HE DAILY BEE.
fi
TWENTY-SECOND YEAR. OMAHA , MONDAY MOKMNG , ' DECEMBER 12 , 1802. NUMBER 175.
WAS IT A STUDIED INSULT
Speaker Crisp's Treatment by the Reform
Olub the Souroa of Much Discussion ,
HIS FRIENDS ARE SORELY AGGRIEVED
They Say the. Slight Wm Intentional nnil
I'reinrilllated The Speaker's Wr lon of
tinAHuIr.Murh Had l-'eelliiE Ha *
Ileen IIiiKendercil.
WASHINGTON , D. C. , Dec. 11. [ Special
Telegram to Tun Bnr. . ] Speaker Crisp re
turned to Washington tonight , after one of
the most remarkable experiences that has
ever fallen to the lot of n man occupying his
public position. The Intentional affront tohlm
at tlio dinner of the Heform club In Now
York City last night has been the absorbing
topic among politicians hero today. It has
long been known that there was an Intense
undercurrent of feeling between Mr. Crisp
and his friends on one hand and these
who opposed him In the last speaker-
nhlp light on the other. Moreover , it has
grown to bo a contention between the
Cleveland and Hill element , In which It was
believed that Senator Hill and Speaker
Crisp stood together. But it was not until
the occurrence of last night that an open
demonstration of thebitterness , against
Speaker Crisp on the part of Mr. Cleveland
and his friends was given conspicuous public
expression.
Illld Prepared III * Speech.
When Speaker Crisp left hero yesterday
for New York ho had carefully prepared a
speech of about COO words , to bo delivered at
the dinner to Mr. Cleveland. IIo bad been
led to bellovo by the somewhat effusive
language of the invitation extended to him
that he would he expected to make a speech.
In fact , bis position as speaker of the house
of representatives , which is second only in
honor and power to that of the presidency of
the United States , was in Itself sufllcicnt to
lead him and his friends to believe that he
would of course bo called upon for a speech.
Tlio speaker's remarks were given to the
press associations in advance , with the
understanding that they should not bo used
until the speech had been mado. The ar
rangement was made In Washington.
As early as yesterday afternoon it came to
the cars of some of Mr. Crisp's intimates
hero that ho would bo "turned down" at the
Cleveland dinner , and they at once notified
the press associations to cancel Mr. Crisp's
speech , oral least not to use It until it was
actually delivered.
OIiNCiiro Politicians Called I'pon.
Their fears that the speaker would not be
called upon were fully realized. Mr. Crisp
saw one obscure member of the house after
another called upon fora speech until it be
came evident to him that bo was being pur
posely ignored. IIo stood the ordeal until
nearly midnight , and then , after hearing
Heprescntalivo Tom Johnson's allusion to
the "cowards and trimmers" who organized
the present house of representatives , the
speaker withdrew.
The sentiment among democratic congress
men hero now is that the rebuff to Speaker
Crisp was also intended to bo a rebuff to the
entire bouse of representatives. It is felt
that Representative Johnson and other op
poncnts of Crisp have made his re-eleclioi
as speaker certain by prematurely disclosin
the bitterness of the old Mills element.
Speulter CrUp TulkR.
Speaker Crisp was seen by your corres
pomlcnt shortly after he arrived hero to
uight. His \isual bale and hearty erecting ?
were not sutlicient to cover the evident Irri
tation ho feels over the peculiar situation ii :
which bo bns been placed. Only yesterday
ho had laughingly asked correspondents "no
to be too hard on his speech , " and now hi
was obliged to explain why the speech bail
not teen delivered.
"The reports that I left the hall
in much Irritation are overstated , "
nald ho. "It is true that I
prepared a speech and expected to deliver it.
Tlio fact that I was not called upon did not
lead mo to quit the hall. I remembered that
I had only one check for my hat and coat ,
and I feared that one or the other-would got
lost , so , about IV o'clock 1ycnt ont'to .see
about It , and when I returned some one had
taken my chair. I looked around ami found
a vacant chair in a quiet corner and there
sat by myself unmolested until tlio affair was
ever. It is untrue , therefore , that I loft
early and did not return , for I was there as
long as any one. "
Anf ereil HI * I'rleiiils.
Tnis was as much as the speaker would
say for ho did not desire to discuss the rea-
bon why ho bad not been called to speak.
Ills many friends who thronged the lobby of
the Metropolitan hotel were moro explicit ,
however They declared that It was n
studied insult from thu "mugwump" branch
of New York politicians , and that they
would resent It.
The war between the factions in the demo
cratic party Is already fully on and if it con
tinues to gather in volume as it has for the
past two weeks the new president will not
bo able to accomplish anything at the hands
of his parly in congress and he might as well
resume bis duck shooting on thu Chesapeake
or return to his roost at Buzzards Hay.
Too Delleate to DlMeiiHS.
WASIIISOTOX , D. C. , Dec. 11. Speaker
Crisp Is back in Washington. Ho is not in
clined to freely discuss for publication some
Incidents connected with thu Heform club's
banquet. In reply to questions from an
Associated press reporter ho said :
"To begin with , the prcss.of the country is
resting under a misapprehension so far as
regards the fact that 1 was an invited
speaker at the banquet. I was not invited
to speak , but armed myself in advance in
case 1 should bo called upon , It is true that
1 gave out to the press associations in ad
vance the remarks I Intended to make should
1 bo called UIKJII to say a few wonts. It Is
not true I Iclt the banquet hall In a ills-
'Ki-unllcd condition and did not return , as has
ooen published. I left my scat temporarily
to look after clothes in thoclonk room. This
task completed , I returned to thu banquet
hall and was one of thu last to leave It.
"An regards the implied 'snub' lo mo , as
has been charged , I do not realize the justice
of Its publication , nor do I care at tills ttmu
to discuss the statements by some persons
that Mr , Cleveland , In his remarks , fired his
opening gun in a war that is to bo waged
agaliibt re-elect Ion the '
my - to speaker's
chair , should I bo a candidate before the
Fifty-third congress. "
On his attention being called to the fact
that some of his friends had expressed their
Indignation of what they conceived to bo an
intended slight , ho said the matter was of a
too delicate nature to discuss in thu public
press. ,
Alt.MV APPHOPIIIATION HIM , .
Itepnrt of tlio lluuno Committee on Military
A till I r it.
