Nebraska Newspapers

    The Omaha Daily Bee. E
If Ytro Want to Know About the War
and Know That You Know Read The Bee.
Bcc Kill have the news first-
The Bee Hill hive It RIGHT.
ESTABLISHED JUNE 19.
- -t
1871.
OMAHA, MONDAY MOUSING. MAKCII 21, 1K04.
KIN'.LE COPY EIVE TENTS.
DANGERS OF TIIE FOG
8teanhip New York Meet with Two MU
hapa in On "Day.
FIRST RUNS AGROUND ON FRENCH COAST
Ooean Liner Later Btrno'i by British Troopl
ihip Assays.
EXCITEMENT FOLLOWS THE COLLISION
Bo Ji Teaieli Make fur Sou'hampton Seri
ously Damaged.
ANOTHER TROOPSHIP REPLACES ASSAYE
pni(t o tho Hewr York Csioat Be
Estimated latll the Vessel Ilea
Been Pat lata Dry
Dock.
SOUTH AM PTON, March 20. The Ameri
can line steamship New York, Captain
Young, from New York, March 12, for
Plymouth, CluTlmurg ,and Southampton,
mot with two mishaps toduy, grounding oft
Cape La Hague, France, In the early morn
ing and later coining Into collision in the
English channel with the peninsular &
Oriental steamship Assuye, under contract
to the British government and used as a
troopship, bound from Bombay with BOO
troops on board.
The New York grounded whllo approach
ing Cherbourg at 2:30 o'clock this morn
ing during a fog. The sea was smooth,
however, and the tldo was fn the flood,
and within an hour and a half the vessel
was floated without assistance. The ship's
bottom was damaged and there was wa
ter In Its hold, but It was able to pro
ceed. During the voyage up the channel a
dense fog descended. When off Hurst Cas
tle, England, the Assays suddunly ap
peared and It was found impossible to
avoid a collision. The New York's bow
crashed into the Assaye's starboard bow,
tearing a great gap in that vessel. The
New York's bowsprit and figurehead were
carried away and the latter was smashed
Into fragments. There was great excite
ment on both vessels. The boats of the
Assays ware lowered and the troops were
mustered, but the bulkhead of the troop
ship saved It. ,
Both vessels were able to enter Southamp
ton, and the New York was docked at 6:30
o'clock for temporary repairs. Nobody
was Injured. It will be impossible to estl
mats the damage to the New York until it
baa been put into dry dock.
It is believed both vessels have been some
what seriously injured. Another troopship
will replace the Assays.
When the Nsw York grounded at Cape
la Hague the passengers, who were asleep,
hardly felt the shock.
James Boilers, a passenger on the New
York, says I "At 1:80 this afternoon, while
he waa at luncheon there was a grating
noise, followed by a tremendous shock.
Everyone ran to the deck and It was found
that the New York's bow waa firmly fixed
n the, aid of the Aeeayay Mr. Sellers waa
close enough to observe the marvelous
discipline aboard the troop ship. Not
second was lost and there was no sign of
hurry, and while the boats were being
prepared for launching the soldiers were
mustered with the precision of an ordinary
drill.
"As the vessels parted," concluded Mr.
Sellers, "we saw a gaping hole In the A
aye ten feet wide, end sticking on our
tern waa a portmanteau and other portable
property. There waa no panlo on our boat.
Had we struck the Assays amidships It
would have sunk."
PERSISTS IN MUSICAL REFORM
Special Teacher Appointed by Pape
for the Chair la the
Slstlae Chapel.
(Copyright. 1904, by Freea Publishing Co.)
ROME. March 20. (New York World Ca
blegram Special Telegram.) Notwith
standing the grumbling, Plus X still per-
lsts In carrying out the reform in sacred
muslo. In order to set at peace the other
.jkoman churches ha has appointed a specla
teacher of Gregorian chant for the ringer
of the Slstlne chapel in the person of Prof,
Rolla, a friend of the composer Perosl, who
Is to give dally lessons as long as neces
sary.
Parosl has composed a new "Blabat Ma
ter," which is to be produced for the first
time In the city of Munich, where the oora
poser haa just arrived. It is the pope's de-
Ire that the new composition be sutstl
tuted for the too theatrical masterpiece of
Rossini.
MISS BEACH MODEL FOR COIN
Her Flgere Is to Adora the
British Two-Shilling
IMece.
New
(Copyright, 1904, by Press Publishing Co.
LONDON, March 80. (New York World
Cablegram Special Telegram.) Susan Ev,
elyn Hicks-Beach, the statuesque daughter
of Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, lately chan
cellor of the exchequer, was the model of
the figure of Britannia which Is to adorn
the face of the new British coin, a florin
or two shilling piece, worth about 60 cent
In American money. The original drawing
of Miss Susan much larger of course than
the figure on the coin Is now one of the
most treasured adornments of the family
home.
SIX INJURED BY EXPLOSION
Gas Tank la Restaarant Wrecks the
Betiding and Endangers
Uvea.
PITTS BURO, Kan.. March M An explo
sion of a gas tank In a restaurant owns
by Crupper Bros. In this city tonight In
jured six persona three of them serious' y
and caused a property loss of 15.000. Th
Injured:
Eugene Cropper, crushed under falling
timbers; probably fstal.
Joe Peoples, serious.
