THE OMAHA DAILY BEE. i.'l
ESTABLISHED JUNE 10 , 187J. OMAHA , THTJKSDAY MOBKTXG , 3IAY 19 , 1898. corr FIVE CENTS.
BATTLESHIP IS LAUNCHED
Alabama Slides Into the Water at Cramps
.Ship Yank.
MISS MORGAN CHRISTENS THE VESSEL
Six Month * Yet Iteqalred to Hare It
Heady ( or Sea Datr Ha * Deea
Delayed by Difference *
Over Armor Contract * .
PHILADELPHIA , May 18. Acting under
Instructions from the United State * authori
ties at Washington the Cramp Ship and
Engine Building company announced that
the launching of the battleship Alabama to
day would be private. The yard was under
guard and only a small party of Invited
guests from Washington was admitted.
This Is the first time the general public has
been excluded from a launch since the
building of the new navy began. In the
past these first trips have attracted tbou
sands of people. For the past few weeks
John Keen , boss ship carpenter , and his
trained mechanics have been busy adjust
ing with methematlcal precision the bilge
ways , which arc prepared with tallow , all
ready for the setting up of the huge oak
"Wedges. As It rests easy ready to plunge
Into the water the battleship looks like a
gceat giant chained to the earth , ready to
be completed to assist In maintaining the
Integrity of Its country. Us great length
nnd breadth of beam bespeak Us tre
mendous power for attack or defense. The
launch was successfully accomplished at
12:50. :
It will bo several months before It will
be ready to be turned over to the govern
ment. If the officials at Washington de
sired It and Issued an Imperative order to
that effect the ship cuuld bo ready for war
In about six months , but this would neces
sitate the putting on of an extra force o
men. Under ordinary "conditions It wll
\ie ready In about a year from now , for 1
takes something like three years to plan
and complete a * vessel of this type. Be-
Bldcs , It may be difficult to oBtaln the great
, A amount of armor required , owing to the
f * fact that the government has not taken
kindly to the high prices In vogue. But by
the tlmo this matter Is settled It Is thought
some of the heavy steel plates can be ob
tained. The cost of the three new ships
was limited to { 3,710,000. The Alabama
and Its ulster ships , the Illinois and the
Wisconsin , which are now In process of
construction , are the combinations of the
best features of the Iowa and Kcarsarge
typs.
The Alabama la the first to be launched
, of the thrro new battleships of Its type , the
I others being the Illinois nnd Wisconsin.
' It presents marked divergences of design
i from the first three battleships Oregon ,
, j Indiana and Massachusetts. These differ
ences Involve both the arrangement of the
battery nnd the disposition of the armor as
|
well as a considerable Increase In size and 1
displacement. The first type had the armor
arranged In -water line belt and casemate
amidships , with the ends forward nnd a part
of the belt protected by submerged armored
decks and the batteries were mounted
at follows : Four 13-inch guns In two
turrets , eight 8-lnch guns In four
turrets , one at each corner of the
superstructure , and four 6-Inch guns
mounted at the corners of the casemate
below the superstructure.
In the Alabama the water line armor Is
carried clear forward ; the protective deck ,
instead of being submerged as In former
hips , is raised to the level of the belt by
lopes at each side , the same as In protected
cruisers. The 8-Inch guns of the Indiana
type are done away with entirely , the
main battery of the Alabama type con
sisting of four 13-Inch guns ID turrets and
fourteen 6-luch rapid-firing guns , of which
ten are mounted on the gun deck , eight In
broadside between the turrets , and two
firing straight ahead forward of the fore
turret on the gun deck. Four are mounted
in a small redoubt on the casemate deck , two
on each side. The broadside 6-Inch guns
Instead of being mounted In projecting
sponsons , are mounted In recess ports in
order to secure extensive train forward and
abaft the beam.
The general dimensions of the Alabama
class are as follows : Length over all , 374
feet : breadth , seventy-two feet ; freeboard
forward , twenty feet ; freeboard abaft the
after turret , thirteen leet , four Inches
draught , twenty-three feet six Inches ; dis
placement , 11,520 tons. The guaranteed
speed Is to be sixteen knots and the esti
mated horse-power 1,900 The secondary bat
tery consists of seventeen 6-pounder rapid'
fire guns ; six one pounder rapid-fire gun
and four Catlings.
The arrangement of the boilers In the
Alabama class differs from that In the
Indiana In being eight slngle-endei
boilers Instead of four double-cnders and
is being placed atbwartshlps with afore am
aft flro room instead of longitudinal , wltt
an athwartshlp fire room as In the formei
class. Examinations of the plans of the
Alabama as compared with those of th
earlier ships will show that the departure
in the details of construction are in th
direction of simplicity and also the re
ductlon of the number of different calibre
of ammunition required to be carried or
board , the effective weight of fire It
various positions remaining substantial !
the same. Dispensing with the elght-lnct
turrets also considerably reduced thi
weights to be carried high above the water
which It Is believed will be an advantage
in a heavy seaway. On the whole thi
armament , armor and speed of the Alabama
with a displacement of 11,500 tons , com
pares favorably with the latest type of bat
tleshlp abroad , with a displacement of 15 ,
000 tons.
