I THE ALLIANCE HERALD W. 6. RAKER? Publisher. ALLIANCB, NBDItASKA Condition of armed pcaco prevails In Wnrsnw; discontent Is still smoul dering In Russia. Flro dstroyed ono entire block In the business Bcctlon of Po&body, Kan., cu tailing a loss of $50,000. Rev. Father Edward S. Welch, who died at Washington a few weeka ago, bctiueathcd $100,000 to Boston college. Miss Helon Gould oltorB a. generous reward to every man who stays In the navy Ilvo years without being tat-. toocd. The miners congress at Charlcrol, Frauce, by a largo majority, has do cldcd to declare a general etriko on Monday. i Governor Myron T. Hcrrlck of Ohio says ho has twlco declined tho am ' bassndorshlp to Italy becauso ho can not talk Italian. f Father Gopon, tho leader of tho workmen of SL Petersburg, In tho af fair of January 22, Is now known to bo In Switzerland, District Attorney Jcromo says that ho had begun a crusado against pool , rooms In Now York City and Intends to clo8o all of them. I Sanitary work Is progressing In nil tho fifteen largo cities of Cuba, for which thp government has appropriat ed tho sum of $42G,000. Tho former homo of tho lato Thom as A. Hendricks, onco vlco president, In Indlannpolls, Is being torn down to mako way for a modern building. I A Baltlmoro pollco captain was awarded by a lurv In a trial for slan der tho sum of $4,000 against a weal thy wonirm who called lilm a puppy. Former Governor Boutwcll of Mas sachusetts took note of his eighty sovehth birthday last week with a family dinner party, over which ho presided. Arthur Hamilton Lcc, civil lord of tho admlrnlty, speaking at Gpsport, England, said that ho declined to mako any reply to German comments on his English speech. Bishop Ethclbcrt Talbot of tho Cen tral Protestant Episcopal dlocoso of Pennsylvania has been re-elected pres ident of tho New York alumni of Dart mouth college Tho Chicago chief of pollco declares conviction that Johann Hoch married over twenty women and killed at least twolvo of them. Hoch says that ho has only married two. Representative W. I. Nolan 6f Min neapolis has Introduced in tho lower houso of Minnesota a bill establishing tho whipping post as a moans of pun ishment for wlfo beaters. Joseph D. Forakor, senior United States senator from Ohio, will con tinuo his residence In Cincinnati, hav ing Just purchased tho beautiful Good man loinestcad for $100,000. Tho Cuban seuuto has passed tho bill providing for a government con tribution toward sanitation for nil mti niclpartlos nt tho annual rato of 52.10 2-3 por hood ofpopulatlon. Frank Furbng, 19 years of age, who has been on trial nearly a week in Now York, charged with tho murder of his aunt, Mrs. Garrett Kceler, was lound guilty of murder in tho first de gree. The supremo court of Colorndo has decided that tho capital punishment law is constitutional. Four murderers, whoso execution has been postponed from tlmq ts timo awaiting this decl cion, will now bo hanged. Ges8lcr Rousseau, suspected of hav ing attempted to blow ud tho steam ship Umbr.n, was taken to Now York city from Philadelphia and locked up at pollco headquarters. Ho will bo ar ralgued In the Tombs court. Secrotary Taft announced after n visit to the president that oimriom nr. to bo established by tho Panama can al commission for tho Y. M. C. A. nt four points in tho canal zone Aeon, Colon, Culcbra and Emporador. Germany is introducing Chinese la bor In Samoa, according to tho Co logne Gazette, which says GOO coolies have been cMlcrted at Swatow, China, awaiting trans-shipment to Samoa. Tho German government pays half the cost of tho transportation of tho la borers. President Roosovolt has sent a mes aago to congress rocommending tho uppolntmont of a board of surveys to superintend nationnl surveys and ex plorations in tho Philippine archipel ago. Ho estimates that it will re quire olght or ten years to completo tho work and recommends that appro prlatlons be made from tlmo to time to pay the expenses. Fallowing tho complaint of Anthony Coinstock of New York, concerning de moralizing French pictures being re ceived In America through tho Fronch malls, the state department at Wash Jngton