davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1903-05-12
COMMISSIONS FOR ENLISTED MEN.
Opposition to Proposed Regulations Restrict
ing Vacancies.

Washington. May Il (SpeciaD.-Enlisted men in
the army who have chance of obtaining commis-
sions are greatly exercised over the action OF
Judge Advocate General Davis and Secretary Root
in preparing an order which will have the effect of
appointing enlisted men who pass the examination
Of next September TO such vacancies as are avail
able on the preceding July 1. For many years IT
has been the custom. after the West Pointers have
been appointed. reserve all other vacancies Tor
enlisted men who eligible to promotion. When
the successful candidates have exceeded the num-
ber of available vacancies. certificates OF ehgoii-
ity have been furnished TO the surplus men. ana
they have been regarded as eligible to appointment
in the twelve months succeeding the September
when they passed their examination. This nmlta-
ton of the vacancies TO those places which exist
at a date two months before the enlisted men pass
their examinations is regarded in some quarters
as arbitrary action of great injustice to the en-
listed men who the eligible roll as successful
candidates for army commissions. 1t is under-
stood that this view has been pointed out TO MI
Root and considerable interest is taken in the
prospect that he may abandon the idea which ne
has Under consideration and which. 1t is understood
wear the incident would make little difference, be-
cause for the enlisted men TO pass the examna-
TONS in September next there are likely to pc
enough vacancies July to anticipate the ell
eJbleSF' and to provide well for a large number
of civilians but the new method of appointment
would eventually prove discouragng for the solder
who is working for a commission
New-York tribune., 1903-05-12
CATTLE DISEASE IN ARGENTINA.
Fresh Outbreak Causes Much Concern to Sec
retary Wilson.

Washington, May 1.-THE State Department has
Informed the Department of Agriculture that the
foot and mouth disease has again broken out in
the Argentine Republic, and that the expectation
of animals from the country has been prohibited.
Secretary Wilson Views the outbreak with great
concern, and says that if the disease once gets
foothod the open ranges in Argentina the re-
suits must be serious to the livestock industry
there A part of the fight against the epidemic in
New England has been made with view to keep
ing the disease from spreading into the West.
where the greatest danger would exist. The foot
and-mouth disease is not new to the Argentine Re-
public. The British Government Quarantined
against Argentina this account for about two
years but the quarantine was removed several
weeks ago.
Secretary Wilson to-day received word of fresh
outbreak of the disease in herd at Franinghan
Mass II was believed by the department oftclals
that the epidemic had been wiped out IN NeW-Eng,
land Secretary Wilson said to-day that he had
contem plated lifting the quarantine altogether from
New-EngIand in a fortnight. but that action must
now be postponed indefinitely. The quarantine mas
been lifted from all the States oTlsnaiLy lnSoaseH s
except Massachusetts, and New-H ampsh1re ana Y
is impossible to foretel, particularly IN view OF
the approac ching warm weather, when the restIl
tive measures against those States can De removed
New-York tribune., 1903-05-12
4S3 WITHOUT FOOD.
Imnigrants ON Wrecked VesseL Had
to Drink Sea Water.

Norfolk Va, May 1.-The 433 shipWrecAeu
Portuguese immigrants from the barkentihe
Vera Cruz III, driven ashore at Ocracoke IN
let, N. c., on Saturday night, are still Deiiis
cared for OH the coast to-day. revenue CUT
ter will carry them to NewBedford, Mass''
whittier the barkentine was bound. Of the I'M
migrants 800 men. One man d1ed iroiii
starvation The others are well.
thrilling story of the experience at sea oi
the barkentine came here to-day by the gov
ernment seacoast telegraph from Hatteras'
n. c. The Vera Cruz bound from the Cape
Verde Islands to Bedford. Mass, was
within 135 miles of the Massachusetts coast two
weeks ago when a terrific storm carried away
her sails and drove her far out to sea- II was
thought the craft would founder, and most ol
those aboard abandoned all hope OF reachins
shore Iurv sails were rigged, but another
storm carried them away.
The barkentine arrived Oft Ocracohe heipies'
on Friday afternoon. The immigrants nao oeeh
drinking sea water for five days. and food OF all
kinds had given out The immigrants baggage
and part of the ships deckload had to be burned
10 make as good condensation of salt water as
possible. The next night a storm drove tne snip
ashore All the immigrants are destitute anu
dependent on charity until the government taxes
charge of them. -
The Merritt & Chapman Wreck1ng COMPANY
intended sending the steamer Rescue 10 IIahe
which lies high and dry but later TINS plan Was -
abandoned and w. s. Tooker. the agent iele
here this afternoon by rail TO inspect the 'eS'ei
and ascertain if she is worth saving
New-York tribune., 1903-05-12
CHURCHES CAN'T UNITE.
Petition of the North to Join the Wash
ington Heights Rejected.

