KIT SCORES Oil MSI III
SMI 1ESS0EE TJ CONCRESS
President Transmits Report of Com
missioner Garfield with Com
ments-on Document.
ROGERS AND ARCHBOLD REPLY TO NATION’S EXECUTIVE
Issue Elaborate Defense of Great Corporation,
Contending It Is Conducted Along Honor
able Business Lines and That Home
Competition Is Not Crushed.
Washington. — President Roosevelt
Friday transmitted to congress the re
port of James R. Garfield, commission
er of corporations, giving the results
of his investigation of the subject of
transportation and freight rates in
connection with the oil industry.
In his message the president ex
presses the view that the report is of
capital importance because of the ef
fort now being made to secure such
enlargement of the powers of the in
terstate commerce commission as will
confer upon the commission power in
some measure adequate to meet the
clearly demonstrated needs of the sit
uation. The facts set forth in the re
port, he declares, are for the most part
not disputed. That the Standard Oil
company has benefited enormously up
almost to the present moment by se
cret rates, many of which were clear
ly unlawful, the president says the re
port clearly shows.
Abolish Secret Rates.
The president then says:
A very striking result of the inves
tigation has been that shortly after
the discovery of these secret rates by
the commissioner of corporations the
major portion of them was promptly
corrected by the railroads, e . thal
most of them have now been done
'
COMMISSIONER JAMES R. GAKK1ELU
away with. This immediate correc
tion, partial or complete, of the evil
of the secret rates is, of course, on the
one hand an acknowledgment that
they were wrong and yet were per
severed in until exposed; and, on the
other hand, a proof of the efficiency of
Vthe work mat has been done by the
xiureau of corporations.
"But in addition to these secret
rates the Standard Oil profits im
mensely by open rates, which are so
arranged as to give it an overwhelm
ing advantage over its independent
competitors.”
Controls the Market.
It is not possible, he says, to put
Into figures the exact amount by
which the Standard profits through
the gross favoritism shown it by the
railroads in connection with the open
rates. "The profit, of course, comes
not merely by the saving ift the rate
Itself as compared with its compet
itors, but by the higher prices it -s
able to charge and by the complete
control of the market which it se
cures, thereby getting the profit on the
whole consumption.”
There Are Others.
It is unfortunately not true, he says,
that the Standard Oil company is the
only corporation which has benefited
and is benefiting in wholly improper
fashion by an elaborate series of rate
discriminations. The sugar trust, he
adds, according to the results of the
investigation now in progress, rarely
if ever pays the lawful rate for trans
portation. He declares that in the ef
fort to prevent the railroads from
uniting for improper purposes “we
have very unwisely prohibited them
from uniting for proper purpqses: that
is, for purposes of protecting them
selves and the general public as
against the power of the great cor
porations."
Correctionary Measures.
He favors as an element of compe
tition the passage of some such law
THE STANDARD OIL COMPANY.
• -
Its Beginning. Growth. Ramifications. Capital and Profit.
PERSONNEL.
Years. Capital.
1862—Andrews. Clark & Co.J4.UUU
Company formed by Samuel Andrews ; capital furnished by M. B. Clark
and John D. Rockefeller.
190)—Standard Oil company.Jl.OUU.UUU
In this company were Jonn if. Rockefeller, Henry M Flagler, Samuel
Andrews. S. V. Harkness. and William Rockefeller; daily capacity,
1.300 barrels.
1872—Standard Oil company of Cleveland. .J2,3U0,UU0
Began buying up rival companies, paying In cash and Standard Oil stock:
took in twenty-one out of twenty-six independent refineries in Cleve
land; daily capacity 1U.UU0 barrels. Invaded Pennsylvania.
1875—Standard Oil company.J3.3UU.UOU
Purchased works of Charles Pratt & Co. and invaded New York; began
to extend pipe lines to seaboard.
1882—Standard Oil Trust.J70.U0U.0UU
Included thirty-six companies in Ohio. Pennsylvania. West Virginia.
Maryland. New York, and New Jersey. Disrupted iu 1892.
