he Omaha Daily
Bee
V
ESTABLISHED JUNE 19, 1871.
OMAHA, FRIDAY MORNING, MAY 11, 1906-TEN PAGES.
SINGLE COrY TimEE CENTS.
NEW DAY IN RUSSIA
First rriiment of Empire Formallj
Opened by the Czar.
SPEECH FROM THRONE CONCILIATORY
Leeitlitors Are Uried to Work for Good of
the Fatherland.
NO MENTION OF AMNESTY IN ADDRESS
Failure to Proclaim Beleaea of Political
Offenders JLrouaei Members.
MOUROMTSEFF IS ELECTED PRESIDENT
Parliament Votes to Or a ft Reply
to Address from the Throne
Celebration Held la the
ST. PETERSBURG, May 10-Wlthout a
single hitch and with only a. minor Incl
ilent to tnar the memorable, day the Run
Ulan Parliament was Inaugurated. The
weather waa superb and the stage man
agement of the impressive ceremony at
the Winter palace, where Emperor Nich
olas, surrounded by courtiers and all the
pomp and panoply of power, delivered the
.speech from tha throne to the members
4f the two houses, was perfect.
Tha message In reality was lens a throne
speech than a tree Una; and required only
three minutes for Its delivery. Emperor
Nicholas read slowly. The admirable and
even cordial tone of the sovereign In renewing-
his pledges and asking the co
operation of Parliament waa only nega
tively satisfactory. Courtiers and spec
tators other than members of the national
Parliament led the cheering, but the mem
bers were - ominously silent, expressing
neither approval nor disapproval.
What rankled most was the failure of the
emperor to mention amnesty, and later,
when the members assembled in the Tau
rlde palaoe away from the spell of the
throne room, many of them were with dif
ficulty restrained from preclpltaUrs; mat
ters by offsrlng resolutions on the subject
The constitutional democratic leaders, how
ever, who dominated everything, were
anxious not to weaken the reply which
the lower house will prepare to the speech
from the throne In which Issues with the
crown will be Joined and succeeded In
staving off premature action.
Text of tsar's Speech.
The text of the csar'a speech follows:
The supreme Providence which gave me
the cere of our fatherland moved me to
mil to my aselstnnoe In legislative work)
elaotcd representatives of the Deoole. Irf
the expectation of a brilliant future for
Russia, I greet In you, the best men of
the empire, whom I ordered my beloved
subject to choose from among them
selves. A difficult work Ilea before you. I trust
that love for your fatherland snd your
earnest desire to serve It will Inspire and
Unite you.
I shall keep Inviolate the Institutions
which I have granted, with the Ann as
eunuioe that you will devote all your
strength to the service of your country
. i. .it., -.. .i i - . i
ana v Wcuiujr it, .me jiihius vt in upan.
an try, which are so . olose to my peart
and to the education of the people and
their economical welfare, remembering that
to the dignity and prosperity of the state,
not only freedom, ut order founded upon
justice is necessary.
I desire from my heart to see my peo
ple happy and hand down to ray son an
empire secure, well organised and enlight
ened. May God bless the work that lies before
me In unity with the council of the em
pire and the Imperial douma. May this
day be the day of the moral revival of
Russia and the day for the renewal of Its
highest forces.
Approach with, solemnity the labors for
which 1 call you and t worthy of the
responsibilities put upon you by the em
. pvtor and people.
May Ood assist you.
laesn ot Tanrlde Pslsrr.
The scene around the Taurlde palace was
In striking contrast with that at the the
Winter palace. Each, Indeed, waa typical
and told an eloquent story. At the Taurlde
palace tans of thousands of people were
auclalmlng their representatives, at the
Winter palaoe legions of military and court-
lots by the hundreds cheered for tha em
peror. Nevertheless the proceedings of the
lower house were not spectacular, In fact
. they ware almost tame In comparison with
those at the Winter palaoe.
Will Diieisl Amaoaty.
The only genuine flashes of Are which
showed the real temper of the members of
the house were when Prof. Mourotntseff,
who had been elected president of tha lower
house, Invited government officials and
clerks is leave the hall, and when Ivan
Petrunkevltch, In a few eloquent words
from the rostrum, told the auditors that
the first thought of tha Parliament should
lie for those who had suffered In the cause
of liberty, who now filled the prisons and
whose arms were stretched out In court
donee to the people s representatives. More
eathuHtastlo cheering than that which
greeted this appeal never was heard In a
political convention In the United States.
Constitution and amnesty were the key
notes of President Mouromtseff s speech.
