Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-03-11
Scraps aud &atts.


party. This Is the position that was
formerly held by James K. Jones.
German used to be the recognized lead
er Of the Democrats Of the senate. He
held the position for many years up to
his defeat for reelection six years ago.
During Friday also the caucus select
ed the members Of its steering commit
tee as follows: Senators Moran, Mary
land; Cockrell, Missouri; Martin, Vir-
ginia; Bacon, Georgia; Dubois, Idaho;
Money, Mississippi; Bailey, Texas;
Blackburn, Kentucky, and Tillman,
South Carolina. The new members on
the committee are Messrs. Gorman'
Blackburn and Tillman.
While no advices have been re-
ceived in the Chinese legation in Wash
ington regarding the serious condition
of affairs which is approaching crisis
in the interior of China, as result OF
the renewed activity of the Boxers and
of other rebels in various parts OF the
country, it is the understanding that
the new minister, Sir Leang Chentung,
who sailed from Hong Kong on Feb
ruary q, on the steamship Korea for
San Francisco, will bring to Washing
ing important instructions bearing on
the subject. In addition to the uprising
of the rebels and the increased importa-
ton of arms, the extortion practiced
by the yiceroys in the collection OF the
indemnity is said to have caused the
most distressing conditions in many
provinces. European advices that have
reached Washington in the last few
DAYS show no evidence Of weakening
on the part Of the powers in their de-
mands for the payment Of the indem-
nifty in gold. This problem will be the
first which the new minister Will %grap-
ple with upon his arrival in !Waahtng-
ton. .. Is S,ss.;::ss::::;!.s S,ss.;::s::;.s
Mail advices received IN London
from Kabul say the Ameer Of Afghan
istan has divorced all but four OF his
wives. The divorced women are allow
ed to re-marry at their pleasure and the
ameer has promised life long support to
those who do not marry again. He has
also decreed by beat Of drum that none
of his subjects shall hereafter nave
more than four wives, and that all IN
excess Of this number must be divorced.
The ameer Is also suppressing evil doers
with an iron hand. 1t a recent pro-
clamation he ordered that any one con-
victed Of taunting another on account
of his religion shall be blown from a
cannon's mouth. This punishment has
already been inflicted. Robbers are
placed in cages which are hung promi-
nently in the thoroughfares as a warn
ing to others. Another proclamation OF
the ameer, evidently aimed against
those who attempt to corner grain, de-
crees that every one possessing grain In
excess Of what is absolutely necessary
for the support Of his family for four
months shall sell it. If he fails to do 80
his whole supply will be taken by force.
The United States navy now consists
Of 100 vessels "in being" and A vessels
under construction, according to figures
collected by Capt. Sigsbee, chief intel
ligence officer, U. S. N. From these
figures it appears that the fleet in be-
ing'' consists of ten first-.class battle
ships, 1899 tons; ten other battle
ships and coast defence ironclads.
41,0O2 tons; two armored cruisers,
17,415 tons; two flrst-class portect-
ed cruisers Of 14,750 tons displace-
ment; twelve second-class protect
ed cruisers, 47,1OO tons; twenty-three
unprotected and partially protected
cruisers, Of BILL tons; six gunboats,
1920 tons; twelve torpedo boat destroy
ers, $3.50 tons; twenty-five. first-class
torpedo boats, 1913 tons; six second
class torpedo boats, 2S5 tons. and one
submarine Of rs tons displacement.
The vessels building are nine first-class
battleships, aggregating 131, 200 tons,
vessels Of 6,42S tons; eight armored
cruisers, Ill, 800 tons; three frst-class
protected cruisers Of 2S,ss0 tons; six
second-class protected cruisers, 1850
tons; four destroyers, 1920 tons; five
flrst-class torpedo boats of Lis tons;
and seven submarines Of $40 tons. We
are building no unprotected cruisers,
no gunboats and no second-class tor
pedo boats.
Gen. Crozier, chief or ordnance, has
made preliminary arrangements for
arming the entire organized militia
force Of the United States with the
Krag-Jongenssen musket of the regular
service, in accordance with the provis
ions Of the new militia law. AS
means to that end, he has already col
lected about $4,000 Of these arms at the
government arsenals at Augusta, Ga,
Benicia, Cal. Rock Island, ILL.,, and San
Antonio Texas, and more will be ship
ped to those points as needed. The
guns are manufactured at the armory
at Springfield, Mass. Nearly $4,000
Krag-Jorgenssens have been sent to
the arsenal at Rock Island, a larger
number than was sent to any other
point. The explanation Of that action
Is that Rock Island is the central dis
tributing point for almost the entire
middle west. The plan adopted by Gen.
Crozier is to have the muskets at the
different points where they can be dis
tributed to the militia Of the various
states within the least possible delay.
These arms will replace the Springfield
muskets now in the hands of the mill
tia, which latter arms are to be re-
turned to the government. The Ma
tional Guard Of the District Of Colum-
bia is one of the very few militia or
ganizations equipped with the Krag-
Jorgenssen at the present time. It is