davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-13
DEFENDS HIS BUREAU.
The Testimony of Captain Mitcham
Regarding SmOkeIess Powder.


In the completed copy OF the annual re-
port of Gen a P Burlington, Chief of the
Ordnance Bureau, just published, there
appears a special report by Capt. o. B.
Mitcham in answer to the testimony Of
Capt I y. Lewis, befo.e the Senate Com
nittee, regarding smokeless powder This
report did not appear in the proof copy
of the report first made public Captain
Mitcham says that the statements about
a lack of smokeless powder were mislead-
ing and declares:
The officers of the Ordnance Depart
ment are neither Iaggards nor dullards in
the discharge of their official duties; but
knowing the dangers of their work and
realizing their responsibilities more than
the ordinary layman can understand,
they attain the desired ends by care and
study, despite criticism that they alone
know proceeds from lack of knowledge
and hasty judgment.
1.-The lack Of smokeless powders for the
field and siege artillery at the outbreak
Of the Spanish war was foreseen. IN
dOubtedly. by the Ordnance Department
I was not. at the outbreak OF the war, in
charge of the development of smoHeless
powders, but I have been informed that
at that time the granulation for field and
siege guns had been fully determined AS
soon as money was available smokeIess
powders for these guns were at once fur
nished, and this has continued to the
present writing.
"a satisfactory powder for all of our
present ordnance has been developed, as
viii be shown by the copy OF the specif-
cations fer its manufacture and also by
the copy of standard methods of chemi-
cal tests, both enclosed. Not only has this
powder been developed, but samples have
been fred with success in our heaviest
guns and at present there are in the dry
ing houses at the Dupont Powder Works
and at the works Of the California Pow
der Company. at Santa Cruz, Cal, more
than 25o,000 pounds of powder for our
heaviest caHbres OF ordnance.
About $4,000 pounds of such powder
are now under contract; bids were opened
on March . for 922, ,0O1 pounds additional
for various heavy caTbres, and as soon as
the contracts for this amount are signed
work viii be rapidly pushed, and the pow
der turned out at the rate of several
thousand pounds per day; SO that but q
short time viii elapse before large
smokeless powder reserve for our heavy
guns viii be on hand, and there is no rea-
son whatever why this should not con
tinue, provided Congress viii appropriate
the necessary funds for the purchase of
powder as required
Up to a recent date there was no sap
ply of sInoiSeIess powders for either the
army or the navy This was not the fault
of army or navy officers, but due to the
well-known failure of Congress to provide
money. Now that such funds are avail
able II is seen that no serious difficulty
has been experienced in obtaining salts
factory results
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-13
CUBAN AFFAIRS DISCUSSED
A War Department Conference on
the InsuIar Situation.
Action of the Convention Yesterday
Not Regarded rs the Final ReieC-
tion of the PIatt Amendment.
4 Commission Not Favored.


Senators Proctor and Cockren and
Representative Hit called at the War
Department this morning and had a
| long conference with the Secretary of
Var in regard to the political situation
in Cuba. None of them consider the
vote in the Cuban Convention yester-
day as a final rejection of the Platt
amendment. Senator CockreII, VINO mas
Just returned from Havana, remarked
that the resolution expressing the opin-
ion that the convention is opposed TO
the amendment does not alter the stu
alton at all and is no stronger than the
other resolutions adopted by the con-
vention-
The War Department officials are Of
the opinion that the resolution was
adopted merely to indicate to the peo-
PIE Of Cuba that the convention did
not want to adopt the PIatt amend
ment and give color to claim that the
amendment was forced upon them in
case they should finally adopt it It is
certain that the President considers
that unless the convention completes
! the work for which it was called he
has the power to order General Wood
TO dissolve the body and call an eIec-
ton Of another convention
In this connection, it is not believed
that the rejection of the Platt amend
ment would be sufficient cause fer such
action The instructions to the conven-
ton were that it should define the re-
laticns which are to exist between the
United States and Cuba 1t was not
provided that the convention should
adopt the Platt amendment but that
the relations with the United States
should be defined The adoption by
Congress of the PIatt amendment pre-
seated to the Cubans what the United
States considered a satisfactory ar
rangement and authorized the Presi-
dent to approve any action Of the Gu
ban convention which was substantial
" the same as the FIatt amendment
President Mckinley and Secretary
Root hold that the President is not au-
tEorized to approve, on behalf of the
United States, any action Of the cen
vention not substantially the same, ana
the President is therefore determined
not to discuss with any commission
from the convention the question Of
relations, except on the basis Of the
Platt amendment It is declared by
those close to the President, moreover.
that he is not inclined to favor the
sending of a commission to Washing
ton because Of its reflection upon Cen
eraI Wood
The attacks upon General Wood by
the Havana press have served to
strengthen his support by President
Mckinley and Secretary Root Should
a commission come from Havana the
President viii receive the members. He
viii not, however, consider any com
promise propositions and will refer the
commission to General Wood, who has
been authorized to speak for the Presi-
dent
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-13
CAPTAIN CRozIER's NEW GUN.
Brought TO the Attention of the Ord
nance Board.

