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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 7, 1915)
THE O'NEIL FRONTIER. D. H. CRONIN. Publisher. O'NEILL,NEBRASKA The oyster. It would appear, has been seriously maligned by investi gators who were making records for themselves at the expense of the de lightful bivalve that has borne in si lence—dumb us an oyster—the oblo quy that has been heaped upon it. It has been held that the oyster received Into its organism for general circu lation the germs of typhoid fever. Now comes the refutation of the cal umny. A high authority has shown that during cold weather oysters rest or hibernate. Movement ceases and they cease to feed, so that they are free from sewage organisms during the months of R at least, and the re maining months of the year few per sons care to eat them. This informa tion is given In the Journal of the American Medical association. Colonel Maurice George Moore, who has been appointed to the supreme command of the military council of the Nationalist volunteers, is the son of an Irish politician who was a leader of the tenant right movement half a century ago. For many years Colonel Moore was In the Connaught Rangers, and during the South African cam paign he succeeded to the command of the First battalion. Soon after his promotion he helped to remedy the scarcity of mounted men among the British force. Mounting and training some 500 hundred of those rangers, Colonel Moore formed a mounted column with them, and did this excel lent work during the later stuges of the war. It Is eight years since Colonel Moore left the active list. If the life of the old man-of-war was longer than that of the present dreadnaught, the old merchantman lived longer still. The Lively, for In stance, when wrecked at Cromer in 1888, had been afloat two years over A century. The Liberty, too, built at Whitby In 1750, was In regular use till 1856, and the Betsy Cains, which be gan life as a frigate and ended as a collier, went down In her 137th year. And In 1902, according to a dally paper, the Anita, then trading between Spain and America, dated from the days of Columbus. Before Napoleon's time It had been the custom for armies to carry huge, unwieldy flags mounted on poles, which, while they afforded a rallying point for their corps, also drew the enemy's fire. Napoleon revived the ancient symbol of the Caesars. The Napoleonic eagle itself was eight inches In height and nine inches across the wings, it stood on a brass block three inches square. The Independent grand duchy of Luxemburg has an area of 998 square miles and is bounded by Belgium. Germany and France. It belongs to the German customs union. In American consular Jurisdiction the agency of Luxemburg Is included In the Rotter dam district. This grand duchy should not be confused with Luxemburg province, in Belgium—the largest province In that country. The United States government Is erecting three 600-feet steel towers towers near the Gatun locks, canal «or_». Isthmus of Panama, which will be used to support the antennae of the Panama wireless telegraph sta tion. The towers will bo of triangular section, measuring 160 feet at the base and tapering to 10 feet at the top. The three towers will require about '1,000 tons of steel. One of the most amazing Instances »f religious stupidity is recorded In connection with Marylebone church, London. In 1860 some one cut th* initials, "I. H. S.” from the alter cloth. The vestry was In full conclave to dis cuss the sacrilege when the vicar ad mitted that he had done the mutilation because he objected to the Initials oi the rector (John Henry Spry) on the cloth. ^ A Hundreds of tons of peach seeds piled at fruit canning establishments in California are now to be utilized In a commercial way, and a company has been organized for developing this Industry. Tho seeds are to be cracked by machinery and the meats used In the manufacture of prussic acid and other products. The shells will be sold as More than 200 giant searchlights, which are to be used os part of the 600 at the San Francisco exposition, have arrived and are being put in place. Those received are lS-inoh and 13-inch and are the smallest size that will be used. There will be 100 30-lnch searchlights, and many between three and four feet in diameter. The production of essence of orange ?owers and orange flower water In unis Is confined to the region of Na beul, where 200,000 puunds of orange flowers are distilled each year, the distillation yielding 200 pounds of es •ence of nerolt valued at $26 to $30 a .pound, and 74,000 to 86,000 quarts of erange flower water. A Glasgow merchant, famous for his •itlnglness, came into his office ono morning and found a young clerk writing a letter In rather a flourishing hand. "My man.” he observed, "dlnna mak the tils o’ yer g’s and y’s quite see lang. I want the ink tae last the Quarter oot”—Chicago News. ' After being on terms of warmest friendship for years. 