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ESTABLISHED JUNE 19, 1871.
M. COMBES TO RETIRE
French Cabinet Decides U Quit While it
ia Still Undefeated.
LEFT WITH A SMALL WORKING MAJORITY
Death ef President'! Mather PreTenta lom
pleting Arrangements.
WORN OUT BY PARLI. .. ARY FIGHT
H
While Uidei Will Btil
Leara Eim
ABLE TO DICTATE SUCCE. 1 9FFICE
Heavier r M. Brlss ely o
Be the Central Flsjui the
Kw Cabinet W -Organised.
PARIS, Jan. JS.-The ministry of M.
Combes, after emerging successfully from
Its bitter midnight struggle In the Chamber
it Deputies has decldrd to abandon the
field while some portion of Us prestige
till remains, and has signified Its Inten
tion of resigning. Official announcement
Bf the resignations has not been made,
but M. Combes has definitely stated the
Intention of hlmulf and his colleagues,
and the termination of the ministry, after
i tempestuous career, only awaits the sub
mission of the letter of retirement.
Friends of the ministry maintain that
Its retirement to voluntary, as M. Combes
has succeeded In resisting the effort to
compel Ms fall. The opposition, however,
halls the decision as a victory, claiming
that the small majorities for the ministry
last night left M. Combes no show of
effective strength to carry out his policies.
M. Combes called at Elysee palace today
for the purpose of conferring with Presi
dent Loubet, but the latter was over
whelmed by the critical Illness of his
mother, who died at I o'clock this after
noon. The president's affliction prevented
any discussion of the cabinet situation and
complicates the time when the resignation
will be submitted. It had been intended'
to hold a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, nt
which the final disposition of the retiring
members wss to be tnken, but President
Loubet's departure for Montellmar to at
tend the funeral of his mother has deferred
final action.
Can Dictate Successor.
Premier Combes received the various min
isters during the day. He looked careworn
after ten hours of parliamentary battle. In
which he occupied the floor for three hours
and was the center of a continuous attack
during the remaining hours. He spoke
freely of the Intention of his cabinet to
retire as a whole, and outlined the de
tails of Ita closing work. He regards Jhe
retirement as wholly voluntary, us the
votea last night, although showing small
majorities, gave enough margin to permit
of carrying: on the ministerial program.
However, he considers that his departure
will facilitate the realization of the pro
gram Instead of Interrupting it, since his
successor will be able to unite the dis
cordant element -which have become per
sonally hostile to him. It Is conceded that
M. Combes voluntary withdrawal will per
mit him to exercise a powerful and prob
ably a decisive Influence in the choice of
his successor, similar to that which M.
Waldeck-Rosseau exercised when volun
tarily relinquishing power.
Who will form the next cabinet Is not
yet certain. The logic of the situation ap
pears to point to M. Rouvter, and his name
la most mentioned. He Is acceptable, both
to M. Combes and those who are rebelling
against his authority. However, if M.
Combes exercises the authority to name
his own successor he may designate M.
Brtsson, who aa president of the Chamber
of Deputies assisted in the execution of
the Combes program. The names of MM.
Millerand, Polncare, Dumer and Clemen
oeau also are prominently mentioned, their
strength depending upon later combinations
In the majority groups. However, the per
sonal Influence the president usually exer
cises is obscured by death within the
household, making the outcome of the re
organisation of the , ministry Increasingly
Chance In Poller.
The effect of the change in the govern
ment's policies Is not considered to bo
great. The new ministry will have the
same majority aa that supporting Pre
mier Combes, and so there cannot be a
radical change. Thla majority has r
psstedly upheld M. Combes' project tend
ing toward separation of church and stain.
It Is expected, therefore, that the pro
gram relating to separation will be car
ried out, although M. Combes' retirement
probably will exercise a moderating ten
dency. The Issue which proved most decisive in
hastening the resignations of the ministers
was the popular outcry against secret re
ports on the lives of army officers. The
change will undoubtedly Insure the abon
donment of the last vestige of this sys
tem. The enactment of an Income tax and
other Important measures will not be ma
terially affected.
Premier Combes was waited upon thla
evening by a- number of members of the
Chamber of Deputies, who 'urged that he
reconsider his decision to resign, but he
positively refused to do so.
Owing to the death of Mme. Loubet, the
presentation of the resignations of the
ministers has been deterred until Wednes
day morning., President Loubet will begin
on Wednesday afternoon consultations for
the formation of a new ministry. M. Rou
vler appears to be practically decided upon
as the future chief of the ministry, and it
is understood that he asked M. Dclcasse
and M. Iterteau to retain the foreign and
war portfolios, respectively. Until the de
cision of the Cabinet to resign Is officially
communicated to President Loubet. who
alone la empowered to receive It. there will
be nr Interruption of parliamentary von,
Have Faith ia American.
BAN DOMINGO. Jan. 15. Commander Al
bert C. Dillingham, IT. 8. N., through whoso
Instrumental;! v the threatened revolution
here last June was averted, has arrived
here aa a passenger on board Hie I'nl.eJ j
States gunboat Caatlne. It Is tepurted th.it
Commander Dillingham has come on duty
i-umivcicu n nil lor aiiaira ui ine uomimcan
republic. His presence glvts confidence to
the people that a satis factory soh.tl. n of
affulrs will be reached In the near future.
