davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24
TIE LAW FOR FAST BATTLE-SHIPS.


The act of Congress under which the Navy
Department is planning 10 build three new
battlc-ships became law on May !. 1898.
Among its provisions is the following
That for the purpose Of further increasing the
naval establishment Of the United states the
President is hereby authorized to have con-
structed by contract three seagong coast-line
batte-ships carrying the heaviest armor and
most powerful ordnance upon displacement
of about eleven thousand tons. to have the high
est practicable speed for vessels OF their class.
Now II is proposed 10 carry ont that law by
constructing three bnttc-Ships of the specified
armor. ordnance and displacement calculated
to make IL knots an hour but with a required
speed Of only L. knots an hour. The question
arises. Does such n design comply with the
law? Is II knots the highest practicable speed
for vessels of their class: If it IS not, then
the plan 10 build such ships ia manifcsly illegal
and must he revised. so that the new ships snail
meet the conditions imposed by the act of Con
grcss under authority Of which alone they are
built. The experts who favor duplication OF
the Illinois may be convinced that that ship is
as fast as a battc-ship needs 10 he. They may
feel that the Government would suffer 10y tho
delay necessary TO draw new plans. They may
have a thousand good reasons 10 urge against
any change in design. But If II is practicable
to hnild the now ships with a greater speed
than they contemplate. their reasons. however
good and honcs;. can have no weight. AMI IN"
President under The law would have 10 TEL"
them that. whatever their opinions - tn The"
value Of speed they must waive them and u>"
their expert knowledge 10 produce ships OF the
highest practicable speed for vessels Of their
"claSs"
That the 1J-knot or 16knot battle ship IS not
one Of the highest practicable speed has been
proved beyond a shadow ~ doubt 'ommo
dorc Melville has offered 10 put In machinery 10
give ship Of about the same displacement and
the same armor and ordnance greater speed
To this many objections are raised hut nobody
saws his proposal l. not PRACTICABLE" II j.
difficult 10 see how il can legally be- reject
ed Congress did not say 10 build th" fast
est ship ~ the Illinois type. or the fastest ship
that could De built In a hurry. hut ordered that
the fastest ship practicable. with a certain dis
placement and fighting power should b" con
strucied The existence IN other nay.'~ ~ y"-.
sells Of their class with greater speed than the
Illinois proves that a higher speed j. prarti-
cable Commodore Melville, plan shows that
n higher speed is practicable FOR vessels Of this
class The law on the subject j. definite and
IMPERATIVE If the expert talent AZ The com
mand ~ the Navy Department can CIV" uS
ship of the character authorized. with a grcn'cr
practicable speed than is possessed hy existing
ships. they must 10 So The LIMIT OF their dis
erection is nothing short of The Limit Of their
poWpr
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24
1.-THE POWERS NAVE AGREED"

Talk Of Intervention IS TO the fore again. This
time II emanates from Berlin 1t Is direct. de-
cisive, explicit. cOcksure. There are no mere
rumors Of what is expected or OF what may
perchance come TO pass. The announcement is
positive. 1.-THE Powers have agreed not to allow
ian American annexation of the Philippines or
IAN Anglo-American protectOrate over the isl
lands" But does that settle 1t, so that we may
as well haul down the flag and come home!
1t is to be doubted. For what the Powers agree
upon is not always fixed and established. They
agreed that the Armenian atrocities must stop;
but they did not stop The Powers agreed upon
a settlement of the Cretan troubles; but no se:-
Element has yet been made. There seems little
cause, then 10 take for granted that the re-
ported agreement Of the Powers Is an abso-
lutte and final decree Of fate in the present case.
But we beg pardon. There is hitch, or
rather there are two htches in the proceedings;
for even Homer sometimes mods Our quota
ton of the Berlin statement was incomplete. 1t
is not that the Powers have agreed" but that
1.-The Powers, with the exception Of Great Brit
ain have agreed" ct cetera. The exception is
an interesting one. 1t might even. without cx-
aggeraton, be described as an important one.
There have, If we mistake not, been cases be-
fore when the Powers, with the exception Of
Great Britain, agreed that something should be
done; and 1t was not done. An impression
seems to prevail that it would be inconvenient,
not to say awkward, for the Powers to do any
thing in which Great Britain is interested with
out Great Brltain's cooperation or assent. Per
haps that Is merely through courtesy and deli
cate consideration for British susceptibllities.
Or perhaps the fact that Great Britain has a
bigger and stronger navy than any other two
Powers put together has something TO do with
II. AnG. so far as the present case Is con
cerned. II may be observed that the British fleet
In Eastern Asian waters IS bigger and stronger
than all others put together So on the whole,
we are inclined TO think the exception an i'm
porfant one.
The other hitch is thishat in regard to the
Powers this country has good deal of Gallio's
disposltion. 1t cares for none of these things.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24
WORD FROM MISS BARTON.
DIR. LESSER STARTS NoRrH-THE GERMAN RED
CROSS'S AID

