New-York Tribune from New York, New York • Page 1

3Xfetn -HI uric OtTt hit it I I I 1 1 91 II npfm i I I I 1 I I I I I Jr VOLV 0L LIX-. 19.493. BOERS ADVANCING. PITCHED BATTLE PROVABLE IX AFRICA SOOX. j- FIXED TO BE BLOWN UP.

BUT THE TRANSVAAL'S EXECUTIVE STILL UNCERTAIN. fCoprrlcht; By The New 'jit TO THE THIBC.VE.] London. March 30, a. There Is very little news frDm the front this morning. General Roberts shows no signs of moving forward, but there are indications that the Boers are advancing south from Kroonstad.

and, as they are said to be in force, fighting may take place at A force which set out some days ago from Klmberley to drive the Boers out of Griquatown has. says "The Mail" telegram, been obliged to return under imperative orders from Lord Roberts. According to the Pretoria correspondent of The Mai'." the destruction of the mines has not yet been decided upon by the Boer Executive, although preparations to that end have been made by the State Mining Engineer. The papers to-day all comment upon the Delapoa Bay Award. There is a general consensus of opinion with regard to the unconscionable time it has taken the arbitrators to arrive at a decision and as to the utter Inadequacy of the sum awarded.

"The Times" con- Elders that Portugal has done wrong to British and American but It is manifest that she was acting under pressure from the Transvaal. "The Mall" goes so far as to say that it is evident the arbitrators paid no attention to the British case, and "The Standard" believes the decision will deepen the distrust many people already feel for settling International disputes by arbitration. I. X. F.

FAITH IX 'BOBS" SUPREME THFREIOKK THERE IS NO CRITICISM WHEN BOEB COMMANDOES ESCAPE. 1900: By The New- York iBT CABLE TO tut London. March 30, 1 a. War news is so light from Africa that the enterprise of Mr. sTsi Ill's Journals is searching for a new Ecene of conflict further East.

A dispatch from Kobe states that Russia has demanded leave to land troops in and Joseph Walton interprets this as a sign that war is imminent with Japan, since that Power is determined to resist Russian aggression in that quarter. A Blue Book, Issued last night on China negotiations, threw no light upon this question. The announcement li made by the Central the Delas-oa Bay Arbitration Commission has awarded 15,314,000 francs to British and American claimants from Portugal, in addition to deposited ten years ago. This settlement will probably open the way for the sale of Portuguese territory at the close of the war, sad its partition between England and Germany. The successful retirement of Dutch commandoes of considerable strength from Orange River to the northern reach of the Free State is now claimed by the Boer authorities at Pretoria and conceded by the British Staff.

It was not considered possible that these Dutch penes could escape capture when Bloemfontein occupied. Their retreat has been a remarkable achievement which reflects great credit upon the Dutch commander, since his forces were beset on all sides by British in superior strength. With this reinforcement the Boer army will be enabled to make a strong stand on the northern ridges of the Free State. General Builer would have been severely criticised if the Boers had Slipped through his lines in similar circumstances, but no military writer has a word of censure for General Roberts for his failure to intercept the retreat of a body of six thousand burghers. National faith in "Bobs" is unquestioning.

He is regarded by the press and nation as a General who thinks of everything and never makes mistakes, and consequently the fact that the Dutch commandoes have retreated by forced marches without being harassed. blocked and captured Is oof that the British army needed to halt around the capital and prepare for an arduous campaign northward. General Roberts has secured the enviable distinction of commanding public confidence so completely ttat he is no longer exposed to criticism. General Roberts has confirmed the reports of Ekirmishes at Ladybrand and north of Modder nlver md of the capture of two guns by General Clements at Fauresmith. There are press accounts of the continued inarch of Clements's -orce toward Bloemfontein by a wide western circuit, and also of the sharpness with which the British force at Warrenton was attacked by th Boers from Fourteen Streams.

There Is aiso budget of dispatches from Boer sources plating to skirmishes on the Sunday River, in the preparations for a vigorous defence the northern section of Free State and the determination of President Krfiger to carry on the war Indefinitely. Little news comes to London from South Africa and there is a shrinkage of public interest in the campaign. The officials frankly confess that they do not know when General 8 my will be rPady to move or what Boiler is aiming at, or what measures Bus been adopted for the relief of Mafeking. general Roberta Is charged with full and has absolutely a free hand. One of Kitchener's maxims is to keep your own secrets.

cl plans for the advance to Klmbetiey were disclosed to a small group of high officers, ad secrecy will be maintained respecting the iresh advance northward. There Is no interruption in the outward movement of reinforcements from England to Cape a large force Is now at sea, and battalons of regulars, yeomanry and volunteers are Preparing to embark. The Prince of Wales reviewed yesterday five companies of yeomanry narpghooters and congratulated their many dis- oncers upon the appearance of the jrpg. tid -1 and wealthy classes are rongly represented in the yeomanry, which, as and officered. is a picked body of good rem" shots.

