THE 8EMI.WEEKLY TRIDUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA. 1 f DEFINITE RAILWAY COMMISSION WANTS MORE DETAILED REPORTS TO AIO STATER LAWMAKERS Items of General Interest Gathered From Reliable Sources Around the State House. Western Newspaper Union News Service. Tho state railway commission is In Blsting upon a raoro detailed report from railroad companies in regard to passes issued. In 1907 tho Nebraska legislature passed an anti-pass law which makes it unlawful for a railroad to give or for persons to receive or use a freo pass, employes and certain others excepted. This law lias beoli in force in Nebraska ever since its passage. It requires railroads to Mo monthly reports of passes issued. Re cently these reports have boon meagre In form and havo failed to show under what exception in tho law tho person rocolvlng a pass is entitled to recolve one. Tho penalty under tho Nebraska law for giving, or receiving or using an unlawful pass Is n fine of from $100 to $1,000 for each offense. Every tlmo such a pass is used would probably constitute a scperato offense. Tho stato law excopts tho uso of free passes by tho following classes of per sons: Officers, agontB, bonalldo employes, the major portion of whoso tlmo Ih dovoted to tho sorvlco of such railroad company, and dopendent mombors of their lmmedlato families. Children under sovon years of nge. Officials and linemen of telegraph companies. Ex-employes retired from sorvlco on account of ago or tholr widows. Ex-employes retired from scrvlco on account of disability sustained while in tho sorvlco of said railroad com pany and tho dependent mombors of tholr lmmedlato families, or the wid ows or dopendent children of all em ployes who die while in tho sorvlco of such railroad company. Tho corpuo of any employe dying In the sorvlco. NocesBary caretakers of livo stock, poultry, vegetables and fruit, includ ing transportation to and from tho point of delivery. Employos of sleeping car compan ies, express companies, and railway mail service omployos, nows boys on tralnB, baggage agents and persons' in jured in wrecks and physicians and nurses attending them. To Aid the State Law Makers A eommlttoo comprising legislators, attorneys and representatives of tho legislative reference bureau called on Governor Morehoad last wook and later orgonlzod for tho work of for mulating recommendations to tho leg islature for tho standardization of bills and legislative procedure J. J. ThomftB, ono of tho attornoys ap pointed by tho stato bar association wbb olocted chairman of tho commit tee and MIsb Myrtlo Keogan, an as sistant in tho legislative roforonco bureau, was chosen socrotary, It will bo somo time boforo tho committeo formulates its report. Tho recom mendations will probably bo some what similar to Uiobo mado by a Joint loglslativo committee appointed for lhat purposo from tho membership of tho legislature of 1013, and which submitted Its report to tho governor and tho members of tho legislature of 1915. To Sue Douglas County Treasurer W. Q, Uro, treasurer of Douglaa county and his bondsmen will soon bo made defendants in a suit filed by tho state of Nebraska, probably In tho su preme court at Lincoln, to colloct $8,800 as Interest at 10 per cent on state monoya which ho hold back ut djfforcnt tlmos during the period from April, 1915, to and Including February, 1916, and which he Bhould havo re mitted monthly to tho Btato treasurer. On tho outcomo of this Buit will do pend whothor or not tho state can col loct similar ponnltles from other coun ty treasurers of tho state who havo failed to maKo monthly romlttancos at different timos Blnco last February. If Uro Is hold llablo for tho interest charged against him by Stato Auditor Smith, tho treasury will bo enriched by several thousand dollars moro from those delinquent oftlclals. University Collegiate Dobate With olght Intorcolloglato dobnin victorios out of the last ton contoHtB In flVe years with Wisconsin, Minno Botn, Iowa, Illinois and Kansas, Ne braska loams for tho 1910 bottles will tako tho forum Wednesday evening, Decomber 13. Thoy will dlsouss with