Capt William Crozier, of the Ordnance
Department of the Army. has perfected a
new type of wire-wound gun, which has
been brought to the attention Of the
Board of Ordnance and Fertilization. \
feature of the invention consists ia the
manner Of locking the parts Of the gun
SC that they cannot separate under the Sc
we're strain to which the piece is sub
jected.
Captain Crozier's gun consists of a tube
OF strong tough material, preferably of
the best attaiuable grade of forged steel,
an envelope Of wire wound over the rear
portion Of the tube, abutting at the for
ward end against a series Of rings, which
the inventor denominates step rings an
envelope Of wire wound upon the forward
portion abutting at the front and against
a ring and at the rear end against the
step rings over the rear portion of the
gun is placed a Jacket with a very slight
Shrinkage- which has 4 shoulder upOn itc
inner surface, near the forward end By
this construction the jacket supports the
longitudinal strain due 10 the resistance
Of the gun carriage.
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-13
FOREST FIRE IN NEW JERSEY
Several Small Settlements Threaten
ed with Destruction

CAMDEN, y. J., April ia forest fire
is raging IN the lower part Of Camden
county and several small settlements are
threatened with destruction. The fire Is
spreading toward the town OF TurnerviIle
in Camden county, which is across the
county line, and also toward CIementon.
The flames started in the vicinity Of
Cedar Brook yesterday morning, and rag
ed all day Last night they extended
through u good portion of WinsIow and
Gloucester township. 1t is reported that
the house of Bridget Hagens. aged eighty
years, located :hree miles from Black
wood, toward Cedar Brook, was destroy
ed and that the aged woman had burned
TO death
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-13
GOLD BARS RECOVERED.
Found by Il Steward On the wilhelm
der Crosse.

LONDON April 13--A news agency des-
patch from Bremen says there is good
authority for the statement that the two
gold bars reported to have been stolen
from the strong room Of the steamship
Kaiser Wilhelm der Crosse were discov-
cred this morning by one Of the stewards
near the second cabin while the vessel
was being cleaned
The bars are valued at $4,000 The dis
covery leads 10 the belief that the theft
was the outcome OF carefully devised
plot to steal the gold while in transit
from New York
Some one who had knowledge that there
would be a gold shipment on the trfD Sc
cured second cabin passage and succeed
ed in breaking into the strong box of the
snip and extracting the bars. The plot
failed because the thief did not have cc1rr-
age enough TO remove his booty when the
snip reached port It was probably the
intention of the thief to throw the ba-s
OH the ship after she had reached mort
ana recover them later with the assist
ance OF q diver The publicity given the
theft before the ship reached Bremen
spoiled his plans The police are now
LOOKING Tor the man who occ1ipied the
beTth IN which the gold was hidden.
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-13
TIE PREsIpENT,s TRIP.
Montana cities to Be visited En-
Route to Yellowstone Park.


President Mckinley told Senator Car
ter, who called this morning to make final
arrangements for the Presidents trip
through Montana that he had decided to
visit Helena, Butte. and Anaconda in that
State on his way from Puget Sound and
Washington cities TO the Yellowstone Ma
tiOnaI Park He viii also pass through
Livingston and Cinnibar. Mont TO reach
the entrance to the Park With Senator
Carter was Manager Bache, of the YeI-
lovstone Park Association. who wished to
perfect the arrangements for the Presi-
dents visit to the reservation The Pres
ideut and his party viii be in the park
for three days-May g. 80. and 31-and
will yravel over the regular tourists
route on stage coaches, calling at the five
great hotels on the way
Captain Pitcher, of the First Cavalry,
now at the Presidio San Francisco, has
been appointed Superintendent of the Yei-
lowstone Park to succeed Captain Goode,
First Cavalry, and will report for duty
at the Park before the Presidents arri-
val The military hOnOTs due to the visit
OF the President of the United States as
Commander-in-Chiefo of the army will be
paid TO him at Fort Yellowstone,
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-13
THE METAL IN SHAMROCK II.
A Variety of Manganese Bronze That
Shines Like Gold,