Orders Want Money.
ROME, Jan. The religious orders,
supported by Cardinal Vlves Y'Tuto, are
uiglng the Vatican to pivss for the pay-
meet or tne money awarued oy the I nitio
States for the purchase of the Friars' lauds
in th Philippines. The .Vatican has re
plied that nothing can be done In the
premises until Archbishop Aglus, th
aostoi;c de'.egate to the Philippines, ar
rives at Manila and makes hU report on
the situation.
DUTCH OBJECT TO WILD BOARS
Import of MrrklfDlinriliiii Clvlllso
tlon la Sot nellsbed by
Natives of Holland.
THE HAGUE. Jan. 15. (Special Cable
gram to The Bee. )-Dwi Hers In the vicinity
of Het Loo are murh ujiset because Prince
Henry has Imported a coui'le of wil l boars
from Germany, which have been pet fre in
the nelghtoiing forests for future bunting
purpose. This "Import of Mefklenburglnn
civilisation" has been the subject of severe
criticism by the socialist members In the
second Chamber.
FIRES THREE SHOTS AT GKtKIl Al.
Assailant a Poor Marksman and Does
!to llamnir.
MOSCOW. Jnn. 15-At the Nicholas sta
tion tonight while General Trepoff was bid
ding farewell to Grand Duke Serglus on his
departure for St. Petersburg, a young
man wearing a student s cap fired three
shots from a revolver at the general. All
the shots missed General TrepotT. Grand
Duke Scrglus continued on his Journey.
General Trepoff. who recently whs re
lieved of the offlce of chief cf police of
Moscow and ordered to the front to take
up his duties as head ef the Red Cross
society In Manchuria, Incurred the special
enmity of the students of Mi. scow by the
severity with which he put down their
demonstration of December 18 and 19, 1901.
Within one week In 1!02 there were three
attempts upon his life. The first of theso.
on March 31, was by a woman named
Allan, a governess, who placed the muzzle
of a pistol agulnst General Trepoff' s breast
and pulled the trigger, the weapon, how
ever, falling to discharge. Four days later
a man armed with a dagger tried to force
his way to the presence of General Trepoff
with the avowed purpose of killing him.
The wouldbe assasln wns overpowered and
arrested. Within two days after this inci
dent, while Trepoff was riding in his car
riage, a young man, supposed to be a
rusticated student, sprang on the step of
the vehicle and tried to stab him, but only
succeeded in slightly wounding a police
man. After the anti-government demon
strations In Moscow last month it wns
said that the socialist revolutionary party
had passed sentence of death upon both
General Trepoff, chief of police, and Grand
Duke Serslus, governor general of Moscow.
PORT ARTHUR NOT SO 111)1, Y OFF
Conn Little Damaited and Provisions
Plentiful.
LONDON, Jan. 16. I'nder date of Janu
ary 16, the Port Arthur correspondent of
the Times says: General Nogl, nttended
by his staff, the divisional commanders
and foreign attaches; reviewed' detach
ments of all arms In the new town square
today. There was a stirring display. The
generals afterwards marched through the
town, which shows few signs of the bom
bardment. No casualties occurred to the
women or children, who lived In the houses
throughout the siege. Champagne was al
ways obtainable. There was little dysen
tery or typhus, but much scurvy, owing to
the lack of vegetables.
It seems that General Stoessel was re
sponslblo for the failure to fortify Roju
hill. Many of his military officers were
useless, applying for leave on occasions
of attack and leaving their commands to
sergeants. .The naval officers were useless
and generally drunk. The whole navy was
demoralised by the death of Admiral Maka
roff, which produced marked apathy. At
a conference preceding capitulation some
of the fort commanders voted for further
resistance, but they were overruled by
General Stoessel. When capitulation be
came public soldiers looted the stores of
5,600 bottles of vodka, resulting In terrible
orgies in the streets. Troops sent to quell
the disturbances Joined the revellers. The
food supply was sufficient to last three
months, but there was no meat except
horse flesh. No private stores were seized.
The steamer King Arthur brought 6,000
sacks of flour early in December.
WISH RECIPROCITY WITH GERMANY
American Chamber of Commerce Pre
sents Memorial.
BERLIN, Jan. 18. The American Cham
ber of Commerce of Berlin considers that
the time la favorable for a movement look
ing toward a reciprocity treaty between
the United States and Germany, and espe
cially so because the new system of reci
procity treaties Germany has concluded
most probably will affect American trnde
adversely. The Chamber of Commerce on
December 23 sent a petition to President
RooseveU, which In part follows:
The American Chamber of Commerce of
Berlin, organized with the purpose of fur
thering good relations between the United
States and Germany, eapclally In the di
rection of commercial uffnlrs, and includ
ing among its members representatives of
both nations trailing between the two
countries, would pray that you urge on
congress and the other authorities the
pressing need for prompt action for a
reciprocity treaty with Germany, and also
for new laws and regulations for the
appraisitl of merchandise to replace the
present very faulty and often unjust one
which Is still constantly causing much
bitterness of feeling among practically all
the Importers of commodities Into ports of
the United States.
The American Chamber of Commerce of
fers Its service in the collection of in
formation. PANAMA PEOPLE OBJECT TO PLAN
Want Minister Who Has No Other
Unties.
