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About The Loup City northwestern. (Loup City, Neb.) 189?-1917 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 2, 1905)
LEGISLATURE of NEBRASKA A Synopsis of Proceedings of the Twenty ✓ Ninth Gen-' era! Session. SENATE—Mockeft of Lancaster won a temporary victory over the judiciary committee on the 25th in that the senate voted to place his di vorce bill on general file after the committee had recommended that it be indefinitely postponed. The judiciary committee then, over Mockett’s pro test. carried a motion to have the bill discussed at once. After an interest ing debate oh the merits of the bill, Mockett secured the passage of a mo tion to make the bill a special order for tomorrow afternoon. S. F. 8, by Beghtol. providing that county survey ors shall act as county engineers, to pass on bridges and other public work done for a county was passed, as was S. F. 35, providing that when the Mis souri river chops off a piece of Ne braska and lands it in one of the bor der states, it shall become a part of that state, together with its inhabit ants. These bills were introduced: Providing the supreme court shall name three commissioners to revise the statutes and report to the next legislature. Amending the civil code relating to the recovery of damages. Providing for t>e organization of the State Banking board and defining the duties of the board. Making taxes on personal property a first lien on the property for two years. Amending rlie law relating to the recovery of dam ages so that in cases of wanton ag gressiveness on the part of defendant the jury may award exemplary dam ages. To provide for the assessment of mortgages as real estate: the hold er of the mortgage on real estate to pay taxes on the mortgage and the owner of the property to pay on the j assessment of the property less the i amount of the mortgage. To provide ♦hat a womn who commits adultery shall be fined $200 or sentenced to jail for a year; a man. married or unmar ried. to be sentenced to the peniten tiary for two years or pay a fine of $500. HOUSE—The house on the 25th passed the first bill introduced this > session. The bill is H. R. 1, by Burns of Lancaster, drawn by the attorney general, providing for personal surety bonds for state officers. H. R. 21, by Roberts, was passed. Jt provides that where patents have been or may be issued to a person who has died pre vious to the issuance of such patent It shall operate to vest the title in the heirs, devisees or assignees of the de ceased patentee. Ernst of Johnson in troduced a resolution to send a com mittee of three, with a like commit tee from the senate, to the Kansas state penitentiary to investigate and report on the binding twine plant with a view of getting information useful to the Nebraska legislature in passing on the pending bill to establish a plant at the Nebraska penitentiary. The resolution passed. Bills intro duced included: An act to make open season for prairie chickens, sage grouse September 1 to November 30; jack snipe, Wilson snipe, yellow legs, September 1 to May 1; wild pigeons, doves, plover, June 15 to August 1; trout. April 1 to October 1; all other fish. April 1 to November 15; allow ing one hunter to kill not more than ten prairie chickens in any one day in September; makes penalty of $5 fine or ten days in jail for each bird unlaw full}' had. An act to prohibit the play ing of the game of foot baa in the state of Nebraska. Fine of $50 to $100 or thirty to ninety days in jail for first offense and one to two years in the penitentiary for second offense. An act to give State Banking board discre tionary power in granting charters for state banks when satisfied with char acter and responsibility of officers. An act to empower the Board of County Commissioners or Supervisors to make Sontracts for the construction and re paration of bridges in their counties, and to authorize such boards to pur chase the necessary bridge materials and employ the necessary labor and construct or repair such bridges when, in their judgment, it w'ould be to the Interest of the county to do so. SENATE—The juvenile court bill. Introduced by Senator Mockett of Lancaster, was recommended for pas sage on the 2Gth. There was no de bate. The bill provides three proba tion officers in counties having a pop ulation of more than 50,000. In coun ties of less than 40,000 the jurisdiction is vested in the county judge. In the cities the police judges have charge of the juvenile courts, while in the large counties the district judges se lect one of their number to preside. The bill makes neglect of children an offense. Parents are responsible for the crime of having children in evil surroundings. Attorney General Brown believes the bill is constitutional. “If it is not, no juvenile court bill