CHICAGO. Commercial conditions reflect sustained trength and further progress appeara In the expansion t activity which asoally mark the approach of apring. Wall street's troubles Uae not Impaired oenfV dence In the industrial oat look. New was scales Indicate that labor cost keeps advancing, but apart from a strike which Interrupts hipbuildins satisfactory agree tnenta are reached, assuring peaca throughout thia year. Marketing of farm viroducU again la notably heavy, while the offering of freight are the greatest ver known and transportation earnings steadily exceed the record made by Chi cago road a year ago. Stltlstlcs aa to production and distri bution In this district exhibit satisfactory growth in the leading brancliea. Weather conditions remain unusually favorable to retail operations. The demand for t-pring good on State street proceeds sat isfactorily, and Tenorts Indicate that country merchandising makes headway under the influence of higher temperature. Outside buyers throng the wholesale line in unprecedented numbers and .the book ings a iii-pans those at this time last year in principal staples. , Bank clearings, $2 19.(137,316, exceed those of name week in 19(10 by 23.2 per cent. : Failures reported In Chicago district numbered 2.", against 1!) last week and 29 a TMr aa-n. Dim's Review. NEW YORK. Spring ' trade la making ft most satis factory comimrinon with the volume at tWa tunc last year, except in a few sec tions, where the weather is still unfav orable, and mercantile collections Improve, steadily despite the high money market. Leading industries have orders covering production well Into the future. Textile mills are producing at a remarkable rata without threatening any accumulation of stocks and advanced prices for cotton foods have not checked demnnds. In thla division the statistical position la beyond precedent, mills being sold ahead for xnany months and purchasers readily ac centing whatever deliveries can be se cured. Premiums above regular quota tlons are willingly paid for early ship ments. Mont jobbers have now provided for all of the spring trade, but othera will not be able to meet the requirements of customers, This Is especially the case With western 'jobbers, who still receive liberal orders. Little Interest is shown by the export division, aa prices are above the views of foreign markets, bet produc ers need no support from abroad. Brad street's Report. Chicago Cattle, common to prim, $4.00 to $0.80; bogs, prima heavy, $4.00 to $0.82; sheep, fair to choice, $3.00 to $5.70: wheat, No. 2, 73c to "fie; corn, Mo. 2, 42c to 4.1c j oats, standard, 30c to 40c ; rye, No. 2, 08c to 0c j bay, timo thy, $18.00 to $18.00; prairie. $0.00 to $14.00; butter, choice creamery, 27c to 20c S . freh, 14c to 16c; potatoes, 3Tkj to 44c. Indianapolis Cattle, shipping. $3.00 to $8.60; hogs, choice heavy, $4.00 to $7.05; aheep, common to prime. $2.50 to $5.00; wheat, No. 2, 73c to 74c; corn, No. 2 white. 45c to 47c; oats, No. 2 white, 41c to 43c. St Louis Cattle, S1.G0 to $0.75; hogs, $4.00 to $0.00; aheep, $3.60 to $5.00; wheat, No. 2, 77c to 78c; corn, Jo. 2, 42c to 43c; oats. No. 2. M to 43c: rye, No. 2, 04c to 06c. Cincinnati Cattle, $4.00 to $5.05; bog, $4.00 to $7.10 ; sheep, $3.00 to $5.60; wheat. No. 2, 78c to 70c; corn. No. 2 mixed, 43c to 44c; oats, No. 3 mixed, 48c to 44c ; rye, No. 2, 71c to 73c Detroit Cattle, $4.00 to $5.60; hogs, $4.00 to $7.00; aheep, $2.50 to $5.00; wheat. No. 2, 70c to 77c ; corn, No. 8 yellow, 40c to 47c ; oats, No. 3 white, 43c to 45c; rye, No. 2, 00c to 71c. Milwaukee Wheat No 2 northern, 78c to 81c; corn, No, 3, 41c to 42c: oats, standard, 41c to 43c j rye. No. 1, 67c to 69c; barley, standard, 72c to 74c; pork, mess, $15.87. Buffalo Cattlo, choice shipping steers. $4.00 to $8.00; bogs, fair to choice, $4-00 to $7.35; sheep, common to good mixed, 14.00 to $5.40; lambs, fair to choice, $3.00 to $8.00. New York Cattle. $4.00 to $0.20; 1wgs. $4.00 to $7.50; aheep, $3.00 te $5.50; wheat. No. 2 red, 82c to 83c; corn. No. 2, 34 to 65c; oaU, natural white, 49c to Blc; butter, creamery, 80s 4o 31c ; eggs, western, 10c to 17c. Toledo Wheat, Nd. 2 mixed, 70o to 78c : corn. No. 2 mixed, 45e to 47c j -sets. No. 1 mixed, 42c to 44c; rye, No, - .. . I 1 ID-K 2, titkr to WC; Clover semi, yruue, o. , j, HAVOC IN FOUR STATES. flood la reaasytvanla, Ohio, laol- aad an West Vlralala. With an estimated pninrty damage of $10,000,000, the enforced Idleness of over 100,000 persons, almost the com plete suspension of Pittsburgh world fatuous nianufactnrltig plants, the sac rifice of two score Uvea, which prob ably will be Increased; train service annulled, trolley service out of comml.v slon, telegraph and telephone