THE FIGHT BEGUN!
HOUSE GETS AFTER THE CIVIL
SERVICE COMMISSION.
MAY CUT THE APPROPRIATION
No Definite Action, However, Was
Agreed Upon—Five Hours Given Up
to Discussion of the Legislative
Appropriation Bill.
WASHINGTON—The annual fight
on the Civil Service commission was
begun in the house Thursday during
consideration of the legislative appro
priation bill. The opposition came
from Messrs. Bartlett of Georgia, Hep
burn of Towa and Grosvenor of Ohio.
Mr. Hepburn moved to strike out
the entire appropriation for the com
mission and its force of clerks, at the
same time denouncing the civil service
as not having improved since the days
of the spoils system, but on the con
trary, growing less and less efficient. '
The discussion brought out some
serai-humorous comment on the last
presidential election. It related to the
lack of votes which were cast for
Judge Parker. Mr. Williams of Mis
sissipi and Mr. Grosvenor of Ohio par
ticipated in this feature of the debate.
The session lasted five hours and
fifteen minutes. The legislative bill
was scrutinized carefully in con
sonance with the president’s recom
mendation against extravagance. Mr.
Bingham, in charge of the bill, re
quested constantly to explain some
appropriation. The pay of the com
mittee stenographers of the house was
reduced from $5,000 per annum to
$3,000 and the house refused to accept
the provision increasing the pay of
the secretary to the Civil Service com
mission. But little progress was made
on the bill.
The senate held only a short session
Thursday and adjourned until Mon
day.
An attempt to secure consideration
of the pure food bill was defeated by
a demand of Mr. Aldrich that the bill
be read at length, which brought an
objection from Mr. Tillman, who did
not want the time consumed. Mr.
Tillman brought the case of William
D. Crum, the colored man nominated
for collector at Charleston, S. C., into
prominence by asking for a report
from the committee on judiciary as
to the status of recess appointments.
BY THE JAPANESE.
Akasaka Hill Falls Into the Hands of
the Yellow Men.
TOKIO—Imperial headquarters has
made the following announcement:
“The result of the bombardment of
Port Arthur by our large calibre guns
on the 7th instant was very good,
r Many effective hits were made against
the battleships Peresviet and Pobieda
and the protected cruiser Pallada. In
consequence the Peresviet caught fire
and at 3:15 o'clock the Pobieda listed
to starboard.”
ST. PETERSBURG—Foreign tele
grams received here stating that the
Japanese have succeeded in mounting
heavy guns on 203-Meter hill are re
garded as- seriously significant and
have created a deep depression at the
war office. If the reports of the sink
ing of the Russian warships in the
harbor of Port Arthur are confirmed it
destroys the last hope of sortie, and
when the end comes nothing remains
but to sink those that remain in deep
water to prevent them falling into the
hands of the enemy. The war office
is unable to identify Akasaka hill.
Evidently it is a Japanese name.
The importance of 203-Meter hill
to the garrison is evidenced by Gener
al Stoessels desperate efforts to re
capture it.
BERLIN—According to a dispatch
f-om Tokio to the Lokal Anzeiger, the
placing of heavy cannon on 203-Meter
hill will enable the Japanese to fire
on and sink junks and other craft
bringing supplies for Port Arthur
from Che Foo.
TOKIO—The Japanese troops oc
cupied Akasaka hill, fronting on Port
Aitliur, yesterday afternoon.
The Russian armored cruiser Bayan
is reported to be aground.
The commander of the Japanese
naval guns in front of Port Arthur,
telegraphing on December 6, says:
Ad observation taken from 203
Meter hill shows that the turret ship
Poltava is sunk and that the battle
ship Retvizan is listing heavily to
port.
Observations taken December 6
covered the results of the bombard
ment of December 5. Are now taking
observations from a hill near Shuishi
Ting.
Since December 2 w# have dailv
bombarded the enemy’s fleet lying
south of Paiyu mountain. From that
point only the masts and funnel tops
a of the battleships Pobieda, Retvizan
or the cruiser Pallada could be seen,
but it was impossible'to count the
number of our shells taking effect.
On other ships explosions resulting
from oar shells could be seen, but ow
ing to their positions behind hills it
was difficult exactly to identify them.
Russians Win Fight.
