The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-02-06
THE WEEKS NEWS.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2.


tween the United States and Great Bri-
tain was reported to the United States
Senate Monday. In addition to this
treaty there are also the trade mark and
copyright treaty with Japan and the
convention providing for the appoint
ment of a commission to determine the
boundary line between Alaska and the
British possessions. The Nicaragua
canal bill still remains the unfinished
business. The bankruptcy bill was
agreed upon to follow this, but the two
Steering Committees have decided that
the Hawaiian Gable bill shall be con-
sidered first. The House will devote
the week largely to the consideration of
appropriation bills and election cases.
The Diplomatic and Consular and Dis
trict of Columbia appropriation bills are
ready, and before the week closes the
Post-office and Naval bills may be pre-.
sented.
The convention for the definition of
the boundary line between Alaska and
British Columbia was signed yesterday
by Secretary Olney and Sir Julian
Pauncefote, on behalf of their respective
governments, and has been sent to the
Senate. 1t will be formally known as "a
Convention between the United States
and Great Britain for the demarkation
of 80 much of the 141st meridian, west
longitude, as may be necessary for the
determination of the boundary between
their respective possessions in North
America" The purpose is to settle be-
yond doubt the exact location of the
meridian. and thus prevent the clashipg
between the miners who have been at
tracted in large numbers to the vicinity
of the boundary and the local officials of
the two countries. The meridian named
was not selected as the boundary line by
Secretary Olney and Sir Julian, but was
laid down as the line of division in the
treaty of cession by which Alaska was
passed by Russia to the United States.
President. ELECT MCKINLEY's cabinet
is getting along famously. Lyman j.
Gage, of Chicago. for Secretary of the
Treasury; Gen. r. A. Alger, of Michi-
gan, for Secretary of War, and James
Wilson, of Iowa. for Secretary of Agri-
culture were the appointments an
nounced last week. John D. Long, of
Massachusetts, is still in the lead for
Secretary of the Navy, although the ap-
pointment has not been officially an
nounced.
LYMAN ]. GAGE said last week: ut
will be my chief aim to see that the
country is given business-liks admin
istration so far as the duties of the Sec
rotary of the Treasury are concerned.
My appointments will be made with re-
gard to merit, and not because of politi
cal obligation" This is just like Mr..
Gage. We hope he will have grace given
him to maintain the position.
In the autumn of 1898 Henry S. Coch-
ran, weigher of the Philadelphia Mint,
was found to have made away with gold
bars from the Mint vault to the value of
$4,000. Cochran was sentenced to the
penitentiary for his crime and the Gov
eminent secured a part of the amount
stolen through judgments against his es-
tate. A balance of S14,448 remained
due the Government, and for this sum
the Superintendent of the Mint, and b
sureties were held responsible. A few
days ago that official petitioned Congress
that he and his sureties be released
from the payment of the judgments OBJ
tanned against them. The House Com
mittee on Claims has unanimously or
dered favorable report on the petition.
Nor in recent years has fire created
such widespread destruction in Phila-
delphia, as that which on Tuesday, jan
uary 26, wiped out the block of business
houses bounded by Market, Thirteenth,
Filbert and Juniper streets, damaged
the Market street front of John Wana.
makers establishment, entirely consum-
ing the immense clock tower at the cor
ner of Thirteenth and Market streets,
and, crossing Thirteenth street, dam
aged the fronts of several buildings on
the east side of the thoroughfare, and
the roofs and upper floors of two stores
on the north side of Market street, be-
low Thirteenth. The loss. it is estimated.
will reach a million and quarter of dol
lars.
THERE has been panic among the
Building and Loan Association stock
holders of Knoxville, Tenn, during the
past month, and six of the ten institu-
tions in that city have gone into receiv-
ers' hands. The liabilities are from 49,
100000 to 100000. "The havoc has
been wrought chiefly through a decision
of the Supreme Court of the State re.
curing that money loaned should be
bid off"
The United States cruiser Brooklyn
while proceeding down the Delaware
river on Sunday struck on Schooner
Ledge and, it is said sustained damage
to her bottom. She is now moored in
safety at Marcus Hook. but it is feared
that her injuries are serious. There