DEMOCRATS PLAN
TO LOP EXPENSES
IN RUNNING HOUSE
Scheme to Save $180,000 a
Year In Patronage Is Present
ed to the Majority Caucus.
Washington, April 3.—After pro
longed discussion, the democratic
caucus adopted the economy plan,
which, in detail, included the abol
ishment of six standing commit
tees with their attendant clerks
and messengers. The committees
abolished are those on private land
claims, Pacific railroads, Ievee3
and improvements of , the Missis
sippi river, ventilation and acous
tics. and manufactures.
The pruning policies will cut out
nearly onc-third of the House em
ployes, and the saving may amount
to $180,000 annually.
Washington, April 3.--Democratic
Representatives in the Sixty-second con
gress. who will control the lower house
.for the next two years, met In caucus
■at 10 o’clock today. The House cham
ber was a scene of activity early in
the day, scores of new members ar
riving more than an hour ahead of
time to mingle with the veterans in
dhe lobbies and cloakrooms. The cau
cus was called to order by Henry D.
♦Clayton, of Alabama, the temporary
chairman.
The principal contest is over the post
of sergeant-at-arms, the candidates be
ing U. S. Jackson, of Indiana, and W.
H. Ryan, of New York.
Fitzgerald to Land.
The first action was the election of
Representative Albert S. Burleson, of
Texas, as permanent chairman of the
caucus. He had been a candidate l’or
chairmanship of the committee on ap
propriations, which the ways and
.means committee report assigns to
iRepresentative J. J. Fitzgerald, of
New York. This action, it is believed,
will restore good feeling, which was
upset by the contest for the appropria
tions commission.
The question of patronage was then
taken up and discission followed on a
plan to abolish mans' positions, it hav
ing been estimated that about $113,
000 annually can be saved in this man
ner.
The ways ard means committee
planned to submit to the caucus its re
port on its organization of blouse com
mittees. A list of the committees and
their chairmen has been completed and
contests are brewing over a few of
these selections.
Complete New Rules.
The new rules committee worked un
til late last night completing its report
for presenation to the caucus. An en
tirely new code of rules to govern the
next House has been written. Repre
sentative Henry, of Texas, chairman of
the committee, stated before the cau
cus that the committee had used as a
basis for the new code the rules of the
House in the Fifty-third congress, the
last congress controlled by the demo
crats.
Tlie organization of the caucus was
Completed by choosing Representative
A. W. Ashbrook, of Ohio, as secretary,
an a short speech to his associates,
Chairman Underwood, of the ways and
means committee, announced the plan
to cut down the big roll of house em
ployes and to givo most of the patron
age to those democrats who had not
been given committee chairmanships.
The details of the plan to save $113.
000 in the expenses of running the
House were presented in a report by
Representative Palmer, of Pennsylva
nia, a member of the ways and means
committee, to whom the work had been
entrusted. The scheme not only con
templated the abolishment of many po
sitions, but the consolidation of others.
SPANISH CABINET IS
OUT OFJJFFjCE AGAIN
Associates of Premier Canalejas
Tender Their Resignations
to King.
Madrid, April 3.—It is rumored
tonight that General Weyler, cap
tain general of Catalonia, has been
charged with the responsibility of
forming a new cabinet. Weyler is
noted as the tyrannical governor
general of Cuba.
Madrid. April 3.—The cabinet of
Premier Canalejas resigned today. The
(cabinet formed on February 9, 1910. and
ye-organized on January 1, lust.
• •Canalejas in forcing religious reforms.
encountered the bitter opposition of the
Catholics and his course resulted in a
practical suspension of diplomatic re
lations between the government and the
Vatican.
The premier has, however, been
(credited with the supporc of King Al
fanso and his bill of associates, aimed
to regulate the religious and other so
cieties, which he refused to submit
first to the holy see, was approved un
animously by the cabinet last Tuesday,
and was to be introduced in the Cortes
on April 6.
