The Bee's Sunday Magazine Features Outtop those of All Competitors. The Omaha Daily Bee. THE SUNDAY BEE -A NEWSPAPER AND A MAGAZINE IN ONE. ESTABLISHED JUNE 19, 1871. OMAHA, SATURDAY 3IOKXIXO, FEIHtUAIIY 2o, 1905 TWKLVK PACES. SINGLE COPY TIIIJEE CENTS. REVOLT IN RUSSIA ' Beginning" ofDangeroui Morement Among Peasants in Southern ProTiicet. PREPARING TO TAKE POSSESSION OF LAND Belief that Csar Will Issue Manifesto Imding it March 4. RESERVISTS REFUSE TO JOIN COLORS Agitators Spread Beports Among Them that the War is Orer. WARSAW POLICE MAY GO ON STRIKE Peace Officers Say Tbel Pr Inadequate All Railroads la Toland Are Still Tied I P. ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 25.-1:15 . m. The beginnings of a dangerous movement have been obsorved among the peasantry of some of the southern provinces, where revo lutionary agitators are circulating reports that the emperor will on March 4 Issue a manifesto providing for a general division of lands. A new allotment has been the dream of the motijlks ever since emancipa tion and according to private reports the stories have spread like wildfire and are Implicitly believed. In the government of Tula a largo proprietor went to his estate last week and found the peasants at work measuring off and staking their shares. In response to his demands for an explanation they to'.d him of the coming manifesto. Re fusing to listen to hl declaration that the report was absurd they would only say. "We have heard the little father has de cided." When the proprietor asked what would become of him they replied, "Oh, we will leave you the buildings and forty ncres." Once the peasantry becomes possessed of the Idea that the emperor ha a willed a divi sion of land It will be exceedingly difficult to dlMuse their minds, and agrarian troubles on a large scale are feared. The moujlks are likely to turn on the proprie tors as they did several years ago In tho provinces - of SaratofC and Polteva, when anarchy reigned for some time. Among the reservists agitators are spreading the story that the war Is over. A case Is cited which occurred a fortnight ago at Ralzatn, where J00 reservists who had been called In flatly told the officer they did not Intend to serve, "The war is over, aid the loader. "We know you simply want to make money out of a contract for feeding ua. We will not serve," and off they marched. An Instance was given of reservists who actually left a railway train after they had been started for the front. Private reports also leave no room for doubt that the strikes In the whole region below Moscow are almost entirely political in character. The situation generally in the south of Russia Is becoming worse In stead of better and contains many factors which are causing the authorities the great est alarm. The possibility of Ihe necessity - for thelsrwict -bf 4ilcfiti6hat troops To the Caucasus is already being considered. . Wtrwif Police May Strike, WARSAW, Feb. 24. The police of this city threaten to strike for higher pay. They constitute an Independent force paid by the city. At present they receive $8 per month' and their uniforms. The police subsist chiefly on money obtained from other sources. They will present formal demands for an Increase of pay to the chief of police tomorrow. The operating departments of the Warsaw division of the St. Petersburg railway have struck, but train service Is maintained with the aid of the army railway corps. The strike on the Vienna and Vistula rail ways continues. Tht military occupy tho gas works, the employes of which threaten to strike to night. Polieemaa Is' Killed. A policeman was shot and killed by a student in a disturbance at the Vienna rail road station today. The police attempted In H 1 .1'.. rrAil rtmvrAm urhlfti Vi ti oath. fred there and arrested a student. A mob tried to rescue him and a policeman drew his sword, whereupon a student killed him and disappeared in the crowd. Cossacks and Infantry are guarding the telegraph lines of the Warsaw-St. Peters burg railroad, fearing that the strikers will cut off communication between the two cities. The malls from Warsaw to Lods, a dlturu'0 of sixty miles, have to be delivered In curls. Railroad strikers of Lods. who are coming here to attend a conference with the strlk cia of Warsaw, are obliged to travel by road. latervlew with Governor. Imperial Councillor Mlenkin, who because of the Illness of Governor General Tchart koff Is virtually acting as governor general of Poland, today received the Correspondent of the Associated Press and made a state ment regarding the situation In Poland. He said that with the exception of War suw the condition of affairs throughout Poland was Improving. The strikers were returning to work and disturbances were decreasing. A dispatch from Lods this morning, be said, an nounced that 48,000 men were working In 403 factories. Iu the coal district of Bos novice some mines are beginning to work. The districts of Radom and Kallsch are also quieter and the strikers ars returning to work. Regarding Warsaw the councillor said that situation was very unsatisfactory. The strikers returned to work one day and walked out tho noxt. The most serious matter at the present was the strike on the Vienna and Vistula railroads, both of which belong to the government, though the former is leased to a corporation. Therefore It Is necessary to obtain permis sion from St. Petersburg before the de mands of the workmen for a ten-hour day mid higher wages can be gained. A favorable arrangement, however, is ex pected to be forthcoming immediately and the strike nay be ended tonight. Iron Workers Asaln Strike. ST. PETERSBURG. Feb. Z4.