J > THE OMAHA DAILY BEE. RTEEINTH YEAR. OMAHA , NEB. , TUESDAY MORNING , MARCH 10 , 1885. NO , 173 "THE BACKBONE. " Ssnatjrs Van Wsck anil Teller Cross Van Wyok Details the History of the Backbone Eoadi Also the Mystery Oonneotod witli the Undue Haste Of the Intsrior Department in Is suing the Patents , Senator Teller Beplies , Defending His Aotion in the Matter , And llccltcs Various Precedents "Which Ho Considers as Jnstlfy- ' IIIK HIM Action , VAN AVYOK AXJ ) TELLEU. Special Telegram to TUB BEE. WASHINGTON , March 9. Ho said that it was a matter of sincere regret that the last act of the Into administration should hnvo been licrfonned at the dictation and in the iatoreet of corporate wealth. Ho detailed the history of the "backbone" road and its "mysterious record , " which , ho said , formed the most re markable chapter in road annals , Gould and Huntiugton , ho declared , were scheming in this matter as they were with Scott and the Texas Pacific , tiling the eamo tactics and the sumo influence. They would not consent that congress should forfeit this grant , unless it rhould at the same time Convey it to them. The proposition was so infamous tlmt con gress , though manipulated as Hunttngton de lineates , would not consent. It was claimed there was a special meeting of the cabinet- its last to legalize this fraud. Did actual Bottlers on this land have any advocate there , and wore tholr lights protected ? The laws secured the Bottlers' rights , but did the cabinet protect them or wore they turned over to the tcnde ? luercles of this corporation. It was clairaod by the way of apologv that Secretary Kirkwood desired the opinion of the attorney general as to the validity of this grant. With a few notable exceptions the history of the land bureau of the interior de partment was the record of the demands of the land grant corporations and the decrees of the department in obedience thereto. Bat when the demand was too exacting an opinion of the attorney general was ( ought , behind which to escape until the storm of public In dignation passed by. In this case the attor ney general was equal to the occasion and sustained the reputation of the ollico In that direction. Very learned arguments by Judges Dillon , Green and Piorrepont on behalf ot Gould and Huntington wore made before the attorney general , but alaa , no one applied on behalf of the people. From nil the offices of the great nation no one appeared to defend the public domain. No wonder the attorney general readily accented the arguments of Gould's Attorneys. The Ingenuity of an at torney general was valuable to suggest doubts where none existed , and then resolve their doubts in favor of the corporation. In the Forty-eighth congress the public lands com mittee of the house reported in favor of the forfeiture by some political legerdemain. The matter was afterwards referred to the judi ciary committee to report as to the legality for forfeiture. A majority of the latter reported adversely and was sustained in the Home by a close vote. That tbe symmetry of legisla tion might bo preserved It was to be hoped thit Huntlnpton might hereafter give sketches of the means and the manner of this achieve ment. By what means could this company or its assigns coerce this government Into an extra session of itj cabinet , and secure action with which they would Book to foreclose con gress and the people from effectively rending the spoiler of his prey. _ What right had even the president and cabinet to waive the broken conditions ? That power was vested in congress alone. But why was this ? Should the clerksi work nights and Insult the reli gious sentiments of this country by working on Sundays ? What was the necoesfty , public or otherwise ? This republic was not to porist on the 4th of March. Its continuity was not to bo disturbed by the changing of the executive tivo , There was to bo no suspension of powei und duties. Was all other business in the Interior department concluded by March -lib' Did the ether executive departments work their forces njghtn and Sundays so thai the administration might start with only now bimnos ? . Ho would ask why this haste ? Was it dangerous to trust the representatives nl people in the next congress ? Win it dancer ous to trust the incoming administration to dt justice to the men claiming this grant ? Wai theru danger that the rights of Bottlers ot these lands would be recognized and the pub lie domain bo protected bv the incoming ad ministration ? If HO it then evidently has no bosn installed too soon , lie debited to giv public notice that the legality of the patent would b3 contested , so tbat the purchasers o bonds now to be issued might not claim th protection accorioJ Innocent purchaser without notice , TKtLEIl BEI-LYING TO VAN WYCK said : Mr. President , my experience has not boo : as lengthy as that of some who sit before in < but after something over eight years that have been in the public service , I confess t considerable astonishment in picking up th resolution so discourteous , so unsenatorial n this to the co-ordinate branch of the govnrt inent , I suppose that it Ins accomplishe the purpose for which it was introduced. ] IIM enabled the mover of this resolution t appear bafore the public not for the first timi not on the tint occasion , but as he bis on vi rlous occasions , ai the special chamcion of tt laboring daises , of