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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 16, 1902)
TIIT3 OMAHA DAILY IlEE: FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1002. upon the question definitely so thnt wc rsn present the matter to the court anil have It determine It one way or the other. Then your duty In very plain." The 'governor: "It la not necessary to pas on that at thJ time. If It. Mr. 81m erair Mr. Blmeral: "No, 1 would sot think 9 today. No, air." The governor: "We can do It thla after Boon or tomorrow T" Mr. filmeral: "Tea, air." The auditor: "It la not necessary to pass on that before your argument, la It?" Mr. Blmeral: "No, Mr. If you wlah me to present .my argument I wilt give yoa such law upon It I have. I do not drslre to take any ' snap Judgment upon It, of courae." Tbe governor: "Very well." Mr. SI morn I: "J will aay, In order that we may proceed with aome definite Idea, that I will fije election by The Dee Build ing company against the five system. I will denlKnate them as systems, for In tance, the Union Pacific. I will file these objection during tbe day. 1 have cne here with me now; the Union Pacific Is tbe only one I have the data for. If you wlah me to read thla now I will do ao, and tben Mr. Rorawater can proceed with hie argument." N Teat of the Argameat. Mr. Bimetal proceeded with hie argu ment a follows: ''In presenting to you thla question of the Intangible property or the franchise of railroads for taxation I desire to preface my remarks by saying that I am aware cf the fact that It would be a new de partur In the action of this board In the atate of Nebraska. But we are living In a progressive age and we hare to meet the varied condition of business and of property in lis manifold conditions as they arise. Fifty yeara ago corporations were malt, comparatively speaking, and there was no value In stocks. Today the vast wealth of this country is In the bands of corporations; the rtocks and b.'ynds of cor porations are worth millions upon million, while fifty yeara &go they were worth thousands. Tbe property of corporations to largely In their franchises? rather than In the physical or tangible properties which are visible to . the naked eye. It baa therefore become a question that I being agitated from the Atlantic to the Pacific, not only as an economic question, but alao In Its political phase, and I be lieve that It la the duty of Nebraska, under our law and under our constitution, to keep In the foreground, rather than lag behind. In the rsscssment of the fran chises of the. great corporations. It was suggested here this morning that under eur. statutes there waa no provision made for the assessment of the franchises. De fore I go Into tbe law on this question I desire to read you aome letters that Mr. Rosewater has received from aome states In the west. First, I will read you a letter from the secretary of atate at Lansing, Mich., upen this question of the taxation of the franchises of railroads. He says, among other things: 'While the constitu tion or laws of this state do not provide for the assessment of tbe franchise of railroad companies definitely, the value ot the franchises are taken Into consideration In determining the total value of taxable, property.' That Is from Mr. Warner, sec retary of1 state of the atate of Michigan. Now here la what the auditor ot the atate of Indiana lays: 'Tbe atate board. In making the assessment on railroad prop erty, la governed by all tbe Information that it can obtain relative to auch property. It la the Intention of the board to amess these properties at their cash value, having always In mind that such assessment be equalised and In conformity with the as sessment made by the local authorities against other classes ot property. Tbe franahtaea -of ,,raIl;co4 corporations are lu, eluded In tbe assessment made by the board against such' property, francblaea, tangible . property, earning capacity, ex penses' of operation, etc, all enter Into the consideration of the board In fixing the cash value ot property.' Condition In laws, "You ieve undoubtedly heard of the low taxation of railroads in Iowa, and here la what this governor of Iowa saya In a letter addressed to Mr. Rosewater of date May 6: 'It la true that our law does not apeclflcally require tbe council to take Into considera tion the value ot the franchise, but It has always been assumed In this atate that the value ot the Intangible property ot railway corporations should be considered. This la made plain by the following extract! from the statute which controls the executive council in making up the assessment: "In assessing aald railway and its equipment maid council should take Into consideration the groaa earnings per mile for the year ending January 1 preceding and any and all other matteri necessary to enable said eoun ell to make a Just and equitable asGcisment Of such railway property.' It will be aeen that under thla language It la the plain duty of tbe executive council to consider every element of value which the property may have, and the fact that groaa earnlnga are emphasised Indicates that the earning rapacity of the railway ahall be one of the influential factors ot the problem. It goee without saying that the gross earnlnga and .he net earnlnga. If uaed to determine the ralue . of property. Include the Intangible value or franchise value. Without reflect ing in 'any sense upon the