Shipments of horses for OantS aDd military stores are continued on a 0411 Th truth is perceived by rt and public men that the "Polios must be overrun and occutrT by an overwhelming British and that oughts the must be done Wit amnn- remark which is constantly heard "No members the House of Commons ie: rOmlt convent lon. no intervention. 6Caa occupation of the entire district by an army adequate to enforce the Pax Brltannica." I. KftUBOBB FULL OF FIGHT. ANKOTJNCBI his ixvkntion to rktake BLOEMFO.NTEiX WITHIN A WEEK.

I-ondon, March The Boers are concentrating In force about fifteen miles north of Bloemfontein. in the rear of Glen, and Lord Roberts is sending forward troops to engage them. The Seventh Infantry Division and part of General French's calavry have been sent up to join the Fourteenth Brigade and the two cavalry regiments that are holding Glen and its environs. It does not seem probable that the Boers will give serious battle In the fairly open country north of Glen. Still, their evident strength indicates more than a corps of observation.

The Bloemfontein correspondent of "The Morning Post." telegraphing on Wednesday, says: President Kriiger boasts his intention to retake Bloemfontein within a week, and it appears probable that the Boers are advancing in force southward. In small affairs the Boers are daringly aggressive in all parts of the field of war. The Johannesburg Mounted Police, esteemed by the Boers to be their best mounted commando, are raiding the country near Bloemfontein, harrassing the farmers who have given up their arms to the British, and carrying off cattle. There is a Boor report from Natal that a Russian soldier of fortune. Colonel Ganetzki, with a hundred horsemen, is operating close to the British outposts on the western border.

A dispatch from Bloemfontein, dated Wednesday, March 28, again dwells upon the necessity for not making a premature advance. The correspondent, who on several occasions seemed to have been chosen as the mouthpiece of Lord Roberts, cables: It should be clearly understood that the present in the vicinity of Bloemfontein is absolutely necessary as a military precaution. It should lie borne in mind that we are about to enter on a new phase of the operations, with the main communications through a recently occupied hostile country, and that the recent successes made necessary a great expendittire of horse power. Here and in Natal we shall move on the commencement of the South African winter, and must be prepared to face the effects of the first frost upon such animals as may be affected with horse sickness. It would be suicidal to push troops forward till they are equipped to meet the exposure of winter.

Horses, clothing and food we must have. The correspondent adds that the Boer forces have been re-equipped, arid he says he is fullyconvinced that fifteen thousand foreign troops have been landed to aid the republics. The Boers and disloyalists at Kenhardt have been dispersed and caused to retreat. General Parsons is about to enter the town unopposed. Lord Roberts is making extensive arrangements to police and safeguard ali the Free State towns in the territory occupied.

Dispatches from Maseru assert that the Boers who returned to Ladybrand from Cloeolan have taken up strong positions and sent pickets far in every direction to watch Basutoland, In the expectation that part of General Buller's army will invade the Free State on that side- According to Pretoria advices, Mafeking was bombarded for seven hours on Tuesday. It is reported in London that to Lord Kitchener will be offered the post of Commander in Chief in India, succeeding the late Sir William Lockhart, so soon as decisive successes have been obtained in the Transvaal, and that General Sir Archibald Hunter will succeed him as Lord Roberts's chief of staff. JOrBEHT'S LAST ILLNESS. THE BOER GEXRRAL TO BE BURIED QPIETLT. AS HE WISHED.

ON HIS FARM. Pretoria, Wednesday, March 2S. General Jouhert was taken ill Sunday morning. He was at his office the previous day. He suffered great pain, but became unconscious some time before death.

The complaint was acute inflammation of the bowels. The body will lie in state to-morrow, and will then be taken by special train to the farm at Rustfontein, near Wakkerstroom, where it will be buried quietly, as Joubert often requested, and without military honors. Michael Davitt has gone to Kroonstad. GOOD WORDS FOR THE MAINE. HOSPITAL SHIP ANDSTAFF PRAISED BY SIR WILLIAM MACCORMAC.

London, March Sir- William MacCormac, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, who recently returned from South Africa, describes in "The Lancet" a visit which he paid to the American hospital ship Maine on February 14, over which Major Cabell conducted him. He says: Everything that be desired for the comfort of the wounded, both from a surgical and a nursing standpoint, is to be found in this vessel. Unfortunately, the ship itself is not what could be described as suitable for a hospital. The upper deck is good, but on the lower deck most of the ventilation has to be carried on by electric fans. Lady Randolph Churchill, personally, is indefatigable in her attention and kindness to the patients, as also the entire surgical and nursing staff.

luxuries in the way of food, drink and clothitg of every variety abound. Practically, there is nothing which "Tommy" asks for which he is to get. No word could be too good for the personnel, equipment and devoted care bestowed on the patients. GENERAL BKABAXTS OPERATIONS. Allwal North.

