davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1897-08-20
CLERKS BIOGRAPHICAL BOOK.
Treasury Employees Required TO
Name Their Political Influence.

Blanks are being prepared which Treas
ury Department employees viii have to
fill in, and when they have done So the
department will have complete bio
graphical sketch of each, showing how
they obtained their positions, got into
the classified service, and a general his.
tory of promotion, reduction, salary anu
other cetails.
This infor nation will show the In
nuence or political pull used in getting
good positions, how many were in the
department when they were put under
civil service, and how many obtained
their positions through civil service ex-
aminatIcns The data will be filed for
reference.
The times., 1897-08-20

railroad stocks would seem to point at the
moment toward buying other stocks than
the gTangers. All OF the grangers have
had fine rises. and now the corn news is
unfayorable. With this possibility against
the grangers, such roads as the Louisville
& Nashville, Chesapeake aud Ohio, and such
a stock as Western Union, in addition to
Sugar and the other trust stocks, which
are not in any way affected by the fate
of the cereals, are perhaps preferable as
purchases. The Excellent earnings OF
Louisville aud Nashville, given out yestef-
day, emphasize this point with regard 20
that particular stock. For the second
week in August the earnings OF this road
increased S42, ,00o From July l the in
crease las been S267, 900.
The times., 1897-08-20
WHITE HOUSE CENTURY PLANT.
First Blossoms From 1t Sent to
Mrs. Mckinley.

Ihe nrst century plant known to have
niossomed at the White House is in full
doom now The plant is located where all
visitors may see it, 1T being at the north.
east corner OF the building. 1t is OF the
AgaVa Americana variety, which are abnn
dant in Central America The first three
branches OF the stock to bloom were sent
TO Mrs Mckinley. The flower hangs in a
globose cluster and is in color a dark ye,low
The times., 1897-08-20
Taken Sick on the street

Mr.. Angler NJ. Hobbs, aged seventy
years, and employed as a clerk in the
eeneral land office, was seized with an
attack OF vertigo about $40 O'Clock Ia ST
evening near the corner of Connectic.t
avenue and NJ street. He was attended
by Dr Hagner, and afterward taken IN
his home.
The times., 1897-08-20
ANXIOUS SOULS ARE WAITING.
Nearly Fifteen Thousand Papers
Before Civil Service Commission.

Before Civil Service Commission.
There are on file at the Civil Service
Commission over 14,70o papers pending
action. These cover all kinds OF examina-
tons. Probably 1000 of these are for
positions in post offices; g, 500 for places
In the customs service; 800 for posi-
tons in the internal revenue service.
rive thousand OF these papers refer to
examinations conducted last spring. In adj
ditlob to the papers already on file, 1t
is expected that 5000 will soon be turned
IN as a result of the examinations just
held in fEty-three of the large postoffices
throughout the United States
a corps OF examiners is working over
time TO dispose OF the accumulated papers.
More people have been examined this year
tnan during any previous year In the his
tory Of the commission.
The times., 1897-08-20

Town Topics Financial Brreau says q
Sugar:
Insiders OF the American Sugar Refining
Company decline to state whether an
extra dividend viii be declared when Tn.
directors meet next month. By the time
tic day for action arrives Mr.. Harry o.
Hayemeyer, who Will decide the all-in-
portant question, will be back from Europe.
o. course, the great point TO be considered
is that Sugar, that is To say, the common
stock, at $50. earns 8 per cent ON the
investment.
The times., 1897-08-20
SERIOUS OIL WELL EXPLOSION.
Two Men Killed and Several Injured
at Indian Creek.

- AoNiou Sitths
Parkersbnrg, w. Va, Aug. ia report
reached here last night that an oil well
boiler exploded in the Indian Creek oi!
region in the afternoon, setting fire to the
boiler-house and rig, which were completely
destroyed.
Cassidy. telegraph operator; Dunn, q
drilier, Charles Duty, and two others un-
known, are said to have been instantly
killed, and six other workmen, whose
names are not known, dangerously in
jured
The scene of the accident is about twelve
miles from Pennsboro, Richie county.
where there is neither phone nor tele-
graph connection
The explosion occurred close to the
village of Centerville. where the oil from
the Indian Creek field was stored in eight
large tanks, which caught fire. The
burning liquid running into the village
caused great destruction.
The times., 1897-08-20