Is t-teking tho co-operation of tho French government to provont tho mailing of objectionable photogaphs or pictures. The proprietors of tho coment fac tories nt Neodeshn, Kan., havo arrang ed to establish a $50,000 plant at New Orleans. Dr. William Dunn, ono of Boston's noted physicians, has been appointed to tho staff of papal doctors in tho Vatican at Rome. 1 I News in Brief VOTE 1SJHIUNTED THEODORES-ROOSEVELT FORMAL . Wf E.LE$JE.D PRESIDENT. , CONGRESS inloiHT SESSION Official Canvass of the Returns Brings Great Crowd to Galleries Senator Frye Recapitulates the Vote and Makes the Announcement. WASHINGTON Although Urn re sult of tho presidential election was known ar)y In tho evening of No vember, It was not until now, whon tho soncto and house met In Joint ses sion, that Theodore Roosovolt and Charles W. Fairbanks were officially declared elected president nnd vlco president' respectively for four years, beginning March -I, 1905. This quad rennial function of congrcss'nUrnctcd to tho house chamber, where tho elect oral voto Was ennvnssed, nn Immense gathering prominent among tho au ditors being Mrs. Roosevelt, Miss Allco Roosevelt, tho president's sister, Mrs. Cowl08, nnd Mrs, Charles W. Fairbanks, wife of tho vlco president elect. President Pro Tern Frye of tho sen ate, presided and delivered tho an nouncement of tho result or the count which showed that Roosevelt and Fairbanks received 336 electoral votes and Parker und Davis HO. The whole proceeding consumed exactly fifty minutes, thcroby establishing a new record in counting the electoral vote. At 1 o'clock Doorkeeper Lyons of tho house announced the arrival of the president pro temporo nnd tho senate of tho United States Pesldcnt Pro Temporo Fryo nt once- mounted tho rostrum to tho right of Speaker Can non. At tho samo time tho Inlaid ma hogany box containing tho electoral votes wns deposited on tho spenkcr's tablo and opened, tho senntors in the meant lino tnklng scats on tho right sldo of the chamber. While they were being seated the members of the houso stood up. President Pro Tem pore Frye presided. Tho tellers of tho two houses, Messrs. Burrows (Mich.) and Bailey (Tex.) of tho senate and Gaines (W. Va.) and Russell (Tex.) of tho houso, then took their places nt the speaker's desk and tho certificates wero read by each teller In turn. Tho state were coiled in alphabetic al order. Tho first mention of Presi dent Roosevelt's nntno enmo when tho voto of California was announced. It was tho signal for applauso fiom tho republican side. When tho total voto was ready Sen ator Burrows announced tlint of tho total electoral voto of 47G, of which a majority was 230. Theodore Roosevelt, for president, nnd Charles W. Fair banks1 for vlco president, had each received 330, and that Judge Alton B. Parker, for president, nnd Henry Gns saway Davis, for vice president, had each reclved HO votes. Senator Frye recapitulated tho voto and then made tho following announcement: ThiB announcement of the stato of tho voto by tho president of the sen- ato shall bo deemed a sufllclont de claration of tho persons elected presi dent nnd vlco president of tho United States, each for the term beginning March -1, 1905, and shall bo entered, together with a list of tho votes on tho Journals of the senate und house of representatives. GERMAN MINERS LIKE BILL. Return to Work as Result of Promlst to Improve Conditions. BERLIN Two to three thousand coal miners, who struck In tho Slle- slan district returned to work Mon day believing that tho government's bill now in preparation will readjust their relations with their employers. Tho government's proposed law limits tho working day to nlno hours In gal leries where tho temperatures aro about 70 degrees Fahrenheit, includ ing tho timo going In nnd coming out of tho mines. In temperatures of 84 degrees Fahrenheit and higher only a six-hour day is permitted. Within two or threo years tho nine-hour day is to bo Bhortened to eight and one half hours., About nine-tenths of tho miners of Germany como within these provisions. Tho disallowing of entire cars of coal becauso of the presence of for eign substances Is to