T
THE CONTEST ENDED.
DECISION Iff XUE NEBRASKA GUB
ERNATORIAL MATTER.
The State Supreme Court Rules that
lloyd in Not a Citizen and that John
in. Tliayer It the Qualified Governor
of Nebraska The Opinion Handed
Down ty Judge Norval Appoint
ments by the New Executive The
Case to Go to the Highest Court.
The Nebraska Boyd-TIiaycr Contest
Decided.
LINCOLN , Neb. , May 6. The great
Boyd-Thayer contest ended at 4:30 yes
terday afternoon by the supreme court
ieclaring that Thayer is governor and
by ousting -Boyd. The opinion was
Handed down by Judge Norval , a
arother of Dick Norval , attorney for
Governor Thayer. The opinion was
: oncurred in by Chief Justice Cobb.
Justice Maxwell , however , handed
aown a dissenting opinion couched in
the most emphatic language , in which
ho declared that under the enabling
act Boyd became a citizen of Nebraska
ind was one when ho was nominated
for governor and when he qualified for
that position.
Judge Maxwell's opinion comprises
nearly a thousand pages. The follow
ing is the syllabus of the opinion
handed down by Judge Norval :
State ex rel. Thayer vs. Boyd quo
warranto. Judgment of ouster , The
supreme court has" jurisdiction to en-
' Certain proceedings by information in
-the nature of quo warranto instituted
for the purpose of determining the
rights of persons claiming the office of
governor. Under the provisions of
section 2 , article 5 , of the constitution ,
no person is eligible to the office of
governor who has not been a citizen of
the United States and of this state for
at least two years next preceding the
election at which such officer is to be
chosen. Where a plurality 'of ' votes
are cast fora person for a public office
who is ineligible the election is void.
Under the fourth section of the act of
congress- entitled "An act to establish
an uniform rule of naturalization , "
approved April 14 , 1802 , the child of
an alien under twenty-one-years of
age , although born in a foreign coun
try , becomes a citizen by the naturali
zation of his parent if dwelling within
the United States at the time the par
ent is admitted to citizenship , but it
does not have the effect if he is over
twenty-one years old at the time the
parent is naturalized. The order of
a court admitting an alien to citizen
ship is a judicial act in the nature of
a judgment and can be proved only by
the record. The fact that an alien has
for many years voted at elections held
in this state and filled important public
offices dues not establish that he is a
citizen of the United States. Where
an alien is naturalized under the nat
uralization laws his citizenship dates
from the time the order of the court is
made admitting him to citizenship. The
alien inhabitants of the territory of
Nebraska at the time or its admission
as a state did not become citizens of
the United States by virtue of the acts
of congress admitting the state into
the union. The words "citizens of the
United States' ' as used in section 2 of
article 5 of the state constitution is con
strued to mean a person who is an
American citizen'by birth , or a person
of foreign birth who has been duly
naturalized under the provisions of the
uniform rule of naturalization estab
lished by congress. Under section 1
of article 5 of the constitution a per
son elected to the office of governor is
entitled to discharge the duties and re
ceive the emoluments of the office for
the term of two years from the first
Thursday after the first Tuesday in
January following his election and
until a successor is duly elected and
qualified. Where the person receiving
the highest number of votes for the
office of governor is ineligible under
the constitutionAo be elected the gov
ernor holds over. The duties of the
chief executive office of the state de
volves upon the lieutenant governor in
certain contingencies , among which
are the failure of the governor-elect to
qualify and the disability of the gov
ernor. It cannot be said that there has
been a failure to qualify where no per
son has been constitutionally elected to
the office , The words "other disabil
ities of the governor , " appearing in
section 16 , article 5 , of the constitution ,
have no reference to the ineligibility of
the person to be elected but covers any
disability of the governor not specifi
cally enumerated in the section , and
occurring after the commencement of
his term of office. Held , that when
the non-election of a person to a public
office is ascertained by the proceedings
in quo' warranto the person entitled to
hold over must then qualify.
The opinion had no sooner been
handed down than Thayer immediately
filed his bond with the secretary of
state. As the matter is a federal ques
tion it is reported that Governor Boyd
will appeal the case to the supreme
court of the United States.