PANAMA, Jan. IS. Representatives of
all political parties here have aBked Mr.
Barrett to withdraw the suggestion he
made to the Washington government that
the functions of governor of the canal
sone and minister to Panama be com
bined in tht person of the governor of
tho canal sone. It Is argued by the me
morialists thatt he dignity of Panama as an
Independent nation requires u separate
legation. The American minister has re
plied that the suggestion was made in
the Interests of both I'unamu and the
United Btatts and that he cannot withdraw
It. He said, however, that he will report
the request to his government without
prejudice to the attitude of Panama.
VATICAN WATCHING THE CABINET
Hopes for Bet'tr Relations with New
Ministry.
ROME, Jan. 1. The French cabinet sit
uation Is regarded at the Vatican with sat
isfaction and the early resignation of the
ministry Is considered to be Inevitable. It
la hoped by the clericals here that If the
next French cabinet is composed of rad
icals it will be more like the Waldeck
Rosseau ministry than that of Premier
Combes. ,
Huncailan Martyrs Realised.
ROME, Jun 13. Three Hungarian mai
tyrs, Poucres, Graded and Christlno, were
beatlhrd today at St. Peter's in the pres
ence of l.ouo worshipers, including many
Americana. This Is the last function of
this kind in connection with the festivi
ties Incident to the Jubilee of the dogma
of the Immaculate conception. Pope plus
X., who participated In the ceremony, ap
peared fatigued and preoccupied, nllhougn
he assured his attendants that he was
feeling well.
SPRING SESSION NOT LIREL.
Disposition Prevails te Postpone Tariff
Revision Until Fall.
RATE QUESTION TO COME UP FIRST
t'onixress May Be ailed Together In
October If Fall lllirsiiloa of
Railroad Question Neces
sitates It.
(From a Staff Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15. tSpeelal.)-The
talk of an extru session of congress in the
spring Is gradually dying out. The leaders
of the senate and house, after careful con
sideration with the president, of those ques
tions which are very uppermost In the
minds of the people, tariff revision and
railroad rates, are almost a unit In oppo
sition to a spring session of congress. In
fuct, the opposition has crystallized through
the efforts of Speaker Cannon and Senator
Aldrich and there is a disposition now to
postpone tariff revision until the extra
session, which seems very likely to be
called about the 16th or 2Uth of October.
Hut while tariff revision talk Is very per
ceptibly diminishing, the talk of rate re
adjustments Is on the Increase, and so
vast is the imitation now going on that
traffic maragers, railroad presidents, gen
eral maiuigerr and railroad attorneys are
coming Into Washington almost In droves
to ascertain at first hand what the scheme
of railroad rate readjustments Is. There
are those in congress who enjoy tho con
fidence of the president who are of the
opinion that a bill giving 1 irger powers
to the Interstate Commerce commission
could be passed at this session of congress
If the lenders would so order, and if a
conservative measure could be agreed upon.
The passage of such a bill would do away
with any extra session of congress and
tariff revision, or at least a modification
of schedules could be taken up In the regu
lar session of congress, which convenes
the first Monday In next December. It Is
admitted that the president does not ad
vocate radical action that would bring
disaster to the railroads. On the other
hand. It is conceded that there is ground
for complaint and room for reform. It is
not a work that can be done In a day.
The question Is big nnd broad, with far
reaching effect, and must needs be handled
with deliberation and wisdom. It Is, there
fore, believed that If an extra session Is
called at all It will be next fall, and not
this spring.
Senator Stewart's Retirement.
On the 3d of March next William M.
Stewart of Nevada will retire from the
stnate. Following the precedent set by
Thomas Hen ton of Missouri, James G.
Blaine of Maine, John Sherman of Ohio
and George F. Hoar of Massachusetts,
Senator Stewart will devote his attention
to editing and revising for publication his
"reminiscences," which will be published
next fall. Senator Stewart took his seat
In the United States senate in Februsry,
1865, as one of the first two senators from
the newly admitted state of Nevada. There
are only two other men alive today who
served with him In 18B6, namely, George F.
Edmunds of Philadelphia and John B.
Henderson of this city.
Civil Service Still Lives.
In every session of congress when the
legislative apprcprlation bill comes up for
discussion a score or more of members
of the house Indulge in violent denuncia
tion of the civil service law. Then follows
a motion to strike from the bill the ap
propriation for tho salaries and expenses
of the Civil Service commission. This mo
tion Invariably prevails on a viva voce
vote In committee of the whole. But a
day or two later, when the committee has
reported the bill to the house "with amend
ments" a roll call Is demanded; by that
time the annual attack of civil servlcephu
bla has subsided and the clause Is again
Inserted In the bill. '
Members of congress will never repeal
the civil service law, because Its repeal
would compel nine-tenths of them to de.
vote nearly all their time to place hunting
for constituents. Now the civil service
rules relieve them of all this and the mem
bers simply send copies of the law to those
who desire federal positions and they are
advised when and where to take examina
tions which may open the gates to the
department service. .
For the first few years after enactment
of the civil service law bureau chiefs and
even cabinet officers did not hesitate to
defeat the spirit of the act. In this con
nection an excellent story is told of the
late Secretary Lamar. A clerk being needea
In his office, he sent to the commission
( nnu tno names OL IUUI cneiuira nme til"
titled to him. He scanned the list and
was attracted by the fourth name. It was
Plnckney, and the address of the eligible
was South Carolina. ' Thnt Is n good
name sound, old revolutionary stock," said
the secretary. "Send for Plnckney."