March 20. General Brabant and his staff have returned from Rouxville, and are now actively engaged in holding the southern frontier of the Free State. Detachments are being sent tv strengthen the positions which have been occupied. It is evident that Commandant Olivier, now rlioving north, is being closely watched by Kir Godfrey Lagdon, the Basutoland Commissioner, who Is in communication with General French. REPORT FROM LORD ROBERTS.

on-: imiTisn commander reports minor SKIHMISiiKS AND LOSSES. London, March 29. The War Office has received the following dispatch from Lord StOberts, dated Bloemfontoin. March 28: General Clements occupied Faurefmith to-day without opposition. One 0-pounder and one Martini-Maxim were discovered in a prospecting shaft of a mine, where a large quantity of ammunition was buried.

Arms are being surrendered gradually, and the inhabitants are settling down. Colonel Pilcher visited Ladybrand on March L'tJ. On leaving the town he was attacked by a party of the enemy, and one of his force was wounded and five are missinp. During the skirmish north of the Modder Riveton March five men were wounded. Three are reported to be missing.

Captain Sloane- Stanley, of the Hith Lancers, and five men that regiment were taken prisoners. SHAMROCKS FOR SOLDIERS' GRAVES. London. March 30. The Duke of York has accepted from a resident of Cork a thousand packets of shamrock seed, which will be sown upon the of Irish soldiers In South Africa.

QUEEN'S VISIT TO IRELAND. arrangkmknts yon thk royal journey KA RING I PI. KTIOX. London, March Arrangements for the Queen's visit to Dublin arc rapidly nearlng completion. Two detachments of Life Guards ft London this fcvenlng to act as the royal escort.

(Contlnacd on third p'l'i NEW- YORK. FRIDAY. MARCH 30. 1900. -FOURTEEN DELAGOA BAY AWARD MADE.

PORTUGAL CONDEMNED TO PAY ONLY FRANCS. WITH INTEREST. Berne, Switzerland, Marrn 29. According to the Delagoa Bay Railroad award Portugal is condemned to pay 15, 81 4,000 frarcs. The following is the text of the decision: First The Portuguese Government, as the defending party, is condemned to pay to the Jovernrnent of the United States and to Great Britain, the claimants, altogether, In addition to the paid on account in 1860, the sum of francs in legal Swiss money, with simple interest on this sum at the rate of per rent per annum, from June ISSJt, up to the date of payment of said sum.

Second- This sum. after deducting what ia necessary to defray the cost of arbitration falling on the claimants and in addition to the balance of £28.000 paid on account in shall be employed in the payment of bondholders and other creditors, if there is need, of the Delagoa Bay Railway Company, according to their standing. The claimants will draw up a scale uf distribution for this purpose. The Portuguese Government will have to pay Into the hands of the Government of the United States the sum which, according to said scale, shall accrue to McMurdo, represented by said Government in her quality of nondholding creditor of the first and second degree. It will pay the surplus to the Government of Great Britain for the benefit of all others having rights.

The delay of six months fixed by the last line of Clause IV, of the Arbitration Compromise, shall run from this day forth. The costs of the arbitration, according to a scale to be drawn up in accordance with Clause V. of the Arbitration Compromise, will be borne in equal parts by the three parties to the suit, that is to say, a third part by each of them. Fifth-The conclusions of the parties in so far as they differ from the above award are set aside. An authentic copy of the present award will be delivered through the intermediary of the Swiss Federal Council to each of the three parties to the case.

The award is unanimous. The sum awarded by the Delagoa Bay Arbitration Tribunal is much less than was generally expected, the popular Idea being that the award would range from to JIO.OOO/>OO. The claims which were laid before the Commission were those of the Delagoa Bay Company for $7,250,000 and of Mrs. McMurdo for nearly JI.TiOO.OG.i. Competent engineers, thoroughly acquainted with that country and with the whole subject, estimate the concession to be worth at present more than $30,000,000.

Delagoa Bay Is the natural Seagate to the Transvaal, and the Delagoa Bay Railway, over which the Portuguese Government has for several years exercised a monopoly, gives the shortest eastern outlet from Pretoria to the sea. This road was built by an American. Colonel Edward McMurdo more than ten years ago. and because he could not complete it under impossible conditions, as demanded by the Portuguese Government, it was confiscated and McMurdo and his heirs, as well as other stockholders, were dispossessed of their property Since September, 1890, three eminent Swiss jurists who constitute an arbitration tribunal, have been holding conferences on the question. This harbor Is an important strategic point of connection with the Transvaal, and it may pass into British hands, provided that Portugal is unable to pay the award of the tribunal.

