davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1896-01-31
The District Budget.

1t is disappointing. but by no means sur
I,rising. that the House appropriations COM
mfttec made great reductions In the Com
missioHers' estimates for the local budget
Of 1887 for the history Of congressional ap-
propriations is that all estimates are scaled
down radically at the start, in order, ap-
parently to obtain a basis for the houses
TO work upon. The record of sucn matters
Is that the House usually increases the hill
and the Senate goes still further and adds
to the total, while a compromise Is struck
in conference that gives an aSgresl lte
greater that the House bin but less than
the Senate bill. In this way the appropria-
tfons committees recommendations ay
generally be taken as the minimum point
of the bill. ard in this light yesterdays ac-
ton by the committee is not so thoroughly
Giscourag ging as it might at first seem. Last
year the committee recommended budget
aggregating So $50 1887. a reduction of 81
TX, s,s2T from the Commissioners estimates.
This year the committee recommends So
:s2lJ, ,6t-,.91. exclusive of the water depart
ment, as against the estimate of the Com
missioners aggregatAg 81, ,491 .35I4T. Thus
there Is larger amount recommended this
year than last, although the estimates were
cut more seriously than in 1895. Last year
the bill passed the House carrying SJ,JJss,, =
1925. and the Senate committee recon-
mended bin aggregating sG,o3l l,13L2o. In
practically this shape the bill was passed
by the Senate, and 1T then went into con-
ference from which it emerged carrying
Sl.916.-iSi, being a total increase over the
House committees recommendations of
SI2I.s46. In view OF the fact that the House
committees recommendations are some
what higher this year than in 1895, the bill
.~
contain materially more than in 1895. and
it may lie and should be increased over the
present basis in close proximity to the
Commissioners estimates, which are pased
Upon the Districts probable revenue. This
municipality is vigorously growing youth,
and trousers of last years size and cut
will be much too small for it.
Some of the decreases made from the
Commissioners estimates are extremely un-
fortunate. and these items ought to be re-
placed in the bill by one or other of the
houses and fought for zealously IN confer
ersee- The appropriations for sewers were
cut down too radically, this item con-
tains several vitality important features of
public improvement that are necessary in
the interest of the public health. The pub
lie schools. too. do not receive the increases
that are required by the advance in the
District population, while the police and
fire departments were given the most i'm
material increases compared with the de-
mands- The raise OF fifteen policemen in
the force is wholly inadequate There are
other items in which the committee scaled
down the Commissioners estimates that
will undoubtedly attract the attention of
some of the Districts friends in the House
and Senate, and arouse them to energetic
action when the bill comes up for consid-
GRAFTON and passage.
Evening star., 1896-01-31
Cuban Independence.

The Cuban resolutions recommended to
the Senate b. the majority of the commit
tee on foreign relations of that body the
other day merely recognize the fact that
a war exists In the island and make no
specific request upon the President to ex-
tend an official recognition to the belliger-
ents such as would give them an interna-
tional standing at this capital On the
other hand they ask for practical results
that are out of the question as long as
Spain maintains her present attitude to-
ward the insurgents. There is no doubt
that every American heart will sympathize
with the petition that the home govern
ment should grant to the rebellous colonies
the common privileges of warfare, the Tag
of truce, the inviolability of hospitals and
the exchange of prisoners, privileges that
are common In every war between civilized
nations and are often given by nation to
it's rebellious subjects. But it is praeti-
cally certain that the request to Spain for
such an acton IS the Senate committee's S
resolutions contemplate would be promptly
denied inasmuch as the Madrid government
has not yet acknowledged the fact of the
existence of a warfare in the islands, and
is not likely to do so at our suggestion.
Spain will doubtless continue to pretend
that tie affair is the mere riotouS uprising
of a few outlaws, though all the world is
coming to understand that the Inhabitants
of the island are in serious revolt in a
war for independence.
The recognition of belligerency is purely
an executive act that cannot be accom-
plished by congressional legislation. 1t can,
however. be fastened by the passage by
Congress of a resolution favortng the rec
ognition of the insurgents by this govern
ment, which would give the administra-
ton assurance of support by public senti-
ment in taking this step. The practical act
of recognition would probably take the
form of the reception by the President OF
a deputatfon from tho Cuban government
This would give the agents of the fnsur-
gent organization diplomatic status and
| the fact of belligerency having been thus
publicly AID practically acknowledged, the
| insurgents would then have the right tc
come into the open market Of the United
States for the purchase of arms, ammun
| ton and other materials of warfare which
| they SO sadly need today.
Evening star., 1896-01-31

