Nebraska Newspapers

    The Omaha Daily Bee.
N Filthy Senegtlona
THE OM,AHA DEE
Best ir. West
Gen Into the Mom
THE OMAHA DEC
Best tlT. West .
KSTAHLISHKI) JUNE 19, 1871.
OMAHA, WEDNESDAY MOKNTXO. APRIL IS, l!oI-TEN PAdKK.
SINGLE COPY THREE CENTS.
QUIET IN SPRINGFIELD
Militia and Special Police Bow Hare the j
8itnation Well in Hand!. j
.
SPECIAL GRAND JURY BEGINS WORK
I
Jndee Lincoln, in His Charge, Bitterly
Denounces the Mob.
NO MORE ARRESTS WILL BE MADE NOW
(sheriff Will 8rve No More Papers Until
Excitement Subside.
PETERS EXONERATED BY CORONER'S JURY
oana Man Who Killed Ralph Rnrns
While Defending; Hla Sweet
heart la Released from
(litnilr.
SPRINGFIELD. Mo., April IT.-The sit
uation here remain! practically un
changed. There have been no dturbancea
during the day and the crow '
gathered upon the streets v
cusa the situation have dlmini.
and In numbers.
at have
o dls
size The soldiers have not appeared .
streets. They have remained qulc,
camp ready, however, to march at a
.A
ment'a notice. The atreet Intorsectlv
near the jail will be guarded during th
night by the trnopa, so that all possible ,
likelihood of trouble will be minimised.
Squads of special police will continue to
patrol all parts of the city, so that any
effort to cause trouble can be stopped be
fore It has chance to get -any strength.
Leslie Peters, the 18-year-old boy who
last night shot and killed Ralph Burns,
a negro, In defense of hla own life and
hla sweetheart's honor, was acquitted by
a coroner's Jury today. The acquittal met
with unanimous approval. The attempted
crime of the negro has not wrought up
any great feeling among the whltea. Many
of the negroes here say that they are glad
that Burns was killed. He was regarded
by the colored men here aa a bad man
and was accordingly feared by timny of
his own race.
The fact that no more arrests of the
mob leaders are expected to be made until
the special grand jury gets through with
Its secret session has had its effect on
quieting the people. It la not expected
that any further moves will be made to
apprehend the mob leaders until condi
tions become quieter.
C'hargre to Grand Jury.
Judge A. J. Lincoln of the criminal court
In charging the grund Jury was bitter In his
statements. After reciting the causes lead
ing up to the calling together of the Jury
In; said :
This outrage deserves the condemnation
of all good citizens and the most rigid In
vestigation at your hands. All persons,
their aiders and abettors engaged In that
shameful outrage are guilty under the law
of murder In the first degree. The law
makes no less a crime because 300 men en
gaged In the consummation of the crime
than If one man alone and under cover of
night committed the offense. Crime never
Wvoruea lawful toeraitne'lnultitudea seek to
give it sanction. Mob violence never has
and never can accomplish good. The law
lessnesa pluccs all tilings and all men In
peril.
Let the lash fall - where It may. You
should Indict every man proved to your
reasonable satisfaction to be guilty.
Whether friend or foe, rich or poor, high
or low, wherever you find guilt, let that
guilt be punished. The path of safety lies
in the most vigorous and exhaustive In
vestigation. That night's scenes have
turned backward the hands on the dial of
our progress. e know not how fur, and
only the most vigorous measures can com-
ikiI a rebound, lour Investigation should
bo prudent, careful and painstaking In
timer to protect any who may Lie wrong
fully charged.
Jury la Selected.
. The Jury Is composed of men of high
character and Includes Rev. W. E. Harlow,
pastor of Central Christian church: c. A.
Mauernouse anu a. ttuouaul, r.?al es-
tate dealers; A. A. Mehl, Fred Marshall
and T. T. Chattdler, merchants; J. C. Do.1
son, former sheriff of Greene county;
Creoigs W. Miller, capitalist, and A. B.
Appleby, a former Judge of county court.
The taking of testimony was begun with
out deKy.
Warrants tor the arrest of 100 men con
nected with the lynching are In the hands
of Sheriff Horner. Five men were arrested
lust night. Three more were arrested up
to noon today. They were: Harry L. Car
son, son ot a former treasurer of Greene
county; Fred Btrockey, a cat center, and
Kmmet Kinney, son of T. M. Kinney, who
was murdered by negroes here last Decem
ber. Soma one, supposed to be negroes, fired
two bullets early this morning Into the
house ot S. P. Fielder, a traveling man.
Fielder Is the father of Ollle Fielder, the
young woman whom Leslie Peters was
escorting home last night when attacked
by two negroes, h shot and killed one of
them. Several hours later two bullets were
fired through the window of the bedroom
occupied by Mrs Fielder and her three
babies.
No one wss hurt, but the family Itecame
panic stricken. Mr. Fielder was away at
the time and the fact of the shooting did
not become krown until today, when It
added to the excited feeling against the
negroes.
1ST. I.OUI8, April 17. The Negro Bap
tist Ministers' alliance of St. Louis, at a
meeting last night, adopted resolutions
expressing Indignation at the Springfield
lynching and commending Governor Folk
for his prompt action.
riherlff HoriH-r .of Springfield Is con
demned for his failure to preserve the
lHrs of the three in grows lynched,
lladler C.rts Bit),
JKKFKRSON CITY, Mo. April K.-At-torney
General Hadley a condition con
tinues Xo Improve, and today he has been
looking into the legal side of the Spring
field lynching. Ho stated he believes that
action should be taken against Sheriff
Homer lor not protecting the negro prison
ers and has telegraphed Assistant General
Wake at Springfield advising the removal
of the sheriff on the ground of neglect of
official duty, providing the investigation
warrants such a course.
