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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 22, 1904)
0 The Omaha Daily Bee. THE BEE IS THE PREFERRED ADVER TISING MEDIUM IN ITS TERRITORY FOR A CHARACTERISTICALLY WEST. ERN NEWSPAPER READ THE BEE SIMILE COl'Y THIJEE CENTS. ESTABLISH!? JUNE 19, 1S71. OMAHA, THUKSDAY MOKXIXU, DECEMI5EU 22, 1WU TEN PAGES. RURAL CARRIE OUT Two Memhera of Executive 1 vii-f Na tional Association Art Die 1. TAKE TOO ACTIVE PART IN POLITICS Plans Mads to Defeat Ceigreesimei Whe Would Not Make Promises. OVERSTREETOF INDIANA SPECIAL TARGET Chairman of Ceramittee on Postoffices Re fnsed to Commit Himself. BILL TO ENLARGE RURAL SERVICE Mrtiire that ( naif mpUIn Handling Parkacn Weighing; Two Hundred Pounds Within Limits of Each, Boate. WASHINGTON, Dee. 21. Postmaster General Wynne today removed two more rural carriers for alleged efforts to Influ ence legislation, the employes being H. K. Nlvln of Btrthold. CoIoa and J. W. V.'lilto head of Medina. O. Nlvln la chairman of the executive board of the National Rural Carriers' association. Whitehead also Is a member of the executive board anil Is secretary of the Ohio state organization of the carrier. The executive board held a meeting In St. Louis, as the result of whose Instructions President Cunningham of the asportation la said to have called on the members of the national com mittees of both the republican and demo cratic parties to ascertuln what support they would give to the Interest of the carriers. The plans for this organization carried on before the November election by President Cunningham and Secretary Tumber. both of whom were recently dis missed aa the result of an Investigation of their work, were. It la charged by the postal authorities, approved and endorsed by Nevln and Whitehead. Plan of Cnmpnlgn. The report on the Investigations points out that Nlvln's plan was that the rural carlrers In each Hnt should look Into the question of supporting the candidates for election' and re-election to congress In their state and such of these candi dates an proved "truo" to the carriers, the association would pledge Its support for any political honors sought In the particu lar state. Some letters which the depart ment now has on file Indicate that the carriers had outlined on elaborate plan which they expected would effect Important results In favor of their cause, and net J out that the association must be free from entanglements with any particular political party, but must select for their support such men. regardless of party, as j were most friendly to their Interests. The correspondence Indicates that Representa tive Ovejstreet of Indiana was a special target of attack'by the carriers, because he refused to give them any pledges or prom ises as chairman of the house committee on, postofflce. , , , . . ,' Letter Carriers to Meet. Two postofnee Inspectors are investigat ing these matters and other developments are expected shortly. It Is understood that a meeting of the executive board of the National Association of Letter Carriers, comprising the carriers In the city service, will be called Immediately after the Christ mas holidays to take action in connection with the recent dismissal of President Kel ler of that organization from the govern ment service. This meeting Is made espe cially necessary by thu fact that Keller having been dismissed as a carrier will not be received or recognized In any way at the Postofflco department, and the power of the association thereby wlli be seriously crippled. The question of continuing the present expense accounts Incident to the office of president also is expected to be considered. BUI to Extend Hnral Service. Representative Henry of Connecticut In troduced a bill today "to secure the full use of the United States rural mall equip ment and to place the rural service on a paying basis." The bill provides: "That within the lim its of the respective rural routes served by post wagons, purcels of mail matter shall be contained and drllveied house to house. by the carriers. In weight up to 200 pounds and In dimensions up to a barrel no puree!, however, to be more than six feet In length The bill specifies that the rates on parcels shall be 1 cent for eight ounces or less, 2 cents for a pound, 6 cents for from one to eleven pounds, 10 cents for a half bushel thirty pounds; 15 cents for a bushel, 20 cent for a half barrel and 25 cents for a barrel." President Discusses Freight Bates. President Roosevelt discussed today with several callers proposed legislation regard ing the question of railroad freight rebates and the question of empowering the Inter state Commerce commission with authority to adjust freight rates where found to be ex cessive. Among those who talked with the president were Secretary Morton and E. P. llacoii, chairman of the executive commit tee of the Interstate Commerce commls slon. The president Is anxloua that legislation in the Interest of shippers be enacted at the earliest possible date, and the matter has been considered by him with many of his recent callers. It was stated today by one of the president's callers that Attorney General Moody now was engaged In the preparation of a bill which, substantially, would embody the views of the administra tion on the question, and that the measure would be presented to congress probably soon after the holiday recess. The presi dent has announced that the bill he Is willing to support must be fair