THE NBWBEEEY BILL
TllRYETOEl ) ' , Ul' OOVER-
XOllVOYK.
f
Full Text of III * : tlcs affo Sent to tlic
liesinlaturo loxva and Nebraska
Population , Area and Railroad Bus-
Incus Compared Tito II111 Hcllevcd
to be Unconstitutional The Heduc-
tloii xTXade Considered Excessive
Railroads Ho Thinks Should be En
couraged In Nebraska.
The Newberry TIaximum FrelchfBlll
Vetoed by the Governor.
L
LINCOLN , April 4. Gov. Boyd sent
to the legislature the following message
vetoing the Newborry freight bill :
Gentlemen sol the House of Repre
sentatives : I'herewith return without
iny approval of house roll No. 12 , en
titled "An act to regulate railroads , to
classify freights , to fix reasonable max
imum rates to be charged for the trans
portation of freight upon each of the
railroads in the state of Nebraska , " for
the following reasons :
The rate is this bill is supposed to be
based on the Iowa rates. In Iowa the
rates are fixed by a commission , and
are changed from time to time as cir
cumstances and the course of trade
seem to require. In that state the
various roads are classified so that the
rates are higher on the weaker roads
and lower on the stronger ones , which
have a greater volume of business.
The justice of such a classification is
apparent. It is evident that the road
doing a large business can afford to
carry freight at a less rate than one
which has but little traffic. This bill
places the same Iowa rate on all roads
in the state without regard to the vol
ume of business carried , and the rate
fixed by the bill is based upon the low
est classification. The latter state has
double the acreage under cultivation
and almost twice the population of Ne
braska , with only about two-thirds its
extent ot territory.
The volume of freight transported
by the railroads in Iowa is more than
four times as great as that transported
by the railroads of Nebraska. It is
manifest injustice to apply to the Ne
braska roads the lowest rates in force
in Iowa. The tonnage this year in the
state of Nebraska is less than the year
previous by over forty (40) ) per cent.
This bill reduces the rate , on an aver
age , nearly fifty (50) per cent which ,
taken together with the reduction in
tonnage , would. In my judgment , bank
rupt every road in the state.
I have received letters and petitions
from all sections of the state and from
men of all classes and conditions , and
I find that those who represent and
control the commercial , manufactur
ing , financial and industrial interests
of the state , and those of all classes
who have given the question close
study , are nearly unanimous in oppo
sition to this bill ; and , I believe , should
it become a law , it would be inimical
to all these interests. It would pre
vent capital from coming into the
state , not only for the construction of
railroads that are needed , but for many
other enterprises.
There are some provisions in the bill
that I admit would be of . .benefit to the
farmer ; for , instance , the rate on live
stock in the eastern part of the state ,
and which I would gladiy sanction and
approve.
\Vith the exception of the Union Pa
cific railway and two or three short
lines of road the entire railway system
is owned and controlled by corpora
tions that have lines betxveen Nebras
ka and Chicago , and which , under the
interstate commerce law , could in
crease the through rate on lumber ,
salt , coal and a few other commodities
coming into the state and on grain and
live stock and some other commodi
ties going out of the state ; and those
are the articles in which the farmer is
most directly interested.
In my judgment there is not a mile
of railroad west of the sixth principal
meridian , except the trunk lines , that
is paying its running expenses today.
The products of our state in some form
are almost entirely consumed in the
east and must be carried upon interstate - ,
state rates. These interstate rates upon
grain particularly are but very little
above the rates from Iowa points.
These rates will not be reduced by this
proposed law , and may , and can , be
very materially advanced by the rail
road companies in self-defense and for
self-preservation ; in fact , they could be
advanced more than twenty per cent
under this bill.
The railroads could , and no doubt
would , raise the interstate rate on
grain. This could be done by abolish
ing the through rates and applying to
the state line rates the figures provided i
in this bill. On the grain that would j
be shipped out of Nebraska in one season - |
son the railroads in this way , under
the tariff , could increase their revenue
over a million dollars , all of which
would come out of the agriculturalist.
The loss to the railroads would be on
the thousands of other articles in which
the farmer is only indirectly interested.
