Nebraska Newspapers

    MAINE’S DEAD ARE
PUT TO REST WITH
GREAT SOLEMNITY
; _
President, Cabinet, Naval Offi
cers and Those in Charge
of Doomed Ship Pay
Last Tribute.
Washington, March 25.—With all the
pomp and solemnity that a mighty na
tion can pay its heroes of war, the last
of the dead of the Maine were laid
away today in Arlington cemetery.
Side by side with the bodies of those
brought back from Havana harbor aft
er the war with Spain, they were con
signed to the earth of the old dominion,
while a nation paid its last measure of
honor to the “unidentified” of that great
catastrophe, that brought on a war,
changed the map of the world and ex
tended the empire of the United States
Into the corners of the earth.
Seldom in the history of this country
has there been planned a higher tri
bute to the memory of any man or men,
tnan that for the 64 dead of the Maine.
Government business in Washington
was practically suspended by executive
order. President Taft, most of the
members of his cabinet, the highest of
ficers of the army, the navy and the
marine corps, officials of the depart
ments and the representatives of many
foreign powers participated in the ser
vlce.
Over government buildings flags
hung at half mast, while congress ad
journed for the day. The booming of
minute guns and the tramp of soldiers
added the touch of military pomp and
cir. "P’«tanCes.
cparations Were Elaborate.
...rate and careful preparations
hac been made for the ceremonies of
the burial. Beginning with the removal
of the dead from the United States
ship Birmingham, which brought them
up from Havana and ending with the
firing of three volleys of musketry over
the new made graves across the
Potomac, the exercises were designed
to show all honor and respect to the
martyrs of the doomed battle ship. The
escort for the slow march through the
streets of the capital from the Birm
ingham to the state, war and navy
building was picked from the Birming
ham and other vessels now in Wash
ington. Tho speakers who faced the
crowd in the plaza behind the navy
building were only three—President
Taft. Father Chidwick, chaplain of the
Maine when the explosion of February
15, 1898 sent her to the bottom, and
Chaplain Bayard, United States navy.
The marine band, the show band of
Washington, was chosen to give the
solemn music for the dead, and an
army battery stationed near the Wash
ington monument, was selected to fire
the 21 gun salute, as the ceremonies at
the navy building ended and the quiet
march to Arlington was begun.
Ship's Officers Present.
Conspicuous among the officials for
whom reservations had been made just
behind President Taft on the steps of
the big granite building were Rear
Admiral Charles D. Sigsbee, who com
manded the Maine at the time of the
explosion. Rear Admiral Richard Wain
wright. Lieutenant Boyd and Medical
Director B. G. Heneberger, officers un
der him at the time. For Admiral
Dewey and Lieut. Gen. Nelson A. Miles,
the ranking officers of the navy and the
army, special places had been set aside.
During the memorial exercises, the
committee had arranged for the tolling
of the "Paul Revere” bell of All Souls
Unitarian church, which has been tolled
at the funerals of presidents, admirals,
generals and other prominent men.
Winding slowly out from behind the
navy building into Pennsylvania
avenue, the funeral procession found
its way through the older part of
Washington, across the Potomac river
and up the gray road to Arlington.
Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fisk had been
assigned to lead the parade and behind
him were placed first as escort of po
lice; a detachment of troops from Fort
Myer; the marine band, a squadron of
cavalry and the first battalion of en
gineers.
The naval escort comprised a bat
talion of marines, two battalions of
seamen, the naval band and the District
of Columbia naval militia.
Taft’s Eulogy.
President Taft in his eulogy at tile
Maine funeral ceremonies said:
"We meet to pay appropriate honor
to tile memory of the first of the coun
try’s sons who gave up their lives in
our war with Spain. I do not mean by
this to charge responsibility to the
Spanish government for the explosion
of the Maine, but that the tragedy was
part of the causes which led up to
the Spanish war, no one familiar with
the circumstances can now doubt.