1t is said that Reading earnings for july
will be very large. They have not been
given out, but one OF the best Informed
commission houses gave me the tip last
night that they are fine. Reading GER
tainly looks like a buy. Ladenberg, Thai
mann & Co. bought 1000 Reading com
mon yesterday afternoon, near the close.
The times., 1897-08-20

Monday OF last week we have had an
advance ofnearly 5centsandsome rea ction
IS only natural Everything tends to CON
arm cur previously expressed opinion
III regard TO high prices. Ciearanees from
The seaboard Were 622 coo bushels, max
Ing 100000 bushels for four days. There
was no prominent support given to the
market from any source.
Corn was fairly active and samples firm.
Chicago G, a and Provision NarIsat
Corrected daily by w B. Hibbs r IN
Bankers and Brokers' Members OF ths
N Y Stock Exchange, 1927 F street.
The times., 1897-08-20

Soda water, coIdest in the city. Ice
cream and ices the best. Usual prices. At
the Highland Terrace Apartments, Thomas
Circle, l4Ol Massachusetts avenue
au14-tf, ,en
The times., 1897-08-20
Washington stock Exchnnge.

sales-u United States Electric Light Scrip,
$3.50 at 1o2. Lanston Monotype, 100 at
5 2, seller To-
Af,er Can Washington Gas, so at "A
Pneumatic Gun Carriage, 500 at 60.
cents
The times., 1897-08-20

Highland Terrace Apartments, Thomas
Circle, 1401 Massachusetts avenue. In
the hottest weather the soda water andice
cream saloon is always cool and pleasant.
Mrs. p. w. Favorite, manager.
au14-tf,em
The times., 1897-08-20
81 To Frederick and Return via
B. & O.

Special excursion Sunday, August 22.
Leave Washington 7.3o a. M Return
ing, leave Frederick 7:30 p. m Si.oO
for the round trip. au2o-2t
The times., 1897-08-20

The opinions as to the grangers, how
ever, are not all unfavorable by any
means. There are plenty of champions
OF the grangers who believe that they
are far from having reached the prices
for the season. Landenberg, ThaIrnann
K Co. say of Burlington: ''0ne of our
Chicago houses says, 1 see that grangers
are being sold on crop scares, Burlington
and Quincy with the rest. Nebraska
corn crop is practically assured and will
be bumper, one Which will give Bur
lington and Quincy business for two
years and q long haul.'''
The great boom OF wheat during yester-
day forenoon was watched by market
traders with large interest. Chicago
September wheat reached 149 S-4 It was
said at the time of this high figure that,
with3ut any question, 81 for September
wheat would soon be reached, and that
conditions OF the rket and of the crop
made even a much higher figure than
this almost certain. There was a large
amount of buying, even at the top figure.
yesterday. During the afternoon there
was great slump, and the price re-
ceded several cents bUshel.
The times., 1897-08-20

The earnings of the Southern Railway
for the second week in August increased
S50.oo0 From July 1 the increase was
$110,000. Tie earnings OF the Chesa-
peake and Ohio for the second week IN
August increased $50. 600.
The times., 1897-08-20
$1.25 to Baltimore and Return 81 OK
via Pennsylvania Railroad.

Tickets on sale Saturday and Sunday
August 81 and %, good to return until
Monday, August %, on any train
au1s4t
The times., 1897-08-20
New York stock Market.

Corrected daily by W. B. Hibbs & Co.,
Bankers and Brokers. Members OF the
N. Y. Stock Exchange, 1927 street.
On I,i.,h - f--os
The times., 1897-08-20
ARMIES or THREE NATIONS
Gen. Miles Reports on His In
yestigationS in Europe.
LIKES THE MANNLICHER RIFLE

Treated With Marked Courtesy in
England, Austria and Italy-His
Views of the Troops, Small Arms
and Ordnance Of Three Military
Powers-The Queens Jubilee.
The times., 1897-08-20

l55 would be resehsd IN ~ uex, ss~
days.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-22
FLIGHT OF GUESTS FROM FIRE.
KANSAS CITY'S BLAZE RUINS THE
AUDITORIUM.

