I
WASHINGTON
NEWS NOTES.
Kikratki Suitor litrodaces Bills For Pub
lic Billdlegs it Grui Islu. aid York.
Chane for Free Horn In the Rose,
bud Agenoy. Land Lease Bill
is Dead. Other News.
Washington, D. C, May 6. The cose
of Kennard against the state of Ne
braska was not reached, and as the
Supreme edurTsuspehded Bearing- ar-"
guments In cases until next term the
case went over. Attorney General
Prout and Messrs. Tibbctts and Allen
left for New York.
Senator Dietrich Introduced bills for
public buildings at Grand Inland and
York, Neb. In the former case his bill
appropriates $100,000 for the purchase
of a site and building, and In the latter
175,000 Is appropriated. Sneaking of
these bills, he said: "I am extremely
Interested In having public buildings
at these places. While I don't know
what the policy of the public buildings
and grounds committee may be In re
lation to the omnibus building bill
passed by the house as to additions to
that measure, I do know that I will
put forth every effort to secure con
sideration for Grand Island and York."
General Grosvenor's anti-Injunction
bill passed the house, In very large
measure due to the activity of Speak
er Henderson, who from the moment of
Its Introduction became one of its
warmest supporters. The various or
gnalxations of railroad men through
out the west, and particularly associa
tions having headquarters at Omaha,
Sioux City. Council Bluffs, Des Moines,
Boone, Cedar Rapids, Eagle Grove,
Plattsroouth, Creston, Dubuque and
Burlington, have urged not only the
speaker but their representatives in
congress to favor this measure. Theer
was not a dissenting vote against it
when the bill was called up and It
passed without division.
CHANCE FOR FREE HOMES.
Senators Gamble and Kittredge of
South Dakota were elated over the re
sult of the vote on striking out the
free homes features of the Rosebud
treaty bill. Senator Piatt of Connecti
cut led the fight againBt the free homes
clause and had the earnest support of
Senator Cockrell of Missouri, Senator
Quark-, Senator Stewart, chairman of.
the Indian committee, and several
democrats. The vote, however, showed
that the senate Is overwhelmingly in
favor of the free homes Idea, as on
rol call the vote stood 38 to 19. Sen
ator Allison was among the republic
ans who voted for Senator Piatt's
amendment striking the free homes
Idea from the bill. The bill was not
completed, owing to lack of time, other
bills having precedence. It Is thought,
however, that the bill will be com
plete J and that Senator Teller's amend
ment prohibiting commutation and
compellng settlers to live upon the
land five years before patents issue will
be adopted.
The conference committee of the
two houses having under confederation
the river and harbor bit lis seriously
tied up on account of the many Items
added to the bill by the senate. As a
matter of fact, the senate added nearly
$10,000,000 to the measure and this has
bo Incensed the house members that
the conferees are having an old-fash-loned
row over several Items. The
house bill appropriated ISO.CKK) for the
Missouri river, the senate raised the
amount to $400,000, and the house
members are mad clean through be
cause of this Increase. The senate con
ferees yielded many Items, but they
are holding out tenaciously for others,
and It Is doubtful whether the confer
ees can meet upon some common
ground for days to come.
NO CHANCK FOR LEASING BILL.
As a result of the vlHlt of represent
atives of the Slock Growers' associa
tion of Nebraska to Washington it Is
understood they have requested that
nothing be done with Senator Millard's
graxlng bill, which was prepared by
Colonel John P. Irish and Introduced
by Senator Millard at the request of
the live stock Interests. There Is but
one deduction to make from this ac
tion, and that Is that no land-leasing
bill Is expected to get through con
gress at this session, and that the
fences that have been erected on the
public domain will have to come down
during the summer.
JUDGE REED REAPPOINTED,
Joseph R. Reed of Council Uluffs,
once on the supreme bench of Iowa,
and who has been for the last ten
years chief Justice of the court of pri
vate land claims, was reappointed by
the president, the entire Iowa delega
tion Joining In his Interest.
District Attorney W. 8. Bummers had
a conference with Attorney General
Knox on matters connected with his
office. He left for the west, having
completed the business which brought
him here. It was thought that Mr.
