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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 1897)
FHE OMAHA DAILY BEE ESTABLISHED JTJiTE 10 , 1871. CftCAIIA , PJRTDAY MOKTSrHSTGJ 15 , 1807. L13 COPY FIVE Cl-NTS. HOMES FOR THE MILLION Ecnato Passes the Frco Homestead Bill by a Decisive Majority , THIRTY MILLION ACRES INVOLVED All I'nhllu I.niulN Acquired from In- illnnn Thrown Open to the 1'nh- llc 'Without Money nnd AVIIhont Price. WASHINGTON. Jan. II. The senate today passed the measure known 03 the free home stead bill , which has been tinder discussion " elnco the holiday reccas. It Is a measure ot far-reaching Importance , particularly to the \veat , and the Interest la it was shown by the fact that a plank concerning It was a feature of several national platforms. The effect of the bill U to open to settle ment all the public land.1 acquired from Indians frco of any payment to the govern ment beyond the minor office fees and to rclccsc from payment those who have hereto fore settled on these lands. The number of acres Involved , according to an estimate made by the commissioner of the general land office , Is 33,552,511 , which would have yielded the government , at the prices heretofore established , $35,313,000. To offset this statement , It was brought out during the debate that the lands were mainly arid and that those who had settled upon them were unable to make payment by reason of the scanty products of the null. null.Tho The western senators , In the main , fa vored the bill as an extension of the gen eral homestead policy of the government. The opposition wns directed mainly by Mr. Plait of Connecticut nnd Mr. Vllas of "Wisconsin. As the bill passed In the house It covered only the lands acquired from In dians In Oklahoma , but as passed today the 1)111 Includes Indian lands. The vote was taken by agreement at 4 o'clock wltli a de cisive majority In favor of the bill. Following the decision ot this bill , which had held the advantageous position of the unfinished business ot the senate , Mr. Mor- 4- gan sought to have the Nicaragua canal % bill made the unfinished business. This prc- ' clpltatod n vote , which , to some extent , was a test of strength ot the bill Itself. In Mr. Morgan's motion to take the bill up the vote wns 33 to C , or less than a quorum , BO the motion did not prevail , although It disclosed the strength of the measure. During the day Mr. Morgan secured the adoption of a resolution for an Inquiry by the Judiciary committee as to whether the properties of the Union and Central Pacific companies now belong to the United States by reason of alleged defaults In the pay- < i- ment of bonds. 9 A resolution by Mr. CuIIom , calling on . the Civil Service commission to explain the delay In making annual reports , was adopted. ' The senate adjourned over to Monday. MORGAN'S RESOLUTION ; Mr. Morgan's resolution relating to the Pacific railroads Is as follows : "Whereas , H Is alleged that certain bonds Issued by the United States In aid of the Central Pacific railroad and also the Union Pacific railroad have fallen due and remain unpaid , and that by reason ot default the property held and owned by said companies nt that titno became the property of the United States and that said property of every description so held and owned by said companies at the tlmo ot such default now rightfully belongs to the United States. "Resolved , That the committee on Judl- cliry Is directed to examine Into and report whether such allegation U true In fact and In law , and that they report the nature and character of the right and title of the United States In and to said property and the description or class of property that has GO Inured to the United States under the law. and whether either of said railroad companies has any lawful right or equity In redemption of said property. " The resolution was ordered to He on the table. Senator Morgan announced that ho . desired to address the senate upon It. The bill for frco homesteads on public lands acquired from the Indians was taken up with n view to taking the final vote at 4 o'clock. Mr. Jones , democrat of Arkansas , supported the bill , saying It was for the benefit of the body of the people , whereas most of tbo legislation of congress was for favored Interests. HELP BUILD UP THE WEST. Mr. Teller , republican of Colorado , said that the- bill would help build up the west , the defeat of the measure would re sult In the- humiliating spectacle of the United States taking everything these set tlers bad mndo from their lands. Sir. Allison of Iowa , speaking- the first time this session , made Inquiries as to the extent of lands covered by the law In that state. Mr. Pcttlgrcw of South Dakota explained that It did net cover Indian lands not yet Acquired. "But another bill will como In , " Inter posed Mr. Cockrell of Missouri , "giving away the rest ot the land. " "I have no doubt ot It , " conceded Mr. Pct tlgrcw. The latter explained that the meas ure was restricted to agricultural lands and did not cover the timber portions of Min nesota and other states. Mr. Teller , resuming his remarks , enoke In Impassioned tones on the tendency to grant millions to a favored Interest and withhold this small pittance from the set tlers. Congress wasted more than the twin Involved annually on the army , on rivers and harbors and on naval expenditures which brought vast profits to the makers of armor. And yet this bill. In effect giving a settler $100 , was resisted and thu settler was to bo turned out as a tramp. The givat dan ger to the republic , declared Mr. Teller , was In Its not encouraging the great farming community. There were too many people In the cltloa and the factories. The Idea of our forefathers that the people should not be crowded into shops was being forgotten. Mr. Teller then referred to the frco homestead planks In 'lie various national platforms and criticised the course of senators In opposing this principle of platforms , which they pro fessed to accept. Mr. Platt , republican ot Connecticut , said the logical result of this bill was that the United States should embark on the peltry ot donating "lands to the landless and homes to the homeless , not only through the ben eficent terms of the home-stead laws , but by buying lands and then giving them away. " Mr. Platt declared that thn question ot the cast ucalnst the west was not Involved , MEASURE TOO BROAD. Mr. Allison said the bill appeared to bo too sweeping and too general. It had como from the house relating to lands In Oklahoma and was now broadened to cover all lands thus far acquired from the Indians. Ho did not bellcvo In going Into this wholesale manner of dealing with these lauds , Bomo of them