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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (March 16, 1888)
THE OMAHA DAILY BEE SEVENTEENTH YEAR. OMAHA , FRIDAY. MO&NING. MARCH 16 , 18S8. NUMBER 272 , SPREAD TO THE SANTA Fit and Flromon On Anotbor System Go Out. RUMORS OF MORE TO FOLLOW. A Number of Complications Arise Un expectedly ku the Strike Situa tion Tixlks of a Compro mise The Outlook. The Santn Fc Tied Up. CHICAGO , March 15. Thirty-two hundred Allies of railway were tied up this afternoon in exactly tea minutes by the brotherhoods Of locomotive engineers nnil flromcn. Tha entire main line of the Atchlson , Topcka & Bnntn Fo company and nil Its branches were brought to n standstill. A stretch of tcrrl tory Irom St. Paul on the north to El Paso on tlio south practically the whole breadth of the United States Is now Involved In the struggle that stinted between the Burlington company and Us employes. KANSAS CITV , Mo. , March 13. The Santa Fe strike created intense excitement and sur prise hero for the reason that the road has not been handling Burlington freight. That the" strike was ordered by some ono In nu thority there Is no doubt , but In this city the men profess Ignorance of the Issuing of any such orders and say they have quit because they nro "tired. " The first Indication of trouble hero was nt half past 4 o'clock this afternoon when the Osage City express was scheduled to depart. Conductor Murray gave order to start , when Engineer Biggins quietly stepped from his cab and refused to pull out. At the same time that Hlgglns left his cnglncattho union depot forty incn employed In the Santa Fo freights at Argentine quit work , all dcclar ing themselves "tired. " Nothing positive can bo said us to the origin or causa of the strike. The men had a grievance a month ago and u conference with the ofilchils and were granted all they asked for. Resolu tions were adopted nt the grievance commit tee meeting nt Topcka some days ago , threat ening n strike If the company accepted Bur lington freight , but It has been understood that the Santa Fo was nothandlingboycotted business. Toi'KKA. Kan. , March 15. This afternoon J. T. Goddard. general manager of the Atch- ison. Topcka & Sunta Fo railway , received the following telegram : J. T. Goddard : The engineers and firemen of the Santa Fo system quit at 4 this after noon. noon.Signed ( ) T. CONUOC. To whictt Mr. Goddard transmitted this reply : The chairman of the general grievance committee of the brotherhood of engineers , who is1 now in this city , received n telegram from- Arthur to-night instructing him to send n committee to Chicago at once and intimat ing that the Santa Fo company was ready to compromise. The chairman replied by ask ing if the Burlington would yield to its de mands in case the Santa Fo strike was lifted. No reply has been received as yet. TOPUKA , March 15. T. Conroo , Chairman Grievance Committee. Atchison , Topeka & Santa Fo Railway , Kansas City : At 3:50 : this afternoon I received your telegram no tifying mo that the engineers and firemen whom you represent would quit at 4 o'clock to-day. As wo have faithfully kept every written and verbal agreement mudo With your organization your action is a surprise , and I would bo glad to know on what it Is taken ; also do you Intend that it shall cover ppssenscr train service us well ns freights. ( Signed ) J. T. GoDi > A.ni > . The Associated press agent has learned the facts concerning the relationship of the brotherhood engineers to the Atchlson , Topeka - poka & Santa Fo company and u statement of the facts concerning the relationship with out comment will probably place the railroad company and brotherhood in a proper light before the public. For several years the brotherhood of engineers has been recognized and fostered ns a legitimate and reputable trade association by the Santa Fo railroad company. Fully UO per cent of the engineers employed by the company have been for years brotherhood engineers. From time to time representatives of the brotherhood have n with the managers of the railroad com pany and discussed grievances or entered into friendly consideration of matters look ing to the improvement of their condition. The company 1ms done this in pursuance of a policy which It believed was duo to the public to pursue , viz ; To have stability and experience in its motive power department in the interest of the safety of tlio life and property of its patrons. No just request which has over been made to the company by the representatives of the brotherhood has been refused ; and but very recently thu very milcago schedule which is the cause of tlio quarrel between the brother hood and the Chicago , Burllagton & Quiucy was submitted to the Atchlson. Topcka & Santa Fo railroad company , and In n friendly confercnco was accepted and put in force by the company. The Atchison , Topcka & Santa Fu railroad company , through its proper ofllcers , about February 1 , entered into a contract with the locomotive engineers and ilrcmcn upon tlio Santa Fo and Southern KUUHUS railway sys tem. Every Item in the contract consisting of twenty-six articles , tlio larger part of which looked'to the benefit of the employes was carefully gene over at Chicago by representatives of tlio brotherhood and thu vice president of the company. In consideration of the concessions mudo and the largo benefits and advantages given , and the perfect confidence bestowed by the com pany upon tills class of Its employes , the engineers and firemen agreed , through their representatives , that tlioy would not full to perform their duties without giving the com pany thirty days notice. On the Stli and Oth days of March confer cnccs were hold which finally resulted in the service of notices by representatives of the brotherhood upon the company to tlio effect that after Sunday ninrnlnc1 , tlio llth , tha engineers and firuuion would refuse to haul Burlington cars. Tlioy admitted they had no grievance against tlio Santa Fo road , but sympathized with their brothers on ttio Burlington and desired to aid them in their fight. Ttio com. inlttco repeatedly stated that no strike would bo ordered ; that each man would act for him self. The company assured tha committee- they could not act in violation of tha intur- p > ita 'commerce luw. They would lay the ' notice before the board of directors for con sideration , pending which it was presumed no action would bo taken by tlio engineers certainly not without the notice proviilod for in their contract. Since that thuo tlio engin eers had not been asked against their wishes to haul any trulnscontuiiiiiigBurlington curs. At no time , however , has tlio company