About an hour after the opinion was
handed down a writ of ouster was
served on Governor Boyd by a deputy
sheriff. The governor was ordered to
turn { he office over to Thayer , and he
did so , but remained first to see that
all his private papers were packed.
Tha3Ter took possession of the execu
tive office and was immediately sur
rounded by a number of ex-officials ,
who owed their discharge to Governor
Boyd. A large crowd gathered * in the
jtate house after the opinion of the
supreme court was known and the
greatest excitement prevailed intho _
city.
THATEK MAKES APPOINTMENTS.
Governor Thayer made the following
appointments : A. V. Cole , adjutant
general ; Rev. P. W. Howe ; caplain of
the penitentiary ; D. C. Crawford , jan
itor of the sapitol building ; Dan Hop
kins , warden of the penitentiary ; Dr.
Fred G. Test , superintendent- the
asylum for the incurable insane at
Hastings , * J. W. Livcringhouse , stew
ard of the asylum for the incurable in
sane at Hastings ; II. F. Deans , clerk
in the office of commissioner of labor ;
Dr. George W. Wilkinson , superin
tendent of the insane asylum at Nor
folk ; J. R. Nichol , steward of the in
sane asylum at Norfolk ; J. B. Parma-
lee , principal of the institute for the
blind at Nebraska City ; Captain W. C.
Henry , commandant of the soldiers'
home at Grand island.
What Boyd Think * .
LINCOLN , May 6. Governor Boyd
was seen last evening at the Hotel "Lin
coln. He was in his usual good spirits
and said that ho was -glad that the
supreme court had finally como to some
decision. The governor said :
I don't regret so much about being
ousted from the position of governor
as 1 do that a majority of the court has
declared that I am not a citizen of the
United States. I believe with Judge
Maxwell , in my opinion the ablest
judge on the bench , that I am a citizen
of the United States , and -of course it
goes without saying that I always in
tended to be such. A man who has
lived in this country since he was a
child and been a resident and a citizen
of this state for thirty-five years , and
who helped to frame the constitutional
provision now invoked to oust him from
office , and who was a member of the
first legislature that accepted the pro
visions of the enabling act under which
the state was admitted into the union ,
and who has done perhaps as much as
any other man in building up and de
veloping the resources of the state , is
certainly entitled to citizenship. To
say the least it is a mere tech
nical construction of the law by
a majority of a partisan court
that deprives him of that citizen
ship. My greatest pride has always
been that 1 could say that I was an
American citizen and I do not propose
to let this matter rest here , but if the
law will so permit I will carry this
case to the supreme court of the United
States for the purpose of having a
declaration of what constitutes citizen
ship of the United States by the highest
tribunal in the land. 1 believe that
court will give a different construction
to the law than that given by a major
ity of the supreme court of Nebraska.
At least I have been so advised by as
able counsel as there is in this country.
I shall do this , not for the purpose of
regaining the office of governor , for
that office I do not care , but , as before
stated , I wish to establish my citizen
ship. I regret that the decision of to
day was not rendered long ago. It
would have saved me from many an
unjust and undeserved criticism. The
people as well as the newspapers that
have accused me of making a corrupt
bargain with the supreme court it seems
to me should now have the firmness to
give me the credit of having acted hon
estly and conscientiously in the dis
charge of my official duties. "
Governor Thayer was seen , but he
was too excited and busy almost to
talk. He declares , however , that ac
cording to the laws of tne state he is
the only person who can hold the office
of governor. He believes the decision
of the supreme court to be the only
right and just one , as Boyd , being an
alien by his own confession , has no
right to the office. That under such
circumstances the letter of the statutes
must be followed , to wit , the old gov
ernor holds over.
The Timber Culture L.aw .
WASHINGTON , May 11. Land Com
missioner Carter has given out this
circular letter concerning the applica
tion of the recent act of congress re
garding the timber culture laws and
modifying the other land laws of the
country :
Registers and Receivers. United
States District Land offices , Gentle
men : Your attention is called to an
act of congress entitled ' 'An act to re
peal timber culture laws and for other
purposes , " approved March 3 , 1891 , a
copy of which is hereto attached.