to both the railroads and the people. He believes that the Initial steps toward the desired leglsla ttu should be taken at the present session of congress, and. If possible, that the legls latloii proponed should be crystallied Into law it this time. Senator Heyburn of Idaho had 'an ex tended talk with the president today on the subject of federal charters for corporations doing an interstate commerce business. The senator Indicated his Intention to Introduce In the senate after the holiday recess a measure providing for the Incorporation tinder United States laws of 'hII corpora tions doing an Interstate business. The bill, aa proposed by Benator Heyburn, will provide that corporations now In existence must take out federal charters and that such corporations as may he organized thereafter shall Incorporate under federal laws. All such corporations will be under the supervision of the Department of Com merce and Labor through the bureau of corporations. The bill has nut been ma tured thoroughly yet. but Senator Heyburn hopes to have It ready for Introduction Im mediately after the holidays. Presidential Elections la rptemben. Representative Livingston (Ga.) Intro duced a Joint resolution today, providing oatluued ott Soucud Pag..) POLICE STILL IN THE DARK Rod? of Woman Foand In Colorado la Burled and Etclte ment la lllah. COlORADO STRINGS, Colo., Dec. 21 The polic e are as far from n i lue to ihe solution of the Cutler mountain murder mystery as e ver, but th'lr efforts are being redo jWed. The last clue played out to day when Mr. Ona D. Hoyt, a hair dresser of Colorado Springs, who was reported to have disappeared, was found Inquiries continue to come from other cities for a detailed description of the dead girl, but In no case has the sending of the description been followed by further Inquiry. An additional fact In the description of the dead girl Is the conclusion of the officers that she had an unusually la-ge head of hair. The coroner has In his possession no lem than forty hairpins taken from the coll of hair that remain on the head of the girl. They are made of stiff wire and the number and strength of the pins Is taken to Indicate that the growth of hair wus very heavy. An Increased number of officers are today engaged In searching the hills for evidence that may lead to clues. It will be kept up until at least ten square miles have been thoroughly searched. The ground Is rocky and precipitous and the seirch fraught with no small amount of danger. The county commissioners today offered a reward of $1,000 for the arrest and con viction of the murderer. The excitement over the crime is growing daily and there Is talking of lynching the murdenr should he be apprehended Coroner Law u.day had the girl's remalm burled In Evergreen cemetery, In a lot provided by the county. The Jaws and the hair have been saved for ld ntlllcatlon purposes. George 'chllders, who with W. S. Maun der is engaged In mining In Bear creek canon, west of this city, today gave the police the description of a man and a woman who were seen twice In Bear creek canon by himself and Mr. Maunder on De cember 6 nnd 8. Mr. Chllders thinks the woman is the one who was found dead on Cutler mountain. HEARS LAWSON'S DEMURRER Boston Man Objects to Parting with Stork In Gas Corn panics. BOSTON, Dec. 21. Judge Braley, In the supreme Judicial court today, gave a hear ing on th3 question of allowing the demur rer of the defendants In the suit of the Bay State Gas company of Delaware against Thomas W. Lnwson and others to restrain I.awson and Weidenfeld from parting with 50.3) shares of Bay State Gas company of Delaware stock, 371 $1,000 6 per cent bonds of the Buffalo City Gas company and 140 1.0ih debentures uf the Buffalo City Gas company. It is asked that these securities be deliv ered to the plaintiff because of an alleged conspiracy to divert the funds of the Dela ware company to the uses of the conspira tors. The answer and demurrer of the de fendants and I-awson are denials of the allegations of the plaintiff. The defendant describee many transactions In connection with' gas matters unci declares) that the Bay State Gas company of Delaware still owes Lawaon and Weidenfeld $488,434 as a result of denjings begun In 1895. Counsel for Lawfiin presented a motion that a paragraph of the plaintiff's bill re ferring to collusion and conspiracy be stricken out. The plaintiff's attorney main tained that the charges of Lawson against the Delaware company were excessive and that the fact that excessive charges were made and allowed, appeared to show collu sion. Ho declared that It was the aim of the litigation to show Receiver George W. Pepper of the Delaware company the exact relation between that company and Law son and Wldenfeld. Judge Braley reserved decision. KNOCKS OUT DAKOTA SALOONS Supreme Conrt Renders Important Derision on License PIERRE. S. D., Dec. 21. (Special Tele gram.) In the bui remo court today a num ber of oplulons were handed down, the one of the greatest interest being by Haney In the case of the State of Sottth Dakota, ex rcl., P. R. Crothera and J. M. Bundy against L. W. Barber, T. T. Thoerson and Hi nry Mauch, trustees of the town of Hetland. appellants, Kingsbury county. In which Judge Whiting of the circuit court was affirmed. This was the case to test the liquor license law of the state in which the point nt issue was the right of a town board to grant a license where there had been no affirmative vote at the