University of South Carolina Libraries
CONGRESS IN REGUL?R SESSION. GAY SCENES IN THE LEG ? ISLATIVE HALLS. Washington, Dec. 5.-Congress reassembled to-day under circumstances ol; unascal publio interest; Tbe same congress, six months ago, declared ^^irar against Spain, and now, with the "var fought and won, it came together for the first legislative consideration of tibe questions developed by the eventful ?ioutbs just past. The spirit of the occasion was not, however, one of immediate expectancy, for the few months lefc tbe existence af the 56tb congress gave promise of little more &an a beginning on the momee toas policies and problems growing ont of tbe war As usual, all Washington turned tts attention to the capitol for that gala ?vent which marks the opening "day of a session . The weather imposed no barriers, for tbe barr i cane of yesterday bad given way to clearing skies and balmy air. Long before the noon boar j itben the senate and bouse began their vrerk, the corridors were filled with surging crowds, centering in the rotunda and statuary ball and pushing towards tbe private galleries. No evidences remained of tbe explosion and fire which recently ravaged tbe building. Wheo the senate -convened, the chamber presented a noble and beau? tiful appearance. By ll o'clock the public and private galleries were filled almost to their capacity with a distin? guished assemblage, including many ladies in brilliant attire. On tho floor, tbe display of flowers was unusually beautiful, even for the opening day of a session of congress. The odor of the flowers filled the cham ber. Through the courtesy of the vice ? president, the members of the Joint High commission were admitted to the Soor of the senate, and were the recipients of much attention. Just before the session was called to order, several well-known members of ?the diplomatic corps' appeared in the diplomatie gallery. Among them were .Sir Julian Paunoefote, ambassador of Great Britain to the United States and dean of the corps, with a party from the British embassy ; Mr. Wu Ting Fang, the Chinese minister, and party ; Mr. Ye Pom Chin, tbe Korean, minis? ter, was also preset. All ^ere interested spectators of the opening scenes of the session, and attentive listeners to the reading of the president's message. Darling a recess of three-quarters of s an hoar, while the senate wss awaiting j the presentation of the message from ? tbe president, the members of the Joint High commission held an informal levee greeting personally nearly aM of the members of the American senate. The reading of the president's mes sage, whian ooonpied two hoare and eighteen minutes, was received with very careful attention for an hour, bu% . after that tbe senators drifted to the ' cloak tooms or tbe committee rooms ?here they could pernee the message ar their leisure io the printed copies which bad been famished them. When the clerk bad oonoluded the reading. Mr. Mason, of Illinois, pre? sented a telegram from Mr Pritchard, of North Carolina, announcing that i illness prevented bis attendance at the opening cf the session. At 3.46 tbe senate adjourned. IN THE HOUSE. In the bouse tbe greetings of tue members were most cordial and there was no outcropping of partisan raocor to sar the occasion. One of the most striking incidents was the cordial meeting between the floor leaders of the respective sides, Messrs. Dingley and Bailey In view of the gossip a bo af tbe possibility of Mr. Bailey being deposed as the minority leader it is significant that the speaker named Mr. Baily as the minority member of the committee to wait upon the president, an honor always bestowed npon the recognized leader of the minority Speaker Reed received a warm welcome from both sides of the boase when be ascended the rostrum to caW tba house to order bat perhaps the greatest personal ovation to any mern ber was that given Maj. Gen Wheeler, of Alabama, who has not been seen by many of his old colleagues since he went to the front at the bead of the cavalry divinion of Geo. Shatter's army. The floral tributes to day ?ere unusually numerous and made the ball a veritable bower of beautiful flowers. Tbe proceedings themselves were doll, all interest centering in the reading of tbe president*? message For over two hours tbe clerk droned through the long document, bat the interest of members tod spectators never flagged. No expressions of approval or disap? proved interrupted the reading At 3.50 the house adjourned until to morrow. - i i i President's Message. Washington Dec. 5 -Both houses of congress assembled at noon to day ?nd went into joint session to hear the reeding of the president' annual message. The member! of both houses were prompt io responding to the call The general impression here is that tbe session will be short The leaders ?re all disposed to work fast. ------? . The