The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-01-31
ISLAND CITY NEWS ITEMS.
Steve Pratt, the Gold Brick Artist,
WithdraWs His Plea.
IS WILLING TO RETURN TO ALABAMA.
Discussing the Abolition Of Charges on
shipside Cotton Going TO Houston
to Hear Paderewsky.

hearing OF the habeas corpus case of steve
Pratt. which was adjourned last night,
was terminated this morning when the
attorneys decided among themselves TO
withdraw the habeas corpus proceedings.
The grounds for so doing was an agree
inent between the attorneys of Pratt and
the State that should the charges against
Pratt in Houston be dismissed the alleged
gold brick artist would willingly accom-
pany Sheriff Mcdonald back to Alabama
| 10 meet the accusations there against him.
! When Judge Gavin called the case he was
| Informed that the attorneys for Pratt
| had decided to withdraw their client
! request for hearing and allow the sheriff
| OF Harris county to retain custody. rhs
afternoon Sheriff Erickson returned to
Houston with Pratt. where, after certain
| llelimnaries are arranged, he Will be
| turned over to Chief of Police Mcdonald,
AMI from then on until the Alabama au-
| thorities will conclude their business with
! HIN he VIII be known by the name OF
| Earl. under which alias he committed his
crimes against the peace and dignity OF
| that State.
IMPORTANT COUNCIL MEETING.
AT an adjourned regular meeting of the
! council, held this evening. an ordinance
| granting to the Santa Fe the right to
! close Iwenty-sXth street north from ave-
| nue. b, alley c, to cross Twenty
street at the intersection of strand, such
| rights granted to tho road to reach their
! proposed union depot was passed under
| a suspension of rules The ordinance COM
| Mlttee received a proposition from the In
| tcrnational and Great Northern Offering
| to bear half the expense necessary to
| construct the depot If they were granted
| equal rights in the Joint management of
/ al "a
| Great Northern representatives. after a
! lengthy conference with the ordinance
! committee this afternoon, in which Gem
! eral Manager Campbell of the Interna-
| uonal and Great Northern, General At
| toruey Terry OF the Santa lee, Land Agent
Jackson of the road, w. Van Alstyne OF
thu Galveston, Houston and Henderson
and others interested participated, could
not reach an amicable agreement and the
| ordnance committee presented the ordi-
| nance which was adopted. Under its pro-
| visions other roads shall have the right
to come into the depot by paying a rea-
! sonahle sum fixed by the Union Depot
! company
The mayors annual message suggesting
| n sewerage system for the city and recon-
mendng the creation of the office of city
! comptroller of accounts was read and the
| city attorney was instructed to prepare
| ordinances carrying out the mayors rec
| ommendatlon. A committee was appointed
to investigate and report to the council
| the best system of sewerage TO be adopted
| in Galveston.
SIlIP.SIDE COTTON.
Ship brokers and others Interested We're
| this morning discussing the announce
ment Of the International and Great
| Northern abolishing the charge on cotton
for local ship-side delivery. Some are of
the opinion that much good viii result
from this action on the part of the In
| tcrnational and Great Northern in secur-
| ing for Galveston additional cotton ship
| ments while others hold "A contrary view
For some time past rate of b4 cents
| per bale was charged on cotton for snip
side delivery, hut owing to vigorous
| protest instituted by some of the Local
ship brokers the charge was reduced to
Z cents per bale. This did not satisfy the
| ship brokers. who thought that an in
| justice had been done them in dscrimin-
ating as between through bills of lading
| cotton and cotton for shipside delivery.
aud it is said that they threatened to bring
| tao attention of the State railway COM
mission TO the matter.
y number of railroad men, representing
various roads in this State, were In Austin
a few days ago attending a meeting OF
the railway commission, and It is SAID
they came TO an agreement to abolish
the object ionable tax. The international
and Great Northern. however. was the
first to announce the adjustment of the
charge. and it is expected the other roads
viii follow In day Or two.
TO HEAR PApEREWsKI.
The indications are that Galveston viii
be very much in evidence at the Pader-
| cwski recital in Houston tomorrow even
ing. Both the Santa l'c and the In
| tcrnational VIII send out trains for Hous-
ton with car loads of people already tick
eted to the recital, and each road viii
have a spec!a! train returning after the
show. The Galveston Quartette society
will 20 up on the lnterna tional and Great
Northern and return the same way. and
1t is said. arrangements have been made
for an elegant luncheon on the return.
The GalVoston'ans anticipate merry trip
as well as an enjoyable musical event.
CUBAN CLUB.
Tomorrow night at o'clock there Will
be a meeting of the members OF the Cuban
club at their rooms on Postofhce between
Twenty-hrst and Twenty-second streets
| There are several Cuban insurgents in
Galveston who are recently from Havana
and they may address the meeting on the
situation In Cuba as 1t is today.
THE COLTS COMING,
Today n letter was received from Prcsl-
dent James A. Hart of the Chicago Base
Ral team by n prominent base ball en-
thusiast which stated that the Chicagos
Will be here on March to commence their
twenty men in the organization.
LOCAL AND PERSONAL.
George Davis and family OF Ness coun-
ty, Kentucky, are here to stay.
| H. II. Childers was In the city today
after a protracted visit to relatives in
Louisiana.
About $50 Odd Fellows will 30 from
here to Houston to attend the meeting OF
the Grand Lodge Monday.
Tickets via the Galveston. Houston and
Henderson to Houston on the Paderewski
special will be honored for return on the
Santa Fe.
The Morris show of wonders, now In
Houston, Is to open here Monday under
the auspices of Camp Magruder, United
Confederate Veterans.
A telegram was received from Hon.
Miles Crowley this morning saying he mad
been reliably Informed that the contest
Cor the seat in congress had resulted in
his favor.