"Foolish Dream" Is Realised.,
II y the Irony of fate. Ivan Petrunkevltch,
whose first mention of the word constitu
tion twelve years ago was dismissed by
emperor Nicholas II u "a foolish dream."
today stood In the front rank of the mem
bers of the Representative chamber while
Eniporor Nicholas put his final eeal upon
the ttusslaa Parliament ' and begged the
representatives of the people to co-operate
with hltn In working for the welfare of the
country.
The lower house of the Parliament ad
Juurncd until tomorrow In order not to
Interfere with the opening exercises of the
Council of the Empire and also to permit
the nomutlttee of the constitutional demo
crats to consider the reply to the speech
ftotii the throne.
Olspatulies received here from all parts
if Russia Indicate that the opening of
Parliament was celebrated everywhere.
Proeeedlege of First sesalea.
The lower hours of Parliament was called
to oidi-r at 6 p. in. by Huron Frlsh and
Karon lexkull, secretary of the empire,
with the hall from one-half to two-thirds
tilled. Raruu , Frlech read an tirperlal
upas" convoking Parliament and Invited
tltv members to come furwaid and sign
tne outh. A receas was then taken.
The most striking feature of the assembly
was tlx multiplicity of races and clashes
mid liif colors cf tha costumes of iniiu
l.cre. There were uoblemeu end other men
of Mgli slstloit silting betide simple peas
no tt or uikiiin ilotbed In the costume
of the shops or the vlllss; turbaned
M issulmaiis and Buddhists from Bokhara,
l.lolr.ti" . frui.i the Kt-ghis steppes, ortho
dox lft I" Mack casaoiks, Catholtu
Kpho .11 pt-rpk- rowi'lts. Armenians and
l.ir'.aie from His Cuiu, Jews from ths
iMle, Uortauts flout tentral Asia and Lithu
anians and Kstbonlans fiswn the Baltic
iCuuUuucil on becoud Pagej
SURPRISE IN BECHTEL CASE
tfi.noo
la Marked mils to Former
Minnesota Official.
MINNEAPOLIS, Mltin., May lo.-The at
torneys tomorrow will begin their summing
up In the esse of state against W. F.
Bechtel, former president of the North
western Nstlonnl IJfe Insurance company,
who Is charged with grand larcenry In hav
ing appropriated to his own use JS.Bfln of
the funds of the company. The cross
examination of Mr. Bechtel was completed
at such a late hour this afternoon that
the court ordered an adjournment until to
morrow before permitting the attorneys
to begin their arguments.
The testimony given by Mr. Bechtel In his
direct examination and the Information
elicited from the witness on eros-examlna-tlon
by Attorney Dahl. was sensational In
the extreme. The charge Mr. Bechtel madv
that a former Insurance commissioner of
Minnesota had accepted a bribe of $5,000
for a favorable report on the proposed con
solidation of tha Northwestern Mutual and
the National IJfe association, had been con
sidered by the grand Jury which brought
the indictment against Mr. Bechtel and In
Its report the grand Jury severely repro
bated the alleged conduct of the Insurance
commissioner, but said that he was ex
empt from prosecution because of the stat
ute limitations. ,
The amount.' 1 through Mr. Bechtel
for the "rel.. v, nient" of Dr. J. F.
Force, former nt of the National
Life association, ij "t ing to the testimony
brought out. aggfc.'; ' $113,500, of which
no record is foun '.he Northwestern
National's books. C-
Other sensational ; ente made by
Bechtel while on the t -elated to per
sonal profits made by,, actions sup
posedly carried on for neflt of the
company. The company rted to re
imburse an Iowa companyv out Instead of
doing It Bechtel turned the contract over
to a California company at a profit of
$40,000.
The Minneapolis auditorium building,
which the Northwestern National IJfe
erected, also waa gone Into and it waa
shown that Bechtel owned the site selected
for- the building and that It was sold to
the company at a profit to Bechtel of
teO.OOO.
Sensational testimony was given late yes
terday afternoon by W. F. Bechtel In the
district court, where he Is on trial on
charge of having misappropriated $3,!rt0
of the Northwestern National Life Insur
ance company's funds.
Bechtel went on the stand In his own de
fense and told of paying $3,000 In marked
bills to former State Insurance Commis
sloner O'Shaughnessy in a room In the
Ryan hotel' in 8t. Paul. Mr. Bechtel said
O'Shaughnessy had demanded the money,
aaylng: "I'm not In the business for my
health," and "Remember, there are two of
us."
Bechtel said he and his associates In
tended to have O'Shaughnessy arrested as
soon as he accepted the money, but they
abandoned the plan.
Mr. Bechtel was cross-examined at the
afternoon session. He ssid he kept no re
cord of the funds of the company In rela
tlon to his personal accounts. He per
sisted In maintaining that the $3,500 had
been used In the company's service and that
he had Simply reimbursed himself for a
legitimate, expenditure.
