* * *
Nebraska
\
Legisiature |
The Groves anti-treat bill was killed
When on passage vote by 49 to 44.
The senate in committee of the
"whole Friday approved a bill to im
pose an annual occupation tax iipon
corporations for the benefit of the
state , killed Howell's Krug park bill , or
the so-called poor man's club bill.
If the legislature parses the King
bill , which imposes an annual occupa
tion tax upon corporations , additional
revenue amounting to about $300,000
will be paid to the state every year.
Th < - .senate in committee of the whole
recommended the bill after consider
able discussion. A similar bill has
been before recent pensions of the legis
lature. It provides for the payment of
an annual fee based upon capital
stock , the fee ranging from $5 to $200
a. year. As amended by the introducer
it excepts banks and building and loan
associations and insurance companies
that now pay an annual tax upon cap
ital stock or gross receipts.
Among the bills placed on the gen
eral file Friday was one by Ollis of
Valley , a measure-intended to prevent
any person from collecting or demand
ing any portion of the salary of an
appointive officer , either state , county
or city , for the use of any person or
organisation as condition of appoint
ment or tenure of office. It is to pre
vent campaign committees from asking
downtrodden employes who have
whooped it up during the campaign
to pay 2 per cent of their salary for
the support of a political party organ
ization.
Jerry Howard's woman suffrage con
stitutional amendment , was also
placed on the general file. The senate
has already killed one of its own bills
of the same character and also a bill
for municipal suffrage.
Clark succeeded Friday in getting
his bill authorizing the state board to
Invest the permanent school funds in
municipal bonds as well as county ,
state and government bonds. This bill
was introduced at the request of the
stale treasurer who has about $200,000
which he has not been able to invest
to advantage because of the restric
tions. The committee of the whole ad
vanced the bill and recommended it
without much discussion.
Seven of the counties in northwest
ern Nebraska are demanding the pass
age of the Chase normal school bill
now before the legislature. The bill
provides for the establishment of a
new normal school and the appropria
tion of $25,000 for this purpose. It
leaves the matter of exact location to
the state board of education or any
Dther properly constituted body.
In opposition to the Chase bill is a
measure by Harrington , of Brown
Bounty , providing for an appropriation
Df § 35,000 and the location of the nor-
n.al at Ainworth , the home town of
Mr. Harrington. Still another is the
Henry bill , contemplating two schools
and the purchase of the old college
building at Wayne to be used as one ,
the appropriation be'ing $100,000.
The initiative and referendum , a
platform pledge of the democratic par
ty , was defeated in the state senate
Wednesday after an exciting debate.
The discussion teemed with personal
ities. The bill , introduced by Senator
Donohoe , was defeated by a vote of
1C to 17. Senator Wiltse , of Cedar , a
republican , voted for the bill. Four
of his republican colleagues voted
with him.
In the house Wednesday the stock
yards company of South Omaha was
included in the physical valuation bill.
In the senate this corporation was
eliminated.
The senate approved the building of
"precinct railroad. " Senator Gammill
is the author of the bill , and the rail
road is to be thirty-four miles in
length and to extend from Curtis to
Cambridge. Land owners in the pre
cinct through which the road is to run
are pushing the project. The line is
to connect the main line of the Bur
lington with a branch line of the same
road.
The house Tuesday passed the bank
guaranty bill. The vote stood 72 to 23.
Seven republicans voted for the meas
ure , while twenty-three oppossd it.
The house Tuesday killed ex-Speak
er Xolton's bill which makes notes for
fire insurance premiums
non-negotia
ble. A powerful lobby composed of
insurance men fought the bill.
Senator Miller's county option bill
was defeated in the senate Tuesday by
a vote of 1G to 11. Fully a thousand
people listened to the debate. The
members voted as follows :
For County Option Brown , Bodin-
son , Cain , Cox , Donohoe , Gammill ,
King , Majors , Miller. Ollis , Randall ,
Rayniond , Warren , Wiltse , Hatfield ,
Opposed to County Option Ban
ning , Bartos , Besse , Buck , Bahrman ,
Diers , Fuller , Henry , Howell , Ketch-
urn , Klein , Laverty , Ransom , Tanner ,
Tibbcts , Thompson , Volpp 17.
