North Carolina Newspapers

V - V' x ,-- -ruausiini at- WILMINGTON. N. C, ,1.00 A YEAR. IN ADVANCE. I 88888888888388888 8SSSS-S88S88888888 I 88888 888888888888 4,uow ssaasggssssaggsag : 88888888888888888 88888888S8S88888S 888888S8 88888888 88888882888888888 . ' " 3S888888888888888 : . a v , - ' a ' ' o Si . . i - Entered 't the Port Office at flmtgton, N. C, Second Clan Ma'ler.l SUBSCRIPTION P ICE. The subscription price of the Wt lyBteriias allows : -:nle Copy 1 year, pottage paid 00 u mount 8 montha ....... ON A NEW FIELD. i Secretary Alger attended a ban quet in Detroit, Mich., on the 22d ;inst. a banquet by the'Michigaa Republican Club. He presided as toastmastcr and in the course of his speech oh assuming that function said: ' . "I has been a difficult year. We are landed on a new field. The Stars and Stripes are planted in a place where they have never been-Jbefore on Washington's birthday. They have never been; taken down from where they had been planted but once before, and they never will be again." ! This is a remarkable utterance .coming at a time when Mr. McKin ley and other expansionists disclaim the idea of subjugation, and im perialism, and it is significant as coming from a man who holds the position of Secretary of War, and is supposed to have 'a good deal to doJ with the shaping of war policies, and presumptively pretty close to the President. There is no qualifica tion in' this utterance, for it em phatically declares that the flag is where it never was before on Washington's birthday and as em phatically declares that it will, never come down. There is a decided con flict between this utterance, and the utterances of President McKinleyin his Boston speech, for in that speech he repudiated the idea of ""imperial ism" as never contemplated by him or those who' are acting in concert with him, declared that he had formulated no positive policy, as to , the future of Hhe Philippines, and that with tjie ratification of the peace treaty it would remain for the Congress of the United States and the . people to determine what the course pursued in reference to them shall be. He came so near saying for himself and those for whom he spoke that the course being pursued in Cuba is the course to be pursued in the Philippines that he might just as well shave said so, for. the whole drift of his speech wasto make the impression that forcible territoriaT expansion wa3 not the aim of his ad ministration, and that we were sim ply forced into the position we now occupy by a combination of unfore seen circumstances, and had to take temporary possession of those islands out of regard for the people whose guardians destiny had made us, to prevent greater evils which might otherwise fall to their lot. That speech was a very mild, con- Kjjrvative,and comparatively unobjec tionable one, although .it was not strictly accurate as to statements of fact. There were no references to the flag that had been raised, no queries as to "who would haul it down?" ', The contrast is so striking be tween this speech and the speech of Mr. McKinley's Secretary of war, that the question might be asked, which speaks f pi his party? for this Philippine question has now become through the action of the Eepubli can majority in Congress, aud ' the Republican press, a party question Mr. Alger does not ask "who would haul it down?" as Mr. McKinley did in his speeches, delivered on his Southern tour, for ho declares that it will never come down, and thials an unqualified utterance ' dependent in no way on what the Filipinos' may or may not do. If they recognize the authority of this country the flag would remain up with their as sent, and if not they are to be whipped in and the flag will wave over them as a subjugated people, to be governed as a subjugated people in the manner that we see fit to gov . em them. That's' what Mr. Alger substantially says, and that means goyernment by the bayonet, or im perialism, the thing which Mr. Mc Kinley repudiated! The significant t&kig in tiiis utter ance is that it is made by tie Secre tary of War, and being in sncn strik ing cohtrast to the recent utterances of the President it-might be asked what confidence can be placed in the 1 declarations of men representing the administration and its purpose when they differ so much amongst them 3 seljSj and so glaringly contradicted -with each other? If Mr. McKinley spoke honestlyfor himself Und his , party then our possession of the Phil lppmes is to last only so long as it may be necessary to teach our yel low wards the art of Belf-government, VOti XXX. when iwe will turn the government over to them, as it is the intention to do with the Cubans. This is the inference from what Mir. McKinley said in that" Boston speech, but this is not what Mr. Alger says. He tells us that the flag has gone up, and where ' it. goes up it never comes down. . ' 1 This is the bold language of the unscrupulous land-grabber, who; would trample under foot the people whom we started out to befriend and taught to look to us for friend ship. . It does not cover motives under the thin pretence of befriend ing thefepeople; nor with the plea of "destiny," but arrogant with power and inflated with success, proclaims- theintention to uncondi tionally and forever hold what the unforeseen