NCRTHWESTERN INVESTMENTS
President Palmer Farm lor
llaie Ilrrrraard.
MIIAVAI KEE. April 17-Preident Pal
mer of the Northwestern Mutual Life In
surance company testified before the in
veMlgatlng committee today that the com
pany s investments aggregate $3i0,000.000,
giving an Income of 4.47 per cent (a de
crease pf 1.14 per cent in twenty years).
Eighty millions is in railway and municipal
or similar bonds, while farm mortgages
have decreased as holdings from $1.4"0.0oi
In lsj to $700,000 In I.
The line of questions a.-ked Indicate that
the legislators brlieva more money should
be oat Into (arm securities.
SIX G0VERN0?5ARE PRESENT !
rial t labs at St. I.nali (lour
with Runnuet.
FT. T-fM 'IS. Mo.. April U. The ronvrn-
Hon of Commercial clubs nf th Houtbwcst
firmed here tonlirht with a banquet at the
Jefferson hotel, attended by several hun
dred fl.lrHlri and Ht which the governors
of six state and territories were the
guests of honor, Preceding the banquet.
Archbishop Glenuou ,. t. t.oiila pro
nnuncM the Invocation, and following the
banquet Jen. en ' E. Smith delivered the
address of welcome In hie rapacity as
president of the St. Louis Business Mn I
league.
Nathan Frank of Ft. Ioii(. chairman of
the convention' committee, acted aa toast
master, liovtmnr Jefferson Dnvls of
Arkansas responded to the toast, "The
Mississippi Valley." and Governor Frank 1
Frantz of Oklahoma spoke on
Statehood Mean to Oklnhoma."
'What
In response to the toast. "Kansas," Gov- j
lernor Jloch said, In part: !
Politically the territory of the Missis
sippi Is soon to dominate In national coun
cils, and therefore to exert powerful In
fluence In world movements. It requires
no prophetic ken to see this. It Is one of
the certainties of the no remote futur".
The wisdom of ordinary prudence, there
fore, should long ago have suggested that
loo many large states should not be
carved out of territory ultimately capable
of sustaining smaller ones, because In
the senate, where most of our political
power Is lodged, a small state counts
as much as a large one. and it Is easier
to make a mistake In the formation of a
state than It Is to correct the error after
t Is made.
"Sovernor Joseph H. Ktbbey of Arizona
e on "Modern Arizona." and Governor
rt J. Hagerman of New Mexico had
. , -d to him the subject. "The I,and
ot feunshlne." David R. Franc's of St.
IOUlK, former secretary of the Interior,
talked on "St. Iiul and the Southwest."
while "The State of Missouri" was the
toast responded to by Governor Folk
of
Missouri.
At the afternoon session resolutions
were adopted endorsing the Stevens'
bill amendments. providing for the
opening up to settlement over Son.000 acres
of land In Comanche county, southern
OkUoma, appealing to congress to enact
a law removing restrictions on the aliena
tion of the surplus allotments of Irdians
In the Indian Territory of ! st than full
blood, and demanding the immedl.v.o p- .
sage or a statehood ?aw In the Ir.. (, ?
J: . . , .,
Oklahoma and Indian Terntorj.
nAIIPUTCDC UCAD UrUilOTfc ;
UAUUnltnO fit. AM nCrUr, lb j
Descendants of Uevolul lii.iHry "ol
dlers Attend to lloutlue II ii il
lness at Washington.
WASHINGTON. April 17. At today s
slon of the meeting of the Dn'tRiiters of the
Revolution 1,000 delegates wre present.
Rev. Mrs. Rolund Cotton-temPti of Wa h
lngton pronounced the .nvni -at Inn. after
which Mrs. Bertha Lincoln Eustis of Du
buque, la., sang "The 8tar-ISpansed Ban
ner." Mrs. Robert M. Park of Georgia, vice
president general, presided, while the presi
dent general, Mrs. Donald . McLean, de
livered her annual report. Mrs. Mclean
said that 75 per cent of the society's income,
went for expenses which she 'was bending
every effort to reduce.
Mrs. Charlotte Emerson Main, vice presi
dent general. In charge of organization,
reported a membership of M.OL'S, and the
registrar general, Kleanor M. Jamieson, re
ported the addition of 4,8.'i4 new members
during the last year.
Mrs. Tunis S. Hamlin, chaplain general,
urged the abolishment of Mormonlsm. and
that help be given southern women In up
lifting the negro.
Miss Mary Despa. recording secretary
. . ' . . ...
general, reaa a repori oi a special cuminii
tee which has investigated the election of
Mrs. McCracken and Mrs. W. H. Weed, the
state regent and state vice regent, respec
tively, of Montana. The report finds In
! favor 0f those elected, and was referred to
. .tanriina- committee, which will report to
the general conference Friday.
Mrs. M. E. S. Davis, treasurer general,
reported the year's expenses at lt''.fr83.
Mrs. B. A. Fessenden, Highland Park,
and Mrs. Breton, Ottawa, were elected, re
spectively regent and vice regent for Illi
nois. Tonight the convention received reports
of state regents, of which a large number
were submitted. The various state organi
sations today began electing officers for the
next year.
POLICE TAKE DOWN FLAGS
Enforcement of an Old Rnle t'anses
Wild R amors at St.