It will be observed that by the first
section the law provides for the entry
of public lands for timber culture pur
poses , are repealed so far as regards
future entries , but continued with cer
tain prescribed modifications , as re
gards the adjustment of existing
claims , initiated prior to such repeal
ing act. Hence , no further entries of
of this class will be allowed unless the
right to make such entry had accrued
or was accruing at the date of said
act. In dealing with existing entries
the provisions of the first section of
the repealing a.ct will be observed.
It will be seen that by the fifth proviso
of that secti'on the right is extended
to persons having certain qualifications
to commute their entries in certain
cases at the rate 6f $1.25 per acre. For
this purpose it will be necessary
1. That the person shall have in
good faith complied with the pro'vis-
ions of the timber culture laws for
four years.
2. That he shall be an actual bona
fide resident of the state or territory
in which said land is located.
Final proof for the commutation of
timber culture entries under this pro
vision shall be made as other final
timber culture proof is made ( See
Forms 4-385 and 4-886) , and shall sat
isfactorily exhibit the facts necessary
to entitle the applicant to make pur
chase thereunder. Returns will be
made as in commuted homestead en
tries under existing practice , but the
proper annotations on the returns to
indicate the character of the transac
tion as a commutaion of timber culture
entry under said act. For final proof
in timber culture entries , the registers
and receivers shall be allowed the
slime fees and compensation as are
allowed under previously existinglawa
in homestead entries.
The second section amends the de
sert land law of March 8. 1887 (19
Stat. , 377) , by adding thereto five sec
tions , numbered from four to eight in
clusive , modifying its provisions in the
manner following , viz :
1. The party making entry there
under is required at the time of filing
the declaration to file also a map of
the land which shall exhibit a plan
showing the mode of contemplated
irrigation , and which plan shall be
sufficient to irrigate and reclaim said
land and prepare it to raise ordinary
agricultural crops , and shall also show
the source of the water to be used for
irrigation and reclamation. Provision
is made that persons may associate
together for purposes defined ,
2. Entrymen shall expend , for pur
poses stated at least $3 per acre $1
per acre during each year , such proof
to consist of the affidavits of two or
more witnesses , showing that the' full
sum of $1 per acre had been expended
during such year , and the manner in
which expended , and at the expiration
of the third year a map or plan show
ing the character and extent of im
provements' .
3. A failure to file the required proof
during any year , shall cause the land
to revert to the United States , the
money paid to be forfeited , and the
entry to be canceled.
4. The limit for making proof is
changed from three years to four years
from date of filing the declaration.
This proof must , in all cases , show the
citizenship of the party offering it. and
the cultivation of one-eighth of the
land in addition to the reclamation to
the extent and cost , and in the manner
hereinbefore noted.
5. The party may make his final
entry and receive his patent at any
time prior to the expiration of four
years , on making the required proof
of reclamation of expenditure to the
aggregate extent of § 3 per ncre and of
the cultivation of one-eighth of the
land.
6. Entries made prior to the date of
said act may , however , be perfected
under the old law , or , at the option of
the claimant , may be perfected under
the law as amended , as far as ap
plicable.
7. Assignments nre recognized , but
the amount of land that may be held
by assignment or other wife , prior to
issue of patent , is restricted to 320
acres by the seventh section , which
section it is provided , however , shall
not apply to entries made prior to the
act. Assignees must properly prove
their assignments by filing in the local
office an affidavit and certified copy of
the instrument under which they
claim , and must make affidavit of the
amount of land held.
8. By the eighth section of the pro
visions of the original act and the
amendments are extended to Colorado.
9. By the same- section the right to
make desert land entry is restricted to
resident citizens ofthe state or terri
tory in which the land sought is located ,
whose citizenship and residence must
be duly shown.
The third section of the new act
amends section 2288 , revised statutes ,
so as to exteitd its provisions to settlers
under other settlement laws in addi
tion to the pre-emption and homestead
laws , and so to admit of transfers for
right of way for canals or ditches for
irrigation or drainage , as well as for
church , cemetery or school purposes ,
or the right of way of railroads , as in
the old statute.
