Nebraska Newspapers

    FHE OMAHA DAILY BEE
ESTABLISHED JTJiTE 10 , 1871. CftCAIIA , PJRTDAY MOKTSrHSTGJ 15 , 1807. L13 COPY FIVE Cl-NTS.
HOMES FOR THE MILLION
Ecnato Passes the Frco Homestead Bill by a
Decisive Majority ,
THIRTY MILLION ACRES INVOLVED
All I'nhllu I.niulN Acquired from In-
illnnn Thrown Open to the 1'nh-
llc 'Without Money nnd
AVIIhont Price.
WASHINGTON. Jan. II. The senate today
passed the measure known 03 the free home
stead bill , which has been tinder discussion
"
elnco the holiday reccas. It Is a measure
ot far-reaching Importance , particularly to
the \veat , and the Interest la it was shown
by the fact that a plank concerning It was a
feature of several national platforms.
The effect of the bill U to open to settle
ment all the public land.1 acquired from
Indians frco of any payment to the govern
ment beyond the minor office fees and to
rclccsc from payment those who have hereto
fore settled on these lands.
The number of acres Involved , according
to an estimate made by the commissioner
of the general land office , Is 33,552,511 , which
would have yielded the government , at the
prices heretofore established , $35,313,000.
To offset this statement , It was brought
out during the debate that the lands were
mainly arid and that those who had settled
upon them were unable to make payment
by reason of the scanty products of the
null.
null.Tho
The western senators , In the main , fa
vored the bill as an extension of the gen
eral homestead policy of the government.
The opposition wns directed mainly by
Mr. Plait of Connecticut nnd Mr. Vllas of
"Wisconsin. As the bill passed In the house
It covered only the lands acquired from In
dians In Oklahoma , but as passed today the
1)111 Includes Indian lands. The vote was
taken by agreement at 4 o'clock wltli a de
cisive majority In favor of the bill.
Following the decision ot this bill , which
had held the advantageous position of the
unfinished business ot the senate , Mr. Mor-
4- gan sought to have the Nicaragua canal
% bill made the unfinished business. This prc-
' clpltatod n vote , which , to some extent , was
a test of strength ot the bill Itself. In Mr.
Morgan's motion to take the bill up the vote
wns 33 to C , or less than a quorum , BO the
motion did not prevail , although It disclosed
the strength of the measure.
During the day Mr. Morgan secured the
adoption of a resolution for an Inquiry by
the Judiciary committee as to whether the
properties of the Union and Central Pacific
companies now belong to the United States
by reason of alleged defaults In the pay-
< i- ment of bonds.
9 A resolution by Mr. CuIIom , calling on
. the Civil Service commission to explain the
delay In making annual reports , was adopted.
' The senate adjourned over to Monday.
MORGAN'S RESOLUTION ;
Mr. Morgan's resolution relating to the
Pacific railroads Is as follows :
"Whereas , H Is alleged that certain bonds
Issued by the United States In aid of the
Central Pacific railroad and also the Union
Pacific railroad have fallen due and remain
unpaid , and that by reason ot default the
property held and owned by said companies
nt that titno became the property of the
United States and that said property of
every description so held and owned by
said companies at the tlmo ot such default
now rightfully belongs to the United States.
"Resolved , That the committee on Judl-
cliry Is directed to examine Into and report
whether such allegation U true In fact and
In law , and that they report the nature and
character of the right and title of the
United States In and to said property and
the description or class of property that
has GO Inured to the United States under
the law. and whether either of said railroad
companies has any lawful right or equity
In redemption of said property. "
The resolution was ordered to He on the
table. Senator Morgan announced that ho
. desired to address the senate upon It.
The bill for frco homesteads on public
lands acquired from the Indians was taken
up with n view to taking the final vote at
4 o'clock. Mr. Jones , democrat of Arkansas ,
supported the bill , saying It was for the
benefit of the body of the people , whereas
most of tbo legislation of congress was for
favored Interests.
HELP BUILD UP THE WEST.
Mr. Teller , republican of Colorado , said
that the- bill would help build up the west ,
the defeat of the measure would re
sult In the- humiliating spectacle of the
United States taking everything these set
tlers bad mndo from their lands.
Sir. Allison of Iowa , speaking- the first
time this session , made Inquiries as to the
extent of lands covered by the law In that
state.
Mr. Pcttlgrcw of South Dakota explained
that It did net cover Indian lands not yet
Acquired.
"But another bill will como In , " Inter
posed Mr. Cockrell of Missouri , "giving away
the rest ot the land. "
"I have no doubt ot It , " conceded Mr. Pct
tlgrcw. The latter explained that the meas
ure was restricted to agricultural lands and
did not cover the timber portions of Min
nesota and other states.
Mr. Teller , resuming his remarks , enoke
In Impassioned tones on the tendency to
grant millions to a favored Interest and
withhold this small pittance from the set
tlers. Congress wasted more than the twin
Involved annually on the army , on rivers and
harbors and on naval expenditures which
brought vast profits to the makers of armor.
And yet this bill. In effect giving a settler
$100 , was resisted and thu settler was to
bo turned out as a tramp. The givat dan
ger to the republic , declared Mr. Teller , was
In Its not encouraging the great farming
community. There were too many people In
the cltloa and the factories. The Idea of our
forefathers that the people should not be
crowded into shops was being forgotten. Mr.
Teller then referred to the frco homestead
planks In 'lie various national platforms and
criticised the course of senators In opposing
this principle of platforms , which they pro
fessed to accept.
Mr. Platt , republican ot Connecticut , said
the logical result of this bill was that the
United States should embark on the peltry
ot donating "lands to the landless and homes
to the homeless , not only through the ben
eficent terms of the home-stead laws , but by
buying lands and then giving them away. "
Mr. Platt declared that thn question ot the
cast ucalnst the west was not Involved ,
MEASURE TOO BROAD.
Mr. Allison said the bill appeared to bo too
sweeping and too general. It had como from
the house relating to lands In Oklahoma and
was now broadened to cover all lands thus
far acquired from the Indians. Ho did not
bellcvo In going Into this wholesale manner
of dealing with these lauds , Bomo of them
hear towns and worth up to $50 and possibly
$500 per acre. Ho might vote for the bill ,
but It ehould bo limited to tlioso agricultural
lands actually hold by settlers and not these
valuable lands near towns held by specula
tors.
j . Mr. Cockrell , democrat of Missouri , dc-
f clared that this bill was a perversion of the
/ homestead la\\s. It wan In thu Interest of a
comparatively few as against n vast number
of people who were unable to got homestvadii.