Clark , of Richardson county , chair
man of the finance committee of the
house , earned his salary Tuesday by
defending the current expense appro"-
priation bill , but so well did he do his
work that the house was able only to
secure two amendments , cutting out
the $1,440 item for legislature jani
tors and reducing the $4,000 appropri
ation for a boiler at the Norfolk a v-
lum to $2,000.
The big debate came over the ap
propriation of $100,000 for the pur
chase of ground and permanent im
provements at the state university
during which Taylor of Custer took
the members over the coals for saying
they favored educational
appropria
tions , when they had cut down a re
quest from the west portion of the
state , which would have been for the
benefit of 15,000 school children.
Kelley and Kraus
objected to sev
eral items in the appropriation for the
Norfolk asylum , while Pool secured
the adoption of an amendment , cut
ting out $1,440 for extra janitors for
the next legislature.
The Gates bill , repealing the law
prohibiting the operation of a saloon
within two and a half miles of Fort
Creek , was passed by the senate in
committee of the whole Tuesday morn
ing after a debate continuing nearly
the entire morning. Nineteen senators
voted for the bill on viva voce vote
no roll call being taken.
Efforts were made by Senator Ran
som to amend the bill to include provi
sions amending the Slocumb law to
permit boards of Ore and police com
missioners to sit for sixty days before
the beginning of the municipal year to
grant licenses , and also to make the
petition of an applicant for a saloon
license prima facie evidence that the
signers were freeholders. This changed
the procedure in granting licenses and
was so strongly opposed that Senator
Ransom finally gave up and all amend-
n nts to the Gates bill were voted
down and it was agreed to exactly as
it came from the house.
Senators Wiltse of Cedar , King of
Polk , and Randall of Madison , led in
opposing the measure while the three
Douglas county senators championed
it , assisted by Senator Laverty.
A letter from Col. Gardner was read
favoring the bill. He said the author
ities of Crook City have agreed not to
permit more than two saloons , both
under one management and these not
to run Sundays after 10 o'clock at
night. Objection to the bill was on
the scale it would permit dives in
Crook City running practically without
police protection.
In the letter of Col. Gardner he said
f. per cent of the soldiers at Fort
Crook were not amenable to discipline
and were constantly making trouble
by leaving the fort for Omaha when
on leave and by staying away made it
necessary to punish them for disobey
ing orders. He thought with saloons
nearer the fort this condition would
not exist.
Senator Randall read a letter from
Judge Advocate General Geo. B. Da
vis , of Washington , in which he said
he would be sorry to see the repeal of
the law prohibiting thesale of liquor
near the Nebraska army posts.
The bill authorizing state university
professors to accept the Carnegie pen
sion fund was killed in the house Fri
day by a vote of 51 to 47. W. J. Bry
an appeared before the house com
mittee several weeks ago and fought
the Carnegie pension plan. He de
nounced the idea and challenged the
good faith of the three university pro
fessors who supported it. Knowing
that Bryan would soon return to the
city , the professors had the bill hur
ried to a vote and were defeated. The
bill passed the senate with few dis
senting votes.
The senate Friday killed the Myi
resolution calling for an investigate r
if the banking career of Gov. Shallep-
berger.
The senate passed a bill to alh.w
pivcinct assessors to be elected instead
of appointed by the county assessors
The senaie coirnnlttee Friday
amended the bank guarantee bill so
that bankers are required to pay one-
quarter of 1 per cent into the guar
antee fund instead of one-half of 1
per cent.
Conolly , of Douglas. Friday aftc-r-
noon introduced a resolution in t1i *
house to investigate the South Omaha-
packers. He is particularly anxious
about an alleged agreement in prices.
