The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, January 28, 1903, Image 1
, jta, - t , " ' Mir v ".a-" v. - ?- . - 'fe CfeC' ' N. 1 jranral " -V-J V 35' VOLUME XXXIII. NUMBER 43. COLUMBUS. NEBRASKA. WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 28. 1903. WHOLE NUMBER 1,707. - i m I mmaw r ff r d. I .-. c "- i - ff j ft :. . s . . - fe . - j T- z THE NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE A Synopsis off Proceedings in Both Branch off ths Twanty-Eighth General Assembly. SENATE. Roll call showed all present In the senate on the 19th when it reconvened from Friday's adjournment. President Harrison temporarily left the chair and offered the following' resolution: "Re solved. That the revenue committee for the senate be and is hereby directed to hold Itself in readiness to confer with and act In conjunction with any com talttes designated by the house f rep resentatives to act In a similar xapadty, to the end that such joint committee, so constituted, may without delay take under consideration all measures sub . Bitted to It by either house, looking to effective amendments to the present law, or the entire revision of our revenue system, and shall, after due delibera tion, promptly report to the respective branches of the legislature of which It Is a part, recommending for passage such tneasurs or measures as In its wisdom will bring about the desired result." The resolution went over one day. The chief clerk of the house brought a communis cation that the house had concurred with the senate in regard to printing the mes sages of the two governors. He brought with him H. Rs. Kos. S and 169. and these were read a first time. The sen ate went into executive session and con firmed the appointment of A. V. Cole as commander of the Grand Island Sol diers' home, appointed by the governor. 8. Fs. Kos. 51 to 56 were read a second time. The busiest day of the session was that ot the senate on the 20th. and several Important' measures were considered. An derson of Saline introduced a resolution to have a committee of three appointed to investigate and find the cause of the low per cent of state taxes collected by the county treasurer and to recommend a remedy for the evil. The Harrison res olution was brought up and passed after much debate. The resolution provided that the senate revenue committee hold Itself in readiness to confer with a com aaittee from the house on a revenue Measure. Sloan of Fillmore Introduced six bills providing for the lenthenlng of the terms of office of county officials to four years. Brown of Keya Paha wants to get rid of the prairie dogs in Nebraska and introduced a bill declaring them a nuKance. The bill provides that property wwners must kill off the prairie dogs ty the first of next November, and If they do not then it becomes the duty of the road overseer to do the work and for the service he is to be paid $5 per day. This money is charged against the property the same as taxes. The com mittee on medical societies reported fa vorably on S. F. 3 in regard to quarantine laws. A messenger from the house an nounced that M. R. 87 had passed that body. The committee on engrossing and enrolling reported that it had found S. F 1 correct after examination. S. F. 1. by Howell of Douglas, was read a third time and passed. The Torrens tax com mission report was received from the governor without recommendation. A large number of new bills were intro duced, after which the senate adjourned. In the senate on the 21st the normal school question was brought up early in the proceedings and occupied nearly the entire day. The particular bill was S. F. , to decrease the amount of money re quired to be invested in schools from JW.OW to 130.000. to give them the right of tate normal school in issuing teach ers' certificates. The debate was pre cipitated by -Sheldon of Cass moving to amend by striking out the amount. O'Neill favored the amendment because he said he believed it would benefit the western portion of the state. Wall. Brown and others from the west and northwest were against the amendment and it was lost. The original motion was then passed by the senate in commit tee of the whole and was so reported back to the senate. Committee on public lands and buildings reported favorably on S. F. 25, providing that the land com missioner charge fees for certain filings. The bill was amended to insert for re cording deeds and sales fees. The amend ment to S. F. 35. proposing to strike out the clause relating to the $50,000 Invest ment, was taken up and debated. The amendment was lost. The original bill then passed the committee and was re ported favorably to the senate. The cemmittee on accounts and expenditures reported H. R. 2, providing for the pay of members and employes. Among bills Introduced for the first time the follow ing are noted: To amend chapter Hi. entitled "Marriage." and to provide for ihe issuing of license for parties who desire to be married, and the evidence necessary for the issuing of the -same, and penalties for false swearing for the purpose of procuring