The maximum thickness of armor on th
water line Is 16 4 Inches to 9Vi Inches at th
bottom of the belt. The casemate armor I
&Vi Inches thick and the superstructur
armor Is of the same thickness. The anne
of the 13-Inch gun turrets Is 15 Inches thlcl
except in the port hole plate , which U 1
inches. The armor of the barbettes , o
which the turrets rest , is 15 Inches thlcV
The thickness of the protective deck anne
on the flat over the citadel amidships an
also forward and aft Is 2 % Inches , on
the thickness of the slopes forward and al
of the amidships citadel Is four Inches. Tb
conning tower 1s cylindrical and 10 Incbe .
thick. The total weight of armor and bolt
is 2,720 tons , and of the protective dec
armor 593 tons. The weight of armamen
with normal supply of ammunition , whlc
is two-thirds of the full war supply , is 6
tons.
tons.The
The builders say the construction of tb
'Alabama has been delayed over a year b
the failure of the last congress to provld
the necessary armor. Had provision bee
made for the manufacture of armor , tb
Alabama would at this time. Instead of beln
launched , be fitting out for service.
Grnernl OIU lirarhe * the Coast.
SAN FRANCISCO. May 18. Major Gen
cral B. S. Otli , who bus been ordered by tb
War department to proceed to the rhlllj
pine { glands as nccond In command to Major
General Wcrley Merrill , has arrived here ,
accompanied by his staff , He will not Ulk
for publication regarding his future move
ments , stating that the orders he boa re
ceived have already been made public. Two
battalions of nearly 700 volunteers from
Oregon will arrive In this city today and
will pitch tents at the Presidio.
DRIFTING AWAY FROM FRANCE
Sympathy for SpanUh Hot the Only
DIIHcalty Commercial Rela
tion * UoBleaaant.
NEW YORK , May 18. A peclal to the
Herald from Washington says : While the
relations between the United States and
Great Britain are being more closely knit
together , those with France are not as cor
dial as the authorities would like. It de
veloped today that there has been a prac
tical suspension of the reciprocity negotia
tions between the Washington and Paris
governments , duo to the action of the
French authorities In Increasing the tarlft
duty on several American products Im
ported largely Into France. This Increase
Is particularly felt by meat shippers , and
Indignant protests have been made to the
State department , which have caused the
department to submit a formal protest on
the subje-ct to France. In the meantime the
reciprocity negotiations are languishing , and
It Is doubtful If they will be resumed until
France has made a satisfactory explanation
of Us action , or at least has reduced the
tar I ft to the point It was before the existing
law went Into effect.
"France Increased Its tariff after the
Dlnglcy law went Into effect , " said an offi
cial , "the object being to take off the In
crease In exchange for concessions , to be
given by this government In accordance with
the provisions of the Dlngley law. To say
the least , this was rather a sharp trick.
"This government was Informed at the
time the French executive recommended Its
legislature to enact a law providing for the
Imposition of Increased duties on American
products , nnd the matter was brought to
the attention of the Paris authorities , but
the law- was placed on the French statute
books and la now being enforced.
It Is the firm belief of administration offi
cials that the French attitude on the tariff
and other questions Is dictated by France's
sympathy for Spain , and there Is no question
that the Spanish government Is receiving Its
moral support. If the Spanish fleet should
succeed In raising any part of the American
blockade of Cuba the officials have no doubt
that France would be one of the first nations
to raise Innumerable questions growing out
of the alleged Ineffectiveness of the block
ade. As an offset to France's attitude that
assumed by Great Britain Is most refresh-
lug to officials , and no surprise need be
expressed If most of the troublesome ques
tions between the two governments are
promptly nnd effectually settled.
It Is known that the reciprocity negotia
tions between the United States and Great
Britain for the "Bermuda , Bahama and West
Indian Islands , belonging to Great Britain ,
are progressing most satisfactorily , and
there Is some reason to believe that Canada
will soon enter Into reciprocity negotiations
with this country.
Special Ambassador Foster Is also busy
with the Bering sea controversy , and It Is
quite possible that a solution of this ques-
.tlon may be expected within the near
future.
One of the most pointed features of the
good relations existing between the United
States and Great Britain Is the fact that
Sir Julian Pauncefote Is a dally visitor to
the State department , and that his relations
with the "tfllcials of the department are ol
the most cordial character.
It Is denied in official circles that any
thing is being done looking to the forma
tion of an alliance between the two coun
tries , and It is stated that the arbitration
treaty Is still on the shelf.
IIAS NO NEWS TO GIVE OUT
Navy Department Will Not Tell If 1
Know * Locntlon of Fleet * .
WASHINGTON. May 18. There has been
no meeting yet between the hostile fleets
In the neighborhood of Cuba and that was
all that could be learned this morning at
the Navy department. If the department is
, aware of the location of the Spanish squad
ron It is carefully concealing the fact. By
this time , supposing Schley to have gone
southward , he should be somewhere off the
coast of Cuba , and It may be that ho bos
Joined forces with Sampson. Naval officers
are hoping that the Spanish squadron has
really passed through the straits of Yucatan
Into the Gulf of Mexico , for In that case
; there Is a reasonable expectation that by
combined action on the part of Sampson and
Schley , one starting at the Windward pas
sage and the Florida straits , and the other
around the south of Cuba , and coming Into
- the Yucatan straits , the Spaniards will be
effectually snared.
The officials of the department are unable
to account for the reports coming from sev
eral points in the gulf and waters In the
vicinity of Haytl that there was heavy can i.
nonading Sunday In that vicinity for there
Is no report yet of an action and no Ameri
can ships are known to have been In the
localities named.
