THE PITTSBURG DISPATCH, FRIDAY. MARCH 25. 1892. lip Sigpafrfr. ESTABLISHED FEBRUART. 1848 Vol. 47. Xo. 47. -Entered lit rltUbarg FostoBlce November, 1837, as second-class matter. Business Office Corner Smithfield and Diamond Streets. News Rooms and Publishing House 78 and 80 Diamond Street, in New Dispatch Building. K ASTERN "A nVERTrSKNO OFFICE. ROOM 78. TRIBUXE BUILDING. NEW YORK, where com plete flies ofTHE DISPATCH can always be found. Foreign advertisers appreciate the convenience. Home advertisers and friends of HIE DISPATCH, while In New York, are also made welcome. THE DISPATCH tsreuvlarlv on talent Brentmo': 1 Vnion Square, Sru York, and IT Ave de V Opera, Fans, Trance, where anyone who hag been disap pointed at a hotel neves stand ran obtain it. terms ov the dispatch. POSTAGE FREE IX THIS UXITED STATU. PATL1' DifrATCn, One Year t 8 to Daily Disp itch. TerQuarter 1 CO Daily DiFFtTCH, One Month 70 Daily Dispatch, lncludln g bunday. 1 year.. 10 00 I) AILT DISPATCH, Including Sunday. 3ln'ths, 250 Daily Dispatch. Including Sunday, 1 m'th. 90 MWDAY Dispatch, One Year ISO V EEKLY DisrATCK, One Year 123 The Daily D-EPATcn Is delivered by carriers at II cents per week, or, lncludiug&unday Edition, at If cents per week. prrrsBURG, feiday, march u. TWELVE PAGES SILVFR ALTERNATIVES. The warm discussion of the silver ques tion in the House is apt to create the im pression that intelligent opinion on that subject is divided between those who sup port the free .coinage measure before the House and those who favorgold monomet allism. It is one of the necessities of party divisions that the conclusion gener ally is that a man must be either strongly for or strongly against a designated policy. This is indisputable; but when it results in extending the belief that there is only one way to oppose an ill-considered measure, namely, to go to as extreme and ill-advised a length in the other direction, it is a misfortune. It would be more strictly in accordance with the facts to say that the intelligent opinion on the silver question is neither on the tree coinage side as proposed in the Bland bill, or the monometallic side as maintained by the monometallists. For while there are undoubtedly intelligent men in both these classes, they are put there by that tendency to go to extremes, which to a certain decree overrules intel ligence. Intelligent study of the question recognizes that if a means can be found to make the silver dollar circulate on its own merits concurrently with gold, the addi tion to the stock of money metals will be of public value. It is also, though perhaps less generally recog nized that a great share of the fall of prices sinces 18T3 is really due to the appreciation of gold, which means that, to whatever proportion it is true, it now takes more productive labor and enter prise to pay off a debt contracted in 1873 than the value of the consideration when it was contracted. In other words, the yardstick has been lengthened as against the debtor, a process just as bad as short ening it against the creditor. It is the recognition of this fact, and the necessity of restoring the use of silver as a money metal, that has prompted the Ee publican policy. T&e Sherman act of 1890 was based on a ccVrect policy.namely, the restoration of sihl without disturb ing the present measure of values. But having started out in that correct direc tion, the authors of the act were led into a series of compromises which defeated the legitimate purposes of both sides, and be ing neither fish, nor fowl, nor good red beef, is equally detested by the free silver men and the gold monometallists. The Dispatch has heretofore pointed out the incongruity of stacking up silver in the Treasury, which the Secretary declares to be so useless as money that he will in crease the debt rather than use the sil ver in Treasury payments. But the alternative presented by the Bland bill is something worse. It is one of the fatalities of the silver question that the public is offered only the choice be tween two evils. The Bland bill would at once reduce the nation to the silver basis. It would shift the business of the country from gold monometallism to sil ver monometallism; and in doing so would take away from every investor of the country 20 per cent or more of his property and give it to the debtor. "When the proposition is presented in such a form every intelligent supporter of bi-metallism must join the gold monometallists in se curing its defeat It is to be hoped that the thoughtful people of the whole country will be able to unite in completely defeating this rad ically wrong policy. When that is done the field will be cleared for propositions to restore silver on a basis which will not send gold to a premium; and which will not amount to an act of confiscation as between debtors and creditors. ACTIOS LOUDER THAN SPEECH. The publication of speeches made by President Harrison in the last four years, naturally leads to a comparison of his theory and practice. That the President has at his command language which ena bles him to express great and wholesome truths in clear and vigorous language fitted to the occasion is undeniable. That much of his administration is characterized by ability and cleanliness cannot be dis puted. But in one matter, which is vital to efficiency in the management of public affairs, there Is a lamentable difference between his pre-Presidental speeches and his post-election actions. Stronger words on behalf of civil service reform have seldom been uttered than those voiced by Mr. Harrison in the Senate in March, 1886. The following quotation is typical of the whole speech: I do lift up a hearty prayer that wo may never have a President who will not pursue and compel his Cabinet officers to pursue a civil service policy pure and simplo upon a Just basis, allow ing men accused to be heard, and deciding against them only upon com petent proof and faiily either have that kind of a civil service or, for God's sake, let us have that other frank and bold, if brutal, method of turning men and women out simply for political opinion. One 60 clearly defining his opinion, and then succumbing to the fault he condemns, is not in the right place when he occupies the highest Executive office. Yet this is what President Harrison has done. In the first year of his administration 1,783 appointments were made to Presidental postoffices. Of these 48 were due to death, 374 to resignations, secured often by request or demands from the depart ment, C21 on expirations, and 227 on offices becoming Presidental. The re maining 613 direct removals are 27 per cent of the total number of such offices, which was 2,270 on March 4, 1890. Inves tigation of causes for these removals was hindered by the Postmaster General and his subordinate officials, although their action