hear towns and worth up to $50 and possibly $500 per acre. Ho might vote for the bill , but It ehould bo limited to tlioso agricultural lands actually hold by settlers and not these valuable lands near towns held by specula tors. j . Mr. Cockrell , democrat of Missouri , dc- f clared that this bill was a perversion of the / homestead la\\s. It wan In thu Interest of a comparatively few as against n vast number of people who were unable to got homestvadii. The eonator related the circumstances of thu scramble for homesteads In Oklahoma , showIng - Ing that a small proportion ot those who sought homes got them. Mr. Allison moved an amendment limiting' the operatloa of the bill to lands acquired from Indians prior to the passage of this act. After further debate , Messrs. Stewart of . Nevada , Allen of Nebraska. Carter of Mon- i tanc and Pettlgrcw of South IHkota opcak- , 'f , Ing for the bill , a vote was taken , The committee amendment extending the bill to all lands acquired from Indiana and also obligating the United States to pay the In dians the minis of money released by the chaugo from existing law were agreed to The amendment of Mr. Allison limiting the hill to lands acquired prior to this act was agreed to. The bill as amended was passed , yeas , 35 ; nays , 11. These voting against the bill were : Democrats ' Ilntp , I'nulkncr , , Vent , I llcrry. ' Orny , Vllim. Hrlcc. Hill , , ' ' Wnlthnll-10 Cookrcll , | Republicans , Platt-1 Totnl , II. fn favor of ths bill ; Republicans i .Million , Tryp , ' . Quay. 1 laker , Ocnr. Phcrnmn , Ilrown , i McHrldo , Shoup , Carter , MoMlllln , Tliuntnn. C'lnrk , Nc'inn , \V ttnoro. CMIIotn , i 1'crklns , AVllson-13 David , I Democrats I ' Ilncon. ( lordon. > I'ugh. lllnrkburn , Morgnn , Kmltlt , Call. MurpM' , Wlille 9 Populists Allen , 1'effor , Stewart 3 Indercndenld _ - C'nnnrn , 1'ottlgrcw , Mantle , Teller I Total , 2J. i TEXT OF THE BILL. The bill r.s passed Is ns follows : T.mt nil Fcttlcri under the honipstond laws of the United States upon the rnblli * binds acquired prior to t'.ic pns.-mso of this net , by ticuty or agreement from tbo vari ous Indian trlbcH , who luivc or who shall hereafter reside upon the tracts entered In good faith for the porlort required by ex isting law , shall bo entitled to a patent for tau land so entered , upon the payment to the local land olllcers of the usual nnd customary fees , and no other or further chargeof any kind whatsoever shall be iv- eiulred-ftom such settler to entitle him to n patent for tbo land covered by his en try , provided that the right to commute any such entry and pay for such lands In the option of any . ueh settler ami In the time and at the prices now llxcil by existing laws sr.iall ri-mnln In full force and effect ; provided , however , that nil the sums of money no released -which. If not rplcnsod would belong to any Indian tribe , shall ba paid to such Indian trlbo by the United States. Mr. Morgan , democrat of Alabama , at once moved to take up the Nicaragua canal bill , the purpose being to get thla measure In the favorable parliamentary status of unfin ished business. Mr. Morgan's motion , which WPS Indirectly a test on the canal bill was , yc s , 33 ; nays. C , less than a quorum. Mr. Morgan was about to ask for a call of the senate , but yielded to Mr. Hill's motion to adjourn. The vote on the Morgan motion was os follows : Those voting against taking up the bill were : Democrats Berry , Blackburn , Chllton , Cockrell , Gray 5. Independents , Teller. To tal. C. Mr. Cullom , republican of Illinois , secured the adoption ot a resolution calling on the civil service commission for Information as to whether It had submitted nn annual report for 1S95 and 1S9C , In accordance with law , and It not , to give the reasons for such failure and neglect. At 4:55 : the senate adjourned until Monday. TO uncaiLATiH ( > IJOMAU < : AHI.M ; . HOIIKC I'liNXcn the ( irout IIIII to the .S n Ii J eft. WASHINGTON , Jan. 14. The house spsnt almciU the entire day debating the Grout bill to subject oleomargarine and other Imi tation dairy products to the laws of the states Into which they are transported. The advocates of the measure took the view that the i-tales should be allowed to regulate the sale of a product sailing under false col ors , and the opponents argued that the bill would establish a dangerous precedent and luvado the power of congrew to regulate Interstate commerce. Those who supported the measure were : .Mciars. Noilhway , republican of Ohio ; Morse , republican of Massachusetts ; Licey , repub lican of Iowa ; Hulncr , republican of Ne braska ; WIHd ! , republican of Delaware ; Grosvenor , republican ot Ohio , and Hender son , republican ot Iowa. Those who opposed It were Messrs. Cooper , democrat of Florida ; Tucker , democrat of Virginia ; Cannon , repub lican of Illinois , Boatncr , democrat of Louis iana ; Cleary , republican of Kentucky , and Williams , republican ot Massachusetts. The bill Is as follows : That nil articles known as oleomargarine , butturine. Imitation butter or Imitation chcene , or any substance In the semblance of butter or chcopo not the usual product of Uio dairy and not made exclusively of pure and umululturntcA milk or cream , transported Into any state or territory or remaining therein for use , consumption , H.ile or storage therein , shall upon arrival In such state or territory , be subject to the operation and effect of the laws of such siato or territory enacted in the cxerclso of its police powers to the same extent nnd In the name manner as though mich article or HUbstance had been produced In Hiiuh ntnte or territory and shall not bo exempt there from by reason ot being introduced therein lit original packages or otherwise ; provided , that nothing In thin net Khali bo construed to permit any state to forbid the sale of oleomargarine except In such a manner as will advise u customer of Its real charac ter. ter..Mr. .Mr. Cooper , democrat of Florida , was the ( list to oppose the bill. K'e argued that U would take away" from congress the right to regulate commerce between the state. Con gress had abrogated Its power In the case of whisky. That was perhaps defensible , but the moment congress delegated this power In the CEQC of another product Inteistate com merce \\ould be demoralized. The precedent would arise to plague congress In the future and lead to Infinite confusion. Mr. Northway , republican of Ohio , argued In favor of the bill and said the people of ono btate should not bo allowed to Import Into another state nnd sell products which the people of that state could not them selves put on the market. Mr. Lacey called the attention of Mr. Williams , democrat of Mississippi , who was In charge