The eonator related the circumstances of thu
scramble for homesteads In Oklahoma , showIng -
Ing that a small proportion ot those who
sought homes got them.
Mr. Allison moved an amendment limiting'
the operatloa of the bill to lands acquired
from Indians prior to the passage of this act.
After further debate , Messrs. Stewart of
. Nevada , Allen of Nebraska. Carter of Mon-
i tanc and Pettlgrcw of South IHkota opcak-
, 'f , Ing for the bill , a vote was taken , The
committee amendment extending the bill to
all lands acquired from Indiana and also
obligating the United States to pay the In
dians the minis of money released by the
chaugo from existing law were agreed to
The amendment of Mr. Allison limiting the
hill to lands acquired prior to this act was
agreed to.
The bill as amended was passed , yeas , 35 ;
nays , 11. These voting against the bill
were :
Democrats '
Ilntp , I'nulkncr , , Vent , I
llcrry. ' Orny , Vllim.
Hrlcc. Hill , , ' ' Wnlthnll-10
Cookrcll , |
Republicans ,
Platt-1
Totnl , II.
fn favor of ths bill ;
Republicans
i
.Million , Tryp , ' . Quay.
1 laker , Ocnr. Phcrnmn ,
Ilrown , i McHrldo , Shoup ,
Carter , MoMlllln , Tliuntnn.
C'lnrk , Nc'inn , \V ttnoro.
CMIIotn , i 1'crklns , AVllson-13
David , I
Democrats I
'
Ilncon. ( lordon. > I'ugh.
lllnrkburn , Morgnn , Kmltlt ,
Call. MurpM' , Wlille 9
Populists
Allen , 1'effor , Stewart 3
Indercndenld _ -
C'nnnrn , 1'ottlgrcw , Mantle ,
Teller I
Total , 2J. i
TEXT OF THE BILL.
The bill r.s passed Is ns follows :
T.mt nil Fcttlcri under the honipstond
laws of the United States upon the rnblli *
binds acquired prior to t'.ic pns.-mso of this
net , by ticuty or agreement from tbo vari
ous Indian trlbcH , who luivc or who shall
hereafter reside upon the tracts entered In
good faith for the porlort required by ex
isting law , shall bo entitled to a patent for
tau land so entered , upon the payment to
the local land olllcers of the usual nnd
customary fees , and no other or further
chargeof any kind whatsoever shall be iv-
eiulred-ftom such settler to entitle him to
n patent for tbo land covered by his en
try , provided that the right to commute any
such entry and pay for such lands In the
option of any . ueh settler ami In the time
and at the prices now llxcil by existing
laws sr.iall ri-mnln In full force and effect ;
provided , however , that nil the sums of
money no released -which. If not rplcnsod
would belong to any Indian tribe , shall ba
paid to such Indian trlbo by the United
States.
Mr. Morgan , democrat of Alabama , at once
moved to take up the Nicaragua canal bill ,
the purpose being to get thla measure In
the favorable parliamentary status of unfin
ished business. Mr. Morgan's motion , which
WPS Indirectly a test on the canal bill was ,
yc s , 33 ; nays. C , less than a quorum. Mr.
Morgan was about to ask for a call of the
senate , but yielded to Mr. Hill's motion to
adjourn. The vote on the Morgan motion
was os follows : Those voting against taking
up the bill were :
Democrats Berry , Blackburn , Chllton ,
Cockrell , Gray 5. Independents , Teller. To
tal. C.
Mr. Cullom , republican of Illinois , secured
the adoption ot a resolution calling on the
civil service commission for Information as
to whether It had submitted nn annual report
for 1S95 and 1S9C , In accordance with law ,
and It not , to give the reasons for such
failure and neglect.
At 4:55 : the senate adjourned until Monday.
TO uncaiLATiH ( > IJOMAU < : AHI.M ; .
HOIIKC I'liNXcn the ( irout IIIII
to the .S n Ii J eft.
WASHINGTON , Jan. 14. The house spsnt
almciU the entire day debating the Grout
bill to subject oleomargarine and other Imi
tation dairy products to the laws of the
states Into which they are transported. The
advocates of the measure took the view
that the i-tales should be allowed to regulate
the sale of a product sailing under false col
ors , and the opponents argued that the bill
would establish a dangerous precedent and
luvado the power of congrew to regulate
Interstate commerce.
Those who supported the measure were :
.Mciars. Noilhway , republican of Ohio ; Morse ,
republican of Massachusetts ; Licey , repub
lican of Iowa ; Hulncr , republican of Ne
braska ; WIHd ! , republican of Delaware ;
Grosvenor , republican ot Ohio , and Hender
son , republican ot Iowa. Those who opposed
It were Messrs. Cooper , democrat of Florida ;
Tucker , democrat of Virginia ; Cannon , repub
lican of Illinois , Boatncr , democrat of Louis
iana ; Cleary , republican of Kentucky , and
Williams , republican ot Massachusetts.
The bill Is as follows :
That nil articles known as oleomargarine ,
butturine. Imitation butter or Imitation
chcene , or any substance In the semblance
of butter or chcopo not the usual product
of Uio dairy and not made exclusively of
pure and umululturntcA milk or cream ,
transported Into any state or territory or
remaining therein for use , consumption ,
H.ile or storage therein , shall upon arrival
In such state or territory , be subject to the
operation and effect of the laws of such
siato or territory enacted in the cxerclso of
its police powers to the same extent nnd In
the name manner as though mich article or
HUbstance had been produced In Hiiuh ntnte
or territory and shall not bo exempt there
from by reason ot being introduced therein
lit original packages or otherwise ; provided ,
that nothing In thin net Khali bo construed
to permit any state to forbid the sale of
oleomargarine except In such a manner as
will advise u customer of Its real charac
ter.
ter..Mr.
.Mr. Cooper , democrat of Florida , was the
( list to oppose the bill. K'e argued that U
would take away" from congress the right to
regulate commerce between the state. Con
gress had abrogated Its power In the case of
whisky. That was perhaps defensible , but
the moment congress delegated this power In
the CEQC of another product Inteistate com
merce \\ould be demoralized. The precedent
would arise to plague congress In the future
and lead to Infinite confusion.
Mr. Northway , republican of Ohio , argued
In favor of the bill and said the people of
ono btate should not bo allowed to Import
Into another state nnd sell products which
the people of that state could not them
selves put on the market.
Mr. Lacey called the attention of Mr.
Williams , democrat of Mississippi , who was
In charge of the opposition to the bill , to
the fact that the state ot MUsourl prohibited
the sale of olenuirgarlne except when branded
as such. Ho said that the states certainly
should have the right and had the right to
regulate the sale of deleterious food Just
as they had thu right to regulate the calo
of whisky and tobacco.
