——
GREAT FIRE IN BALTIMORE,
|
Flames Swept Through Heart of
Business District.
LOSSES WILL BE ENORMOUS.
Destruction of Many Buildings by Dyn-
amite Failed to Check the
Spread of Fire.
Fire which broke out a few minutes
before 11 o'clock Sunday morning in
the wholesale dry goods house of John
E. Hurst & Co., Baltimore raged con-
tinuously with unrestrained fury, and
at midnight was still unchecked and
steadily eating its way eastward on
Baltimore street, after having de-
stroyed almost all of the large stores
and warehouses in the wholesale dis-
trict around Hopkins place and all the
buildings on both side of Baltimore
street from Howard to Holliday
streets, from Charles and Baltimore
SHIP TRUST FIGHT ENDED.
SE |
of Re-organization Finally |
Agreed to by All Interests.
After frequent conferences the long!
fight between the Sheldon reorganiza-|
tion committee in United States Ship-
building affairs and the bendholders’
protective committee, represented by |
Samuel Untermyer, was settled by the!
formation of a new plan, which has|
been agreed to by both sides, and the |
litigation in which Charles M. Schwab |
has been the central figure will end. |
Max Pam has been removed from the
reorganization committee, and Pliny |
Fisk, the banker, whose housed will |
take part of the work of financing
the mew company, takes his place,
while Max Nathan, of the Internation-|
al Pump Gompany, has been agreed on |
as an additional member of the com-|
mittee to represent the protective
committee. |
The new plan made public by Will-
iam Nelson Cromwell is put out as
coming from Receiver Smith, and pro-
vides for a new company with a capi-
talization of $30,000,000, half preferred
and half common, Mr. Schwab, as
owner of the Bethlehem bonds, to get
Plan
and Charles and I.exington, and on
Fayette street from Charles to Holli-
day, including a total of abouf 20}
blocks of the most modern and sub- |
stantial buildings in Baltimore, involv-|
ing a loss which cannot now be esti-|
mated, but which certainly has already |
exceeded $40,000,000. |
The fire department, although aidad
by engines from Washington and che |
surrounding counties and suburbs,
was utterly powerless to make any |
effective resistance to the consuming
element, though for hours as many as |
400 streams of water were thrown in-
to the flames. |
Chief Horton decided that the only
thing left to do was to dynamite build-
ings that threatened points and thus
prevent, as far as possible a further |
spread of the flames. In pursuance
of this plan a number of buildings on
South Charles street between German
and Lombard streets were blown up.
Subsequently the structure of J. W.
Putts & Co., notion dealers at Charles
and Fayette streets, was dynamited, |
and then the “Daily Record” building, |
Ross drug store and others. But this
heroic remedy merely delayed, but did
not seriously impede the onward march
of the conflagration.
|
BURNED AT THE STAKE. |
— |
Awful Ending of a Mississippi Tragedy
Costing Eight Lives,
Luther Holbert and his wife, ne-
groes, were burned at the stake at|
Doddsville, Miss, by a mob of over |
1,000 persons for the killing of James |
Eastland, a prominent white planter,
and John Carr, a negro, on Wednesday
at the Eastland plantation.
The burning of Holbert and his wife
closes a tragedy which has cost eight
lives, has engaged 200 men and two
packs of bloodhounds in a four days’
chase across four counties and has
stirred this section of Mississippi al-
most to frenzy.
Following are the dead: Luther
Holbert and wife, negroes, burned at
the stake by a mob; James Eastland,
whitas planter, killed by Holbert; John
Carr, negro, killed by Holbert; John
Winters, negro, killed by Eastland;
three unknown negroes killed by pos-,
ses.
The killing of Rastland, Carr and
Winters occurred Wednesday at East-
land plantation.
at Greenville, Ittabena, Cleveland and
other points and the pursuits of Hol-
bert and his wife was begun with
horses and bloodhounds. The chase,
which was begun Wednesday morning,
was continued until Saturday night.
when Holbert and his wife, worn out
from traveling over 100 miles oh foot
through canebrakes and swamps,
were found asleep in a heavy belt of
¢timbef three miles east of Sheperds-
town and captured by a posse without
a shot being fired.