has put in our possession. In othefr words, we have the power to hold, and, will hold, regardless of justice or right, and this will become a plundering nation which under the inspiration of greed of gain and ter ritorial aggrandizement, smothers conscience and ignores honor, and Lplunders weak people who influenced by onr promises and trusting to our honor, have confided their fate to our keeping. If only the Filipinos were con cerned in this as the victims of the soulless plunder, and if it were only they and the millions of dollars $hat must be. spent in carrying out this policy of rapine it would be bad enough, but it will take. Ameri can lives, will make hundreds, per haps thousands, of brave men the victims of battle, and disease worsgi than death in battle, before this infernal policy can be enforced, and all this not to defend the honor of the flag,1 our, country's good name or prestige, for these are not con sidered, but to seize what does not belong to. us, to what we have no claim, the -parting with which will do us honor and the holding of which will cover us with eternal in famy. ' But what care, unscrupulous land- pirates like Alger for tthe country s honor, or , the infamy their brutal policy would entail? NO SMALL JOB. Senator Sewell, of New Jersey, - is a Republican and a supporter of the administration, hut he is beginning to realize, if he has not realized it before, that with the policy of ex pansion and- enforced sovereignty over the Philippines the gentlemen who favor this have undertaken no small job. In his speech on the army reorganization bill, Friday, he said we would need an army of 50,000 men to control the Filipinos, and that we were likely yet to have serious trouble in Cuba. Couple this with, the determination the Filipinos have, already shown in disputing our authority, the audacity, with which they offer fight and the pluck they show in battle, and with the late dispatches from Admiral Dewey urging the prompt dispatch of the Oregon to the scene, and- it may be seen that Senator Sewell' had pretty good, foundation for his statement as to the Philip pines, while the frequent entangle ments between the Cubans and our military representatives show that matters in that island are very far from being in a satisfactory condi tion, and might easily culminate in open conflict. If it were the .intention to carry out in good faitn our processed pro gramme in Cuba, we might lessen the chances of rupture by hurrying up matters, turning over the Gov ernment to the Cubans, - and with- drawing our forces, but American schemers have their eyes upon too many valuable concessions and prop erties there, and they will insist on retaining our grip until their schemes are accomplished. But we are into the mess in the Philippines, and every day. notwith standing the reported victories of our soldiers puts us deeper in. Even if there be no complications with other nations we have a very trouble some job in whipping into submis sion a people as plucky and as numer ous as the Filipinos are, who are fight ing upon their own ground and for liberty, are climate proof and im mune to the diseases that are more to be dreaded by our soldiers than the bullets of the enemy. They cannot be starved into submission for they can in their fertile valleys find abundant subsistence for an in definite period. The fact that Senator Sewell made the statement he. did in the Senate shows that they, are beginning to realize the size of the job we have on hand, and also justifies, the opinion that if their foresight was as good as their hindsight they -might have adopted a somewhat different course as to the Philippines. 'That young New York man who gave a waiter in a Chicago restaurant a $500 bill to pay f or a $30, lunch, which waiter skipped with the bill has recovered judgment against the proprietor of the ' restaurant,, the court holding that a restaurant pro prietor is responsible for his waiters who become runners. E p&oposnro to buy it. . There" is a bill before the. Legis lature to authorizing the sale pf the State's interest in the Atlantic and North Carolina railroad, for which" a syndicate composed of moneyed meiKof this State offer the sum of . $300,000. In the event of purchase the syndicate obligates itself to duly protect the rights and interests of private stockholders, and to extend the road one hundred miles from Goldsboro through certain counties and thence in the direction of Con cord, Salisbury or Charlotte within a period of four yeans. . Whether the state s interest in the road is worth more than $300,- 000, as an investment, or not we do not know, but the less the State has to do with, works of this kind after they are completed the better, for they are always more , or less, con trolled! by political, influences and used as political machines,; for which reasons it is desirable that when the State gets a reasonable, quid pro quo its proprietorship connection with puch enterprises should be di!P solved. - Without discussing the merits of this proposition, concerning which we are not sufficiently informed, the most attractive feature in it is tho offer " to extend the road westward through the coun ties of Wayne, Johnston, Har nett, Moore and Montgomery, which would makeji pretty straight ine