Nebraska Newspapers

    ! < r tfT-
ILY
SIXTEENTH YEAH. OMAHA. imiDAY MLOKNINQ , FEBRUARY 11 , 1887. NUMBER 238.
Oontcmptiblc Work of Kailroad Sharks to
Delay Action on the Ohartor ,
HOW THEY PLAY THEIR CARDS ,
The House I'nuscH tlin Unllroad Com-
inlNslon llcpcnl Hill Ily nn Over-
nhelming flln.lorlty 1'rohlbl *
tlun DIscnsHlon Con
vict Labor.
Tlin Ilcal Situation.
Lixr ot , > f , Neb. , Feb. 10. ( Special Tclo-
irrnm to the Hii : : . | Judge Savage anil myself -
self arolnnvery find plight. Dr. Miller's
spoiling man telcgrnphed between drinks
that tlto compromise iinictidinunt to the char
ter vvns drawn by nijsclt and adopted at my
Instance , when In fact It was nrcparcd by
Judge Savage and Mr. Smyth , of the Douglas
delegation , nnd publicly adopted by a vote
( if the delegation without my interference
DUO way or thn other. This will boouelicd
for by such sober business men as Henry
Vales , W. V. Moisc , Hen ( Jallagher nnd
Judge Savage. "U lille I ntn accused by the
rallronguo bums of selling out to their oun
bosses , Or. Miller states semi-ofllclally that
the railroads arc not satlslicd
ntitl lepudlato the compiomlso
because It would establish n bad precedent.
Meantime , the parrol , who jabbers all sorts
of gibberish In Hitchcock's evening bauble ,
charges , Iud.C Savage with belling out the
railroads to me , whllo In the same breath
warning nil Rood people against my scllish
sell-out to the monopolists. 1 have known
some pcoplu to play live kings out of ono
8lco\e , but it takes ptofessionals to play
three knaves out of ono pack.
It Itt now almost ccitaiu that the charter
will not bo reached In the senate for third
reading before Monday. The railroad lobby
Is plaj Ing Its old game ot shuttlecock. They
have made n great ado about the Omaha
charter to detract attention from railroad leg
islation and from all sorts of jobs In wlilch
they nro partners with the Rant ; of contractors ,
wreckers and bo ns claimants who train
with them. Prohibition this session , ns pre
viously , will servo their purpose in consum
ing ttmu and creating discord and distrac
tion. It vv 111 continue on the boards several
tlavs longer with variations , nnd give the U.
it M. and Union Pacific strikers ample time
to devote to their orgies in the oil room.
Jn this legislature , ns two years ago , the
house comes nearer to the wishes of the com
mon people In Its conduct , hence the passage
of the railway commission 10-
pcal bill , which will bo throt
tled In the senate , or sent back to the housn
tiansformed Into a substitute that will vli-
tunlly continue the bogus commission under
another name. The house will , of course ,
refuse to concur , and after a conference the
bill will piobably dlo and the commission
remain. _ E. It.
Is It u Job ?
LI.NCOI.X , Neb. , Feb. 10. | Special Tele
gram to the Hii.J : : It is openly charged to
night by several mcmbeis thattlmro Is a job
in the bill extending the con ti act for the
penitentiary ten years. They say the pres
ent contract does not expire until October ,
IbbO , which would give ample time for the
next legislature to deal with the matter as
would bo deemed judicious and economic
at that time. It Is also asserted that n re
sponsible party Is willing to take the con
tract at SO cents per head per day , whllo the
state Is now pa > ing 40 cents for 340 convict1' ,
which would make a saving to the state of
S31 per day for ten years , even If the num.-
Der ol convicts did not Increase. It Is prob
able that the house , which has oidcred the
bill engrossed , will look further Into the
matter.
Sennto I'rou
LINCOLN , Neb. , Feb.10. [ Special Telegram
to the HKII.J The time o the beuato was
wholly taken up this morning In routine
work of little importance. The bill alTectiiig
the fees nnd salaries of county cleiits was
discussed in committee of the whole , the
committee asking leave to sit again upon it.
The bill providing for the election of olllcois
of cities of the second class was recommended
to pass.
AFTR1INOOK SKSSIO.V.
When the senate met at 2 o'cloclc this after
noon to consider the prohibitory amendment
bill , which was the special otder , there were
a great many ladles present In the audience ,
nccuug | ) ! nearly all the easy chairs In the
senate chamber nnd contesting many of the
collators' chairs. A number were also no
ticed in the gallery , which was crowded.
The lobby was also lull. These surround
ings were well calculated to inspire eloimenco
upon the part of the statesmen , who knew
before a word v > as orated that
thu bills would share the fate of the
ilrunkmdanddlo. So everything that was
said In thointciest of the bills must bo oon-
Mderod as having been evolved solely to
catch the prohibition vote , and that 11 the ar
guments had any ellect orforce , thu tendency
was toward the ballot box.
The discussion lirst aioboupon the motion
nf Mr. Kobblns to substitute bonato Illo.No. r.O
for No. 11 , on the ground that the former bill
was not so sweeping and came nearer being
constitutional.
Mr. Dm an Insisted that his amendment ,
made n few days since , providing Indemnity
tor Inssof piopeitv bj reason of a prohibitory
law. bo acted upon llrst.
Mr. Hrown ot Clay , who Introduced No. 14 ,
piotcsted against the motion to Dido-Uncle
his pet motion. Ho said ho copied it woul
lor word Irom n plank In the leimbllc.ui
platform. U was i.ot nil original idea , but
tie seemed to think that upon the chance ol
the passage of the bill , or a long di.uvn-onl
illbcnsslon ol the matter , his name inscribed
upon the bill would perchance bo Immoital-
l/ed ,
Mr. Suell said It didn't make any differ-
iMieo uho Introduced Mich a bill. Thu people
ple didn't emu ; they wanted thu law passed.
J'hey might forget the singer , out not the
( ong.
Mr. Casper said No. 14 seemed to bn cotton
up by the republican party and No. M by the
piohlhlllon party. He , Doing a democrat ,
rhoso tno latter.
Mr. Miklelohn objected to No. 14 because It
prohibited the manufacture of Intoxicants
tor any puri > ove.
Upon motion the senate took up No. 14 , the
nuestlon then lecurring upon the amendment
ol Mr. Dm as.
Mi. Sterling made an elegant and forcible
plea tor submission , Thu question of Indem
nity was secondary to the question of sub
mission , He denied that relmhtiisemcnt
would Iw legal. Inhibition did not sweep
thu piopeity of brewers away ; It was lett to
boused tor moio ilghtcoiis puipuacs. The
amendment was otfeied to destroy the bill
nnd lie hoped It would not piovall.
Mr , SclimlnKo baiil thopreseni hlsli llei'uso
jaw was good 0110111:11. Several communities
In his district had voted
to suppie s thu sa
loons and they were put down. In Ncbrask i
City the people voted tor high license , .mil
they hnd n lew saloons. Six jears ago this
legislature passed the Slocumb law , but thu
sniMKer ventured the assertion that not a
single man on thu lloor of ( tie senate obejro
thu law ( which makes It unlawful tu treat
another tu liquor ) . The speaker went dow n
Into Kansas and found all the di legists sell-
Ill L' liquor under another name. 'Ihe law
there had made scoundrels out of hone.st men
and it would do the same for Nebraska. Thu
bill , If passed , would render valueless
EU > ,000,000 or 520.COJ.000 wortb of property ,
Iheowuuis of which must be indcmul.ied.
