The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-07-28

tuS OCudlCs
next session Of congress offer relief by
legislation which, the senator says, may
prove satisfactory. He proposes that
the following paragraph be added to
the end Of Section Is, Title 2, Chapter
l, of the Revised Statutes:
IF on the third Tuesday after the
organization Of the Legislature no per-
son has received such majority, then on
that day or on any succeeding day the
person receiving a plurality of the votes
cast, majority, Of all the members
elected to both houses being present
and voting, shall be declared elected"
This, he believes, will meet the neces-
sites of the case and insure the cleo
tiOn of a United States senator in ev-
cry state at the time of the specified
by law.
A COUNTERFEITER ARRESTED.
The secret service has received infor-
nation Of the arrest in Knoxville,
Tenn, of Frank Farrell, charged with
raising United States notes. 1t is said
that Farrells specially was raising
new $1.00 silver certificates to $500. The
work is said to have been cleverly
done Farrell is believed to be a men,
ber of a gang, three of whom were
arrested last week.
NEW NAVY DEPARTMENT RULE.
SeCISldIy hOLS ldS pdSSSu upOL lllS
long pending and raGher personal diff
ferences which have existed among the
heads of the various naval bureaus,
concerning the building of new ships,
anO, as a result, a new order, to be
known as special order No. 81 will ap-
pear in a day or so, amending the pres
ent system. The matter has aroused
considerable feeling among naval Off
GERS, and the board Of construction has
divided into majority and minority ell
ements, each presenting reports as to
what should be done. The main point
has been the extent Of authority and
responsibility Of the chief constructor,
and the desirability Of having his bu-
reau pass upon the proposals of all
other bureaus in the building, arming
and equipping of new ships. Secretary
Herbert placed the responsibility al
most entirely with the chief construc-
tor as to all parts of the ship and the
ship as whole, and this order, known
as 433, has been the subject of the diff
ferences.
The new order follows, in the main,
the language of the old one, but some
changes in the text are made which
will work considerable variation in the
system. Section l is changed so as to
omit the designs" of all ships from
the responsibilities charged upon the
chief constructor. Heretofore he has
been charged with the responsibility for
the designs, structural strength and
the liability of all ships. Sections 5
and also are changed so that the chief
constructor in passing on proposed
changes of design, equipment, etc., is
authorized to state objections, $50 far
as relates to matters under the cog
nizance of said bureau. The other
bureaus, also, are required to confine
their objections to matters under their
own bureaus. The general effect of the
new rule appears to be in the line OF
giving each bureau a larger measure of
responsibility over affairs directly un-
der it,
FRENCH OPPOSITION TO Reel
PROCITY TREATY.
A good deal of surprise has been
caused in official circles here by the
unexpected opposition developing in
France to the ratification of the reci-
procity treaty just negotiated by Mr..
KasSon and Ambassador Cambon. 1t
is not deemed expedient now to make
public the details of the convention, but
it can be stated authoritatively that in
the opinion of our own officials the
French have driven a hard bargain in
making the treaty. They have secur-
ed more advantages than they had any
just reason to expect at the beginning
of the negotiations. Several times dur
ing the progress of the negotiations it
seemed that the end would be a fail
ure, owing to the extent of the French
demands in the matter of concessions,
and that success was ultimately OBJ
tanned is owing to the fact that the ne
eotiatOrs felt bound to observe the be-
hest of the president and made a treaty
at all hazards. 1t is suspected here
that the French people are not aware
of the actual value of the concessions
they have obtained, and there is reason
to believe that when the champagne
makers learn the amount of benefit
they are to receive, the opposition to
the consummation of the treaty will be
at once transferred from France to the
United States.