and open up for development a very rich and attractive section of the State, which is now seriously handicapped from need of sufficient railway facilities. Such a road has been talked about for some time and charters have been applied for, but there was always more or . less opposition because it was thought that it would seriously affect the North Carolina - Railroad, of which it would become a competitor and hus affect its leasing value. But as that road has apparently passed from the hands of the State, for the next hundred year perhaps this consideration may not have so much weight in theway of blocking char: ters to prospective competitors. . NORTH CAROLINA RAILROADS. We clip from the Raleigh Netos and Observer the following in refer ence to the mileage of North Caro lina railroads, and operating ; ex penses, assessed valuation, etc., in cluding telegraph and steamboat companies, as prepared by the Sec retary of the Railway Commission: ASSESSED VALUATION. 1898. . Atlantic Coast Line Sys tem 788.87 miles at $12,397 $9,779,875.80 Southern Railway 1,- 005.20 miles at $10,520.. 10.565,729.20 Seaboard Air Lime 605.62 miles at $9.995.. 6,053,667.15 5,700,659.75 m, 918.15 Miscellaneous Roads 1,- 078.30 miles at $5.287.. Pullman Palace Car Co.. Mercantile Trust and De posit Co. -. . 326,071.94 Total .$32,522,921.19 Telegraph Companies... $803,510.00 Steamboat Companies . . . 293. 437. 00 Total valuation. .... .$33,619,868.19 RAILROAD PROPERTY. 18981 Total mileage in North Carolina 3.477.99. ' Costof roads. ......... .-.$87,974,113.00 Cost of roads per mile 25,294.00 Capital stock. Capital stock per mile . . . Funded debt. .... .. Funded debt per mile... Gross earnings. Operating expenses Gross earnings per mile. Operating expenses per. 60,429,577.00 17,374.00 55.266.938.00 15,890.00 11,543,516.00 7,396,548.00 3,319.00 f mile 2,126.00 32,522,921.00 9,351.00 Assessed valuation Assessed valuation per mile -.. Taxes paid 1898, State, county, schools and towns by the railroads . 300,000.00 Net earnincrs from opera-. tions $4,147,963.00 Net earnings from other sources. 122,876.00 ' Total net earnings,. Less taxes paid v 4,270;839.00 300,000.00 Net "earnings, af ler pay- ment of taxes, from which to pay interest on funded debt and dividends. . .-. . .$3,970,839.00 , The American mule is no back number. While horses have fallen in value to an average of $35, the mule stands at an average of $42. But he doesn't behave any better, for he will kick like forty, too, on the slightest provocation. There is a soldier in the Japanese army who is strong enough to tote a field piece on his shoulder -and climb a mountain with it where horses couldn't scramble up. He is a daisy, bulthey have o allow him two men's rations. Secretary Long has cut off the grog of the sailors on Our warships, but hasn't interfered with the cham pagne and other exhilarating bever ages of the, officers. It - will be a long time before the sailor boys, will forget Long. ' - Congressman Lacey, of New York, looks,ao much like Secretary Alger that Tom Reed advised him to get himself "whitewashed." But then he would look more like whitewash ed Alger. . Nothing short of a coat of stucco would, do. y.. j .a- - - WILMINGTON, N. C., EEIEAYV MARCH 3, 1899. WILL GO - TO CHARLOTTE. Mr. J. A. Pore Resigns as Secretary and Treasurer of Fore and Poster Co. A host of friends and business as sociates of Mr. J. A ; Fore, of the Fore and Foster Company," will regret very much to learn that he has decided to leave Wilmington, having bought an interest in the Carolina Manufactur ing Company, extensive manufact urers of sash, doors, blinds,' ets., in Charlotte where he-will locate, The Fore & Foster Company has been in operation about twelve years and is counted among the city's most flourishing business institutions. Mr Fore -has resigned .as secretary and treasurer of the company. He has during his residence here always man ifested great interest in the city's com mercial welfare and was always ready to give freely both time and means for her best interests. The people here part with Mr. Fore with great reluctance. His family will remain here for the present. ' . Smallpox at Cronly and Brinkley. Dr. McMillan, Superintendent of Health, told a reporter of the Stab yesterday that several cases of small pox had been reported in and around "Cronly and Brinkley, the places through which Hysner, the man re cently discharged from the pest house here, had passed on his way to Wil mington. The fact that there was no contagion occasioned here by the visit of Hysner speaks in no uncertain terms of the vigilance and thoroughness of the work of the city health officers. , The Schooner William T. Parker. Th KTirmnAi V7Hl.in.tn. T "PnrlejT. which was towea into Southport yes terday with fire in her hold was towed into this port yesterday by the tug Al exandea Jones and a survey was held.: The board recommended that the ves sel be discharged for further, examina tion; spirits"r7entine. Fair Bluff Times: We under stand that during tne recent snow storm many hogs and cattle perished in the Pee Dee islands. We heard . of one man who lost twenty-five head of cattle and a number of hogs. Monroe Journal: There were enough rabbits killed in this country during the snow to feed any army. The