was called to the President's atten tion. But enough evidence was obtained to show that removals were far from al ways duo to inefficiency or misbehavior of incumbents. Indeed the mere numbers demonstrate that President Harrison adopted the policy which Senator.Harri son condemned. While human nature remains in embryo, and integrity of purpose is not its ruling motive, it will be hard to find a man who will keep out of the clutches of the octo pus partisan patronage, even though he knows that its embrace threatens his very life. Patronage, both Presidental and Congressional, must be reduced to a mini mum. THE LOCATION OF THE JINGOES. The assertion of the English papers that Mr. Harrison's "threat of military coercion," as the London Telegraph puts it, is to be attributed to the impendency of elections, depends for its pertinence on the question whether any such threat has been made. As no official documents are attain able to the public on either side of the ocean, It will be well to retain a more peaceful frame of mind than is indicated by press reports from both nations. Supposing that the administration has done a little parading with a chip on its shoulder, that is a course which the thoughtful and sensible masses of the American people would gladly see omitted. But with that statement it is well to sug gest to our British cousins that remarks by the pot on the blackness of the kettle will not relieve the general sootiness. The United States is not the only country in which a general election is pending.neither is the term "Jingo" one of American origin. The Salisbury Government has held on to its last year of existence solely in the hope of a foreign issue that would distract the already foreshadowed verdict of the English constituencies on internal politics. Whatever political motives may inspire the as yet unpublished communi cation of the Harrison administration, it is not impossible that Lord Salisbury may see in this dispute, which is entirely one of his own making, the means of firing the Jingo sentiment of John Bull to a degree that will defeat John Bull. But all the speculations as to the mo tives and possibilities of the dispute can be limited by one controlling fact There is too much solid sense in the masses of both the British and American nations to let their Government drift into war over a lot of seals in the Pacific Ocean. A FREE TRADE OUTBREAK. In the vigorous pursuit of its free trade theories, the Buffalo Enquirer refers to Mr. Carnegie's gift of a million dollar library to Pittsburg, and then speaks of the fact that The Dispatch on Sunday 'distanced its esteemed cotemporaries by publishing an exclusive account of the revolution in steel-making" by the direct process at the Homestead works. Our Buffalo cotemporary Is particularly im pressed with the belief that the reduction of one-half in the cost of steel-making will give Mr. Carnegie a monopoly of the busi ness and cause the discharge of men no w employed at the works. Therefore it ar rives at a conclusion that the multitudes will not "appreciate Mr. Carnegie's grand new library built out of the proceeds 'of monopolistic imposts upon labor and pro ductive industry." It is to be noted that the revolution in industry which forms the sole basis of this dissatisfaction with a protected indus try is on account of an improvement in manufacture which will immensely decrease the cost ot the man ufactured article. Are we to understand tho esteemed Enquirer that Its free trade policy is opposed to im proved processes for cheapening manu factured products? Will the free' trade party propose laws forbidding the use of such processes? If not, what is the rele vancy of the Enquirer's attempt to con nect the adoption of such improvements, or how much better prices and how much more employment for labor would there be if this direct process were adopted under free trade? Moreover, since the gravamen of the Enquirer's attack on "this improvement consists in the belief that it will reduce the employment and wages of labor, it should more clearly define the free trade position on that point Is it the belief of that party that the adoption of improved machinery from railroads down to electric Inventions has decreased the employment of labor? The Enquirer has classed Itself with tolerable clearness since its remarks have no possible point except on the basis of such belief. But it would be important to learn whether the whole free trade theory takes that stand which might be excused in the agricultural machine breakers of fifty years ago, but can hardly be attributed without direct avowal to the enlightened discussion of economic ques tions at the close of the century. Our free trade friends should learn to dilute their arguments with a little com mon sense If such a quality can be deemed consistent with their theories. TOO L.AKGE IN AM. THINGS. Chicago is proverbially a city of size. Its inhabitants pride themselves on the at tachment of superlative adjectives to all the characteristics of their undertakings. This desire to excel all others in im mensity Is the strongest feature of this type of rapid growth. Herein lies a source of great weakness. He whoi makes ex travagant claims to a vast superiority over his fellows lays himself open to a search ing inspection designed to reveal his de fects. Chicago has suffered a good deal recently by the exposure of its fallings. Its dirt, its grade crossings, its defective water pipes have all been pointed out as inexcusable in a city which Is not under the control of a Tammany. Severe criticism has been made of the difference between Its boasts when the World's Pair was proposed and its actions when the funds had actually to be provided. This variance was due mainly to the immensity of the scale on which operatlons'have been con ducted without proper preliminary esti mates of expense. But the summit of Chicago's vastness is found in the audacity and criminality of the transactions charged against Its Alder men. These charges should be pushed with a maximum amount of thorough ness. If proven, the Aldermen and their, bribers should be meted out a punishment to correspond in severity with the im- mensity claimed in other directions by the city of high-winds and overgrown struc tures. A searching inquiry, and a strict administration of justice in this matter are the only means of cleansing Chicago from this latest stain. The currency question will never reach a satisfactory solution until it passes out of the hands of monomaniao monometallists into the hands of common-sense bi-metauists. Unreliable as Porter's census is, itii to be hoped that as much allowance Is not necessary for mistakes in bis statistics as in bis estimate of the funds necessary to com plete them. Twelve months ago he asserted that $1,000,000 would be ample for