1898— Standard Oil company, of New Jersey.J10.UU0.UUU
This company formed after Rockefeller company had left Ohio. It did
not include constituent companies.
1899— Standard Oil company of New Jersey. J100.000.0u0
Took in all constituent oil companies owned and controlled by Standard
OH interests. Has remained in the same corporate form to date.
CONSTITUENT COMPANIES.
Capitalization .J102.233.7UU
Assets . 121,631,312
MONEY MADE -BY TRUST.
Tear. Capital. Dividends.
1879 . J3.500.000 J3.150.000
1880 . 3,500,000 1,050.000
1883 . 70.000.000 8,000.000
1886. 70,000,000 15.000.000
188*. 70.000,000 16,500.000
1889 . 7O.0UJ.0U0 15,000.000
1*94. 100.000.000 45.000.0UJ
1*96. lOO.UJO.flOO 31.000,000
1897 . 100.000,000 33,000.000
1898 . KJ0.0UI.OUj 30,000,000
1899 . lOO.OOU.OOO 33.OUI.OOU
1901 to date [div. estim'd ] at eidendsi
1900 . 100,000,000 4S.OOU.OUi
1901 to date [divi
dends estimated]... 100,000,000 48.000,000
BANKS CONTROLLED
BY STANDARD OIL.
Banks. Capital.
National City of New Tork.JS.0U0.W0
Lincoln National. juu.WO
Second National. Jqu.OOU
Bank of Metropolis. l.OW.wn
First. Chicago. 5,000,000
Totals .J31.fuj.uuj
Mileage. Stock. Bonds.
RAILROADS CONTROLLED
BY STANDARD OIL
C., M. & St. P.. 6.746 J100.000.UJO Ja6.000.000
Mo.. K. & Tex. 2.500 68.UJ0.JJU0 87.OUJ.UO
Wis. Central... 1,047 30,000,000 29.uuu,ooo
Totals .10.293 J198,000,000 3572,000.000
as that which has already passed the
house, putting alcohol used in the arts
and manufactures upon the free list
and of keeping tne fee to oil and coal
lands of the Inu.an tribes or on the
public domain in the government, the
lands to be leased only on such terms
and for such periods as will enable the
government to entirely control them.
TRANSPORTATION GREAT
EACTOR IN COMPETITION.
In summarizing his report Commis
sioner Garfield speaks of his personal
visit to the oil fields and of the great
mass of data obtained by him either
personally or through agents of the
bureau of corporations. The prelimi
nary study of this material, he says,
showed that the most important sub
ject was transportation, which enters
so largely into the cost of furnished
product and hence a most important
factor in competition.
“The Standard claims that the lo
cation of its refineries and the use
of pipe lines are natural advantages
to which it is justly entitled by reason
of the energy and foresight of its man
agers. While in a measure' that is
true, it may not be forgotten that
these advantages were in part obtained
by means of unfair competitive meth
ods after years of industrial strife.
“The development of the pipe line
system by the Standard Oil compariy
was the result of special agreements
with railroad companies. Further
more, those so-called natural advan
tages have been and are being greatly
increased by discriminations in freight
rates, both published and secret, inter
state and state, which give the Stand
ard monopolistic control in the great
er portion of the country.
Oil Price Is Gauge.
“An immediate result of this delim
itation of the competitive area is
shown by the prices of ordinary il
luminating oil. After deducting the
freight rate the price of such oil is
; usually from two cents to five cents a
gallon higher in the non-competitive
than in the competitive fields. A rea
sonable profit upon refined oil Is
about one-half a cent per gallon. It is
clear that exorbitant profits are ob
tained in the non-competitive fields.”
In i904 these secret rates saved the
Standard Oil company three-quarters
oi a million uollars, representing the
difference between the open rates and
the rates actually paid. “These dis
criminations.” he says, “have been so
long continued, and so secret., so in
geniously applied to new conditions
of trade, and so large in amount as to
make it certain that they were due to
concerted action by the Standard and
the railroads.” He says further that
the Standard Oil company is receiving
unjust discriminations in the matter
of open rates, the published rates from
the leading Standard shipping points
being relatively much lower than rates
from the shipping points of Its com
petitors.