Mr. Cannon , republican of Illinois , Insisted
that olcmargailne was not a deleterious food
product , but was In fact , moro wholesome
than thrco-ifoiirtlis of the butter sold In the
United States. If the principle ot this 1)111 )
were applied , ho said , all these manufacturers
cuuld be barred from sale In other states.
IIAINER SPEEKS.
Mr. Halncr , republican of Nebraska , sup
ported the bill and said 99 per cent of the
77,000,000 pounds ot oleomargarine which an
nually Invndc/d the domain ot the genuine
dairy product wa ; ( sold as butter. The
dairy Interests had a right to protection
from thU counterfeit product.
Mr. Boatncr , democrat of Louisiana , eald
the advocates of the bill were proceeding on
the theory that oleomargarine was a cheat
nnd deleterious to the public health. If
that were true , he declared , the dairy Jn-
tcrcits would not need to come to congress ,
as the states had a perfect right , In the ex-
crcUo ot their police power , to Interdict
the sale of something which threatened thu
health of her citizens.
Mr. Cleary , democrat of Kentucky , and
Mr. Williams , democrat of Tennessee , also
apoke against the bill and Mr , Willis , demo-
era' , of Delaware and Mr. Grosvenor , repub
lican of Ohio , In favor of It.
The later closed the general debate. In
the course of his remarks he eald It was c
peculiar comment on the march of political
opinion to see old line- democrats who had
In the past defended state rights with the
sword now arguing that the bands of th ?
states were tied nnd that congrc < "fi had the
power to force Into a state against her will
products which vho'dld not desire sold there.
Mr , Grout , In chargeof the bill , offered
an amendment providing "that nothing In this
net shall bo construed to permit any state
to foTbld the manufacture- eilc of oleo
margarine In ftuch a manner ns will advise-
the customer of Its real chuinctcr. "
During thn debate on thla subject , Mr.
Henderson , republican of Iowa , recalled the
long flllbtuterlng fight agalnat the original
oleomargarine bill , when , he said , the com-
panU of Chicago and Kut.ias City were
( Continued on Third [ 'ago. )
PLANNING THE FORECLOSURE
Reorganization Oommittoo Begins to Feel
Its Way Again ,
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND HAS SOME IDEAS
Mnlcv ( he Roverniiieiit n I'nrty
to tin I'emlliiir Suit mill
All IntereMtH Together
" nt Once.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 14. ( Special Tclo-
gram. ) The reorganization committee ot the
Union Pacific , It Is understood , has had a
definite tin lerstandlng with President Cleve
land nc to the manner In which the govern
ment shall figure. In thu foreclosure suits
now pending. Prom a reliably Informed
source It Is learned that President Cleveland
had , Inclined to the Idea that flie committee
ctiuld secure the government against pebble
less by having the United States appear as
a party In the present pending foreclosure
tults. To this end ex-Governor Hoadlcy ot
Ohio , special counsel of the government In
the Union Pacific cases , has been notified to
appear , and It Is understood that ho will
fllo a cross bill In the cases now pending ,
thereby bringing all parties of Interest Into
the suits and forcing foreclosure at the ear
liest possible moment. An upset price has
been agreed upon.- , which will probably be
In the neighborhood of $30,000,000 above the
amount of the first mortgage , which Presi
dent Cleveland believes to be a fair settle
ment of existing liabilities on the part of
tbo Union Pacific to the government. Con
firmation of this rumor comes from the
source suggested , but there lit another factor
to bo considered In the matter which may
play no small part In the settlement of the
Union Pacific difficulty.
Three or four syndicates are known to
bo organizing for the purpose of bidding
upon the property under the government
foreclosure , and there Is no fear among those
who know the value of the property and the
Interest of companies desiring an entrance
Into the west that the government will Icne
any great portion of the amount Involved.
P. S. Chamberlain of Boston , assistant to
J. C. Coombs , general counsel of the Credits
Commutation company of Sioux City , ap
peared before the house committee on Pacific
railroads In antagonism to the bill Intro
duced at the last pension of congress for
a settlement of the debt of the Sioux City
& Pacific , operated now by the Northwestern
sDtcm , and asked for an extension of tlmo
that his company might bo further heard
In opposition to the measure. The total
amount of the subsidy bonds Issued by
the government to this road Is $1,000,000 ,
which , added to accrued Interest which the
govc/rnment had to pay thereon , makes a
total debt due the United States of about
$4,000,000 In round numbers.
JOBST GETS TUB CONTRACT.
I ) . J. Jobst of Omaha was awarded the con
tract today for putting In the Interior finish
ing of the basement and first story of ths
Omaha public building at his bid of ? S3,59S.
The contract cells for Its completion In
eight months. Sir. Jobst was held up for
some time by the Treasury department In
order that It might ascertain his stand
ing and several of the congressional dele
gation united In a letter dignifying that he
was perfectly competent to perform the
work.
Senator Thurston today Introduced the
resolutions passed at a recent meeting , of
citizens of Omaha In favor of recognizing
the Independanco of Cuba. The rc.rolutlons
were signed by C. R. Scott , J. M. "Weathers ,
M. P. Singleton , M. E. Morse and J. II. Web
ster. Mr. Thurfton also Introduced pension
bills for the relief of Aurcllus Iloberts and
Ilcv. Warren Cochran.
Representative Gamble of South Dakota to
day , by request. Introduced a bill granting
lands In South Dakota to aid In the con
struction of the Dakota Pacific railway , from
Sioux Falls to Granger , Wyo.
The case of James M. Doweoie against
ninehard was submitted during the morning
hour of the supreme court , having como
over from yesterday on argument.
The Civil Service commission has decided
upon dates for holding examinations during
the first half of this year of applicant for
positions In departmental service. In the
northwcnt the dates arc as follows :
Nebraska Omaha , clerk , copyist , etc. ,
April 7 : for railway mall service. April S.
Grand Island , April 21. A special examina
tion of applicants residing In the vicinity
will be held at Ilcatrlce April 7.
South Dakota Aberdeen , April 2 ; Sioux
Palls. April 6 ; Deadwood , April 23. Special
for residents In the vicinity of Pierre , April
2 , and at Yankton , April 5.
Iowa Dc' < Molncs , clerk , copyist , etc. ,
April 9 ; railway mail service , April 10. Du-
buquu , April 12 ; Burlington. April 14.
Wyoming Cheyenne , April 19. Special for
applicants In vicinity. > Aprll 21.
PACIFIC IIOADS CASH IS IinVIVKIJ.