The Loss Aggregates S45O,OOO ana
the Insurance Only SS5,O0O-Many
Policies Allowed TO Lapse on Ac-
count of High Rate-The log
Guests I'm the Hotel Escape in Safe
ty, But Many of Them Compelled
10 Flee In Their Wight Clothes.
Kansas City, Mo, Dec 2l.-The Audito-
rum. the largest and finest play house
west of Chicago. and the Auditorium ho-
tel, one of the most fashionable family
obstetrics in the city, was Quilted by fire
that started in the theater part shortly
after l o'clock this morning The lO6
guests escaped in safety, although many
were compelled to leave the building in
their night clothes
The loss on the entire property, which
is owned by Alexander Frazer, a local
business man, will aggregate $4,000, The
aggregate insurance amounts to but $685.
coo. Owing to a high insurance rate,
great deal of the insurance had been al
lowed to lapse.
The fire originated in an unoccupied
room on the sixth floor of the theater. and
resulted from the crossing of electric light
wires. 1t was first noticed by Night Clerk
Haak, who turned in an alarm Haak i'm
mediately awoke the guests. They includ-
ed many families and children of all ages
and the greatest confusion ensued.
For a time it seemed that the flames
would be confined to a single floor, but
after the fire had apparently been gotten
under control it burst forth again and
defied all the efforts of the fremen.
Many of the guests were assured after
the first alarm that the fire would not
spread, and returned to their rooms. De-
lay in getting a continuous stream on the
fire, however, enabled it to get beyond
the firemen's control.
The flames spread rapidly along the
rooms on the sixth ana fifth floors and
soon communicated with the hotel
through the small apertures in the fire
wall which separated it from the theater
Once in the hotel the flames were beyond
control. The excitement broke out among
the hotel guests afresh and hurried
scrambles to save their personal effects
ensued
The auditorium was built in 1886 by Col
George w. Warder at cost of $350,000
1t was nomed the Warder and Grand opera
house and was opened by Booth and Bar
rett.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-22
WHIPPING POsT IN VIRGINIA.
Bill to Establish the Punishment
introduced in the SENATE

Richmond, Va, Dec. PA whipping
post bill was introduced in the state SEN
ate to-day. The bill provides that all per-
sons convicted of petit larceny shall, in
stead of being punished as now provided
by law, be punished with not less than
ten nor more than thirty stripes but in
cases of convictions of females or male
infants under the age of 10 years, it shall
be optional with the said female and the
parent or guardian of said infant whether
they shall be punished with stripes, or
according to statutes in force at this time;
and if there be no parent or guardian,
competent, in the opinion of the trial jus
tice or court, to choose for said infant,
and in every case where any person con-
victed Is ordered to be so punished with
stripes: the court may, in its
discretion, order any portion
of the stripes to be given at the time end
release the convict on his own recogniz-
ance to appear before the court at some
future day to receive the remaining
stripes, provided that this act shall not
apply to persons over 60 years of age.
The measure is likely to give rise to a
great deal of discussion.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-22
REVENUE CUTTER RECORD.
Chief of the Service Submits His An
nual Report.


Washington, Dec. H.-Capt c. F. Shoe
maker, chief of the revenue cutter SER
vice, IN his annual report says. in part:
1.-THE enforcement of the neutrality laws,
made necessary by many attempts to send
illegal expeditions from our coast to Cuba
in the interest of the insurgents, has COM
PEELED vigilant cruising by the cutter SER
vice, not only in Florida waters, but else
where
A statement is printed showing the char
acter of the services repdered by the rev.
enue cutters in this connection since the
beginning of the present instruction in
Cuba in 1895 to the present time. The COM
bined period of services was 129 months
during which the vessels cruised rs 1858
miles. Seven vessels were captured with
lis persons on board, two flibustering ex-
petitions were broken up and thirteen
suspected vessels were detained in port
or kept under surveillance.
The Arctic relief expedition is referred
to, and Capt. Shoemaker says: mo great
er undertaking, one fraught with more
hardships and peril 10 the participants,
marks the career of any national service,
and come success OF failure it must re-
dound to the high praise of its personnel
and to the honor and glory of the nation,
while the steady readiness of the revenue
cutter service to meet every demand made
upon it has already been emphasized in
the prompt preparation and departure of
the expedition"
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-22
COAL MINERS CONVENTION.
Matter of Fixing a Rate For the
Pittsburg District POSTPONED


Pittsburg, Dec. 21.-The joint convention
of coal operators and miners of the Pitts
burg district, which met here to-day to
fix rate for mining for the ensuing year,
decided to postpone the matter of a rate
for this district, pending the outcome of
a movement for an interstate convention,
al which a uniform rate for Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois would be fixed
The convention was one of the largest
ever held in this city, over 100 miners and
twenty-eight operators being present be-
sides the miners national officers and
many miners from surrounding districts
+. M. Anderson presided.
A committee was appointed to arrange
the details for an interstate convention.
and recess was taken until this after
noon. The convention will be held in Co
lumbus some time in January
AS the present rate expires on Dec. 81.
President Ratchford says that the rate
adopted at the interstate convention will
take effect from the first of the year
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-22
CHICAGO's WHEAT CORNER.
Letter and Armour Talk NOnchaIant-
ly of Their Positions.

