Tuesday be read , which was done.
In order to give the committee full power
Senator Talbot offered the folloAVing joint
resolution :
Whereas , A joint committee has been
appointed to investigate the transactions in
the insurance department of the auditor's
office , and it Avill be necessary in tlJti dis
charge of its duties for said committee to
have full power and authority in the prem
ises ; therefore , be it
Resolved , by the Senate , the House of
Representatives concurring , That said
committee shall be and is hereby author
ized and empowered in conducting said in
vestigation to send for and have produced
any and all papers , documents , books or
other evidence of transactions , to call ,
subpoena and examine Avitnesses and tc
administer oaths to such Avitnesses testify
ing.
ing.This
This joint resolution Avas adopted under
suspension of the rules and sent oA'er to the
House for its action.
A petition came to the House from citi
zens and farmers of Lancaster County ask
ing for the appointment of a dairy commis
sioner to see that the oleomargarine la\v is
enforced and also asking for a more strin
gent law regulating the sale of imitation
butter. Standing committees reported II.
R. 128 , 884 , 367 , 39 , 366 , 103 and 186 for in
definite postponement and placed II. R.
803 , 382 , 276 , 254 , 256 , 253 , 277 , 164 , 148 , 396 ,
321 , 257 , 862 and S. F. 7 on the general file.
H. R. 135 , 23 , 200,125 and 160 , all relating
to revenue matters , Avere recommended to
the general file to be considered along with
H. R. 137 , known as the Pollard bill. After
spending some time in committee of the
whole the House adjourned.
Thursday. Feb. 16.
Twenty-fifth ballot for senator :
Allen 55
Hay ward : . . . 87
Thompson 9
Webster 10
Field 4
Weston 3
Scattering 8
After a debate lasting most of the mom-
ing the Senate killed a couple of resolutions
without giving them a place on the general
file. The first was the joint resolution in
troduced by O'Neill of Holt demanding the
immediate return of the A merican troops
from the Philippines. S. F. 178 ineL a lik
fate. This joint resolution Avas intro
duced by Schaal of Sarpy. and
provided for the initiative and refer
endum to be applied to acts of the
Legislature. Several new bills Avere
introduced. S. F. 2 , Senator Front's bill to
amend the blanket ballot laAV of the State.
Avas placed upon its third reading and pas
sage. The bill Avas passed by a party vote.
The following committee reports Avere
adopted. S. F. 63. to pass : S. F. 61. to pass :
S. F. 184 , to pass : S. F. 225. for indefinite
postponement ; S. F. 199. to pass ; S. F. 230 ,
for indefinite postponement ; S. F. 207 , to
pass ; S. F. 208 , to pass ; S. F. 215. for in
definite postponement : S. F. 216 , to pass ;
S. F. 218 was placed on general file.
Of the bills indefinitely postponed in the
House 318 is the bill calling for joint or
separate deeds of husband or Avife to make
legal conveyance doA\er or courtesy : 2-i2
Avas the bill asking for an appropriation of
$5,000 to pay for an investigation of the
swine plague ; 233 gave the electors of
counties under tounship organization the
right to decide IIOAV many supervisors the
county should have ; 329 related to the
authority of county boards to purchase or
sell county property by resolution ; 891) )
gaA'C authority to district boards to change
school house sites : S. F. 6 was Talbot's bill
specifying the rate of interest on county
and district bonds. At 11 o'clock the
Flouse Avent into committee of
.he whole , Thompson oi' Merrick
in the chair , to consider bills on general
ile. II. R. 54 , by Zellers of Dodge , an acl
: o authorize and provide for the use of vot-
ng machines , first came up. After a pro-
onged debate , Clark of Lancaster , moved
; hat Avhen the committee arise it recom
mend the bill to be recommitted to the com
mittee on Privileges and Elections , and
Avhen it is reported back to the House it be
placed at the head of the general file. The
notion carried and the committee arose. In
: he afternoon the House Avent into com-
niltee of the whole Avith Prince of Hall in
: he chair to consider the special order. 11.