•4 4
4 MILLIONAIRE IS GIVEN 4
4 A SENTENCE IN PRISON 4
4 4
4 Seattle, Wash., April -3.—Cla- 4
4 renco Dayton Hillman, the mul- 4
4 timiliionaire real estate dealer. 4
;4 convicted of using the United 4
>4- States mails to defraud, was 4
4 sentenced today to two years 4
4 and six months’ imprisonment 4
■4 iq McNeil's island penitentiary, 4
4 and to pay a fine of $5,200 and 4
4 costs. 4
4 4
444444444444-»444444-»»
AGED ACTOR ILL.
West Swanzey, N. J.. April 3.—Tuo
condition of Denman Thompson, the
aged actor, continues serious and his
medical attendants fear It will be dif
fficult to overcome the heart affection
which has prostrated him, Two spe
cialists are here today from Boston to
assist the family physician.
FIGHTINgTaT SONORA.
El Paso, Tex., April 3—There "is noth
ing new concerning peace negotiations.
Interest centers lri tho fighting at Santa
(Barbara and in Sonora. Details of fur
ther fighting in those regions are lack
ing today
The San Carl03 gold mines, a Brit
ish concern, was raided by »he Moya
band at Mezqultal Del Oro Zacatecas,
aind a quantity of dynamite taken.
’This, it is reported, the insurrectos are
.to use against San Cristobal De Bar
ranca. which has been fortified by extra
troops pending the expected arrival oi'
the insurrectos.
BIG AERIAL RAGE IS
COMING OFF IN WEST
Kansas City and Omaha Both
Bidding for the Bennett Bal
loon Event.
Kansas City, Mo., April 1,—Clifford
B Harmon Find J. K. Duffy, of New
York city, representing the National
.Council of Aero Clubs of America, ar
rived here today from St. Louis to in
vestigate the facilities for holding the
International long distance balloon race
[for the James Gordon Bennett trophy
pere. In addition to meeting the local
[committee headed by George M- Myers,
Mr. Harmon and Mr. Duffy received an
Omaha, Neb., delegation, which pre
sented arguments in favor of Omaha.
' Mr. Harmon explained that there
would be two races—the elimination
race and the race for the Bennett
trophy. It was not improbable, said
he, that the different races would go
to different cities. A decision will not
.be announced until the Aero Club of
America considers the report of the in
vestigators.
CHICAGO MAN WRITES
BLACK HAND LETTERS
Commission Merchant, an Ital
ian, Admits His Guilt to
the Police.
Chicago, April 1.—Philip Purpur
pa, a former commission merchant of
South Chicago, today confessed to the
police that he had written 25 letters to
people of the suburb, demanding money
and signing the epistles "The Black
Hand." Some of these were success
ful. he said.
Purpurpa was ■ arrested yesterday
when he went to a designated spot and
took a dummy package which had been
deposited there by the recipient of
a black hand letter.
The police do not believe Purpurpa’s
letters were inspired by his individual
needs and are endeavoring to connect
him with the senders of other missives
of similar Import which have been
mailed to residents of Chicago, one of
them to Federal Judge K. M. Landis,
and to the members of a Jury In his
court which was trying a black hand
case.
DIEHL AND BEACH OUT
OF ASSOCIATED PRESS
Veteran Newspaper Men Pur
chase San Antonio Light and
Will Run It.
New York, April 1.—Colonel
Charles S. Diehl and Harry L. Beach
ihave purchased the San Antonio Light,
at San Antonio, Tex., and will retire
from their positions iti the Associated
Press, their resignations to be effect
ive at the convenience of the service.
Colonel Diehl has been connected
with the Associated Press for the last
28 years, during 18 of which he has
been assistant general manager.
Mr. Beach's relation to the Asso
ciated Press has covered a period of
20 years and for the last two years
he has been superintendent of the Cen
tral division, with headquarters at Chi
cago.
KANSAS BANKER HAS
FLED FROM JUSTICE
S. M. Pickens’ Speculations
Cause His Institution to
Close Its Doors.
Thayer, Ivan., April 1.—Tho First
National Bank of Thayer failed to open
this morning. On the door was posted
a notice w.hich stated that, owing to
irregularities In the accounts of S. M.
Pickens, former cashier, the bank would
remain closed pending Investigation by
national bank authorities.
At the request of the national bank
examiners Pickens resigned a week ago.
He left Thayer. His whereabouts are
unknown.