Thiessi-n. a republican , created a sen
sation by introducing a resolution con
demning ex-Congressman E. M. Pol
lard for voting for the ship subsidy.
The Wilson bill to alldw the impor
tation of Kansas oil at a rate of not
more than 3 cents a gallon for trans
portation was passed by the house.
In the senate the Douglas county
Sunday baseball bill was defeated.
"Pa" Rourke has been in Lincoln for
several days , but his efforts met with
defeat.
A violent attack on the banking
record of Gov. Sheldon was made in i
the1 senate Thursday afternoon. j
Unless Gov. Shallenbergor vetoes j
the Gates bill Fort Crook will be per
mitted to have saloons.
After a prolonged contest the house
committee Thursda'y amended the Lin
coln charter so that it must be ratified j
by the people. The document embodies - }
ies the Des Moines plan , but its chainI I
pions wanted it to bo effective as soon !
as approved by the legislature. |
Lieut. Gov. Hopewell cast his first I
vote in the senate. A bill for the elec- ;
lion of county commissioners by districts - j
tricts had been defeated by the senate I
on its passage and later recalled from !
the house. Bartos moved a reconsideration - !
'
eration of the vote whereby the bill
had been defeated. The result was a
tie in the senate , 14 to 14 , and the
lieutenant governor decided the tie '
by voting for reconsideration. The
bill was then placed on the general
tile. j
A bill permitting the state board of ,
educational lands and funds to use the .
-tate school funds for the purchase of
irrigation district bonds and municipal - j
pal bonds was called up for reconsider- ;
ation. The senate reconsidered the
bill for the purpose of striking out that
portion permitting the purchase of
irrigation bonds. No action on the
measure was taken.
The committee of the whole ap
proved a bill providing for the raising
> f a fund to pension teachers in the
Dmaha schools , the teachers to con-
: ribute a percentage of their salaries
to the fund , also a bill permitting the
rating of bonds in aid of railroads that
jse electricity or gasoline for motive
power.
The Gates bill appropriating $5,000
"or the fish hatchery at South Bender
: or special improvements was passed
ifter a vigorous attack had been made
) n it by Kelley. Heffernan waked up
o defend the bill and was aided by
S'oyes of Cass. Kelly charged that
sToyes as a republican wanted to run
he democrats into debt , and dramatic-
illy warned his colleagues against this
nsidious activity of the opposition.
Most of the democrats refused to be
varned and allowed the bill.
A motion was made to include the
leficiency of $60,000 for claims for
volf bounties in deficiency appropria-
ion bill. This claim has been growing
'or four years and no appropriation
las been made since then.
The legislature attempted to appro
bate $57,000 two years ago , but the
rovernor vetoed the items. Bygland
ried to get the law repealed which
illows wolf bounties , and failed ,
lence the attempt to get the item in-
: luded. Several members from the
lounties where wolves abound spoke
or the appropriation. It was voted
hat the sense of the house is that all
ust debts of the state should be paid ,
.nd the item was left for the deficien-
ies committee to deal with.
Henry's bill for two normal schools
ne of which was to be located in the
lixth district , and appropriating $125-
00 for the purpose was killed in com-
nittee of the whole and emphasized
a the house by a vote of 52 to 28.
Judge Anderson Decides That Evi
dence Against Standard Com
pany Is Insufficient.
ORDERS "HOT GUILTY" VERDICT.
Decides Nearly All Technical Points
Against Prosecution Govern
ment Gives Up Pight.
The famous $29,2-10,000 rebate case
against the Standard Oil Company
! was ended Wednesday. Government
attorneys abandoned the prosecution ,
declaring that under the court's rul
ings they could not ecmtimie the case
against the corporation. By the direc
tion of Judge Anderson the jury re
turned a verdict of. "not guilty. "
Judge Anderson rulud that the gov
ernment had not produced sufficient
evidence against the oil company to
establish the points upon which they
were basing the prosecution. In his
instruction to the jury the judge dwelt
on the theory that the government had
established no case against the oil
company.
