davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1897-05-06
A LESSON OF THE PARIS FIRE.
Suppose Similar Panic Had Oa-
Cured at the Inaugural Ball.

The terrible calamity in Paris Is
lesson Which will be lost on everybody as
soon as 1t passes out of mind. The same
tragedy might have been enacted at the
Pension building on the evening of the 18th
of March. A newspaper man who talked
with Times reporter yesterday, said
when you consider that the President
and Vice President were both in the trap
of the inaugural Ball, and that If fire
had started in that building, or panic been
caused by any trifle or without any cause;
that both might have perished with hun
dreds or thousands OF others, and that Sec
rotary Olney might have been President
for part of the Mckinley term; you can see
what risk was run. The Paris holocaust
is like the Chilian one; the outcome OF
crowded church festival in crowded edifice
without proper exits, where the principal
doorways are soon blocked with q strug-
Cling human pile twenty feet high. Tn
less person is unusually strong he dies
from the inhalation of smoke in from one TO
two minutes, and one breath of fire is
fatal"
Mr.. w. H. Painter. the correspondent
of the Boston Journal, In his letter of
March 10, after showing how few were
hours poured into the Pension Building on
the night OF March 4, and how great was
the peril from flashing wire-a foolish
and groundiess alarm-concluded as fol-
lows.
There is striking similarity between
the conditions prevailing at the Pension
Building on the occasion OF the inaugural
ball and those which attended the most
frightful disaster OF modern times-the
panic in the Catholic Cathedral de la Cam
pania at Santiago de Chilli, December &,
1868. The cathedral, built of stone in
the shape of cross, with two doors, was
fire proof, with no wood except in the
altar and the roof, eighty feet above. The
occasion was the feast OF the virgin, and
the church had been gaily decorated with
cotton draperies Three thousand people,
mostly w0ine II, crowded in, until, as & the
inaugural ball, the doors had TO be close,i,
to stop the pressure from outside. The
hanSings around the altar took fire, and the
flames climbed swiftly To the ceiling. The
people started for the doors. There were
no seats or baTricades TO impede their
progress, but ali rushed for the rarrow
exits. A few hundred escaped. Then a
woman fell in the doorway; others fell
doorway was closed with pile of todies
twenty feet high. The burning drapery fell
from the ceiling and set fire to the clothes
OF the people. Within fifteen minutes after
the first alarm the roof fell Al. The next
day $500 bodies were taken out of the
ruins"
The times., 1897-05-06
Trading Purposes Only.

Although the so-called Republican pro-
tective tariff bill has been reported to the
Senate the public need not waste either
satisfaction or indignation over its pro-
seriously in any sense. 1t is not presented
as a concrete, perfected proposition. Ii is
offered. as adventurers offer misceIlane-
Gus cargo Of beads, guns, calico, red feath-
ers, blue paint, candy, and rum to the
African coast savages-for the purposes of
general sale and barter
Originally, in the Presidents desire to Sc
cure the passage Of some sort OF a pro
tective" tariff, the Dingley bill was con-
cocted under the direction of and to meet
the ultimate wishes Of the trusts and
monopolies. 1t was promptly passed by
Speaker Reed, the House of Representatives
being practically non-existent at the time.
and went to the Senate. It was so ridicu-
lous in conception, and impossible in ef-
feet as a measure designed to raise revenue
that at this point organicaIly it ceased to
he. The able and astute Republican tariff
tinkers Of the Senate Finance Committee
then took it in hand and, after a long and
painful parturition, have brought forth
something which is neither Republican fish,
Democratic flesh, nor Populist good red her
ring. II it is anything describable it is a
compost of all three
There is not the least idea Of passing
It in its present form; because at this
moment it actually and largely is a
revenue measure which neither the Re
publican party nor its masters, the bond
syndicates, could stomach for an instant.
The sugar schedule taxes raw sugar at
from seventy-nine hundredths to one cent
per pound, with thirty-five per cent
added; and refined sugar at one and six
teen hundretlths of a cent per pound, with
thirty-five per cent ad valorem. This is
a straight revenue provision, and con-
sidered singly is not open to Democratic
objection Much the same may be said
of tea, which is subjected to strictly
revenue tax of ten cents per pound; tax,
however, that it is much better politics
to let the Republicans impose than to
have it done by others, because there Is a
hereafter. The national beverage. which
is beer, is loaded by the addition of an
internal revenue tax of forty-four cents
per barrel Here again is revenue with
out protection; good Democratic doctrine
and dangerous Republican simianation
with the Teutonic buzz saw. Two cents
per pound internal revenue is added to
tobacco; this also is revenue pure and
simple. 1t is true that on the sugar
section the American sugar trust secures
protection" to an extent; but, other
wise, the revenue features recited are
without protection to anybody, and all
the returns would go into the Treasury.
We could doff our hat in fiscal glee to
Messrs. Aldrich, Allison and Platt and
welcome them as converts to the Demo-
cratic gospel OF tariff for revenue ii we
The times., 1897-05-06
Army Orders.