Various suggestions of advancing money to Portugal to enable her to meet the payment. "and avoid yielding the port to England, have been heard since the Boer war began. The latest was a proposition from George YV. Van Siden, of this city, to lend Portugal the money to be raised by Boer sympathisers In this country. These offers have not been favorably received by Portugal as yet.

DISAPPOINTMENT IN LONDON. PRESS COMMENT ON THE DELAGOA BAY AWARD. London. March "Th? Daily Mail." commenting upon the award at Berne, says: The boundless procrastination of the tribunal it is difficult to explain, for not the smallest trace of equity can be discovered in the award of the beggarly awarded as compensation for a concession valued at £6,009,000. We fear the arbitrators allowed themselves to be prejudiced against British interests by the irrational Anglophobia which has seized upon the Swiss people.

By their conduct the arbitrators have struck a deadly blow at arbitration. "The Dally Chronicle" says: The award corresponds with the general anticipation. Portugal Is condemned to pay. including interest, nearly a million sterling. Probably the ingenuity of Pretoria was a fertile contributor to the inexplicable delay of the arbitration.

We wonder whether the diplomatists at Lisbon think they have had the value of their money. The editorial then proceeds to reproach the British Government with doing nothing to stop President Krilger's open intrigues in the Delagoa Bay affair, and pays: We would nnt be surprised to find that President Kriiger had thoughtfully banked a nice sum to enable Portugal to pay the indemnity and so to provide against the contingency he foresaw so clearly in March, ISSN, on the other hand, President Kriiger has had all the value he is likely to get out of Dclagoa Bay; and he is not the man to pay for favors received if they can be had for nothing. In this state of uncertainty we should be glad to have some announcement from Lord Salisbury. "The Daily News" says: The sum awarded is as great a surprise as has been the unconscionable time taken by the arbitrators in arriving at a decision. It had been estimated that between £2,000,000 and at least would be the amount of the award: and on the financial obligations thus to be laid upon Portugal a great deal of political speculation has recently turned.

This speculation will probably have to undergo a good deal of modification. Daily Graphic" says The award is profoundly unsatisfactory; for if ever there was a high handed and unjustifiable raid on private property, it was the confiscation of the Delagoa Bay Railway. "Th" Times" says: The company and its en dltors will doubtless consider the sum awarded far from adetjuate; but it as much as they can reasonably have expected to recover, and as much as Portugal manage to raise without assistance. After commenting upen needless delay In the proceedings, "The Times" goes on to say: It is believed that Portugal some time ago made provisions for meeting the greater part of the sum awarded. There is nothing but sympathy fur Portugal in this country.

She has donea wrong to British and American subjects, but It ia manifest that she did not do it of her own free will. She was acting under a degree of pressure which verged duresa pressure C( nsistently applied, it may be noted, for objects avowedly political and avowedly hostile to British Influence, not from the time of the Jameson raid, but from the lime when Mr. Kriiger was negotiating the London convention. Should Portugal, in these conditions, unexpectedly experience difficulties in making the necessary payments, there can be no doubt that British capital would gladly come to the assistance of our old ally. "The Standard" suys: It would be asking too much of human nature to expect that the aggrieved parties will submit to their fate cheerfully.

The bill of costs will make a large hole in the award, and It is safe to say that for every sovereign the claimants will receive they hud built hopes on at least three, and probably more. The whole thing is most unfortunate, especially as there v. as no compulsion to resort to arbitration. Great Britain and the Unit, States might simply have presented a bill of damages at Lisbon and required Its prompt liquidation. Resistance have been out of the question, our moral case was to unassailable that no Power would nave presumed to Intervene.

Looking at all sides of the South African question, we sacrificed much for the sake of supporting tbe principle of arbitration. It is probable that Portugal ill able to the Hum awarded without alienating any part of 1,, colonial poaseosfoaa Still, we do not regard the question as finally settled. Friendly diplomacy may yet achieve what a recourse to arbitration haa failed to accompllon. 1 1 1: A TA XON FR A NCHISES ASSESSMENTS IN THIS CITY NEARLY MORE THAN LOCAL ESTIMATES. telegraph to the Albany, March The State Board of Tax Commissioners made the interesting announcement to-night that it had completed its assessment of the franchises of the corporations in New-York under the Franchise Tax act.

The last local assessment of the corporations concerned put their total valuations at $70,918,023. The Tax Commissioners appraise tht? corporations at There has thus been an increase in the appraisement amounting to $189,634,081: The tax rate In New-York City last year was .0248. Should it remain the same for each $1,000,000 of valuations will represent or. approximately, each of valuations $100,000 in taxes. This would amount to nearly additional revenue to the city.