his pur- poses. The investigating committee now finds that the work cannot be finished with out $1,730,000 over and above all money hitherto appropriated. Suck is the force of Andrew Carnegie's opinions on smoke consumption that his arrival in the city yesterday was graced by an unaccustomed atmospheric brightness. Little Cincinnati is keeping its end of the canal up by agitation, and shows its en ergy by securing a sum of $25,000 for Its har bor in the estimated appropriation for Biver and Harbor improvements. It is about time that bis Pittsburg shook off its inertia' and became less of a .stick-in-the-mud in the matter. That Bonlanger's crockery andikdtchen ware as relics should realize high prices from ladles of fashion is a fitting sequel to his career of notoriety. The mere suggestion that two immense nations should even think of coming to blows over the possession of some migra tory seals is a serious reflection on the vaunted progress toward international fel lowship and the brotherhood of man. Garza, is still alive and uncaught, as the death of one of our scouts reminds us. The more he is ridiculed the longer-it appears to take to obliterate him. It is not surprising that a man insane enough to dance with a revolver in his hip pocket should bo fool enough to con tinue bis dancing after a bullet has been lodged in tho, calf of his leg by the acci dental discharge of his weapon. Free-silver men who expected to have a walk-over were unable to clear the table without dropping the Bland bill. The Jingo press on either side of the Atlantic Is straining its imagination in an effort to attract attention by creating a war scare. Notoriety can be gained in such a manner, but only at a sacrifice of dignity and respectability. Sulmvan and Mitchell.have found their parallel in Drayton and Borrowe. Much bluster and no business. The callous brutality characterizing anarchistic designs in Paris is several de grees worse than the barbarous ingenuity of the French officer who has invented a con trivance to throw a stream of vitriol against charging savages. In Allegheny Dr. G ill i ford .evidently thinks that tho Controller should himself be put under control. Hill will no longer he a candidate for the Presidency when the Chicago Conven tion has refused to Indorse him. Until that auspicious moment arrives he will continue to inflate his boom with the full capacity of his lungs. Belligerent diplomacy is excellent material with which to burnish ancestral swords. Deacon and Bobinson may, by their ac tions, "lead to wholesome respect for the American husband abroad," but the causes for their summary behavior will not add to the general esteem of the peripatetic Ameri can wife. Cafbivi's resignation is nearly as long drawn out as Wbltelaw Betd's. Hypnotism progresses, and we wish that some of the physicians who are curing nervous disorders by the suggestion process would practice their skill on a few of the self-constituted Presidental candidates. Spring may now be expected to make its appearance with a bound. Truly the nation is on the road to wealth by a silver-purchasing policy which causes a loss to 'the national treasury of nearly nine and a half million dollars in fifteen months. FAVORITES OF FORTUNE. W. G. Oakman, the new President of the Richmond Terminal System, is a son-in-law of Boscoe Conkling. Frank Coombs, an able young lawyer of Napa, Cal., has been selected by President Harrison for the Japanese Mission. Senator Call seems to have fallen heir to Ingalls' famous red necktie, for he alone among Senators wears a flaming crimson scarf. Charilas Tbicotjpis, whom the Greek King recently invited to form a new Min istry, is called "the Aristldes of modern Greece." Imbert de St. Amand, who has a two fold celebrity in Paris as a literary man and music critic. Is a bachelor of 45 and a very Clever and brilliant talker. Senator'Plunkitt, who introduced the Central Park race track measure in the Leg islature, boasts of his skill at sending local appropriation bills to the Governor, One of the most striking pictures of this year's summer exhibition at the British Boyal Academy will be a vision of the "East Judgment," by Sir Frederic Lelghton. Me. N. B. O'Conob, the new British Minister to Pekln, was Secretary of Legation at Washington between the years 1SS5 and 1887. Since that time he has been Consul General in Bulgaria. The Bev. Dr. "Van Dyke, who has been preaching to the Harvard men in Cam bridge, says that during the ten days he was there 60 'undergraduates called to consult with him on questions of religion and morals, which Is a larger percentage than he knows of in any ohnrch in this country. Dr. Joseph P. Fox, M. P., sailed for Europe yesterday by the steamer City of New York. A delegation of the National Federation of America saw him off. He said that he felt that his mission had been a suc cess, as ho had without conflict or scandal succeeded in organizing in most of the States branches of the National Federation of America. PICKINGS FROM PUCK. Helen Hyleb Have you ever read James Wbitcomb KUey's beautiful poem, "Knee Deep in June?" Jack Leever (looking at his muddy trousers) No; but I've been ankle deep in March, aU day, Biches have wings, people say. True; and it's-all for the best: For, with their help, each one may Pleasantly feather his nest I CABBrNGTON So Higgins has built him an English country house near Yonkersl How does he like It? Harrington Very well, he says, with" the ex ception of going out wet nights la his (Uppers to let visitors in at the porter's lodge. Oh,,I love the sweet old poets Who sang of love so true! But I wish they'd left a llttla For me to sing of, too. Pat Fair, Maggie, you'd besht be afther takin' a dose av Dr. Squills' Life Iztlnslon 1 Maggie Indade, n' I'll not, Pat. Whin I had the grip. sure, didn't he drown me with tao horrid stuff tin that 1 was terrible sick long afther 1 got weU? 0 Youth! from evil turn away I And trusting man, beware! That water mixed with whisky 'i a Dilution and a snare. Earnestina Worker If I give you money, will you spend 11 for drink? KeggyTom No. Mum; I'm saving up to go out West and try the gold cure. You say that I'm your sheltering oak That win not yield when tempests crash; But I am so consumed by love, 1 should In truth be called an ash. SHrvER (after passing a night in the park) HeUo, Shake! Tou seem to be in luck. shake Yes; I've struck a warm, comfortable berth, at last. Shiver What are yon doing? Shake I'm night watchman In a cold storage warehouse, , , OF NATIONAL IMPORT. Baum's Pension Department Still Under going an Investigation Twenty-five Millions Asked for In the Sundry Civil Appropriation Bill Secretary Blaine's Health Improving. Washington. March 24. The special Pension Office Investigation committee con sumed all this morning in the examination and