"Of that war every American can
feel proud, because it was fought with
out a single selfish instinct and was
prompted by the most altruistic mo
tives. Beginning with a self-denying
ordinance with respect to Cuba, we
were forced into the attitude of taking
over the Philippines, and our course
In those islands has reflected the high
est credit on our purposes and civiliza
tion.
"These, our honored dead, were
hurled into eternity without the in
spiration of anticipated battle or
hoped-for victory. But they were on
duty when they went down; they wore
the uniforms of their beloved coun
try; and they are to be classed well
to the fore in that long list of naval
heroes whose steadfastness and cour
age have given the American navy
the high position it occupies in his
tory among the navies of the world.
“It is well that we should halt the
wheels of government and stay the
hum of industry to take time to note
by appropriate ceremony the debt we
owe to those who gave up their lives
for the nation. We raised the ship
from the mud bottom of Havana har
bor, and gave her remains honorable
burial in the blue waves of the ocean.
We now consign to the sacred soil of
Arlington the recovered bones of those
who gave the Maine her personality
and made her a living weapon for tile
protection of national honor and vita!
Interest. We have given to those cere
monies all possible solemnity that are
Included in the honors of war. and
we shall fail If they do not express in
unmistakable tone and sign the deep
and lasting gratitude of a nation to
her martyred defenders.”
LOCAL OPTION IN MAINE
DEFEATED BY LEGISLATURE
Augusta, Me., March 25.—The leg
islature today defeated the proposed
amendment to the Maine constitution
to allow local option on the question
of permitting the manufacture for sale
of intoxicating liquors in all the cities
and in such towns as accept the amend
ment's provisions. The democratic ma
jority in the house failed to muster the
necessary two-thirds affirmative vote
on the final passage of the resolve and
it was not carried,^
SCHEME TO IMPEACH
SPEAKER R. L. BACA
Expected That Open Attack Will
Be Made On Him in New
Mexico House.
Santa Fe, N. M., March 25.—A con
ference of republicans that met last
night presumably to take steps to im
peach R. L. Baca, speaker of the New
Mexico house of representatives, ad
journed after midnight. Participants
refused to disclose any action taken. It
is believed no open attack upon Speak
er Raca will be made in the house.
Baca, according to claim, is charged
with having withhold the contest pa
pers of three republicans because they
are voting for him for United States
senator.
INFANT IN BARREL IS
RESCUEDJROM RIVER
Well Dressed Baby Tagged
“Goodby, Willie,” Found
By River Men.
Glasgow, Ky„ March 25.—A baby
boy about 1 year old was intercepted
on his voyage in a barrel down Cum
berland river today by raftsmen. The
child was well dressed and had a cozy
little bed in the barrel and was seem
ingly enjoying the trip.
The barrel was securely fastened to
two ordinary sized saw logs and was
arranged so that the child could not in
any way fall out. Pinned on its dress
were the words, "Goodby, Willie."
The .child was carried to a farm
house near the river, whore kind per
sons are taking care of it until its
mother can be located.
m BEHEADED; HAD
FORETOLD HIS FATE
Tells Associates They Would
Pick Up His Severed Head,
and They Did.
Newark, N. J., March 23.—Before go
ing to hs work as a freight conductor
for the Lackawanna railroad last night,
Albert S. Barkman told his associates
I that before the night’s work was done
they would pick up his severed head.
He was beheaded at 11 o’clock by his
own train.
One of his associates, deeply im
pressed by Barkman’s remark, tried to
induce him to stop work for the night,
but the conductor is said to have re
plied:
“Oh, I don’t believe in dreams. Any
how, when my time comes we can't do
anything to stand in the way.”
WORLD WIDE COAL TRUST
WILL BE INVESTIGATED
Chicago, March 25.—A nation wide
inquiry into an alleged “coal trust”
with Chicago as the center, is in prog
ress by the government, according to
a report current yesterday.
Chicago, New York, Pennsylvania
and a number of southern states where
the coal supply is large, the report
said, were being investigated by gov
ernment agents gathering evidence.
The inquiry is said to have been or
dered several weeks ago from Wash
ington, and the report had it that sta
tistical information touching the coal
trade has already been gathered by
government agents.