Mtsa Maud Blackraan, serious.
J. H. Thompson, a waiter; cut and
bruised.
Ward DeBar. cut about face and head.
William DeBar. cut by flying glass.
The rntlre building wss wrecked. Eugene
Cropper snd J. II. Thompson were the
only persons In the restaurant. Miss Black
man and Peoples were walking In front of
the restaurant and were blown arrest the
.Street by the force of the explosion Ward
nd William DelUr, serosa the street, wer
cut by flying glass. The roof waa blown
off the bulldlug and scattered for a dialanos
of bait a. block.
'IT TO DIG IN BABYLONIA
-
erk Man Finally Receives
Concession from the
Sanaa.
V V
(Coi 1!W4. by Press Publishing Co.)
CO Vi '"INOPLE, March 20. (New
York 'Ahlcgram Special Telegram.)
Dr. . I New York hsa received an
unronrt .l concession from the sultan.
ftef a long period of tiresome negotiations.
to carry out his plan of excavations on the
site of the ancient city of Babylonia.' On
two other occasion's Dr. Banks was In
formed that his petition for the right to
make excavations in that district could not
he granted, but still he persisted in his
efforts.
For several years the Oermsn Orient so
ciety has been at work In the region of
Babylonia and Its explorations have
brought to light things of Interest concern
ing the biblical period. In hi early re-
usala to grant concessions to Dr. Banks
the sultan expressed the fear that there
might be a clash between the German and
American explorers that would tend to In
volve Turkey In the unpleasantness. When
he Anally became convinced that there was
r,o danger of a conflict of Interest he agreed
exto id the concession to the New
Yorker.
Dr. Banks' concession extends to Rls-
mays, which Is near the spot where the
University of Pennsylvania made extensive
excavations some years ago and from
which the institution obtained tablets of
great historical and archeologlcal value.
MOROCCO BLOCKS NEGOTIATIONS.
Great Britain Wants France to Settle
First with Spain.
MADRID, March 20. The Associated
Press learns that the British government
has declined to negotiate with France re
garding Morocco until Franco will complete
arrangements concerning Moroccan affairs
with Spain. In consequence of this, ne
gotiations to the latter end have been re
sumed this week at Paris and Mndrld.
Hence, when the pending Ancto-French
treaty is published It will be found that
the status of Morocco, so long one of Eu
rope's most thorny problems, remains un
changed.
The action of the British foreign minister,
Iyord Lansdowne, in assuring Spain that
Morocco will not be allowed to enter Into
the Anglo-French negotiations until Spain
shall accept the French proposals, hus
created keen satisfaction and Is regarded
as strengthening Spain's position in Eu
ropean and African matters.
impossible: to ukt ceylon tea,
Merchants May Hesort to the Old Mon
golian Caravan Ronte.
MOSCOW, March 20.-Owlng to the dis
continuance of the trips of the volunteer
fleet steamers, no tea Is coming from Cey.
Ion by water. The practlcnl suspension of
freight trains, over the Transslberlan rail.
roads makes it almost impossible to get
tea from China. One merchant, who has
20,000 chests of tea enroute In Manchuria
offers to sell it at a nominal price to the
government for the use of the soldiers
Because of the difficulty In delivery here,
the' merchants have decided as a last re'
sort to return to the old Mongolian cars.
van route through Klakhta and will peti
tion the government to afford them facili
ties.
Tl'HKET Mt'ST CAmt Y OCT REf6rMS
Warned of the Consequences If Pres-
nt Plana Are Delayed.
CONSTANTINOPLE, March 20.-The Rue
slan and Austrian embassies today renewed
their pressure upon the Porte to accept un
altered the Austro-Rusalan scheme of re
forms In Macedonia. The Russo-Austrlan
note pointed out that counter proposals of
the Porte made on March 17 which objected
to the placing of foreign officers in com
mand of the gendarmerie In Macedonia did
not tally with Turkey's original acceptance
of the reform scheme. The note warned
the Porte of the grave consequences that
would follow any further May. The sultnn
received Baron von Blebersteln, the Ger
man ambassador. In private audience yes
terday.
ATTEMPT. MADE TO RAISE VESSEL.
British Submarine Boat Shows Little
Effect of Collision.
PORTSMOUTH, March 20. Attempts
were mtde today without success to raise
the British submarine boat No. 1 A, which
was run down by the Donald Currle line
steamer Berwick Castle Friday afternoon.
The principal damage appears to have been
dons to the conning tower, which shows
the marks of the collision. The hull of tho
vessel appears to be intact
The Berwick Castle arrived here today
undamaged. The officers of the vessel de
cllned to give sny Information concerning
the accident pending an official statement.
ENGLAND HEEDS NEW GOVERNMENT
John Redmond's Idea of Seearlnst
Home Rnle for Ireland.
MANCHESTER, March 50. John Red
mond, addressing an Irish demonstration
here today, said that the first business of
the party was to strike down the present
government and then to see that no gov.
emment was put Into office which would
not grant horns rule to Ireland. He said It
waa ridiculous for liberals like Herbert H.
Asqulth to call home rule an "academic
question."
BUSINESS IN SOUTH IS GOOD
President of Southern Railway Com
pear Talks of Conditions la
Ills Territory.
(Copyright. 1904. by New York Herald Co.