22 out of 30 men employed by an export firm In London have left to fight in different armies. Six are fighting for Germany, eight for France, four for Russia, three for Aus tria and one for England. When there Is moss on the north side «f the forest trees It is a sign among •woodsmen that the winter will be a severe one, and tills fall woodsmen In Maine rteport the absence of moss from the trees. There is something like a plague of caterpillar* on the Kowloon plantation in China. Twelve millions have been destroyed w> far. and the Hong Kong legislature has voted $6,600 to carry on the work of extermination. Among the defenses of the Panama canal there will be several batteries of 16 and 12-inch rifles, all of which will be concealed In such manner that, with the use of smokoless powder, It will be impossible for an enemy to locate them. The old Moslem feeling against por traits is disappearing from Turkey •ven to the extent of printing the like ness of the sultan. Pctures of the reign ing soverlgn have at present an im mense vogue in the orthodox near east and are very popular In the Turkish regiments. The "safety first” Idea which has re cently come Into general practice on most American roads Is an old one In Germany and other European countries where the practice extends to every form of Industry as well as the rail HEttadg. MjRi'i'-; » COMMISSIONER BRIAN WOULD CLASSIFY ALL OF INSURANCE RISKS — Does Not Urge Rate Regulation But Intimates Supervision Is Advisable. Lincoln, Neb., Jan, 4.—In his blenna feport to ttse governor. Insurance Com missioner Brian makes It plain that he j Is opposed to the proposed plan of hav ing the state legislature, either direct ly or through a commission, fix insur ance rates in the state. But he is in favor of a classification of risks. Other recommendations are a change in the method of taxing insurance companies so that each pays the same fee for do ing business, a repeal of the retaliatory law which taxes companies doing busi ness in Nebraska on the same basis that their home states tax Nebraska companies doing business there, and against requiring foreign companies to invest a portion of their reserves in Ne braska. On the subject of rate regulation, he says: “The question Is one that cannot he long Ignored and if the state is prop erly to discharge its obligations to the public it must take hold of the matter in such a way that it may be in a po sition to say what rates are proper and equitable, and this It cannot do unless tangible evidence can be submitted in substantiation. “It is said that, the fact that the In surance companies have not yet com bined their experience and used the re sults as a basis for rate making, is due partly to mutual Jealousies and partly to the fear that the information, should it become available to the public, would be used as an absolute measure of rates unqualified by Judgement. “We certainly do not favor the mak ing of fire Insurance rates by the state. It is our belief that state made rates have usually prove to be arbi trary and unscientific, and have been found to require constant changes, thus aggravating the very condition they were called into existence to cure, unstability. “We recommend that the activity of the state in this matter be. confined for the present, at least, to the ac qulstiori of data upon which to base a classification of risks. This can be done partly by following the methods which have been used for many years by the rating bureaus established by the compunies. surveys, maps, etc., and partly by taking advantage of such statistical data In relation to the less experience of the companies as might be available, and which, so far as their experience In this stato is concerned, they should be required to contribute. “From the information thus obtained a classification of risks could be made and established, giving, of course, the public and the companies opportunity to be heard as to any Inequality which might be thought to exist.” WILL ASK SECURITY FOR WATER POWER PROJECTS Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 4. — In order to prevent speculation in water rights, Land Commissioner Beckmann, a mem ber of the state board of irrigation, proposes to ask the legislature to amend the law so that applicants for water power will have to put up bonds that they will complete the work of development. Most of those who now hold grants or franchises for develop ment upon the Loup, Platte and Niobrara rivers paid the state but $2 as a fling fee. One man who got a Platte river franchise Is reported to have sold It to eastern bankers for $20,000, and others are known to have stock to considerable amounts In the projects in which they Interested cap ital. Mr. Beckmann’s idea is to require bonds of a substantial sum, ranging from $5,000 upward In proportion to the horse power filed on. The present law Is Ineffective be cause when the state board seeks to cancel grants because the holders have not done the work agreed upon they have the right to appeal to the courts and thus gain the delay they desire. NEBRASKA GUARANTY FUND NEAR TO MILLION MARK Lincoln, Neb., Jan, 4.