MUKDEN—There is a rumor that
the force of Japanese sent to turn
General Rennenkampff's flank has
been repulsed with great loss. The
story is not yet officially confirmed,
but details are given with great cir
cumstantiality. It is stated that Gen
e'ral Rennenkampff, who knew’ the
movement was maturing, awaited the
Japanese at the mouth of one of the
captured passes, and that the Japa
nese turning force threw themselves
unsuspectingly into the ambuscade,
500 Japanese corpses being collected.
Election Officers Go to Jail.
DENVER—Frank J. Kiattke. city
license inspector, Joseph Ray, Edward
O'Malia and Charles Kofsky were ad
jud* »d guilty of contempt by the state
supi ime court and were sentenced to
jail. The sentences are: Krattke, one
year s imprisonment, and $1,000 fine
and costs; Ray and O’Malia six
months' imprisonment and $500 fine
and costs each; Kofsky, three months
^and $250 fine and costs. These men
were election officials at the late elec
tion and were accused of disregarding
i *he conrt*» Injunction order.___
RUSSIANS ARE REPULSES.
Tokio Hears that Effort to Retake Hill
Results in Failure.
TOKIO—The Russians are night!y
attacking 203-Meter hill in a deter
mined endeavor to retake the summit
of the ground in contention.
The Japanese are increasing their
defenses on the position and have suc
ceeded so far in repelling all the as
saults. The Russians have suffered the
heaviest losses and it is estimated
that they have sacrifled 3,000 men in
an effort to recapture the ground,
which the Japanese are confident of
their ability to hold.
Observations indicate that the gar
rison is feeling the shortage of men.
The works against Sungshu moun
tain and the forts to the eastward are
progressing speedily and all indica
tions point to an early general as
sault, although the date when it will
begin is kept secret.
It is expected that the next general
assault will prove successful.
The effective bombardment of tho
Russian battleships in Port Arthur,
which began on Saturday last, was
one of the results of the capture of
203-Meter hill. Up to that time the
warships had been able to seek shelter
from the Japanese fire under Peiyu
mountain, but the capture of 203
Meter hill November 29-30 enabled th9
Japanese to train their guns on the
Russian vessels, with the result that
a number of them have been set on
fire and the others must either put to
sea or suffer irreparable damage.
SOME SENATE MEASURES.
National Campaign Funds and Good
Roads.
WASHINGTON—Senator Carmack
introduced a joint resolution providing
for the appointment of a commission
composed of members of the senate
and the house, to investigate the col
lection and expenditures of money by
national committees in the interest of
presidential candidates.
The resolution declares that the
commission shall provide for publicity
of these collections and expenditures
and it unlawful to make collections
for corporations engaged in interstate
commerce. The committee is directed
to make especial investigations Into
the elections of 1896, 1900 and 1904
and to go into the subject as to
whence the money used in them was
received and how it was used.
Senator Latimer, from the commit
tee on agriculture and forestry, re
ported favorably the bill known as the
“Latimer good roads bill." It carries
an appropriation of 124,000,000 to be
available in three annual installments
of $8,000,000 for road building In the
states. Under the provisions of the
bill the states are to do the work of
construction and pay one-half of the
cost, the national government paying
the other half.
PROGRAM FOR INAUGURATION
Committee Decides That the Ball Will
Be Held Saturday Night.
WASHINGTON — The inaugural j
committee which has charge of the
arrangements for President Roose- i
velt's inauguration March 4 held its I
first meeting Wednesday and unani
mously declared to hold the inaugural
ball on Saturday night, March 3.
This action was preceded by a dis
cussion of a suggestion that that func
tion. always a feature of the inaugural
ceremonies, should be held on the
Monday night following; that Sunday
would not necessitate the early clos
ing of the ball and interception of the
promenade concert program. It was
pointed out, however, that thousands
of visitors would leave immediately
after the formal inauguration and
that if the bail was deferred until
Monday evening the attendance ne
cessarily would be comparatively
small. The inaugural parade, it is
said, will be an unusually large one,
both in point of civic, as well as mili
tary representation.
An effort will be made by the com
mittee to secure legislation from con
gress permitting the use of the pen
sion office building for the inaugural
ball.
MAY PAY KENTUCKY A VISIT,
President Conditionally Accepts an In
vitation.
WASHINGTON. — President Roose
velt received an invitation to visit
Louisville, K>\, next spring, and ho
gave a conditional acceptance.