The two negroes were brought to
Doddsville, and burned at the stake al-
most in the shadow of the negro
church.
Two negroes were killed by a posse
near Belzoni, Jazco county. One of
the negroes bore a striking resembl-
ance to Holbert and was mistaken for |
him by members of the posse. He was
called on to surrender, but instead of
doing so showed fight and both negroes
were shot down by the posse men, as
Folbert had sworn he would not
taken alive and was known to be
ily armed.
RUSSIA’S REPLY.
Refuses to Give Any Guarantee as to
The reply of Russia summarized
very closely amounts to this: |
Russia does not recognize Japan's |
interference with her relations with
China. Russia will give no under-
standing on any point whatsoever in
Manchuria, except that she does not
wish to interfere with any rights ac-
quired by other nations, but she point
blank refuses to give any guarantee.
The second point is that Russia is
prepared to recognize the second part
of Korea under latitude 35th degree as
being within the sphere of Japan,
which country must undertake not to
fortify Littoral, nor to send any furth-
er troops there and at once to recall
any troops sent there. |
The third point is Russia will have |
full freedom of gction in the northern
portion of Korea above degree 39.
The fourth point is, neither country
shall enjoy in the country at present
belonging to Morea any privileges not
enjoyed by any other.
Self-Playing Pipe Organs.
Prof. J. O. Funkhouser, of Hagers-
town, Md., has completed an invention
for the self-playing of pipe organs.
He calls it the “symphonist,” T in-
vention consists of. an automatic at-|
tachment that can be fitted on the in- |
side a any pipe organ, and produces |
the tones by blowing air ‘through the |
pipes in the regular way. One of the
-playing pipe. organs is now being
, of Piml
Md., and anot
hibition at th
| bonds. i
| to the syndicate at 875 per 1,000. |
| Sheldon,
Posses were formed |
be tana Company,
heav- | down of all the Amalgamated proper-
| from
$9,000,000 of preferred and $6,000,000]
of common stock, and the first mort-|
gage bondholders to get the remaind-
er pro rata. Mr. Schwab gives up his
prior lien on Bethleher. and all the)
present stock is wiped out. The pre-|
ferred stock is to be 7 per cent non-|
cumulative. There are to -be ‘issued!
$3,000,000 of collateral trust sinking
fund, 6 per cent 10-year gold bonds,
which are to be taken up by a syndi-
cate of which the Morton Trust Com-
pany and Thomas F. Ryan are to be
managers and Harvey Fisk & Sons
participants, the latter to market the
These bonds are to be paid
Former Secretary of ‘War Elihu
Root is counsel for the syndicate
managers, The new reorganization |
committe will consist of George R.
chairman, Charles F, Fair-
child and John E. Borne. P. Fisk,
Charles B. Wetmore and Max Na-
than. |
Other terms of the compromise to
which both sides gave up many things
which they have fought for up to the;
last moment, include a provision that
the expenses of the fight of the bond-|
holders’ protective committe shal] be |
| paid as a part of the expenses of re-|
organization. o
|
AMERJCAI{ SAILOR KILLED. |
Insurgents Fire on a
Yankee Launch. |
The insurgents of San Domingo de-
liberately fired on the launch of the
auxillery cruiser Yankee, killing J. C.
Johnston, the engineer.
entered his ‘head above the eye.
United States Minister Powell has
directed the captain of the Yankee to
take drastic measures to avenge
Johnston’s death and this insult to the
American flag.
The German Consul requested
United States Minister Powell to af-
ford protection to Herr Worman, the
Yerman Vice Consul, that he might
bring his family into the city, as the
insurgents gave Mr. Worman 48 hours
to leave his station or suffer the con-
sequences,
Mr, Powel] secured a guard of 60
men from the United States cruiser
Colombia and informed the Govern-!
ment that it was the intention of
the German Consul and himself to
bring Herr Worman's family into the
city and asked the Government not
to fire upon his party while it was on
its mission. He said that if fired up-
on this party would protect them-
selves. 3
As soon as they passed outside the
city they were covered by the guns
of the Columbia. No attack was made
and the Worman family was brought
back in safety.
The insurgents are desperate and
are destroying foreign property. Mr.
Powell has received urgent appeals to
protect foreign property against this
pillaging and the Columbia may be
compelled to land marines.
