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I MrtMjrf L>iwo«0*w"iI SfAMfW OUR FOREIGN JEADE, had come to witness a.scene that prom­ised to,form an important page in Amer­ ican history. They were there to hear a message from the President, which would carry the fortunes of the American peo­ ple, but the message did not come. The suddenness of the announcement stunned the public, which heard the news in distorted forms, and amazed veteran members of Congress. Ultimately it be­ came known that not only would there be no message that day, but n\> message during the week, and that it was a possi­ bility that the message written and ap­ proved migtht never go to Congress at all. The first reason for the delay was the administration had received advices from AILOUND A BIG STATE "< CONTINUES TO EXPAND UNDER THE DINGLEY LAW. BRIEF COMPILATION OF ILLI NOIS NEWS. General Lee Given Time to Get Americans Out of Cuba. Labor Welcomes the Pajr of Kijfht Hours-Struck by an Knnine--Prob­ able Robbery at Rock Island--Boys Tried Train Wrecking. A battleship is not built for speed, but for weight and to support enormous guns. It is intended for coast and harbor de­ fenses and will not be sent across the sea. Departing Ships AU Crowded Beyond Their Safe Capacity. •. i.®v -..S . v ' . Net Gain from 1897 in the Excess of Exports Over Imports Amounting to $107,178,286 in Eight Months- Trade Balance of $419,601,105. Exports and Import*. A continued, gain in the foreign trade of the United States goes forward un- •der tbe Dingley law. The gain is whol­ ly in what we sell and not what we buy. This fact is totally destructive of the theory that the policy of protec­ tion is not compatible with the main­ tenance of trade with the outside world. For the past seven months the free trade writers have been insisting that such a condition could not last, but the treasury department reports for February show the"contrary. They show a heavy increase in our exports and also a heavy decrease in ^ur im­ ports/ -- For the month of February, 1898, the exports of merchandise amounted to Jjs94,9Sl,017, as compared with $79,821,- 086 for February, 1S97, being a. gain of $15,159,931. Imports for February, 1898. were $53^082,117, a decrease of over $0,000,000 as compared with Feb­ ruary. .1897, and leaving an excess of exports for the month of $41,898,900, against an excess amounting to $20,- 583,709 for February of last year. For the "eight mouths ending Febru­ ary, 189S--seven full months and a fraction of the eighth, month being the period of the operation of the Dingley Jaw--the total exports of merchandise were $813,370,071, against $734,998,213 tor the same period a year ago, a gain of $7S,371,858 for the Dingley law period. For the same period the imports were -$393,708,90(5, against $422,515,394, be­ ing a decrease of $28,800,428 in the gross volume of imports. The excess of exports over imports for the eight months is $419,601,105, as compared with an excess of $312,482,819 for the eight months ending with February, 185)7. The net gain in the excess of exports over imports during the eight months of the Dingley law period as contrasted with the corresponding period a year ago amounts to $107,178,286. Otherwise stated, the Dingley law has in less than eight months swelled our trade balance to $419,661,105, and has scored a gain of $107,178,286 over the trade balance of the equivalent eight months of the Wilson-Gorman law period of the pre­ ceding fiscal year. No other country can produce such a showing as that made by the United States under the policy of protection in­ telligently applied. Free trade England presents a striking contrast in this re­ spect. Returns for January, 1898, pub­ lished in the latest issue of the London "Chamber of Commerce Journal," show that during that month British imports have increased $704,116 as compared with January, 1897, while.for January, 1898, the exports of produce and manufactures have fallen off $2,- ii*.160 as compared with the same month a year ago. The excess of im­ ports over exports for January, 189S, amounted to $103,425,435, or at the rate of over $1,200,000,000 for the year. Trade returns of Austria-Hungary for the year 1897 show an increase in imports of 54.545,553 florins, while the exports have decreased 027,007 florins, as compared with 1896. A similar story is told by France for the month of January, the increase of imports amounting to 13,199,000 francs, while the exports fell off 1,840,000 francs. Germany makes the best showing of any European nation, but still far from ' equal to that of the United States. For the year 1S97 Germany's imports, in­ cluding precious metals, were in value $1,208,222,000, an increase of $68,735,- 000 over 1890, and her exports were $947,032,000, being $13,577,250 more than in 1896. No country enjoys the peculiar com­ mercial advantage possessed by the United States--that of exporting in eight months $813,370,071 of her sur­ plus products, while importing