Petersburg;.
ST. PETERSBl'RG. April 17-The re
markable action of the police yesterday In
suddenly ordering the flags hung out for
the holidays to be taken In raued the
circulation of the wildest rumors of the
murder of a member of the Imperial family.
Today comes the rather amusing explana
tion that under the law flags and illumina
tions are not permitted without the au
thority of the prefect of police, "permis
sion" being equivalent to a command and
householders falling to decorate are fined.
This year the prefect granted permission
to decorate its usual, but neglected to In
clude the display of flags, and the police,
proceeding on the old theory thst wbat
was not permitted was prohibited, went
from house to house, compelling the occu
pants to take down their flags Immediate
reports spread that some arrest catastrophe
had occurred at Tsarskoe Solo and that the
announcement was being withheld until
after the holidays.
Three hundred political prisoners ha ve
Just been deported to Sllieria by way or
Moscow and ltorlssogllebsk.
M. Abramoff. who was acquitted by the
military authorities of Moscow on the
charge of assaulting Mile. Splridonovo (who
was sentenced to twenty years' Imprison
ment for shooting Chief of Sccr-t Police
Luibenoffskl at Tamboffi. uiion his return
here was exceedingly arrogant, declaring
he was sorry tie had not shot her, as then
the story would not have been published.
He boasted I hat be would like to hang
Mile. Splridonovo with his own hinds.
ALFONSO VISITS THE PRINCESS
j Kin. of Spnln Keenest. Correspond.
rill to Let HtiM Alone
at t'owes.
COWKS, Isle of Wight. April 17. King
Alfonso ot Spain arrived today. He was
met some milts outside by Princess Ena of
Battenberg and her mot her. The king and
the princess sulisequently landed and drove
to Osborne. The young couple were warmly
greeted by crowds of people.
King Alfonso has personally sppealed to
the newspaper men to permit him to enjoy
the visit to the bride-elect without being
subjected to any annoyances.
honor franklin s memory
Two Hundredth Annirersarj of Birth of the
Philosopher Celebrated.
EXERCISES WILL LAST FOUR DAYS
Delegate from Learned Societies In
All rarta of the World Arc
t.aent nf American Phil,
osonhlcal Society.
PHILADELPHIA. April 17.-In the pres
ence of a brilliant gathering of persons
distinguished In the arts, aclcnce, literature
and In many branches of education, the
four days' celebration in thla city of the
Jonth anniversary of the birth of Bn.1amln
Franklin was formally opened In Wither
epoon hall tonlKht by the reception of dele
gates from societies and Institutions of
learning In all parts of the world. Many
ot ,h- delegates are mm who have re-
ceived high honors In their chosen calling
and aa they filed Into the hall wearing
their decoration or their academic robes
and took their seats they presented a bril
liant scene.
The celebration Is In charge of the Amert
enn Philosophical society, for promoting
useful knowledge, founded In 174", nnd "of
which Benjamin Franklin was the first
president. Besides the reception of dele
gates and Invited guests, formal addresses
of felicitation from societies and educa
tional institutions In Europe nnd America
were read, and Andrew Carnegie, lord rector
of the I'nlverslty of St. Andrews, conferred
the degree of doctor of laws upon Miss
Agnes Irwin, dean of RadcllftV college, who
is a great great granddaughter of Benjamin
Franklin.
Memorial to Franklin.
Vice President Trovost F.dgar Smith of
the I'nlverslty of Pennsylvania and presi
dent of the American Philosophical society,
delivered the address of welcome. In which
he gave a history of the society and se
counted many Interesting events In the life
of Franklin. In concluding he suggested
the erection of a memorial to Franklin. Ho
said:
As one reflects and ponders upon the
Initiative given to scientific research here
America bv him whose memorv is so
greatly revered In many fields of human
activity the Inquiry comes why has ther.
never been erected some fitting memorial
, Franklin? Is this neglect of his own
great discoveries in physical science and
thn Inspiration he gave to later generations
t neekers after the truth to continue?
Following the address of welcome the
. i rtsentatlon of addresses took place. A
"iii reception was extended to Sir George
Howard Darwin, K. C. B.. of the I'ni
i versify of Cambridge, who brought from
I 'hat institution an address In Latin, which
: lure the ancient seal of Cambridge uni-
rsity of the time of Henry VV.
Other Addresses Presented.
Andrew Carnegie, as the lord rector of
le university of St. Andrews, presented
Hi address of that Institution. In pre
senting the address, Mr. Carnegie said
that St. Andrews had conferred a degree
upon Franklin In 1759 and that he had been
charged to any that in looking back over
five centuries of its hlst6ry, St. Andrews
found no greater satisfaction in any action
It flan taken than lri honoring Kruirlclln
at that time. Among other universities
and societies to present addresses were:
The I'nlverslty of Oxford, I'nlverslty of
Glasgow, University of Edinburgh, I. Acad
mle des Sciences de Paris, Harvard
uni-
versity, the Royal Society. London
I'nl-
........ i . .. r i V,.ln .. ..i. ...... I Tll . I
ton university. Columbia university, the
Rnvul InHtitution of Great BritAln Rovill
Philosophical society of Glasgow and more
than loo others from Russia, Stiain. Italy.
Holland. Australia, Ireland. Finland and
many of the Ntates In the American union.
Grand Duke Constantlne, president of the
Acadamle Imperiale de Sciences of St.
Petersburg cabled the felicitations of the
academy.
The evening's exercises were brought to
a close by an Informal reception to tho
delegates and Invited guests of the Philo
sophical society.