The following g-named officers are detailed
by the Secretary of War to represent the
medical department of the Army at the
seventh annual meeting Of the Association
of Military Surgeons of the United States,
to meet at Columbus, Ohio, May % to 27
1897:
surgeon general; Major Henry LippincotT,
surgeon; Capt. Robert J. Gibson, assistant
surgeon.
Leave of absence for -four months. with
permission to go beyond sea, To take effect
upon his relief from duty at the United
States Military Academy, is granted by
the Secretary of Wal to First Lieut..
Marcus d Cronin, Twenty-fifth Infantry
The times., 1897-05-06

splendid growth of the system, exempli-
fled in the dignity and distinction of the
body assembled at this time in the Ameri-
can National Capital.
1t is to be hoped that the delegates to
the congress may be favored with the
normal Washington weather for this
season; that they may find leisure, not
withstanding their official duties and
labors, to avail themselves of the social
attentions which viii be heartily offered
to them and that they may leave us at
the end of their sessions with good inn
pressions and pleasant memories.
The times., 1897-05-06
international Postal Congress

The congress OF the International Postal
Union, which began its sittings in Wash
ington yesterday, offers unique and edi-
flying illustration of the possibilities of
international cooperation in matters nom
political and non-competitive in character
Perhaps Ii would not be stretching point
to say that the formation of this union has
done almost as much TO promote inter
communication between the different
Countries of civilization as the telegraph
has.
AS Postmaster General Gary remarked in
opening the congress, it is a matter for
Just pride, that this nation should have
been first to conceive the idea of such an
arrangement between the governments Of
the old and new world, and 1t certainly
u Q great satisfaction to witness the
The times., 1897-05-06

did not know that they are merely play
Ing with us and with the Senate for
Interior purposes of trade.
On the protective side of the proposition
the DingIey wool rates have been Jug
gied with a little WooIs OF the first class
are dropped from the Dingley figure OF
eleven cents to the trading one OF eight
cents per pound The second Class is re-
class wools, where the Dingley valuation Of
thirteen cents per pound called for thirty
two per cent ad valorem, the valuation is
reducedHo ten cents and the duty made
specific at four cents per pound. Third
class woods valued at over ten cents per
pound lover thirteen, as in the Originally
are taxed at seven cents specific, instead
Of fifty per cent ad valorem. Washed
woods of the first class are to pay double
three times the tax on unwashed- The
wool schedule, also. is arranged for pur-
poses of exchange and barter. 1t is too
high To please the East and not hi gh enough
to satisfy the West As it stands, it is
bad enough to deprive the people of de-
cent cheap clothing, while hides, which
are taxed one and Il half cent per pound,
will do away with wearable cheap shoes.
Cheap carpets have gone up from the Ding
los haei S--tra i'm nrai ms
from nineteen to twenty-five cents per
square yard, and thirty per cent ad va
lor,in; wool, Dutch and two-ply ingrains,
from fourteen to twenty cents per square
yard and fort per ccnt ad valorein; all pro-
tective and prohibitive as far as the liasscs
are concerned. Pine lumber is taxed two
of any export duty levied by the country ex-
porting it. This is practically proIiibitive,
and would do much toward the rapid de
strUction Of our remaining forests; bad and
vicious legislation. The tariff on lead ore
mas been increased from one to one and
half cents per pound under the western
nold-up. Inc reciprocity clause Us slTicheh
out and the Illegal, Observation-Disclosures
tive clause has been dropped also. The Sec
retary of the Treasury who yentnrcd to en-
act il into La w 0 II his o wn account by admin
istrative process, now will have he pleas
ure Of recalling his unlawful decree OF
usurpation.
Asindicated above, the Republican tariff
tin kers have not the least remotest thought
that the bill will pass in it's prese shape
But they are determined to get some
kind, any kind, OF a tariff bill, and the
Aldrich-A llison- Platt production is their
attractive stock In trade.
Walk up, gcntlemenl Pick out what you
don't want, and agree upon a pricei
The times., 1897-05-06
TAKEN FOR A LEvEE CUTTER.
How John Matherne Came to Lose
His Life.