The safety of the Oregon is now well-
nigh assured , and there Is reason to be-
< llevo that the department was informed >
! today that It had joined Sampson's fleet
< though no official admission on this point
> has been made. It Is believed that the big \
: battleship left Bahla on the night of the
10th or the morning of the llth. The same ,
average speed on the way mode around
] Cape Horn would place It In the Windward
passage today. If this belief Is well-
founded , the department will be relieved ol
, a great load of apprehension and It will be
able to proceed at once to the prosecution
of a plan ot campaign that was very de f.
sirable , but Impossible of execution , so long
as the safety of the Oregon was at stake.
t-
INSIST I'PON GOING AS A BOD1
'
Ohio Nnval Heerve Decline thi
be Term * o , the Government.
he CLEVELAND , May 18. Lieutenant Com
Is mander Hawley , the naval recruiting offi
cer , has , been advised by JherNavy depart
ment that It could not take the Ohio naval
ck reserves as a body , or any single dlvlslor
17 of them as such. Lieutenant Hawley wai
: instructed to go to Chicago with his recruit
Ing staff. Lieutenant Hawley said that h <
had been Informed that the Illinois reserve )
nd were anxious to enlist Individually. Tbej
decided if they could not go as a body the ]
Lft would gladly go separately , he was told , anc
be he expected to get a tot of men for the navj
.es from the Chicago reserves. As the Ohlc
Its men refused to enlist individually , the Nav ]
ck department must now seek elsewhere for iti
nt 200 emergency men that It expected to ge
ch from the reserves of Ohio.
i64
Organising Volunteer Reserve * .
he YANKTON. S. D. . May 18. ( Special.- )
by A public meeting has been held hero foi
the purpose of forming , lt _ possible , a bed ]
of the National Volunteer reserves. A
cn
the meeting speeches w fo made by Hon
Bartletl Tripp and A. B. Wllcox , afte
which a committee * composed of repre
sentatlvea of nearly all civic organization
In the city was appointed. The commlttei
will meet this week In a body to perfect ill
he arrangements for carrying out the propose )
IP- plans.
INTEND TO CUT THE CABLES
Blanco to Be Shot Off from Communication
with Outride World.
KEEPS THE SPANISH TOO WELL POSTED
Line * Leading from SaatlaRO to De
Ue troreil Within the Three-
Mile Limit It Can De
Done Eally.
WASHINGTON , May IS. The complete
Isolation of General Blanco from the out
side world is now looked upon by leading
military and naval authorities as an essen
tial move to be executed at the earliest
possible moment. The pressing need of this
has become more evident within the last
few days , since General Blanco is known
to have been In constant cable communica
tion with the admiral of the Spanish squad
ron and also with Madrid. He has thus
been an Intermediary between the govern
ment and the admiral , Informing them of
his own needs , nnd advising them on matters
of policy. The authorities here feel { he
need of bringing this communication to an
end , and official Inquiry has developed that
here will be little difficulty In Isolating
Captain General Blanco If the necessary
teps are quickly taken and energetically.
Havana's communication with the outside
world Is carried on by means of five distinct
cable lines. Two of these run to the United
States and are , of course , closed to General
3lanco. The remaining three cable exits
rom Havana are by way of Santiago on the
south coast of Cuba. Havana Is connected
> y two land lines with Santiago and also
by one shore cable with Santiago.
The actual departure of the cables from
Cuba occurs at Santiago , two of the lines
running thence to Jamaica , and one to Haytl
When a message has once left Cuba by one
of the three lines still open It has no less
than six different routes It can adopt after
leaving Jamaica or Haytl. From Jamaica
one route goes to Colon , Cape Verde Island *
and thence to Spain ; a second route goes
to Bermuda , Halifax and thence to Spain-
a third route goes to Venezuela , Peruam-
buco. Cape Verde and thence to Spain ; a
fourth route goes to the Windward Islandu
Dutch Guiana , Pernambuco , Cape Verde am
Spain. From Haytl there are two routes
one to Venezuela , Pernambuco , Capo Verde
and Spain , and a second by way of the
Windward Islands to British Guiana. The
authorities here have with much labor
floured out all of these various means by
which General Blanco can Veep his com
munications. They are satisfied that the
three cables running to Santiago are the
routes from which all these * various branches
spring , nnd If this triple root is cut the
entire system of communication between
Cuba and the outside world will be at an
end. Santiago Is not a strongly fortified
town , and It Is believed there would be little
danger attending the cutting of the thrco
cables at that point.
Right to cut these cables Is not doubted
by the authorities here , although most of
them arc British cables. The chief signal
officer. General Greeley , first advanced the
principle that in time of war the right
existed to destroy property found in an
enemy's territory , and In the case of cables
that the right existed to destroy them within
the three marine leagues constituting Spain's
Jurisdiction. The principle has now been
accepted , and is the policy on which the
government Is acting. When the cables at
Santiago will be cut is not disclosed , but
there Is strong pressure toward having the
work done Immediately , for , until It Is done.
General Blanco maintains his communica
tion and is thus enabled to embarrass the
operations of the military and naval forces.
HAVE CHANCE FOR SPECULATION.
Shutting Off the Fonntnln of New
Sinr the Guelmen to Work.
NEW YORK. May Id. A special to the
'Times from Washington says : Every exer-
tlon has been made by the Navy department
to Inform Admiral Sampson of the location
of the Spanish squadron and every possible
precaution has been taken , It Is believed j
to prevent information about the movements
of the United States fleet from falling Into
the hands of the Spanish. It Is not pos
sible absolutely to prevent such Information
from getting Into the possession of the
Spaniards , for there are many ways of get
ting messages to Spain and then to the
shores of the Carlbean sea besides sending
them to New York or to Boston , to be trans
mitted thence by cable. The restrictions
Imposed by the United States , however
make communication more difficult than 11
would be otherwise.