R. 187 , the Pollard revenue bill , fifteen of
the sections having already been acted
upon at a previous sitting of the commit
tee. After passing over ninety-one of the
sections , the committee arose , and ai 5:30
the House adjourned.
Friday , Feb. 17.
Twenty-sixth ballot for senator :
Allen * 5b
Hayward 39
Thompson 10
Webster 9
Field 4
Weston 2
Scattering 8
Senator Spohn Avanted the report of the
Board of Transportation in regard to the
possibility of lowering the rates on coal
and lumber shipped into the State and live
slock and grain shipped out , incorporated
in the journal of the Senate. He and se\ -
era ! of his fusionist colleagues thought the
document Avould be-of interest to the people
of the Slate. Senator Miller in particular
wanted it placed at the disposal of
tiie agricultural classes , to which it
was of the greatest importance. The
majority at once fell upon the minor
ity and accused them of trying to
have campaign literature printed ai the ex
pense of the State. Senator Owens said he
had very little respect for the opinion of
the board anyAvay , and Avanled tins one
consigned to the oblivion of the files. Sen
ator Spohn , after Avithdrawing his motion
of the other day to the effect that tOD copies
of the report be ordered printed. mo\e < !
that the report bo incorporated in the jour
nal. This motion Avas lost , and no o'lier
action being taken , the report was lilCil
Several bills Avere passed , one or t\vo of
them being curative measures. Miile- ;
bill to prevent the platting of encumbered
land into city or toAvn lots , passed.
Under the order of bills on third reading
in the House II. R. 33. by Smith of Saline ,
an act requiring fire insurance co-npanic : *
to pay 25 per cent , interest on claims due
turlcr pTcies. . if pajment thereof i > dc--
lu cd be ; , end the time allowed by law for
the settlement thereof , Avas passed w.th
emergency clause by a vote of 79 to 7. II.
It. 252. by Xesbitof Bud , an act entitled
" Internal Improvements" ' to authorize pre-
cinct.s , townships , cities of the second class
and A'illagcs to issue bonds in aid of in
ternal improvements , improving streets ,
highways , railroads , bridges , court houses ,
jails and the drainage of swamp and Avet
lands , Avas passed Avith the cmergciicy
clause by a vote of 69 to 16. II. II. 520 , ap"-
propriating $503 for Harris Smith , who
broke a leg Avhilc practicing sports on the
University grounds , Avas indefinitely post
poned on the request of the father of the
boy. The afternoon was spent in commit
tee of the whole. Adjournment Avas taken
till Monday.
After a good deal of debate in the Sen
ate on Saturday , the legislative , executive
and judicial appropriation bill was pass
ed. A bill to amend an act entitled , "An
act to reimburse the Governors of States
nnd Territories for expenses incurred by
Ihem in aiding the United States to raise
and organize and supply and equip the
rolunteer army of the United States in the
existing war Avith Spain" was passed.
The House passed several bridge bills
and other measures of minor importance
At no time during the session of the
Senate on Monday Avas a quorum present
a majority of the members being snoAV-
bound at their homes. A sharp debate
over the unanimous consent agreement
reached Saturday afternoon to A'ote on the
McKnery resolution Avas precipitated
early in the session. The agricultural ap
propriation bill was called up , considered
and passed with only a few unimportant
amendments. A bill removing the disa
bilities of certain persons engaged in the
civil AA-ar was passed. The raging bliz
zard caused practically a suspension of
business at the House. At 12:03 Clerk
McDoAvell called the House to order.
There were about sixty members on the
floor. On motion of Mr. Grosvenor ( Rep. ,
0. ) Mr. Payne of New York Avas elected
Speaker pro tern , amid an outburst of
applause. In executive session the sun
dry civil bill AAas again taken up. After
having completed fifty-nine pages of the
bill the committee rose , and the House
adjourned.
The unanimous consent agreement
reached by the Senate on Saturday to vote
Tuesday afternoon on the resolution of
Mr. McEnery ( Dem. , La. ) declaring the
policy of this GoA-ernment in the Philip
pines was not vacated. In accordance
with that agreement the vote Avas taken
on the resolution , and it Avas adopted
2G to 22. The Nicaragua canal bill Avas
offered in the House as an amendment to
the sundry civil appropriation bill by Mr.