According to the rumors charges are
to be made that certain large coal pro
ducers and their selling agents com
bined for the purpose of maintaining
a stipulated price.
The fuel situation at the head of the
lakes, in which Congressman Steener
son, of Minnesota, presented a request
fdr a congressional investigation, is
thought to have a bearing on the re
port. Attempts by the municipality of
Two Harbors, Minn., to purchase coal
according to reports, were balked by
Duluth dealers, who refused to sell.
CHINESE WAR IN ’FRISCO
BROUGHT TO AN END
San Francisco, Cal., March 25.—Because
they could not obtain gun men to fight
their battles, the Gom Yorn Lee Sor and
Bing Kong tongs called, off their feud last
night. In view of the fact that four mem
bers of the Gorm Yorn Lee Sor were
killed last night by Sing Long assassins
and that no reprisals have been made by
| the rival tong, this peace agreement is
| regarded as one of the most remarkable
In the history of tong wars In this coun
try.
This peace agreement does not affect
the other warring tongs, and the police de
partment has not relaxed its vigilance in
Chinatown. It was because the other mili
tant tongs have hired all available gun
men that the two tongs decided to end
hostilities. Each had arrayed itself with
other fighting tongs and they were dis
mayed to find that they could obtain no
professional killers to fight for them and
defend them.
CALLAHAN TOBE UP FOR
ARRAIGNMENT TODAY
St. Louis, Mo., March 25.—Dauiel
1 Callahan, arrested here Wednesday
1 night, and who is under an indictment
1 charging him with attempting to rob
the firemen postofflce a year ago, was
1 scheduled to be arraigned before United
;! States District Judge D. P. Dyer this
■ j morning. Callahan is said to be wanted
; | in other cities for robberies, amount
’1 !ng to S200.000. He admits Ids identity
i i md acknowledges he knows lie is want
i ed in various places, but will not say
| anything mere.
:' Callahan will go to trial on the same
i indictment on which William Raftus,
1 : James Sheridan and Martin Thorsen
1 j were tried, convicted and sent to the
’ Port Leavenworth prison, where they
arc serving sentences.
CRACKSMEN PUT TOO
MUCH “SOUP” IN SAFE
l ‘ New* York, March 25.—Cracksmen set
i' off so much dynamite under a safe in
| the office of a Staten island manufact
- uring company early today that the ex
1 plosion was heard lor miles and many
1 persons thought there was an earth
' uualce. The five safeblowers fled after
! an exchange of shots with watchmen,
j The safe was blown to pieces and
• some of its contents destroyed. There
! is no clew to the crr.cksi.nen.
DOCTORS WORK ON
WOMAN, HER HEART
AND LUNGS BARED
Operators Able to Remove Can
cerous Tissue—Believe It
Will Probe a Great
Success.
New York, March 25.—Watching an
fxposed human heat beat and the
lungs perform their functions of main
taining life, a group of surgeons bent
over the body of a woman In the am
phitheater of Bellevue hospital and ob
served events for 20 minutes, while the
combined efforts of science and nature
won a triumph over death.
The triumph was described as all the
greater because nature was assisted by
a humanly devised contrivance which
was tried for the first time in this city.
It is known as the Ellsberg apparatus.
It forces air into the lungs and with
draws it, thus maintaining an artificial
respiration in a patient incapacitated
fmm breathing.
Mrs. Elizabeth Engleman, aged 67,
was the medium for the experiment.
She was admitted to the hospital on
March 14, suffering from recurrent can
cer. Because of an operation performed
nine years ago, the surgeons were re
luctant to repeat the work. Dr. Harri
son Betts consulted with Visiting Sur
geon Rogers and it was agreed yes
terday that an immediate operation
was the only means of saving the
woman's life.
Prominent Physicians Present.
Mrs. Engleman was told of the crisis
confronting her and eagerly consented
to an operation. Because of the experi
mental value of the demonstration with
the Ellsberg apparatus, invitations to
witness it were accepted by several
prominent physicians, members of the
faculty of the Cornell University Med
ical school and the house staff of Belle
vue, consisting of Drs. Howe, Halllday
and Wood.