of the opposition to the bill , to the fact that the state ot MUsourl prohibited the sale of olenuirgarlne except when branded as such. Ho said that the states certainly should have the right and had the right to regulate the sale of deleterious food Just as they had thu right to regulate the calo of whisky and tobacco. Mr. Cannon , republican of Illinois , Insisted that olcmargailne was not a deleterious food product , but was In fact , moro wholesome than thrco-ifoiirtlis of the butter sold In the United States. If the principle ot this 1)111 ) were applied , ho said , all these manufacturers cuuld be barred from sale In other states. IIAINER SPEEKS. Mr. Halncr , republican of Nebraska , sup ported the bill and said 99 per cent of the 77,000,000 pounds ot oleomargarine which an nually Invndc/d the domain ot the genuine dairy product wa ; ( sold as butter. The dairy Interests had a right to protection from thU counterfeit product. Mr. Boatncr , democrat of Louisiana , eald the advocates of the bill were proceeding on the theory that oleomargarine was a cheat nnd deleterious to the public health. If that were true , he declared , the dairy Jn- tcrcits would not need to come to congress , as the states had a perfect right , In the ex- crcUo ot their police power , to Interdict the sale of something which threatened thu health of her citizens. Mr. Cleary , democrat of Kentucky , and Mr. Williams , democrat of Tennessee , also apoke against the bill and Mr , Willis , demo- era' , of Delaware and Mr. Grosvenor , repub lican of Ohio , In favor of It. The later closed the general debate. In the course of his remarks he eald It was c peculiar comment on the march of political opinion to see old line- democrats who had In the past defended state rights with the sword now arguing that the bands of th ? states were tied nnd that congrc < "fi had the power to force Into a state against her will products which vho'dld not desire sold there. Mr , Grout , In chargeof the bill , offered an amendment providing "that nothing In this net shall bo construed to permit any state to foTbld the manufacture- eilc of oleo margarine In ftuch a manner ns will advise- the customer of Its real chuinctcr. " During thn debate on thla subject , Mr. Henderson , republican of Iowa , recalled the long flllbtuterlng fight agalnat the original oleomargarine bill , when , he said , the com- panU of Chicago and Kut.ias City were ( Continued on Third [ 'ago. ) PLANNING THE FORECLOSURE Reorganization Oommittoo Begins to Feel Its Way Again , PRESIDENT CLEVELAND HAS SOME IDEAS Mnlcv ( he Roverniiieiit n I'nrty to tin I'emlliiir Suit mill All IntereMtH Together " nt Once. WASHINGTON. Jan. 14. ( Special Tclo- gram. ) The reorganization committee ot the Union Pacific , It Is understood , has had a definite tin lerstandlng with President Cleve land nc to the manner In which the govern ment shall figure. In thu foreclosure suits now pending. Prom a reliably Informed source It Is learned that President Cleveland had , Inclined to the Idea that flie committee ctiuld secure the government against pebble less by having the United States appear as a party In the present pending foreclosure tults. To this end ex-Governor Hoadlcy ot Ohio , special counsel of the government In the Union Pacific cases , has been notified to appear , and It Is understood that ho will fllo a cross bill In the cases now pending , thereby bringing all parties of Interest Into the suits and forcing foreclosure at the ear liest possible moment. An upset price has been agreed upon.- , which will probably be In the neighborhood of $30,000,000 above the amount of the first mortgage , which Presi dent Cleveland believes to be a fair settle ment of existing liabilities on the part of tbo Union Pacific to the government. Con firmation of this rumor comes from the source suggested , but there lit another factor to bo considered In the matter which may play no small part In the settlement of the Union Pacific difficulty. Three or four syndicates are known to bo organizing for the purpose of bidding upon the property under the government foreclosure , and there Is no fear among those who know the value of the property and the Interest of companies desiring an entrance Into the west that the government will Icne any great portion of the amount Involved. P. S. Chamberlain of Boston , assistant to J. C. Coombs , general counsel of the Credits Commutation company of Sioux City , ap peared before the house committee on Pacific railroads In antagonism to the bill Intro duced at the last pension of congress for a settlement of the debt of the Sioux City & Pacific , operated now by the Northwestern sDtcm , and asked for an extension of tlmo that his company might bo further heard In opposition to the measure. The total amount of the subsidy bonds Issued by the government to this road Is $1,000,000 , which , added to accrued Interest which the govc/rnment had to pay thereon , makes a total debt due the United States of about $4,000,000 In round numbers. JOBST GETS TUB CONTRACT. I ) . J. Jobst of Omaha was awarded the con tract today for putting In the Interior finish ing of the basement and first story of ths Omaha public building at his bid of ? S3,59S. The contract cells for Its completion In eight months. Sir. Jobst was held up for some time by the Treasury department In order that It might ascertain his stand ing and several of the congressional dele gation united In a letter dignifying that he was perfectly competent to perform the work. Senator Thurston today Introduced the resolutions passed at a recent meeting , of citizens of Omaha In favor of recognizing the Independanco of Cuba. The rc.rolutlons were signed by C. R. Scott , J. M. "Weathers , M. P. Singleton , M. E. Morse and J. II. Web ster. Mr. Thurfton also Introduced pension bills for the relief of Aurcllus Iloberts and Ilcv. Warren Cochran. Representative Gamble of South Dakota to day , by request. Introduced a bill granting lands In South Dakota to aid In the con struction of the Dakota Pacific railway , from Sioux Falls to Granger , Wyo. The case of James M. Doweoie against ninehard was submitted during the morning hour of the supreme court , having como over from yesterday on argument. The Civil Service commission has decided upon dates for holding examinations during the first half of this year of applicant for positions In departmental service. In the northwcnt the dates arc as follows : Nebraska Omaha , clerk , copyist , etc. , April 7 : for railway mall service. April S. Grand Island , April 21. A special examina tion of applicants residing In the vicinity will be held at Ilcatrlce April 7. South Dakota Aberdeen , April 2 ; Sioux Palls. April 6 ; Deadwood , April 