BY a vote OF 4S to the members or the Pres-
bytery of New-York decided at their regular meet
ing which was held in the Old First Presbyterian
Church Fifth-ave and Eleyenth-st.. yesterday az
ternoon TO deny the petition OF the congregation OF
the North Church. in West Thirtieth-st. to con-
soidate with the Washington Heighs Church' IN
West One-hundre red and fifty -third-st
The land on which the North Church now STANDS
has been condemned for the Pennsylvania
tunnel station and the trustees OF the church
have received N72.5Oo for the property.
The Rev Dr. George Alexander, the Rev DIT
John B. Shaw the Rev. DR.. w r. Richards, Rush
Taggart and H. W. Jessup were appointed com
ittee at the meeting of the Presbytery to con-
slider the plan of the North and Washington
Heights churches uniting. This committee report
ed adversely at the meeting yesterday. Among
other things the report deprecated the fact that
the Sunday school of the North Church had been
dishanded practically and that the uniting OF the
churches would form an artificial union ana 0 de-
strov the organic continuity OF both congrega-
fioDS The report urged the members of the
North Church to consult the Church Extension
Committee as to the selection OF new site for
the North Church. This will be done
New-York tribune., 1903-05-12
SICKNESS AT NAVAL STATIONS.
Due to overcrowding- To Be Given
bv Use of Tents.

Washington May 11-Overcrowding at naval
training stations along the Atlantic coast Is caus-
ing concern TO the Navy Department. There has
been considerable sickness among the men recent
lv IL is feared due TO this cause. Cases OF diph-
theria have occurred at Norfolk and Newport.
meningitis at League leland and scarietina at
Nevyork The department has decided to relieve
the congestion by quarterng the overflow IN tents.
Two hundred tents have already been placed In
service at League Island, and similar course
probaby will be pursued at NewYork- AT Norroik
tents have beea satisfactorily used Tor seVefai
weeks The Yankee, the Dixie and the Cleveland
which will shortly go into commission. VIII take
their crews from the most crowded slatIoiis' anu
this will furnish further relief s
Panorts from the Pacific coast show oVercrowo-
IT, PT Puget sound and San Francisco, and the
dpDartmenf has authorized the quarteTlng OF tne
MN ", tents throughout the summer. congress
viii be urged its next session 70 provtue sh4ro
CHARTERS for the men the training stations III
Sstaad Of aboard the antiquated huiks now in use
1The Bureau of Medicine and Surgery contenus tnat
The health of the men will be improved thereoy
Tr is believed that deserttons Will oecIeaase
materially If the recruits are oeller caieu ~ ~
Sret
New-York tribune., 1903-05-12
BROOKLYN GRADE CROSSINGS TO CO.
Governor Signs Bill Authorizing City to Bear
Half the Cost of Improvements.

Albany May II (SpeciaD.-GOvernor Odell to-day
signed bill aboishing more than sixty grade
crossings of highways and railroads in the Borough
of BROOKLYN. 1t. was introduced by ASsemblyman
Morgan and is intended to provide for necessary
changes of grade of streets and of portions of the
railroad and right of way of the New-YoTk, Brook
Ivn and Manhattan Beach Railway Company.
lea sed 70 the Long Island Railroad Company, and
the Brooklyn Union Elevated Railroad Company,
leased 10 the Brooklyn Heights Railroad Company.
The changes to be made defined in the act.
Mayor Low is 10 appoint grade crossing commls-
sion of five members to superintend the work
The act says onehalf of the cost of the grade
crossing Improvement shall be borne by the city
and one-half by the railroads. but the city Is not
10 he called upon expend over s2,500Oo0 on that
part of the Improvement to be known as the bay
Ridge JmDroyement'' more than SI00,0o on tTidt
naTf TO he known as the Brighton Beach I'm
Movement ANY cost in excess of these amounts
Is TO be borne and paid by the railroad corpora
tions already named.
New-York tribune., 1903-05-12
ARKANSAS A PRISONER TILL SPRING
Lieut. Chester Reports That Monitor Must
Wait at ST. Genevieve for a Flood.