The president told his visitors that
unless there should be an extraordi
nary session of congress next spring—
a subject on which, he added, his own
mind was not quite clear—he prob
ably would go to San Antonio, Tex., to
attend the annual reunion of his old
regiment of rough riders. The presi
dent said he expected to visit, on his
way to San Antonio, Roswell, Ga.,
which was the home of his mother,
it “is likely that other stops may be
made on the trip to Texas. From San
Antonio the president may take a trip
into the mountains of Colorado to get
some shooting. The hunting expedi
tion may consume two or three weeks.
Decide Money Was Stolen.
SAN FRANCISCO—The detectives
of Wells. Fargo & Co., are in search
of the man or men guilty of stealing
the $15,000 which mysteriously dis
appeared a week ago from the for
warding department of the express
company. All hope that the. missing
money eventually might be found in
one of the eastbound coin safes, where
it was thought it might have been
placed by mistake, has been abandon
ed. Reports have been received from
all points to which coin saves were
shipped the day of disappearance.
J. N. Tyner Passes Away.
WASHINGTON—Former Postmas
ter General James N. Tyner, died on
Monday. Mr. Tyner was postmaster
general for a short time dnring Presi
dent Grant’s administration. His last
official duties tvere as assistant attor
ney general for the postoffice depart
ment, from which office he was re
moved last year, which was followed
by his indictment, together with his
nephew, Harrison J. Barrett, on a
charge of conspiracy in connection
with the use of the mails by certain
alleged ’’^et-rich-qulck” concerng.
WORK THIS WEEK
WHAT CONGRESS WILL BUSY IT
SELF ABOUT.
THE PHILIPPINE CIVIL BILL
It Will Be Discussed in the Upper
House With a Vote on Friday.—
House Will Give Consideration to
Pension Bills.
WASHINGTON — The principal
event scheduled for the senate the
present week is the taking of the vote
on the Philippine civil bill which is
set down for next Friday at 3 o’clock.
Under the agreement to vote, the bill
remains the unfinished business- of the
senate until that date and it will have
preference over all other questions
each day after 2 o'clock. Many demo
cratic senators are opposed to the bill,
but the best information otbainable is
that there will be no debate on the
Philippine question. They will devote
their efforts- to securing a modification
of some of the provisions of the bill
as especially obnoxious, giving special
attention to the bond and Chinese im
migration clause. After the vote on the
Philippine bill Friday the senate will
adjourn until the following Monday
and it is considered doubtful whether
much more busineKs of general im
portance will be then undertaken until
after Christmas, as many senators
have announced their intention of leav
ing for home immediately after the
vote on the Philippine question. It had
been the original intention to press
for adjournment as early as the 19th
inst.. but there is now manifest a dis
position to allow the bouse to have its
way in fixing the date for the 21st,
even though the senate remains
technically in session, as will be the
case, according to the present outlook.
It is the intention not to transact
much business other than the Philip
pine legislation during the present
week. Senator Hepburn on Monday
will make an effort to secure consider
ation of the pure food bill, but if he
succeeds in getting it before the sen
ate it would not be seriously proceed
ed with before the holidays. It is be
lieved that the statehood bill will not
be reported from committee before the
holidays.
The house will begin the second
^eek of the session with, consideration
of private pension bills. Monday hav
ing been made pension day.
On Tuesday the resolution reported
by the judiciary committee to impeach
Charles Swayne, judge of the north
ern district of Florida, comes before
the house as a special order, its con
sideration having been deferred by
resolution at the last session to that
day, and authority given the judiciary
committee to take further testimony.
All the evidence taken, including that
heard since the last session, has been
printed for the use of members of the
house. A sitpplemental report has been
submitted to the house by the judi
ciary committee advising the house of
additional testimony. It is probable
;hat the appropriations committee
may report a short urgent deficiency
bill during the week, and it is barely
jK>ssible that the District of Columbia
appropriation bill may be reported by
the end of the week.
COUNT MADE OF STRAW MEN.
Second Batch of Contempt Cases at
Denver.
DENVER. — The state supreme
court took up the contempt charges
against Thomas Culp and M. L. De
vaitny, judge in precinct ten. ward
icven, at the late elecUon. Attorney
Thomas Ward announced that the
prosecution would prove that only 238
persons entered the booths to vote,
while the returns showed that 417
ballots had been counted.
After hearing testimony of the
watchers and others in support of the
charges the court ordered that the
ballot box shall be opened tomorrow
and its contents submitted for examin
ation to two experts in penmanship.
