Nebraska Newspapers

    THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.
GONGRES
HEARS
WILSON'S
MESSAGE
President's Address to Both
Houses Is Quite Short.
RAIL TROUBLES COME FIRST
Further Legislation on That Line Is
Strongly Recommended Bill Glv.
Ing Foreign Commerce Promo
ters Free Hand Necessary.
Washington, Dec. 5. President Wil
son today delivered his message to
both houses of congress In Joint ses
sion. Tho nddrcBB wns ns follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
In fulfilling at this time the duty laid
upon mo by the Constitution of com
municating to you from time to tlmo
Information of the stnte of tho Union
and recommending to your considera
tion such legislative measures as may
bo judged necessary and expedient I
shall continue the practice, which I
hope has been acceptable to you, of
leaving to tho reports of the several
heads of tho executive departments tho
elaboration of tho detailed needs, of
tho public service and confine myself
to Uioso matters of more general pub
lic policy with which It seems neces
sary and feasible to deal at the pres
ent session of tho congress.
I rcallzo tho limitations of time un
der which you will necessarily act at
this session and shall innko my sug
gestions as few as posslblo; but tlicro
were somo things left tindono nt tho
last session which there will now bo
time to complete and which It seems
necessary In tho Interest of tho1 public
to do at onco.
In tho first place, It seems to mo Im
peratively necessary that tho earliest
posslblo consideration and action
should bo accorded tho remaining
measures of tho program of settle
ment and regulation which I had occa
sion to recommend to you at the close
of your last session In. view of tho pub
lic dangers disclosed by tho unaccom
modated difficulties which then existed,
and which still unhappily contlnuo to
exist, between tho railroads of tho
country and their locomotlvo engineers,
conductors, and trainmen.
Railway Troubles First.
I then recommended:
First, Imtnedlato provision for tho
enlargement and administrative reor
ganization of tho Interstate commerce
commission along tho lines embodied
In tho bill recently passed by tho house
of representatives and now awaiting
action by tho senate; In order that tho
commission may bo enabled to deal
with tho many great and various duties
now devolving upon It with n prompt
ness and thoroughness which are, with
Its present constitution and menns of
action, practically Impossible.
Second, tho establishment of nn
eight-hour day as tho legal basis alllto
of work nnd of wngos In tho employ
ment of all rallwny employees who nro
actually engaged In tho work of oper
ating trains In Interstnto transporta
tion. Third, tho authorization of tho ap
pointment by tho president of a small
body of men to observe tho actual re
sults In experlenco of tho adoption of
tho eight-hour day In. railway trans
portation nlllco for tho men and for
tho railroads.
Fourth, explicit approval by tho con
gress of tho consideration by tho In
terstate commcrco commission of nn
Increase of freight rotes to meet such
additional expenditures by the rail
roads as may havo been rendered nec
essary by tho adoption of tho eight
hour day and which havo not been off
sot by ndmlnlstrntlvo readjustments
and economics, should tho facts dis
closed Justify tho Increase.
Fifth, nn amendment of tho existing
fcdernl statuto which provides for tho
mediation, conciliation, nnd arbitration
of such controversies oh tho present
by adding to It n provision that, in case
tho methods of accommodation now
provldod for should fnll, a full public
Investigation of the mcrltH of overy
such dl8puto shall bo Instituted and
completed beforo a strlko or lockout
may lawfully bo attempted.
And, sixth, tho lodgment tu tho
hands of tho executive of tho power,
in enso of military necessity, to take
control of such portions and such roll
ing stock of tho railroads of tho coun
try ns may bo required for military
use nnd to operate them for military
purposes, with authority to draft Into
tho military service of tho United
States such tralu crows and udmlnls
tratlvo officials ns tho circumstances
rcqulra for their safe and efficient use.
Renews His Recommendations.