put Hbclf beyond thu pnlo of tlio luw or donc-uny- thing to visit upon It penalties for disobe dience , AIIII.KNE , Kan. , March 15. No Santa Fo trains arrived liero tills evening from Strong City ami nonu left hero for Salinu or Con cord In. A-Union Pacific engineer passing hero to-night being informed of the strike on the Sauta Fe , stated that before morning the engineers on the Union Pacific would leave their engines. LAJV.NTA , Cole , , March 15. All the freight engineers struck at 4 p. in. to-day on the Santa Fo on account of the road hauling Bur lington freight. All trains that loft hero bo. fore the time sot for the btriko will bo al lowed to rnako the round trip and wlll.bo tied up hcjo on their return. The engineerstato that after 4 p. m. to-day no jvwsciiKor trains will bo allowed to leave Los Augclcs or nun- 6as-City , but those tlmt had blurted before that time will bo allowed ta ruii tluough to their destination , ' PENVEII , Colo. , March 15. The ' superin tendent of the Santa Fo company'lo-night Btated that ho had been informed , tlio cngln. cers and firemen are not striking be.caUso of ftn7 di"atfuctiou ] jw to wages or th6 policy of the company , but slmply'through sympa thy with Iho Burlington eiri rs. The Chi- cufco express .and all freights loit J'cro as usual to-nlgut , but it is.not kilown whether tfccy will be run through or not , The opinion fLjUQ ( > K f&Urogi ftita is that tho'iiow ino ve on the part of the Santa Fo men will bo ex tended. Ai.jitlQfEHQur. , N. M. , March 15. It Is un derstood at this point that the cause of the strike on the Sixnta Fo was because the com pany requested the men to haul Burlington cars. A committee bf engineers waited on the. manager of the road and Informed him of their determination. The officials told the committee that the Intcr-stato commcrco law compelled them to handle Burlington cars. This the men refused to do and 2,000 engineers and firemen on the Santa Fo and and about 1,000 on the Atlantic & Pacific stopped work. All passenger trains which started before 4 this evening will bo token to their destinations. Widely Vnrylnc Assertions. CHICAGO , March 15. ( Special Telegram to the BEE. " ! "Tho strike on the Burlington will bo declared off within the next forty- eight hours , " said the general manager of ono of the most Important railway systems In tno country to your , correspondent this afternoon. The gentleman referred to Is In n position to know something of the Inside workings of the Burlington and of the brotherhood. 'That Is my firm belief , " he continued , "and It Is the best thing the brotheriiood can do. It will hurt them less to surrender than any oilier move they can make nt this Junc ture. Public sympathy will still bo with them and their organization will not bo hurt by such action , white to extend the strike means death to the brotherhood. I think both sides will learn a lesson from their ex perience In tills case. Tno voad will bo more disposed to compromise and the brotherhood will bo sure hereafter that all their demands are just before presenting them. I , as a rail way manager , endorse and approve of the brotherhood. It is tno best labor organiza tion there is , and I should dislike to sco it hurt. " "What has this strike cost the railway , do you think 1" "Not loss than 81,000,000. If it i7 stopped to-day I nm satisfied that their February earnings will show that decrease. " Thtf events of the day seem to confirm the prediction of the railroad men and the belief Is general to-night that a crisis of some kind is at hand. All the eastern and western lines have be gun to handle and deliver .Burlington freight again for the first time since the embargo was placed on it. The Belt line has weakened at the prospect of a suit at law , deeming it the better part of valor to use discretion. The bill filed last night by the Chicago , Bur lington & Quiucy seems to have taken effect very rapidly. This morning Trainmaster Pope , of the "Q. , " received the following brief note , which explains itself : Commencing this morning wo will receive from and deliver to you as usual.A. A. KANKIN. Mr. Rankln is the agent of the Belt line at Hawthorne , the crossing of the Belt line and the Chicago , Burlington & Qumcy tracks. The Union Stock Yards and Transit company notified Mr. Pope that they were ready to handle all their cars. George Titus Williams , secretary of the Stock Yards company , has written to the Chicago , Burlington & Quincy officials that their letter of the Oth , asking that the "Q. " truffle bo handled , was loft un answered to sco how matters would develop by the first , second or third days of this week. The engineers employed by the switching department have decided to deliver to the consignees all Chicago , Burlington & Quincy cars. Yesterday at noon , without saying a word or sending a note , the Northwestern railroad pulled out forty-six Burlington cars that had been waiting for them on the trans fer track , which may bo accepted as an indi cation that the Northwestern will handle "Q. " freight. Tims the boycott is over with all roads except tno Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Rock Island. It is understood that unless they give in at once legal proceedings will bo instituted to compel them to handle freight and then the last bar will come down and the Chicago , Burlington & Quincy may bo sUd to have won an unqualified victory. A reporter asked Paul Morton about the latest scheme evolved by the strikers to ham per traffic. "Tho new policy of the roads , as outlined by the strikers , seems to bo that the Burling ton shall bo crowded with ail the freight thilt can bo delivered. " "What fix will that put the Burlington In ? "That will bo just what wo want. Wo will take everything offered In the way of freight , and bo glad to get it. " "It lias been stated that you were so block aded on Forty-eighth street that your men locked the switches to keep tlio belt line men fiom shoving In more curs , and that the belt line people broke the locks and crowded them in anyhow. " "Tho man who gave that information was cither misinformed himself or ejso lie had an impediment in his veracity. The alleged blockade is nothing like wo have hud in ordi nary times don't ' begin to bo ns great. " "Yes ; but then you had your full comple ment of engineers. " "Well , we have practically our full comple ment of men in the Chicago yards now. Here's where tlifl glut would bo if tliero were any to speak of. " "What effect will tlio strike or the sickness of the Union Pacific engineers have on your traffic ? " "Npno at all. Wo don't wish to brag or say anything offensive , but the strike is over Wo have won it. This