representatives of Kansas, at Lincoln and at Lawrenco, tho quostion of tho incompatibility of the submarlno war faro on commorco as now conducted with tho rights of neutrals and tho laws of nations regarding non-combatant enemies. To House All 8tate Departments In tho event that a new stato houso is provided for Nebraska by tho com ing legislative session It will contain room for tho stato historical society and for tho mammoth stato library. That is the Judgment of a number of legislators who are favorablo to th new capltol and who want to see all stato activities proporly belonging to the, stato house government housed under one room. MS COUNTIE8 OWE THE STATE Total of $46,785 for Care of County Insane Patlonts Counties of Nebraska owo tho stato $40,785.78 for the care of Insano according to tho roport of Stato Audi tor W. II. Smith. Tho total was $90,000 when W. B. Howard, auditor, started to collect from the countlos, Gage and Stanton countlos havo ro fused to pay and n suit involving tho matter Is pending in the supremo court. Most of the counties that now owo the stato have promised to pay and are making regular payments. Saun ders county has paid $10,833.49 to Auditor Smith and Its account has been wipod oft" the books. Burt coun ty paid $2,003.31 and Boono county $5,272.22 and aro now square. In two years Auditor Smith has collect ed $32,197.17 from counties. Tho amounts still due tho stato aro as follows: Box Butte $ 2.003.31 Butlor 5.C83.97 Colfax 2,500.00 Dakota itt 192.94 Dawos .-i'i 1,061.31 Gago ;"H 3,925.79 Greeley ,4, 400.00 Hayes , C07.99 IIo't 2,414.93 Johnson 5,500.00 Keith 1 7G7.8C Lincoln 5.G98.92 Logan ' 940.76 Madteon ; 7,007.17 Worco 1,552.75 Scotts Bluff '. 381.2C Slanton 2,213.36 Webster 3,337.47 Total $46,785.78 Quarter Million In General Fund Nebraska's state treasury still can tains a balance of nearly a quarter of a million dollars in tho general fund, notwithstanding that tho "lean sea son" for collection of toaos has boon running for sovornl months. Tho statement issued by Treasurer George Hall at tho ond o business for No vember shows $247,000 still In that fund. Tho totnl cash in all funds on Novombor 30 was $1,289,000. Tho general fund always runs down in November and December to tho lowest point during tho wholo year. Stato Treasurer Hall figured last Juno that he would probably touch bottom with something llko $100,000 to go on, but now it looks as though tho general fund balanco will not be diminished much below isnnnnn imtit county treasurers begin remitting now Hunting for OH In Nebraska Any rowards tho stato may offor for a flowing well of oil may not bo ap plied for within the next year, but thoro aro several outfits In Nebraska, now drilling for that product, and it Is tho belief of stato ofllclals that limited quantities may bo located boforo long. Three prospects aro promlnontly montlonod tho areas In Cass, Furnas, and Dawes countlos, whoro offorts aro now being mado to obtain petroleum. Indications In all threo placos aro that good luck will bo encountered and that what NobraskaiiB havo hoped for for many years past will at last be roallzod. Tho coming sosBlon of tho stato loglsiaturo will bo asked to further aid tho proposal of extending a plpo lino to oastorn Nebraska from tho Wvomlni? nil iini.t.. . . .. ., 1110 lllHl H0Stj10ii appointed a commission to InvostJgato tho subject and tho feasibility and do Birubillty of tho project will bo ro portod to tho sosBlon, it is stated hero. Edgar Howard Speaks to Students In a spooch onllvonod by bits of ooetrv tn uiuatrntn t..i. - ' -- -----..v ,i uui. tun uo uono with words, Edgar Howard, lleuton-nnt-govornor-oloct, editor of tho Co- iimbus Tologram, spoko to Journal sm Btudonts nt tho university, on tho duties and opportunities of tho odltor. Mr. Howard nBsorted that whllo tho olty papers might bo under tho control of tho publlo sorvlco cor poratlons, tho country editor was often no less subsorvlont to tho pow orful intorosts in his community, and ho urgod nn Independent stand by thoso who entered tho profession. A compreheii8lvoro.onnctmeiit of publlo health laws la