NEW YORK. March 20-(New York Her
aid Service 8eclal to The Boa.) During
recent visit to New York Samuel Spencer,
president of the Southern railway, said tli.it
"In some lines of Industry, hownv.er
the agricultural Interests In the south were
very prosperous,
sail Mr. Spencer, "conspicuously iron i
steel. I noticed a vary material decrease,
Our busl ness is of such a general charac
ter that It Is being well maintained."
Mr. Spencer denied that the Southern
railway waa trying to borrow several mil
lion aonr. i urse rfponi, ne said, "are
all due to the fuct that the Southern, as
shown in the last annual report, has cer-
tincaies or iiu!ettednea amounting to
X,8uO,000. This Indebtedness will In du
time be funded, but no steps looking toward
this end are now being taken."
Eaatneers' Brotherhood Organises,
CHICAGO. March 20 -A general rhnlr
men s association was formed her toili
st a meeting of the chairmen of commit
t"es of the Brotherhood of Locomotive En
gineers from all the rIIrad systems
the country. M. D. Cartie of the Missouri
rarine svstem waa made chairman and I
M. Rogers of the Milwaukee wss name
h secretary of the r- w organisation. The
purpose or me axiitvn. it Is said. Is t
bring stout uniform c.ndltlins on all the
mfir.-id ststen.s ln.f .r ss the engineers
sre arYectsd sn$ t 'ens hie th br -thcrhond
te meet the General Managers assoclttion
with a corresponding body of men who mill
be constantly In touch with Uta trglnntrr
W SUA Mta V4 jmo viuuy
RANKING ABUSES ARE MAN.
UiiaM of the Privilege Said to Have
Injurious Effect.
HOW PUBLIC SENTIMENT IS MADE
Case of the Army Canteen Is Cited
as Instance Where Congress Was
Induced to Art Against
Better Judgment.
(From a Staff Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON, March 20. (Speclat.)-
The controversy which has arisen over the
lleged misuse of the franking privilege by
Hev. Wilbur F. Crafts and others interested
n certain pending legislation has caused
widespread discussion over the methods
in ployed In working up public sentiment.
Rev. W. P. Brownlow of Tennessee, who
Wilms paternity of the "good roods" bill.
s known to have permitted his frank to
be used In the transmission of thousands
of Illustrated nonfrankable circulars
hroughout tho country. Officers of certain
temperance societies are snld to have dis
tributed several million speeches under
ranks which would be no violation of the
aw were It not for the fact alleged that
after being sealed the franked envelopes
were reopened and nonfrankable matter
nserted. That this allegation i.as a very
solid foundation In fact Is evidenced by
the e-eceipt here during tlw past few days
of hundreds of such speeches accompanied
by circulars having no connection with
official publications, which were shipped
back to Washington by the recipients In
the original government envelops. In some
cases these contained, In addition to argu
ments favoring the temperance or prohibi
tion cause, appeals for money to pay the
expense of mnlntnlnlng the bureaus here
which send such things out.
Sentiment Versus Expert Judgment.
That such efforts frequently do a vast
amount of harm seems to be evident from
statistics gathered by the War department.
It was through just such a propaganda that
congress was induced, against Its better
judgment, to abolish the army canteen.
The misguided but well meaning people
who secured this legislation believed that
the army canteen, where beer and light
wines were sold practically at cost to the
enlisted men were conducive to drunken
ness. Nearly every officer of the army tes-
ttflod to the contrary, but the advice of
those best Qualified to judge was un
heeded and the canteen was abashed
There were at the time 137 canteens one at
each army post. Since then 4.M2 dives of
the lowest character have sprung up
around these 137 posts and, according to
the medical authorities of the army, the
result Is appalling. Drunkenness has It-
creased 400 per cent among the enlisted
men. Crime of all grades, from murder
down, 800 per cent. Diseases due to de
bauchery have Increased 280 per cent and
insanity 76 per cent, and all this In spite of
the fact that at the time the canteens were
closed the United States military establish
ment consisted of 104.800 men, whereas the
number Is now reduced to 87,300. These fig
urea are not Imaginary, but are taken from
the official records of the War department
They seem to demonstrate conclusively that
a grave mlatake was made when the can
teen was sboltshed ' In response o a
worked up public sentiment.
Propose an Official Gaaette.
A proposition is cn foot, and there are
prospects of a successful outcome, to
tabllsh an crucial gazette in which shall be
chronicled every day the doings of the de
partments. There are at present quite a
number of dally publications issued by the
government in addition to the Congressional
Record. Hut they are "scrappy" and lack
anything like uniformity. Tka State de.
partment, for Instance, publishes a dally
bulletin of extracts from consular reports,
The treasury Issues a bulletin dally of na
tional banks to be organized and national
banks authorized to commence business.
and several of the bureaus of that depart
ment publications containing Information
as to receipts and disbursements, the na
tional banknotes recorded for redemption
the dally cash balance held by the treasurer
fend similar news. The Postofflce depart
ment puts out a regular dally bulletin of
postmasters appointed and commissioned,
changes In the star route service, establish
ment of rural free delivery routes, appoint
ment of rural free delivery letter carriers
and other Items of similar Import. Now It Is
proposed that instead of a score of publlca-
Hons emanating from the various executive
branches of the federal service there shall
be one official department gazette which
shall contain all this Information, and In
addition thereto the names of all persons
appointed to or discharged from the publio
service, the award of contracts, and In fact
everything of a public character Hone In
the departments from day to day. Each
office. If the pUn Is carried out. will be re
quired to send to the editor of the Gazette
such Items as are to be made public, and
the editor will simply arrange them for the
printer who will Issue the publication each
morning. Just as the Congressional Record
is Issued today. The plan would Involve no
additional expense whatever. On the con
trary, there would be a decided saving, as
Instead of a score of publications there
would be but one, and that prepared by a
competent man.