This end of the famous case leaves
Judge K. M. Landis , who imposed the
snonnous fine on the corporation , alone
in his judicial attitude. His rulings
are discredited and his opinion in the
first trial was not taken into consider
ation.
Judge Anderson , who has thus set
at naught the rulings of Judge Luiulis ,
is a boon companion of the latter ju
rist. Both men are "Iloosiers , " com
ing from the same part of Indiana.
They wore boys together and through
out their lives their careers have run
parallel. As boys they frequented the
same "swinimin' hole , " and when they
grew to manhood both became lawyers
arid Republicans * * in politics and both
were made federal judges by ex-Presi-
deut Roosevelt. Their philosophies
have been much the same , and both
have been noted for their incisive
grasp of the cases on trial before
them.
Judge Laiidis brought John D. Rock
efeller to the bar of his court and
the witness chair. ,
Judge Anderson directed the dismis
sal of the case because there is "no
proof. " ne in instructing the jury to
return a verdict of not guilty , said
he dismissed the counts in the indict
ment covering the shipments from
Chappelle because there was a fatal
variance between the indictment and
the evidence.
The Elkins law , he said , provided
that offenses could be committed in
only two ways , oue way by violating
the law on shipments carried by a
common carrier over its own liue , and
the other by violating the law 011 ship
ments carried over its own and other
lines.
The indictment charged , he said ,
that the Chappelle shipments were
carried by the Alton road over its own
line , whereas the evidence showed that
they had been carried over its own
and other lines.
Judge Anderson , in the first ruling
.of the retrial , ordered that a new ven
ire he drawn when the Standard Oil
counsel raised objection to the first
panel because only three Chicagoans
were among the 150 summoned. He
then ruled that the government in pre
senting its case should confine itself
to only thirty-six offenses , thus mak
ing the highest possible fine against
the oil company , should it be found
guilty on every count , but $720,000 ,
while Judge Laudis assessed the com
pany a $29,240,000 fine.
"HIGHEST" BABY IS LOSER.
Aunt Gets tarffCNt Part of Fortune
John Nicholas Brotvn Expected.
John Nicholas Brown , dubbed by the
Newport , R. I. , populace the "millionaire
kid , " has been somewhat dcmillionizcd by
a new will. The $30,000,000 which it
was expected would come to the 10-year-
old lad when Mrs. John Carter Bro\vn
died on Sunday , it now turns out will
go in large part to Mrs. William Watts
Sherman , one of the most beautiful wom
en in Newport. Mrs. Sherman is the
only living child of Mrs. Brown and is
the aunt o the "richest baby. " The Sher
mans have a beautiful cottage in New
port and a town house at SoS Fifth ave
nue , New York , in "millionaire row. "
NO COAL MINE STRIKE SOON.
Workers AVI11 > "ot Quit Until
Even i llefuseil Demand * .
It is said that even should the coal op
erators refuse to grant y of the an
thracite mine workers' demands there
will be no strike until next fall. Men
close to the union leaders say the miners
would not risk a strike at the threshold
of summer , especially inicw of the fact
that the operators have 1 0OOUOUO or
12,000,000 tons of coal ou hand. At the
national convention in January it was
generally understood to be the sense of
the scale committee. composed of the
twenty-five district prr.-Sdents. that there
should be no suspension of mining , such
as there was throe years ago , whether a
new agreement was reached or not.
Ends His liife l y
John Wilscheck committed suicide at
his home in Hastings , Minn. , by hanging.
The cause was impaired health. He was
a railroad man , aged 00 years , and is sur
vived by a widow , t'hrea daughters antf
five sons.
HAVE TEE LOCK TYPE OF CANAL , TO BE STJKE.
& ? W > x > A
Uncle Sam This is where I play even on that $180,000 it cost mete
to take my fleet through the Suez.
-Minneapolis Journal.