Ho told about u little trip ho made througl
Kansas nud what occurred when ho went
Into a drug store for a drink of beer ; It was
tider or soda water , and they eould bend bin
1 tt hole bo $ to bis room 11 Uvslrod. . Jlo drauk
ot it and couh. testify tint It was beer and
ic was a peed jud o , If he did say It , fLatiRn-
ter. ]
Mr. Snell offered n substitute
0 section 1 of thn bill
as follows : "Nn person shall manufacture
for hale , sell or keep for sale as n beverairc
any Intoxicating liquors. Including wine , ale
or beer. "
Mr. McNamar held that the question should
in submitted to the people , but whether thu
Jill passed or not , the vested rights of any
cltl7en could not be Interfered with under thu
constitution. ' 1 ho property of no citizen
could be confiscated for public uses.
Mr. Hobbms sld If the republican or dem
ocratic parties did not submit this qiu tion
some otiicr party would. What was morally
wrong could not be politically right. He was
opposed to thu amendment ol the gentleman
from Saline.
Mr. Brown was In favor of prohibiting the
sain of liquor for all purpo-.es . except medici
nal or mechanical.
Mr. Snell defended bis substitute from the
standpoint of Mi. Ittowu. The supreme court
of thu United States had decided that the
| )0opk' ) had a right to legislate for the good of
[ ho people , nnd ho took no stock In thu In
demnity feature of the question. The people
ple would not onuilscalotlio property ot the
liquor manufaetureis ; the propeity would
still be In possession of the inniiutaetuior.
Ills business must give way to the public
good. A the might be raging on n business
strict nnd a stoiu could bo demolished to
prevent the spiead of the lire , the owner of
which eould have no rediess. Private Inter
est mu t give way to the public itood ; that Is
the theory of the law.
Mr. Sucll's motion was lost.
Mr. Fuller olleied another , a substitute , to
prohibit the sale of liquor evcept for sclen-
tllic , mechanical or medicinal purposes , but
it vvas voted down.
Mr , Melklejohn offered another amend
ment , differing technically from the other ,
which vvas carrled.
Mr. Duras thought prohibition would not
prohibit , and hu was satisfied that liquor
would bo sold after the passage of the law.
In our state wo had a larger city than In
either Iowa and Kansas , and thn state vvas
prospoi ing under high license. The passage
of a prohibitory law would arrest the rapid
progress of the state.
Mr. Snell made a very exhaustive areument
favoilne the submission , and yielded the
lloor with the understanding that ho might
ba permitted to resume when the senate
next went Into committee of the whole. The
matter vvas again made the special older foi
" o'clock to-munovv.
KIC : KI.UY'S on.UN nit.r. .
The impottaucu of Mr. Keckle > 's bill to
prohibit pooling by grain dealers vvas duly
recognized by the senate yesteidav after
noon In committee of thn whole. The dis
cussion upon it vvas full nnd listened to with
n great deal ot Intoiest. The friends of the
blllwcro determined , ami manifested great
earnestness in their arguments.
When the bill was taken up. Mr. Keckley
moved that when the committee arose it
order the bill engiossed tor a third reading.
nnd was seconded by Mr. Duras.
Mr. McNamara of Uavvson spoke at pain
ful length in opposition to the bill , ills align
ment presented but few now points that were
not covered in his former speech upon the
subject. Ho took the ground tliat the bill
would prohibit nil persons whosoever liom
entering Into pattucrshlps , and that this
would bo unconstitutional and continiy to
public policy.
Air. Sterling of Kilimore "Tho gentleman
from Daw.sun has canvassed this question at
consldeiablo length and with an Ingenuity
that was Interesting ; and from his stand
point the bill Is certainly without merit. I
have civen this measure some thought and
have carefully canvassed tlio interest which
It Is Eouirht to alfect. I fully appicclato the
importance of the bill the Importance of
tlio great Interests which it seeks to affect ,
and 1 nm still satisfied that it Is a measure
which thu present wants of the people de
mand. I nm satisfied from a caret ul consid
eration of tiie measure that It is ono which
In its operations would bo wholesome , i
reali/n that the grain lutuiest of this state Is
second to none In Importance. " The speaker
then salu that the grain dealers' association
attempted to shut olt all competition , which
vvas the life of trade. The power wielded
by It was dangerous and should bn curtailed.
Mr. Moore of Lancaster said the bill would
not prevent partnei.shlps , and that the No-
biaska grain dealers' association was not n
partneishlp concern. No Individual member
ot it was liable for the debts of another mem
ber. The bill vvas in the line of rl ht nnd ho
wanted to see it become a law.
Mr. Snell of Jefferson showed up tlio work
ings of the association and deprecated the as
sociation In forcible terms.
Mr. Meikiejohn of Nanco had Investigated
the affairs of the association and saw ureat
need of n law restraining It. It was a dan
gerous agency.
Mr. Casper of liutler stated his objection
to the existence ot tlio nssoel lion In a nut
shell. It vvas an unlawful business.
Mr. Keckley suoko bnelly in behalf of his
bill , and again asked the senate to pass it
without amendment.
Mr. Hrown of Clay said theio was a good
deal ot buncombe In the bill. Some mem
bers on the lloor of the senuto vvcio quick to
take up any measure wlilch meant war upon
monopolies , by w hich they cotilu got a boom
In anti-monopoly votes , Ho took no stock
In the hill.
Mr. Keckloy said : "I have been somewhat
amused by these nit-'uinenls. They botli
would have their friends believe that they mo
good authority In law. One of my friends is
opposed to tins measure because It goes too
tar ; the other because It stops too soon. This
Is the attitude these gentlemen occupy. My
trlend tioiu Clay would have us embinco nil
Interests , nnd my trlcnd fiom Davvsou ob
jects to tlio bill because lie claims It intcr-
teios with tlie lights of partneis. Tills Is a
false assumption. There Is not a word in
the bill which lestralns men liom forming
partnerships ; not one. And my trlend Irom
Clny has my consent toolfer a measure em-
buiclni ; thu other interests named by him
self. These are childish and demagogical
reasons why this measure should not become
a law. The gist ot the whole mattei is , is it
right that seven gentlemen snail IK the price
at which all dealers shall sell their slutlV It
It Is right , nnd In accordance with public
policy and public Interest , then my bill is
wrong. If it is not right , then my bill should
pass. This is the only question involved.
It docs not .seek to attack any man In the ex
ercise of Ills legitimate rights in the business
world. There Is no good lawyer who will
venture to say that It does. 1 have un
bounded admiration for the legal profession ,
but when a man has only legal knowledge
enough to pettitog a ease then my contempt
Is excited , 1 ask thu soiiatnts to consider
well bt'hno j on cast jour votes In leirard to
this measiiie. 1 claim that the people de
mand that this measure shall become a law ,
There is a daimeroiis power in the grain asso
ciation , nnd lor these gentlemen to not up
here and question this power , it Is simply
begging the question. It tno simatois hint
that the objections and arguments advanced
ngalnnt the bill Imvu merit or lenson then
1 .shall submit , but In my advocacy of the bill
I beck onlv the best interests ot tlio state.
ill. Kpilck ot Washington spoke briefly
but positively In tnvor of the bill , which ho
characteiUed as ono of the lust import
ance.