For All Veterans of Slsty-Two.
The new rule promulgated In the pension
office, on Wednesday last under which any
veteran of the civil war who has teached
the age of 62 years can draw a pension of
$4 per month, is designed to head off the
movement In favor of a general service
pension bill. It is estimated that the
amount required to carry out this order
will be about 16,000.000 the first year, while
the service bill now being so vigorously
pushed will add from UO.OuO.OOO to $0.0O0,0u0
to the annual pension charge. The service
pension bill proposes to give every veteran
of the civil war, who has reached the age
of 62 years, amonthly pension of 12. with
out reference to his physical disabilities.
The new order prepared by Commissioner
Ware and endorsed by the secretary of the
interior, grades the payments from 16 to
P.2. and while It Is designated to cut off
the business of the pension attorneys, It
will scarcely have that effect, as every
man drawing the smaller sum will be al
most sure to Immediately apply for an In
crease, snd the attorneys will be only too
glad to help him, otherwise their occupa
tion will be gone.
Plan Congressional Campaign.
The beginning of the political campaign
of 1904 Is announced In the call for a Joint
caucus of the republicans of the senate
and house to meet in the hall of the house
of representatives on Monday night for
the purpose of reorganizing the congres
sional committee which will have charge
of the campaign to elect members of the
houee next November. Senator Allison,
chalnrnn of the republican caucus of the
senate and Representative Hepburn, rhnlr
i:n of the house caucus, have Issued thlr
Joint call for this meeting. It is interest
ing In this connection to po'nt to the fact
(ConUnud en Second, Pagij
MAKING EXPOSITION READY
Lagoon and Lake Being Filled and
Exhibits Are Being Put la
Place.
ST. LOUIS. March 20. The filling of Ar
rowhead lake with 'water at the World's
Fuir grounds today, marked the beginning
of the completion, it) Its details, of the ex
position. This body of water skirls tho
Philippine reservation on the east and
north and contains about 9,000,0V) gallons
of water. It Is to be usd for homes for
the lake-dwelling tribes of the Philippines,
und will also afford fire protection. Tho
filling of Arrowhead lake forma the first
effects of the exposition. The lagoons will
be filled during the conilng week. All thesu
bodies of water will be obtained from the
city mains. The fir? filling will not be
filured, but thcrcattc and throughout tho
fair all the water will be filtered in the
luko und lagoons. J
installation hus alff) begun on the ex
hibit of cracksmen's wnd burglars' tools at
the World's Fair. Tjie dlspiny hss teen
gathered from the museums of the police
departments of all the large cities of the
world and includes many Interesting relics
of men famous in t(o annals of crime.
There will be on exhibition skeleton keys,
jimmies and diirk ltiliterns of the latest
styles, besides the Implements used by the
modern safe blower :.wfcen ho attacks a
steel strong box. Antong the unique fea
tures Is the pistol with which Jesse James
creutcd so much hawoo at Independence,
Kan.
UTAH ACTOR ENDS HIS LIFE
Turns on the Gas at a Lodging House
In Detroit and Is Asphyx.
latod.
DETROIT, March SOj-Robert Leeland, an
actor and writer of Several melodramas,
was found dead today In his rooms in a
iodising house on Columbia street. He had
committed suicide by stuffing up every
crack and crevice in the rcom and than
turning un the gas. Leeland was 0 yetirs
of age. He is said hv friends to be the
son of a wealthy banker in
Salt Lake City,
Utah, named Smedle;
Leeland was last s
n alive on Thurs-
day morning, and it
s believed that ho
turned on the gas
died Thursday cft-
ernoon. His prepare1
ns had been most
caraful. He even removed the tip from
the gas Jet to Insure a! rapid flow. He left
a note on the table In the room, saying:
"My only request is that I be burlod here
at the expense of the city. I have no
money. I have spent hundreds of dollars
while here as a member of various theatrl
cal companies. Don't notify my parents
It Is unnecessary."
On the back of this note he had written
that weakness and illness, as the result of
an operation for appendicitis and an sttack
of typhoid fever, had Incapacitated him for
work. "I am very well connected," he
wrote. "Probably better than anyone in
the theatrical profession. Last season I
played a leading role in The Chaperonea.
BURGLAR'S FIRE IS FATAL
Shoots Two Officers After Desperate
Running Fight and Then Shoots
Himself In' tho Bead.
K j
NEW YORK. March m. While In pursuit
of a burglar today, Folloeman Hugh J,
Enright and Jaoob Bachman were shot,
tho former dying after being taken to a
hospital and the latter being mortally
wounded. The man who did the shooting
and who gave the name of Michael Brush
was captured after he had shot himself
In the head. His wound is not serious.