A week later a tall man, dressed In a
brand new frock coat, a shiny silk tile,
with vest decorated with heavy gold chain,
entered the office and demanded audience
with the secretary. The messenger at
the door first demurred, but the visitor in
ris'ted that he had a letter from Mr. La
mar and thnt he was expected. He was
ushered In and at once produced the let
ter of appointment. Mr. Lamar was as
tounded when he saw that he had selected
about the blackest man in South Carolina
I for appointment In his office. But the
I humor of the situation struck him and he
I stood by the selection. Plnckney was ap-
pointed and he proved to be a satisfactory
I employe. He remained in office until he
I resigned a few years ngo.
Cost of Army Retired List.
! Nearly every citizen who takes any In
terest In public affairs knows In a general
i way tbn the United States maintains a
I retired list for officers of the army who
i have reached the age of 64 years or who
i are disqualified for active service because
1 of disabilities contracted in the line of
duty. Very few people, however, realize
the proportions . to which this list has
grown. In a speech In the house of repre
sentatives the other day Representative
Prince of Illinois brought out some facts
from the War department records which
are startling. There are on the. army re
tired list today three lieutenant generals,
eighteen major generals, 236 brigadier gen
erals, seventy-one colonels, seventy lieu-
I tenant colonels, J27 msjors, 17 captains,
fifty-four first lieutenants and ten second
lieutenants. The total pay of this army
of retired officers Is $2,227,500 per annum
and $50u,oo0 additional for longevity pay;
that la to say, 10 per rent additional for
each five years of service up to twenty
years for all officers below the grade of
brigadier general.
Storm Makes Wide Area Record.
The meteorological record for u quurter
of a c.-ntury Is held by Wednesday ant
Thursday, January 11 and 12, 1!j6. During
the twenty-four hours between noon on
Wednesday and noon on Thursday snow
end rain fell In every state and territory
In the union aacept Oregon. In the cirri-
(CouUuuttd eu Svwud I'ag )
ARMOUR & COMPANY ANSWER
Says (hat Cbarsree of Discrimination
Made Against Them Are
False.
CHICAGO, Janj 15. A complete dpnial
of the cbnntes mad by witnesses before
the Interstate Commerce commls-ion In
vestigating the business methods of the
Armour refrigerator car lines was made
today by a representative of Armour A
Co. The testimony offered during the In
ves'igatlon Is dcclsred by the Armour In
terests to have been not only prejudiced
and biased, but In many respects fale.
"The persons making complaints against
the Armour car lines," said George B.
Robblns, president of the compnny, "are
not growers nr producers, tint a lengue
of commission merchants, who generally
handle on an arbitrary commission hjsli
produce billed to them. The tm-st sensa
tional of all the misstatements have been
offered by a Boston commission man be
fore the Interstate Commerce commission
and the house committee on Interstate
commerce. Ho to the vice president of a
car company, and Is therefore not a dis
interested witness. The unwarranted at
tack upon the Armour Interests, made by
this Boston man, who. It is alleged, repre
sents the commission men of that city, was
made up almost entirely f misrepresenta
tions, either willful or mide in Ignorance
of conditions governing tho transporta
tion of perishable commodities. This man's
testimony that the Armour lines charged
tho Pennsylvania rajtf-oad only $2.50 for
Icelng cars at J?J' City, while other
pTsons were chaiVtV S4 and $5 and that
they refused to Ice other cars, he knows
to be false, because he had knowledge
that the Pennsylvania railroad was charged
$4 per ton and that our contract which
required us to Ice any and all cars offered
there had never been violated.
"The accusation that the Armours had
forced all competitors out of the field by
buying up the peach crop of Michigan,
or by refusing cars to other shippers Is
also absolutely untrue. Armour & Co.,
nor any of its allied Interests have ever
directly or indirectly bought or dealt In
Michigan peaches. This same denial also
applies to the charge made that the Ar
mours monopolized the Georgia peach crop.
"Our company can do business cheaper
under exclusive contracts, and as a result
we endeavor to make such agreements
with the railroads, but the allegation that
by these terms the railroad companies no
tify us of Intended shipments of fruits to
enable us to flood the market In advance
of tho arrival of the independent ship
ments is a falsehood, aa there is no ground
whatever for such a statement.
"Refrigeration rates charged the public
by Armour & Co., are based on cost
of Ice and supervision, together with a
reasonable addition thereto for general ex
pense. These rates are printed and tar
iffs distributed among shippers and rail
ways. Our company has never bought or
sold any of the produce transported In Its
cars, as charged by witnesses during the
Investigation.
"Tho entire proceedings against our
compnny," In conclusion, he said, "has been
characterized by prejudiced, biased and
false testimony, Instigated by this Boston
car owner, who seeks to have the railroads
build their own cars under patents of his
company. This fact has ' been carefully
kept in the .backgruT', '!' all dnrtnsjt ' tha in
vestigation." BIG BUSINESS AS SMUGGLER
Mrs. Chad wick Brooarht .Immense
Number of Gems Into
Country.