Another rinii IJviilvt-iI for
Ahont n Settlement.
WASHINGTON , Jan. 14. The course taken
by the house ! committee on Pacific roads to
day makes It probable that the railroad
question will bo brought before cougresa
again this session In the form of n proposi
tion to adopt the plan of Representative
Harrison of Alabama for a government com-
mlttco to make n settlement with the roads.
With but one dissenting voice , the committee
decided to empower a sub-cnmmltteo to con-
alder Mr. Harrison's plan , which Is embodied
ied In f , bill , and It Is predicted by most of
the commltteemen that the bill will bo re
ported Id thehouse. . It way decided to glvo
a hearing on the question next Wednesday.
The members of the subcommittee arc : Pow
ers of Vermont , Hepburn of Iowa , Patter
son of Tennessee , Harrison of Alabama and
Hubbard of Missouri. In Ito personnel every
ahadei of opinion , on the railroad question Is
represented ,
It was Impelled to Its action by the strong
feeling entertained by most of Its mcmbcra
vigalnat the foreclosure by the government
with the probability of government owner
ship which the members consider nearly In
evitable If the government forecloses. It
was conceded that funding In any form was
dead. Nothing was said , lit committee today
about the views of the railroad companies on
the committee plan , but It Is assumed that
they will prefer an opportunity to continue
negotiation with the government to fore
closure.
The Harrison bill , which embodies the Eiig.
gcstlo&s made to congress by ex-President
Harrison , names the secretaries of the treas
ury and the Interior and the attorney gen
eral to constitute the commission. A sug
gestion was made that there should be n
committee ot men , not government officials ,
Appointed by the president. It being argued
that the cabinet officers would not have tlmo
to cngago In the negotiations. Another sug
gestion w 3 that the secretary of the In
terior and the attorney general with three
other peraons , nno selected by the president
and ono by each of the two cabinet officers ,
constitute the' ' committee ,
The railroad question was opened before
the committee by another attempt by repre
sentatives of the Slonx City & Pacific pin-
pany to secure an Independent scttlelncnt
with the government. Attoruoja for the
Chicago & Northwestern appeircd with their
representative , Mr. Brown , to urge the
adcptlon of a bill Introduced by Mr. Hep
burn authorizing the secretory of the trcus- '
ury to make a settlement of ( lie. road's Iri-
ilrbtednesa to the government. Tbcro ar/
$1,000,000 ot subsidy bonds maturing von
January 1 , 1S98 , and the 'government hhs
paid Interest en these which brlngn the
road's Indebtedness up to about ? 1 , 000,000 ,
A majority of tbo Sioux City & Pacific
utock la held by the Chicago ft Northwest-
cm , which lioldJ a lerno of the read , no that
u settlement practically would bo made with
the latter corporation. Counsel for the Our-
li Commutation romoany of Sioux City ,
which Includes 310 banla : In twenty-two
states , holding the securities , spoke against
the bill. The Sioux City Interests have op
posed the funding bill and are antagonistic
to any settlement with any of the Pacific
railroads. They desire nn arrangement by
which the Union Pacificwill ; bo prevented
from discriminating agalnat them In traffic
arrangements. I
The Sioux City question was , with the
Harrison plan , Intrusted to the subcommit
tee. Mr. Harrison said today that his bill
probably would bo amended to glvo the gov
ernment committee authority to foreclose
upon the roads In caseIt falls to make n set
tlement with them. This change was sug
gested recently by ex-Secretary Hoko Smith ,
who took an active part In the Pacific rall-
loads question when In office. Ono point
provided for by Mr. Harrison's bill , on which
ho Is Insistent , Is that all testimony taken
by the committee sfialt bo given under oath.
The witnesses before the committee- when
the funding bill was being prepared were
not sworn , and Mr. Harrison cays no weight
should be given to unsworn ex parto testi
mony In dealing with a question Involving
so much money.
PACIFIC IIOADS , AUK COUMHIHD.
1'rexliletit Clevelniiil 111 n I'oMlloii to
Drive it Cinoil lliirKiiln.
ST. LOUIS , Jan. 14. The Globe-Democrat
Washington special says :
President Cleveland has assurances from
two ayndlcates that If the Pacific road Is
sold under foreclosure proceedings the bids
made will bo far enough In excess of the
first mortgage- lien to glvo the government ti
fair return for the money It Is out through
Its pecuniary advances to the companies. As
soon as these assurances arc made formal ,
which they will bo In a short time , the
president , under the authority given him by
the act of 1SS7 , will entdr an appearance
for the government In thfc foreclosure pro
ceedings began by the first mortgage bond-
holdcra , and an orJcr for the sale ot the
property will bo obtained.
The net amount duo the United States by
the bond-aided roads , after deducting the
amounts credited on account of transporta
tion service , Is J121.310.87C. the original prin
cipal of which was $ GIC23,512. In addition
to the amount for which they were obligated
to the United States , the cbmpanles , under
authority granted by congress , Issued bonds
amounting to $61,613,000 ; which have since
by act of congress become a first lien on the
i-oadsj.
In order that the government should re
ceive the full amount which It advanced to
the reads , It would bo necessary that a bid
bo made equal to the government's loan ,
plus the mortgage bonds. Assurances re
ceived by the president nre that bids suffi
ciently near this amount will bo made to
satisfy the most scrupulous guardian of the
government's Interests.
The names of J. Plcrpont Morgan and Sen
ator Morgan arc mentioned In connection
with the syndicate. The Union Pacific com
pany , realizing that neither the house nor
the senate are Inclined to give them terms
such as they labored under the delusion
they could obtain , and realizing also that
President Cleveland Is In earnest In his
determination to foreclose , Is now ready to
make the proposition which will net the gov
ernment from $15,000,00.0 fo $20,000,000 moro
than It would have obtained under the bill
proposed by the house corm'jlttce. This \i \
UH uiu umuii i'uuiuu UUMI uionc. 1110 gov
ernment's position Is now ell that could bo
desired.
O.V AHJIOIl PJNATH.
.Vow HnitipNliIre .Senator 1'nren Down
Seeretiiry Hcrhert'M EMtliimtcH.
WASHINGTON , Jan , .1-1. Senator Chand
ler of Now Hampshire , Uno prepared a re
port on the cost ot arnvor .plate which will
bo submitted to the aval committee of the
senate at Us first racetlric. _ Mr. Chandler
estimates -tho coat offiriioy plato at ? 300
per ton , a , reduction ot $100" from that made
by Secretary Herbert.