lines crippled, between 20,000 and 30,000 persons homelnss, hundreds of homes undermined nnd ready to collapse, the aters closed, guests marooned in hotels, thousands of families living in the sec ond stories of their homes and nearly nil the" downtown section of Pittsburg under water, la the record established by a sudden rise In the Monongahelft. Allegheny, Ohio, Youghloghcny, KIs klmlnetas and Clarion rivers, which were swollen nbnorninlly by the com bination of wiirin weather, melting snows and general rain tbrouhont west ern Pennsylvania nnd West Virginia. The record of the greatest 1100,1 the history of Pittsburg, which whs In 1832, was passed, with the rivers still rapidly rising nt n foot nn hour. All predictions, prophecies and guesses have already been shuttered and every stream In western Pennsylvania nnd West Virginia Is on the rampage. To add to the confusion In Pittsburg numerous small tires oei-urred lu the flooded territory, nnd the firemen bad grent difficulty In reaching them. In addition to this, most of the lire en gines are engaged In different sections of the city nsslMtlng In keeping electric plants free from water In order that lights may not full. Tlie town of Majorsvllle, W. Vn.. n community of sixty houses, was entire ly swejit away by the waters of Big Wheeling Creek, all the lwuses were destroyed, but the people had sufficient time to flee to higher ground. Viola wus partly destroyed, twenty homes . m - ll 4 .1 t ... A. A V. 1 being curriea on ny me ntssi, uui u rwr e the new people escaped to the hills. In Wheeling and the surrounding towns of Kenwood, Martin's Kerry. Bridgeport Bellalre, McMechcn nnd Moundsvllln It Is estimated that the flood has wholly or partially submerged fully 3.000 houses, nnd that nearly 15,000 pcoplo have been driven from their homes or to upper floors. Almost similar conditions ore re ported throughout ' western i Pennsyl vania. The lor.aes in the Connellsvlllo coke region, where mines are flooded nnd nil Industries misi tended, are estl ninted a $2,000,000. Johnstown Is re ported to bo practically a lake, with the stage of water nt eighteen feet, a foot higher than any kuown record. Many points In Ohio are experienc ing the most disastrous floods in sev eral years. Tho Miami and Muskingum valleys so far are tho worst sufferers from the flood. At Zanesville three persons were drowned. In Spflngfleld and vicinity more than $100,000 dam age lias resulted to property and 200 families have been made homeless by the sudden rise of Mnd River nnd Its tributaries. At Flndlay flood condi tions have been serlons. Lima, Hamil ton, Dayton and Middleton bIho report great damage. Seven business bouses at Gloucester were swept away and carried down the river with their con tents. All mines In that vicinity are flooded. TEB TAUHIDE PALACE IN ST. PE TEE3 BUHO. ' T ., ST fl .- r 4 V r? "V U til ,i 1 1, 'X .. if e '5 rr;R n tr - "-IHHmiil a sfcssarafrst-sVaH1 . ft . uobroGka I Lccislaturo Picturesque Parliament House Where the Second Russian Douma la Holding Its Soasioaa. THE RUSSIAN DOUMA. Itossla's Parllamrnt Mndc 1'p of Manr ConHlctlns; I'nrtloa. The second KumkI.iii Itouiiut. nnw doldlng sesMlons in tin? Taurhlo paluce at St. Petersburg. Is the riiter tf world-wide Interest. The life of the Brut douma was brief, having Ifcn ilis tolved by the Czar, but the present body, differing from tln tlisk has well :lellned alms and Is pxtectcd to achieve a substantial itrogrnm of constructive legislation. I'ufortun.iti'ly. however, the douma of 1!K)7 U a body of minority group, so that any pomtive action unist Ito effected througli coalitions. Coalitions as a rule are not very stable, so that surpi'lHUig changes may mark tho cu- Piirliaincut. Still on Important matters it should not be hard to secure working majorities such s are - often found In the French humltcr of Deputies or t'.ie German KehiiKtag, where the representatives of tho people ure divided into many small groups. At present tin4 dotiiim consists of 40." meiiiliers. with 20 morn yet to be elcitcd. Tluse are divided Into MonarclilHtf, or reactlomirleH, Moderates, Constitutional Democrats, Poles, Progressives anl Socialists, or lcevoiutiouiHrs. In nddltiou .then ore Independent, or unattached member. The Socialist group are tlie strongest numerically mid the Constltutlounl Democrats runk next to them. In the organization of the douma tho candi date of tlie Constitutional Democrats, Fcodor Colovin, wus elected siH-iiker, even the Socialists throwing their strength to him In optHltlou to the Monarchical candidate. Colovin Is a man of great energy and enjoys tin confidence of the iteople. He is 40 years of age and was at one time president of the Mos:-ow