WASIIIXOTO.V , D. C. , Dee , 11. Chairman
Outhwalto of the house military committee
has prepared a report for submission to the
house with the army appropriation bill
agreed niton by the coinmittco. The report
states succinctly , but clearly , the reasons
for the changes made by the committee In n
number of paragraphs as compared with tin
bill for the current fiscal je.ir. Substanll
ally , the entire appropriations carried in tin
bill are in the bureau of ordnaiicn , and tin
reasons thereof are stated qulto fully In
quotations fcom the testimony of General
Flaglcr before the coinmittco. It was shown
that the army had been for years drawing
on supplies left over after thu war , and thcsi
buppllca hud now bovomo exhausted , am !
that increased appropriations must bo made
therefor if the army is to bo kept in u utati
of enii'lcncy ,
A reduction of flOO.OM was made in tin
appropriation for tnmsiortntlim | expenses o
the army The rejiort says that luiprovci
facilities for truu'l uhould wuble troops am
upplles to bo moved at considerable less
xpcnse , and that there cannot bo as great
icccssity for moving troops about as there
vas before se > mo of the remote posts were
ibandoned , and when Indian troubles were
aore frequent.
It recommends an Increase of nppropria-
Ions of ! 0,000 , for hospital construction , and
n regard to tlio building of n hospital at
) ; ivlds island , in New York harbor , thore-
> ort says Hint tlio committee Is Informed
.hat the hospital there Is suftlclent for the
ircsent puriKjses , and therefore did not grant
ho request. In the ordnance department
in increased appropriation of ! 0,000
vas made for the manufacture of metallic
immunltlon for small arms , Slii.OOO for ord-
lance slores and $00,000 for equipments. 1 ho
cjKirt ssys that General Flapler stated to
; ho committee that since IbtW ) the annual
ipproprlatlons for those purposes have been
educed until nearly nil the appropriations
mw are insufficient to furnish the army witli
ivhut is absolutely required.
Modern equipments of the army arc con-
tidcrably moro expensive than formerly ,
i'ho report quotes the chief of ordnance us
wiying : In the artillery department there
was a largo amount of material left over
if tor the war. This stuff was not of regula
tion pattern , but was available for working
aver and saving the expense of manufacture
af new articles. For Instance , there were so
many saddle trees left over that wo wcro not
[ ompelled to purchase tiny until about a year
ngo. There was also a largo stock of artil
lery harness , and this was worked over.
These supplies are now exhausted.
The manufacture of additional ammuni
tion , the report says , General Flagler stated
to bo absolutely required to meet existing
law and regulations ( relating lo Iho target
practice ) , and every military man js agreed
upon its necessity.
Speaking of the necessity for now equip
ments , General Flagler said to the commit
tee that cavalry commanders-arc required to
drill their men in fencing on horseback.
Each troop must have under the orders
twenty fencing sets. Ho simply could not
furnish them. Ho had been trying to give
each troop eight sets instead of twenty.
CO.NC.KKSSIONAL FOKI3C.VSTS.
Work Mapped Out for the National Legisla
ture I'or the Coming Week.
AV.VSIIISOTOS. D. C. . Dec. 11. It is rarely
that any legislation of any practical impor
tance is achieved in congress before the new
year , with the possible exception of one of
the annual appropriation bills , and this ses
sion is not likely to prove exceptional in this
respect. In both houses the work is pro
gressing In n manner that indicates a lack ol
real earnestness. Tlio prominent features ol
this week's proceedings are likely to bo the
anti-option bill In the senate and at
appropriation bill in the bouse. The anti-
option bill is the unfinished business on
tlio senate calendar , and is expected to DO
laid before that body tomorrow unless at
early adjournment prevents it. In the
morning hour Senator Mitchell wil
discuss his joint resolution , proposing nn
amendment to the constitution providing foi
the election of senators by the votes of the
qualified electors of the states. This joint
resolution is endorsed by the committee 01
privileges and elections , and is undoubtedlj
strong in the senate , but because of its im
portuitco it is hardly to be assumed that ii
can bo passed during the scant opportunity
afforded by the morning hour.
Once Iho anti-option bill is laid before the
senate , it will be open to discussion agaii
and positive action on tlio measure is ex
peeled this week. From present iudica
lions the daily sessions will bo short and ai
adjournment will bo taken from Thursday tc
Hie following Monday. It Is thought prob
able that in the house next week a proa
deal of information and opinions based 01
information will bo given relative to the
situation of the treasury. It is the cxpccta
lion of leaders that , with the exception o
Monday , bills concerning the District o
Columbia will have right of way , practically
the whole time of the house during tin
week being devoted to consideration of th
regular appropriation bills.
Army Appropriation Kills.
Debate will begin on the army approprla
tion bills , which the military committee wil
report on Monday , and Chairman Outhwait
will present resolutions to bo called up 01
-Tuesday. It in likely that the debate wil
Lake a much wider range and will embrac
tlio state of revenues , of existing appropr'
ations , and , it is possible , of the policy of th
democratic party. The army bill , in its ag
gregate , shows a reduction from the tola
amount carried by the bill for the currcn
fiscal year , but there have been several ii
creases made in the appropriations under th
licad of "department ordnance. " The mil
itary committee would not be surprised if n
attack was made on some of these items b
Mr. Holman and other rigid economists ,
is prepared for any criticism which may b
made , by adopting in its report the stale
ments made by General Flagler , showing Iho
real and urgent necessity for additional ap
propriations and for a lively light if need bo
The appropriations committee will bo at
work on the District of Columbia and the fis
cal appropriation bills and expects lo report
the latter bill in time lo take it upas soon as
the tinny bill is passed. Tlio District of
Columbia bill , has caused considerable
trouble to the committee In charge of it. A
host of government oftlrials have been ex
amined , and on Monday the subcommittee
will begin Iho annual preparation of Iho bill.
It is believed that the bill will bo reported
to the house the latter part of this week.
Estimates for deficiencies have Jicen re
ceived and they will bo embodied in an ur
gency deficiency bill , to bo reported to Ilio
house and taken up immediately for action ,
and other bills under discussion will temporarily
arily give way.
It Is the purpose of the managers of the
house to get all these bills over to the sennit'
before the holiday recess , Tlio accomplish
ment of this purpose largely depends upon
Iho temper of tlio house , which , If In the
mood , can protract tin ) consideration of Iho
bills over several weeks.