The report severely criticism Commander
Folger , who was chief of the bureau of
ordnance of the Navy department when
largo amounts of armor were contracted for ,
Mr. Chandler , In reaching a price which
ho thinks should be offered for armor , takes
figures from the recent report of the secre
tary of the navy , but parrs down several of
the estimates. In the first place the secre
tary's estimate for the labor and material
13 $ lSfi per ton and Senator Chandler's ? 1GS.
The double forging both estimates glvo as
? 12G per ton. For maintaining the plant
Mr. Chandler allows $30 per ton and the
secretary $50. The secretary's estimate thus
reaches J24G , which bo rails $2CO In round
numbers , while Mr. Chandler's Is $210. The
secretary added 50 per cent profit , bring
ing the cost to $375. while Mr. Chandler
allows a profit of 33 % ' per cent , making a
cost of $280 per ton. The cost of nickel , $20
per ton , U added , making Mr. Chandler's
total estimate $300 and Secretary Herbert's
$395 , which ho makes In round numbers $400.
Mr. Chandler strongly urges that $300 Is
an ample sum to pay for armor plate and
says It Is $50 more than the price paid by
Russia.
Individual members of Jho committee re
fuse to express any opinion as to what the
committee will do , but It In believed that
In case a majority of the committee does not
concur. Senator Chandler will bring the mat
ter before the senate In a' minority report.
Civil Service Kviiiilnn ) < foiiN.
WASHINGTON , Jan. Ill The civil service
commission has completed Its schedule of
examinations throughout the country for
the next six months. Legal residents of
the District of Columbia , Maryland and
Virginia will not be admitted to the clerk ,
copyist , messenger , watchman , stenographer
or typewriting examinations because of their
excessive share ot appointments. This Is
an annual announcement. ; The first oxamlna.
tlons of the season arc , on March 17 , nt
Wilmington , Del. , Washington , D. C. , Cincin
nati. Plttaburg and Richmond , Va. The last
examinations arc on April 20 , at points In
almost every state. Thefo are els routes to
be colored by the examiners ot the com
mission.
FUcil Import
WASHINGTON , Jan. 14. United States
Consul Spencer at Curacoa , W. I. , has
notified the State department that by on
ordinance which went Into effect December
17 last Import charges have been laid as
follows : One-half per cent ot the value
on raw cotton , cocoa dlvl-illvl , goat skins ,
hides , qulnla bark , dycwaods and lignum
vltao ; 5 per cent on cattle , sheep and mules ;
10 per cent on horses end all other goods
except salt , which Is 3 per cent.
t'hiniee for JlnrtlciiUnrlNtH.
WASHINGTON , Jan , ' 14. The United
States civil service coinmteslon will hold an
examination In Washington and In all other
largo cities where there arc applications , on
February 10 , to fill a vacancy In the- position
of expert horticulturist In the office of cx-
perlmen'nl station , Department of Agri
culture.
for u V0"4' ' ' < I' > ry.
WASHINGTON , Jan. 14. The secretary of
the treasury transmitted to congress an es
timate of $50,000 to establish a site for the
erection of a penitentiary on tbo reservation
at Fort Leavenworth , Kun ,
Court Hill Vcdicil.
WASHINGTON , Jan. li. Tlio president today -
day sent to the house his veto of a bill to
establish a new division of the eastern
judicial district of Texc . and to provide for
'other courts at Icaunant ) : , Tex.
Heeelver for a llrokcn Hunk.
WASHINGTON , Jan. 11. The comptroller
of the currency lias appointed J , D. Atwater
of-Mlnnaapolla receiver of the Columbia Na
tional bank of Minneapolis.
Dully TreiiMiry .Statement ,
WASHING TON' , Jan. 14. Today's atato-
inont of the condition of the treasury shows :
Available cash balance , $231,320,217 ; gold re
serve , J140.I07.749.
KcUclH NlurlM for
WASHINGTON , Jan. U. Comptroller
Eckels hco gene to Chicago on business con
nected with the settlement of the affair * of
the National Uanlt of Illinois.
PLATT CARRIES THE CAUCUS
Gathers in the Senatorial Plum in the Em
pire State ,
OPPOSITION CUTS VERY LITTLE FIGURE
Doc'lnlvc Victory Won liy the Man
Who , In Company with Uonkllnu : ,
the .Srnaorshll >
lit ISSi.
ALBANY , Jan. 14. Thomas C. Plait , 152 ;
Joseph H. Choato , 7 ; absent 2 , was the re
sult of the republican caucus for United
States senator tonlnht.
Fo\v men have boon moro In the public
cyo during the last fifteen years than Thomas
Collier Platt. Ills entrance Into nalional
prominence in 1SS1 was under conditions
so unusual that his earlier public career
and prominence ns n banker and irtcrchant
have been generally forgotten. Unable , on
account of 111 health , to pursue his college
course beyond the sophomore year nt Yale ,
Mr. Platt took up a business career , which
led the way to the presidency of n national
bank at Tloga , N. Y. , and to n successful
venture In the lumber trade In Mlchlcan.
In 1S72 , when 39 years of age , ho was elected
a representative to congress and In 1876
wjs elected United States senator In suc
cession to Francis Kernan , his term ondlmi
March , 1S81. In Masot the same year. In
consequence of a quarrel with President Garfield -
field over the distribution of i atroiiago In
Now York state. Senators Conkllng and Platt
resigned from the senate , expecting to bo
re-elected , Instead of which the places they
had vacated were given to Messrs. bapham
and Miller.
Mr. Platt held the office of commissioner ot
quarantine of New York City from 18SO to
18S8 , when ho was removed by proceedings
Instituted on account of his alleged non-
residence. Ho has been a delegate to all
of the republican national conventions , be
ginning with that of 1870. Ho has been the
recognized director of the republican party
organization In New York state for the last
twelve or fifteen years , and through his tltlo
to supremacy has frequently been attacked ,
but ho has often demonstrated his ability to
hold It against all comers. . Mr. Platt Is the
president of the United States Express com
pany. HoIs In hla C4th year.
S13.VATOR I.UIJRU VISITS CANTON.
N n RlKtiri'ttt * " " ' Hnyn Ile'H Tint
n fa lil n i1 PonslliUKy.
CANTON , Jail. 14. Senator Lodge , who
came hero this morning , left for the east at
3:05 : p. m. this afternoon. The object of hla
visit ho declined to state. But ho said suf
ficient to show the Inference did not con
cern himself and cabinet. JIo waa seen by
the Associated press representative Just as
ho was leaving the city. In reoponse to an
Inquiry concerning his vlalt , the senator
said : "Wo had a confidential talk and what
wo said , I certainly cannot speak of. "
"Thcro la eomo talk to the effect that you
nro a cabinet possibility. Is that true ? "
'Almeat every prominent man has been
named as a possibility for the cabinet. An
for mjaclf , Major McKInlcy has known
right along that I had no ilealre to enter the
cabinet-nml I have had no occasion to change
my mind sit cc. My.desire Is to remain In ,
the senate. " .