DIR. LESSER STARTS NORrH-THE GERMAN RED
CROss's AID
a cable dispatch received yesterday by Stephen
Barton from Miss Clara Barton at Santiago ex.
plains why no message had been received from her
before since July %. Her dispatch reads as fol-
lows:
Gables Interrupted and my dispatches refused No
te.,sgam from you FOR eight days. state Of Texas
Newport News Distributions proceeding well.
Fifteen thousand fed Yesterday, and equal number
fed to-day. Almost impossible 10 reach interior.
Received no letters since July 3.
II would seem that Dr.. Lesser is on the way
North on board the transport Concho destined for
Newport News. Whether not Mrs Lesser 10
with him is uncertain. Miss Jennings who arrived
on the Seneca. left Miss Barton on board the State
OF Texas week ago last Thursday AZ that tins
Or. Lesser. Mrs. Lesser and Sister Minnie were III
AT the hospital Siboney and. while I, no.
believed that they had yellow fever. it was thought
wise that they should remain at the hospital. be-
cause General Shafter had appealed TO Miss Barton
to keep the State OF Texas free from any Liability
of Infection. the vessel being relied on to furnish
supplies FOR the hospitals. 1t was not thought that
either DR. or Mrs Lesser or the nurses had yellow
fever. but rather malarial fever. II It was yellow
fever. II was Of the mildest type. They were re-
ported well enough 10 20 aboard the State Of Texas
had IL not been for the extra precautions agalnH
possible Infection OF the vessel Mss Jennings re-
ports the entire party being nearly sick from ex
haustOn from constant work without rest or sum
cient shelter Ii is very likely that Or and MrA
Lesser's Illness may have been largely due TO ex'
haustion.
The following cable message received at the
War Department and Forwarded to Mr. Barton
copy having also been forwarded to Miss Clara Bar
ton:
Miss Clara Barton. President Of the Red Cross
Washington, D. {. .L
Forward O-da of
button in aid OF the American Red Cross soceH;-
CENTRAL COMITE DER DECTSCHEN ,. nS
RENE NOM ROTHEM kRECZ DER |o"'
SITXENDE Is. Won DER KNESEBECk'
The following letter from the Department CT
State seems to have reference to the above q"
patch:
stephen r. Barton. ESQ., Vice-President OF Wv
American Red Cross. Tram
Sir. | have to inform yoa that II appears ia 20
dispatch from our Ambassador az Berlin AMMAN :.y
of the I'd inst, that on Jane 80 last tne Ins 70
Red Cross issued appeal for suoserlptIionaSS
be used in aid OF both American ana SpSS an
wounded. and that the Ceptral Committee nac
propriated 10 900 marks for that purpose hespe''
fully yours, ...f,rx
j. b. MOOBE. Assistant secre'a''
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24
HOLES IN TILE P4EEMENTS

In recent years a great deal Of money has
been spent on the pavcmcntS Of the region now
contained within this city. Paving contractors,
as a rule are required to give bonds 10 keep
the work for which they responsible In
satisfactory condition for n considerable time.
But they often fail to carry out their contracts
in good faith with regard to the maintenance
Of the roadways after they have received their
warrants from municipal governments. Among
the contractors who enter into cOmpacts with
public officials thorough supervision and inces-
SAINT watching are not invariably superiluous
All through the country the prevalent feeling
among contractors seems to be that bOtchcd
and bungcd work Is often good enough for the
taxpayers in our principal cities. and that the
duties Of the mcr who lay down asphalt or
Belgian blocks or covering OF any sort for roads
of any kind are no longer binding when the
drafts on the public treasures have been cashed
OF conscientious contractors there is OF course
no lack In every part OF the globe scrupulOus
contractors are plentiful, but some Of these
punctilious contractors seem to be victims Of
a singular prejudice against the construction OK
pavements and the repairing OF canals. Mid
way In the seventies The Tribune startled the
Empire State with its overwhelming proofs that
millions Of dollars Of public funds had been
stolen by canal thieves. Above other jour
nails, The Tribune has been exceedingly zeal
Gus and intensely earnest in the exposure OF
frauds which have diverted the proceeds OF
taxation to the enrichment Of rings. When
Hubert o. Thompson, as Commissioner OF Pub
lie Works, was robblng the people Of New
York IN order that his favored friends might
profit by public-works contracts. The Tribune
lad bare the details OF the thievery and de-
sroyed the power of the corrupt combination.
Public-works contracts In the great cities Of
the United States are frequently carried out
In such manner that the contractors wax fat
while the taxpayers peak and pine.
Miles Of ragged, Jagged and evil pavcments
may be found In the various boroughs Of big
New-York Scores Of blocks are paved so badly
that the citizens have abundant reason for com
plant. Yet In most instances the pavement
contractors have been paid for their work with
spendthrft generosity. and have cheated the
people by their failures TO fulfil their pledges.
They bound themselves to construct pavements
of sound and lasting quality. and to keep the
payements In repair for certain termA- In the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24