LONDON. April IA correspondent
has been shown a small specimen OF the
metal Of which Shamrock II is construct
ed. It is another variety Of manganese
bronze. very similar to that used in Sham
rock I, but is apparently shade lighter
in color and contains more alloy Of cop
per or a brighter metal. It is exactly
3-l6 Of an inch thick and has been care
fully rolled TO the hardest possible con
sisteucy. The specimen is as smooth as
q IoOking-glass and has been polished
TIL It shines like a sheet Of FURNISHED
gold.
Sir Thomas Upton is determined to test
the chalIenger's capabilities in every
available manner and VIII therefore send
her on an additional trial race in Kings
town Harbor with Shamrock 1, while on
the way TO the Clyde in order TO give
her more experience on different courses.
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-13
A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION.
The President Determined to Sfft Al
Ieged Postal IrreguIarItTes

Postmaster General Smith called on the
President today and discussed the report
received from Auditor Lawshe. as 20 the
condition of the accounts Of the postal
service in the Philippines
While it is not known what the result
of the conference VIII ne. it is stated on
good authority that Mr. Mckinley has de-
cided to put an immediate stop to the
frauds in the archipelago and has in
sJTUcted Mr.. Smith to leave nothing IN
done to prevent further irregularities in
this direction The Postmaster General
VIII institute a thorough investigation of
the matter
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-13
A NEW PUBLIC PRINTER.
Reported That Representative Heat
VvoIe VIII Succeed Mr.. Palmer.

~ III succeed HT. Palmer.
According to report current at the
White House this morning. there is soon
to be change in the Office Of Public
Printer The term OF Office of Public
Printer Palmer viii shortly expire and he
viii be succeeded, it is said, by Represen-
tative Heatwole Of Minnesota Mr. Heat
wole. during the past two sessions of
Congress, was Chairman of the House
Committee on Printing He has been en-
doTsed for Public Printer, it is said. by
nearly all the typographical unions in the
country.
a friend of Mr. Heatwole said this
morning. Mr. Palmer has made an eff
cient Public Printer but he viii not be
his own successor. He was appointed
four years ago. I am informed. at the re-
quest of the late ex-President Harrison
It was under HarTison's Administration
that MF. Palmer first served as Public
Printer One reason for & change is that
Mr.. Palmer is wei advanced in years and
the responsibilities of the Office are too
oner2Gs and ex2cting for one whose
health IS not the most robust While I
know that Representative Heatxole is not
an applicant for the position, yet 1 do
know tnat his name has been suggested
70 the President as just the man for Pub
A'OS'eF'OtS HSS gotten doout
all there is IN Congressional life, and as
the Office Of Public Printer Is one OF dig
nifty and honor that never goes begging,
1t seems to me that Mr.. HeatwoIe will
not refuse it
w hen you think Of being at the head
OF the largest and greatest printing UfT1ce
IN the world and then of being only one
OF 36J members of the House of Represen-
tatIVes you will readily appreciate the
importance OF the former Office. I be-
heFe ur- Heatwole will not decline the
appointment, but If he shouiti then the
position viii be rendered Senator Y =
Pat candidate, whose name, 1 think,
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-13
ASK FOR A RECEIVER.
Legal Steps in the Affairs of the E.
K simpson Company

E L. Simpson & Co. Robert H Part
ridf-a, William N Roach. and Arthur C
Price, today filed suit in the Supreme
Court of the District against Elmer T.
Simpson, asking for the appointment Of a
receiver of certain assets, and also that
he be restrained from entering rooms Is
and Il in the Washington Loan and Trust
Company Building. which is occupied by
Z. Z. Simpson * Co.
1t is stated that Elmer Z. Simpson is
the treasurer of the company and the
court is asked to restrain him from sell
ing or disposing of any Of the assets, mon
ey, or property Of the E e Simpson
Banking and Brokerage Company
The complainants are represented by
Attorney B. II. MCulton.
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-13
REPUBLICANS TO CONFER.
Governor OdeII Opposed to the Char
ter Bill in Its Present Form.