CANNON IS OUT OF
LEADERSHIP RACE
Former Speaker Announces
That He Won’t Aspire to
Minority Honor.
Washington, April 1.—Ex-Speakty.
J. G. Cannon this afternoon definitely
announced his Intention not to seek the
republican leadership in the next
House, stating that lie would not bo a
candidate for the minority nomination
for speaker.
Indications point to the nomination
of Ilepresentallve James R. Mann, of
Illinois, as the republican House lead
er. He will probably be nominated for
speaker.
DISARMAMENT MOTION
BEATEN IN REICHSTAG
Berlin. April 1.—The relchstag by
a large majority today rejected tho so
cialist motion calling on the govern
ment to take “immediate steps leading
to an International agreement con
cerning universal limitation of arma
ments and the abolition of the right
to capture at sea."
DES MOINES FACTORIES
SUBJECT TO CRITICISM
Dcs Moines. la, April l.--Kiat# La
bor Commissioner Van Duyu and City
Fire Marshal McNutt, after inspecting
local factory conditions, declared that
startling conditions exist In many. In
some factories tho aisles were blocked
so that escape In caso of fire would be
Impossible. In outers, there were no
fire escapes or only worthless ladders.
Many doors were found opening Inward
Instead of outward
DESPERATE CRIME
OF KIDNAPERS IS
RICHLY J1EWARDED
Daring Act Is Pulled Off Suc
cessfully In a Pew Hours and
Posse Are In Pursuit
of Men. .
Las Vegas, N. M., March 31.—
Two masked men forced an en
trance into the home of A. T.
Rogers, a prominent lawyer, at 11
o’clock Wednesday night, and, at
the point of revolvers, compelled
Mrs. Rogers to surrender to them
her 2-year-old baby.
The kidnapers left a note for
Mr. Rogers, who was absent from
the city, demanding $12,000 in
cash if the parents wanted their
baby back alive, and directed that
the money be paid at midnight
last night. The demands were
complied with to the letter, the
money was paid, and the child
recovered.
The baby is a grandson of
Judge Henry L. Waldo, a million
aire, of Kansas City. The ban
dits escaped, but posses in auto
mobiles are scouring the country
for miles around. One of the kid
napers was partially identified as
Dennis Hart, a notorious postof
fice and bank robber, who re
cently broke jail at Albuquerque,
where he was being held for trial
on the charge of postoffice rob
bery.
Take Desperate Chances.
Mr. Rogers’ brother, Will Rogers, was
In the house at the time of the kidnap
ing, but he was not disturbed. Enter
ing the mother’s bedroom, the two
masked men pointed revolvers at Mrs.
Rogers and demanded the baby. She
offered them her jewelry, silverware
and other valuables, but they told her
they had been waiting for months for
an opportunity to steal the little fel
low and told her to "hurry up about It.”
Mrs. Rogers then carefully dressed
the baby, gave the abductors extra
clothing for It, kissed It goodbye, and
the kidnapers departed.
Driven almost Insane by fear that
harm would come to her child, the
mother gave no alarm until yesterday
when she conferred with the local
bankers, pledging them to secrecy as
commanded In the note left by the kid
napers, secured the money, which was
In bills of 110 denomination or less, and
at the appointed hour, her brotherlnlaw
.drove along to a remote point In the
.mountains 11 miles from Las Vagas,
where the two men received the money.
Finds Child Asleep.
He was then directed to drive 15
miles In the opposite direction where
In a ravine by the roadside he found
the little boy, wrapped In blankets and
asleep. He returned the child un
harmed to Its mother and not until then
were officers Informed of the kidnaping.
This gave the abductors several hours’
start. Up to 11 o’clock today no traces
of them had been found. It Is said
there were four in the party.
Ksyisas City, March 81.—"It’s the
first I heard of the kidnaping," said
Judge H. L. Waldo, a wealthy attorney
of this city and grandfather of young
Rogers, when told of the crime this aft
ernoon.
Judge Waldo, who Is rated as a mil
lionaire, denied he had anything to do
with the payment of the ransom.
CHARGES HIS WIFE
WITH RACE SUICIDE
Complains Because She Balked
On Having More Than
Seven Children.