NOTES.
"It occuis to " air. lirown too often ,
Hypotheses bother Mr. Mc.S'amar.
It taltcs Mr. Hobbliibn little time to warm
up In a > peech.
Mr. Steillng uses the most elegant diction.
Mi. V.mdemaik spiuin ; thu old pillar of
salt chestnut on the .senate the oilier da } .
Mr. Schmlnkosos nn honest foreigner Is
as gouit as any other man.
Mr. Keckley speaks well , but soon
"winds. "
Mr. Mo.iro never talks unless ho has some
thing to My.
( ientlemen , mnlo : jour spoedits brief. II
Vou talk an hour , It costs thu state S1VI7 ,
Mr. Hi oun ol Clay introduced senate file
II to piohibit manulacturo nnd s.Ueot liquor ,
but accenting to senator Duras , ho looks
upon the wii.e when It Is led.
When Sonutui IJrown of I'lay slurs the
niiti-miiuoiiuiuts. he mal cs n mistake which
will I'Mft up > u bun .it tun polls.
A pttitmn wns read tnnu eiluensof Hicll-
ni i-- < ii > c .nun puvh - n .itu Jivv Iw pi-iotl
luovidiug lor .tuothei < > i 'ifitiuiinl conven
tion
' 1 . < < l > nl | .i rtt-ato. additional dh-tlict judges
willcuiui. up in tin : mouiiug us n specl.i
orikr.
in tint
UXCOIN , NVb. , Feb. 10. | Special Tele
gram to the Hu : . The railway commis
slon lepeal bill passed the house this morn
ing by a vote of CS to 23. The following was.
the vote :
liabcock , Hallcy , Uallard , BcnUey , Hick ,
Jamcron , Cannon , Craig , Dempster , Klslcy ,
lUlls , Kvving , Dillcr , t'enton , Fox , Fuchs ,
h'uller , Oalford , Gamble , Glltnorc. Harrison ,
Hayden , Helmrod , Horst. .Icary , Kclper ,
Lord , Marshall , Matthleson , McCJrew , Miller ,
> cwton , Nichols , Overtoil , Pemberton ,
1'cters , Kief , Itnsscll , Satchel , Schwab ,
Sliamp , Slmms , Slmnnck , Slater , Smyth , Sul
livan , Sweet , Thornton , Tingle , Truusdell ,
Turner , Tjsnn , Underbill , Veach , Wardlaw ,
Watson , Wethcrald , White , Whltmore , Wli-
helmsen , Wilson , Wolenwebcr , Wright ,
Yut/y , Young and Harlnn.
Naj-s Alkcu , Uovvman , Hrown , Cnldwoll ,
Cole , Cope , Crane , Dlekenson. Frantz , ( ! ar-
vey. Green , Kenney , King , Knot , Mesveld ,
McCatin. McConauehy , Mlnniv , Newcomer ,
Norrls , Itandall , Raymond , Tracey.
An attempt was made to seetirn n noon
iece s just before the bill came up , Mr. Cahl-
wcll making the motion , Thu motion bv Mr ,
Ha > iiioml to recommit the bill vvas laid on the
table.
Mr. Kennny raised the point of order that
the motion to recommit being laid on the
table1 the whole matter was tabled. The chair
ruled that thu point or * order vv.is not well
taken.
Several explanations of votes were oflercd.
Mr. Caldwell bellevcilthat It the commission
was lepealed there was no question but that
the legislature would go homo without enact-
Inir anv law to take Its place.
Mr. Cope saw no prospect ot a now law.
Me'si . Knox , McCoiiamihy and Kandall
weroof the same mind.
Mr. Hajmoiid said It was suicidal to repeal
tlio law. If the state had no commission the
Inter-stato commissioners would not respect
the wants ot the btnto. The majority ol the
house he believed vvero not so much opposed
to the commission law ns to ono of the com-
mlbsioneis , meaning Mason , nnd in re
pealing tlio law thev were doing exactly what
the rallioads wanted ,
Mr. Whitmoro said ho was on rccoid ns
voting against the law two years ago , nnd
his judgment ns to Its Ineffectiveness had
been continued. Ho believed that the dis
position of the house was to enact n proper
law befoic going home.
Mr. McCaun believed that with tills law re
pealed tlio people would get no law , His
constituents wanted something better , but
they did not wish to have nothing.
Mr. Nichols said lie voted aje because
ho believed theio were enough mem-
beis of the legislature to enact n pioper law.
The rallioads did not want the commission
law lopcaled , nor did they want any other
legislation. It was tlio duty of the leglstn-
ttiruto thwart them.
Mr. Kussell said there were two classes of
people in tlio state who do not want railroad
legislation ; one vvns the lallroadmnn. thu
other the demagogue. Under Instructions
ho voted ajo.
The tollovvlngbllh were also passed this
morning : Kegulntlnc tlio hours of labor and
compelling emplojers , under certain condi
tions to pay tvvico a month b4 to U. This Is
Tracoy's bill , formulated by thu Kulchts of
Labor. Thu bill taking insurance companies
upon the excess ot premiums over losses and
oullnary expenses , passed b5 to 4. Also the
bill amending the law regarding lax iccuipts
70 to 7.
ArTnitxoo.v SKBSION .
The house pioccedcd with the final con
sideration of bills and passed the following :
Allowing county commissioners to sell
property ot the county on such terms as they
deem advisable.
Crectin ; a state board of pharmacy , mak
ing licenses necessary , and defining the
duties ot the board.
To repeal tlielavv requiring the registration
of voters In certain cities ot thn second class.
To lix the duration of thn tcim ot town
supervisors In counties under township
organization. It provides that at the first
legular mietlng of the supervisor next
Januarv they shall draw lots for terms of
one , two and three jears. Alter that each
supervisor shall bo elected for three years.
Tlio house went into committee of the
whole. Mr. Caldwell In the chair.
The bill to appropriate to Charles A. John
son the sum ot S1/237 to compensate him for
losses sustained In the destruction of his
propeity in Hurt county in .March , ISisfi , when
Wrr'ht , Stedman's muulerer , was burned iti
Johnson's barn , was recommended for pass-
ape , with the amoiintchanged to s'Jb9.bO. ; {
The bill amending the statutes regarding
overseers , so that tlioy shall be allowed SJ a
day for time spent in notifying hands , super
intending , etc. , not to exceed S-0 ! annually ,
wns recommended lor passage.
The bill to piovldo tor the disposition nf
unclaimed monies In the hands of county
tieasurcrs. collected as penalties on delin
quent taxes , was recommended for passage.
A bill providing a method whoieby taxes
wlilch aio overdue may bo collected , was
iccommended for passage.
The bill making passenger rates on all rail
roads three cents per mile came up , and Mr.
Raymond o lie red nil amendment making it
'M cents per mile.
Mr , Fuller , author of the bill , opposed the
amendment , which he claimed was put In to
kill the bill. Ho said this state has been
clamoring for a reduction in passenger rates
forveais. Two years ago , upon the ingent
demand , a bill vvas Intioduccd to make it
three cents n mile. Then the railroad nu-
thouties reduced freight rates to Chicago live
cents n hundred. In view ot this thu people
said the lallroad officials were pretty good
tollows. The bill was amended so that the
three cent rate was contined to the 100th
meridian. Hut ns soon as the legislature ad-
lounicd , and before thu roads opened so that
the freiylit rates could bu taken advantage
of-
ofMr.