"Kx-Governor Long of your state has been
recently mentioned aa a possible meiuber of
the coming cabinet. Have you bald anything
to Major McKlnley about him ? "
"As I cald before , " was the reply , "what
has passed between Mr. McKInlcy and myself
Is strictly confidential. However , Governor
Long ls a splendid man and well thought
of In our state and all New England. "
"Do you think Senator Sherman has ac
cepted the state portfolio ? "
'I have not seen Senator Sherman for some
days , " WEO the senator's reply , ca ho puffed
contentedly at a cigarette , "and I cannot
pay what his latest decision Is. I see the
papers have fixed him for the portfolio. "
Mrs. McKlnley gave an Informal luncheon
In honor of Mrs. Judd Brooks of Scwlcklcy ,
Pa. , olster-ln-law of Vice President John
Riving Brown of Pennsylvania county.
General Williams , ex-department com
mander of the Grand Army of the Republic
and cx-otatd chancellor of the Knlghtn ot
Pythias of thU date , with several promi
nent knights made a social call during the
afternoon.
Movn.iiu.\r TO IIOOM SHRHMAN.
Friend * InyliiK llu > U'lroK tit Itvtiirn
Him 4o the hVnatr.
CLEVELAND , Jan. 14. The movsmcnt to
send John Sherman to the rcenate for another
term In case ho Is not made a cabinet min
ister , la being pushed here. Several Ohio
newspapers have wired Colonel A. T. Brlna-
mondc , who U at the head of the movement ,
for Information as , to the exact situation as
regards Sherman. Ho replied today , stating
that there waa a ttrong probability of Sher
man going Into McKlnley's cabinet , but In
the absence , if absolute certainty the effort , !
would bo continued to have the next repub
lican state convention endorse Sherman for
the renate , us Forakcr had been , In capo
Sherman doss not take a cabinet portfolio.
IIIIinilH SiMintorlal
SPRINGFIELD , III. , Jan. 14. M. B. Mad
den , the Chicago alderman who has been one
of the leading candidates In the senatorial
contest , withdrew from the race tonight ,
throwing his support to ex-Congressman W.
1C. Mason of Chicago , who has been most
prominent as n rival for Senator Palmer's
PO.lL His wlHirlrnwnlvnn Immndl'itAlv fnl.
lowed by that of Samuel Allorton , the mil
lionaire packer of Chicago , who went at once
to personally congratulate Mr. Mason , Mr.
Maddcn's candidacy baa been bitterly fought
by the anti-machine element of the stato.
but , up to the moment of his withdrawal , It
had been supposed ho would go Into the
caucus tomorrow well backed by supporters.
It Is generally believed tonight that Mad
dcn's action makes the selection of Mason
by the caucus tomorrow a. certainty.
KiMinlor .Slitnilii 11 ( iiiex ( u Canton ,
WASHINGTON , Jan. 14-Senator John
Sherman , who has accepted the position of
secretary of state In Mr. McKInley'a cabinet ,
left tonight for Canton to have a confer
ence with the president-elect. Senator
Sherman's departure has been delayed on
account of the extradition thcatlcs In the
senate , of which ho had charge. U Is under
stood that during Senator Sherman's vlnlt
to Ohio It will bo definitely determined
when his resignation will take effect , no
there will ho no delay In the appointment of
his successor. Ills resignation will bo ten
dered to Governor Bushncll of Ohio , who
will , as now agreed upon , name Mr. Hanna
to servo until the meeting of the legisla
ture. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
' ( | | | | ( Protect TlirniNOlvcH ,
KANSAS CITY , Jan. 14. A special to the
Journal from Topeka , Kan. , says : The popu
list leaders of both houses of the state leg
islature have formed a combination to pre
vent the Introduction of any "freak" blllc
that might tend to bring their party Into
disrepute- ridicule. A sort of an advisory
board lisa neon established , and each popu <
list representative or senator rcportu hU bills
to this board to bo considered before Intro
duction ,
CliiKtxvtt lll'llilx ( InIN | ( .
BOISE , Idaho , Jan. 14. In the ballot for
United States senator today ono democrat ,
who voted for Cloggctt yesterday , loft him ,
and ho also lout one of the populist votes.
The result was : Claggctt , 31 ; Dubolu , 20 ,
Cooper ( populist ) , C ; Western ( populist ) , 3 ;
Crook ( populUt ) , 1 ; Angell ( populist ) , 1 ; Nel
son ( populUt ) , 1 ; Umlloiib' ( republican ) , 1.
\i2im.vstvA MAN ' i ni.M.sr.i.r.
Convict
I'rliMiit Drnil ( _ H | Cell
P1TTSBURG , Pa. , Jan BSpcctal Tele
gram. ) Harry Spcnccr Rlum Valley ,
Knox county , Nob. , wa rro dead In his
cell at the Western penitentiary this mornIng -
Ing at C o'clock , having committed Milckle
by hanging himself to a bolt In his cell with
n small piece of cord about his neck.
Ho was confined In A special cell , ae he
bore the reputation of being a dct perato
convict. Spencer moved from Ilium Valley
to Omaha In 1S90. and worked In the yards
of the Union Pacific railroad. Ho came to
Plttshurg after leaving the west and asso
ciated himself with two men , named Walker
and Wilson , who arc now doing twelve
years each In the pcnltimtlary. Spencer hnd
been In Plttsburg but tuo .months In 1S93
when he was arrested for a number of daring
burglaries and convicted. Walker and Wil
son were each sentenced to twelve years ,
but Spencer , on account of his youth , ho
being but 19 years of age , and his pleadlnpi ,
received only ten years , although It was
proved at the trial that Spencer had planned
all the thefts and" was the leader ot the
gang.
gang.While being led from the court house to
the Jail after ills sentence. Spencer attacked
the deputy sheriff having nlm In charge ,
knocked him down and made n dash to
Jump through the window of the bridge of
sighs , which connects the court house with
the jail. Although breaking the glass , Spen
cer failed to get hla body through.
Spencer had scarcely been In the peniten
tiary two months before ho planned escape
with half a dozen other prisoners. Spencer
had secured n short piece ot lead pipe and
a small block of wood. His scheme was to
place the wood between the cell door and
the Jamb , so that It would not lock. When
the guard came to stoop down to examine
It , Spencer was to strike him senseless with
the lead pipe. One of his confederates gave
the plan away , and when the guard came to
lock the door ho was escorted by two others
with rifles.