Zemstvo. With the ex ception of the Socialists, who are nnx Ions to abolish throne and dynasty, and the Monarchists, who are opposed to constitutional government, all the mem bers of the douuin believe In constitu tional government aud It should not lm hard, with this as a basis, to form a coalition which will give to Russia much remedial legislation. THAW CASE DRAQS." to Tide of rblle Sentiment Seems Have Taken a Tara. There seemed perceptlblo a turn against Thaw In the tide of sentiment last week. It U another case of sudden hero-worship falling to last. A New York correspondent says that If the case had gone to the jury within n week after Evelyn Thaw told her story the prisoner would have been set free in; hour 'after tho completion of ' tho judge's charge. But the trial Is ko pro longed that much of the effect Is being lost. When Jerome, with his barbar ous probe offer facts, begun to ding out. the truth from Thaw's expert doc- OovnsBcst or CTOH-Eismlssttss , An interesting precedent In executive methods was made by Gov. Hughes of New York, when he called to hie office Superintendent of Insurance Kelsey, and there, In the presence of stenographers, reporters and public men, subjected htm to a rigid cross-examination as to the conduct of the insurance department, thus bringing from Kelsey own lips the ad mission that he had kept subordinates In office whose false reports had already been exposed, and that he, himself, waa ill in formed about existing conditlona. This paved the way for the Governor's formal recommendation for the removal of Kel sey on the grouud of unfitness, which vent into the State Senate. Tims the Governor, by making good bis pre-election pledge to the people, put the matter 'quarely up to the lawmaking body. Japan Apparcatljr SatUllea. Dispatches from Toklo after the pas sage of the American exclusion bill re port the tone of the leading newspapers eminently pacific find quiet Foreign Minister Hayaithl has explained that nf ter the present treaty shall be concluded Japan will then seek to remove consular Jurisdiction, and for this some sacrifice will be necessary. The news was not tak en quite so calmly by the populace, and enpeclally the Japanese In Hawaii were wroth. The latter held a mass meeting at Honolulu and cr.bled a resolution to President Itoosevelt protesting In the name of humanity and liberty against the prohibition of their immigration to the United States, as It enslaved them perma nently to the lluwallun capitalists. ATTC-itNEY Jt.UOWE. BLOW AT RAILROA03. Telegraphic Brevities The Tlardman Uubber Company's plam at Belleville, N. J.. was destroyed by fire, involving a Joss of $.)0,000. The T. M. C. A. building in Uliee, N. Y ua oompletely destroyed by fire. The Ioks will be upward of $100,000. CrvsMMl eW-trlc wires caused a fire at Ciucinuati which destroyed the Ohio Car rbite Commny'a plant. Loi $70,0, fully navered by insurance. The voronr Is Investigating the death of Mrs. A. M. Darling, who waa found dead with her skull crushed at her borne is) 0!erlln, Ohio. Chief of Police George G. Sheets of ffclt Ike City, charged with conspiracy to d. fraud tourists by protecting gam biers who fleeced them, waa held for trial. While preparations were being made at Spartanburg. 8. C to bang John Shel ton. a negro, convicted of killing his fata-er-lu-law, Sheriff Nichols received aa or der from Cbief Justice pope of the 8u Vrente Court staying the executloa until April 13. V runk M. IV.trv. a well-known banker of McGregor, Texas, was seutenc0 to five rears In the Leafaworth peuitentiary for uibczxletient from a nauonsi vus. Mujor Jt. W. McClaugbry, warden of le Cnited Stales penitentiary at Leav cutvorth, Kan received word of the de ter.! ic I in Po: tlai?J. Ore., of James Bey Bioiir, one of the nmtlucers who escaped froia the peuitentiary ?ov. i, ijiu. Th iudws of the Court of General r -':o- t n York may ahk ,h Ix,'i9" 1 to Increase the jualty for black- rn!ii(d bv threits from the -limum of fivs years' lmprisao : r ax::n-im of tttsnty year - Roosevelt oa Kamllr Life. That a woman cannot do the best work in her home and for her husband If she occupies a merely servile altitude toward him, Is one of the ideas contained In the recent letter written by President Roose velt to the New York State mother's assembly. lie urges that woman should have the same right as man to train ber mind, and that she should have wholly outside interests and occupations in addl- iou to lor borne work occuslottally. The New forest Reserves. The additions to the nation's forest re serves made by presidential proclamation since Mareh 1 are located as follows : State. Acres. Colorado ...3.022.720 Idaho ...m 000,iM10 Montana t 3.3.V),140 Oregon 4 .0' 2,000 Washington 4,201.000 Wyoming 187,000 Total 16,810,820 In the above Yellowstone Park, located partly In Montana aud partly in Wyom ing, gets an addition of 348,000 acres. KILL JEW8 IN R0UMANIA. Hobs Slaughter the Semites, Sack tores and Loot Homes. Masucres of Jews that equal in bar barity the bloodiest ever perpetrated In Itussla huve taken place lu Itou atnnlu. 