Mr. Haymond "I withdraw my amend
ment"
Mr. Fullcr-"All right. " Ho had Intended
to sav that then the live cent reduction on
Ironrht vvas withdrawn.
Mr. Whitmoro offered another amendment
making the quantity of baggage to bo car
ried tree , 200 pounds , but ho subsequently
withdrew it , Thu bill was then recommend
ed tor passage.
The bill piovldlng for an extension of the
coutiact for the leasing of thu penitential \ ;
lunitentlary grounds and convict labor to 0.
W. Mosher , assignee of W. 11. H. Stout ,
caused much discussion. Mr. Smjtli moved
that tno enacting clause should bu stricken
out. Ho opposed extending the convict con
tract system In Nebraska to ten jears after
IbbD , and tiisten It upon thu Mate until nearly
the years COO.
Mr. Andres said ho came hero with Instruc
tions to jeslst extending the penitentiary
contract. Hut after going through die peni
tentiary ho had become convinced that the
system In vognu was the best obtainable. He
detested convict contract labor , but ho was
uuablu at present to devlso any plan which
would be butter. Having obtained conces
sions ot an Important cliaiactcr for wiping
out tlio most objectionable features ot the
bill as a member of thocommitU'o , ho had
consented to concede the extension of the
contiact. It was Ihe best thing that could bo
done.
Mr. Smjth opposed the extension of the
coutiact , wlilch did not expire until another
session of thu leglslatiiiu should meet. Let
another loglslatuiovvicstlo with the problem.
In two ) cars moic some other and better plan
could be devised. The question was being
actively agitated , and a remedy for the con-
tiacts.vfitem must surely bo arrived at. Ho
was opposed to tlio system upon the grounds
that it was not piolitablo to the statc.coiitrnry
to best public , policy , and a constant source
of dissatisfaction among a large pioportion
of the people. On thu lirst proposition he
argued that thu state pays 40 cents per day
for the boaid of each prisoner. Tlio con
tractor furnishes nvorjthini : beside the board
nnd provides guards and otlicers of thu in
stitution. Ought not the convicts' labor com
pensate the conductor biitllciently so that ho
eould well afford to pay for their board also ?
On the ground of public policy ho contended
that the coin let contract s > stem was mani
festly unjust to free labor. The competition
wns ot a character that no one except a
Chinaman could meet It. Out of this unjust
competition there was constantly ails-
Ing a feeling among the citl/en labor
ing men that vvas the foundation
ot discontent , which was detrimental to the
state ,
Mr. Wllsey of Hamilton wild there were ISO
men at the PIison who were kept locked up
In their cells because there was not machin-
eiy to give them work. If the contract vvas
extended , machinery would DO put In costing
g 100,000 and these men would IKJ given em
ployment and exorcise. If It vvero not ex
tended , Urn machinery woultl not bo put In
atid Ilio convicts kept in idleness.
Mr. Kuox made the polut that there was a
principle In the motion to kilt tlio bill. H
the contract were to lx > extended and § 100,000
uioro invested In machinery the system
would bo that much strengthened. The
feeling was growing and the bentiinent be-
torn should go. It vvas an evil. As an evil
It should not bo allowed to crow and streng
thened.
Messrs. Kamlall , Slater and Acce made
economic arguments , contending that there
was no better method ot employing convicts ,
nor any moro human s > stem than thu ono
now in vogue.
Mr. Sni.vth made ono of the .speeches of the
.session In reply. He scouted the Idea that
the ISO convicts claimed to be Idle weio
necessarily so. They had been nude Idle for
the purpose of creating an argument In favor
of the bill. He denied the right of the legis
lature to fasten tlio convict contract soio
upon the boilv politic for twelve veais. No-
lunskn should Tend In the way of progreis.
Following her would sonn come Mlchlcan ,
Wisconsin , Minnesota , Iowa and Kan a ,
and In the west the contract evil would
bo cured. In this age of piogiess a
lemedv might bo reached dining thu coming
two jeirs and light ini ht be thrown upon
this vexed question. At least , as the preicnt
contract did not explie until nine months
after the next legislature would convene ,
there was no reison why this Icnlslatuio
should bo In haste to extend this contract
until iww.
Mr. Miller made a businesslike and com
prehensive speech In favoi of the lull. He
legarded It as the best financial arrangement
It vvas possible to make.
Mr. Young spoke , briefly but pointedly
aenlnst the bill. Ho nllegod that the com
mittee on penitentiary spmit only two hours
In vlsltlnj the penitentiary and were only
able to believe what vvns told thorn.
Mr. Smyth's motion to strike out the enacting -
acting clause was lost. Amendments of-
leied by Mr. Suijth to make the time of the
contract extension thiee veais ; nnd to pro
vide that Mr. Mosher should receive S5 cents
per day foi etch convict ( instead ot 40 cents )
were lost. The bill was then iccommeiided
lor passage with the following Important
amendment made by thu committee who had
reported It :
"I'rbvldod that under this extension of
said contract the convicts shall not nor shall
any nf them be employed In the manufacture
of clears , brick , or in thu cutting of stone
except such brick nnd stone ns may bo re-
quiied In making lepalis or impiovuments at
tno penitentiary , nnd In the erection of buildIngs -
Ings and walls for thu eon ( lucmcn tot convicts
nnd lor the use of nlllcers nnd guaids ; nor
shall anv of said convicts bo employed upon
nnv public bulidlii''S , except buildings for
penitentiary purposes : pun idle , however ,
that the piovislon of ths | act shall in no wise
impair or Invalidate any contiact now oxUt-
ing. "
This amendment was made In response to
n request of tlio Knights of Labor.
The committee ot the whole then rose.
Mr. McCnnn lose to a question ot priv
ilege. Ho said there wns no split In the rail-
mad committee. The mcmbeis aiehnimonl-
ous and almost a unit.
Mr. Watson "I disagree with the gentle
man in some statements. "
Mr. McCnnn , continuing , said that ho nnd
Mr. Whitmoro had dlsagieed as to the policy
ot repealing the railroad bill. Ho believed
there are member ? In this house who want
no railroad legislation whatever and that it
vvas a grave mistake to repeat thecommisslon
at piosent. The railroad committee will pre
sent a good bill. The joint committee Is as
haimonious as anyoiiu could ask or expect.
Mr. Cole intmducod n icsoltition catllnz
upon the railroad committee to make a report
upon some railroad bill without nnv unueces-
saiy delay ; also expressing it as the sense of
thu house that thu commissioner system is
thu onlv one which is practicable and tiiat
the commission should bo empowered to hx
lair passenger anil freight tarllls.
Mr , Agee said that all ho desired was some
good , sensible railiond bill nncl ho had no
egotistical pride In the matter. Ho bad not
said , as published in an Omaha paper , that
ho didn't caio what the bill was ns loilfe as it
vvns his bill.
The latter pirt of Mr. Colo's resolution was
struck out and the lirst clause adopted.
The house then nJjotu nod to 10 a. in. to
morrow.
J.T.W 1IIIS.
The following bills wore introduced this
forenoon :
Hy Kenney To define the eligibility of
county judges in counties ot 10,000 and up-
wnids.
Hy I'rciitz To amend sections , 0,11 , 12.