last election. Judge Whiting held that, an affirmative vote waa required every year before license could be Issued and in this he has been affirmed by the supreme court. This means that there is not a legal saloon In the state except In the towns where license was voted In the election last spring nnd It affects most of the towns of the state. Other opinion by Haney were: Charles Harmon, appellant, against John uoggius ei oi., liars, amrmed. George O Woodford et ul. agaitut C. A. Kelly, Beadle affirmed. Op nlon.i by Corson were: J. Merwtn crii-nr.1111, nupeuanc, against inomas H Cunnlff et al. Mi-Cook, affirmed letm a Vesey et al against Commercial Union As surance Company of London, annellant sit. tlrm-d. l,ewls Glenovltch against George E Collins et a', appellants; Lnwrence af firmed. J. J. Weller against H. A. Illlde- urunsi, lonuingcon. amrmed. John Barron against nem rc. smun, anpeiiunt; Law rence. affirmed. Genrgs W Hradv snuel lnnt. against Samuel Shliiev et al., Kail River, affl-med. Frank A. Morris ngainst Andrew FHgel. appellant: Read's nfflrmert Mary A. Thomas against NeNon Wilcox et ni., appriiuni; lumens, amrinea. SEVERAL MURDERS BY INDIANS Settlers In Northern Minnesota Or ganlse a Vigilance Committee for Mutual Protection. DULUTH, Minn.. Dec. 21-Incenaed oyer the large number of murders and robberle that have been committed recently by Ca nadlan Indians In the northern part of Itasca county, near the International boundary, the settlers and homesteader., according to Enoch Lelghton, a settler who was here today, have formed themselves Into a vigilance committee for the pur pose oi avenging the deaths of some of their comrades. The latest tragedy In the north country which has come to light Is that of a setthr, Thomas McKlnslry, iged gn, who while alone in his cabin at Pelhind, was attacked by two Indians and In order to protect himself, the old man tired, k lllng one of them. The other fled across tho i line und Informed his fellow braves what he suw.- MrKlnsley's life Is now men aced. He appealed to the authorities for protection. Dan Cameron, a fur trader, was shut to death several days ago near Mine Center and Wakl Tt Horse, a Do minion reservation Indian, Is now held at Fort Francis, charged, wltu Hie crime. PEOPLE OF Jl'CBOK PROTEST Judp Norris Helpiig Them to Setain Lacation of Laid Office. KINKAID BUSY WITH SETTLERS' BILL Congressman llnrkett romlnsc Home to Remain Intll After Legislature Chooses a, Successor to Sen ator Dietrich. (From a Staff Correspondent.) WASHINGTON, Dec. H (Special Tele gram ) The perple of McCook are Indig nant over the action of the general land office In ordering the land office at McCook closed and the records sent to Lincoln. Congressman Norris is making strenuous efforts to get the secretary of the Interior to reconsider his action In closing the office, which h represented to be very greatly needed. Judge Norris had a long conference with Secretary Hitchcock, but the secretary' would not give the congress man any encouragement Today Mr. Nor ris talked the matter over with Commis sioner Richards, showing that the office was self-supporting, notwithstanding re ports to the contrary. Judge Norris showed how Important It waa to maintain the office, In view of the large number of en tries that have been made in that section under the Klnkaid bill nnd these entries will have to be proved up on. Congressman Norris says there Is a great deal of busi ness west of McCook and to close the office will be an Injustice-. The Judge Is mad all over at the failure of Secretary Hitch cock to appreciate the necessity of keep ing the McCook office open, and he pro poses to go to the president tomorrow to see If he cannot have the order closing he office January 31 revoked. Klnkaid Pushing; Bill. Judgo Klnkaid will go after Commissioner Richards at once In order that a favorable report may be made on his bill extend ing the time of settlement under the 64u acres bill to May 1. Thtre Is an Impression abroad in the Sixth district that Judge Klnkaid' bill amends the homestead law. This Is a mistake. The bill Is designed to give settlers a longer time In which to make settlement Instead of compelling them to settle on the land In deud of winter. Congressman Klnkaid said today that he would push matters so that the public lands committee of the house can take up the bill Immediately after the holidays. Judge Klnkaid sent In the name of Tracy Smith ics postmaster at Naper, Boyd county. Mr. Smith has been acting post- mastor since the death of the former post master, being placed there by the bonds men of the old postmaster. Representative Norris of Nebraska to day Introduced a bill which provides for shortening of the hours of employes of railroads, that Is the class of railroad em ployes who have to do with the actual running of the trains. The bill provides a penalty or fine of $500 on conviction for each offense of working men overtime and places the enforcement of the proposed law In the hands of the Interstate. Com merce Commission. The measure in Its provisions states that It shall be unlawful j for nr.y person or corporation operating a railroad engaged In Interstate commerce to require or permit any conductor, brake- man, engineer, fireman, train dispatcher or telegraph operator who has worked In his respective capacity continuously for twelve hours, except In case of casualty or unavoidable emergency, to again be on duty or perform any work until he has had