Spencer then planned the largest wholesale
Jail delivery ever known. The convicts arc
collected together In the chapel on Sundays
for worship and after the services any
prisoner Is allowed to approach the warden
to speak to him , It being the only tlmo dur
ing the "week such a liberty is permitted.
Spencer had conspired with about fifty other
men to strllco a blow for liberty , the b'gnal !
of which was to bo that Spencer waul.l step
up to the warden to apeak to him , otrlko him
down , disarm him , all the guards were to
bo overpowered simultaneously and all the
prisoners in th penitentiary were to bo
liberated.
Spencer acted his part. He struck WnrdcU
Wright a terrible blow dn approaching him ,
but ho had failed to count air the guards In
the gallery above the chapel , \\lo covered
the nt'laoners ' below with their rifles and
cowed them. Spencer had served two years
last October.
Till : .1IATUI.MO.MAI , YOIvi : CHAFKS.
I'rlncoHN Chlniny mill Her CJypsy I.over
Tire of Kueh Other.
NEW YORK , Jan. II. A copyrighted
cablegram from London to the Evening
World EOJ-S :
The World correspondent sent to Buda
Pcsth writes that It U his judgment , after
nearly a fortnight ot dally Interviews , luncli-
cjjna and iHnncrs with the. Princess do Chl-
may and h'or gypsy lover , that both aio al
ready tired of tholr elopement. But the
gypsy wants to make as much money out ot
it as possible bcforo the Inevitable parting.
" The correspondent was with the princess
last Saturday , bcforo returning to his post
In Berlin , and reports that the pair quar
reled constantly.
The manager of the Folios Bourgeois of
Paris end the manager of the winter garden
of Berlin have arrived hero and have had
Interviews with the princess , before whom
they laid some propositions for engagements
to sing at these places. They dined with
the princess , but she declined their offers
for the pressnt. The correspondent odds :
"Her brother , Ebscn Ward , who was stayIng -
Ing In Cannes , Is expected here , as the
princess telegraphed for him.
"Tho next fW days might bring mat
ters to a crisis. The princess says that If
slio could only find somebody else who would
run away with her , she would like to dose
so Immediately , and piobably would choose
Japan as her next hunting ground.
"However , nothing the princess aajs can
be depended upon , for ho changed her
mind every moment. She findj pleasure in
telling all kinds of stories to every ono who
goes to aeo her.
"If , " the correspondent continues , "tho
prince had been well advised , ho would have
asked to liavo his wlfo examined by experts
In mental disorders. Thcro Is no doubt that
If thl3 had been done she would have been
placed In an asylum. "
1M.IMJIS TO UK ltii'HKHKXTii > .
Hill AiiiiroprliillnK1 HlOO.ono for the
TrnuHiiilNNlHNlpiiI IC\position.
SPRINGFIELD , III. , Jan. 14. A ten-mlnuto
session of the senate wna held this morning ,
during which n number ot bills were In
troduced , Ir eluding one by Senator Crawford
provUlng for the participation of tbo state
In the Transmlssls lppl and International Ex
position at Omaha In 1S9S , appropriating
$100,000 to bo used In erecting a state build
ing , and that the governor appoint a com
mittee of three to execute the plans ,
Mitchell of Oregon Iteiioiuliuiteil.
SALEM , Ore. , Jan. 14. The republicans
In joint caucus tonight , by a unanimous
vote of the members present , nominated
John H. Mitchell to succeed himself In the
United States senate. Forty-four members
were present and jetters were read from
two others , who were detained by sickness ,
stating they would abide by the will of the
caucus. This gives Mitchell a bare majority
of the legislature. The Mitchell men are
Jubilant tonlcht and claim fnnr mpmlmr/i
who refused to go Into caucus will cast
their votes for Mitchell.
( ilven tin Kmpty Honor ,
JEFFERSON CITY , Mo. , Jan. 11. The re
publican caucus to nominate a candidate to
succeed Senator Vest wns held here tonight
and resulted In the selection of Hon. Richard
C. Kerens , national cccnmlttcman from Mis
souri , over Clmunccy Ives Fllley , chairman
of the state committee , by a vote of 30
to C. Thcro was a big fight In the caucus
between the two factions. The honor M an
empty one , a ? It is conceded that the demo
crats will re-elect. Senator Vest.
HIlHH NoTTa the Cnlilnet.
NEW YORK. Jan. 14. Cornelius N. Bliss
today confirmed the rumor that ho Is not to
bo a .member of the next cabinet. Ho wan
seen by an Associated press reporter , to
whom he said : "I am not to bo a member
of Major McKlnloy'fl cabinet. " Further than
thin Mr. BlUa would not go. Ho declined to
admit that ho had been offered a place In
the cabinet , neither would hu glvo his reason
for making this statement today.
C'ninimlfiii Too Much for SI , John.
NEW YORK , Jan , 14. William P. St.
John , treasurer of the democratic national
committee , lira been 111 at his homo In this
city uliico hli return from a trip to North
Carolina In search of health. The cause of
the Illness Is a general breakdown and nerv
ous prostration , duo to work In the recent
campaign
Crolter Out of Politic * for CJooil.
NEW YORK. Jon. 14. Richard Croker
made a speech at the Tammany Central
club last night In which ho reiterated that
ho was out of politics and denied emphati
cally that lie had taken up his permanent
residence In England , "Now York la my
home , " said ho , "and alwayB will bo my
homo. "
Mnvi'iiientH of Oeeiiii VeNNelx , Jnn , 1 I ,
At OucoiiHtown Arrived Ilrltunnlu , from
Now York for Liverpool , Balled Teutonic ,
from Liverpool for Now York.
At Now York Arrived llerlln , from Ant
werp.
At .MarBclllCH Arrived California , from
York , via Napluu ,
COUNTING IN AN AMENDMENT
Neatness antl Dispatch with Which the
Feat Was Accomplished ,
LITTLE BIT OF NEBRASKA'S HISTORY
How the AxNeitthly of 1SS5 Arrmiircil
Matter * nml 1'rovlileil for n Sixty
IiiNleuil of u Korty-lny
LINCOLN. Jan. 14. ( Special Telegram. )
The members of the legislature have not
succeeded up to the present tlmo In workIng -
Ing up anything bordering upon the sen
sational. Many bills have been Introduced
In both branches , some of them Important
nnd far-reaching In their effects ; but ns
none of them have as yet como from the
hands of the printers consequently
few members have had nn opportunity to
study the proposed legislative reforms.