< : n.Miti\r.
Prominent I'lrniN .loin In Ouii ( ilKantlc
Company.
Ciucino , 111. , Dec. U , A local paper an
nounced today Iho formation of a trust
which Is aimed to control tlio publication of
subscription books. The originators declare
that the movement Is not n trust , but simply
a consolidation of four houses , representing
different branches of the printing and pub
lishing business , with the Intention of form
ing the largest commercial printing and pub
lishing house ! iu lliti world.
The company madu application yesterday
for license to incorporate a firm called Iho
Werner company. It will embrace 1 { . S.
Petilo , t Co. of Chicago , who absorbed iho
business of Belford , Clark it Co. ; Hie Wer
ner Priming and Lithographing company of
Akron , O , , and the Webster Dictionary Pub
lish lug company. It Is said that Kami , .Me-
Nally & Co. were to Join Ilio combine. ImMhis
is positively denied by Mr. McNully. The
Incoriwnitors of iho company , which will
have a capital of W , HIKIO. ) are Paul E. Wer
ner. Richard S. Pculo. Alex Belford , D. H.
Kochersporger and .1 , T. Kdson , Thoolllccrs
and directors will be chosen in a few days
and the company expects to begin business
January 1 ,
Idaho'H Illamond 1'lridH ,
BOHR , Idaho , Deo. 11. What may provo to
bo u rich diamond livid has been discovered
on Snag river , thirty miles .southeast of
iioisu. Charles Vandorn today received
from a New Yurie jewelry firm six gems cut
from thu alleged diamonds , and Ite states the
firm pronounced the diamonds genuine. A
party ol miners is now prospecting the mine ,
CIcM'laml's Illrthplaec.
NBWAUK , N. J. , Dec , 11.-Tho cltUcns of
. Caldwell , which is iho birthplace of Grovcv
j Cleveland , arc making oxlcnslvo prcpura-
lions to entertain the president-elect when
ho visits Caldwcll , as he has promise ; ! to dc
before his inauguration. The old house In
which Mr Cleveland was born will be pro-
fuauly decorated uud brilliantly illuminated.
) UR NAVAL ESTABLISHMENT
lecretary Tracy Makes His Annual Koport
to the President.
5REAT IMPROVEMENTS OF RECENT YEARS
'e ieN mid Gnus I tin ICqnnl of TliiiM ) 1'os-
nr ed hy Any I-'orrtgn Power Details
nrtlinSor lrc An InterestIng -
Ing Dneiiinent.
WASIMN-OTOX , D. C. , Doc. 11. Secretary
[ "racy in his annual report sets forth the
'act that when tne present administration
; amo in on March , ISS'J , besides old and
> bsoloto wooden ships , only three modern
, var vessels were in commission. During
.ho administration nineteen new vessels
invo been manufactured In this country.
Three now steel tugs have also been con-
itructcd and put in service. There nro In
iiroccs.4 of construction eighteen now vessels ,
certain to bo completed , should armor bo
delivered , within the next year , of an ag
gregate tonnage of 8ii'J'J : : ' tons and mounting
altogether twelve ID-Inch , six 12-inch ; six-
Leon 10-inch , thirty 8-inch , thirty-two 0-inch ,
thirty-eight Much and thii y-four 4-inch
guns , all of which have been , or are to be ,
manufactured in this country.
The development of the past four years has
not been confined to ships alone. At the be
ginning of this administration , says the sec
retary , the naval establishment was entirely
destitute of certain elements of efllciency ,
each one of which Is indispensable to its
practical employment as a fighting force and
the absence of which , if It bad been pos
sessed of 100 ships , w6uld still have left
it in a condition of paralysis. These were
armor , torpedoes , heavy rapid-firing iguns ,
armor-piorciiiS' shells , smokeless powder and
high explosives.
Xutmrortliy Progress.
The secretary details at length note
worthy progress In the production of these
things and says the progress noted , by which
tlio United States has emerged from its con-
dltion of helplessness at sea and by employ
incut of its own resources has distanced its
most experienced competitors , marks an
.epoch in naval development not only of this
country , but of the world. Delays in the delivery -
livery of armor have caused the final comple
tion of armored vessels under construction
to be somewhat later than at first contem
plated. The only compensation for this
delay is the superior quality of armor that
has been recently developed.
In connection with the development of
nickel-steel for armor , the department has
undertaken a scries of experiments in the
application of this material to other purposes
of construction which promises no less im
portant results than those already obtained.
If the expectations now formed are realized ,
it will not bo long before nickel-steel will bo
exclusively used within ship frames and
marine engines , with marked improvement ,
both in strength of parts and reduction of
weight ; while its noncorrodiblo qualities ,
already partly demonstrated , point to the
probability that it may ultimately present a
solution for the harassing problem of pre
serving the submerged plating of ships.
Coming down to a detailed statement at
to armor tests , the secretary tells of the
work completed ; of the tremendous test to
which Harveyized nickel-steel armor plates
were successfully submitted in November ,
IS'.H. The result obtained had never been
approached before by any armor plate ,
either American or foreign. It lias been
demonstrated that the United States , In the
construction of its new navy , which ten
years ago had no existence , oven on paper , is
enabled to place upon each and all of its
armored vessels material , the like of which
the world has never seen. This country will
employ , for the purpose , an armor , not only
more effectual , but which represents unques
tionably the highest modern science and de
velopment reached by its own independent
efforts. Following our example the Eng
lish government four weeks ago held a trial
of the now American plate , and it is clear
from the high tests rcacheft that it has set
the example in this respect , which other
maritime nations will speedily follow.
Contracts Tor Armor.
With regard lo armor contracts , the secre
tary says neither the Bethlehem nor Car
negie companies are making such progress
at present as the department could desire ,
but both nro increasing their output from
month to month , and the department is now
preparing advertisements for proposals
for the remainder of the armor re
quired to complete vessels now unarmored.
When these plants arc able to turn out , as
will shortly ho the case , the full armor
required by the contract , the aggregate
supply will still amount to only lXXX)0 ) ) ( )
tons per annum , or not moro than enough for
tlio construction of three battleships. The
armor for such ships , in addition , would re
quire three years' work after the fulfillment
of the present contract , with tlio works
running at full capacity. It is the belief of
this department , in common with the naval
committee of the house , that tills number of
additional battleships is essential to the
protection of the United States. It Is upon
such vessels that this country , as well as
others having seaboards , must depend.