Attorney Dahl Introduced a letter. written
by Bechtel to Albert H. Reed, Boulder,
Colo., in which he made the statement that
he had used 13,500 to reimburse himself for
money paid for the good of the company
as legislative expenses, during a session of
the legislature.
PROSPERITY INJJNITED STATES
British Commercial Agent fees Bright
Year Ahead for All Amer
ican Factories.
WASHINGTON, May M. A British view
of American prosperity la presented In a re
port on the trade of the United States for
the year 1905 by British Commercial Agent
Bell, a copy of whose report to the British
Foreign office has Just reached the De
partment of Commerce and Labor through
lla bureau of statistics. The report refers
to the absorption of over 1,000,000 immi
grants "without affecting the labor mar
ket," the Increase of money In circulation.
etc.. and among other things says:
in dealing with tha exrjorta from iha
I'nlted States durlnsr 19uo the. first thin
that strikes one is the fact that, notwithi
eianuiiig me enormous volume or home
trade, the value of manufactured articles
exportea snouia nave Increased to such an
extent. If this is uositlble durinv such
times as these, when every industry Is fully
occupied, it Is not difficult to imagine what
will be tha result when the home demand
slackens and when the manufacturers, who
have so greutly enlarged and extended their
works tS meet the extra demand for their
products, are obliged o look for extended
markets outsidu the I'nlted States in order
to keep (heir mills and factories fully em
ployed. When it is remembered that It Is
only by keeping their works running to
the fulleut extent, and thus keeping down
expenxes to the lo-went point that renders
It possible for the majority of the manu
facturers In this country to compete In for
eign markets, one can realise how essential
it Is that they find neutral markets where
their surplus products can be disposed of
so as to avoid accumulation of stocka.
There are no Mnn at present of this
great activity decreuaing. On the contrary,
there is every Indication that the present
year was quite' us prosperous as the last, or
more so. The country was never more
prosperous than at present. Industrial op
erations are carried on upon a larger scale
than ever.
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN MEET
Missionary Heelety at Dee Molaea
Elects OaHrrra and ReTlaes
Its Proa-ram.
DE8 MOINES. May 10-The Woman's
Missionary society of the United Presby
terian church of North America voted to
day to Install Woman'a Christian Temper
ance union work aa departmental work and
elected the following officers:
President. Mrs. W It. Haldiidae. fu
t Molnm, II ret vice president, Mrs. T. B.
j Tin ntmll. Philadelphia; second vice presi
dent, Mrs. i. A, Thompufin. Tarain, ".
, secretary, Mia, J. T. l-oue, Clevrl.ind, O.i
I treasurer, Mi's. J. B. Hill, Pittsburg.
wmnan s Hoard Mrs, Anna a. imrren,
Mrs. II. T Campbell, Mrs, Mary l Porter,
Mrs. William Neniw and Mlas Kllaabeth
t'aughey, all of Pittsburg,
Mgtne Committee Mrs, W, C, Hutch
inson, Mrs. George Moore, Mrs. M. C, Uexn,
Mrs. S. M. Kelao and Mrs. Surah Raid, ail
of Xenla, O.
CCTTON DAMAGED BY FROST
Alabama tCsacrleaees Cold Wrath
aad Mark of Crea) Mas
Meea Lost.
DKCATI R. Ala . Msy 10. -There waa an
other liiwvy frost last night In the Ten tire
see river valley and this, with the frost of
Tuesday night has probably killed murk
ef the coiten la that aeetloa ef the state,
la some place It la aald the aAtJra arop
win have to be replanted.
ALLISON AMENDMENTS TODAY
Senate Arrancet to Take Up Compromise
Eoctioni of the Bate Bill
NUMBER OF IMPORTANT CHANGES MADE
FroTlstea Added to Measure Making
Acceptance of Rebates Paalsh
able fey Fine nnd Imprls
oameat.
WASHINGTON, May 10,-The senate to
day completed the consideration of the sec
ond section of the railroad rete bill and
Just before adjournment listened to the
reading of sections S and 4 without con
sidering any amendments offered to them.
The purpose of this reading was to bring
the consideration of the bill up to the point
of taking up the Allison compromise
amendments, which will be done tomorrow.
A number of Very Important changes
were made In the second section. Includ
ing a provision restoring the imprisonment
penalty of the act of 187 and an amend
ment suggested by Senator McCumbe.r,
Imposing a penalty of fine and imprison
ment against shippers who secure rebates
from transportation companies. The latter
amendment was Incorporated for the
avowed purpose of hitting the trusts. An
other atrendment adopted waa offered by
Senator W arren. It .gives the government
business preference over all other traffic
In time of war.