A warrant has been issued for
James Riley, the third judge in this
precinct, but he has not been found.
ROOSEVELT IS CRITICISED.
Civil Service Reform League’s Ob
jections.
WASHINGTON—At the final ses
sion of the National Civic Service Re
form league President Roosevelt was
severely criticised for the exemptions
in the service through executive order
made by him during the last three
tears. Nelson S. Spencer, formerly
member of the municipal civil service
commission of New York City, made a
direct attack on the course pursued
by the president, which was loudly ap
plauded by many of the civil service
reformers present. The president wa3
defended by former Civil Service Com
missioner Foulke, who declared the
country was to be congratulated on
having a president who was actuated
by considerations of justice, as well
as of law.
TALK OF SPECIAL SESSION.
WASHINGTON—Leading members
of the senate finance committee, while
not willing at this time to discuss for
publication the likelihood of a special
session of congress to revise the tar
iff, feel that the subject is one which
should receive consideration between
the president and members of con
gress. The impression prevails in both
houses that the question will not be
decided hastily, despite the fact that a
majority is believed to be opposed to
revision.
Serious Accident at Mine.
JOLIET, III.—A terrible accident oc
curred at mine No. 1, in South Wil
mington. Engineer Paul Leslie failed
to control the cage in which ten men
were being lowered. The cage shot
to the top of the tower and the men
were thrown high in the air. An Ital
ian miner was caught and crushed to
death. Another miner, John Kucera,
was fatally hurt. Six others were in
jured. The men thought Leslie had
been careless and were prepared to
lynch the engineer, when officers ar
MORE MONEY FOR DIPLOMATS.
Secretary Hay Recommends Increase
in Salaries.
WASHINGTON.—In the estimates
for the diplomatic and consular serv
ice forwarded to congress by Secretary
Hay thxough the treasury department
recommendation is made for increas
ing the salaries of a large number of
officers in the service. It is recom
mended that Argentina be increased
$2,000, that of the minister resident to
Liberia $3,500, and that provision be
made for a minister to Roumania and
Servia and one for Greece and Monte
negro and for a consular agent at
Bulgalia. Increased salaries are rec
I ommended for the secretaries of lega
> tion to Turkey and Switzerland. A
third secretary is proposed for the
I legations to Itlay and Austria and new
consulates at the following places at
the salaries named:
Alexandria. $2,500; Belgrade, Servia
$3,000; Bucharest, Roumania, $3,000;
Carlsbad, Autsria. $2,000; Sandokan,
British North Borneo, $3,000; and a
' consulate general at Teheran, Persia
at $3,000.
An increased allowance of $2,000-for
bringing home criminals is asked,
also $50,000 for carrying on the work
of delimiting the boundary line be
tween the United States and Canada.
Increases were recommended in the
salaries of a large number at consul
ates. Increases of $20,000 in the ag
gregate in allowances for clerk hire
is recommended for thirty-nine con
sular offices.
BATTALION OF PHILIPPINES
Scouts Who Served at WoHd's Fair
Organized.
ST LOUIS, Mo.—On orders re
ceived from the war department at
Washington, the following officers,
who have been on duty at the Louisi
ana Purchase exposition, are relieved
and ordered to their proper stations:
First Lieutenant Frank W. Rowell,
Eleventh infantry; First Lieutenant
Kirwin T. Smith, Sixth infantry; Sec
ond Lieutenant James A. Higgins.
Thirtieth infantry.
By direction of the president and
under provisions of a congressional
enactment the Fourth, Twenty-fourth,
Thirtieth and Forty-seventh com
paines of Philippine scouts are or
ganized into a battalion, with the fol
lowing officers: One major, one first
lieutenant, battalion adjutant to be
selected from the officers of the Phil
ippine scouts, one second lieutenant
to be battalion quartermaster and
commissary, to be selected in the
same manner, and one battalion ser
geant major. Captain William H.
Jonhnston, Sixteenth United States
infantry, has been detailed as major
of the Philippine scouts and assigned
to the command of the battalion.
Profits of British Cotton Mills.
LONDON*. — Eighty-seven cotton
spinning mills, employing capital
amounting to over $15,000,000, made a
profit of only $150,000 for the year
ended November 30. The same mills
last year cleared $220,000.
USE OF MONEY IN CAMPAIGNS.
Senator Carmack Offers Bill to Regu
late It.