Chicago, April 1.—Difference of
opinion on the question of how many
babies should constitute a family re
sulted In the divorce of Frank A. Wil
lard, of Los Angeles, from Mrs. EHa
M. Willard, a resident of Chicago in
1900. Willard filed suit In the circuit
court to have the decree of divorce
granted to his wife set aside.
After the seventh baby arrived
trouble between the couple began, de
clared Willard. Mrs. Willard said
firmly that seven were enough in the
family.
"Your orator Insisted that nature
should not be Interrupted In her wise
plan of populating the earth and the
defendant hied herself to the beautiful
city of Chicago and commenced suit
for divorce,” reads the bill of Willard.
Mrs. Willard sued her husband for
divorce, March 7, 1899, alleging neglect,
cruelty and desertion and was granted
a decree the following June. Willard
contends that he could have shown
that his wife did not havo sufficient
grounds for divorce If he had been
given an opportunity.
-- « ■ -
WOMAN TO BECOME
MAJOR CLUB OWNER
Cleveland, Ohio, April 1.—By the
will of M. Stanley Robison, principal
owner of the St. Louis National league
baseball club, probated here today, a
woman will succeed to his stock In the
club and become a baseball magnate.
She Is Mrs. Helen Hathaway Robison
Britton, daughter of the late Frank De
Haas Robison, brother of Stanley Rob
ison. Three-fourths of the estate in
cluding all the stock In the St. Louis
club, goes to Mrs. Britton. The other
fourth Is bequeathed to her mother,
Mrs. Sarah Carver Hathaway Robison.
THREE-I MAGNATES
UNABLE TO AGREE
Chicago, April 1.—The schedule
meeting of the Tliree-1 league, held
here today to finally settle the differ
ences between the northern and south
ern factions of the league, broke up in
a disagreement. The 10-club league
proposal of the southern clubs was the
rock on which the split was started.
The whole case will probably go to the
national commission for adjustment.
TRANSPORT RELIEVES
CHINESE SUFFERERS
Vessel From United States
Nears the Famine Infested
Provinces.
Washington, March 31.—The United
States transport Buford, oearlng the
relief supplies to the starving people
of China, which were collected In this
country under the auspices of the
American National Red Cross and Se
attle Commercial club, arrived at
Shanghai today according to a cable
gram received by the officials of the
American Red Cross.
The vessel will proceed Immediately
to Nanking and Chlnkiang to unload
her cargo.
Announcement of the arrival of the
American transport In Chinese waters
reached Washington almost simultan
eously with mall advices to the state
department from Shanghai and Nank
ing detailing pitiful tales of the Inde
scribable suffering of the starving mil
lions.
Mr. Bostick, a missionary, writing
from Pochow, says the suffering poor
have reached the extremes of misery.
A few months ago they were living on
wheat bran. With this exhausted they
have resorted to cooking leaves of
trees and even simple dry wheat chaff.
Barefooted children, all but naked, on
freezing cold days, pitifully scream
ing "Pm hungry, I’m hungry," present
a common occurrence.
THIS WILL BE GEERS’
LAST TURF SEASON
Memphis. Tenn., March 31.—Edward
Geers, the famous driver, will retire
from the trotting tracks at the end of
the coming season. In fact he Is
thinking of doing It now and devoting
his time only to preparing a string of
horses quartered at the driving park
race track in North Memphis.
Geers, who is past 65, has closed a
deal for a lot in fashionable Rembret
place on which he will build a resi
dence costing $15,000. Geers would
neither deny nor confirm Ills reported
retirement saying- “You know I am
pretty, old and I think I ought to step
down for some one else. As long as I
have breath In me, though, I will train
horses.”
Mrs. Geers said she wanted her hus
band to retire from driving, as they
had enough to live on comfortably and
both would be satisfied with a home
In Memphis.
ANGRY WORDS HURLED
IN COLORADO SENATE
Dignified Solon Calls Col
league a Liar and Is Chal
lenged to Fight.
Denver, March 31. — The lie mi
passed and coats swere Jerked off dur
ing the debate In the state senate to
day over a resolution to adjourn sine
die April 22. The resolution finally was
adopted, 18 to 17.