13 , lit , 'J'J , 'J3 , 25 and 27 , chapter 4 , compiled
statutes of lbS5 , of an act concerning cure ot
and to picvnnt the spread ot contagious nnd
infectious diseases among domestic ani
mals , etc.
Hy I'emberton To amend section 40 of ar
ticle 1 of chapter 4 of thu compiled statutes of
IbbS , entitled "Animals and to repeal said
section so amendo-l. "
Hy Abrahamson To amend section 40 of
chapter 4.5 of the compiled statutes ot Ne
braska of Ibbli entitled "Insuiance compa
nies. "
Hy Hrown To define the boundailcs of
Hmr county and to dellno sections 22nndi : :
of chapter 17 ot the compiled statutes ot Ne-
biaska entitled "Countiescounty boundaiius
and county seats. "
BIG STK1ICR OUDHUKI ) .
Brewery KmployeH In Now York nncl
Vicinity Quit AVorlc.
Nr.vv YOIIK , Feb. 10. The Evening News'
extra says : District assembly 49 has ordered
out over } body In the beer , ale and porter
breweiles In this city , Yonkers , Jersey City ,
Hiooklyn , Staten Island , Newark and Paterson -
son , as well as members of the eccentric asso
ciation of stationary engineers employed in
the different factories within Its jurisdiction.
The order Is to go Into effect to-morrow , nnd
it Is estimated that the number of men who
will stop work In the breweries alone will
amount to about 12,000. Thu numberof those
who will bo thiown out by the strike of en
gineers will run far Into the thousands .No
exact general estimate can bo formed at pres
ent , but it is certain that if they do quit the
majority of tliobli : factories will have to clo e
down. Thn ostensible icason lor thc o
strikes Is that the breweries and other manu
factories are using "scab" coal.
A incmbei of thu executive boaid of Dis
trict Assembly No. W , at 1 a. in , bald that the
brewers ot this city anil vicinity would go
out on a strike to-monovv ( Friday ) , in tact ,
that the order had been Issued. The mem
bers ot tlio executive board , however , sild
the number (10,000) ( ) ot thobioweibwasgieatly
exaggerated.
"Will"the eccentric engineers also go out'.1"
was nsked.
"As f.u ns 1 can understand , the engineers
will also go out , for they will not handle
scab' coal. "
Tlio Great Strike at Kurt.
Nnvv YOIIK , Feb. 10. On the liver fronts
theio was no Indications of any dlfllculty ex
isting between the longshoremen nnd the
lallroads and steamship lines. At the lall-
road and steamship piers nil evidences of the
recent MniKglu were obliterated. Kvcry-
thing Is qt'lot ' as befoic.
Sliorniukora Walk Out.
DOVEII , N , H , , Feb. 10. Hetween 100 and
& 00 shoemakers emplocd in Clotitman'h tnc-
tory btinck to-day because ono man was dis
charged. The euiplojer claims thu man was
let go because of a lack ol vvoik.
Blinlci-N In the Hiuulvvloli IMniuls.
SAN FIIAXCISCO. Feb. 10 , Advices from
Honolulu report the volcano Mauna lei , nn
Hawaii island , agaiu activn , Eruptions
bcg&n January 15 with nn emission of lire ,
smoke and lava , tlio latter Mowing down the
south slope , If Us course is not chanced it
will How into the bea without doing much
damage. Kaithqunku shocks throughout tlio
island were licquent , but without serious
consequence. Jtov.J. 1) . 1'arls writes from
KaawoU , Hawaii , under date ot January ! ' . ,
saying : "For thlrtv-six horns there lias been
one continuous series of caithqunkutrem
ulous jars , with pietty haul shakes inter-
bpetsed , riinnln. into eacli other , nnd our
house has seemed like n little craft or bubble
floating on the waves of a chopped tea
While I write my table rocks so that It Is
withdilllculty lean keep my beat and hold
my pen. "
Culloin'u I'atont Ur-form ,
WASHIXOTON , Feb. 10 , Senator Cullom
to-day intioduced a bill to amend the re
vised statutes so that no piisoner shall bo
disbarred from receiving a patent for his In
vention or dlscoveiy , nor shall any patent bo
declared invalid , by reason of iu having
beeu first patented in a lorcUn country , un
less thu winio lias brtiii introduced Into pub
lic Ube In the United States for mote than
two years prior to .the application for tlio
1'aU'ut ,
SPARKS WORKS A SCHEME ,
The Land Commissioner Evades tlio Oivil
Service Law by Strategy
MANY DECISIONS OVERRULED.
Tlio President Annoyed Over tlio
Selection of tlio Intcr-Stnto Conr-
incrco Coin mission \Vnshl UK-
ton's Criminal Statistics *
It May IMnko Trouble.
WAsuixrno\ . 10. ( Special Telegram
to the Hr.R. ] Land Commlsslonei Sparks
has just taken a tin n to evade the civil ser
vice law and favor n pet lilend which
thieatuns to nnko trouble. Major Wal-
brldge , n republican , and chief ol a division
of the land olllco , gets a sa'ary ' of but 51,100 a
> car , which Is within the civil service limits
and protected bv the law. Spirks has had n
democrat appointed at S1M)0 ) ns "private
sccrcLuV'nml assigned him to Walbrldgo's
desk , and he Is performing the functions of
tlio chief. The new man could not bo ap
pointed chief nl n s.il.uy of less than 52,000
except through a civil seivlco examination ,
nnd this ho did not stand.
1111 : ovKuruxn rowii : ! .
Secretary Lnmar has not n > ery high opin
ion of hand Commissioner Sp.uks. Ho
said to a friend this afternoon that hu
had reversed more than one-half of
the decisions of the commissioner , and ho
had modified one-fourth of the icmaindcr.
The record shows that the court hciu over-
inled a majority of the decision promul
gated ,
mi : NATIONAL UAH/WAV COMMISSION ! : ns
A Michigan member who went to the
white house to talk about Senalor Con
ger for a place on the Inter-btnto commerce
commission , says the president gave him to
understand that It is probable all of the com
missioners may not bo selected till congioss
adjoin ns , and that Conger's name seems to
bo under advisement , with the Indications
very favorable. The piesldent Is frank to say
that the selection of the commission gives
him annovancc , and that It is tlio most re
sponsible tiust lie has had since lie entered
the executive mansion.
v\FAvi.u WANTS Horomr/iY.
Representative Weaver , of Iowa , still
says that the proposition to impeach Sec
retary Manning for violation of law is
under seiious advisement. Ho is the
onlv member ol congiess who savsso , how
ever , and it is generally believed that It Is
but amove on the part of Weaver foi cheap
notoriety. Manninc is to retire fiom the
treasutv about the close ot the session ot
congress , .March 4.
HOW CnlMlXAI. STATISTICS AIK ! SIADK.
A lot ot nowsbojs vveio to-day attested
nnd brought up before Judge Snell ot the po-
llco court. They wore chaiged with congre
gating about the newspapci oflicesaltlni :
tor tlie pauers to no to press , as is usual
around all newspaper oflices. Kach was
fined $5 nnd costs. The judge made these
remarks in the deciding of the cases : " 'llils
Is an Illustration of how the city gets such a
bad name In respect to morals of the morals
ot minors. 1 don't .suppose theio is any
other city in the world where such bo > s as
these would be arrested and piosecuted. 1
think It goes to the ciudlt ot the city for pre
serving good older , but these statisticians
gobble arrests up for another purpos" , and
make It appear Unit this is the worst city In
the world , when , in fact , the order of this
city Is nsgood If not better than in other- ! . "
Several other small colored bo.vs vvoie lined
for disoulerlv conduct , loud talking and
obstiucting the streets , which will still
further abslbt the statisticians in making it
appear that there Is terrible depravity among
the youths in this city.