news of great slaughters of them comes from all over the country. . A party near Atlanta killed a 104 in two days, without guns or dogs. And a party near Mr. Fred Hay's killed 118 in oneaay. Smithfield Herald: Wedhes day morning Mrs. G.H.Watson met with a serious accident' which came nigh being fatal. She suffers from rheumatism, and was bathing, her lower limbs with gasoline before an open fire when the liquid became ig nited. Before help could arrive she1 she'was painfully burned; The fire destroyed the carpet and spread to the ceiling before -it could be extin guished. ---Greensboro Record; Lawrance Pullman, ex-cashier of the National Bank of Asheville, who gave himself up to the sheriff at San Francisco, UaL, in January arrived in Greensboro Thursday afternoon in charge of a Uni ted States marshal from California He was turned over to Marshal Milikin. Pulliam left Asheville five years ago last December, with his account short. It is said that he left the bank for the Express office with $5,000. but failed to ship the money or return. He was not heard from until he surrendered. It is said that Pulliam spent all of the $5,000 and did not have money enougn to come nome on. rms is thought to be the reason he surrender ed. . Monroe Enquirer: Mr. B. G Reeuer, who farms on Mr. W. R. Marsh's place south of town, made last year 9641 pounds of lint cotton on nineteen acres of land. Nineteen bales of cotton, weighing 507 pounds each, from nineteen acres is certainly good farming. Mr. Reeder made his own fertilizers from chemicals and thereby reduced expenses greatly. The kind of cotton grown was King's Improved. frequently we see wagon loads of baled hay passing along the streets. Formerly we re gretted to see a farm wagon loaded with baled hay for it meant that money was being sent out of the ' country which should have been Kept at home. but all that is changed now and the hay wagons have their tongues pointed towards town. . CURRENT COMMENT. The frost killed all the orange-trees in South Louisiana, and inflicted immense damage upon the owners of the orchards. Urange raising is a very uncertain business iu this latitude despite the numerous "sure methods adopted by cultiva tors to protecttheir trees. Mobile Register, Uem, It appears, from the evidence so fardeveloped, that it was no fili bustering American individual who sent arms to the Filipinos in the hope of taking profits on .their sale, but the United States Government itself. The government started the arms to the natives when they were regarded as allies against the Span iards, and then found it necessary to seize them when it became neces essary. Savannah. News, Dem. , . Aguinado's manifesto is truly pathetic. So, far as he him self is concerned he may be an ad venturer playing upon the feelings) of his people, but there can be o doubt that that the insurgents whom he is leading , have been convinced, and they have reasons .to think so, that the result of the war with Spain - means to them simply a change of masters, and they are re sisting what they believe to by American oppression in the same spirit that they resisted Spanish oppression. Manchester ( Va.) Lead er, Dem. Husband "Ohl there's that confounded rheumatism again!" "Wife I'm so sorry. 1 wanted to go shopping to-morrow, and your rheu matism is always a sign of rain. Isn't it provoking.?" Tit Bits. CONGRESSIONAL CONTEST. Hon. Jno. D. Bellamy Received Five Addi tional Notices of Time and Place for I Testimony Yesterday. Hon. Jno. D." Bellamy .yesterday received notice of the time and place for taking depositions in the contested case as follows: At Lumberton, Robeson county, in the court house, before Notary Public D. Jowers, Tuesday, February 28th; twenty-two witnesses; B. F. McLean, special attorney. At Monroe, Union county, before M. Smith, N. P., Monday, Feb ruary 27th; one witness, W. Steen; Oscar J. Spears attorney. Also, at Monroe, Monday. February 27th, be fore J. .W. Steen, N. P., seventeen k witnesses, Oscar J. Spears attorney. At Charlotte, Mecklenburg county in the old court house, before C. L. Hunter, N. P., Monday, February 27th, twenty-two witnesses; Oscar J. Spearsjattorney. At Wadesboro, Wednesday, March 1st, before J. W. Steen, N. P., four, teen witnesses ; Oscar J. Spears .at torney. Among the witnesses summoned for the hearing at Lumberton is Mr. "I. N,: Buie, Democratic register of deeds for that county, "with election returns of each precinct in . Robeson county; for the election held on Tuesday after the second Monday in November, 1896, and also for the election held on Tues day after the second Monday in No vember, 1898." r ' ' Mr. Bellamy will have for his coun sel at Lumberton and Maxton, A. W. McLean, Esq.; at Wadesboro, R. E. Little. Esq. : at Charlotte, Messrs. Os borne and Maxwell ; at Monroe; Messrs. Armfield and Williams, DEATH OP MRS. MARIA . B. QUINCE. Occurred at Her Home la This City Wednesday Night Mrs. Maria B. Quince died at her residence, corner of Fourth and Nun streets, Wednesday evening last at 7 o'clock. Mrs. Quince was a daughter of the late Hazel Burgwyn aud widow of Jhe lamented Parker Quince. She was m the 78th year of her age and for many years has been a valued member .of St James' Episcopal Church. ,. The only surviving members of the immediate