Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-16
TO MAKE THE SEA SAFER.
A Notable Gathering at the State De.
partment Today.

SECRETARY BLAINE RECEIVES THE DELEGATES
TO THE INTERNATIONAL MARINE coNFERENcE-
HIS ADDRESS OF wELcoME-DELEGATEs PRE-
SCENTED TO THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
The State department. elevator was heavily
loaded at every trip this morning with gold
lace, glitteriug epaulets and swords and
crooked beaver hats intermingled here and
there with the expansive shirt fronts of men in
full dress costume. The former were diplo-
mats and naval officers, and the latter diplo-
mats and citizens. all gathering. in the ante
room at the end Of the corridor, where over
coats were thrown Off gloves were donned, in
Productions we're made and babel Of tongues
arose as the polyglot conversation became
general
ASSEMBLING OF THE DELEGATES.
These gentlemen were the delegates to the
international maritime conference that is to or
ganize today for the purpose of discussing ways
and means Of avoiding disaster on the sea. The
forid Netherlander spd his plethoric Teuton
brother chatted with their kinsmen from
across the straits Of Dover. The Frenchmen
were in their glory, for their language was
almost generally used. The Chinese diplomats
stood IN q stoid, smiling line in one corner,
with their more soberly dressed, less conspicu-
GUS neighbors, the Japs, in a corresponding
line in another corner. Sir Julian Pauncefote
beamed diplomatic courtesy upon the entire
assenblage, and held short whispered confer
ences with Walker Blaine in the corridor. MIR.
Arthur Edwardes smiled behind his elaborate
moustache and occasionally inserted his eye
nocular In order to disseminate the kaleid-
scope hues of the room.
BRILLIANT SCENE.
Taken altogether it was as brilliant and inter-
esting scene as is usually witnessed at the
State department, and the colored messengers
were in agonies Of mute admiration. Finally
the overloaded form of Secretary Blaine was
seen to slip in one Of the doors leading into the
suite OF rooms and soon after Assistant Secre-
tary Adee led the Mexican minister and his
followers into the great diplomatic reception
room. Before all OF the gentlemen in waiting
had made Their way into the presence chamber
Admiral Franklin and other delegates arrived
and swelled the gathering. Then shortly after
IL o'clock the doors were Theoretically sealed
and the formalities were begun.
Mr.. Biaine's Address Of Welcome.
The formal process Of presentation was con-
Quoted by the foreign ministers and Mr.. Blaine.
The former escorted their delegates to the
latter and introduced them personally, and
when the Secretary knew them all he made
short address of welcome, as follows:
Gentlemen. 1t is cause of extreme gratiflca-
ton to the government of the United States
that Its invitation to the maritime powers Of
the world has been met with so generara re-
Spouse. Representatives from Asia, from
Europe, from North and South America, and
from the isles OF the sea will compose the con-
ference. On behalf of the United States | well
come you all, gentlemen, to the honorable the
scientific, the philanthroplc duties which lie
before you. The already great and the rapidly
increasing intercourse between continent and
continent, between nation and nation. demands
that every protection against the dangers of
the sea and every guard tor the safety OF human
life shall be provided.
The spoken languages Of the world will con-
tinue to DC many, but necessity commands that
the unspoken language of the sea shall he one.
1bat language must be as universal as the needs
of man for commerce and intercourse with his
fellow men. The deep interest which the mari
time nations have taken in the questions at
issue Is shown by the eminent character and
the wide experience of the delegates to whom
they have committed the important work
Again, gentlemen, welcome you. and after
your parliamentary organization is completed
1t will be my pleasure to present you in person
to the President of the United States.
ORGANIZATION OF THE CONFERENCE.
AS soon as the introduction formula was
concluded the organization Of the conference
was effected by the election of Admiral Frank
lin as its president. He thanked the confer
euce ICr ullS hOnOr In rev words.
is over the delegates, the ministers and
tbs secretary went down on the southeastern
pc leo and were photographed. after which
they walked over to the White House.
Delegates Presented to the President.
There were not many people in the east
room when the foreigners arrived, but the
room was cleared of them, nevertheless A
group OF newspaper men standing in one cor
her were also eyicted and the doors were closed
upon the proceedings The delegates were
ranged in great circle, with the central divan
as a locus, In the order OF precedence OF their
delegations. The American delegates were at
the head Of the line and were first presented
to the President by Secretary Blaine, who then
took his chief around the ring and introduced
the various foreign ministers These, in turn
presented their delegates by name.
TUE PRESIDENTS REMARKS.
The President, standing in the center of the
semI-cIrcie, spoke few informal words of well
come, expressing his qualification that the
conference had assembled under such pleasant
auspices He expressed his deep personal in
terest in the results which might be
anticipated and he trusted attained by
the conference, and hoped that the
passage of the seas might be made as safe as it
has been made rapid. The President in con-
clusion said that the object for which the con-
ference had assembled was one which would
attract universal interest throughout the
world and its attainment would be warmly
welcomed by all nations
The reception was in the nature of levee,
rather reversed from the usual order in which
the President stands while the callers pass him.
In this case the callers waited for the President
to walk around to them. 1t was about noon
when the delegates began to pour out of tine
central corridor from the east room and to
enter their carriages
The conference will meet tomorrow at II
O'Clock in the Wallach building, corner of 18th
and streets northwest, for the purpose of be-
ginning the work. The first few DAYS will
probably be consumed in organization.
Bill for appointment of Receiver, Etc.
w. W. Chambers has, by Mr.. r. R. Perry.
filed bill against the Clifton Beach hotel and
steamboat company ct al for the appointment
of a receiver, q discovery, &c.
The bill rccites the incorporation of the COM
pany under the laws OF West Virginia in 1887
by II. Ii. Blackburn Fred Stutz, l.. +. Stutz.
s. o. Hemingway and others; that the shares
were fixed at $1,000 in shares of $40 each:
that Smiths Point CIT acres, worth s6.OOO).
was purchased from Hemingway for 9, 995
shares Of the face value of s99. $50.
that at the meeting in June. 1888, Stutz voted
$4,000 shares, Hemingway q, 900 and Blackburn
IL shares, and some 1000 shares were voted to
H. u. Reninger for the erection of q pavilion.
He further charges that he was induced to buy
1,70O shares In the concern and, finding that he
could recover his money, he advanced "a. coo
more. but soon found that the company was in