Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, March 29, 1905, Image 1

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    THE BEE IS THE PREFERRED ADVER.
TISING MEDIUM IN ITS TERRITORY
The Omaha Daily
B
EE.
FOR A CHARACTERISTICALLY WEST
ERN NEWSPAPER READ THE BEE
ESTABLISHED JUNE 19, 1871.
OMAHA, WEDNESDAY MORNING, MAKCH 21, 1905 TEN PAGES.
SINGLE COPY TIII.EE CENTS.
PEACE NOW
IN SIGHT
Einsia Outlines Condition Under Which it
it Prepared to Open Negotiation.
QUESTION ASSUMES PRACTICAL SHAPE
Good Office! of United States and France
8tarU the Ball Rolling.
DELCASSE WILL PROBABLY BE ENVOY
French Minister to Act as Intermediary
Between Rnssia and Japan.
RUMOR OF ANOTHER BURNING MOVEMENT
A burner of Official and Private Dis
patches from I'olnta Brlovr Harbin
('ri Apprehension at
St. Petersburg.
ST. PETERSBURG, March 28. Russia
has outlined the conditions under which It
Is prepared to negotiate peace.
It was stated tonight with every sem
blance, of authority that, thankjf to the
good offices of the United States and
France, the question of peace had as
sumed practical shape.
No Information at Washington.
WASHINGTON, March 28. Diligent In
quiry tonight failed to develop what, if any,
assistance this government had been in the
.way of bringing about preliminary nego
tiations for peace between Russia and
Japan, but Inasmuch as nearly all the
American officials likely to have kuowledge
of auch a matter were at social functions
or otherwise Inaccessible, the Inquiry
necessarily was not complete. A prominent
head ' of one of the diplomatic establish
ments here, when shown the St. Petersburg
statement, said that he had not received
any word from his government on the sub
ject for several days and had heard noth
ing to confirm the report. At the same time
he would not be astonished to learn of Its
accuracy, though he had not expected mat
ters to reach that stage as yet.
Delcasse to Be Peace BnTOr,
LONDON, March 28. (6:42 p. m.) A tele
gram from a northern European capital re
ceived In London this afternoon says:
I have just learned on reliable authority
that Russia has asked Delcusse to act as
Intermediary and open peace negotiations
with Japan.
Delcasse has signified his willingness, but
considers that Lansdownea co-operation Is
aaauUal to success.
Japanese Minister Doobts Story.
LONDON, March 28. "When peace- nego
tlaWneeennMoeettw11l be between Rua
la and japan direct and not through any
Intermediary," was Minister Hayashl'a
comment to the Associated Press tonight
when shown the dispatch from a northern
European capital stating that M. Delcasse,
the French foreign minister, had been
asked to act as an Intermediary to open
peace negotiations. Minister Hayashl said
he attached no Importance to the statement,
but believed that France was trying to in
fluence Russia to open negotiations for
peace.
Rnmor of Turning Movement.
LONDON, March 29. The Times' St.
Petersburg correspondent telegraphs as fol
lows: "The entire absence of private and
press telegrams from the front, together
with a laconic message from General Line
vltch tonight, dated Harbin, and saying,
No reports from the - armies,' evolves fear
that communications have been cut and
that the Japanese have turned the Russian
positions."
Japanese Drive Russians.
GUNSHU PASS. Manchuria, March 28.
The Japanese are again moving forward
and the Russian guard has fallen back
from its position, about thirteen miles
north of Blplnghal, (seventy-four . miles
north of Tie Pass), to Chaoumiaodzl, which
is situated forty miles below Uunshu Pass.
.Practically complete reports show that
the Russian army sacrificed general com
mlaaluriat stores to the amount of $1,260,
000, and stores for an army corps amount
ing to $600,000, held at Mukden, most of it
being set on fire, the boots and uniforms
among the stores of which the whole army
was in need, arriving from Europe four
days before tlio Russian retirement from
Mukden. General Kouropatkln ordered the
removal of the stores, but his order was
not executed. An investigation will be
made to establish the responsibility.
Japanese Clear llattlelleld.
WITH Tlltl JAPANESE ARMIES IN
THE FIELD, March 28. (Via Fusan, 11
a. ni.) The Japanese urmy near Muk
den la clearing the battlefield, sorting the
enormous quuntttles of stores and mater.
Ial4 captured and attending to ' the pris
oners. Engineers are rapidly repairing the rail
road bridge across the Hun river, which
was badly damaged by the Russians.
Trains 4 re now running to the Hun river.
They will reach Mukden in a few days.
The weather is very warm and the ground
is thawing rapidly, making the movement
of guns and transport wagons dlltlcult.
Seutl-Pauio on lioarse,
ST. PETERSbLRO, March 28. (3:28 p.
m.) A aeml-putiic prevailed on the bourse
here today. Russian Imperial ts foil a
point, to ftot.