family are a sister of the deceased, Miss Ejallie Burgwyn and a daughter, Mrs. Jno, Maffit, both of this city. Besides these, there are a host of more distant relatives, all of whom have prominent family, connec tions. . The funeral will be from' St. James' Church this afternoon at 3 o'clock and the interment will be at Oakdale. . SCHOONER ON FIRE. William T. Parker from Wilmington for New York With Lumber Towed Into Southport Fire Extinguished. Special Star Telegram. Southport, N. C., Feb. 24. The schooner William T. Parker, Capt. Lynch, loaded with lumber by the Hilton Lumber Co., of Wilmington, N. C, for New York, sailed out of the harbor yesterday morning, but the captain, not liking the -looks of the weather, "tacked ship," returned and anchored. But for this, to-night the schooner would have been a derelict out on the broad Atlantic. This morn ing the Jones towed the Parker to sea. and soon after the hawser was hauled aboard, fire was discovered in the schooner's after hold. The distress signal was given, and the Jones and dredge Cape Fear, which were work- in? on the bar. were .soon alongside. The starboard bow port was knocked out and. the rush of wa ter extinguished the flames, but caused the vessel to sink to her decks. The Parker was towed in by the" Jones and the Cape Fear. The Jones has pumped out the vessel, and it will be taken, to Wil mington to-morrow morning, to dis charge the cargo and ascertain the loss caused by the hre. Mr. Kenly On a Tour of Inspection. The Favetteville Observer of . the 23rd., says: "General Manager J. R. Kenly, of the A. C. L; Assistant Gen eral Manager J. W. Fry, of the Atlan tic and Yadkin; E. Borden, Superin tendent of Transportation; E. B. Pleasants. Chief Engineer of the A. Of L; and Mr. Marshall, Mr. Kenly 's private secretary, arrived this morn ing from Wilmington. Mr. Kenly and party are going to make a thorough in spection of the Atlantic and Yadkin, system, and with this purpose left at one o'clock for Bennettsvflle on a spe cial train: At Bennettsville they will make arrangements for the consolida tion of the offices of the Charleston, Sumter and Northern, and the Atlan tic and Yadkin." Farmers' Mutual Fire Ins. Association. The Brunswick and Pender branch of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Association met in called session at the Court House yesterday 'afternoon. There was a fair attendance, and sev eral matters of importance were dis cussed, among them being plans for the liquidation of a judgment recently procured in the case of Mai pass vs. the Association, for loss sustained by the burning of a building. It was de cided to push the' collection of delin quent assessments and make other ar rangements for lifting the judgment as soon as possible.. The resignation of Mr. B. F. Keith as president of the Association was , read and accepted: Mr. J. T. Foy, of Scott's Hill, was elected in his stead. Mr. C. Ed. Taylor, of Southport, is secretary of the organization, and was present in his official capacity. Nine licenses for marriage were issued during the past week; six to white couples and three to colored. Star. - - . . - - CAPE FEAR AND YADKIN. Legal Existence of the Road Will Soon be Wound Up. . I The Baltimore Sun of yesterday has the following to say with regard to the closing up of the business of the old C. F. &Y. V. Railroad: ! Gen. John Gill, who was receiver for the Cape Fear & Yadkin Valley Railroad, Mr. William H. Blackford, chairman, of the Baltimore reorgani zation committee, and" Mr. IE. J. D. Cross, counsel for this committee, re- turnea to .Baltimore yesterday from Richmond. They went to that city to attend the hearing given fby Judge Goff to the counsel in the Cape Fear case, to determine the liens ahead of the bonds of the company, such as compensation for attorneys and com mittee expenses.. ; In a few days the special masters in the case will come to Baltimore to count the securities deposited with the mercantile Trust and Deposit Com pany, and will then go to New .York to-count those with the Farmers' Loan and Trust Company, of that citv. Af ter-this is done the amount of mone v to be distributed among the j security holders will be announced, affd it is expected by the Baltimore committee, wnicn nas" oeen actively endeavoring 10 ciose up tne arrairs or the comuanv. that payments will be made within ten days. I This will wind up the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railroad, and after , being tied up about five years in the courts the sacurity-holders will receive tneir money. ' I . i Emerson Co. vs. R. M. NImocks. Yesterday's Richmond IDispatch has the following to say of a case now pending in the U. S. Circuit TCourt of Appeals, which will be of interest to the people. of Wilmington and to lumbermen at large: 'The case of the Emerson Conmanv. of Baltimore, owners of 'the! Emerson dry kiln, vs. R. M. Nimocks! of Wil mington, N. C, for "using a kiln claimed to be an' infringement of the plaintiff's patent is one of great inter est to lumbermen. It has been-argued, but has not yet been decided.. ' The kiln used by Nimocks is one made by the Moore-Cain Drv-Kiln Company of Cordele, Ga. These com panies are ' rival makers of; what is known as the compressiondrv kiln. The last named company has a