; East N orwalk.
: .4-
‘ ing officers were elected:
4,.
, Mrs.
w 11.1 E K11; Y - n7 on w‘AmK» ..
’11...»an T 1‘? .
Local News.
Chailes Gale, of Gerard place, is
quite se1iously ill.
Mis. E. J. Hill has ariiV ed home
f1 om Washington, D. C‘.
Mrs. Alexandei Semple. of West ave-
nue, is visiting in Cornwall.
Mrs. F1 anon E. Robinson is ill at
hcr 11111313 on Acudemv street.
A son has been bo1n tel M1. and Mrs.
H. B. Bussing of VVinnipauk.
\Villiam H. Palmer of Detroit, Mich.,
spent ‘ unday with relatives it town.
Mrs.G.D.W011Ie1111fOr'1ha1dst1eet,
has returned home visit. to Danbuiy.
Mrs. B. M. 0.111er of Br-ooklyn. is?
visiti1111 Wm. M. Lauder of \Veststreet.
Miss Louise Montgomery, of 0105s
street has 1 etu1ned. f1 om a sh01t visit
in W 1ston.
Mrs. KuteClai-k, ofSprir-gfield. Mass...
is the guest of M13. S. A. Youngs, of
East-1. 1*.Venue
Wiliied Bcdwell, telle1 of the City
Nath ral Bark. is the pioud father of
a for round” cri1l.
Joel Lourdes and Haiiy Wilson of
NewYmk. spent Sunday attheirhomes
in South Norwalk. .
Mrs. Perch. Ferris of New York.
is Visitino MI. and Mrs. John H. Fe1~
i is of \Vest street.
Mrs. S. J. M01 can of New Y01k, has
retuired hcnze after a pleasant visit
with friends in town.
l\Iis.LeG1and C. Belts spent Sunday
‘in East Oiange,l N. J., the guest of Mr.
and Mis. FIedei 1c Seymour.
ch erJrnes, of New YOIk, spent
Srndav in town. the guest of his
b101h1ii. Levi Jones. of East avenue.
William Davis. of Port Jefferson,
spent Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. Char-
les L. Ainsw or,th of Cottage avenue.
Mis.Robe1t A. Way, of Hartford,
has bten ill at the home of hei grand-
fatheri. Noah Wood. on East avenue.
Rev. Augustus Beard of East aVenue,
pi eached' in New HaV on Sunday.
ReV .A. J. Smith, of the East N01-
walk Methodist chu1ch is ill Rev.
A1 111 111 supplied his placeSunday night.
Fiedeiick C. Grumman has secured
a position with the John Polhemus
Publishing company, of New York.
Adaughter has been bow to Mr.
and Mrs. R. H. Fitch, of Wilton.
Miss Mary Beard of East avenue, is
visiting friends in Lakwood, N. J.
Mr. and Mrs. D. Schacahat, of Har-
bor avenue, attended the 'marriage of
the latter’s sister in New York, Sun-
daV. '
Miss Cassie L. Bui bank, of Stratford,
has returned home after avisit with
Mr. and Mrs. Harry H. Finch ,of South
Norwalk.
Misses Len-a Keane and Maiie Man-
ion, of Bethel, -were guests of Misses
Anna and Agnes Ratchfoid, Cross
street, Sunday.
The him her shops will re- open on
Sunday next, to accommodate a de-
mand on the part of business men for a
Sunday shave.
F1ank M. Reardon, of Prospect
street, East Norwalk, is entertaining
his mot1hei, Mrs. Michael Reardon. of
Red Bank, N. J.
Mr. and Mrs. Philip Wheeler return-
ed home Monday, from a visit with
Wheeler’s sister. Mrs. Charles
Finch, of New Jersey.
Rev. W. H. Hubbard will preach a
sermon on the death of the boys, who
were drowned, recently, in the Bap-
tist church, next Sunday evening.
Miss Mabel Beers of Fairfield ave-
nue, will entertain the Friday After
noon club on March 24,- The subject
will be “The Public Schools and the
Kindergarten.
Miss Annie L. Smith of Osborn ave-
nue, East Norwalk, has returned from
. visit with her brother, \Villiam E.