Hepburn of Iowa , chairman of the com
mittee that reported it , and the leaders
on the respective sides are engaged in a
desperate struggle Avhich involves the fate
of the measure at this session of Con
gress. The debate lasted two hours and
was not concluded.
The House on Wednesday settled the
fate of the Nicaragua canal bill in this
Congress by refusing to override the de
cision of the chair , occupied by Mr. Hop
kins , in committee of the Avhole. when the
chair held that the canal bill offered as
an amendment by Mr. Hepburn Avas out
of order. The reading of the sundry civil
bill was continued. The appropriation
for the deep Avaterways commission was
increased from ? GO.OOO to $90,000 on mo
tion of the Appropriations Committee. Af
ter completing ten additional pages of the
bill the committee rose and the House
adjourned. A bill extending the "cordial
appreciation" of Congress to Miss Helen
Miller Gould for her patriotic services
during the recent Avar and providing that
the President should present to her a gold
medal was passed by the Senate. A bill
was passed providing for the admission to
the naval academy as a cadet of Oscar W.
Deignan , one of the Merrimac heroes.
Senators Cullom. SeAvell and Teller were
named as conferees on the legislative ap
propriation bill.
The army reorganization bill Avas re
ported to the Senate on Thursday. The
naval personnel bill Avas taken up and
read , but no effort made to proceed fur
ther with its consideration. Soon after
the Senate convened a House joint reso
lution authorizing the Secretary of the
Navy to pay certain laborers , workmen
and mechanics at United States naAry
yards and naval stations 50 per cent addi
tional for work performed in excess of
eight hours per diem was called up and
adopted. Mr. Hale having gotten the per
sonnel bill before the Senate did not press
and Mr. Gallinger ( N. H. ) called up the
bill enabling soldiers who served in the
Spanish Avar who had previously been
pensioners again to obtain their pensions
and had it reconsidered. The proviso of
the bill that applicants for pensions
should file their claims Avithin a year Avas
stricken out and the bill was then passed.
Consideration Avas begun of the postofflce
appropriation bill. Practically the only
obstacle encountered by the bill was the
committee amendment providing for spe
cial mail facilities on the trunk lines from
NOAV York and Washington to Atlanta
and New Orleans and from Kansas City ,
Mo. , to NeAvton , Kan. In the House the
proposition to include the item of $20,000-
300 to be paid Spain for the cession of the
Philippines , in the sundry civil bill shared
the same fate as did the Nicaragua canal
bill "rider" the day before. The ruling
of the chair Avas preceded by an extended
debate. After the sundry civil bill had
been completed and reported to the House
Mr. Hepburn ( loAva ) , the champion of the
Nicaragua canal bill , moxed to recommit
it , with instructions to report it back with
the canal bill incorporated in it. The
motion was promptly declared out of or
der by the Speaker , whereupon Mr. Hep
burn appealed and Mr. Payne ( New York )
moA-cd to lay the appeal on the table. Up
on the latter motion the vote was taken ,
and the result was 97 yeas to 07 nays.
.Notes of Current Kvents.
The army appropriation bill this year
calls for $90.000,000.
At Gen. Brooke's suggestion , the collec
tion of taxes in Cuba will be taken away
from the Bank of Havana.
The NCAV Hampshire Legislature has
passed a bill prohibiting Iho dissection of
lionorably discharged United Stated sol
diers or sailors.
Peter Holt of Dickinson County , Tenn. ,
was shot from ambush in his yard , the
contents of a shotgun being emptied into
his right side , fatally Avoundiug him.
Hugh and Will McNally. tAVo brothers ,
at Middlesborough , Ky. , Avere run over
jy a train near Middlesborough and killed.
Will McNally's Avife died from the effects
of the shock.
The 8-year-old daughter of John Bul-
ock of Kennedy , Ky. , fell into the fire
while playing around an open grate and
was so terribly burned that she died two
lours later.
The newly organized American Beet
Sugar Company will have a capital of $5-
000,000 in preferred stock and $15,000-
DOO in common stock. It will operate in
the territory west of the Missouri river.