Bummers came to Washington for the
purpose of talking over the district at
torneyship matters with Senators Mil
lard and Dietrich.
Plumbers Demand Advsnoe.
HL Joseph, Mo., May .-Becaue the
master plumbers would not grant their
request for an Increase from $3.50 to
14.00 a day, the members of the plumb
em" union here struck. Both sides are
Arm In their refusal to give In.
O'Neill, Neb., May 7.-A railroad line
a being purveyed from Krtacon, Neb.,
to this place. The line Is fifty mllea In
length and would connect the Burling
ton with the Oreat Northern. .Tha B. A
M. la making tha survey.
ST. LOUIS FAIR POSTPONED ORE YEAR,
Washington, D. C, May 7. Secretary
Hay sent to the senate a letter stating
the necessity for postponing the Lou
isiana Purchase exiKltlon from 1903 to
1904.
Enclosed with it was a letter from
Chairman Carter of the government
comm'fcrion and a telegram from Pres
Idfut Fitr.ciH of the exposition com
pany, showing the necessity for the
postponement.
Senator Cockrell had the letter read
In the senate and then offered an
amendment to the sundry civil appro
priation bill, now pending In the sen
ate, providing for the postponement of
the exposition in accordance with the
request.
The postponement amendment pro-vldr-for-the
dedication of the build
ings of the exposition April 30, 1903, for
the opening of the, exposition to visit
ors on May 1. 1904, and for it closing
to vlbltcrs not later than December 1,
following. The coinage of $250,000 in
gold dollar pieces to be used as a sou
venir coin is also authorized, the money
ey thus provided to be a part of the
5,0o0,u00 appropriated by congress foi
the aid of the fair.
TO KEEP TAB ON CORPORATIONS.
Lincoln, May 7. Several suggestions
contemplating amendments in the Ne
braska corporation laws will be made
to the next legislature by Secretary of
State Marsh. He would have the cor
porations required to report annually
any change In the personnel of the
officers, methods of business or capital
Btock. This would enable a person to
ascertain the number of active corpor
ations In the state and the names of
any of them at any time.
Mr. Marsh would also have the laws
so amended as to provide specifically
that not lees than three persons can
form a corporation. He would have all
foreign corporations required to main
tain a branch office in the state.
From December 1, 1900, to May 1,
this year, over $42,000 was paid into
the secretary of state's office as fees
by corporations. This amount is onty
$400 In excess of the total amount re
ceived by the office during the four
years of the fusion administration.
A CHAR6E OF JURY BRIBING.
Des Moines, la., May 7. The district
court has commenced an investigation
of the conduct of certain Jurors In a
recent case with a view to ascertaining
whether or not a bribe was solicited
In an Important case. During the trial
of the Dorr Cattle company against
the Des Moines National bank, one of
the Jurors, C. W. Dombach, Is alleged
to have approached D. W. Miller and
Intimated to him that the plaintiff In
the case would find It to his advan
tage to open up negotiations for a con
sideration to be paid Dombach for
himself and other Jurymen in the case.
It was Intimated that if the plaintiff
would do the right thing a big ver
dict for damages would be forthcoming
from the Jury. The facts were laid be
fore the court during the pendency of
the trial, but the attorneys for the de
fendant bank were kept in ignorance
of what had happened. After the trial
and when a verdict for $18,000 damages
had been rendered against the bank
In favor of the cattle company, they
beenme for the first time aware of the
charges of bribe soliciting and demand
ed an Investigation. The court discov
ered that nothing formal occurred but
the conversation was such as to merit a
stern rebuke. The Jurors assert It was
done as a Joke, but the court has
failed to see the Joke.
WESTERN STOCK MEN LOSE FI6HT.
Washington, D. C, May 7. The dele
gation of Nebraska live stock men
which came to Washington for the
purpose of preventing the operation of
the order that all fences on range
lands must be taken down by July 1,
and also to assist In the passage of
the land leasing bill, have left for their
homes. Their success was not great.
The delegates met President Roose
velt, who emphasized the orders of
Secretary Hitchcock that the fences
must come down. The secretary has
aUo written a scathing letter to the
cha'rman of the senate committee on
public lands, criticising the action of
the stockmen as being against the set
tlement of the public, lands of the west
by small farmers.
