February 14.—The “housecleaning” committee of the New York Life Insurance Co. submits a report to the trustees of the company, showing that $148,702.50 has been illegally contributed to campaign funds in the last three elections. The committee recommends that suits for the recovery of the same be brought against John A. McCall and all other officers who had anything to do with making the contributions.
John G. Brady, Governor of Alaska, resigns.
The House of Representatives passes the appropriation bill for fortifications. The total amount appropriated is $4,383,993, $600,000 of this to be spent in fortifying the Philippines and Hawaii.
The Senate passes the ship subsidy bill. If the bill becomes a law it is estimated that $26,000,000, will be taken from the United States Treasury and paid out in bounties to vessel owners during the next ten years.
The resolution of Representative Sulzer, of New York, calling for an inquiry regarding the sale of the old New York Custom House to the National City Bank, of New York, passes the House by a unanimous vote.
February 15.—John Mitchell presents the demands of the miners to the mine owners. Committees are appointed to represent both sides.
Congressman Longworth procures a license to marry Miss Alice Roosevelt. The President attends Mr. Longworth’s bachelor dinner.
James W. Alexander is again stricken with paralysis and is in a sanitarium at Deerfield, Mass.
Officers of the beef packers again testify that Commissioner Garfield promised that no evidence they gave would be used against them. The testimony brought out these facts: First, Commissioner Garfield apparently took the word of Armour & Co.’s general superintendent that the Armour Car Company, which has been declared the tap root of the Beef Trust, was not owned by Armour & Co., and had nothing to do with the fresh meat industry, and made no further attempt to get information concerning the private car line monopoly. Second, Swift & Co. gave information reluctantly to the Commissioner of Corporations, and only after consulting counsel. At this conference attorneys for the other packers in the trust were present. The secretary of Swift & Co. contributed the information that he sought this advice of counsel because he “wanted it.”
February 16.—James W. Alexander, former President of the Equitable Life Insurance Co., is operated on. The physicians refuse to tell the nature of the operation, but give hopes of Alexander’s recovery.