Smith, in Annapolis, Md. Mr. Smith
who accompanied his sister home re-
turned to Annapolis Monday.
The Connecticut Library Association
will hold its annual meeting March 24,
in the Case Memorial Library at tho
Theological Seminary, Hartford. Miss
Angeline Scott, the secretary, will be
present. The public is invited.
Edward Britton Manville, of New
I aven, who played the organ in the
coutn Norwalk Congregational church
Sunday, has been engaged as organist
f the church for the year'commencing
ay 1.
The N01 walk Building company has
-ssumed Control of the Randall mill at
New machinery will
e added and other changes made
which .will materially increase the
apacity of the plant.
At the annual meeting of the Kind
Word Circle King’s Daughters, of the
lISL( Jhurch, lastSaturday, the follow-
President
I iss Edith Foster; Secretary, Miss
I aude Keeler, Treasurer, Miss Bessie
.tanley.
Mrs S. '1‘. Raymond, of South
Norwalk, is spending a few weeks
’n Paterson, N. J., with her parents.
Mrs. G. 1W. Wamsley. of Union
street, is spending a week with her
sisters in Danbury, and will visit her
brother in Brewster: before returning
home.
I
A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. John
Mott. of Rowaytor,2\1011dav
M11. and Mrs. ll. H. Golden have re-
turned from a. trip to Florida.
Miss Emma Jourdan, of Brooklyn, is
visiting Mrs. H. E. Mathewson,0f West
street. 1
Miss G race. Prentiss,
walk, is recovering from a
iMness.
'George H. Allen and Miss Annie C.
Martin were married in Bridgeport
Monday, by Rev. H. E. Burnes.
Mrs. Mary E. Waterbury, of Grove
street has returned home from a
month’s visit in New York city.
Miss Annie E. Smith, of “Zest avenue
has been visiting in New York city.
Clifford Judson Of Quintard avenue
has returned from a visit in Hartford.
Richard Raymondmf Elmgrove place,
has secured a position on the Stamford
Telegram.
Mr. Bishop of New Y01 k, is: .1 guest
of Mi. and M15. Stephen Comstock of
Morgan avenue.
Miss Marie Curtis of Brooklyn, spent
Sunday with her parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Seymour Curtis on Knight street.
Mrs. C. B. DeKlyn has returned
from afew-days’, visit with friends in
Bridgeport, and is a gue’St of Mrs. A.
J. Meeker, Mott avenue.
The South Norwalk Fish club will
hold its first annual concert and ball in
Ger-mania hall, Easter Monday even-
ing, April 3d. Music will be furnished
by Smythe‘s union orchestra.
A communication received from
Lieut. W. W. Bloom states that after
his company has been mustered out of
the service of the United States, that
he and his family will remain at Savan-
nah, Ga., where he has secured employ-
men I).
_._—————‘o-o>—-v—
Death of _ Miss Chichester.
Miss Myra Chichester, of Morgan
avenue, daughter of the late Mrs. Car=
oline St. John Chichester, died in New
York Monday. The funeral was held
from her late home no Wednesday,
at 2 o’clock, Revs. S. B. Pond and C.
M. Selleck officiating. Interment. was
be in the Norwalk cemetery.
New Officers
The following are the new officers
elected at the meeting of the Central
Union, K. D., of the First Congrega-
tional church Saturday:
President—Mrs. T. K. Noble.
Vice-presidents—Mrs. Charles
Quintard, Miss Kate Bartram.
Recording Secretary—Miss Clara E.
Marvin.
Corresponding Secretary~—Mrs. Jos-
of South Nor-
severe
A .
in!) G. Gregory.
Treasurer~—Mrs. A. Carmi Betts.
‘ v‘ ‘y
Ran Away in Westport.
Confectioner Starr, of Norwalk. has
ahabit of leaving his horse unhitch-
edin front of the places wherein he
does business. Monday Mr. Starr was
in the candy store of A. A. Faber, on
Riverside Ave. He was writing down
an order when suddenly he noticed a.
trolley pass and his horse start.. Op-
positei-iahydrant. This the wagon
hit, breaking it directly off. The col-
lision turned the horse around and
he jumped over a picket fence into
the Faber yard. The wagon was bad-
ly broken.——Westporter.