Tomorrow's celebration of Franklin's
birth will be given over to day and night
meetings of tho philosophical society In
Independence) hall, at which papers on
many scientific subjects will be read.
ILLINOIS WINS BIG SUIT
Former State Treasurers Mast Return
wm ,000. Fees and Interest
Illrarally Retalaed.
SPRINGFIELD, 111., April 17.-The stale
of Illinois won an important victory to
day in a case which was Instituted by
Governor Deneen against former State
Treasurer Henry Wolf of Chicago to re
cover fees alleged to be due the state for
commissions retained by the state treas
urers and auditors of public accounts on
Interest on county atid municipal bonds
which they have collected from holders of
bonds.
The xult against Wulf was made a test
case by agreement. The amounts claimed
by the governor for the state are $331,000
with interest of $:o,ono. Wulf was not
served with a summon in the case In
time and the case was brought against
former Assistant State Treasurer Floyd
K. W'hlttemore, one of his bondsmen.
Whlttemnre entered a demurrer to the
statement of Attorney General Stead, who
appeared for the state on the ground that
It was not sufficient in law to create a
liability on the part of the defendant.
Judge Shirley overruled the demurrer of
Whlttemore. The court holds that the
statement and declaration. if proved,
would have entitled the state to recover
on the amount sued for. lx-femlaat has
I admitted receiving the fees, but has denied
j that ne lR na,le t0 ihf. 8,H fnr tu.,
j an,i must now pay the amount or take the
, as. t supreme court.
SAINTS SETTLE CHURCH LAW
District President Una Hlaht tu Pre
side (her All District
Conferences.
INDEPENDENCE. Mo., April 17.-(SV.ecl ,1
Telegram.) President Joseph Smith was In
the chair when business of the letter Day
Saints' conference was resumed at J o'clock
today. E. E. Ixmg. W. P. Robinson and
Iee yulcR were called to the office of sev
enty and their ordination ordered.
The presidency reported on the matter of
whose duty It was to preside over district
conferences and after much debate the re
port was adopted. This determine that the
primary right to preside over such confer
ence belongs to the district preHldont, but
that uourtesy and respect for officers higher
in authority would Invite an apostle or mis
sionary In charge to preside in case sucn
officer Is present. The matter of branch
Jurisdiction over a member, which was re
ferred last year to a committee composed
of lirst presidency twelve and seventies,
was by vote today deferred until the con
ference of 197.
Preaching tonight aas by Afoalle '. M.
Succbx, of Bottutk
repubucJn meetings
WEINKsrAY. April IS South
Stclo Turner hull. niirihrat i-orner
Klclitornth ami Vinton street.
TTirnSPAY. April Mannolia
linll. Twenty fourth nnil Ames
avenue'.
FRIPAV. April 2 Korlr eighth
awl I.envenwoilh (West Iamvcu
worth Improvement chilli.
WEDNESDAY. April 2."-Cre1j:hton
linll. corner of riftoenih nnrl Har
ney strrt.
MERGER CASE MUST BE TRIED
Jnda-e Sanhnrn Ilererses St. I.onl
t'nart In Salt tualnat
C nurern.
.tshttna
ST. PAT!,. Minn.. April 17.-Judge San
born, in the t'nlted Ststes court of appeals,
today handed down an opinion In the ease
of Morgan Jones, appellant, sgnlnst the
Missouri Edison Klectrle company nnd
others. The cases involve the merger of
all the electric light and power companies
of St. Ixiuls and it the statements of tho
plaintiff are true Involves an attempt to
freeze ont by means of alleged stock ma
nipulation some of the minority stockhold
ers from the merger.
This decision is on an sppeal tnkon by
Jones from the decision of the circuit court
of the eastern district of Missouri on a
demurrer by the defendant companies.
The circuit court below sustained the de
murrer and the derision of Judge Sanborn
today reverses that decree. The arguments
on appeal were heard by Judges Hook nnd
Sanborn. The alleged facts set forth In the
appellants' brief, in substance, are that
the Northern American company, a New
Jersey corporation, arranged to consolidate
all the electric light and power companies
operating In St. Louis In one company,
thereby dispensing with competition. The
North American company secured the
necessary three-fifths of the shares of tho
stock of the participating company re
quisite under the Missouri laws. It Is al
leged that they then began a scheme to
deprive Jones and a few others of the
minority stockholders who owned preferred
stock In the Edison company and who did
not sell to the new corporation of their
equity.
A $10,000,0110 corporation was formed and
common stock was bought up and the pre
ferred depreciated until It fell to atiout
B0 per cetit of Its par value and at the same
time effort was being made to increase the
value of the common stock. The plaintiffs
allege this was injurious to their holdings.
MANY FAMILIES AFFECTED
Chlcaao Lawyers Say Decision ot Su
preme Court Will Cans
Hnch Trouble.
CHICAGO, April '17. It Is estimated by
Chicago lawyers that the decision or the
supreme court of the I'nited States hold
ing Illegal all divorces except where both
parties to the suit resided within the same
jurisdiction will make Illegal 600 divorces
that huve.bew.u sTVsiiJ'lA this city alens
and pave the way for all' manner of com
plications In the next generation over In
heritance and the .rights to property.
Several prominent attorneys declared that
the decision simply means chaos In regard
to the title to personal property, as in
cases where a man who was. in the sjght
of the decision, illegally divorced and re
married his property must of necessity go
to his legal heirs and cannot be held by
any children of any woman he may have
married subsequent to his divorce.