past action ot ihe' executive council In Iowa It may be aid with truth that the work ot assessing railroad property ha not proceeded along logical lines, and I do not wonder that the repreaentatlvea ot railway companies us the Iowa assessment as an argument for keeping, down the rates of assessment In other state. I believe that the railway com pan lee themaelvca recognize that the valuatloo upon the. railway lines In Iowa heretofore has been very much below as compared to the real value of other proper ties, and the only argument with them la Jhat they were assessed aa high aa other taxable property. I do not forecast wW. the executive council will do this year, but I think there la a general belief that the railway aasessmcnt will be materially In creased. Franchisee Asaesaeel Rlaevrhere. "The extracts that I have read from theao letter Indicate the action of other boards whoae duty la similar to that ot yours. They have taken Into consideration and do assess the franchises ot railroads, although their 'laws and the constitution may net so provide In so many word-, it would strike fi Udt It id's gt;"ratlou t nd at thlk time the du'' of 'bm board to at sets the fran chise, and If. foraooth. It be Illegal, why pot let tbe railroads go Into court and en join you from doing it? You are here to represent , the people of the state and not the i-:''jadi. Than, aa such representa tives, let it ba ynau- duty and your privi lege at thla time fj assess the franchisee ot these roads, a.nq 1? they desire to contest It let them do o. Now I shall refer briefly to tbe law of tins state In reference to whether or tier franchise can be legally assessed.' The first thing that you will no tice Is the constitution of tbe state itself. being section) of article Ix, which Is spe cific, and which 1 self-acting and only r- Do not gripe nor Irritate) the aiimea tary canal. They art gently yet promptly, Cluae effectually stud 6oiatj ami-jut; ouU, " ' quires the action of this board to carry out lis provisions. Portion 1. (Taxes). The legislature rhT provide such revenue as may be needful by levying a tax by valuation, so that every person and corporation shall pay a laic In proportion to the value of his, her nr Its property and fratwhtfoa, the- vsl to be ascertained In auch manner as the Irftlulnture shall direct. "Now It aay that the value Ja to be as certained In auch a manner a the legisla ture shall direct. How Is that value to be ascertained by this board? By an Investi gation of the facta. Are there aay fact whlth tbe law require to be et before you In order that you may ascertain the value ef the franchise? On page 779 of tbe com piled statutes for 1901 it saya 'Capital stock of corporations, bridge, express, ferry, gas. manufacturing, mlnlrg. savings bank, stage, steamboat, street railroad, transportation and all other companies or associations In corporated under the laws of this state ex cepting Insurance companies.' What line tbe Hoard nonet "Every year the corporations present to this board their net earnings, the amoant of their capital stock, and why Is that done? Has it ever been utilized by tbl b:ard? Has It ever been referred to for the pur pose of taxation by thla board? There Is aome reason for this statute being In here, and, as I maintain, it la only for the pur pose of assisting you at arriving at the value of the franchise. "Will It be said that tbe railroad com pany I not a transportation company? Tbe provision of this statute take In all cor porations and association Incorporated under tbe laws of thla State except In surance companies. It la tbe universal rule ot law that where a particular exception la made nothing else Is Included except that particular exception. When It ex clude Insurance) companies all other com panies are taken Into consideration and must be taxed. This section provides that corporatlona shall la . addition to other properties required by this act to be listea, make out and deliver to tne assessor a aworn atatement of the amount of It cap ital stock, setting forth particularly, first, the name and location of the company or association, the amount ef capital stock authorised and the number of sharea Into which the capital stock Is divided, the amount of capital stock paid up, the market value, or It no market value then tbe actual value of the stock, the total amount of all Indebtedness for current expenses from such expenses the amount paid for the purchase or improvement of such property- "Now that, a you will observe, baa been held unconstitutional; they cannot deduct Indebtedness of the company. Propertr Most Be Mated. "Sixth. The assessed valuation ot all tbis real and personal oronertv. which real anil personal property shall be listed and val- uea as oiner real and psrsonal property I valued and assessed. Under thla chantar the aggregate amount of ths fifth and sixth item shall be deducted from the ag gregate value ot the shares of stock a provided by the fourth item and tha ra. malnder, If any, shall be listed by the as sessor in the name of the company or cor poration a capital stock thereof. In all cases of failure or refusal of any person io mace sucn return or statement It shall be the duty of tbe assessor to make such return or statement from the best Informa tion ho can obtain. 