Tho second and third of theso rec
ommendations tho congress Immediate
ly acted on: It established the eight
hour day ih tho legal basis of work
nnd wages In train service nnd It au
thorized tho appointment of a com
mission to observe nnd report upon the
practical results, deemlm? them ii
measures most Immediately needed;
out it postponed action upon tho other
nuggestlons until an opportunity should
be offered for n more deliberate eon-
tdemtlnn of them. Tho fourth rec
ommendation I do not deem It neces
sary to renew. Tho power of tho In
tersvnte commerce cnmnitsslou to grant
an Increnso of rates on tho erniiml n-
ferrcd to Is Indisputably clear and n
recommendation by the congress with
regard to such a matter might seem to
oraw in question me scope or tno com
mission's authority or Its Inclination to
do Justice when there Is no renson to
doubt cither.
Tho other suggestions the Increnso
In tho Interstate commerce commis
sion's membership and In Its facilities
for performing its mnnifold duties, rho
provision for full public investigation
and assessment of Industrial disputes,
nnd the grant to tho executive of tho
power to control nnd opernto the rail
ways when necessnry In time of war
or other like public necessity I now
very earnestly renew.
Tho necessity for such legislation Is
manifest and pressing. Those who have
Intrusted us with tho responsibility
nnd duty of serving nnd safeguarding
them In such matters woihl find it
hard, I believe, to excuse a failure to
act upon these grave matters or any
unnecessary postponement of action
upon them.
Not only docs tho Interstate com
merce commission now find It practi
cally impossible, with Its present mem
bnrshlii nnd nrcnnlzutlrm. tn nerform
its great functions promptly and thor
oughly, but it Is not unlikely that It
him v presently tin found ndvlsiilile tn
add to Its duties still others equally
heavv and exnctlnir. It must first bo
perfected ns nn ndmlnlstratlvo instru
ment. Tho country cannot nnd should not
consent to remain any longer exposed
to nrofound Industrial disturbances for
lack of additional means of arbitra
tion nnd conciliation which tho con
gress can easily and promptly supply.
And all will agree that thero must be
no doubt as to the power of tho execu
tive to make Immedlnto nnd uninter
rupted use of tho railroads for tho con
centration of tho military forces of tho
nntlon wherever the.v nro needed nnd
wheuover they nro needed.
This Is a nrnirrnm of regulation, nro-
vontlon and ndmlnlstratlvo efficiency
which argues Its own enso In tho mere
statement of It With record to ono
of Its Items, the lncrcaso In tho effi
ciency of the Interstnto commerce com
mission, tho house of representatives
has already acted: Its action needs
only tho concurrence of tho senate.
For Control and Operation.
I would hcsltato to recommend, and
dare say tho concress would hnslhitA
to net upon tho suggestion should I
mako-lt, that any man In any occupa
tion should bo obliged bv law to con-
tlnue In nn employment which ho de
sired to leuvc. To pass a law which
forbade or prevented tho Individual
workmnn to leave bis work before re
ceiving tho approval of society In do
ing so would bo to ndopt a now prin
ciple Into our Jurisprudence which I
tnko It for granted wo aro not prepared
to introduce. But tho proposal that
tho operation of the rullwnvs of the
country shall not be stopped or Inter
rupted ny the concerted action of or-v
gnnlzcd bodies of men until n public
nvcstlgntlou shall havo been Instituted
which shnll mnko tho wholo question
at Issue plain for tho Judgment of the
opinion of tho nntlon Is not to nrnnnsn
any such principle. It is based upon
tho very different prlnclplo that tho con
certed action of powerful bodies of men
snail not bo permitted to ton tho in
dustrial processes of tho nation, nt any
rnto neroro tlio nutlon shnll havo had
an opportunity to ncmmlnt iWlf with
tho merits of tho case as between em
ployee and employer, tlmo to form Its
opinion upon an Impnrtlnl statement
of tho merits, nnd otmortunltv
sldor all practicable means of concilia-
tlon or arbitration.