Only a few could be found who dared talk
about the affairs In which everybody Is In-
i tcrested. One of these officers , a man ol
' excellent Judgment , expressed tbo optnloc
[ that the fact the monitors were to be pul
on guard before Havana , pointed clearly th
I determination of Admiral Sampson to dls-
e' ' pose of the slowest vessels so as to enable
able him to move with greater speed 1
search of Admiral Cervera and his ships.
For the same reason Commodore Schley
It is assumed , will not be detained or
blockading service whllo the Spanish fleel
Is less than 600 miles away from Admtra
, Sampsoni and Commodore Schley Is abou
twice as far away.
For all that Is definitely known here. Ad-
ralral Sampson may bo much nearer to Ad'
e mlral Cervera thaa Is supposed. It Is stll
felt to be possible for the Spanish admiral
J' if be be so Inclined , to get out of thi
'
- Caribbean sea without fighting. To do tha
however , he must get out before Commo
e' dore Schley can meet with Sampson ant
in'push on to the eastward of the point when
. I Admiral Cervera was last seen in order t
occupy him until Admiral Sampson can be
brought up with his ships for the battle tha
Is expected.
This , it has been suggested by one nava
officer , lacks some element of security. "I
Is all right , " he says , "If the Spanish ad
mlral Is prepared to stand and meet out
fleet. It Is all right If the Spanish fleet i
short of coal , so as to be unable to make
long and fast voyage. The mere fact tha
coal was purchased at Curacao does no
surely indicate that Admiral Cervera wa
. out of coal or that he was short of It. Hi
may have sought to give the Impression tha
ho is short , so as to urge Admiral Sampsoi
to look for him at the most distant poln
from the United Statesr
"What our war board Is not forgettlni
Is that having lured Sampson and Schle
away from Key Westr leaving the coast o
the United States exposed , he suddenly ma
drop his colliers , start his ships unde
forced draught , reach some city , say Net
York or Boston , In four Sr flve days and tx
able to do considerable damage or collec
some large indemnity as the price of ab
stentton tram damage , and then have coa
enough to carry htm back to Spain. I d
not say this to create alarm. There hav
been intimations from the Spanish pres
to Justify the belief that somcTsuch enter
prise is anticipated. "
Very little importance Is attached to be
report that the Spanish fleet Is lurking 'or '
the Oregon and Its consorts. The adralnle
tratlon was informed that these vessel
were near Pernambuco. If that repori
which wu given out by a member of tb
ablnet , Is correct , the &rgn and the ships
with It have yet l.SOO tailm to sail before
.hey will be off Martini * * * . Proceeding at
he pace which the Ur * > T * sols have been
.raveling It may b a week before the
Spanish fleet will meet them. Before that
Imc It Is hoped that Admiral Sampson will
have forced Admiral Ccrvera to fight. Then
f he proceeds to the'southward In search
of the Oregon he may'be followed and be
obliged to fight Admiral Sampson's fleet , rc-
nforced by the Oregon , Marietta and
Buffalo.
H appear * that the president was well
advised that the chief desire of the ad
miral of the Spanish fleet Just cow Is tote
to able to land ammunition for Blanco's use.
The source of the Information Is not di
vulged , but It Is supposed to have been
from Havana and from some one in that city
possessed of valuable Information. The ex
pectation of war was not entertained by the
Spanish government in time to send over
ammunition for the great guns at Havana.
A small stock only Is on hand , and It Is
deemed very necessary that the supplies of
ammunition should be augmented at once.
Admiral Cervera , it is asserted , brings much
of this ammunition , and will run much risk
to reach a port where his fleet can break the
blockade.
MATTERS IN DISTRICT COURT
Divorce Suit of RndlKcr AKiUnnt Itudl-
icr Itccnlln n Bcimatlomtl
Murder Trial.
The case of Franklyn T. Rudlger against
his wife , Elolse Rudlger , wherein the former
seeks a dUorce from the latter. Is on trial
before Judge Scott , the plaintiff alleging
that the defendant Is not the kind of a
woman with whom he desires to live.
Elolse Rudlger will be Remembered as the
woman who figured In thi murder of Baron
Reiser , which occurred In South Omaha
some years ago. One evening Reiser was
walking along the street 'and was accosted
by Mrs. Rudlger. The two parties had some
conversation , when suddenly Mrs. Rudiget
drew n revolver from the 'folds of her dress
and commenced firing at Reiser. The bullets
took effect and Inflicted wounds from which
the man died some days later. Mrs. Rudlger
was arrested , charged with murder , and
after a trial was had the Jurors decided that
they could not agree. The jury was dis
charged , and at the second trial a verdict
of not guilty was returned. During both
trials Rudlger sat at hlsjwlfe's elbow and
furnished nil the assistance that was possi
ble. After the second trial the couple went
o living together , but their domestic rela-
lens were not pleasant , and after a few-
months a separation resulted. Following
he separation the husband commenced dl-
rorce proceedings , which have been hang-
ng fire for a long time , owing to the Ina
bility of the respective attorneys to bring
he case to trial. t
In the case of Isabel Lee against Edward
V. Lee , the plaintiff has been granted a dl-
orce and alimony In tbo'am of $13,000 to
be paid In Installments of $200 per month
until the full amount Is paid.
Sagnoler Dorsey has been granted a dl-
orce from his wife , Alice Dorsey. Descr-
lon was charged and proVen.
A stipulation has been filed for the dis
missal of the case of FreJ-AJbrecht against
Alexander Macdonald. The suft"grew out
of the garbage hauling controversy.
, Judge Evans of Dakota City is in town for
a couple of' days , holding court and dlspos-
ng of some minor matters that were on be
fore him when he was here a few days ago
presiding over Judge Fawcett's docket.