be forbidden. Fines may' bo assessed, but there must not exceed $1 to $1.50 por month. Will Push Ust of Cotton. NEW ORLEANS Former United States Senator McLaurin of South Carollua, chairman of tho commltteo appointed by tho Southern Interstate Cotton convention to wait on Presi dent Roosevelt nud ask him to form n commission to Introduco American cotton Into tho Orient and other nn devolopod markets will viplt the president February 20. Ho says that if China may be Induced to uso Amorl can cotton, it is not unreasonable to beliovo that 25.000.000 bnlos of tho American crop will bo consumed, Opcraons at a Standstill. ST. PETERSBURG Military oper ations in Manchuria continue nt a standstill. No Importance is attached by tho war ofllco to tho Jnpanoso movements on the Russian center and 1 loft, which aro regarded as merely ' demonstrations. Gonernl Holsman, n j war critic, expresses tho opinion that the Russians aro not likely to t-ur-j render the positions captuted north of Sandopas, and that a 'sorias of en counters there will probably continue until the weather Is favorable for a eonera' advance. TWO NEVV STATES. Senate Passes the Bill That Admits Them. WASHINGTON After a- continue qiis sitting of nlmost,. nloo hours the senato nt S:4f o'clock Tuesday night passed tho joint statehood bill. As passed the bill provides for tho ad mission of tho stntOB of Oklahoma, to bo composed of Oklahoma and Indian Territory, and Now Mexico, according to tho present boundaries, with Ari zona eliminated. Tho long session was characterized by exciting Incidents nnd many sur prises, ucglnnlng promptly upon tho convening nt 12 o'clock tho senato proceeded to consider tho various nmonrimcntft will."! had booh sueucst. cd by tho committee on tcrjfb'We nnd which had been passed over. Ono of tho first of these taken up was 'tho amendment prohibiting the salo of in toxicating liquors in what Is now In dian Territory for tho next ten year3 .and this was displaced with a substi tute offered by Mr. Galllnger, which .extended the amendment to tho cntlro stnto for a period of twenty-ono years and this was ndoptcd. The first surprlso of tho day caroo when tlie commltteo accepted Mr. Foraker's amendment for a soparato voto by each of tho territories of Arizona and Now Mexico on tho con stitution to be ndoptcd by the pro posed state of Arizona. That provision had scarcely been made n part of tho bill when Mr. Bnrd presented his amendment, which had been original ly offered by Mr. Patterson nnd which provided for the admission of Now Mexico as a stato without tho addition of Arizona. This amendment proved to bo the point around which all tho sub sequent proceedings of importanco revolved. It was at first adopted by the close voto of 42 to 40. This voto was taken whllo tho Bcnato was sit ting in commltteo of tho whole and was roverscd In tho senato proper by tho llo voto of 38 to 38. Subsequently tho senato decided by a voto of 38 to 3G to entirely elim inate New Mexico and Arizona from tho bill nnd this result had hardly been announced when Mr. Bard In slightly changed form renewed his proposition for tho admission of New Mexico as a state and this timo tho amendment prevailed by tho voto of 40 to 37. Ono of tho affirmative votes was, however, cast by Mr. Beverldge, In charge of tho bill, for tho purpose of moving tho reconsideration of tho vote. Ho was prompt In entering this motion as soon as tho result was an nounced, but tho motion was laid upon tho tablo oy a voto of 39 to 38. The effect was to ellmlnnto Arizona from tho bill nnd to establish a state of New Mexico and another of Okla homa nnd Indian Territory. In this form tho bill' passed. Tho bill origin ated In the houso and will go to con ference. THEY COMPLY WITH CLOSURE Rate Legislation in Line With Demo cratic Platforms. WASHINGTON Tho democratic members of tho Missouri delegation In tho houso forwarded tho following telegram to the Missouri stato legisla ture acknowledging tho jecelpt of tho resolution of that body favoring Presi dent Roosevelt's policy on rato legis lation: "Wo are in receipt of copy of joint resolution passed by legislature ask ing us