NAVY YARD IS SWEPT.
Fire Loss of More than $1,000,000 at
Brooklyn.
Fire destroyed the great machine shops
in the Brooklyn naA-y yard Wednesday
night , causing a loss to the GoA'ernment
of between -1,000,000 and ? 2,000,000. The
shops Avere the largest of the kind in the
country , 1,000 men having been employed
in them during the rush Avork in the war
with Spain. Their destruction Avill crip
ple the repair Avork of the department un
til they can be replaced. Sailors com
mented on the fact that the fire occurred
on the anniversary of the bloAving up of
the Maine in Havana harbor. All the
plans of the Maine were lost in the fire ,
so that nothing is left to represent her ex
cept the model in the possession of the
naval constructor.
There Avas practically no opposition to
the flames after they had started. The
deep snow and a lack of water prevented
the naval forces and the fire department
from working effectively. It is supposed
that defectiA'e insulation of an electric
light wire started the flames , as they
were first seen in a part of the building
where there was no furnace.
The main building is four stories in
height , and has tAvo great towers. On
the first and second floors AAere many val
uable machines and tools. The third floor
Avas used as a pattern shop , where dupli
cates of machinery and the more delicate
parts of a Avarship were manufactured
and finished. On the fourth floor the
patterns themselves were stored. There
Avere the patterns for the engines of the
Chicago , the Raleigh , the Cincinnati , the
Maine and many other vessels of Avar.
The long "L" Avas used as a boiler house
and for the setting up of engines. The
frame building Avas used by the master
mechanic and for the storage of many
valuable sets of private tools OAvned by
the experts. There Avill be an invcstiga
tioii of the fire by a court of inquiry.
BLOW FOR THE CANAL ,
Chances b Kicafasiiali Measure at
This Session Arc Slim.
The national House Wednesday appar
ently settled the fate of the Nicaragua
canal bill in this Congress by refusing to
override the decision of the chair in com
mittee of the Avhole , when the chair held
that the canal bill offered as an amend
ment by Mr. Hepburn was out of order.
The friends of the Nicaragua bill were
very confident that they Avould triumph ,
but after four hours of debate the chair
was sustained , 127 to 109. The debate
throughout the day Avas exceedingly spir
ited , and in the end a majority of the
members refused to override the House
rules. No record is made of the vote in
committee of the whole. Party lines Avere
not adhered to , the division in favor and
in opposition to sustaining the chair's de
cision being about equal on both sides of
the political aisles.
Chairman Hepburn's effort to have the
House adopt the bill as an amendment to
the sundry ciA'il appropriation bill failed ,
a correspondent asserts , not because the
majority of the House did not favor the
Nicaraguan canal , but because a majority
of the members preferred to have the bill
defeated rather than to adopt the expe
dient of overriding one of the oldest and
most valuable rules of the House.
Ad\Tocatcs of A-iolating the rule under
took to justify their proposed action on
the ground that the Speaker would not
alloAV the Nicaraguan canal bill to come
up in any way in which it could be dispos
ed of under the rules in an orderly man
ner. This argument did not influence
enough men to override the very clear
statement of the rule made by Represent
ative Hopkins of Illinois , Avho was in the
chair as chairman of the committee 01 the
Avhole House.
FOREIGN TRADE IN JANUARY.
Department Makes Comparisons with
First Month in 1898.
The total exports of merchandise for
January , 1S99 , were $115,515,954 , as com
pared with $108,426.074 in January , 1898 ,
and the imports $58,472,315 , against $50-
827,714 in 1S9S , making an excess of ex
ports over imports for January , 1S99 , of
$57,043,630. compared Avith an excess of
exports in January , 1898. of $57,598,960.
For the seven months ended Jan. 31 , 1899 ,
the exports Avere $749,472,465 , against
$718,367,407 in the same period ended
Jan. 31. 1S9S. and the imports $367,175-
925 , against $340,616,530 for the seven
months of the previous year , the excess
of exports over imports for the seven
months ended Jan. 31. 1899. thus being
$382,290,540 , against $377,750,877 the
corresponding seven months the year be
fore.