In the case of Alexander Macdonald , the
city garbage contractor , against Jerry Col-
ctt and others , the plaintiff has filed an
. affidavit In which he alleges that they have
violated the terms ot the Injunction Issued
n August , 1897 , restraining them from haul
. ing garbage within the city limits.
The case of the State against Louis and
. Joseph Kostner , charged with the murder of
Officer Dan Tledeman , will be called In the
* criminal court this afternoon. The empan
elling of a jury will begin and will be con
ducted until the old panel is exhausted.
-
, After that the seventy new Jurors , or as
many as are needed , will be called.
After listening to the evidence. Judge
Scott granted the divorce asked , the ploln-
,
tiff establishing the charges alleged in his
petition.
JEWELRY FACTORIES BURNED
Principal IndnMrjr of the Toirn of At-
tleboro , Ma * * . , Wiped Oat
by Fir * .
ATTLEBORO , Mass. , May IS. The catas
, trophe that had been feared for years be
cause of the crowded situation of jewelry
factories of Attleboro , representing prac-
tlcally the town's entire Industrial wealth
- at last came to a reality early this morning
The fine three and faur-s'tory jewelry factories -
tories on either side of Mill street caught
fire at 12:30 : o'clock , and in an incredlbl }
<
short time were burned to the ground with
-
their contents of delicate machinery , tools
*
and finished and unfinished jewelry. Prop
crty worth over $1,000,000 was destroyed.
Many , men were thrown out of employment
without prospects of soon again obtaining
. work. Four large factories and several
. smaller ones , and a dozen dwelling houses ,
barns , marble works , carpenter sheds and
several other buildings were destroyed. The
buildings In the section burned were In
-
' charge ot a watchman , who also had charge
of the boiler room. The watchman was
startled by an explosion , and on Investigat
ing saw the whole north end of the Bates
and Bacon watch cose building a mass of
flames. In half an hour four big jewelry
shops were destroyed and the flames had
spread to nearly a score ot buildings. The
< flro destroyed almost everything in an area
< ot four acres. The locU is estimated at
$1,100,000.
ENGINEERS TAKE AN OUTING
u
- Question of Federation to Come Up
lir for Settlement Two Heport *
is : on the
a i
ST. LOUIS. May IS. There will be no
of meeting today of the Brotnerhood of Loco-
; motive Engineers , nor 'of the ladles'
auxiliary. Delegates to both bodies left to
day on a special train over the Big Four
road for Mattoon , III. , where they will be
entertained by the citizens , and will visit
the proposed site of the Engineers' home.
Tomorrow the business session of the
; brotherhood will be resumed and the quest -
t tlon of federation with' other labor or
; ganizations will be taken up and discussed.
er . Two reports on the subject have come from
'w' ' the committee on fedrratlon. That
* i of the majority Is is favor of
ct. the natloml federation ot all labor
" - organizations , while the minority report Is
I opposed to such action. . The proposed plan
. of federation is quite elaborate and an ex-
VBi | tended discussion of the subject is expected.
T-1 New York Mm About All Gone. *
NEW YORK. May 18. It IB the general
opinion at Camp Towntend , Peeksklll , that
( the camp will come to an end by Sunday
IBnight. . There are but two regiments ID
ls camp , tbo Eighth and Ninth. The lattei
, U under orders to go to Washington and will
likely be under way by tomorrow night.
EXCESS FARE TO BE DROPPED
( Ji' } so-Omaha-DeiTer Lines Will Not
Longer Bear the Handicap.
FAST TRAIN SERVICE TO BE MAINTAINED
Darlington , Northwestern-Union Pa-
cine anrt Ilo k Uland Dlnlncllned
to Snbmlt to the Santa Fe
Line' * Dictation.
General Passenger Agent Francis of the
D. & M. bos returned from the meeting ot
general passenger agents of western lines
at Chicago called for the purpose of con
sidering the excess fare rate now supposed
to apply on the fast trains ot the Burling
ton , Rock Island and Union Pacific-North
western between Denver and Chicago. The
meeting accomplished nothing definitely.
The representatives of the lines that have
recently put on fast train service Informed
the meeting that the excess fares would
have to be abolished , and announced that
they proposed to do away with them at an
early date.
The representatives of the other lines
were not quite ready to concede the aboil
tlon of the excess fare , and asked for ten
days' more time to think the matter over.
This extension of time before the taking of
final action was agreed upon , and the meet
ing adjourned to meet In Chicago again at
the expiration of ten days. There Is no
doubt but that this meeting will agree to do
aw'ay with the excess fare rates , which have
'ready ' been discovered to constitute a dead
tter ruling.
The excess fare amounts to $4 extra for
assengcr In a sleeping car and $1 addl-
onal for a passenger In a day coach be-
wccn Denver and Chicago. The rates were
amed by Chairman Caldwell of the West
n Passenger association , who was sc-
cted as arbiter of the fast train contro-
ersy two months ago. Although the Bur
ngton and the Union Pacific-Northwestern
ere strenuously opposed to any such tax
o ride on their new fast trains they agreed
o give the excess fare a trial. The trial
as demonstrated nothing save Its ridiculous
eakness. As the excess fare does not ap-
ly between intermediate points passengers
merely buy tickets from Chicago to Omaha
nd from Omaha to Denver , or vice versa
ecuring rides on the fast trains wlthoul
ddltlonal charge. Since the Installation of
est train service by the Rock Island that
oad has Joined the other lines In opposing
he continuance of the excess fare farce ,
'he Santa Fe Is left alone to Insist on the
urther assessment on passengers who pre-
er to buy through tickets on a
ast train of one of the
tandard1 lines. As the Santa Fe cannot be
gin to make the time or offer the service
jetwcen Chicago and Denver that the other
Ines do , it Insists on a handicap being
laced on its competitors under the threat
if starting a rate war U Its demand Is not
omplled with.