‘
Sunday School Officers Elected.
The annual meeting of the First
Methodist Sunday school was held
Monday evening, and the following of-
ficers were elected for the ensuing
year: Superintendent of Sunday school,
B. M. Andrews; assistant male superin-
tendent, Charles E. Seymour; assistant
female superintendent, Laura Buck-
mastei; secretary; Charles Smith;
treasurer, Charles Downs; librarian.
Frank Smith. Missionaiy soc ietV—
President, Miss Sadie E. Bodwell; vice—
prcsident, William 0. Taylor; secre-
tary and treasurer, Edwin Fox.
————— ——(o-o>—4
Ridgefield Man’s Sudden Death.
James W. Fogarty died at his home.
in Ridgefield Monday morning, after
an illness of less than an hour. Mr.
Fogarty was a plumber. He was prom-
inent as a member of the Knights 'of
Columbus and as first president of the
Ridgefield Social club, and first fore-
man of the Ridgefield fire company.
At six o’clock Monday morning Mr.
Fogarty was suddenly stricken with
heart disease. He died about seven
o’clock. He leaves a wife and one
child. Mr. Fogarty was one of the
most popular young men in Ridgefield.
‘
No Exercises This Year.
Because of the sad accident which
caused the death of their Classmate,
MelVille H. Scudder, who was valedic-
torian of the class of ’99 of the South
Norwalk High' school the graduates
of that institution this year will not
hold the usual exercises and reception.
Superintendent Foote has decided
that when the final tests are completed
the diplomas will be awarded at the
High School Room.
‘
The class will finish its work at the
close of the. present term, March 30.
The class feels the loss of its f llow
student too deeply to enter int the
enjoyment of the graduating exercises
in the usual spirit and to, dispense With
them as voted 13 the highest expression
of their respect to his memory,
The Barn of F. W. Rogers
Set On Fire In Three
Places.
The Norwalk Fire department was
called to a fire in the barn of Frederick
W. Rogers, on Main street near the
Fair grounds,‘shortly after 2130 Satur-
day afternoon, which to say the least,
was of a very suspicious origin.
The fire was first discovered by
George Stevens, who while walking
down the Danbury and Norwalk rail-
road track saw a thin column of smoke
’ coming out. of the crevices in the rear
of the barn. He ran to the scene at
the same time calling to S. R. Keith.
who was in his yard two doors below.
The latter quICkly responded and at-
tempted to gain an entrance, but found
the doors of the barn securely louked.
Being unable to get in'through the
doors “Sim” broken. window out and
followed by
gained an entrance.
Stevens. .
When the two reached the spot they
feund a hay-rack in the stall blazmg
fierce] y. Several pails of water soon
extinguished the flames, but further
investigation showed- that the hay loft
up stairs was also on fire.
An attempt- was made to extinguish
the blaze on the second floor, but the
smoke soon drove them out and Stevens
ran to VVinnipauk to telephone an
alarm to this city.
In the meantime a trolley out came
along on its way down to this city, and
' Keith called to motorman Matheis and
asked him to turn in an alarm, which
he did by pulling box 52 at the corner
of Catherine and Main streets.
The fire responded
promptly. to the alarm, but owing to an
error in counting the box, ran nearly
up Mill hill before the mistake was dis-
covered. They soon got under way in
the right direction, however, Phoenix
Engine company‘s crab being drawn
by the big horse attached to the Terry
meat company’s wagon, William Ham-
ilton driving, and Hope Hose being
hitched on to Dan Honnecker’s
department
and wagon.
When the department reached the
scene, Phoenix boys who arrived first
laid a line of hose from the hydrant to
the barn, vbging quickly followed by
Hope Hose with another line.
In the meantime a ladder had been
run up to the two front doors and they
were opened by cutting the rope which
held them shut. .William Hamilton
entered the building through the
smoke, and finding a box filled with
bicycle oil and other stuff on fire in
the corner threw it out into the yard:
Hamilton was joined by Albert Ray-
mond, .. of Phoenix Engine company,
who discovered a barrel also filled with
bicycle oil, cement etc., on fire near
the stairway in the center of the barn,
and together they pulled it to the door
and threw it into the yard. This was
the extent of the fire and the water
from the hose was not required.