eight hours for rest, and in nil cases where any train passing over such rail road Is stopped or held between division stations thereon, time of such stops shall not within the meaning of this act be con sidered or held aa hours of rest for the engineer, fireman, conductor and brake man having such trains in charge. Burkett Comes Home. Congressman Burkett left for his home In Lincoln last evening to remain until after the legislature has elected a senator to suc ceed Senator Dietrich. Bones of Army Officers. Senator Millard has forwarded to Secre tary Taft a letter of W. H. Woods of Fort Calhoun, Washington county, wherein Mr. Woods states that he recently exhumed bones of army officers buried eighty years or more In the burial ground for officers stationed at old Fort Atkinson, later known as Fort Calhoun. According to Mr. Woods' statement he has nearly all the bones of the army officers burled there, and that he does not know what disposition to make of them. Senator Millard submitted the mat ter to the secretary of war, asking that early action be taken. Postal Matters. Rural curriers apiolnted for Iowa routes: Guthrie Center, route 2; Thomas E. Marls, carrier; Glenn Johnson, substitute. Man chester, route 1: J. J. Arduser, carrier; Florence Arduser, substitute. Woodbine, route 6; Arthur 8. Rice, carrier; Charles ). Shorell, substitute. Iowa rural routes ordered established February 1: Audubon, Audubon county, route 6; population, 424; houses, 106. Bun, KosButh county, route 2; population, 655: houses, 111. Fenton, Kossuth county, route 1; population, 585; houses, 117. Rlngstod. Emmet county, route 1; population, 600; houses. 131'.' Mrs. Eliza Mannagh has been appointed postmaster at Dumont, Lawrence county, 8. D., vice William J. Enrlght, deceased. BATTLESHIP TEXAS DAMAGED Floating Derrlrk Breaks Ixoe from Moorings and Crnahes Into Stern of Fighting; Mnrhlne. NEW YORK, Dec. 21. Breaking five great cables as if they had been threads, the 100-ton floating derrick Hercules, moored to the vide of the ship Connecti cut, broke adrift In the navy yard basin In Wallabout bay today and crashed Into the stern of the battleship Texas, smash ing several plates and so Injuring the war vessel that It will have to go Into the dry dock. In the basin when a fierce squall swept over It were the Texas, Illinois, Kentucky, Tacoma nnd Minneapolis. The Hercules was securely tied to the Connecticut and was landing great armor plates on the decks. The strain caused by the heavy wind caused the cables to break and the derrick etarted up the bay toward the war ships. Two tugs, the Narkeeta and Penturket, were hastily despatched to catch the flee Ing derrick, which wus muking directly for the Tacoma and Minneapolis, mnured close together. The Prntucket caught the Hercules 'when almost upon the warships and mane fast to It. Before tho derrick could b controlled It swung around and struck the Texas squarely oo tho lern-poet. SENSATION IN BLAIR CASE Krldence that the Dead Man Forged a Xumher of Deeds of Trust. ST. LOUIS. Dec. 21. At the hearing to day of the testimony In the suit before Special Master F. A. Schoficld of Han nibal, Mo., appointed by the United Staus circuit court to take testimony In the action brought by the Mutual Lite Insur ance compa.iy of New York to annul James Blair's $-MO,000 Insurance policy, Ed ward 8. Robert gave sensational evidence. Mr. Robert told of the conversations held between Ulalt and himself when he dis covered that Blair had forged deeds be longing to the Blow estate. On cross-examination by Judge Me Kelghau Mr. Robert said he had acted as a co-agent for the Blow estate with James i L. Blair, the heirs of which were Susan E. Blow and Mrs. Martha Blow Wads- : B'..r V. n XV X- -1. . . " " ' 1 " v. ncn x oi k vcnitr. I Blair had been an agent or trustee for the estate for sixteen or seventeen years. and Dr. William Taussig had been hi. co. 1 trustee up to 199. when Robert sucdcl , him v, t.-... . ... .... . slg's retirement and Mr. Robert's sue- I cesslon all the deeds and other papers of the estate had been In Blair's sole ro.-ses- j slon. After Mr. Robert became associated with Blair's management of the estate, they t went together to a safety deposit box In which the Blow securities were held, to check them over. There Mr. Robert says he found deeds of trust purporting to have been by John Dwlght for $20,(100 and Michael O'Lnughlln ror ii,vw, for loans ,on certain proper ties. Among other deeds of trust alleg d to be given were those of John T. Wil liamson and Victor Dnudet. Mr. Robert then detailed the particulars of the meeting at the office of James L. Blair In September, 1903, In which Blair's transactions with the property of his em- ployers were first made public, and told of Blair's subsequent resignation as trustee when requested. ' Asked what brought! up the subject of the charges against Ullalr, the witness said : "The discussion of affairs of the two estates, the one closed and the other Just closing." Mr. Robert said he remembered that In the pile of bad deeds he had placed tbe joiin uwyer ana Michael O Laughlin deeds, also deeds of trust made out In the names of John T. Williamson and Victor Daudet. "I gave the bad ones to Mr. Blair," Robert said, "after he paid us for them." "How much did he pay you?" Judge McKelghan asked. "About $tS,0ti0, I think,' Mr. Robert re plied. "He paid us only for the. amounts represented by the deeds, not for the i chpekll nnri nnnulMt