PARIS, March 2 The tune on the Bourse
today was heavy. Russians were weak,
upon a denial of the report that the Im
perial council had decided to open peace
Negotiations. A general stagnancy pre
vailed and the market ciused heavy. Rus
sian Imperial 4s were quoted at to &0 and
Russian bonds of 19ol at y'd. The private
rale of discount wa 2. per cent.
scramble for Japanese Loan.
LONDON, March lis. When the pros
pectus of the Japanese war loan of $lou,
wjO.ixw was Usueu today the neighborhood
of the issuing banks resembled l lie scenes
witnessed oil first night's popular theater.
Long Huts of ptjopie were struggling for
admission and special forces of police con
trolled the streams of eager iuvestois.
The interiors of the banks were filled with
shouting crowds struggling to snatch pros
pectuses. Husslnus Out of French Haters.
TAMATAVE, Madagascar, March 88. It
has been definitely ascertained that the
whole Russian Second 1'aciflo squadron left
the waters of Madagascar March U fur an
luikuwwu destination
STRANGE DISEASE ON M0L0KAI
Army flurgeon. Hospital Corps and
Rarer Will Make Inveatlaa
tlon In Hawaii.
HONOLtl.r, March 2. Thp interlsland
steamer Likellke, chartered by the terri
torial government, has left for I'elekunu
valley, on Molokal, carrying Army Sur
geon Yost, eight men of the hospital corps
and two nurses. It is a relief expedition,
sent out on account of reports of an epi
demic in the form of an unknown sick
ness, believed to lie typhoid fevor. Eight
deaths have already taken plnce and there
are other cases. There Is no doctor on the
island, outside of the practically Inaccessi
ble leper settlement. The population of
the valley is small and consists entirely
of natives. Many have left since the sick
ness began. A. C. L. Atkinson, secretary
of the territorial government, accompanies
the exiied'tlon. ,
One report made to Governor Carter,
which is being Investigated, suggests poi
soning, and says there is a native poison
tree In the valley and that the deaths re
sult from a feud.
Revolt In Persia.
ASKHABAD, Caucasus, Russia, March
28. Refugees from Kucham. Persia, report
that the palace of the khan is besieged
by an armed mob. The popular resent
ment against him Is intense in consequence
of the allegation that he has been ex
ploiting the people. The refugees charge
that Mohammedans from Baku are respon
sible for exciting the population against
the Christians.
Arabian Inaurarente Make Oalna.
CONSTANTINOPLE, March 28. Accord
ing to a dispatch from Hodeida, dated
March 25, the town of Sanaa, capital of
Yemen province, Arabia, was still holding
out when the message was filed, but
Yama, Yerlm and Aneysa, southward of
Sanaa, and Hadlah, northward, have fallen
into the hands of the Insurgents and th
mountain fortress of Ibb was surrounded.
DENY STORY OF A MERGER
Canadian and Xc-vr York Railroad
Men Say Report la Absolutely
Unwarranted.
TORONTO, Canada, March 28-Denlal
was made today of the report that the New
York Central had gained control of Cana
dian electric roads by Frederic Nleholls,
who Is connected with the Electrical Devel
opment company and other electric con
cerns. Mr. Nleholls said the Electrlo De
velopment company Is a purely Canadian
enterprise. No negotiations of any kind, he
added, have been entered Into with any cor
poration or person for relinquishing control
by the present owners.
NEW YORK, March 28.-The report that
the New York Central & Hudson River rail
road has completed negotiations to absorb
several Canadian street railway lines be
tween Buffalo and Toronto was denied to
day at the offices of President Newman of
the New York Central, where It was tid
that the New York Central was not under
taking to secure possession of any street
railways In Canada, neither directly nor
through any other corporation.
The report declared that the New York
Central would absorb the Buffalo Street
railway, Niagara, St. Catharine St Toronto,
Hamilton, Grimsby and Beamsrllle railway
and the Hamilton Radiol railroad. It was
also reported that electric lines would be
extended to Detroit and Coburg.
WESTERN MATTERS AT CAPITAL
Rural Rontes Established and Car
riers Appointed by the
Department.
(From a Staff Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON. March 28. (Special
Telegram.) Rural free delivery route No.
4 has been ordered established May 1, at
Oakland, Pottawattamie county, la., serv
ing 388 people, and ninety-seven houses.
Rural carriers appointed: Nebraska,
Guide Rock, route 1, Lloyd C. Farquhar,
carrier; Carl F. Bcherbacher, substitute.
Mlnden, route 2, William H. Thompson,
carrier; Luther W. Monroe, substitute.
Wilcox, route 2, Louis Mlnkner, carrier;
Henry Mlnkner, substitute. Iowa, Dun
lap, route 1, Irving D. Cover, carrier;
Emily M. Cover, substitute. Little Sioux,
route 1, Elbert Stucker, carrier; William
H. E. Eyer. substitute.
The First National bank of Parkston,
S. D., today wa authorised to begin busi
ness with 125,000 capital. Christian Romp
for la president, John Deerlng, vice presi
dent; J. S. Mueller, cashier.
HURRY WORK ON THE DAM
New York Taken Steps to Preserve
the New Reservoir at
Croton.
