COMBINE BROKEN BACK 0LB SCALE, "
rOHMER AGENT WITNESS
i NEBRASKA NOTES 2
u v
GOVERNMENT SCORES
AGAINST PAPER
A T1CTORV
TRUST
FEDERAL COURT DECREE
AN UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER
BY THE DEFENDANT
Witnessed of Different Companies
near at St. Putt I nnil Offer
to TeHtlfy. nut Pres
ence Uuiietrssnry.
Ap-
ST. FAUL, Minn. Tho United
States government secured an uncon
ditional surrender of the United
Stotes circuit court before Judge;
Sanborn in the suit which the attorney
general began on December 27, 100-1,
Jo dissolve a combination between,
the 3eneral Paper company and
twenty-three other defendants on the,
ground that an agreement had been
entered into bv the defendants in
restraint of interstate commerce.
Attorney Kellogg for the govern
ment and Attorney Flanders for the
defendants appeared before Judge
banoorn, sitting as a circuit juu6c,
nnd Mr.
mandate
Blip re me
that the
Kellogg moved that the,
from the United State.!
court ailirming the order,'
witnesses must testify be,
tiled. Judge Sanborn ordered tu.
mandat" filed. The witnesses tnen
rod before the United States
examiner and offered to testify. Tin
defendants then withdrew theii
Mr. Kellogg announced tiiat tin
jfoi-oriiiiiorit nut. I'.'ire to OXaillllU'l
fc"'
the witnesses, and moved for i
decree in favor of the government,
. I. ... I I 11..., t lw
jimge aanuorn orueix-u mai mj
decree be entered for the govern-1
ment of the relief prayer for, and
lmt. tlw ilonree should be settlld 01.
June 10. and the proceedings wen
adjourned.
The three witnesses who refuset
n ti,etit immiilv d. 1. MeNair. o'
w V J i ....... -j -
the Northwestern ' Taper company
A. C. Boesard, of the Itasca Pnpe
company, and B. F. Nelson of th
Hennepin Taper company, patu
into the eniirt the 4100 line assessed
against each for contempt of emir
for refusing to answer the question!
nut to them at a former hearing
Suit was brought by Frank Kellogg
r.i,.a m iti.nL- mion.iiil assistant'
perioral of tli" United'
Stues, on behalf of the United State
against the General Taper company
and twenty-three paier manufaetur
inir eornoriitions in Wisconsin, Min-
- - - . i
nesota and Michigan a little mon
than a year ago. The complaint
aMeced that the defendants in vio-j
lation of the provisions of the Sher
man act, entered into an ageeinent
combination and ecinpiracy with1
each other to restrain trade and com-'
jmerco among the several states and"
tD control regulate and monopolizei
Mild commerce and that this was ac
complished by organizing the General
Paper company of Chicago with a'
capital stock of $100,000, divided into
1,000 shares of $100 each wiucii siock
whs divided among the papei-manu
acturing corporations in me prupui-
...
tion of their average daily output of,
paper; that each of the corporations
tlif.rmmrm entered into a contract
making the General Taper company
its exclusive selling agent.
, The defendants filed answers and
testimony was taken for several
months, most of the facts showing a
combination were elicited from the
Ajlliers of the various defendant com
imniea. Finally the defendants
refused to furnish any further test!
mony or to answer any questions on
the grounds that the testimony would
tend to criminate the witnesses and
the corporations and on the ground
that the testimony was irrelevant
and immaterial. The case went to
the supreme court of t lie United
States and was there argued on the
'second of January, in connection
with the tobacco cases.
In botli the paper case and he
tobacco case tlie question argued and
decided was that witnesses were not
exempt from answering on the
'."round that the testimony would
tend to criminate the corporations
Tho supreme court held that the evi
denco was clearly material, ttiat the
bill nf tininlaint charged an unlaw
ful combination and conspiracy and
that the testimony tended to show it.
. The decision in this case really
deft nothing for the defendants to do
Jjut to submit to judgment, and they
appeared in court, withdrew their
answers.
HARD COAI, MINERS
AND W
TERMS
ATORS COME TO
Award of Strlko CommWilon to
Continued for Another TUreo
Yenra-ICeiumntlon Ex
dieted Monday
NEW YORK. After carrying on
negotiations lor nearly three months,
the sub-committee representing the
anthracite mine worke,rs and opera
tors of eastern Tennsylvania agreed
to continue thi award of the strike
commission for another three years,
or until March 31, lPOtt. v the men
will return to work .it1 soon as
practicable. All miners who have
not committed violence against per-
ions or property will be re-employed,
and no one will be discriminated
against because of any activity he
may have taken in the strike move
ment. The ngreenient is subject to
the ratilication of the tri-district
convention of mine workers at Scran-
ton, but there is not the slightest
doubt that the delegates will approve
the action of their representatives.
