davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1899-04-17
Protection for Money.
SECRETARY PORTER.
He Has Not Resigned, but He May Do
So Soon.

A story that the resignation of John Addi-
son Porter, secretary to the President. is in
the hands of the chief executive is officially
denied at the White House. But, while
there is no truth in the story of the resig-
nation having been handed in, no surprise
would be occasioned should Mr. Porter take
this step at some time in the future. AL
though man of the most robust health
and an athlete, Secretary Porter has broken
down under the strain of work at the
White House. For two years ne has been
on duty night and day at the Executive
Mansion, but two weeks ago he was stricken,
and his physicians commanded absolute
rest and quiet He has since been at his
home, and members of his family and
friends said to be deSirouS that he
should leave his official duties here. Secre-
tary Porter'S wife and mother are among
those who think that he Should take up
always been solicitous Of the President
health, and has often added to mis- own
work to relieve the President OF the heavy
responsibilities imposed upon him. If Sec
retary Porter concludes to resign the Pres
ident would, in all probability offer him his
them abroad. Mr. POrter'S original desire
was to have a European mission, but was
changed at the Presidents request. Secre-
tary Porter might be offered the Portugal
mission or some other good mission where
his duties would be more social than Off
cial.
There is no truth in various stories here
tofore published that the President has
been displeased with Secretary Porter's
work. On the other hand, he places the
desires that he shall remain in his present
position,
Evening star., 1899-04-17
PRELIMINARY POLITICAL WORK,
The Republican National Executive
Committee to Meet Soon

1t Is understood that there will soon be a
meeting of members of the republican ma
tonal executive committee to consider some
matters preliminary to the campaign work
to be done.
The democrats practically began their
campaign for 1900 Immediately after the
close of the '96 campaign. Bryan has been
making speeches all over the country;
political publications have been kept up
through the medium of the country weekly
press; a committee has been at work in the
west raising money to meet expenses, and
Chairman Jones, up to the time of his being
taken i'll, was devoting the greater amount
of his time to efforts to strengthen the
Bryan organization. Now the democratic
banquets-Jeffersona and others-are coming
thlck ana faSt. Practically the only ma
uonal politics discussed in the press at this
time Is democratic politics. Mr.. Bryan is
occupying column or more in the news
papers OF the country about every week,
and his speeches are growing steadily more
frequent, and are being given the atten-
ton that results from the lack Of rivalry
in the field of politics.
There has been neither the opportunity
nor the occasion for such activity on the
part of the republicans The administration
has been taken up with the war and mat
ters growing out of it. and there has as
yet been little effort to combat the efforts
VI IiioSC wiz nave nothing out tlInG on
thelr hands to spread their own ideas
throughout the land, and to criticise both
the policies and the methods of the admin
istration. There has been no open fight
against the denomination of Mckinley to
attract attention and to provoke discussion.
Whlle the pubic have been as far as they
are interested in politics engaged In watch
ing the progress of the dollar dinner and
ten-dollar dinner democrats, and in dis
cussinS whether the next democratic con-
Ventlon Will be like the last. The repub-
llcans do not have to get their money a
nttie at time through a period of two
years nor TO Keep up firing during four
years to get in the requisite number of
shots with single gun. They calculate on
pelnS aple to do more during few months
Immediately before election than the oppo-
sition can accomplish by keeping at it all
the while
Nevertheless, the work of the republican
executive committee will have to be laid
out much earlier in advance of the actual
campaign than is usual
Evening star., 1899-04-17
LIEUT.. LANG's FRIENDS APPEAL.
The President Urged to show Glenn
enc! in His Case.