NEW YORK, March 28. No break has yet
occurred In the 15.000,000 dam forming the
New Croton reservoir, which was menaced
yesterday by a 'flood of water from the
great Croton water shed. Workmen are re
inforcing the structure at all points of dan
ger and a patrol has been established to
give immediate warning should a break
threaten. The village of Croton Landing,
with a population of 1,100, Is one mile be
low. During the last week the water has been
gradually rlBlng In the reservoir and for
two or three days It had been running over
tho spillway of the dam. Yesterday, how
ever, the gates were opened and the water
was allowed to run Into the Croton river.
It is not believed today that there is any
danger of a collapse of the gates of the
dam.
MORMONS BUY AN OLD JAIL
Building In Which Joseph Smith
Was Killed Will Be a
Mission House.
CHICAGO, March 28.-A special to the
Post from Cartilage. 111., says that be
cause of historical associations the mem
bers of the Mormon church have pur
chased for $i0,0ou the old Jull here, where
the first prophet and the founder of the
faith met a tragic death at the hunds of
a mob. The old structure was not worth
over $1,500. It Is proposed to establish a
mission church In the building.
In this connection, announcement that
the Mormons are coming back to Illinois
after the lapse of half a century and are
to establish three new churches has
caused comment. The fact that the
church is to make Carthage a headquar
ters In Illinois may be followed by public
action in opposition.
FIRE RECORD.
Heavy Loss la Kentucky.
MADISONV1I.LE. Ky., Msrch 28.-Fire
at Hanson, Ky., early today destroyed
property valued at between IjO.uuO and tlnO,
OuO, Including churches, tobacco factories,
business bouse and residences.
ARMOUR MAN IS INDICTED
Superintendent of Packing Plant Charged
with Interfering with Witness,
ACCUSED OF COACHING JOHN E. SHIELDS
Indictment Alles.es that He Also At
tempted to Influence Testimony
of Other Witnesses In
Beet Investigation.
CHICAGO, March &. The federal grand
Jury tonight returned an indictment against
Thomas J. Connors, general superintendent
of Armour A Co., on a charge of Inter
fering with a witness summoned to appear
before the Jury now investigating the so
called Beef trust. Mr. Connor, who Is J.
Ogden Armour's most confidential em
ploye and the active head of one of the
largest packing companies In the world,
was arrested on a bench warrant by a
United States deputy marshal and brought
to the grand Jury room, where he ai
released on $"1,000 bond. After his re
lease Mr. Connors refused to discuss the
matter.
Charges In Indictment.
The Indictment charges that John Ed
ward Shields of Brooklyn, a former em
ploye of Armour & Co., who testified be
fore the grand Jury, was approached, fa
vored and entertained by Mr. Connors and
specifically states that on March 25 the
offense upon which Mr. Connors was in
dicted occurred. It Is also charged that
Shields was given the use of Armour &
Co.'s office at 206 La Sullo street to trans
act his business while in Chicago and also
the use of a private telegraph wire In
the office of the packing company. Another
allegation is that Shields was entertained
by Connors and that Connors suggested
to the proposed witness that he should
testify favorably to Armour & Co. and
not tell all that he knew concerning the
matter under investigation. The second
count of the Indictment charges that Mr.
Connors did not limit his attempt at in
fluencing witnesses to Mr. Shields, but
that other witnesses who have not as yet
appeared In Chicago have been approached
by him and attempts made to Influence
them as to the nature of the testimony
they would give before the Jurors.
Shields an Important Witness.
When the special grand Jury convened
last week Shields was one of the first wit
nesses to appear. He came to Chicago
from New York. He had testified before
a grand Jury sitting In New York and
there is said to have divulged facts which
led the federal officials to believe him In
possession of many other details con
cerning the question under consideration.
He was requested to come to Chicago and
the federal officials were Instructed to
watch the man closely. Two men were
detailed to watch Shields. One of these
secret service men obtained Shields' con
fidence and thus learned facts which
doubled the precautions of the government
to prevent any of the witnesses from be
ing coached Shields was followed by these
detectives and It was learned that he fre
quented the offices of Armour & Co., hav
ing a private wire at his disposal and ans
wering all his private correspondence there.
Every move of Shields was closely watched.
The matter reached a climax .yesterday
when one of the secret service men submit
ted a report to his superiors. Today
Shields was In the grand Jury room from
o'clock to 6 o'clock.
The section of the statutes under which
the Indictment was drawn provides that
any person who Interferes with a witness
shall be subject to a fine of $500 or im
prisonment for three months, or both.
R. Budatz, department manager for Ar
mour & Co. at Omaha, and Edward Welch
of Armour & Co. at Kansas City, were
the only other witnesses besides Shields
that were heard today.
LOSS BY TORNADO IS HEAVY
One Person Is Fatally Injured lu
Storm Which Sweeps Over
Minnesota.
ST. PAVL, March 28. A dispatch from
Appleton, Minn., says that of the seven
persons Injured aa a result of the tornado
which destroyed the village of Lewlsburg,
one Is fatally hurt.
Every business house In town waa either
demolished or badly damaged, and most of
the houses In the village were unroofed.