Iy of Their Positions.
Chicago, ILL.,, Dec PA mere incident,
I assure you. We are now practically out
of the wheat market. We have a little
wheat yet to deliver, the necessary bush
els are ready for delivery when the prop
er time approaches for the filling of these
comparatively small outstanding contracts
and there is an end of the affair, in so far
as we are concerned" Thus, with char
acteristic terseness, does P. D. Armour
define his position in these, the closing
days of one of the biggest wheat deals
that has marked the history of the board
of trade.
Joseph Letter, the youthful opponent, is
just as calm and confident in his express
sions as the big provision man. Mr..
Armour sold wheat" he confined, land
L bought of him. That is all. There was
no battle. 1t was common, almost ele-
mentary business transaction. I shall sell
the wheat which / have purchased when
the need of the foreign market demands
1T. 1 shall sell at a profit, and that's the
closing chapter of my part of the story"
These statements, coming from the prin-
cipals in the December wheat deal have
caused much comment in board of trade
circles.
VIII Joseph Letter make a profit on the
round 100000 bushels of real wheat which
has been placed in his hand by the provis-
ion man, is now the question. The report
is going the rounds that the whole affair
was productive of results indicating a big
Armour-Leiter combine. In many minds
this rumor was given credence.
The manipulation of the local market
by Letter agents pulling the wires from
the Liverpool end, was recited over and
over. This idea, however has been rid-
culed by the majority of the traders.
Some members of the board say that
Letter has secured 5000 900 bushels of the
cereal. Others place the figure as high as
100000, while the more conservative are
willing to admit that half the latter
amount is nearer the correct estimate.
Mr.. Letter asserts that just as much
of this will go abroad as the foreign mark
ct calls for "if they pay him his price"
Some folks on the board think l cannot
transport grain eastward by rail without
a loss, do they?' said Mr. Letter. well,
possibly they cannot, but I'm willing to
play out my end of the game along my
own lines, and l may differ with these
prophets considerably
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-22
FRANCES TARIFF FIGHT.
RetaIiatOry Duties TO lie Put on
American Hog Products.

Washington, Dec. H.-The action of the
French Chamber of Deputies yesterday in
passing a government bill increasing the
duties on hogs, hog products, lard, etc, is
regarded as retaliatory in effect against
the United States.
For some time negotiations have been
proceeding between France and this coun-
try toward making a reciprocity arrange
ment They came to a stop recently when
the authorities here asked as q condition
of such an agreement that France would
raise its restrictions against American cat
tie and meat products. The French am
bassador, NJ. Patenotre, communicated
with his government, but no reply was
given. He was soon after directed to re-
turn to Paris, where he is now I'm confer
ence with the French authorities.
No word has been received as to the pur-
pose of France since the ambassador left,
but the action in the Chamber Of Deputies
Yesterday when the raise of duties on
certain meats and its products was put
through by the premier, M. Meline, leads
to the conclusion that the French policy
will not be toward abolishing the restric-
tons, but toward increasing their strin-
gency.
In view of this action little hope is en-
tertained thet France viii grant the condi-
tions on which a reciprocity agreement
between the two countries depends.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-22
REARGUMENT REFUSED,
Judge LacOmbe Decides Case of In
terest to Publishers.

