davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-29
SHELLS FOUND DETECTIVE.
Rear ADMIRAL O'NciI Orders nm In
yestiSntian to Be Made.

Rear Admiral O'Neil, Chief of Ordnance
of the Navy Department, has ordered an
investigation of alleged defective ammu-
milton made for the Navy Department bv
the briggs -Seabury Gun and Ammunition
Company. of Derby. Conn. 1t is said that
several hundred shells manufactured BY
this company have been found too small
for the calibre of the guns they were in
tended for, and in many other ways are de
fective
Admiral O'Ncil said yesterday: Il was
informed some time ago that the shells
being made by the briggs Seabury Com
pany were not up to the required standard
and | ordered that all shells recently made
by that company be inspected The iuspec-
ton showed that there were about Ga1
shells cat of 5000 or 6.CG0 which were
smaller than they should have been, and
possibly defective in other ways.
Il ordered four of the worst of these
shells sent to the Washington Navy Yard
and they will be tested at the Indian Head
proving ground within 4 very short time
Exactly now defective these shells are viii
rot De known until after the tests are
made.
Il have instructed the company to make
a report On the shells and have also asked
Tor reports from tue naval inspectors sta
toned at the company's plant. and action
will he withheld until all the parties have
been heard.
"The Inspector at the plant has known
for some time that the company was max
ing shells smaller than the required size
and then expanding them. but | suppose
that he thought the shells would meet the
necessary requirements and permitted
them to be passed. OF course if his judg
ment has erred, he will have to stand the
consequences. All the defective ammuni-
ton will be returned 10 the company and
charged up TO it. The company has fur
nished a large number Of good shells in
the past and | do not believe that the
present lot viii be found very defective.
The Navy Department is in no danger OF
having inferior ammunition passed off on
it. and all the shells accepted will have
to be OF the best quality"
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-29

In the death of General Joubert the
South African Republics lose a military
leader whose place they will hardly be
able to fiji. sad the world one OF the most
interesting and noble figures of the day.
Regarded as a soldier the dead comman-
dant- general will certainly take high
rank IN history. notwithstanding his lack
OF strictly professional requirements in
minor directions But he was not more
lacking in those details than oiher great
soldiers and generals have been. Neither
General Logan. on the Union. ncr General
Forrest on the Confederate side. in our
civil war was man of military. or much
Of any, education; yet both won distinc-
ton in high command.
Il viii always be placed to General Jou-
bert's credit that cut of his own native
ability and genius. he evolved a military
system for the TransvaaI State. which &C
tually made every man within its borders.
OF arms bearing age. an effective and in
stantly available mounted infantryman.
ready At an hours notice to take the field
fully equipped for campaign. His sys-
TEN worked so perfectly that, last autumn
when war was declared, the whole Boer
community was under arms and the terri
torial divisions all mobiiized within forty
eight hours.
We may hear that ne was not the
strategist nor the tacticiau of the Natal
campaign and, in a sense, perhaps that
may be true. II is known that the general
features of the Boer war plans were pre-
oil lx- do Drfa ba oil
gIan engineer, and it is also doubtless a
fact that General Jopbert depended to some
extent upon his French staff officer. Count
de yiIlebois Mareuil for technical assist
ance. He was too wise and modest a man
not to avail himself of all the knowledg-
and expert advice about him. But he was
also one who would use such helps to
reach conclusions, and after that action
sas his OWN.
From Dundee to the final retreat from
Lsdysmith. the soul and inspiration of the
Transvaal and Free State tactics and fight
ing was Joubert- 1t must be SC, for
neither was according to French, German,
o. any other European conceptions, but was
Tontier and Boer pure and simple While
ie was left in unquestioned control of the
war operations, his cause never sustained
a reverse, and it was not until President
Kurger interfered with his supreme COM
mand that things began to go wrong with
cronje at Magersfoutein, and so on. His
Straightforward. frank. and ehivalrous con-
duct won him the unstintad praise and the
profound respect of the British generals
against whom he served, and there will be
no more sincere tributes of respect laid
upon his coffin than will come from the
hearts of Lord Roberts, Sir Redvers Bull
Ter, and Sir George Stewart White.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-29
The Political Crisis in Europe.