following is a synopsis of message : To the Senate and House : : withstanding added burdens, ren ed necessary by war, oar pei rejoice in a very satisfactory steadily increasing degree of p i perity, evidenced by the larj ! volume of business ever recor and labor, in all fields of industry better rewarded. The revenue legislation of the p ent congress increased tbe treasui receipts to an amount estimated authors on nuances and the gove ment has been successfully admii tered, and its credit advanced to first rank while its currency has b maintained to the world's high standard. The military service, un a common flag for a righteous eau has strengthened the national sp and served to cement more clos the fraternal bonds between evi section of the country. My last message was very full consideration given to the quest of the duty ot this government wards Spains Cuban insurrection being by far the most import; problem which we were then call apon to deal with The ?: onside tions theo advanced, the exposit! of views therein expressed, disclos my sense of the extreme gravi of the situation. Notwithstandi Spain's promise of a plan to supprc the insurrection, Cuba continu fighting and there was no prospect peace except the physical exhaust! of either combatant in sight, wh the Maine was blown up last Febr ary under circumstances of a sus] cious nature. The horror stirred t nation's heart profoundly. It is evidence of the sturdy go? sense of the people, already deep touched by preceding events Cuba, that did not move them to ? instant and desperate resolve, b they patiently awaited the finding tba court of inquiry. Matters co vinced the people that a crisis was band and it needed but a brief no to congress for the needed prepar tions for any emergency whereupc that body appropriated fifty millie dollars for national defense. Tl outbreak of war fouud the natic unprepared The message here referred 1 efforts through diplomatic negotii tions to bring about a settlement < the question ; the adoption of a oltimatium to Spain ; the withdraw* of the Spanish minister ; Woodford final nltimatium demanding the relit qoishment of Cuba ; its refusal ; < the blockade of Cuba April 22d ; th cali for volunteers and their prom; response ; the addition of a hondre and three vessels to the navy b purchase ; one presented one lease and the chartering of the St. Pani St ' Louis. New York and Paris ; th creating of an auxiliary navy ; tb prompt organizing of the signal sei vice, and then to the provision c congress on July lo for a popula bond loan Then follows a brie narration, chronologically, of ali en gagement8 and bombardments, com mending special acts of bravery He reviews Spain's note of inquin concerning terms of peace whicl was announced substantially in th? protocol and Spain's vague inexplici suggestion which was rejected ; Cam bon s final authorization to sign th; protocol ; the suspension* of hostil i ties, and the appointment of peace commissioners, whose negotiation* bas made such hopeful progress as tc trust that he wil! soou be abie to la^ a definite treaty of peace before the senate He does not discus? the future government of th? new pos sessions, which will come as results of war, as sukh a discussion will be appropriate after the treaty is ratified. In the meantime or until congress shall legislate otherwise it will be our duty to continue the military governments The summaries of the total casual? ties of the war are as follows : Officers killed, 23 ; privates, 257 ; officers wouuded, 113 ; privates, 1,464 Navy : Killed, 17 ; wounded. 67 : died of the resuit of wounds, 1 ; in valided, 6 The message observed that the total loss was 1,668 killed and wounded, and we did not lose a gan, fort, transport or ship, with the exception of the Merrimac He praises the Ked Cross and remembers ou** obligations to the divine Master for His watchful care and guidance, for which the nation makes reveren tial acknowledgment The Nicaraguan canal commission has nearly completed its report on the feasibility and the cost of the construction of the canal and that the construction of such a maritime highway is now, more than ever, in? dispensable to that ready intercom munication between the eastern and western seaboard It is further de? manded by the annexation of Hawaii and the prospective expansion of our influence and commerce in the Pa? cific ; that our policy more than ever calls for its control by this govern? ment, whi~h, no doubt, Congress will appreciate and wisely act upon The United States has not been an indifferent spectator of the extraor diuary events transpiring in China and the passing of certain portions of it to the control of vanous Euro pean powers, bat the prospect of our vast commercial interests there not being prejudiced through any exclu? sive treatment obviated the need of this country