CLEVELAND, Jan. 15. The Plain Dealer
tomorrow will say: Investigation Into the
charge that Mrs. Cassle U Chad wick
smuggled large quantities of diamonds,
gems and other precious stones Jnto this
country has developed the fact that tho
woman dealt In precious stones to an al
most fabulous extent. In order to make
a case on the charge of smuggling, it was
found necessary for the government au
thorities to trace all the deals for diamonds
and Jewelry made by Mrs. Chadwlck both
In this country and Europe. The statement
has been made by Collector of Customs
Leach that considerably more than $250,000
worth of Jewelry and precious stones
handled by Mrs. Chadwlck has been traced
and positively located. It Is added that
this great amount of Jewelry has been
uncovered, with the investigation still in
complete. Of this amount the government
Is directly Interested In about one-third.
While the government Is attempting
simply to collect any unpaid duties on
diamonds brought from Europe, It Is said
that all the Information secured through
the Investigation will be placed at the
dirpoHiil of Receiver Nathan Loeser, and
that he will be able to realize thousands
of dollars for the creditors of the woman.
The investigation has led to the discovery
that only a very small portion of the
precious stonos and Jewelry was put up
as collateral for loans made by Mrs. Chad
wlck and that by fur the greater portion
went as gifts to friends and acquaintances.
The regular custom rate of duty on dia
monds and Jewelry brought to this country
Is 10 per cent of the value of the goods.
Figuring on this basis, the government au
thorities expect to realize between $S,000
and $10,000. The rest of the proceeds from
the sale of any Jewelry on which duty
has not been paid will be turned over to
Mr. Loeser to be distributed among the
Chadwlck creditors.
It Is simply the truth to say that Mrs.
Chadwlck handled pearls, rubles, sapphires.
I emeralds and garnets almost literally by
"i ir, sum a government omclal. Tes
timony of experts shows that the woman
did not handle anything but the finest ar
ticles and there is scarcely a penny's worth
of cheap Jewelry in the entire lot that has
been traced. According to government of
ficials, by far the greater portion of the
Jewelry is in the hands of innocent per
sons scattered all over the country. The
work of Informing these people that their
claim on the Jewelry is to be protested, Is
going on. The anticipation Is that all the
people who have the Jewelry will agree
to a settlement without taking the mat
ter into the courts. At the same time tho
government authorities, as wejl as Receiver
Loeser, are taking steps to enforce their
demands in the matter If so compelled.
GAS EXPL0SI0NPR0VES FATAL
On Person Demi nnd Elaht Are
Injured In n Kansas
Town.
GARNETT, Kan., Jan. 15 Eight persons
were injured and one killed by the explosion
of gas uted for beating purisiaes In the
basement of J. W. Fnshing'a bakery here
tonight. Three small store buildings were
demolished and a dozen others damaged.
The dead:
FRANK JOHNSON.
The injured:
J W. F-.s'-ing fatally hurt.
Vi i. J. W. F.ishiug and her three
children.
K.l Stewart.
J Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dcdrich,
MYSTERY ABOUT BURRETT
Private Secretary Says He Beached Lincoln
oi the Horning Train.
nnnun-snn-nt
EFFORT FAILS TO LOCATE CONGRESSMAN
In Spite of Talk It Appears, However,
He Will Have No Trouble In Flec
tion ns Senator for l.nrk of
Leader In Opposition.
(From a Staff Correspenodent.)
LINCOLN, Neb., Jnn. 15.-tSpecial Tele
gramsLegislators and others Interested
In the Burkett senatorial campaign and
anxious to get a conference with the First
District congressman, are disappointed to
night at their failure to interview Mr.
Burkett, whose secretary says he arrived
home this morning.
"Mr. Burkett is not at home; he has not
arrived from Washington," was the In
formation supplied to a correspondent of
The Bee at the Burkett residence at 1544 1
street tonight.
The arrival of Mr. Burkett has been an
ticipated and awaited with unusual in
terest and anxiety In Lincoln, and his fail
ure to be seen consequently has been dis
appointing In view of the senatorial elec
tion coming up this week. As soon a
George Toby, private secretary to Mr.
Burkett, announced that he arrived this
morning prominent politicians began
launching schemes for Interviewing the
senatorial aspirant. Newspaper men like
wise undertook to locate and get Mr.
Buikett, but their efforts were futile, and
the politicians say theirs were. Mr.
Burkett was not to be seen. Evidently
annoyed at the repeated attempts to get
in communication with Mr. BurV.ett, the
telephone at his residence refused, finally,
to work, and until a personal visit made
to the home it was thought there might
be something In the rumor that his family
was with him and that they really had
not returned from Washington.
The special anxiety to see Mr. Burkett
tonight was the somewhat quiet but per
sistent talk in the hotel lobbies of a sen
atorial cnucus to be called tomorrow morn
ing before the convening of the legisla
ture at 2 p. m. What there Is to this
caucus rumor Is difficult to determine, for
Burkett's staunch friends say the members
pledged to him will not go Into a caucus.
In view of this talk, some of Mr. Burkett's
friends hnd expressed the opinion that It
would have been good policy for the First
district representative to have mixed with
the crowd immediately upon his arrival.
Slser Denies Seeing; Him.
"I have not seen Mr. Burkett." said
Postmaster Slzer tonight. "I heard he was
in the city, but have not talked with him."