Assurances from the highest officials of
he Union Pacific , Rock Island , and Bur-
Ington companies are that the excess fare
will be abollshediby themI.thejthreat < of the
Santa. Fe to the contrary notwithstanding ,
t may also be stated on excellent authority
.hat none ot these lines ylll taUe off the
new fast trains that have recently been
placed in service between Chicago , Omatia
and Denver.
RnihlnR Troop * Wct.
The Union Pacific is putting through the
volunteers bound for San Francisco and the
Philippine islands in good time. The four
.rains that are loaded with the Nebraska
.roops passed through Ogden , Utah , "and
were there delivered to the Central Pacific
at an early hour on Wednesday morning.
The four trains of Minnesota volunteers , the
Thirteenth regiment of Minnesota Infantry ,
mssed through Ogden on Tuesday night and
Wednesday morning. The four trains that
are carrying the Twentieth regiment of the
Kansas infantry westward are also on the
Union Pacific line and should be turned
over to the Central Pacific on Wednesday
night.
The one battalion of the First Infantry of
Wyoming left Cheyenne , Wyo. . In a special
train over the Union Pacific at 2:30 : o'clock
on Wednesday afternoon. > c ime has yet
been designated for the start of Colonel
Torrey's regiment of cavalry from Chey
enne for Chlckamauga , Ga. , but It may leave
this week.
Stand * for Paenger Differential.
NEW YORK , "May 18. The Transconti
nental Freight bureau will adjourn Friday.
The Canadian Pacific has offered a reduc
tion from the 10 per cent differentials , but
will not agree to any change In passenger
differentials.
S. If. II. Clnrk Trnnafcr * Propertr.
In consideration of $1 each , S. H. H. Clark
lias filed four deeds in the office of the
register of deeds , conveying to S. Hoxle
Clark , a large number of lots in the city ol
Omaha.
Itallrond Note * and Pernnal * .
W. H. Brill , traveling passenger agent ol
the Illinois Central , Is In the city.
Phil Doddridge , general agent of the Den
ver & Rio Grande at St. Louis , was In the
city on Wednesday morning , en route for a
trip through Nebraska. 4fc
Fred A. Nash , general western agent ol
the Chicago , Milwaukee & St. Paul railway
left last evening for a three weeks' trip
to New York and Boston.
J. C. Nicholas , general baggage agent ol
the Missouri Pacific , Is In the city from St
Louis , perfecting arrangements for the |
handling of baggage by his line at Omaha
during the exposition.
Assistant General Passenger Agent Smith
of the B. & M. is in Denver , keeping an eye
on tbo transportation of the volunteer sol
diers , who are to soon move out of the De
partment of the Colorado.
Among the spring publications of the rail
way companies , the Royal Blue of the Balti
more & Ohio for the month of May Is on <
of the most artistic. It Is filled with Inter
esting reading matter. Including a valuable
chapter of timely railway statistics.
A telegraph lineman In the employ of tbi
Burlington was badly Injured near Atchl'
con , Kan. , during the thunder storm 01
Tuesday afternoon. He was working on . ;
telegraph pole , and was struck by a bolt o
lightning. He was not killed , but wa !
badly burned by the lightning , and sus
tained injuries in his fall to the ground.
TO DECORATE FOR HE T , P. A \
Bulne * Men Arrange to Make i
Great DUplay of Flag * Daring ;
the Convention.
The local committee which Is making ar
rangements for the entertainment of tbi
national convention of the Travellers' Pro
tectlve association , which commences 01
May 31 , has commenced the distribution o
the flags and banners with which the bus
Iness men of the city are urged to decorati
their buildings during the convention.
The flags are of large size and attractlvi
In appearance. Upon a white backgroum
Is set a blue circle In which Is Inscribed thi
emblem of the association , "T. P. A. " Ai
American flag in colors is raised above th
circle and below la the word "Welcome.1
The fla s are being sold at 25 centa aylcc
and sine * the committee expects to raise
a large share of the money to be used In the
entertainment of the delegates In this fash
ion , a big rale la expected. Some business
houses ar buying In batches of fifty and 100.
The committee li desirous that the city
be well decorated with these and other flags
in honor of the visitors. It Is hoped that the
flag * will be up on Sunday , May 29 , as some
of the visitors will be In on that day and a
whole lot will arrive on Monday.
ENLARGES NATIONAL DESTINY
Change * Wrought by War In the End
of Thee Great United
State * .
OMAHA , May 17. To the Editor of The
Bee ; It Is easy enough to sit down In edi
torial room , or study , or office , to write what
should be the future policy or duty of a
nation. But it Is not so easy to determine
or prophesy truly what it will be. Nations
even more than Individuals are forced to
confess "There Is a divinity that shapes our
ends , rough hew them as we will. " Like
you , 1 have been strongly opposed to the
annexation of the Hawaiian Islands , but
chiefly because to annex them would appear
like a national endorsement of a revolution
accompllshcl by a handful ot Americans
against a government under which the na
tive inhabitants lived contentedly enough.
I did not sec how this nation could violate
the fundamental principle of Its own exist
ence that government depends upon the
consent of the governed.