9 This outcome of a dispute which
threatened to develop into a long,
bitter struggle and paralyze a great
industry, was looked upon with con
siderablo satisfaction by the coal
presidents, as the agreement entered
into is their lirst proposition made
parly in March in reply to the mine
workers' original demands.
The miners had little to say regard
ng the agreement, except that it
was the best they could get They
pointed out. however, that the agree
ment entered into is the lirst general
agreement that lias ever been signed
between operators and miners, and
they look upon it as a step forward
in their endeavor to have regular
agreements with their employers.
While the compact entered into
wa predicted some time ago. the
aureement was reached without a
dual struggle on the part of the
miners to get something more
President Mitchell, in stating to the
operators the action of the Scranton
convention asked that the proposed
agreement be made for two vears.
In arguing for the two-year tern, he
said the cost of living might Increase
considerably in three years, and that
other changes in the mining industry
might come that would make the
present wage scale unfair to the met .
The operators in their reply said
they felt that any contingency that
might arise was covered by the
award of the strike commission, and
they concluded by asking that thu
award be continued for three years.
This was then agreed to.
In taking up the question of dis
crimination against some of the men,
it was the intention of the mine
owners to take back only such men as
they choose to re-employ, but Presi
dent Mitchell contested this point so
strongly that the operators withdrew
it.
Ho date has been ililoially -et for
the resumption of work, but as some
of the mines are not in good eondi.
Hon for an immediate resumption
the beginning operations may be
delayed for a short time. This is the
sixth week of the suspension, and
represents a Iops in production
about 5,000.000 tons.
SCRANTON, Ta. The adjourned
session nf the anthracite tri-district
mine-workers' convention promises
t i be quite formal and uninteresting.
There is no question but that the
agreement which was signed in New
York by the operators and the
members of the sub-scale committee,'
providing for a three years' con
tinuance of the strike conunissioin
and no discrimination will bo proved
by the delegates unanimously. There
was a noticeable let-up in operation
on the part of the companies which
have been tlie most aggressive sinco
the suspension began, in the import
ing of men and the operation of
collieries and washeries with them.
Arrangements already being mado
by the Delaware & Hudson nnu the
Erie companies for the shipping back
of the imported men, and it is
expected they will he all out of the
field soon, when resumption of work
will probably be ordered.
Among the English-speaking
miners no signs of dissatisfaction are
shown, and no criticism of John Mit
chell is heard, " the men apparently
being convinced that their leaders
ha v. shown them the best way out of
a bad dilemma.
Many foreign members, howew,
are plainly dissatisfied.
PEOPLE Or Itl'SSIA OIVEN VOICE IN
OOVHKNM ENT.
Rank and File at Capital
CZAR FaCE TO PACE WITH MILLIONS
HE KIH.ES
Mntunl Distrust of Two Porces Apunrant,
lint Hopefulness Shown
Petervhnri; l.llcn Since
City
ST. PETERSBURG. An ideal May
day liko a happy augury greeted the
uprising of the curtain for the new
act of the great historical drama.
Russia's struggle for liberty. Never
did the showy northern capital of
Peter the Great present a more bril
liant picture than for tho inaugura
tion of tlie Russian parliament.
Just a suspicion of haze hung over
the gulf, softening tho outlines and
giving tho scene n touch of fairyland.
The city, spreading out over the
numerous green islands in the river,
seemed swimming in a Hood of light.
The broad, swift-Howing Neva, with
arms outstretched to tho sea and the
interlacing canals, were turned to
azure by the rellecting blue of the
heavens, while tho golden domes of
the churches, tho spires of the ad
miralty nd the St. Peter and St. Paul
fortress and the shining minarets of
the palaces seemed to lloat above tlie
mass of yellow buildings. Besides,
the metropolis was dressed bride
like, awaiting tlie coining of her
lord. The yellow imperial standard
with tho double-headed eagle Hew
from the winter palace; Hags, by
order of the police, were displayed
from everv 'house and steamers of
. v
multi-colored pennants fluttered
from the yachts and shipping in the
harbor. Even tho tiny passenger
boats which thread the rivers and
canals, the street cars and many
cabs carried the Russian colors.
Tho banks, stores, schools ami some
of the factories were closed in honor
of tho occasion, but there was no
general holiday, tne government
specifically discouraging a suspension
of work in the industrial districts
owing to the fear that crowding the
workmen into the center of the city
intent provoke collisions, disorders,
and perhaps bloodshed.
There was something ' stinctly
awe-inspiring about the day with the
visions of chains falling from another
branch of the human race and the
Russian neonle taking up the march
of modern civilization. The repre
sentntives of the Russian millions
and tho emperor were at last face to
face and the result was to determine
the fa to of the nation and country
Rt.rofp.liiiiL' from Germany to the
Piieilin tn the nolar seas and to tin
burning sands of Central Asia.
