The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 1

LE A Ja BROOKLYN DAILY A THE NEW YOEK, SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 1900. VOL. 60. NO. 61.

18 PAGES. COPYRIGHT, 1900. BT THE BROOKLYN DAILY EAGLE. THREE CENTS, LAST EDITION. TO ATTACK REBEL INDIANS.

TO AVOID INCREASED DUTIES. CITY LOOTED IN LEGRLWAY, DECLARES THE CONTROLLER DEMOCRATS, AFTER ALL, WILL GET CENSUS JOBS. KMIGEB ID STEYN MAY DISCUSS PEACE TERMS. company. Ladenberg, Thallman Co.

were also interested in the company. Ever since last spring there have been rumors that all was not right in the management of the American Malting Company. At that time Otto Huber, the Brooklyn Brewer, demanded permission to examine the books of the company. This was refused, and Mr. Huber took the matter into court.

Later a compromise was effected and Mr. Huber professed himself satisfied. Some time after the organization of the company, Frederick Uhlmann, then president and receiver of the Brooklyn Elevated Railroad Company, became a stockholder. When the affairs of the company reached a crisis Mr. Uhlmann became very active and practically forced the present inquiry.

Last fall the company endeavored to float, bonds for tho purpose of taking up the floating debt and providing sufficient working capital. It was unsuccessful in this and early in December it was decided to pass dividends for one year. The officers the American Malting Company are: President, Charles A. Stadler; first vice presdent and general manager. C.

A. Pur cell; second vice president and treasurer, Elverton R. Chapman; general superintendent, Seymour Scott; secretary and assistant treasurer, Edward Merrick; directors, E. R. Chapman.

A. M. Curtiss, T. L. Hansen, George Neidlinger, R.

R. Nunnemacher, C. A. Purcell, Seymour Scott, C. Sohngen, C.

A. Stadler, C. M. Warner, D. D.

Weschler, A. C. Zinn. CORBIN'S MILITARY RECORD. Mexican Troops Making Ready for a Descent on Maya Stronghold.

Oaxaca, Mexico, March 3 General Bravos' government troops have made an aggressive advance against Maya Indians in the State of Yucatan during the last few days. His army is now within a few miles of Santa Cruz, the main stronghold ot the rebels. The attack on this stronghold will be made early next week. The Mayas were strongly intrenched at Aguada, their force at that place numbering 3,000 armed men. Six hundred Mexican troops, commanded by General Bravos in person, attacked them and drove them from the trenches.

Thirty two Indians were killed. IS CUBAN REVOLT PENDING? Newspaper Correspondent Declares He Has "Inside Information" of a Projected Revolt. Mobile, March 3 The following has been received from the Mobile Register's Havana correspondent under date of February 24: "I have inside information that there is to be a rising on the island before long. Lately there has been great demand for spurs, machetes and hammocks, the three principal implements of Cuban warfare. Several ot the stores have sold out their entire stock of these goods." RAILROADS TO CONTROL SHIPS.

Latest Combination Will Place All Transportation to the West Under One Control. Chicago, March 3 Another field of transportation is to be covered by the syndicates that within the past few months have assumed control of the railroads east of Chicago and St: Louis. Those behind the consolida tions have turned their attention to the water lines and are working on a plan to combine the large vessel companies on the Great Lakes with the intention of placing these in the pool with the railroads. All the big lines are to be brought into the field and a common set of rates agreed upon that will not' conflict or cause trouble to the all rail lines from here to the East It is said that Morgan Rockefeller, Harriman and Hill are the prime movers in the lake deal. In the lake pool Mr.

Rockefeller will place his big fleet of ore boats operating between Cleveland and Buffalo and the ore ports of Northern Michigan and Wisconsin, Hill will add all the big liners of the Northern Steamship Company, including the passenger boats the Northwest and the North Land; Morgan will contribute the vessels owned and operated by the Erie and Lehigh Valley roads, and Harriman will turn over the steamers run in connection with the New York Central Railroad system. This will include 95 per cent, of all the big boats on the Great Lakes, both freight and passenger. TWO STEAMSHIPS AGROUND. The Pennsylvania and La Normandie Both in the Mud in Gedney's Channel. The steamship Pennsylvania of the Ham burg American Line, which left her dock at 6:30 o'clock this morning, with 130 cabin and 100 steerage passengers aboard, grounded in Gedney's Channel, near Buoy 8.

At the time the sun was shining, the weather clear and a strong northwest wind blowing. At the offices of the company it was said that so far as was known no blame attaches to the pilot, Fred Reierson. but it was assumed, as the steamship was flying the signals "not under control," that the steerage gear was out of order. A tug was sent down to. the steamship's assistance.

High water came at o'clock, but even then the steamship did not float. The French Line steamer La Normandie, outward bound for Havre, 'was reported, at noon, to be aground on the other side of Gedney Channel, opposite where the Hamburg Liner Pennsylvania is aground. The tug George J. Kuper was alongside of La Normandie. THE CONEMAUGH WATERSHED.