'Section 3 ears that 'tha Twmi-a ahoii take Into consideration the number of mllea and the rlsht-of-wav. uinF.iiFii.tii,K thereon, main and sidetracks, depot' build-. Inge, depot grounds. houses, and the personal property neoe-h ary ior conatruction, repairs, etc.' You cannot atop there; you havs to go further. You havs got to See If there be any other provision ot tbe law which aay that It Is rour , duty to value the franohlse, and we find this provision In section as. which n. vldes the method bv which . acquire knowledge of the franohlse. Now, lei me can your attention to this decision of the supreme court of Nebraska. I will refer to It as the Omaha decision. It has not as yet been reported. The syllabus ay: 'That part of section 32 of the revenue act which require the assessor to deduct the amount of the corporation Indebtedness from the actual shares of stock to determine what shall be eesoesed as capital stock I unconstitutional and void.' United States Supreme Court Opinion. 'As I read this decision. It means slmnlr this: That section 32, ao far a It require the Indebtedness of the corporation to be deducted. Is void, because It Is not allowed In the assessment ot the property of In dividuals, and therefore It could not be allowed to corporations, and It la the duty or ma assessor to asses the property and the franchise, both. There Is a very inter esting case upon this question In the su preme court of the United States, decided by Justice Brewer; I will call your atten tion to It. It 1 the case of The Adams Express Company against Tbe Ohio Stat Auditor, a decision upon a rehearing, vol ume 168, United Bute Supreme Court Re port, page 185. a follow: But thla contention nracttnAllv l,nAi the existence of Intangible property, or, at least, denies Its liability for taxation. In the complex civilisation of today, a large portion of the wealth of a commu nity consists In Intangible property, and there, is nothing In the nature of things or in the limitations of the federal con stitution which restrains a state from taxing at ita real value such intangible property. It matters not In what this Intangible property consists whether privileges, corporate franchises, contracts or obligation. It Is enough thnt It is property which, though Intangible, exists, which has value, produces income, and peases current in the markets of the world. To Ignore this intangible property, or to hold that It Is not subject to taxa tion ai na nccepica value, la to eliminate from the reach of the taxing power a large portion of the. wealth of the coun try. In the cltv o New York in t irat'.l tfc. heud.usrters of ooporatlon ose cor porate property Is confoe-wiiy of .he value ui eio.tw.wu, a value wnicn can be real ised by Ita atockholders at sny moment they see fit. Its tangible property and Its business sre scattered through many states, all whoae powers are Invoked to protect its property from trespass, and secure it in the peaceful transaction of It wiuniy uisyrrstta Diisineae. Xet. because that tangible property is only 4.00C,OUO, we are told that that is the limit of the taxing power of these states. In other word. It asks these states to protect property which to it Is of the value of iH.Aio.00O but Is willing to pay taxes only on the basis of a valuation of tt.OOw.uoo. iiiv injustice oi mis sprang ror Itself. In conclusion, let uu aa" thnt rhi. I. emtrentlv a pr.-ctlcn. .;e, that courts must i. ok die 'hinge a they ure, and as possessing a value which la accorded to them in the markets of tha worM .i that no flneamin theorlM Kn, ... should Interfere to enable these corpora tions, whoae buslnt-ss is Tarried on thi-ourn many state, to escat;a do.; t-arli. In each state such burden of taxation as a ,f.r uiBiui,uiii hi ina actual value of their property among those states re quires. "That Io the language of the supreme court ot the United Btatea. I will say. In conclusion, gentlemen, as I aald in the be ginning, thla la a queatlon that ha arisen all over the country. We cannot eacape It; It la bound to come up In varloua anl innumerable way. It may be downed by the railroads tor thla time, or It may go Into court. If you aee fit to assess them, cr they may persuade you that their fran chisee should not be assessed, but never, theless It k bound to corns up. .not only In the state ot Nebraska, but you aee it is pending In Iowa. New York has al ready passed on the question through Its legislature. Michigan and Minnesota anl all the states throughout this vast country are more or less agitated upon this ques tion. The Texas supreme court has passed upon it. requiring a tax on the franchise. VThett we get to sseetjstnr the torpor ttrms at their true valuations, including franchises, at that moment will the atate and tbe people have solved to a very large extent the question ot trust and monopo lies, because, aa stated In thla case de cided by Justice Brewer, the express com pany held tangible property worth tt.eno, 000, and they asked that the assessor sesrs only on that (4,000,000, and yet It goes Into tbe markets ot the world and says: 'Ws have property here worth $11,000,000. bat we do not propose to pay taxea on property worth more than $4,W0, 000.' You can aee In such a case a great Injustice is being done, and sooner or later there will be an uprising and an up heaval throughout this entire country which will, through the uprising of the people, overburdened by taxation, compel these great corporatlona to beer their fair share In the great expeuse of government." STRIKE WILL GO ON (Continued from First Page.) humor