The Vnlted Slates supreme court decision
in the Haddock divorce case created a
sensation here today among members of
the divorce colony. Attorneys Interested In
the South Dakota divorce Industry say they
are not prepared at this time to state
what effect the decision will have on the
industry-
However, it la believed that re-
gardless of the decision the pi cue nt mem
bers of the colony will not abandon their
Intention to secure divorces.
ST. LOL'IS. Mo., April 17.-The decision
of the I" nlted States supreme court regard
ing divorces will, It is estimated, render
invalid more than 2.000 divorces granted In
St. Louis in the last ten years. In a large
proportion of the cases filed in the circuit
court, the defendant was not a resident of
the state of Missouri.
SPENCER SHOOTS FORMER WIFE
Maa from Kansas City Fugitive from
Justice After Crime In
Minneapolis.
MINNEAPOLIS, April 17. Harry Spencer,
who was nearly mobbed in Chicago three
weeks ago on account of his threats
against his divorced wife, is now a fugi
tive from Justice while the woman lies at
St. Barnabas' with three bullets In her
body and with only a small chance of re
covery. Blnce the Chicago affair Mrs. Spencer
has been trying to hide from her former
husband and has been living with friends
in Minneapolis. Spencer discovered her
hiding place and at an early hour today
he Intercepted her as she was returning
from a social entertainment with a party of
friends, shooting her three times. He then
drove hurriedly away In the darkness
and the police of Minneapolis and St. Paul
have since been unable to find any trace
of him.
Mrs. Spencer is the third wife of Spencer,
whose matrimonial discord has received
frequent attention in the courts of St.
Paul. Since falling In business there last
October he has been running a restaurant
! In Kansas 1 'it v-
MORE DEATHS0N KEARSARGE
fiunner'n Male Fisher nnd F.lretrlclau
Melrdl Die of Injuries Re.
celled In Explosion.
WASHINGTON. April 17. The Navy de
partment was advised today that two more
deaths had occurred as the result of th"
explosion on the battleship Kears.irge last
Friday. They were Frederick Thomas
Fisher, chief gunner's mate, and James S.
McArdle, electrician, (list class. Fisher
was a resident of San Francisco. Next of
kin Is given on the records as Miss Minnie
Fisher, sister. Buckworth Rectory, Hunt
ington, England. McA-dle was a resident
of New York.
Rear Admiral Evans, commanding the
Atlantic fleet, has arrived at Guan'anairo,
Cuba, on his flagship Maine and has cabled
the Navy department that he has appointed
a court of Inquiry consisting of Rear Ad
miral Brownson, commander of the armored
cruiser division of the fleet; Captain Inger-
soil of the cruiser Maryland and Lieutenant
Commander Bradshaw of the Kenturky, to
Investigate the accident on the Kearsarge
last Friday,
PRESIDENT ON INSURANCE
Chief Executive Sends Special Mes&ace to
Consrress on the Subject.
FAVORS BILL FOR DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Measare Prepared bj State tommls.
loners to Unrern life Insurance
.11 eels with Qualified Ap
proval of Roosevelt.
WASHINGTON. April 11 - President
Roosevelt today transmitted to congrrss
tho following message relating to Insurance
legislation:
To the Senate nnd House of Representa
tives: 1 herewith transmit the report and
recommendations, with accompanying pa
pers, of the Insurance convention which
met In February last in Chicago. The con
vention as called because of the extra
ordinary disclosures of wrongful insurance
methods recently made by the Armstrong
leglslatlvn committee of the stste of New
York; the suggestion thst It should be
called, coming to me originally from Gov
ernor John A. Johnson of Minnesota,
through Commissioner of Insurance Thomas
I. O'Brien of that state. The convention
consisted of ahout a Rnvernors, attorneys
general and commissioners of insurance
of the states and territories of the union.
The convention was seeking to accomplish
uniformity of Insurance legislation through,
out the states and territories and an a
prime step toward this purpose decided
to endeavor to secure the enactment by
thn congress of the Cnlted Ststes of a
proper Insurance code for the District of
Columbia, which might serve as a model
for the several states. Before adjourning,
the convention appointed a committee of
threw attorneys general and twelve com
missioners of Insurance of the various
states to prepare and have presented to the
congress a Pill which should embody the
features suggested by the convention.
Illll In Prepared.
The committee recently met In Chicago
and in thorough and painstaking fashion
sought to prepare a bill which should be
at once, protective of policy holders and
fair and Just to Insurance companies, and
which should prevent the graver evils and
abuses of the business and at tho same
time forestall any wild or drastic legisla
tion which would be more harmful than
beneficial. The nrortoscd bill Is discussed at
length in the accompanying letter by 8uper-
lntendent Thomas K. Drake oi the oepart
ment cf Insurance in the District of
Columbia.
I verv earnestly hope that the congress
at the 'earliest opportunity will enact this
bill Into law with such changes -as Its
wisdom mav dictate. I have no expert
famillarltv with the business, but I have
entire faith in tho right Judgment and
single-minded purpose of the Insurance
convention which met at Chicago and of
which committee the convention formu
lated tho measure herein advocated. We
are not to be pardoned If we fail to take
evcrv step in our power to prevent the
possibility of the repetition of such scandals
as those that have occurred In connection
with the insurance business as disclosed
bv the Armstrong committee.-
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House, April 17, 19"6.
Dm ft of Proposed Rill.