Without them we are helpless at sea. With
the plants in existence , we can not only armor
ships now authorized , but wo have the
means at hand for armoring others , if wo
make our preparations in time. The value
to the United States of the possession of two
such establishments cannot bo expressed In
words or figures ,
Torpedoex , Powder und ( inn * .
In reforencoito the ordnance of the army ,
the secretary makes extended reference to
now developments , promising greatly Im
proved results , which points have heretofore
been covered in these dispatches in the re
port of the chief of the bureau of ordnance.
Comment is also made at length on thu
ordnance rcixirt as to powder , thu manufac
ture of high explosives and projectiles , also
showing the progress It bus made. With re
gard to torpedoes the I'owell torpedo has
gene much beyond the stage of hope with
which the department entered upon tlio con
tract for its manufacture four years ago ,
yet the last trials are giving great promise.
The contract made over a year ago for the
manufacture of 100 elghtccn-inch Winchester
torpedoes is beini. filled and twenty are conii
pletcd with certain characteristics superior
to those manufactured abroad ,
Of the so-i-allcd ' 'dlverglblo" torpedoes ,
intended to li controlled from fixed stations ,
three torpedoes have undergone oftlelal trials
and two have been sent to the Pacific coast ,
The Sims-Edison company has also delivered
some of its torpedoes to be used in a buries
of projected experiments ,
With regard to the increase of the navy ,
the secretary says , another year of oxpcri
ence , of discussion and of criticism , both at
home and abroad , confirms the department
in the views it adopted in the annual rcjiorl
ofjlbMlas to the | > ollcy of constructlotr tin
Navy department should pursuo.
Jlo deprecates the construction of anj
more vessels of the monitor type , remonstrat
Ing against their usefulness , and quotiin
from the report of Chairman Herbert of tlii
house committee on naval affairs , says : "Ou :
true naval policy for construction hereafter
principally , If not entirely , should bo onlj
first-class cruisers mid nrsl-duss battle
bbipa with their accessories. "
American SlilpTnillillnK.
The secretary f > pcaks with much satlsfac
tlon of an act to ciicourago American fahili
building , " under which the City of Paris am
the City of Now York were admitted t' '
American registrationand under the term ;
of which several of thu finest liners wen
secured , advising It lo bo carried out , no
only In this , but in all similar cases
and bymfa us of which owners of foreign bull
ships , whoso high qualities uro such as ti
nmku them desirable acquisitions , may b
permitted to obtain American registry upo
the condition thnt.TeWls of equal size and
tonnage shall bo ordurodtto bo built in the
United States. j
With reference to unprotected cruisers of
second class from 4,060 to 5,000 tons displace
ment , the dcpnrthicntVtocs not recommend
any Increase of the number. These vessels
to attain the high rate bf speed must neces
sarily sacrifice coal endurance , and have ,
therefore , a very restricted sphere of useful
ness for cruising purposes In times of war.
they answer satisfactorily the limited de
mands for flagships upon regular armed sta
tions in time of ? peace , but It Is not ux | > n
these vcssles the United States would place
reliance in case an attack from maritime
powers occurred. Nor is it desirable to add
to the number of heavily armed gunboats. A
well defined 'fact , which has proved highly
successful. Is that of torpedo cruisers from
t-00 to 1,000 tons of small size light draught ,
speed of twenty-two knots , with rapid-firing
guns and a imwerful torpedo armament.
Tills is thu type -tho department suggests
building and several such vessels would bo
very valuable. It also renews recommenda
tions previously made for building of torpedo
boats , and submits tables showing a vast in
crease of their succesHfnl operations In the
service of other ti'ivlcs. Wo should have at
least thirty of these vessels ,
Tlmclj' .SiiRCf.it Ions.
On the isthmus our commerce is engaged
in a desperate fight to maintain its foothold.
In the South 1'aclfio repeated annexations
and protectorates are extending the power
ami influence of marine states of the old
world , Subsidized lines of fast steamers are
completing a circle of maritime communica
tion on the eastern and western coasts of the
Dominlon'of Canada and fortresses , daily In
creasing in strength , and surrounding our
coast upon the south and cast. Under these
circumstances It Is imperative to the
welfare of this country that the
policy of the naval construction
so successfully carried out In the past should
suffer no interruption in the future ; that
vast numbers of. skilled artisans who have
been trained in its workshops and those of
private manufacturers concerned in its oper
ations should not bo thrown out of employ
ment ; that the work whoso chief diflleultics
have now been overcome should not bo suf
fered to languish when , every day shows an
improvement , both in economy and dispatch ,
and that with only two vessels remaining on
the stocks , as will shortly bo the case , some
additions should bo inado by congress at the
present session.
Much space is devoted to interesting de
tails as to the operations of ships in com
mission the past year in the Bering sea and
elsewhere ; on work of the marine hospital
bureau in connection with quarantine , etc.
Interesting statistics are given as to the
growth of the movement toward establish
ing a naval militia , the creation of which is
characterized as one of the most important
steps in our recent nayal progress.
tliixkovrnuo Service.
The department again recommends con
solidation of revenue marine service with
the navy , and calls attention to recom
mendations of the .commandant of the
marino corps in reference to increasing in
number thu private and noncommissioned
olllccrs in corps.
In conclusion , the secretary says in part :
'The ' statement lifts been made from time to
ime' that the present administration has
rocccded substantially upon the lines of its
rcdcccssor. This is in a largo degree cor-
. cct. Its cardinal policy has been to preserve
i continuity in direction of tlio naval cstab-
ishnicnt , and make no changes merely for
ho sake of change , and none
t all unless thejy wcro justified
ly clear and conclusive reasons.