Roads Abolish Secret Tariffs.
Mr. Garfield then refers to seven
instances of important discriminations
in favor of the Standard Oil com
pany in various parts of the country,
and says that most of the secret rates
and some of the open discriminations
discovered by the bureau were abol
ished by the railroads shortly after
such discovery. After calling atten
tion to the good which already has re
sulted from the investigation, Mr. Gar
field says that the changes effected
have put the independents upon a fair
er footing and make competition pos
sible in territories heretofore inacces
sible. The report concludes as fol
lows:
“Tariffs may be made and rates may
be combined in such a manner as to
make it practically impossible for the
ordinary shipper to find them.”
STANDARD MAGNATES
REPLY TO PRESIDENT.
New York.—In reply to President
Roosevelt’s message and the report of
Commissioner Garfield, Messrs. H. H.
Rogers and John D. Archbold, of the
Standard Oil company, made the fol
lowing statement to the press:
“In the president's effort to secure
the passage of a bill enlarging the
powers of interstate commerce com
mission and just and equitable rail
way rates, we have precisely the same
interest that any good citizen has. No
more and no less. Regarding his crit
icisms upon the management of the
railways, or his strictures upon any
acts of the interstate commerce com
mission. we have neither responsibil
ity nor concern. When, however, he
or Commissioner Garfield attacks the
Standard Oil company and uses its
methods of doing business an object
lesson for the purpose of promoting
his views, we protest. It may be
frankly stated at the outset that the
Standard Oil company has at all times
within the limits of fairness and with
due regard for the law, sought to se
cure the most advantageous freight
rates and routes possible.
Corporation Is Upright.
“We say flatly that any assertion
that the Standard Oil company has
been or is now knowingly engaged in
practices whifh are unlawful is alike
untruthful and unjust.
“The commissioner’^ report, upon
which the president's message is
based, opens with the statement that
the manufacture of refined oil in this
country is about 26,000,000 barrels
annually. It would have been fair
for him to have stated that over 15,000,
000 of barrels of this annual manufac
ture is exported.
“He next calls attention to the fact
that the Standard Oil refineries are lo
cated at centers of distribution, while
the independent refineries are usual
ly in the crude oil fields. He charges
HENRY H. ROGERS.
that this location of refineries and
the natural advantages following it
were obtained by means of unfair
competitive methods, but beyond this
mere assertion does not go into a his
tory or explanation of these alleged
unfair methods at all. He says the
"development of the pipe line system
by the Standard Oil company was the
result of special agreement with the
railroad companies.’ As a matter of
fact, the development of tho pipe
line system by the Standard Oil com
pany was in the face of violent hos
tility on the part of the railroads.
Conditions in New England.
“Passing from this point, Commis
sioner Garfield takes up the question
of favoritism. wrhich he alleges has
been shown by various railroad cor
porations. to the Standard Oil com
; panv. The first specific case of al
leged discrimination to which he di
rects attention is in the New England
territory. It is charged that we en
joy a monopoly in certain parts of that
section because some of the railroads
there refuse to prorate. Casual in
j quiry would show that the New Eng
land roads are simply doing what they
are forced to do by natural conditions.
Obviously, we have an advantage by
the use of our pipe lines from the
western oil fields to the coast and the
use of water transportation thence to
New England over anyone who uses
all rail transportation from western
points.
Some of our competitors do the
same thing and deliver oil at the
points in New England that we do by
the same process.
Question of Rebates.
“The commissioner says that ‘with
one or two exceptions the investiga
tions of the bureau have as yet dis
covered no rebates in the technical
sense on interstate business.’
“He says the Standard Oil company
has habitually received from the rail
roads, and is now receiving, ‘secret’
rates and other unjust and illegal dis
criminations. It is hardly fair or
manly for him to add the sentence, ‘01
course there may be other secret rates
which the bureau has not discovered.’
Does Not Crush Competition.
“The statement that the 'Standard
Oil company has largely by unfail
and unlawful methods crushed oul
home competition’ is fully answered
by the fact that home competition has
always existed, is steadily growing
and that there are now at least 125
competitive refineries in the United
States.