Plan of Reforestation to Prevent Possible Repetition of Johnstown Flood. Johnstown, March 3 An attempt will soon be made to reforest a large portion of the Conemaugh watershed to prevent damage from freshets or a possible repetition of the Johnstown flood of 1SS3, when $10,000,000 in property was carried away and nearly five thousand lives were lost. Tho region is peculiarly liable to freshets, owing to its geological character and the removal of its timber and as soon as the weather permits, J. W. Tuomey, government superintendent of tree planting, and another working plant expert of the government division of forestry will examine the region and decide on a plan of reforestation.

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS. Convention Called to Take Defensive Action Against a Combination. Pittsburg. March 3 A call for a convention of all the electrical contractors in the United States to be held in this city on March 16, has been issued by the Pittsburg Electrical Contractors' Association. The object of the convention is to take some defensive action, consequent upon the formation of a combine of the electrical supply houses and the probable advancing of prices on material.

There are in the L'nited States more than four thousand electrical contractors who are rated by the mercantile agencies at $20,000 and over. Fully l.ono of these are expected to attend the convention to be held here and an effort will be made to form a national organization. TRANSPORT MC CLELLAN HERE. The United States transport McClellan, Captain Nye, arrived this morning from San. Juan, Porto Rico: Santiago, Guantanamo and Baracoa, with 21 cabin passengers, 15 undertakers and civilians, and 101 bodies of soldiers.

All are well on board. The McClellan proceeded at noon to Pier 22. ACCUSED CASHIER ACQUITTED. Memphis, March 3 The jury in the case of Harry L. Armstrong, cashier of the defunct Continental National Bank, charged with making illegal entries in his reports to the government, has returned a verdict of not guilty.

BENHAM'S FIGHT FOR LIFE. Batavla, N. March 3 The motion for a change of venue in the new trial of Howard C. Benham of Batavia, charged with wife murder, will be made before Justice Lambert in special term In Buffalo on Monday, March 12. No Extra Fare an the Pennsylvania Limited to St.

Louis. Magnificent track, Uma and model train. A Great Quantities of Tobacco, Spirits, Unbonded in England. London, March 3 There was unprecedented activity to day at all the custom houses in the United Kingdom, the object being to un bond the greatest possible quantity of tobaccos, wines, spirits, tea, on which it is assumed, the chancellor of the exchequer, Sir Michael Hicks Beach will announce increased duties Monday. It is said that enormous sums are being paid in duties.

KILLED ON THE ELEVATED ROAD. John Carston, 55 years old, of 101 West One Hundred and Second street, Manhattan, a track walker, employed by the Manhattan Elevated Company, was run over and instantly killed this morning by an engine of the Eighth avenue line at One Hundred and Thirty ninth street and Eighth avenue. The engine was on the middle track at the time and backing. Carston was walking north on the east track and did not see the backing engine. He stepped on the middle track Just as the engine had reached him and he was knocked down and run over by the tender.

METHODISTS LOSING MEMBERS. Bishops, Greatly Exercised Over Defections, Issue an Address and Designate a Week of Frayer. Minneapolis, March 2 The membership of the Methodist Church is less than It was two years ago and this fact has greatly exercised the bishops of that denomination. How to revive interest in the church is a question to which the representative clergymen have given earnest consideration. To bring the matter directly before the people a committee composed of Bishops C.

H. Fowler, W. X. Ninde and I. W.

Joyce, acting on behalf of the body of bishops, has issued an address to the church. The conditions are carefully outlined and a week of prayer is arranged. This will begin March 25, and dally services are to he held in all Methodist churches in the country. The address says in part: "To day our Methodism confronts a serious situation, Our statistics for the last year show a decrease in the number of our members. The lost ground is paved wfth the dead.

We are surrounded by powerful enemies. The attack is on every side. It is high time for every Methodist to take himself or herself to prayer and to call mightily on God for help." FIREWORKS FACTORY EXPLODES Nelson's Establishment in East New York Has Another Accident Nobody Hurt Damage, $85. A terrific explosion occurred at 11:15 o'clock this morning at Nelson's fireworks factory, on Essex street, near Glenmore avenue. That no one was killed is a miracle.

The place has been the scene of explosion after explosion for years and it was only a few weeks ago that the place was on fire. As usual, Charles Nelson, the prryrietor of the place, placed his loss at mali figure. The explosion occurred in a workshop building, 25 feet square, one story high, with a peak roof, on Essex street, near the corner of Glenmore avenue. Nelson's factory takes in an area of 200x300 feet and the building that was blown up is only one of many on the grounds. Ten feet across on the north side from the building that was blown up, is a store house, brick lined, and that was completely wrecked.