The firing around the city contin-
ues. The situation is serious.
The Montana Supreme Court re-
versed the decision of Judge Clancy,
| in Butte, in the injunction suit of John
| McGinnis against the Boston and Mon-
which caused the shut
Dominican
ties last summer. .
FOUR KILLED. |
| Tragedy Results From Trouble in
|
: | Mining Town.
Manchuria. |
A bloody tragedy was enacted in the
| mining town of Coal Creek, 40 miles
northwest of Knoxville, Tern. As a
result four lives were lost and three
{ persons wounded, one perhaps fatally.
| The clash was the culmination of the
trouble between union and non-union
labor. Three of the dead men were
killed by guards employed by the Coal
Creek Coal Company, while the fourth |
victim, a deputy sheriff, was killed by
a guard he had gone to arrest. The
Cead are: Monroe Black, miner, aged
24: «Ws W. Taylor, miner, aged 31;
Jacob Sharp, section hand, a bystand-
er, aged 35; Deputy Sheriff Robert S.
Harman, killed by “Cal” Burton, a
guard at the Briceville mine.
CONDENSED CABLES.
Uruguayan rebels won an important
| victery over Government troops at San
Ramon! i
Lillian Nordica, the famous singer,
was divorced in New York from
| Herr Zoltan Dome.
li: Speaking in the House of Commons,
John Redmond demanded home: rule
in behalf of the Irish.
Japanese troops seized
Fusan railroad, in Korea,
po 111
the ul-
and carried
artillery to il.
The Czar and Czarina gave a brill-
jant court ball at the Winter Palace
in St. Petersburg
een heard in
Gover
xan
The ballet 22
WAR TALK N THE FAR EIST
Hostilities Expected to Begin at
Any Moment.
JAPS TIRED OF RUSSIA'S DELAY.
Japanese and Russian Ministers With.
drawn From Their Posts and
Diplomatic Relations Cease.
Count Lamsdorff, the Russian for-
eign minister, has officially informed
the Russian representativeg abroad
that Japan has decided to break off
negotiations with Russia and to with-
draw her minister and the entire
Japanese legation staff from St. Pet-
ersburg. Russia thereupon ordered
the Russian minister, Baron De Rosen,
and his staff, to leave Tokio.
The severance of diplomatic rela-
tions between Russia and Japan ap-
pears to be only a step toward war,
although when the ministers of Rus
sia and Japan withdraw from their
respective posts quick and decisive ac:
tion is expected,
When Minister of Foreign Affairs
Komura on Saturday notified Baron®*de
Rosen, the Russian minister, of Ja-
pan’s determination to ‘sever diplo-
matic relations, he is reported to have
declared to him that Japan is tired of
Russia’s delays, evasions and insincer-
ity, and has decided to take independ-
ent action for the conservation of
Japan's Oriental interests.
During the final negotiations Ja-
pan’s repeated requests for an answer
were treated in a most unsatisfactory
manner. Japan waited until convince:
ed that it was useless to wait longer
and has now ended the discussion,
The draft of the Russian response,
tentatively by the czar, .was tele:
graphed on the 5th. While the con:
tents of the response are carefully
guarded they are known to be in a con:
ciliatory spirit and form and to con-
tain what are regarded as important
concssions, although maintaining
Russia’s former position on some of
the main points covering Manchuria
and Korea,
Minister Allen cabled from Seoul to
Washington that all the Japanese in
the Yalu river district of Korea have
been summoned to Seoul at once.
This is taken to mean that Japan has
abandoned all hope of peace and is
preparing for war at once. State De
partinent officials would not be sun
prised to hear to-morrow that hostili
ties have begun. Every bit of infor
mation ‘they are receiving now points
war. Mr. Allen's dispatch also
stated that active steps are being taken
to prctect Americans living in the in-
terior of Korea.
The Japanese are flying panic-strick:
en, cables the Vladostock correspond:
ent of the Novoe Vremya, and Jap
| anece storekeepers are sacrificing all
thoy possess in their haste to escape
to Japan. Cases of oranges are sell
ing for 5 cents, and furniture is be
ing literally given away. They are
practically ruining themselves in their
hurry to get away hefore the outbreak
of war.