nth., f - . f I debtedness; I do not remember all the 1 ecutlve commlttea of the republican state details. The amount was calculated by a ! . ?!' pre8l?ed' Twenty-seven mem Mr Mav whnm , Mr- f,, ! bpr of the new legislature, who will have Caesar & Co.. accountants, to go over i the hooks ' MORE EVIDENCE OF FRAUD Handwriting; Kiperti Testify In Mat ter of the flection In Denver. - , DENVER. Dec, 21. The report presented to the supreme court today by the hand- Barnes, the first speaker, spoke in fa.vor of writing experts who examined the ballots Mr- Depew's re-eleetlon, declaring that to In the box from Second precinct. Fourth remove him from the senate "after his long ward, of this ctty showed that of 856 votes service would be a disturbing factor In the 144 were apparently fraudulent. One bun- politic of the state." dred and forty ballots with the d mucratlo Senator Raines devoted a considerable heading were reported to have been writ- portion of his extended remarks to a declar ten by live persons, one of whom hid atlon of cordiality toward Governor Odell written 119. Four ballots with the repub- and former Governor Black. He held the llcan heading had been written by two welfare of the republican party to be of persons. There were In the box 177 demo- Importance. cratic and twenty-eight republican ballots j "If the contest which appears to be pend whlch appeured to be regular. . Ing now," he declared, "Is to be carrlod to M. M. Hamma, republican expert, tetl- ' the last Issue and the utmost force Is ex fled to his belief that on closer examination erted by those who appear to be behind at least loo ballots which appeared to be Governor Black and those who appear to be regular would prove to be fraudulent, behind Mr. Depew, and Mr. Depew should George H. King, democratic expert, abo be abandoned, I fear that two years from testllitd that there probably were some now, even next fall. In the city of New fraudulent votes which had not been de- yorki Rnd two yearg from now tected in the hurried examination of the whatever chance or prospects the repub baIl0t8"' , . ! licn Party may see before them todav The court later heard further testimony ; those proapocts wouId b(, disslpated and on tho contempt charge against Isaac i we would fn the mlnorlty .. Goldman and Edward Sweeney, election ! -, ,,, j j u , , . ' Mr. Woodruff's Siieerh. Judges. Sweeney and Goldman, who con- 1 i'j,,i , . . ducted their own defense, disclaimed knowl- ! stonv for Jr n t"""3"- a'Way" edge of the fraudulent ballots, and denied I'Z, r?-ehctlon- that thev had wilfully violated the court s f"Itt.rfd. Wa" demanded "y overwhelming r..K h .Hom,. .k. S1 , aid his wife ike her re- mercy of tho court. Sweeney sa whr iiR.'Lii nnri rift wluhnil tit tn mains to Chicago. Chief Justice Gabbert took the case under consideration. tac n or ine iweniy-mree men now serv- ing sentences In Jail for contempt of court has filed a petition for a rehearing and al- levlation of sentence. The grounds upon which they are based are sole.y technical. me principal one ueing a cnanenge or tne right of the supreme court to assume Juris diction. SUGAR COMBINE IS BROKEN Alleged Secret Agreement No Longer Binds the Pnriflo Coast Dealers. SAN FRANCISCO, Deo. 21. The Exam iner today says that the existence of a secret agreement i-ement among the .wholesale J this city secures three large hotel proper trie coast for the past year and j ties in New York City, giving In part pay- grocers of a nan to control me price or sugar was revealed by the withdrawal Monday of six local nouses irom me ranno traffic and Commercial association, tne name used to cover the joint operations of the menv bers of the trust. These six big firms, whose combined cap ital equals that , of all the other forty two members, believe that their with drawal will mean disorganization of the combination and that the trust will be obliged to go out of business. Its man ager, H. D. Loveland, says, however, that the association will go ahead with Its op erations and U "determined to uphold the market." COLUMBUS FIREMEN INJURED Explosion In Ohio Fire Threatens Lives of People In Flats. COLUMBUS. O.. Dec. 21.-Flre today on High street destroyed $:"26.00O worth of property in the business district, and In an explosion during the fire five' firemen were Injured. The flames started in the Mlthoff building in the rear of the First Nutionul batik. The second, third and fourth floors were occupied as fiats and fifteen families resided there, but all were rescued. The fire spread to the stores of the Krauss. Butler & Beuhain company, one of e T?est carpet and rug dealers in central Ohio, and the Wheeler grocery ad joining. While the firemen were at work on the second floor of the Mithoff building there was an explosion of g. f-v, (jre. men were Injured, but none seriously. Of te total loss iiuu.wo la on the stock owned 7 tarZT9. uuticr tumtiam,, - MAY "TONE DOWN MR. ODELL Mr. Piatt Says This Will Ba Basalt of Yes terday's Conference. DEPEW MEN AT flUH AVENUE HOTEL All the Snee-rhea Are Favorable to Ite-eleetlon of the Junior Senutor Allege Violation of Implied Agreement. NEW YORK. Dec. 21. The conference of republicans called by United States Senator Thomas C. Piatt in the Interest of the re election of Chauncey M. Depew by the coming state legislature, was held according to rrogram at the Fifth Avenue hotel this morning. It was In session about three hours and adjourned without day after ap- ... . 