can be drawn that is.” he declared. No. 54, was recommended for passage. This measure transfers $18,000 from the Norfolk asylum fund to the fund of the asylum at Lincoln. Senate file No. 20, by Senator Vore of Saline, was passed. It provides a penalty of from two to fifteen years for persons con victed of poisoning or attempted poi soning. Senate file No. 43 was passed. This is a joint resolution by Senator Meserve of Dixon, approving the work of the South Dakota-Nebraska boun dary commission. A number of bills were introduced. HOUSE—In the house on the 26th a large number of bills w^ere reported back by the standing committees and placed on the general file. House roll No. 8, by Dodge, to vest authority over the Omaha water plant in the munici pal water board, was reported back without recommendation by Chairman Lee of the committee on cities and towns, who then moved its indefinite postponement. This was resented by Dodge, who charged bad faith, in that it had been agreed in committee that the bill was to be allow’ed to go to the general file. Lee denied any intent to take an unfair advantage, and with drew bis motion, substituting for it another placing the bill on general file. This motion prevailed. The fol lowing bills were passed: House roll No. 3. by Windham, providing for six commissioners of the supreme court; house roll No. 43, by Smith, providing that, where two or more persons charged with a crime are tried to gether, the prosecuting attorney shall be entitled to three peremptory chal lenges for each; house roll 45. by Knox, appropriating the normal school library funds for the purchase of books for the Peru and Kearney state normal schools. In committee of the whole house rolls Nos. 97 to 100 inclusive, by Clarke of Douglas, were recommended for passage. These are bar association bills, relative to prac tice in justice court, and provide, respectively, for a change in the place of trial on account of bias or pre judice, for jury trial, for jury fees and ioi costs on change of trial. Among hills introduced were the following: To give interurban electric railroad lines the right of eminent domain, as enjoyed by steam railroad companies. An act purchasing and authorizing the sale and distribution of Cobbey’s an notated statutes of Nebraska; provides that the state shall purchase 5,000 sets at $0 per set for the use of the state, and to be sold to counties and citizens at cost. SENATE—Aside from the debate on the Mockett divorce law in the senate and fhe report of a few com mittees little business was transact ed on the 27th. The judiciary commit tee. which had been instructed to pre pare a bill defining: what property is exempt from taxation, reported that a legislative definition of exemptions would be of no value, the interpre tation both of the constitution and legislative enactments being; within the province of the supreme court. The committee, quoting the constitution, reports that portions of the section are self-acting and it is not within the legislative power to add to or de tract therefrom. The following por tion of the constitution, in the judg ment of the committee, is not self acting. but finds expression only by the aid of legislative enactment: “And i such other property as may be used j exclusively for agricultural and horti cultural societies, for schools, reli- : gious, cemetery and charitable pur poses may be exempt from taxation, but such exemptions shall be only -by general law.” Senate file No. 17 was reported by the judiciary committee ; for indefinite postponement, but upon the request of Gibson of Douglas it was again referred to the committee for further consideration. The bill de fines child dependency and provides relief. It was the idea of the commit tee that it conflicted with the juvenile court bill. Bills introduced included: Providing for suspended sentences in wife desertion cases when offender gives bonds to provide for mainten ance of family. Making life insurance companies deposit securities with the ! auditor. Providing punishment for those who by committing perjury se cure conviction in certain criminal cases, and abolishing capital punish ment. HOUSE—H. R. 17. by Casebeer of Gage, to turn over to the university the Morrill and university cash fund of $200,000 from the government was passed in the house on the 27th. with the emergency clause. It required a call of the house and lively skirmish ing to get the necessary two-thirds, not because of opposition to the bill, but small attendance. H. R. 31, by Douglas, providing bounties for kill ing wolves, wild cats and coyotes, was recommended for passage after a strong appeal by Douglas. H. R. 104, by Lee of Douglas, to require a phy sician’s certificate for the purchase of cocaine or morphine was recommend ed for passage as was H. R. 60. by Bartoo. requiring dentists