a license and making the same perjury. To create the office of county assessor and for the tax ing and assessing all property of the state at a fair cash value and allowing each county to fix its own valuation. Private schools under the supervision of the state superintendent, that have an investment of $50,000. have the author ity to isue certificates to teachers the same as do the normal schools now. No. 35 was passed In the senate on the 22d, cutting down the amount of investment from $100,000. S. F. 3. relating to the powers of county boards of health, also pat-sed. Griffen of Dawson moved to sus pend the rules and pass the following resolution, which was done: Whereas. An investigation by the Irri gation experts of the United States De partment of Agriculture has been planned for the benefit of those using water from the Platte river in the three states through which the stream flows; and. Whereas. The said irrigation experts have made arrangements for carrying this work to completion, and. Whereas. We believe that the fund? ap propriated for this kind of work in former years have been repaid to the government and to the irrigators of the country many fold; therefore, be it Resolved. That we respectfully request and urge that when the agricultural ap propriation bill is under discussion on the floor of congress the recommendations of the secretary of agriculture and the di rector of the office of experiment stations relative to this investigation he thor oughly endorsed by the honorable repre sentsttves of the state of Nebraska In the senate and in the house of represent atives; and be it further Resolved. That the secretary of the senate be instructed to address forthwith a copy of this resolution to each mem ber of the Nebraska delegation In con-i gress. Governor Mickey, accompanied by War den Beemer and the committees on peni tentiary from both the house and the senate, visited the penitentiary. About sixty members of both houses ante tMsurr: t H. R. 87, substituted for S. F. 18. passed the senate on the 23rd. with all senators voting for the measure. This is the bill Introduced by Saunders of Douglas pro viding for postponing the date of the Omaha city election in order to allow him time to make the race for mayor of Omaha this spring. The senate passed the bill requiring that fees be paid the land commissioner for filing and making copies of certain papers and contracts. This Mil-la -along- the lines of the rec ommendations made by the land commis sioner. 11. R. 22, appropriating money with which to pay the expenses of the legislature, carried. The committee ton municipal affairs reported favorably on 8. P. 10. to legalize bond Issues of cities of the second class. A message was re ceived from the governor with a copy of the land leasing bill. The senate went Into committee of the whole to discuss general bills. B. F. 28. In regard to en tering delinquent taxes on tax receipts, was referred back to the committee to have It constructed along grammatical lines. The committee reported favorably on &, F. 27, to regulate fees paid by ap plicants for dental license. S. F. 10. to legalise bond Issues in cities of the sec ond class, was recommended to pass. The governors' message on the land leasing bill was referred to the committee oa live stock and grazing. HOUSE. Barely a quorum was present In the house when It was caled to order on the 19th. Douglas of Rock called up his resolution of Friday providing for the election by the house of a committee of seven to draft and Introduce'' a revenue bill within fifteen days. He amended it so as to give the speaker the power of appointing- this committee to act jointly with a like committee from the senate. Seventeen new bills were Intro duced and rolls from 125 to 145 read for the second time. Among bills introduced were the following: To repeal law providing- for sheriffs' fees in misdemeanor cases. For the third Tuesday In Jan uary for annual meeting of the State Horticultural society. To provide for the appointment of Judges and clerks of election by the county clerk. Instead of the district court. To establish an ex perimental station at or near North Platte and appropriate $10,000. The house on the 20th indefinitely post poned Koeteter's bill. H. R. 30. making It obligator for country school districts to maintain truant officers and optional with city districts. The bill was so rec ommended by the committee on public schools. The house asserted Its Independ ence of the senate in the matter of for mulating revenue legislation when on motion of Rouse of Hall It ordered plac ed on file the resolution of Senator Har rison that the senate authorize Its com mittee on revenue and taxation to hold itself in readiness to draft a revenue bill and report not later than February 6, acting jointly with the house. The motion also specified that the senate be notified that the house already had taken action to draft a revenue bill. It was carried. On motion of Gilbert of Douglas, his water works bill was pass ed, retaining Its place on general file, since a joint measure was going through the senate. H. R. No. 2. a bill by Good of Nemaiia to repeal the law requiring entrance examinations to normal schools, was taken up and the committee of the whole, on Good's motion, recommended the bill for passage. H. R. No. 46. by Frederick of Cass, was recommended for passage. The report of the committee of the whole was adopted by the house. New bills were introduced, among them the following: Declaring prairie dogs to be a nuisance, and to provide for their destruction as such. For the relief of state treasurers who have paid out mon ey for guaranty bonds furnished by sure ty companies: refunding $3,000 to William Stuefer and $2,500 to Peter Mortensen. To provide fo" the conveyance anj proof of titles to real estate. 