Brush and another man who escaped
were detected robbing a bakery on Third
avenue by a private watchman, who raised
an alarm and En right and Bachman par-
rued Brush down East Fifty-fifth street,
The fugitive ftred at Enrlght. shooting him
through the stomach and a moment later
shot Bachman, in the stomach and leg.
Other policemen took up the chase and
brought Brush to bay after he had taken
refuge In a cellar from which he fired a
number of ohots from two revolvers at his
pursuers without effect and then shot him
self In the head.
Brush was later identified as Jacob
Huter, who In 1901, was sentenced to two
years In the penitentiary at Trenton. N. J.,
for burglary.
ORGANIZING WOMEN'S UNION
Agents to Be Sent Out by Central So
ciety to Form Local Trades
I'nlons.
BOSTON, March 20. With the object of
promoting women's trade unions In the
United States the executive board of the
Woman's National Trades Union league, at
Its annual meeting here today, voted to
send a ireneral organizer and secretary
throughout the country, who will act as a
business agent, organize unions among
women and investigate lockouts and
strikes.
Among the members of the board present
were Miss Jane Addams of Hull House
of Chicago, vice president; Miss Gertrude
Barnam, state secretary of the Woman's
Trade unions of Illinois, and Miss Lillian
B. Wald, head worker of the college set
tlement of New York.
PLATT HOLDS THE REINS
Old Chief Will Retain Active Leader
hip of Republican Party la
New York State.
NEW YORK. March 20-At a conference
held this afternoon between Senator
Thomas C. Tlatt, Governor Odoll, Colonel
George W. Dunn, chairman of the repub
lican state, committee, and many promi
nent republicans, after an exchange of
views and plans of Senator Piatt and
Governor Odell. it was decided that Sen
ator Piatt should remain as he has been
in the past, the active leader of the party.
It was further agTeed that where there
were local contests for leadership In the
party there should be no Interference in
favor or against any one, either by Sen
ator Piatt or Governor Odell.
Autl-Llrenae Ticket.
TABLE ROCK, Neb.. March . (8peela!.)
An snti-llrenee caucus was held last night
at the city hall and the following were
nominated for village trustees, there be
ing three to elect this year: C. I. Norrls.
J. D. Ixngwell, A. E. Heywood. The first
two named are now members of the board
and the latter was nominated in place of
F. M. Linn. Bo far this is the only tlrkat
in the Arid.
Ground Thoroughly Soaked.
PA PILLION. Neb., March . (Special.)
A hervy, cold rain, driven by a strong
wind, has been falling throughout Sarpy
county all afternoon In some sections It
was scoot wnled by hall. The ground is
receiving a thorough soaking, putting It In
good condition for spring work, which bas
bsgua.
EMPEROR OPENS PARLIAMENT
Special Sew Ion Convene! to Provide Fundi
for the War.
BRILLIANT CORTEGE TO ASSEMBLY HALL
Distinguished Gathering Crowds the
Space and Hears the Heading of
I ho Speech from tho
Throne.
TOKIO, March 20-Wlth stately cere
mony the special esslon or Parliament
convened to provide the money needed to
wage the war against Russia was opened
this mortJng. The emporor, clad In tho
uniform of a generalissimo, rode In the
great state coach from tfie palace to the
Parliament bouse and personally resd his
address to the peers and commoners. For
the first time the crown prince amended
the ceremony. He followed his rather to an
Improvised throne In the peers' hall and
stood close by his light side while he read
his appeal to his subjects.
The emperor lfft the palace at 10:30
o'clock, accompanied by a guard of Im
perial princes, aides and members of the
Imperial household. His esoort consisted
of two troops of Lancers, one preoed'tig the
other. Following came the coach carrying
the emperor, princes and staff. Tho bril
liant uniforms, coaches and pennants of
red and white silk carried by each Lancer
made the Imperial procession an attractive
picture. Lines of rollce and gendarmes
kept the streets clear and walled back
the populace, which received Us nder In
absolute silence, tho highest mark of re
spect. Long before the emperor reached the
peers' chamber the members were In their
places. The. peers, all uniformed occupied
the right side of the chamber and the com
moners, all in evening dress, filled the left.
The seats, which occupy llslng tiers, had
been removed and the members slood I'l
semicircles, with the presidents and l?e
presidents of the house in advance cf each
main group. The members of the cabinet
headed by Premier Katsura, occupied a
position on the right platform close to the
throne.
Brilliant Scene In Hall.
The diplomatic gallery was filled, nearly
every legntton and staff being present. Sir
Claude McDonald, the British minister.
General Hamilton and Colonel Hume rep
resented Great Britain. Minister Grlsrom,
Colonel Wood, Commander Marsh and Sec.
retariee Ferguson and Laughlln of the
United States legation, were also officially
present. The other galleries were filled-with
Japanese civil officials and military en1
naval officers. No women were present.
When the emperor entered the members
of Parliament bowed low. The emperor,
advancing to the front of the platform,
bowed to them and Immediately ascended
the throne. Premier Katsura advanced to
the throne and handed the address to the
emperor. The latter read It In a voice low
but firm, which carried to every corner of
the chamber.
The emperor, attended by the crown
prince, personally opened the special ses
sion of the Diet at 11 o'clock this morning.