to he licensed the same as physicians. The house went into committee of the whole and recommended for passage: H. R. 82, by Saddler of Adams, giving as compensation, to soldiers’ relief commissions in counties 5 per cent of the money distributed; H. R. 61, by Saddler, allowing counties to spend $60 for the burial of a civil war vet eran instr ad of $35, and prohibiting their burial in paupers' graves. Bills read for first time: An act to amend section 58, article iv, chapter xviii, of the Compiled Statutes of Nebraska, entitled “Taxes.” Providing for the number of mills to be levied for town ship purposes. Also providing for the method and manner of how the road work shall be performed in counties under township organization, and re pealing said original section. Provides a rate of town tax on roads of 4 mills; bridges, 2 mills, and other purposes, 6 mills. An act to provide a more equit able distribution of the state common school fund to pay tuition In high schools of pupils not living in districts having high schools. A memorial and joint resolution in relation to the Ne braska territorial militia, asking con gress for an act entitling members of such militia to pension. An act re quiring school trustees to submit to voters estimate of school expenses prior to annual school meeting. Calendar Church Bells. A curiosity in the matter of bell ringing is to be met with at Furburne, near Cambridge. England. The church bells there not only ring the hours of the day, but at intervals also the date of the month. Thus, at 12 o’clock noon on the 31st there would be forty three strokes. A good book is the precious life blood of a master spirit, embalmed and treasured un on purpose to a life beyond life.—Milton. At Munich a large swimming bath has been fitted with a motor, con nected with a contrivance which creates eighteen perfectly natural looking "sea waves" a minute. BATTLE AGAIN ON JAPANESE SAID TO HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL. OYAMA’S TROOPS AT LUiTIKO Kouropatkin’s Men Make Two Coun ter Charges, Both of Which Are Repulsed.—Czar’s Forces Retreat to the Right Bank of the Hun River. LONDON—Telegraphic advices re ceived here from the Japanese Man churian headquarters say: Our de tachments occupied Liutiko yester day (Saturday) and were twice coun ter-attacked by a superior force of the enemy last night. We entirely re pulsed the enemy. Our other detachment at dawn to day (Sunday) attacked the enemy in the neighborhood of Feitssaihotzu about two miles north Heikoutai and occupied the position. The enemy fiercely counter-attacked our force which assailed Heikoutai last night, but was repulsed entirely. Today our force occupied the neighborhood of Heikoutai. The enemy in the direction of Liuti ko and Heikoutai has entirely re treated to the right bank of the Hun river. Our force is now pursuing them. In the direction of Chenehiehpao and Likajentan the enemy made sev eral attacks last night, but were re pulsed. The enemy attacking these points belonged to the Eighth and Tenth corps. In the direction of Heikoutai the enemy is composed of the First and mixed corps of infantry, together with a cavalry division under General Mis tehenko. We captured 500 officers and men. The casualties on both sides are under investigation. The Russians are massing about 65,000 troops on the Japanese left and bombarding the left flank and center. Small forces of Russians are attack ing all along the line. Manchurian headquarters of the Japanese army report that on Satur day the Russians occasionally bom barded the right and center armies, following up the bombardment with attacks, which the Japanese imme diately repulsed. In the direction of the left wing a Japanese detachment was victorious at Chenehiehpao and occupied Luitiko and Liehiawopeng on Saturday, the Russians retreating north and west. lilt- .Japanese urrujiieu wiui lTiian try positions southeast of Heikoutai on Saturday and are now assaulting the main position. Another detachment dislodged a regiment of infantry, a brigade of cavalry and twelve guns, occupying Haerhpao, five miles south of Ilei koutai. The Russian strength opposing the Japanese left flank is roughly esti mated at eight corps, consisting of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth infantry di visions, the Second and Fifth brigades of European Rifles, the Ninth infan try division of the Tenth corps, part of the Sixty-first infantry, part of the First Siberian and the First and Fourth brigades of Rifles. BIG FIRE IN OMAHA. Estimates Place the Aggregate Loss in Neighborhood of $500,000. OMAHA—Revised figures on the aggregate losses of Saturday night’s disastrous conflagration in the whole sale district total nearly $500,000, mostly all of which is covered by insurance. In the way of actual de struction of property it was as ex