'and to repeal sec tions 1 to 55. inclusive, of chapter Ixxiii. S.atutes of Nebraska, entitled "Real Es tate." and sections 1 and 2. chapter Ixxxl. of said statutes, entitled "Seals." To al low county boards to let contracts for county printing by separate Items, In stead of in bulk, as at present. To pre vent the mutilation of horses by dock ing their tails. To give to widows abso lute estate instead of dower interest. This is the bill introduced by the Ne braska Woman's Suffrage association. Concerning land titles and the registra tion thereof, and the registration of es tates therein, and easements, encum brances and charges thereon. H. R. 3. by Gregg of Wayne, reducing ing the required vested capital of incor porated school entitled to common priv ileges under the state superintendent of public instruction from $100,000 to $50,000. was recommended to pass in the house on the 21st. A resolution introduced by Jcuvenat of Boone requiring all bills and claims against the state to be filed with the state auditor not later than the twenty-fifth legislative day and instruct ing the committee on claims to Ignore any bill or claim hied later than that, was adopted. This resolution, introduced by McCIay of Lancaster was laid over one day by request of its author: "Re solved. That it is the judgment of this house that the present revenue laws of the state do not provide an adequate means by which sufficient funds may be raised out of which the necessary gov ernmental expenses may be met. mainte nance of state institutions, making need ed repairs and additions to public build ings and other necessary and incidental expenses may be paid. To the end that reasonable and conservative appropria tions may be made to cover the foregoing Items, and that the general fund may r.ot te overdrawn, such revision of the 'revenue laws should be made as will place all the taxable properties In the state upon the assessment rolls; that a fair cash valuation be placed thereon, and that adequate provisions be made for enforcing payment of delinquent taxes." House roll No. 40. correcting cer tain ambiguities in the statutes against frauds, was passed. Following the intro duction of a number of new bills the house adjourned. McCIay of Lancaster, in the house on the 22d. moved the adoption of his resolu tion seeking to place the house on record as favoring the assessment of all prop erty of all property at Its full value. He spoke in support of the resolution, say ing the house should adopt It as a formal and official criterion to the committee ap pointed to revise the reveaue laws. The resolution was tabled. This resolution by Sweexy of Adams -was adopted: Whereas, This house Is at a loss to un derstand the necessity for the use of so mach space and so little ink In tts print- lac of Mils, and also desirinc to know the cost of the same, I more that' the committee oa public printing- be laatraet ed to make a careful iarsstJgatlon aad ascertain: i. Whether or not a contract exists for such printing. . Under what taw. and by whom said contract, if any, was made. i. The time and the order of printing bills. 4. Whether or not bids were asked or received for such work. 5. The usual price for such work In the open market. C To furnish this house with a copy of any such contract and report in five days. McAllister of Deuel introduced a du plicate of the senate resolution on Irri gation and It was adopted. H. R. 40. by Thompson, relating to leasing of lands, was amended and passed. A number of new hills, none of them of great import ance. Were introduced, and the house' ad journed. Governor Mickey's message on the Diet rich land-teasing- bill was received In ths house on the 23d. read and made a spe cial order for Monday. These house rolls were recommended to pass: No. 67, Gil bert's Omaha water works bill. No. 76, by Ferry, relating to stays or execution. No. 4. by Nelson, to establish a negotia ble Instruments law uniform with the law of other states; No. 8, by Perry, to raise the qualifications of practicing- at torneys. No. 10. by Haana. appropriat ing $12,000 for the establishment of Ave junior normal schools. No. 61. by Doug las, relating to the carrying of concealed weapons. H. F. 29. by Good of Omaha, repealing the normal school examination bii:. was passed. H. F. 46, by Rriedrichs. providing that school