\t the samo'timo.tjvcry CfTort has been made
o advance what was..possible. Idibor that
levolved upon the' present administration of
, ho Navy dcpartiiicnK both in the manago-
ncnt of the fleet aniUlho work of construc-
ion , has not been far in excess of that of
my previous administration since the war ,
but has required toi a much greater degree
the solution of difllcult and Intricate prob
lems in detail. The ships alone in the build-
ng of which this administration 1ms been
; ngaged aggregated 170,000 tons. It has
manufactured 'J14 heavy guns , added
largely to the plants of working
yards and made the Washington gun
"actory one of the best equipped in the
ivorld ; constructed wharves , dry docks and
ithcr important public worUs ; awarded con-
raets under the head of 'increase of navy'
ilono to the amount of KU , ! ) S,541 and em-
| ) loycd labor to the amount of $ S,12lSOTl. Its
operations have placed the art of steel ship
building in the United States on a firm
basis , while the manufactured product has
been so cheapened that there is now a pros
pect that steel ships of American build may
iucecssfully compete with these made in
ICui-ope , and , finally , it has been its endeavor
: o leave unsettled no questions of serious
Importance presented today by naval sci-
; nco. In the course of its operations , great
as has bctn Mio magnitude , there have been
110 suggestions of scandal or suspicion of
jobbery.
The Xavul Aeadeiny.
"Such resalt would only bo accomplished
Ijy a service which ; like that of the navy ,
iidmlts within its wants only men of the
highest honor and integrity , and I cannot
more fittingly close this report than by con
gratulating the country on the position of
such a school for ofllcers as the naval acad-
im.V at Annapolis and upon the character ,
ability and loyal devotion of the men whom
that institution supplies for its service. "
The estimates In the report for the fiscal
year ending Juno SO , 1897 , for the navy and
marino corps , including these for public
work and the increase of the navy , are
W-MrM'JS , being WTJ1,141 ! less than those
for the last fiscal year.
: nun niconi > .
Denver anil Itlo iriiiulu Itounillioiiko unit
Shops Destroyed lit Sallilu , Cole ,
DESVKII , Colo. , Dec. 11 A special to the
Republican from Sallda , Colo. , says : At 0
o'clock this morning the Denver and Hio
Grandd railway roundhouse was discovered
on lire and despite the efforts of the firemen ,
the flames , after almost totally burning that
building and its contents , spread to the
nmehino shop , which together with Its valu
able plant was also destroyed. :
Seventeen engines were bunled in the
roundhouse , it being Impossible to run them
out because of the tracks on the outside be
ing crowded with other locomotives. Tlio
loss on engines , machinery , roundhouse and
shops is estimated by the railroad oniclafs at
$400,000 , but just how pinch the Insurance is
is not known at present. The burning of the
shops throws 100 merfout of employment.
NBW YOHK , DeiS It. Damage amounting
to about fWJjOOO was the result of a lire at
0l : l tliis morning iu'tho C. J ) . PeaseCo ,
piano manufactory , 318-and aiO West Forty-
third street. Giuso of lire and amount of
insurance unknown. It was the busy season ,
and l&O hands are thrown out of work.
hlm Tofliiy Will JCxperleucn u Idalng
Temperature anil South Wind * .
WASIII.VIITOS. D.C.'Dec. 11. For Nebraska
and Iowa Fair ; southerly winds ; rising
temperature. ,
For North and /5outh / Dakota Fair ;
warmcr-lii Minnesota and northern North
Dakota ; west winds. ,
I.oeul'lleeonl ,
OFFICE or TUB WIUTIIEH Buitiuu , OM.UIA ,
Don. 11. Omaha record of temperature and
rainfall compared with corresponding day of
past four years i .
'
. ' 1B92.1601.1800. 1880 ,
Maximum temperature ' _ > ' . ) = > 4' o 473 uoc
Minimum tciupiirauirn. H = 1 > 1) = ; ioo 310
Average temperature. , 1H = > ao = > U83 40C
1'icclpltutton 00 .00 .00 .00
' Statement showing thu condition of tem
perature and precipitation at Omaha for the
ilay and slncy . .March 1 , 18W , as compared
with general leverage :
Normal toi.itn'rutiiHy . 205
Dctlclriicy for Ilio clay 11 =
JHillcltmcyblniMirMiirch 1. . . , 185C
Normal precipitation. , .03 Inch
Uellcloncy for tliu day ouinch
Deficiency slnco Mutch 1 a.OOIuchei
GEonouK. HUNT , Local Forecast Official.
Appointed MlnUtor of tlic Interior.
IHcxos AYUEU , Dec. H. Senor Antoali
Bernejo has boea appointed inluUtor of tin
Interior ,
CAPRIVI IS ABOUT ENDED
His Experiment with the Army Bill Has
Proved Hia Euiuatiou , .
CRISIS IMMINENT IN GERMAN POLITICS
Iterllu OrenUy i\elted Oxer the Action
the CentrMti Opposition tn the .Meas
ure Is Sitlltl ICuniDM Tlmt
rill the Air.
( Copt/rfghfrii / by James fiiintnn
Hr.ut.tx , Doc. 11. [ Now York Herald
Cable Special to Tin : Ur.i : . ] A grave crisis
may occur at any moment. Uerlln talks of
nothing but the rebuff suffered by Caprlvt
over the army bill , owing lo the attitude of
the center party. The chancellor's reply ,
hinting at the dissolution of thu Heichstag ,
comes under the category of good
news to his opponents , who would
bo returned with a sweeping ma
jority. Caprlvi's retirement is loudly
talked of. It Is regarded as a necessity , as
the chancellor is entirely out ot touch with
the people. ISulcnberg Mlqtict , Locwy , fen- !
cral Van Hucnc and Von Walderseo are the
names on the tip of every tongue as likely
successors to Caprivi. Hut the last named
docs not desire tlio post and would only ac
cept It under pressure.
Tlio town Is full of rumors. One
is that the imperial message dis
solving the Heichstag will bo read
tomorrow. Another is that the army bill
will bo put into effect without the consulta
tion of the Heichstag. 1'uhlle feeling is
that we are on the verge of an explosion ,
particularly if the kaiser insists on retaining
Count von Caprivi. It will bo remembered
that the kaiser formerly expressed a de
termination to keep Ulsmarck in power in
spite of anything that might happen. History
repeats itself.
Ills Tall nil Iml Certain.
Thursday night , speaking with a group of
liberal deputies , Caprivi said in any case ho
would not retire from the chancellorship.
IIo had apparently forgotten the words
spoken in October , "ich stcho und fallo init
dor Vorlage. " Surprises are at hand , among
which the fall of Caprivi will ho the last.
In round numbers the opposi
tion to tlio army bill maybe
bo estimated as follows : Center , 109 votes ;
progressists , sixty-seven ; socialists ,
tbirty-llvo ; democrats , ten. On the other
hand it is possible that the bill may receive
the support of sixty.six conservatives , of
whom thirty-one , however , are wavering ; of
eighteen liberal conservatives , of whom
eleven are doubtful ; of forty-two national
liberalsall of whom demand a modification of
the measure.