placing In evidence of papers from the official files of the Interior Department re lating to the appointment, discharge, rein statement, transfer or promotion of various persons in the Pension Office who have been or are expected to be connected with matters under investigation. Among the papers laid before the committee by A. C. Tonner, chief of the appointment division of the In terior Department, was an Indorsement and recommendation, signed by Senators Cullom and Farwell, Green B. Baum, cx-Eepresenta-tive Farqnhar, of New Yolk, of Examiner F. M. Taylor, against whom Commissioner Baum brought charges, and whose dismissal he recommended. Mr. Taylor was com mended as reliable and competent. Banm Again on the Mack. Commissioner Baum was then called to the witness stand. The Commissioner hav ing said that he did not approve of Secre tary Noble's action in his son's (Baum's) case without giving him a fair trial, Mr. Enloe asked him what be thought of his (the Commissioner's) own action in dis charging seven special examiners without giving them a fair trial. The Commissioner replied that he believed: they were furnishing information to the newspapers. lie was told that tbe seven ex aminers were constantly in conference with a Mr. Fleming, a newspaper writer, who wroto the articles which witness thought were intended to injure him. He did not hear any statements from the special ex aminers before they were discharged, although after they were discharged three of thm were granted hearings. Beplying to further questions, the Com mlssionersaid he had admitted having an interest In a refrigerating and mining com pany. Mr. Enloe again attempted to ascertain from Commissioner Baum tbe whereabouts or Hsirry Llneaweaver, a cleric in the of fice, who is now absent from Washington, lie (Enloe) Insisted that Llneaweaver had no right to be away on business tnat should be secret, but the Commissioner insisted in uecnnnig to tell where be had gone or wnat he was doing, further than to say that Llnea weaver had no authority to inquire into any matter personal to tbe Commissioner In this Investigation. The Commissioner's Letter-Writing. Mr. Enloe put in evidence a letter from Commissioner Baum to Secretary Noble, assigning reasons why Llneaweaver should not be transferred to a position In some other department. The Secretary had heretofore suggested that Llneaweaver be transferred, basing his suggestion oil a statement relating to bis offensiveness in conversation. Mr. Enloe also put in evi dence to show that Llneaweaver. had at one time sworn that he was born and had a legal residence in Shrewsbury, Pa.,and at another .time bad sworn that he was born in Wash ington and had a leiral residence in Shrews bury, Pa. Witness then detailed the reasons that in fluenced him in asking for the retirement from a position in tbe Pension Office of Gen eral James Dagan. The latter had made a remark to the effect that Lemon was Com mlssioner and Baum was his deputy. This witness regarded as disrespectful. Witness told Senator Palmer, of Illinois, wbocame to himlnDugan's behalf, that he had no per sonal feeling agulnst the latter, and if he made suitable apology he (the Commission er) would bring the matter before the Secre tary of the Interior with a view to Dugan's reinstatement. When he started to do this he was shown a letter written bv Ducan to a newspaper, in which Dugan assailed General Bussey, reflecting on his personal and offi cial career and calling him an arrogant satran. The matter of his reinstatement was thereupon dropped. Secretary Blaine is gradually regain ing bis strength, and is now able to take a short walk in the open air whenever the weather is favorable. Whllo he has not as yet resumed the active control of business at the State Department, he Is fully advised of all Important diplomatic and consular trans actions, and ho has been furnished with copies of the lecent correspondence on the Bering Sea question. He took a longer walk than usual to-day. Senator Morrill is no longer in danger .from his attack of pneu monia, but he is still very weak. The sundry civil appropriation bill was reported to the House this afternoon. The total appropriation is $25,167,787, being $10, 026,103 less than the estimates and $13,237,574 less than the appropriations for 1892 The following items are In tho bill: Chlcka mauga National Park, $150,000; for enforce ment of the Chinese exclusion act, $50,000; claims, back pay and bounty, $750,000; propa gation of food fishes, $243,900; homes for dis abled volunteer soldiers, $2,5S7,81I; aid to State and Territorial homes, $550,030; Inter State Commerce Commission, $225,000; life saving sorvice, $1,054,875; construction of public buildings, $1,375,500; river and harbor work authorized by law. $814,000: statue to General Sherman in Washington, $50,000; expenses or United States Courts. $3,330,600; Yellowstone Park, $40,000: postofflce building, Clarksvllle, Tenn., $10,000. In connection with the appropriation for establishing life saving stations It is provided that no part of It shall be used for erecting a life saving station on the grounds of the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago. The World's Fair provisions making the balance or the $1,500,000 available, allots $95,500 to the Columbian Commission which is to give $38,000 to the Board of Lady Managers. Tor the expenses of agents and food and cloth ing lor natives at Alaska seal islands, $27,000. The President has approved the sentence of the court martial in the case of Major Niles B. Overman, Corps of Engineers, charged with certain irregularities In his accounts. The court found him guilty or the charge of conduct to tho prejudice of military discipline and sentenced him to be reprimanded. A general order contain ing the reprimand will be issued by the War Department to-morrow. Chairman Dockerv, of the sub-committee of the House Appropriations Com mittee, charged with tbe Investigation or World's Fair expenditures, has telegraphed President Baker, or the World's Fair, that the sub-committee will leave here for Chi cago as soon as possible after the silver question is settled in the House. EIGHTEEN AZTEC MUMMIES Found in an Ancient Building Just Un earthed in Arizona. PHOBifix, Ariz., March 24. A party of Mexican laborers, while digging in tbe ex tension of the Santa Cruz canal, came upon one of the strangest of the old Aztec cities. They struck the first ruin in cutting through the desert about 20 feet below the surface, where it bad doubtless been covered np by sand storms, whioh are very severe here in the summer. Everything about the old building had been wonderfully preserved, owing to the alkali in the sand. The first Duilding consisted of a triangular structure, about 300 feet In length and 200 in width. The roof, which had doubtless