This added to the tax of $1,758,767 already assessed upon these corporations by the local authorities, according to the rate of last year, will make $6,500,060 which these corporations will be obliged to pay to the city In taxes for privileges enjoyed in the streets of New-York. This increase in valuations, however, may not be maintained, since the Tax Commissioners will grant a hearing to all the corporations which may think their assessments excessive. Judging from the experience of the State Tax Commissioners in the last fortnight, every corporation whose assessment has been increased will argue that its appraisement should be reduced. The following are the valuations found upon the larger corporations: Last assessment Special of property. franchise in streets by valuations Corporations.

local assessors. found. Brooklyn Heights system $7,680,000 Manhattan Elevated. -Metropolitan 5,030,000 Third Avenue system 2.1T4.750 ili.7^ Harlem 4.175.000 12.192.U00 Brooklyn I'nlon Gas 2,866.000 Consolidated Gas D. 683.

000 13,928,000 Standard Gas 1,419,000 New-York Mutual Gas 735,000 2,703,110 New-Amsterdam Gas 1,775,000 5.081,750 Edison Electric of 2.4 M.OOO 8,111. 29S Miscellaneous 0,100,275 34,137,188 Totals $70,018,025 In conectlon with these valuations the Board to-night gave out this statement: It will be remembered that some apprehension found expression a few weeks ago that the omission of these properties might cause to the city a loss of $66,000,000 in valuation. This apprehension was without the slightest foundation. After the hearings which will be given to this list of corporations the final valuations will be fixed and determined and certified to the Department of Taxes and Assessments In New- York City, and will be entered upon the books in that Department before May 1, according to the new schedule bill signed by the Governor today, and the taxes will be collected upon these valuations the same as upon other properties in the city of New-York. The next two weeks will be devoted by the State Commission to hearings of arguments and receipts of affidavits in relation to the New- York valuations.

Hearings will be given to the corporations mentioned in this list on April 1. The Board also announced to-night the valuations placed upon the special franchises In Buffalo, Rochester, Gloversville, Jamestown and Ithaca. The total valuation fixed by the Board in Buffalo amounts to $13,390,759, an excess over the amount fixed by- the local authorities of in Rochester. 94.3*4.320, an increase of in Gloversville, $224,440. an Increase of in Jamestown, an increase of $310,890, and in Ithaca, $133,175, an Increase of $72,942.

The average tax rate in these five communities Is $2250 on so that each $1,000,000 of assessment will pay $22,500 in special taxes. THE HEARINGS AT ALBAXY. MANY COMPANIES OR.IECT TO VALUATIONS OF PROPERTY. Albany, March The State Board of Tax Commissioners began the third day of hearings on franchise valuations of corporations New- York City at 10 o'clock this morning. The members of the Board had been working until after midnight on matters connected with the enforcement of the Franchise Tax act.

A calendar of some forty cases was before it when the hearings began. The corporations represented at the morning session, and the valuations placed upon their franchises, were as follows: Commercial Cable Company 25f1.000 t'elham Electric Ught and Power Company 27.500 Queens Borough Electric Light and Power Company til 421 Queens County Water Company 275,000 Long Island Railroad Company tooiouu WycU'ff Heights Water Company Woodhaven Water Supply Company liit'ooo Yonkers Gas Light Company Postal Telegraph Company Ocean Electric Railway Company Kings County Gas and Illuminating Company! SSIOOO Btaten Island Water Supply Company 477'otK. New-York Steam Power Company 15.000 New-York Quotation Company 42,000 Manhattan Fire Alarm Company 88.000 Pelham Electric Light and Power Company "7 Town of Bempatead Gas and Electric Light Company 53 KMI Jamaica Electric Light Company 10.U60 The Commercial Cable Company and the Postal Telegraph Company were represented by E. Cole, of New -York. The Postal Telegraph Company, he said, went out of existence three yean ago, and the property on which the valuation has been placed had passed Into the possession of the Commercial Cable Company.

Mr. Cole said that the cable company would make no stipulation by which it would assume the burden of taxation on the (817,500, but it would certify that the property of the Postal company had passed Into its possession. Mr. Cole, In respect to the Commercial Cable Company, held that the valuation placed on its franchise was excessive. The Queen's County Water Company was represented by Henry De Forrest Baldwin.

He asked that "the valuation be reduced to $47,000. The company, he said, had not th exclusive privilege of furnishing water in the territory In which it operates. It would be unjust to assess it at its full value while other property in Queens County was taxed at a low rate. The Woodhaven Water Supply Company was represented by Masten Nichols. The company defrom the value of its franchise property reduced from KB.OOO to The same linn appeared for the New-York Steam Power Company.

The company contends that it is not taxable under the Franchise Tax law Ihe Long Island Railroad Company was represented by William i. Kelly. The company claims that the State Board, In placing a value of 4(00 on its property in Brooklyn, is entirely in error. It denies thai It owns or operates any special franchise, alleging that its railroad Is entirely on Its own land, which It has purchased and paid for, or which It has leased. The company, in an affidavit inane by H.