the down trodden peou of this country , and as tbe special opponei of the corporations. I uresuuio the senate introducing the resolution expected nothlr more , He hardly expected that any dopar inent o ! the government would allo itself to bo assailed without auawe ing tha resolution. Before this discussion closed and on some other occasion , I ahi call the attention of this senate to the r nmkablo character of tbo various resolution coming from thu same source , that have bei directed to the executive department of th government within the last three years. want to give , notlco here and to o very bed that although tha administration has pa s into tha hands of the political party wl which I am not affiliated , yet as a aenat hiving duo raapjct for the executive depa meat of the government , I never Intend without at least A protest that that adminis tration shall be treated by thi senator , or any other by a resolution nt ( he late ftdmiuit- tratlon has been treated. Why. Mr. Presi dent , if you were to believe all this bonoinblo senator has said to-day , you would supposothat in istuing this patent certificate on this land earned by thii company , there hai been done something that never hai boon done before. Every secretary that has at In the ( hair tf the department of the interior for the last bight years has dnno exactly what , ha been done by the secretary who has just retired , During a goodjportion of that time the hon orable senator hoa been a member cither of tha house or of thin body. Hn has been n member of the committee of public lands , and never , either on that committee ot in this body , has he been hoard to say a word on this subject. It is In tha press ; it is where the senator can get credit for being the champion of the down.trodden'and oppressed , and the opponent of corporations , that ho is hoard. When legislation can be had and the nterests of the government can be protected , if desira- b'e to protect them , ho has been as silent as the grave. Theru arc on record in the land ollico mil lions of acies of land issued under exactly the naino situation ns that under which this land was issued. Teller than at some length summarized tbo action of the legislature and the executive branches of the government In relation to this road , claiming that it showed the legality of the grant had been recognized all through , TKLLKll GAVE THE HISTOIlY Of THE IIOAD and recited the condition of the grant nnd Hi alignment , which ho declared legal nnd reg ular in every particular. "My predecessor , " said Mr , Teller , "had submitted to the at torney general the quo tlon whether the com pany hud the right claimed to this land. Courtesy and common decsncy demanded that when the executive officer asked for the attor ney goneral'ti opinion on a point of law ho should respect that opinion. If that wai not HO , then all the departments of the govern ment for eighty years had been proceeding on a false batis. " But Teller did not desiio to shield the Interior department under any such defense as that. Ho relied absolutely on the law of tha caw Did any man having knowl edge of the facts deny that the land was as signable , when it became apparent that con gress would tnko no action upon this matter ? Thou , and not till then , did tha intewnr < e- pnrtmeut issue the patents. "An attempt. " Teller continued , "had been made to naitikfl it appear this was a peculiar case and tnoa was great anxiety shown about the settlers. Yvuy had not that anxiety been shown as to other grants. Ho held in his hand a list of grants issued for mads completed after the expira tion of the allotted time. Among them was n Wisconsin company that had received 1.300,000 acres of land for a line completed many years after the expiration of tbo time allowed , and that had not been done under the administration of the late secretary of the interior. Settlers had gone in on the lands of the Noithern Pacific , and the railroad had since performed the conditions of the grant. Had the senator from Nebraska ever at tempted to "protect" those settlers ? Had any body else in cjneresi ever attempted to do it ? Not one man" . This talk about the ' 'sot - tier" was * blood and thunder" for the public. If Teller might ba permittdd to refer to him self , ho would say that by his rulings in the interior department he had done moro for the settlers on the public lands , than tbe senator from Nebraska had done in a life-time of public service. What was the secret , ho risked , of his hostility to this company ? Was it that Jay Gould was interested in it. There was nothing in the interior department to show Jay Gould was interested in it. Was it that Barmim , a prominent democratic official was Interested in it ? Barnum'a and Gould's rights , to far as the interior department was concerned , were not affected by the question whether those gentlemen were democrats or republicans , railroad speculators , or anything else. The law fixed their rights , and it would be a remarkable thing if tha executive department should mete out its justice in ac cordance with the politics or the character of the men to whom it is meted out.V hut dif ference did it make whether Gould or Hunt ington wai interested in it , was it proper for senators to stand here and excite the preju dices of the masses because some un popular men may have a case that was beintr adjudicated by the executive