Following la the speech from the throne:
We hereby open the Imperial Diet and
address earn and all the members of the
House of Peers and the House of Repre
sentatives. We announce with high satis
faction that our relations with th treaty
powers are steadily growing In cordiality
snd understanding, rompteei ny en ear
nest desire to maintain a nermanent neice
In the extreme east our government, by our
command, entered Into negotiations with
Russia, but we regret that, owing o an
absence of sincerity on the part of Russia
In its Deaceful crofesslons, ve have been
compelled to appeal to atma. t;nd. havln
taken that step, we cannot hesltato until
the ohlect of the war .t Httalnd.
Our forces. In the presence of unwonted
hardsh is nnd Privations, are now rtl"play
Intf their steadfast loyaltv and valo- end
we hone that all our subjects w'lV ci-
operate In perfect unity for th enhance
ment of the glory of the empire.
Requests Consent to Budgets.
We trust that you will fulfill the duty
lni.nmhpnt iinnn von and irlve rordlnl con
sent to these budgets and bills, which are
specially urgent In connection vlth 'he
situation and which we have oidered the
ministers of state to lay before you.
The members remained with bowed heads
until the reading was concluded. The
president of the House of Peers then as
cended tho platform, advanced to th
throne and received the address from the
emperor. The emperor then stepped to the
front of the platform, bowed, left the
chamber and returned to the palace.
In view of the extraordinary reply to
the throne, passed at the opening of the
last session In December, wherein the
House of Representstlves condemned the
policy of the cabinet, which was declared to
be Incompatible with the progress of the
empire and to be temporizing, the House
of Reprerentatlves today appointed a com
mittee to prepare a response. After the
Joint session the committee met, prepared
and presented th following:
Reply nl the Ilonse.
We. your majesty's humble scrvnr.ts cf
the House of Repri'scntatlvs. reciiectfiilly
express our gratitude for your malHty's
praclous nctlon In openlnir the imperial
Diet and f'r the words addressed to us by
your mnJeFty.
This empire has Invariably endeavored to
maintain the peace In the far east, but
Russia, which lacks the sincerity to renect
peace, has violated Its treaty with China
and repeated declarations to the nownrs.
We are extremely impressed with tho fact
that your majesty has declared war. The
executive arms at th front are rencatprllv
obtaining victories. Tills Is solely duo to
your imperial majesty s innuence.
It shall be on- constant endeavor to
bring to the discharge of our executive
functions, the utmost care and circumspec
tion, so that your majesty's august Instruc
tions mnv be obeyed and the Important
trust re nosed in us by the nation may le
ec't'lled with.
With profound respect and huml'ltv. the
president of the House of Representatives,
Masahlsa Mntsuda, presents this.
The peers wl'l meet tomorrow to prepare
a response to the speech from the throne.
VETERANS OPPOSE LYNCHING
Mississippi Confederates Adopt Strong
Resolutions on the
Subject.
MEMPHIS. Tenn.. March SO. A specli!
to the Commercial Appeal from Grenada.
Miss., says: "An antt-lynchlng crusade has
been Inaugurated by he W. R. Barksdale
ramp. United Confederate veterans of this
city. The following significant resolutions
were unanimously adopted at a lurgely at
tended meeting of the camp:
First That we are unalterably npsosed
to the lynching ot a human being, unvt
perhaps for the one unmentionable, ciime.
Second That us confederate veterans and
law-abiding citizens of Mlttsli-slppl and of
tha United States we ar violently, ve
hemently and eternally opposed to the
practlre of burning a human being f r
uiiy clime whatsver.
Third That we appeal In thundering
tones to all confederates, their wives and
daughters, and to that glorious organiza
tion, thw DaughtHTS of the t'onfedei ary.
one and all. to arise In their might and bv
precept and example, by voice, ue'.lon and
pen to help put a stop to this diaboltca I.
liHrbumiis. in, lawful. Inhuman and ungodly
crime it burning human being.
Kourth That e heartily approve of and
appluid the action of Governor Vardaman
In bis recent successful efforts to Skve a
criminal from a aoob bent cu burning.
NEBRASKA WEATHER FORECAST i
Fair and Colder In West anil naln In
East Portion ,lond Tuesday Fair.
Temperature at Omaha Yesterdsyi
Hoar, Deg. llnnr. Ilea.
n a. m...... ;m t p. ni 4'i
Ha. m lilt a p. m 41
T a. m it . in W
8 a. m ..... , no 4 p. m KT
n a. m a:l ft p. in......
1 a. m il l p. m :wi
It a. ni :! 7 p. ni
ia m 4 1 S p. n ..... .
p. m :T
DISCREDIT 9TOR" OF CtPTl HH.
Russian and Japanese Forces ot in
Close Touch.
LONDON. March 21. Nothing has
reached here to confirm the report that
battle has taken place on the Ynlu, In
which the Russians are alleged to li.ivo
captured 1,800 prisoners.
A dispatch from St. Petersburg to n
news agency, dated yesterday, says there
haa been no change In the situation und
that all Is quiet on land nnd sea from
ling Yang to the Yalu river, und the
Japanese line to Gensnn. There havo been
slight skirmishes between scouts, but no
battle has taken place, as tho distance be
tween the opposing armies Is great. Th"
bulk of the Russian force, tho, dispatch
adds, has not yet passed the Yalu river.