— Nebraska’s state guaranty fund now is $949,200, according to the summary issued by the state banking board. A total of 756 bunks contribute to the present fund. The total average deposits of tills huge aray of state banks was $93,186,124 December 1. At the last reckoning, January 1. 1914. the balance in this fund was $869,339. At that time 712 banks added 1-20 of l per cent to the fund, which increased it $44,604. During the year 30 new state banks were char tered, which set aside 4 per cent of their capital stock or a total of $36,440. Credits of five banks were listed by the board, this sum amounting to $3,298. These banks were the Nebraska State of Norfolk, the State of Sutton, the State of Superior, the Nebraska State of Bloomfield, and £le Farmers' State of Henderson. Seventeen bank withdrawals were allowed during the year and this per mitted of a reduction of $4,479 in the fund. LIGHTS IN HEN COOP NOT EGG ACCELERATORS Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 4.—J. R. Herron, a chicken fancier of Normal, spoiled a good story the reporters thought they had unearthed. The story was that Mr. Herron had installed electric lights in his chicken coops so that the hens would be deceived as to the length of the days and feel K incumbent upon them to lay more eggs than they usual ly do in the short days of winter. When the reporters cornered Mr. Herron, however, they were informed that he put the lights in so that he could get around better himself inside the coops, and that so far he had not noticed that the light had spurred the hens on tr greater endeavor. TWO BOYS KILLED. Salt Lake City. Utah, Jan. 2.—-One boy was killed, two probably fatally injured and three othei-3 seriously in i jured when a bobsled on which they were coasting last night crashed into a street car. AGENT OF ROCKEFELLER QUITS CHAIRMANSHIP .Denver. Colo., Jan. 2.—Announcement was made today that L. M. Bowers hail resigned as chairman of the board and treasurer of the Colorado Fuel & Iron company. No successor has been ap pointed. Mr. Bowers- is personal representative of John D. Rockefeller, jr.. who con trols a large amount of the stock of the company. Jt was stated he resigned to give his time to the personal affairs of Mr. Kockefeilv. CLAIMED ROBERTS IS JUGGLING ASSETS TO INJURY OF CREDITORS Stock Worth $30,000, Obtained Largely on Credit, Divided With Relatives. Lincoln, Neb.. Jan. 2.—Arthur Rob erts, late a merchant at Charles City, • la., is charged In federal court with be ing a professional bankrupt. The al legation Is made by Fred Dodge In a petition filed asking for the appoint ment of a reciver to take charge of a stock of goods now in Beatrice, Neb. The court placed F. B. Baylor In charge pending a hearing of the suit. Dodge who Is a Minneapolis jobber, says that Roberts’ real name Is Rabinowitz and that he carried out an elaborate plan for the purpose of defrauding his creditors. As Dodge relates the story to the court Roberas started In business In Charles City with a $5,000 stock ol goods, for which he had paid cash, and in the use of credit he obtained from jobers goods aggregating $30,000. Dodge says that he later established a store at Osage, la... which he placed In charge of relatives, supplying the stock from his Charles City establishment. It Is also charged that he shipped from Charles City to Beatrice, Neb., by circuitous routes, goods amounting tc $20,000, a brother going under the name of Samuel Posen but who he Is really Samuel Rabinowitz opening out a store there in his own name. He Inauguarated cut price sales, and later told the stock to a peddler for the alleged price of $8,000. The validity of all these transactions Is attacked. When Roberts went into bankruptcy he scheduled assets of $8,767 with liabili ties of $37,000. PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCED AT U. P. HEADQUARTERS Omaha, Neb'., Jan. 2.—Numerous changes, all of them promotions, were announced In the passenger depart ment of the Union Pacific yesterday, resulting from the recent death of John W. Turtle, formerly traveling passen ger agent of that line at Des Moines. The office of district manager agent has been created for Des Moines, and will be filled by A. K. Curts, formerly traveling passenger agent for the South Dakota district. Mr. Curts thus succeeds Mr. Turtle, although in a higher position. F. B. Datkins, for tour years chief clerk in the passen ger department, Is to become travel ing passenger agent, succeeding Mr. Curts. Claude Stockham, formerly travel ing passenger agent in Nebraska, be comes chief clerk, succeeding Mr. Wat kins. Mr. Stockham had requested an Inside position. E. C. Mallon, for sev eral years private secretary to Pas senger Traffic Manager Gerrlt Fort, becomes traveling passenger agent in Nebraska, succeeding Mr. Stockham. No successor has been appointed for Mr. Mallon. NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE MEETS NEXT MONDAY Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 2.