de portment of the government. He ( Teller ) in sisted that by the rules of law and justice tha railroad company was entitled to the lands , and it was on that act ho rested. Such reso lutions as this were not introduced for information mation , but for the express purpose of making an attack in a cowardly way of skulking behind - hind the charges. But be feared he would be out of order. When such resolutions were Introduced they were seized on bv the one inies of the administration , aud the nowspi pers were In the habit of making a great dea of them. After some further personal interchange : between "V an Wyck and Teller in regard ti the double pension to General Burnett , pah by Teller , the senate adjouraed. " SENATE. WASHINGTON , March 9. After reading thi journal the chair laid before the senate ; communication from the secretary of state being a notice tbat he ( Bayard ) had forwardei to the legislature of Delaware the resignatioi of his position as senator ; also communicc tions from the secretary of the interior an attorney-general , notifying the senate of thcl acceptance of cabinet positions , and request ing the president of the senate to FO notif the legislature ) of their respective states , Tli credentials of Blair as senator to fill a tempo ary vacancy were laid before the senate an read , Vest moved they bo referred to the con mittea on privileges and elections. Lost. Hoar offered a formal resolution that tl : oath be administered to the senator from No Hampshire , and Harris asked unanimous coi sent that it lay over until to-morrow Granted. The resolution offered Friday making ii quiry of the secretary of the Interior in regar to the issuance of patents to tha "Backbone road was laid before the senate. Van Wyck spoke at considerable lengtl He detailed tbe history of tha "backbom rood and iti "mysterious record , " which 1 said formed the most remarkable chapter I railroad annals. Ho characterized the matt as a fraud gotten up In the interests of Goul and Huntington , It was claimed , ho sail that there was a special meeting of the cat net to legalize tbe scheme. Ho wished to 1 informed whether tbe actual settlers on tl land in question had any advocate there , ar whether their rights had been protected , ] leforrin * to the opinion of the attorney oral Van Wyck said as tha interests of Gou < and Huntington were ably represented , will no one appeared for the people , the cleciei of that otticlal was very materially in fav of the former. THE INGENUITY Of AN ATTOKNEV GENERA ! he said was valuable to suggest doubts win none existed , and then resolved those doul in favor of the corporation , Van \Vy then referred to the matter of the clei work ing on Sunday in order to complete the intents and other paper ? in connection with the grant and naked the roaton for so much haste , and whether it was dangerous to trust the representatives of the people in the next congress. In concusion ho desired to give public notlco that the legality of the patents would bo contested BO that the purchasers' bend , now to bo Issncd , might not claim the protection accorded to innocent punlmaors without notice. nEfLTINO TO VAN WYCK , TBLLKH SAID : ho must confess to considerable astonishment on picking up Iho resolution so discourteous , to umcnatorial en thi , to the co-ordinate branch of the government. Ho supposed that it hud accomplished the purpo < * for which it was Introduced , It enabled the mover of the resolution to appear before the public in his role of the champion of the laboring classes , Ho presumed tha senator introducing the resolution elution expected nothing mora. Teller said that on some other occasion ho should call the attention of the senate to the remarkable character of the various resolutions coming from the same anurco that had been directed to the executive department of thn government , within the last three years. He then laid that from the speech of Van Wyck the Senate would suppose that in isiuing tills patent cer tificate on the land earned by the company , there had been done something never done before , Kvery secretary of the interior for the last eight years had done exactly the same thing as done by the secretary who had just retired. During n good portion of that time the honorable senator ( Van Wyck ) had boon n member of either the House or Senate. In the press , whenever the senator could ho hoard , he wzs the champion of the down trodden and oppressed and the opponent of corporations , but when legislation could ba had and the interests of thn government pro tected , ho was as silent as the grave. Teller summarized _ the action of the legis lature and the executive branches of the gov ernment with relation to the road In question , to show that the matter had been legally passed upon by these bodies. He did not desire to shield the Interior department by pointing to the opinion of the attorney- general. He relied absolutely on the law of the case. When It became apparent that congress Would take no action upon the mat ter , then and not till then did the interior de partment Issue the patents. If Teller might bo permitted to refer to himself ho would say that by his rulings In the interior department he had done more for the settlers or the public lands than the senator from Nebraska ( Van Wyck ) had doiio in his lifetime in the public eorvico. In the course of his speech Teller , referring to Van Wyck's remarks concerning - corning Huntington and Gould in connection with the matter under discussion , paid ho saw no reason why these parties should bo dis criminated ngainst simply because they were unpopular with the mawes. He insisted that by the rules of law and justice the railroad company wai entitled to the lands , and it wii on that fact ho rested. Visible Supply of Grain In the United btutcs ami Canada , CHICAGO , March 0. The following is the visible supply of grain in the United States and Canada on Saturday , as reported by the secrotlry of the Chicago board of trade , to bo posted on 'change to-morrow : Wheat , 48- e85G75 bushels , an increase of 144,73' ) bush els compared with the Saturday preceding ; corn , 6,447,012 bushels , an increase of 676,277 bushels ; oats , 2,3U6,8G8 bushels , an increase of 228,077 busholsj rye , 34 5,828 bushels , an in. crease of 15,303 bushels ; barley , 1,321,030 bushels , an increase of 109,019 bushels. Grain in store in Chicago is as follows : Wheat , 15,473,307 bushels ; corn , 1.911,727 bushels ; oats , 670.635 bushels ; rye , 135,610 bushels ; barley , 113,458 bushels. Pittslmrjj's 1,5OO Aiiaronists. Special telegram to the BEE. PiTTSimiio , March 9 , The Chronicle-Tele graph publishes a long article confirmatory o ! its former statement in regard to the anar chists. It shows that of the 1,500 In tbo citj all except about a dozen are foreigners , driver to this country , who do not work except wher compelled , and are on the watch for a publii turn to give them a chance to blow up things. . Their places of meeting are given , and thi places where explosives are stored. Amonf them are two women who sing songs am make inflamatory speeches. Their names an Keno and Molke. Well Pleased AVlth Gen. Blaclt'a Ap pointmont. * DANVILLE , 111. , March 9. Gen. J. C Black , the now commissioner of pensions , lei for Washington to-night to assume the dutic of his office. That the appointment is re ceived with great favor throughout tbe union and especially tha northwest , Is evidenced b the large number of letters of hearty coi gratulatiou received by him. Those hav poured in from members of congress and froi grand army men from nil over the uniot Hundreds of hlj townsmen called on him tc day. Pugilistic. CHICAGO , March 9. Paddy Ryan and Jac Burke , pugilists , met to-day and " 1'arsoi Daviea , as Bnrko'a backer , covered Kyan depcsitof S300 for a fight for $2,500 a aid The time and place wai not agreed on , thoug Butte , [ Montana wan suggested. In reply 1 lUchara K , Fox , of New York , Ilyan to-dt sent a dispatch that ho would fight John 1 Sullivan after his match with Burko. I stipulates that the fight shall be for $5,01 with hard gloves , fight to the finish , und tbe new London rules , the winner to take tl championship bolt as his property , Hlx Children Cremated. i- PEAKLINGTON , Miss. , March 4 , The rei deuce of MM , Jane Snophse was burned * la night while that lady was at church , Thr boyi , the oldest 11 years , perished in t flames , Three colored children were burned at D rant on Saturday , The parents locked th in the house while they attended alog-rollln Two white boyi were badly burned while tr Ing to release the burning children , Dakota Capital Conapirator * A rested , BISMARCK , Match 9. The Hon. George 1 Pierce , William S. Wellea , and K. V. Pre idn tice , were arrested and held to bail In 83C idn [ each the of in to-day on charge bribery cc nId nectlon with the capitol removal from Bi Id marok to Pierre. ile jn or NOTES. Gen. George B , McClellan has accepted invitation to deliver tbe Decoration Day eire ire Itioa at Antietam. , tu I The fishing schooner Solomon I'oolo , , fr clc { Gloucester , Mass , , la lost with all aboard , ka [ teen men , Col , Laumt DBtcriefl to Simplify an Systeiiiizs Matters. An Unprecedented Number of Ap plications for Post Offices , The Department Has to Emyloy An Extra Force In Order to Attend to All of the Aspirants , First Assistant Postmaster Gen eral Crosby Has Eesignsd , Thurman and McDonald Left Out to Mnko Kooiu for the Boyo West ern DcmocratH Having Mail. WASHINGTON NOTES. COL. LAMONT HIUFLH'TIKa MATTEItH. WASHINOTOV , March 0. Col , Lament intends - tends to do away with thepresont ? system of keeping a full and elaborate record of all the business brougtt to the attention of the presi dent , and to confine the record to such matters only SB require his individual attention All ether documents will bo referred to the de partment to which they relate , and a simple record kept of their reference. THE NCMBKR OF ArrilCATIOXg FOR TOSTJIAST- received to-day at the postoffice department have never been equalled in any previous day and the first assistant postmaster-general found it necessary to detail n Special Jorco of employes to file them , The republican senators held a caucus this afternoon to further ditcuss the formation of committees , The subject wni talked over at length but nothing was decided. Incident ally the treaties weto mentioned and the ques tion asked whether they had bettor be con sidered during the present session. No one advocated that course , and no one opposed. Tin subject was finally left to the caucus committee to determine. First Assistant Postmaster-General Crosby has resigned and his resignation accepted. THE OtfFICESEEKEKS. TEE mnraiiv AND TUIBSTT GANQ\JLT \ WASHING TON