The fourth section of the new act
repeals all the laws allowing preemption
tion of the public lands by individuals ,
but provides for perfecting claims pre
viously initiated according to the pro
visions of the laws under which they
were initiated ; therefore , no filings or
entries will be allowed thereunder , ex
cept when necessary to perfect claims
of inception prior to the approval of
the repealing act , and claims to Indian
lands covered by its tenth section.
The fifth section thereof amends
section 2289 , revised statutes , so as to
prevent any person who is the propri
etor of more than 160 acres of land in
any state or territory from acquiring
any z-ight under the homestead law ,
and also section 2290 , revised statutes ,
so as to require a different affidavit
from tlmt now required to be made by
applicants , as preliminary to home
stead entries.
The most remarkable sale of pure
bred Hereford cattle ever held in this
country takes place at Lincoln. Ne
braska , on Thursday and Friday , May
21st and 22d. The herd consists of
over 250 head , all registered. These
cattle have until recently been owned
by the Harlem Cattle Co. . and it is
well known they bought only the best ,
regardless ol price. "Their six stock
bulls are as well known in England as
in this country and one of them is a
prize winner at the Royal ( England ) ,
The sale is made to wind up a long lit
igation and every animal will be sold
regardless of price. From the num
ber to be sold it is reasonable to sup
pose prices will rule low. Terms are
one year with tenper cent interest or
five per cent off or cash. As many
farmers as can should attend this sale ,
as it offers an extraordinary opportu-
ity to secure blooded stock a4 ; a moder
ate price. Catalogues can be secured
by writing W. J. McGillin , Lfncoln ,
Nebraska.
The woman's national industrial
league of America , of which Charlotte
Smith is president has adopted resolu
tions in which the refusal of the
emperor of China to receive ex-Senator
Blair as United States minister is
spoken of as "the highest compliment
that could be bestowed on a citizen of
the United States. "
As an outgrowth of the naturaliza
tion frauds of 1890 the United States
circuit-court at St. Louis has declared
null and void the naturalization papers
of seventy persons on the charge that
they were fraudulently obtained. There
are flftv more cases uending.
A STEAMSHIP NABBED
TOE ETATA SEIZED Off OltDERS FROK
Subsequently the Vessel IVXalces Its
capo front the Custody of the Mnr-
ahal Cruisers In Pursuit and to bo
Captured If Possible Deputy Spauld-
ing's Adventure on the Etnta The
Care with "Which Ho Was Snr-
rounded by Determined Men and
How and Where He was Put Ashore.
Seized by the Government.
SAN DIEGO , Cal. , May 9. The
steamship Etata , which put into this
port a few days ago , it was said for the
purpose of obtaining pro visions for the
warships now in possession of the rev
olutionary party of Chili , has been
seized by the United States marshal.
It is also intimated that the vessel's
arrival here had some connection with
the arrival of the schooners Robert
and Minnie of Fort Catalina islands ,
loaded with arms and ammunition.
The seizure of the steamship Etata
was the outcome of free interchange
of dispatches between the officials hero
and the department at Washington.
Captain Mauzuem of the steamer was
placed under arrest by Marshal Card.
The marshal also dispatched two tug
boats to seize two suspicious crafts
lying outside of the harbor. One of
these is supposed to be the schooner
Robert and Minnie which was hereto
fore reported lying off the Catalina
islands , loaded with arms and ammu
nition. The other is a war vessel
which has been cruising around out
side awaiting an opportunity to take
on board the supplies of the insurgent
Chilian fleet that might be obtained by
the steamer Etata.
A party sent out to investigate the
strange actions of the vessel and to get
within speaking distance , if possible ,
returned and reported that they were
unable to get within hailing distance
of the vessel , because she drew off.
SIEZED ON JIK. BLAINE'S OHDEK.
Secretary of State Blaine sent orders
from Washington to sieze both vessels
if they could be captured within the
three mile limit. It is believed by the
officials here that as soon as the Etata
had received her supplies she intended
to meet the schooner Robert and Min
nie , take on board the arms and am
munition on board of that craft , put to
sea and at the first favorable oppor
tunity transfer the supplies and mater
ials of war to the insurgent cruiser.
The captain of the Etata was allowed
to return to his vessel , which is now in
charge of a deputy United States mar
shal.
Spalding's Adventures on the Ettatn.