They assembled In the amphitheater
at 3 p. m., and anaesthetics were ad
ministered to the patient.
Tt was necessary to make an Incision
which exposed the heart and left lung.
As much of four ribs as covered the
heart and lung was removed, leaving
the vital organs absolutely hared to the
gaze of the surgeons. Because of the
removal of the supports furnished by
the ribs, the lung would have col- |
lapsed without artificial assistance. i
This was supplied by the Ellsberg ap
paratus, which is electrically equipped
to supply air in the requisite quantity
and at the requisite pressure. The air
w-as supplied to the lung through a
woven silk tube which was placed in
the patient's mouth and deflected until
connection was made with the direct
air passage to the lung.
Watch Heart at Work.
Extreme care had to be exercised In
applying artificial respiration at a tlm»
when otherwise the exposed lung would
collapse. This was accomplished sc
successfully that the lung and there
fore the heart maintained their func
tions as If fairly normal conditions ex- |
isted.
The deceased tissues were oxposet
at the same time so as to enable the J
surgeons to remove them. While this
was being accomplished, those not act- :
ually engaged In the operation had
ample opportunity to watch a human
heart at work.
Mrs. Engleman came out of the In
fluence of the anesthetic and her con
dition was such that the surgeons felt
confident last night of her complete
recovery.
-■ ♦ .
FOUR LEADERS STILL
FLEEINO FROM POSSE
Sidna Allen Says That He Wat
in No Way Connected
With the Murders.
Hillsvllle, Va., March 26.—No furthe
captures had been reported early to.
day by tbo posses endeavoring to rount
up the Allen fugitives on the North
Carolina border. The arrest of young
Sidna Edwards yesterday, left four of
the wanted at large—Sidna Allen, the
clan reader, who is supposed to have
fired the shot that killed Judge Massie
and his nephews, Wesley Edwards and
F'riel and Calude Allen. The massing of
the hundred or more searchers about
the hills south of this place Indicates
that the officers believe the outlaws are
still secreted in that vicinity.
Sidna Edwards, who was found
alone, unarmed and hungry in a desert
ed mountain house, insists that he has
not seen his uncles or cousins since the
day of the court house tragedy. He
says he had no part In the shooting;
that he went to the court house and
later took to the mountains, only be
cause he heard the posses Intended to
shoot on sight any members of Ills
family.
Worn by hunger, fatigue end the pain
of a Bcalded foot, Edwards slept last
night in the jail here with two men
standing guard. He will be taken to
Roanoke today.
There i* much talk of the reported
offer of Sidna Allen and his nephews
to surrender on condition that they be
allowed to plead guilty to murder In
the second degree in a court outside of
Carroll county. Governor Mann says
if such a proposition has been made tc
the detectives he knows nothing ol
It.
ROOSEVELT SPENDS NOISY
HOUR WITH BOSTONIANS
Boston. March 25.—An hour’s delay
in Connecticut made Col. Theodore
Roosevelt’s trip through Boston today
on his way to Portland a hurried, but
a noisy one.
He had planned to breakfast leisurely
with several of his political lieutenants,
Including Medill McCormick, of Chicago,
and Matthew Hale, of Boston. Instead,
he pushed his way through a big throng
at the south station. He jumped into
an automobile, was cheered frequently
on his way across the city and was
given another ovation at tho north sta
tion by a large crowd.
4- THOUSANDS IN CHINA 4
4 FLEE—FEAR MASSACRE 4
4- —-- 4
4 Swatow, China, March 23.— 4
4 Business of all kinds has been 4
4- suspended in this city and peo- 4
4 pie are fleeing in thousands ow- >
4- mg to fears of a massacre. Se- 4
4- verc fighting has occurred be- 4
4- tween a body of Cantonese 4
4 troop3 and a force of local 4
4 soldiers at Chao Chow Fu, about 4
4- 25 miles to the north of this city. 4
♦ +
4-44-44 4 4444 4 4+4444444444444
MINORITY WOOL BILL
PRESENTEOJ0 HOUSE
Republicans Have Substitute—
Contains Their Views On
Tariff Board’s Report.