MEXICO REFUSES TO 6IVE UP KRAT2.
Washington. D. C, May 7. The state
department has received from the gov
ernment of Mexico a notification of a
refusal to grant the request of the
United States for the extradition of
Charles Kratx, accused of bribery while
councilman at St. Louis. The extradi
tion treaty between the United States
and Mexico does not cover bribery, but
the state department had suggested
that Mexico deliver Kratz to the Unit
ed States authorities as an Interna
tional courtesy.
Mexico replied that It would do so,
providing the United States would re
ciprocate In similar cases. The state
department replied negatively, and
Mexico then declined point blank t
deliver up Kratz.
Want light. Hour Day
New York, May 7. Machinists and
benchmen In "Hudson county, N. J.,
sawmills and moulding mills to the
number of 1,200 have gone on a strike
because of the refusal of the employ
ers to grant their demand for an eight
hour day with pay of $2.60.
Butte, May 7. The Jury found War
ren Carter guilty of attempted man
slaughter In attempting to kill his
father-in-law, Pet Hansen at Spencer
last fall, and tha Judge sentenced him
to tan ytara In tha penitentiary.
LACEY HAS
LEASING BILL.
Dislped to Protect Still Cittleien an.
Slots ovt Big Corporation.
Limits Amount of Land to Ba Leas
d to 3,200 Aoraa and Laaaaa
ara to Run Five) Yaara.
Washington, D. C (Special.) Major
Lacey, chairman of the committee on
public lands of the house, upon his
return fromtheHawkeye state, intro
duced a bill to lease the grazing lands
of the arid and semi-arid regions of the
United States, limiting leases to small
holders. Under that bill no one can
lease over 3,200 acres of land and no
corporation can lease any land whatso
ever, except after the small holders
have had the rights provided for in
the bill. The bill prohibits the assign
ment of any lease and gives home
steaders the right to lease ten times
the amount of their holdings, not ex
ceeding 3,200 acres, and any freeholder
may lease ten times the amount of his
holdings, not exceeding 3,200 acres, and
it must be In the vicinity of his own
land. If there is not land enough to
give him the amount above mentioned
then amount is to be proruted. The
leasea run for a period of five years at
a rental of from 1 to 6 cents per acre,
according to the grade of the land. A
proviso is Inserted in the bill making
the land subject to homestead, mineral
or other entry and in case of such
entry the lease Is to be cancelled on the
port thus entered upon. Right of way
Is provided across leased land for wa
tering privileges and water rights or
springs and streams are reserved for
other lessees besides those who of
right are accorded water privileges by
reason of leaseholds they have. The
general scope of the bill is to preserve
the leasing privileges to homesteaders
and small land owners.
"The unleased land," said Major La
cey, in speaking about his measure,
which will undoubtedly attract great
attention in the west, "Is to be free to
Individuals and to corporations as
heretofore. My bill also provides that
the secretary of the interior may lay a
per capita tax for grazing In forest
reserves. Under the existing law the
secretary may issue permits free to
grazers of cattle, but places a limit
upon the number of cattle to be grazed.
The bill does not change the present
reserve law In any particular, except
In that the secretary of the interior is
permitted to charge a head tax. I am
interested in this measure and have
Introduced it with the idea of ascer
taining the sentiment of the west,
which is vitally interested In this ques
tion. I will admit that the bill does
not give large corporations or stock as
sociations the rights which they have
been asking congress to grant them. It
is a bill designed primarily to protect
the small growers of cattle, and I be
lieve. If enacted into law, will solve
one of the most vexed questions we
have to contend with as legislators."
In view of the presence In Washing
ton of Bartlett Richards of Nebraska,
one of the largest individual stock
growers of the west, and a delegation
of stockmen who have been here for
the purpose of securing legislation
looking to general land leasing, Major
Lacey's bill Is regarded as very signifi
cant of the trend of public opinion
upon this question.
IOWA TELEPHONE LINES INCREASING.
Des Moines, la. (Special.) The state
auditor has Just sent, out 600 blanks to
county auditors for the reports from
telephone companies, as required by
law, and has found that this was not a
sufficient number and has ordered 300
more of the blanks to be sent out. This
Indicates that there has been an
enormous increase in the number of
telephone companies and Independent
lines which are owned by Individuals or
firms. All of them are required to re
port whether they are assessed or not.
