THE 8EMIAVEEKIV TRIRIIWP NORTH 01 attc, wphpaika TEACHERS UNIFORMS CONVICTS TEACHING AT PENI TENTIARY ALLOWED SPE CIAL CLOTHES THIRD III PEBJAPITA WEALTH Items of General Interest Gathered from Reliable Sources Around the State House. Weitern Newspaper Union Nfwi Frvlca. Prisoners ut the Btato penitentiary who servo as Instructors In tho Hcliool far convicts nre furnished by tho Btato with white shirlH find trousers to wear when thoy ure tutoring classes. Each ono Is also provided hy tho Btato with i a collar and nccktlo. Thero are cloven teachers at (he penitentiary. The state supplies prisoners at tholr (telly tasks with gray uniforms, ami It was felt by the prison officials that tho tcachors should have something to distinguish thorn and to impress upon their pupils, by virtue of exam ple, tho desirability of neatness and tldlnesB In dress. The clothing fur nished for this purpose Is Inexpensive. An Item In tho January expenditures reported to tho governor, shows that 75 centB was paid for a shirt, a collar and a tlo for White, ono of tho In etructors. A banner containing, tho words "Lan caster School" waa purchased at the price of $4, It occupies a place In tho schoolroom, which Is the old base ment dining hall. According to tho warden's report, tho institution contained .158 convicts and 42' officers nnd employes on Feb ruary 1, a docroaso of oloven convlctB during January. The .number paroled, furloughed or remanded In January was 23. Altogether, thoro aro now on parole 178; under furlough, 38; re manded to county authorities, 5; to tal, 221. Tho stato furniture factory turned $1,757 into tho penitentiary cash fund In January, and tho further sum of $691 was collected from tho Leo Ilroom Si Duster company for convict labor used In Its factory. Nebraska Third In Per Capita Wealth Only two states stand above Nebras ka in tholr por capita agricultural wealth to rural population, according to a table of federal statistics Just issued in nuiiotin rorm uy tno pun Uclty department of tho stato board , of agriculture, North Dakota, with , $632 por capita, and South Dakota, with $612, uro at tho top, while Ne braska comes third, with $573. Iowa, tho next stato In tho list, has $472, nnd Kansas, $423. Next In the ordor of their agricultural por capita wealth aro these states: Minnesota. $318; Illinois, $308; Wisconsin, $270; In dlann, $251; Missouri, $234; Toxas. $222; Oklahoma, $213; Ohio, $201; Michigan, $195; Kentucky, $117; Geor gia, $110; Pennsylvania, $103; Missis sippi, $98; North Carolina, $92; Ala bama, $91. In figuring tho agricul tural wealth por capita, tho values of all live stock and tho four leading crops In each stato woro taken. Policy Holders Are Liable. It has boon reported to the stato InBurnnco department that members of mutual hall Insurance companies in Nebraska are not paying assessments lovlod upon them for Iobbob Incurrod by tholr companlos. Ono of tho companlos, organized at Hastings, is under Investigation. It paid only 25 cents on the dollar last year and some of Its expondlturos aro questioned by tho stato board. Com missioner Eastham of tho stato board has Issued the following Btatoinont as serting that policy holders of mutual companies aro bound under tho law to pay assessments: "Commissioner Eastham of tho stato Insurance board has been Informed that many policy holders of mutual hall Insurance companies In tho state are refusing to pay tholr nBsoHsmentn to the companies. Tho commissioner states that In n mutual assessment as sociation of this kind each policy holder Is logaUy liable tor tho full amount of his assessment lnvlotl against him and should pay this as sessment promptly and without com pelling his company to report to tho courts In ordor thnt tho compuny may thoroby bo onablod to pay Its Iobscs promptly and that when a member re fuses to pnv his assessment ho wrongs each of Ills assoclato members In tho company." Rock Island Road Files Bond. Tho Rock Island railroad has filed a bond of $50,000 In federal court, or dered by three federal Judges last week In tho decision giving the rail road the permission to charge 3 cents per mile passonger ratos In Nebraska nnd a temporary Injunction aculnst the stnto railway commission