“The Standard Oil company has been
investigated over and over again at
the instigation of its rivals, and it
always welcomes such investigation
when conducted in good faith and
fairly. We are engaged in a large and
honorable business. We are conduct
ing it honorably and we sincerely be
lieve in conformity to law.”
THE FOOD SUPPLY.
It >• Growing Short in San Fran
cisco.
SAN FRANCISCO—With no imme
diate prospects that conditions will be
so normalized that the community will
be able to feed and take care of it
self, the supply of food on hand or
under way is becoming distressingly
small. No man connected with the re
lief affairs is willing to hazard an opin
ion as to when relief work may be
abandoned. Yet Mayor Schmitz in
formed the genera] committee that
from information in his possession it
appeared that 700 car loads of food
ind supplies of various descriptions
had been distributed since the morn
.ng of the earthquake in April 18, and
the Southern Pacific, the Santa Fe and
other transportation lines had informa
tion of only 108 cars on the way.
“If,” said the mayor, “this informa
tion is correct, and I have no reason
to doubt it, we will soon be worse off
than we were a week ago. If the in
formation has gone abroad throughout
the country that we are amply sup
plied it is most unfortunate, for it is
apparent that we are not. It is not
even known how much money we can
use to purchase supplies, for you have
heard from Mr. Phelan on several oc
casions that part, at least, of this
money subscribed by individuals or
companies in the east is being dis
bursed through private agents here.
While it is true that contributions of
money will be much more to the pur
pose than contributions of supplies, the
world should be notified that if the one
is not available the other will be most
gratefully received. I am not speak
ing of non-perishable supplies, and as
to such things as eggs, milk, butter
and the like it will be better if we con
tinue to buy these things in the imme
diate vicinity.”
Basing his calculations on reports
received within the last twenty-four
hours. General Greely stated that the
entire available food supply, including
shipments on hand and those en route,
would be sufficient for the present pop
ulaton during a period of fifteen days.
This reckoning is made upon the rate
at which supplies have been consumed
since the fire. Under the army ration
system that will hereafter prevail, Gen
eral Greely stated his belief that the
same amount of food would last
twenty-one days.
THE ELECTION IN OMAHA.
Democratic Candidates Win by Unex
pected Majorities.
OMAHA—For the first time in six
teen years Omaha has elected a demo
cratic mayor, J. C. Dahlman. It was
a Dahlman day and when the votes
were counted the democratic candidate
for mayor had been elected by 2.800.
The balloting began early, fast and fu
rious and never ceased until the polls
closed at 6 o’clock. Only one republi
can—Zimman for the council—pulled
through. Dahlman's victory was so
decisive that his three heaviest wards,
where he received his largest major
ities, 1.102 in the Third, 729 in the Sec
ond, and 795 in the Tenth, could all
have been thrown out, and he would
still have a majority of four over Ben
son.
The Herald, speaking of the result,
says:
“That it was a landslide would seem
quite plain to an unprejudiced ob
server. The normal republican major
ity of nearly 2.000 was wiped out. And
Dahlman was elected by 2,790, while
Building Inspector Withnell was re
elected by 4,111. The other city elec
tive officers were given majorities
ranging from 700 to 1,400. It should
not be understood that there is grief
in the republican heart, for there were
some 3,000 republicans who pulled the
democratic lever, and they were quite
as jubilant as if it were their own
baby. One of them declared. ’It was a
sweeping republican victory—the Pon
tenelle machine has been knocked
higher than Gilroy’s kite.’ ”
Witte Likely to Retire.
ST. PETERSBURG—Absolute con
firmation of the reported retirement of
Premier Witte, which has been the
sole topic of conversation in political
circles, is still lacking, but in St.
Petersburg only a few skeptics express
doubt that the once powerful premier
has surrendered the reins. Witte him
self is as silent as the sphinx on the
subject. Intimation was given that tne
appearance of Count Witte's resigna
tion will not be announced until after
convocation of the national parliament.
WILL MOVE ON THE BANDITS.