board meetings to consider questions of building or chang ing of location of schools shall be duly advertised, was passed. This resolution by McAllister of Deuel was introduced and laid over until Monday: Whereas. Senate file 6886. providing for the leasing of public lsnds in Nebraska, does not meet the approval of any class of 8tockgrowers of the western portion of the state. Resolved. That while we are in favor of leasing the public lands of Nebraska in such manner as will meet the approval of the Interior department and the stock growers of that portion of the state, we recommend that congress authorise the appointment of a commission to investi gate the existing conditions of that por tion of the state in line with the recent message of President Roosevelt and Gov ernor Mickey, pending the report of said commision the existing condition be per mitted to remain. MESSAGE ON LEASE BILL. The governor sent this message on the land leasing bill to the legislature: As your honorable body is well aware a bill is now pending in congress, known as senate file No. 6SS6 and introduced by our senior senator. Hon. Charles It Die trich, contemplating the leasing of "such of the public lands within the state of Nebraska as are in their natural condi tion valuable only for live stock grazing' purposes and are not capable of Jrriga-. tion." The plan as outlined !h the hill and the conditions incident to the leasing of said lands are so novel in their char acter and in such contradiction to time honored -custom that the proposed legisla tion has attracted general attention throughot the state and has occasioned much comment, both favorable and un favorable. On January 18 I received from Washington a copy of the bill, accom panied by a petition signed by our en tire congressional delegation. This peti tion requests that I call the attention of your honorable body to the proposed na tional legislation, to the end that you may take such action as wiil indicate to our senators and members of congress the wishes of the state In the premises. The matters Involved are of great con cern, not only to that portion of the state wherein the grazing lands are sit uated, but to all other sections as well, and It Is therefore most fitting that the legislature should memorialize congress on the subject. I herewith transmit to you for your consideration a copy of the bill, a copy of the petition from our con greslonal delegation, two sets of resolu tions adopted by the stockmen of western Nebraska and the correspondence received by this office relative to the matter. In his recent message to congress President Roosevelt recommended the appointment of a commission of experts to investigate the conditions affecting the leasing and fencing of public lands and to make re port of Its findings. Such a course, while' it would delay immediate action, would.' In my judgment, afford such a guaranty of ultimate satisfactory settlement of the' perplexing questions Involved as to make the plan most desirable. I trust that-you! will confer with the concurrent branch of the legislature and adopt such joint reso lution as will indicate to our senators and. representatives In congress the attitude; of your constituents toward the land leas-j Ing bill. As the measure is now pending' before the short session of congress the necessity for expeditious action is ap parent. MAY VITIATE THE BILL. Senator Howell's bill to compel the city of Omaha to proceed forthwith to ac quire and operate tts own water plant passed the senate on the 22d. Just before the roll was to be called to the bill It was found that it had been handled In a ery bungling manner by the committee or- enrolled and engrossed bills, which had returned it as properly engrossed. For. on reading, it was found that the last three lines of the bill were missing. They could not be readily found, and a se en-minute recess was moved and taken, while the clerks looked up the missing last page. The bill was then passed. It Is claimed by some that, in this way. a ground has been established for attacking the bill in court should it finally become a law. For It Is Impera tive that a bill having been read for the third time must immediately be placed on its passage without Intervening busi ness. And it is intimated that the claim may be later made that the seven-minute recess was Intervening business. Senator Howell, however, scoffs at the notion, and claims that the validity of the meas ure has been in no wise impaired. FARMERS FILE PROTEST. This petition was introduced in the house: "We. the undersigned residents or Jef ferson county and citizens of Nebraska respectively, represent: That the rail roads traversing the state of Nebraska invariably fail, refuse and neglect to furnish or provide cars when requested so to do by farmers of other who de sire to ship grain to the markets inde pendent of elevator men and regular grain dealers. "Wherefore, we petition your honora ble body to enact such law or laws as will provide an adequate remedy for the evil herein complained of. to the end that the farmers and