tonight. He waa pressed for a state ment, but refused to give information be yond the bare fact that the convention had decided to strike. He held a confer ence with National Secretary-Treasurer W. B. Wilson regarding future movements. Peeale Are Disappointed. SCRANTON, Ta., May 15. It wa disap pointment rather than surprise that the news of the prolongation of the strike was received In thla region. It waa felt yes terday that the strike was likely, but there was a hope existing that something would avert It. When the news came great de pression settled over the community. Everybody believe It will be a long strug gle and that before It is ended there will be no small smount of violence. In an ticipation of efforts on the part of tho strikers to prevent the wasberlea from working 'the companies are swearing in as deputy sheriffs all their bosses and office men. The Retail Growers' association has called a meeting for next Monday to pass on tbe matter of discontinuing credits. The whole salers have Informally declared they will reduce credits from thirty to seven days. The retailers claim they will, In conse quence, be compelled to shut down on credits entirely. LOSE THEIR LIVES IN FIRE Three Farmers burned to Deceit h In West Virginia Hotel. POINT PLEASANT, W. Vs., May IB. The American hotel burned here last night. Three live are known to have been lost. Several adjoining buildings were also con sumed. Three bodies have been recovered. . The other buildings burned were the home of Hon. Rankin Wiley and Klppllng's resi dence and meat market. The fire originated In tbe American hotel, a wooden structure. The loss Is probably $30,000. Those who lost their lives are: JOHN BLACK, Kanawha county. ELIAS HAMBRICK, Olenwood, Mason county. JOHN WOODALL. All were formers and were here as grand Jurors at the criminal court. They were sleeping on the second floor and mean of escape were cut off. Lee Carlisle, a mate on the Ohio river, waa so badly burned that he will die. It 1 believed that all the bodies havs been re covered. .Henry Woodall and Maude Wise were also injured. DES MOINES, May 15. The town of Far li.n, seven mile north of Jefferson, In Greon county, on the Chicago, Milwaukee St. PaujfodK was, visited, by a conflagration laat night that wiped out the entire busi ness section, entailing a loss estimated at more than 140,000. Every store In ths town. Including the postofflce, is a mass of ruin. Ths losses thus far known are: Mahlon Head, build ing, 31,000; Charles Try, building and con tents, 16,000; Henry Roher, dry goods, $5,000; postofflce building and contents, $4,000; "8. C." Lumber company, $4,000; other buildings and merchandise, $16,000. GIVE RAILROADS A CHANCE Interstate Commerce Commission Ac cepts Their Promise to ' Equalise nates. CHICAGO, May 15. Representatives of western railroads today promised tbe Inter state Commerce commission to agree on an equalization of the live stock and dressed beef tariffs which would be satisfactory to the Chicago Live Stock exchange. An agreement must be reached by June 16 and It must be In effect by June $0. Chairman Knapp and Commlsslonera Flfer and Prouty were on the bench when today'a meeting waa called to order. Tbe meeting wa for the purpose ot investigating the allegation' made by tbe Live Stock exchange that the rate on live stock la proportion ately higher than the dressed beef rate from the Missouri river east, the earns be ing a discrimination unjust td Chicago packers and live stock men. The following railroad men were present; W. P. Blddle of the Santa Fe, F. A. Wann of tbe Alton, M. C. Markbam ot the Illinois Central, A. C. Bird of the St. Paul, Tnomaa Miller of the Burlington, Henry Gower ot the Rock Island and Y. E. Kellogg of the Great Western. The Llv Stock exchange was represented by T. "'. ';. n.lltiBon. The railroad men asked for a postponement ' and pledged themselvrs to a readjustment of tha tariff. iJr. Tomlinaon declared that such promisee had been made before and wanted the In vestigation to proceed. The commission ers, however, after a conference, concluded to give the railroads a rhance to make good their promise and postponed the meeting till June 16. MOTHER SEES AWFUL SIGHT Cripple v li ". heiuntlsni. She la laable to Help Usi alu Child In lame Room. NEW YORK, May 15. Crippled with rheumatism and unable it move from her bed. Mrs. Wllliao Wbdi-r of Newark, N. J., saw rr douriicer Lia, 1 vest and 6 nv ia tit., barn to de; t- wl.h'r a few fsei f her bed. sir. Wagner ha been unable to get out of bed for a month. While her nurse was absent the child procured matches, and, while playing with them, aet fir to her clothing and the curtains. Mrs. Wagner screamed loudly, but the child waa fatally burned before assistance arrived. After the Are. which had apread about the rooms, had been quenched, Mra. Wagner was found to be unconscious. Children Like It. "My little boy took the croup en night," saya P. D. Reynold of Mansfield, O., "anl grew so bad you could hear him breathe all over the houae. I thought be would die, hut a few dose ot On Minute Cough Cur re lieved and sent him to sleep. That' tb lost w heard ot the croup." One Minute Cough Cure la absolutely aafe and acts at once. For coughs, colds, croup, grip, aathma and bronchitis. The ladies wonder how Mrs. B. manage to preserve her1 youthful looks. Tbe secret Is she takes PRICKLY A8H BITTEKJ; II kseps the stca In perfect order. DR. VAN DYKE