Senator Blakey applied the fighting
word to Senator Hecker, who forth
with told his colleague he "could lick
him either here or outside."
Senator Blakey Immediately took off
his glasses and coat and moved to the
neutral zone outside the chamber
doors. Senator Hecker, however, did
not follow and Senators Adams, Napier
and Tobin finally succeeded in bring
ing the statesman back Into the senate
chamber.
Senator Hecker said he would apol
ogize for his language but Senator
Blakey refused to retract.
HEAD OF MINERS’ UNION
WILL WORK AS LABORER
Pittsburg, Pa., March 31. — When
Thomas L. Lewis relinquishes his po
sition as president of the United Mine
Workers of America tomorrow night,
he will leave the headquarters In In
dianapolis for his home In Bridgeport,
Ohio, and on Monday will take a place
as miner in the Wheeling Creek mines
of the Lorain Coal & Dock company.
It is stated that Lewis has received
a number of business offers but he
promises to remain In the miners' or
ganization, and his friends here say
he will again be a candidate for Inter
national president. He recently dis
couraged an effort to make him the
head of the Ohio organization.
GUGGENHEIM ROAD IS
FINISHED IN ALASKA
Last Spike Is Driven Today of
Outlet Prom Copper River
Country.
Cordova, Alaska, March 31.—The last
spiko completing the Copper River &
Northwestern railroad between Cor
dova, on the tide water, and Kennl
cott, where the Bonanza copper moun
tain Is situated, was driven today.
Trains will be operated over the en
tire line within two days and the first
ore will be shipped from Kennlcott for
the Tacoma smelter on Monday or
Tuesday next.
Work on the railroad, which la 197
miles long, and cost 320.000,000, was be
gun November 15, 1907. The railroad Is
owned by the Alaska Syndicate, popu
larly known as the Guggenhelm-Mor
gan syndicate, which also owns the
Alaska Steamship company and copper
mines.
Construction of the road was one of
the most remarkable engineering feats
of modem times.
BANDITS IN PERU.
Lima, Peru, March 31 —A band of
1160 bandits Is levying tribute on the
merchants In the north. Troops have
been sent against them. The govern
ment Is criticised for not having main
tained sufficiently equipped garrisons
In that district.
MONEY IS LACKING.
Cambridge, Mass., March 31.—In his
annual report Professor F. E. Picker
ing, director of the Harvard astrono
mical observatory, states that the de
ficit has Increased to such proportions
that the station at Arekuipa. Peru, will
have to be abandoned at leust In parL
BUGKETSHOPSLEGAL
IN NATIONAL CAPITAL
Jurist Holds Late Act Passeo
by Congress to Be
“Unconstitutional. ”
Washington, March 31.—‘‘Bucket
shopping” In the District of Columbia
Is a lawful occupation, according to a
decision handed down today by Justice
Wright In the district supreme court,
and as a result the widespread crusade
waged by the department of justice to
end the practice in nearly a half score
of cities threatens to come to naught.
Justice Wright based his decision on
the ground that the amendment to the
code defining "bucketing” is unconsti
tutional because It deprives citizens of
the liborty to contract guaranteed
them by the constitution.
The decision was rendered In the
case of Edward Altemus, of Jersey
City, and Louis A. Celia, and Angelo
Celia, of St. Louis, who operated a so
called bucketshop under the title of
Standard Stock and Grain company.
With 26 others they were Indicted for
running a bucketsliip here, and while
six of these pleaded guilty and were
fined In sums aggregating 38.100, the
remainder decided to fight U»« mat
ter.
The movements of the government
leading up to the Indictment were
shrouded In the greatest seoreev. On
April 2, 1910, however, when Indict
ment* were obtained, raids on "shops"
In seven cities were made simultan
eously, wires were cut and customers
were thrown Into panic. Since then, ac
cording to Attorney General Wicker
sham, "bucketshopplng” has become a
thing of the past east of Denver.
The government announced today Its
Intention to appeal from Justice
Wright’s decision.
