The Omaha Daily Bee.
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ESTABLISH EI) JUNE. 19, 1871.
OMAHA, WEDNESDAY MORNING, Al'MUST 0. lWKV TEN PAGES.
SINGLE COPY THREE CENTS.
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WELCOME FOR ENVOYS
Plenipotentiaries' Formally Welcomed by
Official! of Hew Hampshire.
OLD SEAPORT IS ELABORATELY DRESSED
Streets Draped with Flagi ant Banting of
Three Rations.
ADDRESS BY GOVERNOR M'LANE
Both Parties Entertained at Breakfast by
Bear Admiral Head.
NEGOTIATIONS WILL BEGIN TODAY
Each Side Will Fsnmlne Credentlala
of the Other and First Formal
Exchanae Will Follow
Thursday.
FOPTSMOUTH. N. H., Aug. ' 8 It la
thought that at Tomorrow's meeting of
the peace envoy here It may be possible
to exchange the fundamental basis on
whlrh the representative of the two bel
ligerent powers may be able to come to an
understanding It is only after an accord
on those fundamental bases that an armis
tice will be considered advantageous by
both parties. On one point the Russian
delegates are Instructed not to yield that
regarding a war Indemnity which, It was.
stated. Is agnlnst the Russian feeling,
against Russian pride and against the
whole history of the country.
The Russian and Japanese peace missions
have submitted to Introduction and like
wise to all of the ceremonies of welcome
and reception on the part of the United
States government and the state of New
Hampshire and are tonight on the eve
of facing each other for the purpose of
ndlng the war In' the far east and If
possible consummating a permanent peace
between the two great nations.
Tomorrow they will meet In the naval
tores building of the Portsmouth navy
yard. The Russian plenipotentiaries will
examine the credentials and powers which
the emperor of Japan have delegated to
Baron Komura and Minister Takahlra,
and In turn the Japanese plenipotentiaries
will scrutinize the powers which the Rus
sian has conferred upon M. Wltte and
Baron Rosen.
The econd day's session, to take place
Thursday or Friday, It Is expected, will
be devoted either to a consideration of the
Japanese peace terms, or to a proposition
for an armistice by the Russian plenipoten
tiaries. It has been estimated that if a
basis of negotiation for peace is found, the
actual negotiations will consume something
like five weeks' time before a treaty can
be perfected and signed.
Function Replete with Ceremony.
The landing and reception of the envoys
.ouay was a junction replete witn cere
mony. The dignity of the nation's salutes
was contrasted with the hearty xclama
tlontt of good will on the part of thousands
of persons who thronged the streets of
TortsinttlVWnAUrroBnded the court house
where Governor McLane pronounced hl
cordial words of welcome.
' The envoys o both Japan and Russia
were much affected by the demonstration
of the American public. M. Wltte rode
through the business section of the town
with his tall silk hat raised above his head
In constant acknowledgement of salutes.
Ambassador Rosen, In the same carriage,
was also uncovered in honor of the cheer
ing crowds. In the carriage following were
the two Japanese envoys and they too were
not remiss in responding to the hurrahs
of the crowds. Three carriages were occu
pied by each mission and In the proces
sion through the streets of Portsmouth, the
Russians und Japanese were given alter
nate positions, the first, third and fifth
'carriages weie Russian and the second,
fourth and sixth Japanese.
The public was rigorously excluded from
the navy yard, where the envoys came
X ashore. The landing was effected most e
Oa pedltiouely and everything moved without
fM- h" B"ntMt Interruption. The Russian
iu inr uiruKiam room
from the landing when the salute from
the battery announced the landing of the
Japanese.
The envoys were met at the court house
by Third Assistant Secretary of State
Pelrce, who first presented M. Wltte to
Governor McLane and then Baron Komura.
The Senior Russian commissioner pre
sented his suite to the chief executive of
New Hampshire and the Japanese plenipo
tentiary did likewise. Governor Mcl.ane's
formal speech of welcome was repsonded
to by a profound bow of both parties. At
the conclusion of tho ceremonies the Rus
sians were arranged on the right of the
governor, the lapaneae on the left, with
Mr. Pelrce on the Immediate right. The
group was then surrounded by the gov
ernor's staff and council and the entire
party was photographed. No one except
me governor a starf and council, United
States Senators Burnham and Uatllnger,
Representatives Sulloway and Currier and
Assistant Secretary Pelrce were present ut
the court house function, although crowds
surrounded the building.
Envoys at Dinner.
When the Hotel Wentworth was reached,
shortly after S o'clock, there was an out
burst of applause carried on In good
natured rivalry. The Russian suite Ignored
the elevator and climbed the stairs to
the second floor. The Japanese, who ar
rived a moment later, were lifted to their
floor. Although private dining rooms had
been provided for the plenipotentiaries,
both suites took dinner at the same time
in the main dining room of the hotel. The
Japanese were early to dinner and were
assigned a table In the center of the long
room. They had only half concluded their
dinner when the Russian envoys entered
and were escorted to the extreme end of
the room directly past the Japanese table.
No sign of recognition, however, was made
by either. Concluding dinner. Baron
Komura and Minister Takahlra strolled on
the wide veranda df the hotel down past
the dining room windows and mingled with
the curious crowd that was endeavoring
to catch a glimpse of the distinguished
diners within. They soon returned and en
tered the hotel.