MISSOURI OUSTS STANDAKD OIL
Waters-Pierce Company Continues
to Do Business in State.
The motions by the Standard Oil
Company of Indiana and the Republic
Oil Company of Ohio for a rehearing
of the ouster suit recently decided
against them , and for a modification
of the judgment , were overuled by the
Missouri Supreme Court Tuesdaj * .
Upon payment of the assessed fine
( he motion of the Attorney General
for an absolute ouster of the Missouri
company was denied , the compliance
xvith the court order recently filed by
ttie company was approved and the
Judgment of ouster against it was sus-
; rtrnded.
The effect of these decisions is to
orpel the Indiana and Ohio companies
from Missouri and to restore to the
Waters-Pierce Company , GO per cent
of whose stock is held by the Stand
ard Oil Company of New Jersey , the
right to do business within the State.
The decision is considered a great
victory for the Waters-Pierce Com
pany and incidentally for the minority
interests of that concern who claim
to have been making unavailing ef
forts to free the company from con
trol by the New Jersey corporation.
With this object in view they declined
to approve the proposition made by
the Standard Oil Company of Indiana
that that company be allowed to con
tinue business in the State under a
trusteeship composed of representa
tives of the court and the company.
This proposition excited the liveli
est interest in that it would have
given to the State a measure of di
rect control of a corporation's affairs ,
had it been adopted by the courl. But
it was ignored in the announcement
by the chief justice.
With the judgment of ouster made
absolute against the Standard Oil
Company of Indiana and the Repub
lic Oil Company , these concerns must
now pay their fines of $30,000 each
and cease business in the State. The
$50,000 assessed against the Waters-
Pierce Company has been paid.
LIBERTY BELL CRACK GROWS.
Sudden Jolt May Rend Relic of the
Revolution in Two.
The discovery that the crack in the
Liberty Bell has extended seventeen
inches beyond its original length caus
ed the starting of another movement to
prevent the proposed trip of the old
relic to the Pacific coast.
The second crack , which is scarcely
perceptible , extends almost to the top
of the bell , and any sudden jolt may
cause the bell to split in halves. Ac
cording to those who have charge of
the bell , every trip taken by the relic
has caused a slight increase in the
original crack.
GIRL VICTIM OF POISONER.
Unknown Asxailant Entered
Knnm and Gave Fatal Dose.
One of the most mysterious tragedies
ever enacted in Arkansas came to light
the ether day when Dr. Williab Krause ,
a Memphis expert , received for examina
tion the viscera of Miss Sffie Kitchens ,
daughter of James Kitchens , a wealthy
farmer living at Lewisville , Ark. Miss
Kitchens died shortly after she had been
discovered by her mother in a dying con-
aitiou. Before death the girl told an in
coherent story about an assailant enter
ing her room during the night , adminis-
rering poison to her and then escaping
through the window of her room. Two
persons are under suspicion and they are
being kept under close surveillance.
KANSAS CIGARETTE LID IS ON.
Carrie Nation' * Dream of Smokeless ,
DrinklcM.t State Coming : True.
The Kansas anti-cigarette law went in
to effect recently on its publication and
not a cigarette paper can be found on
sale in Topeka. Local dealers were un
prepared , for they had understood that
the law would not go into effect until
May. One dealer had just unpacked a
$500 order. Stocks are being repacked
for shipment to the factory.
TEXAS NEGRO BURNED AT STAKE
Admit * Attacking "Woman and Keep *
Xerve Desjiite the Flames.
After having been identified by Mre.
Arthur McKinney as the negro who tried
to attack her Friday rooming , Andrew
Ellis was taken from the IJockwell coun
ty jail in flockwall , Texas , tied to an
iron stake driven into tlie eirth and burn-
pl to death in the prcotiuo of about 1,000
persons. Earlier in the evening Will
Clark , a negro , was shot and killed when
his fath.-r. Andrew Clark , refused per
mission to a posse to search his premises
on the assumption that Ellis was con
cealed there. People were present from
othei towns to see the execution of El
lis. Ellis admitted his guilt , but refused
to make a statement or to leave farewell
messages for his relatives. He did not
utter a cry as the pile of cord wood ,
which had been saturated with kerosene ,
was set afire , nor did he show loss of
nerve as the flames cooked his flesh. He
was dead nine minutes after the torch
had been applied.