On the south side is a two story building, where the boys and girls were at work, and in which every pane of glass was shattered. On the east side, fully 80 feet away, every sash was blown into atoms. Plage's store, at the northwest corner of Glenmore avenue and Essex street, had every window shattered and the same thing occurred in the buildings on Glenmore avenue, near Essex street. When the fire department reached the scene there was a big blaze and it took hard work to keep the Are from spreading to the other buildings on the place. To the police Mr.

Nelson said that the damage to the building was $10 and to the stock $25. TO REFORM ELECTION LAWS. Kentucky Republicans Arrange to Call an Inter State Convention. Frankfort, March 3 The committee appointed by the Republican Legislature caucus recently to arrange for a convention of the Republicans of Kentucky, Virginia, Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama and North and South Carolina to start a movement against the election laws now in force in these states held a meeting and organized last night. Senator N.

T. Howard of Butler County was elected chairman and Senator W. H. Cox of Haysville secretary. The Kentucky State Convention will be held some time this month, at Louisville.

The convention then will issue an address to the Republicans of the states mentioned, calling a convention of all of them to meet at Nashville. SHELDON'S PAPER in ENGLAND. Sir George Newnes Will Publish London Edition of Topeka Capital. London, March 3 F. W.

Pringle of Chicago, who came over this week, representing the Rev. C. M. Sheldon, has arranged with Sir George Newnes, publisher of the Westminster Gazette and the Strand Magazine, to reproduce in England the edition of the Topeka Capital, which the author of "In His Steps" begins March 13, to continue one week. Religious societies havo also warmly taken up the idea.

The Sunday School Chronicle and Christian Endeavorer are arranging to publish the bulk of Mr. Sheldon's week's work. LOCKED IN COAL BIN. James Johnson. If' years old, who lives at a lodging house at Rockwell place and Fulton street, was held as a suspicious person in the Myrtle avenue court this morning by Magistrate Teale.

Johnson was caught yesterday afternoon by the janitor of the Oat building at 2S and 30 Ormond place rummaging through some old trunks in the collar of No. 2S. The janitor seized the intruder and forced him into a coal bin and barlocked the door, which he guarded with an iron bar. CURRY DISCHARGED. John L.

Curry, 50 years of age, of 162 Taylor street, in the Eastern District, who attempted to commit suicide by shooting himself in the head with a revolver on the night of February 11, ns arraigned in the Lee avenue police court to day and discharged. Curry's act was the result of worry and anxiety at not hearing from a brother who is with the army in the Philippines, but he has now recovered from his despondency. TOOK OFF CAPTAIN AND CREW. The Mallory Line steamer Alamo, which arrived this morning from Galveston, reports that on March 1, in latitude 33.50, longitude 76.00. 3he fell in with the schooner Anna E.

Kctcham, Captain Stille, bound from Philadelphia for Jacksonville with a cargo of coal. The schooner was dismasted and in a sinking condition. Tho Alamo took off the captain, and seven men nun, hrouebt'them. ta'jiorL BY MALT STOCKHOLDER Committee Declares That Dividends Were Declared in the Face of a Deficit. HOW PROFITS WERE RECKONED.

Extraordinary Financial Methods So Valuations Placed on Property "Which Cost Millions. The committee appointed to make an Investigation into the workings of the American Malting Company, of which Frederick Uhlmann, Robert 11. Galloway and J. P. Ord are members, have completed their labors and reported to the stockholders a sensational condition of affairs.

The investigation now makes plain the reason for the drop ia the stock of the summer and fall, when the preferred stock fell from 84 to 24 and the common stock from 34 to 7. The investigation has revealed what is regarded on Wall street to be a most outrageous state of affairs. In short the company was wrecked. The profit and loss statement of December 31, 189S, Is an interesting document and shows s'ome bookkeeping of a novel character. The gross profits, from the organization to the date named, are named as $1,587, 076.47.

The expenses are named as $510, 626.68, and deducted from the alleged profits leave a balance of The dividends paid in 18BS were leaving a booking surplus on December 31, 1898, of 198,649.79. This booking profit was obtained by calculating probable profits on the malt on hand. Later this had to be charged off, thus making the business for 1899 show a loss $11,000. Nevertheless dividends were paid last year amounting to $977,550. The deficit is thus $1,380,399.59.

This interesting report, in part, says: "On organization there was issued to a party "who held purchasing options on certain malting plants, situated in different states, $13,740,000 of the common stock and $12,500,000 of the preferred stock, which, with 510,000 of the common stock originally subscribed for in cash, represent a par total value of $26,250,000, for which the company acquired all the plants stated in Schedule hereto annexed, and cash as a working capital, the sum of $2,080,000. "The hooks of the company do not show Vay valuation for any individual plant or What price, the selling malsters received, but Binrply record that the stock, issued as above stated, was paid to the party above referred to for the plants shown in Schedule A and for $2,080,000 in cash. "At the end of the company's fiscal year, December 31, 1S9S, computations of the company's profits were made for the first time. They covered a period of one year two months and twenty days. After deducting $877,800 for four quarterly dividends of 1 per cent each paid on the preferred stock, a bookkeeping surplus of $19S.