I can see uothlnir In thnt nmnnm,,n
but the Justifiable safeguarding by so
ciety or mo necessury processes of
uh very mo. Ttioro Is nothing arbi
trary or unjust in It unless it he nrhi.
trnrily and unjustly done. It can and
should bo done with n full and scrupu-
iuuh regum mr tno intorcsts and liber
ties of all concerned as well as for the
permanent Interests of society ltsolf.
other Legislation Urged.
Threo mutters of cunltul llillinrtii ,,
await the action of tho senate which
nnvo already been acted upon by tho
house of representatives; tim i.in
which seeks to extend greater freedom
of combination to those engaged In pro
moting tho foreign commerco of tho
country tiian Is now thought by somo
to bo legal under tho tonus of tho laws
against monopoly ; tho bill amending
tho present organic luw of Porto Hlco;
and the bill proposing a more thor
ough and systematic regulation of tho
expenditure of money In elections, com
monly culled the Corrupt Practices Act.
I need not labor my ndvlco that these
measures bo enacted Into law. Their
urgency lies In tho manifest circum
stances which render their adoption at
this time not only opportune but neces
sury. Uven delay would seriously
Jeopard the interests or the country
and of the government.
Immediate passage of tho bill to reg
ulate the expenditure of money In elec
tions may seem to bo less necessary
than the Immediate enactment of tho
other measures to which I refer: be
cause at least two years will elapse
before another election In which fed
eral offices are to be tilled; but It would
greatly relievo tho public mind If this
Important matter were dealt with
while the circumstances and tho dan
gers to the public morals of the pres
ent method of obtaining nnd spending
campaign funds stand clenr under re
cent observation nnd the methods of
expenditure can be frankly studied In
the light or present experience; and a
delay would have tho further very se
rious dlMidvnntngo of postponing ac
tion until another election wns at hand
aud some special object connected with
It might be thought to bo In tho mind
of those who urged it. Action can be
taken now with facts for guidance and
without suspicion or pnrtlsnn purpose.
I Khali not argue at length the desir
ability of giving n freur hand In the
matter of combined mid
fort to those who shall undertake theJ
esxeuiini enterprise of building up our
export trade. That enterprise will
presently, will Immediately ansnme,
has Indeed already assumed, a magni
tude unprecedented In our experience.
Wc have not tho necessnry instrumen
talities for its prosecution; it Is
deemed to bo doubtful whether they
could bo crcntcd upon an adequate
scale under our present laws. Wo
should clear away all legal obstacles
and create a basis of undoubted law
for it which will give freedom without
permitting unregulated license. The
thing must bo dono now, because tho
opportunity Is here and may escape us
If we hcsltato or delay.
Porto Rico's Needs.
Tho argument for the proposed
amendments of tho organic law of Por
to Hlco Is brief and conclusive. Tho
present laws governing the Island and
regulating the rights and privileges of
Its people are not just We havo cre
ated expectations of extended prlvl
Iego which wo have not sntisflcd.
There is uneasiness nmong tlio pcoplo
of tho island and oven a suspicious
doubt with regard to our Intentions
concerning them which the adoption of
tho pending measure would happily ro
move. We do not doubt what wo wish
to do In any essential particular. Wo
ought to do it at once.
Thero nro other matters already ad
vanced to tho stage of conference be
tween the two houses of which it is
not necessary that I should spenk.
Somo practicable basis of agreement
concerning them will no doubt be fothid
and nctlon taken upon them.
Inasmuch as this Is, gentlemen, prob
ably tho last occasion I shall havo to
address tlio Sixty-fourth congress, I
hope that you will permit mo to say
with what genuine plcnsuro and satis
faction I havo co-operated with you In
the many measures of constructive pol
icy with which you havo enriched tho
legislative annals of tlio country. It
has been a privilege to labor in such
company. I tnko tho liberty of con
gratulating you upon the completion of
a record of rare scrvlcenblcness and
distinction.
Bound to Make Good.
Tho well-dressed stranger stepped
Into tho drug storo nnd, passing by
the boy who usually attended to casual
customers, approached tho proprietor,
who was arranging some goods in tho
show case.