been tbatcb. had caved in, but the wooden nieces by which it was held together were as sound as when put in, thousands of vears ago. They were pulled out or the old wall, and are on exhibition at Tucson. In the build ing was a stone trough, about the entire width, and made in sections, held together with a kind of cement. There were 18 bodies In the building, all of them of medium size, and their flesh was mummified. BELIEF AT ITS DESTINATION. Mayor Stuart, of Philadelphia, Beceives a Cable, Dispatch From Russia. Philadelphia, March 24. Mayor Stuart, Chairman of 'the Russian Famine Beliet Committee of this city, received this even ing tbe following cable dispatch from Ru dolph Blankenburg, one of the Commission el's that went to Russia to superintend the distribution of the cargo of the steamship Indiana: Saratov, Russia, March 24. Hon, Edwin S. Stuart, Mayor and Chairman, Phil adelphia, Pa.: Arrived all right and proceed at once in sleighs 200 miles through tbe Samara famine district. The suffering on tbe West Volga is intense: in tbe surrounding districts, greater. If possible. Send all telegrams care of Minister Smith. Blankesburo. Dill Took the Only Spoon Left. Chicago Times. 1 The South is in hard luck. Senator Hill has captured about the only spoon that Ben I Butler left. COMMUMCATION -WITH MABS. i The Inhabitants of That Planet Hay Be Signaling to the Earth. Chicago Tribune. One of the boldest of the many bold sug gestions that have been thrown out by im aginative writers in the last few years Is a recent one bv Flammarion, the French astronomer. It is In reference to a proposal made some months since to encourage the formulation of a plan for opening up com munication between the inhabitants of earth and those of some other world. He argues that as the planet Mars is several million years older In point of development than Is onr world its people are further advanced in the scale of intellectual progress than we are, and that they may have been making' signals to us for the last 100,000 years or so without our being aware of the fact. The reasons for the deduction may be briefly stated. Even without supposing, ac cording to the Kant-Laplace theory, that Mars was thrown off from a ring of nebulous matter much earlier than the earth, he must have cooled down more rapidly because of his smaller bulk, bis diameter being less than 5,000 miles. This reasoning Is supported by tbe ascertained facts that his atmosphere is far less dense than ours, and his land and water surfaces are nearly equal, while with us tho proportion Is nearly one to three. It is inferred that both oceans and atmospheres have diminished on that planet much more than the 2 per cent credited by some with having disappeared from tbe earth since the beginning of geologic history. On Mars the successive phases of planet life have been condensed Into a shorter time than is the ease with us. Its people are therefore nearer the maxtmnm or possible development, if thoy have not long since passed it, and all animation will have disappeared there when our earth is still the theater of intensely active vitality. Hence it may be inferred that the most highly organized inhabitant of Mars long since thought of the inter planetary communication scheme, which Is yet a novelty with us, and have during many centuries been vainly trying to make ns aware of tne fact. If they really have been doing so they have acted in the most simply suggestive way possible. . OIL AT THE WOBLD'S PAIR. It Will Be Used to the Extent or a Quarter Million Barrels. Chicaoo, March 24. Oil is to be used a3 fuel, instead of coal, in all the big furnaces at the World's Fair grounds. A contract was practically made yesterday with the Standard Oil Company for furnishing the entire supply The Standard Oil Company sent in a bid last Saturday that made the coal dealers who were after the contract shake in their boots. The lowest bid for coal was $2 44 per ton. From that figure the bids ranged all the way to $3 95 per ton. The Standard Oil Company's bid was 70 cents for a barrel of 42 gallons of oil, and 72 cents a barrel during 159X Agents of the company said that three barrels of oil would produce as much heat as a ton of coal. That meant a saving of about 14 per cent on tbe lowest bid for coal, and yester day a committee decided in favor of oil, on one condition. The Exposition comnanv will nav 70 cents a barrel until 1893 and then have the privi lege of getting the oil at the lowest market 'price, not to exceed 72K cents a barrel. The proposition will piobably be accepted by the Standard Oil Company. Tbe con tract will be for perhaps the largest quantity ever Bold to one consumer. The lowest estimates that have ever been made ot the amount of coal that would be burned at Jackson Park dnrlng the Exposi tion was 75,000 tons. On this basis 225, 000 barrels of oil would be used, but it is probable that the amount will be largely in excess of that estimate. The oil is to be delivered at Jackson park in quantities to suit the con struction department. Mr. Burnbam told the members of the committee that oil had been successfully used for years by. several or the largest power houses in Chicago, notably the cable lines. BEBNHABDT THE DIVINE, Flays Camille Superbly, Evoking Extraor dinary Applause. ' Sara Bernhardt was Marguerite Gautier In "Camille" last night, and for nearly four hours held a large audience in the Alvin Theater spellbound, finally dismissing them with a most magnificent piece of acting. If this great actress had no 'other role than Marguerite she would still Command easily in It the title Of "The Divine." The affect ing story, French as its basis is, becomes a most piteous recital when Bernhardt breathes real lire into the central figure. She was altogether admirable last night, bnt her greatest triumphs were the scene with ArmcauTt father and the final scene, in which death in grim reality seemed to stalk upon the stage. Such a death scene is literally unknown upon our stage. As Bernhardt's genius creates this most moving picture, there is wanting no minute particular or the shadow, tbe sorrow and the supreme terror or the death chamber of one we love. With eyes that were more than dump, the audience applauded the actress for this triumph of art, and hailed her with shouts of approval as well as hand clapping till the curtain had been lowered and raised three times. Or course the others were dwarfed bv the gigantic figure of Bernhardt, bnt M. Fleury played Armand with considerable power ana delicacy, while the subordinate parts were fairlv well done alia The play ended at 11:45. To-night a packed house is assured for "Cleopatra." CA5ALS EUN BY ELECTEICITT. A Suggestion That Wires Be Stretched Along the Ohio Waterways. Columbus Journal. There have been many propositions for the disposal of the