Our state , to prosper and our farmers
to live , must on these out-bound ship
ments be placed as nearly as possible
on a p'arity with Iowa. In this the
railroads of late have done well by usi
-and it is not safe to force them to re
tract by unfair pressure on our part.
From the best evidence to be ob
tained it would seem that the prevail
ing impression that the railroads of
this state are making a high rate of
interest on watered stock , is a mistake.
It matters not what amounts are out
standing in stocks and bonds if the
railroads are not earning interest there-
on. Wiping out all questions of stocks
and bonds and admitting , as we must ,
that the railroads of this state cannot ,
with their buildings , shops , terminals ,
700 miles of side-track and equipment ,
Toe. duplicated at this time for less than
$25,000 per mile of main track , we are
confronted with the following facts :
The sworn statement im. the auditor's
ofllco shows that in 1888 the tv t profits
were about 4 3-10 per cent ; 1880 5j
per cent and In 1800 6 3-10 per cent.
This latter1 period covered an excep
tionally prosperous time , When the
heavy crop of 1889 was being trans
ported. Jt is apparent that under ex
isting conditions the freight earnings
of railroads this year , must be much
less than in 1890. It has been stated
to me on good authority , that upon
several of the railroads there is a decrease -
crease at this time of fully 40 percent
each month as compared with the cor
responding months of 1890.
lu view of such facts the proposed
reduction of 40 to 50 per cent in Ne
braska * rates could not , in any proba
bility , bo upheld in the courts. It is
unfair , unwise and suicidal on our part.
The railroads pay more than one-sev
enth of the taxes of this state. Justice
to the people's interest demands that
they should be encouraged and induced
to continue to help in the upbuilding
of our state.
The object of legislation should be
to do the greatest good to the greatest
number without inflicting hardship on
any , and while I attribute the best in
tentions and motives to the farmers
and 'supporters of this bill , yet I am
forced into the belief that the act was
passed without giving to the1 questions
involved therein that close and careful
consideration that their importance
demands.
It js true that the railroad corpora
tions have , in many instances , exacted
unjust tribute from the people. This
abuse of power should be corrected by
proper legislation. Hut legislation
should stop at the correction of tha
abuse ; it should not extend to the in-
llictlon of injustice on the corpora *
tions.
The enforcement of the provisions of
this bill would put a suden stop to all
projected railway enterprises and stag
nate our present active railroad indus-
fies and result in the discharge of
thousands who are now deriving sus
tenance from railway employment. Nor
will the evil end here. The railroads
will be obliged to reduce- the wages of
those remaining in their employ ; while
the thousands dismissed from , their ser
vice will be obliged to seek a liveli
hood in other lines of labor < and thus
overstock the labor supply , and disas
trous wage competition will be the
result.
I would gladly approve a bill fixing
a maximum rate on live stock , grain ,
lumber , coal and other commodities in
which the agriculturist is most di
rectly interested , as suggested in my
inaugural message ; but this bill re
duces and fixes an inflexible rate on
thousands of articles in which the
farmer is not interested , and by mak
ing an exceedingly low rate at points
on the western border of our state en
ables Colorado , Wyoming and south
ern Dakota to obtain a rate about 15
per cent below the present established
tariff rate , and profit at the expense of
the railroad interests of Nebraska.
Owing to the crop failure of last
year there will be but meagre ship
ments of agricultural or live stock
products from our state until after an
other cron shall have matured : and
hence the carrying trade witnin our
borders will be reduced to the mini
mum , and with such a condition con
fronting us. I deem it unwise , as well
as unjust , at the present time , to en
force such sweeping reductions as are
provided for in this bill.
I have been unable to obtain the
opinion of the attorney general as to
the constitutionality of this bill , but
have been advised by able and disin
terested counsel that many of its pro
visions are unconstitutional ; notably
the provision that compels railroad
companies to build tracks for the trans
ferring of freight from one road to an
other without compensation ; and that
which inflicts a penalty of three times
the amount of damages sustained be
sides a fine in addition thereto for the
violation of the act.
Under the provisions of the bill any
railroad company charging a higher
rate than that established in the bill
shall be fined for each offense not less
than § 500 and not more than $5,000.