tensive and as expensive a fire as Omaha has ever had, but fortunately it was not in the class of several of its predecessors in the appalling cost of human life. The losses are thus set forth: S. D. Mercer, on build ing. $125,000: Millard estate, on building (estimated!, $30,000; Dr. Harold Gifford, on building, $1,500; F. P- Kirkendall Shoe company, on stock, $73,000; J. R. Snyder & Co., on stock, $20 000; R. Bingham & Sons, on stock, $2,500; Porter. Ryerson, Hoobler com pany, on stock, $40,000; Vogele & Din ning company, on stock, $30,000; C. H. Mullin & Co. on stock, $2,500; Marsh & Marsh Commission companv. on stock, $1,500; Moore & Cd., on stock, $2,o00; Martin-Cott Hat com pany. on stock, $10,000. The fire broke out in a room occu pied by J. R. Snyder & Co. at the northwest corner of 11th and Howard streets. It gave the Omaha firemen the hardest fight they have had in many a day and finally defied their ut most efforts, and swept away all it could reach. Assistance in the fight that finally checked the flames was given by the firemen of Council Bluffs and South Omaha. The weath er was cold and greatly hampered the efforts of the firemen in their work. Ten men of one company w'ere blown out of the Mercer building a distance of twenty feet by an explo sion of chemicals in the Porter, Ry erson, Hoobler company’s factory, but none of them were seriously injured. This occurred shortly before daylight Sunday morning. Better Places for Immigrants. WASHINGTON—Frank P. Sargent, commissioner of immigration, was heard by the house committee on ap propriations. Mr. Sargent presented the necessity of permanent improve ments for the immigration service at New Orleans and San Francisco At Ellis island it is desired to construct a contagious hospital at an estimated cost of 1250,000 and a $12,000 water purification plant. At San Francisco there is needed an immigration sta tion, plans for which have been made at a cost of $250,000. Grows Serious at Warsaw. WARSAW—The strike disorders are becoming more serious. The or dinary life of the city is quite sus pended. On Saturday the strikers stopped the street railway srvice, but remained otherwise orderly. Sunday, however, they began wholesale pill age. The majority of the shops in Marshal Kovski street and the state vodka shops were looted. All the fac tories. shops, schools and theaters are closed, and the street lamps extin guished. There were several collisions between the police and strikers. [ ' MOST OF POWERS IN LINE. Text of Secretary Hay's Circular Tele nram Made Public. WASHINGTON—The full text of Secretary Hay’s circular telegram to the powers of January 13, intended to insure the protection of Chinese inte grity, no matter what may be the out come of the war now in progress be tween Russia and Japan, has been made public here. The telegram was sent to the American ambassadors and ministers to Germany, Austria. Belgium. France, Great Britain, Italy and Portugal, all neutral powers, thus leaving Russia and Japan bound in this respect by the original pledges given in the early days of the war. The text of the secretary’s note is as follows “It has come to our knowledge that apprehension exists on the ]>arr of some of the powers that in the event ual negotiations for peace between Russia and Japan claim may be made for the concession of Chinese terri tory to neutral powers. The president would be loth to share this apprehen sion, believing that the introduction of extraneous interests would seri ously embarrass and postpone the set tlement of the issues involved in the present contest in the far east, thus making more remote the attainment of that peace which is so earnestly to be desired. For its part the United States has repeatedly made its posi tion well known and has been grati fied at the cordial welcome accorded to its efforts to strengthen and per petuate the broad policy of maintain ing the integrity of China and the ‘open door’ in the orient whereby equality of commercial opportunity and access shall be enjoyed by all na tions. Holding these views the United States disclaims any thought of re served territorial rights? or control in the Chinese empire and it is deemed fitting to make this purpose frankly known and to remove all apprehension on this score so far as concerns the policy of this nation, which maintains so considerable a share of the pacific commerce of China and which holds such important possessions in the western Pacific, almost at the gate way of China. “You will bring this matter to the notice of the government to which you are accredited and you will invite the expression of its views there. (Signed) “JOHN HAY.” OPPOSES BIG HOMESTEADS Congressman Mondell Wants Ne braska Law Tested. WASHINGTON—Whether 1*40 acres as a homestead shall take the place of ICO acres is a question which is being: discussed before the public j lands committees of the senate and house. Statements have been made ! showing that a square mile is not too much to alloyv a man in certain states of the west and that 160 acres is too little. An interesting argument was made before the house committee by Representative Mondell of Wyoming, ! chairman of the house irrigation com- ■ mittee. in which he took decided \ ground against any hasty legislation on this subject. “Congress passed a law on this question last session including the land of western Nebraska.” he said, “with the understanding that it would be in the nature of an experiment. After a fair trial there, and a care ful investigation of its results, it may be wise—may be wise I say—to enact similar legislation for other limited ! localities; but to forthwith apply the plan to great areas of the west at this time, would be a dangerous thing. The Nebraska law has been in no sense a demonstration as yet.” Mr. Mondell stated that he had made four or five long railroad trips throughout this part of Nebraska and he had observed no indication of set tlement under this law. He saw' no new houses nor no evidence of in creased population. He admitted that there are vast areas of the west which can eventually be classified as graz ing lands solely, irredeemable beyond any process of irrigation, better farm ing methods or through the introduc tion of new arid land crops, “but,” he said, “w'e are in no condition at this time and will not .be fot- many years to intelligently classify all those lands.” PEABODY WILL STAY IN FIGHT. Says He Couldn’t Be Driven Out by Bloodhounds. DENVER. Colo.—Former Governor James H. Peabody denied a report that he intended to withdraw his con test for the governorship or that he had been approachd with any proposi tion for a compromise. “You couldn’t drive me out of this contest with a pack of bloodhounds,” said the ex-governor. “I entered the contest with a determination to probe the frauds to the bottom and I will be there at the finish. If the legislature in joint session declares me elected I shall take my seat. If it declares Mr. Adams elected I shall gracefully step down.” Establish New World’s Records. RED WING, Minn.—New world rec ords were established in a ski turna ment. In the long jump, stand or fall, George Thompson of Red Wing, cover ed 118 feet and in the long jump stand ing, Gustaf Bye of Ishpeming, Mich., went 106, both being ahead of all previous records. Knocked Out in First Round. SAGINAW, Mich.—Joe Cherry of Saginaw, was knocked out in the first round by Harry Forbes of Chicago, before the Saginaw athletic club. Found Dead in Hotel Room. MILWAUKEE, Wis— A man and woman registered as E. S. Terry and wife, Chicago, engaged quarters at the Blatz hotel in this city on January 13. Monday Mrs. Terry’s dead body was found in their room. A note, sup posed to have been written by Mr. Terry, with directions regarding the disposal of two bodies, was found in the room. Mr. Terry is said to have left the hotel at 8 o’clock. It is be lieved a double suicide had been planned and that the man lost his nerve. FOR JOINT RATES RAILROAD COMPANIES AGREE ON THE SAME. A HEARING BY THE COMMITTEE The Sherman Law is Deemed Suffi cient to Meet Certain Questions.— Judge Cowan Suggests Amendment to the Senate Act. WASHINGTON—The senate com mittee on interstate commerce gave a hearing on the subject of railroad legislation. Judge S. H. Cowan of Fort Worth. Tex., advocated several amendments to the interstate com merce act as a method of reaching combinations of railroads to fix joint rates. E. M. Ferguson, who represents fruit and vegetable shippng associa tions. made a brief speech in favor of the Elkins bill. He protested against discriminations in favor of concerns operating private refrigera tor cars, and charged that these own ers get rates of from $100 to $200 less per car than other shippers, and there fore were unfair competitors. Judge Cowan, representing several cattle growers’ associations, who was heard by the house committee, re peated charges of discriminations in carrying cattle to northern points, saying that there was an agreement between the railway companies which fixed joint rates between various points. Judge Cowan said that no cattle shipper was discriminated against, but that competition on rates had dis appeared by reason of combination of railroads and the rates had been ad vanced to many ponts. The Sherman law% as a means of reaching combinatons and conspir acies of that character, was held to be sufficient by Senator Elkins. He declared that the United States dis trict attorney could proceed under that law. Judge Cowan said he was under the impression that it was the attorney general who determined that actions should be instituted under the Sher man law. Senator Carmack took the same