but $393,708,966 of the products of other na­ tions. Such is the record made by the United States under the Dingley tariff. War and the Wilson Bill. The sharp declines in stock values since the Cuban imbroglio began has been remarked. But it is interesting to compare the prices ol' prominent stocks now with prices prevailing when the Wilson bill was furnishing the pros­ perity for the country. Yesterday Bur­ lington railroad shares sold at 93. In 1896 the same stock sold for 53. In 1892. before the Wilson bill. Burlington sold for 110. Note how much more de­ structive some things may be than a fear of war. Panhandle sold yesterday for 43. In 1896 it had fallen, to 11. Canadian Pacific sold in 1895 for 33, and was quoted yesterday at SO. Ches­ apeake and Ohio in two hours lias jumped from 11 to 19; Illinois Central from 81 to 100; Lake Shore from 134 to 190; Louisville and Nashville from 37 to 51; St. Paul from 59 to 91; Rock Island from 49 to S5; Sugar from 95 to 126, aud Pennsylvania from 48% to 57% yesterday. War is a terrible calamity. But in its destructive influences it must be­ come infinitely worse than the shadow that it is so far, or it is not to be com­ pared with such a disaster as the finan­ cial panic and the ruin of values that came with the Wilson bill.-- Pittsburg Times. 524,588,524,, against $955,135,768 In tht corresponding week of last year, while the number of people employed in the United States has vastly increased meantime, and the wages paid have In thousands of *cases been advanced.-- Buffalo News. , Trusts and the Tariff. The pewspapers are commenting on the failure of the great Salt Union, a British trust, which was boomed at first by enormous dividends, but Wlych has now ceased to be a profitable con­ cern, owing to the unfortunate trading with the-United States and India. The Commercial Advertiser of New York takes .advantage of the occasion to hit "American, free-traders" a biff by ask­ ing how a union, trust, or pool of any sort can exist where there is„no pro­ tective tariff. As a matter of course, there are a few free-traders who seem to believe that a high tariff .breeds trusts, but a high tariff, a low tariff or no tariff has nothing whatever to do with the crea­ tion of trusts. There are dozens of trusts in England, where free trade prevails; there are a number in »the United States, where the Diugley law is now operating. The tariff has no influence or effect on them one way or another.--Atlanta Constitution (free trade). IA Ptumblinsr Blcelc. Stories of Certain Peace and Hints of inevitable War. American Armor Plate. In the recent competition for the sup­ ply of armor plate to Russia all the European ironmongers were outbid by their American rivals. Sir John Brown & Co. quoted £114 per ton; Krupps of Essen, £113; Schneiders, Creusot. £114 aud two American firms tendered each at £106 per ton. These figures suggest to "Ryland's," the lending English au thority in iron and steel, the remark that "It is thus increasingly plain that our manufacturers have most to fear from the Americans." Here is another instance of a protected industry devel­ oping the strength that enables it to hold its own against the world. The Same Parrot Cry. Our foreign trade was greater under the MtKinlcy tariff than it ever bad been before. It declined at once when that tariff was repealed and the Wil­ son tariff substituted. Now it lias re­ turned to the McKinley standard again under the Dingley bill. And yet there are people who repeat the parrot cry that protection builds a "Chinese wall'" around our country and Shuts out for­ eign trade.--Poughkeepsie Eagle. Postponement of the Communication to Congress Occasioned by Notice from Havana that Americans Would Be Massacred by Enraged Spaniards--Reports Circulated that the Queen Regent Is Anxious to Promise Concessions to Keep Peace-- i Representatives of the Powers of Europe Active in Their Efforts to Prevent the Threatened War. Wnshlngton correspondence: President McKinley's message on the Cuban question did not go to Congress Wednesday, as had been expected. It was withheld in order to give Gen. Lee and the other Americans in Cuba a chance to leave the island and reach the United States before the crisis was precipitated. The President's communication to Con­ gress was ready for transmission at noon. Assistant Secretary Pruden had his car­ riage at the door and the carefully written document was in his hands. But before Bending him to the capitol the President QUEEN REGENT OF 8PA1N. Gen. Lee at Havana intimating that all Americans could not be gotten off the isl­ and in time and would be in great peril if the message preceded their departure. The second reason, and perhaps equally pp tent with the other, slowly drifted into public comprehension late in the day. This was that the Spanish Government, after what plainly had been most exciting times in inner Spanish circles at Madrid, had decided to reopen the case, ciosed, so far as this Government