-The strike has broken out afresh at the Putlloff Iron works. All the mon walked out today. The minority at first objected to a renewal of the strike, whereupon a conflict oc curred between the two factions, which required a strong force of police to quell. Troops have been again requisitioned to patrol the Putlloff strike ion. .Fresh Trouble la the Caoeauaua. ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. JtThe latest rlvutt reports from the Caucausus says ku. The military force of the whole ;!ou !a declared to be Inadequate to sup vary the disorder, and the spreading of ,h raclul contest Is generally anticipated. Tho pluoe cannot be reached by telegraph. Thousands of Armenians are said to be leaving liuku and Hatoum. The Armen ians and Mussulmen are practically la Slate of open war. SIMPLON TUNNEL IS NOW OPEN florins; Parties Meet lades the Alas After Ten Years Hard Work. OONDON, Swltaerland, Feb. 24.-Pierclng of the Slmplon tunnel through the Alps was completed at 7:20 this morning. The work mimenred In 196. The meeting of boring parties (Swiss and Italian) tnaled throughout Swltrerland by 5 of church bells and salutes by can- S jnexpected obstacles were encoun e most serious being hot springs, reatened to wreck the whole eu nd a temperature which at times 1 degrees Fahrenheit, making a e of the work Impossible until rs found means of cooling the 1 t rt co th. air N . the borers have met. It will en able the water accumulated In the north gallery to be drawn off. The work of preparing the tunnel for a permanent railway will be rushed at rap Idly as possible, and It Is hoped to In augurate the service about March 30. The piercing of the Slmplon is regarded as being one of the greatest engineering achievements of the age. Many difficul ties were encountered and overcome. The length of the tunnel, from Brlga, In Switzerland, to Iselle, on the Italian side of the mountain, Is about twelve miles. Work was begun ten years ago, nnd ac cording to contract the tunne! must be ready for traffic on May 15 next. The Swiss and Italian governments Jointly financed the enterprise, share and share alike, at the cost of ti5.ono.flno. As soon as the boring Is thoroughly com pleted and the track laid a smaller tunnel Is to be constructed parallel to the large one, which will be Increased In slie so ns to permit of traffic both ways at the same time. HAYTIE DECISION IS APPROVF.D Court of Appeals Aftirma Judgment of Lower Tribunal of Repnblle. PORT At? PRINCE. Haytl, Feb. 24. -The court of appeals In the case of the appeal of the National Bank of Haytl for a re versal of Judgment In the matter of th fraudulent bonds Issued In 1902 upholds the decision of the lower court, but annuls the damages against the state. The case grew out of the net of the Hay tlen congress of 1902 authorizing the consoli dation of the national debt In a bond Issue of about JG.000.O00 and an additional 1213,282 to be paid to the Bank of Haytl for financ ing the deal. Before the transaction was completed the government of President Nord came Into power. The bank officials were Imprisoned a year ago on charges of bribery and of conspiring with the secre tary of the treasury in fraudulently Issuing from 1300,000 to t85O.0OO in bonds. Of the thirty-two persons accused, among whom was ex-President Sam, thirteen were pres ent at the trial, the others having fled. The court rendered Judgment In default con demning Sam to Imprisonment for life at hard labor. Mme. Sam was sentenced to fifteen years' Imprisonment and several members of Sam's ministry and other high function aries were condemned to terms of Imprison ment ranging from five to fifteen years. AIIeGR GRAVE KTIAID IX JAPAN Diet Investigates Charges of ' Graft In Connection with Contracts. TOKIO, Feb. 24. The Diet has been in vestigating alleged frauds In connection with contracts signed In May last for .the construction of barracks to be used as a depot for the Seventh division at Hok kaido. In an address to the throne Chief Quartermaster Tomatsu takes the responsi bility for the contracts, although his pre decessor awarded them privately and with out tenders. The Russian prisoners In Japan number 44,400, of which 616 are officers. LIGHT SEXTEXCE FOR Ml RDERERS Men Convicted of Killing Jewess Given Month's Imprisonment. KISHINEFF, Bessarabia. Feb. 24. The trial of thirty-one Christians, accused of the murder of a Jewess named Splwok during the anti-Semitic riots, was con cluded today with the acquittal of nine of the defendants, while twenty-two were sent to a month's imprisonment. The lat ter declared that they were exempt from punishment by virtue of the emperor's amnesty manifesto on the occasion of the birth of the heir to the throne. MITINY AMONG TURKISH TROOPS Imprison Officers and Compel Retnrn of Ship to Port. CONSTANTINOPLE, Feb. 24. A battalion of 960 Turkish troops while on the way to rein for co the gurrlaon at Yemen, Arabia, mutinied on board the Greek steamer Epiros, seized and Imprisoned their officers and compelled the commander of the Epiros to put bock to Sues. The mutineers demand that they be sent back to their homes. Irving's Condition Better. LONDON, Feb. 24.