The executive council has not been
assessing the farmers', mutuals and
private Hnes, but has secured infor
mation regarding each and every one
and embodied it In the reports. In a
great many places In Iowa the owners
of the Independent lines have made
connections with the town exchanges
and the farmers of an entire county
may reach each other quite easily. The
state's revenue from the taxation of
telephone systems has been greatly In
creased the last few years and the
work of assessing Is much greater than
In the past. An effort was made to se
cure a general revision of the law In
regard to the assessment and taxation
ef telephone lines In the last legislative
session, but this failed.
Peoria, 111. The silver Jubilee of
Bishop John L. Spalding began in St.
Mary's cathedral, where the bishop
himself celebrated pontifical high mnM
and Cardinal Gibbons preached a ser
mon. In the procession to the church
were one cardinal, five archbishops.sev
nteen bishops and 260 priests from all
over the country.
J. Starling Morton's Will.
Nebraska City, Neb. (Special.) The
Will cf the late J. Sterllg Morton was
opentd at the county court house In
the presence of the heirs and their
representatives. The estate Is esti
mated to be worth In the neighbor
hood of $100,000. The wilt provides for
a nannulty to be paid to Miss Emma
Morton, the sister of the deceased, dur
ing the balance of her life. The estate
la then divided Into four equal parts,
one part for each of his sons of their
heirs by representation.
LABOR TO DEMAND HIGHER WA6ES.
Lincoln, Neb. (Special.) Labor lead
ers of this city have been quietly at
work several weeks on a plan to
raise the wage scale of various build
ing and other trades. The different
labor organizations are being made
stronger, new unions are being formed
and through the Central Labor union
the worklngmen of the trades are be
ing brought together for concentrated
action. They have no hostile inten
tions, but hope to secure the desired
increase in pay through arbitration
with the employers.
It is asserted by the leaders In the
movement that wages paid in this city
are tar below those of other cities of
Lincoln's size. Comparison with scales
in Omaha shows an average discrep
ancy of almost one-third. The follow
ing statement, compiled by the deputy
labor commissioner, shows the wages
and hours of employment of carpen
ters, painters, hod carriers and horse
shoera in Omaha and Lincoln:
WAGES IN OMAHA.
Hours per Per Per
Day. Hour. Day.
Carpenters 8 0.40 $3.20
Painters 8 0.21 3.00
Hod Carriers 8 0.25 3.00
Horseshoe rg
Ftoormen 9 0.33 1-3 3.00
Firemen t 0.38 8-9 3.60
WAGES IN LINCOLN.
Hours per Per Per
Day. Hour. Day.
Carpenters 10 0.2B $2. B0
Painters 8 0.25 2.00
Hod Carriers 10 0.22V4 2.25
Horseshoers
Floormen 10 0.20 2.00
Firemen 10 0.25 2.60
"The workjngmen of the building and
other trades do not intend to ask or
demand anything unreasonable," said
one of the labor leaders. "The wages
paid are probably commensurate with
the amount received by the employ
ers, but the fact remains that they are
far below the standard for cities of the
size of Lincoln.
"No, we're not thinking of a strike.
If we don't secure an advance in the
scales through arbitration or co-operation,
we can't secure it at all. We
want the employers to raise their
prices and then give us a raise. In
that way the employers will not lose
anything, while the wage workers will
be getting better pay."
RED HOf DEBATE ON PHILIPPINES.
Washington, D. C (Special.) The
debate in the senate on the Philippine
bill was decidedly warm on both sides.
A resolution that Major Gardner be
recalled from the Philippines by cable
to testify before the commission caused
the discussion. The minority charged
that the majority was attempting tc
suppress information, which was indig
nantly denied, Senator Lodge saying
that such a course would be Inconceiv
ably stupid. He and others, however
contended it would be useless to recal
Gardner, as he could not arrive ir
time to appear before the commission
Senator Patterson's resolution order
ing Gardner's recall, stated that th
Philippine committee, by a "partisan"
vote, had declined to ask that he b(
cabled to come back and testify.