When the Russians concluded dinner,
they, too, showed signs of sociability. They
first strolled Into the billiard room of
the hotel, where they remained for some
time and then sauntered leisurely on an
Inspection tour of their surroundings.
One of the Interesting preliminary ques
tions to be settled by the conference Is
the language In which the' negotiations
hall be conducted. M. Witt speaks only
French and Russian, while Baron Rosen
has also command of English. Both of
mo tfanm r pruiitieiu in in r-ngnsn
T, tongue, but Baron Komura speaks very
Utile French. It Is realised that If English
snau be chosen as the medium of communl-
sCoaUautd ea Second Fage.)
PLAN FOR RUSSIAN ASSEMBLY
Council Completes It labors and
Scheme Will Be Formally Pro
mulgated fatnrdy,
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ST. PETERSBURG. Aug. 8. The Russian
national assembly, the first gathering to
gether of the representatives of 'the Mus
covite people since Emperor Alexis Mlchael
ovltch, the second, of the Romanoffs, sum
d the last gemsky zobor In the seven
7 h century will bo proclaimed on Sat
r i next.
f final session of the special committee
h has been considering the project ns
ed by Minister of the Interior Roull
J and elaborated by the council of mln
j s, was held at Peterhof today. Its
let upon the project as a whole was
rahle and at the conclusion of the
on, before the assembled grand dukes,
sters, senators and other members of
commission, Emperor Nicholas set the
of his approval thereto. The sitting
today continued from 2:30 In the afternoon
until 8 o'clock at night, when the commis
sion finished the labors on which It has
been engaged almost constantly for the
past week. Several of the members In
which the emperor Imposes special confi
dence, were requested by him to return to
morrow to Peterhof to assist him In the
preparation of a solemn manifesto through
which the summons to the representatives
of the people will be issued.
Though the project has undergone a num
ber of changes during the various confer
ences at Peterhof. It Is understood that Its
main outlines are substantially in accord
with the project as It emerged from the
council of ministers and described In these
dispatches from time to time.
In principle the national assembly will
be a deliberative and consultative body, for
the discussion of measures laid before It
by the emperor or his ministers. It will
have the power to force the withdrawal of
ministerial propositions by a two-thirds
vote, which gives It at least a negative
control over legislation.
It will be a large body, probably of over
Ron members, chosen by a system of in
direct elections, and the first session, It Is
understood, will he held In November. The
elections will take place In October.
BANQUET FOR SECRETARY TAFT
Head of War Department Enter
tained by Chambers of
Commerce.
MANILA. Aug. 8.-Sccretary Taft was
the guest of honor tonight at a banquet
given by the combined Chambers of Com
merce at the Grand Opera house. Covers
were laid for 500 guests. The address of
welcome was made by Governor General
Wright, who said"
It may seem somewhat Inappropriate for
me to say to you tonight, but, gentlemen,
I think we have a rlpht to ask you for
what our president calls "A square deal."
Whether we are rightfully or wrongfully
here Is not to be discussed at this time,
but when the American people takes over
the sovereignty of a people without their
consent, they will get a square deal.
A toast to "The President" was re
sponded to by Representative Foster. Rep
resentative Payne, In speaking of the ben
efits of the trip, took occasion to propose
Secretary Taft "as the next president. Jn
responding to. a toast to the navy. Repre
sentative Fobs, chairman of the house
committee on naval affairs, declared that
its strength should be Increased. Repre
sentative Cooper, chairman of the com
mittee on insular affairs, spoke on "Con
gress and the Philippines" and Secretary
Taft discussed "The Philippines in 19(10 and
1906." On entering the opera house and
taking a box. Miss Alice Roosevelt re
ceived a great ovation.
On Wednesday afternoon there will be a
hearing of the tobacco Industries.
Major General Corbln's dinner to Miss
Roosevelt tonight was a brilliant function.
SIR LIANG AT OYSTER BAY
Chinese Minister Confers with the
President Regarding: Hankow
Railroad.
OVSTER BAY. L. I., Aug. R.8lr Chen
Liang Cheng, tho Chinese mlnlnster, ar
rived here tonight and was driven to Sag
amore Hill. He took dinner with the
president and Mrs. Roosevelt.
Sir Liang made an engagement by tele
graph this evening to see the president.
The minister came to talk over with the
president matters relating to the Hankow
railroad, concerning which J. Plerpont
Morgtin had a conference yesterduy with
the president. Sir IJung desired to ob
tain some information about that confer-
euce and to present some Information from
the standpoint of the Chinese govern-
ment. Sir Liung remained at Sagamore
Hill about two hours, returning to the
railroad Htatlon in time to take tho 10:03
train for New York. The president au
thorized the statement that the conference
related entirely to the negotiations pend
ing regarding the Hankow railroad. Sir
Liang, before he departed for New York,
said he simply desired to discuss with the
president, but regretted that he could not
t this time discuss the matter. China
wants to purchase the railroad and his
concessions," he said, "and has made an
offer for it. What that offer Is I cannot
discuss now. We are trying to patch up an
arrangement, and I think an entirely
friendly settlement will be reached."
VOLUNTEERS SUE FOR PAY
Members of Sew York Heglment Ask
Compensation tor Services In
Hawaii.
ALBANY, N. Y., Aug. g. Henry C. 8.
Hastings and William B. Coates and about
thirty other members of the First regiment
New York Infantry Volunteers have sued
the I'nlted States government for two
months' pay for service In the Hawaiian
islands during the Spanish American war.