'The ruont horrifying news comes from Podlhilo, on this side of tho border, from KlKhlneff, where at least 200 Jews luive been killed aud hundreds more wounded. In numerous districts of Moldavia a bitter warfm-e Is being waged ngulnst the Jews, thou sands of whom have been driven from their homes, robbed, aud mercilessly beaten by mobs of easants. The starv lug and otherwise distressed Jews who have survived attacks aud massacres have appealed to King Charles for pro tection. Troops have been sent outin response. Tho massacres at Podlhilo were car ried ou through several days. The town's population of 7,000 was made up of 4,000 Jews aud 3,0R) Itouuiuu Ihiis. The whole population was lu Volved In the lighting, and lu addition several thousand peasants from the country districts assisted the Itoumnn- Inn urtmu eo-.nbatauts. Kor the most part the Houmanluus were armed. They attacked the Jews with ruthless haud, sacking stores, smashing windows, looting residences, and striking, shooting or cutting down an wuo resisted, iite Jews were stricken with panic Immediately after the first onslaught of the anti-Semites, They locked themselves up lu homes or places of business and barricaded doors, but barricades were shattered by -the ntoH and many defenseless Jews drugged forth to slaughter. Detailed Information of the loss of life and destruction of property has not yet reached the capital. The gov erament has ftm-es at work trying to restore order aud ascertain the cause of the fighting. It appears that the town It practically lu ruins, and that many Jews are suffering for want of food aa well as from attacks by mob. In the country districts of Moldavia the peasants continue to pillage and massacre Jews In spite of all that baa been done by the government. It Is hotted, however, that re-enforcements of soldiers will be able to quell the trouble. Twenty casks of blunting powder ex ploded at a grading camp at Twenty fourth and Orville streets in the outskirts pf Kansas City, Kan., breakiug window panea within a radius of twenty-five miles. The report of the examiners who have been investigating the books of the county utltccrw of Hamilton county, Ohio, waa tors aud to -.nuke them prove, however reluctantly, that Thaw either was and Is Incurably insane or never was lu- sane, u good many people began to get the Idea that the wonderful defense lu the Thaw case Is very much like a stage play, a highly artistic and emo tional production. Jerome's task Is a hard one. The main purpose of his rebuttal will be to assail, so strongly as to destroy them, the "brain storms" ti;n which the de fense has pinned Its faith lu Thaw's acquittal. In this effort he will have the assistance of nine exiterts, and by the preponderance of numbers, dignity nnd prestige In the world of medical science of these tuen the prosecutor ex pects to bring the Jury to the belief that when Thaw shot White he was thoroughly rcsjionxlhle and that bo rationally deliberated and executed the murder. He la supported in his theory tlie crime by Drs. Flint, Malum nnd MaclHtunld, who have studied Thuw throughout the trial. The tusk before Jerome's nine exerts, all of whom may not nppear on the stand but will take part in the preparation of questions is to account for every act by Hurry Thaw on the theory of sanity. Each In stance Indicative of "brain storms," ae cording to the, defense experts. Is to ba logically and scientifically construed Into proof of the mental soundness of Thaw, by the prosecution authorities on the brain. Mr. Jerome will hare his alienists supimrt the theory that If there was anything unusual or unnatural lu the apmmrance of Thaw nt the time he killed Stanford White the exhllaratiou of intoxicants whs responsible. Tlie district attorney will also develop the theory that Thaw's hostility to White was due to Jealousy, rational jealousy of his wife's fondness for his rival. Although tho general nubile has learned the details of but one quarrel among the lawyers who are defending Harry Thaw for the murder of Stan ford White, It Is 'known among those wlw have been lu close touch with the proceedings before the scenes of the great case and behind them that oth er disagreements. Just ns violent, hu.ve raged from time to time among the six counsellors who are working so hard to steer for the young millionaire course that will dodge the reefs of the dcuth-chair and the shoals or the mad house.