An inspection of the premises show-
ed that the barn had undoubtedly been
set 0n the in three distinct places. One
at the left and front of the building,
another in the center near the stairs
and the third down stairs in the hay
rack in the horse stall.
The box and barrel were thrown out
before the flames had eaten through
their with
the inflammable material piled near
them, and the hay rack was exting-
sides and communicated
ulshed before the flames had a chance
to eat their way through the floor to
the buy up stairs. 'Fortunately the
door leading down to this rack was
shut else the flames would have reach—
ed the hay and the barn been destroy-
ed before the fire department reached
the scene.
There was an insurance of $500 on
the barn with O. E. Wilson. The
bicycles, stock and store fixture, stored
in the barn were those recently removed
from the Rogers store in Main street.
They had been insured by C. E. Curtis
while in the store, but the insurance
had not as yet been transferred to cover
them after being stored in the barn.
At the time of the fire no one was
at home in the Rogers house, Mrs.
Rogers and her mother having driven
away only a short time previous to the}
discovery of the smoke by Stevens.
The only damage done by the flames
was the destruction of the hazy-11ml: in
the stall and the chariing 0 ~ the floor
above the rack and side of the barn.
The fire was undoubtedly of incen
diary origin and an investigation
.vill probably be made.
horse
REV C. M. ARTHUR LOSES
Judge Curtis of the court of common
pleas on Monday handed down a de-
cision overruling a demurrer recently
argued in the suit brought by the Rev.
Charles M.’ Arthur against the Nor-
field Parish Congregational church of
Weston. The demurrer was filed by At-
torney John J. .VValsh, counsel for the
minister, to the answer presented by
the counsel for the church,
T1 acy ,of Bridgeport.
Gould {it
The answer con-
tained the complete report of the
tual Council” called by the church. the
action of which resulted in the retire-
ment of Mr. Arthur from the pastorate.
The case will now be tried on its merits.
The minister claims about $700 dam-
ages
The strife between the church and liS
minister has been the subject of much
discussion in the press of the state. It
was highly sensational and was by far
one of the most interesting topics for
the gossips of Weston that the town
ever-E enjoyed. No time was lost in up-
prec‘ting this fact and for many
mon s it was afeature of the sewing
circl 8.
Mr: Arthur- was called to the church
on M y25, 1896, underan agreement be
tween the church and himself whereby
he was to receive a salary of $46 a
month and enjoy the use of the par-
sonage. He was also to receive a “dona-
tion’fiduring the year which donation
was 11b be considered a part of his sal-
ary and would be regulated by the gen-
erosity of the members of the church.
It was further agreed that in the event
of any uneasiness on the part of the
church, the minister would give up his
“desk” at the expiration of three
months after the notice to quit was
served. Mi. Arthur continued as pastor
until March, 1898. when matters had be-
come so lively' 1n the church circles that
it was deemed advisable to call a “mu-
tual council” com pesed of clergymen of
the Congregational denomination, to
straighten out the tangle. ~One of the
members, a Mrs. Lane, had been exiled
from the church upon orders from the
pastor and everything was in an uproar.
Then came the crash. The pastor
was asked to retire, but he questioned
the right of the church committee to
dispense with his services.
deavored to conduct the services, but
the doors were locked against him.
Hard words were used against the min-
ister, and from all reports, they were
returned manifold. During the pre-
liminary struggle it was} reported that
Mrs. Arthur had set-tired a divorce
from the minister oh the ground of
cruel and inhuman treatment; This
furnished more fuel for the fire and
then the “council” began its hearings
and soon filed a report. The report is
a part of the defence of the church in
the present action and is.interestincr.
It discloses that the minister was or-
dained in December, 1898, at Harbine,
Neb. He "served there some time and
during the next seven years was the
pastor of churches at West Cedar Val-
1cy.Neb.,ParkNeb., Nashville,Mich.
Leslie, Mich, Firs t Leslie, Mich.,
Second, Bremen, Ind., and Mattison,
Mich. .