Caprivi is unwell today , but ho ncverthc
less held a consultation with the conserva
tive leaders. IIo attributes much of the
opposition to the army bill to the Ahlwardt
scandal. This evening ho was summoned to
the Imperial palace to confer with the
kaiser.At a late hour tonight it is re
ported -lib 'Will "Withdraw the military bill
or tender his resignation. This , however , is
not official.
aioNAiicii or I'l
lllsnmrcklilii Utterances oil Scvcrul Vital
anil Current Topics.
[ Coi/rfi7it ) | I 1K ) lil ] James Giinlun Jlcnnett. ]
PAIIIS , Dec. 11. [ New York Herald Cable-
Special to Tun Bnc.f Le Matin publishes
this ( Monday ) morning an interesting sup
plement signed Henri des Haux , who gives
an account of a visit to Uismarek. The
article is entitled "Twenty-four Hours at
Varzin , " and is accompanied by several illus-
rations. Here are some of tlio striking pas
sages of words the writer puts in tlio mouth
of Bismarck :
'I ' have naid farewell definitely to
the government of men. If I had not
been dismissed I would doubtless still
bo in power. I had still enough strength to
continue without interruption the duties
confided to me. Now I have no Interest in
lolitics. I have paid my debt to the coun
try and wish to die in peace. "
The prince says ho will not take a seat in
the Heichstag. "If I did , it would bo U )
speak. Every one of my words would bo
lomincnted on , attacked and contradicted.
I have no longer tiio unquestionable author
ity which power gives. I would only bo a
private soldier In the melee , perhaps an en-
umbrancc. No , I certainly will not go the
Hcichstag. "
On the question of the alteration of the
famous Ems dispatch , Uismarek , after pro
testing that it never entered Ills head that
the election of a German prince to the
throne of Spain would offend Napoleon III or
wound the susceptibilities of the French
people , said ho was annoyed at the time by
Ccnlditti's negotiating directly with the
king at Ems and at the action of Count du
Wcrthcr , Prussian ambassador at Paris.
Wliy Hu Changed It.
"The king's dispatch stating his refusal to
give Uencdltti the pledge the latter asked
of him , " says the prince , "was a long and
somewhat obscure document. It was sub
mitted to mo bcforo it was sent to the gov
ernments , for whoso information it was In
tended. I changed the wording of
this dispatch , as I had a right to as
minister of foreign affairs , and shortened It
without altering its meaning and without
adding a single word which was not trno.
I do not now remember the wording of the
dispatch , but It wife approved by the king
with whom I did not disagree at the time.
All I did was to maintain the dignity of my
sovereign , of my country. Did not the de
bates in the French corps leglslatif , the
manifestation of the populace of Paris , and
throughout Franco constitute a menace and
insult ? Could we , under such circumstances
consent to the imperial demand I Do you
suppose that the fate of the world can de
pend on the question of the wording of a
dispatch ? "
Itlsmarck professed himself rather scepti
cal as to the value lo Franco of thu so-called
alliance with Russia.
"In tlio event of a Franco-German conflict ,
wo will have no interest in bothering our
selves with what tliu Hubsluns may do in the
Halkans. They will bo given carte
blanche , "
The ox-chancellor concludes that an under
standing between Franco and Germany Is
possible , and oven desirable , especially on
the subject of socialism , which Is a dangci
now equally threatening to both countries ,
Tho-European governments of today have
something more important than the making
of war on each other to attend to. They
should unite for the repression of such
crimes as socialism Is now committing ,
Finally on the subject of the suit against dc
I < osscps , the ex-Chancellor eays :
"It is the worst kind of socialism when
one of the most glorious men of the world
the man who pierced the Isthmus of Suez , U
brought up before a court created to try am
punish thieves. Everyone Knows the iiian't
honor aud probity no moro thuu hh glorj
ran bo tarnished by the suit , but It Is lo
Brand patron who In his person is given up
to hatred of anarchists. "
WII.T , STAXU I'OH Till ! CltAMHKIt.
I'lirUlun I'eniiln : Sull'ritRrUM Nomlimte n
I.Ut of Ciittillilate * .
[ Coj > i/rf0Mnl ISO ! by Jaw * ( Innlan JIcmirH.l
I'AIIII , Doc. ll.-lNcw York Herald
Cable-Special to TUB nr.r. . ] The body of
women rights supporters known as I.a Llguo
ilo rAffranchlsemcnt des Fcmmcs , of which
Mine. Asttcr do Valsnyno Is secretary , has
selected a number of iMiullilatcs for the com
ing elections. Tlio candidates are : Mine.
Aubcrtlno Auclort , founder of thoCltoyenne
paper ; Hence Maria ) , editor of Esprit do
In Femme ; Mine. Hermanco Chate
laine , _ cdltor of l/i Hovuo Europe ;
Mmo. I'aulo Merlclc and Mine. Elslo Odin ,
Journalists ; Mmo. Noel Uertior , Mine.
Florence Hubert , fcmmes do loltres ; Mine.
do Hock , painter and sculptor ; Mine. Louise
Harberouszo Hardonln and Mine. Gilbert
Perros.i , teachers ; Mine , .larretbout , tailors'
assistant and chevalier of the Legion of
Honor , and Sarah Hcruhardt , dramatic
artist. All these ladles have not yet given
their consent to stand as candidates. Mine.
ihtrrothout Is the former icantenicrc , deco
rated for her acts of bravery on the battle
field.
PKii MHX ixci.in : > ii : > .
Aulopiy Over Hie Itcmalns < > r Karen lie
Itclnacli Scenes at the ( iraxe.
TxNnox. Dec. 11. TlieJ Times' Paris cor
respondent says : Tlio do Helnach scandal Is
worthy of the middle ages. The parliament ,
the magistracy and tlio press all are crying
for the corpse. Only the brush of Gallot era
a Holbein could do justice to the scenes wit
nessed. When an autopsy was performed ,
there was an unseemly scramble between
the doctors and the reporters to reach the
grave. The doctors were victorious. They
whitened the windows of the room in which
the autopsy was performed and nothing was
visible from the outside.