649.79 was shown. profit balance was obtained by crediting' profit and loss account in the following manner: There were on hand at that, date executory contracts for about 6,700,000 bushels of malt (nearly one half of the company's annual business) manufactured and sold, but not delivered. It was computed that this malt, when delivered, would realize a profit of $3SS, 063.36, and this estimated amount was treated as a net profit, without deduction for administration and incidental expsnses." "While your company has earned an excess over operating expenses, including interest on floating debt, such earnings have been far below 7 per cent, per annum on $14,440,000 of preferred stock. "Profits were determined and dividends declared by 'dead a dividend having been declared within three months after business began. "The acquirement of sundry small plants at excessive values impaired the working capital and increased the expenses of the company although its business did not need such plants.

"Economics in general administration, manufacturing and distributing have not resulted from bringing the various plants into one ownership." The maltsters owning the plants your company acquired made money for themselves, and when your company was organized there was In the trade generally fair margin of profit. From the inception of your company (although it sell about 60 per cent, of all the mlta. required by brewers in the United. States, who do not make their own malt) the prices at which its product has been sold wero not judiciously established with reference to cost, or firmly maintained with reference to competitors. There seems to have been an ambition to increase the mere volume of bus inss.

Keen competition and the lack of a settled policy as to what must be regarded, at a given price for barley, a minimum price of malt, has forced the price of maul to ruinous figures. The effect on the malting trade as a whole is evident. The policy of the new administration, so far as it can be determined after so short a connection with your company, will be to eliminate excessive and unnecessary expenses; to reorganize, centralize and carry on the business on more conservative methods; to coirect, if possible, abuses brought on hv competition; to make no investments in new plants until the business shall havo grown to proportions to necessitate such, but to concentrate, as far as possible, the manufacturing at its largest, most modern and most advantageously located plants, and to dispose of such properties as can be dispensed with without prejudice to the company's future business; and to pay dividends only when earned, after providing the agreed sinking fund tor the bonds and a fair amount for maintenance and depreciation. As the malting season ends in August the fiscal year will hereafter terminate August 31, and reports will be made to stockholders as of that date. Little or no profit need bo expected for the eight months ending August 31, 1900, because tho company is burdened by unfavorable conditions which cannot be changed until the beginning of the next, malting season (crop of 1900), September 1.

Thereafter, considering that your company will be free from unprofitable contracts, that it owns some of the best and most valuable malting plants in tho country and that its principal plants are in excellent condition and well located for the economical production and delivery of mnlt, it can and should he put on a sound basis; but it would be visionary to hope for 7 per cent, annual dividends on the preferred stock for some considerable time. Allowing for the bond Interest, the sinking fund reserve for tho bonds and tho cumulative feature of the preferred stock, the prospects of dividends for tho common stock are very remote. Tho condition of your company to invite credit, do business and meet competition is better than at any time since its organization. It should not need to borrow money, except temporarily during four months in the year, when the malting season is at its maximum. The American Malting Company was organized two and a half years ago, under the auspices of the banking firm of Moore Bchley.

Elverton II. Chapman of that firm was a vice president and treasurer of the Representative Driggs and Colleagues Force Supervisor Atter bury to Yield Some Patronage. MERRIAM BECOMES ALARMED. He Visits Brooklyn to Intercede With Local Republican Machine in Order to Safeguard Future Appropriations. Eagle Bureau, 60S Fourteenth Street Washington.

March 3 The Democratic rep resentatives from Long Island are jubilant to day over what they regard as a big victory over Walter B. Atterbury and the Kings County Republican machine. Atterbury, as supervisor of the census for Long Island and as chairman of the local Republican commit tee, has agreed to recognize the Democrats in the distribution of the census patronage, thereby going back on his positive declaration of some weeks ago. Director of the Census Merriam returned yesterday from Brooklyn, where he went for the purpose of interviewing Mr. Atterbury on the question of the appointment of the thou sand and more enumerators to be named for that district.

This morning he sent word to each of the Long Island representatives in Congress that Mr. Atterbury had consented to allot to the Democrats a certain number of enumerators, amounting in all to ten per cent, of the total. This is the minimum that the Democrats had announced that they would accept, and although they do not regard the concession a3 liberal they look upon it as a victory in view of the original attitude of Atterbury. It will be recollected that when the Democratic representatives from Long Island asked Supervisor Atterbury what proportion of the enumerators they were to be allowed to designate, they were informed that they would not get any; that they would each have the appointment of three clerks in the census office at Washington, hut that this was all they could expect. This information created consternation among the ranks of the Long Island men, each of whom had received anywhere from ten to two hundred applications for appointments as enumerators.