The crisis in Europe for which tire world
has been waiting and watching anXiousiy
since last summer. now appears immedi-
ately imminent and nearing a climax.
| There is no longer much room for doubt
that Russia is about ready to strike a
blow, and that it viii fall primarily en-
| the head of the Sultan. It Is reported
now that two hundred and fifty thousand
! Russian troops are massed in South
! Russia and that vast feet of transports
! is modified in the Black Sea 10 convey
| them TO some destination. What that may
be is not positively known. bat it may be
safely assumed that it is Turkey in
| Europe or Asia Minor.
Relations between the st. Petersbursh
| Government and the Sublime Porte have
reached a stage acute enough to justify the
expectation Of an ultimatum within few
| days. unless Abdul Hamid should submit
to the Russian demands at once So far
/ he is resisting doggedly and is believed TO
/ be strongly supported in his position By
| Germany Russia will be content with
nothing less than the absolute monopoly
CT railways in Asia Minor, COUPLED with
2
armed forces The Sultan refuses such
concession knowing well that it means IA
strategic railway from the BosporIs TO the
Egean. involving military domination OF
his water line from the Black Sea TO the
mouth of the Dardsnelles. and the loss of
his Asiatic possessions
The grave question is; How far is the
Kaiser prepared TO go in backing Turkey
II he means business, then there is likely
to be a war in Europe that will make
hlood-red chapter in history. ard agein
change the political map Of the Continent
We are the more impressed With he p.ob-
ability of an almost immediate outbreak
of hostilities. in view Of the pscul ar
answer which Italy is reported to have
made 10 the note OF the South African
Republics. asking Tor Intervention CT me-
diation. The Cabinet at Rome is under
stood 10 have requested Presidents Kruger
and Steyn to modify their terms, in which
event King Humbert would endeavor to
lse his good Offices in London. Now the
Italian Government is so positively friend
" to Great Britain that such an expression
would have been impossible. except with
the privity and consent of the British Far
eign Office.
1t is natual inference that. seeing how
the storm clouds are gathering in eastern
Europe. and realizing the advantage of be-
ing able to utilize her military forces else
where than in South Africa, England
would be willing to make comparatively
easy terms for the Dutch helligerents if
they would lay Down their arms now. But
there is little chance that they would ac-
cept anything short of independence and
complete sovereignty at this time. They,
too, have been waiting for what appears
about to occur, and the prospect that Rus
STA will attack British imperial interests
through Turkey is much more likely to
put new life INTO their struggle than it is
TO render them willing to capitulate at
any price short of their maximum de-
manGs.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-29

refreshing little story is to be found
in letter printed in the New York Jour
nal" and describing an experiment which
citizen of the metropolis made with the
view of testing the honesty of the inhab-
itants Of that city. Considering that it
happened in the biggest and. as many peo-
pie declare, the most Ubiquitous town in
the country. the incident may justly be
pronounced deserving Of immortality. The
writer says:
Il bought four pocketbooks- put eighty cents
in one pocketbook- key, and my visiting card
with my name and address printed on il. | walked
along Grand Street and dropped it pufpasely In
the second pocketbo0k I put siNiy-ssyen cents, a
pawn ticket. and NV visiting card apd dropped
II in a Grand Street store.
In the third one put dollar ard nine cents
a two-cenl stamp. and my visiting card. This
pocketbook | dropped in Grand Street corner OF
Eldridge Street In the fourth ard last pocket
book put forty-two cents. two keys, a oue-ctnt
stamp and NV card. / then went hcIne.
About an hour later little girl Of twelve wears
returned tine third pocSetboOk / Offered her TWEEN
ty-iire cents and she said No. sir, thank YOU.
but ny parents don't wish NE 90 BE- pIid Tor berg
honest
in about tvcuty minutes well-drc.eld lady 70.
turned the inst pockcibook- | offered a reward to
her and she appeared 20 be usuitod- \ halt iour
later I Young woman returned the fourth pocket
her honesty, but -ile reius. d.
THE second p0eketbo0k was returned about two
hours later by lIish lHbsrer. who said he was
walking along Grand Street and found IT, lie re-
fused to srcept any reward, but accepted an invi
tltion 10 share a pint
Il shall never doubt the honesty OF New Workers
again"
This story tends TO restore ores tOtter-
ing faith in human nature, and also sug-
gests some rather practical reflections
One is that il is always wise to keep in
ones Docletbook card, inscribed with the
name and address of the owner. While
thieves will not pay much attention to
this, it viii prevent loss if the purse fails
into the hands OF honest people; and one
would infer from the experience of this
investigator that they are not so unc0m-
mon as cynles would have rs believe.
Travellers have told marvellous tales of
Norway and other primitive countries, in
which the people are so honest that one
may hang his watch on tree and return
three days afterward to find it in. the same
place; and they have compared these coun-
tries with America, to the great disad-
vantage OF the latter. There are regions
in this country where the people never
think of locking their doors at night. and
refuse TO take fees, but the most optimis-
tic student OF human society will have to
admit that such places are yearly grow
ing less safe and more sophisticated.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-29