is not meant to bo salt In a boasting spirit. Wo are simply serene in the consciousness of victory. " When tlio Bolt line case came up before Judge Gresham this afternoon it was agreed to postpone the matter until the Burlington counsel should call it up. The genera freight agent of the Burlington issued i notice to shippers , agents and connecting lines that they were now ready to receive ul live stock , perishable und other freight to al stations on the Burlington or brandies ani all freights for all points beyond Chicago. But Arthur and Sargent asserted this afternoon that there was no Important change In the situation. Alexander Sullivan , who Is counsel for the brotherhood , said as far ns ho know there were no thoughts of surron dcr. Ho believed the stories that the strike would bo declared off wore being jndustri ously circulated by the Burlington with tlio hope of frightening the men. At the strik ers' headquarters the chairman of tha press committee , O'Brien , said : "I BOO by ono of tbo papers that there is likely to bo a split in the brotherhood and that Chief Arthur prac tically acknowledges himself beaten. Well now , my son , just let mo breathe ono little word in your cur , " and , raising his powerful fist in tbo air. ho brough it down on the tame with a whack as ho breathed. In a voice that made tlio windows rattle , ' 'both statements are lies , " and then after catching his breath , ho resumed : "There is not the slightest sign o u split in the brotherhood , Tlio grievance committee did not , it is true , coino. to nnj definite understanding last night , or rathe did not finish their business , but they are in session to-day 'and when they adjourn seine harmonious plan of operation will have bcei decided U [ > on. " "What will that plan bo ? " "I can't say. Now , ns to our being ills heartened und acknowledging ourbd'vei beaten. I will say that since the boginning-o the strike wo have had no greater reason to feel encouraged than now. Wo feel confidcii of winning , mid you may say us much for Mr. Arthur. I have every confidence thn the strike will bo over in a few days and tha wo will win. " "Do you mean to say that you really bcliovo the Burlington will acccdo to your demand ( ' "I do , n\ost assuredly , i can't give you my reasons Just at present , I'1 do not thlnl they arc any the less weighty for that. " The Holt tilno'H Position. CiiiCAGQ , March 15. When tha position o the Uurllagton railway against the Belt line road came up for hearing this afternoon counsel for the Burlington stated that the Belt line wsis now receiving Burlington cars und evidently making every effort possible to handle their freight. JIo therefore re quested the court to postpone further pro- cccdiucs ill the cabo until called up by coun .sel for defendant. Judge Qrcsliau > asked if uch arrang6mcnt would bo satisfactory for oiinsd for the Belt lino. Ho replied that It vould , but nt the same titrio ho wished it dls- IncUy understood that the action of the bolt ino.vas not duo to ttio petition of the Bur- Ington , but was n voluntary proceeding on bo part of tile directors of the company. Hut Little Local Change There is very little change that can bo earned of with regard 'to the great strike. All was quiet about the B. & M. depot ycs- .csday and the only noticeable thing was the following order posted in a conspicuous i > lacc i "All persons not mploycd by this com- nany are hereby warned not to trespass on the company's grounds. " [ Signed. ] F. E. CAt.VF.tiT , General Superintendent. This order is a direct strike at the strikers , and is so accepted by them. Not ono of the brotherhood engineers could bo scon at the depot yesterday. ' TUB IIWIIMNOTON CONFIDENT. The officers of the B. & M. in this city deny that there is now any strike or trouble of any kind on their road. They claim that all trains are moving and that they have a sufficient force to tuko care of their business. They say they have won a decisive victory and do not recognize any alleged rights of their former employes. The fact tlmt the consultation between the brotherhood engi neers that are employed on the Union Pacific switch engines and officers of that road re sulted in them returning to work and consent ing to move Burlington cars , Is considered to bo an additional victory for the B. & M , From Union Pacific , officials it is learned that they are receiving both freight and cars from the Burlington road and that it is be ing moved. A Ten Days' Trip. As an Instance of the inconvenience the public have to undergo on account of the re fusal of the Burlington road to employ com petent engineers , it is stated on ( rood author ity that a farmer named Dawson , who had decided to remove from Dunlap , la. , to York county , Nebraska , has bed his personal ef fects , beside three cars of stock , including horses , on the road for ten days be fore reAchIng - Ing his destination. The animals were in a very thin condition before they reached the end of their trip. Ono gentleman Informed a BED reporter yesterday that ho loaded his household goods at Beatrice on Friday last to bo shipped to this point and that they have hot arrived yet. Ho says lie expects that the Chicago , Burlington & Quincy will probably charge him for storage in addition to freight. The Situation nt Lincoln. LINCOLN , Neb. , March 15. [ Special Tele gram to the Ben. ] The local field In strike matters Is unchanged. The Union Pacific handles no Burlington cars at this point , and it is generally understood that the refusal came from the Union Pacific headquarters. The delay In local passenger trains at this point docs not improve and but very little be yond strictly local freight is handled. Ship ments in local freights are running very light under the unsettled condition of affairs , and trade in the city is visibly affected thereby. Tlio boys at the hall ' maintain their confidence , and the report circulated for effect in the city that numbers of them are leaving tlio city for other parts is wholly unfounded. Contributions and expressions of good will find their way to , the hall nourly. Mayer Bros. , Shilling Bros. , Ed Young , W. G. Boiianiian and II. B. Vail have kept the boys Hooded with cigars , and a baker sent a couple of boxes of oranges to the hull. The usual number of dispute-he's were received from all points yesterday. Hannibal , JIo. , reports ten engines disabled at tlmt point. tieardstown , 111. , reports trains delayed for lack of engines to pull them and that circulars were sent out daily there to the men , urging them to return to work , but none have returned. Crcston reports another engine added yester day to the list of thobo burned out. Quincy , 