to support tho recommendation of tho president to regulate freight rates. Asr democrats, it affords us pleasure o comply with this request nnd wo can 'support such legislation tho more zealously sluco tho picsl dent's messago is simply a reitera tion of tho declaration In tho last threo national democratic platforms as well as the frequent utterances of Mr. Bryan." SPENDS DAY ON AGRICULTURE Senate Figures on Appropriations for Farm Experiments. WASHINGTON The senato de voted Thursday to debate on the agri cultural appropriation bill, but did not complete tho measure. There was a renewal of tho discussion of tho gen eral policy of distributing the appro priation bills among a number of com mittees. Mr. Gorman and Mr. Spooner con tended that tho change had resulted in a vast increase in tho cost of con ducting tho government. Mr. Halo agreed that In recent years there had been a great lncreaso In the appro priations, but ho attributed it to whut ho characterized as "tho war craze." ROSEBUD BILL IS SIGNED. Homesteaders Now Have Until May 1 in Which to MaVe Settlement. WASHINGTON Tho president on Tuesday signed tho bill granting an oxtonsion of time to claimants In which to make settlement on lands on tho Rosebud reservation In Gregory county, South Dakota, nnd also on tho Devil's lake roservo in North Dakota. The bill affects all who filed prior to November 1, 1904, and extonds tho tlmo for muking settlement to May 1. Wyoming AntiChrlstlan Science. CHEYENNE. Wyo. Tho Christian Sclonsts osteopaths, magnotic healers and others who treat tho blind, halt and sick without tho aid of surgcy or modlcines aro up In arms as a result of passago by tho legislature of a bill which proniblts them from prac ticing in Wyoming. Under the act, which only lacks the signature of tho governor to become law. Christian Scientists, osteopaths and others can be flnod and imprisoned for adminis tering to thofr pationts if they collect , fees therefor. IN BOTH HOUSES LOWER BRANCH WILL DISCUSS NAVAL MATTERS. TO TAKE UPJXPEHSE BILL House Holds Sunday ' Session at Which Eulogies of Senator Hoar Are Pronounced by Members of the Massachusetts Delegation. WASHINGTON The naval appro priation bill will bo taken up by tho houso on Monday as soon as legisla tion for tho District of Columbia has lioon . fllRTiriHPi nt. Thn niivnl hill Is fusuljlry a subject of long debate and this year will bo attacked on several grounds. There will bo a general discussion as to the naval policy and Isbuo is to bo taken with tho commlt teo In its provision' for now BhlpaVjTho topic of nt-mor plate contracts' Is (o fill Its accustomed placo on the pro gram, whllo submarine boats and tor pedo boats aro to form tho basis of offensive and defensive nrgumenL Tho best cstimalo .that can be mado is that at least four days will bo con sumed In getting legislative action on this bill in tho house. It is to bo followed immediately by the river and harbor bill, which has been on tho calendar for soma timo and usually occupies several days once it is taken up. Should tho decks bo cleared at any timo tho proposed legislation on tho Panama canal project, which is tho continuing order, will bo dis cussed. The attention of the senato this week will bo divided between tho Swayno impeachment trial and the appropriation bills. Tho trial will bo taken up each day at 2 o'clock and will continue to receive attention un til G o'clock. Before and after tho period between those hours the ap propriation bills will bo considered. Tho agricultural appropriation is still under discussion and as soon as it is disposed of the bill making appro priations for tho District of Colum bia will bo taken up, to be followed by tho diplomatic and consular bill. Trlbuto to tho memory of tho Into Senator Hoar of Massachusetts was tho occasion of a special session of tho houso of representatives Sunday. Many of tho members attended tho Besslon, which began at 12 o'clock. Tho galleries wore occupied liberally. Representative Lawrcnco of Massa chusetts presided. Resolutions expressing the senso of bereavement and loss in tho death of Senator Hoar wero offered by Repre sentative Lovering (Mass.). Speakers to these resolutions wero Messrs. Gilett, Lawrence, Thayer, Sul livan, Green, Roberts, McNary, Pow ers, Kelliher and Tirol), all of Massa chusetts1, and Clark and DeArmond of Missouri. The eulogies occupied tho house un til 2:37 p. in., when the resolutions wero adopted and tho houso ad journed. The Interstate Commerce commis sion has assigned dates for hearings In important cases. The differential case, Involving the question of differ entials on traffic to the Atlunllc ports, has been assigned for oral argument in this city April 4. PHILIPPINE TARIFF BILL. House Committee Authorizes a Fa- '. ' vorable Report. WASHINGTON Tlio houso com mittee on ways and means authorized a favorable report on tho tnriff bill for tho Philippines. Tho bill is a 'pmptete rev.slon of the duties col lected by tho Philippine government on Imports from all countries. Tho schedules as prepared by the Philip pine commission and revised by Sec retary Taft wero not amended in any material particular by tho committee. An unsuccessful effort was mado by Mr. Williams (Miss.), for the mi nority to provide absolute free trade on thoso articles which the Philip pines havo heretofore purchased from tho United States and alao to reduco tho duty on rice. On motion to report tho bill there was no i-arty division. ONE OF ITS WEAK POINTS. Esch-Townsend Bill Doesn't Reach Private Car Lines. WASHINGTON Whllo President Roosevelt approves of the Esch Townsend railroad freight rate hill, pending before the house of represent atives, it is expected that he would like to have incorporated In it stronger provisions relating to private car lines. Representative Babcock (Wis.) had a talk with tho president about tho pending legislation. Ho holds tho Bamo views regarding private car lines as tho president Senator McComas (Md.) also talked with tho president nbout the pending railroad legislation. Tho president is endeavoring to bring about action In the senate at this session on the into question, hoping tho senate may tako up tlfo Esch-Townsend measure when tho bill reaches it. Stockholdrrs Dividend. NEW YORK Tho differences now existing between foreign stockholders In tho Kansas City Southern railway and tho voting trust which controls that proporty will bo settlod bytpom promise or contested in the courts in tho near future This much was de clared by the legal representatives of the foreign stockholders. Tho voting trustees contend that the demands of the stockholders for the payment of dividends Is unreasonable on tho ground that such dividends had not been earned. DISLIKE THE ARRANGEMENT Element In San Domingo Opposes '" Protocol. ' WASHINGTON During" Saturday Cablegrams, wcrq jpeqlvqjj. .5 . both tho stato and navy departments from Sin Domingo. Tho text 01 those was wltnhcld from publication, but It was stated that they permitted tho understanding- that Lieutenant Commander Lolpcr, from tho Detroit, hnd estab lished himself us collector of customs at Monti CrlBtl. There wns no report of threatened disturbance, though an Intimation wns conveyed in the cable grams that some of the Dominican leaders In opposition to MornloV ad ministration do not view with satisfac tion the action by the American naval commandor In csfabllsnlng himself at Monti Crist i. Commnndor Dillingham juicnj, somo time In conference with the, president, 'atifc hfterwn'Hl'-Ojijiutc tho "following element: " "' ''Referring to tlid article on Santo Domingo in tho issue of a New York newspaper, I, having just returned from Santon Domingo, am In a posi tlon to deny the statement mado by Judge Abbott that tho custom houses of Santo Domingo wero taken over by tho United States authorities on Feb ruary 1 or 2 under 'the preliminary Dillingham and Sanchez protocol of January 20, or that they had been taken on tho 5th, tho day I left Santo Domingo, and I havo positive Infor mation that they have not been taken over sinco under tho terms of the protocol." PUBLIC LANDS COMMISSION Recommends Some Changes in Exist ing Laws. WASHINGTON The public lands commission, which has been consider ing tho advisability of changes in tho national land laws, has completed