Exceptton to the word was taken bj
Senator Allison, who said that no on
objected to Gardner's presence, but h
intimated that 'the particularly desir
ous of returning, and he did not care
ot distinguish him by a recall; besides,
If one man were recalled, It would be
necessary to adopt the same course
with others.
Carmaek of Tennessee declared that
Gardner's report was so startling that
the secretary of war had endeavored
to keep It from the senate and the
people. He Insisted that unless the
resolution was adopted, Major Gardner
could not get back before congress ad
journed, THE PROBLEM OF IMMIGRATION.
Washington, D. C (Special.) The
house gave most of the day to the
District of Columbia appropriation bill,
which was not completed. Mr. Shattuc
of Ohio spoke on Industrial conditions.
Rev. Dr. Couden, the blind chaplain
of the house, in his invocation prayed
for restoration to health of Repre
sentative Cummins of New York, who
is lying dangerously 111 at Baltimore.
The Burleson resolution calling upon
the war department tor copies of all
orders of commanding officers In the
Philippines bearing upon the opera
tions in Samar under General Jacob
H. Smith was adopted.
As to Immigration, Mr. Shattuc said:
"Another serious factor of the indus
trial problem Is immigration. The ad
dition of 6,000,000 Immigrants to the
labor supply of our country since 1890
and a current Increase of 600,000 year
ly form a menace to the labor of our
land should a period of depression
again visit our Industries. The result
will be a positive reduction in the
standard of wages, the standard of liv
ing and the standard of civilization.
Those immigrants have mostly settled
In the manufacturing districts and
cities, intensifying the perplexity of the
situation."
The District of Columbia appropria
tion bill was laid aside and Saturday
next set apart for private bills report
ed by the committee on claims.
Ready to Pay for Peaoe
New York. (Special.) W. Bourke
Cockrun, who has just returned from a
trip to Rome, Egypt and London, said
that, In- his opinion, If the Boers will
make an oral concession of defeat tha
English will pay them almost any sum
to restore their destroyed homes and
repair the ravages of the war. In
other words, he said, England Is ready
and anxious to pay a large sum of
money to bring about peace nl South
Africa,
DEPLETE THE
PLATTE RIVER!
Expert Says Aioait Tikoi Aboti for Irri
gation Robs the Lover River.
Roforoo Appointod to Tako Testimony
in Suit Botwoon Nebraska and
Missouri Over an Island.
Washington, D.C. (Special.) Elwood
Mead, irrigation expert of the depart
ment of agriculture, has written a let
ter to Congressman Stark in reply to
Interrogatories submitted by the rep
resentative from the Fourth Nebraska
district, which is regarded as one of
the most valuable contributions to lit
erature on irrigation and is especially
valuable in view of the poeltion Ne
braska occupies in relation to this most
vital question. Mr. Mead in reply to a
question says he believes that the
present systems of Irrigation in Colo
rado and Wyoming are wholly or par
tially responsible for absence of water
in the lower Platte river from July to
January and that It has reduced the
flow by diversion from the South
Platte. He says the North Platte has
been of little use in Wyoming, the
reason assigned being that the country
which it traverses is too broken for
irrigation and because of high banks
and other obstacles to its diversion. Mr.
Mead, in discussing the reason for the
reduction of the water supply in the
North Platte, says the change has not
been brought about by the extended
use of water for irrigation in Wyom
ing, but is due to burning and cutting
of timber at the head of the main and
tributary streams and the tramping
down and hardening of the soil by
rains and live stock on both the moun
tains and plains regions bordering the
heads of the two rivers.
STORAGE WOULD HELP.
It Is his opinion that the storage of
early flood waters will tend to in
crease the late water supply in the
river in Nebraska. He believes that
storage In Wyoming will benefit rather
than injure the water supply in Ne
braska, while on extension of irrigation
through the building of large canals
from the main streams will tend to re
duce the late water supply in Nebras
ka. As to a combination of the two
he frankly says he is not clear. As to
priorities of use of water, which has
been the subject of very serious, con
sideration by members of the Nebraska
delegation, Mr. Mead believes they
should be respected across state lines.
He emphatically states that congress
has power to make such legislation as
will assure protection of water rights
notwithstanding the declaration of
some state constitutions.
STATES AT LAW OVER ISLAND.