The St. Petersburg correspondent of the
Dally Telegraph says that the military
authorities were startled by the attempt of
the Japanese to land In Helena bay, as the
nearest force that could have been used
against them consisted of three rifle resl
mcnts at New Ohwang. The weather hav
ing hindered the Japanese In landing, ener
getic measures are now being adopted to
prevent such a descent.
Among the other devices havo been the
concentration of troops at Foo Choo,
twenty-two miles north of Helena bay. in
cabling the fact that all British and Amer
ican residents at New C'hwang must re
main within the walls, a correspondent of
the Dally Chronicle nt Now Chwang says:
"I was arrested while attempting to leave
yesterday."
lO MORE CHAMiKS 13 FAR EAST.
Minister of Marine Denies Stories
That Are Afloat.
PARIS, March II. The St. Petersburg
correspondent of the Echo de Paris has
had an Interview with Vice Admiral Avcl-
lane, the Russian minister of marine, who
said it had been necessary to replace Vice
Admiral Stark, the condition of whoso
health was deplorable, by an encrgetio
Vlceman like Vice Admiral Makaroff, but
the mln'ster denied thnt the presence of
either Vice Admiral Makaroff or General
Kouropatkln affected the position of Vice
roy Alexleff, adding that Vice Admiral
Makaroff's telegrams to the cznr came
through the viceroy's hands. The min
ister said he did not expect there would
be further changes relating to the em
peror's principal representatives at the
seat of war during the hostilities.
Minister Avellnne said he hoped that
the Retvlzan and the fzarovltch and the
cruiser Pallada would be ready to resume
service in a fortnight. He declared that
the separation of the Russian squadron
had proved to be most useful, and finally
confirmed the statement that the Mediter
ranean squadron would return to Llbau
when that port Is free of Ice. The corre
spondent says he learns that the Russians
nre fortifying the moutJT of the Yslu at
Wlju as well as the Ta Tun river.
EXKCITING MEX BY WHOLESALE.
Courean Court Takes Busy Streak
After Years of Idleness.
(Copyright. 1904, by New York Herald Co )
SEOUL), March 37. (New York Herald
Cablegram Special Telegram to The Bee.)
i no supreme court here Is clearing the
local prison by wholesale executions
nlehtly. In the last three nights ' six
prisoners have been decapitated and thrrty
elght hanged. Many of the victims have
been in Jail for years without trial. Now
they have been hurriedly tried and con
demned to execution. Some wre former
students In Japan, and others were thieves,
highwaymen, embezzlers of public funds,
political offenders und traitors. All suffer
the same penalty of death, and as the
bodies are carried out. strings of ten or
twenty condemned men bound together re
fill the cells Just vacated.
It Is probable the representatives of the
foreign powers will Investigate and, if
Justified, take action. The prison Is heavily
guarded, as It Is f.u.red the Pcdlers' Guild,
which Is principally composed of the city's
rougher element, may force nn entrance
and liberate the prisoners.
FEW TROOPS ALONG TIIE RAILROAD
Lino Through Manchuria la Poorly
Guarded Against Raid,
(Copyright, 1904. by New York Herald Co.)
YIN KOW. March 30. (New York Herald
Cablegram Special Telegriini to The Bee.)
Two Americans who urrlved ut New
Chwang on Saturday from Vladivostok say
that half of the population at Vladivostok
were unaware of the recent bombardment
there until the next day. No damage was
done. All the women and children have
left. The Americans could see a few sol
diers between Tnsl Chow and New Chwang,
but witnessed no preparations to defend
the former station or the railway line.
Forty" miles north of New Chwang ons
railway bridge was defended .by a single
gun. South of that point nothing had
been done.
Harbin and Mukden are swarming with
troops, who seem to be concentrating
there.
BIG CAR BARNS ARE IN RUINS
Flv
Employes Are Severely Bnrned
While Flahtlng the
. . Flames.
I
CHICAGO, March 20-Fire tonight de
stroyed the Union Traction company's car
barns at Division street and Western ave
nue, causing llfiO.OOO 1,8. Five employe,
while fighting the flumes before the arrival
of firemen, were Imprisoned In the burn
ing structure by u falling roof and till
were painfully burned before they could
be rescued. More than fifty street cars
were burned. The building wits feet
long and 2O0 feet wide. This is the scond
of the Union Traction company's burns to
burn within a week, both fins thought
to be of Incendiary origin.
Ker. liarles uiminahsm.
CHICAGO. March . The Rev. Charles
W. Cunningham, Methodist Episcopal
clergyman of Wray, Colo., Is dead at the
Wesley hospital in Chicago, after an
operation for appendicitis. He came to
Chicago to vl.'-it relatives.
Movements f Ocean Vessels March 1641
At New York Arrived : Norge. from
Copenhagen. Oirlstiuiia snd Chrixtiuiisitnd.
At Southampton Arrived: New York,
from New York, via Plymouth snd Cher
bourg. At Queettstown Helled: Etruila, from
Liverpool., fur JSrsr V ork.
I BATTLE SOON
Belief ViadifO'to'c fqn!rrn ii Seeking to
Join One Pon Arthur,
LIKELY TO BRING ON SEA ENGAGEMENT
Fleet in luediterranoii Ahi Si'i for Un
known Prst ca'.ioa.
MILITARY IS BUSY AT VLADIVOSTOK
DefHTisos of Main Coait and Sakhalin Island
Being Strengthened.