From Breckenrldge, on the Waterloo
branch of the Great Northern, a relief
train was dispatched to Lewlaburg as soon
as news of the storm was received.
Most of the people escaped serious in
Jury by getting into their cellars.
Fred Moen, who waa In his cellar, was
carried 200 feet, and though seriously In
jured, will recover.
The tornado was preceded by hail.
It is not believed that much damage was
done outside of town.
The Interstate, Northwestern and Mc
Caul & Webster grain elevators were de
molished and their contents were scattered
over miles of ground.
OTTAWA. Kas., March 28. The high
wind and rain In this city and vicinity
caused more or less damage. Twelve per
sons were Injured, one seriously. The rain
fell in a torrent. In the northeastern part
of Ottawa four dwelling houses were de
molished and many outbuildings were
wrecked. The house of Frank Bruner was
shattered, Bruner waa cut and his wife
was seriously hurt. At the pipe line camp
northeast of Ottawa many tenta were car
ried away and ten of their occupants,
workingman, were slightly hurt. Telegraph
and telephone lines were demolished.
COUNTERFEITERS AT DENVER
Called States Authorities at Work
on Scheme Said to Cover
Country,
DENVER, March 28.-The Newa today
says that a counterfeiting scheme, rivum
In Its proportions and rich In results, which
nas aa its neld the whole of the I'nlted
States, has lust been unearths t,v h- h
eral authorities. A number of government
secret agents are now In Denver follolwng
clues Which are said to have led ik.m i
believe that the headquarters of the gang
are locatea In thla city.
The operations, of the
aald to extend all the way from New York
to Han rranclsco and so fnr It Is believed
something like $50,000 has been secured in
the larger cities of the country.
The counterfeit Is one of the best dupli
cates of the "Buffalo series" of $10 and $20
bills which has ever come to the attention
of the federal authorities. A description of
the counterfeits as furnished by the I'nlted
States secret service follows: Series 1901.
No. 23613972; face plate, 159; back plate, hj
check letter, D; signed Lyons, register;
Roberts, treasurer; portraits of Lewis and
Clark.
The counterfeits are a shade darker than
tha genuine.
OBJECT TO THE HYDE PLAN
Policy Holders of Equitable Lite
Ask New York to With
hold A, iproval.
ALBANY, N. Y., arch 28. Superintend
ent Hendricks of th state Insurance de
partment heard arguments today on the
application of a committee organised at the
Instance of John D. Crimmlns of New York
and representing many policy holders of
the Equitable Life Assurance society In
support of the request that he withhold his
approval of the mutualixutlon plan pro
P'wd for the company and adopted at a
recent meeting of its board of directors.
This plan Is the one said to be favored by
James H. Hyde, holder of a majority of
the capital stock of the company. The
proposed amendment to the charter of the
company by which It is Intended to carry
into operation the plan of mutuallzatlon,
provides that there shall be a reorganisa
tion of the board of directors by the elec
tion of thirteen new directors each year
during the coming four years, of which
seven will represent the policy holers and
six the stockholders. The amendment also
provides that all policy holders who have
paid their second year's premiums on poli
cies for $1,000 or more shall be entitled to
vote. In person or by proxy, at the annual
meeting of the society.
Superintendent Hendricks of the state
Insurance department today postponed for
one week the hearing on the protest of
the so-called Crimmons committee, repre
senting many policy holders of the Equit
able Life Assurance society, against the
plan of "mutuallsing" that society
adopted at the recent meeting of the
directors. '
The postponement waa decided In spite
of a strong protest made by Thomas
Spratt of Ogdensburg; representing policy
holders of that city.
GROWTH OF JRON INDUSTRY
President of New York Concern Re
fers to Present Condition
of Trnde.
NEW YORK, March 28.-A decrease of
$1,102,004 in Its net earnings for the year
ended November 30 last, is shown in the
annual report of the Sloss-Sheffield Steel
and Iron company, made public today. The
company's total profits for the year, after
deducting a loss by the North Alabama
Furnace company of $27,027, were $771.3i7,
a decrease of $1,091,676; The net earnings
were H93.637, a decrease of $1,102,004, and
the surplus of the year, after payment of
dividends, was $14,637, a decrease of $1,102,
003. President J. C. Maben In his report says:
The fiscal year of your company, which
ended November 30, 1904. was. in some
respects, one of the moet disappointing
and trying in the history of the company.
Notwithstanding that the country whs
overflowing with wealth, that prosperity
was widespread, and the balance of for
eign trade was largely In favor of this
country, the year opened with -a weak and
declining Iron market, with the price of
No. 2 foundry close to $9, and, despite sev
eral feeble efforts to advance the price,
remained at this figure for about nine
months, so the profits of the company
from pig Iron were based upon deliveries
for the entire year, at an average price
of only n fraction above $9, against an
average price for tho previous four years
of $12.55. Had this average of $12.55 been
maintained last year,Mlie profits on Iron
for the year, owing to Increased output and
decreased cost, would have been $1,(500,
000, against $1,139,146 the previous year,
when the price of Iron delivered averaged
$13.68.