Testimony, in their cases was taken here
today by a special commissioner. The gov
ernment holds that the regiment was given
a furlough for sixty days, but the evidence
given before Commissioner 't urges today
went u snow mat tne memuers performed
military duty during the entire period of
the alleged furlough.
STORM
IN NORTH DAKOTA
Hall
Monday Slight Does Million
Dollars llamas to Grow
Insr Crops.'
ST. PACL. Minn.. Aug. I. A special to
the Pioneer Press from Grand Forks, N. D.,
says: Reports reached here tonight of a
destructive hailstorm which passed over
Bottineau, McHenry, Rnlelte, Pierce and
Benson counties Monday night, and damage
resulting is estimated In Bottineau county
at ll.ono.ooo. The storm started in the
vicinity of West Hope. Omeme, West Wil
low, and extending as far as Leeds, In
Benson county; Tbe hall tru wa three
miles wide.
FRAUD ORDER ON DELACY
Poitoffice Department Qets in Its Work on
' Omaha Man.
EXPLAINS HIS METHOD OF GETTING RICH
Examination Fee Exacted from Appli
cants for Loans and the Invest
ment Company Pocketed
the Deposit.
(From a Staff Correspondent. t
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8.-tSpeclal Tele
gram ) Another thrifty citizen with a
scheme has been apprehended through the
efforts of the Pnstoftlce department, and
today a fraud order was Issued against
Henry Pelacey and the United States In
vestment and Brokerage company of
Omaha. Mr. Delsoey, It appears from the
evidence In the case, recently organized
a company which advertised Its ability
and willingness to loan money to the
amount of no.non.nm. The company was
not totally" devoid of sentiment and offered
to loan on reasonably good security. When
an application for a loan was received
the applicant would be Informed that It
would be necessary to make an Investiga
tion of the "security." To defray ex
penses of this "Investigation" the appli
cant was required to advance an amount
equal to 1 per cent of the proposed loan.
Mr. Pelacey has confessed to tho post
office Inspector that the company never
Intended to loan money and wanted only
the 1 per cent cash from the applicant.
He has even agreed to give the name of
that "capitalist" who advanced the "capi
tal" for the company, said capital amount
ing to Just $25". provided the state au
thorities at Omaha, where he was ar
rested, will turn him over to federal au
thorities. Emll Plnholt has been appointed post
master at Denmark, Kingsbury county, S.
P., vice James Johnson, resigned.
Rural routes ordered established October
18: Iowa Dorrhester, Allamakee county:
routes 1. 2 and 3; population, 1,700; houses,
340. Pocahontas, Jocahontas county; route
2; population, 625; houses, 105.
The applications of H. P. Kowllng, B. P.
Sherwood, C. H. Walrath, T. B. Purcell,
M. Powling and James F. O'Donnell to
organize the Atkinson National bank at
Atkinson, Neb., with $25,000 capital, has
been approved by the comptroller of the
currency.
NEW YORK CHURCH BURNS
Much Valuable Property Threatened
by Flames Which Destroy
Old Landmark.
NEW YORK, Aug. 8.-St. Thomas' Epis
copal church at Fifth avenue and Fifty
third street, one of the most richly fur
nished religious edifices in America, was
wrecked by Are today. Within a block of
the ruined church are the homes of half
a score of the country's wealthiest men.
On Fifty-fourth street, directly In the rear,
Is the city residence (of John D. Rocke
feller and nearby are the residences of
William Rockefeller. H. McKay Twombly,
Colonel J. J. McCook and the home of the
late Daniel S. Lamont. The hotel St. Regis
Is scarcely one block away and scores of
the finest city homes In America are In the
section of which St. Thomas' church was
practically the center. The fire was con
fined to the church.
Defective electric wiring Is supposed to
have started the fire. The loss Is esti
mated by Fire Chief Croker at at least a
quarter of a million dollars. Only a mere
shell of stone walls was left standing and
many valuable paintings and relics were
bruised. Two large paintings, "The Res
urrection" and "Christ Healing the Sick"
were also burned. John La Furge executed
the paintings. Chancel furnishings Includ
ing a $20,000 organ, were destroyed by the
fire.
For a time John D. Rockefeller's home
was In danger. Firemen who stood with
their hose lines In the windows of Mr.
Rockefeller's home concentrated the
streams of water on the 206 foot stone
tower of the church, which for a time
threatened to topple over on the Rocke
feller home owing to the intense heat at
the tower's base.
The church which was closed for the
summer has stood on Its present site for
fifty years and has been the scene of some
of America's most brilliant weddings. The
Rev. Ernest M. Stlres Is the rector.
The furnishings of I he residence of Dr.
W. Seward Webb were damaged by fire
men who broke Into the nouse In order to
drag their hose to an advantageous posi-
Hon.
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DDCAI (C ANIMAI INDUSTRY
a w un w w iiisiiiiii mm I u rasr w W II
Secretary Wilton Orders liivrstlKH.
tlon of tiraft Charges Asks for
More Meat Inspectors.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 8-George H. Mc
Cabe, solicitor of the Department of Agri
culture, has been placed at the head of
the Investigation of the bureau of animal
Industry by Secretary Wilson, with full
authority to probe matters there to the
bottom. Inquiry Into the affairs of that
bureau not only Involves the charges con
cerning the tags attached to the meat In
spected by the government, but also, it
is said, it Is charged that meat Inspection
us now administered redounds to the bene
fit of the so-called Beef trust.