the Independent shippers of grain may be guaranteed equal rights and privileges with the ele vator men and regular grain buyers, and providing a penalty for the violation of said proposed law by any railroad cor poration or ,tts agents. Signed by Samuel Clark and 999 oth- en." DEADLOCK LIKELY STATEHOOD OPPONENTS TO DE LAY APPROPRIATIONS. TREATIES MAY 8UFFB DELAY Cullom Wants Cuba and Canal Prets cols Called Up, but Pears Are Ei tertained that This Will Net Be siblc. WASHINGTON. The feature of the week i.i ihe senate will :e the con test over the statehood bill.. The iines are now more closely drawn -than they have ever before been since this measure was introduced. They are", indeed, so taut that all onlookers realize that they are about to break, but few unprejudiced parsons would undertake to say positively which aid will meet disaster. The advocates of "statehood were much encouraged by the vote of last week, and contending that It has been demonstrated that there is a majority of the senate favorable to the bill, they declare that it is preposterous to ask them to yield, while the opposition urge that the vote was not a test at all and no real indication of the atti tude of the senate. They say the bill is standing in the way of other legis lation and contend that it must get out of the road and remain out when the appropriation bills begin to press to the front, as they will soon do. It is probable, however, that with some ex ceptional times, the bill will hold its place in the front ranks during the week. If night sessions are attempted the opponents of the bill will resort to the usual methods to kill time. On the other hand it is admitted the support ers of the bill will take a bold stand against allowing any other business to proceed until a vote is secured on the statehood bill. Some would even go to the extent of excluding appro priation bills. There is some apprehension on the part of the bill's supporters that there may be an effort to unduly discuss and delay the statehood bill and such a course will be resented. The work of the week will begin with the diplomatic appropriation bill on Monday. This measure is in charge of Senator Hale (Me.), who will at tempt to put it through with despatch. As the bill stands it is not calcu lated to provoke much debate, but there is a probability that there will be an effort to attach to it Senator Lodge's (Mass.) consular reform bill as an amendment. If this should be made considerable discussion is prob able. There are several special orders for the week which will consume more or less time. The memorial exercise or dered for Friday at the conclusion of the morning business in honor of the memory of the late Senator McMillan of Michigan, is, indeed, expected to last a whole day. As usual in such cases the senate will adjourn after the con clusion of the memorial addresses. Senator Cullom (111.) will make an effort whenever the opportunity offers to secure consideration of the Cuban treaty and he said that he would again move, if necessary, to have the senate go into executive session during the week for the purpose of taking up the treaty. Senator Cullom also has in charge the Panama canal treaty and expresses a desire to secure early con sideration, but as several of the mem bers of the committee on foreign rela tions, which is now considering the treaty, find it necessary to be out of the city during the week, it does not now seem probable that the canai treaty will be reported during the week. Utah Favers Statehood. SALT LAKE CITY In response to a request from the New Mexican leg islature asking the Utah legislature to memorialize congress to pass the statehood bill, a joint memorial ad dressed to congress was introduced favoring the admission of New- Mexico, Arizona and Oklahoma. Another bill was introduced in the senate prohib iting miners from accepting board as pay for wages. This measure is in tended to supplement the existing law prohibiting mining companies from keeping boarding houses. Leadville Swept by Storm. LEADVILLE, Colo. A blizzard raged Thursday from Leadville to the western line of Colorado, from one to two feet of snow having fallen which is being piled up by a high wind. Railroads are tied up at many places. DISLIKE THE CUBAN TREATY. English Interests Protest Against Its Adoption by United States. LONDON The reciprocity treaty between Cuba and the United States threatens to raise one of the most serious differences of opinion between Great Britain and the United States that has occurred for years. So much importance is attached to the matter that a special meeting cf the cabinet has been called to see what action should be taken. There is. of course, nothing to cause alarm in diplomatic circles, but Great Brit- mm s enure commercial policy is De- lieved to be vitally concerned. The matter came to a head by the action of the Chamber of Commerce of the United Kingdom, which waited on Secretary Lansdowne. It included several members of Parliament and represented the most powerful busl uess interests from all the British in dustrial centers. AIDS