"Will Mr. Burkett accept the invitation
of the house and personally express hli
views on the railroad situation?" was asked
Mr. Slzer.
"I do not know what Mr. Burkett Intends
to do," was the reply.
Mr. Slzer was asked this question be
cause he to regarded as the Burkett cam
paign manager. It was this same question
which so many were anxious to put per
sonally to Mr. Burkett tonight. Some of
his friends have snld that since Mr. Burk
ett has so unequivocally declared himself
In Jtavpr jl the president's railroad policy.
It would not be necessary1 for him' to ad
dress the house on this matter. However,
It Is true his telegraphic communication to
the house last week contained no reference
to his acceptance of this Invitation.
Coming down to brass tacks, It must be
admitted at all events that In the face
of all this mysterious talk of a move to
overthrow the plans for Burkett's election
no one can bo found who Is willing to ad
mit he Is the man who proposed to lead
the revolt. So far as that Is 'oncerned,
It looks like n 100 to 1 shot that Burkett's
election Is a foregone conclusion, and lacks
nothing but the seal of the legislators'
formal action to make it a fact. Without
an avowed candidate In the field against
him, without a definite leader to oppose
him, without a tangible movement to de
feat him, Burkett's campaign looks every
Inch a winner.
John Wall in Sick.
John Wall, chief clerk of the house. Is
a sick man. He has been suffering from
lumbago for several days. He was confined
to his room at the Llndell hotel last week,
nnd it was only by the most heroic efforts
that Mr. Wall performed his duties. . Satur
day he waa said to be too 111 to be at the
state house, but he was there nevertheless,
doing all he could In spite of his ailment.
Tonight his friends were encouraged, how
ever, to know that Mr. Wall was some
better than he had been during the day.
No serious consequences are apprehended,
but Mr. Wall will be urged to take every
precaution until he Is better.
COTTON INTERESTS BANKERS
Moneyed Men to Take Part In the
Convention of Cotton
Producers,
WACO. Tex., Jan. 15. The following call
for a large representation of bankers from
the cotton growing states to meet In con
ference with a committee to be appointed
by the cotton convention at New Orleans
January 24 to 26, has been Issued:
As presidents of the several bankers' as
sociations of the cotton stales and terri
tories, at the special request of Hon. liar
vie Jordan, chairman of the arrangement
committee of the Interstate Cotton conven
tion, to be held at New Orleans January
24 and 25, 1U05, we Invite all bankers of
these states and territories, whether mem
bers of a bankers' association or not, to
attend a conference at the St. Charles
hotel, New Orleans, January 25, li06, at 11
a. m., to meet with a committee of cotton
growers to be appointed by the convention
and a committee of merchants altejiding
the convention, to devise or adopt a plan
for organizing n cotton warehouse system
throughout these states and territories.
The call is signed by the presidents of
bankers' associations In a number of south
ern states.
TRAGEDIES OF LONG STRIKE
One Workman t'ojiiulta Suicide nnd
Three Others Mnke nn
Attempt.
FALL RIVER, Mass., Jan. 16. Today,
which will be the twenty-sixth week of
its continuance, had added to It two trage
dies associated with tho cotton mill strike
here.
John Melville, s weaver, who, with his
crippled wife, had suffered much, laid down
the paper after reading of the failure of
the strike conference at Boston yesterday
and, crossing the room to a looking glass,
drew a razor across his throat. He died
Immediately.
Three striking loom fixers, James Logan,
Michael Waddlngton and Peter Hudson,
who, since the mills rlohcd, have lodged to
gether In one small room, were found un
conscious from Illuminating gas toduy and
removed to a hospital. They will recover.
Gas was escaping from a Jet in their room
when the door was forced by other lodgers.
The men were unable to expluln the ac
cident tuiilght.
NEBRASKA WEATHER FORECAST
Fair Mondny. Tuesday Fair and
Warmer In East Portion.
Temperature nt Omaha Tenter da yi
Moor. Dec Honr. ler.
K a. m -Jt 1 p. m 14
a. m 41 a p. m 11
T a. m tl S p. ni IT
M a. m 7 4 p. m 1
It a. m 41 A p. m IT
lo a. m a p. m 14
It a. nt 1 T p. m 1 a
13 m lO H p. m 11
ft p. m 1"
below sero.
NUMBER BOLT NIEDRINGHAUS
Assert Enough Votes Are Pledaed to
Defeat His Election as
Senator.
KANSAS CITY. Jan. 15. A special to the
Times from Jefferson City, Mo., says that
a sufficient number of republicans have
bolted to defeat the ratification next Tues
day of T. K. Nledrlnghnus, the state chair
man, recently named by the republicans In
cauous to succeed United Slates Senator
Francis M. Cotkrell.
It was given out tonight that at a dinner
held Saturday night, attended by nine mem
bers of the legislature, it is said that a suf
ficient number of republican legislators
agreed to bolt the caucus to defeat Nled
rlnghaus. Major J. L. Blttlnger of St.
Joseph, who presided at the conference,
announced that besides the members pres
ent, five other republicans had agreed to
bolt the caucus nominee If called upon to
do so.
R( presentatlve Grace of St. Louis, who
Introduced the resolution that caused the
Investigation of the Niedrlnghaus fund held
In St. Louis Inst week, was present at the
dinner.