Now , however , 1 am not so certain about
our duty In the Hawaii matter. The exi
gencies of the present war reveal future pos
sibilities as to what we as a great nation
may need for self-defense that I hesitate
as to our duty. We cannot afford to allow-
any other powerful or growing nation to
take the Islands. But that means the es
tablishment of a protectorate over them.
But to protect must we not fortify them ?
Suppose a powerful nation nt war with us
should seize them as they are now , unforti
fied. What could we do about It ? H would
seem necessary to defend them , ownership
or no ownership. And If the owning of them
means the building up of a powerful fleet In
order to defend them , what does the estab
lishing of a protectorate Involve but the
same thing ? And that with very much
greater difficulty In accomplishing the end
sought. I confess , I am now undecided , as
a result of the revealed exigencies of the
present war. It looks as though the Islands
were necessary to us for self-defense , re
mote as they seem to be , and alien as their
acquisition may appear to our past tradi
tions. I am drawn to this conclusion with
out possessing one particle of sympathy with
the selfish plans and purposes of the men
who stole the government from its rightful
owners.
As to the Philippines , the question seems
too premature to dlscuts what we are to
do with them. The war Is not over yet ,
and we may not have the disposition of
them when It Is over. The conditions of
that time are not revealed yet , and so It
would seem discreet to let the day take care
of Itself. But granted that the Philippines
are In our possession at the close of the
war , and that we are free to dispose of
them as we will , shall we not have to face
responilblHlles-.whlch-cannot be- met off
hand by our past traditions ? We are at
war with Spain today , ostensibly at al
events , because of her brutal treatment oi
her Cuban subjects. She has forfeited her
right to rule them and Imposed the stern
duty upon us to compel her to humanity ,
or to quit the hemisphere. That , or else
this war Is unjust and defenseless. But she
has ruled the Philippines as brutally as she
has the Cubans. These Islands are not
at our doors. It was not our business or
duty to war with Spain on their account.
That was the duty of the Christian nations
whose possessions were bard by. But sup
pose we have the disposition of those
Islands when the war Is over. Can we de
fend our action If we lavish countless treas
ures , and tens of thousands of the lives of
our bravest sons , in delivering the Cubans
from the ruthless tyranny of Spain , while
wo turn back to her tender mercies the
Inhabitants of the Philippines whoso des
tinies God shall have placed In our hands ?
I agree with you , that It Is not right , nor
prudent , to seize distant territory for the
sake of extending our commerce. But while
that may be conceded. It does , not follow
that we should not have a powerful navy ,
not to protect the commerce we have , for
very little of our present commerce Is car
ried In our own ships , but if we are ever
to have a large commercial marine , as we
ought to have now , and surely must expect
to have hereafter we must have a large
navy to protect it , unless we prefer to be
open to the contempt and plundering of
any first class European power , which may
deem Its business to humiliate us. A large
modern navy absolutely requires distant
coaling stations , strongly fortified by nature
and art , otherwise we would only be col
lecting abroad supplies for our enemies.
Suppose Dewey had failed to take Manila !
Would not his fleet have been compelled to
retreat to San Francisco ? Suppose we bad
been at war with France Instead of with
Spain , as we might have been ! Would not
our foreign commerce , what wo have of It
In our own ships , have been absolutely at
her mercy ? And would not our ports have
been subjected to a blockade as rigid as our
own on the coast of Cuba ?
Whether we will or no , the destiny that
God Is calling us to fulfill would seem to
, require of us the putting forth of our full
national strength , not for aggression upon
weaker nations , not for national aggrandlz-
mcnt In pursuit of greed and injustice , but
e for self-defense , and for the extension ot
justice and freedom whenever our duty lies.
If we could make the Inhabitants of the
Philippines a self-governing , Independent
nation , our duty would be clear enough ,
should their future destiny be ours to shape.
As it Is , will It not be better to wait on
all sides , until we know whether we shall
have the Philippine question to settle ? But
manifestly. If It Is to be for us to settle ,
past traditions , in and of themselves , will
be ot little help or value In the determina
tion of the new Issues which will be forced
upon us , whether we will It or not. Even If
' we desired even so much we cannot remain
Isolated from the rest of the civilized world
to follow a purely selfish destiny. The At
lantic and Pacific , under modern conditions ,
are no longer world-wide oceans to seperate
us from the nations. They arc but great
lakes bathing their shores and ours ,
traversed on the surface by the swiftly fly
. ing vessels of a wonderous commerce , and
underneath , by a more wondrous flashing
of intelligence for good or for evil. Can we
live to ourselves if we would ?
JOHN WILLIAMS.
Plenty of Indictment * to Anwer.
PHILADELPHIA , May IS. The grand
jury In the United States district court has
found true bills of Indictment against Wil
liam Steele. the former cashier of the
Chestnut Street National bank , covering 12 :
counts. The defendant Is charged with aidIng -
Ing and abetting William M. Slngerly Ir
misapplying funds of tbo bank , embezzling
and converting funds to his own use anil
making false reports to the comptroller o
the currency.
Maps of Cuba at The Dee office Omaha-
Council Bluffs or South Omaha. Cut c
coupon from page 2. Addrest Cuban maj
d Dt.
PUSH STREET IMPROVEMENTS
Oity Makes Satisfactory Arrangement * with
the Faring Contractors.
NORTHERN DISTRICTS WELL ADVANCED
Sherman Arenne and Twenty-fourth
Street to He Completed by the
Time the K po lllon I *
Iteadr to Open.