THE MINERS. Operators' Witness Materially Aft 1st Miners' Caw. PHILADELPHIA. The coal strike csmmitsidi was enlivened by seme is teresting testimony. Paring the morning session the Le high Valley company placed a union miner' on the stand, who oh cross examination proved a good witness for the miners. He said there would be trouble so. long is the companies insisted on paying contract miners by" the car instead of by weight A some' what lively discussion followed, Which only ended when the commission de elded to devote an entire day to argu ments on the question. The irst witness called by the strike commission was Gilbert Jones, one of the assistant mine superintendents of -the Temple Iron company. He de nied positively that a blacklist exist ed at the company's colleries. " On cross-examination he admitted Issuing orders, to the foremen of col leries over which he had supervision not to employ as miners any of the men who were on strike at the Malt by colliery of the Lehigh Valley com pany. These men struck before the general suspension was inaugurated. George L. Houser of Scranton, audi tor of the Temple Iron company, pre sented statements relative to wages. These contained a statement of the earnings of the men for 1901 and the earnings of the' contract miners and laborers. The Temple Iron company employed 779 company men, whose average earnings in 1901 were $1,599 a day. The company had no company stores. The Temple Iron company then rest ed its case and the Lehigh Valley Coal company proceeded to call witnesses. John F. Murray, a union miner in the Dorrance colliery, was called and before he left the stand proved a good witness for the strikers. On cross-examination he said the company did not deliver enough cars to the men and that the union had no rule restricting the number of cars to be delivered to each miner. There would be trouble, he added, as long as the companies insisted on paying by the car instead of by weight He asserted that the cars were more like freight cars than mine cars. "The miners," he continued, "think they hold much more than the two and a half tone the company claims." S. D. Warrlner of Wilkesbarre, gen eral superintendent of the Lehigh Val ley Coal company, said no complaints were made to him prior to the present strike on the car question. It would be impossible to have a standard car, owing to the varying conditions of the mines. He thought it was possible. however, to more nearly standardize the cars. The contract miners employed by his company were, in some cases, paid by the linear yard, and that was sat isfactory. Mr. Darrow's proposed system of paying by weight would not be practicable. An eight-hour day would curtail the production and 'necessitate the open ing of more colleries to meet the de mand for coal. Child Saving Institute. The Child Saving Institute of Om aha is distinguished from any other institution in the west, because of the aid department This institution endeavors to assist in keeping fami lies together and has prevented many families from being broken up. A recent case of the sort occurred in the central part of Nebraska, where a woman died, leaving four little chil dren. The father of the children was away from home at the time and was in search of a position where he could support the family. When the mother idled .it was found that no relatives nor friends could take care of the children and that the father was in a helpless condition, but a good man and loved his children. An appeal was made at once to the Child Sav ing Institute. The little ones were taken in and tenderly cared for for nearly three months. In the mean time the father secured a position and made arrangements to re-establish the home and now they are re united as a family and prospects are bright before them. Call Tillman a Murderer. COLUMBIA, 8. C The inquest In the Gonzales tragedy was conducted by Coroner Green and the verdict, found in less than f ve minutes after the jury, retired, was a plain statement that "the deceased, N. G. Gonzales, came to his death from a gunshot wound inflicted by the hand of James H. Tillman, on the 15th of January. 1093." House Talks en Coinage. WASHINGTON The house spent Thursday debating the Philippine coin age bill. The minority offered a sub stitute providing for the introduction of the American currency system into the islands, which received the sup port of Mr. Hill (rep., Conn.), who de clared that the proposition for the extension of the American system had the support of Secretary. Shaw and other high officials of the treasury department Engine's Boiler Explodes. BALTIMORE. Md. Two men sm dead aad tWQ , probably fa. tally injured as the result of the ex plosion of a locomotive boiler on the Baltimore Ohio railroad near Mon rovia. The dead: Fireman Lewis Hahn, Baltimore; James Graham, ire man, Baltimore. Conductor Charles Catsail and Brakeman Newman sus tained cuts and bruises and inhaled sti PRACTICE USURY PRESIDENT STICKNCY SAYS STOCKMEN ARK SHYLOCKS. CWWSSIHSMOUTIACOt)S Says Reads Receive Only Sixty Per cent Mere fer Httilina Freight Than Arraigned Sedy Cellecte in Windy City CHICAGO. At the meeting of the Interstate Commerce commission, A. B Stickaey, president of the Great Western, appeared to defend bis ac tion in making a seven-year contract with the big packers on the basis of greatly reduced rates. Mr. Sttekney's defense was coupled with'an altacTTupbntlie Chicago Live Stock 'exchange and his competitors, classing the former as barnacles and the latter as Oriental savages. In his criticism of the Chicago Live Stock association he declared that company, whose assets were a few chairs and an onlce desk, collected commissions during lsoi amounting to 13,151.000 against an income of $2.