The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-09-14

Washington, September 13.-The Of
ficials of the secret service bureau
have confscated a number of pieces
of Tallahassee railroad scrip, issued
several years ago. A man whose name
is not known, went to photographer
here and asked that a shade Of red be
put over certain letters and figures of
the scrip. AS the scrip has a close re-
semblance to 81 silver notes the prin-
ter concluded to consult the secret SER
vice officials before proceedings with
the work. He was told that he had
better not do the printing. An officer
of the secret service accompanied him
to his place of business, and there
found the man who wanted the work
done. All the papers in possession Of
the man were confiscated, but no ar
rest was made. The man said he in
tended to use the scrip in connection
with an advertising scheme but had
no intention of attempting to pass
them as currency.
The secretary of the treasury has de-
cided, in view of the money stringency
in New York, to anticipate the Octo-
Der interest. This will amount to $5,-
1865 and is due on the per cents
OF 1907 The seCretarys action was ta-
ken without solicitation.
INDIANS FOR THE PHILIPPINE
WAR.
Colonel James H. Tillman, Of South
Carolina, a nephew of Senator Till
man, was at the White house today
and asked the president to authorize
the organization of an independent
company of Indian scouts for service
in the Philippines. 1t is proposed to
make Mr.. Tillman, who was Colonel of
the First South Carolina regiment dur
the Spanish war, captain of the COM
pany and Joseph f. Woodbury., Hole
in the Day." the chief of the Chippewa
Indians of Minnesota, first lieutenant
and some member of the regiment of
Rough Riders" second lieutenant. 1t
is said that many more than q COM
pany of ChippeWaS are ready to enlist
in case they are allowed to go to the
Philippines as an independent organ
iZation. 1t is understood that the pres
ident referred his callers to the sec
retary of war.
THE TRANSPORT TARTAR HELD
AT HONG KONG. 4.
The war department has been in
formed that the steamship Tartar,
which is returning to the United
States from Manila with a large num-
ber of soldiers on board, has been de-
thorities because she is overloaded.
Secretary Root had conference with
the president this afternoon regarding
the matter. When he returned to the
war department he gave out the. fol-
lowing two cable messages as an Off
cial statement of the case:
Hong Kong, September II.
''COrbin, WaShingtOn:
British authorities refuse to clear
Tartar because overcroWded, authorize
eight twenty-fOur.
"MITCALF."
Manila, September 13.
'Adjutant General, Washington:
THE Tartar was sent Ito Hong Kong
to dock, as requested by Major Long,
no dock being large enough at Nagas-
aki. She has capacity for 1,145 men
and Ill cabin passengers. She took
back ], ,142 men and 81 cabin passengers.
On her trip from San Francisco she
carried comfortably Las men and 55
cabin passengers.
OTIS"
A private cable message from Hong
Kong says that on complaint made by
the 400 discharged regulars on board
the Tartar of over -crowding. clearance
was refused. The Twentieth Kansas
volunteer infantry, with General Funs-
ton, is aboard the Tartar, but it is un-
derstoOd that the volunteers make no
complaint and are anxious to have
clearance granted the ship in order
that they may proceed homeward
The Tartar is a British ship. She be-
longs to the Canadian Pacific Steam
ship Company, plying between British
Columbia and Australia. She was
chartered by the quartermaster's de-
partment of the United States army to
carry United States troops but it is not
believed here that this charter could
in any respect affect her nationality.
She could cease to be a British ship
and become entitled to American reg
istry only by act of congress.
Tt was stated at the war department
that the Tartar matter had been re-
ferred to Ambassador Choate, which
makes an international question out Of
it, The contention of the war depart
ment is that notwithstanding the Tar
tar flies the British flag, being charter
ed by the United States government
the assumption of British authority
over her is unauthorized.
REPLY OF FILIPINO CONGRESS.
Manila, September 1.-The correspond
ent here of the Associated Press has
obtained a copy of the reply adopted
by the Filipino congress to the Ameri-
can offer Of an autonomous govern
rrent The author of the reply was
Ambrosio Rianzares, who was offered
a position on the supreme court but
who failed to appear and was supposed
TO be detained by THE insurrectionists.
The document repeats the arguments
contained in the recent appeal to the
powers for recognition and the Filipino
claims thalt Americans were the ag-
gressors in the war, and concludes:
Notwithstanding the foregoing, we
co,,Id l,av7a accented your sovereignty