was concerned, by the refusal of Spain to make satisfactory re­ sponse to the representations made by the United States last week, aud, in order to avert impending war, had decided to make concessions heretofore refused. Leaders at the White House. While the message was awaited there ERRATUM. Notwithstanding President McKinley's Delay, There Are Some Americans Who Will Not Leave Cuba. They Will Not See. The calamity howlers and those who will not see improved conditions in the business of the country shut their eyes and say nothing about the advance of wages in the iron mines, the coal mines, the glass works, the iron works, the pottery works and the railroads throughout the United States. The men who delight to see some­ thing wrong in the business of the country for the selfish purpose of se­ curing arguments to advance their po­ litical chances will not acknowledge that the bank clearings of the week Avlien Jones. Towne and Butler issued .their wails of woe in addresses to the people of the country were 60 per cent, greater than those of the correspond­ ing week of the preceding year under the administration of the party whien they are now asking the people of tho United States to return to power. The bank clearings of the United States for the week ending February 19 were §1,- Makcs $200 a Month Begging. John Wadleigh, better known as the "King of Beggars," has returned to the city, after an absence of over a year. He arrived a few days ago with his wife aud family to seek pastures new among the charitably inclined, but as his true character is well known he may not reap the amount he did on his last visit. Wadleigh and his wife have been in the habit of traveling from place to place and by their j plausible tales of want and suffering have succeeded in gaining a living without much exer­ tion. The title of king was given him by his class, owing to his great ability as a beggar. It is said by those who know that bis earnings on his last visit amounted to nearly $200 a month. The "King" is in the habit of occu­ pying nicely furnished flats and enjoy­ ing the comforts of home life. At his leisure he follows the races with vary­ ing success and is also addicted to the use of intoxicating liquors. His wife Irene is a little woman with a sweet face and has an air of worldly ignorance about her which lends people to listen to her story and often moves them to assist her. It is her scheme to obtain donations of furniture, bedding, provisions, etc., from as many people as she can, then dispose of the same at the highest price she can receive for cash. The last time these unworthy alms- seekers were here they played on the sympathies of the various charitable organizations with great success until they were shown to be impostors.--San Francisco Call. The Load a Dust Storm Carries. Blown dust is a general and familiar nuisance to housekeepers over the entire West. A minimum estimate, verifier! by direct observation, for the .quantity of dust settling on floors during such stofms is about a fourteenth of an ounce of dust on a surface of a squaite yard in half a day. A maximum esti­ mate made on a basis of the above newspaper accounts would be at least five pounds to a square yard of surface for a storm lasting twenty-four hours. If we then suppose that a house that, is twenty-four feet wide and thirty-two feet long has open crevices, which av­ erage a sixteenth of an inch in width and have a,running length in windows aud doors of one hundred and fifty feet, the wind may be supposed to enter half of these crevices with a velocity of live miles per hour for the time the storm lasts, or for twenty-four hours. The dust may be supposed to settle on not less than eighty-five square yards of surface, including floor space and hori­ zontal surfaces of furniture. The minimum estimate, based on these fig­ ures, gives us two hundred and twenty- five tons of dust to the cubic mile of air. The maximum estimate would be one hundred and twenty-six thousand tons. • ' Certificates in mutual aid societies are held, in Penn. Mut. E. Ips. Co. vs. Mechanics' Sav. Bank & wCo. (C. C. App. 6th C.), 38 L. R. A. 33. not to constitute "existing insurance" within the meaning of an application. Anno­ tation to this case reviews the decisions on the question whether or not a benefit association is eti insurance com Labor Celebrates a Vict try. The Springfield Federation of Labor celebrated the inauguration of the eight- hour day, which has gone into effect throughout the State, and also the carry­ ing into effect of the new scale of prices for coal miners. A mass meeting was held at the State house during the after­ noon and evening. Gov. Tanner delivered a brief address of welcome. Several local clergymen spoke and ni"dre§ses were de­ livered by Millard Lloyd of Chicago, Illi­ nois delegate to the American Federation of Labor; John B. Lennon. secretary of the International Tailors' Union; G. W. Perkins, president of Cigarmakers' Na­ tional