Attempt to Be Made to Capture Out
law Philippine Band.
MANILA—Next week a force of con
stabulary, acting in conjunction with
Gov. Juan Schaick, of the province of
Cavite, will begin a movement to cap
ture Montalon and his band of outlaws
now located south of the Taal volcano.
The authorities predict that it will lie
impossible for the bandits and their
leaders to escape on this occasion.
copyright Bill is Ready.
WASHINGTON—It is understood the
third and final draft of the bill to
codify the copyright laws of the United
States is practically completed and will
be submitted to congress by the copy
right commission in about ten days.
New Trade Mark Treaty.
WASHINGTO N—A trade mark
treaty between the United States and
Roumanla has been ordered favorably
reported by the senate committee on
foreign relations.
Loss of Hartford Companies.
HARTFORD—The estimated net
losses of the Hartford insurance com
panies in the San Francisco fires ag
gregate $13,150,000.
Monster Benefit is Arranged.
NEW YORK—The program of the
monster benefit for the San Francisco
sufferers to be given at the Metropoli
tan opera house was completed on
Thursday night. There are forty-five
numbers on the bill and in order that
all may appear the performance will
be continued from 11 a. m. until mid
night. Jacob H. Schiff, treasurer of
the Red Cross and mayors' San Fran
cisco relief funds, reports that since
the last public acknowledgement the
combined amount of the two funds has
reached $916,883.
AS TO RATE BILL
REPUBLICAN SENATORS PRACTIC
ALLY AGREE TO COMPROMISE.
AMENDMENTS^RE CONSIDERED
It is Done Under the Firteen-Minute
Rule—Suggestion Drawn by Senator
Allison Expected to Command Sup
port of the Party.
WASHINGTON—In accordance with
agreement the senate on Friday enter
ed upon the consideration of amend
ments to the railroad rate bill under
the fifteen-minute rule, but made lit
tle progress. The greater part of the
day was devoted to Mr. Lodge’s provi
sion bringing pipe lines with the terms
of the bill and it was ultimately unani
mously agreed to, after so amending
it as to exclude gas and water lines
from its operation, thus practically
confining it to oil lines. There were
two roll calls, but neither was of im
portance as, on one accepting the
amendment, there was no division
whatever, while the action taken on
the other, on the question of confining
it to oil lines, was practically nulified
by the subsequent elimination of gas
and water pipes from the amendment.
The provision was so amended as to
make it applicable to the oil pipe line
in the Panama canal zone.
A proposition by Mr. Foraker to ex
clude regfrigerator cars from the re
quirements of the bill and another by
Mr. McCumber making the require
ments concerning those cars more
stringent than in the original bill, were
impartially voted down.
During the day there were many
short speeches on the amendments, and
also more or less discussion of points
of order. Upon the whole the day’s
proceedings were quite perfunctory, be
ing rendered so by the general knowl
edge of the fact that the republican
senators were on the eve of an agree
ment that would determine the char
acter of the bill. There was an evi
dent general disposition to await that
agreement and an adjournment over
Saturday was taken for the purpose
of permitting it to be perfected.
What amounts practically to an
agreement on the existing differences
concerning court features of the rail
road rate bill has been reached by sen
ate conferences extending over the last
week, and Senator Allison will offer an
amendment conferring jurisdiction
upon the circuit court to hear and de
tertnine suits brought against the in
terstate commission. The amendment
will not suggest to the court whether
the judicial review shall be confined
to constitutional questions or whether
it shall be an inquiry into the just
ness or reasonableness of the rates
fixed by the commission.
Senator Long made the principal le
gal argument for the house bill, and
Senators Aldrich and Crane, the lead
ers in the movement seeking an amend
ment providing for a board court re
view expressed themselves today as
favoring the amendment and both fac
tions are agreed that the compromise
is satisfactory to President Roosevelt.
Undoubtedly this means that obstacles
j to the speedy passage of the measure
I have been removed.
MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT.
Chief Executive Tells Why He Refuses
Offers of Foreign Donations.