-8lr Henry Irving'a condition, according to this morning's bulle tin, has beer "slightly changed for the better." Despite the reassuring reports, the actor's illness causes alarm among his friend's. It Is much feared the abandon ment of his farewell provincial tour la only a preliminary to the announcement of the abandonment of his American engagements. Reception for Actors. LONDON, Feb. 24. The Maccabeans, the most representative Jewish club In Lon don, gave a successful dinner and recep tion yesterday evening to M. Orleaneff, Madame Naxlmoff and the other members of the Russian Theatrical company pre vious to their departure to America with the. play entitled "The Chosen People." Gorky May be Released. ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. J4.-U is re ported that Maxim Gorky, the Russian author and the leader of the reform party, who was Imprisoned In connection with the rioting in St. Petersburg, will be re leased today on 1 2,500 ball. i NEW LAWS JF0R MONTANA Senate Passes Railroad Commission aad the Initiative and Refer endum Measures. HELENA. Mont., Feb. 24.-By a strict party vote the state senate today passed the house railroad commission bill, naming Nate Godfrey of Helena, M. L. Davidson of Dillon and C. J. McNumara of Big Sandy as commissioners. The democrats opposed the measure on the ground that Oovernor Toole and not the legislature should make the appointments. The house also paised the initiative and referendum bill by the necessary two thirds vote. The bill, It Is said, will pass the senate. It requires S per cent of the voters of two-fifths of the counties to Ini tiate and 5 per cent to refer. BATTLE IS IMMINENT Japanese B:gin Movemeit to Tarn the Eusiian East Hank. FIGHT ALONG TuE ENTIRE LINE Konropatkla's Vanguard Posts Are Driven In aad Mikado's Men Are In Tonch with Fortl. Bed Positions. SHENGKING, Manchuria. Feb. 24 Via Mukden It is reported here that the Japa nese are closing In on the Russian east flank. As a result of this movement It is possible that there will be either a general engagement or at least a counter move ment by the Russians along some part of the line, especially If, as It Is thought, the Japanese have returned to their orig inal tactics of making flanking movements from the mountains. The early advent of spring now makes possible operations in and from the mountainous districts. For the last three weeks the Russians have suffered no material disturbance, with the exception of comparatively unimpor tant damage to the railroad and to a bridge near Kuanchla pass, as the result of Japa nese raids, aided. It Is alleged, by Chinese bandits. Since the receipt of news of the move ment of an unidentified armed force of un known numbers behind the Russian right wing, the Russians have taken measures for the purpose of minimizing the opportu nities for brigands. In the belief that Chi nese bandits are to some extent being or ganized and directed by the Japanese cav alry. Activity at . Vladivostok. Reports of activity at Vladivostok In an ticipation of an attack on that place by the Japanese are confirmed, but the town con tinues In Its accustomed gaiety. In which civil and military elements participate. The channels of business continue there In their normal condition, notwithstanding the fact that the stringent patrol by the Japanese of the straits between the Island of Sak halin and the coast of Japan has com pletely Interrupted the movement of ship ping. Supplies at Vladivostok, It is reported, are plentiful, though prices are high. The naval attaches of foreign governments are leaving Vladivostok by request of the Russian authorities. The number of refu gees at Mukden has been greatly reduced because of the transfer of them to the gov ernment reservation east of Kuatsechu. The very considerable number remaining at Mukden, however, are now in receipt of adequate care, this being rendered possible by the free Import for their use of grain from the north. Fight Along; the Whole Line. T8INKHETCHEN, Feb. 23, via Mukden, Feb. 24.--There was fighting along the whole line In this district today. The Japanese, continuing their persistent and systematic advance, drove fn the Russian vanguard posts and came in touch with Russian forti fied positions. A stubborn combat is ex pected tomorrow, the Japanese apparently intending to attempt to drive out .the, .Rus sians and capture their redoubts. The Japanese are circling eastward. Russian Advance Posts Driven In. ST. PETERSBURG. Feb. 25.-8 a. m. Official dispatches given out today dispose of the rumor of General Kouropatkln's re tirement from the Shakhe, but taken in connection with the Associated . Press Tslnkhetchen dispatches show that opera tions of an Important nature are-In prog ress in the mountain region to the east ward. The movement was precipitated by the Russians, who last week sent out two divisions and occupied well advanced posi tions. The Japanese attacked these posi tions In force. The Russians retired slowly, fighting, and Thursday evening were driven within their fortified line. The latest dis patches prophesied heavy fighting on Fri day. The War office attaches consider of great Importance the blowing up of the bridge south of Halcheng, and hope that It will in terrupt the transportation north of the Port Arthur munitions for some time at this critical stage of affairs. Will Attack Vladivostok. General Kouror-atkln, In a dispatch dated February 23, sends a report that twenty Japanese torpedo boats and a large war ship are on their way to Vladivostok. A telegram from Huan mountain, Man