New Orleans, May 5.-The second kill
ing from the excitement over the high water
and the fear of levee cutting occurred at
an early hour this morning, when John
Matherne, A young man OF St James
parish, was shot and killed at Pixies Peak
levee, forty miles above here. 1t was d
case of mistaken identity. Matherne was
one of the guards of the Pixies Peakievee-
He left the leyee for few minutes To go to
his residence. When he returned another
guard by the name Of Porter seeing him ap-
preaching the levee, and believing him to
he a Ievee cutter, opened fire with load
of buckshot, fatally wounding Matherne.
The times., 1897-05-06
Breath to Burn.
fFrom the Pittsburg Dispatch.

tFrom the Pittsburg DIspatch.p
1t is asserted that Senator Mason g
speech on the practices of the Senate
took away that honorable body's breath.
That may he the case, but only for the
moment. The Senate has often demon
strated its visible supply Of that political
staple to be beyond exhaustion, by Sena-
tor Mason or any other man.
The times., 1897-05-06
SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

The contributions had ali been received
and the children were telling how they
weeied gardens and wiped dishes and
picked potato-bugs, to earn the pennies.
'.And how did you earn your money,
Bobbie?" asked the kind teacher.
Me-" said Bobtie "OhI Mr. Smithers
come to see sister Jennie, and ne give me
a quarter to stay out Of the parlor."
81 hope" said the missionary in his
farewell address, .>that l may be Of SOME
real benefit to these poor, heathen people.
I don't yet know how it will be, but 1
seem to feel that a way will be opened
Two months later the queen If the islands
called her little boy.
Here, my SON. said she, "come and
nave some Of this nice stewed missionary;
it will do you good
'ITow," said the statesman distracted1y,
IAN ever going TO take the right course?'
France on one side, Germany on the
other, Russia across the table, all were
watching him in his desperation
II was at swell restaurant, and the
statesman didn't know which course on
the menu was soup and which was tooth
picks.
Always think of others before Yourself -
said the man with the homicldal mania and
then he killed the family previous to com
nitting suicide.
.welI, Mariar,'' said the old man, as
he got down from the wagon seat where
he had been patiently waiting, s'dd you see
all the animals?''
"AlI but two she said. with a sigh. ~
hunted the longest time, but I couldn't
seem to find the carnivora and the egress
I expect they was the best part of the
show, too"
The times., 1897-05-06

1t is charged in Paris that while waiting
to see whether he would declare war or not,
King George of Greece occupied his leisure
in specializing in Greek and Turkish
bonds and cleared 80 ,O00.0 900 to 3d.
-OO0, 900 francs. These Europeans are rap
idly Americanizing.
The times., 1897-05-06

1t is a good thing to have plenty Of
revenue, and to take it mostly out of
beverages. We recommend our friends,
the brewers, to go to the Senate and IN
sist upon having soda water, sarsaparilla,
oot-beer, and such like maddening drinks
bear part of the burden
The times., 1897-05-06

As there was no earthly reason why
Messrs. Ross and Wight should not have
been confirmed, we can only felicitate the
Senate on doing plain duty We reserve
our congratulations for the new Commits
sioners, and wish them a most prosperous
administration.
The times., 1897-05-06
A Real Estate Man Arrested.

Richmond, va, May 5.-GeOrge f. Craw-
ford, prominent real estate man, spent
last night in the police station on the
charge OF embeZzling $4,000 from Mrs.
Catherine Peyrounet, widow. The po-
lice Justice declined TO bail him this morn
ing and on writ ofhabeas corpus the case
was taken to the hustings court and bail
granted in the sum of $4,000.
The times., 1897-05-06
FiIibusters in the West.