- 451,256 received by the Union Stock Yards company. These commissions amounted to over 40 per cent of the total freight charges upon the stock brought into Chicago. Mr. Tomlinson of the exchange showed that the commissions collected amounted to S2.154.286. while the freight charges were $14,263,400, about 15 per cent instead of 40. In speali'.ng of the 20 per cent contract packing house rate made by the Great Western, Mr. Stickney declared that as soon as it became known three of his competitors, in order to wreck a sort of Oriental vengeance, made a 12-cent rate on livestock between the Missouri river and Chicago, which left them a net rate of between 7 and 3 cents per 100 pounds for hauling the traffic 500 miles, and which injured no one but themselves. He followed the lead of other rail road officials in asserting that the rates as at present adjusted favored Chicago, and went further by giving figures to prove that the Missouri river points and St. Paul were en titled to slaughter about 40 per cent of all the hogs and cattle raised in the country. A. C. Bird, third vice president of the St Paul road, declared that rates on live stock were too low and did not bear a just share of transportation charges. NOTED SCOUT KILLS HIMSELF. George Van Buren Sends Bullet Through Hie Heart. BUTTE, Mont George Van Buren, one of the most noted characters in the northwest, has committed suicide in a cabin in Rattlesnake valley, north of Missoula. After a protracted spree he placed the barrel of his rifle against his heart and touched the trigger off with a stove poker. Van Buren was 60 years of age and claimed to be a lin eal descendant of President Van Bu ren. . He acted as scout under General Howard during the Nez Perces trou ble. He was also sent out by General Howard with orders for General Cus ter, reaching the scene of the massa cre the day following the massacre of the band of soldiers. PORTS ARE TO BE CLOSED. San Francisco Steamers Will Not Stop en Mexican Coast GUAYAQUIL It has been decided to close all ports of this republic to steamers from San Francisco, owing to the importation of bubonic plague. Vessels which left San Francisco Jan uary 20, or after that date, will not be admitted. The Board of Health of Guayaquil, January 18, issued an order to close the port to steamers from Panama or Mexican ports, but the order was re considered the following day and it was decided to close the port only to steamers from the plague-infected Mexican ports. Many Banks Are Interested. NEW ,YORK About a dozen of the banks and other financial institutions, including several insurance compa nies, are interested in the loan of $40,- 000,000 negotiated by Kuhn, Loeb & i Co. for the Pennsylvania railroad. The statement comes from a member of one of the firm that the money was loaned at 4 per cent, no commission being paid. - Say Treaty is Anomalous. HAVANA The chairman of the senate committee on foreign relations asked President Palma and Secretary of State Zaldo to explain the clause in the reciprocity treaty which pro vides that similar products of each country are to be allowed similar privileges by each country. The com mittee did not understand how Amer ican potatoes, for instance, could re ceive 30 per cent reduction, while Cu ban potatoes were apparently only al lowed 20 per cent It has been de cided to refer the question to Wash ington. Alaska te Have a Delegate. WASHINGTON The house Satur day passed 235 private pension bills. They included pensions to the widow of General Franz Sigel, at $100 a month, the widow of General Francis Negle, at $50, aad of Rear Admiral Henry Parking, at $40. The Alaska delegate bill was passed. TELEGRAMS OF GOOD WILL. President and King Edward Exchange Wireless Messages. SOUTH WELLFLEET, Mass. The following is the text of the messages Ivansmltted by the Marconi system of wireless telegraphy between Cape Cod and Cornwall, England, between President Roosevelt and King Ed ward: "His Majesty Edward Vii, London, England: In taking advantage ot the wonderful triumph of scieatifc re search and ingenuity which has been achieved iu perfecting a system of wireless telegraphy. I extend on be half of the American people most cor dial greetings and good wishes to you and to all the people of the British empire. (Signed.) "THEODORE ROOSEVELT, "Wellfleet. Mass." "SANDRINGHAM The President WhlteTIduse, Washington, -America: I thank you most sincerely, for