The bill recommended was drafted by
amending the measure Introduced In con
gress by Representative Butler Ames
(Mass.). It provides for the establishment
of an Insurance bureau In the Department
of Commerce and Labor and for the ap
pointment of a commissioner who shall
have no official connection with any Insur
ance company or who shall not be Inter
ested in the business of any 'company ex
cept as a policyholder. The commissioner
h imsidr-Kit -oocn in three years to
examine all companies doing business In
the District of Columbia. Forms are pre
scribed for the Issuance of annual state
ments and the commissioner Is authorised
to demand other Information from the com
panies if he believes It necessary.
If upon examination the commissioner Is
of the opinion that any domestic Insurance
company Is insolvent or lias exceeded its
powers or is In any manner transacting
business contrary to the provisions of this
act. the bill provides the commissioner
shall lay the facts before the attorney gen
eral, who may apply to the supreme court
of the district for an Injunction restraining
Its further business. I'nder the same con
dltlons he Is authorised to revoke the cer
tificate of a foreign insurance company.
A ....... nanll.l mt rfr t tVl OTlO I tj i r n
I L0
t poHe.a i or acciuent curiiimmt'i. -j iur
plate glass and elevator Insurance and $J0O,
(too for all other companies. It limits the
Investment of capital stock. Companies may
also be organlred on u preliminary stock
plan.
Liability of Directors.
Directors are made liable for any Illegal
Investments, and companies are not per
mitted to do both a participating and non
participating business. I'nder the require
ments for organisations of the insurance
corporations the capital stock shall be paid
In within twelve months after the date of
organisation, but no policies shall be issued
until the capital stock has been paid In.
The bill provides for the Investment of the
capital of domestic companies practically
as is provided by the Ames bill.
The bill contains a plan whereby all
policyholders shall be enabled to participate
through proxies in the election of directors
at the annual meetings. The salaries of all
officers and agents over $5,000 a year must
be authorized by a vote of the board cf di
rectors of the Insurance corporation. Pen
sions cannot be voted to a member of the
family of an officer after his desth and dis
bursements of over $100 require properly
itemized vouchers.
The bill prohibits rebating of portions of
premiums and discrimination between
classes of Insured. Standard forms of pol
icies are prescribed. A policy cannot be
forfeited after the payment of two full an
nual premiums. No insurance company
which issues a contract, the performance of
which is contingent upon the payment of
assessments made upon survivors, shall do
business with the district.
Provision Is also made for fire, marine,
casualty, title, fidelity and surety Insurance
companies by the bill. All Insurance com
panies, their officers or sgents. are pro
hibited from making political contributions.
In a letter commenting on the bill.
Thomas E. Drake, superintendent of the
Department of Insurance for the District
of Columbia, says that It makes very few
changes from the general and ordinary pro
visions of law In force in the various states.
ICHtM R. WALSH MAY BE FREE
Railroads of' Which He Wns President
Snld to Half Bern Owned
hy Rnnks.
CHICAGO, April II. District Attorney C.
B. Morrison declared today that If it Is
found after Investigation by the govern
ment that the railroads believed here to be
owned by John R. Waleh were in reality
owned by the Chicago National bank, of
which he was president, the charges against
Mr. Walsh ' of misappropriating $3.iX,iirtO
of the funds of the bank will be nullified.
It l said that in the statement submitted
by Mr. Walsh yesterday to the government.
It is declared that the directors and stock
holders of the hank owned the railroad
property and supervised Its operation. Mr
Walsh Is said to have acted as president
nf the bank aud uol as oowner of the
railroads.
NEBRASKA WEATHER FORECAST
Fair Wednesday and Cooler In orth
Portion. Thursday Fair.
Trmperatnre at Omaha Yesterday!
Honr. Ilea. Hone. near.
Ka.m m 1 p. m T
B a. m no 2 p. n ...... "7
T a. m fwi n p. m . MX
N a . m Il.l 4 p. m
ft a. m nn n p. m T
lo a. m At A p. m
ri a. m 4 T p. m
12 m n a p. m "a
p. m '
HUGHES WILL ASSIST MOODY
Mm Inrk Attorney F.naaaed to
lnvatlante Interstate Com.
meree In Coal.
WASHINGTON, April 17. Attorney Gen
eral Moody today g:ivc out the following
statement :
Charles E. Hughes of the New York bar
and Alexander Simpson. Jr.. of the Penn
sylvania bar have peen retainer ny tne
Department of Justine to take under con
sideration all the facts now known, or
which ran be ascertained, relating to the
transportation and sale of coal In interstate
commerce; to advise what. If any, legal
proceedings should be begun, and to con
duct, under the direction of tho attorney
general, such suits or prosecutions, if any
may be warranted by the evidence In hand
and forthcoming.
The attorney general adds that he be
lieves that sufficient evidence has been de
veloped In the Investigation of the Inter
state Commerce commission and otherwise
to warrant the employment of counsel,
under the provisions of the appropriation
act of February 25, llmS, Authorizing the
employment of special counsel and agents
In proceedings of this nature.
Mr. Hughes Is well known in connection
with the recent Insurance Investigation In
New Y'ork, In which he acted as counsel
for the Insurance committee of the state
legislature. Mr. Simpson Is a leading lawyer
of Philadelphia.
CHICAGO W0MANR0BS HUBBY
Mra. Dora Prlnkwater Draws $14,000
from Rank and Elopea with
Rrot her-ln-l jitv.