view’ and several other senators said that the district attorney seldom brought actions except in minor cases. Judge Cowan suggested an amend ment to section 15 of the interstate commerce act as a means of meeting such discriminations. The act makes it the duty of the commission to fix a proper rate or charge in place of any unjust or unreasonable charge, such rate as fixed by the commission to go into effect within thirty days. MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE. The Question Discussed by President Roosevelt. WASHINGTON—Right Rev. Wil liam C. Doane, bishop of Albany, and I a committee of the interchurch con ference on marriage and divorce, call I ed on the president to confer with him as to some of the results of their de liberations. Bishop Doane, speaking for the committee, delivered a brief address to President Roosevelt to | which the president replied as fol lows: Bishop Doane and Gentlemen: It is a very great pleasure to meet you here. There is a certain tendency to exalt the unessential in dealing with our public questions and public men especially are apt to get their atten tion concentrated on questions that have an importance, but a wholly ephemeral importance, compared with ; the questions that go straight to the root of things. Questions like the tar iff an dthe currency are of little or no consequence whatsoever compared with the vital question of having the unit of our social life, the home, pre served. It is impossible to overstate the importance of the cause you rep resent. Is the average husband and wife fulfilling their duties toward one another and toward their children as Christianity teaches them, then we may rest absolutely assured that the other problems will solve themselves. But if we have solved every other problem in the wisest possible way it shall profit us nothing if we have lost our own national soul; and we will have lost it if we do not have the question of the relations of the family put upon the proper basis. While I do not Know' exactly what it is that you wish me to do. I can say in advance that so far as in me lies all will be done to co-operate with you toward the end that you have in view. One of the most unpleasant and dan gerous features of our American life is the diminishing birth rate and the loosening of the marital ties among the old native American families. It goes without saying that for the race as for the individual, no material prosperity, no business growth, no artistic or scientific development will count if the race commits suicide. Therefore, bishop. I count myself fortunate in having the chance to work with you in this matter of vital importance to national welfare. OFFICIAL REPORT FROM CAPITAL Account of Monday's Events as Given by Russian Government. ST. PETERSBURG—An official ac count of Monday’s events is as fol lows: During Monday there was no col lisions between the rioters and the troops. Detachments of soldiers had no need to use their arms, as the crowds dispersed when the troops ap peared. In the course of the day an attempt was made to attack Gosstiny Dvor market, but it was repulsed. Bronze Bust of Kaiser. ST. LOUIS—A representative au dience of St. Louisians, assembled at the Mercantile club in this city, wit nessed the ceremonies of the present ation of the bronze bust of Emperor William II. of which was on exhibi tion during the worlds fair to the city of St. Louis by Imperial German Com missioner Dh Theodor Lewald. The presentation commenorated the for ty-sixth birthday anniversary of the emperor. Mayor Rolla Wells presided over the ceremonies, the opening ad dress being made by Pierre Choteau EYES ON MOSCOW. Regarded As the Storm Center of Dis turbances. MOSCOW—There is complete tran quility within the boundaries of this city, but the people are keeping in doors owing to the official warning. The strike is spreading gradually, but thus far is confined to the smaller mills. The larger industrial concerns are being guarded in order to prevent the men employed there from being in timidated; but it is the belief that the strike wil become general. There are no troops in sight in the ctiy proper. Probably there will be no papers to morrow. The citizens are alarmed at the prospect, of an eruption of condi tions of thousands of workmen and de mand the proclamation of a state of siege. The Moscow garrison is no more than 20.000, but the authorities con sider that this is sufficient for present needs and evidently are inclined to avoid bloodshed if possible. They de clare they have the situation well in hand. Captain drove, the British consul, has called upon M. Roudneff, the as sistant police master, who is acting in the absence of Chief Volkoff, and re quested an explanation of the posted telegram from London, alleging that the disturbances at the Russian dock yards and arsenals