Rewards to the amount of $50,000 for
proof of bribery in the senatorial contest
at Harrisburg , Pa. , continue Avithout tak
ers or claimants.
There are only tAvo Democrats in the
NCAV Jersey delegation in the Fifty-sixth
Congress oC two Senators and eight Rep-
resentatiA'es.
As soon as Clark of Montana pockets
his senatorial certificate he will hasten
the completion of the gorgeous castle he is
building for himself near Central Park ,
New York.
Kentucky's blue-eyed goddess turned
her face to the Avail and blushed charm
ingly the other day Avhile her foster fath
er dashed off this modest paragraph : "If
Congress Avill simply enact the editorial
page of the Courier-Journal the date of
the millennium may be definitely and
finally set. "
Candidates for congressional honors
have reason to envy the easy race Avhich
Thomas Spight had in obtaining a seat
among the laAvmakcrs of the nation. Mr.
Spight , the Democratic candidate in the
Second district of Mississippi. Avhich con
tains such important counties as Tare ,
Tippah , Panoln , Tallahatchie and De
Soto , had tAvo opponents at the recent
election , a Populist and a Republican ,
and the result was not what would be
called on the racetrack a close finish. Mr.
Spight had nearly 3,000 votes ; his Pop
ulist opponent had 1G7 , his Republican op
ponent had 38.
BLIZZABD IN SOUTH.
DEEP SNOWS AND HIGH WfNDS
CAUSE HAVOC.
Eastern and fouthern States Para
lyzed by Cold Wave of Unprece
dented Severity Peril to Shipping
Tropical Fruits Badly Damaged.
The protracted cold wave that recently
held the Northwest in its grip later ex
tended to the South and East , changing
its form east of Ohio into that of a bliz
zard of almost unprecedented ferocity ,
and carrying its below-zero weather far
out into the Gulf of Mexico. The storm ,
as a whole , was phenomenal for its vast
extent and its extreme severity. New
York was practically paralyzed under the
fierce blizzard that swept over it , with
the wind at fifty miles an hour , the ther
mometer at S degrees above zero , and the
snow coming down steadily for twenty-
four hours. Three feet of snow in Wash
ington city , forty inches in Maryland ,
and twelve inches in South Carolina con
tinue the story of disaster and suffering
southward. Kentucky seems to have suf
fered the worst that the thermometer
could do. In sunny Georgia drifts of
snow ten feet deep and a temperature of
15 below are reported , while the waters of
the gulf are said to have been frozen a
mile out from shore.
The suffering everywhere was pitiable ,
"but in the South it was worst , because the
cold was so unprecedented There is
something appalling in the thought of zero
weather along the Gulf of Mexico. The
suffering auaoug the ill-clad nnd poorly
housed negroes and indigent whites in
that land where frost is a rarity must of
necessity be extreme. Severe damage to
crops has been one of the results of the
cold snap. Florida has suffered enor
mous loss. The pineapple industry has
been dealt a serious blow. The extent
of the damage to the orange groves can
not be definitely stated at present , but
reports agree that many trees are killed.
Early vegetables are ruined. Throughout
the South early fruit crops have been
ruined. Cotton planters have suffered
heavily.
CAPTURE OF ILOILO.
American Ships Bombard and Troops
Take Insurgent Stronghold.
The United States forces under Brig.
Gen. Mller captured Iloilo , capital of the
Island of Pauay and seat of the so-called
government of the Visayas federation , on
Saturday after a bombardment. The
rebels set the town on fire before evacu
ating it ; but the American troops extin
guished the flames. There were no casu
alties on the American side.
Gen. Miller , on receipt of his instruc
tions from Manila , sent native commis
sioners ashore from the United States
transport St. Paul with a communication
for the rebel governor of Iloilo calling on
him to surrender within a time stated ,
and warning him not to make a demon
stration in the interval. The rebels im
mediately moved their guns and prepared
to defend their position. Thereupon the
Petrel fired two warning guns , the rebels
immediately opening fire on the gunboat.
