PAGE 2
Kjh3 Mobraolia Independent
APRIL 5 1906
party would receive much of the
credit, that the fact that the presi
dent initiated the matter and forced
it upon congress would make him
one of the greatest of our presidents,
and that his place in history would be
secure." The surrender of the nrea.
ident to the railroad influences In the
senate coupled with the fact, that Up
to this time, he has not been able to
secure favorable action in congress
or on any of his pet measures makes
a very bad showing, and his friends
fear a fatal one, so far as his , future
popularity is concerned.
The public has already begun to
contrast the success .of Attorney
Hughes in New York in uncovering
the insurance scandals and practically
breaking up the most colossal sys
tem of graft of modern times, and
the success of Attorney Hadley repre
senting the state of Missouri in put
ting to rout Standard Oil, to the great
professions of trust busting made by
me administration and the long series
of failures and disappointments that
it has to show for results.
The republican members of the
house of representatives are greatly
disturbed over the prospects of the
coming election. Many of them, how
ever, say that much good will result
from the president yielding to Sena
tors Aidnch and Elkins on the rate
bill, s there is now a prospect that
the bill will pass, receiving practically
the full republican vote in the senate,
so that the republicans can claim the
credit, and make a showing that has
the appearance of party harmony. The
next thing they want is an early ad
journment, because they realize that
' their inability to do any of the things
mat tne country is demanding will
become more apparent to the average
man each day that congress is in ses
sion, much more so than after ad
journment. It is now thought that there is a
chance for the free alcohol bill to
pass, and for the two houses to come
together on the statehood bill, allow
ing Oklahoma and Indian'Territory to
form a state, and referring iho
tion , of joint statehood back to the
voters of New ., Mexico and Arizona,
respectively. . , . :-. -
The question of campaign funds is
disturbing the members whose elec
tions depend upon the expenditure of
large sumes of money. There are a
number of republican seats that are
only held bv lartro
la feared that many of these will be
lost in the coming election as the life
insurance companies will not be like
ly to contribute anything this year,
and the rate bill contains a section
forbidding the railroads from making
political contribution, leaving the na
tional banks as the only available
source of simply. Many think the
banks will refuse to contribute at all,
or at most make only small contribu
tions on the ground that , they alone
cannot be expected to put ud sufficient
to produce much in the way of re
sults. The prospects are now that
the rate bill will reach a vote inside
of ten days. It is not thought that
Aldrich, now that he has gained his
point on the court review amendment,
will unnecessarily delay a vote being
reached on the bill.
coal lands, and this was construed
by many senators as authorizing him
to lease the lands. '
''I believe," said Mr. LaFollette,
that if the senate can come to any
understanding as to the real valno f
these lands it will call a halt until
an investigation can be made. Coal
is sold for $1.90 and $2 a ton at the
mine. Takine 12 ner tnn as tho hncHc
for computation, it means there is a
value of coal averaerine S10.000 nor
acre. This makes a total value for
the tract of $4,377,000. Leasing the
lands Is equivalent to their sale.
The present leases run for thirtv
years. In that time the supply of
coal might be exhausted. Before con
gress again convenes every case may
be disposed of by the secretary of
the interior. Of the 113 existing
leases covering 104.000 acre nf thoso
lands fifty-three are under Control of
the five railroads passing through In
dian Territory."
Mr. LaFollette said that none of
the railroads observed the stipulations
In its charter requiring the same
cnarges to pe made as in adjacent
states. Rates are invariably higher
in the territory.
"The government should now indi
cate its position toward permitting
railroads to own or control the com
modities they transport over their
own lines. If the lands are leased or
sold it should be made impossible for
the railroads to secure control of
them. Every lease should become
void when assigned to a railroad."
senator Tillman said tho mfirnnria
have practically monopolized the fuel
supply of the country. All the coal
mined is almost under their control.
They fix the price. They are seeking
to extend their holdings and obtain
whatever coal lands remain unoccu
pied. He believed the United States
should retain ownership of these coal
lands paying the Indians for their
interest and hold them for tho
of posterity. He estimated that the
leases already given represent 635,
000,000 tons of coal.
Mr. Tillman added: i'Jf art anf rirn-
cite coal strike occurs tiPYt wintor
making it impossible for the millions'
aviug m tne eastern portion of the
country properly to warm their fam
ilies, -there wil be something' doing
in the United States." '
The conference report was with
drawn and the objectionable clause
will be eliminated.