churia, dated today, mays: The Russian reconnolsance in force in the Ts.nkheichen district compelled the Japanese to bring nine battalions and twelve guns into action. The gradual ad vance ot the Japanese in that aistiict con tinues causing our outposts to withdraw lighting to their main positions. On February 22 we hud two officers and slxiy-two men wounded. All is quiet elsewnere ut the front, with the exception of the usuai exchange of shuts. Russians 1'slng Artillery. TOKIO, Feb. 24. (Noon.) Manchuiian headquurters reports to the Army depart ment say that the shelling of points in the vicinity of the Shakhe river and collisions between scouting parties of both armies continued on February 22 and February 23. Commencing at 1 o'clock on February 23, a Russian battery of heavy guns posted west of Lltajentun began shelling Lapatal and Its vicinity. Two Versions of Verdict. ST. PETERSBURG. Feb. 24.-The decis ion of the North Sea commission has not yet been officially made public here, al though It Is understood thut It has already been communicated to the Foreign ofllce and admiralty. While the prevailing im pression from foreign dispatches is that the decision is that the Russian squadron under the circumstances was Justified In firing on the trawlers and there Is conse quent rejoicing over the discomfiture of the British, another version of the verdict comes from Paris from a private source, according to which the commission found that the firing was not Justified and fixed the responsibility on Admiral Rojestvensky. Court-Martial for Army Officers. ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 24.-Grand Duke Vladimir, commander of the military dis trict of St. Petersburg, has Issued an order of the day ordering the trial by court-martial of Captain Davldorff of the Seventeenth battery of the First regiment of Horse Ar tillery of the Guards, end three other offi cers and three men of the First battery of the Guard Artillery brigade, In connection with the firing In the direction of Emperor Nicholas of a chnrge of case ahot at the ceremony of blessing the Neva, January 19. The Grand Duchess Elizabeth has been appointed communder of the Fifth Kleff Grenadiers In succession to the lute Grand Duke Serglus. Tralaiura alt at Moscow. MOSCOW. Feb. 24.-The employes of the Mofcctw-Kuzun railroad struck today, as they had not received the management's reply to their petition. The men, however, decided not to Interfere with military trains. Other trains will nut be allowed to leave. Troops are guarding the railroad station. ICE BREAKS UP IN LOUP RIVER Railroads Are Active la Effort to Prevent Loan to Their Bridges. COLUMBUS. Neb.. Feb. 24 (SpeclaU A large force of men started this morning blasting the Ice In the Loup river for sev eral miles above the Union Pacific bridge. They carried 800 pounds of dynamite with them and the reports are frequently heard In this city. The ice was Inspected Monday by bridge men and was found to be four feet thick In many places. Where the water was shallow the sand was frozen to a depth of several Inches. There has been a continual thaw all this week and last night was warm. The river Is re ported breaking up at Loup City and it Is hardly thought possible that the bridges can be saved against such heavy ice. .The Burlington Is also taking measures to protect Its bridge east of town, and has two shifts of men watching night and day. The Platte river is also frozen clear to the bottom in many places. Should the Ice go out with a rush much damage would result and the railroads hope to avert this by breaking up the ice with dynamite. HARDSHIP ON CATTLEMEN Insufficiency cf Inspection Source Annoyance and Also Costly. of COMPLETE RURAL DELIVERY IN JOHNSON Congressman Illashaw Seeks Appoint mente In Army for Five Cadets Who Were Dismissed from Military Academy. (From a Staff oCrrespondent.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 24.-(Speclal Tele gram.) Representative Klnkald took up with Secretary Wilson today the needs of cattle growers of the west for a more gen eral Inspection of range cattle alleged to be Infected with mange, than now obtains. Judge Kinkaid made the statement that failure on the part of the Department of Agriculture to properly Inspect the dip ping of cattle worked a hardship upon the cattlemen and In many cases compelled cattle owners to take a far less price for their cattle by reason of failure of lnspec- The snow has nenr'ty all' melted and the tors 15 lnP?ct' He "ta,'f th,at,ln ,maKny In bad country roads are consequently shape. The Ice Is still solid in the Platte, although there Is some water running over It. No danger is apprehended here except from a heavy, warm rain or an Ice gorge. The rnllroad companies have plenty of dynamite on hand and will probably use considerable of It at the bridges. BEATRICE, Neh., Feb. 34. Two spans of the Union Pacific tbrldge over Bear creek, near Beatrice, Were taken out by the Ice this evening, completely tletng up this branch of the Kansas division. The Manhattan passenger train Is stalled for the night. All the small streams In south eastern Nebraska are high. FARMERS HEAR PURE SEED TALK Large Crowds Greet Train In North east Nebraska. HARTINGTON, Nob., Feb. 24 (Special Telegram.) The Omaha railroad's seed corn special left Norfolk this morning for a two days' trip over this line In north eastern Nebraska. Friday's run was fin ished at Hartlngton, where a farmer's In stitute was held in the