STEADILY INCBBABING. Special to the Chicago Tribune. WASHINGTON , D. C. , March 8. The office- seekers have come to town , "somo in rags , and some in tags , and some in velvet gowns , " and are letting the administration know that they will accept whatever they can get , At present they prefer a foreign mission or an assistant secretaryship. By Juno they may decide to take a clerkship that is , if they can have one without the terrors of a competitive examina tion. The greitest Btruggle is for the positions of assistant secretaries of the different departments. > One assistant secretary of the treasury is fixed by the selec tion o ( fx-Stato Attorney General Fairchild of New York. Ho is Tildon's right-hand man and helps to complete the Tilden ring , which is to control the administration. Bisscll , Cleveland's law partner , has twen mentioned for the other place. Ho does iot want it. Ho prefers to represent the department of the exterior , and to make a fortune practicing law before the departments , He doubtless can do it , > J THE PRESIDENT'S POSITION. The president lias now announced that he will not grant interviews with ; officeseokers 01 consider personal or written Applications foi appointment , and that all papers relating tc appointments must be filed in the respective departments. The announcement would carrj consternation to the army of of&ceseekers here if it wore possible that such a' ' 'position could be strictly maintained or if they believed thai Cleveland was in earnest. Th rank and file ol the office seekers oin be denied a personal au dience , but the president is required to admil senators and representatives , 1 It will not bi possible for him to close his Tears when thi word "office" is suggested. No one believei that ho cares ti. "They wlllj all have to go , ' eaysTom Keed , of Maine. ) "It is only i question of how much hypocrisy there wil be about it. " The president starts with the Idea that th cabinet is a sort of a responsible ministry. H said the other day to a friend that ho had ee lected seven gentlemen for his advisers and h expected them to bo in truth advisers. Ho re lien npon them to select th'e machinery b which the administration shall bo conducted and to the respective departments , In the firs instance , will all application ) for office bj re ferred. This rule , however , is not a new 0111 It has been the custom for years. Uther pree idents have endeavored to establish a rospons ble ministry. They falled. | Wherever th papers are to be received , the battle for tl offices is actively raging. i A BROAD HINT , One pretty broad hint that thn frciidci diopped has reached tbo outside world , an lias added volumes to the general undortor of dissent that is hoard wherever democra meet. The remark is reported to have bee made to an Alabama delegation that handc ii. to Mr. Cleveland a list of "names they ba ii.st selected for the offices in that state. ' st trust , gentlemen , you have not forgotten tin ee there is a Tenuro-of-OfBce act , " said tl be president significantly , as he laid the doc beu mont on the table. u- President Cleveland la reported to ha1 ua um astonished a congressional'delegation wl a , had called to urge the appointment of a proi - inent democrat to an important position y- one of the departments , by cutting she appeal by the remark , "Why , I was n aware that there wai a vacancy in that poi tion , " The delegation wan aware tbat the was not a vacancy , and wai overwhelmed I v.n . the objection raised , n- QUEER CHARACTERS. n00 00m Some queer people have been hero , 0 m- old mountaineer , with long hair and unshaven face , came all the way from his co in in the wilds of the Adirdndacks , Fro Western Pennsylvania came a man , bent a ) white with age. who was a district attorn in his state under Andrew Jackson. He ra- an again a candidate for place , and bases' claim to recognition upon his eimon-pi Jacksonian democracy. From the interior m how York came a man who attracted rau Cf- attention , He was a common place man but his noae. Hi a nose was ommon h tray down from the eyes There It ppro.id out and aisunifd the [ irorortlons of a largo Irish potato. ItVM covered all over with warts , nnd wasnothMidscme , llyes followed this man wherever ho went , and the comment was general that ho should bo put on rnraa smelling commission. A member of the New York county democracy also attracted atten tion. Ho was six-six high , weighed about 100 pound ? , had a large , straight no * ? , as big nt itfl base as its tip , a goatco an Inch nnd n half wide and about sixteen inches long , and mmtnchios quite : IB thin and nearly M long. Among the inaugural visitors was la\id I. . Uloo. of Floiida. Vlro wan a United States scnaUr in 1850 , and ho and Jcllcrson Davis are said to bo the only surviving members of that sen ate. It Is needless to say that Mr , Jefferson Davis wai not hero. In fact , the south wa < but scantily represented. Most of the Inaug ural \Iiitois from the couth of thn Ohio river hailed from Kentucky and Virginia. There are ton oflico-seakcrs hero from the north to ono ftom tha Eouth , The solid south may have captured the government , but her citi zens nro slow in pressing to the front. This may bo explained by the hard times and high railway fares prevailing in the southern sec tion , and by the fact that walking is bad , now that the frost is coming out of the