"Mr. C , I presume?" ho re
marked, pleasantly, nnd tho druggist
turned nnd bowed gravely. "I havo
heard my friend, Mr. Quorn, speak of
you often," said tho brisk man. "Ho
told mo If over I needed anything In
Uds line to como to you. lie spoke of
you as a man on whom ono could relv
with perfect confidence, who had only
tho best of ovrythttig and with 'whom
It was always a pleasure to deal."
"Mr. Quorn Is very kind," answered
tho other, beaming with gratification.
"Ho is ono of by best customers. What
can I do for you this morning?"
"Well or this morning, ns It hap
pens," said tho stranger, with Just n
little briskness, "this morning I should
like,-1 you will allow me, to consult
your directory."
"Certainly," wns the calm reply. "Wo
also have a good selection of ono and
two-cent stamps as well ns rallwuy
tlmo tables, If you need anything of
that kind."
Franklin Objects Seriously.
She Isn't very large, that's true, but
being a county sent, and boasting of
a college, several factories, flour mills,
railways, intcrurbnns and her lately
acquired Masonic home, Franklin feels
that slio Is not a town to be passed
lightly by, In fact, sho knows her Im
portance, nnd thought thnt everyone In
the stnto realized It until she wns
taken down a bit lately. During tho
big conferenco of tho Methodist
churches held recently In tho town a
meeting of the Indlannpolls presbytery
was In session at tho same tlmo at
Hopewell, a country church In a pros
perous farming community a few
miles out. Ono of tho Presbyterlnn
delegates, on leaving tho train Joined
In tho throng headed for tho Method
ist church. When it camo to regis
tering, somo of his Inquiries caused
someone to suggest that probably he
was In tho wrong place, aud ho asked
Innocently: "Isn't this Hopewell?"
"No, this Is Friinklln," was the proud
reply. Indlnnapolis News.
Rather Embarrassing.
Irvln Cobb, the war correspondent,
home from Europo long enough recent
ly to get his breath and look over the
proof sheets of a new book, attended
nn uuthnrs' banquet In Now York.
A deaf man sat next to Cobb. Far
ther down tho table another man tolu
a funny story, and when ho finished,
tho deaf man laughed and uppluudcd
louder . and longer than any of the
rest.
"Good old boy I" shouted tho deaf
man. "That reminds mu of a story," ho
added to thoso near by.
"Got up and tell It, ChnrUe," ,crled
sovetal. Tho toastmaster sanctioned
tho suggestion.
Then the deaf man got up nnd told
the sumo story tho other man had told.
He Was on the Job.
The undertaker arose and said to
tho mourners assembled:
"If anyone present wishes to say a
few words of trlhuto to tho deceased,
now Is tho time, when tho family will
bo glad to hear such,"
A stillness prevailed, and after n
few moments of silence it wns broken
by a young mtin, who arose and
asked :
"Do I understand that no ono wishes
to mnko any rcmarkB?"
"It would appear so," replied tho
undertaker.
"Then," asked tho young man, ns a
light camo Into his eyes, "may I bo
permitted to make -a few remarks
about southern California and Its won
derful climate?"
CGHGEHSED NEWS
OF INTEREST TO ALL.
Tho exponso of waging tho demo
cratic camualgn in this state was
$21,151, according to tho report filed
by Treasurer A. V. Johnson .of the
democratic stnto committee, with the
county clerk of Lancaster county. Tho
committee emerges from tho conflict
with a $444 balance. Tho national
committee contributed 110.022 tn thn
state committee. Senator Hitchcock
and Keith Novlllo were tho heaviest
individual contributors. In all thero
were over 2,000 donore from among
Nebraska democrat.
Several Sarpy county farmers who
havo lost nil the way from 150 to 200
hogs from cholera nflor they were In
oculated, havo laid tho matter beforo
Senator Hitchcock, Congressman Lo
beck and several state officials aud
legislators in an effort to interest them
in tho Rorum for cholera which, they
claim, has been faulty in manv eases.
An investigation is promised in the
scrum business, Ono farmer near
Gretna has a suit ponding against a
scrum company for $5,000.