111. , reports freight trains almost totally dfs- continued , the men contented and satisfied with Judge GreshUm's decision. McCook re ports hard times experienced there by the road in moving trains , four engineers being required to bring the Denver train to tlmt point yesterday. They report not a compet ent engineer employed at that point. It is reported * hat a narrow escape occurred near Suwurd from a collision. A scab engineer , hauling a fi eight , ran low on water at Utica. and , taking his engine , ho started for Seward for water , running on the time of a passen ger train. Ho met tlio passenger train near Tamora , but as it was on a straight truck both engines were stopped in time to avert a collision. A Wreck nt David City. DAVID CITV , Neb. , March 15. [ Special Telegram to the Buu.l The south bound B. & M. freight train was wrecked this after noon between this place and Bellwood through the carelessness of a scab engineer. Tlio train got stuck coming up the hill north of town , when eight cars were cut off , brought up the grade and sidetracked. In backing down the grade for the remaining curs the engineer was unable to control his locomotive , which smashed back into the cars , derailing ono freight cur and the ca- booso. The north bound freight crew attempted to assist , and part of it is now a wreck. Two brukomeu abandoned tlio wrecked train. The north bound passenger Is now sidetracked with all its passengers at this pluco. The pusscnger engine and crow has gone to help clear away the wreck. It is dpubtful if the train leaves this place before morning. No ono was seriously injured , though all received n terrible shaking up. Offers to Ilccclvu AH Freight. CHICAGO , March 15. General Freight Agent Hiploy of the Burlington road to-nighl issued a notice that the Chicago , Burlington & Quincy , Chicago & Iowa , Chicago , Bur lington & Northern , Chicago , Burlington & Kansas , St. Louis , Kookuk & Northwestern , Hannibal & St. Joe , Kansas City , St. Joe & Council Bluffs , Tlumvston & Shciifuidouh , Burlington & Western , Burlington K North western. and Burlington Js Missouri River Ituilroud in Nebraska , uro' now ready to re ceive and carryall freight , ' including live stock , for shipment over lines' named and also to points beyond Chicago or , other Illi nois Junction points. Two More Striken Threatened. KANSAS CITV , Mo. , March 15. Kiunors nro persistently circulated hero lute to-night thai u strike will begin on the Kansas City , Ft. Scott .t Gulf system at 10 a. in , to-inorrow and on the Missouri Pacific engineers at 1 p. ui. to-morrow. Tlio brotherhood disclaim any knowledge of any such plan , but the sud den und surprising turn of affairs on the Santa Fo this evening strengthens the be lief in the reports. BtundlriK By Their Brothers. CuiCAao , March Ifi. A meeting of dele gates from the engineers and firemen ol every road entering Chicago was continued to-day and will be in session again to-mor row. To-day they voted , eitkt und west alike unanimously , to uphold the Burlington strikers. A uniform plan of action was de termined upon , _ Arthur Kllent. CHICAGO , March 15. Chief Engineer Arthur and Grand Master Sargent were In bed to-night at an early hour when the reporter porter called with news of the great Atchlson strike. After much hammering on the door 5aT C7it Vf ? * Induced t ? como forth , but could give no Information regarding IliO atriks. it was all news to him. Sympathy of Full-bury FAiuuuitvNob. , March 15. [ Special to Iho DBS. ] The following resolutions wore unan- iraojusly adopted b'y Local Assembly No. 10051 , Knights of. Labor , ' at its last regular meeting ; Whereas , This is a struggle between the DISPOSING OFlLAiiD CASES , The Secretary of the Interior De cides Some la Nebraska. DENOUNCING MILLS' MEASURE. CoiiKrcssinnn GofT , of "West Virginia , Shown How It "Would 1'nrnlyzo the beading Industries of That State. Clearing Up Titles WASHINGTON BUHKAU THK OMAHA Her ! : , , 1 513 FouuTr.ENTH STHEKT , t WASHINGTON , D. C. , March fo A number of Nebraska land cases were disposed of by the secretary of the interior to-day. The decision of the land commis sioner , holding for cancellation the timber culture entry of George H. Handall , con tested by Calvin H. Heed , from the McCook land district , and involving the southeast } i of section 17 , township 3 , north range 2'.i , west , is reversed by the secretary of the Interior. This confirms the original decision of th'o local land ofllcers , who visited the claim ana mudo u personal examination as to the Improvements made , but from this de cision contestant appealed and thocommlsslon held the land for cancellation. The entry is now held to bo legal and the decision of the land ofllcers recognized as valla. In the pre-emption contest of AlvaG. Noble vs Fernando C. Etrod , from the NIobrara district , and Involving the northwest / of section 33 , township 28 , nort range 4 , west , the decision of the commissioner rejecting appellant's dual proof and holding his declar atory statement for cancellation , Is aftlrmcd. The decision of the commissioner In the appeal case of William T. Buttcrfleld , hold ing for cancellation the pre-emption cash entry for the northeast if of section 2 , town ship 1 , north , range 25 , Bloomlngton land district , is also afllrmod on the ground that Butterflold hud moved from other land of his own In Nebraska to the land in contro versy. The appeal casq of James E. Antrim , In volving the southwest \ of section 33 , town ship 3 north , range 10 .east , Nebraska dis trict , holding his declaratory pre-cmptiou statement for cancellation , is returned to ttio commissioner for further consideration , with additional testimony. The secretary says that the decision of the local ofllrors In re jecting the claimantiT > roof because ho had commuted a homestead entry , and the com missioner's decision" affirming such action , are erroneous. The now testimony is in thu form of an abstractor title to the quarter section entered by the claimant under the homestead law , showing that the title had passed from him prior to his settlement on the pre-emption claim. , TO I'AV THE OMA1IAS IN TWO YEAHS. From the senate committee on Indian af fairs to-day Mr. Dawcs made a favorable re port on the bill to poyln two annual install ments of ? 