A long series of changes waa also
made at the Instance of the Interstate
Commerce commission. Many of these
were verbal and all were Intended to im
prove the administrative feature of the
law. There waa contlnuoua debate
throughout the day and there was no lit
tle complaint that senators manifested
a disposition to increase the time allowed
them under the fifteen-minute rule by
speaking on amendments to amendments
and also by speaking In the time of other
senators. Senator Tillman stated pri
vately when the senate adjourned, that If
these practices continue he would make
an effort tomorrow to have the speeches
limited to Ave minutes duration.
. Text of Rebate Amendment.
Following is the text of the rebate
amendment:
Any person, corporation or company who
shall deliver property for interstate trans
portation to any common carrier, subject
to the provisions of this act, or for whom,
as cotisltmer or consignee, any such car
rier shall transport property, who shall
knowingly or wilfully, by employe, agent,
ofilcer or otherwise, directly or Indirectly,
by or through any means or devices what
soever, receive or accept from such com
mon carrier any sum of money or any other
valuable consideration, aa a rebate or off
set against the regular charges for trans
portation of such property, so fixed by the
schedules of rates provided for In this act,
shall be deemed guilty of fraud, which Is
hereby declared to be a misdemeanor, and
shall, upon conviction thereof In any eourt
of the I'nlted States of competent Juris
diction, within the district where such of
fense was committed, in addition to any
other penalties provided y this set, be
subjected to a fine equal to three times the
sum of money so received or accepted, and
three times the value of any consideration
so received or accented, to b .escrtnlnMt
by the trial court; and In the trial for
sucn onense ait sucn rebates or other con
siderations so received or accepted for a
period of six years prior to the commence
ment of the action may be received tu evi
dence and the said fine hat be three times
the total amount ef money or three times
the total value of such considerations so
reoeived or accepted, as the rase may be,
provided, that the foregoing penalties shall
not apply to rebates or considerations re
ceived prior to the passage and approval
of this act.
The senate sat until ( o'clock and-it
then adjourned to meet at 11 o'clock to
morrow morning. -
BOISE AMENDS ViVAL, BILL,
hello aad Projectiles to Be Par.
chased la Open Market.
WASHINGTON, May lO.-Shells and pro
jectiles will after June 30 be purchased
by the bureau of ordnance In the open mar
ket instead 'of as la now the practice In
secret markets from Arms engaged In the
manufacture of these articles. This change
In existing conditions was brought about
by the efforts of Mr. Tawney of Minnesota,
who offered an amendment to the naval
appropriation bill which the house had
under consideration today, directing that
the secretary of the navy, ahould adver
tise for proposals for shells and projectiles,
so that all firms may have an opportunity
to compete. Much time was spent today
In considering the question of enlistments
In the navy and the failure of recruiting
officers to properly enforce the law aa to
minora
An amendment offered by Mr. Kelllher
Of Massachusetts was adopted prohibiting
naval recruiting officers from enlisting sea
men, ordinary seamen or apprentices un
lees their application is accompanied by
certificate of birth and written evidence
other than the applicant's own statement
that he is of the age required by naval reg
ulations. The debate on this amendment at times
grew decidedly animated and a bit acri
monious. After de fealng amendments designed to
enlarge the Washington, D. C, navy yard
and the yard at Pansacola, Fla., the house
at 1:14 p. ra. adjourned until noon tomor
row, having completed but a few paxes of
the naval appropriation bill.
LID ON IN NEBRASKA CITY
Aa Resalt gaaday Kxrareteas May Bo
as to Omaha, for Re.
(reshmeats.
George Rogers, the cigar man, who ran
Dahlman'a successful campaign, has been
down to Nebraska City and brings back
the information that Mayor Stelnhart's
pro-lid campaign has been an unqualified
success.
"You can't even shake a game of dice
In Nebraska City on Sunday," soya Mr.
Rogers. "The town is tighter than a
drum. A movement la under way to run
excursions for the liberal population to
Omaha Sundays. While doubt exists If
Omaha will be an open Sunday town again,
yet the liberal people there want to show
the business people of Nebraska that they
are losing money, which will go to Omaha,
not only for amusements and recreation
Sundays. ' but to the merchant of the
metropolis. This la the way they hope to
pry the ltd off."
FIRE RECORD.
Twenrr-KIa Heraee.
MASON OTT, la.. May 10. (Special.
Twenty-nine horses were burned to death
in a fire at Austin at t o'clock this morn
ing. Feeney Bros ' barn, with a lot of
harneea valued at 17.000, and tha twenty
nine horses were entirely destroyed.
Coal Chat at MeCeek.
