Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-03-27

priation is an item of one hundred
and twenty-five thousand dollars for
the establishment OF a powder mill.
This is in order to secure independ-
ence OF the alleged trust.
The house committee on arts and
expositions has authorized a faVora-
BILE report on the bill carrying appro-
priations for forwarding the James
town exposition $250,0O0; a direct ap-
preparation of 100000 for government
pier; $25O,000 for government build
ing; $4,000 for officers rendezvous;
100000 for rendezvous for enlisted
men; 100000 for transportation OF
soldiers and arms; 100000 to negro
development company which will
hold an exposition in connection with
the event. Committee also consid-
cred appropriation of $4,000 for pier
at jamestown Island; $4,000 for en-
closing grounds and $4,000 to con-
tinue excavations there in the search
of antiquities.
THE attention of the president has
been called to the fact that the line
of the army is somewhat crippled by
the large number of commissioned
officers absent on detached duty and
by the fact that few Of the companies
of infantry or troops of cavalry are
up to their authorized enlisted
strength. This is especially true in
the Philippine islands, where there are
com panies out of field service which
are reduced to about twenty or thirty
men, or about one fifth to one
third of what the enlisted strength
should be- There is no help for this,
apparently, especially in the Philip
pines, where the situation might be-
come serious in the event of some dis
turbance. 1t is likely that an effort
will be made to have the recruiting
system improved, and the dfstribu-
ton of newly enlisted men perfected
so as to increase the strength of those
commands, raising them to a condi-
ton which will give them greater
value in military operations.
- Chicago, March %: A dispatch
to the Record-Herald from Kansas
City says: IF a man commits a crime
so revolving that 1t shocks the morals
Of the people just to hear about it
then that man can go scot free"
That was the statement made by
Judge Wofford in the criminal court
yesterday. He had before him John
Martin Speyer of New Orleans, twice
convicted for numbering his little boy,
and twice given a new trial by the
supreme court. Angered at the ac-
ton of the higher tribunal he refused
to try the case again, and called Tor
another judge. Speyer killed his
three-year-old boy, July, 1902. The
man was a performer with street
show. Speyer had been arrested for
attempting an assault on a little girl
and cut his child's throat when allow
ed by the officers to visit his tent
On the first trial he was sentenced
to twenty years for second degree
murder, and the second to hang for
first degree murder. Both times the
supreme court granted new trial.
- Secretary Bonaparte appeared be-
fore the house committee on naval
affairs recently, in support of an in
crease for the navy. He advocated
an appropriation this year for two
l6,OOO-ton battle ships, and in case
congress does not see fit to provide
for two such ships, he urged the con-
struction of one 19,000-ton battle
ship. In this recommendation he
surpassed Admiral Dewey, who sur
prised the committee by advocating
1S,OOO-ton battle ships after the type
Of the English battle ship Dread
naught. In the main Secretary Bon
apartes recommendations were in
harmony with those included in his
annual report. The secretarys esti-
mates for construction aggregate
$23,3OO,OOO. OF this sum the chief
item is SIS, 100000 for the two bat
tie ships recommended. Secretary
Bonaparte advocated the 19,4OO-ton
battle ship because, he said, Ameri-
can constructors believe this tonnage
was necessary to carry ten twelve
inch guns, such as the Dreadnaught
is carrying.
A recent mysterious fire on board
the army transport Meade has been
traced officially to spontaneous COM
bustion, an explosion having occurred
in a chest containing soldiers uni
forms and arms packed in creased
cloths. The report also says that
another box, which was being trans
ported exploded on account of the
unknown contents of a can inclosed
in the box. This led to some new
restrictions intended to protect the
transports from such disasters,
which, of course, are as likely to
occur after the ship has gone to sea,
as while it is in port. The quarter
master general of the army has is
sued a circular calling attention to
the warning given by the accident
on the Meade and directing that
VI al CAPlOSlNS OA'~N
or creased cloths, matches, or other
materials liable to ignite by friction
or confinement be packed i'm any box
or chest intended for shipment on an
army transport Regimental and
company commanders are required to
see that these precautions are taken.
Justice OSullivan of the New
York court of sessions. has taken is
sue with District Attorney Jerome ON
the question as to whether the diver
sion of the insurance funds for polit-
ical purposes constitutes crime ON
the part of the officers responsible
The opinion arises out of connection
with the case of George w. Perkins
former vice president of the New
York Life Insurance company, who
some time ago admitted having made
contributions of the company's money
to George B. Cortelyou, chairman
and Cornelius y. Bliss treasurer OF
the Republican national committee
for campaign purposes. District At