Union; H. J. Conway, national president Retail Clerks* Association, and Edward J. Smith, national organizer Ci par makers' Union, B. B. Ray. vice-pres­ ident of the American Railway Employes' Political League, spoke on the future of the laboring men. Boy Train Wreckers Confess. Louis Smith and Louis.Ileil. two Rock- ford boys, 16 years of age. are in jail on a charge of manslaughter* Jiav'ing con­ fessed after their arrest that thgy tamper­ ed with the switch north of that city, which resulted in a Northwestern passen­ ger train being wrecked. Three train­ men were injured, one of whom, Daniel O'Leary. a fireman, has since died. Smith and Heil, with other companions, had a "hangout" in a hut near where the train was wrecked. Smith declares they "fixed" the switch to be revenged on Section Fore­ man Peters, who he claims insulted his mother. Fatal Railway Accident. Misses Belle Kenody and Selma Sahl- stroui and William Wendt, while return­ ing home to Carbon Cliff from Colona at 11:30 the other night, were run down by a Rock Island freight train near the for­ mer village. Miss Kenody and Wendt were killed instantly, while Miss Sahl- strom was thrown a considerable distance and rendered unconscious. /About 5 o'clock in the morning Miss Sablstrom revived sufficiently to walk to her home near by and give out the first information of the tragedy. Miss Ivenody's head was cut in two. Wendt's head was crushed to a pulp. Barring on Is Fire-Swept. Fourteen persons narrowly escaped with their lives from a tire which swept away the principal business b'.ock of Barrington and caused a loss of $40,000. Flames were seen iu the general store of A. W. Meyer & Co., above which two families made their homes, and they gained head­ way rapidly. The occupants a'.l escaped in safety. A. W. Meyer & Co. are the heaviest losers by the fire, their loss being estimated at $10,000 on the building and $23,000 on their stock. wished to hear from Gen. Lee that the consul general and other Americans at Havana had sailed for Key West. At 12:30 a cablegram from Gen. Lee to the State Depart me nit brought the informa­ tion that he could not get the Americans out of Havana till Saturday or Sunday. Then the message was ordered withheld. At the capitol a great crowd had gath­ ered to witness scenes attendant upon the reception and reading of the momentous document. The galleries of both houses were crowded, and among the Senators and Representatives on the floors there was an air of most eager expectation. When it became known that the message was not coming there was witnessed a manifestation of human nature which might be described either as a tragedy or a comedy, according to the point of view. Disappointment, disgust, anger, dejec­ tion reis-^d everywhere. This was not con.'iued to the occupants of the galleries, who had gathered in holiday attire to wit­ ness the beginning of the slaughter of Spanish sovereignty in America and who "FIGHTING nOB" EVANS. Sow in command of the Battleship Itjwa. company. had been cheated out of their promised show. Down among the statesmen upon the two floors the bitterness and anger were unparalleled in the recent history of our Government. Men who have for a score of years been in almost daily obser­ vation of affairs in Washington have nfev- er before seen such a state of feeling as that engendered by the failure of the President to send in his message. No more inspiring scene could be wit­ nessed than was presented by the great hall of the House of Representatives. Tier upon tier of people, from gallery rail to wall, stretched iu an unbroken line, the gay colors of the gowns and hats and flow­ ers of the ladies relieving the somber black of the garments of the men. Above the Speaker's desk the festooned silk flag of the American republic was tonthe eye the symbol of patriotism which throbbed in the breast. And opposite the Speak­ er's chair the great clock, with its guard­ ing warriors, ticked away the minutes as the vast assemblage waited. A memora­ ble scene was also presented in the Senate. An audience that tested the full capacity of the accommodations had filled the gal­ leries hours before the Senate convened. Itjvas by no means an ordinary crowd of gaflery habitues. Members of the fami­ lies of most distinguished men in Ameri­ can public life were there, prominent rep­ resentatives of the several foreign lega­ tions occupied the diplomatic gallery and I arsons distinguishe-3 in all walks of life came a hurried summons of leaders of the Senate and House to the White House, and they were there informed that the message was to be withheld upon the in­ formation received from Consul General Lee. The reasons he gave were deemed entirely satisfactory by all, and Senator Davis informed the Senate, while the House leaders carried the news to that body. That the danger to American life was considered sufficient reason for non­ action appeared iu the postponement, of all proposed meetings to consider the sit­ uation. The proposed armistice by Spnin inject­ ed another feature into the discussion of the situation, and, while some were very h,»peful that a satisfactory solution of the problem might eventuate from it, the gen­ eral feeling was that the conditions in Cuba, the determination of the insurgents to contiuue fighting until independence was recognized, and the sentiment of this country in ftivor of Cuba's independence of Spain possibly made overtures on this line too late. It has been said, and prob­ ably is true, that at Madrid the authori­ ties, and especially the queen regent and litr immediate sympathizers, have been moving heaven aud earth to avert the blrvv about to fall upon Spanish sovereign­ ty in the western hemisphere. There lia.ve been indications that Spain was walking the floor. It is true, too, that Gen. Woodford repeatedly wired the State Department that there seemed a disposi­ tion at Madrid to yield everything the United States had asked or could ask, ex­ cept the independence of Cuba. 1 u administration circles at this time there is very little hope Spain will be able to make a proposal which will satisfy the United States. It would be foolish to stay the action of this Government, now that a definite policy lias been agreed upon, for the purpose of considering suggestions.!*}*' Spt.in which do not go to the heart of the question, and which there is little indica­ tion will rise to the dignity of offering a real solution of the problems. Though the Stale Department is naturally secretive as to the nature of the communications which have been received from Gen. Woodford, enough is known to warrant the conclusion that Spain is willing to concede„everything but the actual free­ dom of Cuba from Spanish sovereignity. Spain is willing to do everything but pull down her flag at Havana, and there are no indications whatever that she is willing to do that. The truth is that there has arisen in both the United States and Spain a con­ dition which may be described as political, and to which apparently both Govern­ ments are compelled to bow submission. If the queen and the cabinet at Madrid were able to settle the Cuban question as they would like to settle it they could be depended upon to grant Cuba freedom. If President McKinley and his cabinet were ^ble to deal with the problem without in­ terference from Congress or the pressure of an aroused public opinion, they might be able, in time, to secure the fVecdom of Cuba without going to war with Spain about it. But as matters now stand, neither Government is powerful enough to stand before the storm of public opinion. The people of Spain demand that Cuba shall be retained; the people of the United States demand that Cuba shall be freed from Spanish dominion. The irresistible force is coming in collision with the im­ movable body. There is serious danger that Congress will break away from the policy outlined by the President, and eith­ er declare war outright upon the issu«» of the Maine or recognize the independence of Cuba. Found in a Locway. A. N. Johnson, supposed to bo from Rockford, Iowa, was found in a sawmill logway at Rock Island in an unconscious condition. There was a bruise on the back of his head and the theory is that he was sandbagged and robbed and thrown into the logway. He was well dressed, but had not a cent in his possession. Johnson died the next day without having regain­ ed consciousness since he was found. Pupils Mnst Obey the Law. Attorney General Akin has rendered an opinion regarding the study of physiology and hygiene .in the public schools and high schools of the State. He says that children should be made to comply with the law, and that the boards of trustees have not the power to exempt any child from the study of these branches. Painters Go on Strike. All of the union painters and paper hangers in Rockford went on a strike, leaving work unfinished in many places. They demand an increase of wages from $2.25 to $2.50 per day, with nine hours' work on Saturdays. Brief State Happening*. Etasmus Nelson hanged himself at Mon­ mouth. At Aurora, Rosa Barber, aged 4,- was fatally burned while playing near a bon­ fire. John Hawkins and wife of Dix cele­ brated the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding. Gov. Tanner has appointed George L. Pittenger of Centralia a member of his staff, with the rank of colonel. One of the largest public school houses in Springfield, known as the Stuart, was partially destroyed by fire. IJOSS is esti­ mated at $7,000, fully covered by insur­ ance. There is a great scramble going on among applicants for the position on the Suj)erioJf Court'bench of. Cook County made vacant by the death of Judge Gog- giu. The vpeauey. will be tilled by ap­ pointment by the Governor. Gen. If. A. Wheeler has received formal notification from Gov. Tanner that hi|j resignation, as brigade commander in the Illinois,National Guard has been accepted. The resignations of the first brigade staff were also