companies. They all use the same board
room and directors room on occasion, and
So get acquainted and anectionate. Out
of such propinquity arise supplementary
combinations. like the syndication OF
several railway systems with the great
oil and other trusts for financial and
political purposes. under cover of the
Standard oil bank No doubt, If the
truth were known, many ether and SIM
liar devices for mutual assistance in
looting the patient public have re-
suited from meeting by the freside of
the common family home in Jersey.
We greatly admire the scheme and its
arrangements. particularly because it
tends to make the labor of the campaign
collector easier. When we reflect that
even man with a stiff knee can 60 to
the building of the Corporation Trust
Company of New Jersey. and call up over
eight hundred benefciaries of Dingley-
ism, the Ship Subsidy bill. and the Porto
Rican tariff crime. and assemble their
representatives on the ground in about
an hour, it is easy to realize how
spiendidly modern brains and ingenuity
have systematized and simplified every
thing from securing a Government rotten
beef contract to holding up and going
through protected monopolist. Such
convenient means and facilities ought TO
be pregnant of happy consequences 70
the Republican barrel, and. by the way,
it is high time that they were resorted to
if anything in the line of purchasing
Presidential election is to be accomplished
this year
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-29
THE NAVY REGULATIONS.
Work of the Board of Compilation
Approved by Secretary Root.

The new regulations for the government
of the Navy were approved by Secretary
Long yesterday. a board OF officers has
been engaged for several months in com
piIing them. Secretary Long made one
important change. He disapproved the
regtla lions recommended by the board
providing the duties to be performed BY
marines on shipb0ard and directed the
substitution of the existing regulations On
the subject. The regulations proposed by
the board provided that marines should
not be assigned to duty with the main and
secondary batteries of a ship in action.
and so Curtailed their duties on naval YES
sells that they would have little more to
do than to act as watchmen. and in an
engagement with the enemy would not be
part OF the fighting force.
The Secretary's action is attributed
largely to the excellent showing made by
the marines in the Spanish-American war
on shore at Guantanamo and on ship
board in the engagement with CeTvera s
squadron. The gallantry displayed By Il
marine on the Brooklyn in crawling out
en- a gun which they were handling against
the Spanish ships to remove a shell who h
had become damned was a noteworthy
incident of the engagement Of Santiago.
The marine. Private MacNeal succeeded, in
clearing the gun, and this permitted its
use for TIT rest of the engagement. He
was mentioned in the report of Captain
Cook OF the BROOKLYN.
The new regulations prescribe the duties
of the Admiral of the Navy. He is made
available Tor especial duty at sea and
ashore.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-29
A NEW ISLAND GOVERNOR.
Extending American Control In the
Philippine ArchipelaKo.