already existing plant, especially when the
committee makes maximum price that Is
considerably lower than the present rates
paid for gas and electric lights. The pre-
sumption Is that the present companies will
obtain the contracts and therefore 1T is
wise precautfon on the part Of the commit
tee to establish a maximum rate at ma
terial reduction as compared with the pres
ent prices. A drop from 5000 to SIC a
lamp per annum is about 20 per cent
reduction in the item of gas, and the COM
mittee has with good judgment required
that each lamp shah burn every night of
the year instead of allowing 5000 hours as
at present. In the matter of electric lights
the reduction is from 40 to % cents a night
per lamp, a reduction of 80 per cent. Un-
questionably the two monopolies that now
enjoy the local field well afford to
make considerable reductions and in the
face of possible competition they will
probably do so If the provision of the ap-
preparations committee should become a
law. Indeed it would be advantageous to
the present companies to provide the
municipality with illumination gratuitously
in order to be certain of a continuation of
the private patronage that is SO profitable.
Should the two houses agree to this prop
~
pass a bill requiring the gas company to
reduce it's rates to private consumers. It Is
probable that should the provision for a
contract at reduced rates for public light
ing go into effect the gas company would
put up still poorer mouth than ever and
plead small profits with the usual array of
figures based on watered stock and capital
lied improvements that have been more or
less successful in the past in convincing
congressional committees that the business
of providing gas to the people of Washing
ton is little else than a philanthropic en-
terprise.
Evening star., 1896-01-31
Public Lighting Contracts.

The proposition of the House appropria-
tions committee to open up the contracts
for public gas and electric lighting to COM
petition looks startling at first glance, for
1t contains the possibility that the city's
streets may be torn up from end to end
for the laying of new gas mains and wire
eonduits- Particular provision is made
that in case the lowest responsible bidder
should not be provided with a system of
pipes or wires placed underground for gas
or electric lighting the Commissioners may
authorize such bidders to supply the def
cheney. This would be an alarming prospect
IL there were any strong probability of its
ever eliminating, but there Is reason to
believe that while the action of the appro-
priations committee will result in reduc-
tion of the cost of public gas and electric
lighting and will thereby be a distinct
boon to the community, this end will be
accomplished without disturbing the streets
and avenues and without inconveniencing
the citizens In the least. OF course no
company, however desirous of obtaining the
\eontract, could hope to compete with an
Evening star., 1896-01-31
The Commissioner Reply.

AS anticipated. the Commissioners have
replied to the Mcmillan resolution that the
police regulation concerning the speed Of
carriages at certain crossings, which has
lately been brought into question, is based
on desire to protect the people alighting
from street cars at important functions.
The regulation is broad enough to cover
other busy points than the 7th street
junction. for ii refers to all intersections Of
street ear lines. This. of course, includes
such places as 9th and F streets, where the
divergence of F street from the true line
creates a most awkward and dangerous
condition. 1t also takes in the exceedingly
bad junction at the corner of New York
avenue and 18th street, and there is a
special provision against vehicles going
faster than a walk the entire length of
18th street from Pennsylvania avenue to
the north line of New York avenue. The
Commissioners, In their reply, call attention
to the fact that man has already been
killed a result of reckless driving at the
18th street junction, and they contend that
the regulation in question has resulted in
a complete cessation of accidents there. If
the horse owners and drivers believe that
it is dangerous to cross such tracks as at
18th street and Pennsylvania avenue at a
walk the most reasonable remedy, 1t
seems, would be for them to go q little out
or their regular routes to avoid such emer-
gencies- In view of the fact that the regu-
lation Is intended mainly IL not solely to
protect the passengers boarding and leav-
ing the cars at the junction points, ii
would seem to be fair, however, to give
some relief to the horse-owners by permit
ting them to cross the 7th street tracks al
the avenue at a trot on the north side, as
suggested by The Star last evening. Bpi
the main regard should be for the pedes-
trfans and for the transferring passengers
Evening star., 1896-01-31
The Free Public Library,