Information reached the State Depart
meut yesterday of filibustering expedi-
tion, which is believed TO be fitting out
at San Francisco for Honduras. The
Treasury officials were communicated with
and asked to prevent the expedition. Sec
retary Gage directed the customs Officers
at San Francisco to take the necessary
action to accomplish this end.
The times., 1897-05-06
A Chemist Blown to Pieces.

New York, May 5.-Charles Steams, q
druggist of haywood, N. j., was mixing
flash light chemicals in his laboratory to-
day when the chemicals exploded and
Stearns was blown to pieces. The ex-
plosion wrecked the building
The times., 1897-05-06

1t would be mistake to assume that
there are only twenty-six Americans in
the Senate At least a dozen of the
cautious gentlemen who supported the
arbitration treaty did so in the kno Wedge
that their votes were not necessary to
kill it.
The times., 1897-05-06

1t was just as well, in all the oircum-
stances, that England should propose an
arbitration treaty and have it finally vot-
ed down. That will settle the question
for some time.
The times., 1897-05-06

Even newspapers in Madrid are re1non-
strating about the continuation of Weyler's s
atrocities If they are touched what must
the facts he.
The times., 1897-05-06
One More Asnirnnt.

fFrom the Atlanta Constitution.)
The platiuudinous statesman has now
spoken, and he says that he and the
boilers did it, Isn't there something that
Mr Hanna can do for the platitudinous
statesman?
The times., 1897-05-06
CAPITOL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

The investigation into the conduct of
the civil service reform law now be-
ing prosecuted by the Senate com
rnittec is thus early beginning to bear
fruit The commission is weakening and
will in few days agree to an investiga-
tion OF the order OF May 6, last, SO as to re-
move deputy collectors of internal revenue
from the operation OF the regulations Sena-
tor PTitchard, chairman of the committee,
yesterday had conference with the COM
mission, and 1t is understood that they
have agreed that deputy collectors shall
be considered as the confidential agents of
collectors, and, therefore, removed from
the classified service
Senator Pritchard advances the argu-
ment that hone of these men are appointed
for any fixed period; that they have conf
Dental relations with their superior officer,
and are responsible to him, and not to the
Government, for the conduct OF their office
In order TO secure persons satisfactory
to the collector, that official should he
permitted TO make his own selections, and
not through the medium OF a civil service
board.
All OF the argument is on his side OF the
question, Senator Pritcnard says, and he
expects to have the commission agree to
modify the regulations, not only with
respect to deputy collectors, but to take
in, as well. all the field men in the revenue
service.
Should this he done, there will be offices
for quite an army of seekers. Storekeepers,
gaugers, deputies, and agents form roll
of several thousand men, and in North
Carolina every hill and valley has its
complement OF revenue officers, looking
for Illicit stills and moonshine whisky.
There is method in Senator Pritchard's
zeal
The times., 1897-05-06
And the Coon Was Caught.

(From the Chicago Times Heraid.l
That Sewall family in Maine seems TO
have set it's trap so as, TO catch that pa
tronage econ coming nd going.
The times., 1897-05-06
No Apclonania About This.

(From the Philadelphia American
Royal pageants pale into insignificance
when compared with the demonstrations
given by free people in honor of one Of
their heroes.
The times., 1897-05-06
Entirely Unnecessary Jirn-Jams.
(From the Boston HeraId.)

Col. Watterson has got 'em again. He
thinks he sees in Grover Cleveiand's latest
speech a bid for 1900, and it gives the Ken
lucky colonel the Jim-jams.
The times., 1897-05-06

A curious Senate waits on the reluctant
Hale When is he going to disclose him
self?
The times., 1897-05-06

noscd Prince of Peace of the New York
World
The times., 1897-05-06

A party Of Dutch farmers from Penn
sylvania visited the Capitol yesterday.
Many OF the ladies wore the quaint black
Quake; king hoanets, and the hcadgcar
of the men was something which far over
shadowcd Mr. Bailey 'slarge sombrero They
were simple folks and unobtrusiye. Two Of
the men, heca use OF their muddy boots, re-
fused To tread, the carpet in the House
chamber, and remained outside the railing
while their companions inspected the in
terror.
From the House the party visited the
supreme courtroom, and then viewed the
Senate from, the galleries. They wound up
their trip by an effort to see Senator Matt
Quay, aad were no little disappointed be-
cause OF his absence.
The times., 1897-05-06