- Yet the defense Is moving for ward In a fairly harmonious maimer. Harry K. Thaw's flght to save the life the State contends has been for feited by the death of Stanford White will cost the young man eloxe to $2rV 0U0 accordlug to an estimate compiled from authoritative sources. The ex pense of the State's attempt to send the wealthy Iittsburger to the chair will be in excess of $100,000. The Heath Roll of ladastrr. Arthur B. Iteeve, writing In Charities and the Commons, aiteaka of the thou aands of wage earnera who were killed or Injured In a year of prosperous buainehs. lie says that all methods of estimate lead to the conclusion that the total number of men, women and childres who were killed r Injured is in the neighborhood of BOO. D00. Cold statistics of railway accidents show that railroading is nearly twice as dangerous as it was eighteen years ago. when the Interstate commerce commission first began keeping a record of the casual made at txnumuus aim snows mat .!-'u y, and tt..t .-wl.r,2 ou tlul rairoad is in : lees auq luieresi was coneciea un than twlc without legal warrant. vice as uaugt-rou. I'revldeat Anpolnts Inland Wate Ways ( ommlmiton. Tlie development of a comprehensive system of rivers and canals in the L'ul ted States is the oitjert of the inland water ways commission created by President Itoosevelt. The President announces tint he Is actuated solely by broad considerations of nationnl IKtllcy, and that t!o railroads have shown that they are no longer capable of moving tlie ernpn and manufactures fast enough to secure prompt transac tion of t'ue business of the country, and that the only complete remedy for the present car shortage Is a coniple :nentnry system of transportation by water. Progress In Inland transportation. having made a full revolution, has got back to where It started. The rivers were the highways of the pioneers. ilioir canoes nnu frei;:Ut boats gave civilization to the wilderness. The first settlements hugged the muddy banks of western streams. The tlrst crops were sent to market by river. Then the railroads cnine and river transporta tion was almost abandoned. The canals which have beii constructed at heavy cost before the railroads wert built fell Into disuse. Xow the country lias outgrown the railroads. In ten years the traffic of the northern Interior States hoa dou bled, though railroad facilities have Increased only one-eighth during the same period. It seems probable that the discrepancy between t rattle nnd train capacity will continue to grow greater as time goes on. The rivers must come Into use again. This Is rec ognized by President Itoosevelt, who has npjMiluted an Inland waterways comnilsKion of eight sueinrers, Its chairman being Congressman Burton of Cleveland, the chairman of the House Committee on Itlvers s,nd nar- bors. This commission has for Its task the formulating of a report giving the best methods of developing p comple mentary B.vstcm of transportation by water." This Is a hopeful'sequel of the wide spread movement which has been in augurated by tlie commercial organiza tions of the Mlssisppl valley to secure the Improvement of the Inland rivers. One may supitosc. that the commission will approach the task assigned to it with n full realization of the Import ance which Its recommendations will have to the entire country. It should work out a broad aud systematic pro gram for river Improvement to be made effective by Congress. To supersede the haphazard, logrolling approprla tions of the past by appropriations made with system and knowledge must prove) a great gain to the nation. Will Have Klftlng Committee. The house Wednesday, over some objections, adopted a motion by Har rison, of Otoe, for the tpeaker to ap point a sifting . committee to take charge of all bills on general file. The remainder of the morning was spent In commltteo of the whole on a dis cussion of the salary bill which was changed only in a few particulars. The salary of thu secretary of the state board of assessment was Increased to $2,000 from $1,600; the salary for n chief clerk In the labor bureau on mo tion of McMullen of Gage, was strick en out nnd a. motion by the same gen tleman to increase the salary of the commissioner to $1,600 from $1,500 and the stenographer, from $S40 to $1,000 was lost Lobbyists In Kvulence. With railroad lobbyists scattered through the gallery, corridor and even upon the floor of the house, encourag ing and watching their henchmen, the house devoted the entire afternoon Wednesday to a discussion of tho Clarke terminal tax bill and adjourn ed without taking; action, the motion by McMullen for the committer to arise and report progress betn.t car ried by a vote of 4 2 to V, fourteen members being; absent. The debate turned upon a motion by Wilson of Custer, which was sprung b.?ror j the clerk had finished reading section 1 of the bill, to strike out the enacting clause. Homer of Buffalo seconded the motion. At this time Union Pacif ic Attorney Kdson Rich. Union Pnclflo Tax Commissioner Kcrtbncr and Bur lington Tax Commissioner Pollard were occupying seats In tho gallery, as was Bob McOinnis, who, when the debate warmed up, ttansff -rc.'