MII.ITAKV MATTIIItS.
Paymaster James Hey has been granted
an cntciision of leave tor six months.
Colonel .Matthew M. Hlunt , Sixteenth in-
faulij , with the hcadquaiteis and the band
of his legiment. has been oideied from Fort
Conclioto Fort Hliss. Texas , taking the place
ol the headquaiters of thu Tenth Infantry.
Lieutenant Charles 1 > . Potter , who has just
been tiansleiicd from tlio Fifth cavahy to
the I'linliieeis'coips. graduated number five
in Ills class last June at West 1'oint and is
now on duty at thn Fort Leavenworth cav-
aliy nnd infantry school.
Aimy leaves ginnted : Colonel Judson I ) .
Hinghnm , assistant quattermaster general ,
Chicago , one month tromFebiuaiy 11 ; Major
Alf.cd K. Hates , paj master , St. I'nul , liftcen
days ; First Lieutenant Canoll A. Devol ,
Twenty-fifth Infantry. Fort Snelling , Minnesota
seta , one mouth liom Febiuaiy 10.
XnilltASKA AKD IOWA I'KXSIONS.
I'enbioiis Wfio granted Neluaskaiis to-day
ns lollovvs : .IciiishaA. , widow ot Alvin
Hyatt , Western ; Charlotte , mother of Jona
than Hlanchard , Hewitt ; James A. Cook ,
Albion ; James ( iailaulier , deceased , Crete ;
.Jacob Johnston , Wood Klver : William ,1.
Ciane , Arlington ; James J. ( Jibson , Stuait ,
Forlowans ns follows : Ell/abeth. widow
of Jesse Hcllainv , Knoxvlllo ; Mallnda ,
widow of Lorcn/o J ) . Driggs , Little Sioux ;
Amanda , widow nf Joseph U. Ablumnn ,
Newell ; Mallsa K. Thaip. former widow of
William Collins , Hamilton ; K/.ra Cronklc-
ton , Dtinlap ; ( iarret N. Hubbell , ( ilenwood ;
Samuel H. U'iiemnn , Cilenwood ; ( ieorge
Moore , Grinnell ; John Holy , Hear drove ;
'Jhomas H. Hule , Yilllben ; Adam Dirk ,
i'lpton ; Frederick Tapes , Hilton.
IT.USON vi , .v < nis. :
O. M. Hitchcock and wile , ot Omaha , nro
heie.
lieprcscntativo Dorsoy has succeeded In se
curing postal service on the Fremont , Klk-
hoin t Missouil Yalloy between Scilbuer
and Newmann Crove and scivice will begin
as soon as n postal clerk is appointed.
Itepiesentntlve elect McShano. ot Omaha ,
nnd Fiank Allen ami wile , ol Keokuk , la. ,
called upon the piosldent to-day.
Mrs. Chris Maglnes , who lias been visiting
at 1731 ! Thiilccnth sheet , leftto day for Cedai
Kapids , la.
Miss Weaver and Miss ( iillotle , of Iowa ,
will beat lioinn on Wednesdays during the
rest of tlio session ot congiess at 1012 Four
teenth stieet , northwest.
POSTAL C HANOI'S.
The second assistant postmaster general
has reversed his decision iu regard to im
mediately placing mall service on new lines
ot rail load In Kansas and Nchiaska niul
will heieatter establish borvico ns soon ns
now lines nro completed.
The following Nebiaska postmasters weio
appointed todai : James H , Waid , Covvlcs ,
Webster countv , vice Kdwanl ( iilfoid , re
moved ; F.dward H , Dunham , Farnam , Dawson -
son county , vice It. L. Cnstile , removed ;
also J. A. Wright. Castle ( hove , Jones
county , Iowa , vice H. M. Scott , removed.
Tim Dunham Murderer Arrested ,
FOUT WAYNJJ , Ind. , Feb. 10. A special to
tlio ( iaMto says : Joseph Hew n farm hand ,
vvas attested to-day for the murder of the
cntlio Dunham family near Warsaw , the
sickening details of which was described
ycsteiday , Hols in jail at AVaisaw , nnd tlio
neighbors of thn mmdeied taiully threaten
to lynch him , Dunham's pocket-book and
S3 In money were found in Plow's pocket.
He was eiuplojecl by Dunham , and two
weeks aso they qiiancled and Plow vvas dis
charged. When lie left ho threatened to get
even with Dunham. A pait of Dunham's
scalp was found trampled on in thu mud ,
whichdlspioves the theory of Filicide. Mis.
Dunham Is growing stronger , but i.i = till
unconscious. Dunham nnd thu child vvero
buried in one grave to-day.
Wild ISulliTlii Mnxlco.
CITY or MKXICO , Feb. 10. Several wild
bulls broke loose yesterday whllo being
driven through the city , and killed a number
of persons. Tlio luills were destined to bo
used In Hip coming bull fights. Two ot them
entered the court- } aid of thu national palace
and were shot down by the boldieiti. Mho
affair cieaUul much excitement.
Ontario 1-o ialuturo Opened.
TORONTO , Feb. 10. 'The OntarloJ les
turovoa Queued this utternaan.
PtiltllAPS ANOrilCU ItOUUOU ,
An Accident Ilcportcd to nn Impress
Train Nonr Cleveland.
Ct.r.vr.t.ANP , Feb. 11 , a n. m. It Isio-
ported that the midnight express on the
Cleveland & PIll.sbiiM railroad ran through
a bridge about six- miles trom the city which
md been weakened by the high water. Ills
impossible to verify the rumor or get details
at this hour. _ _
Tim I'ATTI 1KJMH.
A Scnintionat Kplsndc In the San
KranoiHCo Opera House.
SAN Fn VNCISCO , 1-eb. 10. A sensational
episode occurred last night at the Oiand
Opera house , wheie Adellnn Patti v.as giving
lierlaM conceit , of which a short bulletin vvas
cent last nleht , the pattlculaisof winch areas
lollows : At Idi'-'O , after Patti had twice ap
pealed In iront of the enitaln In response tea
a tecall and had just ictlied acnlntotho
wings a ticmetidou-t explosion was beard
iibovo thovoelleious npplatise , nnd clouds of
biuokowuro seen lo ilso over Iho lalling of
the top of tlio gallery. The people In the
galleiy wore rushing nbout becking
the quickest means of exit , nud It
was only by the self-pos
session of the men In the box coupled with
that ot tlio diva that a stampede ol tlie en-
the house was prevented. Patti , who was
still in sight in tlie flies , compichended the
situation , nud quickly came forwanl nud lie-
can singing , "Home , Sweet Home. " This
had n calming effect on the audience , and the
conceit was entried on to a conclusion. As
soon as tlie location of the double could bo
tound a policeman found n man with a badly
Imrncd face and hand , moaning with iv.'ony ,
with the remains of nn Infernal machine
nbout him. He vvas placed under nirest nnd
convened to Irvine hospital. No other per
son Is known to bo hint. The man gave his
name as Dr. James Hodges , n dvspepsia
specialist. His story maintains his Inno
cence and tlie chief ot police pronounced
him crank.
a
_ _ _ _
A aiotlicr's Horrible Deed.