1TCOOK, Neb., May 10. (Special Tele
gram.) The Burlington's coal chute at this
plaoe was partially destroyed by fir to
night, entailing av loaa ef a fee hundred
stellar
EDWARD RCSEWATER IN ROME
In The Bee on Sunday will ap
pear the first ot A aeries of letters
written by Mr. Edward Roaewater
on the work of the Universal
Postal connress, whlrrf met In
Rome and to which Mr. RoBewater
was a delegate from the United
States. These letters will give an
account of the workings of the
congress, what It has accomplished,
and the interesting aldellghts that
make up so great a part ot the
proceedings of such an honorable
and distinguished body. They
will be Illustrated from photo
graphs taken In Rome.
IN THE BEE NEXT SUNDAY
PENSION BILL IS TOO LATE
Proposed Beaedelary Dies Before
Meaaere Cam Be Poshed
Tbronsrh Ceegress.
(From a Staff Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON, May 10. Special Tele
gram.) Recently Senator Burkett Intro
duced and secured favorable action in com
mittee on a bill to Increase the pension of
William B. Ashton of Lincoln to $40 per
month. Today Senator Burkett was In
formed of the death of the veteran, who
waa an Inmate of the Nebraska Insane
asylum, and on the floor of the senate
moved the Indefinite postponement of the
bill. Ashton served In Company D, Six
teenth Illinois volunteers, during the war
of the rebellion.
Senator Gamble today called at the Post
office department to urge additional rural
free delivery service In Gregory and San
born counties. He stated the needa of
these counties and the department will
look Into the situation, and If found prac
ticable additional facilities will be granted.
He also urged that additional railway mall
service be given the town of Btlckney. It
has been practically agreed by., the postal
authorities, after Benator Gamble's Inter
view, to establish dally mall service In
and out of Stlckney after July 1. -
Representative Pollard today waa noti
fied of the Issuance' ot a pension of HO to
George Warren of Tecumseh.
Congressman Kennedy haa been advised
that the pension of Thomas G. Howell of
Omaha haa been Increased to HO. -
P. F. Driscoll of Omaha haa been ap
pointed assistant packer rn the signal serv
ice at Omaha.
A. J. Thorman of Brighton, C. C. Bum
mers of Charles City, H. N. Boyle of Mc
Gregor, F. A. Hill of Wlnfield, la., have
been appointed railway mall. clerk.
Charles Vequiat has been appointed post
master at Ray, ' Holt county, Nebraska,
vice E. Ross, resigned.
E. 8. Glue haa been appointed regular
and Estella Olase substitute rural carrier
for Route 4, at Pierce, Neb.
INDIANA BANKER KILLED
Insane Brother Commits Warder mm
Barrlradea Hlasealf tw Ballet.
- . . ..Proof Vt&t-l. - '",'-" ..
MONTEZUMA, Ind.. May 10. W. H.
Sylvester, president of the Flrrt National
bank of Montesuma, waa shot and killed
at noon in his home by his brother, whose
mind is believed to be affected.
Stephen Sylvester, the brother who did
the shooting, waa Injured several yeara ago
by a fall and his mind has been affected
since.
Stephen ran from tha house to his own
home and took refuge In a shed recently
built by him; with an Iron roof and wooden
walls eight Inches thick. In this he had
placed a number of revolvers, rifles and
ammunition. He entrenched himself In
side, shouting through the door that he
would never be taken alive.
While running through the streets, Ste
phen Sylvester was pursued and fired upon
several timet by neighbors of the dead
banker, but did not return the shots-and
waa not hit, so far as la known.
At this hour the sheriff of the county
started to drive from RockvlUe, eight miles
away. He haa several deputlea with him.
Sylvester Is barricaded in his stronghold.
Over 1,000 persona are watching the shed
from a distance.
Sheriff Carter and Marshal Boyd arrived
here this afternoon from Rockville, after
a hard drive across the country. The two
officers approached tha shed where Stephen
Sylvester waa concealed and called on him
to aurrender.
After a -moment's hesitation he aald he
would surrender If he wss assured safely.
This assurance was given and Sylvester
opened the door, stepped out and lucked It
after him. He then surrendered and, ac
companied by the tmo officers, started for
RockvlUe to be locked In Jail.
STRIKE RIOT IN BOLOGNA
Offleere and Soldiers Woanded aad
Batldlng, InclndtnaT Hoanltals,
Are Stoned. '
ROME. May 10. Disturbances of a grave
nature have occurred at Bologna in con
nection with the general strike. Several
officers and soldiers were wounded and
many buildings, Including soma of the
hospitals, were stoned.
At Milan the strike hss not resulted In
any disturbances and is generally con
demned, aa it greatly affects the attend
ance at the International Slmploa exposi
tion. In this city the strikers today attacked
several shops and broke a number ef win
dows. Loeklasr for Nihilists.