becoming an actor on the scene Relations with Britain continue I most friendly and tb.3 protection to Americans and of their interests in Spain by the diplomatic consular representatives of Britain elicits high commendation. It was recommended that the pres? ident be authorized to enlist 100,000 men into the regular army at bis dis? cretion, and that ai] volunteers be mustered out as soon ss the regular army is increased He joins the secretary of the navy in recom? mending that the grades of admiral or vice admiral be temporarily reviv? ed and bs filled by the offieers who specially distinguished themselves in the war. "Several department reports will be laid before you. They give a detailed account of the affairs of the government during the past year and discuss many questions upon which congress may feel called upon to act. (Signed) WM,. MCKINLEY/' mum i I \\umm CUBAN AND PHILIPPINE DEBTS. Madrid, Dec. 4-The government bas not reached afu!! decision regard? ing the Cuban and Philippine debts, but the official Gazette today pub? lishes an announcement that the drawing for the redemption of the Cuban bonds will occur on December 10. The speculation io the Cuban and Philippine debts on the bourse has seriously displeased the cabinet. The rise in those securities is attributed to the report that the government will devote the indemnity received from the United States to the colonial indebtedness, regarding which no decisive resolutions have been taken by the ministers An official dispatch from the Yisayas in the Philippines announces that the insurgents are redoubling their attacks upon Iioilo The gov? ernment's adyices say : "The rebels have now their guns trained on the city and fire in the defenses nightly. Our troops maintain a spirited de? fense and have killed large numbers of the enemy." London, Dec 5 -The Daily Mail publishes the following dispatch from Biarritz : The censorship is so severe that the Spanish newspapers are pro hibited even from contradicting Carlist news published abroad. There have been numerous arrests of Car lists at Barcelona and elsewhere in Catalonia. The Cariist general, isasi, and several colleagues have disap? peared. What Cuba cost Spain in Med? icines. (From the .Medical Pre83 ) It has been calculated that since the outbreak of tbe insurrection ic Cuba in February, 1895, to January, 1898. Spain bas dispatched to Cuba some 20,000 kilos of preparations of quinine, 400 kilos of opium. 29,000 kilos of carbolic acid, 1.400 kilos of corrosive sublimate, 2,370 kilos of iodoform, 350 kilos of rhubarb, and 2,530 kilos of castor oil. In addition to these medicines, the armv absorbed, figura? tively speakiog, 16 000 metres of Sticking plaster, upwards of 50,000 kilos of cotton woo!, and 545,000 metres of gauze for dressings. The cost of che medinina! part of the supplies atone amounted to three and one-half tuitions of pesetas, nominally equal to ?140,000 The medical staff comprised between five and *ix hundred doctors aod about a huodred chemist. During the three years fifty doctors ?od sixteen chemists died, most of them having fallen victims of yellow jack. A Child Killed by a Large Hog. Orangeburg, Deo. 3.-A odored woman living on Dr. Stokes7 place a few miles below here, left her young baby io the yard while she attended a call at the dwelliog, and when she returned only a few minutes afterward she found that the baby bad been killed by a large hog which had the run or the yard. The body was horribly mutilated and the child survived but a short time Tbe bog is a notorious "chicken eater, but no one supposed he would attack a child. Gen. Hampton's Nurse Dead. "Old Mother" Grace Cooper, ooe of the oldest oolored inhabitants of thia city, and the woman who nursed Geo Wade Hampton io bis infanoy, died yesterday morning at her late home on Liberty bill, from a stroke of paralysis. At the time of her death she was about 96 years old She was a good woman, and was highly esteemed by both white and colored people.-The State, Dec 5 --?-. i - - Paris, Dec 4.-Col Picquart, now in custody, and awaiting trial on a charge of having communicated to his counsei documents that had come into the possession in the military department of secret service, has applied to the court of cassation, now engaged with the Dreyfus affair, to declare whether he is amenable to military or civil jurisdiction Bilboa, Spain, Deo. 4-The local pa? pers report ?ht? discover? here of 398 ri? fles carefully secreted underground A oumbpr of Cariists have beeD arrest? ed on charge of being coonected there? with. Another Great Storm. SEVEREST IN NINETEEN YEARS-EIGHT HUN? DRED HOUSES ARE WRECKED. Baltimore, Dec. 4 -The most severe rain and wind storm that has visited Baltimore for many years prevailed to day and did thousands of dollars of damage. Sixty miles an hour was the wind veiocity given out by the