HARWICK SURVIVOR TALKS.
Gonia Has Recovered and Remembers
the Explosion.
Adolph Gonia, aged 17, the sole sur
vivor of the terrible disaster, at Har-
wick mine for the first time since
being taken to St. Francis hospital
was strong enough to talk about the
explosion which wiped out 172 lives
and caused the death of others who
attempted to rescue the entombed
miners,
Gonia said the first intimation he
had that something was wrong in the
mine was when he was suddenly chill
ed by a strong current of cold air
rushing toward the shaft mouth. He
said he was almost frozen by the cold
air and then fell forward unconscious
on the timbers at the bottom of the
shaft, While failing Gonia said he re-
members seeing a flash of fire and
then knew no more,
Gonia does not remember how long
he lay there, but on recovering con-
sciousness, which he said was brought
about by the same cold which had
overcome him, he heard voices near
him, and called for some time before
the men ventured to rescue him.
SIX BUBRNED TO DEATH.
| Fire Destroys a Row of Houses in
Mining Town.
Tire which started at 3 o'clock in
the morning in a row of 12 frame
houses at Park Place, about 17 miles
from Pottsville, Pa., caused the death
of six persons, five men and a boy, all
foreigners, who worked as miners in
the Park Place colliery, operated by
Lentz & Co. by whom the houses
were owned. The bodies of all the
victims were frightfully burned.
of the victims met death in the house
in which the fire started. The board-
ing house keeper, it appears filled the
stove in the kitchen, closing the
drafts. The stove evidently became
red hot, setting fire to some clothing
hanging near it and thus starting the
conflagration.
The row of houses contained over
100 people and when the alarm of fire
| was given the inmates rushed out into
the snow in their night clothes. The
night was bitterly cold, below zero,
and a high wind prevailed, which nat-
uraliy added to the terrors of the
situation.-- The excitable foreigners
were frenzied and made every effort tc
stay the course of the flames. They
dynamited one of the houses, but this
seemed to have no effect, for the en-
tire Tow was quickly destroyed.
BIG REVIVAL MOVEMENT.
Union Services by Evangelical
Churches in Allegheny County.
movement for the greatest si-
revival ever held in the
s inaugurated in Allegheny
ay, when many of the
al denomin-
All
"SENATOR HANNA VERY ILL
Has Typhoid Fever and Is in Weak
ened Condition.
Senator Hanna has a well develop
ed case of typhoid fever, and has had
it probably ior three weeks. He is in
Isuch a weak physical state that his
friends and the members of his fam
ily are greatly worried. The fact that
the Senator has typhoid fever was
very clearly shown by the micro
scopic examination of the blood. Sur
geon General Rixey would not believe
his patient had the fever until after
Dr. Magruder made the examination
and showed him the results of the
test. Then the doctors were informed
that the Senator was at Columbus,
where the pollution of the Scioto river
whence the city draws its water sup
ply, has caused over 1,000 cases.
THEATERS CLOSED.
New York Places of Amusement Con:
sidered Unsafe.
Mayor McClellan of New York, or
dered closed the following theaters:
Grand Opera House, Madison Square
Theater, Princess Theater, Vaudeville
Theater, Hurtig and Seamons and
the theater part of Huber’s museum
Last week the Mayor served notice on
19 theaters that unless certain al
terations for safety were made by mid
night Tuesday he would order them
closed. The closing of .the Madison
Spuare and Princess Theaters inter-
rupts two successes of the season at
the height of their career. The Mayor
said that the houses are unsafe for
public use and that reasonable re
quests for alterations have been either
resisted or ignored.
BEARS AGAIN ACTIVE.
Claim Tendency of Prices Will
Downward for Some Time,
The old bear party that was a factor
in the stock market last autumn and
early in the winter and which with-
drew from speculation for a time fol-
lowing the latg 10 to 20-point rise in
prices is said to be again aggressive
with H. G. Well and his associates,
active leaders. That contingent has
resumed operations for the decline on
the theory that the recovery was only
a rally, that the real tendency of val-
ues is downward, that the market is
entering a protracted period of de-
pression, and that railroad earnings
are going to fall off in every direction.
Be
Sigsbee Will Assume Command.