There is also a provision by which the
railroad company may , on proper ap
plication to the supreme court , obtain
leave therefrom to apply to the board
of transportation for a raising of the
rates fixed in the bill ; Assuming an
instance wherein the rate fiixed for
a given commodity would be
unreasonably low , yet the railroads
would be obliged to transport such
commodity at the rate fixed in the act
until such time as redress might be ob
tained , and any infraction of the rate
as fixed would subject the railroads to
the penalty , although the rate might
be found , upon the hearing by the
board of transportation , to be wholly
unjust to the roads. In cases of this
kind the law would work an injury ,
for , as is well known , our supreme
court is overburdened and far behind
in its work , and redress , of necessity ,
would be long delayed.
I am advised , however , that this sec
tion makes no sufficient provisign to
give the supreme court jurisdiction of
the subject matter , or over the state
which id made defendant , and does not
provide a mode of procedure in that
court by which relief can be obtained
by the railroad in case of the unrea
sonableness of the rates.
I am well aware that my refusal to
sanction this bill will meet with the
disapproval of many. Dissatisfaction
may be expressed and harsh criticism
may follow. Be that as it may , I feel
that I have a plain duty to perform
a duty which I owe to the interests of
this great state , and whatever censure
or criticism may result this duty I
will perform in the consciousness that
I am acting for the best interests of
the people of the state of Nebraska. I
therefore withhold my approval of
this bill. JAMES E. Born ,
April 3 , 1891. Governor.
Lake and rail rates between the
Mississippi and the seaboard have
been agreed upon for the coming sea
son.
HIaliio and Canadian Reciprocity.
WASHINGTON. April 6. There is
great deal of misinformation current
concerning the position of Secretary
Blaine in the matter of Canadian re-
*
ciprocity. The presence here during
the past week of the Canadian minister
of fisheries , Mrl Tapper , and the an
nouncement that he is to return with
other Canadian ' ofllcials within a few
days lends additional interest to the
matter. A gentleman who is in a ppsi-
'tion to speak for the secretary of state
says : "Mr. Blaine is not opposed to
Canadian reciprocity but he is opposed
to the brand of the article which seems
to be favored by the MacDonald gov
ernment. Sir John has discovered that
the sentiment in the Dominion is grow
ing rapidly in the direction of closer
commercial relations with the United
States. In order to make a show of
complying with the popular -sedti-
ment he proposes that there shall be
reciprocity between the two countries
in all natural products. He , in other
words , wants the United States to
-idmit free of duty all Canadian farm ,
dairy and mine products , all timber
bnd lumber of every description , and
in return is willing to give similar ad
vantages to the United States in the
markets of Canada. But he will make
no concessions in the matter cf Ameri
can machinery and manufactures. Mr.
Blaine , after looking the situation over ,
finds that the result of such a recipro
cal ( ? ) arrangemens would be simply
to put the Canadian farmer on an equal
footing with his American neighbor in
all our commercial cities without giv
ing Americans anything in the way of
compension. He says to the Canadian
authorities , ' 'this will not suit us at
all ; when you are ready to give quid
pro quo we will negotiate. " But the
United States is not anxious to enter
into a one sided arrangement. If Mr.
Tupper is ready to negotiate upon a
fair basis Mr. Blaine will meet him
half way , otherwise there will be no
Canadian treaty this year.
Kudlni Cooling ; On"
NEW YOKK , April 6. The Mail and
Express has a cable from Rome on the
present situation. A mutual friend of
the correspondent and Premier Rudini
obtained a statement from Rudini.
The -premier said he had none but the
most friendly sentiments towards the
United States government. These had
not really been disturbed by the action
which he felt called upon to take as
representative of the Italian people
upon being officially made acquainted
with the New Orleans affair and the
position which Blaine was obliged to
take in the matter. He had no inten
tions of pushing any demands and was
content with having taken one posi
tive step as a protest against what he
was led to believe at the time was neg
lect on the part of the United States
to protect the lives of Italian citizens
in America under the provisions of the
treaty. He expressed himself as aware
that to do anything more at this junc
ture would be a grave error on his
part as he has perfect confidence in
the sincerity and justice of the United
States.