He was disfellowshipped from the 01-
iver. church in the Michigan association
in 1895. The council in its report said
that during his pastorate at Weston Mr.
Arthur fomented trouble, was guilty of
slanderous 'vmisrepresentation of pres-
ent and former parishioners and
intimidated others. .
In the present action Mr. Arthur says
that the church violated the agreement
and that he stood ready to fulfill it. He
asks for one month’s salary at $36, an—
other at $46 and also asks for the dona-
tion referred to which,'he says might
reasonably be worth $50. The trial will
be interesting when it is heard.
———<o-o>—-—-————-—-—-
Periodical Stamps.
On account- of the large number of
inquiries abdut the newspaper and
periodical stamps. the following infor-
mation is given: A complete set from.
assistant postmaster at Washington,
D. C., for $5 and an extra 10 cents for
registration. There are only fifty
thousand sets to be sold, which will no
doubt be quickly absorbed.
‘ :-=
Going Abroad.
Senator Joseph R. Hawley and fam:
ily will not spend the summer at
Woodmont, as has been their custom
for years past. The‘ senator is arrang-
ing a European tour for the year, and
he intends to 'sail in either June on.
J 1111 He is now in Washington, hav-
ing returned to that city. .on Saturday.
“Mu- ‘
He en- '7
[at Thalsbourg, in the department of the
.mann—Chatrian”
Amand’s is also displayed, and the blue
-Washington April 14, 1898.
1 cent to 8100,12 stamps in all, can be .
obtained from John A. Merritt, Third patches shows a desire to meet the
.lnjured In a collision between two ex-
'curslon trains
ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY
0 d Concord Division S. of T. Celebrates Itsi
F lily-fifth Anmversary.
“Old Concord” Division, S. of T. the
oldest, with perhapl one exception,
lodge of Sons of Temperance in the
state, celebrated its fifty-fifth anniver-
5 try last Monday night at its old head-
q-Iarters inthe GAZETTE building.
And never before was its roomy quart-
ers more crowded with members of the
order.
They came from every point of the
compas, including New Haven, Mil-
ford, Stratford,‘ New York, New Ca-
Iiaan, Westport, Silver Mine, etc.
A pleasing programme had been ar-
ranged, the only “set-back” as to some
of the speakers being that they wore to
talk under the ten minute limit.
A feature was the singing by a. quar-
tette composed of Messrs. Force, Hirst,
M cGonegal and Morehouse. '
Altogether the entertainment was
one of the best ever held in the rooms.
Refreshments were served in abund-
ance, prepared by the ladies of “Old
Concord.”
————‘0.0>———————.
Recent Deaths.
Mrs. Susan Jane Barnum, widow of
George Hoyt Barnum, and daughter of
the late James W. and Laura G. Hyatt,
died at her home on France street,
Sunday, aged 73 years.
Mrs. Anna M. Ambler, widow of the
late James L. Ambler, late of this city,
died at the home of her son in Harlem,
on Saturday, in the 66th year of her
age. The deceased was for many years
a resident of Norwalk. She sum-red a
paralytic stroke one day last week from I
which she never rallied.
William M. Raymond died at his a
home in Henry street, South Norwalk '
Sunday. Mr. Raymond was 2 yen-s of?
age, a mason by trade. and a widower. I
He has been troubled by rheumatism
for several years and that taken in con--
junmion with asthma caused his tic-ll). i
John Quincy Adams died at his home'
in Wesiport on Sunday. ago-d 70 years ‘
Mr. Adams Went to “71-51 port from
Brooklyn, N. Y., some years ago. and .
has been one of the [DOM respected,
citizens of Westport since taking up',
his residence in that town.
Thomas Finnerty, who died in the
Bridgeport hospital on Friday of con- -
sumption. was brougnt here, Saturday
afternoon,'by undertaker J. C. Collins.
His funeral was attended from St.
Mary’s church Sunday afternoon and
he was buried in St. Mary’s cemetery.
NOVELIST ERCKMAN N DEAD.
Wrote Many Stories In Conjunctio-
‘Vlth ll. Chan-fun.
