The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, January 28, 1903, Image 1

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VOLUME XXXIII. NUMBER 43.
COLUMBUS. NEBRASKA. WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 28. 1903.
WHOLE NUMBER 1,707.
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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.
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