11. Baldwin, Its president; alleges that it now pays taxes on real estate valued in Brooklyn at $575,000, and in Queens County at that It is not operating under any franchise or permission other than the franchise to be a corporation Krai. ted by the State In and that this is not a franchise taxable under the Special Franchise Tax act The company denim that it uses or occupies any public highway or street, arid In reference to the suggestion that it operates on In Brooklyn, it that the right of way at that place is not the street, but the private property of the Atlantic Avenue Railroad Company of Brooklyn, the Long island Company paying a regular rental. Mr Baldwin In bis affidavit says thai the sum which the company pays In taxes amounts to per cent of its net earnings, and that the tax burdens borne by his company are most oppressive. On the existing real estate valuation the company Is railed upon to pay about In taxes annually, which, be says, is more than it should bear, without this attempt to Increases it on the theory of a special franchise Mr.

Kelly also represented the Ocean Electric Hallway Company of Par Rorkaway. The company nays that its franchise Is practically valueless to It because It has been unable to pay Interest charges. The Kings County Sas and Illuminating was also represented by Mr. Kelly. The franchise of the corporation has been valued at 1361.000, an Increase of $200,000.

The company alleges that Its mains are not in the streets of Brooklyn by of any special franchise, but under a contract directed by the act of the Legislature. The objections of counsel for other compnnle? were made for the most part on the ground that the valuations' excessive. At US afternoon session the Ko.trd heard no .1 rkj'iments. Hriefs afflrlavits were received from several corporations, however, protesting against the valuations which have been placed on franchises. These Included the New-York Central Hudson River Railroad Company, the Western I'nlon Telegraph Company, the American District Telefjmph Company and other corporations operating within New-York City.

The Western t'nlon Telegraph Company has been valued as follows in the five boroughs: Manhattan J511.20O; Brooklyn. SCT.ISO; Tne Bronx, 04.253; Queens, iUchmond, MR. SAGE AND THE NEWSBOY. LAO WHO TRIKI) TO FOOI, THE PINANCIBR BROUGHT UP WITH A SHARP TURK. Kussell was trudging homeward through -second-st.

last night at o'clock, when he was surrounded by four or five newsboys, each one eager to sell him a paper. The boys knew him well apparently, for three or four times he was addressed as "Mr. and "Russell by the twisting, bustling and noisy little fellows. Mr. Sage asked for a certain edition of a certain paper, and the smallest boy in the bunch thrust upon him what was thought at the time to be the desired paper.

Mr. BasjC paid him and slowly walked on toward his home. He reached the corner of glanced at his purchase, looked about, hesitated an instant and then grimly and slowly walked back to where the "newsies" were talking. Peering about till he identified the lad he had patronized, he said: "Here, boy! This the paper I asked for." Crestfallen, the lad took back the paper, and Mr. Sage held out his hand, saying: "Come, sir! I want my money back." The grimy little hand went down into the trousers pocket and brought back a cent, which finally found lodgement in Mr.

Sages palm. Mr. Sage somwhat wearily hunted up another urchin with the right edition of the right paper, and then retraced his steps homeward. "What did you try to cheat Mr. Sage for?" the reporter.

"Well," said the lad hesitatingly, as if half ashamed of his wrong, "y' see, bizness wuz on de bum wid me ter-day, 'n' den, besides, Russell Sage, w'en he buys a pape offn me, he allus does dis he allus presses de penny down tight in de middle of me nan', an" I t'inks i'se got five er ten cents, till I looks at it, an' den I see dat I'se on'y got a cent. Taint cheatin' 'do' a man wot does dat to yuse, is it?" BROKAW BAROUCHE V' RECK ED. Rl'N DOWN BY AN AUTOMOBILE IN AND MRS. I. V.

BROKAW HAVE NARROW ESCAPE. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac V. Brokaw.

of No. 1 Eaet and a friend of the Brokaws, had a narrow escape from serious injury in a collision yesterday afternoon at o'clock with an automobile In front of the League Club, in Fifth-aye. The Brokaw barouche, with coachman and footman on the front seat, was being driven up the avenue, when an automobile, coming down, tried to get by it by going between the moving lines of carriages on the opposite sides of the street. The automobile driver ran his machine against the rear wheel of the barouche and tore the rear of the carriage off. throwing the occupants to the ground and causing more or less of a panic among the hundreds of turnouts in the avenue at the time.

horses reared and plunged, but soon controlled. Mr. and Mrs. Brokaw and their friend clung to the barouche till the horses were quieted, and, beyond a severe jolting, were not injured. The automobile driver soon disappeared, without leaving his name.

There was no one in the automobile bt't the driver, and after he had dismounted long enough to see that his machine was all right he resumed his seat, turned on the power, and disappeared down the avenue. The Brokaw barouche was taken in sections to Henry Willis's livery stable, opposite the Union League Club, whe the horses were temporarily cared for. The Lrokaws went home in a cab. Last night at the house it was said that none of the party were seriously hurt. BLACKWELL'S ISLAND BRIDGE.