WASHINGTON.—Senator Carmack
introduced a joint resolution providing
for the appointment of a commission
composed of members of the senate
and the house to investigate collection
and expenditures of money by nation
al committees in the interests of pres
idential candidates.
The resolution declares that the
commission shall provide for publicity
of these collections and expenditures
and make it unlawful to make collec
tions from corporations engaged in in
terstate commerce. The committee is
directed to make a special investiga
tion into the elections of 1896, 1900
and 1904, and to go into the subject
as to whence the money used in them
was received and how it was used.
The resolution was referred to the
committee on privileges and elections.
CABLE TO CANAL ZONE. •
Purpose of a Bill Introduced in the
House.
WASHINGTON.—To connect the
canal zone on the Ithmu3 of Pana
ma with the United States by cable is
the purpose of a bill introduced today
by Representative Wanger of Penn
sylvannia. The bill provides for the
construction and operation of such a
cable under control and direction of
the Panama government, secretary of
war and the secretary of the navy,
provided the cost of an American
made cable will not exceed by more
than 10 per cent the co6t of a foreign
made cable. The total cost of the
cable is fixed at $2,000,000 and $300,
000 is made immediately available for
its construction.
A maximum rate of 25 cents a word
is fixed for commercial messages be
tween the canal zone and the main
land of the United States. Govern
mental and press dispatches are to
be sent at reduced rates.
A Green Goods Man.
NEW’ YORK.—Grover L. Collins,
known to the police as the “Lone
Green Goods Man,” was arrested by a
postofflce inspector, though he was
supposed to have been killed in a
Canadian train wreck several months
ago. He is wanted by federal officers
in New Jersey. Collins’ method was
to advertise in western newspapers.
Correspondents received from him
green goods circulars and also paper
with silken threads in it similar to
government paper. Money sent to
him for samples he pocketed.
VALLEJO, Cal.—The government
tug Unadilla left Mare Island navy
yard today with a party of expert elec
tricians and a complete wireless tele
graph outfit, which is to be installed
on one of the Farallone islands.
Masttd Electrician Hanscom. who is
in charge of the work, said that he
expected to establish communication
with the Goat Island station by Satur
day. The battleship Ohio will prob-:
ably soon go to the Farallones to
make tests of the wireless system
which it is proposed to extend to
ARE IN RETREAT
RUSSIAN GARRISON AT PORT
ARTHUR FLEES TO MOUNTAIN.
RUSSIAN SHIPS ARE SINKING
Details of the Capture of Meter Hill.—
Mikado’s Men Unable to Understand
Why the Russians Do Not Fight.
LONDON—According to the Morn
ing Post’s Shanghai dispatches, the
Port Arthur forces, with the exception
of those manning the forts, have al
ready retreated to Laote mountain.
Details continue to filter in of the
capture of 203-Meter hill. The Daily
Telegraph’s correspondent explains
that the capture was due to a strong
and sustained Japanese feint against
the eastern fortifications on the night
of December 5, and the position of
203-Meter hill, being an enfilading one,
forced the Russians to evacuate with
out a contest, a parallel line of semi
permanent fortifications extending east
and west and irregularly over the
slope half a mile west of Etse moun
tain. The Japanese casualties at 203
Meter hill alone exceed the total of
the battle of Nan Shan, according to
the Daily Mail’s Tokio dispatches.
At 2 o'clock in the afternoon of No
vember 29 a Tomaysu detachment,
with a 1 attalion of infantry and a com
pany of engineers, received orders that
they must capture 203-Meter hill,
while a Yosid detachment of the same
strength had similar orders to capture
Akasaka hill. On November 30 it be
came necessary to reinforce the at
tackers with a detachment under
Major Shizuta. During the operation
the cold was so intense that many of
the men were frost-bitten, as it was
necessary to pass the night without
shelter. The Japanese, after the cap
ture of 203-Meter hill, anticipated a
terrible bombardment from the Rus
sian forts and made preparations ac
cordingly, but the Russians remained
strangely quiet.
The Daily Telegraph’s Tien Tsin
correspondent reports that General
Oku, after a three days’ artillery en
gagement, drove the Russians on
Thursday out of the small lofty island
of Gushan, in the river, ten miles
north of Liao Yang. The Russians, it
is added, abandoned a quantity of sup
plies and several guns and retired to a
position eight miles northwest, whence
they heavily bombarded the Japanese,
setting fire on Tuesday to kerosene
depots and causing a great conflagra
tion, which did not cease until Wed
nesday. The Japanese are still gal
lantly holding the island with a hand
ful of men. Their casualties, it is al
leged, number 5,000.