court house In the evening. Large crowds of farmers were waiting at all scheduled stops and overflow meeting were held In the depot waiting rooms at several stations. Uni formly large crowds heard the lectures, be ginning at 8 o'clock In the morning. Bloom field turned out the banner crowd of the day, with 3S6 farmers. Deep interest Is taken in this agricultural movement along this line, which Is one of the richest sec tions of the state. Saturday's run Is from Newcastle down the main line to Omaha. A difficult sched ule has been maintained throughout the day and the pnrty Is well pleased with the way the farmers appreciate and ore re ceiving this enterprise. - . The gospel of pure seed selection is more popular than ever. The railway officials In the party are: Superintendent Nichols, District Freight Agent Sholea. Traveling Agent Witherspoon. JJoa.t master Pierce, Conductor Hoydar fciid"'ri'g!ner .Lewton uro In charge of the soefelak. wUch Is com posed of three coaches and. two private cars. The State university lecturers ' are: Director Burnell, Profs. Lyon, Bruner, Haecker, Avery, Pugsley and E. II. Clark. The attendance today was 2.090 and Sat urday Is expected to be a record breaker. FARMERS' INSTITITE AT KIST1S Legislature Urged to Pass Binding Twine Bill. EUSTIS, Neb., Feb. 24.-(Special Tele gram.) A farmers' institute was held in Eustls Thursday afternoon. Dr. A. L. Fet ters and Alvin Keyser of the State Experi ment station were present, A farmer's In stitute was perfected, with Gottlieb Kel ler as chairman, W, T. Bean, vice chair man, and L. R. Ewart, secretary and treas urer. Miss Clara Hueftle and Master Fredie Schroeder rendered an organ and violin duet', which was followed by a song by some of the school children. Mr. Keyser gave a very interesting address on the se lection of seed corn. Dr. Petters then dis cussed "Various Diseases of Live Stock." The session closed with a song by a male quartet. The evening session was opened by a song by the school children. Mr. Keyser talked on the work of the experiment sta tion and agricultural school. Dr. Heller then answered a number of questions in regard to cattlo and hog diseases and the care of poultry. Mr. Keyser added a fev words In regard to the Hessian fly. The hall was not large enough to hold cases cattle had to be redlpped simply be cause lnspecors were not on the ground at the time of dipping and refused to take the word of cattlemen and those employed about the dipping pools. Secretary Wilson stated that the appro priations heretofore made for Inspectors to look after this work were wholly Inade quate to employ a sufficient number to superintend or Inspect the dipping, and he further stated that until congress gave money sufficient to employ an adequate force of Inspectors he saw no way of cor recting present conditions. Rural Delivery for Johnson. Congressman Burkett today received no tice that complete rural free delivery serv ice had been ordered for Johnson county. This completes county service In every county In the First district and rounds out Mr. Burkett's efforts as congressman to secure complete district service before the termination of his career In the house. Mr. Burkett has accepted the Invitation of Simpson college, Indianolo, la,, to de liver the commencement oration at that college on June 8. Dietrich Bill Reported. Senator Beverldge from the committee on territories today reported favorably Sen ator Dietrich's bill for the government of Alaska. While Senator Dietrich has no hope of passing the measure, he is satis fied that the pioneer work which he has done to give Alaska a stable government will bear fruit at the next session of con gress when some such measure as reported today will, become a law. Senators Bev erldge, Nelson and others of the commit tee congratulated Senator Dietrich on his measure and staled they would take up the fight for the proper government of Alaska where he leaves off upon his reire roent from public life. HInahaw Pleads for Cadets. Representative Hinshaw today asked President Roosevelt to appoint as second lieutenants In the army the five cadets to West Point Military . academy who were dismissed. on Jday 2L.19CO.. The cadets were C. E. Bowlby of Nebraska, John A Cleve land of Alabama, T. F. Keller ot New York, B. O. Mahaffcy of Texas and R. A. Linton of Michigan, all members of the class grad uated In 1902. A member of their class was punished for an Infraction of the rules of the academy. When the announcement of the punishment was made the five cadets assembled on the campus and demonstrated their disapproval of the punishment by de risive yells. Their action was construed as a reflection upon the superintendent of the academy and subsequently the five men were dismissed from the Institution. It is pointed out In their behalf that the offense they committed was not heinous and was prompted by boyish lnconslderatlon. Super intendent Mills of the military academy Joins In the petition for their appointment td the army. Under the law the young men cannot be reinstated at the academy, but two years having elapsed since their dis missal they may be appointed to the army. The president referred Mr. Hinshaw to Secretary Taft and the Fourth district con gressman will labor with the war chief to give these young men commissions In the army, as he Is permitted to do under the bill. H. T. Clarke of Omaha Is at the Wlllard. Representative Hinshaw of Nebraska to day Introduced a resolution for the printing of 1,000 additional copies of tho Jefferson Bible, Postal Matters. Postmasters appointed: Nebraska Gar rison, Butler county, Ellen Crawford, vice Emma L. Moon, resigned; Helvey, Jeffer son county, Charles M. McCoy, vice John Nelson, resigned. Iowa Orson, Harrison the crowd which gathered. The Eustls Farmers' Institute association urges the ' county, O. R. Onstott, vice George D. Ed- representatives to do all In their power to cause the passage of the binding twine bill. FORMER SEWARD MAX MLHDERKD Body Is Brought Buck to that Place for Interment. SEWARD, Neb., Feb. 24.