Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

VOL X MANNNG~ . C.~WEDNSDAYJANLARY 1, 1896.NO23 PROTECTION IN DISUUISE. THE REPUBLICAN SCHEME FOR RE LIEVING THE TREASURY. An Iuteresting Debate lucluding Some Very Strong Speeche-'-The Measure Passed by a Strict Party Vote- 'opulists Say Nay. WASUrNGTON, Dec. 26.-By a ote of 205 to S1, the house at 5::) p. mi. passed the bill reported by Mr. Ding le3 from the commiittee on ways and means "to temporarily increase the revenue to meet ahe expenses of the government and to provide against a deficiencr. The bi was presented to the house imnaediatelv after the reading of the journIl and toen Mr. leuderson re ported a reso! ation from tue commit tee on rules, providing debate on the bill until 5 o'clock -a vote to be then baken on its passage. In- antfcipation of this programme, the galleries were crowdej to the doors, even the diplomatic gallery being occupied by a representation of -the foreign colonies residiug in Wash ington. -On the floor were over 300 ineibers of the house, and inter speied among themi several senators Wha were interested in the proceed The. rule was opposed by Messrs. :Crisp. McMiian and Turnar of Geor gia, on the ground that it afforded no opportunity for amendment and not sufficient time for debate: and it was advocafed b.y Messes. Dalzell and Headerson,- who argued that the sit .vation admitted of no delay. It was finally passed-yeas 213; nays $5. Several Repaolicans were recorded as voting against its passage. When- this had been disposed of there reinained three and a half hours -for the discussion of the bill itself. The. debate was participated in for the Republicans by Messrs. Dirigley, Dal iel,". Hopkins. Grosvenor, Arnold, Knox and Dol liver in support of the bill, and by Messrs. Crisp, Wheeler, McMillan and Turner (Dem.) and Bell (Pop.) against the bill. .The oppositioh was based on the theory that the remedy proposed-an increase. of revenues-was not what was-needed, and that there was mon ey enough in the treasury to meet all etaims for two or three years to come. even if the present rate of deficit was maintained. It was also contended #iat the bill was a general revision of the tariff. Republicans insisted that more rev enue was the key of he situation and denied that the- bill was in any sense &general tariff measure. It did not represent Bepuolican ideas on that sibject at all, was intended only as a tedporary revenue measure to meet a pressing emergency, and its passage was advocated on the high ground of patriotic duty in the hour of the re public's peril. This measure having been "disposed of, a joint resolution was passed offer ed by Cannon (Rep.) of Utah, provid ing for the transfer of territorial prop At 5:40 the house adjourned until tomorrow. THE DEBATE ON THE BILL. As soon as the journal was read, Mr. Dingley, chairman of the com mittee on ways and means, rose and reported from that committee the bill "to temporarily increase the revenue to meet the expenses of government and provide against a deficiency." Baving been read by its title, the -speaker declared that the bill was re ferred to the committee of the whole. Mr. Crisp, representing the minori ty of the committee, complained that the minority had had no opportunity of preparing and submitting their views. ("If they have any," a Repub lican member interposed in a low voice.) The minority had asked Mr. Crisp said, for time toobtain estimates from the treasury department as to the effect of the proposed measure,and hbad been refused. They had asked the gentlemen of the majority if they had any estimates themselves on which tliey.had based the bill, or whether they had the opinions of experts and they admitted that they had not. Then the minority had asked for a reasonable time to prepare a minority report and that was also refused. After Mr. Crisp had made this pro test, Mr. Henderson of Iowa rose and reported-from the committee on rules a ..rule in order to call up for debate the bill just reported and to have the debate close at 5 p. in., when the vote should be taken. He stated that the other bill agreed upon by the ways and means committee would not be brought up till tomorrow. The one now before the house was in no sense a general revision of the tariff ; but it was legislation to provide, promptly ~-and efficiently, sufficient revenue for the government. Mr. Crisp objected to the proposed rule as preventing the consideration of what he called "a general tariff bill." If the rule were adopted, no amend ment to the bill would be in order. Under the crack of the whip of Repub -lican leaders, members were not to be allowed to criticise the bill or to of fer any amendment to it. The house was called upon not only to pass the bill, but to pass it without any sert of consideration. Members were to be chained to the chariot. There was no suggestion from any source that there was not a sufliciency of revenue. And vet, under whip and spur, without liaving the bill sent to the treasury department to invite the judgment of experts as to its effect, it was to be driven through. Mr. Dalzell, a member of the com mittee on ways and means, supported the proposed rule. Mr. McMillan taunted the Republi cans who supported the proposed rule with selling thmeir birthright for a mess of pottage. He also spoke of it as a "perfidious manner of dealing with the measnre." (Ironical laughter from the Republican side.) The pending bill, he said, would tax the people $44,000,000, or at the rate for the time allowed for debate, $1,0,000 an hour. In conclusion, he exclaimed: "Go ahead, gentlemen, there was a power that checked you once before. There is a power that will check you again.' (Applause from the Demo cratic side and sarcastic laughter from the Republican.) Mr. Turner said that it was idle, perhaps, on this occasion to indulge in epithets; and perhaps it would be unprofitable to make comparisons. But it might not be amiss to pause and ask gentlemen to consider the situa tion. The President had last Friday sent a message informing congress of the gravity of the financial situation ma had in his annual message sug gested a remedy. The secretary of tie treasury, in his