PARIS, May 10--The poMoo authorltlea
continue to make aotive Investigation and
are seeking to connect the recent bomb
explestona with a widespread Nlhlllstl
urgsniution. Tbe po. ee are sot disclosing
the results of their inquiry, but they de
Clare that they believe they are on tbe
tratl of an extenatve revolutionary organ
isation. ALBERT BELL IS REARRESTED
Matt Robber Tskas by PamnsrlvanJa
Aatkerlriee Release from
Kansas P risen,
LBAVETTWOKTH, Kan, May bVAIbert
Bell, who had Just finished a term ra the
state penitentiary her for robbing the
malls, was arrested as he left the prison
gala teday, Rell la wanted at Philadelphia
for robbing a mall pouch and probably will
be taken to that city within a few days.
Bell alas is wanted at Kansas City, Mo,
aad at Jeplln and at other plaoe on
charge ef mail pouch robberies, bat the
Pennsylvania, eharga Is the moot amiona
Belt haa already aarvad two tatTBUI U Jail
for robfitiif um mads.
CONDITION OF WINTER WHEAT
Atertro for United States Six Point Above
Mean for Tan Tear.
NEBRASKA IS OFF ONE POINT
Percentage ot This State for Mar 1
la a. Against aa Average
of 98 for the Tea
Tears.
WASHINGTON. May 10.-The crop re
porting board of the bureau of statistics
of the Department of Agriculture, from
the reports of the correspondents and
agents of the bureau, finds the area tinder
winter wheat remaining In cultivation on
May 1 to have been about Si.A23.000 acres.
This Is per cent, or about 1.TU.O0O acres.
less than the area reported as sown last
fall and t per cent, or about 941.000 acres,
leas than the area of winter wheat re
ported as harvested Isst year.
The average condition of the growing
winter wheat crop on May 1 waa t. aa
compared with 89 on April 1, 190$; tt on
May 1. 1906; W on May 1, 19M, and , the
mean of the May average for the last ten
years.
The following table shows for the eleven
principal winter wheat statea the per
centage of the acreage, of the acreage
sown last fall that Is now reported aa
abandoned, also the averages of condition
on May 1 and April 1. 19u, and the mean
of the May average of the laat ten years:
Condition
Pot. Aban- May 1. Ap I 1, 10-Vr.
States.
doned. IWj. ivm. avk.
Kansas 10 87 6
lndlanla .'I 94 92
Missouri M
Nebraska 6 92 91
Illinois 4 91
Ohio 2 . 94 98
California 10 " 91
Pennsylvania .... 1 M 91
Oklahoma 9 93 90
Texas '91 91
Michigan 7 H 82
United States.... 6 91 89
The average condition of winter rye on
May 1 was 93, as compared with 91 on
April 1, 1906; 94 on May 1, 1906 ; 81 on May
1, 1904. and 89, the mean of the May aver
ages of the last ten years.
The average condition of meadow mowing
lands on May 1 was 92, against 93 on May
1, 1906; 85 on May 1, 1904, and 90, the mean
of the May average of the last ten yeara.
The average condition of spring pasture
on May 1 was 91, against 92 on May 1. 1906;
80 on May 1, 1904, and 89, the mean of the
May averages of the last ten years.
Of the total acreage of spring plowing
contemplated, 64 per cent Is reported aa
actually done up to May 1, as compared
with 73 per cent at the corresponding date
last year, and a ten-year average on May
1 of SI.
Of spring planting 63 per cent la reported
as having been completed on May 1.
SOUTHERN METHODISTS BUSY
Sentiment la raver - of Federation
with Northern Charch Meete
svltk Approval.
BIRMINGHAM. Aia.. May U-Ai the
opening of the seventh day s seetion of the
generat. conference t the Melhedtat .Episco
pal church, South, Rev. Sanford of Itew
Tork, secretary of the - Interohurca com.
mlttee oa federation, said be waa sure the
church could accomplish more as a united
body than, by working as separate bodies.
J'he entire church rcwgnlted Uie fact tnal
many clianKc would hkv to be made In
the rchools.
The committee on publishing Interest
recommended that the r.uinber of Official
organs should be "substantially reduced In
order that their excellence may be Increased
and their Influence augumented."
It further recommended that annual con
ferences contiguous to each other combine
in support of one paper whenever practic
able. A minority report favored leaving fhe
entire matter to the annual conferences
"free from outside interference."
An effort to recommit the reports failed.
MRS. DAVIS SERIOUSLY ILL
Widow of Confederate President Ma
Dangerons Attaek of Grip -In
Hew Tork.
NEW YORK. May 19. Mrs. Jefferson
Davis, widow of tbe president of the south
ern confederacy. Is dangerously 111 of the
gripe In .her apartments In the Hotol
Gerard In West Forty-fourth street, this,
city today. As Mrs. Davis Is nearly1' 80
years old it Is feared that the attack may
be fatal.