The Petrel and Baltimore then bombard
ed the town , which the rebels , having set
on fire , immediately evacuated. Ameri
can troops were promptly landed and ex
tinguished the fires in all cases of foreign
property , but not before considerable dam
age had been done. It is I Moved that
the enemy's loss during the bombardment
was heavy.
JARO IN AMERICAN HANDS.
k\nother Battle Foujjlit More Serious
than That of tloilo.
The village of .Taro , a mile north of
Iloilo , was captured on Sunday afternoon
by a battalion of the Eighteenth infan
try. It was learned that the rebels were
assembling there , and our troops were dis
patched to make a reeonnoissance. It was
not expected that any serious resistance
would be made by the insurgents , but they
made a better defense than was antici
pated , with the result that the American
losses were heavier than in the capture of
Iloilo. Lieut. Frank Belles of the Eigh
teenth regiment and four men were
wounded. Lieut. Bolles' injury is slight.
The enemy resisted for about an hour
and then retired into the hills , taking
their dead and wounded with them. Their
forces numbered about one thorn and men.
Reconnoissance developed that the town
of Mole had been deserted by the enemy.
MILLING TRUST SUCCESSFUL.
'Most of the American Spring Wheat
Mills in the Deal.
The Milwaukee Evening Wisconsin
says : "It was admitted here today that
the flour mill syndicate , of which Thomas
A. Mclntyre is the head , had carried the
day. Ail Duluth mills except Freeman's
and a small concern are reported to have
been secured , in addition to the majority
of ? he mills in Minneapolis. It is also
learned that the largest mills in New
York and Buffalo , in addition to several
large Milwaukee plants , have been cap
tured. It is believed that when the con
cern is fully organized a. large majority of
the spring wheat mills in the country will
be found in the deal. The capitalization
of the trust , it is reported , will be about
$35,000,000. "
LOOK FOR WAR WITH ENGLAND.
Correspondent Says French Officials
txpect a Conflict.
The Toulon correspondent of the Lon
don Daily Mail , remarking on the extra
ordinary activity at the arsenal there and
generally in the French naval works ,
says : "It is believed that M. Lockroy
( minister of marine ) expects war with
Great Britain Avithin twoyears and It is
notontws that a Avar with England is be
ing prc'nched in official circles. Troops
are being poured into Tunis and Algeria
and Avar material is being dispatched to
all the colonies. French officers openly
boast that they will sAveep the British
fleet out of the Mediterranean. * '
"Warship iNesir IJeinjj Sunk.
While the blizzard which has swept the
Atlantic const was at its height the Unit
ed States cruiser Marblehead had a nar
row escape from being sent to the bottom
in midocean by the Cunarder Etruria.
Only the best of seamanship by the Etru-
ria's captain prevented an ocean horror ,
the vessels passing each other so closely
together that a biscuit could have been
tossed from one to the other.
Between 7,000 and 9,000 pounds of plug
tobacco is yearly furnished to the peni-j
teutiary inmates in Mississippi.
SUMATRAN TOBACCO.
How the Fragrant Leaf Is Cultivated
for the Market.
Sumatra , upon tlic equator , ' tlic halfway -
way house of the world , " is one of the
most beautifully situated of Hie isles
of the summer seas. The high moun
tain ridges on the west slope down
and spread out in great green plains to
the fertile eastern coasts , whore the
low swamps at the water's edge breed
fatal germs of tropical disease. The
large settlements and most of the at
tractive districts are on the we-t coast ,
the hills rising steeply from the ocean.
Here thrives luxuriantly the coffee tree.
Near Deli , on the Straits of Malacca ,
large areas have been devoted to to
bacco culture. On the lower east coast
estates more than. 43,000 coolies toil
with the iVdor known only to the germproof -
proof people , in this malarial land.
The wild mountaineers of Sumatra
are in striking contrast to the gentle
Javanese. When the Dutch would have
conquered them they retired to their
mountain fastnesses and waited for
malaria to lay low the European foe.
As seen in Sumatra , tobacco planting ,
which is the principal agricultural in
dustry , is described as carried on in the
most picturesque way in the Avorld. .
The jungle is first cleared , and this is
a costly and difficult undertaking.