SAN FRANCISCO , Cal. , May 9. The
Chronicle's special from San Diego
gives Deputy Marshal Spaulding's story
of his adventures on the Ettata. He
said Wednesday afternoon at 5:55 a
boat came from the shore , bringing
the first mate , surgeon and two pas
sengers. The latter had a conversa
tion with the captain. Five minutes
later I was surprised to find the Ettata
making for the ocean under a full head
of steam. I was invited into the cap
tain's cabin , and he and the passen
gers exhibiting revolvers told Spauld-
ing they had contraband goods on
board. This is life or death with me ,
said the captain. He then called two
or the crew and they stood guard near
the door armed with revolvers and
rifles. He and the passengers went
out telling me that if 1 left the cabin
or attempted to give a sign or jump
overboard they would not be responsi
ble for what happened. About this
time four steel canoes was lifted out
the hold , fastened in position on the
upper * deck and loaded. A few min
utes later the captain came back and
informed me I was to be put off in a
boat from a pilot boat at Ballast point.
I was then led on deck followed
by armed men. On reaching the bridge ,
I saw on the deck below 100 Chilians ,
all armed to the teeth and in uniform.
When I asked the pilot if he was going
to guide the ship out the captain spoke
up quickly , saying , "No , " ' and , ex
hibiting a revolver , added , "This is
going to guide it. ' " After I was low
ered into the small boat the Ettata
passed out of the bay headed north.
While I was prisoner my captors
were very careful to say nothing that
would reveal their plans except that
the captain gave me his name and ad
dress and said he would go directly to
Valparaiso.
Two deserters from the Ettata were
found in San Diego today. They state
positively that the war ship Esmeralda
accompanied the Ettata as far north as
Cape St. Lucas and is awaiting her re
turn in order to get provisions and
coal. It is also said Captain Mauzeum
is only employed to navigate the ship ,
and the real commander is a native
Chilian.
A resident of this city claims to have
seen a corvette flying the Chilian flag
pass north yesterday. The United
States steamer Omaha saw nothing of
the vessels.
Chance for a Naval Fi ht.
YOKK , May 9. Of the fugitive
Itata a Washington special says : The
first business of the administration is
to capture the vessel. This afternoon
instructions were sent to Admiral
McCann , now at Valparaiso , to put to
sea with the Baltimore and Pensacola
in order to intercept the insurgent ves
sel. Similar instructions were sent to
Admiral Brown. The last report from
him was that he had left Callao , Peru ,
last Friday with the San Francisco , his
exact whereabouts along the coast is
unknown. Orders have also been sent
to the Charleston now at San Francisco
to start in pursuit as soon as possible.
She will hardly be able to leave before
tomorrow , as she was not coaled up for
a very long voyage.
With these four cruisers on her track
the Itata is likely to bo overhauled in
a few days and brought back to San
Diego , when the government will have
a knotty promblem to wrestle with.
Just what can bo done with the vessel
and the extent to which she has violated
lated international law arc questions
that the officials decline to express an
opinion upon. The Chilian minister
also maintains a studied silence. As
the Itata had been seized by the United
States at San Diego she was technically
a prisoner until discharged and liable
to recapture on the high seas by a United
States man-of-war or-to confiscation
if she over enters a United States port.
The right of the United States to cap
ture the Itata on the high seas or in
United States or Chilian waters is un
doubted. The vessel flies the flag of
Chili and is subject to the only recog
nized authority in that country , the
government of which President Balma-
ceda is the head. The insurgents have
no international status. They are not
even recognized as belligerents. The
Itata having entered a port of the
United States fell under suspicion of
being there to secure arms and ammu
nition , and the Chilian minister at
Washington asked for her retention
and consequently a United States mar
shal was put on board and her captain
put under arrest. He was allowed to
return to his ship and then he put to
sea. Any nation can capture her. If
she made any resistance she would be
a pirate. ] f the United States de
manded her surrender from the coun
try to which the steamer had gone that
government would surrender her.
The Charleston is a sixteen knot
steamer. The Itata is probably not
more than a sixteen knot ship. She
will have at least forty-eight hours
start of the Charleston in time and
probably about five hundred miles in
distance before tomorrow. But the
Itata must be short of coal and she will
probably put into some Mexican or
Central American port for a supply.