qulto apt to ro suit during tho coming loglslativo sos a on. Dr. Cnrroll Fox, tho fodoral phy slclaii, who reviewed Nebraska's con dltidns carefully a year ago, has mado oxtenslvo recommendations behind which tho groater share of tho modi cnl profession scorns to bo solidly in trenched. Will Banquet the Members Sovon of the writers of Nebraska's prosont constitution havo boon locat ed nnd hnvo Indicated tholr willing ness to attoiul tho banquet to be ten dered thorn Snturdny night. Decern bor 30, by tho lognl association of Omahu. Thoy are O. A. AbboU or Grand Island; A. G. Kendall of San Bernardino. Cul.j John Leo Webster of Omaha j JomeB W. Dawes of Ot tuinwn, In.; Isaac Powora. Jr., of Nor folk; ox-Chiof Justice M. B. nooso of Lincoln, and A. M. Walling of David Governor-elect Novlllo has an nouncod tho following appointments: W, fa. Itldgell of Alliance, ro-up-pointed stato flro commissioner. H. F. noquartto of York, re appoint ed doputy flro commissioner. J. H. Prosson or Omaha, reappoint ed recording clerk in the exocutlvo olllco. Georgo KoHter ot Niobrara nnmod game wardon to succeed Gust Ruoton beck ot Sowaro. William Wood of Lincoln has been chosen cnrotukor of the governor's mansion. Ho has hold the place four years. 0. S. SENDS PROTEST WASHINGTON FORWARDS NOTE TO BERLIN ON DEPORTING CIT IZENS OF BELGIUM. CALLED BLOW TO HUMANITY Document Cabled to American Charge Grew After President Wilson DIs cussed Matter With Ambassador Gerard Germany Defends Action. Washington, Dec. 11. A note to Ger many protesting against tho deporta tion of Belgians for forced lubor was contrary to nil procodents und huuuiuo principles of International practice was made public on Friday by the state de partment. The note was cabled to Charge Grow nt Berlin on November 29, tho day Am bassador Gerard discussed tho subject with President Wilson, with Instruct ions that ho read It to the German chancellor personally. In making It public, tho state depart ment announced that tho Interview luiil taken plnce, but said nothing about re sults. The text of tho protest follows: "Tho government of tho United States has learned with the grentest concern nnd regret of the policy of the Gurmnn government to deport from Belgium n portion of tho civilian popu lation for the purpose of forcing them to labor in Germany, nnd is constrained to proteiit In a friendly spirit, but most solemnly gainst this notion, which Is n contravention of all precedents nnd of thoso principles of International practice which havo long been accepted nnd followed by civilized nutlons In their treatment of noncombntants In conquered territory. "!' urthormoro, tho government of the United States Is convinced that tho ef fect of this policy, If pursued, will In nil probability bo fatal to the Belgian relief work, so humanely planned nnd so successfully carried out, a result which would bo generally deplored nnd which, It Is nssumed, would seriously embarrass the German government." Senator Lodge Introduced u copy of resolutions adopted by tho American Illghts league at Boston, condemning tho deportation from Belgium of non combntants and calling upon congress 'to support the president of the United States In every monsuro ho undertakes to maintain America's traditional po sition ns tho friend nnd tho champion of all tho oppressed." Berlin, Dec. 11. Tho German gov ernment Issued a statement on Frhlny In explanation nnd Justification of the transfer of Belglnn laborers to Ger many. It snys tho measure Is by no means a hardship for tho laborers, but Is n social necessity. Owing chiefly to tho British embnrco against Belgium's overseas trade which boforo tho war supported a largo part of the Industrial population, large nura- ncrs of Belglnn workers nro Idle, the stntomcnt says, and conditions nro growing worse. FRENCH BATTLESHIP IS LOST 8uffren Left Port November 24 Has Not Been Heard From Since 730 on Board. 