A second conference of bolters was held
In Jefferson City tonight and at Its conclu
sion some of those present stated positively
that Mr. Nledrlnghnus would not be elected
on Tuesday.
The followers of Niedrlnghaus, however,
are confident that he will be elected. They
maintain that the Investigation at St. Louis
clearly vindicated him.
The conference on Saturday night was
held following a dinner given by Colonel
Kerens. After the dinner and before the
conference began Colonel Kerens withdrew,
saying he did not wish to be a party to the
deliberations.
It is related that unless the plan of ac
tion formulated Is changed, the men In
the conference, together with the others
whorn they claim to have with them, will
"criss-cross" on the vote In the general as
sembly on senator on Tuesday. The plan
of action, it is related, will be that some
of them will vote for Pettljohn, some for
Blttlnger, some for Dyer and so on, though
this is a detail which may be changed at
any time.
About seven of them will refuse to vote
for Niedrlnghaus when the two branches
vote separately on Tuesday, provided, of
course, their plana are not changed.
This will leave the strength of the move
ment undeveloped so that when the ballot
In Joint session Is taken Wednesday, the
"criss-cross" can be worked by switching
votes to bent Niedrlnghaus.
One of the arguments that have been
used with the members, it is claimed, is
that Kerens may finally be elected by thla
process. t KrMi cannot win. then some
Other man is to be elected If possible. At
present none of the Kerens men in the deal
suggest that Cockrell will ever be the bene
ficiary of the deal.
ST. LOUIS, Jan. 18. Thomas K. Nled
rlnghnus waa called up at his residence
early this morning and asked If he hod any
statement to make concerning the reported
decision of the coterie of Kerens men to
wlthdray their support from him as caucus
nominee. Ho replied thnt he knew noth'ng
whatever about the matter, but expressed
no surprise at the news. The information
contulned In the Jefferson City dispatches
was told him in substance. He said he
would make no comment whatever nnd re
peated his statement that he knew nothing
about the matter, closing the Interview
with: "I'm not talking."
An attempt was also made by the As
sociated Press to communicate by tele
phone with R. C. Kerens at his home.
1 A maid answered the telephone and re
! plied that Mr. Kerens was asleep and she
could not awake nhlm under any circum
stances. But she nked what was wanted
of him.
"Did Mr. Kerens give a dinner at his
home Inst night to a number of gentle
men?" she was asked.
"I don't know anything about It," she
replied and closed the telephone.
EMPLOYES GIVEN WARNING
Railroad President Tells Them Re
daction In Rates Menns Re
duction In Wanes.
BOSTON, Jan. 15. In an address before
division SI of the Brotherhood of Locomo
tive Engineers on the occasion of its
fortieth anniversary today, President
Lucius Tuttle of the Boston & Maine rail
road spoke of President Roosevelt's pro
posal that railroad rate be regulated
under congressional supervision and au
thority. Mr. Tuttle, declared .that such a policy
If carried out must Inevitably affect tho
Income of the 1,000,000 or more persons
vtiio grilii their living directly from the
railroads. He did not think It had been
or could be shown that the makers of
the constitution, ever had nny other thing
In mind In connection with the delegation
to congress of the power to regulate Inter
state commercial relations than a well
defined intent to forever prevent the erec
tion by any atate of any customs tariffs
or other barriers that should be an ob
struction to ' the free currents of com
merce. "The railroads of 1903," he said, "were
able only -to pay their shareholders on
average dividend of less than 3 per cent
and any further general reduction of rates
must necessarily be followed by a re
duction of operating expenses."
MITCHELL TO MAKE A STATEMENT
Undecided Whether He Will Continue
In Senate.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 The Post to
day says: Senator Mitchell, after con
sulting a number of friends and fellow
senators, has derided to go Into the ses
sion tomorrow or the next day to gain
recognition and to mnke a statement in
sell'-referenee In regard to his indictment
in the Oregon lanf fraud ca.se. Whether
or not he will remain In the senate and
continue to attend its sessions' he has n t
determined.
Closed Season on Salmon.
OTTAWA, Ont., Jan. ID. The Dominion
government has hern uked by a delegation
lepiest ntlnif the salmon ludustiy of Bi ltl.-ii
Columbia to agree to a closed seakon of
thirty-six hours each week and of an entire
closed season In 1!XHi and IK'J, so as to pre
vent the depletion of the fisheries. The
state of Washington hus agreed to the
proposition and Canada probably will do ao.
COSSACKS IS CHINA
Beoent Raiding Partj Violates Neutrality
of tbe Celestial Empire.
JAPANESE THREATEN RETALIATION
Will Not Observe Restrictions Which
Russia Openly Ignore.
REPORTS ON CONDITION AT PORT ARTHUR
Naval Officer Says Ports and Town Ire
Less Damaged Than Supposed.
INJURY TO SHIPS NOT YET DETERMINED
Payment of Troops Just Before Sur
render Absorbs Moat of Govern'
ment Treasure Held by
Commanding; Officer. ' K
TOKIO, Jan. 15. Later reports from New
Chwang Indicate that General Mlstchenko'i
Cosarks In their recent raiding southwest
of I.lao Yang, deliberately Invaded neu'fal
territory nnd broke the limits of the war
lone.