Ta arrangements for the transfer of tha
street Improvement bonds to the contractor *
In payment for their estimates ha\e been
completed and no further delay In paving
operations is expected. The street railway
company has finished the reconstruction ot
Its tracks In the Sherman avenue district ,
the pavement between the rails has been
completed and the concrete Is laid in tha
entire district. Nothing remains to bo dona
except to lay the asphalt , which can be done
in a few days , and then the asphalt will
extend through to the beginning of the stone
block nt Wlrt street.
On North Twenty-fourth street both the
Street Railway company and the contractor *
have big gangs of men at work , nnd It Is
expected that the pavement will be com
pleted on at least nne side In tlmo for the
opening of the exposition. The new rails
are all In place and the Street Railway com
pany has begun laying the brick be
tween the tracks. The concrete for
the pavement Is nearly nil In on the
west side ot the street and tha
contractor will bo ready to lay the asphalt
as fast as the Street Railway company com
pletes the brick. Wlrt street Is still un
touched , but a force of men will bo put at
work there as soon as the concrete U laid
In the other districts.
Hull Without l.liM-mo.
While the business section of the city Is
being literally flooded with cheap vaudeville
shows , none of them have yet paid a license ,
as required by the ordinances of the city.
Under the ordinance all these concerns nro
required to pay the theatrical license of
$100 n year. The only licenses of this char
acter that have been taken out are those of.
the two regular theaters and the 10-ccnt
shows have succeeded In evading the ordi
nance. A resolution will probably be Intro
duced at the next meeting of the council
by which the license Inspector will be In
structed to require all these establishments
to take out licenses at once. Councllmen
argue that these Joints arc making moro
money than the permanent theaters and
that there Is no reason why they should not
be governed by the same regulations.
II < x > tliiiii > < HiirnnN I'nrk Anliniiln.
The Board of Park Commissioners Is re
ceiving numerous complaints from residents
In the vicinity of Beinis park that the park
regulations are being extensively violated
by a lot of hoodlums who congregate there
on evenings and Sundays. It Is alleged that
these marauders arc hunting and killing oft
the young rabbits with dogs and that they
are rapidly driving away the mocking birds
that nest In the trees by shooting at them
with air guns and sling shots. The matter
will be brought before the board at the
next meeting and an effort will be mads
to secure the arrest of some of the offenders.
WU ! Send llnck the Check.
W. J. Hayes & Sons of Cleveland , hnvo
refused to return the transcript of the pro
ceedings relative to the recent Issue of dis
trict paving bonds unless the city returns
the check that the company deposited In
connection with Its bid. As the checks ot
this concern have previously been found to
be worthless It is likely that the council
will authorize the treasurer to return the
check as an article that is of no use to tb *
city.
Mortnlllr Statistic * .
The following births and deaths were re
ported at the health office during the twen
ty-four hours ending at noon yesterday :
Births Lorenzo D. Burnett , 845 South
Twenty-first street , girl ; Willis Stradcr , 2223
Locust , boy ; Max Schlager , 3124 Maple , boy.
Deaths Glen Lelghty , 10 months , Thirty-
eighth and Davenport , pneumonia , Valparaiso
raise , Neb. ; Peter Rnsmussen , 49 , 2110 Man-
dereon , pneumonia , Forest Lawn.
FIGHTING OFF THE BURGLARS
Jnllu * Cortlaud I * llo * > - Protecting
Saloon from Robbery at
NlKht.
Julius Cortland has had considerable trou
ble protecting his premises from burglura
during the last few weeks and last night
another attempt was made to gain admit
tance. He closed his saloon at Nineteenth
and Leavenworth streets about midnight and
sat In a rear room for about half an hour
afterward. At the end of that time he
heard footsteps approaching the door and
the sound of someone fumbling with the
lock. Cortland ran to the door and inter
rupted three men at work with keys and a
dark lantern. They fled when they per
ceived tha proprietor and hurried" south on
Nineteenth street. Cortland believes the
robbers were negroes and little more than
boys. A similar attempt was made to rob
his establishment several weeks ago , when
the gloss In the door was broken and th *
key turned by the Insertion of a hand.
PnHd a Forged Check.
A man who gave the name of George-
Murray passed a bogus check yesterday
afternoon on I. J. Gordon , a groceryman at
1713 North Twenty-fourth street. Tha
check was for $4.50 and was drawn upon
the Omaha National bank by the Wyatt-
Bullard Lumber company and made payable
to Geotge Murray. The same man tried to
pass a similar check for J17.50 at the store
of John Hussle & Son. , Twenty-fourth and
Cumins , but the firm telephoned down town
to find out concerning the paper , and be
fore they discovered that It was forged
Murray had disappeared and has not yet
been found.
Elevator Conductor Hart.
An elevator conductor named Charlca
Scheuer fell down the elevator shaft at the
Peoples' Furniture and Carpet company' !
store yesterday and > aa found uncon
scious about 7 o'clock. Ho sustained a
broken arm. a dislocated finger and serious
scalp wounds. No one was near when the
accident occurred and It was not known how
he came to fall or from what floor ho fell.
He was taken to the Methodist hospital ,
where he recovered consciousness and U
resting easily.
Hume Old Story.
William Hobbs , traveling for a house at
Sac City , la. , was Induced to enter a room
presided over by Ina Gregory and Ada
Young last night , and was entertained at
the cost of $3. The money was taken from
bis > cst pocket , and a $1 bill substituted In
its stead. The wome'n were arrested for
larceny from the person. Hobbs refused
to prosecute.
Aleer Want * Another Anltant.
WASHINGTON , May 18.-Secretary Alger
has tent to congress a draft of a bill to
create In time of war a second assistant
secretary of war with a salary of $4,000.
The secretary urges the importance ot lm
mediate actloa , t