ground , FOUEIGN EVENTS. THE KllKNCK IK CHINA. I'AIUS , March 9. Gen. Uricre To L isle telegraphs the government that his loss dur ing the two days fighting to relieve the Fionch garrison at Thuyonquan was GG killed nnd ono hundred nnd thirty-three wounded. Th garrison itself lost fifty killed and thirty wounded. Thirty French officers were among the killed. THE RKTREAT TO KOMI. LONDON , March 9. A dlnpatch firm Korli says the rearguard of Gen. Uuller's troops ar rived nt Korti from Gakdul in a terribly fa tigued condition , DREAD RIOTS AT CRACOW. WARSAW , March 9. A broad riot was sup pressed by police at Cracow to-day. A great number of poor unemployed workmen gath ered in front of a rich man's castle in the sul - guab of Cracow nnd made n disturbance ; demanding work or bread , The police ar rested 10J rioters , 8KHVICK3 TO GORDON'S SIKJIOBV. LONDON , March 9. The archbishop of Can terbury makes public expression to the do- Biro to hold religious services in memory of Gen , Gordon in Canterbury cathedral , St , Paul's and Wostminstrr Abbey next Friday. THK ITALIAN NAVY. PORT SAID , March 9. The Italian mon-of- war Dandolo and Canto Cavour , with six Ital ian torpedo vessels , arrived here. HAULING DOWN THE BRITISH FLAG. LONDON , March 9. Advices from the west const of Africa atato tbe Germans hauled down the British flag and hoisted the German at Victoria , the English mission town situated at the head of Ambus bay , joining Cameroon territory. While the English consul pro tested against this action , his opposition was unheeded. LONDON , March 9. Consul White entered a formal protest against tbo actions of the Germans at Victoria. Germany's course greatly excites the British west coast settle ments. Victoria formerly belonged to the English Baptist Missionary society. The so ciety purchased It from the natives , but ae- tiring to be relieved of the task of governing the place , handed the territory over to ] Cn gland , Victoria was annexed to the Brills ! empire in July , 1881. LONDON NEWS. LONDON , March 9. A strike of 55,001 miners against a reduction of wages Is throat oned. The increase in the army will b 15,000 men. The government does not re gard North Borneo under British sov ereignty. WHY DID ENGLAND BUY ASIKRICAN CARTRIDGES LONDON , March 9. Kennard , conservative will ask tbe commons whether the government mont awarded a large contract for cartridge to the American firm without due considera tion of the prior claims of British manufac turerg. UAIIjUOAu RACKET. MILWAUKEE , March 9. The Chicago , Mi waukeo & St. Paul railway company' * annui report for 1884 was , made public to-day. Th gross earnings are 823,470,998. The gross e : penses , includingltaxes , 813,859.028 ; the di crease of the gross earnings as compared wit 1883 , 8188,825. The operating expenses wei increased § 81,590. The nverapo number < miles of road operated during the year wi 4.780 , which is an increase of 231 miles ov < the previous year. The total bonded debt i the road Is 8100,251,000 , which is an increai of nearly 84.000,000 during the year. Tt total stock is 847,445,244 , of which 810 , 40,9i is preferred. The road's capitalization , stock and bemis is at tha rate of 830,745 per mile. The coir pany now having 4,804 mllea in oporatio : Additions to the rolling stock were made t cost 8540,060. In the purchase of real oitot depot frounds. etc. , over 8205,000 was e : pended , of which amount 8228,000 was Chicago. The total oxtraordlnaiy expers I. were $1,457,631. 35ut forty-four miles of ne road were constructed during the year , lot' in Iowa and four in Wisconsin. No part the company' milage is hold upi leases which route are reserved , and the pro erty is only encumbered by the bonded de above mentioned , andsinca the last report 2 miles of steel rail ? has been laid. The rope says : "The great depression in comtnerc ! affairs during the patt ye.ir has prevented t increase of earnings which was expectod. return of general prosperity will bring large increased earnings and an increase may a ] bo expected irom the new lines of tbe coi pany in Dakota as the result of the natui improvement of the country tributary to thi lines. ' " EARNINGS 01' THE D. C. II , AND N , The Burlington , Cedar Ilaplds & Norther gross earnings for February are § 202,037 , Increase of $57,288 over tha same mouth 1 year , t MEXICO via GAI.VKSTON , March 9v 1 government has withdrawn , the concee * made to tbe Mexican National railway. re The British Grain Market. LONDON , March 9. The Mark Lane 3 no press , in a review of the British grain tn an the past week , says : Tbo unsettled weat prevented material progress to spring .sow ! ad Native wheats are Gd@ls dearer ; dry BI pies very scarce. Sales of English wheat the week , 50,028 charter ? , at 31s 8d , agai 04,50(5 ( quarters at 37s 7d tbo correspond ire week of last year. Flour , Cd lower. Fore iroof wheat tangibly improved , although eel ch are making somewhat firmer ground , ow all to war ruinnri. .foreign Hour is irregular i alf cheaper. lAUle doing in cargoo off coait , Four cargoes arrived , four cargoes wore sold , two withdrawn nnd rno rrmoTCd forward , Trade Is at a standstill , bath Luy. crs nud tellerj waiting to see whether there-Is to l > o peace or war. If war bo declared prices will probably tise by leap * and bounds. To day , despite the warlike rumor * , the wheat trade disappointed tbo