The Paris correspondent of the News says
when the autopsy was performed , all news
paper representatives were excluded from
the cemetery , but were allowed to watch
from a barn loft overlooking the grave. It
will bo impossible for three weeks to say
whether or not Uaron do Hciiiach died of
aconite poisoning. Tlio suspicion that ho
did die of aconite poisoning is duo to the fact
that a paper which bad contained aconite
was found near his bed. It is alleged that
failing in his purpose to avert n scandal , the
baron had a stormy scene with the ministers
ho had trusted to prevent the Panama
canal revelations , and that it is possible on
re-entering his room , bo may have , in a lit
of desperation , taken the poison.
Duelled the Spree.
QuunxsTOWN , Dec. 11. The North German
Llyod steamship Spree , which was recently
towed to this port in a badly disabled condi
tion , has been docked. One bag of New
York mail , badly soaked , was found in the
flooded compartment and has been for
warded by the F.illa. Sixty tons of the
Spree's cargo has been landed.
Cause of Karen dn Kelnach's Death.
PAWS , Dec. 11. Dr. Brouarden denies the
rumors that ho has evidence that Baron do
Heinach's death was due to unnatural causes.
Tlio viscera and brain were tonight brought
to thetoxicological laboratory at Paris. The
Libre Parole , nevertheless , persists that the
examination revealed , .that death was duo to
aconite poisoning.
Crisis In the Portugal Cabinet.
L.1SDO.V , Dec. 11. Tlio minister of war has
resigned , owing to tlio failure of the cabinet
to agree on his proposed army reform. The
stability of the cabinet is threatened. Prime
Minister Fcrrcclo will ask for a vote of con-
lid ciu.'e. _
Adding to the Dntlex mi Alcohol.
PAIIIS , Dec. 11. The budget committee of
the Chamber of Deputies has decided to
propose that the duties on alcohol bo in
creased 100 francs.
The Death Itoll.
ROME , Dec. 11. Abbe Benedictine Smith ,
who is well known in America , died of
pneumonia today.
BLEW OUT THE GAS.
Wayfarers From Iowa I'lnd Death In n
IiOilKliif ? lloiirie.
W. F. Parks , jr. , of Fairfax , la. , and
Hiarles Shuckner , supposed to bo from
'cdarHapids ' , la. , retired to rest at the
Travelers' Homo at Thirteenth and Dodge
at 9 o'clock fast night , and blow out the gas.
< U 1 :10 : ! this morning the night clerk dis
covered gas issuing from the room occupied
by the men , and , breaking in the door , found
Park lying on the outside of the bed and life
extinct.
Parks , from papers in ills pocket , had
evidently traveled considerably in Iowa , as
ii memorandum in his pocket indicated that
ho bad been at DCS Mollies , Cedar liaphls ,
Ncola and other places.
A. JRJ-calibcr revolver was found near
Parks' pillow and n watch in his pocket.
Both men are fairly well dressed and
: ippcar to have beenlaborlngmcn or probably
railroaders.
Wealthy Contractor Mlsslnp.
Nnw YOUK , Dec. 11. Albert do Lour , a
wealthy contractor of Milwaukee , Wis. , has
been missing slnco Sunday , December . Ilo
came to this city about two weeks ago mid
stopped at the Fifth Avenue hotel , where ho
left an unpaid board bill and his luggage.
The missing man's wife came lo this city
Saturday , in quest of her husband. Slio
stated that he took about & ! 00 with him
when he left homo , Shu also admitted that
on a former occasion Mr. do Lour absented
himself from homo for several weeks and
explained his absence on business grounds ,
hut It was subsequently learned that lie had
been taken suddenly Insane and confined in
an asylum. She thinks , however , that he
recovered at that time.
I'rll l'iru-eii.Stirlen.
CIIICAOO , 111. , Deo. 11. Chnrlcs Chanter , a
botanist employed In the horticultural de
partment of the World's fair , today fell from
the fifteenth floor of the Masonic temple to
the basement. Ills body was mashed Into a
jolly. The elevator stopped at the fifteenth
floor , and as it started up without warning ,
the man in charco attempted to open the
doors to allow Chanter to get out. Chanter
was caught biitweun thu elevator and wire
grating on Hut side of Iho t > haft. This grat
ing bulged out , a Hinvi ut the car lo pass
Chanter , who at once fell to the sUmii floor ,
fifteen stories below. Chanter leaves a
widow and a daughter In Wisconsin.
Her Verdict Sustained ,
FOIIT DoDiii ! , la. , Dec. 11. [ Special Tele
gram to Tun Hr.i : , ] Mrs. M , B. Ifelloy hero
has been notified that the verdict of (1,000 In
her favor and ngalnst tlio Illinois Central
Hallway company lias been afllrmcd by the
United States appellate court. Mrs. Kellcy's
husband was killed by falling from an un
protected Ircstlo near Dubuque iwoycaia
ago , and a suit against the railway for
damages resulted In a verdict for f 1,000.
up i ; pnnti'H ,
CHICAGO , III. , Dec. 11. The committee on
ceremonies at the dedication of the World't
fair buildings will meet tomorrow to flgun :
up the dedication expenses. Thu rejiort will
show that $ ltbi > 'S bus been paid out and thai
about iVHU ) IB still to be paid.
< < - -
Ordered Hack lo China ,
Pi.ATTBUi'iio N. Y , Dec. 11 , The twelve
Chinamen smuggled at this port Into the
1'iilteil States from Canada bonu < time ago
have been ordered back to China by Uuitai
States Commissioner Wheeler.
SENSATION FROM IIOffiSTEAii
Discovery of im Alleged Plot to Kill
Nonunion Men.
OF THOSE ENGAGED IN IT <
Wlit > le ale Attempt at Murder1'olvinSllliJ
to lluvo lleeii I'laeed In '
tln < Men's , t
1'ood by Hired AfKiiwIiiii
Implicated.
PiTTSiiuiio , Pa. , Dec. U. A morning papoj
publishes a startling story today of a con '
splracy to poison by the wholesale nonunion
men at the Carncgio plant at Homestead.
The statement made' , It says , Implicated
members of the advisory committee , thq
members of the Amalgamated nssx-latlon ?
and officials of some of the labor organlta-
tlous , sympathizing with Iho locked out men
at Homestead.