The case of Lieut.. Clarence +. Lang OF
the ID Artillery is now before the Presi-
dent for action. This officer was -.ecently
tried by court-martial at Washington bar
racks on the charge Of scandalous conduct
tending to the prejudice of military dis
cipline and good order, arising from his al
legged conduct in taking apartments at
boarding house with woman who is said
not to be his wife. The court was ordered
by Major General Merritt, commanding the
department of the east to which Lieuten-
ant Lang is attached. The record of the
proceedings was placed In General Mer-
ritt's hands Friday and by him was trans
mitted to the Secretary of War for action
by the President. Since then the record
has been reviewed and reported upon by
Judge Advocate General Lieber Major Gem
eral Miles, commanding the army, and the
Secretary of War.
Conviction Of the charge upon which Lieu.
tenant Lang was tried calls for the dis
misSal OF the officer, and the fact that Gem
eral Merritt referred the matter to the
President is accepted as evidence that
Lieutenant Lang was convicted and sem
fenced to dismissal from the army. In case
the verdict imposed by the court had been
less serious than dismissal the case would
not have required the action of the Presi-
dent, but could have been disposed of by
the department commander.
Lieutenant Lang and his friends charge
that he is being prosecuted by a certain
clique of officers in the army, on account Of
his marriage to the daughter of an enlisted
man in the army. strong appeal Tor
clemency in his behalf has been made to
the President.
Evening star., 1899-04-17
TO ENLIST INDIANS,
May Possibly he Used in the Fighting
in the Philippines.

The War Department has authorized the
enlistment in the army of educated. able
bodied Indians, with a view to their possi-
Bile use in the guerrilla warfare in the Phil
ippines. Word to this effect has been sent
to the Carlisle Indian school and to certain
recruiting stations in the west. In view of
the former experience of the army, it is not
deemed eXpedient to attempt to organize
any regiments or companies of Indians AT
that time 1t was found that Indians as
class did not take kindly to the rigid dis
cipline of military Hfe, and could not be
counted on to render effective service. The
present purpose is to enlist them under the
same conditions govern the enlistment
of white men. 1t is not intended that more
than one Indian shall be assigned to a COM
pany, nor is 1t intended expected that
the Indians will be called upon to perform
any duty different from that of the troops
with whom they serve.
Evening star., 1899-04-17
PROPOSED CABLE TO MANILA.
Steamer Nero to Survey the Route
From Honolulu.

SAN FRANCISCO. April 1.-THE United
States steamer Nero has come down from
Mare Island and is taking on coal prepara-
tory to her departure for Honolulu at the
end of this week. The Nero has been en-
tirely reftted and prepared for work in
which she is to engage the exploration
and survey of a route for submarine
cable from Honolulu to Manila
The route between San Francisco and
Honolulu having been thoroughly surveyed
the Nero will begin at Honolulu and make
soundings from there to the Island of
Luzou, or a midway island and Guam No
sOundings have ever been made over this
part of the Pacific.
Evening star., 1899-04-17
FIRE IN LONDON FLATS
Holocaust Like That at Windsor Hotel
Narrowly Averted
Fire Department Was Ineffective and
Guests Only Escaped With
Greatest Difficulty.

LONDON, April 1.-THE British metropo-
lis narrowly escaped a calamity today
which might have rivaled the horrors wit
messed at the destruction by fire recently
of the Windsor Hotel in New York city.
Hyde Park court, Albert Gate, one of
the finest and most fashionable blocks of
residential flats, overlooking the famous
Rotten Row, caught fire at $50 o'clock this
morning. The building, which is eleven
stories high, was built by the notorious
Jabez Spencer Balfour, the former men,
bec of parliament, who was responsible for
the collapse of the Liberator Building AS
socation and other companies, by which
thousands of people were ruined, and who
is now undergoing a sentence of fourteen
years penal servitude as result of his
conviction on charges of fraud. 1t practi-
cally adjoins the house occupied by Sir
Herbert Naylor-Leyland, bart, liberal
member of parliament for the south port
division of Lanca ashire, whose wife was
Miss Jennie Chamberlain of Cleveland,
Ohio.
The fire broke out in the lower part of
the building and spread up the elevator
shaft with great rapidty. The flames en-
veloped the upper stories before their oc-
cupants were aware of the danger When
the alarm was raised the affrighted serv-
ants dropped from the top windows to a
veranda on the ninth story.
The defective arrangements of the Lon
don fire brigade were again demonstrated,
and even when the fire escapes reached the
scene they We're too short to reach the
people in the upper stories, who only es-
capped with the greatest difficulty, while the
residents of the lower stories streamed out
of the building, carrying what they could
of their belongings
The flames were not under control until
l o'clock, when the upper part of the struc-
ture was gutted.
1t is considered lucky that the fire oc-
CURED in daylight, otherwise it would
have resulted in loss of life.
All the floors were supposed to be fire.
proof
Evening star., 1899-04-17

look into the complaints of American clti-
zens there growing out of the method Of
taxation practiced by the Nicaraguan gov
ernment.
The Texas and Marblehead have sailed
from Barbados for Santa Lucia.
The Newark sailed from Barbados today
for the Pacific station, in pursuance of the
orders issued some weeks ago detaching
her from Admiral Simpsons squadron
She may proceed to Samoa but 1t is said at
the Navy Department that no significance
attaches to this course. as il had been de-
termined on before the recent outbreak
there.
Evening star., 1899-04-17
DOES NOT INDICATE FAILURE.
War Departments View of Gen. Law
toms Return to Manila.