Washington, March 26.—Republican
tnittee today introduced a minority bill
members of the ways and means com
revtsing the woolen schedule of the
present tariff law In accordance with
their Interpretation of the report of
the tariff board. The bill would reduce
the duties on wool and manufactures
of wool about 40 per cent.
In an analytical statement Repre
sentative Hill pointed out that the re
publican measure, by combining for
mer classes 1 and 2 wools to a single
rate of duty as class 1, would eliminate
discriminations, so far as shrinkage of
wool Is concerned, between the woolen
and worsted branches of the Industry.
He said it would make woolon rags
dutiable at 2 cents a pound. Instead of
10 cents, practically would fix a duty
on the wool In the manufactured article
precisely the same as the same amount
of wool Imported In the grease, and
would fix In addition an ad valorem
duty adjusted to the cost of conversion
from wool to cloth, In accordance with
the tariff board’s schedule.
LINDBERGH WOULD DO AWAY
WITH THE PRESENT SENATE
Washington, March 25.—The aboli
tion of the United States Senate and
the office of vice president, with a re
duction of the membership of the
House to 300, Is proposed In a resolu
tion which Representative Lindbergh,
of Minnesota, announced yesterday he
would introduce next week.
The main feature of Mr. Lindbergh’s
resolution provides for the creation of a
committee at large which would have
absolute control over the legislative ac
tivity of congress. The members of the
committee would be elected by the
country at large for a term of II years
and It would prevent the submission of
bills to the president. This opposition
could be overcome only by a two-tlilrds
vote of the House.
PRIVATE PENSION BILL.
Washington, March 25.—By a vote of
19 to 17 the Senate yesterday decided
not to be bound by the rule of the com
mittee on pensions fixing J50 per
month as the limit to be granted in
private pension bills. Senators Mc
Cumber. Galllnger, Borah and Lodge
contended for a fixed limit, while Sen
ators Bradley, Heyburn, Brown and
Smith, of Michigan, advanced the Idea
that pensions should be determined by
the condition of Individual beneficiar
ies.
TO HONOR WILEY.
Washington, March 25.—The Senate
has learned with profound regret of
the resignation of Dr. Harvey W. Wil
ey, head of the pure food bureau of
the United States government." Such
was the first sentence of a resolution
Introduced yesterday by Senator Mar
tine, democrat, of New Jersey. He
asked for immediate consideration, but
Senator Galllger objected and the reso- (
lutlon went over after being read.
WOULD CLEAR UNCLE IKE.
Washington, March 25.—To gain a
parliamentary advantage In the final
disposition of the Stephenson election
case Senator Jones yesterday Intro
duced a resolution declaring that Mr.
Stephenson was "not guilty and legally
elected to the Senate." This was of
fered as a substitute for the Heyburn
resolution, from the majority of the
privileges and elections committee,
which declared that Senator Stephen
son's election was valid.
1ELAY IN DECIDIN8
IOWA RATE DISPUTE
Developments Before Com
mission Indicates No Re
sult Until October.
Washington, March 25.—Develop
ments today before the Interstate Com
merce commission Indicated that no de
cision would be reached in the Iowa
interstate rate cases until next fall,
probably In October or November. The
commission has decided to hear no ar
gument in June. This will throw tho
arguments In tho Iowa cases over to
the first two weeks 111 September. A
decision will not come until some time
after that.
The commission sat this morning on
the Iowa cases and then, on account of
the Maine exercises, adjourned until
Monday morning. Assistant Freight
Traffic Manager Eyman, of the North
western, and Traffic Manager Crosby,
of (he Burlington, were examined. Mir.
Crosby offered many exhibits to defend
existing rates.