number of its kilns in use throughout the country. If the court decides that they are infringements of the Emerson Company's patent the effect Will be the discontinuance of their use by all lumbermen, ' unless a royalty is paid the Emerson Company." THE NEWBERN FAIR. Fully Up to the Standard of Former Years and Large Crowds in Attendance. The Racing. The annual Mid-Winter Fair, which has been.in progress at Newborn dur ing the past week, has attracted large crowd's to that city and according .to press reports, has been a success both financially and otherwise. The racing and trotting is said to have been fully up to expectations and entries fully up to the standard of former years. The Newbern Journal of yesterday, in outlining the events of the day pre ceding, says : I There was not a question of the Weather being fine yesterday.: It was cooler, but there was also plenty of sunshine all day, and just the kind of weather which makes the Newbern climate the envy of every other place in the state. S Thirty-five hundred visitors at the Fair grounds was a conservative esti mate, and it was a crowd which en joyed itself, taking in .everything, from the races to the exhibits, and the side-shows, , and feeling kindly dis posed towards the monkeys, 1 which worked hard to entertain the constant throng that demanded , amusement Even the alligators were stirred up, although hot down on the program Jo J penorm any iriCKS. There were four starters in the 2.50 trotting race :Rolin S, of i Kinston; Bertha Baron, of Hertford; Miss Chil ders of Norfolk, and Blue Belle of Greenville. - I Blue Belle, was first; Miss Childers, second; Rolin S, third; Bertha Baron, fourth. Time 2.35, 2 36, 2.38. : The exhibit of the enterprising furni ture dealer, Mr. Franc H. Jones, in the warehouse building at ! the " Fair grounds, has attracted no little atten tion from visitors. The exhibit re quires quite a large space and is made up of very handsome bed-room sets, pictures, rugs, settees and a large leather couch. There are several fine mirrors in the exhibit, A music box with a long list of favorite pieces is playing most of the time. -j THE TUG ANNA BURNED. - Caught Fire While Anchored Off Wessell's Wharf Last Night The little steam tug Anna, belong ing to Mr. Charles H. Wessell, was burned last night about 8 o'clock.- She was tied up alongside the Imperial, another of Mr. Wessell's boats, at his wharf near Mr. J. H. Taylor's coal and wood yard, and the fire was dis covered by Mr. Joseph Roderick, night watchman at Messrs. Robinson & King's naval stores yard. . He imme diately cut the boat loose, and sent her adrift down the-river with the out going tide, knowing that if this was not done the Imperial, &nd the naval stores on the yard adjoining would be on fire before the fire department could reach the scene. L . Soon after the Anna went adrift the tug Marion, which was anchored off Mr?: Sprunt's wharf, followed, and turned on' a stream of water. The Imperial also followed and pushed the hull ashore on the western side of (he river.-; " 1 j An alalm of fire waaturned in from box 43, addthe department promptly responded, but could render no assist ance. - . FLAGS VS. SMALLPOX. - At Whiteville, Columbus county, N. C. where there is a supposed case of smallpox, three or jfour flags are on the gate a red, a black, ' a yellow, and above them all "Old Glory" waves supreme. Anonymous. - NO. 20 REORGANIZATION " OF THE ARMY. The Compromise Measure Taken i up tor consideration in the Senate. IT MEETS WITH OPPOSITION. Provision for a Permanent Increase In the Army an Objectionable Feature A Long Discussion No Agree ment Reached for a Vote. By Telegraph to the Morning Star. Washington, February -25. After two hours devoted to the consideration of bills on the calendar to-day the Sen ate at 1 o'clock began the considera tion of the Compromise Army Reor ganization bill, which had been agreed upon by the members of the Military Affairs Committee. Until a short time before the measure was taken up, it was supposed it would be passed to day without serious difficulty, but when it was learned by some Senators that the bill provided for a permanent increase in the standing army, objec tions were heard and it became evident that thevmeasure would have to run the gauntlet of sharp criticism. Senator Gorman, Democrat, of Maryland, desired that the authoriza tion, of a permanent increase in the army should be given and proposed an amendment as follows: "That each and every provision Of this act shall continue in force until July 1st, 1901, and on and after this date the officers and men, including general officers and staff officers, shall be restored to rank and numbers, : as provided for by law prior to April 1st, 1898, except the cadets appointed prior to July 1st, 1901, and except as provided for in the act to authorize two additional regiments of artillery, approved March 8th, 1898." Speeches in support of the bill were delivered, by Senator Hawley, of Con necticut;1 Senator Cockrell, of Mis souri; Senator Carter, of Montana, and Senator Smith, of New Jersey, and against it by Senator Morgan, of Mary land, and Senator Allen; of Nebraska. No agreement to vote on the bill had been reached when the Senate ad journed. ' , Features of the Measure. i When