toilers. Foreign wheat Is morj ) firmly held , Fbur steadier. Maize quiet. Barley very dull. Data 3d dearer , Dead or Allvo ? MOUNT CLEMENS , Mich. , March 8. A week ago Mrs. Charles Ballonson , ft woman of 70 , suddenly expired , it was supposed , lot heart- disease. Her death was announced and the funeral took place Tuesday. The lifo-llko appearance of the body excited much com ment , which increased rnthor than diminished after burial. Finally the Interest grow so in tense that it was thought best tn disinter the joily. This was accomplithcd Thursday af ternoon , the body having been in tha grave two days nd two n'ghts. It still bore the same life like Epponranco , It wax placed In a room in which the temperature has luen kept steadily at 73 deRrooai _ Not the Blightoitlndl- cation _ of decoiupositfon ia apparent , and physicians declare themselves unable to de termine whether Mrs. liollen ° eu is daad or alive. The case has created much excitement. * - M Prohibition in Kiinsas. TorEKA , KAN , , March 9. Gov. Martin has signed house bill No. 30" , known ns Iho tem perance bill , whtsh passed the house and sen ate lost week. This bill contains a provision investing the county attorney with all thu power of a grand jury , whereby citizens are required to appear Nforo him nnd testify on oath in regard to their knowledge of the pur chase and sale of liquors. Upon rafiif.il to do so the county attorney can commit them for contempt , Ho becomes both the judge nud the prosecuting nttorney. and is allowed a fee of § 23 for conviction , The provision is unequalled in its stringorcy , and excites tbo bitterest opposition of the anti-proht- bitionlsta , Illinois mill Her Janitors. Special telegram to the BEE. Sl'iUNGPiKLD , 111. , March Oi During the first bixty days of the session , ending en Sat urday lost , the expenses of the Illinois gen eral assembly foot up , according to tbo pay roll , to $108,675. There is to show for this expense the passage ot the bill appropriating § 5,000 for the contingent expenses of the fession and $5,000 for the improvement of the _ Illinois- display at Now Orleans , with the incidental diversion afforded by the attempt to elect a successor to Senator Logan , The last pay roll includes twenty-two senate jan itors , forty-three janitors employed by the secretary of state for duty in legislative balls , and eighty-four house janitors. The total number of janitors is 152 , at $2 a day , or S304 a day for the services of janitors. If these janitors remain on the pav roll they will pull down the surplus in the etato treasury SC9.120 per month. A "Wise 2Jalhvny bupcriutoiidonf. ATCHISON , Kas , March 9. The Missouri Pacific strikers have been refusing to let more than an engine and a mail car go through. To-day Superintendent Fagan took a bold stand that the company is not required under the federal law to carry the mails on other than the regular passenger trains with the full compliment of coaches , and gave positive orders that the mail car should not go oul without the regular coaches attached , Major John M. Crowell , poatoffico Inspector then warned the strikers that under such i construction of tbo law the strikers would be liable for stopping mall matter. It was final ly agreed to lot all the passenger trains _ g through hereafter and they are now movinj regul'a rly. HIM ] 2 The Davenport I'ostollleo. DA.VBNFOB7 , Iowa , March 9. The post ollico contest here is beginning to grow Inter eating- ; Petitions have been cliculated fo the retention of Edward Russell , who ha been postmaster for sixteen years.nnd it I said that the names of four or.fivo democrat appear on the lists. In the call for the dome cratic city convention , which will appear 1 : print m the moraine , a statement is mad thattho convention will take actionlookin to the appointment of a democrat , and tha measures will be inaugurated to get an 01 pression of the wish of the party on the mat tor. Five democrats are now in the field t candidate ] . Gcoeral Grant's Financial Re sources. Special telegram to THE BEE. NEW YORK , March 9i An old and wo known friend of General Grant said th manning : "In respect to the general's final cial position I can say that ho possesses , firs the income from the Grant fund , nmountir. to 85000 * a year , which in guaranteed in po petuity ; next , his retired pay of some815,0u These are his principal sources of income , fi his house In Sixty-third street is mortgage ! and ho considers his collections of bric-a-bn and relics as pledged fcr his debts. " Tlio B. & O. XelcgrfcpU Company. ST. Louis , March 9 , Im the case cf t ! Bdltimoro & Ohio Telegraph company ngain the 3t. Louis Bridge and Tunnel ccinpan Judge Labke in the circuit court to-day ii elded that the telegraph company has t tight of way over the bridge for its wires Long as it does not interfere with the richta the public to tha use of tbo bridge , The Weather , al WASHINGTON , March 10 , Upper MI s slppl : Fair , generally colder weather , ncrl westerly winds , northern portion varial n'a winds , southern portion , rising baromoter. an Missouri valley : Fair weather , northwo erly wind ? , colder , followed In northern , p tion by rising temperature , higher barocaet Plouro Pneumonia. Mo , , March 9. In p suance of a resolution adopted by the ho to-day , a commlttaoof fivn havobeen appoi ed to vjstit the Fnlton asylum farm where ide pleuro pneumonia exists among the cat and report what legislation Is advisable prevent the spr.wul of the oiseaso. an * Alexandria , IowaInundated , for KZOKUK , Iowa , March 9.