1'nrls, Dec. 11. Tho bnttloshln Snf- fren, which left port on November 21, lias not neon heard from since, nnd tho minister of mnrlno considers thn vessel lost with nil on bonrd. Tho Suffroii sailed for Lorlent. n French nntval station In Brittany. Tho SulTrcn displaced 12.750 tons. Her nnrmnl complement was 730 men. She wns iiu root long nnd 70 feet of benro, and was laid down In 1800. Sho wns imnmi with four 12-lnch, ten 0.4-lnch and eight 4-lnch guns, 22 8-pounders and four torpedo tubes. Last year tho Suf fron took part In tho bombnrdm6nt of tho Turkish forts nt the Dardanelles. TWELVE MARINES WOUNDED Americans Kill Eleven In Battle With Forces of Governor Perez of Santo Domingo. ' Washington. Dec. 7. Tim nnvv tin. pnrtment received word from CapL Harry Knapp, commanding mo uiiucu states forces nt Santo Do mlhgo, that In nn engagement between United States marines and forces or Governor Perez of San Francisco, n'MncotlH, on the nlirht of 20-80 11 nntlves wcro killed. About n dozen Americans wcro wounded, sov ornl seriously. Poultry Men Are Indicted. Now York. Dec. 7. Indictments based on an Investigation of tho so called poultry trust, which Is nlleged to havo cleared about $200,000 through controlling tho city's llvo poultry mar ket during tho last year, were handed down on Tuesday by a grand Jury, charging violation of tho stnto anti trust net. Hawaii Has Population of 237,633. Washington, Dec. 11. Hawaii has n population of 2117,033, nn Increase of 415,71-i over 1010, according to the an mini report of Governor PInkhniu. Tho greatest Increnso wns among tho Japa nese, Shoots Wife; Kills Himself. OruyB Lake, 111., Doc. 11. Edward Madolo shot nnd seriously wounded his wlfo In their home, and, locking his llvo children In tho building, ho set It nflro. Then ho killed himself. Tho children were rescued. FLICKERING! ST. LOUIS REPUBLIC. 1- tSX-AVlH BUCHAREST IS TAKEN PLOECHTI, IMPORTANT RAILWAY 8TATION, ALSO CAPTURED. Fall of Roumanian Capital Marks Cul mination of Brilliant Campaign. Berlin, Dec. 8. Bucharest, capital, of Itoumunlu, has been cuptured, It was announced ofllclully hero on Wednesday. Ploechti, the important railway Junction town, 80 miles northwest of Bucharest, also has been taken. Field Murshul von Mackenscn'H troops, advancing victoriously, ap proached the railway lino running northward from Bucharest to Ploech ti, causing tho Roumanians to evneu ato their positions north of Slnnla, the war ofllco announced. South of Buchnrest the Teutonic troops hnvo occupied, other towns nlotig the River Alt. More than 0,000 Itoumunluns wore enptured. The capture of Ploechti, on tho rail way running north from Bucharest, cuts the muln lino of retreat for the Roumanian armies operating In tho Bucharest region. Tho olllclul state ment does not Indlcnte whether tho entry of the Teutonic forces Into Bu chnrest nnd Ploechti wns simultane ous. Tho cupturo of Ploechti before that of tho capital would bo far moro serious for the Roumanians. Tho tnklng of Buchnrest virtually completes tho conquest by tho Teu tonic forces of tho southern section of tho Roumanian kingdom, embracing territory of more than 50,000 square miles. THOMAS J. HICKEY IS ELECTED St. Paul Man Chosen President of American Association at Indianapolis. Indlnnapolls, Dec. 11. Thomns J. Hlckey of St. Paul was elected on Fridny president of tho Americnn as sociation, defeating President Thomns M. Ohlvlngton, who wns n candidate for re-election. Hlckey was tho first president of tho association when it was organized In 1002. The vote wns B to 8. Tho election of Hlckey to the presi dency Is a victory for tho Cnntlllon forces on thnt minor organization. It Is a defeat for Georgo Tebcau and his backers who dominated tho league for many yenrs. Louisvlllo was chosen ns headquar ters for tho American association. A committee of live wns appointed to confer with representatives of tho In ternational lenguo on the question of n series of Intcrlongtio games. JOHN D. ARCHB0LD IS DEAD Associate of Rockefellers for 40 Years Expires at Tarrytown, N. Y., After Illness of Two Weeks. Tarrytown, N. Y Dec. 7. John Dustln Archbold. capitalist, president tho Standard Oil company of New Jersey nnd olllcer or director In vnri. ous other enterprises, died nt his homo nero on Tuesday, after nn Illness of two weeks following uu