—Although the legislature meets next Monday, but few pf the members have thus far shown up. None of the candidates for speak er of the house are in evidence, and only two or three of those who desire the better paid clercial jobs have put In an appearance. Usually the candi dates for speaker open headquarters a week in advance, and have men on hand to welcome all members and lead them Jnto their camps. One season given for the slackening of interest Is that the lnltatlve and referendum and the tak ing from the speaker the power of ap pointing committees have made legisla ting a much less exciting game and the Job of speaker more of an honorary than a powerful one. FARMER “MEETS UP” WITH GENIAL MATCHES Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 2.—A farmer named Ecklenburg, living near Mal mo, Neb., was victimized the other day by a novel variation of an old game. He was beguiled into matching pennies with a genial stranger, but the genial stranger had a better way of getting the farmer’s money than by securing the services of his side partner to whip saw him. While their Inoffensive and modest game was going on he called attention of the farmer to the interest shown by a man standing nearby. He suggested to the farmer that they pre tend to be playing for high stakes and when the third party drew near enough to hear, that the farmer, pretending to lose, give the genial stranger his check for $150. He was sure this would ex cite the cupidity of the third party. The latter, who was the partner of the ge nial stronger, did his part, and the farmer gave the check to the other fel low, under the agreement that they would divide profits. The third man, however, refused to be drawn into the game, and the genial stranger took the check out of his pocket and tore It up. That Is, Farmer Ecklenburg thought lie did. Since than he has had to pay It, and has asked the police to get after the man who bilked him. FIVE CANDIDATES FOR POSTMASTER AT PILGER Pilger, Neb.. Jan. 2.—Congressman Stephens has appointed James Doty chairman of a committee to call a spe cial election to vote on postmaster for the Pilger office. The term of the present incumtumt, I. B. Jeffries, ex pires January 31. Mr. Doty chose the following committee to act with him. Albert Pilger, W. J. Patterson, O. Vier sen, Otto Rustemeyer, E. W. Krueger and August Grabencamp. The com mittee set Saturday, January 9, ns the day of election. Of the candidates, S. T. Bordner is a farmer living just north of towrn; Nils Lindskog is a ru ral mall carrier, and before moving to Pilger was a farmer; C. D. Siefken Is engaged in the hardware business, but until a few years ago was engagefl in farming in Wayne county, A. H. Kop lln is engaged in the Insurance busi ness, but formerly conducted the hotel here; Emil Huns is connected with a bowling alley and amusement hall. FOOD AND DRUG LAWS ARE GENERALLY OBEYED Lincoln. Neb., Jan. 1.—That the state laws governing the food, drug, dairy and oil businesses In Nebraska are being generally obeyed, is the statement made by Commissioner Har mon in his biennial report to the gov ernor. Adulteration and fraud have almost ceased. He has several amend ments he will ask the legislature to make. One of these is designed to bet ter the quality of cream by having it sold on the basis of quality rather than quantity. A net increase of $30,000 in tees Is reported during the biennium. WATER POWER RIGHTS ANNULLED BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO IMPROVE - I State Board of Irrigation Puts Fate of Big Concerns Up to State Legislature. Lincoln, Neb.. Jan. 2.—Cancellation of several water power rights and dis missal of applications therefor kept the state board of irrigation busy yes terday. It was the first session the board has had for months, and many of the matters acted upon had been hanging fire for a long time. Among the rights canceled were: Burweil Electric company, on the North Loup river. C. II. Cornell, of Valentine, on the Niobrara river. Among the dismissals were the following important projected devel opments: E. C. Babcock, three filings on the Loup river, at St. Paul, Kent and Palmer. The three developments would have been 5,400 and 3,00 and 1,900 horsepower, respectively. L. D. Richards, of Fremont, 500 cubic second feet additional from the Platte river. A 2,700-foot filing on j which time for completion is distant ; ibout two years, is not affected by :his order. These are both Kountze projects, it was stated by State Engi aeer Price. , The board decided to rest responsi bility for dealing with four of the big projects with the legislature, and ac cordingly members took no action. ■ Whatever the lawmakers say with re gard to these four will go. The quar tet confirmed are: The Babcock company, on the Loup river, with a Genoa plant development. The Richard-Kountze company, on the Platte, with a Fremont plant de velopment. The Common wen ltVt Power eomnnmr on the Loup and Platte rivers, with a Schuyler plant development. The C. P. Russ project, on the Elk horn and Platte rivers, with a plant at South Bend. —4~ SOCIETY WOMAN CITED FOR "GROSS INHUMANITY” j Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 2.—That “gross ' Inhumanity” was practiced by Mrs. E. H. Steekley, a society leader of this city, in compelling a maid to leave her house when a child was about to be born to the servant, was the verdict of a eororner’s jury here, investigating the death of the babe. t Testimony before the jury was to the ' effect that members of the household j called an ambulance and made prepar- ; atlons for the girls removal to a hos- ! pital, despite her prayers to be left at the home until she had undergone the ordeal. The affair occurred two weeks ago, about 10:30 at night, when the thermometer regiestered several de grees below zero. —f WOMAN 89 YEARS OF AGE SUICIDES AT SON’S HOME Nebraska City, Neb., Jan. 2.—Mrs. ! Rose Kurhn, aged 89, committed sui cide at the home of her son, Dan Kurhn, twro miles wrest of Lorton, where she wyas making her home. She has been despondent for some time and hung herself, and the body ] was not found until some hours after wards. She has been a resident of this coun ty f<Jr many years. No inquest will be held. CHIEF CLERK CANDIDATE MAKES ECONOMY OFFER Lincoln. Neb., Jan. 2.—Trenmore Cone of Wahoo has launched his boom for chief clerk of the lower house of the Nebraska legislature. He called on , the governor this morning in an effort ! so it is said, to enlist the executive in I his behalf. However, Governor More- ; head has declined to boost any par- i ticular candidate for a legislative of fice so far during the campaign and it is not probable the efforts of Mr. Cone 1 were successful. Mr. Cone has been working his cam- i paign on the sly and has sent a letter to all members of the legislature in which he lines out a program of re form and economy in which he propos es to cut down expenses amazingly. In fact Mr. Cone puts the figures in cold type and says he will run the leg islature for $11,400 on the expense of employes alone. He proposes to elim inate 40 employes and run the thing so j that "there will not be 20 engrossing I clerks sitting In the gallery at $3 a day . with a holler for overtime.” Mr. Cone was engrossing clerk in ' 1891, a member in 1907 and chief clerk in 1909. PROSPECTORS HOPE TO STRIKE OIL NEAR TYRON Tyron, Neb.. Jan. 2.—Holloway Brothers have commenced drilling for oil near this city. A company has been organized at North Platte to co operate with Holloway Brothers in J prospecting for oil on their farms. At the present time *25,000 has been pledged for this purpose. The drilling is being done by Holloway Brothers for the purpose of demonstrating that they can strike the oil at 93 feet and then go through 45 feet of the oil in the sand. Several North Platte men with an ex pert are here. Oil experts who have gone over this section thoroughly say that oil will be found here in paying quantities at a depth of 3.000 feet. When the 45 feet of oil is shown to the North Platte company it will im mediately put in a deep well machine which the company has secured. TWO PERSONS BADLY HURT IN EXPLOSION AT OMAHA Omaha, Neb., Jan. 2.-—Andy Knox, clerk at the Oxford hotel, southwest corner of Eleventh and Farnam streets, and Anthony White, proprietor of the establishment, are both perhaps fatally injured from the results of an ex plosion which took place when the former lighted a match to find a gas , leak on the second floor of the struc- I ture. Both men were informed by a guest : of the hostelry that the gas was ieak- I ing. They traced the smell to the end I of a hall in a bath room, and when j Knox struck a light the escaped vapor ] ignigbted and nearly pll the windows • on the second and third floors were | blow'n out. The detonation was heard and felt two blocks away. Guests were fightened and a regular stampede re sulted. That Farmers’ Congress. From the Fremont (Neb.) Tribune. Whether the farmers' congress of Ne braska is run by real farmers or by imi tation farmers and agriculturalists, is be ing widely discussed. This controversy grows out of ihe action of the congress I on the subject of public warehouse legis- j lation. But Inasmuch as the congress re- ! solved both for and against such legisla- ( tlon there ought not to be much room for debate, except as to which action was offi cial. Inasmuch as the legislature wilt deal with the question in its own sweet way perhaps it Is not worth while to waste good ink fussing about the late session of the farmers’ congress. IMMUNITY IS ) NEW HAVjlH DBS Billard, Elton and Skinner Fail to Escape Criminal Prose cutions. New York, Jan. 4.—The federal dls ft-lct court overruled today the pleas 3f immunity interposed by Johh L. Bil lard, James S. Elton and William Skin ner, to indictments charging them with :riminal violation of the Sherman law :n connection with their acts as di rectors of the New York, New Haven fc Hartford Railroad company. Elton, Skinner and Billard claimed that they were entitled to immunity Secause of testimony given by them iefore the Interstate Commerce com mission prior to the return of the in lictments. The court’s decision means that they will now be called upon to nlead to the indictments, which include 18 other well known men, all directors sr former directors of the road. DEFENSE POLICY Unknown Writer, Said to Be Former High Official, Pokes Fun at “Pork Barrel” Congressmen. Washington, D. C., Jan. 4.—A sensa 4on has been caused here by the prl <ate circulation of an anonymous play intitled, "Stultitia,” said to have been written by a former high government (fficial which depicts the unprepared iess of the United States for war and lortrays the defeat of this country by he dominant power of Europe. Almost everybody in official circles s busy guessing at the authorship of he skit and identifying the characters which patently are thinly disguised Igures now in the public eye. Andrew Carnegie Is unquestionably the origin al of “Dr. Harmony,” whose peace en lowment is called a “Hobby Trust—The IVorst And Most Dangerous of All.” Flays The “Pork Bar’I.” The play sketches the pernicious in iuence of "pork barrel” policies in con tress, which shape army and navy policies so as to subserve local interest '.n army posts and navy yards at the expense of fighting efficiency. Con gressman Shuffler is a Monroe doc trine Jingoist, who, however, always votes against adequate appropriations for the forces which must support that principle. He is thus described by Captain Hawk: “He is chairman of the party cau cus, he is one of our most poisonous ‘little Americans,’ he is for no battle ships, no army, no diplomacy. A chip on each shoulder and both arms in a sling, that's his policy.” Senator Rock, rising in indignation st the suggestion of abolishing use less army posts, explains: “Why, do you know, general, there are four towns in my state where the prosperity of 7,000 or 8,000 people de pends on the maintenance of those military posts.” Somi Live Sarcasm. Here is a typical bit of the dialogue: Admiral Stevens—“How many foreign ships do you expect us to stand off, senator, with the few little samples of battleships you’ve given us?” Senator Rock—"Speaking of battle ships we’re going to have smaller ones. These dreadnaughts don’t fit half our navy yards. Why lots of our constitu ents are kicking because no money comes to their localities any more; the new ships are sent to only three or four big yards. Now the prosperity of a dozen towns depends on getting this work.” A foot note states that this is no ex aggeration of the senatorial attitude, as is indicated in an article by former Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson. This is another bit of dialogue: Admiral Stevens—“Dr. Harmony and the peace trust are against us. Think of the harm that old man does with his money. Do you know they distributed 150,000 copies of that tory’s little navy speech made in the Senate last week? With their publications and their pensions, there’s a trust for you, a great hobby trust, the worst and most dangerous of all. Dr. Drake—“What an argument for the progressive .ncome tax that man is. Why, even a government could spend money more usefully than he does.” SAN LUIS PUTOSI IS TAKEN BY CARRANZA Troops of “First Chief’’ Occupy Town After Sanguinary Battle. Washington. Jan. 4.—Capture of San Luis Potosi by Carranza forces was re ported in advices today from Galves ton to the Carranza agency here, which said: “Semi-official reports by wireless from Tampico say forces under Gen. Cosio Robelo entered San Luis Potosi yesterday, after a sanguinary battle. General Robelo belongs to the com mand of Gen. Pablo Gonzales, who, yes terday, also drove the rebels from Rodriguez station, 65 miles east of San Luis Potosi. “Captain Niles, of the Carranza avia tion corps, and Mayor Salinas, its chief, flying a French monoplane yesterday above the battle ground, reported Car ranza troops as far west as Apam, which is 60 miles east of Mexico City. However, large numbers of rebels still • re doggedly resisting the advance of Obregon’s army. The movement on Puebla from Amozoc has been com pleted and the actual bombardment is expected to begin In the morning.” DAMAGES AWARDED BY BRITISH PRIZE COURT Washington, Jan. 2.—The decision of the British prize court in London in the case of the British steamship Miramlchi loaded with wheat and shipped from America to German con signees prior to the war was announced here tonight by the British embassy. The court held that the wheat was still the property of the American claim ants and ordered that they be paid fo/ It. SELF GOVERNMENT FOB PHILIPPINESA IMPRACTICAL-TAFT Former President Declares Na- y' i tives of Islands Are Not Yet Capable of Direct ing Affairs. WANTS TO SEE THEM FREE — One Time Governor Says They Must Be Educated—Chaos Soon Would Follow Inde pendence, He Says. Washington, Jan. 4.