Attorney General Prout has submit
ted to the supreme court a stipulation
agreed upon between the attorney gen
eral of Missouri and himself in regard
to the boundary question affecting
some 16,000 acres in McKessick's island,
which is now held to be a part of Ne
maha county, Nebraska. Missouri
claims Jurisdiction over this Island, and
the supreme court has ppointed two
commissioners to take testimony and
present findings of facts at the next
term of court, Alfred Hazlett being
named by the attorney general of Ne
braska as one of the commissioners on
the part of that state. The island In
question is located at a point In the
Missouri river where Nebraska, Iowa
and Missouri almost come together,
and is Just below Hamburg, la., and so
far as Nebraska goes Is known as Isl
and precinct. Attorney General Prout,
speaking of the stipulation which tie
presented to the supreme court, said
that he had received petitions signed
by nine-tenths of the voters of the pre
cinct asking him to keep the island out
of the state of Missouri.
Captain Hull, representative from the
Seventh Iowa district, said that he
would ask the committee on appropri
ations of the senate to increase the
amount appropriated for the purchase
of a site for the new public, buildings
at Des Moines from $125,000 to $150,000.
It appears that several of the papers
in Des Moines are discrediting the ap
propriation mode by the house for the
purchase, of a site and are. saying ex
ceedingly mean things about Captain
Hull's action In the matter. In Justifi
cation of the amount appropriated in
the omnibus bill Representative Hull
cited that New Orleans, with a popula
tion of 2'90,000, had an appropriation
of $200,000 for a site which was .to cover
one block; that Toledo, with a popula
tion of 130,000 and whose lowest esti
mate for a site was $250,000, received
an appropriation of but $125,000, white
Des Moines, with a population of 62,000,
receives $125,000, although the lowest
estimate for a site was $150,000, fur
nished by the. custodian of the Des
Moines postofflce and custom house.
Norfolk, Va. A Are, originating from
an electric spark In the Virginia Can
fly company's factory, destroyed that
plant, the Norfolk Dispatch office, Hof
helmer & Son, tobacco manufacturers,
and MacDonald's restaurant. Loss,
1150,000. ,
Boor Loaders are to Moot
Pretoria. (Special.) The general
meeting of the Boer leaders, at which
a final decision on the subject of the
peace negotiations Is expected, will take
place at Vereen'lglng, Transvaal, May
15, not May 26, as previously announced
rom here.
London. Special.) It la officially as
serted that subsequent to tha delib
erations of tha Bojr leaders at Ve
reenlglng they will proceed to Pretoria
and deliver to Lord Kitchener their
decision In regard to tha peace terms
SPEED RECORD BXSXEI II
All previous records for fast nut
nlng over distances greater than tea
miles went glimmering down among
the things that were when the Denver-
Chicago Special of the Burlington
Route covered 14.8 miles at the rate of
1.6 miles an hour.
This burst of speed was made with a
heavy train of nine cars from "Eckley
to Wray, Colo., on March 24., the train
being in charge of. Conductor J.' H.
Burns and Engineer O'Connell.
The report of the former on this oc
currence follows:
'Train No. 6 left Denver about tea
minutes late, owing to a wait for the
through California car. A heavy wind
prevailed to Akron, which put us out of
the latter place exactly thirty minutes
late. Engineer O'Connell was h'.nded
the usual documents to proceed, and
nothing- exceptional as -regards speed -
was mentioned, as it has been custom
ary to go to Wray, first stop, in 43 to
46 minutes, TO to 73 miles on hour av
erage, when late.
"We Dassed Otis at an average ot
about 59 miles an hour. Hyde and Yuma,
the train passed at about 65 miles an
hour, and when the train passed Eckley
It was running 74 to 75 miles an hour.
"I was in the observation car, Eck
ley to Wray. On my left were several
gentlemen who had been talking about
the run: Mr. Arthur Johnson of Den
ver, Mr. Wells Atley of Los Angeles,
Mr. Bush, Traffic Manager of the Colo
rado Midland, Mr. Foley of Omaha,
two men from Salt Lake City, a lum
ber dealer from Leadville and an elec
trician from Honolulu.
"We passed Eckley at 7:56 p. m., all
hands holding watches corroborating.