THF f!0fll MINFIN fiTBIKF o.-.
niiuuiu. u i iiiiiL 'm vmcago. one 83 vo
via. .. . "
Half Million Men Involved Men Are
Instructed to Refrain From Riot-
Ing or Damaging Property.
Following the breaking off of ne
gotiations for a wage scale, 509,500
men ra the anthracite and bituminous
fields went out on strike Saturday
night.
- There is in the national and local
treasuries of the miners' union $2,
500,000. . J; -
Earl Grev
ada an a n r general OI Can
ada, and Countess Grey are guests of
former Amha.a!,i, t ' .PrF8 or
at New York. pa "' Choate
Hamilton Raps Perkins
LAFOLLETTE AND TILLMAN
Albany After several days of si
lence, Andrew Hamilton gave another
little- "chapter" of revelations last
night, this time involving George W.
Perkins. The occasion of the speech
was the presentation to Hamilton of
a loving cup by friends who had just
elected him president of the Albany
club. Hamilton, in explaining his ab
sence in Europe during the Armstrong
investigation, said that while in Paris
ne nad been visited by an officer high
in the councils of the New York Life,
who did not advise him to return!
His friends at once explained the
allusion as applying to George W.
Perkins, who, it will be recalled, went
abroad during the session of the Arm
strong committee, but on his return
denied publicly that he had met Ham
ilton. , -
The executive board of the United
Mine Workers of America 'will meet
at Indianapolis today to take up de
tails of managing the strike.
District officers are authorized to
sign a wage agreement with any
operator who will agree to,,' pay the
fcuaie or. WS tor a neriorl nf turn
years. This would be an advance of
5.55 per cent in most of the territory
affected.'.. :. -k .. :
John Mitchell says he ' believes
that one-half of the tonnage of
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and western
Pennsylvania will sign the scale very
soon. ... v. . , . ..... v
The miners' convention declined to
submit the matter of wage differences
to arbitration. . ' - ;
President Roosevelt is
tal as to ' what action he will,, take,
if any, regarding the coal strike.
The national executive board of the
United Mine Workers of America
held a session at Indianapolis to take
up in detail the management of the
strike which will be begun in the
anthracite and bituminous coai min
ing districts of the country at the
close of work today.
Men numberine 509.500 will Ion vo
the mines will not. rotn nn.
til their employers have signed the
wage scale demanded by . the miners
in national convention. In the cen
tral competitive district "composed of
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and , westSrn
Pennsylvania: Mondav. will ho tho
eighth anniversary of the eight-hour
concession and will be observed as
usual as. a holiday.
It was anticipated by members of
the national executive board today
mac me scale would be signed in
all probability by some of the oper
ators of western Pennsylvania either
this, evening or Monday.
Before the board went into execu
tive session at the national headquar
ters of the mine workers, members
said a formal strike order would not
be issued, but at the close of work
today the men would leave the mines
with their tools and would not return
until the scale had been signed by
the operators and they had been so
notified by the district officials.
Members of the board said that
every step possible would be taken
to prevent violence and a formal
declaration to the miners forbidding
rioting or destruction of property and
urging them to , properly conduct
themselves probably would be issued.
SUMMARY OF NEWS
LaFollette Prevents Railroads From
Stealing Coal Lands Under
Cover of Lease.
. Washington The coal lands owned
by the Choctaw and Chickasaw In
dians are worth $4,377,000,000, ac
cording to a computation submitted
today by Senator . LaFollette. It is
proposed to lease or sell these lands.
A conference report, on the bill to
conclude the affairs of the flvo civil-
ized tribes brought out Mr. LaFol
lette's statement. The proposition to
sell or lease had been eliminated bv
the senate when the bill passed. A
clause was Inserted by (he conferrees
permitting the secretary of the in
terior to ascertain what could be ac
complished in the way of leasing the
A Level Head.
A farmer went into" a hardware
store and while purchasing some tools
was asked by the proprietor if he did
not want to buy a bicycle.
" Abicycle won't eat its head off,"
said the man, "and you can ride
around your farm on it. They're cheap
now and I can let you have one for
$35.00."