1 . , ,. P0,n"n commutes ui nn. n toTm'r Lieutenant "rn'r "oodrU.ff,n ' wait upon Governor Odell who was not lnvlted' "nd lnform hlm of the sentiment as expressed at the conference. Mr. Wood- ruff did not meet Governor Odell, as he ex- Pted. He drove to the Douch mansion where the New England society dinner wai held tonight, accompanied by Senator De pew. There they Joined the governor. loiter the three left ,n mansion with the ex- Passed Intention of proceeding to the Lnion League of Republican clubs for aa extended conference. Asked regarding 8enator Piatt's confer ence today. Governor Odell said ho was not cognizant of It. "I do not know what took place at the conference at the Fifth Avenue hotel today, but I do know thai whoever is chosen by the republican or ganization will be elected." The morning conference was attended by seventy-five well-known republicans, most of them being classed as being in favor of Senator Depew, but there were also not a few who were believed to be opposed to his candidacy. The speeches made In the conference were almost without exception strongly In favor of Senator Depe.w's re-election. No vote was taken and estimates of the numerical classification of those present vary with the sympathies of those estimating. After the conference Senator Piatt declared himself as jtreatly pleased with its character and personnel. "I am proud of It," said he. "It was truly representative and clearly showed, what I have all along claimed, that the sentiment of the people of the state Is strongly In favor of the re-election of Sen ator Depew. I imnglne Its result may be to tone down Mr. Odell." William Barnes, Jr., Presides. Senator Piatt himself called the confer- i ence to order and at his suggestion Wil liam Barnes, Jr., of Albany, chairman of the the aclulU.vote" upon the "enatorship, were present. Messages or regret were received rrom speaker .Nixon of the assembly and several other senators and assemblymen. Word was received from Cornelius N. Bliss that he sympathised with the object of the conference and had spoken his sentl ments at the so-called Olell-Black meeting the previous ' week. ' Nearly all of the speeches deprecated any- '"'"ST in tne nature of a fight. Chairman vngs county. Said he v,uB c-uuiiiy. said he: v.1 have,"ot nrd "'nifle person say that he was in favor of the election of former Oovernor Black, but I have heard men siy tol ctu uVpif TV I lleve that the republican party In the state !"," " ';" maces win re seriously vo" uTsZZ of Kings county, felt that in the last cam- P"1" th,ey were voting for Chauncey m" 'tTSl "for TEvern" .tlWy BIG DEAL IN NEW YORK HOTELS Plttabnra Parties Acquire Three Large lloatrlrles In the Metropolis. PITTSBURG. Dec 21. It Is announced here that a real estate deal of unusual proportions waa closed In New York to day by which the E. M. Rush estate of ment real estate In PittAura- valuo.i t . t,iw,vuv. j no usBieaio value of tho prop 1 ijvi nK .ni . . . ertlea involved Is In the nelhhnrhi ! $3,000,000, According to the statement the Rush estate has acquired In consideration of 4,150,000 the Breton Hall, the Regent and the Aberdeen, all thirteen-story hotels, In New York, the combined rental of which U $2U),0u0 per annum. INFORMATION ABOUT WOMEN National Federation of Clubs Boon Open an Intelll. genre Ofrlce. May DENVER. Dec. W.-Mra. Snrah Piatt Decker, president of the National Federa tion of Women's Clubs, announced today that she had practically completed ar rangements for the establishment of a bu reau of Information. Information concerning the work of women In this country, their clubs and all the matters In which they are Interested will be collected and disseminated. Out lines for study also will be prepared. It Is probable that the headquarters will be at Portsmouth, N. H. PORTLAND LAWYER INDICTED Federal f.rand Jury Holds Prominent Attorney for Complicity In Laud Frauds, PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. 21 F. Pierce Mays, a prominent lawyer of Portland, was Indicted today In ront.ee lun with the Und frauds iavtuitUatlous now twfoia, th grand NEBRASKA WEATHER FORECAST Fair Thnrariuy nnd Colder In orth- writ Portion. Friday nnln or "mow and Colder. Temperature nt Omaha Yeateri'nyl Hour. llonr. Den. 5 n. m , 8 n. m. 7 n. m , H a. m, ft u. m. At :w ;! 81 m :T 4 1 . a p. a p. 4 l. r. p. p. T p. SI p. p. 4 4H 4T 4T 4". I 4tt 4J 41 in n. m, It n. m . lit m.. . . LOCKING FOR LOST SATCHELS Referee In Bankruptcy Uars that Two llnve Illn ppearrd from Mrs. (hailnlrk, CLEVELAND, Dec. 21. Still another satchel, one thought by Receiver Looser to contain valuables belonging to Mrs. Chad- wick, was today found to be ml'sirg. This developed In an examination of Mrs. Mary Londravllle, Mrs. Clmdwick s former housekeeper, held before Referee In Bank ruptcy Remington. The discovery is In ad dition to the mi-sing trunk and grip that disappeared from the Holland house In New York the day before Mrs. ihudwlck wa arretted. Mrs. Ixmdravllle waa the only witness examined today She told of accompany ing. Mrs. Chadwlck to the Holland house, at the latter's request, and of taking two satchels Into a room. Judge Alabaugh of Canton and several men, the witness said, were present In an adjoining room. She heard no conversa tion. Asked as to what had become of the satchels, the witness replied: '1 was Instructed to give the large one to D. L. Pine of this city. I called mm up by telephone and told him about It and asked him to come for