CARACAS GIVES KNOX
A BIG RECEPTION
Caracas, Venezuela, March 25—With
the capital In holiday attire, Philander
C. Knox, the American secretary of
state, arrived here at 11:30 yesterday
morning from La Guayra and was ac
corded the greatest popular welcome
given him during his tour of tho Latln
Amerlean republics.
Today and tomorrow have been de
clared legal holidays In honor of Mr.
Knox's visit and the city is profusely
decorated. When the American secre
tary reached here, attended by Lino
Duarte Level, undersecretary of state,
j he was greeted by Foreign Minister
i Gen. Manuel Matos, and when he and
; his party took carriages at the depot
thousands swarmed about the vehicles
waving flags, cheering and giving oth
| er indications of friendliness.
City in Brilliant Attire,
j On the drive to the residence of tne
I prime minister, General Linares Al
cantara, which had been selected for
his occupancy during his .stay In Cara
| cus, Mr. Knox’s eye everywhere met
! with interwined flags of the United
states and Venezuela, multicolored
huntings, triumphant arches, garlands
of flowers and medallions of Washing
ton and Bolivar.
TWO ARE KILLED IN
AEROPLANE ACCIDENT
Habastapol, Russia, March 25.—A
’ouble aeroplane fatality occurred here
>duy. Hub-Lieutenant Albokrinoff
nd his assistant, an engineer, were
making a flight in a Fiirman biplane at
i he flying ground attached to the mili
tary aviation school, when tho aero
plane was o» izod by a sudden gust of
wind, which overturned it and hurled
.t to the ground. The twro aviators
were instantly killed and the aeroplane
was destroyed.
’MEMBER GF ALLEN
BAND OF OUTLAWS
IS UNDER ARREST
Statement of Governor Mann
Leads People to Think the
Whole Gang Will Be
Taken Soon.
Mount Airy, N. C„ March 23.—A
posse has captured Sidna Edwards, an
Allen clansman, wanted In connection
with the murder of the Carroll county
court officers at HlUsvllle It Is re- .
ported here. Edwards was captured
near Lambsburg and will be taken to
Galax or HlUsvllle.
Young Edwards was arrested by De
tectives Tom Felts and W. W. Phauts,
who found him wandering about aim
lessly and hungry. His foot, burned
recently In a distillery, had troubled
him greatly and It Is believed he was
unable to keep up with the swift
changes of base made by the other
fugitives. He probably will be put
through a rigid examination when he
gets here, but there is little thought
that he will disclose the movements of
Ills kinsmen.
Sidna Is 22 years old and a splendid
type of the young mountaineer. He
stands over six feet In height, weighs
between ISO and 190 pounds, had dark
hair and blue eyes. At first a reward
of only $200 was offered for his cap
ture, but after an investigation as to
his part in the shooting. Governor
Mann Increased the amount to $1,000,
the same as offered for the capture,
dead or alive, of Sidna Allen, leader of
the clan.
It Is probable Edwards will be taken
to Roanoke for safe keeping.
Silent Search Is On.
Out in the hills along the Virglnla
hills and mountains along the Virginia
North Carolina border today are all of
the sheriffs, detectives and possemen
enlisted for the taking of the Allen out
laws, apparently determined to stay In ;
the field this time until they have run
down something besides false clues, 1
Just where the hunters are, or what |
they are doing, no one here knows.
This community awoke today In a state j
of excited expectancy over Governor
Mann’s announcement yesterday that j
steps were being taken which he be- j
lleved would result In the capture o(
the Allens the latter part of this week
or the first of next week. No Inkling
of the nature of the proposed coup has
been given out, however, a grim silence
having taken the place of the early
confident talkativeness of the state of
ficials. Fear that Information as to the
plans and movements of the searchers
will be taken to the fugitives has even
resulted In an attempt to censor press
dispatches.
Floyd Allen, the old man whose sen
tence to a year In Jail for Interfering
with an officer precipitated the killing
of judge, prosecutor, sheriff, a Juror
and an Innocent young girl, has given
out an Interview from the Roanoke Jail
carefully censored by his attorney. No
reference to the tragedy Itself was
made by the prisoner. He gave n sketch
of his life and an account of the events
leading,up to his Indictment for Inter
fering with an officer, and denied em
phatically that he had ever made
“moonshine" whisky. His son, Victor, 1
also a prisoner, said he took no part In
the court house shooting; that he went
to HlUsvllle unarmed to take a witness
for his father and after the tragedy
made no efTort to get away, because ha
was Innocent.
DR J ARY WALKER ILL,
RUT STANDS BY CREED
Assistant Issues Statement Say
ing She Can No Longer
Bear Long Vigils.
New York, March 23.—Dr. Mary
Walker’s steadfast refusal to have a
physician attend her during her serious
Illness here, brought forth a statement
today from Mrs. Nellie B. Van Sllnger
land, secretary of the "Betterment
league," who has been almost constant
ly at the bedside. The statement says
that Dr. Walker spent a "very bad
night,” and continues;
’’As I am nearly collapsed myself
with six sleepless nights and anxious,
busy days, I have written two of Dr. I
Walker’s woman relatives that some
one must come to share the responsl- I
blllty. Dr. Mary refuses to let any
one but myself and a Japanese servant
do anything for her, and the day and
night vigils are beyond our physical
endurance; hence I shall be forced to j
have assistance from some direction, :
even though it is against her emphat
ically expressed wishes, for her own
good.
"Dr. Walker’s mind Is as keen and
alert as ever and she is watching her
own progress with intelligence and with
professional discrimination.
"Thus far she hus proved the power
of mind over medicine, as well as mat
ter, I should say.”
EXCISE BILL WILL
STAND COURT TEST
Solicitor General Lehman Ex
presses Opinion New Meas
ure Is Constitutional.
Washington, March 23.—Chairman
Underwood, of the ways and means
committee, has conferred with Solicitor
General Lehmann us to whether the
excise tax meusure passed by the
House, will stand test In the courts.
Mr. Lehmann advised him It would.
In as much as Mr. Lehmann Is re
garded as the greatest authority on
the corporation tax law in Washington,
having made the successful argument
h r it before the supreme court, the
friends of the excise and Income tax
measure are jubilant.
MAJOR BUTT SEES POPE.
Rome, March 23.—Tile pope received
today In private audience Maj. Archi
bald W. Butt, personal aide to Presi
dent Taft. Major Butt presented to the
po tiff on an ograph letter from Presi
dent Taft, with which the pope was
greatly pleased.
KELLEY-FARMER FIGHT TONIGHT
St. Louis, Mo.. March 28.—Leo Kelley,
local lightweight sud “Kid" Farmer, ol
Peoria, 111., will fight eight rounds be
fore the Irlsh-Amerlcan clib here to
night.
.-I I
WAGE AMENDMENT
REFUSED; A LONG
CONTEST CERTAIN
All England Is Suffering—Gov.
ernment to Take “Other
and Different Means
to End Strife. i
London, March 23.—Premier Asquith
In tho house of commons this afternoon
refused to accept the miners’ amend
ment to the minimum Wage bill, pro
viding a minimum of 31.25 and 60 cents
aa the daily wage for men and boys,
respectively.
Enoch Edwards, labor member of
parliament, and president of the min
ers’ Federation of Great Britain, at
once announced that the premier’s re
jection of t!ie miners' amendment
closed the door to an immediate set
tlement of the strike.
The house had Just entered on the
committee stage of the minimum wage
bill, when the miners’ amendment was
moved and Premier Asquith's pro
nouncement, the gravity of which was
immediately recognized, because it Is
practically certain to bring aoout an
other deadlock, caused a sensation
among the members.
In opposing the miner amendment
the premier said that he was Inclined
to think the figures reasonable ones,
but that it was most undesirable to
Insert in the bill any specific minimum
wage or to establish the precedent of
fixing the rate of wages by act of
parliament. It would, he pointed out,
bo peculiarly dangerous to the men
themselves, because if parliament once
expressed its Judgment that $1,25 was
a fair minimum wage, that sum would
he found to be treated as the maxi
mum.
All U __Cl. _I
All Hops Shattered.