weather bureau, the highest for 19 years. The fury of the wind was not long continued. For eight minutes its velocity varied between 55 and 60 miles. But this was long enough to do great damage Fully 800 houses were blown down, trees uprooted and poles leveled Telegraph, telephone, electric light and trolley poles were blown down like so many ten pins Large sec? tions of the city are in darkness to-night, and the telegraph and tele? phone systems are badly wrecked. The British steamship Orthia, which sailed to day for Glasgow, was blown aground in the channel. No casualties have been reported. Columbus, O , Dec 4 -All day terrific storms have raged ail over the State, particularly in the northern part. Rain and sleet have fallen here all dav and the streets have been deserted. A special to the State Journal from Lima tells of conditions existing there, saying : The severest storm in years has prevailed here to-day, doing many thousands of dollars worth of damage to telegraph and telephone and elec trie light companies Poles have given way under the weight of wet snow and hundreds of wires are down and crossed so as to make them useless and dangerous The city is in darkness to-night. Trains on all roads ar-e late and a rear end collision between Cincinnati, Hamil ton and Dayton trains resulted on account of the blinding storm Toledo, O , Dec 4 -The worst storm on Lake Erie this season is in progress. A heavy suow has nearly cut this city from the outside world Wires are now down in every direc ! tion. Dozen of boats are in the bay, asd fears for the safety of many of them are entertained. The wind is blowing a gale over the lake New York, Dec. 4 -The United i States transport Port Victor, which sailed from Santiago November 23 via Ponce, November 28, arrived to day with all well on board and anchored off Liberty Island She brought 320 passengers, most of whom were soldiers returning home on furlough The Port Victor brought as cargo about 6,000 Mauser rifles and seven Spanish cannon taken from Morro Castle at Santiago. "The cotton goods manufactured in Mexican cotton mills are coarse as overall stuffs," says Dr Deyer. io ao ioterview with the Fall River Heraid "At Mooclova, whero the goods are colored in the yarn, the fabric is about as heavy as light sail cloth sold here Mexico and Yucatan take the product. Wages are very low ; 43 cents a day for weavers, Mexican money. The profits are large ; 30 to 45 per cent." Washington, Deo. 3 -Tcformat;on bas been communicated tbe State department by Consul Hart that the House of Representatives at Bogota, Colombia, bas rejected the petition of the Panama Canal Company to extend for six years the time for completing the construction of the canal. The company still bas sis years in which to carry on the work. Judge Day so Cables the Au? thorities From Paris. Paris, Dec. 4 -The United Stares and Spanish peace commissions held private sessions today. Afterward representatives of both bodies predicted confidently that the treaty would be signed within a week unless unforeseen complications arise. The American commissioners say there is oo foundation for the ieh orts circulated in the United States and cabled back here that President Mc Kinley has forwarded to the American commissioners instructions to insist unyieldingly upon a coaling base in the Carolines, and that the Spaniards are endeavoring to renew their opposition to a cession of the Philippines. Both commissions recognize that the latter question is settled. Washington, Deo 4.-Advices from Judge Day of (he Paris peace oommis etoo, received during last night's cabinet meeting, are of a gratifying character and bopefui of the sigoing of the peace treaty within a reasonable time Members of the cabinet express j satisfaction at the progress being made aod say negotiations are progressing smoothly There are various details, bt'wc-ver, concerning which the chair? man desires to learn fully of the president's wishes, and it was an i inquiry of this character which formed ! the burden ot the latest communication j from Paris. Cow Feed for sale at W. B. Boyle's Stables. FRAMING THE TREATY Questions Discussed Yester? day-Commissioners Report Progress. Paris, Dec. 5.