It. He arrived after Mrs. Chadwlck had left for New York and I gave It to him.' The satchel, she told, contained letters and papers. She did not know what had become of the other satchel. The hearing was continued until this afternoon and an effort will be made to have Mr. Pine ap pear for examination as to the whereabouts of the satchel and what It contained. When the hearing was resumed In the bankruptcy court in the afternoon, Mr. Pine was present. He admitted he secured the satchel und kept It until Emll Hoover, Mrs. Chadwlck's son, called for It last Sundny night. Emll told him that his mother's attorney, J. P. Dawley, wanted it. He said he was not curious aa to what the satchel contained, but he thought there were pa pers in It. , Attorney Loeser said he would ask the attorney to tell the contents of the satched. The hearing was then continued until Friday morning. TRAIN STALLS IN TUNNEL Lives of Many Pnnarngera Endangered by an Accident Near St. Louis Union Station. ST. LOUIS. Dec. 21. The West India Flyer, an In-eomlng passenger train on the Mobile & Ohio railroad, was today1 stalled In th- tunnel, under the downtown business section of the city, leading to the union station, as the result of an accident that derailed the tender of the ei.g'ne. Nobody was Injured, but the passengers and train crew suffered from tho clouds of smoke and gas from the locomotive before the cars could be taken out. If the derailment had occurred at a point distant from the ventllatlug fan the pas sengers would have become 111 If not suf focated by their long stay in the tunnel. The tunnel Is the property of the Terminal Railroad association of St. Louis, which also controls the Eads and Merchants' bridges. The effect of the train leaving the track and plowing along the floor of the tunnel was similar to that of an earth quake on the big buildings along Eighth street, from St. Charles to Olive street. Many thought an earthquake was in prog ress and ran from the buildings. The con cussion was so great that In the federal building tho electric lights were extin guished, adding to the apprehension of those In the building. DROUTH CAUSES MUCH DAMAGE Lowest Stave of Water Prevails Pittsburg nnd Vicinity Since nt PITTSBURG. Dec. 21.-The scarcity of water caused by a three months' drouth is assuming alarming proportions In this vi cinity. Not since the drouth In 18 has the water supply been so short and serious con sequences are feared If tho drouth Is not soon broken. Coke ovens, mines and rail roads have been compelled to partially sus pend operations and unless relief comes soon the mills also will be seriously af fected. The public schools of Wllmerdlng and Wllklnsburg near here were dismissed today on account of no water. The output c.f the coke ovens has been reduced one-third and the loss Is estimated at $1,000,000 per month. The water In the rivers Is low and Is filled with sulphuric acid, causing much damage to the machin ery in the mills and boilers of locomotives. In the country districts the farmers are obliged to melt snow In order to obtain water for the cattle. ANTI-SALOON LEAGUE MEETS Executive Committee 8nys that n Fair Test Una Not Bern tilven the Anti-Canteen I -air. COLUMBUS. O., Dec. 21. The executive committee of the American Anti-Saloon league met here today and outlined plana for a legislative campaign. It was determined to make a fight for th? retention of the anti-canteen law. An effort will aslo be made for sufficient additional appropriation to complete army post recrea tion halls, for effective prohibitory legisla tion for Indian Territory should it be granted statehood, and for the passage of the Hepburn till to prohibit the shipping of liquor Into the new territories. The league will Insist on a fair test of the anti-canteen law. This, It was claimed, has not been given the statute. The league will ask for an appropriation of $.130,0uo to build and complete the recreation halls at various army posts, which are Intended In a way as a substitute for the canteen. Movements of Ocean Teasels Dee. 21 At New York Arrived; Peruvla, from Nuple. Sailed' , Bovlo, for Liverpool; United States, for Christlansand; Kroon lund, for Antwerp. At Liverpool-Sailed: Siberian, for Hall fax: Cediic. for New York. At Nudes-Hailed: Prlnx Adelb. rt. f r New York; Canuplc. for Boston. Arrived: It ilia, from New York. At Copenhagen Arlved: Helllg Olav, from New York. 1 China, from Vancouver. At IxMeloii Arrived; Minnehaha, from New York. At OueMisiown Arrived; Oceanic;, trvm WAY IS SOW OPEN Japi Hold rivt of the SeTn Tom Dfi4 ing Pert Artkur. ADMIRAL TOGO MAKES OBSERVATIONS He Telle Tokio Officitle that the BeTMtopol ii Disabled. EXAMINATION OF THE SEI7ED VESSELS Presence of Parole Breaking Bttian Offi cers ii Not Definitely Determined. RESERVES CALLED TO FILL VACANCIES Russian Advices Partially Confirm Japnnrae Reports of Destruction of Vessels In Harbor of Be lenanered City. HEADQUARTERS OF THE JAFANESR THIRD ARMY HEFOHK PORT ARTHUR, Dec. 21. Via Fusan. The capture of th north fort of East Kcekwan mountain, December 18. by the Japanese la of much Importance because It opens a way up the gorge to the higher bids and will render easier the capture of the mountain. It gives much additional foothold lor a gen eral assault cm the western half of the eastern fortified ridge. The Japanese njW hold five of the seven protecting forts. Admiral Togo Makes Observations. TtiKlO, Dec. 21. Admiral Togo has per sonally made