formally accepted. The Dole Opera House building at Mat toon, was consumed by fire. Richard­ son Bros,, Edward McFadden, Perry Swiekard and L. Winner occupied the ground floor rooms and are heavy losers. Total loss, $75,000; partly insured. Prof. H. F. Fisk, principal of North-, western University academy, put a ban on fraternities by announcing at chapel that any student becoming a member of a secert society or pledging himself to a fraternity would be expelled. Dancing is also denounced by Prof. Fisk. Rev. Walter M. Barrows, pastor of the Second Congregational Church in Rock­ ford, has received a call from the Second Congregational Church of Greenwich, Con n. The storej>f the Elgin Paper Company, George Robinson, proprietor, at Elgin, has been closed on an execution for $1.- 000 in favor of the John Strang Printing Company. An Easter gift of $320,000 has been handed to the University of Chicago. The donor of almost one-half of the amount is unknown save to President Harper nnd the board of trustees. The handsome church building of the Methodist Episcopal congregation at Leb­ anon was totally destroyed by fire, causing a loss of $12,000. The structure was built in 1867 at a cost of $20,600. The church had been recently fitted with electrical fixtures throughout. Only $5,00',) insur­ ance was carried upon the building. Helen B. Hood, editor of the Watch Tower, and Mrs. Ella S. Stewart of Chi­ cago, with Mrs. Anna P. Eakiu of Pe­ oria, a committee appointed by the Illi­ nois W. C. T. U. to organize a citizens' committee in the State to work in behalf of tbe Willard Memorial building, have formulated a letter to the public asking Judge James Goggin GTeer ar ^ia resi­ dence in Chicago. W. H. O. Goldsmith, postmaster at Jew- ett, was removed and S. F. Hallett ap­ pointed. At , Aurora. William McMiCken, ex- Mayor and pioneer business man, is dead, aged 80 years. Rev. Dr. Frank M. Bristol has bidden farewell to the First Methodist Church of Evanston and gone to Washington. DuTring 1S97 $3,708,076 worth of Chi­ cago property was destroyed by fire. The amount of insurance involved was $31,- 735,086. The United States Senate has confirmed the nomination of Aquilla J. Daugherty, collector of internal revenue for the fifth district of Illinois. Republicans in the seventeenth Illinois congressional district, now represented by Major Connolly, will hold their convention iu Springfield June 29. The jury in the case of Joseph Mauzy, on trial at Decatur for the murder Of Matt McKinley nine years ago, brought iu a verdict of not guilty. Prof. Thomas D. Davis, aged 42, musi­ cal director of Highland Park College, Des Moines, Iowa, died in Carlinville at the residence of his father-in-law, W. S Brown. >. • T Another effort is to be made by the bureau of 'associated charities to establish the "Piugree potato patch industry" in Chicago. Last year the plan was success­ ful in ma;y quarters. Herbert Haroun. a messenger employ ed by the Adams Express Company, is missing from his home in Aurora. His accounts are short less than $100, and a month's salary is due him. The executive committee of the Illinois State Farmers' Institute held a special session at Springfield and adopted resolu tions urging that liberal prizes for sugar beet be offered at the Illinois State fair. Edward Baylis and Miss Julia Sloan eloped from Kinmundy the other night, taking the Illinois Central train north, having purchased tickets for Effingham The girl is 15 years old and Baylis is 21. John G. Ives, a pioneer merchant of Springfield, died at his residence there, aged 81. Mr. Ives established a jewelry business in Springfield in 1838 with Gen Isaac Curran, the house being one of the oldest iu central Illinois. John G. Leonard of Beardstown went to Peoria and while there met Nora Gat- lip for the first time. Within one hour after the meeting they were united in marriage by Justice Storey. It was a case of love at first sight. Fifty gold seekers, forty-two of whom are Chicago men, departed for the Klon­ dike one recent evening. The party is named the Dusty Diamond Corporation. Each member contributed $1,000 for the purpose of equipment, supplies and two iron boats. The Congregational Church at Rock- tou celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of its existence recently. Two of the charter members survive and were present --M rs. P. H. Hersey of Beloit, Wis., and .Mrs. David Carpenter of Roekton. It is the oldest church in that part of the coun­ try. The inquest on William E. Cobley, who died at Blue Island, resulted in a verdict of suicide. Testimony showed that re­ ports that Cobley and his wife were not living happily were unfounded. The story that Cobley had made a previous attempt to burn the building to satisfy a desire for revenge was also disproved. Considerable uneasiness has been felt at Pekin among the Government gaugersand storekeepers, as Gangers McCaskill, Bushell, Stewart and Hunter have re­ ceived official notice from Collector