Notwithstanding the mutual dis
trust of the government, nnd people
thorn iv.is not lacking the hope that
the foundation of a sincere under
standing between the emperor and
his subjects would he laid strong
and deep today. It was the attitude
of mutual suspicion which consisted
the great jarring note on this oc
casion. It could not be concealed
It was apparent everywhere.
The city might have been in a Rtati
of siege, so heavy was the array of
trooos. Not onlv were detachments
of infantry, cavalry nnd gendarmes
st-itinned n t. strategic points but
largo reserves were massed in the
court yards of the public buildings.
Early in the morning the palace
square resembled a field camp, two
regiments of guards having biv
ouacked there all night. At daylight
battalions of police took possession
of all tho approaches to the palace
for the distance of a third of a mile
and all day no one was allowed to
pns3 the lines without tickets.
The draw or tho Nicholas bridge
from Vasili island was opened and
tho palaco bridge which rests on
pontoons was aliowed to swing down
the current so as to permit the im
perial yachts bearing their majesties
and the court from Teterhof to pass
up the river to the landing stage in
front or the winter palace. A flotilla
of police patrol boats. Bevoral low
lying torpedo boats and a number of
oared galleyB cleared the river as
far as the palace of all moving crafts.
Like all great utate fun?tions in
holy Russia the ceremonies begin
with religious services. At 10 o'clock
in the morning tho whole city
reverebrated with hells and chimes
from St. Petersburg's myriad of
cathedrals churches and templca,
summoning the people to thanksgiving.
IIH1IIEKY, SHORT MEASURE AND
DECEPTION C II A ltd E D
Three Grades of Oil Taken Prom one Tank,
it nil Compiiny Oil Declnred to
Expand While In the
Yll:ou
GI1ICAGO. Corruption of railroad
employes anil agents of independent
oil companies, dishonest methods of
iroeurinc land leases, the eivina of
short measure and the selling of
three different kinds of oil out of the
same tank, and mi.reprei!entatious
as to the quality of the oil sold were
marged against the Standard Oil
company at a hearing before the
interstate commerce commission.
Incidentally it wa3 charged that
the 'Frisco road gives a rate of '2
cents a hundred to the Standard Oil
company, while it charges competi
tors of that corporation ten time a?
much for the same haul.
The inquiry was held under an
order of congress and this session
icld here was along the same lines
as that held some time ago in Kansas
City.
Tho principal witness of the day
was k. m. wilhoit or springtteid,
Mo., formerly for ten years agent or
the Standard Oil company at Topcka
It was ho who made tho charges of
bribery and dishonesty against the
company and said that tho 'fnso
road discriminated in favor of the
Standard Oil company. Other wit
nesses for the day were P. C Deran
of Fremont, O.. E. P. Ripley, presi
dent of the Atchison, Topeka k Santa
Fe railway and M. Maxon, a former
agent of the Standard Oil company
in Illinois. J he last witness gave
testimony which in many instances
was tho same as' that given by Mr.
Wilhoit
Two of tho points upon which it is
said tho Investigation will endeavor
. ,i f I
till 11UI1U (ML illllUUUI VJ I Llll.
pipe lines of the Standard Oil com-
M'lnv. whieh nrn laid nlomr the rail-
I J ' r. i
roads' right or way and the purchase
or gelena oil by the railroads for
headlight and signal purposes.
The first witness was E. M. Wilhoit,
....
now an independent oil operator, but
ten years ago an ncent of the
Standard Oil company, fie testified
that whilo in the employ of the
Standard Oil company he had, in
following out tlie instructions of his
superior oflicers. bribed clerks in the
ofTicea of railroads and employes of
independent concerns in order to
obtain information of the rivals of
the Standard Oil company. He
declared that agents of the Standard
Oil company are held personally
responsible for all oil sold in their
territory by independent companies
and that drivers of any wagons are
expected to keep their slock by
Felling 205 to L'OH gallons rrom n
wagon load of L'OO gallons, lie said
that the actual tests of the products
of the Standard Oil company to
determine the quality are carefully
guarded and that when it wub found
necessary to cut the price to meet
the figures of a competitor a cheaper
quality of oil was substituted and
guaranteed to be or a higher grade
than it really was.
Mr. Wilhoit Fiiid that frequently
three grades of oil were sold from
the same tank by agents or the
Standard Oil company.
Several letters were rend by the
witness in which ho was instructed
to watch shipments in this territory
aim report ine name ot every
customer or the independent con
corns and the amount and quality
received by him. He said that he
had bribed clerks in the offices or the
Rock Island, Santa Fo and Missouri
Tacih'c to give him lists or shipments
to tho customers of independent
companies. He told also of bribing
teamsters in order to obtain informa
tion.