able report, had given assurance 'that the revenues of the oovernment were sunicieut to meet all its ordinary expenditures. Not only that, but the secretary said that there was a surplus in the treasury that would reach through two or three vears. The great party to which he (Mr. Turner) belonged believed that though there might momentarily be a deficit there was no question of a suf ficiency of revenue. Ihe President asked for financial lezislation and the pending bill was offered as an answer. The Presideui. had asked for bread and they had given him a stone. They had nresented as remedial legislation a pro osition to further tax the American people. Mr. Henderson again took the floor and in reply to the speeches on the De:uceratic side declared that the ac tion of the house today would show whether the Republican party was prepared to take the responsibility or not. (Republican applause.) Wheth er the country was presided over by a Republican or by a Democratic execu tive; whether it was threatened with ballots or bullets; whether there was a treasury deliciency or a treasury surplus, the Republican party never shrank from its dut y to the country. (Applause.) Mr. Crisp declared that the purport of the proposed rule was to rpevent tile offering of amendments by Democrats, which some Republi cans might feel inclined to vote for in the interests of their corn tituenLs. That was its sole object. The discussion on the rule being closed, the vote was then taken, and the rule was agreed to-yeas 231, nays 89. The vote was on strict party lines except that Messrs. Connolly of Illi nois; Heiner of Pennsylvania, Linney of North Carolina and Wilber of New York (Reps.) voted "no" with the Democrats. The bill was then read in full and at 1:30 p. m. the debate upon it com menced, with three and a half hours to run, the time to be divided equally between the two sides of the house. DISCUSSING THE DILL. Mr. Dingley (Rep.) of Maine, chair man of the committee on ways and means, opened the debate on the side of the majority. He said that when the President's special message was read at the clerk's desk last Saturday, informing congress that there existed a serious condition of the finances of the country and the Federal treasury, and appealing to the senate and house not to take a recess until relief was af orded, every member felt that there was imposed upon the house not only a special responsibility but an urgent demand for immediate action; and that it was the duty of the house to re main in session until some measure of legislation was passed that would af ford relief to the exigent state of the treasury. The committee on ways and means had taken the matter up and proceedcd to consider what measures of relief should be proposed. The first thing that had attracted the attention of the committee on ways and means was that for two years and a half there had been a constant defi ciency of*revenue, until that want had become chronic. He knew that gen tlemen on the other side claimed that the revenue was sufficient, but the fact was that from the 1st of July, 1S93, up to today there had been insufficiency of revenue to cover the cnrrent ex penses of the government, to the ag gregate amount of $123,000,000. Tbe deficiency for the current year was over $1.8,500,000 and for the current month of December the deficit approx imated $3,000,000. What, then, did the gentlemen mean, and what did the secretary of the treasury mean, in saying that there was no need of addi tional revenue? They meant that with the proceeds of the sales of bonds and the use of greenbacks received for them, the receipts exceedd the expen ditures It seemed to him and to the majority of the committee on ways and means that the first course to be taken was to legislate so as to provide suicient revenue to meet the expen ditures of the government. Mr. Dingley went on to discuss and to uphold the bill in detail. He said that if it became a law it would not only increase the revenue by over $40,000,000, but would also give to the business interests of the country the moral influences of a government which was solvent, which paid its debts, and whose credit was second to that of no government on the face of the earth. (Republican applause.) CISP IN OPPOSITiON. Mr. Crisp said that the bill, in order to be responsive to the request of the President, ought to be in line with the suggestions that came from that source. Hie insisted, from Secretary Carlisle's report, that the cash balance in the treasury on Dec. 1, 1895, was $170,000, 000 being $98,0j00,000 in excess of the old reserve and $77, 000, 000 in excess ?f any sum necesssary to build up the gold reserve. There was therefore equoting from Mr. Carlisle) "no rea son to debate the ability of the gov einent to discharge all its curent obligations during the present Iiscal year and have a large cash balance at ts close, without imposing additional taxation in any form on the people." His friend from Maine (Mr. Dingley) knew-no one better-that there was in the treasury today over and beyond the gold reserve, more free money thee times over-than any deticiency which might occur during the fiscal year. It was not a question of tor rowowing money to meet expenses. The money was already borrowed and was in the treasury ; and the question was whether it should be used now, or whether the house should rush. post haste, to impose additional bur dens on the people in order to pile up money in the treasury. Mr. Crisp wvent on to taunt the com mittee on ways and means with re porting a billI for a horizontal raise of duties, af ter all the ridicule which had been cast on Morrison's bill for a horizontal cut: and lie said that the effect of the pending measure was to declare that the McKinley tariff act was 60 per cent. right and 40 per cent. wrong. (Laughter.> lHe quoted Mr. Mc. Kinlev's criticism of the Morrison bill as patch work and a proof of indo lence and said that on the issue of the pending measure the parties would go before the people in the next Presi dential campaign and he had no doubt that the people would respond as they had always responded, in favor of themselves-that is in favor of lower taxes. I Democratic a)plause.