This will delay her and the Charleston
may overtake her.
Italians Svrarmliijj to America.
WASHINGTON. May G. General Net-
tleton , assistant secretary of the treas
ury , who recently went to New York
to see what was being done to enforce
immigration laws , says he learned that
the most reputable steamship compa
nies are honestly endeavoring to limit
the influx of foreign paupers. Several
of the companies have scattered cir
culars throughout Europe explaining
the features of the new law and some
of them have put a brief summary of
the law on the back of tickets sold to
steerage passengers. But while repu
table companies are doing this , dis
reputable ones are profiting by the in
creased demand from immigrants re
jected by reputable companies. In one
case General Nettleton found that a
tramp steamer had brought over three
times as many immigrants as its ac
commodations warranted. This was
the case of the "Brittannia , " owned
by French parties , but leased to
Italians for wholesale immigra
tion purposes to America. The
greatest number of passengers which
the "Brittannia" could have carried
under our inspection laws was 240 , but
as a matter of fact her last load num
bered 1,028 Italians. They were
wedged in like cattle on cars. The
total equipment of life preservers was
300 and the three rafts and one drag
might have saved 200 more in case of
accident. This left over 500 steerage
immigrants wholly unprovided for by
life preservers , raft or other means of
safety in case of wreck , The treasury
department has no means of protect
ing stself from such tramp steamers as
our inspection laws governing the num
ber of passengers to be carried apply
only to vessels which clear from our
ports , not those which land here. Italy
appears to do the most thriving busi
ness with the overloaded tramp steam
ers and the "Britannia" is only one of
many instances. The recent diplomatic
spat with Kudini has not checked
Italian immigration in the least.
Colored Itleii Want Equal Kiirlit > .
CINCINNATI , May 7. The American
Citizens Equal Rights association , com
posed of colored men adopted a series
of resolution affecting their purpose of
securing the free exei'cise of every
right given them by the constitution.
They called the attention of the ad
ministration that colored men were
appointed to office mainly in the south ,
where the only political service colored
men can render is to send delegates to
national conventions , and are denied
to those in the northern states , whose
votes are necessary to the success of
its party. The officers elected were :
President , James M. Townsend. In
diana ; vice presidents , X. P. Wentworth -
worth , Massachusetts ; M , Lanston ,
Virginia ; secretai-y , F. G. Barbodoes ,
Washington City"treasurer ; , Walter S.
Thomas , Ohio. The -convention then
adjourned sine die.
Ail Unusual Cold Snap.
WASHINGTON , May 8. The signal
office special bulletin says the cold
\reather prevaling over the country
for the past three or four days has
been of unusual severity , extent and
duration , and has been accompanied
in some sections by lower temperatures
for the season and later frosts than
ever previously recorded by the signal
service. The temperature will prob
ably rise slowly from this morning
over the whole country , and severe
frosts arc not likely to again occur this
season.
The California Athletieclub decided
to mutch Abe Willis , the Australian
bantam weight , and George Dixon , the
colored champion for a fight. The
purse will be $5,000 , and the fight
takes place in June.
The anarchists arrested in Eome
have confessed that Landi paid them
to create disorder on Mav dav.
To Pension Clerk * .
WASHINGTON , May 11. The Sunday
Herald says : "A movement is on foot
in the various departments of the gov
ernment located in this city to estab
lish what might bo termed a compara
tive pension scheme for the benefit of
those clerks who through advanced ago
or physical disability incurred by their
service for the government become un
able to attend to their duties. By a
fund established through a small
monthly deduction made from the sala
ry of each clerk , thoao sick or aged
would receive a pension during the
tirao of their disability or for lifo when
regularly retired by the action of an
authorized board. It is suggcste4 that
a percentage of about 2 per cent a
month bo deducted from the salary of
each government clerk and deposited
in the United States treasury , to beheld
hold there in their trust us a fund to
pension thp regularly retired and to
pay a stated a'mount to those who are
temporarily disable . _ The number ol '
clerks of an advanced age who are retained -
tained in the departments simply because -
cause of their faithful service for many
years is very large. They have out
lived their actual usefulness and are
allowed to remain for the reason that
if dismissed they would bo in actual
want. With the pension these could
be retired with the result that the
number of promotions all along the
line would be very largo. .