AT the War Department it is stated that
the return of Gen. Lawton to Manila from
his expedition does not indicate failure of
the campaign, it being evident that he ac-
compliShed all that he attempted, such as
the capture of the gunboats and irving the
rebels out of Santa Cruz. Gen. Iawton
took rations for ten days only, which indi-
Gates that he did not intend to remain very
lorg. 1t is said that one of the main OBJ
jects of Gen. Lawton's expedition was to
distribute the proclamation of the Philip
pine commission among the Filipnos and
to impress them with the friendly inten-
tiOnS of the United States Concerning the
future government Df the Philippines. The
humane purposes of the United States gov
ernment was demonstrated by the Lind
treatment of all prisoners and a total ab-
sence of violence and rapina in the villages
and towns captured by the troops, none of
which was set on fire nor pllaSed in aEy
respect.
Evening star., 1899-04-17
LIVE PROPERLY TO BE HEALTHY.
Consul Williams Praises the Condi-
tiOns at Manila

MI. q. f. Williams, United States con-
sui, writes from Manila, Philippine Islands
as follows to the State Department regard
ing the health conditions of that CITY:
L wish to refute the statements generally
circulated in regard to the health and
climate of th9 Philippine Islands Being
within the tropics, they, of course lack the
inVlgoratng effects of frost, and the tenn
perature averages high-at Manila. about
tS.3 degrees Fahrenheit; but extremes are
not wide apart, and during the last year
L heard OF no temperature below 81 degrees
Fahrenheit in the islands, and none below
the sixties in Manila. Mercury in the shade
rarely rises above 50 degrees nor above 81
degrees in the sun.
Being on the coast of a bay so large as
to be almost an inland sea. and HAVING.
eight miles to the east a lake with 100
miles of shore, whose waters seek the bay
through the large and rapid Pasig, the city
OF Manila has fresh air constantly, as well
sea breeZeS.
The sewers of Manila are not eood and
can never be first-class, because of its low
level; but the rainfall here is above ten
feet per annum ard quite evenly distribut-
ed, so that the streets are rain swept and
the sewers well flushed almost every day
There is also an advantage in hot wet
weather, which hastens the decay of vege-
table or animal matter, this soon rotting
and being washed away.
The city water supply is abundant The
water is carried in large iron pipes about
seven miles from springs, and is excep-
tionally pure and agreeable to taste / use
it every day as beverage, and have never
experienced i'll effects therefrom. / have
not been sick a minute since l left the
United States in 1897.
I'm filthy quarters smallpox may be
found almost any day; but few deaths re-
of he
present government have been of benefit.
The death rate is small. and 1t is only
necessary to live properly to be entirely
healthy"
Evening star., 1899-04-17
BADGER PREPARES TO SAIL.
Cruiser Will Take High Commission
to Samoa.

SAN FRANCISCO, April 1.-THE United
States steamer Badger has gone to the
Union Iron Works for repairs, there being
no room for her at Mare Island. The work
will be rushed, so she can sail for Apia with
the Samoan commission April -.
Dr. w. S. SoIf. recently appointed presi-
dent of the municipality of Apia, has ar
rived here en- route to Samoa. As it is pos
sihle that the new commission may affect
his position, he says lie will await instruc-
tions here before leaving for the Islands.
Evening star., 1899-04-17
PARTY LINES DRAWN
Mazst Committee Divides on Scope
Of Investigation.
MOTION TO CALL SENATOR PLATT
Wanted in Connection With the
Astoria Gas Franchise.
DEFEATED BY VOTE OF 5 TO 2