The production of Iron ore for the year
was about 100,000 tons less than in 1903,
owing to a strike of miners. The produc
tion of coal shows an Increase of 123,194
tons over that of 1903.
WILD PANIC IN FACTORY
Men and Women Injured In Attempt
to Escape from Burning
Building;.
NEW YORK, March 28. A trifling blaze
caused by the ignition of a newspaper from
a spark from an electrical apparatus. In
the shirtwaist factory of Max Roth, which
occupied the five upper floors of a six-story
building In Walker street today, started a
panic among ;he 300 girls employed there.
There Is but one exit, besides the fire
escape, this being a narrow steep stairway,
leading from all the floors. When the cry
of Are was raised the girls crowded down
the stairway, falling over and trampling
upon each other and before all were out a
dozen of them fainted from fright and
slight Injuries. The panic waa increased
by the conduct of some of the men em
ployes, who trampled on the women In
their own haste to escHpe. One girl's hip
was fractured.
In the fifth floor a foreman tried to hold
the door In the face of the frenzied em
ployes In the floor so that they should not
Join the crowd on the stairs. A young
Italian drew a knife and threatened to cut
the foreman to pieces If ho did not open
the door. The foreman did so and the
crowd rushed through to Join the mass
already crowding the stairways.
POWDER MILLS ARE BLOWN UP
New Plant of Dupont Company Near
Troy, N. V., Destroyed Four
Men Killed.
TROY. N. Y.. March 28. Three men
were killed outright and another so badly
injured that he died a few hours later,
by an explosion at the Schaghtlcoke pow
der mills near this city today. The men
killed were:
JAMES WHITE.
CHARLE8 COLBCRN.
JAMES SPRAGl'E.
ALBERT BARTLETT.
The men were at work In the corning
mill when the explosion occurred, and the
cause Ms not known. The bodies of three
of the victims were blown to fragments,
the fourth victim. White, was found 300
feet away, alive, but he could not re
cover. It Is a remarkable fact that there
was no fire among the buildings succeed
ing the explosion. The explosion caused
a great amount of damage to windows
in Valley Falls and Schaghtlcoke, and
the shock was plainly felt in this city.
The buildings destroyed were practically
new, having replaced, those blown up
May 10 of last year, at which time two
employes were killed.
Governor Folk at New York.
NEW YORK. March 28 -Governor Joseph
W. Folk of Missouri was the guest of honor
and the principal speaker at n banquet of
the Missouri society at the Waldorf-Astoria
tonliiht. At the right of the governor sat
District Attorney Jerome, who also made a
brief address. Ir. Henry W. Prltchett,
president of the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, and William Hepburn Russell
wore among the other speakers.
Otis Bolts la Uullt.'
PEORIA, III., March 28-"tl Botts, 21
years old. was Unlay found guilty of mur
dering his girl wife and punishment fixed
at death The youthful defendant laughed
as he left ths court room. The crime was
committed January
PRIZE LANDED FOR 0MA1I1
Formal Order Issued Making it Sural Mail
Division Headquarters
CHARLES E. LLEWELLYN SUPERINTENDENT
Rumor that Land Commissioner Rich
ards is to Re Investigated Is Dis
credited at Capital and
Denied by Hitchcock.
(From a Staff Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON, March 28. (Special Tele
gram.) The order establishing division
headquarters of the rural mall delivery
servlco at Omaha and removing to that
point the rural delivery district headquar
ters at Kansas City was issued at the Post
office department today. With this order
was an announcement that Postmaster
General Cortelyou had appointed Charles
E. Llewellyn of Nebraska a division super
intendent and assigned him to take charge
of tho rew headquarters. The change will
take place April 17, when the three clerks
who have composed the force under the
supervision of I'ostofflce Inspector J. R.
Harrison will be transferred to the force
that will be appointed for the work under
Superintendent Llewellyn.
The district of which Omaha will be the
headquarters will remain as at present,
jronsistlng of the states of Kansas, Ne
braska and Oklahoma and the Indian ter
ritories. It was said at the Postofflce department
that the headquarters of Inspector Harri
son would remain In Kansas City, but that
no part of the rural delivery would be
done from there, as the department had
decided to separate that work from the
work of the postoffice Inspectors In the new
division. The rural delivery headquarters
in Kansas City were established July 1,
1904. The officials here decided to remove
them to Omaha two weeks ago, but this
action was delayed at the Instance of Sen
ator Long, who endeavored to bring about
an agreement by which they would not be
disturbed. Postmaster General Cortelyou,
however, decided that the district was not
large enough to Justify the Postoffice de
partment in maintaining headquarters at
two places.
Order Is a Compromise.
The Omaha headquarters will be In the
nature of a concession to the Nebraska
delegation in congress, which for several
months has sought to have the rural de
livery work of the entire west concen
trated at Omaha. Under the plan It pro
posed to the Postoffice department that all
of the states went of the Missouri were
to comprise a single division, with head
quarters at Omaha.