. his po sition to the hoiifce lobby, where ho could better observe hl.i stage hands Working; on tho floor of the house were H. H. Wilson of Lincoln, j. A Douglas of Bossett. tbe Northwestern- Union Paclno candidate for , speaker two-years ago, end oth r lcsse-.- lights, while Judge F. O. Hamer liunK over the railing to see n!a son. Tom Hamer. deliver the goods lo the railroads Those who argued were Hamer of Buffalo, WilHTin of Custer. Kil'.en of Gage, while McMullen cntmed In Just a-t the debate wna about oomplel?d and moved for fhe committee to arise uul report progress. For the bill were Clarke of Douglas, Jeniscui of Clay and Harrison of Otoe, while Speaker Nettleson objected 'to- the committee iriulng. of the railway commission bill by recommending- It for passage Friday. II is not believed that the amendment! tacked on by the upper body will caust much delay In the house, though It li probable the added provWon of v? Ing- atreet railways under the JurlsdiC tlon of the state railway commission will he fought In the house. Ashton of Hall secured this amendment claiming It was In the laws Ot many ol the eastern states. Thomas of Doug-la,- county fought It on the groufuh ( the street railways are operating un- i der franchises granted by municipal!' ties and ought to be left to those mu nicipalities to be regulated. Pure Food Bill Contest. Another nretty fight the house whV have on Its hands this week will b over the pure food bill, which caused a spectacular debate In the senate. Tht fight In the upper ooay wus cohl-bh. trated on two sections of the bill and resulted In about an even break, tht friends of the measure saving one ot the sections, the other being replace by a substitute. As the bill now standi It Is fairly satisfactory w um le gists of the state, but does not metV the 'approval of the grocers. Maximum Hate BUI. The senate Monday afternoon uu up for the first time the question ol maximum freight rates when the Aid. rich bill. 9..T. 325. waa discussed il committee of the whole. The bill pro. vides for a horizontal cut of Z pel cent In all freight schedules In forci Jan. 1. The bill allows tho railroudi ' to go before the railway commission and show that any rate Is non-com-rensatory and permits any Rhipper tt show that the rate Is unjustly high. It provides a penalty of from $10,oau tt $25,000 for violations. After a bitter debate In wbicn mem. bers charged each other with beln railroad tools the committee of tht whole found Itself tied on the bill. Twt votes were taken, both resulting 14 tt 1 4. Five members were absent, an4 the opponents of the bill assert. thej will win out by a small majority wits a full senate. Thomas and Saundert of DouKlns both voted against the bill and Buck of Otoe was the only one ol the five fusion members who oppose it. He Is being churged by the othel Democrats with repudiating the prorr Ises made by the party during campaign. New of Minor Note As S result of a quarrel Joseph Abbott shot and killed Charles Greenwood near Milton, Ky. . . The Supreme Court ot Ohio sustained the constitutionality of the Jones local option law. The law gives local option in cities by petition instead of by elec tion. A court martial to try Lieut. G. W, Bager of the Ulghteeutb infantry, charged with violation of the sixty-second article of war In falliug while iutoxlcared, prop erly 10 auenu t r amies, couveneu a Fort Lea veu worth. . A disputch from Home is authority fol the statement that the silence of the Vaticun regurdiug the publication of the correspondence of Mgr. Montaguinl, for merly secretary to tho nunciature at Paris, is dua to the fuct that the viola tion of 'he nunciature by the Frenck government is now in the hands of Aus tria. The question is being examined under its different uKicts, meantime the Vatican is in tlie position of a third par ty, and will remain passive, awaiting developments. The new Lord's day act has gone into force tliroiiKhout Cunuda, with the ex ception of tho province of Quebec. Some of the things prohibited on Sunday by this act are: Public entertaiuments given for money, baseball, football, gambling, racing, hunting, shooting, fishing, the