Enoch Edwards, the miners' leader,
declared the decision announced by ths
premier had shattered his hopes that
the final form of the bill would convi
mend Itself to the good sense of both
sides. The refusal of tho amendment
meant tho closure of the door which
yesterday appeared open to a settle
ment.
The bill, which the government Intro,
duced Into parliament to put a stop
to one of the greatest calamities that
ever overtook this country, and which
was rend a second time In the house of
commons last night, still has to run
tho gauntlet of the committee stage,
It was here that the miners' represent,
atlves in parliament endeavored to pro.
euro the acceptance of amendements
fixing minimum rates of wages.
If the miners refuse to return to
work, the government must face ths
necessity of taking those "other and
different measures” foreshadowed by
the premier yesterday and which ars
believed to mean adequate protection
for those men desiring to return tq
work. Despite the decisions of ths
unions, there already Is, particularly In
Scotland, a steady trickling of the min.
ers back to the pits. Even with a gen
eral resumption, however, the mines
will not be In working order again be
fore Easter, and some of the smaller
ones which have been flooded will nev
er be reopened.
Some of the large mine owners, too,
declare It will be Impossible to work
their pits If the minimum rate of wages
are granted.
In the meantime starvation faces ths
Industrial population of the country,
The funds of the trades unions arq
running low', and In some places this
week's payment of out-of-work benefit
will be the last.
Have Not Even a Penny.
At Burslcm, In Staffordshire, one of
the centers of the potteries district,
40,000 meals have been served by the
vicar of the parish In the last 11 days,
for whloh a small charge has been
made. Now the people of the district
are unable to bear the burden of pay
ing even a penny for the meal, and are
compelled to fall back on charity.
In Wales and Scotland, and In the In
dustrial district of England, relief work
lias been started and soup kitchens es
tablished. There Is scarcely a mining
village In Scotland, where the children
are not being fed by the public author
ities.
The work of relieving the distress is
getting beyond the means of the local
charities ai*d demands ore being made
on tho government to take It up.
It Is estimated the miners thus far
have lost In wages $26,408,860, besides
the depletion of the union funds.
Factories and work of all kinds over
tho country continue to close down and
all tho railroads are reducing their
l services to tho minimum. The food
supplies from abroad are threatened.
The bacon factories and creameries of
Denmark, which depend entirely on
Kgnland for their coal, will soon have
to discontinue their shipments to this
; country.
News comes today that one of the
South American governments are com
manding the stocks of coal on hand, In
Its ports for naval purposes, which will
prevent the shipment of meat to Eng
! lund.
! It Is officially declared today that
the Derbyshire pits will not be re
opened until the surface men's de
mands for Increased wages have been
compiled with.
In political circles, It Is thought the
return of Mr. Balfour to the leader
ship of the unionist party In the house
of commons. Is more than a temporary
one and that In the big debates he will
take the actual, If not titular, leader
ship of the opposition.
WITH CLEVELAND CONFERENCE
RESTS QUESTION OF A STRIKE
Cleveland, Ohio, March 23.—Whether
200,000 miners In the bituminous coal
Helds would strike or merely would
suspend operations after April 1, de
pends largely on the deliberations to
day of a subcommittee composed of two
miners and two operators each from
western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois.
The subcommittee with John P.
White, president of the Ilnlted Mtno
Workers of America as tire chief dele
gate of the miners, may continue its
sessions several days In an effort to
effect a compromise agreement follow
ing the flat refusal of the operators to
grant the miners’ demands for a 10
per cent Increase In pay and shorter
working hours. _ _
DANGEROUS FLOODS COME
FROM MELTING OF SNOWS
St. Joseph, Mo., March 23.—Every
railroad train entering St. Joseph was
delayed by high water today. Tho
bridges at many points are menaced by
Ice Jams and in some localities many
acres of farm lands are inundated. The
Burlington has a large force of labor
ers protecting Us tracks in the buttoma
b tween Forest City, Mo., and Council
Bluffs, la., and like precaution has been
, taken by ether roads.