23. Special for residents In the vicinity of Pierre , April 2 , and at Yankton , April 5. Iowa Dc' < Molncs , clerk , copyist , etc. , April 9 ; railway mail service , April 10. Du- buquu , April 12 ; Burlington. April 14. Wyoming Cheyenne , April 19. Special for applicants In vicinity. > Aprll 21. PACIFIC IIOADS CASH IS IinVIVKIJ. Another rinii IJviilvt-iI for Ahont n Settlement. WASHINGTON , Jan. 14. The course taken by the house ! committee on Pacific roads to day makes It probable that the railroad question will bo brought before cougresa again this session In the form of n proposi tion to adopt the plan of Representative Harrison of Alabama for a government com- mlttco to make n settlement with the roads. With but one dissenting voice , the committee decided to empower a sub-cnmmltteo to con- alder Mr. Harrison's plan , which Is embodied ied In f , bill , and It Is predicted by most of the commltteemen that the bill will bo re ported Id thehouse. . It way decided to glvo a hearing on the question next Wednesday. The members of the subcommittee arc : Pow ers of Vermont , Hepburn of Iowa , Patter son of Tennessee , Harrison of Alabama and Hubbard of Missouri. In Ito personnel every ahadei of opinion , on the railroad question Is represented , It was Impelled to Its action by the strong feeling entertained by most of Its mcmbcra vigalnat the foreclosure by the government with the probability of government owner ship which the members consider nearly In evitable If the government forecloses. It was conceded that funding In any form was dead. Nothing was said , lit committee today about the views of the railroad companies on the committee plan , but It Is assumed that they will prefer an opportunity to continue negotiation with the government to fore closure. The Harrison bill , which embodies the Eiig. gcstlo&s made to congress by ex-President Harrison , names the secretaries of the treas ury and the Interior and the attorney gen eral to constitute the commission. A sug gestion was made that there should be n committee ot men , not government officials , Appointed by the president. It being argued that the cabinet officers would not have tlmo to cngago In the negotiations. Another sug gestion w 3 that the secretary of the In terior and the attorney general with three other peraons , nno selected by the president and ono by each of the two cabinet officers , constitute the' ' committee , The railroad question was opened before the committee by another attempt by repre sentatives of the Slonx City & Pacific pin- pany to secure an Independent scttlelncnt with the government. Attoruoja for the Chicago & Northwestern appeircd with their representative , Mr. Brown , to urge the adcptlon of a bill Introduced by Mr. Hep burn authorizing the secretory of the trcus- ' ury to make a settlement of ( lie. road's Iri- ilrbtednesa to the government. Tbcro ar/ $1,000,000 ot subsidy bonds maturing von January 1 , 1S98 , and the 'government hhs paid Interest en these which brlngn the road's Indebtedness up to about ? 1 , 000,000 , A majority of tbo Sioux City & Pacific utock la held by the Chicago ft Northwest- cm , which lioldJ a lerno of the read , no that u settlement practically would bo made with the latter corporation. Counsel for the Our- li Commutation romoany of Sioux City , which Includes 310 banla : In twenty-two states , holding the securities , spoke against the bill. The Sioux City Interests have op posed the funding bill and are antagonistic to any settlement with any of the Pacific railroads. They desire nn arrangement by which the Union Pacificwill ; bo prevented from discriminating agalnat them In traffic arrangements. I The Sioux City question was , with the Harrison plan , Intrusted to the subcommit tee. Mr. Harrison said today that his bill probably would bo amended to glvo the gov ernment committee authority to foreclose upon the roads In caseIt falls to make n set tlement with them. This change was sug gested recently by ex-Secretary Hoko Smith , who took an active part In the Pacific rall- loads question when In office. Ono point provided for by Mr. Harrison's bill , on which ho Is Insistent , Is that all testimony taken by the committee sfialt bo given under oath. The witnesses before the committee- when the funding bill was being prepared were not sworn , and Mr. Harrison cays no weight should be given to unsworn ex parto testi mony In dealing with a question Involving so much money. PACIFIC IIOADS , AUK COUMHIHD. 1'rexliletit Clevelniiil 111 n I'oMlloii to Drive it Cinoil lliirKiiln. ST. LOUIS , Jan. 14. The Globe-Democrat Washington special says : President Cleveland has assurances from two ayndlcates that If the Pacific road Is sold under foreclosure proceedings the bids made will bo far enough In excess of the first mortgage- lien to glvo the government ti fair return for the money It Is out through Its pecuniary advances to the companies. As soon as these assurances arc made formal , which they will bo In a short time , the president , under the authority given him by the act of 1SS7 , will entdr an appearance for the government In thfc foreclosure pro ceedings began by the first mortgage bond- holdcra , and an orJcr for the sale ot the property will bo obtained. The net amount duo the United States by the bond-aided roads , after deducting the amounts credited on account of transporta tion service , Is J121.310.87C. the original prin cipal of which was $ GIC23,512. In addition to the amount for which they were obligated to the United States , the cbmpanles , under authority granted by congress , Issued bonds amounting to $61,613,000 ; which have since by act of congress become a first lien on the i-oadsj. In order that the government should re ceive the full amount which It advanced to the reads , It would bo necessary that a bid bo made equal to the government's loan , plus the mortgage bonds. Assurances re ceived by the president nre that bids suffi ciently near this amount will bo made to satisfy the most scrupulous guardian of the government's Interests. The names of J. Plcrpont Morgan and Sen ator Morgan arc mentioned In connection with the syndicate. The Union Pacific com pany , realizing that neither the house nor the senate are Inclined to give them terms such as they labored under the delusion they could obtain , and realizing also that President Cleveland Is In earnest In his determination to foreclose , Is now ready to make the proposition which will net the gov ernment from $15,000,00.0 fo $20,000,000 moro than It would have obtained under the bill proposed by the house corm'jlttce. This \i \ UH uiu umuii i'uuiuu UUMI uionc. 