3o,000 each tlio $70,000 due to the Omaha tribe of Indians in Nebraska and payable under existing laws in seven annual installments of $10,000 each. The money is to be paid per capita" and is to bo applied to the improvement of Indian lands , etc. PADDOCK'S liULO'QY ON MOFFATT. Among those who'.delivcred eulogies in the senate on Representative iloffutt , of Michi gan , was Senator Paddock , who spoke for ten minutes in commemoration of the dead. congressman. Mr. Paddock's speech was a clearly and easily delivered analysis of Mr. Moffutt's traits of character and was well received by the senate und galleries. WKST vmniNiA roil Ttuirr ruoTrcTioN. This evening I met General GofT , repre sentative of the first West Virginia district , the leading republican of that state , and asked him what ho thought of the Mills tariff bill. He said : "It is the most pernicious bill proposed since the democratic party has had control of the houso. It threatens the entire business interests of the nation. It is a blow at the farmer , It would ruin the manufactur ing , it will destroy the wool interest , now ono of the largest und most important in tlio country , made so by the protective system. We now produce one-sixth of ull the wool grown in the world. " "How would the bill affect West Virginia ? " ' It is n savage attack upon most of her in dustries wool , lumber and salt West Vir ginia's products upon the free list. Our lum ber trade is now lurgo and increasing. Our forests are extensive and among the most valuable on the continent. Wo make largo shipments to all the eastern and scacoast cities. With frco lumber tills will cease unless wo have great reduction in our labor nnd transportation rates. This measure will icturd the development of our state , bo a set- baei ; of the boom recently Inaugurated , prevent vent the building of railroads und generally discourage our people. " "How will it bear on the industries of your Uistrictsl" "That strikes them particularly hard. It destroys wool growing , in which my district Is largely interested , It will close our woolen mills and severely injure our gla s and pot tery establishments , ns also our iron nnd steel works. It pretends to correct an equal ity as between 'hard' and 'soft' steel. Emi nently proper , which should have been done by a separate measure. Then it would have passed without difficulty. As it is it will full. After correcting , iu ono sense , the equality mentioned , it then virtually destroys the in dustry or squeezes Into death the men en gaged in it. It will close our potteries. It is an unpardonable blow at them. They can not continue in business under this bill unless tliero is a largo reduction in the wages of those employed in them. That should not bo asked nor forced by law , The reduction iu tills particular is ruinous On decorated ware it is ; per cent of the duty und in plain it is ! i pur cent. In my Judgment there should bo no reduction as far as this Industry is con cerned. Hut this will do now ; some other time for tlio rest. " "You do not find much good in the bill. I seo. Will it pass ! " "I do not think it will pass. It IB a mon strous proposition. It is the entering wcdgo to frco trade , Jt is ns far as they dard go now. Tlio bill is patchwork , abounding m consistencies put together to catch votes , Is sectional in Us characteristics und full of fa voritism. " ' rilRSIDEMTAIi I'llATTI.E. Representative Cimnon , of Illinois , in dis cussing presidential probabilities this after noon , said ho believed the west would this time nominate the head of the ticket and that among the strongest men in his state was ex- Senator Harrison , oLIndiana. Ho said Harrison risen would make ono of the most thoroughly successful and manful campaigns und one of the cleanest presidents that tlio country had over had. lie believed that Illinois will give him support : in the convention , Mr. Cannon represents the Danville district and is the oldest republican member from the state , us well us 0110 of the brainiest und most influen tial. This evening's Critic , in two columns of interviews with various prominent repub lican members uml senators , con cludes from the gencrul expression that Mr. Harrison is ns likely to bo nominated as any man mentioned since the withdrawal of Bluino. Burrows , of Michi gan , regards Blalno as clear outside of the range of presidential possibilities , und Harri son as ono of the most likely men before the country. An Illinois republican of national reputation , who does not deslro his , name used , suys that his state will beyond any question of reasonable doubt cust some votes in the convention from the first for Harrison. I and that there is a disposition on ttio part of j tllO parti' in Illinois to support Gresham ; fhut if the rCTtihUnins of Illinois endorse nnyboify with unanimity he will bo Senator Cullom , und that if Grcshum shCu.1 ! bo nomi nated ho would havq to Immediately res ( 2 his position on the bench , to which ho pre dicts Iteprcscntativo Holuian , of Indiana , would bo nominated by the president , 'us thu party wants Holuian out of the houso. rni : OMAHA rasTOiTJCK HIM. . There was & meeting this , afternoon of the conference committee on thD Omaha public Senator Quay was hot pres ent anil ilnal action could not bo taken. A general discussion of the bill as It passed the senate and the house amended It ensued , in which Mr. McShano showed the necessity of making the full appropriation at this time for the purchase of the slto and the construc tion of the building , and ho said to-night the outlook was uory encouraging. No indlca- catlon was given , however , of what will fin ally bo done and the committee adjourned to meet next week upon the call of the- chairman on the part of the senate and house conferences , and Mr. McShano said to night that ho felt very much encouraged , but ho rould not say from the proceedings this afternoon what would bo douo , as thcro was not enough of expression to Indicate definitely the Ideas of the confer ence committee as a whole. Senator Quay , of the committed , has been at his homo In Pennsylvania for some time , but Is expected to bo present when the committee meets again. MtXOU MATTKR3. George C. Baker and \vlfo. of DCS Motncs , are at the Ebbott. Captain Gordon Wlnslow , Eighth Infantry , has been ordered to report for examination by the army retiring board at Fort Leaven- worth. Captain Charles C. Western , Fourteenth infantry , Is granted seven days' oxtcnslotrof leave. Senator Paddock Introduced a bill to-day to remove tlio charge of desertion from the military record of Loren W , Hastings. PCHUV S. ItCATII. DEATH ON THE KAIL. Three Fatal Accidents on the Lchlgh Valley Koacl. EISTON , Pa. , March 15. Asnow-plow acci dent occurred yesterday on the Lcliigh Val ley railroad at Three Bridges , N. J. , three engines botng derailed and overturned. En gineers Apgar and Derry and Conductor Bullman were killed , and Fireman Pixloy fatally scalded. On the Morris and Essex branch another catastrophe of n similar nature occurred In which