Borough OF Brooklyn especially several pave
ment contractors have forswOrn themselves
ard made ii clear that they are plunderers ana
public enemies. In various parts of Brooklyn the
paving was done so dishonesty in the hrst
place. and the pavements have been so neg
lectcd since they were put in place. that the
streets are in "A condition which even Afghan
istan might find almost insufcrable. Taxpayers
are too patient. They ought To be more trouble
some TO negligent officials and faithless CON
tractors. They ought to be up and doing. Ihey
ought 10 organize local Improvement asSoca'
tons In the wards and districts. They ought
to find fault loudly and stubbornly until they
obtain some relief Contractors who sign
papers by which they promise 10 keep pave
ments In proper repair should he compelled to
do what they are paid TO do. Public contracts
ought 10 be enforced To the letter. Nrw-I Workers
are too goOdnaturcd with respect To these
things. When pavement contractors are cheat
ing them they ought to cry aloud and spare
not They ought to make fuss and make
n noise when they are iluScd. Silent subms-
sion to evildoers and evil doing il despicable.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24
PERSONAL.

A tablet in memory Of the late Bishop Arthur
Cleveland Coke Of Western Ncw-York has just
been placed In Grace Episcopal Church. Baltimore,
Of which he was rector from 1884 to 1863.
James Eads How. the millionaire grandson OF
James r. Eads has given mp luxuries and pala-
tial mansion in 81. Louis for plain living In order
10 carry his missionary work In the Sums or the
city.
Old people In Galesburg ILL.,, remember when
General Shafter was hustling ernploye Of the Bur-
lington road at that place. He Is remembered as
a manly. ambitious young fellow, the leader IN
spelling and wrestling.
Mrs Caroline croft. formerly Caroline Abigail
Brewer. Of Boston. has left $4,000 70 two promi-
nent physicians OF that city for Investigations 70
find some way Of curing cancer. consumption ana
other diseases now regarded "a incurable.
The Right Rev. William T.. McIarcn. Bishop Of
Chicago. is spending the summer with his family
at Point Pleasant y. J.
Tho German Emperor has conferred on Or. julius
Rossc Minister Of instruction and Of Ecclesiastical
and Medicinal Affairs. the Grand Cross % the or
der Of the Red Eagle with ivy leaves in recogni-
ton Of his recent services rendered I'm tho prepara-
ton ~ the law regarding the salaries Of evangel-
cal and Catholic ministers
The late Professor Friedrich August Leo Of Ber-
lin the Shakcspoaran scholar. who died on June
30 las, at Alton. the Lake OF Geneva. has left
part of his large fortune 10 the municipality OF
Berlin for tho establishment Of q LEO fund" Tho
fund viii hc devoted To tho extension 81 existing
popular libraries and - tho institution Of new ones
shall be attached 10 any now libraries that may he
established
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24
Porto RICO.