Its report after sessions occupying the last two wccKH. The report will be submitted to tho president at once. It makes important recommendntrons in tended to correct existing abuses. Tho abuse and evasion of tho tim ber and stone act, whose repeal or sweeping modification has been urged repeatedly in government reports, and tho commutation clause of tho home stead law aro discussed and it is be lieved that tho repeal or the modifi cation of tho latter so as to prolong tho residenco on the homestead will bo required instead of tho present hort period, are recommended. Tho question of control of tho grazing lands of the government is considered at length. It is estimated that there are 300, 000,000 acres of land in this country apparently fit only for grazing pur poses and tho commission has made recommendations designed to prevent the constant destructive work perpe trated on theso lands by trespassers andtto prevent tho frequent conflicts over public grazing lnnds among dif ferent classes of stockmen. ALMOST KILLS HIS KEEPER. Chadron, Neb., Insane Man Attacks St. Louis Hospital Guard. ST. LOUIS, Mo. Guard Andrew Gavin of the observation ward of tho emergency hospital wns attacked by Guy Long of Chadron, Neb., nn Insane patient, and almost killed. Long was oxerclsing In the corridor of tho coll division when, without warning, he Jumped upon Gavin from behind. With maniacal strength he bore the keeper to the floor and began jumping up and down upon him. Gavin was almost dead when other attendants heard tho exulting cries of the man iac and rushed to tho former's aid. Six men were roughly handled betorc Long was safely strapped to a cot In hin cell. Gavin's body is almost entire ly covered with black nnd blue spots. Long has been a patient for several days. Ho was allowed tho freedom of tho corridor because the physicians considered him harmless. Investigation of Panama Road. WASHINGTON No date has been set for beginning the investigation of the affairs of tho Panama Railroad company, which task has been as signed by resolution to 0 subcommit tee of the houso committee on Inter state and lorelgn commerce. Repre sentative Shackloford, chairman of this investigation committee, said that It would bo tome days before tho details of the investigation would bo decided on. Mtich of the Informa tion desired regarding the affairs of this road has been received. Orders an Investigation. WASHINGTON Postmaster Gener al Wynne has ordered an Investiga tion of the Incident that occurred at tho railroad utatlon here, when a carrier said to August W. Machon, on tho latter's departure for the peni tentiary, that the latter had the sym pathy of a largo number of free de livery letter canlers, Tho postmaster general feels that tho sent'ment does not represent the sontlment of that branch, and that the employes havo no sympathy for Machon. Railroad Accident In Iowa. OMAHA Near Melbourne, Iowa, on tho morning of the 9th, an engine nnd soven cars went through a bridge and wero piled up In a heap, the acci dent being caused by a broken rail. Tho train wns a double header and the flrat englno passed safely over the bridge. Two men Avere killed and a a number wounded, somo of them quite sovexely. Tho dead aro: Robert Marsh, of Iowa, riding as a passen ger, nnd C. A. Morris, tho brakoraan. Both of them made tholr homes at I Council Bluffs. STATEHOOD BILL IT IS LIKELY TO FAIL IN THE. LOVER HOUSE. REPUBLICANS IN CONFERENCE They Decide to Stand by Their Ori ginal Agreement That Oklahoma and Indian Territory be One State and New Mexico and Arlzonla An other. WASHINGTON Statehood for Ok lahoma and" Now Mexico will not bo granted durirg this session of con gress unless it be on lines provided in the house statehood bill. This was decided at a conference cf i publican members of the house. The following resolution, setting forth this position, was adopted, 112 to '33,( after three hours of debate. 