ono engineer was killed. On the Now Jersey Central , near Hamil ton , a fireman was fatally Injured when the engine was bucking a drift , by pricked snow bursting through tlio front of ttic cab and jamming him ngainst the tank. THIS COMMISSION AT CHICAGO. Upon Leaving the Crqani City They AVI11 Como Direct to Omaha. CHICAGO. March 15. [ Spscal Telegram to the Bui : . ] "You will have to sco the chair man of the commission , Judge Coolcy , In the adjoining parlor , " said Congressman William U. Morrison to-day , when interrogated as to the programme of the Intcr-stnto commission now in session here. "I am hero at Iho re quest of the commission , " ho added. "No , I have nothing to say about politics. I don't mean by that that I am not interested in public questions , only that I have nothing to say on the subject Just now. " Judge Cooley was lound in parlor Q in com pany with several gentlemen. Ho stated that the commission hud no regular pro gramme for the day. They were having a grout many visitors and doing a great many things. There would be no public session , and nothing of public interest would bo done. It is understood the commission will spend several days in this city on its way to Ne braska to hear eight or nine cases which would bo tried at Oniuhu or Lincoln. While hero the commission will meet the general manager of the Canadian Pacific railway to go over with him the business which had found its way-over the road to or from the United States. It is not thought that the "Q. " strike will come up before the commission. VICTI5I. * Miss O'Dowd Still Suffering Great Pulii From Her Injuries. SPUINGFIUI.D , Mo. , March 15. [ Special Telegram , to the Bun. ] The excitement ca'used by Dr. Cox's attack on Mibs O'Dowd continues , Fouton Cox , the son , left the city lust night. Miss O'Dowd is no better , and she is suffering from the bruises as well as burns. Ono car is nearly severed by tlio iieid , and her face is black and swollen. A large portion of her hair has fallen out , and pieces of glass were removed from under the skin lust night. Miss O'Dowd was raised at Wcston , Mo. Her father and mother arc dead , but she has two brothers , ono in Kan sas City nnd one in Lawrence , Kan. Fenton Cox denied sending either telegrams or puss to her , and It is now thought that his futhcr sent them himself to decoy her. Tears ami Turbulence. Bnni.iN , March 15. The precincts of the cathedral yesterday again presented constant scenes of excitement , gaiety and turbulence , that was little in accord with tlio signs of mourning observed elsewhere in the city. The open space in front of the cathedral was filled with companies of soldiers with loaded rifles und hud all the appearances of a bivouac. The square was entirely closed to the public except on tlio eastern side , where a long line of visitors formed between u double line of soldiers. The streets in the vicinity are crowded , but order was main tained by a strong cordon of police. Truffle was entirely stopped in the vicinity. Seats along the route of the funeral pro cession are selling from 5 to 20 marks. Members of the rcichstag und landtag visj itcd tlio cathedral Tuesday night , nnd pri- vutely viewed the remains of the emperor. In accordance with the wishes of Empress Augusta , the late emperor's rooms will bo loft absolutely intact , just us when ho lived iu them. Ten thousand persons wore unable to enter tlio cathedral Tuesday. Prince William said something must Do done , and instructions wore given to keep tlio cathe dral open all night. The emperor of Japan and shah of Persia sent telegrams of con dolence. LONDON , March 15. The war ofllco has ordered the principal military garrisons nt homo nnd abroad to place their Hugs at half mast to-morrow and to lire ninety-one mliiuto guns to noon as n mark of respect for the lute Emperor William. Nuval stations received similar Instructions , The tower of London , Edinburgh castle , Plymouth and Dover were included in these orders. KOMB , March 15. Mgr. Gabimborti will represent the Vatican nt the ceremonies con nected with the accession of Emperor Frede rick. Tlio Vatican will not bo represented at the funeral of William , H IiidiNurctions. PAIUS , March 15. Tlio Journal Officiate Bays : Boulangcr came to Paris on February 21. ; again on March " ; again on March 10 , without permission from the war ofllco and in disguise. Tlio paper dwells on the serious nature of such breaches of discipline by u general oflleor. It further says the report of placing Boulungcr on the non-active list by depriving him of his present command has been approved by President Curnot. Tlio Journal Ofllculu publishes a decree de priving General Boulanger of his command for breach of discipline in visiting Paris three times without permission. Boulangcr announces his intention of coining to Paris to-night , and excited crowds are gathering at the station. The Chinese Treaty Hlgnnd. WAbiiiNQTON , March 14 , Secretary Buy. nrd said to-night the treaty with China Uus been signed and would bo sent to the presi dent at once for transmission to congress. Ho'declined to speak as to the provisions of the treaty. 8ucc < ! bfiil Camp Fire. Hoi.DiiEdii , Neb , , March 15. [ Special Tel cgram to the BEB. ] The camp-fire of the Sons ( if Veterans of Glover post G , A. It. , No. Ill , proved an immense success , Iho opera house bcliig crowded to overflowing with people to hear Van Wyck. His speech was received with rounds of applause. Pilot Boat Sunk. NEW Yonx , March 15. Tht > steamer Jnpan from the Mediterranean collided with a pilot boat , and it ia believed tho'latter .sunk with five incu. THU KASTKUX STOIIM , Probability That , the Ios < > of Ijlfb and Properly Will Never Bo tdiown. LKWES , Del. , March 15. The story of ship wrecks nnd loss of Jlfo between Sandy Hook nnd Capo Charles between Sunday afternoon and Monday noon cannot bo told in full for many days , If ever. The opinion of pilots Is that vessels went down during the storm which ticvcr will bo heard from. The Hat of wrecks known bf Is Increasing dally. Among the vessels lost was the barge Hardline , Captain Vanklrk nnd a crew of live men. The bark Brlmlnga had a crew of twenty- throe all told , twenty-two of whom were lost. A number of bodies were washed ashoro. The Weather In New York NRW YOIIK , March 15. The weather this morning Is again warm nnd bright. The pros pect is that thcro will bo much thawing. The railroads leading Into the city are all moving and business men in Now Jersey , Long Is land and the upper part of the state reached Now York this morning for the first time since Saturday. Soaio surface curs nro run ning , Almost all Now Jersey towns within fifteen