The morning call., 1893-12-13

signed, but at the earnest solicitatiO of
the other three mem Ders OF the Cabinet
withheld 1t for time. This matter and
the keeping of Carl Wideman, an ouLand-
out royalist, in his own Office was brought
up and the Minister'S action denounced in
unmeasured terms.
lie threatened 10 resign IL he could not
run his department to suit himself, aud
was at once told by one of the members
tnat the sooner he did 80 the better.
Every member of both councils is opposed
TO Mr. Damon in this matter, bnt IL is
hoped that the plain talk he received will
result In change in his present course; if
not. valuable as his financial abilities are
TO the Provisional Government, he will
have to go.
There are others who are as we'll able to
Nil the office as Mr.. Damon, a whose
actions would not offend the rank and file
OIL the party. The matter was left in
allowance to await further action from Mr..
Damon. The latter's loyalty TO the Gov
ernment was not brought into question,
but he was plainly told that his action in
retaining royalist subordinates was con-
demned.
Following up the decision Of the council
consultation was had with the military
officials Immediately afterward and it was
decided that the Provisional Government
would make its final stand at the execu-
tive building, formerly the royal palace.
At present the basement of this building
is occupied by Company L, under Captain
Good, who fired the only shot iD the
January revolution and wounded native
policeman in the arm.
The old throneroom on the first floor is
used as the Council chamber, and the
dinlng-rOOm as the Interior Office The
Finance Ofdce is Quartered in the breakfast
room. Ga the upper floors are the Offices
Of the Cabinet Ministers, reception-rUom,
etc. This building will accOmm Odate 1000
armed men, and is now being rapidly trans
formed into fortress.
Provisions enough to last 1900 men for
several weeks have been stored in the
baaement. together with an abundance of
ammunition, while water is plenty through
out the building. 1t proceeds from an
artesian we'll in the grounds, and is inde-
pendent of the city supply. Double wide
balconies surround both floors of the build
ing.
The balustrades on these balconies have
been turned into strong breastworks by
piiluS tlcIo VI euSaI-OhRS Ull6Q Win SADQ
behind them and above them TO the height
of mans head, space between each
sack on the top tier being left for the in
sertion of rifle barrel.
Four field guns are mounted on either
side of the building. The front and rear
openings are all connected with a main
hall, which runs across the building At
the rear entrance a barricade of timber
and bags of sand has been erected, leaving
openings for Calling and Maxim guns, with
which the rear balcony is now crowded.
Piles of sand bags are ready to barricade
the main entrance whenever required, and
1t will be but minutes work to transfer
hall of the guns on the rear balcony to The
front The bnilding being of concrete and
stone Is impervious to bullets. The Gov
eminent does not fear that it will be
| shelled by the Philadelphia or Adams on
account of the destruction to surrounding
| property.
The present unpleasant state of affairs
is of course having its effect on business
generally, ami the general air of uneasy
expectation which the community is kept
in is sufficient alone to make people
fighting mad" That is about what peo-
pie are here, and the longer it is put off the
worse it will be when it does come.
And yet Minister Willis says nothing
when word from him to the Government
would put an end to the existing state of
affairs. He refuses to De interviewed on
the subject of his instructions and no one
knows whether he has received additional
ones by the Australia. If he has this CON-
munity would be glad to know it Just
now.
President Dole himself told the writer
not two days since that Minister Willis
| had never addressed any official communi-
cation to the Provisional Government
since the presentation of his credentials,
nor has he been near the members except
the time he made an informal call to ar
range for the presentation OF Admiral
Irwin.
The libel suits brought by Chaoles VIII
son, the ex-Marshal and royal favorite,
| against Walter G. Smith, editor of the
Star, have all gone over to the February
term of the Circuit Court, the defendant
waving examination in the lower court.
This course was taken at the instance OF
the Government, which did not want any