from In tnrforlng with tho Increase In rates. Tho American Surety company of Now York Is tho suroty for the company, The bond has been approved by Fed cral Judgo Mungor. Dotes for N. N. G. Encampment. Dates for holding tho annual on campment of tho national guard of the stato and selection of a placo for this affair as well, aro oxpectod to be an nounced by General Phil Hall upon his return from a trip to Chicago. General Hall will confer with the ofneors of tho central division of tho war-department, H oxpocts to bo ablo to proparo for a joint camp this year with ono or mora adjoining states, perhaps on a largor scale than URGES STATE CONTROL. Favo-s tho Regulation of "Security" Companies." State Auditor W. II. Smith Is in re ceipt of many letters of Inquiry In re gard to tho standing of several com panies organized In Nebraska as mort gage and loan companies, security companies and ono realty company which, according lo Its name, Is u bankers roalfy company. Auditor Smith says tho writers of the letters appear to be under tho impression that such companies aro under stato supervision. Ho says they arc not. Thoy aro not under the supervision of tho stato banking board, the blue sky law or tho stato auditor who examines trust companies. Ono writer supposed he, had bought hank stock from a company which uses tho word "banker" In its corpor ate mime. Tho writer said ho had paid $300 for tho stock and tho company would glvo him but $150 for It. Ho desired to know how ho could got a sottlcmont and what tho company Is making. Mr. Smith bcllovcB tho state law should bo changed so as to control and rcguluto such companies. Sccrotary Koyso of tho state bank ing board says some companies of this kind complained of do not come under tho Installment Investment law, and the bluo sky law oxempts them as stock selling companies hocauso they were organized beforo tho bluo sky law went Into effect. Some companies complained of mako loans, and tako mortgages and then Issue bonds against tho mortgages and soil tho bonds. Others sell stock and build and sell houses. Mr. Itoyso docs not favor taking control of all auch com panies hocauso If this Is commenced It will bo hard to toll whoro to stop and tho Btato would soon be control ling ovory kind of business, Including department stores and tho state would bo chargod with being a general guardian of tho people to prevent them from making poor bargains. Auditor Smith believes tho Btato should at least provont such com panies from using corporato names that aro misleading and which causo patrons to bollovo they arc doing a bunking business when they aro not. Saw Them After Explosion. Tho story of Morton Freeman, tho boy who said ho saw two men In tho basement of tho stato houso with Pieces of brass tubing In tholr hands, ono of tho men being armed with a rovolvor, has turned out to bo truo and tho men havo beon Identified ns tho night watchman who carries a re volver on duty and tho other as Oalo Harlan, Janitor, who narrowly oscaped getting tho offocts of a churge of powder In tho pipes. At least Secre tary of Stato Pool says It Is truo, that tho two men admit tho boy saw them with tho piping In tholr possession, but It turns out that tlmo Is a mater ial factor In tho caso. It devolops (hat tho boy Baw all ho said he saw, but It was after and not boforo tho oxplOBlon. The two mon had picked up tho pipes 'and wore examining thorn when tho boy came Into tho state houso basement during tho ex cttoment. Dr. Guttery Denies Allegations. Denials of all alleged' questionable acta uud explanation of all Incidents rolloctlng on his character while sup orintondent of tho stato hospital at Norfolk featured tho first henrlng held by tho board of control with Dr. W. D. Quttory on tho stand In his own bo- half. The hearing Is a continuation of tho Investigation started at Norfolk sov oral weeks ago following tho filing of charges of Editor Uso of tho Nowa of that placo. The "laying on of hands," which wltnessofl testified tho doctor persist od with pretty iiursos, tho doctor OX' plained Was common with him. "Unconsciously whllo commending anybody In my employ or whllo talk ing earnestly to people I put my hands upon them," ho told the