'Resolved, That It isv the senso of, this conference that the action and policy of the republican caucus, held April 15, IflOt touching the admission of Oklahoma ann Indian Territory as one stnto and New Mexico nnd Ari zona as one state, as provided in tho bill of tho house, No. 11749, which, bill has been amended by tho senate and is now pending in the house com mittee on territories, bo insisted upon, nnd that we insist on such parliament ary proceedings as can be had by a. majority of the house, or a special order as can be mado and adopted by a majority of the house, under which tho aforesaid policy of the republicans of tho house will be worked out." Speaker Cannon Is tho author of thlB resolution. When tho conference convened three proposals wero laid before It, none of which wero adopted. Tho first was a resolution offered by Mr. Dalzell, reciting the histDry of the statehood legislation in the houso and reaffirming tho caucus action tak en at that time. Another was a reso lution by Mr. Sibley (Pa.) providing that the statehood bill be mado tho subject of conference between tho two houses. Tho third was an amend ment to this resolution, offered by Mr. Tawncy, adding that in such conference the houso conferees bo In structed to insist on the house provi sions of the bill. Delegate Rodey (N. M.) mado a strong appeal for concurrence In tho senato bill. Ho, however, did not make any motion to this end. Other speeches were made by Representa tive Dalzell (Pa.), Hamilton (Mich.), chairman of tho committee on terri tories. Delegate McGuirc (Okla.) pleaded for action whereby at least Oklahoma and Indian Territory might bo admit ted. Speaker Cannon occupied tho lloor at length on two different occa sions. Other speakers wero Repre sentatives Hepburn, Tawncy, Burkett, Needham, Brick and Gains. Tho debate was keyed to a high pitch at all times. The ground was taken by those who favored tho house provisions or nothing that tho republicans of tho body would bo sac rificing their position taken hereto fore to a few republican senators who had Keen-fit to unite with the minor ity of the senate, if tho bill, as amend ed, was accepted. FRANCE JEALOUS OF GERMANY Intimacy of Berlin Government With Turkey is Growing. WASHINGTON Considerable in terest has been aroused In diplomatic circles oy the dispatches telling of the French crisis nt Constantinople and news of the movement of M Constants, the French ambassador there. Is be ing anxiously awaited. Although dip lomats here nro without olllcial lnfor mntlonu regarding the situation, it is known that the French government has for a long time been concerned over the increased activity of Ger man interests in the Ottoman empire and Germany's latest victory In se curing tho contract for the re-arma-ment of the Turkish artillery Is look ed upon as tho culmination of a series of German triumphs in Turkey, which, In tho opinion of some, are due to tho growing lntlmncy of the Berlin gov ernment with the porto. ERIE ROAD SCENTS DANGER. Opposes Grant of Much Power to' Commerce Commission. NEW YORK President Underwood of tho Erie Railroad company, has sent out a circular to stockholders of that corporation in which he says: "It is obvious that tho owners of rallrond securities have a vital inter est in tho disposition of the bill relat ing to interstate commerce, now un der consideration by tho committee of congress. Any law enacted that will prevent thp cutting of rates, unjust discriminations and all other dishon est practices would bo beneficial, not only to tho public in general, but to tho railronds as well. It is. however, tho opinion of those who have had tho bot opportunity for studying tho sit uation that it would be a serious mis take to havo a bill passed authorizing tho Interstate commerce commission to flx rates for transportation." Can Go Behind the Records. WASHINGTON- Tho jmtmastor general Is empowered not only to fix tho salary of a postmaster on tho basis of tho gross receipts of his post office, as provided by law, hut also to go behind the receipts to dotormlne whether they were obtainod proporty, according to a decision rendered by Comptroller of tho Troasury Trace well. Tho opinion affocts miinv post masters charged with padding re ceipts to raise their salaries, by so. llclting or having their Mends solicit business to their postofficeH. t : t C I-- I '