Washington. May u.-Iieutenant Chester, one Of
the watch officers Of the monitor Arkansas. arrived
at the Navy Department this morning from St
Genevieve where the vessel is lying. and reported
that in his judgment il would be impossible for
her TO make her way down the Mississippi till next
spring unless an unexpected and unreasonable
food occurred.
The Nay Department officials Will make their
plans accordingly. Some of the vessels crew VIII
be transferred TO other warships n the East and
those remaining the Arkansas will put IN the
summer and autumn in comprehensive drills
which will probably make the boat an attracuon
Western people. The Arkansas was nnally ac-
oav having fulfilled ali the requirements of her
contract.
New-York tribune., 1903-05-12
THE MOROS SUBDUED.
General Da0is Reports the Close OF
Successful Campaign.

Washington May 1.-THE War Department
has received the following dispatch concerning
operations in the island of Mindanao:
Manila. May 10, 1903.
Adjuta mt General, Washington:
Captain John J. Pershng has completed CIR
cult OF Lake Lanao via the east coast from
Camp Wears. Had sharp fight at Iaraca-
Captured ten forts many prisoners, thirty y-siA
lantacas and sixty rifles. All other dattoS
friendly. Liberated prisoners. DESTROYED hostile
forts and lantacas. Our losses. two killed anu
four wounded.
Every hostile Lanao datto has now been
chastIsed. All Moros know our friendship IS
valuable and is freely extended to all VINO de-
serve it. No property, save hostile 1orts mas
been moested Troops returning 10 wears via
the west coast.
Moro labor eager for employment on the roaQs
and shelter buildings: former about hn1sned'
the latter progressing rapidly. Troops have De-
haved splenddy, not only in contendfng ian,
atical savage foe but dreaded disease, ana
besides had to construct many miles or road
through tropical jungle.
No more hostilities anticipated beyond oc-
casional sniping. DAVIS.
Secretary Root sent the following cable dis
patch to General Davis to-day:
I congratulate you the work done In Min
danao. Express TO Captain Pershing and OH
GERS and men under his command the thanks
of the War Department for their able ana
effective accomplishment OF difficult and I'M
portant task. ,
New-York tribune., 1903-05-12
A VOLUNTEER SEA FORCE.
The New Militia Law Suggests Similar Leg
islation for Navy.

Washington May Il (SpeciaD.-The naval author
flies are greatly interested in the success "hlcn
has attended the interest taken by the Nauonai
r-,,zr6sYner In the new militia law. II is one OF the
mans OF the Navy Department to provide naval
rsxerve This Of course. requires special legisla-
ton and TO that end, IL is understood Lieutenant
Frank K Hill, now attached 10 me ouIsau Vi
-sr.roe will appiv himself Lieutenant Hill has
been acting as an inspector of militia. which or
,anization he describes varying in quality from
excellent TO very poor. They pursue different lines
OF drill routine. etc. and are lacking IN UNIFORM
S., os organization and management The depart
r,.n+,s scheme contemplates some such method as
that adopted for the national militia. SO that the
naval reserve may be uniformly equipped and
Wrought under similarity Of control ana ldehu ~
The naval militia has been Indifferent 70 any eIioII
The Navy Department has made for It's lnprots.
htitit IS hoped TO work up sentiment
50 that by the time Congress meets there VIII pe
Combined action in behalf of the Legislation TOT
naval reserve
New-York tribune., 1903-05-12
THE NAY CROP REPORT.
Shght Decline an Condition of Win-
ter Wheat Since ApriI I.

Washington. May 1.-THE monthly crop report
issued by the Agricultural Department shows the
average condition of winter wheat on May to be
s2e against 97S on April l. The acreage is 331oOoo
The report follows:
Returns to the statistician of the Department of
Agriculture made up to May l show the area under
winter wheat in cultivation that date to have
been about 33107 600 This is $4,000 acres or
2S per cent, less than the last fall, and
$4,000 acres 15S per cent, in OF the area
OF winter wheat harvested last year The per.
centage of abandoned acreage in all the important
winter wheat growing States is unusually small
the abandonment including the area to be cut Tor
nay reaching 10000 acres only in Kansas Texas
and California. For the remaining under
cultivation the average condition May l was
926 against condition of 97.3 for the total area
sown reported April !. 1903. and 76-4 on May l;
1902; s41 at the corresponding date in 1yOl ana
So the mean OF the averages OF the last ten
years for the remaining under cultivation on
May l. While there has manifestiy been some dc.
terioration of condition during the month speclal
field agents dispatched to the principal winter
wheat States the occurrence of the frost OF
April so and May l report the wheat crop as prac-
tically uninjured by the cold snap.
The following table shows for the prlnclpal
States the averages of condition May /, the cor
responding averages one month one year and Two
years ago. and the mean of the corresponding
averages for the last ten years:
New-York tribune., 1903-05-12
THE NEW PHILIPPINE CURRENCY.
Recommendations of Monetary Commission
ers Sent to Governor Taft.