The free library bill is making excellent
headway. Today the full Serate committee
on the District followed the lead of the sub
committee in charge of the measure and or
dered a favorable report to the Senate. with
strong arguments appended that should
send the bill through the upper house in
short order. The report on the bill Is con-
elusive evidence of the need for prompt ac-
ton by Congress. and it is earnestly hoped
that the bill will be pressed energetically
and quickly to a favorable issue
Evening star., 1896-01-31
Colossal Architecture,

"I wish could arrange it so as to live
somewhere near the middle of this build
ing" said the elevator man in a recent
Chicago structure.
What is the matter with the top floor,
where you are?" inquired the man In
charge.
why, sir, 1 leave home at six O'Clock
for my down trip. And on my up trip ]
don't get back till two In the afternoon,
which Is q long time to go without any
thing to eat. If I lived In the middle I'D
get home on my up trip in time to join
my family for little lunch at IL O'Clock,
SIR"
Evening star., 1896-01-31

The woman's suffrage convention, in spite
of it's undoubtedly able arguments, has
left number of people uneonvinced that A
woman should have any irons IN the fire
except curling irons.
Evening star., 1896-01-31

The German Emperor Notwithstanding,
the Sultan desires to have it understood
that he is, by long odds, the haughtiest
man, on slight provocation, in all Europe
Evening star., 1896-01-31

England may yet find 1t necessary to
make man pass a civil service examina-
ton before he can be eligible to the posi-
ton of poet-laureate.
Evening star., 1896-01-31

Former prophecies of spectacular feats in
quorum-counting by Speaker Reed are at
tracing very little attention now.
Evening star., 1896-01-31

Only sixty men were placed at work to-
day On the city post Office.
Evening star., 1896-01-31
A bad Habit.

From the Philadelphia Press.
Spain Is a country that has never gotten
over the bad habit of looking backward. !"
Aud what she looks back to is methods that
civilization has tabooed.
Evening star., 1896-01-31
A sympathetic Sentiment.

80 you called on that new woman who
goes in fur athletics,'' said Flooding Pete
YES" replied Meandering Mike, as he
stopped rubbing his elbow long enough te
tie his handkerchief over his right eye
Il did. An 1 got a good deal the worst OF
it,"
rs her husband at home?''
Il dunno. But hope fur his own sake
that he amt.
Evening star., 1896-01-31

If John Bull would not put his foot down
so hard, it might not get stepped On so
often.
Evening star., 1896-01-31
SHOOTING STARS.

''Er man dat am allus 1ooIkin' fob trou-
ble," said Uncle Eben, "ain' likely ter git
dis'p'inted, no matter how near-sishted. he
f-
Evening star., 1896-01-31

Senator Tillman's oratoricaI dispensary
has evidently been working overtime
Evening star., 1896-01-31
The Chan9eful Climate

'T1s a time of insfdious terror
When the strongest of men holds his
breath.
You are dodging a sunstroke one moment
And the next you are freezing to
death.
Evening star., 1896-01-31
Very Exasperatinx.

Very Exasperating.
From Brooklyn Life.
Brown-"Ever see such a quarrelsome
character as Smithr'
Jones-"Never. think he'd provoke q
professional pugilist into q fight.
Evening star., 1896-01-31
PrefePable.

Don't you long for the springtime," said
the poetic youth, when too young hearts
car wander over the woodlands picking
Aeu
Evening star., 1896-01-31

YES" replied the ordinary person. u
do. 1t would be lot better than wander
ing around among the florists trying to see
where you can get the biggest bouquet for
two dollars"
Evening star., 1896-01-31

Look out for your little ones feet! In
sure them against having trouble as they
grow up by buying their shoes here.
Ours combine comfort and durability
Agents for the celebrated Waterbury"
Shoes for children, which are unexceIled
at their respective prices.
Evening star., 1896-01-31
<aDust see
{Wflat we've
xdOme==

! rHothers of boys
: for tomorrow
I You shall have the choice
: of our entire stock of
sBoys' Long Pants Suits,
xBoys' Short Pants. Suits,
{ Boys Separate Long
/ Pants,
I Boys Separate. Knee
{ Pants
: winter weights, of course
( at very much reduced prices.
! BY far the lowest that have
: been quoted. Come right in
{ and pick where you please
{ what you please. Take the
! novelties or the staples. We
+ don't care which go. We
I, want to get the stock down
!; smaller-that's what we're
: after.
!: These prices ought to do it!
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-13