MODERATOR Professor of Literature at Princeton Elected by the PreibjUriana. DR. KERR OF NEBRASKA IN THE RACE Tltal Qnestlen of the Re-vision at Con fession ot Fnlth Comes tp nt Latter Part ef ttenernl Assembly. NEW YORK, May 15 Dr. Henry Van Dyke, professor of literature at Princeton university, was, late this afternoon, elected moderator of the general assembly ot the Presbyterian church, which body began It deliberations here today. He wa elected on tbe aecond ballot. The result ot the first ballot waa; Dr. Van Dyke, 217; Dr. Kerr, 86; Dr Holmes, 90; Dr. Moffatt, 144; Dr. Duffleld 61. There were 98 vqtee cast, 299 being neces sary to elect. There wa some discussion a to whether another ballot should be cast before the end of the session, as there waa a com munion service scheduled. After some talk It was decided to cast another ballot; be fore this waa done, however. Dr. Robert R. Booth of New York arose and withdrew the name of Dr. Duffleld. He aald that this was done at tbe request ot Dr. Duf fleld. The result of the second ballot was: Dr. Van Dyke, 2yS; Dr. Moffatt, 22?; Dr. Holmes, 49. Ths votes given to Dr. Kerr on the first ballot were scattered between Dr. Van Dyke and Dr. Moffatt. Election Made I'nnnlmoas. After the result wa announced the re tiring moderator. Dr. 'Henry C. Mlntoa, moved that Dr. Van Dyke' election be made unanimous and this was done. On tha second ballot there was cast 574 votes, of which 287 were necessary to elect. Amidst cheera Dr. Van Dyke was escorted to the moderator's chair, and a he took It Dr. Mlnton said: "My brother, it becomes my duty to In form you of your election to the office of moderator of this general assembly and to present you with this book of law and order. I trust that God may spare you to us all and that He may grant you His blessing 1l the work before you." Dr. Van Dyke In reply aald: "I thank you with all my heart for giving me the privilege of standing In a place made sacred to me by the memory of my father. I have not deserved this honor, but will do my best, if you will help me, to be a loyal and true moderator in the- church In which I was born and which I love with all my heart." Dr. Van Dyke then declared the session adjourned until tomorrow at 9,a. m. Gavel from Jerssslem, At the first business session of the as sembly the moderator presented as a gift from Rev. M. A. Steen ot Stockton, Cel., a rosewood gavel, which had been brought from Jerusalem. In seconding Dr. Van Dyke's nomina tion, Rev. Herrlck Johnson ot Chicago said that his candidate was a scholar, of scholarly habits. Instinct and ambition. "I have been asked by some present, 'What about Dr. Van Dyke's theology? Is be orthodox? Isn't he shaky about his theology? In reply- to these question I say that what his honorable father be lieved and stood for he stands for and be lieves. He Is a child ot the covenant. What his father believed was ' handed down by his father." . , v- Rev. Joseph' J. LartpifVof Omaha nomi nated Dr. D. R. Kerr, the president ot Bellevue college, Bellevue, Neb. The sermon of Dr. Mlnton, the retiring moderator, waa on "The Enduring Mieslon of Preabyterlanlam." His text was from the eleventh chapter, fortieth verse of He brews. So Race, No Humanity. Dr. Mlnton said doubtless God could have made men wholly independent of each other. fatherlese and childless Melchlzedec. But In that case there would have been no race, no humanity. And what Is true of tbe race applies to tbe church. All are bound to gether. A healthy and generou denomlna tlonallam need be no hindrance to the progress of the church. All may appropri ate the text. And so, too, may Presby terians, standing on the threshhold ot a new century. Continuing, the preacher asked: Ars our contribution nut nf ristaT Ta our faith a back number, and our type of piety and character unsulted to current conditions? In answering such an Inquiry note first that Preabyterlanlam has always characteristically approached men on their rational aide. Men are thinking aa never before, and men think their way back to the eternal problems of God. Presbyterian Ism has ever answered to the human mind ror tne trutn or Ootf, and that call will never die until the psychology of the human heart Is changed. It follows that our church has ever plsced the emphasis on education. It has alwava stood for an educated pulpit, and an In- leiugem pew. ine niftnest note of Fresbv terlunlsm is that of Intellectual conviction. of appeal to men's Judgment ou the sure ground of truth. Government and Doctrine. My third thought is that there are cer tain elements In the government snd doc trine of the Presbyterian church which especially ht It to exert a powerful Indirect influence in tne interest or law and order, and in promoting the civilization ot man klrd. Ouc more the PresbytH-n church has peculiar ouullricatlons for raeetu . ha 1.1. - sionary call, which Is the commanding oi'e in . nnai a marcning orders ul tne oegu . nlng of the twentieth century. It believes In the divine message; in the divine sender, and in man's supreme need. This is the Alpha and Omega ot a missionary creed. Ours is a glorious birthright,, but ours ts a more glorious outlook. Many prophets and righteous men have desired to see the things which we see and have not seen them, and to hear the things which we hear, and have not heard them. The riches of a hallowed hlnlory are tributary to our service, and Its crimsoned trasurea are ready