Evening star., 1898-02-19
THE WEEK.

Over $50 men and two officers lost their
lives in explosion on the battle ship
Maine in Havana haI Dor Tuesday night;
the explosion occurred in the forward part
of the ship, completely wrecking her; the
wreck sank almost Immediately; no expla-
haton of the cause was discovered, Secre-
tary Long appointed a court of inquiry to
Investigate the affair, Congress passed
resolution appropriating $20o,OJO for recov-
ering the bodies of the officers and men of
the Maine for saving the ordnance and
armament and for raising the vessel, If
practicable: in the Senate Mr.. Mason of IL
linois offered a concurrent resolution pro-
viding for an investigation of the disaster
by joint committee of Congress: Mr.. Ma
son attacked the good faith of the Navy
Department in making its proposed inquiry
into the cause of the loss of the Maine; he
was severely criticised by Senators Wolcott
and Lodge; Secretary Long disposed of
rumber of sensational rumors by the state
ment that all the facts relating to the dis
aster to the Maine had been made public;
that there was no information in the pos
session of the government to show that the
catastrophe was the work OF an enemy:
that there had been no secret meetings of
the cabinet and that the administration
vas awaiting the result of the investigation
by the board of naval officers; the Spanish
government asked that Spanish divers be
permitted to accompany the American
divers in making the official inspection Of
the wreck of the battle ship. Senor Dupuy
de LONE. the late Spanish minister. sailed
from New York Wednesday for Liverpool:
Senor Luis Palo Y Bernabe was gaZetted as
his successor; the Spanish government gave
formal disavowal of the sentiments ex
pressed in the letter of Senior de LONE
which caused his recall. Representative
Sulzer of New York has introduced a reso-
luton in the House setting apart the birth
Acvy <Sf 1~ot otpSav,o ov.<1r Thvr IAT
ferson as legal holidays. In the debate in
executive session Of the Senate on the Ha-
watfan annexation treaty, Senator Davis In
charge of the treaty. said he could not state
when the Senate would be prepared to take
a vote. Representative J. W. Babcock OF
Wisconsin was reelected chairman Of the
republican congressional campaign commit
tee. Luther g. Billings, pay director in the
navy, was found guilty Of faIsehood and
scandalous conduct by a court-martial and
sentenced to dismissal from the navy. The
national committees of the democratic
populist and silver republican parties issued
addresses urging united action by these
parties on the money question. Represen-
tatives of the National Woman Suffrage
Association appeared before committees of
the Senate and House and asked for a con-
sdtutional amendment giving the franchise
to women. The House committee reported
adversely on the bill authorizing the erec-
ton OF buildings for religious worship on
military reservations. The Kansas Pacific
AoaAi iodu was SOiu " luc reorganization
committee.
The Alaska steamer Clara Nevada sank
with over forty persons on board, all Of
whom were lost. An explosion Of fire damp
In coal mine at Hamm, Westphalia killed
thirty-seven men and thirty or forty more
are missing. new cabinet for Norway
was officially appointed. There were more
r1otous demonstrations during the trial OF
Emile Zola at Paris; many of the witnesses
refused to testify and were sustained by the
triaI Judge: the garrison at Paris was re-
inforced owing to the disturbances caused
by the lola trial. A Cuban fllibusterfng
expedition has been intercepted in Jamaica
waters. revolution is in progress in Cos
Ia Rica A surgical operation for abdom-
lnal trouble was performed upon Saran
Bernhardt in Paris. The steamer Flachat
bound from Marseilles for Colon, was
wrecked on Anaga Point, Canary Islands:
thirty-eight of her crew and forty-nine pas
sengers were lost. There was some talk in
the Hague of the betrothal of Queen WiIhei-
nina of Holland to Prince Louis Napoleon.
Lord William Nevill pleaded guilty in Lon.
don to charge of fraud and was sentenced
TO five years penal servitude The appoint
ment of Count Cassini as ambassador to the
United States. instead of minister was
gazetted In st. Petersburg. Two United
states marines were drowned while trying
to swim ashore from the cruiser Raleigh al
Colombo, Ceylon.
In the District.
The House devoted Monday to the consid-
Grafton OF District business: the bills relat-
ing to adulteration of candy and execution
or forfeited recognizances in the Police
Court were passed; the bill granting the
Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Company
the privilege Of maintaining cab service at
the station was tabled: the bill providing
Tor the consolidation Of the Eckington, Belt
and Columbia and Maryland Railroad Com
panles was recommitted after a lively de-
bate; the resolution providing for an inyes-
tgation OF the gas supply and finances of
the gas company was adopted after 1t had
been amended by the addition of provision
for an investigation by the same select
committee into the telephone situation in
the District. The agitation of the telephone
controversy among the citizens was con-
tfnued, a mass meeting of business men be-
ing held, with provision for a further meet
ing Monday. The Commissioners granted
a hearing on the proposition to incorporate
new company operating an automatic
telephone device; they decided to report ia
vorably on the proposition. The annual
conventions of the National American Wo-
mans Suffrage Association and the Inter.
rational Congress of Press Women were
held Edward Smith was tried and convict
ed of the murder Of Edmonia Jackson both
colored. David Garnett attempted suicide.
Among those who died was Columbia Alex-