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal.,' April 17. Jo
seph M. Drlnkwater of Chicago and his
sister-in-law, Mrs. Dora Drlnkwater, were
arrested here today on complaint made by
Charles Drlnkwater. the woman's hus
band, charging that they eloped from Chi
cago, taking $14,000 of his money. They
are being held on a rhurge of grand lar
ceny. Only $35 was found In their pos
session. CHICAGO. April 17 Joseph Drlnkwater
and his sister-in-law left Chicago April
1, after the woman had drawn all the
money she and her husband had deposited
In the bank. Their account was a Joint
one and she hail no difficulty In securing
the money. Charles Drlnkwater, the hus
band, did not discover his loss until two
days after his wife had disappeared. He
then natified the police, who traced the
couple to California.
LEWIS KEEPS OUT OF JAIL
Chlcaao Attorney Pnrgra Himself of
Contempt of Conrt hy With.
, drawing; Salt.
8PRINGF1ELD, III., April 17,-Colouel
James Hamilton Lewis, corporation coun
sel of Chicago, who was adjudged In con
tempt of court yesterday and sentenced
to sixty days In jail by Judge Humphrey
in the Cnited States district court for fil
ing a suit for the second mortgage bond
holders against the Alton waterworks In
the circuit court of Madison county at
Edwardsvllle In violation of the Injunc
tion Issued by Judge Humphrey last May
restricting any persons from attacking the
validity of the loun of tho Farmers' Loan
and Trust company to the Alton water
works, today purged himself of contempt
by withdrawing the suit. Judge Hui
phrey had agreed to remit the sentence If
Colonel Lewis would within the next five
days withdraw the suit instituted In the
Madison county circuit court.
VANDERBILT flEN AT DENVER
Incorporate Interorban Line to
Ron from Denver to
Cheyenne.
DENVER, April 17. (Special Telegram.)
Articles of incorporation of the Denver
Northern Railway company, with a capital
stock of $3.0ii0.000, were filed this afternoon.
W. C. Brown, vice president of the Van.lcr
bilt railroads, and his brother, Charles H.
Brown, an Illinois banker and capitalist, are
behind the project. They, with Morris J.
Jones of Boulder and Robert S. Law and
Charles W. Waterman of Denver, are di
rectors. The company, according to the promote.-s,
proposes to build an lnterurban electric sys-
I tent between Denver and Cheyenne via
Ijouisvllle, IyHfayette, Boulder, Longmont,
Ixiveland, Fort Collins, Berthoud and other
towns In northern Colorado.
GRAIN RATES ARE ADVANCED
Tariff from Missouri Itlvrr Points to
seaboard and fiulf Increased
One Cent.
CHICAGO. April 17. Western traffic men
In general conference here today agreed
to Increase the grain rates 1 cent from the
Missouri river territory to the Gulf and At-
j lanllc ports. This practically settles the
: grain rate war. as no difficulty is exiiected
j In reaching an agreement between eastern
I and western roads regarding who shall
I take care of the loading charge of l.K cents
at the seaboard. The rate from the Mis
souri river to the seaboard will be It cents
(and to the Gulf 19 cents from Omaha, and
l IS cents from Kansas City. It was also de-
elded to put the Hour rates on a stable
basis by making rates direct to the arious
: ports.
'" it
I
At New link -Arrived: Francem-a. from
Naples; Mesaiia, from lmdon: Kainer Wil.
helm II. from I'.ieinen; l ulled Stales, fioui
I Copcnhaiten. S illed: Indiana, for Nsplis;
Kaiser Wilhclm ,ler tjrosse. for Bremen.
At. Glasgow-,.. rriei;. Nuiindlan, fiom
Boston.
At London Arrived : Minnehaha, fio.n
' New York.
At Llvei pool Arrived : Houthwark. fmni
j Portland: Virginian, from Halifax. Sailed:
, Huxouta. for Boston.
At Palermo Sailed: lltonia. for New
I York.
At Gibraltar Arrlvi d : Prinzes I r. n--.
' from New York.
, At t Jenoa Arrl ed : Btrbarosn. from N w
New Yi.i k.
i At Venice Arrivd: GU.Ua, from N w
York.
! At Bremen A rrlvrd : Oldenburg. from
I Baltimore: Kron Prlns Wllhelni. from Sew
'York. Sailed: G roast r Kurfarst, for New
. Yuri:
I At Hamburg-Arrived : A ni'iika, from
! New York.
At Havre- Sailed: Hudson for New York.
At Boulogne Sailed : Patricia, for New
Yoik
I At Ponta Del (jada Arnvtd; Roioauij,
I from Ueaoa.
LETTER TO MITCHELL
Anthracite Operators Make a Formal Reply
to the Miners' Latest Froposali
ALL THE PROPOSITIONS ARE REJECTED
Mine Owners Say There is No Reason for
Reopening Settled Questions.
SAY FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES ARE FIXED
Quotations Are Made from President Roose
velt's Statement Three Years Aeo.
BIG INCREASE IN COST OF PRODUCTION
Letter States "New Scale Demanded
Mould Add gl.IiO Per Ton to Cost
of .Hinlna Domestic
Mies.
NEW YORK, April 17.-A subcommittee
of presidents of the anthracite coal carry
ing railroads and mine operators held a
meeting In this rlty today and drew up a
letter to President John Mitchell of the
United Mine Workers' of America In which
the operators again declare that there Is
nothing to arbitrate except the question
whether there shall be any arbitration.
This reply Is made In response, to President
Mitchell's recent amended proposition of
arbitration. The presidents do not. how.
ever, refuse point blank to accept Mr.
Mitchell's latest plan. They assert that all
the differences between the miners and
their employers have been decided by the
strike commission and that there Is no
reason why another attempt should he
made to arbitrate them.