An additional Inspection of meats Is now
a matter desired by Secretary Wilson and
he will ask congress at the next session
for an appropriation of $75,OuO for the pur
pose. In Chicago, Omaha and Kansas City
It is Impossible, It is alleged, for the Inde
pendent packers, supplying the local mar
kets to obtain Inspection of their output.
"It Is not right," said the secretary, "for
the big packers to have a monopoly
through government inspection. That Is a
matter which municipal authorities could
regulate without difficulty. It should not
be necessary to have government inspection
for the domestic trade. At present our
hands are tied.
TEXAS FEVER IN KANSAS
Plague Appears In a Herd of Four
Hundred tattle at C.rand Summit,
,&ear Oklahoma I. la.
TOPEKA. Kan., Aug. I Texas fevef hat
appeared in a herd of 400 cattle at Grand
Summit. Kan., near the Oklahoma Una,
and J. B. Baker, state live stock Inspector,
has quarantined the animals. Thirty
three of the cattle have the fever. A few
have died with the disorder.
"This is the first appearance of the
Texas fever In the state this year," said
Mr. Baker, "and 1 do not think there Is
any danger of its spreading. The federal
authorities also are watching the cattle."
The cattle were shipped to Kansas 110
days ago and it cannot be understood bow
they became lofected.
MORE TALK OF ARBITRATION
Commercial Organisations Seek to
End Telegraphers' Tronhle Before
Wheat Crop Itealns to Move.
ST. FAUL, Minn.. Aug. 8 Commercial
cluhs and merchants and farmers' organi
sations along the lines of the Great North
ern and Northern Pacific railways In Min
nesota are asked to take action to end
the present telegraphers' strike, and the
governor of Minnesota has been appealed to
to use his good offices In bringing about
harmony In order that business Interests
may suffer no further Injury. The whejt
harvest throughout Minnesota and the Da
kota has begun nnd the work of moving
a big crop will. It Is said, test the capacity
of the roads, even under normal conditions.
The telegraphers at strike headquarters
seem to attach great Importance to the ex
pected arrival of President J. J. Hill, and
In his official circular tonight President
Perham says: t
Mr. J. J. Hill Is expected In St. Paul
within a few days and it is thought that
he will look Into the strike situation and
possibly bring about a solution of our dif
ficulties. A wreck on the Northern Pacific at Rraln
erd today tied up that branch for several
hours. A switch engine was on the main
line and a head-on collision occurred In
which both engines were wrecked and the
conductor nnd several passengers bruised,
but no one seriously hurt. The strikers
claim the wreck was raused by a lack of
telegraphic communication.
One of the telegraph companies whose
lines follow the Great Northern between
here and Duluth wns without communica
tion with the latter place nearly all day.
Linemen sent out are repotted to have
found the wires crossed near West Duluth,
a fine wire having been found connecting
all of the wires on the poles. All the West
ern Union officers at division headquarters
stated today that they were able to get
Into communication with more stations on
the Northern roads than at any time since
the strike began.
A special from Aberdeen, S. P., says the
strike on that branch of the Great Northern
road Is over, all of the men having returned
to work, satisfied with a schedule presented
to them last night.
More freight was reported moving today
than has been moved for, a week past. Tho
restrictions on perishable goods were re
moved by both roads today, although bills
for freight consigned to some stations were
required to be prepaid. President Perhnm
denies that there has been any serious de
fection from the ranks of the strikers and
says that the companies are not securing
sufficient operators to be of much service
to them. Ho denied that there was a pos
sibility of a general sympathetic strike on
the part of the engineers and trainmen,
but said that on the Montana division con
ductors and engineers had refused to re
ceive telephone or "flag" orders.
SEATTLE. Wash., Aug. 8.-Aceordlng to
Superintendent Wymouth of the Seattle
division of the Northern Pacific nnd Super
intendent Scott of the Cascade division of
the Great Northern, the railway telegra
phers' strike Is practically over. The
former states that every office on the
Seattle division of the Northern Pacific,
save one, is in operation and the company
has all the operators It wants.
Superintendent Scott, whose headquarters
are at Everett, stated that every station
north of Everett, except Lockport, Is sup
plied with an operator. He says that
trains are moving on time and that there
are no delays In the arrival of freight at
this destination on his division.
Superintendent Scott stated also that the
strikers are manifesting a willingness to go
back to work.
NEW YORK, Aug. 8. The strike of
bread bakers In Hebrew quarters today
spread to Brookllne, where a union of 1W)
bakers quit work.
VIRGINIA REPUBLICANS MEET
Secretary of the Treasury Shaw
Addresses the Convention In
the Evening?.
nniMnu-u' Vi An s One of thA
, Vu .,. i .v,
largest republican state conventions In the
history of Virginia met nere today to nom-
Inate a full state ticket. Between 1,200 and
1,300 delegates were present. It was almost
exclusively a white man's meeting, there
being very few negroes In the hall.
J. Luclen Cleaves, the temporary chair
man, pleaded for harmony and asked for
a square deal at the polls. Every mention
of President Roosevelt's name was wildly
cheered. Committees were appointed and a
recess taken until 8 o'clock this evening.