Ohio Canals, but the one contemplating the use of electricity as the motive power, tbe same as Is used for street cars, is considered the most practical, and it is certainly one of the most novel sugges tions of the times. It has been proposed at times to abandon the canals and sell them out for right of way to railroads. At other times it has been proposed to widen them so as to make it possible to convey ships from the great system of lakes to tho system or river navigation that could be reached from the Ohio river. If poles are stretched along the canals the same as they are now along the street rail ways and' a rapid transit established from Cleveland to Portsmouth; it would certainly be a great invention and the public works of the State would become a formidable rival of the railroads. A rapid system of naviga tion from Duluth to New Orleans may be among the possibilities of tbe future, and if such is the case tbe system of great lakes and the Mississippi river and its contribu taries will be connected by an eleotrio canal svstem through the State of Ohio. What a time that would be for excursions! GERMANI'S T0DNG KDLER. The Kaiser looks upon himself as an in strument in the hands of God. He may be the unwilling Instrument In bringing about free Germany. Cincinnati Times-Star. Bismarck's late master is in the way of getting a valuable lesson touching the diffi culty of "pulverizing" a nation that dis loyally fails to agree with hlm.A'ew York Times. Brighter days are dawning for constitu tional liberty in the Fatherland, if, as now seems to be the case, the principle of a Min istry, responsible to the people rather than to the Kaiser, has come to be recognized. Boston Traveller. The resignation may serve to calm the ris ing tide of opposition to the Emperor's er ratic course for the time being; but as his blunders are only limited by his opportuni ties no permanent advantage will be gained. Rochester Democrat. This is Bismarck's time to laugb, and the understanding is that he is not straining himself to lepress tbe Teutonic hilarity. The young and energetic Emperor or Ger many has not yet paralyzed Russia: but he has knocked the Cabinet into a cocked hat, New York Advertiser. It is very certain that if the Emperor rules Germany by his whimsies and under hid extravagant prerogative pretensions, the Empire which was proudly announced in 1871 will experience a revolution. Even phlegmatic Germans are aroused to that point when their patience is abused. Minne apolis Journal. It is tbe misfortune of a monarchy that the welfare and prosperity of the people are dependent on the mood of one man, and from the results of such a'misfortune the German subjects are now suffering. A war may be the oonsequence, not of the Empe ror's best Judgment, but of a persistent earache. New York Herald. ' BUDDED MEDICAL MEN. They Are Graduated From the Western Pennsylvania Medical College Insti tute of the Allegheny County Sunday School Association Other Affitirs of a Busy Day. The commencement exercises of the Western Pennsylvania Medical' College were held yesterday afternoon in the Alvin Thea ter, which was crowded to the doors with the relatives and friends of the graduates. An exceedingly Interesting programme bad been prepared greatly augmented by orches tra music felicitously Introduced at inter vals. The exercises were presided over by Dr. J. B. Murdoch and were opened with prayer by Bev. J. M. Wallace. The open ing address was delivered by Ber. W. J. Holland, Chancellor of the Western University, the reverend gentleman congratulating the students on reaching the point for which they had been struggling for years and instructing them to bear In mind tbe dignity and Importance of their calling. Dr. Holland nrged upon his hearers not to neglect what might appear to be trifling things at first. Anything that was worth knowing was worth knowing well. The presentation of prizes was next in order, and was attended to by Dr. J.D.Thomas. The first prize, a set of gocket instruments, given by Dr. Glvden, of harpsburg, was awarded to Adolph L. Lewin. The Murdoch-McCann prizes, two sets of surgical instruments, were awarded to J. B. Wood and N. B. Lawman. The call ing of the roll was performed by Dr. W. 3. Asdale, and the following llt ot graduates answered and had the degree of M. D. con ferred upon them by Dr. C. B. King, Presi dent of the Hoard of Trustees: Messrs. Alter, Barron, Bell, Boyle, Boyce, Booher, Carpenter, Conger, Corbus, Collins, Detar, Dennis, Disque, Donnell, Dnnlevy, Jr., Duff, Duncan, Elger, Fithian, Fisher, Flshkorn, Goodstone, Grim. Grove. Gross man, Hall, Hawkins, Heffner, Howard, Kerr. Kneedler, Lewin. Lowe, lawman, Martin. Hagee, Mercer, Wm., W. W., W. B. and C. Miller, Mullin, Mnrdocn, Myers, Mc Adoo. McAllister, McClure, McKennan, Mc Kelveen, McNamar.Newell.W.C., J. A. and T. H. Newcome, Park.Pellev.Potter.Sapirstein, Shoaff, Smith, Spencer, Wackenhutb, Wallis, Walker, Jr., Williams, Wood, Yolton. The valedictory address was read by Dr. J. Chris Lange, and it consisted or whole some advice to tbe graduates and urged them not to look upon their profession as a mere method of obtaining a subsistence, but to work for both honor and fame. Bev. J. M. Wallace pronounced the benedic tion and the services were over. The annual banquet was held at the Sev enth Avenue Hotel last night. One hun dred and lorty guests were present. The toast list was as follows: "The Medical Pro fession," Dr. Mullen, Dunbar; "West Penn Medical College," Prof. Snively; "Our Alum ni," Dr. Boggs: "Our Cnemlcal Brethren." Bev. J. M. Wallace: "Class of '92," Dr. J. W. Elder; "Our Hospitals," Joseph Abree, Esq., and the "Medical Press," Dr. Koelng. A feature of the programme was a song bv Drs. Saperstein, Walton and Duff. The Allegheny County Sabbath School Association opened a two days' institute yesterday afternoon in the First United Presbyterian Church, Union avenue, Alle gheny. About 50 teachers were present, among them being many prominent in the various city churches. Prof. n. M. Hamlll, Superintendent of Normal Instruction for Illinois: Mr. William Reynolds Superintend ent of Organization, International Associa tion: Mrs. Wilbur F. Crafts, President of the International Primary Union. At the session yesterday afternoon Bev. David Jones, pastor of tho First Methodist Protestant Church, Pittsburg, acted as Chairman, and conducted the devotional ex ercises. Prof. Hainill turning his address On a chapter in the Old Testament a method for Impressing the lesson in the mina ofa pupil. A conference on "Sunday School Manage ment" was then held, conducted by William Reynolds. His remarks on discipline and promptitude were well chosen. Prof. Hamlll followed in n brief address on the errors teachers are liable to fall into in the matter of not fully preparing themselves