CLAIM CHICAGO LAND.
Liiytoii Family to Contest for
Tract in Heart of Windy City.
A claim will soon be made to eighty
acres of land in the heart of Chicago by
L. L. Layton and Mrs. Mary C. Di-
veanx of Beloit , Wi * . \ \ illiam D. Layton -
ton of Plattsworth , Neb. , G. W. Layton ,
Lake Geneva , Wis. , and Mrs. Earl S.
Ames of Monroe. These five brothers and
sisters claim that a large tract of
land just south of the Cook County
courthouse belonged to their father and
was never deeded away by him. They
profess to think the claim will hold good
and all of them met in an attorney's of
fice in Beloit recently to make arrange
ments to begin legal action at once to
recover possession of the property. The
claimants range in age from 50 to 70
years.
30 HURT IN CAR EXPLOSION.
Controller Box Blows Ont on Fay-
as-You-Enter Venicle.
The explosion of a controller box , on a
pay-as-you-enter car in St. Louis caused
a panic in which thirty passengers were
injured. The conductor deserted his
post. The doors at both ends of the car
failed to work and passengers were com
pelled to break glass from the windoms
to escape from gas fumes , flames and
smoke. Flames singed passengers' hair
and clothing and badly burned the car.
Cresceus , 2:02 % , started in a race at
Moscow , Russia , a few weeks ago and
finished "fourth , trotting a mile in 2:16.
Columbus has sold Shortstop J. E.
Raidy to the Grand Rapids club. He
will become manager of that team for the
1909 season.
Capt. Hamilton Fish , of Harvard , has
announced that Brown University will
take Carlisle's place on the Crimson foot
ball schedule this year.
Exports of American horses during the
six years ending June 30 , 190S , were val
ued at $21,000,000 , while imports for the
same period were valued at $10,000,000.
Stoney McGlynn will be with the Mil
waukee American Association base ball
club this season , Manager McCloskey
having closed a deal with the St. Louis
Nationals.
Iowa University overwhelmed Minnesota
seta in basket ball by score of 37 to
1C. The Hawkeye five played fast ball.
Capt. Perrine , of Iowa , was star , mak
ing 20 points for his team.
William Baird , formerly of the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania , holder of the
world's record for vaulting for distance ,
and intercollegiate champion in the pole
vault in 1903 , has been chosen to coach
the Hamline University track team this
season.
Although racing has been killed in
"Washington State , the Legislature intends
to give a brief respite to the turf element.
Following the attempt to have an emer
gency clause added to the anti-betting
bill , both House and Senate voted against
the amendment and it will be lawful to
bet on races until June 11.
I Work of Congress
9
Never has a Congress expired mort
peacefully than the Sixtieth Congress.
The Democratic filibuster against th
penal code bill in the Senate was drawn
to a close Wednesday by an Mgn'mint
eliminatiim from the measure the ob
jectionable features authorizing tii-us *
of troops at election places , : i : : l tha
measure was passed without ; i nially
changing the law now on the statute
books. The Bailey resolution dfrl.iringj
the right of the Senate to demand pa
pers and information from heads . .f de
partments was referred to the Commit
tee on the Judiciary after an animated
flebate , during which Senators I ) > lliver
and P.everidge made vigorous defense
af the President. The conference report
on the Igislative , executive and judicial
appropriation bill was agreed to. Th
conferees elimiuatrd all salary in
creases in dispute except that of th
salary of the President , which was
fixed at $73,000. A night session \va
held. On the eve of final adjotinr.uent
the House transacted its business with
a facility unusual for a dying Congress ,
although at times thr-re was muli con
fusion , which the Speaker had dillk-ult
in controlling. With scarcely any de
bate the conference reports on the mili
tary academy , legislative , executive and
judicial and penal code bill were agreed
to. The bill amending the copyright
laws of the United States in regard to
"canned music" was passed , as were-
also a large number of private bill * .
