New-York tribune., 1896-02-05
IN AND OUT OF CONGRESS.
A VIGOROUS FIGHT AGAINST GENERAL
FRANKLIN'S REINFORCEMENT
THE CONSUL AT CAPE TOWN sELECTED-FARMERs'
ALLIANCE FOR FREE sILvER-ARGUMENT on
THE SUGAR BOUNTY CASES POSTPONED
MARKETS FOR AMERICAN GOODS
IN EUROPE-FREE POSTAL DE-

LIVERY IN SMALL TOWNS.

Washington. Feb. 4.-Strong pressure IS being
brought to bear the House Military Committee
/ to prevent the reappontment OF MajorGeneral
Franklin. OF Connecticut. a member OF the
Board OF Managers of National Soldiers Homes.
The Board consists OF eleven members with Cen
eral Franklin president. The other members
Senators Sewel. of New-Jersey. and Mitchell. Of
Oregon; General Black OF Chicago; Congressman
Steele. OF Indiana: Judge Martin T. Mcmahon of
| New-York: General Fessenden OF Maine; General
Pearson. OF Pittsburg: General c. NJ Anderson OF
Greenvie, Ohio General Barrett, OF Los Angeles,
Cal. and Colonel Cooke. Of Kansas. The terms OF
four of these men. all OF whom appointed for
six years. will expire this year. These Messrs.
Franklin. Fessenden. Steele and Black. There is
understood to be no opposition to Mr.. Steele Gen
eral Fessenden. It is said, does not desire reap
pointment In the case Of General Black It is re,
Northern District of Illinois render it diiicuit for
and that for this reason he should be succeeded by
some other man. There is strong opposition TO the
asast him being that he is too Old and utocrac
the fight against him will. it is thought. be con
retention although the members Of the Board
press the highest respect for General Frank ms
executive abilities and assert also that ii would be
d.fhcul, to find a satisfactory successor to hn \
S 05 me ns aTe Are ta 90 w com T
slider the matter carefully before making report 10
the soldiers homes throughout the country, and.
except the president. secretary and treasureI ther
visit the different homes once a year and .nv'sti-
gate all relating to their management:
5000 year Tc the treasurer $500 year is paid.
and the secretary receives 5000.
II Is understood that President has practically
selected the new Consul Cape Town. port which
has become Of considerable Importance since the be-
ginning Of the Transvaal troubles In order TO
make the place lucrative enough 10 allow the ap-
poiniment OF some man OF standing secretary oin'y
has written letter TO the senate Committee on APP
propratons. asking that the salary be increased
from s2.coo to $1,000 year.
According 10 a communication sent to the House
OF Representatives by Secretary Carlisle in reply TO
a resolution the last three years dues for the lease
Of the Seal Islands, amounting TO about sAO59. are
now in litigation in tho Southern District OF New
York From 1870 TO 1890 the Government has re-
ceved S6.35 eGl from the Seal Islands The cost Of
policing the from 1890 to 1888 was slilJiA sup
and this with the salaries and expenses of ageats
for the same time. runs the total up 10 sS'a'i"
The Nationa! Farmers Alliance and Industrial!
Union met in convention here to-day About nifty
delegates in attendance. representing the
States OF Alabama Arkansas California. Colorado
Georgia. Indiana. Iowa. Kansas North Carolina.
New York. New-Jersey. Pennsylvania South Caro-
lima. South Dakota. Texas West Virginia and Nir-
ginia. The morning and afternoon sessions. which
were secret, the members being adverse to taking
the public into confidence regarding their dellbcra-
tions devoted one OF the members said. 10 tho
transaction Of routine matters and the consideration
OF reports from committees a committee consist
ing OF the president j. r Willetts. OF Kansas, II l..
Loucks. Of South Dakota; Mann Page. Of Virginia:
| c. r. White. Of New-York and f. VI. WardalL OF
| California, appointed TO go before the House
| Committee on Banking and Currency to-morrow. 1t
gresham Walker. OF Massachusetts. This commit
sSsysnan es es go Expected to ADOPT strong reOu
tions that subject before adjournment
Befor. the Supreme Court OF the United States
adjourned to-day for the February recess at the
suggestion OF Solicitor General Conrad the date OF
hearing the argument the sugar bounty cases. ap
| neaed from louisiana was changed from the second
| Monday of March TO the third Monday OF the same
month. 1t said that the press OF business IN the
ment's law officers preparing argue the
| by the first date mentioned.
Commissioner OF Navigation Chamberlain r. r.
| Freeman Of Boston. and Representative Low. OF
! New York were before the House Committee
| Merchant Marine and Fisheries to-day In opposition
10 the proposition repeal the law providing penal
punishment for VOCATION OF contract II applies
to seamen They insisted that this law was neces-
sary in order to hold their contracts Mr..
Fuineeth, Of San Francisco. representing the sea-
men, advocated the repeal Of the law: lie begged
! poynen, which required press gang to get per
sons TO enter T. and an open prison S2or to s kee2
! masters authority should be absolute, but asked
taS when IN port se@men n%re e sans ' o News s
York epoAe IN oppos'ion 10 rhe "0R95'ci Rbts cio-e9
/ the hearings on these subjects
Naval officers attached to the Lighthouse Board.
the photographic Service and the warships in com
mission as well as Life-Saving Service officials are
much interested in plan suggested by Colonel John
Schuyler Crosby OF New-York. for conspicuously
| marking the dangerous points on the ocean, gulf
and lake line. Colonel Crosbys plan In
volved Government expenditure OF only Il few
thousand dollars. which, II is expected VIII be at
tsched to an appropriation bill this session Of
Congrese The scheme is to palm in a prominent
place on the life-saving stations and houses OF
nit. ma
yis,Dle rom M ,e ferehy enaia2 mariners definitely
10 locate their vessels in tenpestuous weather. par
ticuary winter or after period or foSgy weitne:
when observations OF the sun are not easily oD-
| tained.
That Switzerland. especially the wood working
| section Offers a great market for American fish
glue is the information sent to the State Department
by r. H. Ridgely United States Consul at Geneva
| Already the article has mad great success, COM
| p.etely ousting the material formerly used. Mr
| Ridgely has great hopes for American bicycles in
Switzerland Until recently Swiss dealers would not
| handle wheels from this country. believing them
too light and fragile. They changed ther minis
Arm. and the most ex,e dealers have accepted
| the agency FOR Switzerland and given cash order
| for q number OF the machines Mr. Rdgeiy also
| suggests that American Office furniture would sell
| well in Switzerland.
! Germany offers good market for California
dried fruits according to Information furnished TO
| the State Department by Frank II. Mason United
| States Consul General at Frankfort-on-the Main
Sun-dried California apricots peaches and pears. lie
| SAYS sell at retail IN Frankfort and neighboring
| towns for from % cents TO - cents pound. ana
their use In Germany. even at those prices Is stead
| y Increasing. Mr Mason points out that there Is a
| margin Of IS cents between the price the grower
| gets in California :or each pound OF these fruits
| and the price he obtain in Germany thus giving
| a chance for large profits by shipping his sun-dred
| product abroad The cost OF the fruit when landet
| al Hamburg Bremen. freight and duty paid
would not exceed cents a pound exclusive OF pa "a
ing and handling.
| The House Committee on Postofices and Postroads
to-day ordered a favorable report on the bill OF Mr..
| Sperry OF Connecticut. concerning free delivery In
| small towns. The measure provides that whenever
Lose than twenty who receive their mail