RESTRAINT IS PLACED ON fORFIGNERS
t'se of River Paitk Is Not Forbidden,
Owlug to rresrnce of Amer
ican and British
1 Warships.
(Copyright, 1904. by New York Herald Co.)
ST. PKTERSIiUKG, March 20 (New
York Herald "n blegram Special Telegram
to The Bee.) It Is believed hero that the
Vladivostok squadron Is making an effort
to Join that of Port Arthur. The Idea
also prevails that a sea engagement may
come st any moment.
Fleet's Move M jsterliins.
CANE A, Island of Crete. March 20. Tlia
Russian battleship Ossllabia. with Admiral
Wlrenus on board sailed at 11:30 o'clock
this morning for unknown destination.
Three torpedo boats followed the battle
ship. The Russian armored cruiser Dtml
trl Donskol arrived here this evening.
Military Pluns Work Out.
VLADIVOSTOK. March 20. The Russian
military plans nro proceeding satisfactorily
here, along the main coast and at Sakhalin
Island. Many Inhabitants continue to mi
grate to Khabarovsk and Nlkolsk, and
some women and children are returning ta
Russia.
The first detachment of the Red Cross
from Russia has arrived and will be dls
trlhutd among the field hospitals. Mora
than a hundred nurses have been sent from i
hero to Manchuria and Cotea,
The delivery of Russian malls to tho
frontier and to port Is working fairly well
tnd the telegraph excellently. Letters
reach Vladivostok twenty-two daya after
leaving St. Petersburg.
Foreigners Are Restrained.
NEW CHWANG. March 2a The foreign,
consuls today officially notified their gov
ernment that the Russian commander (
the garrison has fcrblddon foreigners to go
beyond the mud walls cf the rutlve city
with the single exception that they are
allowed to use tho river hank between
the foreign settlement und the foreign gun
boats. This exception is made solely on account
of the presence of the United States gun
boat Helena and the British gunboat Esple--gel,
for otherwise they would be cut off.
The Russian order particularly forbid
visiting the forts on the I.lao river and also
Wutaltzu, a village two miles south of the)
fort. The order Is declared to be a neces
sary military measure on account of the ar
rangomenta being made for tha defense of ,
the coast.
Foreigners still have access to the west
nnd north shores of l.tao and use the rail- ,
way and telegraph, although the Chines
managers of tho telegraph lino have In
structed their employes to withdraw to
Thlen Chuang Tal In the event of hostili
ties. This action and also the threatened
withdrawn of the railway staff Is severely
condemned on account of their being out
side of real danger
Tho German consul st Tien Tsln. In an
official statement, enys the purpose of his
visit here Is to investigate the cnuties of
alarm and the danger to German residents.
The Russian authorities have given notice
that no consular communications on affairs
crlginatlng In or connected with Dnlny or
Port .Arthur will he received. Responsible
Russians hre have a well defined impres
sion thnt American or other consuls will
not be allowed nt Mukden, Antung or else
where In Manchuria.
CHINESE ARMS MESACE RIISIA.
Forty Thousand Troops Drilled by
Foreigners Ready far Field.
PARIS, March a). The Figaro's corre
spondent In Berlin telegraphs that a Ger
man officer wiiu has J.nt arrived there from
Manchuria says serious operations In the
far east will not be Ijuji before the end
of June. The princlfpui oostacle to Rus
sian victory, according to thla officer, la the
fact that 40.000 Chinese troops, well trained
and with German and Japanese Instructors,
ere menacing Russia's Hues of communica
tion. Russia, with the support of Germany,
will protest against this concentration ot
Chinese troops.
According to the Toklo correspondent of
the Petit Parlalenne official confirmation
haa been received of the destruction of tho
Russian torpedo host destroyer Skerl at
Port Arthur by the explosion of a aub
marine mine.
The correspondent saye that the mikado
yesterday bade adieu to 495 officers who
were leaving for the front.
A special dispatch from St. Petersburg
says the project la favored of conveying
heavy war material by transport from
Cronstadt to the mouth of tho Yenisei
river and thence by barge to the Irkutsk
depot and Lake Baikal, leaving the rail
way free for tho conveyance of troops.
BISY FORTIFYING AT SiEW CHWANG
Constructing Railroad to Fort to
Trausport Gens.
(Copyright, 1!(4. by New York Herald Co.)
YIN KOW, via Tien 'IVIn. March 20 -(New
York Herald Cabherram Special Telegram,
to The Uce.) The Russian administration
here has Informed the Consuls at New
Chwang that no persons will henceforth bo
allowed to pass the city walls without a
HhIh1 permit. The consuls have rc-ferrej
tho matter to the ministers at Peking.
The RusMlana are buying all the wood in
Now Chwang and convoying It toward
the river mouth, and are also at work on
the construction of a light railway to con
vey guns from the railway station to tha
fort.
APPRECIATION OF ICING F.DWAHU,
Russia Drains to Sre Importance of
Hole He Pla.
(Copyright. i:4. bv New York Herald Co.)
ST. PETERSBURG, March . (New
York Herald Cablegram Special Telegram
to The Bee.) The high importance toward
good ends of the political role played by
King Edward, to which recently attention
was directed by the Herald, Is beginning
to be highly and fully appreciated here.
Tie Novo Vremya, which U greatly antl
ETigllsh, auys It la an event of surpassing
political Importance.
" V-