NEW YORK, April 1.-THE Mazet inves-
tigating committee reconvened today. At
conference of the committee before the pro-
ceedings opened Assemblyman Hoffman Of
fered resolutions calling for the investiga-
tion of runors that certain law firm in
the city of New York, by and with the
assistance Of other persons, by corrupt
means secured the passage through the
assembly of the state of New York OF a bill
known as the Astoria gas franchise and
declaring that the real purpose of the
Astoria gas franchise was to enable the
Consolidated Gas Company to force con-
solidation of all the gas interests of the
city to the end that the supply of gas
might be controlled and the price of the
same regulated by the so-called consolida-
ton"
The resolution further declared that it
was necessary to subpoena the following
persons: The law firm of Tracy, Board
man & Platt, Elihu Root, the incorporatorS
of the Astoria Heat Light and Power Com
pany. Senator Thomas c. Platt Benjamin
b. Odell, jr., eX-Representative Lemuel Eli
Quigg, John d. Crimnins and others.
Resolutions Were Defeated.
The resolutions We're defeated by a vote
of to ., all the republican members of
the committee voting no.
MI MdZtl, SpcdhiiiS Ol l1le RESOLUTIONS,
said the committee had certain work to
perform; that its mode of procedure had
been laid out and that the present is no
time for the taking up of ''extraneouS''
matter. 1t was understood that he spoke
for all the republicans of the committee
The committee spent some time listening
to witnesses regarding the character of a
BoWery resort at which eX-Mayor Frank
Mcgowan was alleged to have been robbed.
Mr.. Moss then called Simon Buttner to
the stand. Buttner testified that in 1880.
when he came to this city "a country jay"
he went to a certain politician who told
him thstt he would have to see the police
He w&s instructed to see Inspector Will
liams, but he could not see him and met
Price, then roundsznan, now a captain
Protection for Money.
Buttner testified that Price told him he
would have to pay him 500 a month to in
sure protection of the resort which he
started and that if anybody was robbed.
he, Price, to get half. "And 1 have
done business with him for quite a while"
said Buttner. Buttner testified that it was
in 1890 and 1891 that he paid the money to
Price. At that time Buttner said he was
simply running ordinary saloon without
any concert hall attached. Buttner said at
the trial in Jersey City of Assistant Prose
cutor Joseph Noonan and Assemblyman
Simpson for bribery he had testified against
Noonan truthfully, but before he went on
the stand he had sworn to an affidavit re-
garding whose truth he had no idea.
Evening star., 1899-04-17
STORM SOUTHERN TEXAS,
Houses Blown Down. Cowboy Killed;
Many Injured.

SAN ANTONIO, Tex, April 17.-Saveral
towns were visited yesterday by terrific
wind and hail storm that followed the
heavy rain that began Saturday. AT Lytle
the building on the TX l." ranch was de-
nolshed and Mexican cowboy killed At
Weimar the home of City Marshal Insau
was blown down and Mrs Insall and her
two children injured. The school house at
Medina was overturned and the teacher,
Miss Minnie Halsted, received internal in
jures. Two pupils, Tom Maston and Henry
Willard, were seriously injured.
The coast country around Rockport and
Corpus Christi is flooded and coqnmunlca-
tion with those towns shut off. Teiegrapn
wires are down and the Aransas Pass rail-
road has temporarily abandoned its trains
on this division.
Evening star., 1899-04-17
SIR ROSE LAMBERT PRICE DEAD.
He Was IL British soldier and Author
of Note.

LONDON. April 11.-Sir Rose Lambert
Price, Bart. the author and soldier. is dead.
Major Sir Rose Lambert Price was born
July % 1887. He served as a lieutenant in
the royal marine light infantry on the
east coast of Africa for the suppression of
slavery. He then joined the royal marine
battalion under Colonel Lemon, c. b, and
went to India during the mutiny. He was
in the storming party at the capture of
Canton, in 1851. and was also in the storm
ing party at the Pei HO forts, and during
the fighting shot through the leg. He
was present at the taking of Tangku, and
was in the storming party at the capture of
the Iaku forts and was present at the sur
render of Pehin. He was the author of
The Two Americas; A Summer on the
Rockies"
Evening star., 1899-04-17
POLICE DISPERSE STUDENTS.
Another Demonstration Mt st. Peters.
burg PrOmptIy Suppressed.