-Speclal Tele gram.) A telegram was received Wednes day night, stating that Henry Pierce, for merly of Seward, had been murdered at Perry, Okl. The deceased is a son of Mrs. Pierce, and was long a resident of this place. It Is thought he was murdered for his money. His remains were brought to Seward tonight. Watch Kept on Platte River. PLATTSMOUTH, Neb., Feb. 24.-(Spc-cial.) The rural moll carriers from this city report that in many places along their routes the frost has all gone out of the ground and that they frequently find por tions of the roads in an almost impassable condition. The deep snow has very grad ually nearly all disappeared. The ice In the Platte river has not yet broken up, as reported, but those who are watching it and the railway bridges with that Idea in view say that it is liable to do so at al most any time now, providing, of course, that the warm weather continues. The people residing upon the bottom lands along the Plitte and Missouri rivers are dreading the approaching crisis and are already pre paring to remove to a point of safety, so as not to be compelled to be carried In a skiff from the windows of the second-story of their homes, as many found it necessary to do one year ago. monds, resigned. South Dakota Grobe, Spink county, Mrs. I-aurc Bustlan, vice Hannah Bastlan, resigned; Nasby, Law rence county, Frank N. Sllngerland, vice William Palson, resigned. Wyoming Ten Sleep, Big Horn county, Blanche Flscus, vice Keys H. SIcknfooc, resigned. Committee Inspects Asylum. BEATRICE. Neb.. Feb. 24. (Special Tele gram.) The committees on publlo lands and buildings, nuance, ways and means and on other asylums of the state senate made Beatrice a visit this afternoon and Inspected the Institution for Feeble Minded Youths. The party spent last night In Peru, where It Inspected the state normal, and returned to Lincoln this evening. Those In the party were Senators Dlmery of Sew ard, Good of Nemaha, Gilllgan of Holt, Fries of Valley. Peterson of Franklin, Junkln of Thayer, Neilsen of Cuming, BhUK-k of York. Harsh of Kearney art Jackson of Gage and Representative Burns of Lncutsr aiid to stsaog rather, j& j. rarr. REWARD OFFERED FOR THIEF Missouri House Wants Person Who tola Bill to Stop Pool Selling. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., Feb. 24.-Ths house today unanimously adopted a reso lution offering $1,000 reward for the arrest of the person, or persons, who stole the original of the amended bill passed by the house repealing the breeders law and pro hibiting pool selling' on horse races. The theft of the original nullities the action of tho house. Following the adoption of the reward resolution two new bills were introduced In the house, one providing for the repeal of the present statute known as the breeder's law and the other making It a felony punishable by a Jail sentence. The repeal bill was passed Immediately and the other bill was made special busi ness for Monday. Oovernor Folk today forwarded an off, clal communication to the attorney gen eral ordering him to conduct a rigid In vestigation Into the theft of the original anti-pool selling bill from the files of the chief clerk of the house of representatives. WORKING ON A CATECHISM Dr. Jennings, Member of Methodist Church Committee, Now Con. sidorlng Plans. CINCINNATI, Feb. t4.-The Union Cate chlsm Mission of the Methodist Episcopal church. North and South, met here today. This mission a year ago adopted a primary catechism. The purpose of the meeting at this time la the final revision of the riln elpal or large catechism. A ritual thut Is agreeable to both churches will also be releed by the commission. Rev. J. W. Jennings, formerly presiding elder at Omsha In one of the northern J mombara ot Ibe couunuuHun NEBRASKA WEATHER FORECAST Fair Saturday and Sunday. Temperature at Omaha Yesterday! Hour. Dear. Hour. Pea. ft a. m...... JIT 1 p. m - On. m .17 It p. m 4l T a. m...... Hf 3 . m Ha. m KM 4 p. m...... 41 a. in 37 It p. m N 10 n. ni as n i. m 41) 11 a . in 40 T p. n 4l U n 44 H p. m 4 4 ft p. m 4SI MRS. CHADWICK IS SILENT Ohio Woman It ef uses to Answer Any Questions When Placed on Stand. CLEVELAND, Feb. 24-Birs. Chadwlck. when placed on the stand in the bank ruptcy proceedings agRlnst her today be fore Referee Remington, refused at first to be sworn. After a consultation with her attorneys, she finally consented to tako the oath. She was then osked to Btate her name. She refused to reply to this question. Mrs. Chadwlck sought refuge In her priv ilege as an accused person and she refused to answer most of the questions on thn ground that what she said might tend to aid tho prosecution of her criminal cases. Referee Remington found In her favor, al though he Insisted against her counsel's wishes In making her give a quasi ex planation of her refusal. "My financial affairs ,are so closely al lied with the