Rich­ ard Yates that they have been appointed storekeeper-gangers, which reduces thiur salary from $5 to $2 a day when on duty. Peter Maday and his family narrowly escaped death the other night in a fire which destroyed his general stpre and residence in the "Blue Hills*' Polish set­ tlement, southeast of the town lithits of Lemout. The parochial school of St. Cyril Metode's Church across the street was burned, making five sisters dependent upon neighbors for shelter. The property loss amounts to $17,000, including all the possessions of the sisters and everything belonging to Maday. In Pittsburg. Pa., the case of Miss Edna Benser, the Rock Island girl who petitioned the orphans' court in Pittsburg for the removal of her guardian. Attor­ ney II. B. Ivory, who charged her $32,000 as his fee, was continued. She testified th*t she had no idea she would have to pay such a large fee for transferring from Illinois to Pennsylvania an estate valued at $160,000. She also claimed she was ignorant of the contents of papers which she had signed aud which placed the es­ tate entirely in Mr. Ivory's hands. The women's clubs of the fourteenth congressional district have organized a federation. These officers were elected: Presideat, Mrs. Virginia Ballance Bash, Peoria; vice-presidents: Tazewell County, Mrs. Cotrad Luppen, Pekin; Mason Coun­ ty, Mrs. D. Harpham, Havana; Peoria County, 11 rs. I). L. Bigham, Peoria; Ful­ ton County, Mrs. H. W. Masters, Lewis- town: Marshall County, Mrs. Laura Kline, Hoary; Putnam County, Mrs: Mills, Magi>oIia: corresponding secretary, Miss Addie L. Turner. Pekin; recording secretary, Mrs. B. Strawn, Lacon; treas­ urer, Mrs. Donat Miller, Canton. Its sides are covered with heavy armor of Harveyized metal, a mixture of nicket and steel, from six to ten inches in thick­ ness, which extends in a belt about ten of. twelve feet wide from stem to stern, the greater proportion of it being above tha water line. An armored cruiser is a fast- sailing vessel with a similar armor. AI protected cruiser has an arched deck of steel, beginning about the water line and extending over the "vitals"; that is, the machinery of the ship, so as to give them protection and turn the force of a projec­ tile. A shot or shell striking-this arched deck is expected to glance off and not penetrate. A monitor is a submerged ves­ sel, the upper deck of which. When it goes into action, is almost on a level with the. •• water, and it carries turrets above th«|, J water, in which the guns are placed. % These turrets are arranged so as to re­ volve in order that the guns may be fired •in any direction without turning the ship. A gunboat is an ordinary vessel, carrying guus which may be of any size and of any material. At present most gunboats are built of steel. A ram is a gunboat so strongly constructed that it will resist: collisions, and, iu addition to its guns, is armed with a prow or prong, with a sharp point, which would cut in two any vessel it might happen to strike. The machinery 4 is also constructed of unusual power, sa" that it may strike with great fr re. * • * Of the $50,000,000 recently appropriated for the national defense about four-fifthsi has been expended up to date--about $26,- 000,000 by the Navy and $15,000,000 by the War Department. The navy expen­ ditures, in round numbers, are as follows^ Guns, ammunition, torpedoes $7,000,000 Thr>° cruisers and two torpedo boats bought In Europe 4,000,000 Vaeljts and tugs bought In the United States 1.800,000 Ten merchant vessels bought in the United States 6,000,000} Coaling stations. Key West and Dry Tortugas 1.000,000 Coal 2.000,000 Repairs to men-of-war 1,200,000 Kepairs to engines 1,000,000 Miscellaneous supplies . 2,000,000 Total naval expenditures ... .$26,000,000 The expenditures by the War Depart­ ment, in round numbers, are as follows: • Fortification work $4,500,000» Submarine defenses 1,500,000 Projectiles aud ammunition 4,000,000 Rapid-fire guns aud carriages.•... 1,000,000 Seaeoast guns 500.000 Transportation, camp equipage .. 1,000.000 Telegraph cables and signal ap­ paratus > 100,000 Miscellaneous 2,000,000 Despite the fact that a coroner's jury declared the sudden death of Xfts. Mary Ragan of Shelbyville was due to heart paralysis, it is believed certain the woman committed suicide. Mrs. Ragan, who was the wife of W. II. Ragan, Mayor of that city and county judge of Shelby County, was found dead in bed. After the verdict the body was turned over to an under­ taker for burial, and a note was found pinned on her clothing between the shoul­ ders. . This note was without date of signature, but it indicated that the unfor­ tunate woman laid her death to her hus­ band. with whom it is claimed her rela­ tions have long been unhappy. A post­ mortem was held and the examination showed heavy traces of carbolic acid in the stomach. Gen. John A. McClernand, president of the Shiloh Battlefield Association, through the secretary, Capt. Feuwick Y. Hedley of Bunker