VICE INVESTIGATION IS
OPENED IN NEW YORK
New Yorw, March 31.—The grand
Jury began an Investigation today Into
the charges brought by Magistrate
Corrigan that vice and crime are ram
pant In the city. Frank Moss, first as
sistant district attorney, ana George
Gordan Battle, as special assistant,
have charge for the city.
Commissioner Cropsey, head of the
police department, was the first wit
ness called. He was examined with
reference to the physical condition of
the force, its state of discipline, Its
methods of discipline, and the difficul
ties that surrounded hts task. Before
the Investigation runs Its course. It Is
probable that all the deputy commis
sioners and many inspectors and cap
tains will also be called to testify.
MONUMENT ON SITE
OF GRATER HORROR
Virginia Gives Plot of Ground
to Bay State for a
Memorial.
Springfield, Maas., March 31.—Fifty
years after the opening of the greal
struggle between the south and the
north, the members of A. P. Hill Camr
of Confederate veterans of Petersburg
Va,, has given to Massachsetts a plot ol
ground near that city for the erection
of a monument to the Massachusetts
soldiers who were killed In front ol
Petersburg.
A. P. Hill camp was entertained In
Springfield last summer by E. K. Wil
cox Post, Grand army of the Republic.
The sit.-i for the memorial belonged to
Crater farm, and is two miles from
Petersburg.
Crater farm Is so called because ol
the crater shaped opening made when
the men of the 48th Pennsylvania regi
ment tunnelled from the union picket
line under the confederate fortifications
and blew up a portion of them. A large
number of confederate soldiers wen
burled alive when the explosion oc
curred and their remains are yet there.
ZEPPELIN AIRSHIP IN
A GOOD MAIDEN FLIGHT
Frlederlchshaven, Germany, March
31.—Count Zeppelin’s new airship made
a successful maiden flight today.
The craft replaces the passenger
ship Deutschland, which, after a few
thrilling exhibitions, came to grlet
amid the trees of Teutoburglan forest
on June 28 last. The motors and the
vertical steering planes of the Deutsch
land were saved from the wreck and
utilized In the construction of her suc
cessor.
WILL GOST MILLIONS
TO REBUILD CAPITOL
Work On Damaged Structure at
Albany Will Be Begun
at Once.
Albany. N. Y., March 31.—The work
of rehabilitating the flre-swept state
capltol begun yesterday while the
flames were still crackling In the' west
ern wing, was continued today with In
creasing vigor. First efforts were di
rected to drying out the portions of the
great building untouched by the Are;
but soaked by the tons of water poured
on the conflagration. Today the execu
tlve leaders are expected to confei
with Governor Dlx and State Archlteel
Ware regarding the appropriate
necessary to repair the building.
The state architect has recommend
ed that the legislature authorize Im
mediately the preparation of plans foi
rebuilding the ruined third and fourth
floors in the west end. This work wil
Include the replanning of the intertoi
to meet the demands of the offices the,:
will occupy the quarters from which
fire drove the education department.
Unofficial estimates place the cost o;
reconstruction close to $4,000,000.
ILLINOIS CENTRAL WEN
IN A WAGE CONFERENCE
Chicago, March 31. — W. L. Park
general manager Of the Illinois Cen
tral railroad; H. B. Perham, of St
Louis, representing the telegraphers
and J. W. Miller, chairman ot thi
.ouisiana division of the telegraphers
' ion, conferred here today on the
e question. A strike Is threatenei
pi 11 1 by the men, who ask ai
t of 20 per cent In wages.
BLAZE IN CAPITOL
AT ALBANY CAUSE
OF GREAT DAMAGE
State’s Magnificent Library,
Valued at $2,000,000 De
stroyed and State
Offices Wrecked.
Albany, N. Y, March 30.—State
Architect Ware issued a statement
that the less, by rough estimate,
would be about $5,000,000, and $7,
009,000, .exclusive of the valuable
records in the state library which
can never be replaced. The library,
not figured in this estimate, was
worth $2,000,000.
Electricians about the . capitol
eoouted the idea that defective wir
ing had started the blaze and
blamed it on a carelessly thrown
cigaret.
So far as can be ascertained there
is no insurance on the capitol or its
contents.