Rear Admiral Sigsbee will leave the
League Island navy yard next Sat-
urday for San Juan, Porto Rico,
where he will assume command of
the South Atlantic squadron. This is
the first opportunity the “hero of the
Maine” has had to fly his rear ad-
miral’s flag at sea, he having been
advanced to that rank since coming
to League Island in May.
TELEGRAPHIC BREVITIES.,
The Harwick mine relief fund has
reached $38,000. :
Cotton and coffee prices continued to
decline in New York.
A gale blowing 90 miles
wrecked a number of buildings
Pierce station, Col.
Both branches of Congress have ac-
cepted Wisconsin's gift of a statue of
Marquette for Statuary Hall
September futures in the New York
Coffee Exchange sold at 9 cents, the
highest price for several years.
Phonographic records of the voices
of great men will be kept at Harvard
University and in Washington, D. C.
Four million dollars of American
capital is invested in an electric street
railway system about to be constructed
in Manila.
The price of July cotton reached
17.55 cents in New York and 18 cents
in New Orleans, the highest price
since 1874.
James Smith, alleged counterfeiter,
arrested with his son and another man
at Greenpoint, L. I., was said to be
worth $100,000.
“Rev.” F. W. Sanford, head of the
“Holy Ghost and Us Society” was con-
victed at Auburn, Maine, of cruelty
to his little son.
At his own request Senator Dietrich
(Rep., Neb.) had a committe appoint
2d to investigate charges recently
made against him.
Winter wheat sold for $1 a bushel in
Chicago.
J. K. Murrel and others give sensa-
tional testimony against the accused
in the trial. of Col. Edward Butler, at
Fulton, Mo.
The conferznce of bituminous coal
mine owners and miners adjourned
at Indianapolis without reaching an
agreement on the wage scale,
Penn Cooper, an engineer, was kill
ed and seven other persons were in
jured in a collision on the Delaware
railroad, near Wilmington, Del.
The post of commander-in-chief of
the British Army, now held by Lord
Roberts, will be abolished and other
radical reforms in army administra
tion introduced.
John I. McFarland, the Akron school
principal who was found guilty of as
sault and battery in police court last
week, has resigned. McFarland says
that since the arrest he can main:
tain no discipline.’
Brooding over political criticism
County Auditor John H. Miller, com
mitted suicide at Chillicothe, O. He
was recorder of the Chillicothe
Knights Templar for many years, and
was formerly manager for the Western
Union Telegraph Company.
Minister Squires asked President
Palma, of Cuba, fer the punishment
of Cienfuegos roiters who threw mud
on the United States escutcheon.
In a fight at Wilton, * Ky., Deputy
Sheriff Helton shot and killed David
and Thomas Fletcher and wounded a
man named Brock while attempting
an hour
at
to serve a warrant.
cashie of . the
Exchange Dc
7,000 the bank
years inp
1;
>
a
of
sd to 10
.declare
PORTO RICO IN CONGRESS
Representative of the Island in
the House.
|
—— -
CHAMPIONED BY MR. DALZELL.
New Delegate Immediately Intro- |
duces Bill for Citizenship of
Natives.
By unanimously agreeing to a reso-
lution. amending the rules of the
house, the resident commissioner to
congress from Porto Rico was given |
additional authority, equal in all es-
sential respects to that of a delegate
from a territory, the action not re-
quiring the concurrence of the sen-
ate.
Resident Commissioners Degetau of
Porto Rico taking advantage of the
enlarged powers granted him by the |
house, introduced a bill to ‘“‘expressly
the citizens of Porto Rico’
citizens of the United States.” The
bill provides as follows
“phat the citizens of Porto Rico,
whose permanent allegiance is due to
the United States: the organic law of
whose domicile was enacted by the
United States, and is enforced through
officials sworn to support the Consti-
tution of the United States, are here-
by expressly declared to be citizens
of the United States.” |
The bill Was referred to the com-
mittee on insular affairs. |
A bill which provided for a “dele-
gate from Porto Rico” passed the]
house during the last congress, but
was amended by the senate to such
an extent that it failed. A bill dupli-|
2ating the action of the house at the
last session is now pending, but mean-
while Porto Rico will receive, under
the action taken to-day, practically
1l1 of the benefits extended in the
neasure,
A lively parliamentary debate pre-|
:eded the adoption of the resolution,
which was reported from the commit-|
ee on rules as a “privileged” mat-
‘er. The minority members of the
ommittee wished to set a date in|
:he resolution for the consideration
>f the bill in question and to extend
In the meantime all the privileges of
1 delegate to Mr. Degetau, the resi-|
ient commissioner. Failing in this,
he minority members, after criticis-
ng the majority and also the senate
‘or its action of last session, sup-|
;orted the resolution. |
Mr. Dalzell explained that at the
ast session of congress Commission- |
sr Degetau was granted the right to
he floor, but it was desirable in the!