miles of New York have somosortof railroad communication with this city. This morning thousands of business men mndo their first appearance since Saturday. Over cloven hundred were snowed in nt Hosevlllc , on the Delaware & Lacka- wunnu rallroaO , and hundreds were compelled to stay in the cars over twenty-four hours , although their homes were within four miles. The cold was Intense and food scanty , but no lives were lost at that point. The food supply Is running very sLort In those Jersey towns and but little fresh meat and no milk , eggs or vegetables can bo ob tained at any price. The chances of getting relief from Now York arc small , as the supply hero Is decidedly abort. The first mail from Philadelphia and Baltimore since Monday morning came in this forenoon. Mild and Springlike. WASHINGTON , March 15. The weather Is mild and spring-like and the effect of the storm is rapidly disappearing. Mail com munication between Washington nnd Phila delphia is now fully established , but all efforts to reach New York cither by mull or wire thus far have proved futile. A number of wires to Baltimore have been secured and linemen nro steadily pushing their work with the prospect of reopening communication with Philadelphia to-day. Tire telegraph service with the south and west had been restored. No mails from New York have as yet arrived , hut Pennsylvania railroad ofllcials believe tlmt their road will be cleared to New York sonic time to-dav. Mails south and w est are ar riving with their usual regularity. Out of tlio Drifts. PiTTsnuiio , March 15. The first through train from Philadelphia over the Pennsyl vania road readied hero this morning. It carried only thirty pounds of mail from Philadelphia and not a pound from New York , Passengers who had been on the delayed trains tell of their sufferings. At points be tween Hnrrisburg nna Philadelphia the snow drifted to a depth of fifty feet. Many houses were completely covered and the only signs of habitation was the smoke curling from chimneys. At 0 o'clock this morning the Chicago ex press , which has been snowed in since. Mon day at Monroe , came in. with passengers all welL The cross streets are still blocked with huge drifts of snow. Ah attempt is being made to melt the snow by lighting great bon fires , but the effect" is not perceptible. Fleeced My FarincrH. Tun.s-TON , N. J. , March 15. The last train which started out of this city for New York Monday morning was stopped by an immense drift fifteen feet deep , about a mlle from Princeton Junction. The train was obliged to stay from 1 o'clock Monday afternoon until 11 o'clock yesterday morning when a relief party succeeded in getting the hungry and half frozen passengers buck to Trenton. During two nights they were obliged to walk up und down the car to keep from freezing. Many of them had ears and feet badly frozen. They had no provisions until Tuesday morn ing when some farmers brought sandwiches on board und asked 50 cents for them. Found Frozen Xcnr His Door. MATTITUCK , L. I. , March 15. Samuel Han dall , aged eighty years , was found frozen to death within a few feet of his own house Tuesday morning. A largo sloop , name un known , is off Peconic bay flying signals of distress , She has several men aboard. As sistance cnnuot bo rendered owing to the ice in the bay. It is feared she will founder. Several Crews and VcsselH Jiost. Pmi.ADEi.riiiA , Pa. , March 15. A letter from Cambridge , Md. , reports the loss of several small vessels during the past few duys of the storm. A number of their crows were also lost. Particulars unobtainable. The Great Blockade Broken. PniLADHi.riiiA , March 15 , The resump tion of railway trafllo between this city and New York was completed to-day , and from this time on everything will probably go on as it did before the great blockade. "Weather IiulicatloiiR. For Nebraska and Iowa : Colder , light to fresh to northerly , followed by warmer , variable winds , fair weather. For Eastern nnd Southwestern Dakota : Warmer , fair weather , followed by rain or snow in northern portion. F1K10 KKCOKI ) . Destructive and Fatal Blaze Iu Mil waukee. Mii.wAUKKi ! , March 1C. A flro which started ut 15 : ! this morning completely de stroyed tlio four-btory brick block on west Wutcr street , occupied by Atkins , Ogdcn & Co. , shoo manufacturers , and the Thomas & Weutworth manufacturing compano , whole sale dealers und manufacturers of brass goods und engine tiimmings. About half an hour after the tire broke out the north wall of the burning structure fell with n great crash , demoralizing the one-story addition In the i ear of the Giuibol Bros' , dry goods es tablishment , und ourying a number of lire- men in the ruins. Herman Lecher , a pipe man , was the first unfortunate , rescued. Bodied luter , The dead body of Fireman John II. Hummel was recovered about two hours later. It is feared others are buried under the dourls , which Is being cleared away. Thomas Cleary , a cab driver , .Tuck Duhl , John Coughlun nnd Peter Vaughn , firemen , were more or less injured , It is es timated the las * will not full short of { 275,000. Atkins , Ogden & Co. curried a stock valued at between ? 100,000 nnd $115,000 ; insured for $80,000. The Thomas Wentworth manufacturing Co. lost about fr > 0,000 , Tlio loss on the build ing which Is owned by John Plunkinion , will roadi f < XiOO. ) ( Loss on tlio store occu pied by Gimblo Bros , will probably not ex ceed 15,000 , Glmbol Bros' , loss of block Is f20.000. The- entire lire department was culled out and It was only by tha hardest kind of work that the flumes were prevented from destroying the entire square , Denouncing Halfour. LoxDON.Murch 15. At thobanijuct given al Manchester lust night to the Irish political prisoners , Messrs , O'Brien , Sullivan , Blunt , Cox , Hooper und Flynn were present anil mudo sjiecchcs denouncing Bulfour. A Bridge DisaBtcr. Hi'.itUN , March 15. A disaster is reported at Sossln bridge , nt that pluco , broken by 'drilling Ice. 