Congressman Campbell S. Lemp. the only
republican congressman from Virginia, was
Introduced to the convention tonight and
he In turn Introduced Secretary of the
Treasury Ieslie M. Shaw, who had been
Invited to come to Roanoke to address the
convention. Mr. Shaw wus greeted with a
storm of cheers. He puke In pail ns fol
low: My friends, what are those principles
that divide parties? The parties scpuiute
1rimarily on questions of. political economy,
ivrry imluall lulls citizen is both a product,!'
and a consumer.
The dominant party appeals to the pro
ducer, it tells him that tli question of
greatest Importance to him is tiie price at
which he disposes of 'his products, whether
those products be labor or tlie results of
labor. The opposition party promises the
American consumer the best market In the
world In which to buy. 1 he republican
party promises the producer the best mar
ket in the world In which to sell.
Gentlemen, we cannot have both. Our po
litical opponents may promise high priced
labor atid cheap products, high priced
wheat and cheap bread, high priced cattle
and cheap meat, but they make these
promises without possibility of f ultlllment.
Whenever they have put their pollcleH in
operation we have had t lie cheap products
of labor, for t lie products of cheaper for
eign labor have found our markets In
suiierabundance. But cheap, products of
labor mean cheap labor. Cheup factory
product carries as a concomitant curse
low wages for the artisan, and low wages
for the artisan means curtailed consump
tion of farm products. Curtailed consump
tion of form products results In a reduction
In the price thereof, while a reduction In
prices means loss to the producer of clothes,
of furniture, of carpets, of farm machinery,
of building materials and every other arti
cle of rural consumption. All this Is but
another - name for stagnation and panic,
which has marked every experiment with
tariff for revenue only from the beginning
of our history until now.
At the conclusion of Mr. 8haw's address
the convention adjourned until tomorrow,
when the committee on resolutions will
report.
TEXANS LYNCH A CONVICT.
Jew Trial Granted sro Causes
Party to Force Doors
. of Jail.
WACO, Tex.. Aug. 8 At 2 o'clock this
morning mounted citizens, numbering about
600, surrounded the court house and Jail
and, after making prisoners of Sheriff
Tilley, the Jailer and all the deputy sheriffs,
broke open the Jail, look Sank Majors out
and, after hearing his confession, hung
him from a bridge. He Is still hanging
there end the mob returned to the city.
Majors had recently been convicted for
criminal assault and had been given the
death sentence, bat had been given a new
liiaL
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
Mayor Vetoes Lery Resolution and Connci
. Overrides Objection.
SAVING COULD BE MADE IN SINKING FUND
Present Population Not Reqnlred to
nisclinrae Obligation Incurred In
Construction of Permanent
Public Improvements.
The city council Tuesday night passed the
ordinance providing for the city levy over
the mayor's veto, Zlmman and Hoye voting
to sustain the veto; sustained the veto of
the mayor to the resolution allowing salaries
to special clerks employed by City Clerk
Elbourn to send out sidewalk notices;
passed the ordinance redisricting the city
wards after rhanglng the voting precincts
of the Twelfth ward In accordance with
the wishes of the Twelfth Ward Republican
cluh. and then spent a lot of time In dis
cussing a resolution to pay Elhourn's spe
cial clerks 2fis cents an hour and abstrac
tors 40 cents an hour, which was finally re
ferred to a committee.
An ordinance was Introduced to grant
permission to the Burlington railroad to ;
lay a track on Jackson street from Tenth
to Sixteenth, and in the alley north of
Jackson from Tenth to Twelfth. This was
introduced by Back.
Zlmman's "End seat hog" ordinance was
laid over because the committee to which 'j
It was referred could not decide "whether
the person who had the end seat was more
of a hog than the person who crawled on
the car late and made him move over."
The committee was of the opinion that to
have his corns stepped on was sufficient
punishment for the end seat hog. t
Mayor's Levy Veto.
Mayor Moores gave the following reason
for vetoing the city levy:
I return herewith without my approval
document No. 2N7, being concurrent reso
lution fixing the amount of the levy for
the year to be certllted to the county
clerk of Douglas county. I have given this
matter very careful attention nnd '-"e
consulted with numerous city and county
officials and witli many property o .ici s
who are vitally Interested in the matter,
and from my Investigation I am convinced
that the proposed levy is unnecessarily
high and should be reduced.
The levy proposed to be certified is di
vided In the resolution into four parts.
First, for general purposes of the city,
JTM.nnO; second, for sinking fund, 2ftO,oiO;
third, for water tax, ino,iio(; fourth, for
school purposes A levy of 13 mills on the
dollar, one-fifth vaulatlon.
The first item for general purposes of
the city for the year amounting to
1750,000 Is the maximum amount fixed
by tho charter for general purposes. Tak
ing Into consideration the fixed charges
already existing against this fund, It seems
evident that no reduction can be made
in this branch of the levy.
The third Item Is the water tax for the
city of Omaha for the year 1S4I as per
the certificate of the Water board of said
city, the sum of l'0,ooo. The legislature
in 1!K3 took from the mayor and council
the right of fixing the levy for the water
fund and placed that power solely In the
hands of the Water board, the charter
Sroviding that the Water board should
x the amount of the levy for water pur
poses and should notify the mayor and
council of the amount required, whereupon
It becomes the duty of the mayor and
council to place' that amount for water
purposes in their certificate to the county
clerk. Accordingly the mayor and coun
cil have no option In- the matter and there
la no hope of making any saving on this
item.