Columbia Nio.) Cor of ST. Louis Globe ID einocrat
A great den of snakes was discovered
yesterday in Hatton Cave, narfhcast Of
Rocheport Boone county. Robert Hatton,
a farmer living near the cave. was hunting
for a missing calf. While looking around in
the bluffs in the vicinity of the cave his at
tention was attracted by huge black
snake, which, upon his approach. gllded
rapidly in The direction of the caves mouth.
Hatton pressed his way 10 the dark en-
trance OF the cave, ana there, lying on The
ground. was lis missing calf in the a-onfes
Of death. while its body was literally COW
cred with writing, Kissing Serpcnis. Hat
ton FASTENED home FOR his gan. At ga ii
shot he killed several reptiles. he succeed-
ed in driving the live ones further back
INFO the dark ess Of the cave. After res
cung his dying calf he rro ce5ei 10 count
the number Of snakes killed. The number
was 3s6. Hatton skinned one monster
leptile and brought the hide to Columbia,
where u has been stuffed and is now on eN.
hibition. 1t is twelve feet long.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-13

flies are very interesting, but they are far
fl ON being known as yet" observed we'll
known bugoiogist of the Agricultural De-
partment. lone of the peculiar things
about them is that while some years they
fly low during other years they fly very
high. My observation this year is that
they fly much higher than for a number
of years past, INDEED. so high that it IS
rarely that they can be caught at ALL Edi-
son and his force of assistants are still
at work endeavoring to find out the secret
of their light. One thing has been ascer-
tanned, however. and that is by feeding
the lightning bug on certain ais the
color and to some extent the quality of
the light can be changed, but beyond that
nothing
x !. x
There is one peculiarly Of the storms
in Washington said Mr.. w. H. Gates of
Tennessee. land that Is the rain always
seems to fail the heaviest Just before .
O'Clock in the morning, as the clerks are
hurrying to the departments, and about 4
O'Clock in the afternoon as the same clerks
are leaving for their homes. l have no
ticed this dozens of times, and so have a
number OF ether depaI tmental employees.
OF course, 1t is only an incident, but clerks
don't enjoy such incidents. especially the
lady clerks and those who don't happen TO
have umbrellas with them. If the weather
bureau wants TO start reform / think it
could begin with this one
x x X
Il am sorry. miss. but l am not allowed
to assist you from the car any more" said
a cor ductor on the metropolitan branch of
the Baltimore and Ohio road on Tuesday
afternoon last. the rain was pouring
down and passer gers were aighting from
the train at Silver Springs. Asked for an
explanation the conductor said: 1t has al
ways been our habit TO assist ladies getting
on or off the train. bat ii appears thai
some ladies did not like it. and they COM
plaiEed to headquarters and the result was
an order that hereafter conduo tors should
require ladies to help themselves and
off the cars 1t is rather calling to con-
other orders regarding the trains. 1 do not
know who made the complaint, but it was
on this line
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-13

to me as If a great body of ice had fallen
on her as she rested in the crater. No
other force, unless gunpowder. could have
SO wrecked and scattered her about.
Sailorlike, my first thought was to iden-
tify the wreck. This did by finding life
preserver with me"Princess' painted
on It, l had net then heard of the loss of
the Australian packet, but I knew that
this must have been a passenger ship from
her fittings. There were no bodies under or
about the wreckage, and during my search
OF five hours I did not find any money or
JeWelry. OF her cargo only small portion
was at hand, and did not see single bale
or wool. The life preserver and three
pieces of silver plate 1 carried to the boat
put round nothing else worth taking away
could find nothing in the wreckage to ac-
count for the ships boats and all her
crew and passengers had certainly left her
be1ore she met her fate
Inc theory Of whalers who have cruised
in the icy seas is, that the Princess was
driven down on the ice by gale from the
north, which perhaps dismas;ed her. At
some time-perhaps before she got into the
ice helds-she was abandoned. and one
alter another her boats We're lost in that
great ocean If after she had got wedged
among the ice, then they fioated away
from her, to perish of cold and starvation.
one can only guess how the big ship came
10 De lying where l found her. She may
nave been lifted bodily to the solid ice
curing nip or have run upon shelf
or ledge as she drove before a gale.
Inc 'hi pc ana size OF the lceDeTSS are SoI-
stantly changing. This one had probably
been much larger and higher at some time.
lhere might have been, and probably was,
nigh portion which fell upon and shat
tered the vessel to fragments. AS she had
no gunpowder aboard, there could have
been no explosion. In whatever way her
doom came about, there she was, or all
that was left of her.
Late in the afternoon the foe began to
break up, and l got back to my boat. BY
night there We're lanes of water in every
direction and strong breeze set in from
night and all the next day. but as the
second night came down l was picked up
by the Scotch whaler Jeanette. which
had captured and was cutting up a whale
port.
For three years believed the Talisman
mad been cast away in the ice. but 1t
turned out that she escaped without niue h
damage and finally reached Boston with
a full cargo.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-13
In the Wake of a Bullet.