nterests of Porto. Rico to grant him |
‘urther privileges. |
Mr. Williams announced that the
-esolution was good legislation but |
lid not go far enough. There was no |
‘eason why Porto Rico should not be
sntitled to a delegate as well as Ha-
waii, Mr. Williams called attention
:0 a bill now on the house calendar
‘rom the insular affairs committee,
ziving Porto Rico a delegate.
Mr. Jones (Va.) stated that the
jouse had passed the same bill unani-
nously in the last congress." : 2
MILITARY CORRESPONDENCE.
-3reat Mass of Colombian History Sent
to Congress. is
The president sent to the senate a
mass of correspondence in response
0 Senator Gorman’s resolution calling
‘or the dates and circumstances: un-
jer which the United States used mili-
ary forces in the internal affairs ois
Vew Grenada:.or Colombia, and wheth-
sr such uses of military forces were
»n the initiative of the United States
sr by the request of New Grenada or
Jolombia, or inconsequence of any of-
jcial] representation of either. The
~esolution also called for copies of the
srder by the navy department relating
to such use cf military force.
The circumstances under which
‘orces were landed are given by the
sresident in dex=il, but orders by the
var and navy departments concerning
the inner workings of such depart-
ments, and which constitute a part of
she records of the offices of military
ind naval intelligence, are withheld,
sn’ the grounds that the disclosure of
such confidential matters would be
ncompatible with the public interest.
END OF COUNTY COURTS.
| and enlargement of
|. ¢ler.
— ee
irre gAeretattt
DEATH OF W. C. WHITNEY.
Failed to Survive Second Operation
for Appendicitis.
william €. Whitney, former secre-
tary of the navy, died at his home,
x71 Fifth avenue, New York, while
| under the influence of ether admin-
istered preparatory to a second oper-
ation for appendicitis.
William C. Whitney was born at
Conway, Mass., on July 15, 1841, of old
| Puritan stock, his father being Brig.-
| Gen. James Scollay Whitney, a promi-
nen: Boston financier, and descendant”
of John Whitney, one of the early
Massachusetts colonists, while on his
mother’s side he traced his descent
back to Gov. William Bradford, of
Mayflower fame.
Mr. Whitney wa graduated from Yale
and studied law at the Harvard Law
school. He came to New York when
a young man and entered the law office
of Abraham R. Lawrence. He was cor-
poration counsel of New York in 1875,
1876 and 1880. su
Mr. Whitney was married in 1869
to. Miss Flora Payne, daughter; of
| Heniy B. Payne, then. United States
senator from Ohio. She died in 1893,
leaving four children=Pauline, who
| married Almeric Hugh Paget of Eng-
land; . Harry Payne Whitney, Payne
Whitney and Dorothy Whitney.
Mr. Whitney entered politics in 1871
when he organized a young men’s
Democratic club. In 1872 he became
leader of .the County Democracy. He
was actively interested in polities until
| the close of President Cleveland's first
| administration, during which he serv-
ed as secretary of the navy.
It was while acting as secretary of
| the navy that Mr. Whitney first came
into national prominence through his
aggressive efforts toward improvement
the American
navy. At that time the navy consisted
of wooden ships and a few antiquated
ironclads left over from the civil war.
Mr, Whitney urged upon congress
the necessity of establishing a new
navy on modern lines, and as a result
| of his efforts the first steel armor-clad
ships flying. the United States flag
were built, and Mr. Whitney's fame as
| the father of the mew American navy
became established.
Soon after leaving the cabinet Mr.