The activity of Senator Hanna among
the Republican Senators is becoming OBJ
trusively apparent, even to the galleries
He evidently does not like the lack of
unanimous eulogy reported III the various
interviews with Senators on his God-save-
he-corntrv-if- if-the-tariff-doesnt measure
reported on Tuesday. He really doesn't
like the bill himself. He was SO active
Yesterday in what is called button-hning
outside OF, but lobbying, inside OF the
Senate, that as stated, he made himself
conspicuous by his insistence 1t was
pa articularly remar kable as to Senator
Butler and three of the Western Senators
who have manifested objections, and did
not hesitate to go into PRINT with their
protests
The times., 1897-05-06

There was.a wen authenticated story yes
terday that eleven of those who voted with
Afr. Bailey on Monday last, against the
appointment of the House committees have
repented. 1t is a fact that large pro-
portion of the number named have stated
that they do not like the predicament in
which they find themselves, not only be-
cause OF the actual Endorsement of a Re-
publican policy, but because they have con-
tFihuted toward the suppre ssion Of
growing sentiment thatth universal Demo-
cratic demand would in due time get the
appointment of some of the important com
mittees at least. due to the last assault
on the Committee on Rules.
The times., 1897-05-06

The joint Committee to investigate the
charitable institutions of the District Of Co.
iumbia has decided that their inquiry
will not be complete without personal ex-
amin alton of each institution. Some
time within the ne xt month an unexpected
visit will be made TO some hospital OF re-
formatory.
1T will not be by appointment said
Representative NorthWay, Il have had
too much experience with such institutions
20 do that. There will be no chance for
anyone To say that our appearance was
anticipated by the officials, and we are
not looking for banquets or receptions
The committee proposes To see every one
of the institutions before making report
of its finding, which, 1t is believed, VIII
enbody very marked change from the
present plan of supporting the various
homes anh hospitals in the District.
The times., 1897-05-06

With Senator Jones assured and Sena-
tor Kyle in prospect as an ally. the Re
publicans are said to be now booking
on Senator Butler. of North Carolina,
as a friend to the tariff measure on its
final passage, aud especially as TO some
OF the higher rates on some Southern
products. for which amendments viii be
introduced and to which in turn. the Re-
publicans will not object Senator But
ler. one of the Republicans said yester-
day, is Hancock proteetionist He
believes tariff to be a local issue, and
can be relied on when local measures
are up for consideration.
Mark Hanna had a long talk with Mr.
Butler yesterday.
The times., 1897-05-06

Senator Mark Hanna seemed TO be the
best pleased man in the Senate yesterday.
Everyone he met was greeted with smile
Of large proportions, and his general de-
meanor seemed TO denote some new sue
cess He epeThapsthoughtofS Senator Deboe
and the successful termination Of the Ken
tucky legislative fight. He is row devils
ing means to assist Senator wellington to
carry Maryland for the Republican party
next fall.
In fact, Manager Hanna is gradually as
Stunning II sort of personal supervision Of
all the coming State elections for the
next few years. It is proposed to keep
Congress in line with the Executive and
at the same time SOW seed to be reaped
in 1900. In Maryland the fight will be
unusually bitter, and Senator German is
determined to make the effort of his life
to retain the seat which it is proposed to
wrest from him.
The times., 1897-05-06

The temper OF some of the Western
Senators referring to the manner in which
they have been slaughtered by their Re
publican brethren of the East may be
inferred from d remark OF Senator War
rem of Wyoming. The talk was on the
general topic how the Senator's liked the
amended tariff bill. Senator Warren was
asked how he liked the wool schedule.
'Oh," ne replied ironically. lit is all
right We have been obliged to give up
ON all other matters, so l presume tie
wool schedule is all right. like the others"
The times., 1897-05-06

Our outlet for this class
of goods has grown won
derfully, and we are today
clothing more boys than we
ever hoped to when we COM
menced this branch of our
business. This broadened
outlet necessitates large buy
ing, which in turn compels
the lowest possible prices.
The department has recent
ly been given much needed
space, and just now we
are offering many induce
ments in Boys New Outfit
tings, owing to having pur-
chased various lots very
much below the regular
market prices.
Special values for today
are as follows:
Boys Shirt Waists,
In Outing cloth. good washable colors;
and very strongly made. All sizes.