Newspaper ITIeu Will Have a Chance.
WASHINGTON , April 26. When Pres
ident Harrison at first determined to
make the proposed western trip it was
decided that the only newspaper rep
resentatives who should be permitted
to accompany the party would be at
taches of the press associations. But
the pressure from leading newspapers
in all sections of the country has been
so great that the president has decided
that if the railroads "care to attach an
extra car to the presidential train he
will interpose no objection. It is prob
able , that a carload of Washington
correspondents will be taken out on the
trip , and the result will be that the
eastern papers will be fully advised of
all the movements of the distinguished
voyagers much better than they other
wise could be. Western papers will
not be behind their eastern contem
poraries. It is expected now that the
newspaper contingent will add about
twenty-five to the original party.
Wyoming Mockmeii to JTIcet.
CHEYENNE , Wyo. , April 6. The an
nual meeting of the Wyoming stock
growers' association will be held here
to-day , and that of the state live stock
commissioners Tuesday. The chief
business of the meetings will be to ar
range the round-up districts for the
season and appoint round-up foremen.
A number of stockmen from all parts
of the state are here. Reports from
them are that stock generally in Wy
oming has wintered well , the only dis
trict suffering losses being in the Platte
valley near Casper and Fort Fetterman.
A very hopeful feeling for the business
of the year isfheld by the stockmen.
Indian * Tnminsj Farmers.
CHAMBERLAIN , S. D. , April G. Spe
cial Agent Abbott of the interior de
partment is at Crow Creek agency ,
where he will today begin making al
lotments of land in severally to the
Sioux Indians belonging there. It is
generally understood that an unusually
large number of the Indians are anx
ious to receive , their allotments and
begin farming. When thef special
agent completes his work at Crow
Creek he will proceed to Lower Brule
agency , where a still larger number of
Sioux are waiting to receive their al
lotments.
NICWS NOTKS.
Mrs. Helen Fields of Wichita. Kas. .
claims that her baby , which has just
died , was born of the Holy Ghost. She
is a Spiritualist , and has figured in a
sensational case before.
Israel Bowen. aged 76. decapitated
D. Vance , aged 20 , with an axe at
Farmersville , Tex.
The public debt- statement and the
treasury recapitulation show some
variation in figures.
Count Leweohaupt of Sweden and
Miss Ellen Bayard , daughter of ex-
Secretary Bayard , were married.
THE ITALIAN IS HOT.
IN VIGOROUS
News of sudden Recall' ' of Baron
Fava Arouse * the Wrath or a New
York Italian Editor An Open Rup
ture of Diplomatic Relations Be
tween Italy and America German
Press Opinions How About a Nnvy
to Cope With that ofltaly An Inter
view With Secretary of War Proctor.
A New York Italian Paper on the Re
call of Baron Fava.
NEW Yoittc , April 2. The news of
the sudden recall of Uaron Fava , the
Italian minister at Washington , cre
ated much excitement among the Ital
ian residents of this city. Dispatches
from Washington to the newspaper
El Progresso Italo-Americano. received
from private sources , indicated the
gravity of the situation. Baron Fava ,
according to these dispatches , will
leave Washington at once for home.
The baron will leave his secretary to
gather up his belongings and follow
him later.