the Compromise Army Re organization bill was taken up, Sena tor Gorman, Maryland, suggested that the bill go over until Monday, but- to this Senator Hawley objected. Sena tor Carter asked unanimous consent to vote on the bill at 3 o'clock Monday. Senator Allen, Nebraska, objected. Senator Cockrell; Missouri, a mem ber of the Military Affairs committee, discussed at length the features of the measure. "This measure," said he, "has been examined very carefully. I endorse it because it is right just proper and necessary. It will settle for years to come the standing army controversy." Further along in his analysis of the bill. Senator Cockrell said the increase in the army provided for by the bill was "perfectly justifiable and abso lutely essential." Senator Hawley offered an amend ment providing that "no person wfio has passed the age of 45 years, . shall be appointed as a field office r in .said force, (the volunteer force) officers of the regular army excepted." Senator Pettigrew' suggested an amendment to the amendment except ing i officers and enlisted men who served m the war with Spain. ? Allen in Opposition. '- Pending action upon the amend ment, Senator Allen, Nebraska, ad dressed the Senate in opposition to the general features of the bill. He was surprised that Senator Cockrell could give his sanction' to such a measure. "If there ever was a hideous skeleton, a monstrosity, ' a deformity in legis lation, this bill is One," he declared. "It is warped, disjointed, dislocated. It lacks science, it lacks coherence, it lacks good sense." I Commenting upon Section 9, of the ilL which gires to cooks the pay and allowances of sergeants, of infantry, Senator Allen said ironically that it evidently required a higher order of talent to cook than, to fight if all that has- been said about canned beef an'd embalmed beef is true," said he, "the ordinary cook ought to have- higher pay than a eoloneL. because it would require a high order of skill to cook and serve such food successfully. I am not concerned in this delightful fight now going on between the Secre tary of War and the general command ing the army. I honor General Miles in that fight Every intelligent man in the countryTjelieves that our army was fed on that trash and that a large nercentaere of the sickness and mor tality in the army was due to the food given to the soldiers." j Passina from the army troubles. Senator Allen adverted to some in the navy. He regarded it as a glorious thing that Admiral , Dewey ' had the presence of mind to cut the cable be tween him and Washington and that it was fortunate for Dewey that he was in position to sever connection with Washington. ! 'Then, too," said Senator Allen, we have the controversy over the two rear admirals in the navy. Whether the man who fought the battle re sulting in the destruction of Cervera's fleet and won it shall have the laurels Of victory, or whether they shall go to a man who was ten miles away seems a subject of controversy by the Navy Department j . "The American people 70,000,000 of honest hearts and honest souls, will .always believe that Schley was the he ro of that battle and won the oatue. and I am not detracting anything from the service of Admiral Sampson, who if he had been there, Would have acquitted himself nobly. This seems to be a game of battledore and shuttle cock and over in the Navy Depart ment they are shedding more ink than blood." Qbqnan Makes a Suggestion. Senator Gorman said that if one proviso were contained uv the bill, to the effect that at the expiration of the two years the army should again be reduced to a peace footing of 27,009 men, he would agree to it. "What ever the conditions may be," he con tinued, "with the acceptance of the proviso, I suggest you will nave an army of 100,000 i men until four months after the term of President McKinley shall have expired. - The measure will give him greater power than a President ever had." Senator Hawley had asked who was afraid of a large standing army. In reply he (Gorman) said that every State in the Union was afraid of it He (Senator Gorman) was afraid of it himself. - Such an institution was con trary to the spirit of our affairs He had great personal respect for Mr. McKinley, and had no criticism except that in his good nature he had permitted weakness and inefficiency in the departments. "Weakness," 1 say, repeated the Senator, "time alone can : reveal whether there has been any- ' thing worse." f ' Army and Navy Expenditures: . He computed that for next! year the expenditures' on account of the army and navy would aggregate. $369,000, 000; greater than the total expendi- . tures of the government from 1871 to -1876. He predicted a ' deficiency of ' $180,000,000. Then there must be ans ; increase of direct taxation, or more bonds or certificates. ' "Even now," said the Senator, "I hear that the sec- -retary of the treasury is contemplating the issue of more government obliga- . tions. Senator Tillman asked if the Philip-. pine rebellion could not be put down by volunteers, and Senator Gorman said he saw no reason why it should 'not be. But this was not the desire. , The wish was to have more shoulder- I, straps and more soldiers' to wear them."", senator Uorman declared that under the present head of the army