Concerning; the Sinking Fund.
Tho second item calls for a levy of 1250,
000 to pay Interest on the generalionded
Indebtedness of the city of Omaha ior the
year llH. The city treasurer InfurmB me
that the Interest charges upon this fund
for 1&P6 on outstanding bonds will amount
to Si2o,CO0, and your honorable body evi
dently concluded to make a payment upon
principal of outstanding bonded Indebted
ness and so raised this amount to 1250. Ow.
I'nder the last charter. In section 152, pro
vision Js made for placing certain moneys
In the sinking fund which went into the
general fund prior to the passage of this
charter. The city treasurer estimates the
following receipts from these sources up
to nnd including the close of the year
liioU, towit: "Interest from deposit of funds
in batiks, $18.0ii0. Second, all taxes except
speciai assessments that were delinquent
on the passage of said act; this will pro
duce $7a,(eo at the lowest estimate, and
the probability is that owing to the scav-
Pinter suit It may produce as high as
$21X1.000. I am informed that the latter es-
Jlniate lB mMm, hy the 1(,Kal department.
Third, all delinquent taxes not required
to nav the warrants or other obligations
of the current year for which such tux
was levied, this Item will produce at the
lowest estimate $76,000."
Taking the lowest estimates on these
three Items, not hitherto available, the
sinking fund will receive from such sources
not less than 115S.UU0. I am Informed that
your honorable body in naking the levy
has determined tu use this ll.Vs.uuO for pay
ing off bonda which will mature during
the coming year; JloO.iwo of sewer bond
und SKio.ooo of paving bonds will become
due during the year lStOb. It seems to me
that It would be a great mistake to at
tempt to pay off these bonds at the present
time. '
The sewer system of the city la a perma
nent Improvement and should be of value
for ut least Km years, and 1 do not see why
h2 so'STo
luiure, Biiuuiu ue luniiK-ntu i mi
amount or these minus, nainer, n Keem''
to me, these bunds should be renewed for
a period of twenty years and let the future
citizens of Omaha, who will receive the
benefits, help to pay the cost of these Im
provements when the renewal bonds come
due. The city can renew these bonds for
4 per cent and possibly for per cent,
while property owners who borrow to pay
tuxes must pay approximately 8 per cent.
If, therefore, this SlfiM.buO heretofore re
ferred to should be a nulled to meet 1W6 in
terest charges on bonds, and the maturing
bonda should be renewed. It would leave
oniy IiiJ.OtiO to be raised for the sinking
fund by direct taxation instead or i'jm,iu
Included ill the levy. This would be a re
duction of about 17 mills on the proposed
levy.
sichool Hoard's Estimate IHsrh.
The last Item In your resolution relates
to tbe ievy for school purposes. 1 um
aware of the fact thai under the present
law the School board Is allowed to fix the
amount of its levy and the mayor and coun
cil must levy the amount designated. How
ever, there are certain phases of this situ
ation which it seems to me have escaped
the attention of the School board In fixing
its levy. In the certificate filed by til"
school board calling for a 13-mill levy, it
Is stated that a 13-nilll levy will produce
J Jin. uu. As a mutter of fact, mills, on
one-tilth valuation, will produce fJtil.MU.tis,
or $l.KSti.6S more than the School board
states that it Is necessury for It to raise by
taxation, i secured these figures f rum
County Assessor H. D. Reed, and they are
bused upon the last assessment. The School
board likewise appears to have overlooked
the fart that the county makes a levy on
the gross receipts of insurance companies
under the new Interpretation of the reveil le
law, which will very largely increase the
School board's funds. It Is evident from
these figures as given me by the city treas
urer and county assessor that a levy of 1J
to 12.1 mills on the county valuation would
produce t'M'.'' for the School board, which
is the amount necessary for 1, sccordlng
to its statement. It appears, therefor",
that the 13 mills demanded by the .School
board Is excessive from 0.7 to 1 mill.
In view of the situation it seems to me that
the amount for the sinking fund In the lery
should be cut down to Iti.D. noa. und that the
School board should meet the mayor and
council half way, reducing Its levy down to
such a per cent us will produce the t:&,Ht)
upon which it has attempted to base its
calculations. If the School board will as
sist us In this way, I see no reason why
we can not reduce the amount of this levy
2 mills, based on actual valuation. Certainly
if there ever was a time when Omaha
needed to have a low tax rate. It Is the
present, when the tide of prosnerlty Is
flowing In and manufacturers. Jobbers and
wholesalers from other cities are looking
towards Omaha as a prospective location.
Attorneys Oppose Mayor.
v Before the vote was taken which passed
the ordinance over the mayor's veto City
ICeniinued on Bvcond rs 2
NEBRASKA WEATHER FORECAST
Fair Wednesday and Thursday.
Temperature at Omaha Vesterdai
Hour. Dea. Hour. Dear.
a. m tut 1 p. m
a. m TO 2 p. ni '
T a. m TO :t p. m f
Ma. to T 4 p. m il
f a. m TH n p. m ...... I'O
1 a. in s-i 41 p. m M
11 a. m Hi T p. ni T
IU m Ml f p. m KI
II p. m Ml
CHICAGO CHINESE ACTIVE
Inaagnrsje Boycott Because Wives
Are Sot Permitted to Come
to America.