"Cylinder oil i',. the most profitable
sold" said tho witness, "and the
Standard Oil company dislikes to
havo any independent sell any of this
grade. Our insructionR were that if
we found a competitor selling this oil
in our territory to cut tho prices bo
as to get the orders and then sub
stitute an inferior grade of oil and
guarantee it to be or superior
quality "
" Did you ever give short measure
to your customers?" asked kCom-
missioner Prouty. '
"'Won ,i:,i ,.oii : M.nf "
V U UJU . V U..,
replied tho witncPB. "I was fre
quently 'advised 'by agents of the
company that my stock was not show
ing up as it should, and told that it
wan a Bimplo matter to Bell 206 to 208
gallons from a 200-a lion load or oil.
While at work In the; ice cream
factory at Geneva W. M, Dlnnecn
was overcome with gas from tho
engine and suffered from the effects
a half day.
At the meeting of the village board
of 'I able Rock it was decided that
the billiard hall, bowling alley and
box ball room must go out of busi
ness along with the saloon.
Ora Elder, who hai been city
marshall at North Platte for two
years past and has just retired from
that position, opened up n real njtato
ofhco In that city this week.
Prof. Fesenbeck, the aspistnnt
principal of the West Point high
school, will resign his position at the
close of this term nnd enter a law
school.
A deal has oeen closed whbrc by
'ittinger Hrothers nuld their bynutl-
ful stock Jarm just outside tile city-
limits of Aloion. for per acre.
i lie purchuser of this land was-
Homor B. Robinson of Ooluinbus.
Will Sherra, who resides near
Rock Hluffs, found a gray wolf's denr
and captured the six baby wolves.
Ho ha decided to keep them as pom.
Me took several shots at the mother-
wolf, but failed to get her,
1 lie hemp mill in l remont. wni-
damaged by fire to the extent of $3o0
uy a blaze startetl by sparks from a.
passing engine. Trunks stored in the
warehouse of the Fremont Saddlery.'
company near by, were also scorched.
Mrs. Wllkins, wife of A. F.
Wilkins, an engineer on the Union
Pacific road with a run between
Manhattan, Kan., and Lincoln, fell)
at her homo in Beatrice and broke-
her right hip. As she is eighty years
of age, tlie injury is a serious one.
II. A Rodehorst of Columbus will
start soon for Germany. lie goe in
inc mieresi 01 ine jvoenng narvehtir
company and will not only represent
limi co,"lm"y "iroiiBiimu uenmnn,
but will also represent it in tho
Argentine republic.
Kire supposed to have been caused
by sparks from an engine slightly
' ...
damaged the roof or the Kook i&ihiiu
depot at Beatrice. Floyd's feed storo
I m West. Beatrice wa: damaged by
. ..
lire also.
Ed Gugeumus,
a wealthy and
farmer, an .!
respected leiired
pioneer of
now at St.
Howard county, living
Paul, Nebr., has been
killed by a horse striking him with
its head, causing a blood vessel tu
burst.
It in reliably reported that about1-.
$40,000 will be expended in erection
ol churches in Albion the present
year. The Catholics will build a .
'J5,000 edifice and the Methodists
will put in about $lo,000 in a Ik usa
or worship.
The 18-months old son of Mr. and
Mrs II. K. Prickett of ScottH Muff,
drank some horse liniment and died
two hours later. Some of the lini
ment had been used by the pnron Isl and
the child managed to get .no
bottle.
Columbus is to havo a gas puis-
and gas will be furnished there aa
cheap as it can be furnished any
where. local company has been
formed, consisting of Messrs. Garlow,
Roen nnd George A. Scott, and tho
business will be Htarled right away
so as to turmsli gaH tor Kiel and Jo.
lighting purposes next winter.
A new lodging house has boom
opened in North Platte by C. A.
Howe, proprietor or the furnituru"
store there bearing his name. Thin'
news will be welcome to parties de
siring accommodations in that city
over night ror the reason that here
tofore very often parties have been
compelled to stay up all night
because of their inability to secure
lodging.
For tho lirBt time in many years
slot machines are out of business in
Nebraska City. Tn accordance with.
tho orders of Mayor Steinhart re
cently issued practically all the slot
machines were removed. Those
which wero not removed were dis
mantled by the owneis. Machine
that paid in chips went out of busi
ness with the money machines, that
have been paying a monthly fine for
tho privilege of running,
Mr. Harry Crooks and Miss wtnL.
Poteet, of Falls City, have Just an
nounced the fact that they are
married and have been so since the
first of January, the ceremony, which
was performed in Leavenworth,
Kan., being kept secret until now.
They wifl make their homo in Hia
watha, Kan., Mr. Crooks being a
traveling man with headquarters,
there,