> Mr. Wheeler argued against the pending measure. Foi-ii A l'P TD -TINT. Mr. Payne, a member of the com mittee on ways andmeans, said that the Republicans in the house being ready tomeet the responsibility which was on them toay had rl esented a a bill to increase the revenue. Two years from now. however, they would meet the responsibility of that hour and would present to the house and senate and to a Republican President a bill for the protection of American labor and American agriculture and would write it on the statute book. kApplause.) REED'S WARNING. Mr. McMillan (Dem.) of Tennessee, a member of the committee on ways and means, argued against the bill and reminded the Republican side of the house of the wise warning given by the present speaker in the Republican caucus which nominated him in these words: "History will accord us praise for what we did in the forty-first con gress. and it may accord us praise m this congress for what we do not do." What the house was doing today was one of the things to which that warn ing was applicable, and the country would give them more praise for ab stinence than for continuance in such a course. TOO THIN. Mr. Dalzell, a member of the com mittee on ways and means, repeated what he had said in the discussion as to the rules, that the pending measure was in no sensv a protective tariff bill, or a revision of the tariff, or an at tempt to correct tariff irregularities, but was simply an emergency revenue measure, matured in haste under the whip and spur of a pressing and cruel necessity. ~ Xhen passed it would be a conspicuous tribute to the patriotism of the Republican party rising above party prejudice at the summons of a Democratic President. Mr. Bell (Pop.) of Colorado did not believe that the remedy for the bill was in increasing taxation, but in the coinage of silve bullion in the treast ry and paying it out. Mr. Dockery of Missouri argued against the bill. Mr. Hopkins (Rep.) of Illinois argued in favor of its passage. Mr. Grosvenor (Rep.) of Ohio said that he gave his support to the pend ing measure because it was a revenue measure and because it was demanded by the message of the President. TURNER OF GEORGIA. The dicussion was ended for the op ponents of the bill by Mr. Turner of Georgia. The administration of Presi dent Harrison. he said, came into power with a surplus in the treasury over the gold reserve of $243,000,000. It turned over to the present adminis tration, four years later, a surplus of $62,000,000, of which $54,000,000 be longed to the fund deposited in the treasury for the redemption of green backs. The secretary of the treasury had proposed, as has been stated, to is sue bonds to protect the gold reserve and to meet deficiencies in revenue. It was under these embarrassing con ditions that the Democrats returned to power in 1893. The party said the remedy for that situation was not to raise taxes, but to lower them, and it went forward courageously and passed a law putting that principle into op eration. Under that bill, wages went up from New England to California and exportations from the United States had actually increased. The defeat of the income tax, Mr. Turner said, caused a deficit in receipts, but there was no deficit, he contended, in the treasury. By the report of the secretary it was shown that there is over $170,000,00( in the treasury, in cluding gold reserve. "Why should we," he asked, "put more money of the same kind into the treasury when there is more there than we need?" A resolution of thanks, he said, was due to the Democratic party for furn ishing the plank upo i which the bill was frameax-a tariff for revenue only. The Republicans, he said, had gone back upon all their old leaders in their new movement. "Why didn't the gentleman from Maine offer, on his own, or his official responsibility, the bill he proposed in the last congress to increase the tax on beer $1 a barrel? That would have yielded all the rev enue that can, be hoped for from this bill. Where is all the vaunted cour age of that party now? (Laughter) Instead of hoisting up the old flag of tariff for protection in this the hour of their culmination, theyseek cover un der the popgun policy and cry "tariff for revenue only." (Laughter.) For his p art, in conclusion, he said, he would prefer to lower rather than to raise taxes. (Applause.) Messrs. Arnold (Rep.) of Pennsyl vania and Knox (Rep.) of Massachu setts spoke briefly in support of the bill. Mr. Doliver (Rep.) of Iowa in clos ing the degate said: "My friend (Mr. Turner) asks the Republican majority why we do not bring in a general tariff law, and he refers to the lender ship of the house as wanting in cour age; but the leadership of this house can always be relied on not to 'fight as one that beateth the air.' Why, we know and everybody knows, that a general Republican tariff !aw cannot be enacted by this congress. We do not know that the President of the United States would not sign the pres ent bill. Does my friend speak by some commission when he says that the administration declines this relief ? We have the best reason for knowing that this law will please the present chief magistrate. We had a letter from the President in the last session of congress, which contains evidence that he will, sign this law, restoring a reasonable duty upon wool. "There is one thing that we ought all be agreed upon, whatever else we are divided about, and that is that the treasur; of the United States should no longer be left at the mercy of the oranized avarice of the world without money to pay or power to borrow or means for increasing the public reve nue; and so, Mr. Speaker, closing' the debate, I appeal to the patriotic senti ment that may still be supposed to re side in the Democratic breast, to come to the level to whicti the Republican party has come in offering upon rev enue principles a measure to relieve the embarrassment and distress of the treasury of the United States." (Ap plause.) The bill was read a third time, and on the questiion of its passage the yeas and nays were called-resluting, yeas 205, nays 81. The vote was on strictly party lines, the Populists vot ing with the Democrats against the bill. Mr. Newton (silvery of Nevada voted aye. Thirty Drowned. PAmls, Dec. 2.