WASHINGTON—A special message
was sent to congress by President
Roosevelt in which he explained the
attitude of this government regarding
the offer of contributions to the San
Francisco fire and earthquake suffer
ers from foreign countries. He says
that where the contributions were
made to this government he did not
feel warranted in accepting them, but
where they were made to the ctiizens’
relief committee no action was or
could be taken in regard to them.
Governor to Live in Omaha.
LINCOLN—Gov. John H. Mickey
contemplates making his home in
Omaha after he retires from office .n
January.
The chief executive will go to the
metropolis to deliver a deed to his
ranch property m Keya Paha county
and take in exchange a deed for some
800 acres of land in Iowa, located
across the river from Florence, two
miles from Crescent. It is the govern
or's intention to reside with his family
in Omaha, and from that city direct
the w’ork on his Iowa farm.
Iroquois Company Fails.
‘CHICAGO—The Iroquois Theater
company of Chicago was placed in the
hands of a receiver at Jersey City, N.
J. The company confessed to no assets
and liabilities of $2,00u.000 in damage
suits, flted by scores of people after
the burning of the theater in 1903. The
merchandise creditors of the theater
company have been paid.
Coal Land Law for Alaska.
WASHINGTON—The senate commit
tee on public lands has decided not
to report the bouse bill to authorize
assignees of coal land locations to
make entry under coal land laws to
1,280 acres of coal lands in Alaska.
The measure applies to associations of
eight or more persons.
General Manderson Goes East.
OMAHA—General Manderson left
for Atlantic City to recuperate from
effects of his long illness. Mrs. Mand
erson and Dr. Mattson accompany him,
the doctor returning to this city after
seeing the general to the Jersey coast.
No Agreement on Statehood.
WASHINGTON — The conferences
on the statehood bill have not yet
reached the main point of difference—
that of admitting Arizon and New
Mexico.
I _
Tornado in Furnas County.
OXFORD, Neb.—The most destruc
tive tornado in the history of Furnas
county passed over this section at 6
o'clock Monday evening, leaving wide
devastation in its path. So far as
known there were no fatalities, though
a number were injured. The starting
point of the storm is not known here,
but. coming from a southwesterly di
rection. is first known to have struck
at the farm house of John Reynolds,
five miles west of Oxford, where it de
molished two large barns. Reports so
far are meagre.
SITUATION TODAY.
San Francisco as Seen After Eleven
Days.
SAN FRANCISCO—An Investigation j
has demonstrated that the fear that
San Francisco will suffer a period of 1
hard times as an aftermath of the
disastrous fire is unfounded. Careful
estimates made by authorities compe
tent to speak show that within the
next year there will be over $200,000,
000 available for the rehabilitation of
San Francisco. The following figures
make clear where this sum is to orig
inate :
Investment of new Geary street mu
nicipal road, $340,000; Home Tele
phone company expenditures, $1,000.
000; insurance losses now due and
payable, approximately $175,000,000;
United railroads, new construction,
$9,000,000; city bonds for 1904, sum j
still available, $17,000,000; Ocean
Shore railway, approximate expendi
ture here, $1,000,000; restoration of
government buildings, $770,000; build
ing of sea wall, $2,000,000; total, $207,
110,000.
It is expected that a large part of
this money will come from eastern
and foreign capitalists.
In figuring the odd $200.000,000 '
which will be available the investigat
ors did not take into consideration the
sums that may be raised for the beau
tification and improvement of the city.
The vexatious problems of locating
the new Chinatown will probably be
settled to the satisfaction of the Chi
nese colony. It is the desire of the
municipality not to harass this portion
of its foreign population and the de
sire of the diplomatic representatives
of China will be considered.
Conditions of life are gradually be
coming more normal in this city and
the work of clearing up the wreck in
preparation for rebuilding in the down
town section of the city is going on
more rapidly.
Business is being rapidly resumed
by retail tradesmen of every descrip
tion throughout the burned sections of
the city. George Wittman. chairman
of the committee on retail trade, re
ports that the places of business are
open, as follows:
Forty-four butcher shops, twenty
nine restaurants, twenty-two bakeries,
twenty-two fruit and vegetable stands,
seventy-one dairies, fifteen refresh
ment parlors, fiftythree groceries and
seventy-one miscellaneous establish
ments, including tailors, plumbers, dry
goods stores, druggists and cigar
stands.