a proper organization of the service, could be efftcted. Senator Tillman, interrupt ing Senator Gorman, "Then there is nothing in the bill to prevent a recur rence of the embalmed beef scandal." Senator Gorman passed off the ques tion lightly, saying he knew little about it Senator .Tillman None of us know anything about it yet perhaps, -but there is so much of it in the' air we can t smell it - "I do know this," replied Senator Gorman,, "the Secretary of War. is a much abused man. He is not respon sible for the department in Which that scandal originated, a department in which the officers are appointed for life." - - i . . Advocates of the Measure. Senator Carter, a member of the Military Affairs' Committee, replied to Senator Gorman. After' discussing at length the result of the war with Spain, showine how the Philippines fell into our hands, he asked if it was desirable to leave those islands to float about the Pacific- as political derelicts. To do that, he declared, would be the na tional crime of the century. Senator Smith, Democrat, New Jer sey, in stating his reasons for support ing the bill, said that as a general and broad principle he was opposed to a I large standing army, in ordinary cir- -cumstances. He regarded such an army as dangerous to the liberties of the people. , "In the hands of a less scrupulous -man than President Mo- . Kinley," said he, "a large standing army may be used to repress freedom of speech and the pressure of it might be used to sustain large corporations : in unlawful combinations. It wilt cause an immense expenditure of pub lic money. There is no necessity for -a large standing army when viewed from Che lessons of the past glorious battles of the volunteers. ' 'I will not see the flag displaced or the country humiliated through any action of mine:" he said," I am a Dem ocrat and shailalways remain so, "but I am an American citizen." The Army bill was then laid aside for the day. On raotionof Senator Hawley it was agreed that when the senate adjourn ed it should be until eleven o'clock on Monday morning. After passing for ty seven pension bills the Senate at 6.25 adjourned. . ' excItinq affair in columbia, s. C. the Wife of a Respectable Citizen Shot by Dispensary Constables MIIi tary Called Out. Bv TeieirrapU to the Morning star. j Columbia, S. C, Feb. 25. Four J State constables, charged with the en forcement of the dispensary law, went at 6 o'clock this evening to ' the - resi dence of John Stewart, a respectable citizen and a clerk in oni of the big gest mercantile establishments in the city, for the purpose of searching it to see if there was any whiskey in the house. They went with a search 'war-. rant, but were met at the door by Mrs. Stuart She sent for her husband, who on arriving indignantly refused to permit the search.. The constables stated that they had been informed that he had been sell ing whiskey contrary to the law, and were determined to make the search. Words followed and finally- upon Stuart cursing Constable Crawford the latter slapped him. Stuart ran into his house. His wife had come out on the piazza. From the doorway" Stuart opened fire on the constables. Crawford returned it -- "shot Mrs. Stuart just . below the heart The ' woman was dangerously i wounded but not killed. She is now lying in a critical condition at the city hospital. Stuart was also badly shot in the louth, his tongue being nearly sev ered. -In the fusilade that followed Con stable Crawford-was shot through the left wrist. The sheriff and several policemen arrested the constables and carried them to a magistrate's office. The news of the shooting spread all over the city and soon,iour or five hundred infuriated men were in front of the office, making a big demon tration. The constables were kept prisoners in the magistrate's office all night guarded by the sheriff and his deputies. The two local military com panies were ordered out and kept the crowd pressed back. There is no danger of a lynching, but public feeling is wrought up to a higll state, and if Mrs. Stuart should die, as now seems proba ble, feeling will run.higher. SEABOARD AIR LINE. Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad . Bought by the Williams Syndicate. By Telegraph to the Mornlng8tar. Baltimore, February 25. A promi nent financier, who is in a position to know, said to-day that .the Florida Central .and Peninsular railroad has been bought by : people owning the Georgia and Alabama and the Sea board Air Line. He behoved the in tention was to incorporate the road with the other two into a compact Southern system. The details of this scheme, he said, he was not in a posi tion to give: J. Skelton Williams, of Richmond, Va., president of the Georgia and Alabama and the Sea board Air Line, was in town to-day, but would neither affirm nor deny the rumor. . ' . . WARAWIRELETS. The Cayman Islands, it50 miles from Jamaica, were swept by a terrible storm February 13 and 14 which de vastated the country districts. The Senatorial deadlocks existing in several States remain unbroken Yesterday's balloting showed no im-! portant changes. - I The Naval Committee of the House has directed a favorable report on the Senate bill creatin, miral and intende e grade of . Ad; or rear-a.amirai Dewey. 7 w 1 - ,! V. r r