ST. PETERSBURG, April 17.-Another
large batch of students belonging to the
archaeological Institute were expelled yes
tcrday and were conducted to the railroad
station in body by a detachment of police.
They were followed by other students, in
Guiding many women, who then engaged in
an orderly demonstration on the Newsky-
prospekt. but were stopped by detachments
of foot and mounted police. The latter
charged the students, dispersed them and
made several arrests.
Evening star., 1899-04-17
COMMODORE TELLER ILL.
Retired Chief Engineer and Veteral
of Two Wars.

Commodore Zeler, a retired chief engf-
neer in, the navy, is reported to be danger
ously Ill at his home in New York, with
but little hope of his recovery
Commodore Zeller is about seventy-six
years of age and was retired fourteen years
ago. He is one of the old-time engineers,
having started as a practical mechanic and
worked his way up to his present rank
he served through the Mexican war and
the war of the rebellion. At one time he
was chief engineer of the North Atlantic
squadron, when it consisted of $50 steam
vessels: He has many friends in this city,
who will regret to learn of his serious i'll
ness,
Evening star., 1899-04-17

United Gas for S12425: September II 1896
300 shares of United Gas for Sl9 'oZ.oo a
dividend of 500 was collected. leaving the
balance $40 2eo 20. on December II. 1896,
800 shares of Met" We're bought for W.
331.50 making the total S1s4, o4.4S
Goldsmith testified that during the per
iod ending April 80 1897, the interest," 81, %. on
Senator Ouay's loans amounted to Sl,492.9S
but he paid only S2}625.
Objection was made to witness statins
such deductions but the court ruled the
answer as admissible because II Is HiefeiS
a statement of what the books show.
Recess until l pm.
Evening star., 1899-04-17
Trade with siberia Incrensinr

SAN FRANCISCO. April 1T-Trade he
tween this port and Siberia is rapidly in
creasing. Several vessels are now on the
way to Vladivostock, and the schooner Vol
unteer sailed few days since for NicoIaef-
ski on the Amoo river. The schooners
James II. Bruce and Annie Campbell are
taking in mainly salt and flour, while the
schooner Nicomus is loading salt almost ex-
clusiyely.
Evening star., 1899-04-17
New Marine Corps Lieutenantx

The appointment Of the following named
first lieutenants in the Marine Corps was
announced at the Navy Department today;
Henry w. Carpenter, r. c. Berkeley, Ar
thur ]. Matthew'S Charles G. Andersen.
Charles s. Hatch, James c. Breckenridge.
Arthur T. Mark, Philip S. Brown, Harry
Lee and Robert E. Carmody.
Evening star., 1899-04-17
BUSINESS POINTERS.

business is growing better
all the time.
To get and hold your share
OF IL You must keep advertise
ing right along.
An advertisement I'm n daily
paper bears fruit more
quickly and abundautiy than
In any other form.
You can reach more than
twice as many Washington
purchasers through the col
umns of The Star as you can
through any other medium.
Evening star., 1899-04-17
Soldiers Deaths In Cuba.

Gan. Brooke. at Havana, has notified the
War Department of the death of Daniel
Irving, band, 9th Immunes, from consump-
tion, and Private Howard Chadwick Com
pany l, 10th Infantry, from septicaemia
Evening star., 1899-04-17
WANTS MINNESOTA TROOPS HOME.
Gov. Lind Sends Special Message to
Legislature.

ST. PAUL, Mimi, April 17.-Govcrnor
Lind today sent a message to the leSisla-
ture urging some action looking toward
the speedy return from Manila of the 18Th
Minnesota Volunteers. He states that all
aTpeals to that end addressed to the PreSi-
de Mt and to the War Department have been
ignored, save in a few individual cases
that were Influenced by partisanship.' He
asserts that the volunteers are being held
contrary to law, and that he has been noti-
fled by Col Agnes that the regiment de-
sires unanimously to return home.
Evening star., 1899-04-17
Naval pox,,.x,srs

The appointment of Grey s. Skipwor.h
and George M. Staekhousaf as assistant
paymasters in the navy has been officially
announced.
Evening star., 1899-04-17
Condition of MIR. HiIborn.

1t was said at Garfield Hospital this sf-
ternoon that Mr.. Hilborn's condition show
ed no marked change during the day.