at our command. K f rt.f cen turies looked down upon Napoleon's troops, a!', history waits for our loyalty and de votion. The circle of all the centuries has lis center In our own. Tho records of patriarchs' a iJ prophets, of apostles and martyrs cam ot be rounded out till the loyal alleglunce, the Christ like spirit, the consecrated energies of our generation are counted in. It la a glorious company of which we are a part. We perform our mlaston, we fill our place, we Bcoomiiliah our word in the plan of re demption of a lost race, covering the vast ewetp of time, and in the march of the redeemed of Ood toward the far-off goal of perfection, which is complete In Jeaus Christ. Camberland Presbyterian Assembly. SPRINGFIELD, Mo.. May 15. The aev-enty-second general assembly of ths Cum berland Presbyterian church In the United States met In this city at 10:20 o'clock this 00OvOtOOtOvOTOvO People who o can't eat meat J o can eat and o and grow fat on o ;Grape-Nuts2 c S Fact! S ttwOwOwOOOOOOOOOOOOO morning. The attendance Is unprecedest edly large. Rev. E. E. Morris of Marshall, Mo., the moderator, preached the opening sermon, his theme being "The Manifest Righteousness of God." Mr. Morris was snatsted in this service by cx-Mnderator D. E. Bushnell, D. D., of St. Louli; W. H. Flack. D. D.. of Marshall, Mo.; K. G. McLean, D. P., of San Antonio, Tex., and F. R. Earle, D. D.. of Clarksrllle, Ark. Before the adjournment for lunch and In anticipation of the formal organisation at I p. m., Rev. Ira Land ret h of Nashville, Tenn., gave notice that ho would present a resolution before a moderator is elected providing for a cabinet to assist that officer In appointing the committees, this cabinet to consist of one commissioner from each synod and to he choaen by the represents tlve from the several rynods. It is still Impossible to predict who will be moder ator, though the friends of three or four men are actively seeking votes for their favorites. One or two speakers In their preliminary church extension roll yesterday hinted broadly that one of the Issues likely to be raised at this meeting would be a reorgan Izatton of the church mission work by the organization ot a borne hoard. Much en thuslasm has resulted from yesterday's dis cussions, and much of the assembly's time will In consequence he given to planning for church extension and development In country plaoes as well as n cities. goathera Presbyterians Meet. JACKSON, Miss., May 15. The forty second annual session of the Presbyterian Church ot the United Statea began Its de liberations here today. The assembly la composed of commissioner from the tot lowing states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. The conference was called to order by ths moderator. Dr. Leander M. Woods of Memphis. Two hundred and fifty, delegates are present. When the assembly was organized In Augusta, Go., In 1861, about 70,000 Presby terians were represented. The membership represented by the meeting today I about 230,000, an Increase of more than 300 per cent In forty-one year. Simultaneous with the meeting here the northern assembly Is being convened In New York. Dr. N. A. White ot Lexington, Va., is mentioned as the next moderator, BRITONS THANK AMERICANS (Continued from First Page.) recently and the widow decided to return to the home of a wealthy slater In the Barbadoes. The widow packed her prop, erty, and In company with a faithful col ored nurse, Clara King, who had been with the family In Barbadoes, she started on the Journey that waa to be the last under taken by the family. PARIS SHOWS INDIFFERENCE French People Surprise Americans by Their Cool Attitude Toward Martinique Disaster. PARIS, May 15. The American visitors here cannot understand the seeming in difference of the Parisians in regard to the Martinique disaster. Beyond tbe half masted flags over the government offices there are no signs of public mourning. The people flock to their usual resorts, at tend the races, fill the . theaters, none ot which have been closed, no "extras" aro Issued and there Is no demand for them. But the evening papers containing bulle tins of ths automobile race are eagerly purchased. ' The various ftinds being raised for the relief of the Martinique sufferers now only totals 305,000 trancs. Including the large subscriptions ot the foreign potentates and tbe 20,000 francs from the municipalities. The provinces seem more Interested in tho disaster than the capital. They are actively organizing committees to raise funds and there Is much mourning at the seaports whose ships were destroyed. A representative of the Associated Press has Just returned from the ministry ot the colonies. Beside the reporters, who were In the waiting room around the green board on which the official bulletins are posted, were almost exclusively natives ot Martinique. Occasionally woman Issued from the minister's room In tears after learning the fate of some loved one. The opposition. Is beginning to UBe the cata clysm as a club to beat the government. Campmeetlns; of Free Methodists. SIOUX FALLS, S. D.. May 15. (Special.) A camp meeting of the northwest dis trict of the South Dakota conference ot the Free Methodist church will bs held at Faulkton, June 5 to 16. FORECAST 0FjHE WEATHER Showers and Warmer la Nebraska Friday and In East Portion Saturday. WASHINGTON, May IB. Forecast: For Nebraska Showers Friday; warmer In east portion; Saturday, fair In west, showers In east portion. For Iowa Showers Friday and probably Saturday; warmer Friday. For Illinois Shower Friday auu w ii.atr In northern portion; Saturday, showers' fresh eaat winda. For Missouri Showers Friday; Saturday, showr. except fair In aouthweet portion Fc iiania fair Friday, except showers in the northeast portion; Saturday, lair. For South Dakota Shower Friday and wcrner in east portion; Saturday, showers, except fair in extreme west portion. Loral Record. OFFICE OF THE WEATHER BUREAU, OMAHA, May 15. Official record of tern- ferature and precipitation compared with he corresponding day of the last three years: 1903. 