Since no one knows just where General Miles
intends to land in Porto Rico. his plans cannot
be intelliccntly criticised Some OF those pup
ishcd as his could be. but 1t Is not unlikely That
officials have allowed the eXuberant magma
ton of correspondents and reporters to run wild
without check since information that the cXpe-
d,ion will land nj a dozen different places
would mislead the enemy aS effectively as pos
sible If il were true that the General Intended
10 land at thrcc distant points, south east ana
west of san Juan. in order to shut In the span
Sh forces there and prevent their retreat ms
one solemn account states. il would be pertinent
to suggest that either fragment of his army
would br exposed to defeat by Il larger Span
ish force before the three could open communi-
cation with each other. Whatever else General
Miles may do. he presumably will not begin by
giving the SpaniarlS all the advantage he posi-
bly, can.
The Department and the General command
ing doubtless have AZ hand much more definite
information regarding many harhors In Porto
Rico than is elsewhere readily accessible, ana
rs some of the armed vessels and transports
composing the expedition are large. and the
landing of troops and especially Of cavalry ana
ortillcrv from such vessels would he diihcult.
and even attended with risk unless in harbor
of considerable depth. it is probable that the
poin; selected has been in measure dictated
bv information regarding the depth of water.
one thing is clear. that San Juan Is not de-
sirabl. place of landing irrespective OF lis ne
fences The entrance is by crooked channel
not particularly deep. and the latest hydro
graphic chart recently obtainable gave infor-
nation more than ten years DID, with the state
mcnt that the channel of approach was then
gradually sitting up, with the sea breaking IN
the entrance during strong gales. For larg"
and powerful vessels the harbOr is by no means
satisfactory In view of the ease with which
such an entrance can be defended by mines ana
a few good guns. II may he assumed that some
other place of landing has been chosen and
that the Departmon has not taken the trouble
10 inform the world precisely what place.
From the behavior OF a small number OF
Porto Ricans here ii may be Inferred that the
with great certainty. A part have given assur-
ance of hearty cooperation Others are known
10 have an Ovcrpowering interest In the main
tenancc of Spanish rule If the few who are
/ represented in this country by DR.. Hcnna have
much support on the island there may be fhnd
Insurgents who will even prefer Spanish rule TO
annexation. Some declare that they want indie
pcndence and nothing less. but how n relatively
insignificant number Of inhabitants, even II en-
,rcly united among themselves, could hope 10
, maintain independence against the efforts GER
tain 10 be made by various foreign Powers they
have not yet explained.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24

For each European nation, great or small, II
has all respectful and friendly feelings. 1t Is
ALWAYS ready TO listen TO the friendly repre-
sensations Of any one Of them But 80 far as II
IS concerned the Powers. as Il concerted organ
ism have no existence. II never has taken cog
rizonce of them and does not expect 10 do so.
II will deal with them freely and justly. but 1t
must he with one ut a time. What they may
..apree" upon is of no account in effect upon
tbo conduct of American affairs it is as idle as
the SIMMER wind. Ever since Washington nj
tered the memorable advice IL has been the pol
icv of this Nation TO avoid cntangling alliances,
and assuredly nothing could be more cntangling
and nothing is to be more strictly avoided than
rccocnition of the concert of the Powers and
submission TO its will Indeed. we are inclined
10 think that nothing could much more confirm
This Nation I'm n certain course than an attempt
nv the concert Of Europe TO interfere there
witt
About seyenty-iivc years ago. it may be re-
mcmbered there was II concert of the Pow
crs." 1t was then called the Holy Alliance
And the Powers then agreed 10 DO certain
things contrary 10 American desires and inter
csts Then. as now. however. 1t was an agree
mont of the Powers. with the exception of
Great Britain" Nor was the exception OF no
account \ certain George Canning III Great
Britain and certain John Quincy ADAMS III the
United States went so far as 10 derry the agree
ment of the Powers. with the result mat the
Things the Powers had agreed TO do were never
done. nor seriously attempted To what extent
history repeats Itself at intervals of thr'e-quar-
t,rs of century or thcrcabouts may he an IN
tcreSting topic of academic discussion. fract-
callv il is not to he believed the Powers have
agreed upon any such thing as is announced
from Berlin: but. even If they have. 1t is not to
be for a moment believed their agreement Will
have any more effect upon the conduct of this
Nation in the days of William Mckinley than II
had in the days Of James Monroe.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24

A leading member Of the Orange Free State
Legislature insists that observance OF the Sab
bath law In all It's strctness IL all that Is neces-
sary for the extinction OF the cattle plague. and
he has succeeded In getting enacted a law I'm
posing a months imprisonment upon any one
guilty OF playing any game on Sunday. As the
TraasvaAl long prohibited are insurance and
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24
UNCONFIRMED WAR RUMoRs.