Weeping Water's stono quarry has
Just closed a contract for 10,000 tons
of sugar stono to bo shipped to a large
sugar refinery, which has plants in
operation at Fort Morgan and Brush,
Colo. This order will keep a largo
force of mien busy at tho plant most
of the winter.
Ono m'llo of now navlntr has lust
been completed at Plattstnouth and
tlioro Is somo talk of trouble resulting
from objections of property owners
abutting tho paved streets. It is said
an injunction mny bo applied for to
prevent tho city from collecting tho
tax.
According to a letter received at
Beatrice from ono of tho company C
boys doing duty along tho Mexican
border In Texas, there Is a possibility
that tho Nebraska regiments will bo
reliovod from servico before Christ
mas. Box Butto county Is entitled to the
offlco of clerk of tho district court, ac
cording to tho number of votes cast at
tho recent election. Tho figures show
a 17 per cent increaso in population
In tho county during tho past four
years.
At tho instance of the woman's club
all tho churches and tho Commercial
club of Friend havo decided upon a
community Christmas tree. A program
will bo arranged and it is the- plan to
make tho program an annual affair.
Tho Holdrego Ad club closed a suc
cessful month's "Buy in Holdrego"
campaign when It awarded two auto
mobiles to Its trade. Awards were
baaed on cash purchases during the
month, which totalled a little
$125,000.
over
Flro completely destroyed tho Epis
copal church located at thePonca In
dian sub-agency, a few miles west of
Niobrara. Tho church was built for
tho Ponca Indians nearly thirty years
ago, and was valued at about $1,000.
Approximately $50,000 was snent bv
Ltho Prosperity leaguo in its fight
ngainst prohibition in Nebraska, ac
cording to a statement of expenditures
filed with Election Commissioner
Moorhead at Omaha,
Tlio Beatrice Cold Storage company
Is building a concroto fireproof plant
at Columbus, to take tho place of the
building destroyed some tlmo ago by
flro. Tho new building will cost about
$15,000.
Lincoln afternoon dally newspapers
havo Increased tho prlco from 1 cent
to 2 cents a copy on the streets and
at nows stands. The advance In the
prlco of print papor is given as tlio
cause.
Twenty thousand dollars was sub
scribed during a threo days campaign
to securo a Boy Scout Master for Ne
braska at Omaha. Flftoon thousand
dollars wns the mark set.
Farmora In Gngo county report win
ter wheat looking flno and say that It
Is in good shape to go through tho
winter without being damaged by cold
weather.
Tho presidential election this fall
cost Lancaster county just $4,552.10,
nccordlng to a report compiled by
Deputy County Clerk Miller.
In, tho county court at Columbus two
men woro fined $50 for selling meat
from two cattlo which had been the
victims of tho cornstalk epidemic.
It cost an average of $833.28 per
day to maintain Lincoln public schools
during tho first four months of tho
present fiscal year, July, August, Sep
tember and October.
Tho now well for tho water system
at Dixon Is nearly completed and
work was started on tho new oloctric
light plant, both being owned by tho
city.
AC tho public sale of thoroughbred
Shorthorn cattlo at Tecumseh, fifty-
Bix head wero sold at an average prlco
of $179.20. Buyers woro present from
ninny states.
Oxford is in the midst of the great
est union rovlval In Kb history. Evan
gellst W. D. Hamilton of Sabotho,
Kans., is leading It. A frame taberna
cle has boon put up for the meotlngs.
Already convorts number nearly 200,
M. E. Smith & Co.'b shirt and over
all factory at York Is now In oper
ation. Fifty girls aro now employed,
whllo tho number will bo Increased to
200 in a short tlmo,
Al F. Mcltcynolds, a Johnson coun
'ty farmer, received $485.90 for a wa-
gonload of clover seed. He marketed
Ihe seed In Tecumseh.
After twelve years of litigation a
now drainage ditch, fifteon miles wost
of Dakota City, haa been completed
and the people of tho community cele
brated tho occasion last Saturday.