19ni. 190ft. isw. Maximum temperature... f "9 64 87 Minimum Umwratur.... m M 65 4S Mean tmp ature 63 68 so 2 Precipitation IS .06 .38 .28 Record of temperature and precipitation at Omaha for this day and since March 1, 1902: Normal temperature 2 Deficiency for the day Total excess since March 1 2S9 Normal precipitation 14 Inch Excess for the day 06 Inch Total rainfall alnc March 1 1 36 Inches Deficiency since March 1 J. 25 Inches Deficiency for cor. period, 1901 ... .1.46 Inches Deficiency for cor. period. 19u0.. .07 Inch Heperts from Stations at T F. M. "J1 9: : c : 9 : 5 : a : . . -I 1 CONDITION OF THS WEATHER. c : 3 Omsha, cloudy Valentine, raining North Platte, part cloudy. Cheyenne, clear Ba.lt Lake City, clear Rapid City, part cloudy.... Huron, raining 64 66 .02 H .It 6i TO. .04 6HI W T 2 SQ ttti (PS 601 5.'; .1, Wllllston. cloudy Chicago, cloudy St. Louis, part oloudy.. St. Paul, cloudy Davenport, cloudy Kansas City, cloudy.... Havre, cloudy .., Helena, raining. , Hlsmarck. raining Galveston, clesr 6x no 621 .00 74 .00 621 .01 V 641 T 6-M 64 .on a; n .00 44 64 ."ZH H -12 71 SO: .04 T indicate Usee of precipitation. L. A. WEIJIH, Local Forecast Official. MAY DAVE FREE HOMES YET House Committee Eeport Will Substitute for the Rosebud Bill. OMAHA &EJS tuOSLY F0K P0ST0FFICE ttrDresentaHvea Hall and Cannon Likely ta Clash Over Appropria tion for Improvements of Army Posts. tFrom a Staff Correspondent.) WASHINGTON, May IS. (Special.) The house committee on Indian affairs today decided to substitute the house bill ratify ing the treaty with the Rosebud Indians In South Dakota, opening a portion of the reservation In Gregory county to settle ment for the one which passed the senate, The substitution of the house " mensure will raise a fight over the Question ot free homes as was anticipated, but It 1 thougnt something satisfactory to Intending set tiers will result when the Mil get lnte conference. The omnibus public building bill will be renorted to the senate tomorrow. Accord lng to Senator Millard tbe bill will carry $45,000 for completing the postofflce at Omaha, according to the desires of the citizens, by making the Seventeenth street side conform to the Sixteenth street eleva tlon. There will be no other Increases over the house measure so far as Kebrnaka Is concerned. Senator Dietrich ha labored earneatly to have York and Grand Island Included In the bill for purchase of sites. but the public building and grounds com rolttee has decided to let these two growing Nebraska cities watt until another year. Oone-ressman Stark has also Interested himself .actively In securing a site and building for York and placer1, on tile with the committee an exhaustive brief on be half of that place, but the committee de cided to hold additions to the house bill t the closest possible point. The secretary of the Interior transmitted to congress today an estimate for payment of the Indebtedness Incurred by the Indian agent of the Sac and Fox Indians of Iowa for the purchase ot supplies and employment of labor. Senator Millard Introduced a bill today to reimburse J. E. Turner for exeesn Inter est paid on purchase ot certain lan Is. S. A. Stacy, postmaster at Ord Neb., wa today nominated for reappointment- Hall. Will FlKht Cannon. Representative Hull of Iowa, chairman tf house committee on military affairs, said today that If Representative Cannon, chairman of the committee on approprla tlons, insisted upon Instructing the house conferees on the military appropriation bill to recede on the Item in the bill appro prlating 14,000.000 for construction and re pair of such permanent or temporary build ings at established posts aa the secretsry ot war may deem necessary, that a atrug gle would take place and that he would resist the effort to Instruct the conferees with all the force at his command. Whllo It might not materially affect Fort Des Moines so far as getting money to carry on the work of construction Is concerned, the fact remained that $400,000 of the $4,000,000 Is understood by try secretary of war to have been intended for Fort Des Moines. It is expected that the Interior Of the postofflce building at Omaha will be painted this year, according to Senator Millard, who stated today that the building needed this repair very badly. , W. V. Morae and O. W. .Wattles of Omaha are in tbe city. . . Contract Surgeon James . K. Ashburn, United States army. Is relieved 'from duty t Fort Grant, Arlx., and upon the expira tion of his leave will proceed to Fort Crook for duty. Rural free delivery aervlce will be estab lished on July 1 ns follows: Nebraska Humboldt, Richardson county, one addi tional route; area covered, thirty-three square miles; population, S00. Waco, York county, two additional routes; area, fifty six square miles, population, 950. Iowa South English, Keokuk county, one ad ditional route; area, twenty-seven square miles; population, 482. A summer postofflce will be opened June t at Beach, Dickinson county, la. Dr. W. H. Emmons has been appointed pension examining surgeon at Decorah, la. HYMENEAL. Wllrox-Krebbs, ' PAPILLION. Neb.. May 15. (Special.) Reuben Wilcox of Papllllon waa married Wednesday to Miss Cora Krebbs of Omaha at the home of the groom's parents. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Davidson, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church of this place. The couple will reside In, Omaha. Prenner-Dlerman. BATTLE CREEK. Neb., May 15. (Spe cial.) Fred C. Preuner and Minnie Bler man were married yesterday at noon at the G'.rman Lutheran church, Rev. J. Hoff uan officiating. DEATH RECORD. ltt-s. J. J. Rlttrr, Plattainonth. . PLATTSM OTJTH , Neb., May 15. (Spe cial.) Mrs. , J. Rltter of Eagle waa bur led yesterday. 5he waa 36 year old and hal resided In Cass county since she waa S years of te. Deceased leaves a husband and six children. Haass BbeftTord. COLUMBUS, Neb.. May 15.-(Special.) Miss Hannah Shefford died last night. She was an aged woman who has Jong been an Invalid at the home of ber nephew, Ed Marmoy, east of town. Seen res Control of the Moaon. NEW YORK, May 15. Confirmation 'ot the report that joint control of the Chi cago, Indianapolis & Louisville, (Monon) system baa been acquired by the Louis ville A Nashville and Southern railroads comes from several authoritative sources. Ths tsrms of the deal are not disclosed, but It Is generally believed that the new Interests in Monon paid something like $50 for ths commoj stock and $85 for tbs pre ferred. The total capital atock of the road la $15,500,000, of which $5,000,000 Is 4 per cent non-cumulative preferred stock, the balance common. There are bond Issues aggregating $14,210,000. Representatives of John W. Gates were in conference with a member ot the firm of J. P. Morgan Co., but it was said the conference had nothing to do with Monon affairs. Tha Best Liniment. "I have derived great benefit from the use of Chamberlain's -Pain Balm for rheu matism and lumbago," aaya Mra. Anna Hagelgana, of Tuckahoe, N. J. ''11 hus band used It for a spralnsd back and was alao quickly relieved. In fact, it la ths best family liniment I havs ever used. I would not think of being without It. I have recommended it to many and they always speak very highly of it and de clare Its merits ars wonderful." Flood Damaae la Oklahoma. OKLAHOMA CITY. Okl., May 15. Nearly five Inches of rain fell in tho vicinity of Chandler In three houra laat night, flood ing ths Iieep Fork - and Its tributaries, drowning stock and destroying crop and fences. J. A. McLala of Chandler was killed by lightning. Proof Positive. BLATZ BEER -MILWAUKEE The occasional beer drlaker as readily a I the connoisseur will dleoever "ilLitt" renulnsnna and pur- illy in ths Bret class. The aroma suggests 1 p u r 1 1 r t h taste proves It. Export, Wslner, Pri vate Stock, Muenoh- sner. are ths brands. Each a leader In Its , " hf claaa. BLATZ MALT VI VINE Qtoa-tntozloant) Ton!. Druggists or direct. VAL BLATZ ftfiHYlNa C9 AUwaiket. OMAHA BRANCH, 1411 Demerlaa ft. Tat. 10SJ1, DO YOU SUFFER FROM EXHAUSTION Montai Of Phyloml? IF SO, Hulls GrapoTonio will restore lost energy and strength. It is a crushed fruit laxative a simple compound of grapes, fruit and herbs. Felish able as nectar to the palate. Sooth ing and gentle in action. Powerful in its effects for relieving the in tern of all impurities. No griping pains; no unpleasant results what ever. It reconstructs the wornout system, refreshes the overworked brain, drives away depression and dull care, and invites "nature's sweet restorer balmy sleep. ' ' One dose benefits. One bottle convinces. Price 60c, Bottle as large as tha common $1.00 size. Sherman & McConnell Drug 'tin ?; y- v.or-16th n 1 , II (Is 1 Dodge fits., Omaha, All pains from whatever causs sre cured by Mull's Lightning Pain Killer. Drink It or rub Itoo flfio. ABOUT IMi Fore RATES to Harrisburg, Pa. Philadelphia . Washington, D. C. MAT 14 to Vt. Good returning till June KX Abo ONE FARE PLUS $100 te Minneapolis and Return May 18, !, X CITY OFFICES! 1401.14A8 Far nam BU, Omaha. AMliUMENll, BOYD'S Woodward A Burgess, Managers. Last Performance of llewnlar fieaaoi Don't Mies HI WHEN REUBEN CQESfoTOWN A superb company of fifty people. Prices; 2m to II. ou. COMING SUNDAY MATINEE. May IJ. FOR ALL BUMMER-- THE FERRIS STOCK CO. Opening bill; "IN MISSOURI." Prlcis: Mats., any seat, 10c. Mights, Wo, iac, wc. Blico'tTrocaderol"01" M.k riMkH iUbAl-liHtaiid li(M. Entire wevk, Including Saturd iy evening. AMERICAN mTRLK8wl'ER8 Beautiful Choristers Oreat Olio. Evening prices, 10c, UOo. 80c Smoke If you like. SUNDAY MAT.. TUXEDO BURLH8 yUEKS Entire change of program. Sun day matinee and night. Rosenthal's ama teurs and professionals Rosenthal In an original specialty. HOTKII. 1 HOTEL ,f EMPIRE ,n1 Broadway and 6Jd St. N. V. City. Modern Ksclnalve Aereaslble Fireproof Moderate Rates turn tan air Library Orchestral Concerts Every Evening. All I are taaa the Liaplio. Send for descriptive Booklet. W. JoliN&oN QULHlJ. Prop rtet., THE MILLARD m'aW.!1 Sc. M FIRHT CLAeia CU8INE. LUNCHEON. FIFTY CENT! VI .Si TO 1 P. M SUNDAY l: P. M.ID1NNER Is a special Ml Hard feature. J E. MARKKL aV BON, Props. C H peepU-s, Mans rT A. 11. pa-venport, A nuclpal Clerk. 11 n I JY.'.H tji.n-mist ASE