"Tho fundamental principles regarding
the conduct of this business have all been
established by the strike commission," the
operators declare.
"No reason Is suggested why they should
be retried. We have no further suggestions
to make than those contained In our former
propositions and we regret that you have
declined both of them. We have nothing
further to offer."
Tho operators assert that the miners
offer to waive formal recognition of the
miners' union Is not material and declare
that the miners' program would Increase
the cost of domestic sixes of coal $1.20 per
ton.
The letter is as follows:
Text of the Letter.
NEW Y'ORK. April 17.-Mr. John
Mitchell nnd Others. Committee of An
thracite Mine Workers Gentlemen: In 190J
you assented to the proposition of the oper
ators that "all questions ut issue between
the respective companies nnd their own
employes, whether they belong to union
or not" should bo decided by the Anthra
cite Coal Strike commission; accordingly
the award of the commission covered anil
decided all such questions; therefore we
have heretofore proposed to you that tho
relations thus established by arbitration
be continued for a term of three years
the same period as that fixed by the Strike
commission. This offer you have rejected.
Your present proposition is that ell re
lations between every employe and his
employer shall be fixed and controlled by
rt single Instrununi. Originally you sug
gested that this should be a form of con
tract with the "t'nlted Mine Workers of
America." Now you suggest thst It shsll
be with your committee as "representa
tives of the anthracite mine workers."
Inasmuch as the authority and atandlng
of your committee: ns representing any
one depend wholly upon Its designation
by a convention of the I'nlted Mine Work
ers sh the representatives of that body.
It Is clear that the change proposed Is
not substantial, but merely formal and
raises no new question. This Is evident
also from the fact that Jour proposition
contains numerous provisions for action by
'the organization" nnd the "district offi
cers" of the I'nlted Mine Workers ot
America.
Increases Coat of Production.
This proposition restricts production by
strictly limiting hours of labor and pro
viding that no miner can work in more
than one chamber or have more than two
lalsirers; it seeks to equalize wages with
reference merely to the name of the eni
plove's position, and not at all to his ca
pacity or the work which he actually does;
ft provides that no new vein or collieries
can be opeiien wmioui an arunrauun us
to wagss, and that no contract of employ
ment can be terminated without an arbi
tration; It makes these employers the
agents ot the union to aid it in levying
upon the wages of the employes the dues
fixed by the unions; It provides for In
crease In wages and rates of payment
which would approximate 21.8 per cent
and would Increase the cost of the domes
tic sizes of coal about $l.a per ton. snd
It suggests diluting the present concilia
tion hoard Into three boards, having co
ordinate powers. It provides still further
that the arrangement proposed shall con
tinue in force, merely fur one yeas'.
The above provisions, other than those
regarding wages, and the adjustment of
complaints, concern radical end funda
mental principles In reference to the man
agement or the business which are vital
to its success. These questions have all
been settled by the award of the strike
commission which has established the ex-
istlng conditions.
So far as concerns tne mane, ui wn
and adjustment of complaints, we have
offered to submit to the members of tho
strike commission the question whetlur
any changes in conditions have occurred,
since the award of the commission requir
ing thai the award would lie modified aa
to those matters, and if so. how it should
be change.il. These suggestions that tha
conditions have changed since, the uwaid
or tne commission mui m low--,
facts In support of that suggestion have
been made pillule. nm inn ciaiin or
change in the existing relations must ob
viously rest upon some change In condi
tions since those relations were sll
tahlishcd by arbitration. You have re
jected this proposition of arbitration.
You now propose that it shall be suli
mitted to the strike commission to decide
whether the terms contained in your
amended proposition, which are slated
above, shall be adopted. In other words,
you seek to have every subject whlen
has been already settled hy arbitration re
considered, nnd every Issue re-trled which
was settled by the strike l OinmlsHlon thrett
years ago, pursuant lo the president's In
junction "to endeavor lo establish thsj
relations between the employers and tlio
i wag- earners In the anthracite region on
a Just ami permanent basis, and as far
las posslhln to do away with anv cans
' for these recurrences of those difficulties
! as those which you have been callod upon
I to settle."
You say that "it is not sufficient answer
! to say that because a question was arhl
i trated three years ao, the. question would
not be a proper sublect for Investigation
at this time." If any new acts liavu
arisen In the meantime these might
rroperly be Investigated Nothing nejr
sufrgesteil lo us by your communication.
1 But it can scarcely hv seriously claim. !
that questions already fully considered
shall lie re-exiimlned because one in in.i
i parties thinks ii innv upon a rehearing
t secure a different decision. If that were
t so. controversy would never end liuleeu,
! In the present case you piopose that :n
order lo make an arrangement for oidv
' one year's duration the strike omnilssfoii
I shall' re-examine qmsi ions which it took
j six months to decide.
j Want Three-tear Contract.
To resume, the fundamental principles
i regarding the conduct of this biislnes
have all been established by the strike
I commission. No ri im.ni Is suggested wl.v
I they should tie relrtcd. As lo tilt) iui
I matters regarding which ou have nut
! the least suKSestion l hut conditions have
1 changed, we have suggested ihat the ex-
Istence and effect of such change l.e com
! sldered by the strike iiriuiil.-f Ion. and
that Its award he In tone for Ihree years
' so that political considerations may have
j as little influence as posslhln upon these
business qui st tons.
! You are responsible for the suspension
j of work. There was no good reason lor
.ordering the men lo stO work pending
! negotiations which had ln delayed by
I you, teyjcially iu view wi Utu Xavvt, tLt