Prof. E. Mache of Prague is credited with
some remarkable achievements in the line
or rapid photography. Thus the flight of Il
proJectile has been fastened on sensitive
plate. the exposure being estimated at prob
ably about one-thousandth of second. In
taking this picture Prof. Mache succeeded
not only in showing the projec tile proper
upon the negative, but he also shows the
air currents, and the condensing of the pho
tosraph. 1t is thought. might explain the
luminous tail on comets and on meteors
which are presumably projecties hurled
through infinite space upon larger scale
Another of these Photographic achieve
ments~ Is air occasoned by the flight of a
leaden bail; Its current of air is diverted
TO all sides at an angle of about - degrees
to the axis OF the projectle. and the whirl-
wind in its wake shows particles of dust
ana other atoms carried III the atmosphere
driven with an energetic motion in the road
winch the projectile has just left, and fol-
lowing 1t with almost the same rapdity.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-13

FROM fhC Chicago IribUnC.
Read me the statements of those who
witnessed the murder" said the MOTEL de-
tective. IL may in that way strike upon a
clue
Slowly and with excellent emphasis they
read to him the different statements.
"Haw he said at the close. A tall, slen-
der man. in coat and vest OF some dark
material.
He bowed his head upon his hand. They
saw that his mind must he beginning to
work, and locked on admiringly.
"A coat and vest OF some dark material
Suddenly he leaped TO his feet
Il have it, he cried. Undoubtedly a
was CLOTH"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-13

fortunes Of his descendants, and one small
wing alone remains of the noble structure
Artists have always ignored the real home!
ana depicted Little Bungton, which was
only farm house purchased after reverses
compelled the family to sell the estate
Miss Swami. belonging to the Washington
family herself. has, however, painted the
true mouse as 1t stands today. Embedded
in the walls, from which the stucco is fast
crumbling, is seen the coat of arms of the
Washington family, and the small window
panes set in lead frames and the heavy
oaken door with its massive iron hinges
indicate the antiquity Of the building.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-13

I'Iith.-
His Wife Teading a Sunday papcr)-
Apropos of Hamlet, they say here that
you ana Shakespeare represent the very
opposite poles of the dramatic art"'
He-"Ah, that's nasty one for Shake
Speale.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-13

From the New York FINES
Strawberries are often served with orange
juice. Cover the berries with sugar and the
juice of several oranges Let them chill in
the refrigerator for half an hour and serve
with powdered ices -;
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-13


Mr. l.. S. Brunidi has been occun;ed n,.;,-
cipaily with outdoor work, both study
hcads done in the open air and landscanas
me scenery over on the Virginia side of
'he river sec ms to have (. special attraction
Tor him. ara he has made e great many
sketches there, some in oil and some in
water colcr. medium which he has taken
up extensively of late in order that he NAV
De well represented at the EXHIBIT of the
water color Club in the fall. In a pastel
Which ne has just finished Mr. Brumjli has
been working out his conception of Tito
Me!eina. the hero if such he may be called
OF Eeolse El:ots Romola. The face is
s'IlkhsH handsome, though with an eff
Terminate sort of beauty. ard every line of
the features suggests an easy-going nature
a man VINO would make friends easily. but
VINO would not hesitate TO play them false
IN MS face one sees ipdica tionS Of mental
CUTS of rather high order, but an entire
lack OF resolution and moral stamina