When the canal was first begun, 1QQ
residents of Dakota county secured an
Injunction against tho project. The
case was carried from one court to
another and altogether it was tried In
the district court twice, twice in the
Nebraska supremo court, in the U. S.
supremo court and in the federal
court at Omaha. Tho caso was finally
settled when the U. S. supremo court
sustained tho district court to dis
solve tho Injunction. Tho decision
was written by Justlco Charles E.
Hughes, republican candidate for pres
ident at the recent election. It Is es
timated the cost' of fighting tho caso
amounted to $30,000.
A mddel aero club of Nebraska
whoso members will build toy aero
planes and hold contests under tho
auspices of tho Aero Club or America
Is being organized In Lincoln by Dr.
F. W. Buck. It Is the doctor's plan to
havo a "flying dny" about January 13,
when all contestants will compote In
class and sweepstake prizes. His of
fice will bo open Saturday morning
only, during the first threo Saturdays
in December, for contestants to call
and get information. Those not living
In town havo been asked to write to
him. Any boy in Nebraska can join
tho club.
3' :. -.i&IO
MRS. JOHN M.. TANNER.
Who died November 20 from the re
sult of burns received on the 22nd.
The tragedy was brought about by
her dress catching flro from a gas
stove when she turned to uso the
'phone. Mrs. Tanner was tho wife
of Senator-elect John M. Tanner,
known to his friends as "Dock." Mr.
Tanner haB been editor and owner
of the Omaha (formerly South
Omaha) Democrat for years, and is
a past president of tho Nebraska
Press Association. Both Mr. and
Mrs. Tanner took great interest in
the Press Association meetings, and
did much to mnke the excursion last
summer successful.
Hog and cattlo receipts at the South
Omaha stock market last month wero
the largest for tho month of November
In tho history or tho yards. The cat
tle supply ror the month was 152,511
head, 8,000 moro than during Novem
ber, 1915. Thirty-five thousand more
hogs wero registered than any pre
vious November, the total number
being 27C.G38 head.
After lying idlo In tho Omaha Na
tional bank for twenty-one years,
drawing no interest and practically un
known to anyone, $7,C43.62 has Just
been carried into court for distribu
tion among the creditors of the estate
of John W. McMenamy, who died April
8, 1890.
Lincoln financiers are planning a
new hotol project for tho Capital
City. Those backing tho proposition
have matdo it known that the struc
ture will cost around $1,000,000.
Tho Hastings city council has au
thorized negotiations ror the purchase
or tho old Mothodlst church property
for a now city hall location. Tho altf
Is offered at $14,000.
County Commissioner James A.
White of Otoe county died at his homo
in Palmyra a few days ago. He was
a pioneer of Nebraska.
Completo Investigation of tho Bish
op block fire at Norfolk shows that tho
loss will oxceed $60,000.
Saunders county Is agitating the
question of organizing a baseball
leaguo next summer. Several livo
fans of tho county havo undertaken
tho movo of working up the proper
sentiment with the Intention of per
fecting an organization during the
winter. Thero has been somo talk of
Including Fremont, located only a
mllo from tho Saunders county border,
In a clrcut.
William J. Amos, an old resident of
tho Odoll vicinity, has purchasod
eighty acres of land near Odell for
which ho paid $112 per acre.
Whllo Captain P. It. Halllgan of
company E, Nebraska National Guard,
was on duty on the Moxlcan border
his mother. Mrs. J. J. Halllgan, of
North Platto, conducted a vigorous
campaign in his behalf and securod
his election to tho position of county
attorney of Lincoln county.
Isaac Pollard, one of tho early pio
neers of Nobraskn, and a leading hor
ticulturist of tho west, died at his
homo at Nehawka. Mr. Pollard owned
the largest Blngle orchard in this state
and was recognized as an expert on
fruit culture.
ST
RECONVENES FOR COMPLETION
OF SIXTY-FOURTH SESSION.