1110 gov ernment's position Is now ell that could bo desired. O.V AHJIOIl PJNATH. .Vow HnitipNliIre .Senator 1'nren Down Seeretiiry Hcrhert'M EMtliimtcH. WASHINGTON , Jan , .1-1. Senator Chand ler of Now Hampshire , Uno prepared a re port on the cost ot arnvor .plate which will bo submitted to the aval committee of the senate at Us first racetlric. _ Mr. Chandler estimates -tho coat offiriioy plato at ? 300 per ton , a , reduction ot $100" from that made by Secretary Herbert. The report severely criticism Commander Folger , who was chief of the bureau of ordnance of the Navy department when largo amounts of armor were contracted for , Mr. Chandler , In reaching a price which ho thinks should be offered for armor , takes figures from the recent report of the secre tary of the navy , but parrs down several of the estimates. In the first place the secre tary's estimate for the labor and material 13 $ lSfi per ton and Senator Chandler's ? 1GS. The double forging both estimates glvo as ? 12G per ton. For maintaining the plant Mr. Chandler allows $30 per ton and the secretary $50. The secretary's estimate thus reaches J24G , which bo rails $2CO In round numbers , while Mr. Chandler's Is $210. The secretary added 50 per cent profit , bring ing the cost to $375. while Mr. Chandler allows a profit of 33 % ' per cent , making a cost of $280 per ton. The cost of nickel , $20 per ton , U added , making Mr. Chandler's total estimate $300 and Secretary Herbert's $395 , which ho makes In round numbers $400. Mr. Chandler strongly urges that $300 Is an ample sum to pay for armor plate and says It Is $50 more than the price paid by Russia. Individual members of Jho committee re fuse to express any opinion as to what the committee will do , but It In believed that In case a majority of the committee does not concur. Senator Chandler will bring the mat ter before the senate In a' minority report. Civil Service Kviiiilnn ) < foiiN. WASHINGTON , Jan. Ill The civil service commission has completed Its schedule of examinations throughout the country for the next six months. Legal residents of the District of Columbia , Maryland and Virginia will not be admitted to the clerk , copyist , messenger , watchman , stenographer or typewriting examinations because of their excessive share ot appointments. This Is an annual announcement. ; The first oxamlna. tlons of the season arc , on March 17 , nt Wilmington , Del. , Washington , D. C. , Cincin nati. Plttaburg and Richmond , Va. The last examinations arc on April 20 , at points In almost every state. Thefo are els routes to be colored by the examiners ot the com mission. FUcil Import WASHINGTON , Jan. 14. United States Consul Spencer at Curacoa , W. I. , has notified the State department that by on ordinance which went Into effect December 17 last Import charges have been laid as follows : One-half per cent ot the value on raw cotton , cocoa dlvl-illvl , goat skins , hides , qulnla bark , dycwaods and lignum vltao ; 5 per cent on cattle , sheep and mules ; 10 per cent on horses end all other goods except salt , which Is 3 per cent. t'hiniee for JlnrtlciiUnrlNtH. WASHINGTON , Jan , ' 14. The United States civil service coinmteslon will hold an examination In Washington and In all other largo cities where there arc applications , on February 10 , to fill a vacancy In the- position of expert horticulturist In the office of cx- perlmen'nl station , Department of Agri culture. for u V0"4' ' ' < I' > ry. WASHINGTON , Jan. 14. The secretary of the treasury transmitted to congress an es timate of $50,000 to establish a site for the erection of a penitentiary on tbo reservation at Fort Leavenworth , Kun , Court Hill Vcdicil. WASHINGTON , Jan. li. Tlio president today - day sent to the house his veto of a bill to establish a new division of the eastern judicial district of Texc . and to provide for 'other courts at Icaunant ) : , Tex. Heeelver for a llrokcn Hunk. WASHINGTON , Jan. 11. The comptroller of the currency lias appointed J , D. Atwater of-Mlnnaapolla receiver of the Columbia Na tional bank of Minneapolis. Dully TreiiMiry .Statement , WASHING TON' , Jan. 14. Today's atato- inont of the condition of the treasury shows : Available cash balance , $231,320,217 ; gold re serve , J140.I07.749. KcUclH NlurlM for WASHINGTON , Jan. U. Comptroller Eckels hco gene to Chicago on business con nected with the settlement of the affair * of the National Uanlt of Illinois. PLATT CARRIES THE CAUCUS Gathers in the Senatorial Plum in the Em pire State , OPPOSITION CUTS VERY LITTLE FIGURE Doc'lnlvc Victory Won liy the Man Who , In Company with Uonkllnu : , the .Srnaorshll > lit ISSi. ALBANY , Jan. 14. Thomas C. Plait , 152 ; Joseph H. Choato , 7 ; absent 2 , was the re sult of the republican caucus for United States senator tonlnht. Fo\v men have boon moro In the public cyo during the last fifteen years than Thomas Collier Platt. Ills entrance Into nalional prominence in 1SS1 was under conditions so unusual that his earlier public career and prominence ns n banker and irtcrchant have been generally forgotten. Unable , on account of 111 health , to pursue his college course beyond the sophomore year nt Yale , Mr. Platt took up a business career , which led the way to the presidency of n national bank at Tloga , N. Y. , and to n successful venture In the lumber trade In Mlchlcan. In 1S72 , when 39 years of age , ho was elected a representative to congress and In 1876 wjs elected United States senator In suc cession to Francis Kernan , his term ondlmi March , 1S81. In Masot the same year. In consequence of a quarrel with President Garfield - field over the distribution of i atroiiago In Now York state. Senators Conkllng and Platt resigned from the senate , expecting to bo re-elected , Instead of which the places they had vacated were given to Messrs. bapham and Miller. Mr. Platt held the office of commissioner ot quarantine of New York City from 18SO to 18S8 , when ho was removed by proceedings Instituted on account of his alleged non- residence. Ho has been a delegate to all of the republican national conventions , be ginning with that of 1870. Ho has been the recognized director of the republican party organization In New York state for the last twelve or fifteen years , and through his tltlo to supremacy has frequently been attacked , but ho has often demonstrated his ability to hold It against all comers. . Mr. Platt Is the president of the United States Express com pany. HoIs In hla C4th year. S13.VATOR I.UIJRU VISITS CANTON. N n RlKtiri'ttt * " " ' Hnyn Ile'H Tint n fa lil n i1 PonslliUKy. CANTON , Jail. 14. Senator Lodge , who came hero this morning , left for the east at 3:05 : p. m. this afternoon. The object of hla visit ho declined to state. But ho said suf ficient to show the Inference did not con cern himself and