There Is ono bill , however , the purport of
which Is fully understood In both houses.
This Is the bill proposing n recount ot th
ballots on the constitutional amendments.
Members ot both houses fully realize th
work cut out for them by this bill. The
bill provides that the votes on the amend
ment must bo counted nnd reported to the
governor on or before February 15. That
leaves but thirty days , But neither house
has passed the bill , nnd , assuming that It
will become n law without encountering the
delay of n determined opposition , It can
not reach the governor for his signature )
earlier than nome day next week. The bill
Is still In the hands of the printers. It
will have to bo considered In committee ,
then reported back to tbo ncnate. run the
gauntlet of the committee of the whole
there , nnd , after It has passed , must be en
grossed and enrolled and then presented to
the governor. All thcso movements consume -
sumo time. It Is generally conceded that
It will be a difficult matter to find the votes
necessary to declare the amendment car
ried. Still , the task Is not necessarily .
hopeless one. It has been done before.
ONE AMENDMENT CARRIED.
In 1884 the people voted down , apparently ,
an amendment to extend the legislative term
from forty to sixty dajs. It was generally
conceded that the amendment failed ; but the
history of the legislature , wnicn mei in Jan
uary , 1SS3 , developed otherwl.se. On January
5 , 1SS5 , after both houses of the legislature
had been organized and the Joint ) convention
had assembled to canvass the returns , the
legislative amendment WES duly declared
lost. It wc not until the life of the legis
lature had nearly expired that the members
realized just how short a legislative term of
forty dayn really waa. On February 15 , Sen
ator Vandcmark of Saumlers county wna
seized with an Inspiration. It took the form
of a Joint resolution , providing for a re-
canvae.3 of the votes on the legislative
amendment. In two dayo the Joint resolu
tion wsa passed. It went to the house and
wcs passed on February 26. Two days later
It received the official sanction of Governor
Thaycr and became a law. The rccanvcca
wco conducted by Secretary of State Laws
and Auditor II. A. Babcoek. assisted by
Senators J. K. Vandcrmark and Paul
Schmlnko and Representatives Frank E.
White- and W. H. McCann. The work waa
finished In .1 surprisingly short tlmo * Tha
polling hooka and ballots from the several
counties were forwarded to the state capl-
tel , the votes were carefully recounted end
five days later the canvassing board wn
ready to make Its report.
On the evening of March 1 , the two
houses met In Joint convention to can van
the votes. The results surprised the ex
pectations of even the most sanguine friend *
of the amendment. It was reported that the
amendment had received 72.497 votes. Th
veto against It was 22,135. Then 27.771
voters failed to express a choice and ld.013
were generous and voted both for and ngalnal
the proposition. The total vote on tin
amendment was 138.423. When the total voti
on the amendment Is compared with th
total vote ca. t for state officers on the same
day the results are somewhat startling.
Hero Is the total vote on the slate ticket :
On governor , 135,555 ; lieutenant governor.
133,908 ; secretary of state , 134.139 ; treasurer ,
134,088 ; auditor , 131,039 ; attorney general ,
131,050 ; commissioner of public lands and
buildings , 131,233 ; superintendent a } public
Instruction , 131,094. For the first tlmo In the
history ot the state more votes were cast
for a proposed amendment than were cast
for any office on the Elate ticket. The
declaration made by the Joint convention nn
January 5 to the effect that the legislative
amendment had not carried was by formal
vote rescinded.
DOUGLAS COUNTY CONTESTS.
The Douglas county contests are develop
ing moro Interest as the session growa
older. The attempt of the republican minor
ity In the house to force nn Immediate re
jection of the claims of the contestants has
brought the cases to the surface , and they
are now In the legislative swim. The houoo
committee on privileges and elections met
tonight to map out a program for action.
The committee on privileges and elections
held l ; first session this evening , all the
members being present but Representative
Schram , who.io Illness prevented his attend
ance. An Informal discussion of the method
cf procedure was first held , and then the
work on the contests was mopped out. It
was decided to ask the house to adjourn at
noon tomorrow until noon Monday. If the
house agrees , an open meeting of the com
mittee will bo held tomorrow afternoon , an
other In the evening , ono Saturday fore
noon , and , If necessary , ono Monday morn
ing. An attempt will bo made to dispose of
Mm pn n nml mnlm n final rprnmmrnilatlrm
Monday afternoon , but the tlmo of the hear
ings will ho extended Indefinitely If the
merits of thn case demand It. Ono thing
may lead to delay. The committee proposes
to subpoena George W. Holdrcgoand Interro
gate him as to the charges made by con
testants that passes were used with which
to bribe largo number * ! of voters. The ef
fect of railroad participation In politics will
bo studied In the light of the testimony
which the committee hopes to elicit from
Mr. Iloldreui.
The briefs of the contestants were filed
with the committee today. John Jeffco.it has
been occupying a seat nn the floor of the
cenato for two days and John O. Yelscr haa
liccn hovering around the fringe of the Ku-
liilrture for about the Name length of time.
There IB , likewise , a cloud of attorneys from
Omaha , who are doing their best to stand
around In an attitude that Implies simple ,
disinterested motives In the cause of elective ,
reforms. The brief sots forth the following
grounds , upon which tin ) contestants baao
tholr claims for ncata In the legislature :
1. Seven hundred nnd fifty foreigners wcra
made voters by bribery nml Induced to vote
for the rontoHtcpH for the cost of t.iclr nat
uralization papers ,
2. A $10,000 corruption fund \vns expended
by the republican party nml Iti nlllcn In
DougliiH county Mono to Hocuro the election
of Its iiomlnecH , by tbo IIHO of which money
It bribed nnd purchnped n grcntur number
of voters than would bo nceenHary In num
ber to clmiiKn thn rcmilt of the election ,
3. Intimidation nnd coercion of employes
on the part of corporations and moneyed In-
Htltntlonx.
4. Intcrferi-nco of railroads by giving frco
PIIHKCH to voter" nlisi'iit from Douglas
county on condition Hint they would re
turn and vote the republican ticket.
SI3VATOII.S jTo TlTTI.n IIUKIMCNM.
Knurl to ni | iciiNc with n Ilepnhlleanl
Mliiployo the .MilIII Tiling.
LINCOLN , Jan. 14. ( Special. ) After the
preliminary work had been cleared away In
the senate this morning the free silver mou
dnvntcd some llttlo portion of the state's time
to the consideration of ways and means for
dlii.ncnsln : : with u custodian of the sonata
water closet , who had been appointed by cx-
S'-crolary of Ktatu Piper , in order to Qocuro
the nppclntmimt of ono moro Illu-ly to bo U