for each lesson. Mrs. Wllber F. Crafts spoke on the "Bela tlon of the Primary Department to the Main School." She upheld the primary de partment as the most Important, since the minus oi tne pupils were men most piastic. After this recess follow ed. Bev. J. "W. Bobinson, D. D., presided at the evening session and conducted the praise service. Bev. David S. Kennedy made an instructive address on "Bible Work," and gave the teachers somo sound advice on teaching the Scripture. He advised a sys tematic fitudynf the Bible at home ns well as abroad. He recommended matutinal Scripture reading. Pror. H. M: Hamill took for a subject "Bet ter Sunday School Teaching," In which he followed the finger post already created by the preceding speaker. He said the first qualification for a teacher was to know how and what to teach. Mr. William Eoynolds spoke on "Notes From the Field," giving an account of the methods of organizing Sunday schools in various parts of the country. The institute will meet again this after noon. The afternoon session of the annual meet ing of the Woman's Home Missionary Soci eties of the Presbyteries or Pittsburg and Allegheny opened yesterday at 1:30F o'clock in the Belletleld Church, Firth avenue. Praise services were conducted by Mrs. Stewart Scott. Tho following committees were appointed: Committee on Nominations. Mrs. C- E. Coulter, Mrs. Bella Mann, Mrs. Emma For sythe, Mrs. Margaret Stewart and Mis, James Hoag. Committee on Time and Place, Mrs. Will iam Ayres, Mrs. J. F. Hill and Mrs. CjB. M. Smith. Committee on Besolutions, Mrs. J. F. Chandler, Mrs. Matthew Blggar, Mrs. John Bobinson and Mrs. J. L. Fulton. Mrs. T. H. Bobinson, Treasurer, mado a report for the post year. It showed that $10,t24 77 had been contributed, an increase or $200 over tbe previous year. Mrs. J. M. Shields, Sabbath School Secretary, read her report. She stated that 155 Sab bath schools had responded to her call for money for missionary work. Mrs. J. B. Harrah, of Beaver, made a brief report of tbe synodical meeting held re cently at Williamsport. She urged the bringing into line of all tbe Christian En deavor societies. The Committee on Nom inations made a report and the election of officers followed. It resulted as follows: President, Mrs. S. P. Harbison. Brighton road, Allegheny; Vice Presidents. Mesdames Georgti A. Kcllev. A. G. White, J. L. Fulton, W. a Burchard.'E. E. Swift. J. M. Maxwell, W. O. Campbell. Will iam B. Rhodes, D. M. Glenn, J. 11. McKelvey, S. S. Gilson, M. M. Bryant, B. S. Holmes, J. R. Harrah, L. G. Shorm, William Thaw, Wilson Shaw, Dr. Duff, A. E. McCord and Misses M. Stewart and J. F. Brooks. Record ing Secretary, Mrs. D. W.Bell; Correspond ing .Secretary, Mrs. S. C. Farrar: Box Secre tary, Mrs. Stewart Scott; Leaflet Secretary, Mrs. A. C. Patterson: Freedmen Secretary, Mrs. O. L. Miller: Sundav School Secretary, Mrs. J. M. Shields: Treasurer, Mrs. T. 1L Boblnson, and Auditor, Mr. David Bobinson. Mrs. S. P. Harbison, the new President, was introduced, and dwelt at . length on the general work of the societies. She gave an interesting account of her visit to the various schools or tbe country under the charge of the missionary societies, specifically referring in praise to the schools at Augusta, Ga., Aiken, S. C, Beauford, S. C, Chester, Charlotte, Concord, Salisbury, Abbeyville, Ashev'.lle, Uenderson ville and Hot Springs. She made many sug gestions for improvements. The meeting then adjourned until the evening session. A large number were present last night at the evening session or the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Societies of the Presbyteries or Pittsburg and Allegheny, which meeting was presided over by the Bev. Dr. H.T. McClelland. At the conclu sion or tbe devotional exercises an address on Home Mission work was made by the Bev. Dr. S. S. Holmes. He spoke at length on tne Importance or home missionary work. He referred to the many ignorant emigrants coming to this country and said they should be looked alter, that class of people alone affording a large field. Music by the Haydn Quartette concluded the meeting. Last night Mr. and Mrs. Herrmann were pleasantly reminded of the seventeenth an niversary of their wedded bliss by a fine basket or flowers Jointly given by Manager Bloom, of the Herrmann Company.and Man ager Bennett, ot the "l'ou and I" Company. An agreeable reciprocation followed in the form of a petit souper, over whioh Mr. and Mrs.. Herrmann presided, at the Hotel Du quesne. Mrs. Edmund Moorewood Ferguson entertained a party of 12 last night at the "Cake Walk." The novelty of the affair amused the ladies not a little. The recent agitation when the Mafia was spoken of by everybody, and lisped by those tongues that were not old enough to do better, served to create an interest, deeper than usual, in the fourth of the series of lectures given by Mr. Adams in tbe Clnb 1 beater. A large audience was present and listened attentively to the speaker, who, witn tne aia oi nne views, gave a vivio, ac count of "Sicily and the Mafia." CURIOUS C0NDENSATI0NS.- There are between 1,600 and 1,700 law vers in Boston, with scarcely business for 200. Berlin University is the third largest In the world. Paris, with 9,215 students, and Vienna, with 6,220, are larger. A writer in tbe Boston Transcript has figured up that heaven contains 1,800.000,000 souls against a population in hell of 175,000. 000,000. The aboriginal population 'of Japan, who call themselves Ainos, numbered, in. 1888. 17.0C2, including 8,475 men and 8,587 women. There are between 40,000 and 80,000 ragpickers in Paris, divided Into three classes, besides the maltre chiffonier, who la well-to-do. Of the 193,318 recruits of the German army and navy in 1891, the percentage of illiteracy was .54. against 2.37 In 1S75, U3in 18S2 and .71 In H87. Our National Library now contains nearly 700,000 bound volumes and 200.000 Jiamplilets. and the yearly increase of books s from 15,000 to 20,000. Surgical operations are very successful in Japan, and the healing process is rapid, owing probably to tbe abstinence of the peo ple from alcohol and their not being flesh eaters. It is said that Canada is the only conn try in the world in which the military force is armed with the oldSnider rifles. Military men of the Dominion are urging,theadoption ofa more modern arm. A Denver man wanted to get rid of his wife and accomplished his end. He Indulged in perjury to such a degree In divorce pro ceedings he instituted that the Judge gave him 14 years In the penitentiary. A project for the settlement of 500 Busso-Hebrew families in Winnipeg has been brought before the London Russian Hebrew Committee. It provides for a com bination of railroad work with farming. Dr. Theodor Wolf, lately the State Geologist of Ecuador, has made a special study of the Andes