cabinet. JIo waa seen by the Associated press representative Just as ho was leaving the city. In reoponse to an Inquiry concerning his vlalt , the senator said : "Wo had a confidential talk and what wo said , I certainly cannot speak of. " "Thcro la eomo talk to the effect that you nro a cabinet possibility. Is that true ? " 'Almeat every prominent man has been named as a possibility for the cabinet. An for mjaclf , Major McKInlcy has known right along that I had no ilealre to enter the cabinet-nml I have had no occasion to change my mind sit cc. My.desire Is to remain In , the senate. " . "Kx-Governor Long of your state has been recently mentioned aa a possible meiuber of the coming cabinet. Have you bald anything to Major McKlnley about him ? " "As I cald before , " was the reply , "what has passed between Mr. McKInlcy and myself Is strictly confidential. However , Governor Long ls a splendid man and well thought of In our state and all New England. " "Do you think Senator Sherman has ac cepted the state portfolio ? " 'I have not seen Senator Sherman for some days , " WEO the senator's reply , ca ho puffed contentedly at a cigarette , "and I cannot pay what his latest decision Is. I see the papers have fixed him for the portfolio. " Mrs. McKlnley gave an Informal luncheon In honor of Mrs. Judd Brooks of Scwlcklcy , Pa. , olster-ln-law of Vice President John Riving Brown of Pennsylvania county. General Williams , ex-department com mander of the Grand Army of the Republic and cx-otatd chancellor of the Knlghtn ot Pythias of thU date , with several promi nent knights made a social call during the afternoon. Movn.iiu.\r TO IIOOM SHRHMAN. Friend * InyliiK llu > U'lroK tit Itvtiirn Him 4o the hVnatr. CLEVELAND , Jan. 14. The movsmcnt to send John Sherman to the rcenate for another term In case ho Is not made a cabinet min ister , la being pushed here. Several Ohio newspapers have wired Colonel A. T. Brlna- mondc , who U at the head of the movement , for Information as , to the exact situation as regards Sherman. Ho replied today , stating that there waa a ttrong probability of Sher man going Into McKlnley's cabinet , but In the absence , if absolute certainty the effort , ! would bo continued to have the next repub lican state convention endorse Sherman for the renate , us Forakcr had been , In capo Sherman doss not take a cabinet portfolio. IIIIinilH SiMintorlal SPRINGFIELD , III. , Jan. 14. M. B. Mad den , the Chicago alderman who has been one of the leading candidates In the senatorial contest , withdrew from the race tonight , throwing his support to ex-Congressman W. 1C. Mason of Chicago , who has been most prominent as n rival for Senator Palmer's PO.lL His wlHirlrnwnlvnn Immndl'itAlv fnl. lowed by that of Samuel Allorton , the mil lionaire packer of Chicago , who went at once to personally congratulate Mr. Mason , Mr. Maddcn's candidacy baa been bitterly fought by the anti-machine element of the stato. but , up to the moment of his withdrawal , It had been supposed ho would go Into the caucus tomorrow well backed by supporters. It Is generally believed tonight that Mad dcn's action makes the selection of Mason by the caucus tomorrow a. certainty. KiMinlor .Slitnilii 11 ( iiiex ( u Canton , WASHINGTON , Jan. 14-Senator John Sherman , who has accepted the position of secretary of state In Mr. McKInley'a cabinet , left tonight for Canton to have a confer ence with the president-elect. Senator Sherman's departure has been delayed on account of the extradition thcatlcs In the senate , of which ho had charge. U Is under stood that during Senator Sherman's vlnlt to Ohio It will bo definitely determined when his resignation will take effect , no there will ho no delay In the appointment of his successor. Ills resignation will bo ten dered to Governor Bushncll of Ohio , who will , as now agreed upon , name Mr. Hanna to servo until the meeting of the legisla ture. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ' ( | | | | ( Protect TlirniNOlvcH , KANSAS CITY , Jan. 14. A special to the Journal from Topeka , Kan. , says : The popu list leaders of both houses of the state leg islature have formed a combination to pre vent the Introduction of any "freak" blllc that might tend to bring their party Into disrepute- ridicule. A sort of an advisory board lisa neon established , and each popu < list representative or senator rcportu hU bills to this board to bo considered before Intro duction , CliiKtxvtt lll'llilx ( InIN | ( . BOISE , Idaho , Jan. 14. In the ballot for United States senator today ono democrat , who voted for Cloggctt yesterday , loft him , and ho also lout one of the populist votes. The result was : Claggctt , 31 ; Dubolu , 20 , Cooper ( populist ) , C ; Western ( populist ) , 3 ; Crook ( populUt ) , 1 ; Angell ( populist ) , 1 ; Nel son ( populUt ) , 1 ; Umlloiib' ( republican ) , 1. \i2im.vstvA MAN ' i ni.M.sr.i.r. Convict I'rliMiit Drnil ( _ H | Cell P1TTSBURG , Pa. , Jan BSpcctal Tele gram. ) Harry Spcnccr Rlum Valley , Knox county , Nob. , wa rro dead In his cell at the Western penitentiary this mornIng - Ing at C o'clock , having committed Milckle by hanging himself to a bolt In his cell with n small piece of cord about his neck. Ho was confined In A special cell , ae he bore the reputation of being a dct perato convict. Spencer moved from Ilium Valley to Omaha In 1S90. and worked In the yards of the Union Pacific railroad. Ho came to Plttshurg after leaving the west and asso ciated himself with two men , named Walker and Wilson , who arc now doing twelve years each In the pcnltimtlary. Spencer hnd been In Plttsburg but tuo .months In 1S93 when he was arrested for a number of daring burglaries and convicted. Walker and Wil son were each sentenced to twelve years , but Spencer , on account of his youth , ho being but 19 years of age , and his pleadlnpi , received only ten years , although It was proved at the trial that Spencer had planned all the thefts and" was the leader ot the gang. gang.While being led from the court house to the Jail after ills sentence. Spencer attacked the deputy sheriff having nlm In charge , knocked him down and made n dash to Jump through the window of the bridge of sighs , which connects the court house with the jail. Although breaking the glass , Spen cer failed to get hla body through. Spencer had scarcely been In the peniten tiary two months before ho planned escape with half a dozen other prisoners. Spencer had secured n short piece ot lead pipe and a small block of wood. His scheme was to place the wood between the cell door and the Jamb , so that It would not lock. When the guard came to stoop down to examine It , Spencer was to strike him senseless with the lead pipe. One of his confederates