Judge LacOmbe Decides n Case of In
terest to Publishers.
New York, Dec. 21.-In the United States
circuit court, Judge Lacombe to-day de-
MED an application for reargument on
motions TO vacate the summons in the
cases of Brewer VS.. e6A Times Printing
Company of Chattanooga, Tenn, and the
Union Associated Press VS.. the Times
IsAWthg Company of Chattanooga. Tenn,
thereby deciding question Of legal i'm
portance.
The plaintiffs in these cases had sought
10 obtain jurisdiction over the defendant
a foreign corporation, by service of the
summons upon an alleged managing
agent. The defendant appeared specially
in the actions, and succeeded in having
the service set aside on the ground that
the plaintiff not having proven the exist
ence in this state of property belonging to
the defendant, the service, even though
the person served were managing agent
was invalid. The plaintiff thereupon
sought to reopen the case for the purpose
of introducing new evidence to prove that
the defendant had property within the
state. This application was again oppos-
ed by Messrs. Wallach & Conk, for the de-
PENDANT, on the ground that the plaintiff s
proper remedy lay in en- appeal, and that
the argument of the motion should be
permitted for the purpose of introducing
evidence which was known to the plaintiff
at the time of the original motion On
this question Judge Lacombe held with the
defendant and denied the application.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-22
1,Cv11.11IcITC ~ 01nI[ 1-o,r,rs
The Full Limit of $3,OOO,OOO Present
ed This Month.

Washington, Dec. 21.-Mr. Coffin. the
acting controller of the currency, to-day
called attention to the fact that the re-
tlrement of national bank notes during the
first twenty days of this month reached
the sum of SO, 100000 This is said to be the
first time during the past ten years that
the voluntary retirements have reached
this amount in any one month, Under the
national bank act, the United States treas
urer Is not allowed to receive for the re-
tirement of circulation more than $1,000, 900
in any one month. and hence all deposits
10 retire notes during the last ten days Of
this month must be refused This eXcep-
tional condition, Mr. Coffin says, is due
to the prevailing low rates of interest
arising from an abundance of money for
investment, which has advanced the price
of United States bonds. Mr.. Coffin ex-
pressed the opinion that the law should
be amended in this particular, as it inter-
feres with the elasticity of the currency
and the natural laws of trade.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-22
CABINET ON CIVIL SERVICE.
The Members in Favor of slight
Notifications In the Inv.

Washington, Dec. 2l.-To-day's cabinet
meeting was devoted almost entirely 10 a
discussion of the operation Of the civil SER
vice law. The resolution adopted by the
Senate last Friday. calling upon the ex-
ecutive heads of the several departments
of the government for information con-
corning the application of the civiI serv-
ice law 10 their departments and for an
expression OF their opinions as to what.
If any notifications ought to be made In
it, was the subject directly under Discus
sion.
All the members OF the cabinet were
present except Secretary Alger. and there
was no dissent from the proposition that
the civil service law ought to be. and
would be upheld. The principle of the sys-
TEN, in the opinion of all. must he main
tanned, but there was some difference of
opinion as to the extent of its application
In connection with the Senate resolutions
1t was pointed ont that I'm some of the de-
partments, notably state and navy de
partments, comparatively few changes
could be made that would be an improve
ment on present conditions In some 9th
er departments exceptions to the
operation of the law, in the
opinion of the cabinet members, ought to
be made. Some positions they reported
were included in the blank order of Pres
ident Cleveland that it were better had
not been included. In such cases, isola-
ted here and there in several of the de-
partments, it would, in the Judgment of
the heads of these departments, be pre-
ferable to modify Mr. Cleveland's order
While the system was pretty thoroughly
discussed, 1t can be saiG upon the author
Ity of three members Of the cabinet, that
no definite policy was outlined beyond a
determination to maintain the principle Of
the civil service.
No effort was made to-day to adopt a
reply to the Senate that would embody
uniform expression of opinion. 1t is like
ly that each member of the cabinet will
prepare his reply in his own way, embody-
ing such suggestions as he may deem
proper the replies to be well within a def
mite scheme to be outlined later.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-22
LABOR's HAND IN POLITICS.
President GOmpers Outlines the Plan
of the Federation.

of the Federation.
Denver, Col, Dec. 21.-The Rocky Noun
tain News to-day sent telegram to Sam
uel Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor, asking him to out
line the plans of his organization for indie
pendent political action. The following re-
Spouse was received:
Nashville, Dec. 21.-The plans for our
political action in the interest of labor are
only in tentative state at present. The
American Federation of Labor proposes,
however, TO take such political action as
will compel the lawmakers, the executive
and judiciary to enact, to enforce and to
define laws in the interest of our people
We shall elect our own representatives
wherever possible and at all times defeat
the enemies of our cause, Irrespective of
parry. To achieve these purposes, how
ever, we realize that it Is necessary for
the workers of our country east, west
north and south, to unite and federate and
concentrate our entire efforts to obtain the
greatest success. Samuel Gompers
president of the American Federation Of
Labor"