--A dispatch to The Figaro from Algiers says that by the sinking of the French steamer, Emile Heloise, yesterday through being run down by the British steamer, B.allero phon, 30 of her poz.eugers were drowned, instead of 4, as at first re ported. Twenty-five of the native persons drowned were native Alge ON TO HABANA! VIGOROUS MOVEMENTS OF THE CUBAN COMMANDERS. One Spanish Regiment Surrenders With out Resistance-The Insurgents Destroy Many Sugar Plantations--Other News of Importance. KEY WEST, FLA., Dec. 26.-Advices received from Cuba today state that a battle occurred yesterday afternoon between the vanguards of the insur gent and Spanish armies and that the Spaniards were repulsed. Col. Prat, who commanded the Spanish van guard, was killed. Martinez Campos was present and directed the retreat of the Spanish to Jovellanos. Campos' forces are now entrenched at that place, expecting to be attacked by Go mez's main army. Campos has armed all the civilians in Jovellanos and is forcing them to do military duty. Advices received by Cuban leaders via Olivette, confirm the report of the capture of the town of El Roque by Gomez, as announced in these dis patches last night. With Gomez were Serafin Sanchez, Aguirre and Quarez. The Spanish regiment stationed at El Roque surrendered without firing a shot. All of them were paroled, ex cept 12 who wert charged with having poisoned the water in the reservoir of the town. They were tried, convicted and shot. After taking all the arms, provi sions, etc., found in the town, the in surgents set fire to it and then left, going in the direction of Quintana and Jovellanos. They also destroyed the sugar plantations near San Vicente and La Antonia. The vanguard of Gomez's forces under the command of Lacret has entered the town of Quin tUaa between Matarzas and Colon and destroyed by fire the largest sugar plantation on the island. The train that left Colon for Matan zas was detained at Quintana by the insurgents. Columns of smoke could be plainly seen from Jovellanos. The general supposition is that all planta tions in that district have been de stroyed, Maceo and his forces have encamped at the plantation La Harmonia and Gomez has established his headquar ters at the plantation La Espana, be longing to Romerony Robledo of the Spanish cabinet. All telegraphic communication between the Las Villasi district and Habana has been de stroyed by the insurgents and no trains have passed over the road since Satraday last. T Ie railroad stations at Madana and Toca belonging to the United Railroad Company have been destroyed by fire. The insurgents under Nunez have encamped at the plantation Revido and destroyed all the cane. The forces of Antonio Maceo, and Quintin Bandera compose the rear guard of the army under Gomez. The Spaniards prohibited all public entertainments on the 25th and or dered all saloons closed at 12 o'clock at night. Lacret, with a large force, is march ing towards Guines. The insurgents assert that no crops will be gathered this year, Gomez has notified Campos that it is his in tention to destroy all the sugar cane to prevent its being gathered. The sugar being exported now is taken from the warehouses and is part of last year's crop. THE OTHER SIDE. HABANA, Dec. 26.-Despite the state ment contained in the 2.500 word al leged cable dispatch from this city published in the American papers tak ing the reports of the Chicago Asso iated Press, that Maximo Gomez, with 12,000 Cuban patriots was march ing upon this city, driving everything hefore them, the following are the itets: Gomez with an army of from 4,000 to 5,000 men, has succeeded by avoid ing an engagement with the Spanish forces in marching to Coliseo, a point 90 miles from Habana. He burned a number of fields of sugar on his way and at Coliseo and vicinity he burned some more, his acts of vandalisms, ex citing great indiguation through out the country devastated. When he arrived at Coliseo, Gomez was stopped by Spanish troops, who checked his advance and prevented further burning of cane fields. It is believed that the rebels have greatly injured their position, it being appa rent that the only purpose of their leader is to destroy the sugar crop. l'his is the actual situation, and the Chicago Associated Press "cable" had no further foundation. CAMPOS AT HABANA. WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.-The Span ish minister tonight received the fol lowing cablegram from Acting Gov ernor General Arderius at Habana: "HIauANA, Dec. 26, 1895.-General Campos yesterday arrived at Habana. He was met at the railway station by a large committee of political parties of the city composed of the Liberals, Conservatives and Home Rulers, and by the most prominent members of Habana's societies, all leaders of the volunteer militia. He .was cheered with great enthusiasm and was fol lowed by the crowds to the governor general's office. There the leaders of the three political parties addressed him, tendering to him the most enthu siastic support. Gen. Campos has the unlimited confidence of the Spanish government and the support of all the loyal element of Cuba. 'General Campos lamented the sav age and criminal charaoter which in surgent bands have given to this war which is directed not against the troops, but against property. They always flee before the columns of the army, making this war a very labori ous one, but the general has full confi dence of subduing the insurrection by strenuous efforts. The infsurgen ts have not entered a town. Thieir van daistic conduct on some plantations. with their advance from the eastern part of the island, marked by the burning of crops, although it inju-res a great deal of private pr operty, w~ill probably be convenient for our pur poses, because it will make more ef fective and easy the prosecution of the rebels." To Fortify Fort Sumter. W~AsuiNrrox, Dec. 24.-It is learned that the recent visit of Major General Miles to Atlanta and other ulaces in the south was in connection with the subject of coast defense. Thje initia tive will be taken with the $75,tl00 available for improving the defenses or Fort Sumter, Charleston harbor. and a project to equip it with l0-inch A HARROWING OCCURRENCE. WT. C. Welbb, of Yemassee, Becomes De mented at Loss of His Wife. BEAUFORT, Dec. 22.