PARIS, March 15.—A dispatch from
Lunevllle, department of Lurthe-et-
Moselle, announces the death of M.
Emile Erckmann, the French novelist.
who collaborated in fiction for many
years with the late M. Alexandre Che.-
trlan, using the compound name Erck-
mann-Chatrian. He was in his seventy-
seventh year. 1
The late M. Erckmann, who was born
Mourthe, May 20, 1822, was the son of a
bookseller. After studying by fits and
starts in the college of his native town,
he proceeded to Paris to study law, but
he never practiced that profession. He
resolved to earn a living with his pen
and accordingly began a series of works
of fiction in conjunction with M. Alex-
andre Chatrian, \".(.1 VV as born in the
hamlet of. Soldatenthal, in the commune
of Abroschwillor. in the department of
the Meurthe, Dec. 18. 1826, and who was
an usher in the col. ege at Thalsbourg
when M. Erckmann made his acquaint-
ance in 1847.
Fr? that time the two friends com-
pose numerous tales. alI signed “Eer-
and characterized by
such unity of composition that no one
doubted they were the production of a
single individual.
CHINA BLUE BOOK.
Just Issued Iii London—It Show:
England's Desire. For Harmony.
LONDONhMarch 15.—-The eagerly an-
ticipated China blue book was issued
yesterday but all the main points in
dispatches filling 350 pages and cm ering
the peiiod £10111 1-- cbruaiy, 1898, to Feb-
ruary, 1899, were already known to the
public.
The blue book deals at length with all
the territorial, railway and mining con-
cessions to all countries,- commencing
with the cession of Port Arthur and
closing with the opening of Nan-Ning'
as a treaty port. Much space is devoted
to the question of the foreign concession
at Shanghai, the exhibits including the
protests of American ministers and con—
suls against the placing of American
property under the jurisdiction of
France or any other single power. The
readiness of British warships to support.
the Viceroy in resisting the French de—
book gives the American China Devel-
opment company 5 contract for the
Hankow- CantOn railway, signed in
The whole tenor of the British dis-
vlews of Germany and the United
States in all matters in which they were
concerned.
Explosion Not Accidental.
PAI‘lS, March —The Eclair con—
firms the report that the government
inquiry regarding the explosion of the
navy powder magazine at. La Goubran
has shown that it was not of accidental
orig 11, and much credence is now given
to the rumor that it was an anarc-iist
outrai‘se ' '
Excursion Trains Collide. ,
WELLINGTON N. 2., March 13. —
Five persons have been killed and 4c
near Rakata, on tlu‘
south island.
I
'this statement the imperial
RECIPROCITY PLANS
Negotiations Resumed With
France and Germany.
SPEEDY SETTLEMENT HOPEI) FOR.
Trestlel Under Dinghy Law Malt Be
Completed Before July 24 Next.
The President nay Act at
Any Time, However.
WASHINGTON, March 15.—Negotia-
tions for reciprocity treaties with Ger-
many and France have been resumed.
and there is still a. prospect that a
treaty may be negotiated with Great
Britain covering the British West In-
dies. These several treaty negotiations
were interrupted some months ago by
the service Mr. Kasson, our reciprocity
commissioner, was obliged to give to
the Canadian commission. As this work
In closed Mr. Kasson is freeto resume
the negotiations with the other coun-
tries, and he has written to inform them
that he is at liberty to proceed. '
In the case of France, Embassador
Cambon returns from Paris with the
very earnest hope of carrying through
a treaty under section 4 of the Dingley
law. On the part of France it is pro-
«posed to give to the United States their
“minimum” tariff list. The French tar-
iff has two rates, a maximum and a
minimum. The difference averageo
about 25 per cent. Countries specially
favored by France get the minimum
rate, while those having ‘no arrange-
ment pay the maximum rate. 25 per
cent higher. The effect of this is to
place higher duties on American good:
than those of England, Germany, Rus-
sic. and some 31 countries with which
France has made commercial arrange;
ments. In the negotiations with Mr.