NEW YORK, April Ex-Governor Odeu
is to have a talk this afternoon with SEN
ator PIatt, Col George W Dunn, Chair
man of the Republican State Committee,
and other Republican leaders, about char
ter amendments and State appointments
Some of the leading Republicans of the
State. it Is said, have decided that it
would he bad politics and poor policy to
jam through the present Charter Revision
bill with ali the trick legislation that was
slipped into it at Albany The Governor
has made it known that he is unwilling
to burden the city OF New York with the
vicious and dangerous things that have
been put into the present bill.
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-13
CONVICTED OF MURDER.
4 Verdict Quickly Secured in the
HnndieN Casc.

KINGSTON, y. Y. April 13.-The jury
in the HandIey murder case. after de-
Hberating two hours, found James r.
Handley guilty of murder in the second
degree He was sentenced to life fmpris-
Onment.
The early agreement was one of the
biggest surprises of the trial Scarcely
anyone expected a verdict before today
Handley was accused of killing Burton
Lane because Lane induced his sister to
break her engagement with HandIey.
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-13

tnin-ReIIef Parties Sent 0nt-The
Scene of Disaster Hard to Reach.
BUENA VISTA. Colo. April I3.-
News has reached here Of a disaster at
Italian Mountain, forty miles distant.
The meagre report says that an ava,
lanche swept down the mountain yes
terday and there are fears that several
hundred lives were lost.
The avalanche came with terrific
force, carrying all before it, and ami
hilating everything in its path which
Was very wide one.
More than three Hundred men are
said to have been at work in the Itai-
ian Mountain mines at the time and
there is little hope that any Of them
escaped the landslide.
The reports received here say that
many houses were buried by the rush
ing earth and rocks and that there is
scarcely living thing left in the To-
caIity OF the avalanche.
As soon as the tidings of the disaster
reached here, the citizens Immediately
organized parties 10 furnish such relief
as is possible under the circumstances.
The mines are practically cut OF from
the outside world, being in an almost
inaccessible position, but every effort
viii be made to aid the living, if there
are any, and to recover the bodies of
the avalanche victims.
There is great excitement throughout
this part of the country over the re-
port of the probable wholesale loss of
life. and the facts concerning the dis
aster are awaited anxiousIy by the
friends and relatives Of the miners here.
Men who are familiar with the region
involved in the avalanche said today
that, owing TO the difHcuIty of getting
to the Italian Mountain district. those
who may have escaped sudden death
will probably perish before reseuing
parties arrive.
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-13
Mr.. Rodenbery Expected Today

United States Civil Service Commission
or ROdenberg is expected to arrive in
Washington this evening 1t is said that
he will be at the offices of the Commis-
sion Monday. when the first full meeting
of the board viii be held, as Commission
CT Harlow, who has been i'll seven weeks
is now able to be out and attend TO his
official duties
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-13
SAID SHE HAD TAKEN POISON,
Strange Conduct of Woman Ar
rested on PennsyIvania avenue.

Elsie ComIey. twenty two ears old,
charged with vagraEcy in the Police
Court today, forfeited $40 collateral The
woman was placed under arrest by Po-
lCeman S2ntmeyer- on Pennsylvania
Avenue When she was taken into Gus
tody it is alleged she tried to choke her
self by tying ribbon tightly around her
throat, but was thwarted bv the officer
who removed the knot
w hen Miss Comley reached the Sixth
precinct station. where she was convened
in a patrol wagon, she created something,
OF sensation by grOaning and Writhfng
and telling the officers there that she had
swallowed a dose Of poison
She was nastened TO the FnprpeDcv
Hospital There examination failed to
give evidence that any poisonous drug
Rad been taken by the woman. She was
then sent to the House OF Detention and
later released on the collateral which was
today forfeited
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-13
An Escaped Convict Captured.