gave the plan away , and when the guard came to lock the door ho was escorted by two others with rifles. Spencer then planned the largest wholesale Jail delivery ever known. The convicts arc collected together In the chapel on Sundays for worship and after the services any prisoner Is allowed to approach the warden to speak to him , It being the only tlmo dur ing the "week such a liberty is permitted. Spencer had conspired with about fifty other men to strllco a blow for liberty , the b'gnal ! of which was to bo that Spencer waul.l step up to the warden to apeak to him , otrlko him down , disarm him , all the guards were to bo overpowered simultaneously and all the prisoners in th penitentiary were to bo liberated. Spencer acted his part. He struck WnrdcU Wright a terrible blow dn approaching him , but ho had failed to count air the guards In the gallery above the chapel , \\lo covered the nt'laoners ' below with their rifles and cowed them. Spencer had served two years last October. Till : .1IATUI.MO.MAI , YOIvi : CHAFKS. I'rlncoHN Chlniny mill Her CJypsy I.over Tire of Kueh Other. NEW YORK , Jan. II. A copyrighted cablegram from London to the Evening World EOJ-S : The World correspondent sent to Buda Pcsth writes that It U his judgment , after nearly a fortnight ot dally Interviews , luncli- cjjna and iHnncrs with the. Princess do Chl- may and h'or gypsy lover , that both aio al ready tired of tholr elopement. But the gypsy wants to make as much money out ot it as possible bcforo the Inevitable parting. " The correspondent was with the princess last Saturday , bcforo returning to his post In Berlin , and reports that the pair quar reled constantly. The manager of the Folios Bourgeois of Paris end the manager of the winter garden of Berlin have arrived hero and have had Interviews with the princess , before whom they laid some propositions for engagements to sing at these places. They dined with the princess , but she declined their offers for the pressnt. The correspondent odds : "Her brother , Ebscn Ward , who was stayIng - Ing In Cannes , Is expected here , as the princess telegraphed for him. "Tho next fW days might bring mat ters to a crisis. The princess says that If slio could only find somebody else who would run away with her , she would like to dose so Immediately , and piobably would choose Japan as her next hunting ground. "However , nothing the princess aajs can be depended upon , for ho changed her mind every moment. She findj pleasure in telling all kinds of stories to every ono who goes to aeo her. "If , " the correspondent continues , "tho prince had been well advised , ho would have asked to liavo his wlfo examined by experts In mental disorders. Thcro Is no doubt that If thl3 had been done she would have been placed In an asylum. " 1M.IMJIS TO UK ltii'HKHKXTii > . Hill AiiiiroprliillnK1 HlOO.ono for the TrnuHiiilNNlHNlpiiI IC\position. SPRINGFIELD , III. , Jan. 14. A ten-mlnuto session of the senate wna held this morning , during which n number ot bills were In troduced , Ir eluding one by Senator Crawford provUlng for the participation of tbo state In the Transmlssls lppl and International Ex position at Omaha In 1S9S , appropriating $100,000 to bo used In erecting a state build ing , and that the governor appoint a com mittee of three to execute the plans , Mitchell of Oregon Iteiioiuliuiteil. SALEM , Ore. , Jan. 14. The republicans In joint caucus tonight , by a unanimous vote of the members present , nominated John H. Mitchell to succeed himself In the United States senate. Forty-four members were present and jetters were read from two others , who were detained by sickness , stating they would abide by the will of the caucus. This gives Mitchell a bare majority of the legislature. The Mitchell men are Jubilant tonlcht and claim fnnr mpmlmr/i who refused to go Into caucus will cast their votes for Mitchell. ( ilven tin Kmpty Honor , JEFFERSON CITY , Mo. , Jan. 11. The re publican caucus to nominate a candidate to succeed Senator Vest wns held here tonight and resulted In the selection of Hon. Richard C. Kerens , national cccnmlttcman from Mis souri , over Clmunccy Ives Fllley , chairman of the state committee , by a vote of 30 to C. Thcro was a big fight In the caucus between the two factions. The honor M an empty one , a ? It is conceded that the demo crats will re-elect. Senator Vest. HIlHH NoTTa the Cnlilnet. NEW YORK. Jan. 14. Cornelius N. Bliss today confirmed the rumor that ho Is not to bo a .member of the next cabinet. Ho wan seen by an Associated press reporter , to whom he said : "I am not to bo a member of Major McKlnloy'fl cabinet. " Further than thin Mr. BlUa would not go. Ho declined to admit that ho had been offered a place In the cabinet , neither would hu glvo his reason for making this statement today. C'ninimlfiii Too Much for SI , John. NEW YORK , Jan , 14. William P. St. John , treasurer of the democratic national committee , lira been 111 at his homo In this city uliico hli return from a trip to North Carolina In search of health. The cause of the Illness Is a general breakdown and nerv ous prostration , duo to work In the recent campaign Crolter Out of Politic * for CJooil. NEW YORK. Jon. 14. Richard Croker made a speech at the Tammany Central club last night In which ho reiterated that ho was out of politics and denied emphati cally that lie had taken up his permanent residence In England , "Now York la my home , " said ho , "and alwayB will bo my homo. " Mnvi'iiientH of Oeeiiii VeNNelx , Jnn , 1 I , At OucoiiHtown Arrived Ilrltunnlu , from Now York for Liverpool , Balled Teutonic , from Liverpool for Now York. At Now York Arrived llerlln , from Ant werp. At .MarBclllCH Arrived California , from York , via Napluu , COUNTING IN AN AMENDMENT Neatness antl Dispatch with Which the Feat Was Accomplished , LITTLE BIT OF NEBRASKA'S HISTORY How the AxNeitthly of 1SS5 Arrmiircil Matter * nml 1'rovlileil for n Sixty IiiNleuil of u Korty-lny LINCOLN. Jan. 14. ( Special Telegram. ) The members of the legislature have not succeeded up to the present tlmo In workIng - Ing up anything bordering upon the sen sational. Many bills have been Introduced In both branches , some of them Important nnd far-reaching In their effects ; but ns none of them have as yet como from the hands of the printers consequently few members have had nn opportunity to study the proposed legislative reforms. There Is ono bill , however , the purport of which Is fully understood In both houses. This Is the bill proposing n recount ot th ballots on the constitutional amendments. Members ot both houses fully realize th work cut out for them by this bill. The bill provides that the votes on the amend ment must bo counted nnd reported to the