Dr. Roversi , chief editor of El Pro
gresso , said to-night that the situation
was very grave. El Progresso will say
to-morrow : "The recall of Baron Fava
is certainly one of the most serious and
solemn steps which could kave been
taken by the government in the pres
ent circumstances , against America ,
which has for so many years been a
friendly nation. Yet we dp not won
der at the action for it is but the nat
ural consequence of the opprobious
manner in which the state of Louisiana
answered Secretary Blaine ; of the
weakness of the supreme federal au
thority in the face of the arrogant
bearing of Governor Nichols ; of the
incredible immunity given the lynchers
and the instigators of the
which followed Italy's demand for sat
isfaction. It i is a comedy in which
the ridiculous and ferocious are com
bined , in which the rope of the lynch
ers is intertwined with the rattle of the
buffoon , in which the sorrow displayed
on the face is veiled by a derisive wink
of the eye. but it is nevertheless a mel
ancholy comedy a comedy of cowards
and rogues , which civilzed Europe will
hardly believe true , and which would
dishonor ( we will not say the country
of George Washington ) the absolute
monarchy of the czar and the least of
the ignoble little Spanish republics of
Central America. The assassination
is defended , approved , glorified , even
by conspirators , newspapers , magis
trates and priests , publicly and barefacedly -
facedly lauded , without a word of pro
test or a shade of shame. Not one of
the assassins has been arrested. The
statements of Parkinson. Wyckliffe and
other brutes are published everywhere ,
scorning the dead and deriding the
living. Meanwhile the senators of the
southern keepers of slaves approve the
tragedy and deny to Italy any and ev
ery satisfaction. Wo foresee the an
swer. The federal government has its
hands bound by the sell-government of
the states , and with every good will on
its side is compelled to await the con
venience of Louisiana. We therefore
declare that the constitution of the
United States is so ridiculous as to ac
cord to the central power at Wash
ington authority and facilities to
make treaties , without , in case
of their violation by a single
state , having the force to compel this
state to maintain its obligation , that
the constitution of the United States
sets traps into which European powers
may fall and promise what it cannot
fulfill that a miserable cur like Gov
ernor Nichols should render the words
of the president of the republic of no
avail. The Italian government ac
knowledges only the United States gov
ernment and not the states , and holds
the United States responsible. The
Italian government after three weeks
of energetic endeavor sees the guilty
still unpunished ; the question of in
demnity , passed over in silence ; no
promises given ; recalls its minister as
a mark of its dissatisfaction. Italy has
done its duty and the colony has cor
dially approved , and we hope and be
lieve that it has measured and weighted
the consequences o.f the act which is
an open rupture of the diplomatic re
lations between Italy and America and
the first step towards an armed de !
monstration. " J
|
German Press Opinion.
!
ROME , April 2. The general opinion
[
ion here is that no serious complica J
tion will grow out of the Fava incident. i
The National Zeitung says : "Even
if the. lynched men were American cit
izens , which is in nowise proven , the
tone of the American press leaves no
doubt that Italy is justified in her anx
iety for the welfare of her subjects in
America. "
The Vossiche Zeitung calls Mr.
Blaine a diplomatic brawler , quite
capable of conjuring up war with any
European power.
The Tageblatt thinks the matter not
serious. It is convinced that Mr.
Blaiae , "the personification of Yankee
haughtiness. " has not kept within the
limits of international courtesy.
No Navy to Fisht With.
WASHINGTON , April 2. Army and
navy officers have been talking a good
deal about the action of the govern
ment. They did not apprehend war ,
but nevertheless the chances'of an un
favorable turn in the negotiations
which might lead to the uninvited ap
pearance of the Italian fleet in our
harbors was not lost sight of.
Commodore Ramsey , in charge of
the navigation bureau of the navy , was
asked what was the condition of our
naval defense. Said he :
How many battleships do- you sup
pose we have ? Just one , the double
terretted monitor Maintonomah , now
at the New York navy yardr and- she is
not completed. However , by pressing
/orward wo might finish her in a
month. Wo are building two battle
ships , but many months will be required
in which to complete thorn und many
more to arm and plate the MI with arm
or. It is idle to talk of building a
navy in a few months. Our new cruis
ers , about a dozen in number , would
be of service and would bo fought for
all they are worth , but they were never
intended to stand before armored bat
tle ships , or anything else than'such
unarmored vessels as their own class.
They would , however , bo useful to de
stroy lines of water communication by
which foreign naval forces on our
coast must receive their coal and sup
plies. "
In conclusion Commodore Ramsey
said that he did not feel that New
York was in imminent danger , even in
the event of war.
Adjutant General Kelton of the
United States army scouted the idea
of war ensuing from yesterday's events.
He did not hesitate to say that New
York would be safe in any event. A
hostile fleet could not lie within twen
ty miles of New York , and as for the
land forces of the United States , the
general was confident that they could
be depended on to prevent any hostile
army or naval-force from setting foot
on American soil.
Secretary Proctor Interviewed.