qperatlon for appendicitis. Leather Shortage Ties Up Report " Chnrlestou, W, Vu., Dec. 11. It was announced hero on Fridny that reports of the supremo court of appeals of West Virginia cannot bo mudo public because of a scarcity of leather with which to bind them! Congressman Trlbble Dies. Washington, Dec. 11. Roiiresontn. Uvo Samuel J. Trlbble. who renrosenti.ii tho Eighth Georgia district for threo terms, mod nt n local hosnltnl. it was stricken with apoplexy In bis of- uco ou tno opening duy of dongross. . - TO HEAD NEW CABINET DAVID LLOYD-GEORGE yILL RE PLACE ASQUITH AS PREMIER. Reported That General Joffre, Com- mander In Chief of Allied Armies, May Resign. London, Dec. 7. David Lloyd-George litis overthrown tho Asqulth cabinet una will become prime minister him self. Tho new government will ho conli tion,, llko the old ono. but nrobnblv without tho sumo measure of har monious support which attended tho formation of tho first conlltlon gov ernment, because Its birth has created additional factional differences. There wns a nrosnect that the nor sonnl olHces of the klnir mlcht solve tho situation, nnd tnany thought that tno Asqulth recline mlcht bo continued The king cnlled tho pnrty leaders to Buckingham palace and conferred with tnom for more than an hour. Mr. As qulth und Mr. Llovd-Gcorcro of the Llh erals, Bonnr Law nnd Mr. Balfour of tho Unionists nnd Mr. Henderson of tho labor party were present. It is many years since u British rulor assembled the representatives of the dlflVrent factions face to face when thoy hnd shown themselves unable to settle their differences. But no such serious crisis has arisen before to re quire such action by tho king. The king gave nn nudlenco to Mr. Bonnr Law, who declined to undertake the formation of a now ministry, and then to Mr. Lloyd-George, who ncccpt ed the responsibility, ns everyone, an ticipated he would If the opportunity came to mm. The ofllclnl announcement that Mr. LIoyd-Georgo had undertaken tho task. with the co-operntlon of Mr. Bonar Law, was a notification that tho new government would bo coalition. Thero Is strong ground for belief thnt Mr. Asqulth, who resigned as pre mier Inst night, will hnve no place In tho now coalition government. Dispatches from Pnrls quoto politi cal writers as saying that the political upheavals mny bo followed by the res ignation of General Joffre. Thero aro reports that the French government may be changed so ns to concentrate authority for quicker de cisions and nctlon. ERB IN JAIL REVEALS PAST Former Railroad President, Held at Chlcauo as Automobile Thief, Breaks Silence. Culcngo, Dec. . 8. Tho "checkered cnrt.cr," a term often nppllcd to tho experiences of ono who has practiced various occupations with dubious suc cess, wns nppllcd to tho past of Louis Erb, former railroad president, and now under Indictment ns nn nutomv bllj thief In Chlcngo. Erb was tbo principal witness for tho state In tho trial of Mrs. Elvlna Stiles, receutly acquitted of tho charge of being thk bond of nn automobile thieves' tnut. Breaking his sllonco regarding him self for tho first tlmo since his ar rest, Erb snld thnt ho has two broth ers. Newman and Louis, ono nrosiitit of several railroads and n copper mng- nate, worth S.to.OOO.OOO, and tho otlu-r a former Judgo, nnd Chlcngo lawyer, now In London. Steer Brings Record Price. I. hlcngo. Dec. 1). "Callfornln Jte," grand champion steer nt tho In ternational liivo stock show, sold to a Dotrolt firm for Sl.077.f30. Tho nnlnmi wna tho property of tho University of uaiirorniu. 