This proposition was favorably cons.d
ered by Postmaster General Wynne and
had he remained at the head of the Post
offlce department probably It would have
been adopted. Mr. Cortelyou, however, de
cided that tho proposed consolidation of
the Western districts would be Impractical.
Mr. Llewellyn as superintendent at
Omaha will receive a salary of $2,400.
It Is generally , thought at the Postofflce
department that the Omaha division will
continue as now constituted until the be
ginning of the next fiscal year, when re
arrangements of six, divisions will be made.
There will fco rw change In the following
divisions: Spokane, embracing the states
of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Mon
tana; San Francisco, embracing California
and Nevada; Denver, embracing Colorado,
Wyoming, New Mexico and Arizona; St.
Paul, embracing Minnesota, North and
South Dakota. These divisions will con
tinue under the direction of postofflce in
spectors, but who have had the rural free
delivery added to their work by reason of
the small number of cases pending, except
In the St. Paul division, which haa more
than all the other divisions named.
The establishment of a division of rural
free delivery at Omaha means that four
teen rural agents will be placed directly
under the charge of Mr. Llewellyn and the
clerks now at Kansas City will be trans
ferred to Omaha.
Mr. Llewellyn received his appointment
on two grounds, first because he has. made
a most excellent record in tho field and
second because he was backed by the
Nebraska delegation seconded by the sen
ators from Iowa and a number pf rep
resentatives from that state.
Richards May Be Investigated.
Mildly sensational stories are printed In
Washington today indicating that an In
vestigation Is to bo started In the general
land office which would result in the re
moval of Commissioner W. A. Richards.
Secretary Hitchcock, when asked about
this replied, "that it had no foundation
in fact, and admitted that nothing had
been done that Justified any man to Inti
mate that Commissioner Richards would
be removed." The stories in question in
timate that Commissioner Richards and
his chief clerk has abused the privilege
of promoting clerks and employes in their
office; have required landoffice clerks to
prepare speeches for members of con
gress, and hint at other acts specified.
There is no government official in Wash
ington with whom the president is bet
ter pleased or In whom he has more con
fidence than Commissioner Richards, and
there Is no official who would welcome a
thorough Investigation of his office any
quicker thaa Richards. While it is pos
sible there may be an Investigation, it Is
not anticipated It will reflect on Richards.
There Is an investigation In progress as to
the methods by which promotions have
been made by men closer to Secretary
Hitchcock than Commissioner Richards,
and the men huve put In circulation the
stories which tend to create the impres
sion that there is something rotten in
the landoffice.
Commissioner Richards Is now In the
west, but other landoffice officials declare
there Is nothing to fear from an investiga
tion if one should be made. A careful In
vestigation falls to disclose any ground
for the report that a scandal Is brewing In
the landoffice.
Barber Is Discharged.
The case of Charles J. Barber, formerly
of Omaha, an alleged bankrupt, was finally
disposed of today by Justice Anderson of
the supreme court of the District of Co
lumbia. Attorneys from Omaha and Chi
cago, with counsel of thla city, appeared In
court yesterday and claimed Mr. Barber
had sold out an insurance business at
Omaha about four years ago for $115,000;
that he had ever since been lu hiding and
Judgments had been obtained against him
by the Home Fire Insurance company and
others aggregating $25,000, growing out of
the sale of the Insurance company. Mr.
Barber thereupon admitted his bankruptcy.
He contended the Judgments were fraudu
lently obtained; that he had nut been in
hiding, hut had resided In this city fnr
two years to the knowledge of his creditors
and he was without any assets whatsoever
other thun $K) or $500, which he had on his
person.
At the conclusion of the examination be.
fore Justice Anderson attorneys represent
ing Mr. Barber, moved he be dismissed from
NEBRASKA WEATHER FORECAST
Fair Wednesday. Thursday Fair and
Warmer.
Temperature at Omaha Yesterday!
(Continued on Second Fg
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WATER COMPANY ENJOINS CUT
Commissioner Temporarily Re
strained from 1 ndrrtaklnu; to
Reduce Water Hates.
A restraining order was Issued by Judge
M linger of the federal court late yester
day afternoon at the request of the Omaha
Water company forbidding the Omaha
Water board to attempt to reduce the
water rales under the new law. The docu
ment was served on the members of the
board alxiut 4 o'clock at the city hall,
where they had gathered to discuss the
subject of cutting the rates. The matter
was immediately taken under consideration
and after considerable talk the board held
a special formal session and authorized
Member Congden to employ counsel to con
test the case. Adjournment was then
taken. Mr. Congden said he had not de
cided what lawyers to employ, but It Is
presumed that Carl C. Wright, former city
attorney, will be one of them.
"We propose to contest this attempt to
prevent us from acting under the law In
the bejt manner that we know how and to
attempt to get the matter sctled Just as
soon' as possible," said Chairman Boyd.
"The injiin.inn was a surprise to me. but
possibly not to some of the other members
of the board."