governor on or before February 15. That leaves but thirty days , But neither house has passed the bill , nnd , assuming that It will become n law without encountering the delay of n determined opposition , It can not reach the governor for his signature ) earlier than nome day next week. The bill Is still In the hands of the printers. It will have to bo considered In committee , then reported back to tbo ncnate. run the gauntlet of the committee of the whole there , nnd , after It has passed , must be en grossed and enrolled and then presented to the governor. All thcso movements consume - sumo time. It Is generally conceded that It will be a difficult matter to find the votes necessary to declare the amendment car ried. Still , the task Is not necessarily . hopeless one. It has been done before. ONE AMENDMENT CARRIED. In 1884 the people voted down , apparently , an amendment to extend the legislative term from forty to sixty dajs. It was generally conceded that the amendment failed ; but the history of the legislature , wnicn mei in Jan uary , 1SS3 , developed otherwl.se. On January 5 , 1SS5 , after both houses of the legislature had been organized and the Joint ) convention had assembled to canvass the returns , the legislative amendment WES duly declared lost. It wc not until the life of the legis lature had nearly expired that the members realized just how short a legislative term of forty dayn really waa. On February 15 , Sen ator Vandcmark of Saumlers county wna seized with an Inspiration. It took the form of a Joint resolution , providing for a re- canvae.3 of the votes on the legislative amendment. In two dayo the Joint resolu tion wsa passed. It went to the house and wcs passed on February 26. Two days later It received the official sanction of Governor Thaycr and became a law. The rccanvcca wco conducted by Secretary of State Laws and Auditor II. A. Babcoek. assisted by Senators J. K. Vandcrmark and Paul Schmlnko and Representatives Frank E. White- and W. H. McCann. The work waa finished In .1 surprisingly short tlmo * Tha polling hooka and ballots from the several counties were forwarded to the state capl- tel , the votes were carefully recounted end five days later the canvassing board wn ready to make Its report. On the evening of March 1 , the two houses met In Joint convention to can van the votes. The results surprised the ex pectations of even the most sanguine friend * of the amendment. It was reported that the amendment had received 72.497 votes. Th veto against It was 22,135. Then 27.771 voters failed to express a choice and ld.013 were generous and voted both for and ngalnal the proposition. The total vote on tin amendment was 138.423. When the total voti on the amendment Is compared with th total vote ca. t for state officers on the same day the results are somewhat startling. Hero Is the total vote on the slate ticket : On governor , 135,555 ; lieutenant governor. 133,908 ; secretary of state , 134.139 ; treasurer , 134,088 ; auditor , 131,039 ; attorney general , 131,050 ; commissioner of public lands and buildings , 131,233 ; superintendent a } public Instruction , 131,094. For the first tlmo In the history ot the state more votes were cast for a proposed amendment than were cast for any office on the Elate ticket. The declaration made by the Joint convention nn January 5 to the effect that the legislative amendment had not carried was by formal vote rescinded. DOUGLAS COUNTY CONTESTS. The Douglas county contests are develop ing moro Interest as the session growa older. The attempt of the republican minor ity In the house to force nn Immediate re jection of the claims of the contestants has brought the cases to the surface , and they are now In the legislative swim. The houoo committee on privileges and elections met tonight to map out a program for action. The committee on privileges and elections held l ; first session this evening , all the members being present but Representative Schram , who.io Illness prevented his attend ance. An Informal discussion of the method cf procedure was first held , and then the work on the contests was mopped out. It was decided to ask the house to adjourn at noon tomorrow until noon Monday. If the house agrees , an open meeting of the com mittee will bo held tomorrow afternoon , an other In the evening , ono Saturday fore noon , and , If necessary , ono Monday morn ing. An attempt will bo made to dispose of Mm pn n nml mnlm n final rprnmmrnilatlrm Monday afternoon , but the tlmo of the hear ings will ho extended Indefinitely If the merits of thn case demand It. Ono thing may lead to delay. The committee proposes to subpoena George W. Holdrcgoand Interro gate him as to the charges made by con testants that passes were used with which to bribe largo number * ! of voters. The ef fect of railroad participation In politics will bo studied In the light of the testimony which the committee hopes to elicit from Mr. Iloldreui. The briefs of the contestants were filed with the committee today. John Jeffco.it has been occupying a seat nn the floor of the cenato for two days and John O. Yelscr haa liccn hovering around the fringe of the Ku- liilrture for about the Name length of time. There IB , likewise , a cloud of attorneys from Omaha , who are doing their best to stand around In an attitude that Implies simple , disinterested motives In the cause of elective , reforms. The brief sots forth the following grounds , upon which tin ) contestants baao tholr claims for ncata In the legislature : 1. Seven hundred nnd fifty foreigners wcra made voters by bribery nml Induced to vote for the rontoHtcpH for the cost of t.iclr nat uralization papers , 2. A $10,000 corruption fund \vns expended by the republican party nml Iti nlllcn In DougliiH county Mono to Hocuro the election of Its iiomlnecH , by tbo IIHO of which money It bribed nnd purchnped n grcntur number of voters than would bo nceenHary In num ber to clmiiKn thn rcmilt of the election , 3. Intimidation nnd coercion of employes on the part of corporations and moneyed In- Htltntlonx. 4. Intcrferi-nco of railroads by giving frco PIIHKCH to voter" nlisi'iit from Douglas county on condition Hint they would re turn and vote the republican ticket. SI3VATOII.S jTo TlTTI.n IIUKIMCNM. Knurl to ni | iciiNc with n Ilepnhlleanl Mliiployo the .MilIII Tiling. LINCOLN , Jan. 14. ( Special. ) After the preliminary work had been cleared away In the senate this morning the free silver mou dnvntcd some llttlo portion of the state's time to the consideration of ways and means for dlii.ncnsln : : with u custodian of the sonata water closet , who had been appointed by cx- S'-crolary of Ktatu Piper , in order to Qocuro the nppclntmimt of ono moro Illu-ly to bo U