_
WALL STREET SMASH.
Anaconda Goes Down 14 Points and
Big Decline in Steel.
NEW YORK—Prices were smashed
at the opening of the stock market
Wednesday as a result of the contin
uance of the heavy selling. The rush
to dispose of the securities seemed
to indicate that liquidation of an im
portant. character was under way and
speculative holders of stocks generally
became alarmed and made a precipi
tate rush to get out of the market.
Food Supply Running Low.
SAN FRANCISCO—General Greely
gave warning to the finance commit
tee of the citizens’ relief committee
that he had only eleven days’ rations
on hand, that the army could not fur
nish an ounce of food beyond that al
ready purchased or in sight and that
the feeding of the people is a problem
which demands immediate attention.
After considerable discussion the com
mittee decided to have a summing up
of re-wnirces and needs. Following this
it is possible that an appeal for sup
plies will be made.'
Senators Against Smoot.
WASHINGTON—A pool of the sen
ate committee on privileges and elec
tions developed that a majority will
vote to sustain the charges against.
Senator Smoot, but that the full
strength of the opposition cannot be
held for a report recommending the
exclusion of the senator, which would
require only a majority vote of the
senate. In view of this, those who be
lieve the charges against the Utah
senator were proved, are seeking an
agreement by which a report can be
made in favor of unseating Smoot.
Interprets Cigarette Law.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND.—The Park’s
anti-cigarette law passed by the last
session of the Indiana legislature was
declared valid on Thursday by the su
preme court. The court interpreted
the as meaning that it is illegal to sell
cigarettes in Indiana or keep them for
sale, but it is not illegal to smoke
them and it is not illegal to bring them
into the state.
Thinks Rate Bill Will Pass.
WASHINGTON — Representative
Hepburn is sanguine that the Hep
burn-Dolliver railroad rate bill will
be passed by the senate., "The out
look appears to grow more favorable
every day,” said Colonel Hepburn. “I
do not believe there will be any sub
stantial amendments.”
Vote on Rate Bill.
WASHINGTON — The senate will
begin voting on the amendments to the
railroad rate bill on Friday. May 4.
An agreement to that effect was
reached Monday, but It proved Impos
sible to so extend the understanding as
to have it include the fixing of a date
for taking a final vote on the bill as a
whole.
Agricultural Bill Passed.
WASHINGTON—The house com
pleted the agricultural appropriation
bill and passed the military academy
bill. The agricultural appropriation
bill as it passed the house carried *7,
491,440. The military academy bill
carries *1,663,115.
Plague is Spreading.
ST. PETERSBURG—The plague sit
uation in Seistan (on the Persian-Af
ghan border) has assumed appalling
dimensions, spreading rapidly in North
eastern Persia and numbering its vic
tims by hundreds.
Total Dead May Be 1,500.
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal—Coroner
Walsh said: “When the debris is
cleared away there will be at least
1,000 additions to the death roll. I
would not be surprised if the number
reached 1,500.”
AFTER OIL TRUST
THAT AND OFFENDING RAIL
ROADS TO BE PROSECUTED.
GARFIELD LOOKS IIITO REBATES
Matter to Be Brought Before Grand
Jries and Where it is Found Viola
tions of Law Have Occurred Evi
dence Will Be Taken.
WASHINGTON—The statement was
authoritatively made that the depart
ment of justice will immediately be
gin an investigation of the relations
of the so-called oil trust and a number
of railroads, with a view of determin
ing whether there have been violations
of the anti-rebate law.
The basis for this investigation will
be the information recently submitted
to the president in a report of Can -
missioner Garfield of the bureau of
corporations, which is soon to be made
public. This report, it is learned, deals
only with the subject of rebates and
does not go into the questions of vi>
1st ions of the anti-trust law.