Her daughter, Mrs. J. Addison Hayes,
ha been summoned from her home in
Colorado Springs. Mrs. Davis has been
living at the Gerard for several years and
is frequently visited by her daughter.
COLORADO SPRINGS. Colo.. May 10
J. Addison Hayes, president of tbe First
National bank of this city, and son-in-law
of Mrs. Jefferson Davla, stated this morn-a
Ing that Mre. Hayes had received no word
of the reported illness of her mother.
Mrs. Hayes Is at her home in this city.
It was reported tonight that Mrs. Davis
is somewhat better, having spent a com
fortable day.
RETURN POSTAGE COUPON
Postal Cengrees Arranges for Prepay,
ment of Cfcarge on Inter
aatloaaJ Letters.
ROMK. Msy 10. Th plenary meeting ef
the International ' postal congress today
approved by a majority of one th British
proposition for the establishment of a
coupon system for return postage. Under
thle rule any nation represented in the con
gress may iasue coupnns to be sold for five
cents, exchangable at destination for
stsmps. It waa definitely decided to raise
th msxlmums of weight of letters from
fifteen to twenty grammes, maintaining the
rate of five centa, but establishing a re
duced rate of three cents for each addi
tional twenty . gramme.
SPIER'S ACCOUNTS INVOLVED
K apart Aeconatent Finds Indications
ml Discrepancies Walen May
Have Caased laid.
NEW TORK. May 10. Interest tn th in
vestigation ef th mysterious killing ef
Charles L. Spier, a confidential agent ef
K, H, Rogers, was mainly confined today
to tha status ef his financial affair, which
have bean found to be badly Involved.
Accountants were at work en bis book
teday and It waa reported that they have
already discovered Indications ef discrepan
cy, which might account for th suicide
theory in oanlanatien ef Mr, Spier's death.
The whereabouts of eertaln aeourltie be
leagtng to Mr, Paar was an ef tha point
UavesUgated by tha aoccunlanL
NEBRASKA WEATHER FORECAST
Satordny.
Temperatare at Omaha leaterdayi
Roar. Oe. Hesre. Dea.
1 a. m 4T I p. m TT
a. m t p. m T
T a. m Ki X p. m "O
a. ra UT 4 p. en t
ft a. m. . . . . . r? It p. m M
w i, mt h p. m aa
II a, m TO y p. m "1
ii n rn Bp. m T
p. m T4
KILLS SELF ONJJANCE FLOOR
Jesee Smith Takes Arid When His
Dlvorred Wife Telle Him She
Is to Marry Another.
8IOTTX CITT, la.. May 10 (Special Tele
gram.) Because Maud Holton, his former
wife, from whom he was divorced several
months ago, told Jesse Smith while they
were dancing together at the lng Branch
restaurant at Tankton, S. D., last night
of her engagement and coming marriage
to another man. Smith loft the womnn in
the middle of the floor and with a cry of
"then here goes" swallowed a big dose of
carbolic, acid, dying a few minutes later.
Smith and the Holton woman were mar
ried about a year ago, separating some
time afterward. Ia,t night they met at
the long Branch hall and danced together
several times. During the next dance she
told him she was going to marry again,
whereupon Smith committed suicide. The
Holton woman la about 17 years old. She
waa first married when about 15 years of
age to John Holton, who, after a disagree
ment with his youthful wife, tried to kill
himself by cutting his throat.
LEGISLATORS BEFORE JURY
Hovel Scheme la Boston When Law
makers Are Celled Vp for
Examination.
BOSTON, May lO.-The Suffolk county
court house wss a place of unuaual ac
tivity today when members of the legis
lature appeared In answer to summons by
District Attorney Moran calling upon them
to testify before the grand Jury on the
subject of bribery charges. The unpre
cedented proceedings of the entire mem
bership of the Massachusetts general a
cembly being directed to appear before the
grand Jury attracted a large number of
people to the corridors of the court build
ing. Seventy-five members of the house had
been summoned to appear today. Aa theae
legislators were making their way to the
court house, process server armed with
summons for the remaining members of
the legislature had started for the state
house and other places to deliver papers to
the remaining members of the house and
senate.
MORE FEDERAL COURT JURORS
Additional Panel of Fifteen Drawn
for Service at the May
Term.
Owing to the big grist of business yet
to come before the I'nlted States courts
'for the Msy xerm now en. It baa been
found necessary to draw an additional
panel of fifteen petit Jurors for the term,
Omaha Is' represented on the new panel
by I. W. Carpenter, president of tha Car
penter Paper company. The new panel la
ordered to report Monday, May 14. The
following Is the Itst of the additional
Jurors:
I.urten Bernard, Julian, Neb.; I. W.