A conference was held and Director Mer riam was appealed to. He Informed the delegation that he had adopted the general plan of allowing the local Republican organization in each supervisor's district to settle how the patronage should be divided, and that if the Kings County Republican committee saw fit to ignore them in this matter he could do nothing. This served to still further incense the Brooklyn men, who decided to go on the war path. Representative Driggs wrote to Director Merriam a sharp letter of formal pro test against his action in supporting Mr. At terbury, claiming that the law required him to secure the recognition of the Democratic party In Brooklyn in order to secure a nonpartisan ce up.

It wa hinted that if the Republicans rn BrooKlyn peislsred in ignoring the Democratic claim, the director would have difficulty in getting further appropriations to carry on the census work when he appealed to the House for more funds in the future. Another conference between Representative Driggs and the director followed this letter, when the former was informed that Director Merriam would make another effort to get Mr. Atterbury to make a division of the patronage. The director went over to Brooklyn, had a long talk with Mr. Atterbury and returned to Washington yesterday, after having obtained tho assurance of the supervisor for Long Island that the Democrats would be allowed to appoint one tenth of the total enumerators for that territory.

DID NOT WANT BERGER. His Services Refused by a Court Com plainant. Jacob Berger, who is known as the Sheriff of Brownsville, was badly thrown down, theoretically speaking, by a Polack in the Gates avenue court this morning. Magistrate Teale called Berger to interpret the story of Adam Lockmowitch of 444 Rockaway avenue, who was making a charge of highway robbery against a prisoner. When Berger stood alongside Lockmowitch at the bar the latter looked at him and remarked to the magistrate in the best English he was capable of, "No; he no good." The incident caused great laughter among the court attaches, the magistrate joining in.

It was found necessary to adjourn the case, as there was no other interpreter of the Polish language in court. Loclynowitch was assaulted and robbed at 1 o'clock on the morning of February 10. He was crossing the lots the rear of Pub lie School No. 84, at Stone and Glenmore avenues, when he was set upon by five men, one of whom pointed a revolver at him and also hit him with the butt end of the weapon. The other men went through his pockets and robbed him of a gold plated hunting case watch and in money.

i esterday af ternoon Detectives Stack and Croak arrested Abraham Bernstein of 3S4 Stone avenue, who was identified by Lockmowitch as one of his assailants. The prisoner was held in default of $1,000 bail. Another of the suspected as sailants is awaiting trial under a charge of burglary. VERDICT FOR $750. A verdict for $750 was handed to Justice Jenks in Part III of the Supreme Court late yesterday afternoon in favor of John L.

Price, 18 years old, in his suit brought through his father. Henry Price of Twentieth street. against the Heights line to recover $10,000 for personal injuries. It was testified bv wit nesses for the plaintiff that on October 26 last young Price was riding in a van on Court street and that a car of the defendant's line ran into the van. Price was thrown out and his side and hip were injured.

It was de clared also that the accident had resulted in a lasting Injury to his heart. The defendant corporation denied that the motorman was at lauu. MILLER'S MOTION DENIED. Judge Edward B. Thomas, sitting in tho United States District finurt thin mniu.

denied the motion of William F. Miller's counsel to dismiss 'the writ of habeas corpus under which Miller was brought before Ref ujjij ii uuwjumgs. Judge Thomas said that his modification of the uiui v. an me points in the arguments to dismiss, and that nobody inlnrurt hv fhn VVU.U UD AUutlumiUU 111 LOG preparation of schedules. Referee Koehler DLUmU LUnk VAauiiuuiwu WOUIO DO 8(1 journed until March 6 at 10 o'clock A.

M. CHANGE IN CAR SERVICE. The cars of the Rapid Transit Company's Ulmer Park, Bay Ridge Avenue Line, which have heretofore run to Sixty fifth street and Third avenue will be run beginning Monday to Union depot at Thirty sixth street, by way of Bay Ridge avenue and Fifth avenue, transferring to connecting elevated and surface lines. The cars of the Ulmer Park, Thirty ninth street Ferry Line will continue to run to meet all boats by way of Sixty fifth street and Third avenue, as heretofora. Coler Says New York Is Forced to Pay Exorbitant Prices for Supplies.

WHALEN'S OFFICE ATTACKED. Mr. Coler Asserts That the Corporation Counsel Is Interfering With Needed Legislation. 1 Controller Coler followed up this morning the charges he made in his speech last night before the Broadway Merchants' Association, in which he declared that "some of the most daring raids on the city treasury have been prepared, which make Tweed's efforts seem like those of an amateur." "I meant every word I said last night," said Mr. Coler to day.

