New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-17
IN AND OUT OF CONGRESS.
UTAH PRESENTS HER NEW CoNsTlTU-
TON TO THE PRESIDENT.
sEcRErARY HERBERT ANXIOUS TO HAVE ONE OF
THE NEW BArTLElsBIps BUILT ON THE
PACIFIC CoAST-FoR A CABLE TO CUBA
DECISIONS IN THE SUPREME COURT
-DISMissAls IN THE NEW
YORK NAVY YARD.


-DIsMisslNs IN THE NEW
YORK NAVY YARD.
Washington Dec lathe delegation charged with
presenting TO President Cleveland the certified cop
lea of the State Constitution adopted by the peo-
pie of Utah and a transcript OF the result OF the
vote for Statehood we're received by Mr.. Cleveland
at the White House to-day Governor west, 'he
Election Commissioners. j. X. Letcher ana hoy'
Sherman, jr, Delegate Cannon and Coiohel ifu"iDo
headed the party. The certified copies were manu-
soniey bound In black leather MI CieNeahu ioi
n,ay received the volume. and said II would DC MS
duty to examine the documents contained TO see i
they complied with the provisions OF the Cohst'u
ton and the Enabling act The President upon
the completion OF this examination. Will issue a
proclamation naming the date on winch ia" '"'
be admitted TO Statehood
Secretary Herbert has decided TO give the Inioh
Iron Works. o. San Francisco. an opportunity 10
secure one Of the two battle-ships-Nos ana b.
for which bids we're recently opened at the navy
Department, through the medium OF modifying It's
bid made 81 that time, for constructing one o'
both Of the vessels on the plans prepared by the
Department In the bid for building the battle
ships on the Department idea the Newport News
Sh.pbuIldng Company was the lowest Ddue'' asIee
Ing to construct for $,35OWJ or Doth ioi Sf'""
900. The Union Iron Works was next 'o"eS'
In this class with bid OF 2I4o"" 10Y o"e vi
& $4,000 for both. The highest bidder was the
Cramps COMPANY OF Philadelphia. with s2,S2O"e for
one vessel or S.5oocc for both The Naval Board
of Construction has been examining all the pla"S
and bids submitted. giving careful ana particular
attention to the proposition OF the cramps COMPANY
rot only TO construct two battle-shps on theH own
pans and also furnish the armor but IN adolt'o'
10 construct another similar vessel without aimor
and all for the amount appropriated by NolsiesS
for tho purpose namely. $4,000 The san IRAN
cisco and Philadelphia concerns also submitted pus
for the construction OF two vessels on plans pre-
These bids lower IMAM
those submitted by these firms in accordance with
the Departments specifications. out nel'her was
as low as that Of the Newport News Compdh!
the only one II made-for carrying out the Depart
ments ideas without change Secretary Herbert 10
anxious to have Of the battle-shps go 10 'he
Pacific Coast but he feels that he cannot con-
scientously accept the proposition OF 'he ohioi
Iron Works their present figures HIS occasion
TO give tho San Francisco firm an opportunity 10
reduce its bid based on the Governments plans
indicates his willingness in this respect. IL also
shows that the Newport News Company VIII Sc
cure one Of vessels and that the proposal Oh 'e
Nessrs Cramp with respect to the construction OF
three ships has been rejected
The proposed construction of Geographic cable
PROM the United States TO Cuba was brought up
anew in the Senate by bill introduced to-day oy
Mr. Carter which contemplates the ouhdihg OF such
q cable by a private corporation. The company Is
ORGANIZED under the laws OF New-York, ana asks
for authority TO lay its cable through the waters
controlled by the United States and make iahd-
ing on the coast 1t agrees 10 complete the WORK
within two years. and asks as an indirect suosio!
from this Government a contract 10 carry any ana
all Cover ment messages at the rate OF 20 per
nautical mile per annum without additional charges
of any character.
A case appealed from the court Of Judge Isaac
G Parker for the Western District OF Arkansas
was the occasion of an important declaration by the
Supreme Court of the United States to-day In an
opinion read by Justice Harlan. OF the effect OF
plea Of insanity mp as defence III crimhai
proceeding. Dennis DAVIS. charged with MURDER
was convicted and sentenced 20 death. Judge
Parker instructed the jury that the defence OF IN
sanity could not avail the accused unless 1t APP
peared arme lively. to the reasonable satisfaction
OF the jury. that he was not criminaly responsible
for his acts The fact Of killing being clearly
proved the legal presumption, based upon the
common experience Of mankind. that every man Is
sane was sufficient. the Court said. 10 authorize a
verdict of guilty. although the jury might enter
tain reasonable doubt upon the evidence whether
the accused by reason Of his mental condition was
responsible 1? law for the killing in question In
other words the evidence was in equibrio as to
the accused being Of scurd mind he was TO be
treated jus, he would be If there were no de-
fence of insanity. if there were an entire alb
eence o. proof that he insane. In concluding
the opinion, which reversed the judgment of Judge
Parker and sent the case back for another trial
Justice Harlan said: 1T seems TO as that in most
Of the cases holding that In prosecution for muir
der where the evidence does no more tnan create
a reasonable doubt of the sanity OF the accused 100
much stress is placed upon the fact that the de-
fence OF insanity is frequently resorted to- and is
sustained by the evidence OF ingenious experts
whose theories difficult 10 be met and overcome
Thus it is said. crimes OF the most atrocious char
ecter often so unpunisped and the public safety Is
thereby endangered But the possibility OF such
results must always attend any system devised to
ascertain and punish crime, and ought not TO In
duce the courts TO depart from long established
principles fundamental in the criminal law and the
recognition and enforcement OF which are demanded
by every consideration OF humanity and justice.
No man should be deprived Of his lifc under the
forms OF law unless the jurors who try him
able upon their conscences, TO say that the evil
dence before them by whomsoever adduced, is suf-
fcient to show beyond reasonable doubt the en-
istence of every fact necessarysto constitute the
crime charged
The Indian Bureau to-day received Sdvices from
Agent Myer. OF the San Carlos (Arizona) Reserva-
ton. OF the death Of Eskmazin, noted Apache
chief He OF the Oldest chiefs OF this
tribe and during the days Of the Indian fights Was
a grea, warrior. Three or four years ago he VAS
held as a prisoner of and placed within the
confines OF the mil tary post at Mount Vernon
barracks. Alabama. but about a year ago he was
released and returned TO Arizona
The repeated dsmssals among the mechanics
employed a, the New-york Navy Yard during the
past six weeks hes led Mr. Fisher. who represents
the IVth New-York District. TO introduce to-day
a resolution bearing upon the subject, which Is
follows:
Resolved. That the Committee on Civil Service
Reform. when appointed. investigate the report
that mechanics employed at the New-YOrk Navy
Yard and who obtained their positions after com
petitive examination. have been discharged by the
constructor said yard the charge that they
were incompetent. and for the purpose OF this in
Vestiga tior the said committee shall have power to
send for persons and papers
said:
THE present constructor al the Brooklyn yard
is Mr. BCwles. He was appointed six weeks ago.
Since then the dsinssals among the skilled labor
ers at toe yard have been numerous. They ag-