50,000' Farmers Apply for Loans. Washington. Dec. 0. Olllclnls nf thn farm loan board nnnounced thnt nn. 000 fanners havo applied for mortgage loans aggregating approxltnntely $100, 000 moro than tho amount available for loans, 2 AMERICANS SLAIN HOWARD GRAY OF ILLINOI8 SHOT AND THEN HANGED BY VIL LISTAS AT PARRAL, MEX. ANOTHER CITIZEN IS BURNED British Subject Also Murdered Min ing Man Killed While in Doorway of Home and Body Suspended Sixty Carranzlstas Have, Ears Cut Off. El l!nso, Tex., Doc. 0. Government agents sent a report to. Washington on Thursday saying nn American named Foster had boon mutilated, thcil. burned at tho stake by Villa bnndlta operating near Torreon. The report was wild to hnvo boon brought by ref ugees coming to the border from Tor reon. They also reported CO Curranzn soldiers, with tholr cars cut ort by Vllln bandits, near Torreon. Foster's son was forced to witness his father's exe cution, tho roport said. Foster wusan Amorlcun hacienda superintendent. Gulllonno Snyinan, son of the Into Gen. W. D. Siiynmn of Boer war fame, Is reported to hnvo mot his death nt the hnnds of Vllllstus at San Publo Meoqul, Chihuahua, near GhUiunhun City. Howard Gray, nn American mining man nt Pnrrnl, Chlhuahuu, wns killed by Villa bandits when thoy entered tho town November C, nccordlng to a tele gram received by the Alvurndo Min ing nnd Milling company. The mes senger reports all other Americnns safe and American property unharmed. Grny has n sister, u Mrs. Bowman, residing In El Paso. Ho wns born li Pcorin, III. Gray was shot to death In the door way of his home, near Parral, and his body then hnnged by a bnnd of Villa bnndlts from Villa's main column, two foreign refugees who renched here from Parral reported. Cincinnati, Dec. 0. Tho man mur dered by Vllln bnndlts and known In Mexico as Howard Gray, Is, In fact, Hownrd Weeks, brother of Dr. R. Weeks, a dentist of this city. Doctor Weeks said Weeks hnd used tho namo as Gray while in Mexico for business reasons. Howard Gray formerly lived In Denver, nccordlng to his brother. BOYCOTT ENDS EGG CORNER Prices Drop 10 Cents at Chicago Fol lowing Drastic Action Taken by Women Foodstuffs Lower. Chicago, Dec. 0. Tho "egg corner" is smashed. Food prices are tumbling. Speculators, packers and produce men uro "unlondlng." This was tho good news brought ta Chlcngo housewives on Thursday on. the heels of tho opening of tho federal grand Jury hearing, egg and butter boycotts, and a report of warehouse men showing the selling out of big holdings of eggs. Eggs have dropped io cents a dozen, wholesale, in tho last ten days. Butter Is 4 cents cheaper than it was a "week ugo. Potatoes started on the downward road with u drop of from 5 to 8 cents in the week. Southern fruits nnd vege tables came down from 8 to 10 cents. While packers and produce men woro Inclined to hold tho boycott re sponsible for the drop In prices, tho big shift came with the opening of tho fed eral grand Jury's Investigation of food prices. 'That tho packers and warehousemen nnd produce men nro "unloading" hoarded supplies of foodstuffs beenmo known immediately after a conference botweeen Arthur Meeker, vico president or Armour & Co., nnd United States District Attorney Charles F. Clyne. LINER CALLED A TRANSPORT Note From Germany Contends Subma rine Commander Believed Arabia Was Carrying Troops. Washington, Dec. 0. Gcnnnny in n note mndo public on Thursday by tho stato department contends that tho British steamer Arabia, sunk in tho Mediterranean November 0, was in reality "a transport ship for troops in tho service of tho British government, which is to bo considered as an aux iliary wrashlp according to Interna tional law, and can, therefore, bo treat ed liku n wnrshlp." The German gov ernment's nttltudo, however, like that In the Marina case, Is expressed to bo ono of readiness to make nmends If It be 6howu that tho submarine comman der violated Germany's pledges to tho United Stntos and mado n "regrettable mistake." It may bo said that the United Stat,.. does hot regiml the circumstances that tfco German noto recites ns showlni? Justification .for sinking tho Arabia wrthout warning or ns relieving tho submarlno commander from establish ing tho status of the liner. Australia Trade Increase. London, Dec. 11. Tho trado commls- Hlonur of New South Wales reports tnnt figures show that In tho last threo yours Australia's trado with America hns Increased G00 per cent, or $45,000,- 000. Allies Drop Bombs on Trieste. Rome. Dec. 11. Two Italian son. planes raided Trieste Thursday, ac cording to nn olllclnl statement issued by tho admiralty, The statement says that tho raiders dropped llvo bombs ou naval sheds and returned unharmed.