Whitney began his career as a finan-
Buying the old Avenue horsecar
line, he built around that as a nucleus
the present Metropolitan Street Rail-
way Company, which has gradually
acquired all of the surface lines on
Manhattan island.
PARLIAMENT OPENED,
Morley Will Introduce Free Trade
Amendment to King’s Sp€ech. = °
The king opened parliament.on the
2d ‘with the usual ceremonial and the
old-fashioned incidents of the past.
| Ruler and Queen arrived in state, and
occupied the throne, as of yore, and
the prince and princess of Wales also
had a royal procession. The king con-
gratulated the nation on the settle-
ment of the Alaskan boundary dis-
pute. On the far eastern situation,
the speech said England would do all
possible to maintain peace.
The fiscal problem was the principal
topie, in moving and seconding.
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman se-
verely arraigned the government's at-
titude on the fiscal question and an-
nounced that John Morley would in
a few days introduce a more compre-
hensive amendment, involving the
whole situation. |
Premier Balfour was laid up with
influenza, and therefore was unable to
be present. When Austen Chamber-
lain arose in reply in behalf of the
party of which his own father is be-
lieved to be the most powerful mems-
ber, the house was spellbound. Until
that” moment Mr. Ackers-Douglas,
secretary of state for home affairs,
was generally expected to take Pre-
mier Balfour's place, and interest in
the proceedings was heightened by the
man, the Liberal leader, had just ¢on-
cluded a merciless satire on Austen
Chamberlain's father.
Maryland Senator Chosen.
After 2 deadlock lasting over two
weeks, the Democrats in the Maryland
legislature met in caucus on the even-
ing of the 3d and nominated Isidor
Rayner, of Baltimore, for United
States Senator to succeed Louis E.
McComas.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Ancient Virginia System Now A
Thing Of The Past.
The Seoul-Fusan railroad has been
| occupied by Japanese troops, according
The ancient system of county courts? to 2 dispatch from Vladivostock, which
;hat has existed in Virginia since Col-
onial days has become a thing of the
past. Under the provisions of the
new State Constitution these courts
were abolished, their existence ending
with the month of January.
In the Constitutional Convention of
1903 the final change was made. This
ancient County Court was abolished
and a Circuit Court, in which ‘was
centered the powers of both the old
County Court and the old Circuit
Court, was established. The State is
now divided into 24 circuits, , --
CAPITAL NOTES.
The senate voted an appropriation.
of $4,600,000 to the St. Louis Exposi-
tion. . : !
Mr. Sheppard (Dem.), Texas, one of
the youngest members of the House,
made a determined and persistent ef-
fort to bring about a reform in the
distribution of seeds by the Govern-
ment. The seclion was sustained.
Service Pension Bill,
Senator Penrose introduced a bill!
which provides that”heot less ‘than $8
per month pension shall be paid any
soldier who served, at least 30 days
during the late eivil'war; provided that
such soldier saw any ‘service during
the month, outside
which he enli d
if passed wi
man who
during
ure
1s, name as
war a pen-
from 4
|adds that the Japanese have taken
[field guns to Seoul for the protection
{of their legation and that they are
| building barracks for the accommo-
| dation of cavalry.
A dispatch from St. Petersburg says
| the Russian general staff has given
| Viceroy Alexieff authority to declare
| war and oven hostilities on his own
{responsibility if circumstances ren-
der it necessary. The dispatch adds
that an imperial manifesto declaring
| war is expected if the Japanese gov-
i'ernment does mot accept the condi-
tions proposed in Russia's response,
(which, it is asserted, will bel Russia's
| last word.
15 Miners Buried Alive.
‘Word has-been received in Guaya-
quil, Ecuador, by mail from the Za-
{ruma gold mining district that, on
January 24, a wall in a mine belong-
|ing to some American capitalists col-
| lapsed and buried alive '15 miners.
"The wall was’ 75 feet high.
| Money Wanted for Levees,
Gov. Curd and several other promi-
nent Migsissippians i
before the
appeared
commniiftee on rivers
harbors ‘arguing for an appropriaticr
of $15,000,000 to further strengthen
the s along the Mississippi river,
neral government has already
some $17,000,000 and
and state monies to the extent
ve $40,000,000 have been ex-
to harness the great Mississip-
to-day
and
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