'Fifty persons were thrown into the water" and many drowned. Eleven bodies Lave lieeu recovered , SUBTERFUGES OF SHIPPERS , , Senator Wilson Tolls How the Intor-Stato Law Is Evaded. SECRET REBATES STILL ALLOWE'D Some of the Tricks Itcsortcil To i'cct of Competition ity the Cniitt ( linn Romls Proposed Land Grant Forfeitures. Corporation Crookedness , WASIIINOTON , March Ifx. General JatncS P. Wilson to-day delivered ave hours argu ment before the sub-committee of the house commerce committee on tlio defects In the inter-stuto commerce law. Ho was persuaded tlmt violations both of its spirit and letter were frequent. Persons Interested In largo shipping houses had been secretly appointed agents of thu rallroncls and put upon salaries for the puriwso of securing special freight rates. The salary amounts to a rcbnto and Is a fraud and outrage upon other shippers , Another form of Illegal discrimination is to bill grain or produce from Chicago to Liver pool or London nt an agreed through rate and then to stop It through nn agent of the railroad at tlio port of shipment on the flimsy pretext that vessel owners cannot bo Induced to perform their part of tlio service for th t portion of the rate which is left after deduct ing the charges bv thu fixed tariff of the land lines. This is equivalent to n rebate ot the ocean freight , and is n fraud upon the law and an Injury to other shippers. Thcro are other ingenious methods of evading the law , such as granting a free puea for separate states traversed by the railroad and good only in tlio state named , the billing of freight under a different classification from that to which it belongs ; deranging railroad scales so that over weights ara largely Incrcascdj overloading , hauling beyond yond proper distance , paying unusual car mileage , cartage , warehouse , elevator ami other charges. These are all secret practices that can be curried on successfully only by concealment. A secret source of disturbance to the fair and equitable working of the law is caused by the uncontrolled competition of the Cnna dlan railroads in the transit trade. The Canadian roads are cutting into and injuring American roads by making rebates , granting passes , charging more for a short than long haul und entering into all kinds of secret ; engagements with Americah contractors. It is by taking advantage of that system of re bates , cut rates und sccrctuge amounts , that the great puckers have built up their enormous fortunes and turned $7,000,000 of truflic over to Canadian roads. The proposition - " sition that the Dominion government shall pass a law similar to the intcr-stnto com- , mcrce law will not remove the difliculty as long ns Conditions are so different. It can not bo doubted that it would be prudent to shut out these roads from American trade , as wo now do Canadian vessels. For section U of the present law should bo substituted d section providing that nothing contained therein shall authorize any railroad company to receive goods for transportation through , any foreign country to another plueo in the United States. If this were Jpno und the making of secret agreements TOrbidden , two great lUIUculties In the way of enforcing the intur-stato commerce law would be removed. In conclusion , General Wilson submitted a draftof a bill to uincud the act iu the luauuolr indicated. The Tjniid Grant QIICI ttnn. , WASHINGTON , Mai oh 15. Although the ] house committee on public lauds directed tha preparations of a general bill forfeiting rail road hind grants , the whole subject waa opened up afresh to-day by the action of thd sub-committee which , instead of bringing id a general bill , reported bills for the cnmplcta forfeiture of the Northern and Southern Pacific - cific railroad land grants and the partial feN feituro of the grunt to the Hastings & Da kota railroad company. Tlio presentation o ttieso reports occasioned diccussion froui which it appeared that there was a misunder standing on the part of tlio members of the ! purpose of thp resolution adopted ut the lastf meeting of the committee. With n view td clearing tins nnd defining the Bcntimeni of tlio committee , Mr. Stone of Missouri , offered the following resolution : Resolved. That the committee adopt the principle or declaring tlio forfeiture' of the entire grunt , where the roads were not com pleted in the contract time. The meeting adjourned without action. Taken in By a XchraHkan. CHICAGO , March 1C. [ Special Telegram to thoBEU. ] A cattleman named Owens , from Nebraska , who wears n rather verdant ex pression , arrived at the stockyards some daya ago , and hearing considerable talk about tha exploits of u stockyards sprinter named Cody , remarked ho could run a little himself Cody's friends quickly picked him up nnd a match was made for a race of 100 yards for' $100 a side. It was run off yesterday after noon nnd,000 people turned out to wltnesa it. The friends of Cody wagered freely 10 to 8 on their man and a number of Owens ? friends took their bets quietly. There wufi over $1,000 up on the ruco when both men jumped out nt tbo firing of a pistol. Tha stockynrdu people grinned when they started , but before the sprinters bad gone u dozen yards an expression of deep gloom spread over tlio faces of that crowd. Tlio Nebraska man's big feet shot through the air us though tlioy Intended to say farewell to his legs und move to Iowa , and when the goal wan reached Cody was so far in tlio rear that ho couldn't/ see the westerner with a telescope. Tningq wore a subdued aspect in the Cody bailiwick : lust evening. A MiiHouin For St. Jon. ST. JosKi'ii , Mo , , March 15. [ Special Tele gram to the BHK. ] Mrs. General Tom Thumb and J. E , Sackctt , of the musco com pany of Minneapolis and Omaha , have closed the contracts for the lease of u building on Third street between Kdmond and Charles , in which they will locate u museum. , Ono o the owners of the leased iiuilding is W. A. HUSH , of Kansas City. The lessees claim that the museum will bo strictly first class in every particular. Mrs , Thumb has had cir culars distributed , in whicn she informs the Kt. Joseph public tlmt aha intends to make her homo among them , und subbcribeu hei > self as the-public's bervant. Indiana 1'rohlblt loiiistfl. IxniAXAi'OMs , ind , , March 15 , The prohl * blUon state convention to-day nominated for governor Itov. J" . S , Hughes , of this crty. Tlio platform demands struight-out prohibi tion und favors female suffrage , Poisoned Ily lluiul Chroso. BI.OOMINGTON , 111' , March IB. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Doyle , their two children antf Mr. and Mrs , Adams , their boarders , oto hcud chpeso last night for supper. Thoj wore ull poisoned nnd Mr. und Mrs. Adamu und-children uro ut the jwlnt of death. , The Imwt Spllso Driven. DitxvKrt , Colo. , March 15. The lost roll was laid nnd the lust pplko driven In tha Denver , Texan & Fort Worth roml yesterday ut 4 o'clock ut a iwinl twenty miles south of- Denver und 5'-l north of Fgrt Worth. .DerU ver now has an air line to Fort , Wortli nn < J thence through to the Gulf of Mexico , ' .CouldH'I Bland Two FightB. Ciiit'Aco , March 15. Tho' Chicago , Dur lingtou ft Quiuoy hud u sururiso in , store foff the won torn roads to-day in tbo way * of at * unquuliiiud conbuht restoration of rates , id agreeing to advance them iu CQIUIUOU other Hues ouMuruh ' 20 , ' '