were due to Anglo Japanese instigation, that both Great Britain and Japan are spending vast sums of money to prevent the Russian second squadron from reaching the far east, and adding that "all Russians who strike are therefore in conni vance with the enemy.” M. Roudneff produced the original telegram in evidence Qf good faith. Captain Grove stated that he would report the matter to the embassy at St. Petersburg, as he considered that the posting of the alleged telegrams imperiled the lives of subjects of Great Britain who are employed in factories here. M. Roudneff assured him that there was absolutely no cause for apprehen sion, but assumed the responsibility for the publication. M. Roudneff also offered Captain Grove personal satisfaction in a resort to arms. General TrejK)ff's appointment to the governor generalship of St. Peters burg was a surprise here. It is rumor ed that Minister Sviatopolk-Mirsky may be appointed governor general ot Moscow. A squadron of Cossacks this even ing dispersed about 3.000 workmen who were growing obstreperous across the Moskva. No fatalities are reported. This was the only event of the kind during the day. IMPORTED WHEAT FOR SEED Secretary Shaw Recommends Refund of Duty. WASHINGTON — Secretary Shaw has sent the following letter to both houses of congress recommending the refund of the duties paid on imported wheat when used for seed: “This department is in receipt of a large number of letters indicating that a scarcity of suitable wheat for seed ing purposes exists in several of the northwestern states. By act approved January 15, 1903. the secretary of the treasury was directed to refund the duty paid on coal for the period of one year. This had the effect of tem porarily removing the duty on coal. I recommend a similar law authorizing the secretary of the treasury to re fund the duty paid on wheat actually used for seed, under rules and regula tions prescribed by him. I think it would be impracticable to allow wheat intended for seed to be entered free of duty. Such a provision would open the door to fraud, but a refund of duty on wheat actually used for seed un der appropriate regulations seems to me to be feasible and as affording a satisfactory remedy. In view of the de sirability of getting seed wheat at a distance from the place where it Is to be own I see no reason why this provision should be limited as to time.” Baseball Agreement Revised. CINCINNATI—The revised agree ment, which provides for the regula tion of professional baseball was completed today by the national com mission, anft will be made public in a few days. Most of the changes were agreed upon at the recent meeting of the commission in this city. Increased authority for the national commission in enforcing the agreement, and more open dealing in drafts and selling are the most important changes, many amendments being minor. Lincoln Has a Serious Fire. LINCOLN, Neb.—Fire discovered shortly after midnight Tuesday, which is still raging, has completely destroyed an entire block of five story buildings at Thirteenth and P streets, knowrn as the Halter block and the Furniture block. The loss will be near $250,000. It was declared at Edinburgh re cently that more fishermen were drowned from the custom of wearing long boots than by all the storms. Agree on Day For a Vote. WASHINGTON—Negotiations look ing to fixing a time for voting on the statehood bill have practically cul minated in an agreement to vote on Saturday February 4. The opponents of joint statehood have given their consent to the date, but it may bo changed in order to accommodate rt>me who may still desire to speak. The first vote will probably be on an amendment admitting all the terri tories as states as they now stand, and the next eliminating Indian terri tory and Arizona. „ If you insist on telling the truth you may probably shame the devil, but you won’t be considered cheery society. President Charles W. Eliot of Har vard university and Mrs. Eliot sailed for Europe. A Sioux City man was fatally wounded by two pistol shots at the hands of an unknown man. When “the good things of life” are our best things they become our worst. MAKES FIEKCE EIGHT ARMADILLO HAS ITS OWN METH ODS OF WAFARE. Transformed Into Catapult, Animal Made Bold Attack on Intrepid and Truthful Hunter — Brave Hound Saved Life of Master. Some curious stories of the wild and woolly West have been sent to east ern newspapers, but the following dis patch from Oakland to the Buffalo Times easily surpasses all others in the riotous imagination of the writer, who has sent one of the most timid of animals out on the warpath against , a hunter: Even those who are familiar with the Armadillo in his native wilds are not apt to give ljini credit for his fighting abilities. While nature has provided him with a defensive armor which is