When the ground has been laid as bare
as possible by felling trees and firing
the undergrowth , the whole area is
plowed by buffalo teams. This must
be constantly carried on. as tobacco
can only be grown for one year , and
then the ground must be allowed to
rest for eight or ten years. Alter plow
ing the laud must be thoroughly drain
ed by means of expensive canals. The
tobacco seed is sown in the spring and
carefully protected from the sun by
means of matting.
When a certain development lias been
reached the young plants are planted
at equal distances apart. The tobacco
plant arrives at maturity about the end
of June. After the leaves have been
gathered they are dried in enormous
sheds. These sheds are constructed
most artistically of wood , bamboo and
matting , and are provided a I ! around
the sides with adjustable ma : * i'or reg
ulating the supply of air to insure per-
fe-t drying. It is the busim s of the
Kling coolies to build these > hi'ds and
to keep the roads in order.
The tobacco is then stored , pressed ,
sorted and packed and finally piled in
the buffalo , wagons for shipment. It
is taken toj Belawan. and from hero
will find its way to all quarters of the
globe. It will be treated in faetoiies
by modern machinery , will be handled
by all sorts and conditions of men and
women , and finally it will bo smoked by
careless , prosaic men. who know noth
ing of the "summer islr-s of ilon , " to-
whoin Sumatra on pearly seas is but a
name.
The Sumatra leaf is never -.iscd to
make a whole cigar , but because o
its beauty and regularity it is much
MSW ! to make the outside of the "Ha
" " " " . " and
vana. "Manila , "Amerir.m"
"German , " whatever cigars they may
ostensibly be called.
Deduced Irom Daily
If you see a man and woman riding
side by side in a car. the man absorbed
in , a paper , and replying coldly , or not
at all , to the remarks addressed to-4rinv
by the woman. yo . uiay take it for
granted they -are husband andwife. .
If you see a woman drop her glove ,
and a man by the side of her kindly
telling her to pick it up. you need not
hesitate in forming your opinion ; or ,
if you see a woman whose beauty and
accomplishments attract the attention
of every man in the room but one , you.
have no difficulty in determining tho-
relationship to each other the one is
her husband. If you see a man par
ticularly courteous obliging and good-
natured , relaxing into smiles , saying
sharp things to every pretty woman in
the room , excepting one , to whom he
appears particularly cold and informal
who that one is nobody can be at a.
loss to discover. The rules above
quoted are laid down upon unerring
principles , and may be resorted to with
confidence.
Solidified Alcohol.
As the disciples of the chafing dish
know , alcohol is not a fuel to be trusted.
Instead of burning quietly it sometimes
shows such excess of service that it be
comes dangerous. There is good news
for those who. have found everything
ablaze beneath and about the chafing
dish which will save them from any
such trouble hereafter. A German ,
chemist has discovered a process of
solidifying alcohol. His- method is a
secret , but that does not matter. The
alcohol is prepared in small cylinders-
inclosed in a tin box. It can be used
for cooking , lighting or- for any of the-
ordinary needs of life of that kind.
The solidified alcohol is lighted and
burns easily , but does not melt. It can
be carried on one's travels , is always
ready to heat the water for a city of
tea , or tovaEin. . the curling tongs.
Ciancj2 ! for Puzzle .Lovers.
Here is an arithmetical problem , thut
is going the rounds : A is indebted to
B $5. B to C. C to D , D to K E to F ,
same amount. A , B , C. D and E each
Lave $1 and no more , and consequently
they cannot pay their debt. They put
their money all together. A takes the
$5. goes to r . pays his debt and gets
his receipt. B does the same to C , 0
to D , D to E and E to F * A , B. C , D
and E are out of debt and Ji1 has his
money. Who , if anyone , is the loser ?
Indianapolis Xews.
Talking Clocks.
In Switzerland they are making
clocks which do not need hands and
faces. The clock merely stands in the
hall and you press a button in its stomach
ach , when , by means of the phonographic
graphic internal arrangements , it calls
out ' 'half-past six' ' "
or "twenty-three
minutes to eleven , " as the case may be *
r