It seemed so short when the whistle
was blown that the comment was made
by Mr, Johnson, 'Oh, well, he is not
doing so much as we thought he
might.' Mr. Johnson believed that we
had but reached Robb, a distance of
six and one-tenth miles from Eckley.
I remained silent for a few seconds.
disappointed. The wind had gone
down and on account of the heavy
smoke falling over the train I was not
positive where I was, but with a see
on d thought, the train having dashed
over a bridge between whistling post
and depot, and knowing the location;
extremely well, I arose and sold: 'Gen
tlemen, we are at Wray. We passed
Robb some time ago, and your have
been -able to ride fourteen and eight
tenths miles faster than It has ever
been covered.' '
"They looked at me with astonish
ment and never spoke. I went at once
to the platform at the rear end aid
observed at time of departure myt
watch, which was showing Ave min
utes strong after 8:00 p. m. Train wu
not at a dead standstill, but the
nose of the engine had passed faf
enough under the wire to constitute
the distance finished and on create a
record.
"I went to the head end, where Mr.'
Lindsay of Pittsburg, manager for An
drew Carnegie, and party were occu
pying special car Grassmere. Mr. Lind
say was on the platform when I ap
proached and exclaimed: 'Conductor,
that was a terrific burst of speed; half
fast were we going?'
"I told him the speed was more
than ninety miles per hour for the die-'
tance of fourteen and eight-tenths
miles. 'I came to the conclusion we
were flying,' said he, 'and told my
party it was the fastest time we had
ever made.'
"The train consisted of engine No. 41.
mail car, baggage car, two reclining
chair cars, special car Grassemere,
three sleepers and dining car Prescott.
"From Eckley to Wray the track Is
full of curves, and the train -of nine
one time, owing to length of train and
shortness of curves.except in two coses
where they are longer.
"J. H. BURNS, Conductor."
IN BEHALF OF THE BOERS.
Washington, D. C (Special.) The
Boer question came up before - the
house committee on foreign affairs,
when Representative Burleson of
Texas asked as to the disposition of
the various resolutions of sympathy
referred to the jcommittee. Represent
ative Adams of Pennsylvania, chair
man of a subcommittee having the res
olution in change, said that next Mon
day had been designated for a hearing;
of those interested, at which time sev
eral of those prominently Identified
with the pro-Boer movement will be
present. The resolutions Include those
of sympathy and also those referring
to supply camps alleged, to be main
tained in this country. The subcom
mittee consists of Representatives Ad
ams, Cousins and Hooker.
The committee offered a favorable re
port on the bill of Representative Hltt
of Illinois, establishing a United States
diplomatic and consular service In
Cuba with a United States minister at
$10,000, secretary at $2,000, second sec
retary $1,500, consul general at Havana
$5,000, consuls at Cienfuegos and San
tiago $3,000 each. The bill differs from
the plan proposed in the senate, which
allows the minister a salary of $12,000
and adds a consulate at Matanzos.
ORDER TO POISON THE SPEARS.
Manila. (Special.) Lieutenant Geo.
H. Shields, Jr., aide-de-camp of Gen
eral Jacob H. Smith, testified at the
court-martial which is trying the gen
eral. The lieutenant said he knew well the
signature of Lucban, the Insurgent
leader who was captured February 22
by Lieutenant Strebler's Philippine
scouts In the island of Samar: The
order Issued to poison the natives'
spears was undoubtedly signed by Lus
ban. The witness also said Lucban con
fessed to him that he was the author
of the proclamation setting forth that
German warships were bombarding
Vlgan and that the Filipino navy waa
blockading Manila, Which was issued
to encourage the Fiftplnos.
The defense then rested its case and
the court adjourned until Saturday.
Mrs. Plant, widow of the millionaire
Henry Plant, and her stepson, Morton
F. ' Plant, are considering the giving
of the big Tampa Bay hotel, at Tampa,
Fla, to be converted into a Jesuit ool
lege. They will endow the college with
$1,000,000. ,
Rev. Arthur Chllson, one of the
prominent ministers of the Friends de
nomination of lows, has Just started
for East Africa, where he will estab
lish a mission for the Friends' etmrsJe
of the state of Iowa,