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?