CHICAGO. Aug. 8-The Dally News to
day says that disclosures made In connec
tion with frequent meetings held at secret
places throughout this city have brought
to- light the fact that Chicago has played
an Instrumental part In Instituting the
boycott now tnglng In China against
American manufacturers. Chin Pac Pun,
a lending Chinese merchant outlined the
situation today. Rigid enforcement of the
provisions c.f the exclusion act stirred the
Chinese to dabbling In economic studies.
Three Chlctiiro Chlnsi nf wealth were
,lHrrod brlnKlll thplr wives Into the
I'nlted States. These examples and others
Incensed tho Chinese, and It now devrlops
made possible the rapid growth and suc
cessful development of the association that
Is now coaching Chinese all. over the
world. The first assessments made to meet
the expenses of bringing conditions to the
attention of the government were levied
in Chicago. From this center the move
ment spread In all directions. Before the
expiration of the Geary exclusion law last
December the Chinese association mado
known its purpose In Chicago t'pon tho
Invitation of a committee from a number
of Federated Womens' clubs. Chin Pac Sun
os the mouthpiece of the Chinese associa
tion, delivered an address In which ho
declared if fairness was not shown In
readjustment of the immigration laws a
boycott would follow on American goods
such as would be possible nowhere else In
the world. The force of the threat was
not reallxed nor was the part Chicago
Chinese played In Its execution, until pro
gress of the boycott and Its echos In
American governmental circles brought It
out.
SOLDIERS KILLED BY SHELL
Find One In the Woods and Attempt
to Drive It Into the
Ground.
CHEYENNE, Wyo.. Aug. (Special
Telegram.) While soldiers of the Eleventh
I'nlted States Infantry, in camp in the
Crow forest reserve, thirty miles west of
Cheyenne, were attempting to drive a
three-inch, steel Jacketed shell Into the
ground, the missile exploded with great
force. Tho dead are:
PRIVATE CHARLES BUTTS, Com
pany G.
Fatally Injured:
Private Carl Becker.
Private Roy Furgant, Company H.
Seriously injured: .
Private John Robinson. Company and
a siore of others of G and II companies.
Butts and Ave of the most dangerously
hurt were brought down the mountains In
ambulances to Islay, thence by train to
Fort Russell. The, others were treated In
the field hospital.
Colonel Meyer, commanding the Eleventh,
was reconnolterlng several miles from
camp, preparing for a sham battle, when
the accident occurred. The men found the
shell In the hills, where it had been dropped
a year ago by the Thirteenth field ar
tillery. LIGHTNING STRIKES OIL TANK
Another Fire In Humble Field Causes
Lose of Many Thousand
Dollars.
HOUSTON, Tex., Aug. 8 Lightning
struck two tanks of the Guffey company
on the Humble oil field today, setting both
on fire. Over 100,000 barrels of oil were
stored In the tanks, all of which was de
stroyed, entailing a loss of between $3n,000
and 140.000.
In-addition a number of small settling
tanks were burned, causing a further loss
of 2,000 barrels. The burning oil spread
to the field, where a number of wells were
enveloped by the fire. About a dozen der
ricks, with machinery, were burned.
A number of air plants, used In raising
the oil and a lot of machinery were also
dvstroyed.
JURY CALLS ON WOMAN
.
i t, I. m... Asked to Kxulaln
Mystery of a Safe
- Deposit Ilox.
NEW YORK, Aug. 8. -Mrs. Sarah Peck
ham was subpoenaed last night to appear
before the federal grand Jury In Washing
ton, August 15. The Jury is Investigating
the scandal arising from a leak In the
cotton crop report In the agricultural de
partment. It was reported that District Attorney
Beach desired to question Mrs. Peckham
about the contents of a safe deposit box
leased by her which figured In bankruptcy
proceedings against her last summer.
Strong efforts were made then on the part
of her creditors to open the box but her
counsel prevented It by paying all claims
against her.
WIND STORM IN WISCONSIN
Wagon Brldsrr at Portage Blown from
Its Piers Ilea v Damage to
Crops and Trees.
PORTAGE. Wis., Aug. 8. One of the
most terrible wind and electrical storms
of the season struck this place today, doing
much damage to growing crops and prop
erty. Trees were blown down and light
ning struck several places. The Wisconsin
river bridge about a mile west of the busi
ness center was blown down stream a
distance of about 30u yards, being com
pletely wrecked. This bridge was tbe
largest wagon bridge In the state, bving
over 630 feet In length.
Movements of Ocean Vessels Auaust H.
A. V .. , Vnrb A rrlv.H Wulncr ! 1 1 hal .
II, from Bremen; tleorgio from Liverpool j
Sailed: Caronla. for Liverpool; Kaiser W'il
lielni rier Grosse, for Bremen.
At Ixindon Arrived: Mesaba, from New
York.
At Liverpool Sailed: Lake Champlaln.
for Montreal. Arrived: Kensington, from
Montreal.
At Ant werp Arrived: Zeeland, from
New York
At Mai sellles Arrived Gernianla, from
New York.
At Havre Arrived: Louisiana, from New
York.
At Bremen Arrived Kron Prins Wllheloi,
from New York.
At Flume Sailed; Slavonla, (or New
York.
DEAD IN THE DEBRIS
Department Store at Albany, N. T., Col
lapsed, Carrying Down 100 Feople.
FIFTY TAKEN FROM THE WRECKAGE
Six of Them Are Dead and Many Art
Sericusly Injured.