case In the federal court that anything affecting the one must neces sarily affect tho other," said Mrs. Chad wlck, and tho referee declared that that explanation of her position was as admir ably expressed as It could be. "What they want Is to get possession of your Information," stoutly declared Attor ney Dawley, on behalf of Mrs. Chadwlck. "They want to have a look at our hand. They are trying to ascertain our defense. Now, If the government will tip oft Its hand, we might arrange for the deal." Dawley frankly told the court that Mrs. Chadwlck would be only following his ad vice In refusing to be sworn. He said he did not Intend to be contemptuous or to be discourteous to the referee, but he de manded the protection which, he said, the constitution gave his client. The entire examination was a series of wrangles and disputes. Mrs. Chadwlck an swered a few questions, but her answers were remarkably free from information. Finally the court and counsel on all sides agreed that tho examination might Just aa well stop abruptly, because there was no hope of securing any Information from the bankrupt. Accordingly, March 13 was set for a resumption of the hearing, with the understanding that Mrs. Chadwlck would testify freely on that date If the criminal rases against her had been dis posed of by that time. WASHINGTON, Feb. 24.-ColIector of Customs Leach returned today from New York, where he spent a day in looking up Jewelry Imported by Mrs. Chadwlck. Mr. Leach stated that he had brought back about $50,000 worth of Jewelry, which he said had been Imported by Mrs. Chadwlck and upon which no duty had been paid. Leach added that he believed he had also located a small amount of money belong ing rto kMry. .Chadwlck, COMPROMISE JN MISSOURI Statement that Gardiner Lathrop of Kansas City May Be Elected t'nlted States Senator. KANSAS CITY. Feb. 24. Gardiner Lath rop of Kansas City may be decided upon as a compromise candidate for United States senator to succeed Francis M. Cock rell, according to local political gossip. This gossip Is based upon a conference held here today with Mr. Lathrop by Alex ander Nledrlnghaus, a brother of Thomas Niedrlnghaus, the republican senatorial caucus nominee, and E. D. Kenna, who Is general solicitor of the Atchlaon, Topeka & Santa Fe railway and son-in-law of It. C. Korens, second In the republican race for senator. After the conference today all concerned denied that the senatorship had ' been discussed, notwithstanding rumors to the contrary. Mr. Kenna said: My meeting with Mr. Lathrop has no significance. Mr. Lathrop has been offered my place with the Santa Ke and we are trying to get him to accept. Mr. Iathrop said: I have been for Mr. Kerens and would do anything possible to further his Inter ests. I believe that after March 4 there will be a change at Jefferson City. Then the democrats will be released from obliga tions to Senator Cockrell and may vote for some republican, it' they see a repub lican Is bound to be elected. If at the expiration of his term Senator Cockrell accepts the position President Roosevelt has offered he would not be eligible fur the senatorship and this would release his supporters at Jerierson city. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., Feb. 24.-The deadlock over the selection of a United States senator remained unchanged today after the thirty-second ballot of the Joint sessions of the legislature. The vote was: Cockrell, 63; Nledrlnghaus, 54; Kerens, 12; McKlnley, 6; Pettljahn, 2. The legislature adjourned until Monday. WILL PROSECUTE OIL COMPANY i Criminal Proceedings Against Com bine to Bo Commenced la Every County In Kansas. CHANCTE, Kan., Feb. 24. Criminal pro ceedings against the officers and employes of the Prairie Oil and Gas company will be started at once. Cuses will be brought in overy Kansas county where the com pany does business. Conviction will be asked for under the provisions of the Far rolly anti-trust law. The Prairie company, which is the Standard's Kansas branch, has offices In Chautauqua, Montgomery, Wilson, Neosho and Allen counties. An nouncement of the suit was made tonight by W. E. Connelly of the advisory board of the Kansas Oil Producers' association. IOWA ORATORICAL CONTEST Fred J. Clark of Cornell Colleue Captures the First Place. MOUNT VERNON, la., Feb. 24.-Fred J. Clark, representing Cornell college at Mount Vernon for the second consecutive time, was awarded first place In the state oratorical contest held tonight. The theme of his oration was, "The Philosophy of the Race Problem." SENATE OUiTS WORK sf Members Change Their Minds About Hold ing a Saturday Session. FEW ARE IN ATTENDANCE YESTERDAY Proposed Constitutional Amendment Which Meet with Much favor, CREATES SCHOOL FUND INVESTMENT FIELD Omaha Water Bill Amended and Favorably Reported for Passage. DECREASE PROPOSED SPEED OF TRAINS Committee Amends and Reports Rill Asked for by the Lira Stock Interests of tho State. (From a Staff Correspondent.) LINCOLN. Feb. 24. (Special.) Whils heretofore this legislature has shown a disposition to look with disfavor upon any attempt to pass a resolution proposing an amendment to the state constitution, Sen ator Sheldon of Cass this morning intro duced a joint resolution In the senate the object of which Is to amend tho constitu tion allowing the money In tho permanent school fund to be Inves.ol In United States and state securities, registered county bonds or In other securities that may be