Having practically wound up the pres * -
'ng business , the House took a recess. .
The Sixtieth Congress came to av
end Thursday with the Representative-
and Senators sitting in.the . Senats
chamber , and Vice President Sherrna *
immediately had read to the assembled
legislators the proclamation of Presi
dent Taft calling an extra session of
! Congress to meet March lo. The Senate -
| ate was to meet at noon Friday to coa-
; sider the appointments of the new Pres-
, itlcnt , but the House will not meek
! again until March lo. The Seuate mot
t at 9:40 a. m. , but the proceedings were
confined to the most formal work , main
ly adoption of the complete report of
the conferees on the pension appropria-
i tion bill , the last of the great supply
measures , which the House also passed
within one hour of adjournment , and
the appointment of two or three com
missions in accordance with recent con
gressional enactments. The House re
ceded from the amendment to the ap
propriation bill consolidating in Wash
ington the eighteen agencies throughout
( he country and the agencies will be
continued as in the past. Vice Prcsl-
i dent Fairbanks delivered an address in
| the Senate in response to resolutions
i thanking him for his conduct of th
ollice. Utterly lacking in all stirring
incidents usually marking the closing
hour of a Congress , the House at
11 iSO1o'clock was declared by Speak
er Cannon to be adjourned without day.
Speaker Cannon received a unanimou *
vote of thanks , which he acknowledged
imid loud applause.
In its first regular sitting of the sea
Biou the Senate Friday received and
confirmed the nominations of President
Taft for the various cabinet position *
and also that of Huntlngton Wilson as
Assistant Secretary of State. In addi
tion , Senators Chamberlain o'f Oregon
and' Smith of Maryland were sworn in.
The session , both executive and legis
lative , consumed two and one-half
hours of time. The House was not in
session.
- : + - : -
The Senate , after confirming all tht
nominations sent to it by President
Taft , adjourned its extraordinary ses
sion Saturday sine die. The credontails
of Senator Stephenson of Wisconsin
failed to arrive in time to permit him
to bo sworn in. The last Wednesday
of April was suggested as the proper
date on which to inaugurate a Presi
dent , In a joint resolution introduced
by Senator Depew. The resolution was
in the form of an amendment to the
Constitution and provided that the Six
ty-second Congress and the term of the
i office of President and Vice President
shall continue until the last Wednesday
of April , 1913 , at noon. The resolution
was referred to the Committee on Priv
ileges and Elections. Before taking up
the nomination Senator Bailey made a
protest against stories which were-
printed concerning the executive ses
sion of Friday , when he suggested that
Charles Nagel of Missouri might b
ineligible for the office of Secretary ol
Commerce and Labor if he had been
interested as counsel in a suit against
the Waters-Pierce Oil Company , whiclj
litigation is still pending before a Federal - $
eral court. Mr. Bailey made an extend- \
ed. speech , criticising sharply the publi * ]
cation of alleged inaccurate stories ol °
executive sessions and lecturing per *
sons who may have given out informa
tion concerning the sessions. The rnafr
ter was referred to a committee of fiva.
INTERESTING NEWS ITEMS.
The Gast Thread Company's plant i *
Seneca Falls , N. T. , was destroyed b
fire. Loss , $90,000.
Committees of the chamber of com
merce and of the Legal Aid Society of
. Cleveland are at work on a system of'
courts for Ohio cities and have taken thi
Chicago Municipal Courts as a model. *
Thirteen persons were killed , several
seriously injured and much valuable propfc-
erty destroyed by a tornado which
across Lonoke , Prairie , Woodruff
Poinseti Counties , Arkansas.