THREE MORE BODIES IN SIGHT
Fifty Persons Are Miming and Moet of
Them Are Probably Dead.
STRUCTURE UNDERGOING REPAIRS
Foundation 1 nder Two Pillars filvee
Way and 411 the Floor Fall
Walls Still tnnd
lnB.
ALBANY. N. Y., Aug 8.-The mlddla
section of the big department store of
the John tl. Myers company in North
Pearl street, collapsed early today, carry
ing down with It, over ion persons.
t aught In a choas of brick, plaster and
wooden beams, between twenty and thirty
men, woman and children met death.
Twelve hours frantic work on the part
of nn army of rescuers disentangled fifty
people, six of them dead, nnd many of the
rest badly Injured. Three bodies were in
sight nt a late hour tonight, but many
hours work will be required to get them
out. Anything like a complete list of the
killed nnd Injured will be unobtainable
until the workers have made their way
to the very bottom of the mass of wreck
age. With few exceptions those caught In
the ruins were employes, a majority of
them girls.
The dead thus far removed from the
ruins:
MICHAEL FIT5COER ALP.
FRANK LEONARD.
MISS ANNA E WHTTRECK.
MISS MINNIE BALLARD.
MISS ALICE L. SHARP.
I' N IDENTIFIED WOMAN.
The fatally Injured:
Miss Helen Donahue.
Miss Mary MoEvoy.
The list of Injured as compiled tonight
shows that thirty-six employes of the com
pany were Injured, three seriously. Besides
these five shoppers were injured.
The collapse occurred shortly after the
opening hour when barely a score of shop
pers were In the store. A clock found In
the debris had stopped at twelve minutes
before nine, showing that the crash came
then.
The best account of the event that prob
ably caused the ruin Is given by the head
of the crockery, glass and drug depart
ment, which occupied the basement. He
said:
The workmen were sawing at a wooden
floor beam which runs under the northern
end of the central pillars In the middle or
the store. Excavation for the cellar was
going on about the base of this pillar and
I believe that Jarring of the beam beneath
It displaced the foundation of the pillar.
The first thing I knew two of the counters
near the place where the men were work
ing began to sag, and several pieces of
glassware were slid off onto the floor
with a crash. I yelled to my clerks to
run for the front of the store. The words
were not out of my mouth when ther
came a cracking and everything around us
began to fail. The wreck came slowly,
however, and I thin)' everyone In my de
partment escaped, as well as the workme.
The pillar which gave way supported
the ends of two giant girders and when It
fell, the main support of the central part
of the building was gone. With a noise
that could be heard blocks awny and which
shook the adjoining building, nearly half
the great structure, from cellar to roof,
and exteir.lng from one side wall to the
other, came grinding down. When the
firemen arrived they had plenty to do In
rescuing those who were pinned under the
top wreckage.
In a short time the city's entire hospital
and ambulance force was on the scene,
aided , by half a hundred doctors from all
parts of the city.
The volunteer rescuers and firemen con
tinued the work until exhausted, when their
places were taken by a wrecking force
numbering 300 men from the New York
Central- and Delaware & Hudson railroads.
These delved In the ruins all night, but
the work of rescue proceeded slowly. When
darkness came It was estimated that nearly
fifty people still remained In the ruths, and
that not more than half of these could Sur
vive the weight pressing on them. Fortu
nately the wreck did not catch on fire.
Some hundred persons are still unac
counted, for, but fifty of these are cash
boys, of which the firm has no record and
the loss of the payroll makes It difficult
to get anything like a complete list of
many others. In all the company has 40
employes, but fifty of these are away on
vacations
The building which collapsed stands In
the heart of the shopping district at Nos.
39 and 41 North Pearl street, tl Is owned
partly by the company and partly by the
estate of the late David Orr. The loss to
the company Is estimated at between liioo,
and I'too.noO. The building was a very
old one, but until now considered perfectly
sound.
COMMUTERS HAVE A CHANGE
Destruction of Lackawanna Property
at New York (Basra Disar
rangement of Travel.
NEW YORK', Aug. 8. Strenuous efforts
were made by the management of the Dela
ware, Lurkuwurilia & Western railroad to
day to tiling into New York the thousands
of commuters whose homos are along Its
route und to overcome the handicap Im
posed by the destruction of the railroad
stutlon, ferry slips and partial loss uf two
i f'jfry boats lunt night. After a hurried
consultation with the officials of the Erie
& Pennsylvania railroads the Lackawanna
railroad's trains were diverted to the sta
tions of those two railroads In Jersey City.
One hundred extia trolley "cars were sent
through the suburban section of New Jer
sey to bring the commuters to the Newark
station of the Periiirylvania railroad.
i.xtiu ferry boats were added to the ferry
lines of the Erie and Pennsylvania lines
to take rare of the heavy Inert use of traffic
thrown upon these two lines.
It Is estimated that the loss to the Lack
awanna railroad by the fire will be S6QO.000.
To repair the damage, very mechanic on
the line who can be spared have been
ordered to come to Hoboken, and It ws an
nounced that within a week the Lacka
wanna road will be able to handle Its own
traffic.
It was fo-ind today that one of the ferry
(lips so fur es-a'd destruction and It was
expected that another would be so repaired
today as to be serviceable. By tomorrow
four ships are expected la be la working,
01 dcr.
I WD