Il.visironn , Conn. , Feb. 10. A low days
ago a young woman named Uoso Daly went
to Shellield tiom Kast Granby , whore she
had been living as a servant , to visit a family
named Hums. In the tempoiary absence of
Mrs. Hums the ciil is aid to have given
blrtn loan Illegitimate child , whoso life she
then sacrificed. As the facts are related , the
mother arose and , taking lier olfspilng with
her. went to an outhouse , walking over n
snowy path In her stocking feet , nnd at
tempted to sttaiight It. Fniline in this she
went back to thu house and with n table
knllecnt olt tlie infant's liead Riid put it in
thu stove , whllo she took the mutilated body
down into the cellar , where she lelt It. Mrs.
Hums returned soon nftervvauK She dis-
coveredby tlio oflousivo smell that something
vvns wioug , nnd opening tlie stove vvas
shocked nt seeing n bilw's head in the fire.
She snatched it out , ciisp nud blackened on
one side. Tlio vvictchc.il inolhor's iccovery is
considered doubtful.
A Child Abditctnr Foiled.
CIIIOAOO , Feb. 10. A special to the News
from Danville , 111. , sajs : An attempt wns
made to abduct Blanche Mays , the eight-year-
old adopted daughter of Mr. A. C. Mays ,
from thu Washington public school buildlnir
tills afternoon by an unknown woman , who
claims the child to bo tier daughter , which
the child admitted. The woman , accom
panied by a middle aged man , a stranger ,
diovo up to thu building. The woman hastily
alighted , entered the school room and made
several attempts to take the child by force.
Tlio teacher In chnrgo of the room vigorously
protested by holding on to the child and
screaming lor help. Other teachers came to
the rescue , and by force iclained possession
of tlie child. The woman , finding that hei
scheme was foiled , regained the carrhiso and
drove lapully away. The child , who is very
beautiful , is iroui the institution for home
less children at Kvanston , 111. She oiiglnally
came from Haclne , Wis. , anil her name was
Anna Hcldlng. Tlio allalr created a decided
sensation. _
KurclarR Drowned nnd Downed.
HOUND HIIOOK , N. J. , Feb. 10. Daring
thieves entered the postolllco hero last night.
They were discovered by the lailroad agent ,
who at once opened lire on them. Ono thief
vvns shot , but ho managed to gctnvvny tolho
Itarltan liver , where hnjumpcd in , hopiiu to
escape by bwimmlng to the other side. The
loss ot blood weakened him greatly and Iho
icy water numbed him. When but a tew feet
from the slime he sank with ndespaliing crv
and was diowncd. The pal of the drowned
thief made a desperate struggle lor freedom ,
luil was overpowered and taken into tlio city.
The robbers weio membeis ol thu same tang
who entered the Jeisov Citv postotllcit a lew
days ago , bound the watchman and janitor ,
nnd hied to tob tlie safe.
CoviMousncsH IjpndH to Murder.
Nnvv VOUK , Feb. lO.-Otto White , twenty-
two } ears old , to-night went to tlio residence
of his stepmother , Kll/abeth White , for the
purpose of killing her. A servant named
Ijonlsa Wolf opened the door In i espouse to
White's ring , ami ns she did so ho filed a
bullet through her head and she sank dead
upon threshold. Mrs. White , who had u > -
tiied with herclilldien , ian to the door , and
her stepson fired a second time , thn bullet en
tering thn cheek of his stepmother. Then
} oung White fled and has not yet been ar
rested. White's lather died nbout three
months aito , leaving Ills entlio eflects to his
wife. This augeicd tlie son , and lie has sev-
ei.il times thicatcncd to kill his stepmother.
A KiKlit With Indians In Arl/ona.
Ai4iiro.rr.mirr. N. M. , Feb. 10. ( leorgo
Lockhart , deputy sheritf ot Nnvnjo Springs ,
accompanied by Kd Palmer and Tom King ,
stalled Monday moinlng for Nnvejo leserva-
tlon tonuest nn Indian tor horse stealing.
They found him in tlio reservation bin-
loundcdbya largo paity. The Indian 10-
bisted arrest and Lockhait nhot nud killed
him instantly. The other Indians opened
lire on tlio tlnco men and Lockhart , Palmer
and King weio killed and left I ) ing where
they lell. The shetlll's posse killed two In
dians and wounded two others. The In
dians then loilu ot to Heniiet's stoic , near
Manillas station on the Atlantic it Kiel lie
rallioul , and stole all the piovislous they
could carry otl. The excitement is hiu'h and
people living around thn reservation mo
nfiald thn entire tilhowlllgo the war path ,
Another Indian war is Imminent ,
Twenty Inrllol IIICIIIH Aniilnst Moke.
CIIICAOO , Feb. 10. . 'he News' Pcoria (111. ( )
special sa > s : Thu giand jury returned
twenty Indictments against I 'in ley Ilolce to
day. The charge Is forgery and Is based on
drafts tilled out by HoKn that will aigic- ;
guteSlO.ouo. lloko will bo nnnlgned proba
bly tlio first ot next week- , His counsel will
object to Including moro than the seven
dmtts on wlilch extradition proceeding
weio commenced. It successful they can
thus reduce the defalcation chained one-half
and possibly furnish ball.
Kolliomcnl ,
Nr.vv Yor.K , Feb. 10. [ Special 'IVloginm
to tlto HII : : . I Thu World's Washington cor
respondent savs : A prominent gentleman
who enjoys the confidence of Secietaiy Man-
nlliL' , said to-day that theio were other causes
than thosn named for the seeietary wishing
to retire fiom the cabinet , "Manning has
been handicapped from thn time he assumed
the duties of secretary of tlio treasury until
the present day,1' said this friend. "Witn
the exception ot his financial policy ho has
been opposed by the piosident In almost
every detail of the administration dcpjit-
incut. The seel etui y long ago would have
had thn olliccs Idled with ilemociats in the
places of republicans , not iindui the civil ser
vice laws , hud it not been joi thu pri sldent ,
who Interposed an objection , TJiis was motit
than Manniii. had contracted ioi , Jlo felt
he should bo allowed to control the personnel
of his department w Itliout dictation from tlio
DAMAGE BY HEAVY FLOODS
Sections of Ohicngo nnd Her Suburbs
SulTor by Bad Overflows ,
HIGH WATER IN MICHIGAN ,
Scxornt Towns Thrcntcnnl With
Almost Complete Destruction on
Account of lee Jams A Mary
land Town Inundated.
\Vat r In Clilcajro.