PROGRAM 18 EXTENSIVE ONE
Immigration and Corrupt Practice
Measures Will Be Acted On First;
Railroad Legislation Up Early.
Washington. Tho Sixty-fourth con
gross reconvened at noon last Moa
day for its Bccond session which will
end with the life of tho present con
gress on March 4. Tho administration,
although assured of control for four
years moro in all branches, excepting
possibly the House of Representa
tives, has an ambitious legislative
program all of which cannot bo
crowded into the noxt three months.
Where tho administration is to
draw the lino on general legislation
has not been determined. Party con
ferences will outline tho program to
be attempted In addition to tho appro
priation bills which must bo passed
to meet expenditures of government
for the flscnl year 1917-1918.
When congress adjourned last Sep
tember, tho democratic senate caucus
agreed that the immigration bill, with
its oft-vetoed literacy test, would be
taken up and passed before consider
ation of any other legislation. It also,
had agreed to act on the Owen cor
rupt practices bill, a measure to limit
expenditures in national political
campaigns and to provide now penal
ties for election frauds.
Besides those two measures tho
memorable railroad eight-hour day
fight which marked tho last dayB of
tho last session had ended with legis
lation suggested by President "Wilson
unconsidered. It will be urged upon
the congress by the administration
abovo all other subjects.
In view of tho probability that the
administration is to face a divldod
Sixty-fifth congress, or at best a non
dependablo plurality in the lower
house, It is the hope of democratic
leaders to complete before the March
adjournment what remains of a con
structive program of reform legisla
tion long ago conceived. They include
the public lands water power bill and
tho measure to provide for develop
ment or water power sites in nav
igable streams by private capital.
There also is pending the Newlands
$60,000,000 bill for general develop
ment and co-ordinated control of the
country's waterways. Measures are
pending also for conservation of min
eral resources and improved control
of the flood waters. Measures left
over for which attention will be
asked aro the Shafroth bill to provide
civil government for Porto Rico and
tho Hoke Smith bill to creato a sys
tem of vocational education with fed
eral aid throughout the states.
Russia's Prize If Allies Win.
Petrograd. The semi-official news
agency says that In tho duma on Dec.
2 Premier Trepoff read a proclama
tion announcing officially that on
agreement concluded by Russia,
France and Great Britain in 1915 and
later approved by Italy "establishes In
definite manner the right of Russia to
the straits of Constantinople.
The premier declared that the an
nouncement was made for the specific
reason to make known to the people
of Russia what they aro fighting for.
De Factos Again In Chihuahua.
Juarez, Mex. Carranza forces are
again in control or Chihuahua City
and Villa and his band or outlaws
havo fled to tho mountains to the west
or tho capital city, It was announced
by General Francisco Gonzales, com
mander or the Carranza brigade here.
No Americans havo been killed In Chi.
huahua City by Villa, according to a
private messago received here Trom
that city.
Reports Troop Ship Sunk.
Berlin. Tho sinking by a German
submarine or a 6,000-ton Fronch
transport filled with troops has boen
announced by tho admiralty. The an
nouncoment follows:
"A German submarine on November
27, near Malta, sank tho French
transport steamer Karnak, 6,000 tons.
Tho Karnak was crowded with troops
destined for Salonlkl."
To Reconstruct British Government
London The political crisis has be
come acute. It Is stated in well
Inrormed circles that David Lloyd
George, tho war eecretary, has threat
ened to resign in certain contingen
cies. It hns been officially announced
that Premier Asqulth has decided to
advise the king to consent to recon
struction ot the government.
Banker Given Long Prison Term
Waco, Tex. T. R. Watson, bank
president, was found guilty ot murder
and sentenced to ninety-nine years'
imprisonment by a Jury In tho district
court. Watson was charged with
shooting and killing John S. Patter
eon, state banking commissioner.
Editor Acquitted of Charge.
Augusta, Ga.. Thomas E. Watson,
author and editor, was acquitted by a
Jury in tho federal court ot the charge
of sending obscene matter through
the mall.
CONGRESS
WORK