"The looting of the city treasury in a legal way is going on at a tremendous rate and when I try to get legislation to put a stop to it, the city attorney goes up to Albany and knocks the bills on the bead. The Corporation Counsel has spent a week at the capital, opposing legislation designed to protect the city's interests, and in all that time he has not opened his mouth to defeat the Ramapo Water Company and make it powerless to feed on the city. "The killing of the bill to prevent indiscriminate confessions of judgment by the Corporation Counsel and of that providing that the city shall not be compelled to pay more than the market price for goods it buys is practically an invitation to loot the city treasury' The failure to oppose the Ramapo Water Company is the same thing and when I say there is a concerted movement to raid the city treasury I mean that bills designed to protect the city from loss are ruthlessly killed by the aid of city officials, while bills of the opposite character are pressed triumphantly along. "If the city is compelled, as the law holds it is, to pay the market price for the serv Ices of its employes, it is no more than Just that it should not be compelled to pay more than the market price for supplies. This Is all that Is demanded by the bill which tho Corporation Counsel opposes and which expe7 rlence teaches is urgently demanded.

As the case now stands, I have to prove fraud or else pay bills no matter whether they are extravagant or not. It is a very difficult thing to prove fraud and so the city comes out at the small end of the deal. "As an example of the way the city ta caught in the fetters and compelled to pay excessive prices there is the case of the judgment for $549.49 in favor of plaintiffs in the matter of the purchase of a safe by the Commissioner of Public Buildings, Lighting and Supplies. This was confessed. by the Corporation Counsel after the Auditor had refused to pay the bill as being excessive.

I instituted an examination and got the Mayor of the City of Mount Vernon to secure prices for the same safe. He was offered one for $301, identical with the safe for which the City New York was charged and had to pay $500 plus extra charges for suit. This is the kind ot thing I.want to put a stop to and which the Corporation Counsel takes the trouble tC go to Albany to oppose with all his power. Ha takes a club and knocks in the head legislation giving the city a defense, although he Is an officer of the city government under oatll to protect its interests. "This kind of thing goes on in many places.

Supplies are bought at higher prices than the market rate and the city has no defense against paying the bills. In certain cases the extravagance of claims has been so palpable that upon refusal to pay they have been cut down voluntarily, but had the matters been carried to the courts under the law, judgments would have been secured. Thousands of men are subsidized by the distribution patronage and the city suffers. "I spoke of the refinement of methods sines Tweed's time. The looting of the city goes on under a different system is now dona in a respectable way by the passage of legislation.

It is legalizing what before wa8 done without the interposition of law." AN OFFICER ASSAULTED. Bender Tried to Disperse a Crowd and One Drew a Knife on Him. Officer George Bender of the Clymer street station had a narrow escape with his life last night while endeavoring to disperse a crowd of rowdies at tho corner of Marcy avenue and Wallabout street, about midnight. Bender was patrolling his post when a crowd of young men, some of whom were colored, attracted his attention by their noisy behavior on the corner. On asking them to disperse, some went away, while others loitered in the vicinity.

Eugene Bowden, 21 years of age, a shoemaker, of 863 Myrtle avenue, refused to move and the officer tried to make him do so. In the course of a tussle. Bowden drew his shoemaker's knife and inflicted a cut on ono of the officer's arms. Bender then used his club, whereupon Bowden drew his knife again slitting a portion of the officer's coat. Bowden was finally subdued and taken to th station house.

An ambulance surgeon dressed the wound on Bender's arm. In the Lea avenue police court this morning Bowden pleaded not guilty and was held in $100 until Tuesday on a charge of felonious assault. GIVES SALARY TO HOSPITALS. Franklin, March 3 Shortly after thV election Joseph Sibley, Congressman from th Twenty seventh District, announced that would divide his salary for his two years' term among the five hospitals in his district. In fulfillment of this promise, ths officials of the projected hospital in this cit have received a check for $1,000 from Congressman Sibley, and a check for the same amount was received by each of the hospitals at Oil City, Warren, Bradford and Kane.

At the end of his term each hospital will have received $2,000. TWO VESSELS SEIZED. Deputy United States Marshal Cauldwell has seized the sailing vessel R. C. Rickmers, lying off Stapleton, on a libel for $500 for.

damage to cargo sworn out by Dwight P. Cruikshank. Deputy Couldwell also seized the scow William McNally, lying at the foot of East Thirty eight street, Manhattan, on a libel for $224.04 for repairs, sworn out by Peter L. Colon. SUICIDE IN THE STREET.

Augusta Donenion, 25 years old, of 237 West Fortieth street, Manhattan, committed suicide in front of the Metropole Hotel, Seventh avenue and Forty second street, by drinking carbolic acid at 4 o'clock this morning. MILL STRIKE SETTLED. Valleyfleld, Quebec, March 3 A strike at" the Montreal Cotton Company's mill by which 2,000 operatives were affected has been set tled, the men getting an advance ot per cent. Work will be resumed Monday. Roaslnl's Stabat Mater.