board. "I havo dono that for years and years." Tho doctor said that repeatedly tales brought to him of discretions committed by male and female at- tondants had been sifted to tho bot tom and beon found to bo only gos sip. Whenovor talobcarors substan tiated their stories with evidence, he said, tho offending parties had been dismissed from tho stato's employ. Tournament to Be Biggest Ever. From tentntlvo entries of 143 Ne braska high schools In tho sixth an nual Nebraska high school basketball tournament, conducted under tho aus pices of the athletic department of tho stato university, tho list finally nar rowed down to olghty-nlno contest ants. After n careful checking of all completed entries, Athletic Manager Guy 10. Rood announced thoro would be only oloven loss than n hundred teams competing In tho big floor ovent which Is booked to begin Wednesday, March 11. Even at that tho touriia mont will shatter all Nebraska rec ords, aB tho lUt Includes ulueteou more high schools entered than over participated before. With slxty-nlno schools participating last spring, tho Nebraska tournament was by far tho biggest Interscholastlc event over hold In tho country, and Hood ex pects tho now rocord to stand for some time for other states tp shoot at. Teams from elghty-nlno high schools from over tho state aro now listed for competition nt tho basketball tournament ODonlnc at Lincoln on SENATE KILLS BILL GORE SHIP-WARNING RESOLU TION TABLED BY VOTE OF 68 TO 14. WILSON SATISFIED BY ACTION Oklahoma Senator Sought to Obocuro Issue With an Amendment Law Makers Refuse to Interfere In Pres ident's Conduct of Affairs. Washington. March G. lly a vote or 68 to 14 the senate on Friday tabled every resolution In tho senate seeking to Interfere in any way with Presldert Wilson's conduct of foreign nffulrs It was said ot tho Whlto Houso that tho result In tho Bcnato was sat isfactory and met tho wishes of Presi dent Wilson At the last moment, when driven Into n corner and threatened with defeat on tho main Issuo fully as heavily as that administered to tils substitute. Senator Goro sought to obscuro the Issuo with nn amendment, declaring that any sinking of an armed ship without warning should bo regarded as nn net of war by Cor many. Whllo this amendment ennblcd Son- ntor Goro and those of his persua sion to vote to tablo tho resolution, tho voto In tho senulo to tablo nil other resolutions nnd amendments on tho snmo subject at tho samo time wiped tho sennto sloto clean and lenves tho president alone the spokes man on foreign affairs. Tho roll call was as follows: Ayes Ashurst, Hankhead, Heckham. Hrundogeo, Droussard. Burleigh, Chil ton, Clark (Wyo.). Olarko (Ark ). Colt. Culberson, Curtis, Dillingham. DuPont, Fletcher, Goro. Harding, llnrdwlck, Hitchcock, Hollls, Hughes. I lusting, James, Johnson (Me.). Johnson (S. D.), Kern, Lano. Leo (Md.), Lowls. Lodge, McLean, Martin, Mnrtlno. My srs, Nelson, Ncwlnnds. Oliver, Over man. Owen, Pago, Phelnn. Plttmnn, Polndexter, Pomorcne, RniiBdell. Reed. Shnfroth, Sheppard, Shields, Simmons, Smith (Ariz.), Smith (Gn.). Smith (Md.), Smith (Mich.). Smith (S D.). Sterling, Stone, Swanson, Thomas, Thompson, Tillman, Underwood, Var dnman, Wndsworth, Walsh. Warren, Wooks, Williams 68. Nays Ilornh, Chamberlain, Clapp. Cummins, Fall. Galllnger. Gronna. Jones, LaFollotto, McCumber, Norrls. O'Gormnn, Works 14. Forty-Boven Democrats and 21 Re publicans voted to table. As sobn as the voto was taken Sen ators Clarko of Arkansas and Jones of Washington expressed regret that there had not been "more courageous action" and that a subterfuge had been used to nvold a voto on tho main Ibbuo ralBed by tho Gore resolution. Sena ton Stono nlso gavo notlco that ho will nddress tho sennto on tho armed Bhlp question, explaining Ills opposition to tho president's position, and Senator McCumber submitted bis resolution, oxproBsIng tho hopo that Americana will remain off armed ships until such time ns tho president can bring about an agreement with tho bolllgeronts. Thl b rcBolutlon ts regarded by tho friends of tho president ns' being ns objectionable aB the Goro resolution. Senator Reed of Missouri also partici pated In tho "lotting off stenm" proc ess by declaring all senators' wholly patriotic and by regretting somo of tho passages in tho sennto dobato. GERMANY TO FIGHT PORTUGAL Decree lo Believed Near Following Ultimatum on Ship Seizure 48 Hours for Action. London, March 3. Germany has sent nn ultlmntum to Portugal do maudlng tho restoration within forty eight hours of tho Gorman ships ro contly aolzcd by thnt country, accord lug to u dispatch from Mudrld to Uou tor's Telegram company on Wednos day. Later Madrid dispatches report ed Portugal probably would roject tho German demand. Advices from Am stordnm sny that a Gormun declara tion of war ngtilnst Portugal la Imral ncut ITALY MAY FIGHT GERMANY Decision to Open Hostilities Upon Kaiser Reported Reached at Rome Teuton Ships Seized. London, March 2. Italy's act of requisitioning thirty-four of tho thlrty sovon German ships Intornod In Itnllan ports, ns announced In tho houso of commons, Is Interpreted ns corroborat lug a report that tho Italian cabinet has decided to declare wur on Gor- mnny. DIspatchoB on Tuosdny said tho decision had been reachod In Rome and tho declaration of war would fol low Immediately upon tho reopening of tho Italian parliament. Viking Blown Up by Mine. Now York, March 6. Tho Rrltlsh destroyer Viking was blown up by a nilno on or about January 20, and all of Its officers and crow, numbering about Bovonty, woro lost, according to word which reached hero Money for New Navy Yard. Washington, Murch 0. Senator Polndoxtor'a bill appropriating $2, 065.000 to lit tho Pugot Sound navy yard for battleship construction was recommended to tho senate for pass age by tho senate committee. THE SPRING 3,130 LOST ON SHIP STEAMER LA PROVENCE LOST IN MEDITERRANEAN SEA. Steamer Used by French Government as Auxiliary Cruiser Cause of Disaster Unknown. Paris, March 4. It was announced on Friday at tho French ministry of marina that thoro were nearly 4,000 men on board tho French auxiliary cruiser Provenco when It was sunk In tho Mediterranean on February 20. it was stated that on board tho Provence were tho staff of the Third Colonial Infantry regiment, tho third battalion, the second company of tho first battalion, tho second machine gun company and ono extra company, In all nearly 4,000 men. As the ministry of marine on Feb ruary 29 announced that tho number of survivors of tho Provenco disaster was estimated at 870, It is lnr.lcatod that upward of 3,130 lives were lost. Tho loss of more than 3,000 lives In the sinking of tho French auxiliary cruiser Provenco Is tho greatest ocean disaster of modern times. An official statement announcing tho sinking of tho Provenco said: "Tho French auxiliary cruiser Prov ence II, engaged In transporting troops to Salonlki, wnB sunk In the Mediterranean on February 26. Two hundred and nlety-slx survivors havo beon brought to Malta and about forty to Mclos "No signs of a Bubmarlno were no ticed." AMERICANS ON ARMED SHIP Italian Liner Vcrdl Sails From New York for the War Zone. Now York, March 3. Tho first known Americans to sail on nn armed liner slnco tho Gorman admiralty's now submarine campaign opened do parted from this port on tho Italian stonmshlp Giuseppe Verdi on Wednes day. Of tho Verdi's 173 passengers to Naples and Genoa, two are natural ized Americans who woro born In Italy. Tho Verdi 1b tho first armed vossel to leave American shores slnco tho now submarine policy wont Into effect. When It sailed It had mounted on Its afterdock tho two nnval guns with which It was equipped two months ago. Boforo sailing copper air tanks woro fitted Into the llfo boats. Tho Italian steamship America, ono of tho ships which havo had guns plncod on board by tho Italian govern ment, Is today bolloved to bo In tho war zone with 282 cabin passengers and 1,732 stecrngo passengers on board, bound for Now York. Twolvo big liners aro In or near tho war zono. Tho Whlto Star lino has cancoled all passenger reservations for March on tho Lapland, Baltic and Adriatic, it was announced here. SPARKS FROM THE WTT?r. H LoulBvllle, Ky., March 3. Tho Ken tucky Republican stato convention In structod ItB dolegateB at largb to voto for Charles W. Fairbanks of Indiana for the presidential nomination nt Chi cago In Juno. Kompton. W. Va., March 2. Thir toen mon are dead nnd fifty-two havo beon brought safely from mlno No. 42 of tho Davis Coal and Coko compnny, near hero, whoro nn oxploslon occurrod soou after tho minors had gone to work. Tho mlno, which Is n shaft 427 feet deep, was not badly wrecked. Food Shortage In Russia. Potrogrnd, March 4. Tho food shortago In RuBsla. due to tho war, Is beginning to bo koenly foil. Tho ministry of ngrlculturo announced that meat may only bo enten on flvo days during tho week. Buffalo Machinists Strike. Buffalo, N. Y March 4. A strike of about 30,000 union machinists was au thorized at a meeting Wednesday nicht attended by 350 men, who claimed to represent lo.uou workmen In Buffalo and other cities. PROBLEM 2 BRITISH SHIPS SUNK GERMANS RENEW SUBSEA WAR ON SCHEDULED TIME. Entire Crew of the Vessel Was Killed or Drowned by Torpedo Explosion. London, March 3. Germany's sub marine war against British shipping. aB threatened In tho wnrnlng notlco to tho United States government, wns opened on scheduled tlmo. Tho kaiser's sea offensive against the Brit ish was set to go Into effect at mid night and beforo noon word had been received of tho torpedoing of two mer chantmen. Thoy wore tho Thornsby, 1,782 tons, and tho Malvina, 1.244 tons It Is announced on Wednesday that all tho members of tho crew of tho Thornsby woro killed by tho attack or drowned Tho dispatch which reported tho destruction of tho Malvina off tho Kentist coast did nottnentlon the fato of the crow. The Thornsby hailed from West Hartlepool and was built In 188'J. Sho wus engaged In tho freight trade. Tho Malvina balled from Leith. She was an old vessel, having been built In 1879. From the speed with which tho now German submarine war was launched In British waters It was ovldent thnt submarines had been sent out In ad vance, with orders to begin attacks as soon as any enemy ships were sighted today. Tho German notlco of tho fresh of fensive against English shipping had stated that armed merchant ships wore to bo attacked without notlco, but thoro wus nothing to show that tho Thornsby and Malvina boro guns. Nowb of tho sinking of tho ships aroused tho greatest anxiety In ship ping circles and Insurance rates wero Immediately raised. NO ORDERS TO SINK DIVERS Lord Cecil of England Says Merchant men Were Not Directed to Attack Submarines. London, March 2. On the ovo of tho dato set by Germany for the beginning of her now submarin campaign against armed merchant vessels, Lord Robert Cecil, minister of war trade, is sued a statement giving tho British vlow of tho status of such merchant men. This statement, which Is In an swer to queries whether merchantmen have beon Instructed to tako the of- fenslvo ngalnst submarines, says: "Tho British view has always been t -nt defensively nrmod merchantmen must not fire on submarines or nny other warships, except In self-defense. ''Tho Germans havo twisted a pas sago in a document taken from n transport which thoy Bank into mean ing that merchant vessols havo In structions to tnke tho offonslvo. This is not so. "Tho passage In question, which lays down a maximum dist .nco beyond which merchant ships aro advised not to flro, must bo rend In conjunction with another passage which makes It perfectly clear that merchant vessels must not attack unless a submarine shows unmistakably hostile Inten tions." Mines Peril Swedish Ships. Stockholm, Mnrch 4. According to a messago from Karlskronn, Sweden, a whole mlno Hold of several hundred mines Is drifting from the north, hav ing presumably been set adrift by tho Ice and wind. The message adds that explosions nro occurring hourly, and that navigation In tho neighborhood of the Swodish Islands Is perilous. Open Mexican Stores. Mexico City, Mnrch 6. The govern ment Inaugurated a series of public storos, tho first 92 of which wore opened for business. At the stores, fish, clothing, cereals and meats aro sold at cost. French Steamer Sunk. Bordeaux, France, March 6, Jho French stoamer Lakme of 3,117 tons Is roported to have beon sunk by a Ger man submarino southwest of tho Island of Dyeu. Six members of the crew aro missing. BRITISH MAKE S POSITIONS LOST AT YPRES RE CAPTURED WITH PART OF GERMAN FRONT. SECOND FRENCH FORT RAZED? Amsterdam Dispatch Says That Vauc Has Been Destroyed by Tei'tons Kaiser's Forces Renew Attack North of Verdun. London, March 4. Tho British offi cial statement Issued horo on Thurs day on tho fighting In tho Western 7.0110 says: "Wo recaptured tho trenchea nt tho bluff of the Ypres-Comlnea canal, which wo lost February 14, and ulso captured a small salient in tho German line." Tho cupture of 800 yards of British positions southeast of Ypres, after heavy artillery bombardments, was claimed in tho German olflclal state ment of February 15, which added I hut a majority of tho defendors of tho ilrltlsh ti ouches wore killed Tho French war office reported tho repulse of a German nttack agaltiBt Fresnes In tho afternoon, casting dis credit on an nlllcial report from Berlin that Fresnes has been captured by tho Teutons. An Amsterdam dl3patch to tho Cen tral News says that Fort Vaux, live miles northeast of Verdun, has been destroyed by heavy mortars, accord ing to unconfirmed German reports, but that tho Germans cannot npproach tho fort, as tho French have brought heavy artillery to bear on tho ap proaches. Paris, March 4. German attacks of. great violence, both artillery and In fantry, havo been resumed north or Verdun. Tho official stateraont issued by the French war office on Thursday night says furious infantry assaults havo beon repulsed by tho French' troops, "whoso flro decimated the ranks of tho enemy." Berlin (via wireless), March 4. That Germany In her Verdun drive had taken 170 square kilometers (approxi mately forty squaro miles) of posi tions held by tho French, or more than four times as much as tho French, gained In the entiro Champagno of fensive last fall, was stated in a corre spondent's summary from tho west front, officially mado public hero. Tho official statement ndds that theso gains wero made with tactics "which evaded tho possibility of great human losses," and that by "collabo ration of all arms and an advance con sisting of a sorlcs ot human tidal waves" all tho gains woro obtained "with losses which were comparative ly Insignificant." SENATOR'S CHARGE DENIED Gore Tells of Report That President Said Clash With Germany Might End the War. Washington, March 4. Senator Gore, In an address to tho sennto in support of his resolution to warn Americans to keep off armed belliger ent merchantmen, declared the im pelling reason for his course was n report that President Wilson had told certain congressmen that a war bo- tween the United States and Germany "might not bo ungrateful and might result In advancing civilization by bringing about tho end of tho Euro pean war by midsummer." Senator Stone yehemontly denied the president had made such a state ment. The following statement was Issued at the White House: "When tho nttontlon of tho White Houso was called to certain stato montB In Sonntor Gore's speech, tho prcsldont authorized nn unqualified denial of any utterance to which nny such a meaning could bo nttuched." QUEEN MOTHER IS DEAD Elizabeth of Roumanla Falls Victim, to Pneumonia Her Pen Name Was Carmen Sylva. London, March 4. A Bucharest dis patch received by Router's Telegram company by way of Amsterdam says the queen mother Ellznbeth of Rou manla (Carmen Sylva) died on Thurs day. A dispatch said tho queen was 111 with pneumonia. Tho pen unmo "Carmen Sylva," by which tho quoon was most widely known, wns choson by her In expression of her lovo for song and the woods. In her own words, sho was born "far from a throne." Although sho waB a princes of Wled, ono of tho many tiny princi palities with which Germany abound ed, her youth was that of an ordinary robust country girl, who learned to cook and sow and who romped In tho open with her companions at tho vil lage school. She was born December, 29, 1843. Killed in Railroad Wreck. Albany, N. Y March 6. Two mea are known to bo dead, a third proba bly was fatally Injured and two others nre believed to have been killed in a. rear-end collision hero on tho New York Central railroad. Twelve Hurt In Rail Accident. Kingston, Ont., March 6. A dozen, persons woro injured when west-bound passonger train No. 13 on tho Grand Trunk railway waB derailed near here. Threo cars wero ditched. Tho train, was from Montreal. that. 1 March 11.