of that country, whioh he says are between 10 and 20 miles further away from tbe Pacific, coast than most of the recent maps show. The Scientific American thinks that tha devices for sending torpedoes to destroy any vessel three miles from shore in safety, through any kind of sea, may also be used la sending lifeboats an equal distance to rescue passengers from a wreck. A traveler's pipe is an English inven tion. The bowl has a hook attached to is which can be inserted in the button hole of the coat, while a tube communicates with the mouthpiece. The smoker thus has both hands free to bo occupied as he finds neces sary. In some of the Gipsy tribes living about Central Europe the mountains are called bar, "rags," or muchlyls, which last term usually means "clouds," "mist," tne same name being applied to the clouds as the mountains, tbe latter being regarded as a kind of.pathway to heaven. A diamond expert in London thus dis courses on tbe product and distribution of diamonds- "The Americans are the finest Judges or diamonds In the world, and insist upon naving tne nnest stones ana tne most perfect cutting. It M estimated that they will take JE3,000,000 worth this year." England's new fast cruiser Grafton is expected to develop a speed of 22 knots and to be able to steam 10,003 miles at a ten-knot rate. She will have triple expansion en gines of 12.000 horse power, nnd will carry 2 92-inch, 10 C-inch and 1C smaller rapid-fire guns. She will have also four Whitehead torpedo tubes. The pressure that can be produced by electrolytic generation of gas in a closed space has recently been tested by a French scientist. The h'ghest pressure heretofore realized was 6,570 pounds to the square inch. In this instance the pressure obtained was between 12,000 and 18,000 to the square Inch, when the manometer cracked without any explosion. The ginger ars of hawthorn and other decorations which ore so highly prized by collectors of Chinese porcelain, are so-called because they are made at the Imperial Por celain Works nndnr special orders from the palace and sent to Canton, where they are Hllcd with preserved ginger and similar snectmeats by the Viceroy, and returned to the Emperor at Peking. , Blindness reaches the highest point in civilized lands (21G persons to 100,000 of popu lation) among the Spaniards, who are, pro verbially and conspicuously, brnnettcs, while it Is much smaller in Sweden (91 per 100,000, or less than hair), the land or stal wart and rosy-cheeked blondes. The United States, by the way, has the lowest ratio of blind population In the world. Egypt has the highest. The number of students entered this winter at the 20 universities of Germany shows a marked decline. The total is only 27,838 as compared with nearly 30,000 last summer. This decrease is general, except at Berlin.where the number have risen from 4 427 to 5 371 and at Halle, where they have risen from 1,493 to 1,512. Leipsic still noms the second place with 3,431, followed by Mu nich with 3,292. Three things are seen rarely nowadays on the streets or New Tork. They are a runaway horse, a runaway steer, and the hue and cry or "Stop thief." Years ago in New York these things were very frequent, and every old New Yorker can recall to mind the excited, startled, and shouting crowds which seemed to overflow all barriers In pursuit or a frightened runaway horse or steer, or a fleet-footed pickpocket, highway man, or housebreaker. According to the new military laws of the Turkish Empire the Turkish armyon a. war footing will be increased shortly from 703,000 to 1,000,000 men. With this prospect ive increase has come the necessity for a new arming of the Sultan's soldiers. Can non for the new artillery will not be ordered for some time, probably, as the army has 1,000 large guns. Only about 400 or these are mounted and ready for the field. The equip ment of tbe other 600 will be begun at once. Prof. Bobertson made a statement at tbe New York Dairy Convention, as an Illus tration or.the value ofgood reeding, that he knew of a man in the Province of Quebec who had four cows. In 1888 they gave 73 pounds of butter each. He commenced feed ing a little corn and bran, and In 1689 they gave 131 pounds of butter each. He kept In creasing the ratio and good oare, and in 1890 it was 204). and this year it will be 230 pounds. This shows what men can do with the common cow. The average number of fire alarms in a year in New York City Is a little more than 4,000, which is at the rate of more than ten alarms a day. Less than one-quarter of tbe fires start between 11 r-. x. and 7 r. jc, while about three-quarters start between 7 a.. and 11 r. 3t. Oddly tho alarms are rarest be tween 6 and 7 A. if., when fires for household omi business purposes are kindled gener ally. The busiest time for firemen is be tween S and 9 p. m., about tbe time that fires for household purposes go out. To remember people's names is a great thing. A man in a great wholesale estab lishment in Chicago Is paid $7,000 a year Just for remembering names. His business is to speak to everyone who comes in by name and to introduce the customer to the clerk or the department sought. It he does not introduce the person to the clerk by name, the clerk is expected to find out tba name and communicate it quietly to the gentleman near tbe door, who bids him or ber goodby by name. This always flatters people and they come back again. The fastest time in which a train has been known to travel a. mile is 49 seconds and a fraction. To accomplish the same distance tbe fastest bicyclist wbo has hith erto ridden took 2J minutes, or over three times as long. An Ice yacht has trav eled a mile in 1 minute and 10 seconds, a running horse in one minute 35 seconds, a torpedo boat in 1 minute and 50 seconds, a steam yacht in 2 minutes and 12 seconds and a fraction, and a skater on Ice, with favora ble wind behind him, in 2 minutes and 11 seconds and rather a larger fraction. The handbook by the Federation of Labor shows the strength of the 74 national trade unions or the United States to be 673, 117.. The Carpenters' Brotherhood leads with 65,000 members: Amalgamated Iron and Steel Workers, 60,000: Iron Molders' Union of North America, 41,000; International Brick layers' and Stonemasons' Union, 25,000; Brotherhood or Locomotive Engineers, 30,000; International Typographical Union, 28,000; Cigarmakers' International Union, 27,01.0; Brotherhood ot Locomotive Firemen. 23,000; United Mine Workers, 20,00 Granite Cutters' National Union, 20,000: Journey men Bakers' National Union, 17,500; Jour neymen Tailors' Union, 17,000, and 'the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and Brotherhood of Painters and Decorators JLeach with 16,000. t. aafV- tfr 1 ' '-' f i irti'iilWr- . -frufrfr.fV
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers