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About Harrison press-journal. (Harrison, Nebraska) 1899-1905 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 9, 1902)
BLOCKS THE BIG MERGER. fcjactkt Restrii. Btlirmt of Ncrth en Pieifte Preferred North am Pacific, Great Northern and a Part of the Burlington Aro Declared Paraflal. Hifinespr.lrs. (Special.) Just after the noon hour today Charles S. Mel- Jen, president of the Northern Pacific j Railroad company, was served with papers wmrn rnjum wi (.vnijja.tj irom retiring the preferred stock. The order was issued by Judge El liott of the district court of Henne pin county on the application of Peter Power of New York, who holds ISO shares of the toinmOJi stock- It was supposed that the failure of the action brought in the New York courts by holders of preferred sto:k cleared away the last obstacle to the retirement of the preferred on Jan wary I. leaving the Hill Interest in eontrol of the road through Its ma jority of the common stock. The injunction restrains the North ern Pacific Railway company from is suing or selling any certificate of in debtedness or debenture bonds or other evidence of indebtedness or cre ating any indebtedness or liability for the purpose of raising money with which to pay or retire the preferred tock of the Northern Pacific Railway company, or any part thereof, or from aslng or appropriating any moneys or proceeds other than the ordinary or surplus net earnings of the Northern Pacific Railway company to the pay ment and retirement of the preferred tock of the company or any part thereof, and also from creating any Indebtedness or liability other than the ordinary indebtedness and liabil ity for the operating expense of its railroad system, and the indebtedness and liability now existing which would a preferrence or take precedence of the common stock of said company, also from placing its property, or any part thereof, or the management of its railway system or any part thereof, in the possession or under the control, either directly or indirectly, of the Northern Securities company, or from entering Into any agreement or ar rangement, either directly or Indi rectly, through the medium of the Northern Securities company or oth erwise with the Great Northern Rail road company, the Chicago, Burling ton Qulncy Railway company or either of them, for the purpose of causing the railway system owned and controlled by theh Northern Pa cific Railroad company to be operated In connection with or under the same rules or by the same authority as the Oreat Northern Railway company and the Chicago, Burlington Qulncy Railway company, or either of them. sr from entering Into any agreement them for the purpose of avoiding I competition and fixing rates for the j carriage of freight and passengers upon either of their lines of railway, j DEFINES COMMON AND PRE KERR ED. The petition recites briefly the his fory of the Northern' Pacific railroad and the divisions of its stock into common and preferred. " It is alleged that the only difference between the preferred stork and the common stock was that the preferred stock was en titled to the 4 per cent dividend prior fo anything being paid on the common Stock and the bill In this connection alleges that the preferred stock . was abject to be retired at any time within twenty yeara after the time , f reorganisation of the company and the Issuing of the stock out ot the' swrplus net earnings of the company and not otherwise, that hi other re spects the rights of the preferred and common stockholders were Identical. The next bill recites tbeh organiza tion f the Great Northern, Chicago, starling-ton Qulncy line and al legee that the Northern Pacific rail road company and Oreat' Northern flaJHray enmpanyare- parallel lines to tb Pacific ocean and that the Chi cago, Burlington Qninry railroad baa a parellel line from Billings, Jfont, to Chicago and thai such iim-e are competing lines for the business of th northwest. PURPOSE OK CONSOLIDATION. It la alleged that the officers of the rent Northern road during last sum mer and since the plaintiff became flat owner of this stock, and without any knowledge on his part, went into eombtnatloo with the Oreat North ern and the Chicago. Burlington Qulncy, the purpose of which was to oensoHdate the three systems under one management, and knowing that It eeuld not b legally effected, the dl factors af the three companies, for the smsagj of doing Indirectly wttat they stall not do directly, caused to be or -nsjsasd th Northern Securities com- fsay, a New Jersey corporation, with a anpttaiiaatiea af J4M.tat.sM, wMofc, tt charter was aaaortsed to bends gad) V lOtsSsueV OWffoosHiy Osairal Je f' y T75aseT waw tm this efty teomy la ,. I 1 1 JHOl hew arary rista. 1m m laoawwiiir he atsdoa, (ft n- J tgoxk M the sWattM ". . t -0Om Co the tm- 4 a i c3i trawa eiwc? securities of other corporations, the Intention being to cause a majority of the sto k of all three raiwsy com panies to be transferred to the North ern "Securities company, and to be controlled by It, thereby controlling the three systems of railway through thhe medium of the Northern Secur ities company, suppressing competi tion, regulating the tariff rates and conducting the entire business of the three system a one corporation. I PRONOCXCKS SCHEME IbLRGAI It is further alleged that thereupon the Northern Securities company com menced to advertise on lei-ma of ex change, ail the stock of the Great Northern company, unil mil iw whole schema was illegal, In violation :of the law of this state and other mates through which the railway lirle, paM a,aint the pubic laws of tne t-njted States and of each of the places. The bill also alleges that under and by virtue of the charter of the Northern Pacifie Railway company and under the provisions of the re organization agreement the preferred stock can uniy ' be pwd f&T ST.S re tired out of the net surplus earnings of the Northern Pacific Railway com pany and not otherwise. That not withstanding these provis ions the directors of said company, for the first step In carrying out their plan of transferring the control of the defendant corporation to the North ern Securities company, have served notice upon the holders of the. pre ferred stock, that on January 1. 1S02, they would retire such preferred stock. The bill alleges further that since its reorganization the Northern Pacific Railway company has con ducted a successful and profitable bus iness and ha paid 4 per cent on Its preferred slock and is now paying 4 per cent on the common, out of the earnings, after paying the filed charges and the operating expenses; that there Is a fund of about K.OOO.fl set aside to secure payments of divi dends on preferred stocks and be tween J2.OOO.OC0 and I3.006.CC of a general surplus; It has now on hand exceeding J3.000.000 derived from the earnings of the road, wherewith to pay the J75.000.000 of preferred stock at par, but that in order to retire such preferred stock the directors of the company are threatening to Issue and sell certificates of Indebtedness of debenture, bonds, amounting to J7", 000,000 of the Noithern Pacific Railway company, and out of the proceeds pay off the stockholders of the preferred stocks at par, January 1, 1S02. NOTJCB OF RETIREMENT. It Is alleged that the Northern Pa cific Railway company ha caused to be sent to each of its preferred slock holders a notice that it would retire the whole of the preferred stock at par on January 1, 10"J, and that the transfer books of the company were closed Tuesday, December 10, 1S01, at 3 o'clock, for the retirement of the prefered stock aforesaid The palntiff says he has been unable to obtain a copy of the resolutions of the board of directors as to the issue and sale of the certificates of Indebt edness or debenture bonds, but th general effect of the resolution, he al- by the Northern Pacific railway to the stockholders, a copy of which circular Is made a part of the bill. It is alleged in the bill that no meet ing of the shareholders of the defend ant company has been called to make the lJ5ue of the certificates of Indebt edness or debenture bonds; that the board of directors Is without power to issue such call; that at the time of the issue of the certificates of stock to the common stockholders when the com pany reorganized in H98 and by th' reorganization agreement provided "that the company shall not put a mortgage on Its properly embraced in the property in the Northern Pacific system, nor shall the amount of the preferred stock be increased except after obtaining in each instance the consent of the majority of holders of the whole amount of the preferred stock and the consent of the holders of the majority of common stock, to be voted separately; that the plaintiff is unable to ascertain whether certifi cates are to be secured by a mortgage on the property of v the Northern Pa cific company or not, but whether se cured by mortgage or not it constitut ed an indebtedness due and payable not later than 1907, with Interest at 4 per cent, whether the company has any earnings or not out of which to pa? It, and; sr. indrbtcdscxs upon which Judgment can be obtained, the property of the company sold, the rights of the common stockholders foreclosed and that If the common stockholders foreclosed and that If the common stockholders or a portion of thera take advantage of the option of fered them to take common stock for their certificates of Indebtedness, the common stock Is greatly Increased without the vote of the stockholders of the company and without the au thority of the law of the state where I was Incorporated. NOT A UXN ON PROPERTY. The petition alleges that It was pro. posed In this way to substitute for the present preferred stock, which In no way constitutes a Uea upon ttm prop erty of the Northern Pacific company and Is not a charge against the earn- InaTB of the compear and has o prior after the war, oaa thai arawt boss. For eae priamty aioae aaa laj Maaflttr. There wti he ao paattioal break la d.1ag by gay party VX30T, EL. M eM ae Kl IfcKSv " roawa watte re ft-sTTilil etaaa, wttti the asrrJag f the eater KlMlM by CM swt. " ; ' right orsr th common stork In priority of dividends, a convertible, negotiable security or debenture bond, bearing Interest at the rate of 4 per cent per annum, which said amount of 4 per tent per annum is a fixed chajge against the earnings of th comnanv and its Drooertv and must be paid whether the earings for any year amount to 4 per cent upon saia Issue of convertible certificates of In debtedness or debenture bonds or not, nd under which, if default Is made In the payment of said Interest or any payment of the. principal when due in 1S07 or at any time prior thereto un der the provision of said certificates of Indebtedness or debenture bonds, the entire property of the Northern Pa- elite Railway company be sold to sat isfy the Judgment or Judgment which may be obtained thereunder and all equities and rights of the common stockholders extinguished. SCHEME PROVOKE LITIGATION. The bill sets forth that the scheme has already crovoked litigation, which is now pending, and plaintiff swears j that by reason of public criticism oth er serious litigation will be inniiiute-l j unless the defendsnt railway company ; h rffrifnrf frrtrn rarrvlne out ItS il- ! legal sheme and design, and in this ' connection it is aliegede that proceed--; ngs are about to be Instituted against j the Northern Securities company, the Northern Pacific Railway company, the Great Northern Railway company and the Chicago, Burlington A Quincy Railway company by some one or more of the states through which the roads pass, to prevent the consolida tion In the manner alleged In the bill, and that the action of these compa nies wi) linvite and arouse hostile and punitive legislation by all states thro' shlch the roads pass, and that In th case the railway company should car ry out and accomplish the plans arid schemes mentioned It will be subject to have its charter lights forfeited. Th hill rjcit th nrovisinn for the constitution of the state of Montana j prohibiting the consolidation of com peting and parallel lines of railway, and also the laws of the state of Washington prohibiting the consolida tion of parallel and competing lines, and alleges that the Northern Pacific and Great Northern Railway compa nies are parallel and competing lines. GIVE PURPOSE OF COMPANY. It Is particularly alleged In the bill , of complaint that the Northern Securl- j ties company is a railroad corporation and was organized for the express and sole purpose of uniting under its man agement and control the defendant. Northern Pacific Railway company, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail road company and the systems of rail ways controlled and operated by each of, these railway companies, respect- j ively. and for no other purpose, and that the Northern Securities company was organized for the purpose of own ing, holding and controlling all three of the corporations mentioned in the bill and their various systems of rail way, so that all competition between these companies may. be stifled and prevented, and that unjust and Inequit able exorbitant rates for both freight and passenger traffic may be obtained by them. I The bill further sets forth that It is the design and purpose of the North- ern Pacine Kaiiway company, me Great Northern Railway company and the Chicago. Burlington A Qulncy Railroad company to consolidate and merge in tne Norinern cecumi com pany, the complete and exclusive con trol of each and all of these railway systems and that the proposed at tempted retirement of the preferred stock of the Northern Pacific Railway ompany Is solely for the purpose of enabling the Northern Pacific compa ny to turn over to the Northern Se curities company a majority of the stock of the Northern1 Pacific Rail- ay company; that the proposed and attempted creation of an Indebtedness of 175,006,000 en the part of the North ern Pacific Railway company is solely for the purpose of paying off and re tiring the preferred stock, to the end that a majority of the common stock may be so turned over to the North ern Securities company. It is alleged that In case the North - rn Pacific company proposes to snd ln carry out the plan and scheme teged In the complaint that the plaintiff will be Irreparably damaged and that he had no remedy at law for his damage or Injury or any part of It, either against the company or the officers thereof. The bill then prays for Ihe writ of injunction as Issued by Judge Elliott. mi sau:s at Ro'::.s fcses. Denver, Colo. (Special.) Meat Is selling at ruinous figures, a fact caus ed by the war between the butchers' union and the Swift Packing company. Retail shops became Involved and the prices dropped So per ronl. which makes them M per cent leas than th cost on the hoof. The union has warn ed retailers that a boycott will be de clared on ail 'shops handling the Swift produce The tight was caused by the refusal of the Swift company to pay a one of tm, Imposed by the union for selling to a non-union shop. The state of Colorado la Involved, and the company announces it has fl.Mt, M to spend In order to win out. , Co M tlw WaeWagten. D. C.-pecUl.) aena tor Park me of CaHtorala Introduced to the prastdsnt Prof. CampheO, so perl a laadeat aad areata af the lick eb serTasry.ad Prof. SUoa Nsweombe, the asataratsa' astroaoMer. Prof. Campbell larlted the prsaldiat U vlert the Uak stoinatory. The preHaeat lata ftfca that It was hM tateatloa U a trh to as PaeWe sjMMf Mat th It hM eatfttJ s K taN grs Msg fraat (tJCTSTt h fXOt OS JOE BARTLEY IS PARDONED. f HflMiCf U-UUVtttt It Mltlttl Frta ttt Ptattntiary. Governor Savage Declares Ho Has Soon Punished Enough, Goto Many Petition. Lincoln. (Special.) With his wife on one side and his daughter on the other former State Treasurer Jo seph 8. Bartley walked out of the doors of the state penitentiary last week with a full pardon In his hand to commence the year 101 a free man. Governor Ravage signed the papers which brought Bartley Into the world again. The time served by the former state treasurer In the walls of the prison is, counting the time put In In the county Jail, five years, .even months and eight days. Governor Savage commuted his sen- tence to this period and the time ex pired at midnight, December 31. Private Secretary Clancey was sent to the Bartley residence with the papers. He placed them, together with a discharge from the peniten tiary, In Mrs. Bartley's hands. The house was a scene of the ut most excitement as the family hastily entered the carriage of Charles O. Whedon and drove with all speed for the big gray stone building. Warden Davis had been expecting them and had the prisoner ready. His Incarceration was all the more bitter since the taste of liberty he had had by the parole granted by the governor July 13 and recalled July 28. The scene, when the family met in the warden's office, was an affecting one. But after the first greetings and congratulations the party went to the carriage and drove directly to the P-artley home. Here It was but a few minutes until crowds of friends began to gather and overwhelm him with good wishes. in- vitations to New Year dinners were f iVtn almost without number, but the OTmer treasurer refused them all, preferring to remain at home for the day. Bartley's real Imprisonment cm nienced when he was first placed In the Douglas county jail, June 24, ISK7. The supreme court approved his sen tence of twenty years In the peni- tentisry July , The recall of the parole of July 13 was due to the action of the state re publican convention, where resolutions were passed. With the commutation of the sen tence Governor Savage has Issued a Ion statement of his reasons. He has, he says, come to the conclusion that Bartley has suffered enough for his crimes and that the sentence Bnoud shortened. The primary question to be consiil ere(j jn au esses Involving executive ciPmency is, "has the prisoned been puriBhed In a degree commensurate 0ffense?" the governor says. His action answers the question as he sees it. A thorough examination int othe de tails of the matter has been made. Governor Savage says, and this ha convinced him that the demands of organized society have been met. He also gives attention to the state ments that have frequently been made that Bartley's offenses were more bit terly criticised than they might have been through the fact that the state was then In thhe throes of a cam paign and that Bartley's sentence had In It something of a personal equa tion. In closing the governor says he has petitions containing the names of more than 4,0S0 of the state's most prominent citizens, asking for Bart ley's freedom STISXED IT THE lAKTLEY PARISH.. Lincoln, Neb. iSptla1.) Governor Savage has left for a short tour of the southern states, his final destina tion being New Orleans. At the state house it was understood the pardon of Joseph Rartley was to be the final act of xe."Bt'.v clemency for th present holiday season. No local "happening for months has caused the sensation that did the release of the former state treasurer. , Governor Savage said he had receiv ed many personal expressions of ap proval of his set, as well as messages of congratulation. Telegrams of the same tenor poured into the Bartley home, and friends snd former neigh bors called to express their good will. In this city there were also expres sions condemning the governor's ac tion, a (worn pan led by predictions that It would have an Important political bearing. Mr. Bartley would make no statement- The theory that the gov ernor was actuated by the belief that the pardoned man would be In a posi tion to make restitution of part of the funds lost to the state was neither affirmed nor denied. CeNsrartaiatael ao Honor Prom Kaiaev Washington. D. C.-(r)peclal-Mlsa Alice Roosevelt, the daughter of the president, was much complimented to 4ay by her friends and acquaintances erer a oastegrsai from Benin, convey lag; the Information that the kaiser wanted fear to name Ma aew yacht Taws far as oftVial latimetioa of the MteraaUonoi compliment hat reached the White hoMM. The kaiaefa request. whoa aCMally aed. wlU lake aems tlaM M raaoa Maw Roosevelt, through ti mmti alptoaalu cfeaaaete. fo ga n T3 cm Helena. Mont. f Special.) A dei- nlte plan of action to defeat the pro posed consolidation of the Northern Pacific. Oreat Northern and Burling ton railway systems was today unanimously agreed upon by the gov ernors and attorneys-general of sev eral northwestern nates In which those roads have mileage. Legal action will be instituted Im mediately In Minnesota courts with this object In view,' and to quote At torneys GeneraJ Douglas of Minnesota, "the thing will be foMght to a finish." Just hew, when or where these suits will be brought, neither Governor Van Sant of Minnesota or Attorney Oen- eral Douglas would state. The con ference adjoruned late this afternoon after adopting resolutions condemning the proposed merger as contrary to sound public policy and pledging sup port to any proper legal action which may be brought to test Its validity. The first resolution Is as follows: "In our opinion the consolidation or threatened consolidation of the Great Northern, Northern Pacific and Bur lington railway systems In the several states through which they run as par allel and competing linea Is contrary to sound public policy and also, with the exception of Idaho, Is In violation of the constitution and laws of said states, and mindful of the obligation which the law Imposes in such cases upon the officials of the several states here represented we hereby give our unqualified approval and endorsement to any proper and suitable proceed ings which may be instituted In any court having jurisdiction by the sov ereign state of Minnesota or any other state affected thereby, designed and Intended to speedily and finally test and determine the' validity of such consolidation or threatened consolida tion and to that end we hereby pledge our earnest co-operstlon, and, fur ther, we unanimously protest against any combination or consolidation which restricts or stifles free competi tion In the trade or commerce of the country." This resolution was unanimously adopted. The second resolution, which was a substitute for Ihe one offered by Governor Hunt of Idaho, along the same lines, was as follows: "Whereas, A consolidation of the great transcontinental railway lines is threatened, which, in the opinion of the members of this conference, Is inimical to the public welfare, there fore be It "Resolved, First, That the con gress of theh United States be and hereby is requested to Investigate the general subject and take suitable ac tion thereon. "Resolved, Second, That power should be granted to thhe Interstate Commerce Commission to fix maxi mum rates upon Interstate traffic and to regulate the same. "Resolved. Third, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the enatois and representatives In con gress of theh states here represented." Governor Van Sant expressed him self as much gratified over the re sult of the meeting which had been requested by him. "So far as I am concerned." said he Mfter the meeting adjourned, "I am thoroughly satisfied with the work of the meeting. It accomplished all that ould be desired. I am very mucb pleased." BOER CALLS ON THE PRESIDENT. Washington, D. C 'Special. ) Com mandant W. D. Snyman, who was a member of General Dewtt's staff In South Africa up to a year ago, and who for some time has represented the Boer cause in the west, called upon President Roosevelt. Commandant Snyman Is a tall, flne-lnkltig Itoer and talks English with a slightly broken accent. '1 called upon the president," said he, "to thank him for having sent to my wife, who Is In South Africa, some money I desired her to have. I shall always feel grateful to President Koosevelt. I saw my wife's signature today for the first time In months." How did you wife get the money 7" Through the L'nltn Htates consul at Capetown and her answer to my letter was returned through the same channel.' He did not think the war in houth Africa a proper subject to discuss with the president. He simply wanted to thank him for getting the money to his wife. "The, Boers," said he, can see easily that the president can .! nothing to step the r.ar even If he were so disposed. Hut we will appeal to congress for an expression of opin ion. We hope that both political par ties In this country will unite In such an expression. We do not want the matter made a party question so as to embarrass the Cnlled States in any way. I believe the English people would welcome an Interference suffi cient (o cause the authorities to drop the war. eW art willing to make some concessions." Guarded By Dogs. Rawlins, , Wyo. (ttpeclal.) Guarded faithfully by his two dogs, the body of W. U. Mooney, one of the herders of the Pacific Sheep comany,who was frozen to death, was found by search ers and brought to this city. The dogt had been by him several days, and kept the coyotes away. Qtwm Rod gars "aaaral. Tacoma, Wssh. Spe lal.) The fu neral of John Rankin Rogers, the third governor of Washington, was held yesterday. The entire city was draped la black and thousands of peo ple thronged the streets. The remains were escorted te the Hillside cemetery at Pu rails p, by several companies of the National Ouard, aad fifty flies of Masons, besides a long procession of friends and the pahUe. The services at the gravt wart aadtr Masonic nut- DISOLVES THE INJUNCTION. Fistril Curt lidto li Fim if Cs lirttiri Pacific. Refuses to Allow Appeal from Order fretting Aside Injunction to e atram Retirement of Stook. Minneapolis. (Special ) Judge Wil liam Ixwhren of the I nlted Statea circuit court today dissolved the temporary Injunction Issued In the case of Peter Power against the Northern Pacific Railway company by Judge Klllott of the district court of Hennepin county Monday. The injunction which waa dissolved by the order of Judge lxchren re strained the Noithern Pacific from Is suing any evidences of Indebtedness to retire ths preferred stock of the com pany or to retire the. preferred stock in any other manner than by the use of the surplus net earnings of the road. It also restrained the Northern Pacific and its officers from entering into any agreement or doing any act by which the road would be consoli dated or merged, through the medium of the Northern Securities company with the Great Northern or the Bur lington, or either of them. After the derision was made orally by Judge I hren at the close of a day's argument by tne attorneys for both sides, an effort was made by the plaintiff's attorneys to have the court fix the amount of bond which would be required In order to appeal from the decision and to stay all further proceedings in the lower court pend ing the appeal. Judge lehren refused to allow a supersedeas bond In any amount to be Elen. Judge Iochren held that the North ern Pacific was acting wihln the au thority of Its charter, of the contract entered Into between It and Its stock holders aa Incorporated In the cer tificates of preferred stork and of tht agreement of November 13, In at tempting to retire the J76.0O0,Ok of preferred stock in the manner al-Icge-l by Mr. Power. He also held that railroad corpora tions could not do Indirectly what the law prevented them from doing di rectly and that any method by which consolidation of two or more compet ing and parallel lines would bo brought about would be Illegal and a writ of Injunction would be to re strain the consummation of the plan, bjt that there was nothing in the case as presented to him, that would indicate that the stockholders of ths Northern Pacific Railway company were attempting such a consolidation or merger. Judge Lochren in his decision made a ruling which the attorneys of J. J. Hill etaim settles the question of the legality of the proposed merger. Said the court: . If the Northern Pacific Railroad) company never thought of consolida tion, but to pay off the preferred stock holders and issue common stock. it had authority to do that, snd that of itself would certainly have no tend ency toward consolidation. "It seems to me that the preferred stock may all be retired without the Northern Securities company being formed and If unlawfulness consists not in the -retiring nf this stock but in the acts which result In the forma tion of that company and placing other securities In that company." Mr. Powers' attorneys tonight au thorised the statement that the fight had Just begun and that they would appeal to the United Ktates auprenae court. RUMOR MISS STONE IS FREE. Sirndoiu (Special.) A dispatch to the Central News from Vienna says a re part has been received there via Sofia to the effect that Mlsa Helen None, the captive missionary, aaa been released. The report lacks con flrmatlon. Washington, D. C nwial. The state department officials say they have no recent newt bearlna on the case of Miss Ktcne and therefore o&a not confirm the dispatch from London transmitting a report that she baa been released. At the same time such a consummation of the efforts In her behalf would not be surprising, aa the latest Information received hero shows that responsible Dart lea are In communication with the brigands who hold her captive and the latter know these parties have all the money thai can be raised with which to ransom the captives. i Ixndon.-(Hpeclii.)The Sofia eorre. spondent of the Dally Telegraph haa cabled sn unconfirmed rumor to the effect that Miss Bton and Mme. Tsll- ka were liberated In Turkey on Janu ary l and that the Americans who conducted the negotiations resulting In this reported release agreed, In the presence of tht captives, to maintain absolute silence regarding the captors. Maat Cat rot Doga Ta Suatam Ufa, Barlln-tSpeclsl.) - The distress among the agrarians is most serious. The farmers are flocking to the cities In the hope of obtaining food. Many have been compelled to eat their pot ooga, in oraer to escape starvation. Things hava rearhxt Bu.a , Hy that ths authorities In the vlllaaw n. - . swnousiy cooeiaerlnf a proposition to opea a dog butchery, l rder to properly prtpart cartas la a mm tl . i r'J "- V'-', ', ; K4,'''V',V t" .. '