The hearing on the temporary injunction
is set for Saturday morning at 9 o'clock in
the I'nlted States district court. The pe
tition under which It Is nsked Is a long
one and quotes city ordinances on the sub
ject and goes Into the whole history of the
water works as regards rates and changes
of ownership, etc. The order Is asked for
on the broad ground that the company has
a contract with the city prescribing cer
tain maximum rates, and that no person
or corporation has the right to alter the
conract in Bny way without the consent
af loth parties and regardless of any law
or laws that may he passed upon tho sub
ject by the state legislature.
PECULIAR SHOOTING AFFAIR
Man Working In Field Hit ly Parties
Who Kvldently Did Kot
Intend It.
T-ouls Czuchs, a farmer living about a
mile and a half southwest of Ruser's park,
was shot and severely but not dangerously
wounded yesterday afternoon about 5
o'clock while In a field plowing. The cir
cumstances indicate that the shooting was
accidental. The bullet, probably from a 32
callber rifle, entered the left side about
midway of the body and pursuing a
diagonal course enme out near the back
bone. Czuchs aoarcely realised at first that he
had been shot,, and it was only after he had
examined himself that he saw the wound
might be a serious one. He waa able with
out much Inconvenience to unhitch his team
and take it to his house. He then notified
Sheriff Power of the shooting and Deputy
Sheriffs Cunningham and Sherry Imme
diately went to Czuchs house.
It was lenrned that Czuchs did not have
any idea of who It was who did tho shoot
ing. It appears that three boys were seen
about the time of the shooting passing
along the road some distance away from
where Czuchs was plowing. One of them
was carrying a rifle. It Is recalled that the
boya had gone by and were out of sight
when the shooting occurred. If the shoot
ing waa done by one of these boys it seems
probable they were shooting at some game
and did not know that Czuchs was In
range. No tface of them could be found by
the deputies, although their Identity may be
fixed today.
Czuchs was brought to the city and taken
to the Central hospital. The examination
there disclosed the fact that the wound
was not a dangerous one. unless blood
poisoning should set in. No Incision was
made to determine whether any Internal
organ waa Injured, the superficial examina
tion showing that this was Improbable.
STATUS OF ROCKEFELLER GIFT
Conajresratlonal Committee Considers
Acceptance of Donation and Will
Announce Decision Today.
BOSTON, March 28,-Poaltlve action whs
taken on the question of accepting John
D. Rockefeller's gift of $100,000 to the
American Board of Commissioners for
Foreign missions at a meeting this ufter
noon of the Prudential committee of the
organization, but tho nature of the action
was not disclosed. The committee, how
ever, unnounced officially, that a state
ment reciting the decision of the commit
tee would be given out tomorrow after the
report, which Is In the form of resolutions,
hud been officially communicated to a
committee appointed at a meeting of Con
gregational clergymen of Boston nnd vi
cinity to protest ugainst the acceptance of
the Rockefeller gift.
Dr. James L. Barton, foreign secretary of
tho board, said today that already $41,000 of
the gift was In the treasury and the ques
tion to be decided at today's meeting was
therefore whether this aniuuut should be
returned or whether it should be retained
and the balance accepted.
MILWAUKEE J3ENIES STORY
Chairman of Board of Directors Says
Only Kxtenslnus Will Be
In Dakota.
NEW YORK, March 28. Reports that the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad
company is considering the expenditure of
$100,0(0,000, or any like sum, for extraor
dinary improvement to the system was
denied today by Roswell Miller, chairman
of the board of director.. A sum not ex
ceeding $6(0,000 will be Serit In extending
the system In the Dakotas, but beyond this,
according to Mr. Miller, no further im
provements are under consideration.
As for the story that the St. Paul road
Is considering the advisability of extending
Its lines to the Pacific coast, Chairman
Miller said that this matter has not been
discussed even casually by the board.
Movement of Ocean Yeaarla March SIS.
At New York Arrived: Ryndam from
Rotterdam.
At I oiidon Arrived: Mlnneliuha, from
New York.
At Messina Arrived: Mnltke, from
Medlterrean orts en cruise.
At Uverpoul Hailed: Hernia, for Boston.
At Bremen Balled; Chemnitz, (or Nifcv
GRINDING ON BILLS
Both Branches of the Legislature Going
Ahead at Express Train Speed.
HOUSE IS CLEAR OF IMPORTANT BILLS
Senate Has Several Yet to Aot Upon
Among Them Appropriations.
KYI ELEVATOR BILL PASSED BY HOUSE
Senate in Committee of the Whole Recom
mends Biennial Ejection.
i Yuik.
CHANCES FOR B.NDER TWINE BILL SLIM
Indication at Present Session Will
.Not F.nd Thursday a Antici
pated and Will Last Oat
the Week.
(From a Staff Correspondent.)
LINCOLN, March 28-(8peclal Telegram.)
This, the sixty-first day of the session In
the house and the sixtieth in the senate,
was a busy one in both branches of tha
legislature, being, devoted entirely to rou
tine matter. Bill after bill waa passed la
each house and the grind did not cease In
the lower branch until the conclusion of
the session at a lute hour tonight. Tho
senate, however, has not yet seen fit to
hold night sessions. Many members of th
house do not see ths practicability of it.