-We are with out doubt undergoing the most strin gent financial depression that has been experienced in this section since the war. The times are harder than even during the period that followed the -August cyclone. There is more real want of money to relieve embar rassments than at any time resulting from material disasters by earthquake or by wind and storm. The great indus tries that the phosphate mines created are suspended and loss of circulation from the employment of labor has caused such a scarcity of money that all business and employments are par alyzed and there is sufering among a class of people that have everythin to buy and nothing to buy with. The agricultuial population and the com paratively poorer classes are better off than those who have unremunerative properties and calling and occupations and professions that can get no money either as private creditors or as credi tors of the courts. A great manypeo ple who have properties find it diffi cult to raise money to pay their taxes. The small taxpayers have been able to raise their pittances for the public treasury, but the larger taxpayers can only do so at great sacrifice. As a con sequence the creditors of the courts have to wait for their money and they are a class also in great straits. The outlook for the resuscitatien of the phosphate industry is gloomy on ac count of the low price of rock. The works are closed down and the mills are hardly working. The cotton crop has .been a good one but the prices are low. Fortunately the provision crops have been abundaht and the negro fariers are the least sufferers. A: very harrowing occurrence is re por~ed from the Yemassee section, the details of which are most sad and dis tressing. Mr. W. C. Webb, the tele graph operator at that station, quite a fine, steady young man, had married some years ago a Miss Hicks, to whom he was tenderly devoted. A short time ago sh. died under distressing circumstances. The disconsolate hus band refused to be comforted and lost his reason frotn grief. Last Tuesday night-he suddenly quit home and the family, who had anxiously watched his demented condition, became alarm ed and went in search for him. After an ineffectual hunt with their worst fears for his safety being excited, they repaired to the cemetery, where the remains of his wife were interred. There they were confronted, in the early dawn, by a spectacle that was enough to curdle the blood of the most insensible. Reaching the grave, they found the wretched, demented husiand down in the freshly filled grave, his body naked and begrimed with mud and dirt, where hehad been all aight, digging out the loosened esirth with his hands until he had well nigh reached the casket in which was encased his beloved wife. It was with difficulty they could tear him away frori the spot, while uttering the most hea.-.,rending screams that portrayed the ieptih and meastire of his woes. He was taken to Charleston for treat ment. Our fellow citizen, Senator W. J. Verdier, had the misfortune to have a serious accilent befall one of his younger children, Miss Ida, who day before yesterday, fell fromn a hammock where she and some companions were playing and fractured her lower jaw and dislocated it. Dr. Stuart was promptly called in and administered the proper relief. It is to be hoped that it will not prove more serious - State. The Cotton Acreage. MEMIPHIS, Dec. 23.-The movement looking to no increase of the cotton a"refio-e next year was inaugurated by the Memphis Cotton Exchange this af ternoon at a general meeting called for the purpose. The preamble to the resolutions adopted sets forth that a large crop of cotton grown at heavy expenses brings but little if any larg er total value, contrasting the present with past years to establish the fact, and adds: "Another matter for the farmers to bear in mind is that at the present ime, when there is a-remote possibil ity of a war, if such should occur, the nevitable result thereof would be to lepreciate the value of cotton and ap preciate the value of all food crops. Therefore, be It "Resolved, That the Memuhis Cotton Exchange urgently recomniends to the producers that the production of home mpplies be made the first considera ton jn -planting. operations for the coming year, and that .the acreage of cotton be not increased over that of last year. "Resolved, That we approve and in lorse the A'merican Cotton Growers' Associations for bringing about the re diction in the acreage of the crop now being marketed and we respectfully arge the Hon. Hector D.- Lane, the president, and his coadjutors, the pres idents of the various cotton States of said association to continue in the good work, and to tak~e up the matter at the rarliest practicable moment and urge it again upon the attention of the cot ton producers of the South. "Resolved. That the various cotton rxchanges throughout the South be, and are hereby, requested to co-operate with this exchange in this matter, and that the Southern newspapers are also requested to publish these resolutions." Plunged Into the Ashley. CuARLEsEox, Dec. 24.-Engine No. 36 of the Soutu Carolina and Georgia road pitched into the Ashley river this morning through a West Shore Ter minal trestle about two miles from the city. Engineer George Baxter and Brakeman Clarence Turner were buried under the wreck and met terri ble deaths, while Fireman William Boyle was seriously and perhaps fatal 'v inijured. Conductor M. P'. Dounar was also on the engine, but he escaped unhurt. The engine had carried a train of cars from the yards the West shore wharves and was backing~ out to the yards again. Suddenly one side of the trestling sank and the engine plunged into the river, about 12 feet below. Baxter was buried under it and his body has not yet been recov ered. Turiner's body was cut into pie ee against the timbers, and Boyle, was fearfully bruised and crushed. No explanation of the catastrophe can be given. Engineer Baxter has been with thne road for years, and he is said to be the oldest engineer in the State in point of service. His home was at Ridgeville, where he leaves a wife and a large family of children. Tur ner was from Shelby, N. C. He was 27 ears of age and unmarried. Boyle lives i thiscity, ndr has a wife. SENSIBLE OF THE SENATE. HILL'S BILL REMOVING CONFED ERATE DISABILITIES PASSED. Not A Dissenting Voice-If the House Does as Wel the Country Will Conclude That the War is Ended--Tone of all the speeches Patriotic and Pacife. WASHINGTON Dec. 24.