"I'd ruther put the $35.00 In a cow,"
replied the farmer. . :
"Oh, well," said the hardware man,
sarcastically,, "you'd look almighty
foolish riding round your farm on a
cow; now, wouldnt vou?".
"No more foolish, perhaps," said the
xarmer, ; man 1 wouir milking a bicycle."
March death rate in Chicago is far
below average, despite weather.
Important reform measures noariv
all shelved by the session of the Iowa
legislature. . .... .
Deaf persons hear the sermons at
All Soul's church in Chicago by means
of telephones in the pews.
New York coroner sees a coinci
dence in the deaths of two widows
and suspects a suicide pact. ;
New York judge, as a modern Solo
mon, decides the claims of two women
to possession of a baby boy. .
Crank disturbs .T. TV T?nckofoiior
Jr.'s Bible class while leader is giving
his excuses for Sunday golf.
T. P. Shonts has been re-elected
president of the Panama railroad at
the annual meeting in New York.
Speeding automobiles , kill a? child
and fatally injure two women in ac-.
cidents'in New .York and its suburbs.
Aged Indian ' who charges a , land
Da?sonJf wRKd?Iph' the "marrying
hfs work finbMn' N' J"
ni? ng that he has
BavtrnLTinthrP of Porto Rico
lTtlEi of.-the island-
elective :renate CIUZenSWp and an
TowSn Md'-'f neo, executed at
fnr u?l d;r makes a desperate fight
Officials Of wirol ACo
tem riaim C teiesrapn sys
tem claim to rhave transmitted 579
words, across the Atlantic ocean a
diseance of 3,200. - r '
Two Iowa boys; aged 12 and 9 edit
a newspaper in the kitchen of their
home, setting the type and funning
CleviK teacher,? repudiate the
S?d jUry Verdict which declared
LS iWmaD competent to teach
school because she was in love
inSnSirLnf ?yrd 0f Mississippi
introduces a bill placing meats on the
tiT hSk hel$ that this would
reduv the price to the consumer '
Wholesale graft charges are made "
en of
'u TV' wis.,-as the result of a
long fight against corrupt rule In the
city. ' . -. v
n,S Htrrima? has retired as chair
man of the Illinois Central finance '
committee and new committee is
formed, with Walter Luttgen as chair
man., m .
Free treatment of consumption , is
fStef by iht ChlcaSo Tuberculosis
institute,, which will erect a dispen
sary at Winchester avenue and Polk
street.
House naval committee votes an
appropriation of $6,000,000 for the
construction of a 20,000-ton battleship
which shall . lead the navies of the
world. :, ' '
Speaker Cannon break's the preced
ents of the house by turning on Rep
resentative Shaskelford ' of Missouri
when the latter attacks. tho
officer.
George W, Perkins of J. P. Morgan
& Co., is under arrest, charged with
larceny in giving $50,000 of life insur
ance funds to the republican national
committee. '
Oak Park, Chicago, pastor declares
if Christ should visit that suburb,
followed by the publicans and sinners
of all nations, the millionaires would
be scandalized.
- Massachusetts congressmen has
asked the Wisconsin delegation to
join in a fight for tariff revision, but
it is not thought any action will be
taken by the house.
William E. Curtis writes of the
beauties of the old City of Puebla,
Mexico.., which was built as tho ro.
suit of a priest's vision on a plain
hemmed by volcanoes.
Norman 'Hapgood, editor of Collier's
Weekly, arrives in Chicago to look
into municipal conditions, watch the
aldermanic election and study the mu
nicipal ownership issue.
Rich New York merchants arowsaid
to bei nterested in a plan for a revolu
tion in Venezuela, by which it is hoped
to overthrow Castro and open the
country to American capital.
Fight for cheaper., gas and better
street care service is taken up in
Galesburg, HI., each political party in
the campaign promising, if victorious
at the polls, to compel changes.
Mutual Life investigating commit
tee reports that abuses in the man
agement of the company were due to
the desire to become a great money
power and outstrip rivals. Many re
forms urged." - -
Independent bituminous coal oper
ators in the Pittsburg district will
yield to the demands of the miners
today. Great armv- of union , miners
quits work throughout the mining re
gions of the countrv. v
Recorder Goff. in instructing the reg
ular" April crand jurv in New Yorlc
City, tells the members they must in- -