—It will take more than one generation and probably moro than two to prepare the Filipinos for self government in the opinion of Wil liam H. Taft, former president, who, today, gave his views on the admin istration bill for ultimate independence of the Philippines before the Senate committee working on that measure. “I’m at last in a position where I can say just what I think,” said Mr. Taft. “You called me here. I’m going to tell you just what I know about things. “We cannot,” the former president said, “give the Philippines self govern meht, because it cannot be given. We cannot present the Filipino people with u character. It must be acquired. One way to acquire it is through hard knocks, as the Anglo-Saxon race ac quired it. Tells Federal Aims. “When we went to the Philippines, we tried to give it to them by main taining a constitutional form of gov ernment as an object lesson and by educating the people in the langue of free institutions. We tried to have the government participated in, but not controled by the natives. “Now, what time do I think will be necessary to train the Filipinos lor self government? The time that shall give to those people an opportunity to learn English so that they shall be an Eng lish speaking people. That will take more than one generation and prob ably more than two, if you count 30 years as a generation. "You can’t educate ail of the people —you haven’t got the money. Couldn't Let Go. “When President McKinley sent me to the Philippines, I told him that I thought we ought not to be in the islands. He said to me that we had the bear by the tail and that we had to stay. But the idea then was that we would get out just as soon as we could. Our first purpose in being in there is to get out.” “Democratic promises of Philippine independence,” Mr. Taft said further, “have been the great obstacle in our own work over there. Even now it is causing trouble. This man Rioarte, who is charged with fomenting the present disturbance, is a professional revolutionist, come down from my time in the islands. He lives in Hong Kong on funds he collects for revolu tionist purposes in the islands. This present outbreak is the result, un doubtedly, of his agitation in trying to Justify his collections. He probably argues that democrats in the United States promised independence at a fixed time; that the time now has been post poned and that the promise lias been broken.” Mr. Taft opposed in detail the admin istration bill for greater measure of self government for the islands, declar ing that no measure could be framed better calculated to stir up trouble in the Philippines. “The Filipino people do not under stand republican self government in the sense that we know it,” the former president said. “What would be the result if they were given self government at once,” asked Senator Hitchcock. “A Filipino, in whom I have great confidence,” said Mr. Taft, "said to me: ‘Your steamers would not be around Corregidor island before the throat cutting would begin.’ I verily believe that is true. We find the same condition in Mexico. The man who loses a political fight has his head for a forfeit. That's what developed when Aguinaldo was in power. im aescriDing an actual condition that exists there. I’d be glad to have the United States get out of the Phil ippines, and I have a great regard for the poor people out there. They don’t like me because I’ve told them the truth. If you give those people inde pendence now or by 1920 you will have this terrible situation develop. Either a Diaz would arise in the Philippines or they would get into a condition that caused a Diaz in Mexico.” The former president said the obli gation of the United States to defend the Philippines might be a ‘’source of weakness in time of war.” "But,” he continued, "I do not be lieve that any of the nations now en gaged in the European war would look on the possession of the Philippines as a naval base as a source of weakness.” FIND COMBUSTIBLES IN BRITISH VESSEL Powder Stored In Hay Aboard Steamer Transporting Horses to England. New Orleans, Jan. 2.—Combustibles Jr were found in hay on board the British steamer Rembrandt, which recently sailed from Baltimore and later caught fire, according to a statement made here today by A. Edlin, her captain. The ship sailed from Baltimore loaded with horses for the allies but was forced to put back into Newport News because of the fire. Captain Edlin said he was not ab- M solutely certain the fire started from V combustibles surreptitiously placed aboard. After the fire was extin guished a thorough search of the ship was made and powder and other com bustibles were found, he said. The powder was not strongly incased and there was nothing to indicate an at tempt had made to blow up the ship the captain said. Captain Edlin denied that spies had been found on the snip or that any of the horses had been mutiliated. lie said that 73 horses were suffocated am/ .P that 125 died later.