PATERSON. " J. april 13.-Thomas
alias 'ScrappeF,7 Welsh, who was sen
tenced to six months in the county Jail
last Friday for shooting at Policeman
Turner, Of Passaic, escaped from the Jail
yesterday. His absence was soon noticed,
and two searching parties were sent out
One Of them, headed by Keeper Wilson,
got sight OF Welsh at Lakeyiew. Wilson
called on Welsh to stop, and then shot,
the bullet striking Welsh IN the wrist He
was caught and returned to the Jail Il
vas said that Welsh was going TO Passaic
10 Kill Policeman Turner and then fee to
Europe. Some Of his friends had bought
q ticket for Europe for him.
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-13
JERSEY CENTRAL CONFERENCE.
Employees still in Session With the
RnIIrond RfficSaIs

NEW YORK. April I3.-The conference
between the officers of the Jersey Central
Railroad and the men was continued this
morning at the officer OF Superintendent
Ghlhausen. in skarsey City. and all inter
ested expect that aEnieabIe arranse-
ment of the difficulties will be reached.
The engineers and fremen on the vari-
Gus trains arriving IN Jersey City this
morning said they we're well satisfied with
the turn affairs had taken and expressed
the hope that some agreement whereby
q strike might be prevented would be
reached
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-13
ARBITRATION COURT READY.
Powers Notified That The Hague Tri-
buDaI Is Constituted

THE HAGUE. April I3.-M. W. H.
DebeaUfort. Dutch Minister for Foreign
Affairs and President of the Administra-
ton Council of the International Court of
Arbitration. has notified the Powers that
the court is now constituted and ready TO
enter upon its duties.
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-13
SHORT N HIS ACCOUNTS.
The Manager of the Illinois Drug
Company Disappears.

CHICAGO. april l5--EH E. LittIefeId,
organizer, manager. and treasurer OF the
Illinois Drug Company. for which re-
ceiVer was appointed last Wednesday. has
disappeared and although the aid of the
police has been enlisted by the United
States Fidelity and Guaranty Company.
which is on Littleheld :. bond Tor sI9,e99.
no trace Of him has BEEN found.
It is admitted by the officials of both
the drug company and the guaranty com
pany that irregularities have been discov-
cred in Littleheld's accounts. The loss
VIII fall upon I07 druggists in Chicago
who were stockholders in the concern
which was a cooperative affair. The
amount Of the loss is placed variously at
from 5000 to s16,000
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-13
4 Cargo of Sugar From Cuba.

NEW YORK, April I3.-The British
steamship Taft Captain Caurobert, arriv-
ed today from Banes. Cuba with 5000
sacks Of sugar. the first sugar cargo ever
shipped from that port The United Fruit
Company has established grinding mill.
and it IS expected that considerable su-
gar Will be forwarded 10 this port from
EaneS.
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-13
FILLS a NEW OFFICE.
Charles a. MaEOon Mndc Law Ofi-
eer in the War Department.

The President today made the follow
ing appointments:
War-Charles a. Magoon, to be law Of
Ger in the Division OF Insuiar Affairs,
War Department.
InteriOr-W- E Ward, Of Kansas, to be
register of the land office at Colby.
Mr. Magoon has been employed in the
War Department in various capacities for
several years. Soon after the Insular
Bureau was organized he was detailed for
legal work In t1at bureau. and his ap-
pointment today is to fill the office of law
officer, definitely authorized by a recent
act Of Congress.
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-13
Investigating a Cattle Disease

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. April I3-Vfc-
tor A Norgard, representing the United
States Bureau Of Animal Industry. has ar
rived in Florida to study the cattle dis
ease known as the salt sickness. At the
State convention Of stockmeu the disease
was discussed as being one of the great
est drawbacks to the Florida stock busi-
ness The convention asked the State
Legislature 10 request the Government to
investigate il.
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-13
TO START A JOHNSON BOOM.
indianapolis Single Tax Club Want
Him TO Run for President

INDIANAPOLIS. April I3-The Indian
apoIis Single Tax Club has called meet
ing for next Thursda night TO launch a
Presidential boom for Tom L. johnson, in
Indiana
CLEVELAND, April 13--Charles P. Sa-
len, Mayor Johnson's campaign manager,
said today that the mayor will not be a
candidate for Governor this year
Mr. Johnson, when told of the action OF
the Indianapolis Club. replied: q would
ike TO telegraph them not to-. I am not
q candidate for the Presidency
The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-13
THE KING TO BE PRESENT.
Edward VII VIII witness the Trial
Races of Lipton,s Yachts.

PORTSMOUTH, ADri. I3--It is stated
that King Edward viii witness the trial
races between Shamrock and Shamrock
II on the SoIent in June.
He viii probably be a guest of Sir
Thomas Li3ton on board the Iatter's
steam yacht Erin.