-The Senate today presented a Christmas present to the South as Mr. Hill, of New York, aptly characterized the bill re pealing the prospective disabilities, passed at the close of the war against the service of ex-Confederates in the United States army or navy. The passage of such a repeal, without a dissenting vote, in a Senate having a Republican plurality and with North ern Senators taking the initiative, lent a gracefulness and significance in the action in marked contrast with former war controversies. The South era Senators, with the exception of Mr. Daniel, of Virginia, took no part in urging the repeal, and several of them, mluding Mr. Walthall and Mr. Cockrell, who served in the Confed erate ranks, voted for a postpone ment by reference to committee. But with such champions on the Republi can side of the chamber as Messrs. Chandler, Hawley and Platt, and on the Democratic side as Mr. Hill and Mr. Voorhees, the repeal was readily accomplished. In the two hours given to speeches on the measure there was the fullest expression of a desire to bury war animosities. The Senate did little beyond debat ing and passing this bill. Mr. Allen offered a resolution, which was re ferred, urging a Latin-American Union, in which all the republics of the Western hemisphere would make common cause against European en croachments. Mr. Hill, in introducing the pro scriptive repeal bill, said it would be a most fitting and generous Christ mas present to the men of the South. Mr. Sherman, Rep. of Ohio), sug gested that there should be commit tee consideration. "I will vote for this bill," said Mr. Sherman; the time is past for such discrimination, but the usual course of committee action should be taken." Mr. Chandler, Rep. of New Hamp shire), urged immediate action. Thirty years had elapsed 'since the war. There was no reason for keeping up this proscription and there was abun dant reason for repealing it. "The other day,' added Mr. Chand ler, "we came to the support of a Democratic President on a question of national affairs and I sincerely hope that the Senate will today without criticism and without a voice of op position, unanimously approve this re peal." Mr. Gray (Dem; of Delaware), while favoring the legislation, believed that committee consideration would secure the most satisfactory action. Mr. Hawley (Rep.) responding to some criticisms by Mr. Gray as to the course of former legislation in this line said it was not tobe won dered at that there was some feeling over Appromattox and Gettysburg. This law followed the close of the war. It was not proscriptive. It was regarded at the time as erfect ly just - The Senator said he had the greatest respect nersonally for some of these Confederate soldiers. But a country that had any respect for it self was compelled at the close of a great .war to protect itself against abuses of 'that day, when ex-Con federates frequently enlisted in the Union armies immediately af ter leav ing the Southern lines. The Senator without opposing the measure, felt that committee action would give the step greater force if it was to be taken. Mr. Daniel (Dem. of Virgina) spoke of the wish of the South to have one country and one people. When the war closed the Southi laid down its arms. It was anxious now to obliter te the fierce memories of the war. Mr. Daniel presented the memorial of the Virginia Legislature urgig this repeal and also commendin te Presi :dent's message on Venezuela. Mr. Voorheese (Dem, of Indiana) ex pressed the hope that "this last process of healing" should he put into effect. Already the Senate had confirmed the ivil appointments of General Long street and that other great Southern soldiier, "second only to Lee"-Joe Johnson. Mr. Voorhees said the re pea would actually accomlish little, but it would be an expression of good will. Mr. Platt (Rep. of Connecticut spoke of the attacks made on him by South ern newspapers because ho suggested the other day that this bill go to the ommittee. "From one end to the ther of the South," said Mr. Platt, "the press condemnsme, applies to me~ all kinds of epithets, declares that I am lacking in patriotism, and finally sends me marked copies of their con emnation. But,'continued Mr. Platt, '"this country has forgiven much; it is ready to forgive more. And I am so full of forgiveness on this day before hristmas that I am ready to forgive hese ex-Confederates and to join to ay with the Senator from New York (Hill) in supporting this repeal." Mr. Allen, speaking as a former pri ate in the Northern ranks, urged the repeal and condemned the "bloody flag" politics of the past. The Senator aused some amusement by referring to the time when the command with which he served captured that com mnanded by the Senator from Missouri, Mr. Cockrell. Mr. Hill closed by pointing out the delays and absurdities of committee action. He created a laugh by point ing out the inconsiderateness of Mr. Platt in not sending him some of the complimentary Southern press notes. "For," said Mr. Hill good-naturedly, "it is so seldom nowaday that the press says anything complimentary of me." Mr. Sherman moved to refer the bill to the committee on Military Affairs. The motion was defeated, 8 to 30. Messrs. Bacon, Cockrell, Elkins, Frye, Gray, Sherman, Teller and Walthall voted yea. The vote being short of the quorum, a call of the Senate revealed forty seven Senators present. "It is evident," interposed Mr. Sher man, "that a majority of the Senate wish to give this bill as a Christmas present to the South and I therefore withdraw my motion for a reference. Thereupon without division the bill was passed._____ FREDERIC H. Coudert says that, in case of hostilities with