-The American peace commissioners held a long conference this morning beginning at 8 o'clock and only Lad brief recesses for lunch before going to the ?foreign office to meet the Spanish commis sioners at 3 o'clock p m. The American, japparently, had changed the form, if not the substanc?, of their demands, aa a result of their deliberations during the past three days. The joint commission was in ses? sion for over four hours Much of the discussion concerned details as to the guaranteeing of the rights of Spanish citizens in the ceded col onies. The debate was occasionally eoer getic and the Spaniards, on emerg? ing, appeared to be dejected Secretary Ujeda, of the Spanish j commission, when questioned after the meeting as to the progress made, j answered excitedly: "1 am almost mad I cannot talk. We are making progress." The Americas commissioners de? clined to say anything further than that the progress made was satisfac? tory . The Spanish commissioners have received authority to bind their gov ernment on certain matters, but there are yet important questions on which their instructions are unsatisfactory, and it is likely that many of the details involved in the change of sovereignty in the Spanish colonies will be left for the settlement in the regular diplomatic process when rela? tions between the two governments are resumed The history of the document which will certify the passing of the oldest colonial power in the world and the advent of the newest, was epitomized by Judge Day this evening in a single sentence : "A peace treaty can contain anything which the victors put in it The Americans had listened for hours wiih their customary patience to the technicalities convoked by the Spaniards with their customary shrewdness and persistency against every proposal making for the dis raemberment of their empire. Sena tor Frye, whose unconcealed con I tempt for diplomatic quibblings excites the astonishment of the punctilious Castillans, had stalked home, his patience exhausted The burden of the Spanish arguments was that, matters outside the bare cession and evacuation of the conquered ter ritorie8, which the Ameu'cans pro Dosed to cover by the treaty, were beyond the legitimate and customary scope of a peace treaty Finally Judge Day summarized the Ameri can position in the foregoing memor able utterance It was given and taken in good spirit and from that moment the proceedings were entirely friendly The session accomplished much Eight open question?, were canvassed, seven being practically settled with ? out noteworthy friction The com missioners decline to .say what con ! elusion was reached, but the^bargains for a coaling station in the Carolines was cot cemented, and, according to present prospects, it is likely to fail --- Syiaey Smith's Joke. Sydney Smith was very happy in his country life, and his children caught his spirit of delight over common things. They loved animals and spent long hours iu training them. One little beast, a baby donkey, became under their tuition perhaps the most accom- I plished of his species and unconscious- j ly gave rise to a quatrain which now i belongs to the fame of Sydney Smith, j The donkey was a well educated chap, j He would walk up stairs, follow the family in their rambles like a aog and when they entered his meadow mn to meet them with ears down and tail erect, braying joyously, y One day, when Billy's head was crowned with Sowers ni 1 he was heing trained with a handkerchief fora bridle, Mr. Jeffrey unexpectedly arrived. He joined in the sport and to the children's infinite delight mounted BilJy. Thus he was proceeding in triumph when Sydney Smith aud his wife, with three friends, returned from a walk and took in the festal scene. The great man advanced, with extended hands, and greeted his old friend in au impromptu which has become familiar to the read? ing world: Witty as Horatius Flaccus, As great a Jacobin as Gracchus. Short, thousrh not as fat as Bacchus, Seated on a little jackass! -Youth's Companion Liong Lived Germans. It is interesting to recall the extraor? dinary longevity of the three founders of the German empire. William I was 91, Moltke was also 91 and Bismarck was 83, but indeed all the most illustri? ous Germans of the latter half century have been long lived. Ranke was 91; Curtius was 72; Mommsen is 81. The poet Geibel was 70, Wagner was 70, Liszt 75, and the present chancellor is 77. No Encape. "What is your name. Mr. Throgson?" "My name is Adam. Miss Well along." "And my first name is Eve! Dear mo! What a-what a remarkable coin? cidence.''-Chicago Tribune, j THE COOL GAMBLER. HOW HE BETS, WINS AND LOSES AT MONTE CARLO. I A Scene by Night In the Great Gilded Den at Monaco-Tempting Fickle For? tune as a Cold Blooded Business Trans ? action-A Lucky English Couple. Not to see the gambling rooms at Monte Carlo by night would be to miss the grand show of the place. There are not people encrgh in the town to make up the crowds that press through the big corridor ana the atrium in the even? ing. They come in trains from all the neighboring places-from Cannes, Nice, San Remo, Mentone, sometimes from as far as Genoa. People ride down from Paris, 20 hours in the rapide, just for a little "shy" at the tables. All outside is as bright as day, though chilly. When I set out for the casino, I came upon a young English couple standing near the big fountain, discussing some? thing with great earnestness. They were good looking, well dressed, with something cf an air of a