Feb. 10. | Special Telegram to
Iho Uii : : . | The freshet In the Chicago river ,
aggravated by sevei.il Ice gorges , hassub-
meiired a largo area In the northwest nnd
southwest .sections of the city and sub
urbs. While no loss of Hie Is jet lepottcd ,
[ lie subsidence which et in nbout midnight
In Ihe southwest "section vvns n walled with
some nn\iotv as likely to reveal moro exten
sive destruction nnd pet haps fatalities not
now suxpected. The noilhwestcrn section
of the city , In the nelirhborliood ol Humboldt
park , was under water to-day. The wateis oC
the Desplalnes river , which Is about nlno
miles fiom the city , backed up Into the
ditches with which Unsconiitry lying between
the river and tlie western limits of Chicago
Is cut up several dnj.s ago. As there Is n
slight fall ofland towaid the city the water
came down slowly , tilling tlio ditches as It
camo. Yesterday It arrived nt thu city
limits , nnd tlio flood pouted Itself out over the
prairie west ot Humboldt park and
soon theio were vast lakes everywhere , vary
ing in depth Irom six inches to lour feet.
This morning thu little .settlements here ami
there on thn pialrlo weio completely sur-
loundudby water , which tilled the yards ,
basements nnd cellars , nnd In some Instances
lose as hich ns thu windows of tlio little cot
tages. In many places the sidewalks vvoro
nlloat , and had they biokun from their moorIngs -
Ings communication between the houses
w ould have been cut olf. The Hood appeared
to bo traveling eastward. On thu noith It
vvns stopped by Division btieot , which had
been gi.uled , and only In a few places did It
go south ot Chicago nvonue. Hut between ,
those thoroughfares , nnd liom Leavltt stieet j
to several blocks beyond Western avenue1
vvas one big lake , with the houses on llttlo
Islands , liken western Venice. The streets ,
however , weio not submerged , although the
Hood ran over the ninth and south streets In
little rivers. At noon the waters were sub
siding west of Western avenue , but further
east the Hood was slowly lislng. The only
damage will bu to the property In basements
nud cellars , which will bo large in the aggre
gate.
_ _
Othrr Dcstrnctlvo Floods.
LYONS , Mich. , Feb. 10. Tlio Grand river
rose dining thu nldit about four feet , and
an Ice coigo totmed just below the city. The
whole business portion ol thu town Is under
water and gioat damage Is siistalno'l. The
loss will icach Into the thousands. Several
Inmllioj have been diiven Irom the dwel
lings. Should the Lansing ice icnch hero
befoio the gorge bleaks it will probably le.ivo
the river bed and cairy many nouses1
down tlio river. Ail mails am shut oil ,
from north and west. It is lOared n Hourlng
mill with 10,000 bushels of wheat nnd 2UO
baucls ol Hour will bo Hooded. Thu water ,
Is suveial feet deep In tlio woolen mills nnd
Cornell woiks ,
News from up river shows that the worst 13
not > et. Should Lansing Ice , which Is ex
pected here tonight , rei.eh us beloro this
gorge gives away , theio , Is no limiting the
damage that must bo done.
LAIKU Hy the use ot dynamltn the Ice
gorges have been bioken and the danger
seems to be past.
Owosso. Mich. , Feb. 10. The ice In the
Shiawassec river is jammed below Main
stieot bildgoand the water , already high , Is
ilsliiL' giadually. All tactoiies along the
liver have been oblltted to close.
Pour DEPOSIT. Mil. , Feb. 10. The Ice
corge at McCall's fei i v gave w ay to-day ana
the river is using lapldly. Thu main street
and raili oad tracks are submeiged and trouble
is anticipated.
The water at Port Deposit has been rlsinjj
steadily since hv-t night , nnd at" o'cloclc a.
m. had attained a height ot eigiit leet above
low watermark. The entire lower side ot
Main street is again submerged and residents
me making pioparatinns tor Immediate re
moval. Should the obstiuctlon in thu mouth
ot the river continue to resist the piessurn o
ieeundvviiieriigenei.il Inundation ol Port
Deposit is inov liable. The gorge at Cress-
well , Pa. , remains inlact and two miles or
moie of Hack ol the Columbia it Port Deposit -
posit Itailioad compiny is snbmeiired two or
three feet. About n mlle of their track Is
iindei water at Pott Deposit ana tinlllc is en-
tnely suspended.
AVrpclccd l > y an Ice Ploo.
Nr.vv YOIIK , Feb. 10. The ISiitlsh steamer
"Wells Clt } " wns bunk down in tlio Hudson
river this morning by the steamer "Lono
Star , " ol the Morgan lino. Tlio "Wells
Citv" had just ni rived from Hrlstol , and was
nt anchor off her pier , when the "Lono Star , "
coming up the river ran into her and stove a
hole In her hull. Shu filled lapldly nnd sank.
The "Lone Stai" was much damaged nnd
made her way to thu landing and was laid
up there. The ofllcer and ciewoflhu sink
ing steamer were taken anhoro.
Later investigation invonls that It vvas noc
another steamer , but floating river leu which
stove In the sldcof the steamer Wells City ,
The Wells City had nnchoied in the stream
nt tlio foot ot West Sl.xty-slxth stieet. Ho-
tvveen tluce and lour this mninlnu' an Im-
imtnsi > Hoe came down with the out-going
tluo nnd caught her. The Weils Oitv did
not hive steam up , nnd wns enrileddown
tlio ilvci , drau'i-'lng her anchor moio than n
mlle and a half , icslsllng all olfnits to stop
her. Opposite Christopher stieet tlm steamer
Lone Stir was nnchoied. The Wells City
diitled broadside UPOII hei bow nnd wns
struck by the cut-water ol tlie Lone Star ,
knocking a hole in hei hull. ThociowoC
twenty-thieo men and tlio captain took to
the boats betoru the steamei sank. Shu was
valued nt&lXhOuO , and her caigo , consisting
of block tin , was valued at § 110,000 , She
will bu raised.
Itriit.il
Hru nvu.i.i : , N. J. . Feb. 10.-Special [
TelOfe'iam to Iho Hr.ic.J-ln thodrylng room of
the tobacco factory heio one of the most
savage and longest prl/e lights of the latter
days was witnessed yesterday. The prin
cipals weio two mill hands Ned Hawkins.
tweiity-thieo yeais old , and weighing HI
pounds , and Hilly McMahon , aged twenty-
live , and Impounds. The purse of S'CJO , for
which they fou.-ht , was subscribed by well
known Nuw Voik men , One bundled nnd
twelve bare knncKlo loundswero fought ac
cording to London prUo ring rules , and the
light lasted two liotiis nnd fifty-two minuted.
McMahon vvas much thu better man nt
wiestllng , nnd flooied Hawkins twenty-two
Unas , but vvns deficient In science , Hawkins
scoring eighteen clear Knock-downs. Hoth
men went leiiibly uved up , hut showed gameness -
ness throughout. At tin ! end ol the U"th
i oiiiid Medium was unable to stand up , and
Hawkins w-.s declared the winner and
au aided | ho puisc. Ill lecognitloii or Me-
Million's pluck the spectators nmdt ! up an ml-
dilioiKil purse of fcttf and presented It to
him.
AnOimilfn Man Knocked Out ,
rmrAOo , Feb. 10.-fhpeei.il Telegram to
thn Hr.r.j John Cahlll , a lumber dealer
trom Omaha , wns attacked by an unknown
man in front of No. si Madison street , nt H
o'clock last nU'iit. His assailant allied him
lor a match. Ho replioj that ho had none. .
The feiluw madu n i-T.ib tit Cahlll's wntcli
chain , and at the stum > time striu-l ; him be
tween thn eyes witliu patv of brass knuckles ,
cutting him soveiel } , Iho would-be , robber
escaped through tlio alley , Cahlll offers a re <
U.uil li.r tint jllK.Lfit