THE CHARTER GRANTED BY THE STATE MAY BE BOUGHT BY THE CITY. Albany. March 20 There was an illustration in the Senate this afternoon of the State giving away a valuable franchise l'ke the Ramapo Water Company, the Senate passing Senator Plunkltt's hill authorizing the city of New-York to buy Dr. Rannsy's Blackwell's Island Bridge charter. A few years ago Senator Timothy "Pry Dollar" Sullivan was successful in obtaining for Dr.

Ranney the valuable charter for a bridge at Blackwell's Island. To-day Mr. Sullivan was Just as busy passing a bill authorizing the city of New -York to buy back this charter granted to Dr. Ranney. If this bill becomes a law it will be the second performance of this nature within five years.

A charter was' granted to the East River Bridge Company, and then bought back at a cost of $2S(MXMk What ia the cost of Dr. Ranney's bridge charter. SSOOlOOO? And will the men who own It mak a good deal of money If they sell this bridge franchise, which costs them nothing, if they sell it at that price? For they are not understood to haw expended much money toward carrying out their project. The bill Kays: If any corporation shall possess a valid charter, with authority to construct a bridge over the East River at ani across Blackwell's Island to connect the Borough of Manhattan with the Borough of yueens, the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund of the city of New-York may. if they so determine-, purchase said charter and all the rights and powers granted thereby from the corporation so holding the same, so far as the same relates to bridges authorized to be constructed by the provisions of Chapter laws of lt7, known as the Greater New-York charter, at a price to be mutually agreed upon, and thereby to take the said charter together with all sites, locations, franchises, rights, easements or property, real and personal, and any right or franchise connected therewith, and any such corporation is hereby authorized to sell the same at such price aa its directors may.

by a rots Of the majority of them, assent to, and upon such purchase said city of New-York shall be vested with all the rights and powers and privileges of said coroporatlon therein." Senator Ford also persuaded the Senate to pa3B a bill providing for a railroad bridge across the Bast River at Hell Gate. This bill says: The New-York Connecting Railroad Company, a domestic corporation. Is hereby authorized to construct upon the line of its railroad a bridge for railroad purposes only, of a single span, across the East River, at or near Hell Gate, together with necessary viaduct approaches, and maintain and operate the same. The said bridge shall have an elevation of not less than one hundred and thirty-rive feet above mean high water, and shall span said river from abutments built on the shores thereof and within the bulkheads lines, so as not to impede the navigation of said river. The lime of the commencement of the construction of said bridge shall be on or before the first day of September, in the year nineteen hundred, and said bridge sail be completed within five yean from said date.

This act shall take effect immediately. NO. JRIES." Pronounced by members of the Klfty-slxth Congress best thing of its kind ever published; mallei! free on receipt of three stamps. Address Room 316, Grunii Central Station, Nww-York. Advt.

PRICE THREE CENTS. DEFEAT FOli FREE TRADERS VOTES WHICH INDICATE PASSAGE OF THE PUERTO KICAN PROPOSITION TO STRIKE OUT THE PER CENT RATES OF DUTY REJECTED. TELEGRAPH TO THE in', Ton. March The Senate mads some progress with the Puerto Rican bill to-day, and the votes on two amendments proposed ty Democrats, while not a full test of the strength of the opposition to a tariff between the United States and Puerto Rico, indicated the passage of the pending measure a safe majority, and the defeat of an free trade amendment which may be offered. The first aye and no vote was on an amendment offered by Serater Pettus, of Alabama, to strike out the provision Imposing a duty of cents a pound on coffee imported into Puerto Rico, and on this, which was rejected by 13 to 32.

nil the Republicans present and voting were recorded in the negative. On the other amendment, which was also offered by Mr. Pettus, to strike out the provision which imposes duties equal to per cent Of the Dlngley rates on roods passing the ports of the United States and those of Puerto, Rico, In either direction, the SUM of the voia was 16 in the affirmative to 33 in the negative. On this amendment Senator Wellington voted in the affirmative, and Senators Hoar and Simon were paired on the same side. Mr.

Hoar with Mr. McKnery and Mr. Sitnon with Mr. Depew. Senator Beveridge will not vote or be paired against the bill, tariff cr no tariff.

Hoar will not vote or be paired in favor of it with a tariff, and it is understood that Mr. Simon occupies the same position. Senators Bevertdge and Mason were put down as paired against the amendment, the former with Mr. Butler and the latter with Mr. Taliaferro.

Five Republican Senators did not vote Messrs. Davis, Mc- Cumber. Nelson. Proctor and Thurston. Five opposition Senators also failed to vote Messrs.