LONDON—A dispatch to the Japan
ese legation from Tokio, dated today,
says:
The naval staff at Port Arthur re
ports that on Thursday evening the
-Pallada was set on fire and heeled to
-port with its stern sunk. Eleven shots
hit the Giliak (gunboat). The Bayan
took fire at 11:30 and is still ablaze at
4:15 p. m. The Amur (transport) was
hit fourteen times and sunk. Many
shots greatly damaged the warehouses
and other buildings near Peiyu moun- ,
tain and the arsenal.
CHINESE EXCLUSION TREATY. i
Tedious and Difficult Task .Presented
Negotiators.
WASHINGTON—The new Chinese
exclusion treaty, which Secretary Hay
and Sir Chentung Liang Cheng, the
Chinese minister, are negotiating,
presents a tedious and difficult task.
Whett the negotiations were begun
some time ago it was with the hope,
though hardly with the expectation,
that the treaty could be signed in
time to be sent to the senate at the
opening of congress. If the treaty
reaches congress before the close of
the present session the negotiators
will feel that their work progressed
rapidly.
To safeguard the country even more
adequately than does the present
treaty against the immigration of
Chinese laborers of any class, and to
alleviate as far as- can safely be done
the alleged hardships which even the
best people of China are forced to un
dergo at the gateways of this coun
try, are two results, which it is
hoped may be obtained by the new
treaty. It ’3 stated on authority that
there is no foundation that the new
treaty is designed to let down the
bars against indiscriminate Chinese
immigration.
Famine in Central Russia.
ST. PETERSBURG.—The following
official statement was made today in
regard to reports of famine in Central
Russia: “No famines have occurred.
There is a bad harvest in Southern
Bessarabia, and also, but not so bad
in two districts of Kherson, two ol
Poltava and three of Nizhni Nov
goroil. The government is aiding the
peasants in these districts with loans
to purchase food and seed grain. The
times are hard, but the people are
not starving.”
Filipinos Start For Home.
ST. LOUIS—One hunddred and for
ty-five Negritos. Bagabos, Samal Mo
ros and Lanao Moros, tribes that were
on exhibition in the Philippine reser
vation at the World’s fair, left
Wednesday on a through train ovei
the Burlington and Northern Pacific
railroads for Seattle, where they will
take ship for Manila. Fred Lewis has
charge of the party and with him art
Mr. and Mrs. Roy Hopping. Rict
McSie and Valentine Semilla. Tht
Philippine board presented each tribe
with a large American flag.
Extending Settlers’ Time.
WASHINGTON. — Representative
Mondell introduced a bill providing
for an extension of the limit of time
within which a homesteader may es
tablish a residence on the Shoshone
irrigation enterprise under th.» terms
of the liihnal irrigation act The
bil|. provides that all qualified entry
men who have heretofore or shall
hereafter, prior to July 1, 1905, make
entry upon the lands proposed to be
irrigated in Big Horn county, Wyom
ing, shall have until May 1. 1906, in
.egiAhinA #.... ...„ „
NEBRASKA STATE NEWS
TALK OF MOVING SUGAR FACTOR
Company Claims Not Enough Beets
Are Raised.
GRAND ISLAND.—There is a very
persistent rumor here, with apparent
ly considerable ground for its re
peated circulation, that the American
Beet Sugar company is about to take
a significant step—the dismantling
and removal of one of its Nebraska
factories to Colorado. It is again
said—for the rumor has been circu
lated, denied and again become cur
rent—that within six months the ma
chinery of the Norfolk factory will
have been shipped to Lamar, Colo.
Inquiry of reliable and directly dis
interested parties at Norfolk, some
ten days ago led to the information
that the proposed action came to the
ears of Norfolk's business men over a
month ago. The business men took
the matter up. made inquiry of the of
ficials of the company, learned that
the removal was in contemplation be
cause of the light acreage of beets
raised in that section of the state, and
set about in an effort to buy or lease
the plant. This proved impractical
for some reason. 4 It is said that the
company then proposed that the busi
ness men of Norfolk and the farmers
interested, pledge an increased num
ber of acres of beets. So far as the
business men of the city were con
cerned no results obtained from this,
the business men not seeing their
way clear to make the guarantees. It
was stated then, that efforts were be
ing made to encourage the farmers
who had raised beets to increase the
number of acres contracted and to
encourage non-beet raisers to take
small contracts. It is to be added
that the informants referred to—the
disinterested Norfolk parties—the en
tire position of the American Beet
Sugar company was largely in the
nature of a bluff, made for the pur
pose of securing a larger acreage of
beets.