a protection against most of his enemies, instances of his at tacking man, e^veu in self-defense, are extremely rare. The experience of Fred Petmeckv on a recent hunting trip proved that an armadillo can and will fight when ablo to choose its battleground, and its method of attack is unique and ter rible. While riding toward camp one evening Mr. Petmeckv heard a hound baying in a thicket. Knowing the dog was aware it was unlawful for it to run deer and not expecting to find anything more dangerous than a wam pus or a gruffinl, he left his rifle in the scabbard and went to investigate. He found the hound baying at a huge armadillo, which he seemed afraid to attack. On seeing its new enemy the arma dillo rapidly prepared for action. Mak ing a noise like a lion, it seized a smaH sapling in its mouth and looped its tail around another. Then, by contracting its body, it bent the sap ling held by its mouth as far as it was able. Having thus transformed itself into a catapult, it released its hold and was hurled with terrific force. Doubling itself into a ball as it flew through the air, it struck Mr. Pet* mecky on the shoulder, knocking him down. Nearly stunned by the force of the blow and the fall, the hunter staggered to his feet just as the arma dillo was ready for a second attack, which it made w ith like results. The hound, which had seemed to be surprised and too terrified to take any part in the strange battle, now recov ered itself and, before the armadillo could launch itself at the man again, seized it by the unprotected portion of its body and killed it. Had it not been for the faithful hound Mr. Petmecky's injuries might have been serious. As it was he was too bruised and battered to mount his horse and proceeded to camp on foot, bringing with him the dog and one of the saplings bearing the marks ol the armadillo’s tail as proof of his sin gular adventure. T wilight. The twilight is sad and cloudy: The wind blows wild and free; And like the wings of sea-birds Flash the white caps of the sea. But in the fisherman's cottage There shines a ruddier light. And a little face .at the w’indow Peers out into the night; Close, close it is pressed to the window. As if those childish eyes Were looking into the darkness To see some form arise. And a woman’s waving shadow Is passing to and fro. Now rising to the ceiling. Now^bowing and bending low. What tale do the roaring ocean And the night wind, bleak and wild, As they beat the crazy casement. Tell to that little child? And why do the roaring ocean. And the night wind, wild and bleak. As they beat at the heart of the mother. Drive the color from her cheek! —Longfellow. Balked at Boiled Elephant. In recognition of her generous pat ronage, a provision dealer sent to Mrs. Richard Mansfield a New Year’s pres ent of a beef tongue. The cook’s as sistant, a colored woman from the wilds of North Carolina, had never seen such a thing before. Putting hei hands on her hips Auntie gazed upon it curiously and long. At last she in quired of the cook: “Do you all up Xorf heah eat ele phants?” “No,” answered that busy person without looking up from the fowl she was dressing. “What put such fool ishness into yo’ head?” “Why that there,” pointing to the tongue. “That’s a sho’ nuff elephant's trunk—what he picks up the peanuts wif— ain’t it?’ Indian Chief a Preacher. Quanah Parker, head of the Co manche tribe and the biggest chief at the Anadarko Indian agency, in his old age has taken preaching. His mother was a white woman who as a child was captured by a band of Comanches on a horse-stealing raid in Texas. After she had become a chief’s wife she was rescued by con federate soldiers and restored to her people, but separation from her hus band and child broke her heart and she soon died. Quanah is about 60 years old and has made a good deal of money. Like most of his race, ha spent it freely and now has little left. Many Youth Learning Gaelic. The Gaelic league of New York is making great strides among the young Americans born of Irish parents in the matter of developing pride in the old country. There are aver a hundred pupils studying the language in the St. Brenden branch of the league, hardly one of whom ever set foot on Irish soil. Up to a few years ago a Gaelic 3cholar in New York was as rare as a white blackbird. Bargain Between Statesmen. Champ Clark of Missouri says he aas made a bargain with his col eague, Congressman Shackleford, who is rather fond of indulging in .'omplicated oratory. The agreement s to last for a year, and Champ sums t up this way: *i am to quit cussjn’ md Shack is to quit talking in rid iles when he is making a speech.” Britain Need* Cavalry Officers. England can,not get enough cavalry ifflcers. Under the social code of thrt British army a cavalry officer must ta\e a considerable Income beyond ilt pay.
