The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1899-09-05

after much difficulty. an interview with
the great Russian Nihilist. Sergius
Stepniak. in his secret retreat In the
outskirts Of London. This adventure
was accompanied by many interesting
and mysterious features. He gained
Stepniak's confidence to such an ex-
tent that when afterward treaty was
sent to the United States Senate which
would have permitted the extradition
from this country OF Russian political
exiles, Stepniak put himself In COM
munication with Mr.. Heath. came to
Washington. was by him introduced to
the Senate Committee on Foreign Re-
lations. to whom he made such repre-
sentations supporting them by read
ing extracts from Mr.. Heath's book
as led to the rejection Of the treaty.
As II to crowd important adventures
into the smallest space Of time, the
same year found Mr.. Heath in Charles
ton. s. c., reporting the death-inflicting
earthquakes. In one of the nights OF
inconceivable terror accompanying
that great convulsion Of nature. when
buildings were falling all around him,
and terrified people were running into
the streets in their night-clothes, Mr..
Heath sat in the middle of the street.
debating to a telegraph operator, who
had removed his instrument to that
place of comparative safety, the only
full and connected account given
through the press associations OF the
memorable catastrophe which almost
laid Charleston in ruins. His various
services to the United Press Associa-
ton were frequently recognized in the
proceedings of the directors.
The services rendered by him In. con-
nection with the last Presidential cam
paign have been mentioned. Mr.. Heath
| took a prominent part In previous
| elections. He was one of the earliest
advocates of the nomination OF Benja-
min Harrison, with whom he was con-
nected by ties of neighborhOod and
| friendship. for he himself was born
within few miles of the Harrison
homestead. He supported General
Harrison for the Senate. and for his
first Presidential nomination. and had
charge of the literary bureau at the
Minneapolis convention when Presi-
! dent Harrison was nominated second
| time. IL Is an open secret that Mr..
Heath was rendered and strongly urged
| to accept the Governorship of one of
| the Western Territories, since admit
| ted as a State, but declined the honor
In connection with his present Off
cial position he has frequently been
| called upon to perform important serv-
ices. He was chairman OF the Com
mittee of Arrangements of the Trien-
NAL Convention of the International
Postal Union, which met in Washing
ton City in 1S97-one of the most i'm
portant International bodies that ever
assembled in this country. Congress
appropriated $4,000 for their enter
tainment. Mr.. Heath was also chair
man of the committee which disburset
that fund, and turned back $7,0VO int
| the Treasury-probably the first in
stance when an undertaking OF thi!
kind did not result in deficit.
He was chosen sole arbitrator t.
pass upon lOng-pending dispute be
tween the Government and the West
ern Union Telegraph Company as L
the rate of tolls to be paid on Govern
ment messages-many hundreds o
thousands of dollars yearly being In
vOlved, and aggregating total o
nearly 81. 100000 The investigation o
these accounts required great labor
His report when made was prompt!
accepted by both the Western Uniol
Telegraph Company and the Govern
ment as a satisfactory adjustment o
the controversy, and the United State
Court of Claims rendered judgment pr
forma, which judgment was satisfied
by Congress without question.
The arduous duties performed b.
him in organizing, establishing ant
maintaining the military postal serv
ice during our late war with Spain ar
matters of history. 1t was work
great responsibility, without any guild
ing line of precedent, for the publ
records were silent as to how the mill
tary postal service was conducted dur
ing the war between the States. from
1861 to 1865. The excellence and ef
fectiveness of the service established
not only in the numerous militar
camps in the United States, but in on
conquered and ceded new possessions
attest in the most conspicuous manne
Mr. Heath's executive abilities, an
establish another bright marking-poin
in his career as a public servant.
rnll Cf-'rnD iVERS RESIGNS