The officials of the local company
are either not advised jery fully in
the matter or are disinclined to give
nut what they know. Nothing per
taining to the matter can be learned
from them.
CLYDE LESTER IS KILLED.
Shot By John Lucas on Phelps County
Farm.
HOLDREGE.—A fatal shooting af
fray occurred in the northern part of
the county, when John Lucas shot and
killed Clyde Lester, a young man.
about 22 years of age. who had been
working for Lucas, but quit a few days
ago.
It appears that Lester went to the
Lucas farm and demanded his wages,
which amounted to about $40, which
Lucas would not pay, and words en
sued. Next morning Lester again
started for the Lucas house, but Lucas
saw' him from the field and ordered
him to stop. Lester did not, and Lu
cas rested his shotgun on the fence
ind fired, killing Lester instantly. The
gun was loaded with buckshot, one
charge entering the breast, there be
ng ten shots found in the breast and
sne in the throat.
The other charge entered his legs.
The gun was a new one which Lucas
:e said to have bought at Elm Creek.
The deceased was unarmed, an old
knife and a husking peg being all that
was in his pockets. Several men were
on the Lucas farm at the time and wit*
oessed the shooting. Lucas seems un
concerned over the matter.
Horses and Wagon Stolen.
STANTON.—Two horses, wagon
end harness were stolen from the farm
pf Henry Mathes, one-half mile east of
this place. The theft was committed
=ome time between 11 o'clock at night
and 5 in the morning.
Barker Makes Complaint.
LINCOLN.—A brief has been pre
pared in behalf of Frank Barker and
filed with the supreme court. Barker
is the man who murdered his brother
and his sister-in-law at their home
near Red Cloud last March in order
that he might get their home for his
intended bride. He was to have been
hanged in September, but a few days
before the execution date asked for a
stay of execution of sentence in order
that he' might prepare a petition in
error and file it with the supreme
court.
Money for the School*.
There will be divided among the
school districts of the state by reason
of the semi-annual school apportion
ment $272,257.06, against $255,000 this
time last year. It was supposed that
the amount would reach $274,000, but
a warrant that was expected to reach
the treasurer’s office failed to arrive.
The Lincoln Business college has
filed amended articles of incorpora
tion deerteasing its capital stock from
$lo,000 to $5,000, all of which is to
be paid up.
Receiver Is Appointed.
O NEILL.—O. F. Biglin, a well j
known furniture dealer of this town.;
has been appointed by the district
court receiver of the defunct Elkhom
Valley bank. His bond was fixed at
$12,000. The appointment is the re-!
suit of the request by, the state bank
ing board for a receiver for the Insti- j
tution.
There will be eight fusionists in the
lower house of the Nebraska legisla
ture. The senate is unaanimously re
publican.
Live Stock Delegates.
These have been * appointed dele
gates to the annual convention of the
National Live Stock association at
Denver, Colo., January 10 to 13: A. C.
Shallenberger, Alma, Neb.; W. R.
Mellor, Loup City, Neb.; J. B. Dins
more, Sutton Neb.
Governor Mickey refused to pardon
ex-Preacher Boyd, who is now serving
time. He gave no announcement for
publication.
THE NEWS IN NEBRASKA,
Cases of smallpox and diphtheria
have been reported at Beatrice.
The farmers' elevator at Blue
Springs is almost completed and the
contractor expects to have it ready
for occupancy by December 20.
Word was received in West Point
o fthe death of William Bossow, who
was a patient from Cuming county in
the hospital for the insane at Hash
ings. The body was brought home foi
burial.
Teddie, a two-year-old child of Mr.
and Mrs. Will Baldwin of Fremont, is
seriously ill from drinking carbolic
acid. The child got the bottle from ofl
a shelf, pulled the cork out and drank
a quantity of the burning liquid. The
child will live, but its throat is badly
burned.