Kasson this minimum rate ls conceded,
1h: only question being as to What the
United States will grant in return. The
law permits a 20 per cent reduction of
duty on designated articles, but an ar-
rangement has not been reached as to
what these articles shall be. The French
contention is that the list should be llb-
eral, as their minimum list covers the
entire tariff list. They also contend that
the average of French duty on Ameri-
can goods is about 14 per cent ad valo—
rem as against about 50 per cent Amer-
ican duty on French goods. M. Caribou
is awaiting some further statisti al 1114
formation from Paris, and it is expected
that active negotiations will proceed in
about two weeks. They began over a.
year ago on a strict commercial basis
g and made no progress owing' to Germa-
ny's course in certain other public matd'
ters. Recently, however. Germany has
given unmistakable evidence of good
will. As a. result the officials have shown
a disposition to listen with more atten-
tion to Germany’s desires on reciproci-
ty, and the subject is being considered
in the broad general features. The scope
. of the negotiations is shown In the fact
that Secretary Hay himself is carrying
it forward the detailed work on sched-
ules not having been taken up as yet by
Mr. Kasson.
Whether the negotiations will prove
successful is too early to predict. al-
though both sides, particularly the Ger-
mans, express. .theli'..hope~that a treaty
will result within the next three
months. The British negotiations reach-
ed an advanced stage and then col-
lapsed entirely. They were managed
by Sir Julian Pauncefote and Mr. Kas-
son, who together outlined the articles
to be covered “by the proposed treaty.
The document was about ready to sign
last summer, when the London authori-
ties made a statement that they were
considering the advisability of grant-
ing countervailing duties to the sugar
producers of the British West Indies
after the American practice. This put
off the reciprocity treaty, for if theim-
perial government gave countervailing
duties there was not the same need of a
reciprocity arrangement. But except for
govern-
ment has done nothing in countervail-
ing duties, and the West Indian colo-
nies have received neither the benefit of
the duties nor of the reciprocity treaty.
The expiration, of this period is urg-
ing all foreign countries to hasten their
negotiations. The Dingley law provides
that the president shall have authority
for two years from the date when the
law became operative (July 24, 1897) to
make 'reciprocity treaties, etc. This
period expires July 24 next, so that on-
ly three months remain to complete
treaties under this law. It is said,
however, that if they fail of comple-
tion within that time it will not neces-
sarily end all the negotiations, as the
president still has the constitutional
right, independent of this specific law.
to negotiate treaties by and with the
consent of the senate. If deemed ad-
vantageous, this constitutional authori-
ty will be exercised even after July 24
next.
‘ Emperor Likes Cecil.
BI: 11 LIN, March l5.—Both Emperor
William and Empress Augusta Victoria,
besides Baron V'on Bulow, the foreign
minister. and other ministers. with
their VviV es, attended the banquet given
by Sir Fiank Lasce -lles. the British em-
bassador, to Mr. Cecil Rhodes, who ap-
pears to have personally impressed ev-
erybody, from the emperor downward.
With the exception 'of the extreme
Agrarian and Conservative papers the
whole press praises him. The emperor
is said to iegard him as "just the sort
of man that Germany wants." It is
understood that the Rhodesian schemes
anticipate that Germany will ultimate-
ly possess VValfisch bay, on the coast
of Damara Land, South Africa.
A Month’s Trade.
WASHINGTON. March 15.——The Feb-
ruary statement of the imports and ex-
ports of the United States issued by the
bureau of statistics shows as follows:
Imports of merchandise during Februa-
ry, 1899, $60,260,032, of- which $28,074,179
was free of duty, an increase over Feb-
ruary, 1898, of about 87,186.000; exports
of merchandise, $93,884,149, a decrease of
91,000,000; imports of gold, $5,148,906, 3
decrease of $1,000,000; exports of gold,
$324, 840, a decrease of $700 000; exports.
of silver $4,562,196, an incx ease of. $900-
000; imports of si',lVer 81,24 7,027, a dc.
crease of $653,000.
Age Limit Extended”
WASHINGTON, March 15.—-An' order
has been issued by the war depdrtment
increasing the age limit for enlistment
from 30 to 35 years. The youngest age
at which a man can be enlistedi is 18
years. The results so far for the enlist.
natinent of troops are very encouraging
Norwalk Chronicler