They believe that the state would be far
better off if a sifting committee was ap
pointed and the bulk of the remaining
incus u res disposed of through the sieve of
this functionary. But through the persist
ent efforts of the speaker the pitting com
mittee is staved off and the house kept at
work. None of the remaining bills are of
more than passing Importance. Many of
them will only encumber the statute booka.
Indications are that Thursday noon, tha
time ilxed by Joint resolution for adjourn
ment, will find both house and senate still
busy and that the legislature will not ad
journ Fine dlo until the last of the week.
Of course an earlier termination Is possi
ble. Fnte of Trrlne BUI.
The binder twine plant bill Is beset with
rave dangers, if, Indeed, not already
dead. The conference committee of the
house and senate reported this morn.ng
and the report was as printed by Tho Bee.
It provided that the senate must revoke
Its amendment substituting soft for hard
fiber and that the house must reoed from
its action In refusing to concur In the sen
ate amendment to have $2ii0,000 bonds la
sued fur the creation of this plant. The
senate adopted the report, while the house
refused to accede to the bond proposition.
The bill therefore was still hung up and
the senate thus far has taken no further
action. It is not believed the senate will
recede from lt position on tho bond prop
osltton. If It does, then that settles It
and the bill is dead. The house member
who fought the report of the conference
committee took the position that the stata.
was hot In a poaltlorv financially to isaua
$200,000 bonds for th's or any other purpose,
that it was clearly unconstitutional and
would be a most unpopular thing to do.
The house passed the Kyd elevator bill
today. This bill has been pointed out as In
the interest of the line elevator people,
headed by R. B. Schneider, of whom Kyd
Is recognized us chief representative In tha
legislature. The bill ostensibly deals a
blow at the line elevator concerns, but
those who have given It most careful at
tentlon are unanimous In pronouncing it a
measure purely for the benefit of the trust.
The essence of the bill Is found In th
provisions which prohibit pooling and di
vision of profits, both of which are funda
mental principles of the organic law of the
Independent elevator concerns. Without a
standard of prices, which Is the pooling re
ferred to in this case, and a division of
profits, the Independent concerns, .which
operate entirely upon a co-operative basis,
would be unable to conduct their affairs aa
prescribed In their constitution. Hence th
conclusion Is deducted that the KjM bill
seeks to disorganize the farmers' elevator
concerns for the benefit of the llne eleva
tors. Yet thin fact was kept so well con
cealed that many of the farmer members
of the house were deluded Into voting for
the bill, supposing It to be In their Interest.
Advance Biennial Election Bill.
The Epperson bill abolishing the office of
state architect passed the house today and
the biennial election bill, which originated
In the house, was recommended for pas
sage in the senate. The senate recom
mended for passage also the general ap
propriations bill carrying the total of ap
proximately $1,800,000, as stated In The Be
Sunday. All the amendments were ac
cepted. County K.nglneer Bill I'aased.
The house today pussed S. F. 284, the
county engineer bill, which the governor
sent up as a substitute for 8. F. 8, which
he vetoed becnuse of a discrepancy be
tween the title and the body of the bill.
The governor sent up several letters ac
companying the bill, In which he cordially
commended tho measure to the favorable
consideration of the legislature. The sub
stitute hill applies only to Douglas and
Lancaster counties. The measure found In
Speaker Rouso an ardent promoter. The
speaker took nn active hand in securing
its passage. The Sheehy Bridge company
did Its utmost to prevent the bill's passage
on the grounds that It would operate to th
detriment of Its business.
HOI TIN'K l'HOt F.KDINGS OF SKXATM
Large Part of Day Put In on Appro
prlatlon Hill.
(From u Staff Correspondent.)
LINCOLN, March 28. (Special.) The
first thing on the program In the senate
this morning that attracted any atten
tion' was tho report of the binder twine
conference committee to the effect that It
was. up to the senate to knock out tha
soft fiber propnstlon and substitute hard
fiber. Cady, who fathered the bill In the
senate, stood for the report, while Haller
and Mockett, who were the bill's opponents
In the senate, were opposed to the proposi
tion. Both made speeches In favor of not
concurring In the report, while Cudy,
Fries and Peterson said not to concur
would be to kill the bill and fought for
concurrence. The senate concurred In the
report and accepted hard liber.
These bills were passed:
S. F. Sis. creating the office of county
comptroller of Douglas county and making
thai officer exolticiii city comptroller.
II. It. 3'J5, the i&uelow bridge bill, m:iklug
the state p.-ty for nun brli.;;e in eaeii
county should It he over fro feet la leni.-tb
H It. s. reiiealliiK si ctlons i!W and Oil
In the civil code of the Compiled Ktututei.
Tl.cfe heitions allow tv.u I 1.1I. fur thy
recovery of rea: property when iliw ptity
against whom Judgment Is rendered ma!e
effective during that term.
.11. R. 17. u propiiatlng :. to pay f.r
bond of bImIu Inns 111.
It. It. 24, allowing aduiliiUu ators, aa