provided by law. It is tho belief of many senators that such an amendment .should be submitted to the people for a vote. Under the constitution as It stands It Is unlawful for the state treasurer to Invest this fund In any securities other than United States and state securities and county bonds. The amendment, should It be carried, would allow this money to bo Invested also In school district bonds and other securities that are absolutely safe, as defined by the statute. At the present time the permanent school fund has reached the enormous sum of nearly $6,000, 000, and to find good investments, paying a fair rate of intorest. Is one of the seri ous problems constantly before the state treasurer and the Hoard of Educational , Lands and Funds.. Friends of the measure say the restitution should receive the unanimous vote of both houses. Water Bill Reported, The senate at noon wound up Its thirty seventh day after a short session and ad journed until Monduy afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. It was upon the suggestion of the speaker, somo of the senators said, that the upper branch of this law-making body voted yesterday to not adjourn, but to hold sessions today and tomorrow and thug catori up with the number of days upon which the house has been In session. When Lieu tenant Oovernor McGilton called the mem bers to order there were present only nine teen members and the hands of these had been so tied by the senate that they could do nothing but discuss In committee of the whole their own .bills on general file and listen to committee-reports. Whether the members realized It was a waste Of time to hold a session tomorrow or whether they resented the suggestion of the head of the lower branch, tho motion to adjourn until Monday certainly went through with a whoop. In committee of the whole, without de bate, H. R. 8, tho Omaha water board bill, was recommended for passage after the amendments suggested by the standing committee had been adopted. These amend ments remove many of the objectionable features of the bill, the most Important of which Is that as the bill now stands It pro vides that the proposition to Issue bonds for the acquisition of tho water plant shall be submitted to a vote of the people. The rallrouds again showed they had not lost all hold on this situation when the re port on S. F. 152, by Gould, was reported back. This bill provided that stock trains should be run at a rate of fifteen miles an hour when the distance was more than seventy-five miles, and not less than twenty miles an hour when the distance was greater than seventy-five miles. It now reads that the rate of speed shall be twelve and eighteen mllee. In committee of the whole besides those mentioned: II. R. 117, appropriating 5,000 for Irrigation Investigations, was recom mended for passage. 8. F. 37, providing for the leaching of kindness to animals In the public schools, was indefinitely post poned. These bills were Introduced: S. F. 222, by Jones of Otoe, to regulate truancy In schools. S. K. 123. by Hughes of Platte, to make tho minimum capital stock of mutual in surance companies flOu.OU'. H. F. :"J4, by Blii ldon of l ass, a Joint reso lution for a constitutional amendment to increase the number of securities In which the permanent schuol fund may be Invested. HEAVY ICE GORGE"" MOVES Steamer Ulir Kanawha Sinks In Ohio River and Much Other Damage Is Done. MAYSVILLE, Ky.. Feb. 24.-A heavy Ice gorge In the Ohio river was dislodged this afternoon in a rise from the Kanawha river. Considerable damage was dons by the ice. The steamer Big Kanawha was torn from Its moorings and carried down with the ice. As it passed the ferryboat Lawrence It tore the outer guards off the ferryboat. A quarter of a mile further down the ice tore a large hole In the hull of the Rig Kanawha, when It sank and the Ice wrecked it. Captain Williamson and the crew of tho steamer had narrow escapes, several of the men being compelled to Jump on moving Ice In order to reach the shore. The steamer Tacoma was also damaged, but can be repaired. The Big Kanawha was owned by the Cin cinnati & Portsmouth Packet company. It was built at Madison, Ind., In 18H7. Movements of Ocean Vessels Feb. 81. At London Arrived : Nicarla, from Sun Frunclsco. At Sydney Arrived: Sonoma, from San Francisco. At Corral Arrived: Ramesn, from Ham burg. At IJverpool Arrived : Iretorlan, from fit. Johns. At Multa Arrived: Moltke, from New York. At Naples Arrived: Neckar, from New York. At Hamburg Arrived: Patricia, from New York. At Ponta del Gad-A rived; Coptic, from lBustou. . . .. LARGE PROPERTY TO BE SOLD Great White Knob t opper Company of Idaho Goes I nder the Hammer. " BLACK FOOT, Idaho, Feb. 24. Judge Stephens of the district court signed an or der directing Receivers N. H. Clark and Wilbur L. Matthews to sell at public option all of the properties of whatsoever charac ter, Including water works, electric railway, smelter and mining property of the Great White Knob Copper company at MacKay, Idaho. The value of the property Is esti mated at Il.Wio.ono. There la a mortgage on the property of ll.oun.ono and the court rMrecta that the mln Imum bid be Il.nirt.oro lien, but the court di rects that all creditors shall be paid out ef the proceeds of the sale. About 50,0o uf the claims' are held in Salt Lake. Otter credits are Denver and Huttn firms, whose claims aggregate 170.000. The receivers have set the sals for March 18. at MacKay, Idaho. . - .