Washington May 11.-Secretary Root Mr.. Ide. of
the Philippine Commission; Colonel Edwards. of
the Insular Bureau and members of the Monetary
Commission held conference to-day and dis
cussed the Philippine monetary situation IN its
relation to the operation of the currency laws
fer the islands After the conference the follow
ing cable message sent to Governor Taft for
his information:
Taft, Manila Henry c. Ide. Charles A. Conant
and Professor jeremiah W. jerks recommend no
time be fixed for establishment of gold standard
until full preparations have been made covering
in detail methods of maintaining parity. Letter
the subject will be mailed you in few days
Recommend continuing present policy as to hXing
ratio between Mexican and United States currency.
Recommend Legislation to interfere with either
import export Of Mexican dollars. Recommend
ultimately taking up Spanish Filipino currency at
approximate bullion value. Recommend that MeXi-
cans be not taken up at any time by Philippine
Government, but their discouraged by recev-
ing them government duties only at rates below
bullion value after sufficient supply of new cur
rency is on hand to meet wants of business. Sec
retary of War approves all these recommends
,ToDs EDWARDS.
New-York tribune., 1903-05-12

Washington May 1.-THE following army ana
navy orders have been issued:
ARMY
FRS, rJebterant ROBE o. VAN HORN from 1'th IN
fantry 20 18th Infantry, Company e
vrs+ lieutenant FRANCIS J. MCCONNELL. from lin
Infantry 10 18th Infantry. Lieutenant MCONNEi@l
from recruiting duty. Scranton, Join proper station
r,,..tn DWIGHT F. AULTMAN. artillery corps. TO
Havana
r.,,.,, LORENZO p DAWSON. 5th Infantry. from
Washinxton Barracks Plattsburs Barracks
The following officers will report to examining
hoard at Fort Monroe
vs, rasutenants DAVID MCoACH. WILLIAM r.
FA DoORES and ALFRED A sTAtBIRD. artillery
Major CHARLES NEwBoLD. paymsst-r. relieved from
Department or Texas June To- prooeeo "Oil1 "
retirement.
,,r Aarnira, F. J. HIGGINSON detached general board
July /: TO be commandant yard. Washington
rasutenant Commander J. II. SEARS. detached branch
hydrographic office New-fo-k 70 Brooklyn as exsct-
tive officer.
r..utenant z wINsHIP. from Naval Hospital New
York, San Francisco assistant inspector Union
Works.
lieutenant c. E GIIPIS detached Hartford: home.
ct.p,ain C O WRIGHT detached Massachusetts,; horns
PASSED Assistant Surgeon r. K SMITH. detached Wis
consin.
xa.hipman A. ANDREWS detached Maine; 70 Dolphn-
Payunaster w GRAY. detached Dolphin TO navy yard
Island
assistant Paynna.ter c. A. DEERrNG d.tached Praires
Dolphin.
Assistant PaynsAtsr D. C. CRowEI4I. appointed
New-York tribune., 1903-05-12
TRADITIONAL HAILSTONES.
Officially Reported as Large as Hens Eggs
at Port Royal.

Washington May Il (SpeciaD.-Ofhcers or the
Navy Department who have seen the onlclal io
mort from Civil Engineer Mackay, in charge Oh
the engineering work at the Port Royal naval STA
ton are amused his statement of the omen
sions of some hailstones which fell in a storm at
that station on May +. He describes a destructive
thunderstorm as having visited the locahty ne
co.'s that nearly six hundred panes of glass were
broken and for five six minutes at the begin
ming of the storm humps of ice descended the
largest of which, by personal measurement, was
three inches thick Gy four inches long the jagged
.ssas having the appearance of snow ice. The
ma ioritv were outwardly of hard. clear ice with
white or Opaque centres. these stones being about
as large as hens eggs This is supposed to be
the first official authorization Of the proVerolal
s,pposition that the hailstone must be the SIZE
of hens egg. Civil Engineer Mackay S measure
ments verify the traditional dimensions.
New-York tribune., 1903-05-12
SAYS HE FOLLOWED THE LAW
J. S. Hord, Who Prosecuted Naval Officers
at Porto Rico. Here.