The Government has rece.ve,i informa-
ton of the appointment and installation
Of Senior Teohlo Costilleio as the first
American Governor of the Batanes grouT
and Calayan Island. the northernmost d.
vision of the Philippine Archipelago.
Senior Costillejo is Filipino who resided
in Aparri. the principal port on the north
coast of Luzon. where General Wheaton s
expedition landed and In combination with
the columns of Generals Lawton and
Young quelled the Instruction in the
northern part OF the island and made
Aguinaldo a fugitive.
Inc new Governor was taken to the Ba-
lanes and Calayan in the gunboat Prince
Ton, Commander Knox. He embarked on
me vessel at APART as a passenger. The
Princeton first touched at Calayan. one OF
the babnyen group. but politically classed
d the Spaniards under the jurisdiction OF
tne batanes government Commander
Knox ratsed the Stars and Stripes at Gala
yan aad took formal possession Of the ISL
and n the name of the United States. The
inhabitants appeared to be very much
pleased over the coming of the Americans
and showed a loyal spirit
After remaining day at CaIayan the
Princeton, with Senior Costillejo on board
proceeded to Santo Domingo, the port and
capital OF the island of Batan and of the
Batanes group. After the ceremonies OF
raising the American flag over the former
Spanish Government building and pro-
claiming the group under the jurisdiction
of the United States. Senior Costiliejo was
installed as Governor.
The report describing these occurrences
says that the islands over which Governor
Costillejo will have jurisdiction are fer
tile ard the people peaceful and indus
trious. The Batanes are bounded on the
north by the Bachi Channel, which divides
the Philippines from the Japanese insular
territory. The principal islands are It
bayai. Basay. Saptan, and Hujos. The
group has an area OF 125 square miles and
a population of 9,475. Santo Domingo de
Basco, the principal town and port. 50i
miles from Manila. has a population OF
2,es,. Under Spanish rule it was the resi-
denee Of a political military governor. a
judge, and an attorney general. The other
urge towns are San Bartolome de Calayan.
p population 1,722; San Carlos de Marigatao,
population 1.225; San Jose de Ibana, popu-
lation 1851; Santa Maria de Magyar, popu-
lation 1856. and San Vicente de Saptang.
population 1853. A full report of the ehar
acter of the government established under
Governor Costillejo is expected to reach
here soon
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-29
AT TEE WHITE HOUSE
The President Told of Repubtiean
National Conn ittee Work

| Acting for the citizens OF Charleston.
Senator McLaurin yesterday extended 10
the President an invitation TO attend tho
annual meeting of the National Educn-
tional Association in that city IL July.
Mr. Mckinley expressed interest in the
work OF the association and said that he
should like to attend and would do so IL
tue state OF public business permitted The
PRESIDENT does not anticipate taking many
trips this summer fearing that his mo-
/ tives in doing so during the campaign
might be misconstrued II is stiIl doubt
full il he goes to San Francisco to attend
the launching OF the battleship Ohio.
Joseph Fl. Marley. OF Maine. men,
Der OF the National Republican Executive
Committee. saw the President yesterday
afternoon and discussed the work OF the
committee. Mr. Manley was disinciined
to discuss his interview. He, however.
said that the hundred thousand dollar
entertainment fund promised by the eiti-
zens OF Philadelphia will be in the hands
of the committee before the convention
meets. Arrangements In that city are pro-
crossing satisfactorily.
Former Senator Henderson, President Of
the National Bar Associa ton, called dur
ing the morning to arrange an interview
for the executive committee Of tie asso-
citation. which is holding sessions here to
arr,nge for the annual convention IT, be
held at Saratoga in August. Later in the
afternoon the committee called and ex-
tended Mr.. Mckinley an invitation to ar
tend the convention. He will give al IL
swer later.
Representative Littlefield called WITH
party OF nearly 100 friends from MAI,
and other points in New England. T :.
President received the delegation Ia mis-
reception room. Mr. Littlefeld, speaking
of the Porto Rican bill said "The BIZ
will probably pass the Senate, but with
additional amendments making Ii more
nearly a free trade measure than 1t now
is. 1t will then go back to the House,
where it will be further amended SO that
in the end it will be practically a free
trade measure"
Senator Sullivan called with friend and
was with the President a short time. He
said that his business wa, of private nat
ure. Speaking OF the reported conspiracy
to defeat Bryan's nomination at Kansas
City he expressed the belief that any such
attempt would be fruitless. 1t was per-
haps unfortunate. he said, that the Popu-
listic referendum idea had been adopted by
Mr.. Bryan. but he did not anticipate its
affecting the general result AS far as he
knew Mississippi Democrats were not in
any offensive movement against Mr.. Bry-
an. The South is generally for the Nebras-
kan, he said.
Representative Burke of Texas called to
present party OF constituents. In reply
to question from Times reporter about
the anti Bryan sentiment in his State. he
said: There's nothing IN the report.
You may depend upon it Bryan will be
nominated by acclamation.'
Among other callers were Senator CAL
linger, Representative Hopkins, Repre-
sentative Pugh, Representative Sibiey.
Representative Ketcham, and General
OBeirne.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-29
The Lair of the Octopus.