sale of luloxicatiiig liquors (except by physician's prescription between the bou in of 7 p. in. .Saturday and 0 a. in. Moudny). the sale of cigars, tho bringing into Canada or wiling of any foreign newspaper, the selling of goods and the carrying on of any business. When the bill was passed by parliament, some oi tbe members from Quebec buviug protest ed, a clause was added permitting such provincial legislatures as wished to do so to evade the law- by eaactiug a measure of their own. The Quebec legislature waa the only one to take advantage of this by passiug a bill practically maintaiaiug existing conditions. Some complaints aa to the stringency of tbe new law are re ported on tbe part of travelers. Following tbe anuouncemeut that Min ister of the Interior Briand had changed front by refusing to accept the proposal of Cardinal Itichard as to church leases, and the publication of the alleged church doc uments taken from Papal Nuncio Mua- tcgninl, who was expelled from If ranee, the Vatican published a uote In the Oa-aet-vatore Itoinano deuouueiug the French government as a violator of right and truth. On the same day the seised docu ments were turned over to the Austrian embassy for trausiuUsion to Mgr. Mon- tagninl, presumably with a desire to make ameuda for their seizure, the negotia tions for tbe lease o' ekiisvlies -vei-e dt!& tniieir urokt-n off. Discussion Becomes Warm. The debate on tho report of the committee on manufactures and com merce recommending that tho amend ed pure food bill be passed to third reading without giving an opportunity to discuss the amendments offered was the most heated of any discussion in the senate this session. It was held under the guise of explanation of votes during the roll call, but under a ruling of President Hopewell It be came a running discussion. In which personalities played a prominent part. The discussion got clear away from the presiding officer, and once when he ruled Epperson out of order the giant from Clay county refused to accept tho ruling and told the president he would have to get the sergeant at arms to throw him out before he would quit. "The Omaha Sponge." Another thing noticeable in all the talks which the railroad spokesmen had been drilled by the professional lobbyists to make in that they harped upon the theme of "The Omaha Sponge" pamphlet put out over the names of Tax Commissioner Pollard, of the Burlington, and Tax Agent Scrlbner, of the Union Pacific, and sought to fan the flames of prejudice of the state against Omaha, reckless of consequences. Omaha was pictured in lurid colors as a thief seeking to rob poor "shoestring towns" which the generous railroads were trying to help. If this Is a reform movement," ex claimed Killen of Gage, "it Is one of greed for the sole benefit of Omaha. Railroads Fighting Hard. Among the army of railroad lobby ists and manipulators who swooped down on the legislature Tuesday to prevent, favorable action on the ter minal taxation bill was F. W. Crew, of St. Paul. The special object of the visit of Mr. Crew is to work on the member from Howard county and try to induce him to desert the taxpayers of the state and drag the railroad chestnuts out of the fire by voting against the bill to compel the railroads to pay city and village tax. e Railroads Must Provide Cars. The railroad committee voted a fa vorable report on Sackett's reciprocal demurrage bill prescribing penalties for failure of railroads to provide cars within a reasonable time after appllca tlon by shippers. e 1'iul of Session In Sight. With the end of the legislative ses lion In view the work In both houses la becoming more and more strenuous. An addition of two hours a day to the length of the sessions is not satisfying some of the members, who are chafing under the drag of work and who want to get back to thlr offices, stores and farms, and night sessions to help out are being talked of already. The senate has ten and the house nine more days on pay, and unless the session reaches over the sixty-day limit during which the members can draw their per diem the session will close about March 29 or 30. It has been customary In most of the past sessions to go two or three days be yonu this limit, 'however, and, 'none but the most sanguine of the members hope to finish the necessary work 'of the session before the nsst week lu April. r;ven tnen it is probable a large number of more or less Impor tant bills will have to go by the board. Ignored Good Advice. The action of the house and senate In refusing to pass an antt-pass bill and anti-lobby bill during the first part of the session as Oov. Sheldon wanted them to do Is now coming up like a ghost to haunt the members. There is no question