a series of observations of' tho Russian battleship Sevastopol, and telegraphs to the Navy department ex pressing the opinion that the Sevastopol Is disabled. Great weight Is attached to Togo's personal observations and opinion, instanced by the fuct that when the Rus slan battleship Petropnvlovsk was sunk Togo wus one of the few officers of the entire Japanese fleet whose eys caught the vision of speedy disaster. Commander Yexoe, who was killed while torpedoing the Sevastopol, has been pro moted and has been given other posthumous honors. Examine Seised Vessels. Tbe examination of the cargo and crew of the British steamer Nlgretlu, which wss seised by the Japanese cruiser Tsushima December 19, Is progressing at Sasebo. Seemingly it Is undetermined whether parole-breaking Russian officers are on board the Nlgretla. The Japanese are carefully Investigating this feature of the case because of the question of the ability of the Chinese officials to properly conduct the Internment of Russians who seek refuge at ports In China. It Is considered vitally Important. The Japanese transport Manshu leaves Japan for Port Arthur about December 26, currying the foreign naval attaches and parliamentary delegations. The trip is intended to give the attaches an op portunity to make technical observations. The following report from Manchurlan headquarters was received at 11:30 last night and made public today: On Monday at 6 In, the morning thu etiemy's artillery eart of Da mountain bombarded the neighborhood of Binllntung. At 1 In the morning of Tuesday the enemy infantry attacked us south of Pleniuhung pao and at Tatupao. By 4 In the morning he was repulsed. Simultaneously the enemy's Infantry attacked Chlnshantung, He'.luntutig and Huungtl and made a most vigorous attack In the neighborhood of Chlnchantung. The fighting continued about an hour when the enemy was com pletely repulsed. We t ad no casualties. Japa Capture Gnna. WASHINGTON, Dec. 21. The following cablegram, dated Tokio, December 21, ha been received at the Japanese legation: Port Arthur army reports our trophies at the battle of the North fort of Tunkeek wanshan were four quick-firers, whereof two are usable, four machine guns, all usable, and five field guns, which are under examination, beside rifles, shells, am munition, grenades, etc. Reserves to Fill Vacancies. ST. PETERSBURG, Dec. 21. The mobili sation announced yesterday of the reserves In seven military dlstiicts of Russia affects a portion of about halt of the military dis tricts. While somo of the reserve men called to the colors will be used to complete the strength of the regiments going to the front, by far the greater portion will be formed Into reserve units to repluce troops which have already gone to the far east. This year tho conscripts number abjlit 600.000 men, bolng about double tne nnmner usually called to the colors. The number of young men annually liable to military service is over 800.(00. The new mobiliza tion will entail additional relief measures for the families of reserve men, which probably will be met by Increasing the credits of the zemstvos for this purposes, While declining to give details, the ad miralty admits that Russlun advices front Port Arthur, sent by General Stoessel, sub stantially confirmed the Japanese advices of the partial wrecking of the Russian ships In the harbor, and the censor has been Instructed to permit the publication of the dispatches. It la claimed that sev eral of the largest ships and a number of torpedo boat destroyers are still seaworthy, but they are not being considered as a fao tor In the coming fight between Admiral Togo's ships and the Russian second Paclflo squadron. The whole series of misfor tunes which huve attended the Port Arthur squadron is a bitter chapter in Russian naval annals, but since the arrival of the latest advices there has been no disposition to criticize Admiral Wiren's failure to make a sortie, General Stoessel having de cided that further defense of the fortress would be Impossible if the guns of tho warships and the sailors were re-embarked. Had the ships been able to go under tho conditions existing, tley would have been at the mercy of the Japanese and have been sacrificed without hope of Inflicting commensurate damage. - If the fortress la relieved It Is believed that most of the ships will be raised and saved. The reports that a Japanese squadron of forty vefsels had already sailed to meet the second Paclflo squadron Is regarded at the admiralty here as being Incorrect and circulated for a purpose. ' Military critics here do not attach vital Importance to the character of the North fort of Keek wan mountain. They declare It is not a part of the main line of de fenses of Port Arthur and therefore is without direct Influence on the fate of the fortress. British Steamer Runs Blockade LONDON. Dec. 21 The Telegraph's Che Foo correspondent says that the steamer Ludy Mitchell, which sailed from Tslngtau with supplies, ammunition and dynamite, reached Port -Artnur during a snow storm four nights ago. He say alsj It is reported that the Japanese were c im pelled to evacuate their pislllon on Ete mountain owing to a tli'McIng fire from oilier forts and the explosion of Russian shells, from whf h they loH heavily. The Japanese, tho correspondent adds, are em ploying thousands of roolUs in making strong forts at Dulny and around Port Arthur before the Chinese pew year. An attack la preparing that 14 tst oa 1