A few buildings in Jersey City cover
the nominal Offices OF corporate combina
tons whose aggregated capital reaches
the enormous sum OF three billion dollars
\ little brass sign plate complies with
the statute which provides that the name
of a corporation doing business outside OF
the State must be conspicuously displayed
az the entrance of its New Jersey Office.
So enc modest four story edifice contains
the ofi,e IS Of the Federal Steel Company,
capital s2e0, 600. 600: the American Steel
Steel AMI Wire Company. capital $50, 0OO, =
Zoo; the American Ice Company, capital,
S5Q.0oo.0 coo. and other smaller concerns
which bring the capital represented under
that ore roof up TO total OF one billion
and half.
1t Is in these Offices that the stock
holders OF the various monopolies are OBJ
.iged by law to meet once year, and
the ferry companies reap a harvest 1t
Is only 10 cross the briny river, for most
Of the shares in the trusts are owned
or represented by proxies in New York
City, and the convenience of the arrange
ment is obvious. Pleasant relations
grow up wiih the sense of neighborhood-
One jersey City Office building hives be-
seeeu eight and nine hundred steam nayi-
CATION, mining, railway, and industrial
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-29

The end of the Porto Rican war is in
sight, as far as the Senate is concerned.
Mr. Foraker succeeded in securing unani-
nous consent yesterday to take vote on
Tuesday afternoon next, and. by that time.
the trust Senator's feel sure that they will
have so many of their constitutionalist
brethren kicked and cowed into acqui-
essence that the bill will go through with
out doubt or danger.
Then it win have to take its chances
in the House, and they would be poor in
deed If we could place any reliance upon
declarations of Republican members from
the West Unfortunately We cannot The
argument VIII be used with not a few of
them. that their constituents have utterly
lost confidence in and would never think
of renominating them, even if they were
now to show eleventh. hour remorse, and
try to undo the wickedness of originally
voting for the Payne infamy. In such cir
cumstances they will be urged to take the
view that as, politically. they have not
long to live anyway, they would better take
the gifts that the gods provide and do a
little judicious nest feathering before the
end of the session. No doubt opportuni-
ties and facilities will be literally no
vided.
Still, there is a possibility that the in
dignant voice of the people, which is
growing daily louder and more vindictive,
may be more potent than either the largess
or the lash of the trust overseers. That
is yet to be seen. The oppression aud
starvation of Porto Rico has been def
nitely and formally made party ques-
ton We may add that it has also been
made the dominant national issue in the
impending national campaign.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-29
PSI UPSILoN BANQUET.
Prof Dean c. Worcester and Jadg G
William Fl. Taft HOnored.

A complimentary dinner was last night
given at the Ebbitt House by the local
members of the Fraternity O: Psi Epsilon,
TO their brothers OF the Philippine Commits
sion. who Will soon leave for the scene
Of their labors. The two gentlemen hon.
ored were Prot Dean c. Worcester and
Judge William H. Taft. the latter being
prevented from attending by an impcrt-
ant matter that called for his attention at
the last moment.
Twenty covers were laid. and the din
ner was enliveued with college songs and
speeches Prof Worcester addressed
the company at length. but his remarks
were wholly OF 4 college and social Ia
ture, and had no bearing upon the work
that he has in hand for the Government.
The success of the occasion was due. in
great part 10 the efforts of A. r. Server,
who engineered the programme.
Those who were present were: Pref.
Dean c. Worcester. Judge J. II. McGosan.
A. K. Server. Senator Hawley. DR.. Frank
s. Bourns, :. II. Giesey, II. Vi. Johns n.
Judge a. c. Geer. Prof ". F. Wilcox,
Ralph W. Lee, $. r. EHsell. F. ". CAL
laudet, DR.. y. c. Wright, Charles r.
Dean. George r. whittlesey. Prot. II L.
Savage. Pref. George S. Cummings.
Charles W. Smiley and J. Kennedy Stone.