Allen, Mallnry, Stewart. Tillfhan and Vast. None of these were paired, or if so the fact was not made known. Eleven Republican Senators, including Messrs. Beveridge and Ma3on, were paired in the negative, together with one Sc-nator McEnery and two Sliver Republicans Jones, of Nevada, and Teller.

Of the five Republican Senators not accounted for by pairs, at least one Kir. vote against any free trade amendment, so that It would not seem possible for such a proposition to be adopted. ESTIMATES PREE TRADE STRENGTH. Thus far only three X. -public ins have been recorded in lavor of one, either by votes or pairs.

They are Messrs. Hoar, Simon and Wellington. Adding to inena Messrs. ITtiTifHgii and Mm who were paired in the negative to-day, and Davis, MeCttSSber, BfeJaoa and Proctor, all of whom are more less inclined to sup; free trade amendnwsU of some sort, and the total Republican opposition to the tariff is niaa This, together with the entire Democratic arid other a. would amount to forty-one re ng a majority against the shrewdest free trade amendment that could be devised.

This is believed to lie the most liberal estimate of the strength of the free trade opposition that present Indications justify. The amendment now pending, which may brought to a rots to-morrow, is designed to attract the- support of all Sentaors who are in favor free bstwoaa Puerto Rico and the United States without lo the constitutional theories involved. It was prepared by Senator Lindsay, who agrees with the Republicans as to the constitutional question an 1 is an ardent free trader from conviction. It is a substitute for an amendment drawn by Senator Bacon with the same design in view, but woui-1 have failed to accomplish it. As It is.

th- trade Democrats cann.t vote for it without in terms enacting the Dingley tariff provisions so as to protect Puerto Rican industries against foreign a fact of which Mr. Bacon was reminded to-day in the course of the debate on the amendment. The Lindsay-Bacon amendment a proposition in of the tariff provisions contained in Sections 2 and li of the bill, and provides fat absolute freo trade bci Puerto Rican ports those of the United, States. SENATOR BEVERIDGE'S SPEECH. Before the amendments were taken up Senator Beveridge delivered the speech which he prepared and expected to deliver last week.

He was inspired by the presence of one of the largest audiences of the session, and he spoke with his usual fire and energy. The effect of the speech had been somewhat dulled and impaired by its postponement, and. in fact, discounted to a considerable extent so far as the Senate itself was concerned. It might have been better for the young Senator to have struck while the iron was hot, for both the manner and matter of the oration and the argument were the same as they would have been last week the same sincerity of conviction and purpose, the same lucid exposition of his views, and the same oratorical attractiveness. The best portion of the speech probably was that devoted to the discussion of the powers and duties of Congress in dealing with the new territorial acquisitions, in which he skilfully laid bare the hopes and purposes of the anti-expansicnists.

His only criticism of the pending measure was on the ground of expediency, and Senators could hardly been surprised when he declared that he would support the measure, even if the tariff provisions should be retained, because it was a long step in the right direction, and. moreover, because it provided for the early removal of all trade restrictions on commerce between the United States and Puerto Rico. DEBATE IX IHE SENATE, BEVKKIIMJE FOR A FREE HAND AND FREE VOTING ON AMENDMENTS. Washington, March When consideration of the Puerto Mean Tariff and Government bill was resumed lay Mr. Beveridge.

of Indiana, addressed the Senate in support of "he proposition for free trade between the United States and Puerto Rico. He poke In part as follows: The Joined in this ib-bate Involves the power of Congress over the islands and the peoples which has placed our keeping, and therefore the expediency of retaining them. It Involves the power ami progress of the Republic out all its future, For if Coneress not a frea hand to deal with thrse islands as their different conditions and changing needs demand, it is not only inexpedient but it may be Impossible to hold them. To treat Puerto Rico we ire.it Hawaii, and to deal with the latter as we deal with the Philippines, and to apply to all without delay las same formula of laws which custom and the Intention of Statehood have prescribed for our Territories from which our States are formed. is a proposition as ma it Is novel.

The needs of Puerto lUco aro peculiar to Puerto Rico; we must administer to them as good Judgment may demand. The neetls of Hawaii are peculiar to Hawaii. The of the Philippines are peculiar to the of all are utterly unlike our American States when they were Territories. The people of each lsluad group are unlike the people of the other. And none of them are like the American who dominated our continental wilderness.

And. if we may not adopt measures fitting the condition and the necessities of each, and i-hang? rcensuies as and necessities change, wo must jdve up. There is no other alternative. Or. rather, there la an alternative, whose wry statement nuts us to this melancholy choice.

A MELANCHOLY ALTERNATIVE. That alternative is the proposition that our Con- stltutlcn extends over lo whom Its sacred meaning Is dark as mid night; that peoples shall be provided for according to affixed formula of government and laws prepared the highest of self-governing communities the world a- sj taw: that before these people even comprehend the term self-government, before they realize its.