England, all Europe would side with the United States, and that the maps of Europe STICK TO ITS PURPOSE. rhe Dispenisary Law Should Curtail the Sale of Whiskey. Editor Register: Kindly allow one of your readers to express a few thoughts through your valuable paper in regard to the control and sale by the State of intoxicating liquors. Surely a great responsibility now rests upon the Reform party, which inaugarated the present system, as to how we shall manage the .liquor busi ness, so that the best results may fol low and no serious harm be done. The dispensary law was wisely con ceived and evidently drawn with much care, as evidenced in the various sec tions of the Act, especially section 11, and if carried out according to its true spirit aad plain meanir.g-not opening the flood gate to sales-then the law may prove to be of incalculable good, especiallyin preventing many who are too much inclined to the use of liquor, from getting it. The framers of the dispensary law, I am persuaded, had no low design (such as to make money for the State) in enacting a law giviag the State con trol of the liquor business, but had in view the best interest of the whole people, and the protection of society, as well as to reduce the sale of intoxi cating liquors, which was having such a baneful influence. [t is wellremem bered that the State had voted prohi bition. Our Legislature, seeing the difficulties attending the enforcement of such a law, wisely jI hope) adopted the present law giving the State con trol as a compromise measure. If the law is operated and enforced according to its plain features and provisions, and for the best interest of all concerned, it will hardly fail to give satisfaction, but will prove to be the best solution of the liquor question. In view of all the surroundings, will it not be well for our Boards of Con trol, and all concerned, as far as is reasonable, to try to check, or reduce, the sale and use of all intoxicating liquors? Let us not be drawn into wrong-do ing, under the misapprehension that it is necessary to place liquor in con venient places for the public, in order to keep down the blind tigers; but let us, rather, enforce thea law, and obey it strictly ourselves In its true spirit. Thus the law -will be more highly esteemed by our best people; and we will not so often be out to the blush in seeing drunken men go away from the places where we are proposing to control the liquor business. The opening of more Dispensaries than is really necessary in any com munity does look like we were reach ing out for more business, for revenue Let us not yield to the seductive influ ence and mistaicen idea that more dis pensaries are necessary to keep do wn "blind tigers," but stand firm on the principle of right, and endeavor to mase the law what it was designed to be, a relief to our people and a bless ing.to society. REFORER. Spartanburg, Dec. 26. Gladstone's Message LNDON, Dec. 23.-This afternoon's papers continue commenting editori ally and at length upon the Venezu elan matter, but their remarks are on the financial, rather than the politi cal, ast of the case. While there is noabatement of the exnressions of belief that the ground tak~en on be half of the United States is untenable, the tone is altogether niore pacific. Yet, there is a considerable display of satisfaction at the financial difficuities in the United States. The dispatch whici. the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone sent to Mr. Joseph Pulitzer. proprietor of the New York World, in answer to the latter's re quest for a message to the American people on the Venezuelan question, has attracted wide attention here and elsewhere. Mr. Pulitzer telegraphed that American senti:nent was at the turning point, that onc turned the wrong way no power on earth could hold it back, and that a word of peace and fellowship from Mr. Gladstone would aid to check clamor, to soothe the passion, toencourage sober thought and may avert calamity. In reply Mr. Gladstone cabled: "I can not interfere. Only common sense required. Cannot say more with advantage." The St. James Gazette this after noon commenting upon Mr. Glad stone's message to ';he proprietor of the New York World, says: "Com mon sense would have avoided the shock which has been given to both countries. It will find its way Out. It is the Americans who must supply the needful pinch of sanity, which they are fully capable of doing " The Westminister Gazette advises all concerned to "takse a holiday and a breathing space, and. allow common sense to assert itself,'' adding, '"when both sides discover that there is ample room for consideraticl, concession and adjustment, the comaon. sense party in the United States :nay be sure that it would be met half way by the com mon sense party here." MississippI Flood i ST. Louis, Mo., Dec. 22.-Since Thursday night the Mississippi River at this point has risen 22 feet, which is unorecedented in the same length of time.~ The boatmen and dwellers on the river bank were taken unawares and t'le loss is alreac y very great. A number of shanty boats' were swept away. In one of these, "Sandy Hook," a das ce was in progr-ess last night and the revellers were not aware of their Seril until the boat ituck in a tree. he American bottoms are half under, and the loss of stock is considerable. At t; o'clock the gauge read 24 1-2 feet, whereas. Thursday morning it was only 2 1-2 feet. Meagre reports, due to breaks in corr.munication, show that the flood cove -s the Mississippi Valley from the Icwa line to Cairo. Ill. .At Warsaw, NIo., the Osage Riv er flooded the town, and the last dis patch,. was sent out by an operator perched on a desk fcur feet high, while a boat was moored to the door. At Fairfield, on t ie Usage. the wa ter is waist high ini the stores, the tracks are gone and no mail has arriv ed since Tuesday. At Taborville the the Osage was fourteen miles wide and a miill and all the bridges were carried away. In Union county Joseph Eckert, a surveyor, went dosvn with a bridge across the Bourbois and was drowned. St. Louis mail reaches Carthage, Mo., by going 200 miles around through Kansas. AUl small streams have but commenced to