1.-THE Journal" said that DR.. Won ho'ieo,". the
German Ambassador. had been instructed =,
Emperor to assure he President that w.
would maintain a friAdly attitude. "A
THE Herald publphed story from o ''@.a,sd 10
the effect that CAROLS troops had been ssn,I.ss
an attack on a Spanish force marching 10 0'
TO surrender.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24

Santiago is now open for trade and business
and there Is reason why 1t should be closed
again for centuries. After the hosting Of the
American flag It only took a fortnight to put
everything in sha zoe for the resumption OF all
social and commercial activities. a new page
orens in the history of that tropical port. intro
ducing a new style OF annals as well az book
keeping
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24

Ne7osdealers IN the country are beginning
TO comprehend the continually increasing
demand for The Tribnne; bit readerS can
make sure Of their paper BY ordering from
this Office. For subscription rates, see
opposite page.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24
IT4LY-iPGENfINA TREATY.

Rome. July 23-Admrl Caaevare. Mips'. "a
Foreign Affairs and tie Argentine MIL" ~ II
Italy. Sehor Enrique Moreno. have signed 4 ee"''"
arbitration treaty between Italy and Argentina
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24

Amid all the talk about German interests at
Manila It is well to bear in mind that there are
only four German trading houses In that city,
that there Is no direct line Of vessels between
Germany and the Philippines, and that no
cargoes are ever sent from either country to the
other The amount Of German trade must
therefore be small. 1t could not well be large.
The chief products OF the islands are sugar,
hemp and cOpra. Evidently no sugar could be
sent to Germany. which is a sugar-exportng
country. The hemp goes to all parts Of the
world. but chiefly by way OF Great Britain.
The copra is practically all taken by Great
Britain and France The tobacco. now a minor
product. goes chiefly 10 Spain. or did before
Admiral Dewey interfered with the trade. 1t
is thing to protect existing interests. 1t g
another and very different thing to try to estab
lish new interests
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24

We have become so used to seeing the nag
flying everywhere that the sight no longer
makes a deep impression on us. but 1t IS ex-
tremey pleasant to hear Of the surprise ana
delight which II gave Hobson Of the Merrirnac.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24

lightnlng-rods as impious insults to the Al
mighty the movement for union OF the TWO
States seems to be based on common-sense-or
Lack of II.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24
WAR NEWS That WASN'T News

From the Madrid pont OF view, the hu'n' .ss.
prisoners taken at Santiago is less than ten NV
sand and the CAPTURED ammunition is worthless
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24

Carl H. Schultzs Distilled Carbonic
is the bes, table water. II aifsNdieestion
TRIBUNE TERMS TO NAIL SUBSCRIBERS
parv $40 a year. 81 per month
pauv. SUNDAY. SO year ~ cents per Hionth
tribune a year Weekly. 81. Semi Weekly 81
POST AGF-Fxtrl postage charged TO foreign countries
except Mexico and Canada. and on the da'y IN New
York city ,,.,, b.. -,
REMIrTANCES. IL sent In cash. uh'esls'e'eu' wiz W. ~
the owners risk
MAIN OFFICE Sassar-st
UPTOWN OFFiCE-1.2i2 Broadway.
AMFTICANS ABROAD VIII find The Tribune az;
Tandon-Once u The Tribune. l49 Fleet-s -
Morton Chaplin & c.. 80. princrss-s'' +. u
Brown Gould & CO.. "a New OXi'ri 81
Thomas Cook & SON Ludgate Circus
Paris Munro & CO.. : Rue Scribe
Vot;incuer & &C.. rs Rue 30 Provence.
Morgan. Harjes & Co. 81 Boulevard taussmahh.
Creii, IN Onaais Bureau des Eirang'rs
Thomas cook Son. l Place de Iopera
Lombard. Oior K Co. ana Union BANK.
Florence--Whitpy & Co
Vienna-Anglo-A Austrian Bank.
ST Petersburg Ly1nnais ,-
The London Office u The Tribune IL convenient pace
20 leave Advertisements and subscriptions
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24

General Garcia may not be exactly a Garcia
Dcclosa, but he Is probably worth cultivatng,
nevertheless.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24
l1nslncss NotlCfs.
,IBUNE TERMS TO NAIL sUBScRI

Carl II. Schultz's Distilled CarDonlc
ia tho hrs, table water II aitsAdieestiOn.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24

KING OF BAVARIA'S CONDITrON-The condi.
ton OF the mad King OF Bavaria has grown worse
during the last few days. and a special commission
OF physicians has been sent TO examine into tho
sufferers condition and report upon IL 10 Prince
Regent Lutpoli.
BARON Won BUELOW ABSENT Baron voa
Buelow. the Minister FOR Foreign Affairs is still
absent on summer leave. but he Is expected back In
"A fortnight