-The town of nst exandria , now lws three feet oi water aboy Ing and thi poodle there have taken to the uj : ign [ era Buries ot their houses. A similar condi ing r.f ait airs prevails all through the bottxin In ind and the JCddyvlllo wagon bridge has I the wathod cot. TRADE AMD TRAFFIC. British Consols Wire IDG Con'rolllng ' Element ill the Market , The Wkoat'Market wns Nervous and Fairly Active , Corn was the Strongest Arliolo On the List , A Very Small Number of Oattlo Oil the Market , The Hog Trade was Active , Strong and Higher , Provisions Knled Fairly Active And Strong M y 1'orlc Toolt a Down Turn. CHICAGO MAUKISTSi Special telegram to TUB BKR. CHICAGO , March 'J. ' British consuls were the controlling element in the marltot on "change this morning. They were quoted three-sixteenths of a cunt lower than at tho- close on Saturday , and in consequence May which opened at 80jc , quickly soldup to 01 jo. Cable dispatches indicated that the bloody chasm opened between England and llussift showed no signs of being bridged over , and the crowd took advantage of ihl . There is not much wheat to soil , nnd those that had it hold nff. There were no heavy deals , and tho- soalpers had it all their own way. It was a nervous and fairly actlvo marlieti The boys tried to keep up the pries , but it was no go , and ivUcr some f the fhoits had tilled up , May option fell back to SOgc. It clobed at SOlc. CODN. Mo-v corn was the strongest article on the list , and there was a good trade in.it. Options opened atlljc , the sumo figure at which it closed on Saturday , nnd It sold up during the mornicsf to 42Jc. The closing price was 'l-lo. A largo trader remarked that ho thought May corn would sell at about -12c for a little whilo- and then go higher , PROVISIONS ruled fairly active nnd strong in the early part of the session. It was said tli t Armour put up the price of pork on Saturday and is engaged in ho'ding ! tup , May option went up to $13 02i , but fell off and closed IBc lowor. At the afternoon session May wheat dropped. to TDJc , closing at that figure. May corn closed steady at 41 Jo , and Miy.pork went down , to 812 G7& & , closing weak , CATTLE. The very small number on Bala was ratfier n. surprise to all concerned. Values are 20@30o hieher than the lowest of last week. Thobost sale this morning was a coup'o of lots of good 1,300'ponnds end upwards of stcois at $5.25 ® 5. GO : Light , little steers tnat a week ngo were unsaleable fold at big iigisren this morn ing. Butchers' stock was Btently , Stackers- and feeders were in light 6uppljbut firm , nnd those weighing from 1,050 to 1,200 pounds eold-Jor S4.25@4.00 ; 1,200 to 1,350 pounds , SI.25&B.50 ; 1,350 to 1,000 pounds , ? 5.COSO.OO. Cows and mixed common sold for $2.50@3.00 ; medium , 83 25@3.BOj Rood , SSGO@4 23 : stick ers , 33.50@4.00j feeders , $4.25@4.GO ; Toxnns , S4.00@4.75. HOGS , Market active and strong and lOc higher on light and medium , but bie heavy sorts were rather neglected and only a spade higher ; light and medium are 30 W 10u higher than n- week ago. Common and rough packing cold atS4 5U@4 CO ; fair to good S 70@1 80/and best heavy at SI 90@5 00 ; licht $4 00@4 GO , andi assorted light § 1 75@1 i'JO ? packing and shlpylng , 250 to 400 Ibs. , 84 SOfeO 00 ; . ligllt , 140 to 210 Ibs. , 54 30@4 CC. Texai Takes tlio Load. AVBTIN , Tex. . March S ) . The senate com mittee of internal improvements to-night. favorably considered tha bill providing that the railroads shall give thirty day'd notice before fore reducing wages , also making it a. inisdo- rnuinor punishable by a fine of $500 and im pueonment for six months for any persons to molest the movements of trains or to intimi- datu porions from working on the railroad. The Illinois Contour. SrniKariKLD , Match 9. There was no. rjnorum voting in either house or senate thi morning , and 110 business dono. At 12 noon , in joint convention , fifteen eenators and fifty- eight representatives answered. Senator Sirooter voted for .John 0. Black , and Sharp , Warsaw , voted for Win IV. Morriion. The > > houeo and senate both then adjourned , 8 Gen. Grant Improving. y" NEW YOBK , March 9. G n. Grant's con- ® p dition showed continued improvement to-day , so Col , Grant said r/hen his father awoke l\n ° f this morning he felt much refreshed , and- was in a more oheerful fromuof mind for Boir.o- days past , h- The Elftlri Dairy Market , CHICAGO , March 9 The Inter Ooean'a Klgln Bpecia ) says : Butter was. slow nu 30 > cents. Ilerplar sales , 38,000 , pounds , Cheese star was .in fclr demand at 5 cents , llpgular ar- sales , 1,000 pounds. er. Powder Uhlj/H. N. Y. , March 9t Thcao mills at the ikUliu & JCandi pow.dor worki , four ISO miles w&it of Nawburg , exploded this morn nt- ing , liiling two aieu and severely injuring the cmotbar. He , to DlHtrlbuttnK theSpoils. . Marci. 9. Nominations : Charles S. KaJrchlld , Now Yoik , asaiitau fsciatary of thotreftsurj ; John 0 , Black Al i.-ounnleaionivr of pen aims. eit , , er A. Garland 1'nr the Hiipronio Court. , iou WAHIIINOTON , March 9. T ) o new attorney udi. general , Garland , w preoented to the BU- 'CIS. ' pmmo court by ex-AUwney General 13row- uter tUu morning , asftere recognizes ! . Smoking