YUMA , Ariz. , April 2. Secretary of
War Proctor and party arrived hero-
yesterday. In an interview with an
Associated press reporter in regard to
the Italian complications he said : lam
scarcely prepared to express an opin
ion , but know that our citizens abroad
will be protected and that the course of
our government in this matter will be
such as to meet with the approval of
the American people. If the reports
on the Italian question are confirmed
I will return east immediately after
reaching San Francisco. "
Italy Gels on Her Inr.
WASHINGTON , April 1. With an
official note , dated yesterday. Baron
Fava , Italian minister , has declared to
the secretary of state that the United
States government , not having given
assurances that the murderers of Ital
ian subjects acquitted by American
magistrates and murdered in prison
while under the immediate protection
of the authorities of New Orleans
would be brought to justice , the Italian
government has found itself under the
very painful necessity of showing open
ly its dissatisfaction by recalling the
minister of his majesty from the coun
try where an Italian representative is
unable to obtain justice.
The baron will soon leave the United
States , leaving the secretary of the
legation in charge of only current
affairs.
This action by the Italian govern
ment caused the deepest surprise in
official circles here when the fact be
came known. It has been generally
supposed that the Italian government
would at least await the action of the
New Orleans grand jury , which is
charged with an investigation of the
bloody episode at the New Orleans jail.
It appears , however , that the informa
tion received from its representatives
must have led the government to the
conclusion that the grand jury investi
gation would fail to result in the pun
ishment or even indictment of any per
sons connected with the killing of the
Italians. The letter of Governor
Nichols , in reply to Secretary Blaine ,
was also , he thought , regarded as
evasive of the real point at issue re
paration for the alleged wrong and
the governor's assurances that further
bloodshed would not be allowed , unac
companied by any excuse for the fail
ure of the state or municipal authori
ties to take precautions to prevent the
killing , was , it is said , regarded by the
Italian government with extreme dis
satisfaction. It appeared that the
United States government had ex
hausted its resources. The relations
between the national government and
the governments of the states were so
fixed by the American constitution that
when the Italian minister , obeying the
commands of his government , sought
for some assurance that the persons
concerned in the killing of its subjects
would be punished , it was not possible
for the general government to give any
definite assurance of the kind. It could
and did point tothefactthat the grand
jury was the American provision for
calling before the bar of justice persons -
sons who had violated the law of the
land. But this particular grand jury
was called together under the laws of
the sovereign state of Louisiana , and
whether or not it would punish , ac
cording to the Italian idea of justice.
was somethingno national official from
the president down could agree upon , i
and the Italian government was not
satisfied with such views. With the
relations between the state and nation
al governments and the peculiarities j
of our constitutional system of govern i
ment it had nothing to do. But it was
necessary , according to its views , that
Italian citizens in foreign countries
should be accredited the full measure
of protection fixed by the laws of
these countries. Here was a case j
where , according to the statement of
the minister , Italian subjects had been |
arrested on a charge of crime and acquitted - |
quitted by an American jury accordj j
ing to the forms of American law. j
The Italian government could not go 1
behind the verdict of an American '
court and notwithstanding it was stat
ed in some quarters that the men were
realjy guilty of a foul assassination
and had been acquitted by means of
bribery , in the eyes of the Italian gov
ernment they were innocent Italian
subjects. In their violent killing the
Italian people had been outraged and
insulted. The national government
of the United States had , as stated ,
failed to give any definite assurance
that reparation would be made. There
was but one course , and that was that
taken today , when the Italian govern-
raont notified Secretary Blaine that ho
had been recalled because his govern
ment was dissatisfied with the nogotia'-
tions.
There was a commotion among the
state department ofllcials when the
fact became known that Baron Fava
had been recalled. They did not
know it officially save the secretary
before the close of ofllco hours , for
the secretary was confined to his homo
again by a recurrence of his old mal
ady the gout.
The secretary managed to got into
a carriage at 4 p. m. and drove to the
white house , where he told the presi
dent all that had occurred and dis
cussed future prospects , remaining an
hour , then returned homo and was not
accessible.
SENATOU MANDEUSON'S VIEWS.