the kind message which I have just re ceived from you through Marconi's trans-Atlantic wireless telegraphy. I sincerely reciprocate in the name of the people of the British empire the cordial greetings and friendly senti ment expressed by you on behalf of the American nation, and I heartily wish you and your country every pos sible prosperity. (Signed.) "EDWARD R- and L" TARIFF FOR PHILIPPINES. Senate Committee Authorizes Favor able Report on House Rill. WASHINGTON The senate com mittee on the Philippines Thursday authorized a favorable report on the Philippines tariff bill which recently passed the house, but with important amendments. The house bill carried a uniform reduction of the tariff on Philippine goods imported into the United States, making the rate only 23 per cent of the rates imposed by the Dingley law. The senate com mittee amended the bill so as to pro vide for the admission of all Philippine-produced " articles free of duty except sugar and tobacco, and on these two commodities fixed the tariff at 50 per cent of the Dingley sched ules. This change was made to meet the objections of te sugar and to bacco producers of this country, who have claimed that a duty rate of only 25 per cent on those articles would result in ruinous competition. The committee also decided to rec ommend an amendment to the bill ad mitting into the Philippines all ma terial used in the construction and equipment of steam and electric rail roads duty free for the next five years, at the discretion of the commission. MAMMOTH GUN BLOWS UP. Explodes on Proving Grounds and Scatters Sea with Fragments. NEW YORK. One of the mammoth guns exploded at the far end of the proving grounds Thursday. The gun was valued at $10,000. The big gun had been through ev ery trial and was soon to have been placed on its carriage. It was wreck ed in the course of experiments in throwing high explosives under con ditions that might have happened in actual engagement, but which are spoken of by officers as "abnormal." No one was killed, because of the elaborate precautions for the safety of officers and men. A shell bearing a large charge of gelatine was fired suc cessfully under abnormal pressure. The gun was loaded for a second shot with the exposive shell and a large amount of brown powder put behind it. The wires were fixed to fire the detonation cap and the officers wnt a mile and a half away for protection. A lieutenant turned on the current. There was a great cloud of yellow smoke and the sea was whipped up a mile off shore with fragments of the gun. Cars Ground Into Atoms. SALT LAKE. Utah Twenty-seven loaded cars of a Dem-er Sc. Rio Grande coai train broke away while the train was pulling into a switch at Red Narrows and ran wild down the long, steep grade to Thistle Junction, a dis tance of about seven miles. All the cars left the track and were literally ground to kindling wood, having reach ed a speed of probably 100 miles'an hour. No one was injured. Cuba Wars en Tobacco Trust HAVANA Four of the largest cigar factories have signed an agreement to refrain for ten years from selling their brands or plants to the tobacco trust Other factories are expected to follow suit EXPLOSION SHAKES A TOWN. Fissures in the Surface of the Earth the Explanation of Movement WHITMAN, Mass. Two fissures In the earth about three feet deep and a few inches wide and running for a distance of a quarter of a mile are the only evidences of a mysterious ex plosion which shook this town just before daybreak Thursday. Houses were shaken violently and crockery was broken in several in stances. A number of people, arous ed by the explosion, began searching for the cause at daylight In a meadow they found a crack in the earth's crust about three feet in depth and two or three inches wide They followed it for three-quarters ol a mile before they reached the end. Later they discovered another fissure of the same description about seventy five feet away from the irst and par allel with it An explanation of ths explosion is lacking. 00tOOwO) 04KOO0wOfe0O UMUrW o State Sauk. I StbSfcmrfup Ticket J Stjs Goon Hole, I o o o 6 o o o tmty eed kdftX J$ JS J esioass e oihsctors ieiean aaaaaNo. prcs. aav martvn. vics-pnss. m. anueaan. cashisr. MSRV L. H1NSY. aaaaaTT hulst. 00$0$CKJ0$.05-0 4oo$o8o ooov os-o oJo Columbus JournaJ, A Weekly Republican Newspaper Devoted to the Best Interests of X X V Ji Columbus, THE County f Platte, The State of -Nebraska- THE United States, and the Rest of MMiol Im (loft of Measure with Us is $1.50 per Year, if Paid in Advance, ;: i at ef Usefulness Is net eyDetUrs Sample Copies Sent free to mny Address. HENRY GASS. ...UNDERTAKER.. Coffins and Metallic ef aH mads ol Upholstery Geeea. Columbun, ISt a 1 IiVm Columbus Journal. Is preptcedto Funmth Any tmmf Rtdjuired of a CLUB WITH THE OP 1MB COUNTRY. H&lf SOtrWQooo4 mamms m o Oafest Baak the Stale. PtfyV lotefcst on Tims o Deposits; ; m t Mate Lotos on Real g Estate. ? I I afJUCSSIOrlT DRAFTS UN , CMC!, NtW YfTfc. Ami AM Feceaf Cennfilen. o w I JRKtwi M -V .K, i. i.. .a l-N its " '. f .- J?., A ?--