Kansas Wheat Pests.
KANSAS CrrrJkIo. , May 11. Chan- .
jellor Snow of the state university of
Kansas has sent to Secretary Mohler
of the state board of agriculture a let
ter concerning his conclusions regard
ing the present wheat pest in Kansas.
The letter was made public today.
The chancellor says : "Tho present
spring has been particularly unfavor
able for the health of chinch bugs , but
still in twenty counties in the south
eastern part of the state , included be
tween meridians 95 degrees and 99 de
grees , and between the thirty-eighth
parallel and the southern boundary of
the state , the chinch bug is out in full *
force. In other counties of the state
the pest is not so numerous , but still
it exists in fully one-half of the coun
ties. The bugs now in the wheat'
fields are a remnant of last fall's brood
which hibernated. The females have
been laying their eggs and the young
will soon be hatched. The eggs are
very susceptible to the influence of
climatic conditions and if wo should
have heavy rains between now and !
May 20 the crop of young bugs will bo
much ensnailed. "
Continuing the report says : "Active
measures must be resorted to to keep'
the pests down. Much hope is placed
in the outcome of the workings of the
new remedy , ' namely , the attempt to
spread artificially a contageous disease ,
among the bugs. The experiments of
the early spring in the labratory indi
cate the activity of the contagion , and
if the co-operation of the farmers , by
sending in large numbers of live ,
healthy bugs , may be relied on , the
station will be prepared to scatter in
fected bugs all over the state. Several
reports showing the Hessian fly have
been received , among others from
Sumner , La Bette , Butler , Geary , McPherson -
Pherson , Marion and Douglas counties ,
showing a general distribution , but I
think that no serious apprehension
need be felt for the safety of the wheat
crop because of the fly. The report
from Russell county concerning the
presence of a small green bug in the
wheat fields and the subsequent inves
tigation by Secretary Mohler and my
self has * been fully exploited in the
newspapers. There is no new information
mation about the bug or its alleged
damage to the wheat to offer. I do not
believe it will prove consequential in
crop injury. "
> * Nebraska Crop Bulletin.
.Crete , Neb ! , May 11. The United
States signal service has issued the
/ollowing weekly weather crop bulle
tin for Nebrasba :
The week past has been cold and
cloudy. No injury from frost has been
reported , although a light frost oc
curred in a few localities and a hard
freeze in the extreme northwestern
part of the state on the 3d ; where ,
however , the vegetation was not suffi
ciently advanced to be injured.
Light showers were general through
out the state the first part of the week ,
but the rainfall has been below the
average , except in the southeastern
part of the state , where it has been
slightly in excess. Although crops are
not suffering for moisture , light rains
would be beneficial in all parts of the
state.
The week has not been one of rapid
growth , but small grain is everywhere
reported in excellent cojjdidon. Corn
planting has progressed slowly , many
preferring to wait until the ground is
warmer before planting , but in a few
localities the' corn is reported as nearly
half planted. * v.
Fruit blooms are unusually numer
ous , and the promise is for ' a largo
crop. , * - - ; * * ? } -
"UethodUt General Conference.
CINCINNATI , O. , May 11. The com
mittee of seven in charge of the ar
rangements for the place of the next
general conference of the Methodist
Episcopal church to be held in May ,
1892 , met here Saturday. Therewere
present Mr. Amos Shinkle , chairman ,
of Covington , Ky. , Eev. J. J. Palmer
of New York , C. R. Wagoner of Bos
ton , Seneca M. Taylor of St. Louis ,
F. A. Chamberlain of Minneapolis , J.
B. Hobbs of Chicago and J. B. Max-
field of Omaha , Neb.
The arrangements made in Omaha
were reported to the committee. The
requirement of $25,000 has been ex
ceeded by receiving § 31,000. Boyd's
'
opera house has been engaged for'tho
conference session and ample arrange
ments for the entertainment of dele
gates , of whom there may be 500.
The reports were satisfactory and
gave no reason for changing the'placa
of meeting. _ _