Senator Manderson , recently chosen
to succeed Ingalls as president pro
tempore of the senate , and an active
member of the committee on military
affairs , had retired when a correspon
dent called at his residence.
"War. war and rumors of war , " ho
said , rubbing his eyes. "To mo there
is much that is ridiculous in this talk
about a war with Italy growing out of
the recall of the Italian minister. It
must be remembered that these things
are liable to occur at any time , and it
is merely a coincidence that this recall
came so shortly after the Now Orleans
difficulty. I grant you. " said the ten-
ator. "that Baron Fava's action in this
matter may have been unsatisfactory
to his government and one of the re
mote causes for his recall. This is
only a mere surmise , however. What
ever the causes are I am confidentthat
there are personal matters between
Baron Fava and his government. The
Italian government has never by a
single act shown that it has regarded
it in any way incumbent upon it to
take up the New Orleams matter.
Outside of the formal correspondence
that passed between the minister
hero and the New Orleans authori
ties in this matter the minister may
have been acting on his own personal
responsibility without any instructions
from abroad. Inasmuch as the Italian
government has never shown any in *
terest in anv other way , why not pre
sume that they were displeased that
Baron Fava took any steps whatever
toward recognizing the claims of these
New Orleans prisoners upon the pro
tection of their native country. I do
not put this forward aa my own con
struction on the matter , but it is just
as fair to presume this , and a great
deal more reasonable than to suppose
that Italy would go to war without at
first making a formal demand on the
United States government for repara
tion.
"In case of a war with Italy it is
hardly likely that a strong interna
tional force would be required , for the
fighting would be carried on on the
sea coast and the seas and in the har
bors of the United States coast. Wo
have at present 1,000,000 militiamen
armed and equipped and in position to
be put in the field in a day's notice.
There is no denying the fact.- however , .
that our navy support would be at first
comparatively weak , but we would
grow to it in a short time. "
President Harrison's Trip.
WASHINGTON , April 4. President
Harrison's trip to the Pacific coast has
been finally arranged and the route
marked out definitely. The departure
will occur on the 14th inst. New Or
leans , which was originally in the
"itinerary circuit , " has been omitted
from the schedule for reasons satisfac
tory to those having charge of the ar
rangements. The trip to San Francisco
is expected to occupy ten days. Thence
the presidential party will proceed
northward , taking in Portland. Seattle.
etc. , and then coming eastward the
party will visit Salt Lake City , Denver ,
Omaha and other cities. It is under
stood that the number of persons to
accompany the official party will be
limited to ten , including the represen
tatives of the Associated press and
Press News association.
Indignant Italians.
SAN FKANCISCO , April 6. The Ital
ian Colony is very indignant over an
article which appeared in a morning
paper. The article states that Italian
fishermen , in direct violation of the
law , were shooting and killing seals
on Seal Rock , and continues as follows :
"For years Italian fishermen have en
deavored to cause the destruction of
seals , pleading that they destroyed
vast quantities of fish. The people of
the state , however , declined to exter
minate the denizens of the seal rocks.
That they failed to sympathize with
the fishermen was due to a popular
impression that the sons of Italy had
practiced a trick of dropping fishover-
board to keep up the price and were
not in favor of cheap fish , but wanted
high prices and easy work with their
nets.
Sensational
CHICAGO. April 2. Charges of a
highly sensational character are made
in a suit for $1 , 000 , 000 damages began
in the circuit court here. The plaintiff
is Eugene Duanivan formerly a news
boy , who claims that his life has been
wrecked as the result of a conspiracy'
between Orrin W. Potter , the million
aire president of the Illinois steel com
pany. and Tom Fox. James Hutchins
and Frank Alien , who are also made
defendants. It is alleged that a deep
plot was laid by Potter to break up an
acquaintance between his daughter and.
Dunnivant. and with this end in view
plaintiff claims he has been innocently
made to serve four years in- the peni
tentiary. The charge is-also made that
the then editor of a newspaper in Chicago
cage suppressed the boy's story on re
ceiving $15.000 from Potter. A New
York paper procured and published the
story , which created a decided sensa
tion at the time.
Steerage rates from Germany to-
America have been raised f 2J > 0.