but those "prominent" clt iaens who have seen in Lincoln during tne last week to Help the railroad lob by came In on free passes iwuued by the railroad lobby aa part payment for xne services to ne rendered. From re liable sources It waa learned that eon due tors are taking up as many free trip pases and have been during tr last me as In the old days when ev ery poitlclan of any-importance rode on passtia. Had the legislature prompt ly enactad Into law an anti-pass bill It would at least have cost the railroads something to bring their hirelings to Lincoln to drag their cnestnuts out of the fire. But the legislature didn't Ha it, and the men came and they did their work and they will come back this week. see light on ComijuWon Bill. The senate has practically disposed Primary Bill Passes. The state-wide primary bill, amend ed so that any person may vote at anj primary without telling his party af filiation, passed the house Monday af ternoon by a vote of 3 ,to 14. witr 13 members absent. Several of thost wh voted against the bill explainee their votes, and with the exception oi one each opposed it because of tht open primary' amendment, which war adopted' In order to secure the fuslor votes for the measure. After tht amendment had been adopted an ef fort was made by thoRe who opposed 1-.. to get the amendment reconsidered, but It was unsuccessful, and no fur ther effort was made to hinder tht progress of the bill In Its present form It Is generally believed, not only b those Republicans who favored th amendment, but by thoso who opposed - It. that the senate will eliminate thii feature and It was the belief which led many of the Republicans to vote for the bill as It is amended. Routine Proceedings of Senate. The senate Monday afternoon pass ed the following bills: By Randall Providing for the in-. corporation of grand and subordinatt lodges of fraternal orders. By Randall Allowing fraternal or ders to establish and maintain charita ble homes. By Root Requiring private corpo- rations to pay employes twice each. month. By Phillips Prohibiting Judget from hearing cases In which litigant or attorney is related to him. By Byrnes Providing for adoption of township organizations by countiea By Randall Providing for the es tablishment of sewage systems in citlet of the second class and villages. The senate then went Into commit tee of the whole, with Saunders In tht chair, and acted upon the following bills: H. R.S79 By Knowles. Drainagt district bill. For passage. S. F. 384 By Alrfi lch. Olvlng laboi commissioner power to Investigate cor porations in which public ia Interested, For passage. S. F. 42 By Patrick. Making coun ty commissioners road commissioner! in their district, except in counties un der township organization. For pass, age. S. F. 290 By Thomas. Making sal. ary of clerk of the county court In Douglas county $126 a month. For passage. Routine Proceedings of House. The house spent the entire after noon Monday on bills on third reading, The following bills were passed : By Joint committee on privileges and elections Direct primary bill. By Gilman of Lancaster Defining a "reputable dental college" as one In dorsed by the National Association oi Dental Examiners or the National As sociation of Dental Faculties. By Hart of Tork (by request). Joint resolution giving Ruth Obera the right to sue school district No. 23 of Douglas county for damages because of injuries sustained April 22, 1903. By Harvey of Douglas To provide additional means of revenue for the fire and police relief funds of Omaha. By Harrison of Otoe Removing the $5,000 limitation to the recovery ol damages In cases of death. By Lee of Dougalss Requiring the county board to furnish office room and supplies for the county comptroll er. By Lee of Douglas Making the county comptroller of Douglas county ex-offtclo' city comptroller of Omaha. By Lee of Douglas Requiring the county comptroller to countersign all county and ctty warrants. By Blystone of Lancaster1 Appro priating $50,000 for the erection of an additional building for men at the Lincoln hospital for the insane. By E. W. Brown of Lancaster Call for a constitutional convention. By E. W. Brown of Lancaster Pr viding for conveyances of real estate, Including homesteads, by widow, wife or husband. By the Joint committee on privileges and elections. Making primary day the first day of reglstra. tlon In cities. The Lee annexation bill. Oagbt to Have Bfoaei-, Brown Do you ever play the races. Green No. Brown But you play cards or bll. liards? Green Neither. Brown You take a drink occasional ly, I suppose? Sreen No; I neither drink noj smoke. Brown Suy, old luun, you are Just the chap I have been looking for. Len me $10. will you?