If it is found that rebates have been
given by the railroads and accepted by
the so-caled trust, steps will be at
once taken, it is asserted, to bring the
matter before the grand juries in the
localities where the alleged violations
took place, with a view to prosecutions
in the courts, it is not thought that
the department of justice in conducting
its inquiries will require the service of
any one outside of the department
proper, and the LTnited States attorneys
and other officers under its immediate
direction.
It is stated that Mr. Garfield In con
ducting his investigation traveler! ex
tensively and visited all important sec
tions covered by the operations of the
so-called trust, from New England to
California, and the south, and that the
evidence obtained is amply sufficient
to warrant the department of justice
in taking the course decided upon.
JAMES E BOYD DEAD.
Only Democratic Governor of Nebras
ka Succumbs After a Long Struggle.
OMAHA—Former Governor James
E. Boyd died at his residence in this
city. Monday afternoon. The end came
calmly and without pain after a long
struggle for life.
The death of Governor Boyd follows
closely upon the death of former Gov
ernor Thayer, whom Boyd succeeded
as chief executive of Nebraska and
with whom he was embroiled in one
of the most bitter political contests in
the history of the state, but with whom
he became cordially associated in
friendship warmer because of the
other relations that had existed.
Governor Boyd had been in poor
health peculiar to old age for over
a year. For months his life had been
despaired of. He was 71 years old.
CONFERENCE ON STATEHOOD.
Two Important Conclusions Reached
by Conferees.
WASHINGTON—Two Important con
clusions were reached by the state
hood conferees Thursday. One settles
the school lands question and the other
makes the present registration districts
temporary counties for the purpose of
court jurisdiction during the forma
tion of the new state and the erection
of permanent county boundaries.
As to the school lands, the Warren
amendment voted on by the senate pro
vided that where school iand3 were
found to be mineral lands, lieu selec
tions sbould be made. The substitute
agreed upon provided in substance that
the state may lease its mineral school
lands and shall thus not be deprived
of their greater value.
CREDIT FOR STRICKEN CITY.
Senator Newlands Introduces Resolu
tion for Home Government Guar
antee Bonds.
WASHINGTON—That the Califor
nia senators do not consider that there
should at present be an effort to se
cure government aid in the general re
construction of the city of San Fran
cisco was made evident in the senate
Wednesday. The question came up
on Mr. Newlands' resolution directing
the finance committee of the senate
and the ways and means committee of
the house to consider the feasibility
of the government's guaranteeing
bonds to aid in the rehabilitation of
the stricken city. The resolution was
discussed and referred to the commit
tee on finance.
FINDS CELESTIAL’S GOLD.
It Was Melted Into Lump and Then
Stolen.
SAN FRANCISCO—A mass of gold
and silver valued at $35,000 melted In
the store of Che King, a Chinese mer
chant at Washington and Dupont
streets, and which had disappeared
from the ruins, has been recovered by
the police at Broadway and Stockton
streets, where it was found hidden.
The gold and silver were melted with
other metal articles.
Child Burned in Prairie Fire.
BOWDLE, S. D.—The little son ot
Lenhart Aldinger, a farmer of this
place, was burned to death. The child
followed his father to a field adjoining
the farm, where the latter went to
start a stubble fire. The flames came
down the field rapidly and caught the
little child, who, up to thi6 time had
not been seen by his father.
Nebraskan Killed in Earthquake.
NORFOLK. Neb —Dr. Kelley, assist
ant superintendent at St. Agnew’s la
sane Asylum at Agnew, Cal., who was
killed In the earthquake, was the tret
superintendent of the Nebraska iniane
hospital at Norfolk fifteen yearr ago.
Juror Captures Prisoner
ST. LOUIS—John W. Waterhouse,
who came here from Se&ttlf in Feb
ruary and was arrested on tne charge
of forgery and found guilt , was sen
tenced to five years ipprisrotnent.
When Judge Bishop pronounced sen
tence, Waterhouse sprang towards an
open window and was just Jumping
through when a juror leaped rom the
box and seized him by the coattail.
Deputy Sheriffs dragged Wserhouse
from the window and a livelyfight en
sued before the prisoner ws finally
subdued.