Albany, N. Y., March 29.—Fire
swept, smoke strewn and water
drenched, New York state’s mag
nificent $27,000,000 capitol stands
this morning a partial wreck by
flames that started in the assembly
library, burned away the entire
west wing and did damage esti
mated at $10,000,000 before the
flames were declared under con
trol after raging more than four
hours. It is said the fire was
started by a fused electric push
button becoming electrified.
Samuel Abbott, of Syracuse,
night watchman in the state li
brary, is missing, and is believed
to have perished in the flames.
His body is probably buried be
neath a mass of debris.
The fire was discovered by a
night watchman and the alarm
was sounded at 2:46 o’clock. Be
fore the firemen reached the mas
sive structure, priceless docu
ments, books and records, stored
In the assembly library, had been
destroyed and other departments
were being threatened. The imi
tation oak ceiling of the assembly
chamber, composed of papier
mache, was partially destroyed, as
was also the famous $1,000,000
staircase in the west wing. .
Third Floor Ruin.
On the third floor, where the flames
gained their start, the departments
wholly or partially destroyed by Are
or seriously damaged by water were the*
state library, containing 400,000 vol
umes, among them the most valuable
genealogical works In the United States,
together with relics, priceless docu
ments, some of them dating back to
1776 and Irreplaceable; the assembly
and senate libraries in which thousands
of volumes of law and code books, also
a number of documents and manu-'
scripts that can never be replaced; the
finance committee room. In which were
stored drafts of all the appropriation
and other bills of the present session;
the chamber of tho president pro tern
of the senate; the lieutenant governor's
room, badly damaged, but not wrecked.
The senate and assembly chambers
were both flushed with water that has
ruined their rich furnishings and th«
celling of the latter hang In wasted,
straggling shreds of half dissolved
paper. This celling, with Us handsome
adornment, Is said to have cost a great
sum and was one of the show sights
of the capitol.
On the fourth floor In the west wins
the wrecked offices are the court of
claims, in which many important legal
documents were on file; the bill
draughting department; the bureau oi
weights and measures; the state reg
ents' room; the state prison commis
sion; the state educational department,
containing many valuable books oi
scientific and historical Interest.
The structure was commenced In
March 1884 and took five and a half
years to build.
State Offioes Wrecked.
On the second floor the damaged
rooms are the attorney general’s office
and the state excise department, swept
by flames.
On the first floor the damaged depart
ments Include the offices of the state
treasurer and the state tax commis
sioner, the state board of charities, the
state commission of lunacy and the
lower office of the state educational de
partment.
Practically all of tho offices below the
third floor, Including the executive de
partment, were damaged by smoke and
water.
The departments which escaped the
ravage of lire and the deluge of water
Include the court of appeals, secretary
of state’s office, department of public
works, tho state superintendent of
prisons office, the state civil service
commission and the forest, fish and
game department.
After the fire was under control,
Fred Weyler, 75 years old, a watch
man In the state library, was reported
to be missing. Thomas Bean, the cap
itol attache, and a man employed in
the document room were missing.
Old Relics Are Saved.
These have all been removed to a
place of safety since the fire started
Mr. Draper said that some of the man*
uscripts that have been lost were orig
inal documents and cannot be replaced.
The early Dutch records were lost. O#
the books on the state library shelved
which can be duplicated In opeft
market today, such duplication would
cost, according to Commissioner
Draper, $1,500,000, but he says the valua
of the other books and manuscript*
because of their being rarities, Is price
less. Commissioner Draper estimated
that the loss of documents and equip
ment of the state library which could
be replaced was in the neighbarhood
of $2,000,COO. He has arranged to carry
on tho work of his department In thi
state normal school.
Building May Ba Unsafe,
Governor Dix summoned State Arch
1 lteci Ware, Police Chief Hyatt and Fire
' Chief Brldgeford Into conference as to
the safety of the capltol. The governor
feared it had been so badly damaged
that all parts were unsafe. Speaking
of the Are Governor Dlx said:
•'I consider the destruction of the
1 state library a national loss.”
i Weyler, Bean and the document room
attache, who were reported missing.
, were accounted for before noon, but it
■ could not be definitely ascertained as
to whether or not Samuel Abbott had
been located
?