The two brick yards at Table Rock
have practically shut down for the
season, although there is yet some
burning to do. The season just closed
has been much the most prosperous
| one of their existence. The output of
I the two plants, is well up to the 10,
j 000,000 mark.
A meeting of the local rural ear
i riers was held at Wisner last week
| with a full attendance of carriers.
I Resolutions were passed looking to
the betterment of the country roads.
Numerous suggestions for improve
ment were made and the meeting was
| very harmonious throughout.
The Board of Public Lands and
j Buildings let several contracts for
legislative supplies. The principal
item, the bill files, was let to the State
j Journal for $1.50 each for 300. The
docket, roll calls, maps of legislative
districts, vouchers and other small
items were divided between Tim Sedg
wick of York and Harry Porter.
A number of superintendents of
state institutions have sent in their
reports to Governor Mickey, but until
they have been checked over in the
governor's office and found to be cor
rect they will not be given publicity.
The reports thus far received show
the institutions to be in good condi
tion and the cost per capita for main
tenance less than for the two years
preceding this biennium.
Word has just been received that
three of Auburn’s citizens were ex
tremely thankful on Thanksgiving
day, as on that day MesserB. J. A.
Burress, T. J. Crummel and J. M.
Armstrong struck a 100 barrel oil well
on their oil land at Cleveland, Okla
homa. All three of the men were
present when the well was “shot” and
their friends- are congratulating them
on their good fortune.
At Fremont Charles Ward, alias
Davis, changed his plea the third time
and said he was guilty of stabbing
Policeman Connor two months ago.
He was sentenced by Judge Hollen
beck to serve two years and six
months in the penitentiary. Ward
pleaded not guilty the first time be
was arraigned. When he was brought
up for trial the first of last week, he
said he would plead guilty and did so.
Tim Sedgewick’s large four-story
new newspaper block at York was
saved from being burned by the time
ly discovery of an employe at about
5 o’clock in the morning. In an Im
mense underground bin is stored
twenty tons of coal, which Ignited
from spontaneous combustion, and
was just beginning to blaze when dis
covered.
William Mangan was killed at Sut
ton by jumping from a thirty foot
bridge, hib- head striking a stone. He
was 40 years old and unmarried. It
seems he was walking west on the
railroad tracks and was crossing the
bridge three-fourths of a mile west of
Sutton. A train was coming from the
west and being unable to get acrobs
the bridge ahead of the train, he
jumped.
Thomas B. Ayers and wife, old set
tlers of Madison county, were killed
by a Northwestern freight train near
a little bridge west of Meadow Grove,
and their bodies, together with the
body of their dead dog were found
by section men.
The board of directors of the Au
burn Chautauqua association have
settled all bills for this years’ assem
bly and find that they have a good
sum left in the treasury to their credit.
They are now at work arranging for
next year’s program which they in
tend to make even better than the
past year.
Ed O'Brien was brought back tc Ne
braska City from New York by Sheriff
Shradef, but will not have to, answer
to the charge filed against him in
court by Miss Ada Muaselman, be
cause the two were united in mar
riage.
Conductor Charles R. Brawdy, 34
years of age. was run over and crush
ed by a car at Pacific Junction. The
unfortunate man was brought to
Plattsmouth and attended to by Dr.
T. P. Livingston, but he soon passed ,
away. He had been in the employ of
the Burlington for twelve years.
Rev. John W. Stewart, pastor of the
M. E. church at Friend, was stricken
with paralysis, one whole side of the
body, arm and limb being paralyzed.
A series of meetings were in progress,
which will be carried on under the
leadership of Professor B. F. Butts of
Pittsburg. Pa.
Mrs. Harmon, wife of G. W. Har
mon of Auburn, met with a painful
accident. She slipped on a defective
sidewalk, breaking the bone just
above the ankle. She was taken to her
home where physicians were called in
and the broken bone reset.
Bank Examiner Whittemore haa
made his official report, to the State
Banking board of the condition of the
EJkhorn Valley bank at O’Neill and
this will be followed by an applica
tion for the appointment of a re
ceiver. The report will not be made
public at this time.
The Union Pacific has just issued an
estimate of the total yield of crops in
Nebraska for 1904. This estimate
shows a considerable decrease in the
yields of both winter and spring
wheat, due to rust, and records a not
able increase In the yield of corn.
‘*T" TWTgilMWaffrTI" 1i jrir:.. Imiilllii ~;T"|HinMriBl 1' mil 111 Ill nil nil