To morrow evening at the Marcy Ave. Baptttt Church, All are seats trqs, Afly. Meeting Between the Two Presidents Said to Have Been Arranged. ENGLISH TRIP OF BOERS. Significance Attached to Reported Visit of Three Officials Little War News.

London, March 3 President Kruger is said to have left Pretoria with the intention of meeting President Steyn. The place where they will meet is not mentioned, but is believed to be somewhere in the Orange Free State. Those in South Africa who are conversant with the effect the recent reverses have had on the Boers express the opinion that the meeting of the two presidents is preliminary to a suggestion of negotiations for peace. But if this is the case it must be due to the pressure brought to bear upon the presidents by the Burghers and Afrikanders in the British colonies rather than to the personal inclinations of the presidents, as all the available information depicts them as being as determined as ever to persist in the war until the resources of the republics are much more enfeebled than they seem to be at present. Some significance is attached to the consultation in view of the reported visit to England ot Chief Justice De Villiers, Mr.

Hofmeyer and Dr. Te. "Water, ostensibly on private business and for their health. The closest observers, however, do not anticipite any sudden cessation of hostilities and, certainly, the reports from the theater of war do not tend to encourage the advocates of immediate peace. The Boers are apparently rallying with their accustomed ability to repair a temporary Te verso and Great Britain has yet to test their force as a defensive power under the new conditions of warfare.

Reconnaissance by Gatacre. A dispatch from Sterkstroom, dated March 2, says: General Gatacre made a reconnaissance in force toward Stormberg to day. The Boers opposed him with two guns and the British artillery pitched some shells into the Boer laagers. Roberts' Reply to Congratulations. Telegraphing from Osfontein to day, thanking the Lord Mayor of Liverpool for his congratulations in behalf of that city, Lord Roberts says: "I trust her majesty's soldiers in this country will gain such further successes as will speedily restore the freedom and prosperity of South Africa." WILL SHARE WITH POLICE.

Board of Elections Will Move Into the Smith Street Building About May 1. The Board of Elections will share the old telephone exchange building on Smith street with the Police Department. The structure immediately opposite, now occupied by the election commissioners, will be vacated about May 1, according to Chief Clerk' John K. Neal. The Board of Elections would have been domiciled with the Police Department long ago, it is said, had there been sufficient accommodations in the Municipal Building, as the law stipulates that there should be close affiliation between the two.

The rent paid for the present Board of Election Building on Smith street is $3,600 annually. The original lease expired last May and at present none exists for any stated period. "I don't know as yet." said Chief Clerk Neal this morning, "what disposition will be made of the floors in the building which the Police Department has just leased. Of course we of the Election Board will have ample room to carry on our work. The offices here are a bit crowded and the accommodations across tho street will undoubtedly be made better in every way than those which are being used at present.

Beside, there are many bits of election paraphernalia, booths, ballot boxes, railings and such, now stored in various station houses, which it will be possible to concentrate under one roof when the new quarters are secured." HOTEL CLERK ARRESTED. John Nixon, Formerly in the Glenwood House, Charged With Stealing $17. John Nixon, 32 years of age, formerly a clerk In the Glenwood House at 227 Broadway, in the Eastern District, was arraigned in the Lee avenue police court this morning on a charge of petit larceny. The complainant was Alvin B. Mead, manager of the hotel.

It was charged that Nixon, while acting as night clerk in the hotel on March 1, appropriated $17 of the receipts to his own use. When Mr. Mead missed the money he secured a warrant for Nixon, who was arrested early this morning at 400 East Fourteenth street, Manhattan, where he was found by Officer Collins of the Bedford avenue station. The accused pleaded not guilty and was held in $300' ball until Tuesday. There are said to be extenuating circumstances in the case, and Mead showed a disposition to withdraw the charge against Nixon.

DIVORCE FOR ACTOR'S WIFE. Justice Wilmot M. Smith In Supreme Court has granted an absolute divorce to Elbra Marie Wilstach of 43 West Ninety eighth street, Manhattan, from Esmond Claxton Wilstach, who Is an actor now playing in Kansas City. ARGUMENTS IN CLARK CASE. Washington, March 3 The Senate committee on elections to day held a consultation with counsel on both sides in the Clark Investigation and decided to give them two weeks for the preparation of argument to be made In the case.

Argument will begin on the 20th inst. A SUDDEN DEATH. Joseph S. Petty, 54 years old, of 529 Fifth avenue, was taken suddenly ill, shortly before noon to day, at 32 Hamilton avenue, where he was employed as night clerk. He died before the arriva: of Ambulance Surgeon Cruikshank.

CANAL BOAT SUNK. A Delaware and Hudson Canal boat sunk this morning at the foot of Gold street. Brooklyn. New Evenlnc Train to tlie Southwest Leaves Grand Central Station at 9:30 every day by the New York Central Blsr Four'Route. Perfect service.