The reported Russlnn note to the powers
calling attention to China's nonenforcement
of neutrality Is regarded here In some quar
ters as absurd. It Is felt that China's
weakness and constant failure to enforca
neutrality must release Jnpan from the ob
ligation to observe restrictions which Rua
sla openly Ignores.
While the extension of belligerent terri
tory Is to be regrettedi It Is felt that Japan
must take, steps to protect Itself against
the repetition of raiding expeditions, whose
sueciss depends upon the violation of neu
tral territory.
Conditions nt Port Arthur.
A nav.il officer who has returned hera
from Port Arthur, discussing the conditions
at the fortress, says:
"The conditions of the warships and the
town was much better than I hoped for.
Evidently there was much fortifying done
at Port Arthur after the siege commenced.
The works on 203-Meter hill were not perm
anent and the trenches there were similar
to those used by the Boera during the
South African war. It B'ems that the Rus
sians had no general electrical scheme or
movable engines or dynamos for search
lights. "Japanese naval officers say that It la Im
possible yet to ascertain whether the Jap
anese fire or the opening of seacocks sank
the ships In the harbor. The hospitals are
fairly well kept and nre still Used for tha
wounded and for prisoners.
"I understand that up to the time ot
the capitulation the garrison at Port Ar
thur received only special allowaneea, but
that before the surrender General 8toessei
paid off the men. This, together with tha
constant purchase by the Russians of sup
plies from Junkmen, may explain the re
port that there waa no treasure left at
Port Arthur.
"The treatment of the Japanese prison
ers at Port Arthur did not compare with
that accorded the Russian prisoners In
Japan. These Japanese prisoner were
given poor food and no fuel and only twice
,were permitted td go outside of the prison."
It Is reported that 100 fishermen Will bo
sent to I'ort Arthur to assist In clearing
the harbor and vicinity of mines.
Quiet Alonsr Front.
HUAN CHAN, Jan. 13 (Via Mukden,
Jan. 15.) There has been no aerloua fight
ing for several days, though night skirm
ishes on both sides continue. The most
Important action recently waa that In
which Captains Koslnoff and Troltgkl, with
seventy-five Cossacks, drove tho Japanese
out of the villages of Mitzl and Tkhangay
and captured1 a large ttmount of forage at
both places.
General IJnevltch has been Inspecting
the whole front and finds that the men and
supplies nre In excellent condition. Tha
Japanese, on their side, are pushing sap
ping operations toward the Russian lines
at several points, but have not made seri
ous progress.
Charite Against England.
ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. 15. Some of the
newspapers here are claiming that tha
j Japanese are using the British Island of
Labuan, near Borneo, as a base, ana that
the British are concealing the fact by
preventing communication between Borneo
and Singapore, on the ground that tha
cable Is undergoing repairs.
The report from Washington that, it la
believed there tha powers will Informally
protest to Russia against the notice
servf d by RuRida that It will consider itself
no longer bound to regard the neutrality
of China if Japan continues to violate It,
has created astonishment hers, where It
is held: that any protest should be dlreotad
against the action of Japan against which
Rustilu hns now thrice warned the powers.
Russia's position Is that it la bound under
j the circumstances to take steps for the
protection of Its own interests.
The War offlce dots not admit that tha
appearance of General T.tlstchenko's cav
alry southwest of Llao Yang la more than
an expedition to strike the railroad at
several points and Interrupt the trans
portation of General Nogl's guns from
i Port Arthur to Manchuria, but from cer
tain Indications It seems possible that it
la preliminary to in operation of magni
tude. General Mlstchenko haa over 40,000
horsemen and, moving rapidly, might be
able to seriously damage communications
, In the rear of Llao Yang. The tone or
j dispatches from some Russian cbrre.
j spondents vaguely hints at very Important
developments, and the writer of the Novoe
; Vremya expresses the opinion that tho
! long culm since the battle of Shakhe la
about to be broken. It is noteworthy that
there have been no official dispatches from
) Generul Kouropatkln for two days.
Raiders May Re C ot Off.
j LONDON. Jan. 15,-Tha tone of the re
I script addressed by Emperor Nicholas to
j the army and navy is regarded here as
j putting an end to all present hopes of tho
possibility of mediation or peace and aa
Indicating the likelihood that General
Kouropatkln soon will resume the offensive.
A dispatch to Lloyds from Yin Kow,
dated January 15, gives a report that' (len
eral Mlstchenko's raiding party waa rut
off on Its way buck by 8,000 Japanese dis
patched from Sunllhoo by General Oku.
j This report, however. Is not confirmed
from any other source.
The Dally Telegraph's Che Foo corre-
spondent says the raid was only a dl
I vergence from a mass of cavalry now
moving along the banks of the Llao river,
and the exceptional mildness of the Se i
Hon affords the chance for the repetition
of such operations.
Movements of Ocean Vessels Jan. 15,
At New York Ai rived: New York, from
Southampton and Cherbourg; Umbrla. from
Liverpool mid Queenstown; Ln U.is"ogne,
I from Havrw.
At Uueenstown Arrived : Ivernla. frfrnv
t New York, for Liverpool (and proceeded
j without eonimuiilcatliig Mailed: Cuuipanlu,
I from Llvei;iool. -for New York
I At Liverpool -Arrived: Cedrlc, from New
I York, via Queenstown; Cevlc, from JNew
York; Wliilfredian, from Boston.