pour their flood into the Mississippi and a repetition of the disastrous floods of former years is WORSE THIAN SAVAGE. DETECTIVE NEWBOLD TELLS THE INHUMAN STORY OFA LYNCHING. Previous Reports Pale Into Insignincance in View of the Later Facts-A Blot on Our Civilization Which Should be Speed 11y Wiped Out. COLUMBIA, S. C., Dec. 24,-State De tective Newbold, who was recently de tailed to investigate the Colleton lynching, was in the city yesterday. Although the public has been given a general idea of the enormity of the crime there are many harrow' de tails that have not been published. In the first place, the detective says that he can find absolutely no motive for the outrage. The negro Isom Kearse had been charged with burgla ry, but had been acquitted bya white jury. He says that Kearse was as black as black could be, and was a young negro about 19 years old, one of the finest specimens of physical manhood he had ever seen. Some time ago a negro walking along the road near the scene of the lynching cursed and insulted a white woman who was in a field beside the road. It has been given out that Kearse was the man who did it, but Detective Newbold says the woman testifies herself that the negro was a tall, slim, gingercake colored man, which is almost directly opposite the description of Kearse. The negro who insulted this woman was supposed to be the one who stole the bible from St. Nicholas Church The detective has other facts which will be brought out on trial to show that Kearse was in no way implicated in either offense; that there was absolutely no charge against his mother, who was also beaten to death, or against his wife, who, though flayed alive, still lives. According to the facts ascertained by the detectives the act was one that even the most inhuman savage would have hesitated to commit. The party consisted of eight men. They went tc< the Kearse's house at night, took t, man, his mother and his wife ovu-to the woods near by. TJhve were aied with two brand new buggy-. tiaces. They built a fire and then stripped their victims,each one of whom plead ed most piteously for mercy, but they might as well have prayed to a stone wall. Be fore whipping the ne one of the lynchers took some wh i ey, poured something in it and compelled the negroes -to drink. They then laid upon their naked bodies hundreds up on hundreds of blows with -the traces. each one of which brought blood and laid the flesh bare. Some opiate had been given the negroes in order that in a short while that the might fall asleep and their cries be hushed. The only survivor, the wife of Kearse, says that they first beat her husband. His piteous cries were loud at first but soon the strong opiates got in their work and his yells ceased, but the lashes went on just the same. Next the old mother was given the sleepg' potion.and the lashes. were.. laid on her back, and in fa::t, alikover her body. Not a sound spot was on her body, but the opiate did not take effect at once. After beating her to their bloodthirsty and fiendish heart's content they let her run away. She went into the swamp,running ihrough three feet of water at times, until,stl running, death came to her relief, and she fell dead in water but a few inches deep. The same savagery was dslydin whipping Kearse's wife, who a be side the fire in front of her, now dead. Notwithstanding the awful and ao nizing lashing laid upon her, she d not die. But she fell unconscious and no doubt the devils thought she was dead. They left her lying naked on the ground, but after a while, she knows not how long, she revived and managed to get back home. Detective Newbold had the bodies exhumed last week. They were in a fine state of preservation, having been practically fIrozcn before burial. He had physicians to examine them and he says there was not a sound spot on their bodies. The flesh had been beat en into a pulp, and so deep were some of the cuts made by the buggy traces that some of the vitals were affected, and the physicians gave it as their de liberate opinion, that the whipping alone was sufficient to cause deah Their stomachs were sent to Char leston for analysis to discover what poison was administered, but no re port as to the result has been made. Kearse's wife, who survived,as if by a miracle, is one mass of deep, bloody gashes-from her head to her feet. One of the men named Hiers has confess ed, but it is understood that the others will plead an alibi when the case comes to trial in the third week of January. Detec'tive New bold says that in all his experience he never has seen more inhuman cruelty and savagery perpe trated, and he can find no reason whatever why these negroes should have been killed. His report makes this crime one of the foulest blots on our civilization, and all good citizens of that section and of the whole State will rejoice to see the perpetrators, some of whom boasted of their acts, brought to a richly merited punish ment.-Register. Passed Without Dissent. WASUIsGTos, Dec. 20.-The Unit ed States Senate, by an unanimous vote and without the formality of a roll call, to-day passed the bill already adopted by the House of Representa tives, empowering the President to determine the Venezuela British-Gui ana boundary. This action was the cul mination of a debate adding a memor able page to Congressional history. It was a day of notable sp)eeches by no table men. The nrospect of war be tween the Unitel States and Great Britian was the prevailing theme, and not withstanding the gravity of such a su bject it was discussed with a direct niess of statement which found expres sion in lofty patriotic sentiments, in stirring appeals for preparation and defense, in graphic portra als of the horr-ors of war, and at times in defiant warnings to the people across the wa ter. Bo0th Want Peace. AsnIEvItu:, N. C., Dec., 2.--Miss F"rances E. Willard, president of the world's W. C. T. U., is spending holi day week here. A cable from Lady Somerset, dated today has been re ceived by her as follows: "Christmas greetings. Pray for peace." Miss Willard sent this reply: "White rib bon women of the world over are praying for peace. Let us help the Armenians and not harm our own