“These lands are as much government property as are any other part of the public domain. They have been purchased from the Indians and title is no longer in them. Hence the plan is not feasible. Moreover, it would not be wise if practicable, for if the lands were put up at auction they all would fall into the hands of men with money, and the poor man would have no chance whatever. Under the present plan all have equal rights regardless of conditions of wealth, and that this fact is recognized is made evident by the large number taking advantage of the opportunity for registration.” The registration will close at 6 p.m. on the 26th. * * * * * PORTO RICAN DUTIES. The Attorney General Refuses to Render an Opinion on Certain Porto Rican Duties. Washington, July 23.—Attorney-General Knox has declined to render an opinion, which was asked for by the secretary of the treasury, on the question whether or not, under existing laws, the secretary is authorized to refund the duties collected on goods imported from Porto Rico between the date of the ratification of the Spanish treaty and the date that the Foraker act went into operation. The attorney general says that inasmuch as the comptroller of the treasury has given his decision on the subject it is a matter for him (the comptroller) alone, and he therefore can not give a decision as requested. It is authoritatively stated at the treasury department that the government will proceed immediately to refund these duties, acting upon the decision of the comptroller of the treasury, which was to the effect that the treasury department had authority under existing law. The duties amount approximately to $2,000,000. * * * * * OOM PAUL’S WIFE IS DEAD. Mrs. Kruger, Wife of the Former President of the Transvaal Republic Dead at Pretoria. Pretoria, July 21—Mrs. Kruger, wife of the former president of the Transvaal republic, who is now in Europe, died Saturday evening, of pneumonia, after an illness of three days, aged 67 years. Mrs. Kruger was the second wife of the former Transvaal president. She was a Miss Du Plessis, a name of prominence in South Africa. Mr. Kruger’s first wife was her aunt. Mrs. Kruger was a typical Boer woman. She cared nothing for finery, and at her home in Pretoria, she had all the simplicity of manner and mode of living of the plainest woman of the veldt. It was said of her, even at the time when her husband was accumulating millions, that her chief interest in life was to see how much she could save in her housekeeping. Throughout the Transvaal she was famous for her coffee, which she always had ready for visitors. * * * * * Ohio Bryan Democrats.