Trains Illuminated by Fintsch flight. Adv. Proceedings of Court Martial Which Tried Him in 1864 Called For by the Senate. Washington, March 3 When the Senate conveffed to day Mr. Pettigrew introduced and the Senate passed a resolution instructing the Secretary of War to send to the Senate the proceedings in the court martial of 1864 against the then Lieutenant Colonel Corbin, now Adjutant General of the Army.

The resolution also calls for other information bearing upon General Corbin's military record. POWDER MILL BLOWN UP. Employe Straggles All Night Through. Snow Drifts to Bring News of the Accident. Rochester, N.

March 3 News has just reached here of a terrible explosion which occurred at the Rand Powder Mills at Oak Ridge, about six miles east of Piftsiord, at 5 o'clock yesterday, causing the destruction of many tons of powder, a valuable building and the serious and probable fatal injuries to Frederick Buholtz, an employe at the mill. Owing' to the great snow storm the news of the casualty has just reached Pittsford. Charles Bartlett, another employe of the mill, struggled through the almost impassable snow drifts all night and staggered into the village at an early hour this morning, completely prostrated and hardly able to tell his story. He was badly frozen and could not tell exactly how the accident occurred. He says that Buholtz is probably fatally injured.

His face, arms and legs were badly torn and burned by the explosion, which is said to have ignited several tons of powder. Physicians started for Oak Ridge at 8 o'clock this morning, accompanied by the owners of the plant. CHARGED WITH CORRUPTION. JuTor "Winters and His Son Said to Have Taken Money Prom the Third Avenue Road. Magistrate Mott, in the Center street court, to day, held Charles Winters, a real estate dealer, of 350 East Eighty second street, Manhattan, and W.

C. Winters, his son, in $5,000 bail each on a charge of bribery. They were arrested by Detective Gorgan of the Central Office yesterday afternoon and spent the night at Police Headquarters. Captain McClusky said to day that the men were arrested for alleged violation of section 74 of the Penal Code touching bribery of jurors. On February 20 the case of Sparling vs.

the Third Avenue Railroad Company for damages for being struck by a street car was begun before Justice O'Gorman in Part Supreme Court. The elder Winters was a juror. The case proceeded and on February 22 the case was adjourned over that holiday. Captain McClusky said that in the interim young Winters called on Captain William H. Trueman, one of the attorneys of the Third Avenue Railroad Company, at the company's offices, at Sixty fifth street and Third avenue.

He saw Trueman's private secretary, whom he told that he could control two jurors on the panel in all cases against the Third Avenue Road on the calendar. His proposition was $50 for each juror and $50 for himself or for $300 in round 311m down, according to Captain McClusky. There were four cases on the calendar. Ca.ptaln McClusky said that the secretary told young Winters to call on Mr. Truemaa and he did so.

On February 23 the jury returned a verdict for $1,500 against the Third Avenue Company. Mr. Trueman called on Justice O'Gorman and related the above facts. Justice O'Gorman submitted the matter to Captain McClusky and Defective Gargan was put on the case. According to McClusky, the following Friday night Captain Trueman's secretary called at 350 East Eighty second street and inquired for young Winters.

At first he was told he was not at home. Then he was taken upstairs and introduced to the elder Winters. The latter explained to htm that he was on the jury in the Sparling case. He and another juror held out for $100 damages. The others wanted to give $4,000.

A compromise verdict of $1,500 was reached. The secretary told the elder Winters to call on Captain Trueman. When the elder Winters called at Captain Trueman's office yesterday Detective Gargan was present with five ten dollar bills, all marked. Gargan was introduced as Treasurer Beaver's secretary. The elder Winters told his story of the Sparling case.

Gargan handed him the hills. He took them and was arrested. DIED OP HIS "WOUNDS. Antonio Sammaritano, 30 years old, of Kicks street, Brooklyn, died in the Hudson Street Hospital, Manhattan, this morning, from a bullet wound in the body. Sammaritano was a cigarmakcr employed at 113 Maiden lane.

A fellow employe, Rosaiio Cammarata, 24 years old, was In love with Josephine Basola, the 15 year old niece of Antonio's wife, and the two men quarreled about her on January 29, as Sammaritano and his wife objected to. Cammarata's attentions. In the quarrel Sammaritano was shot in the back. He identified Cammarata as his assailant and the latter was arrested. THE KENTUCKY CONTEST.

Louisville. March 3 It is thought argu ment in the case to determine the rights of the rival claimants for the governorship will bo concluded before Judge Field this afternoon. Former Governor Bradley spoke for the to day and Zach Phelps will close for the defense. MATCH FELL ON MATTRESS. A lighted match falling on a mattress early this morning in the apartments of Mrs.

Julia Jacobson, in tho basement of tho two story brick house at 17 Second street, caused a damage of $50, which Is covered by Insurance. TrnliiM to dxloAKO, St. Louis and Cincinnati Pennsylvania Railroad iiro all models of safety esecd and comfort, Adv. I.