John S, Hord. who until short time ago was
chief Of the internal revenue service OF Porto Rico
arrived here yesterday on the steamer Phiiaoei-
nhIa from San Juan with his wife and daughter
Mr. Hords resignation has generally been consio-
cred as a forced one. owing TO his zeal in prosecut-
ing charges of smuggling preferred against United
States naval officers connected with the squadron
which has been mannuvring in the neighborhood
OF Porto Rico Some of the officers went ashore
and II was charged that they took dutiabe articles
with them.
Mr. Hord was loath to discuss his resignation.
"Tn these cases." he said. 1.-The procedure was as
nrovjded by the revenue laws of Porto Rico and In
the light of all the precedents established by the
two years operation OF these laws. l snail go 10
Washington IN the course of the next three DAYS
10 make interrogations. There are some
matters on which / am not clear.
In regard TO the story that Attorney GeneraI
Knox had sent dispatch TO San Juan directing
that the prosecution be dropped, he SAID tnat the
District Attorney IN the island, N b K Pettins1ii
had caused 10 be published IN The San Juan
News'' what purported to be dispatch from At
torney General Knox directing him not 10 prose-
cute these cases
New-York tribune., 1903-05-12
THE POSTAL INQUIRY.
TULLOCH TO -1NSWER.
Investigation of the Washington
City Office Conn plete.
lBr TELEGRAPH 70 THE TRrnuxE.l

Washington May lis w. Tulloch. comply
ing with 4 second request OF the Postmaster
General that he furnish information in veri-
scation Of his published interview, charging
grave Irregularities in the Washington city
rostofTice, has agreed to prepare a statement
which he will send TO Mr.. Payne by Friday of
this week
The Postmaster Generals second request
in the form OF letter to Fourth Assistant Post
master. General Brissow. reiterating the opinion
that Mr.. Tuloch ought to furnish all the in
formation in his possession. This letter
submitted to Mr. Tulloch yesterday by two in
spectors. TO whom ne gave verbal summary Of
the grounds for the charges and promised TO
prepare a written statement later. When the
Tulloch interview was published Mr.. Payne
wrote to ex-Poetmaster General Charles Emory
Smith, Postmaster Merritt. Controller Trace
we'll and Mr. Bristow, asking for info:-
nation regarding the charges made. Later
he wrote 20 MIR Tuoch. asking for more ex-
plicit statement but the latter. believing that
the replies of the men named must have sub
stantiated his charges and offended certain
language used in reference TO himself by Mr..
Payne. refused TO say anything more without
first seeing the replies which the Postmaster
General had already received. Mr.. Payne's
second appeal however. will be complied with
IN writing. as it has already been verbally.
Posteffce inspectors have completed an in
vestiga>ion of the Washington city office. Post
master General Payne said this afternoon that
a corps Of inspectors had been thoroughly over
hauling the local office for some time. Their
report. however. has not yet been submitted,
and tao results of the inspection have not been
made Known.
Acting Superintendent Fosnes OF the free
delivery division and his assistant, Inspector
Thorpe, Of New-York. are making a rigid in
spectson OF the files Of the free delivery ser
vice and the former is proceeding with
caution III signing the great bulk Of papers
which have TO be approved every day. Much
Of the mail has been signed perfunctorily, on
The authority OF a subordinate official who
initials the papers, but the current business OF
the free delivery service is now being subjected
20 q careful examination necessary in
cidant the investigation.
New-York tribune., 1903-05-12
OTTAWA'S GREAT FIRE.
Two Thousand People Homeless-Defectlve
Water Supply.

Ottawa May 11-In the western part of this
city a solitary chimney or broken walls stand
ing here and there and wreckage still sInoider-
ing tell the tale of an awful conflagration whlch
laid waste the area between the Ottawa and
Parry Sound Railway tracks on the east, Albert
on the north and the tracks of the Canadian
Pacific Prescott line and Third-ave on the west
About two hundred and fifty houses were de-
stroyed probably 1000 people are honeless
and the financial loss is about SoUooOo- Ohe-
half of this amount possibly more. is covered Dy
insurance No lives are known to have been
lost Every available vehicle in the city was
used in moving furniture from the fire area
For a time the whole city was threatened
Nearly an hour elapsed without any water.
through an accident to the water pipe, and in
this time the fire made great headway travel
ling over wood piles and extending cityWaro-
Assistance arrived from Montreal but was
not required The military was called out
IN aid the civil power in combating the flames
The fire started in the lumber piles. and Wnle
the theory that it was the work of an incendlary
was generally believed last night, dounts are
,broun unon this to-day It is said that the
fire was seen in the grass before it seized the
lumber There were from 1O,OOOOn to IoV''-
600 feet of lumber burned. The buildings Ge-
stroved are dwelling houses ana stores AH0
fire stast<d at 3:30 p. m , ,ios
The City Council to-day apPoIIteu q iCliSA
committee which has opened llst lot SUI
scriptions 1t will remain open Ior zen oays ar
and will be for local contributions only Ahe
city will appropriate S1oOpo