bridal couple.. What became of them at the moment I did not notice, and inside I stood for a few minutes watching the roulette ta? bles. Ten minutes later I went into the trente et quarante room and met them just inside the big arched doorway. They were on their way out Her rosy cheeks were rosier than before, and her face was wreathed in smiles. He was fairly radiant and looked "very fit," as the Londoners say. In one hand he held a great bundle of French notes, all stretched out at full length, just as they came from the tables. It took no great shrewdness to see that for ten minutes they had been leading active, industri? ous lives and had reaped the reward of industry and virtue and were getting out of the place before they were tempt? ed to try again and lose. Que elderly gentleman was at the moment doing the leading business in that room and attracting the most at? tention by risking ten 1, OOO franc notes (S2, OOO) at every dealing of the cards. He was particularly interesting to me, because he was beyond doubt an Ameri? can. He was a fine looking man, with gray hair, iron gray beard, well trim? med, a shrewd eye tnat watched every move the dealer made, and of course in the regulation black evening clothes. His face showed him to be a man who had made his money, not inherited it I think that lumber was the foundation of his fortune in the northwest some? where, but long enough ago to give him time to have the sawdust brushed ont of his clothes, for he was very smooth and well groomed. Not a word was said around the table, so there was no chance to hear what language he spoke. He was one of those men who would not look at all out of place leading a prayer meeting, but who might be de? pended upon for a ready revolver if he caught the dealer at any foul play. The notes came out of one of his vest pockets, but not carelessly. There was none of the usual ef?ort to look as it risking ?2,000 every three minutes was an everyday affair with him. He did everything with caution, always delib? erating over what square he should lay his money upon, and sometimes chang? ing it to some other square after he had laid it down. But whether he won or lost he showed no emotion whatever. Ho won oftener than he lost while 1 watched him, putting the winnings al? ways into the same vest pocket. At one time the banker made a mistake in du? plicating a pile of his notes that had won, but this did not bring a word from him. His eyes were open, and instead of picking up the pile he merely pushed it back toward the banker, which waa _~ a sufficient hint for a recount When the mistake was corrected and the miss? ing note supplied, he added the pile to the big lump iu his pocket Like almost every player around the trente et quarante tables, he was there strictly for business. It was not a few dollars la?d on for the novelty of the thing, but a deliberate speculation in the hope of winning. My experience of gambling houses is fortunately rather limited, but I have seen the big places" of Saratoga and Long Branch and one or two in New York and some very large ones in Cuba and Mexico. Never have T seen such a businesslike air in any gambling room as there is here, You may not be wicked enough to know that generally a great deal of smoking and drinking and some eating go with fashionable gambling, but that is the ! case. The sideboard is almost as neces I sary as the tables, and George and Sam? bo and Henry are kept busy carrying champagne and cocktails to the thirsty j players. This is pure business with "the house, " even where these things are not charged for, for does not a man become the more reckless the more al? cohol he absorbs? But there is none of that here. There is no smoking in the rooms, and no drinks are served at the tables. As far as I have seen, there is no place in the casino building where drinks can be had, though possibly there may be some cozy corners that I have not discovered. It is as much a business house as a wholesale dry goods store, and the profits are larger for the firm. This gives it a very cold blooded atmosphere, for there is not a particle of interest in either of the games outside of the finan? cial risks involved. They are stupid, games of doctored chrmce that a navvy can play as well as at arithmetician. New York Times. A Swelled Head. A typical English woman, when some one spoke the other day of a certain man having a "swelled head," looked, dazed. "Really! You don't mean it!" cried the English woman. "I'm very sorry." A day or so later the English woman, happening to meet the wife of the man in question, observed that she was so sorry to hear that Mr. Blank was ill. "But ho isn't!" cried tho wife. "He was never better in his life." "Is that so?' ' said tho English woman. "Why, what could Mrs. Dash have meant the other day when she said he was suffering from a swelled head?"