Hill, anuounced that no anniversary or observance will be held this year on account of the floods and in­ terest in the Spanish difficulty. The sheriff fyjt Hinckley has arrested Louis Ankle, a Chicago man, who robbed C. C. Kennedy's jewelry store a few days ago, and recovered $800 worth of property which was stoleu. His capture was ef­ fected with the aid of Detective Hartford of the Chicago police force. He confessed and turned over the jewelry taken. Ivinsey Hardy, aged 52 years, fell from the fourth story of the new Peoria city hall building to the basement, a distance of sixty-five feet, broke a leg, an arm, fractured his skull and had twelve ribs broken. The attending surgeons think he may survive. He is a stone cutter by trade and the father of seven children. The annual statement of Insurance Sup­ erintendent Van Cleave shows that for the year ending Dec. 31, 1897, the com­ panies, home and foreign, doing business in Illinois, wrote in this State risks amountiug to $1,278,820,205. received pre­ miums amounting to $13,085,740. paid lasses amounting to $0,450,405. and in- •V.t uscuey co^s'^utiohs for the memorial, purred losses amounting to ?7,099 044. Total expenses war departm't.$14,600,000 Grand total $40,600,000 * * * • "y Claims for more than $10,000,000 dam-< age have been filed with the Department1 of State , by Americans residing in Cnba < , < whose property has been destroyed either. by the insurgents or the Spanish forces.; and it is not believed that the United States can afford to release Spain from her responsibility for this destruction.: That question will come up again when the terms of peace are being negotiated, and any indemnity that may be offered for independence will be garnished by our Government until these are settled. T * * Among other war plans it is proposed to garrison the coast cities of Cuba as fast as they are captured with the colored reg­ iments of the regular army, as experience has shown that they can endure the heat better and are less subject to the diseases of the tropics than white men. There are also between 7,000 and 8,000 colored mi­ litiamen in various parts of the country who have already volunteered or may be called out by the President to re-enforce the "buffaloes," as the colored troops are familiarly called in the anny. Speaker Reed described the temper of Congress Wednesday morning in a single remark. He was reading a letter from • prominent Eastern gentleman, urging hint to hold the House of Representatives in check and prevent any action that might lead to war. As he folded tbe letter and put it .back iu his pocket the czar remark- ed: "My friend has a very flattering con­ ception of my power. He might as well ask me to stand in the middle of a Kan­ sas prairie and stop a cyclon*." 'Mm In case of war it is expected that the Spanish authorities in Cuba will confis­ cate for the use of their troops all the supplies that remain uncousumed contrib­ uted by the people of this country for the relief of the reconcentrados; that the work of the Red Cross Society among the mifforers will be suspended and that the rt arvation of non-combatants will continue until our forces can obtain possession of jfhe cities on the coast where most of them *nre gathered. • • * It is stated authoritatively that in onr affair with Spain the President has de­ fied upon a course to be pursued, and - Ill that lie apprehends war may result. The Keeling that war is inevitable is so confirm- (Kl among the Senators and Representa­ tives as to warrant the belief that there would be a general feeling of disappoint­ ment if there should not be war. The House Committee on Library has favorably reported a resolution permitting the erection of a monument in Washington to the late Gen. Albert Pike. The Su­ preme Council of Ancieut and Accepted Scotch Rite Freemasonry propose to build the monument, to cost not less than ?10»- 000, aud to be presented to the United States. • * #•-*}!,• .}• ^ tfi&J • - ̂ • w . . . , The Secretary of the Interior has sent to the House an estimate calling for ap­ propriations of over $S,000,000 to meet * deficiency in the pension funds. Thi» brings the estimate, so far as submitted, for incorporation into the general defi­ ciency bill to about $14,000,000. • '* * .'V The largest order ever given by the Gov- ment for telegraph cables was given on Friday, for submarine and 'Underground cables connecting all the forts and islands of New York harbor. • • • Washington has at least one newsboy who knows something about the newspa­ pers he handles. When called by a pros­ pective purchaser of a paper, be asks: "White or yellow?" % * • • The Attorney General holds that the President has the power to call out tte National Guard for any purpose he ht. ^ The Postoffice Department has rescind* ed its order prohibiting the printing of business addresses on postal cards. That $50,000,000 bill reported by Repro. > sentative Caunon was the first gun of ~ campaign against Spain.