As a result of this conspiracy It Is allegce !
that several persons have lost their lives ,
while scores of others are still suN
ferlng at their homes and In hospitals
from the effect of the poisonous drugd
administered to them with criminal Intent ]
Today nine or moro persons , moro or less
Identified with the strike , are under arrest ,
ostensibly on less serious charges , but really
for the purpose of averting suspicion until
all who are claimed to bo in the hellish busi
ness are secured. The only name given ot
these charged with administering poison 1.4
Robert Ilcatty , who was arrested at Louis
ville last night. Several others , however1 ,
are under heavy bail on other charges , and
the new charge will probably bo nmdo to ,
morrow , , as all are under surveillance ami
can bo taken at any moment.
Details of Iho Tearful Pint ,
The details of the foul plot , as they hava
been slowly , but persistently and unrcmlti
tingly developed are sufllclent to cause _ (
shudder to these who read or hear them ,
especially when it Is known that at least two
deaths , and perhaps a number' othorsi
have already been traced lo Iho work of the
willing tools selected' to carry the murderous
plan into execution.
It will bo remembered that shortly after *
the arrival of the state militia at Homestead
and the non-union men hud commenced worls
in iho mills , complaints became pre
valent about the unwholesome wa
ter supplied to the mcn , especially
these employed within the fence surround *
ing the plant. Many cases of sickness wcrg
reported , but were all attributed to the Im-t
purity of tlio water. So firmly impressed
wcro the physicians and the officials of thq
company that the water was causing tha
sickness , that a supply from other sources
was secured and notices were posted con * '
spicuously about the mill warning iho cn
ployes lo refrain from drinking iho watery
Despite these precautionary measures the ?
sickness continued and soon it became curi
rent at Homestead that an epidemic was
prevailing among the men within the eny
closure. A number of Ihe sick were taken ]
to the hospitals for treatment and nearly MB
these recovered , although many of them aro'
still 111. ' f.
Uumors tnat typhoid and other diseases
wcro epidemic in the mill led a representa
tive of the Slalo Board of Health to mattS
an ofllclal investigation. He found the sailfi
tary arrangements peed and attributed thjq
sickness to the water. .
When Suspicion WHS Arouned.
The first intimation iho ofllcers of the )
company had that the diagnosis of the pflytj
sicians was incorrect , and that the men Werq
victims of a conspiracy to poison them whlcll
was being persistently and successfully pur
sued , was obtained more than two months
since. It came in such a mannerhoweverthhE
It was impossible to make arrests IinmcdU
atcly.nnd it was not until yesterday that the
evidence was deemed sunicicnlly strong to
warrant the apprehension of onoofthose who
isalleged | lo have been implicated in the Bor *
gian conspiracy to get rid of the hated non
union men , either by death or by creating
such a panic among them that they wouleV
flee from the place in a body. The price to
bo paid when the mills were closed dowix
was $ r > , ( > 00.
The terrible plot , according to , the inform
ation obtained by the reporter , was made by
a man who was in tlio plot and was sub
stantially as follows : The informant said
that one of the chief cooks at the HomesteniV
works , with whom ho was Intimalcly ncf
piaintcd , met him In the city one day and , '
iskcd him If he did not want a job at IlotncV
stead. IIo said ho wanted at least two as
sistants and said the informant and his.
Iricnd could make big money if they would
iclp him. He told them he was not only ,
employed by the Carnegie company , but was
ilso In the pay of the labor associations anil
nembers of tlio strikers' committee ami'
was just coining money. . As ho grew moro
confidential , and prompted by the question ! ) '
ibout the pay from the associations , he-lold' '
ihern of a plan to poison the food of the men
in tljo mills so ns to maku < them siuki
mil render them unable to work ,
Ho detailed the plan ho hud been
pursuing ami asserted that nearly , It
not all , uf the sickness among the men , at
which so much had been current , had boon
caused by the poison he hud placed In tJiO'
food.
3IliIo u CoitfeHHlou.
Some time later the men reported Iho coolc
us becoming very uneasy and ihuy feared ho
would conclude to leave the city in a hurry ,
The death of some of thu men , especially that
of Charles Glosser , had unnerved him , and
they believed ho would make a clean breast !
of iho whole affair If ho wore summoned at )
once and placed under arrest , This was
done , and when confronted wilh thu facts , an
stated above , the cook broke down and made
a full confeslon , In which ho gave Iho nuincti
of ihosu who hud employed him , thu amount
of money ho hud received , and the manner
In which ho carried out , bis part of tlio torrl-
hie crime. He staled also that ho frequently
visited the camps of the militia and
dosed Iho food prepared In llui cookhouse.
Ills vlslls were always followed by increased
sickness among the members of the national
guard. This confession was taken by n
stenographer In the presence of several
witnesses. He also exhibited vouchers for
money duo him. After the testimony had
been reproduced upon n tytiuwrilor , it was
read to him and ho signed thu statement la'
the presence of witnesses.
After making ills confession , Ihn coolc
begged that ho should not bo placed in Jail ,
and his wishes to that extent wcro compiled
with. Ho has , however , us well as the two
original InformanlH , been kept under survollr
lance day and night , nil of thorn having been
continued In employment until their arrest.
Thu Charles Glossor referred to , died two
weeks after going lo Homestead , It it ) said
that since the confession made by Iho eookj
Iho body was exhumed and the xlomncli
submitted to a chemist for analysis. The
result of the analysis Is not known , but , It U
said the chemist's report will bo submitted
In evidence when the case comes up fur trial ,
A roimrtor called on Mr , Frlolt to learn , If ;
possible , the Carncglo's account of tint crime )
alleged against Ueatty , but that gentleman
positively refused to bo Interviewed.
At Homestead thu story was pronounced
to be ridiculous.
Confirmed the. Ktory ,
Dfi. Urci'k , counsel for the Carncglo Steel
company , was been tonight and confirmee !
thu story of the poisoning. IIo says his In
formation IK that a number of deaths re
sulted from poisoning. A Homestead drug
gist and physician are implicated. The
powder was given to u dog and It died hi a/
short time , A number of arrests will
probably be made In a few days.
Coroner McDowell has not ye t bcon
notified. IIo will go to Homestead to In *
vestlgalo Iho cause of thu death of Isaao
J lulls , wtio dluel suddenly about two wcuku
ago. Judis was a witness In the CYllchlow
cii&o The coroner IK of Iho opinion that hli
death was duo to alcoholism. t