Carpenter, 8A& Lfayette avenue, Omaha;
Timothy Casey, Ashland; R. E. Country
man, Weeping Water; H. H. Fouat, Schuy
ler; William E. Uowen. North Ltoup; John
Gossard. Herman: Thomas M. Howie,
Edholm- Georre Holmea, Lincoln; Charles
W. L.udden. Surprise; U. A. Pohlman,
Pierce;. Arthur P. Rush, North Loup; Ja
cob J. Slerk, Fort Calhoi-n: George W.
Short, Indianola; Albert Watklns, 920 D
street, Lincoln.
DOWIE AND VOLIVa"" AGREE
Finances of Eton Will Be Managed
by Board Named by
Then.
CtllCAGO, May 10. John Alexander
Dowle and Wilbur O. Vollva reached an
agreement In court today upon the propo
sition for mutual representation In tha
management of financial affairs at Zlon
City. The Dowle forces appointed John A.
Lewis, while Vollva named Alexander
Granger. The third member of the com
mlttee Is still to be chosen.
Judge Wright suggested that the court
appoint the third man on the committee,
but this was not agreeable to the Dowle
party and the matter went over for fur
ther conference.
SOUTHERN BAPTISTS GATHER
Conference nt Cbattanoesa Will Have
Five Tbonsand Persona In
Attendance Friday.
CHATTANOOGA. Tenu.. May 10. Tbe In
dications are that the attendance at th
southern Baptist conference, which opens
tomorrow, will rrsch 5.000. The Missionary
union held a session today. Reports were
read by the corresponding secretary. Miss
A. W. Armstrong, and the treasurer. Miss
E. V. Rlcker, both of Maryland.
The Baptist Toung People's union met
with Dr. L. Dawaon of Tuacaloosa, Ala.,
presiding.
The educational conference opened its
convention at the First Methodist Episco
pal church. Leading representative of
education tn the south were present.
SERIOUS WRECK IN OHIO
Chesapeake at Ohio Limited tiers Into
Dltek and Maay Are
lajared.
PORTSMOUTH. O.. Msy W.-Th Chesa
peake Ohio New Tork limited, which
left Cincinnati at 9:10 laat night, was
wrecked near Buena Vista station about
midnight. The sleeper wss ditched, but of
the sixteen passengers on that car only
fonr women were Injured. Mrs. J. D. Mr-
Kelvey of Cincinnati waa seriously injured,
but will recover.
Th other three women are not identified.
The porter, Thomas Gray, and Brakeman
Alfred Hinton were badly hurt.
A broken rail cauaed th wreck.
Mead of Bead Company Analens.
HT IXU'lS. May 10. A. Smith Bowman,
president of the American Reserve Bond
company, which Is in tha hands of various
receivers, sppolnted by the federal i our Is,
departed lor Chicago itiat night. afiar
staying a day In Ml, Louis In an effort tn
learn (he truth of a rumor that warrants
bad been issued against him and eight of
hi associate, failed Htatte 1'lstrlfl At
torney Dyer refused to aay whether there
had Seen an lndiotmaat returned against
HOW OIL IS SOLD
Peculiar Methods of Eooksfsller Combine
Disclosed .t Ooioaro Eearinr.
THREE KINDS TAKEN FPOM SAME TANK
Driver Expected to Boll 206 Gallon! from
Wacon Containing. 200 Gallons.
CLERKS AND TEAMSTERS ARE BRIBED
Former Arnt Telli of Keeping; Track of
Basinets of Competitors.
'FRISCO RAILROAD PAID REBATES
Rnbeldlary Companies of Standard
Charged 9-(at Rate and Others
Tea Time aa Mark for
Same Service.
CHICAGO, May 10. Corruption of rail
road employes and agents of independent
oil companies!, dishonest methods of pro
curing land lease, the giving of short
measure and the selling ot three different
kinds of oil out of the same tank and mis
representations aa to the quality of the
oil sold were charged against the Stand
ard Oil company at today's hearing be ,
fore the Interstate Commerce commission.
Incidentally It was charged that the 'Frisco
rosd gives a rat of t cents a hundred to
the Standard Oil company, when It charges
competitors of that corporation tan times
as much for the same haul. Th Inquiry
waa held under an order ot congress, and
the session held her today was along
the same lines aa that held some time ago
In Kansas City.
The principal . witness of today was B.
M. Wllholt of Springfield. Mo., formerly
for ten year agent ot the Standard Oil
company at Topeka. It was he who road
the charges of bribery and dishonesty
against the company and aald that the
Frisco road discriminated tn favor ef the
Standard Oil company. Other witnesses
for the day were II. c. Deran of Fremont,
O.; E. P. Ripley, president of the Atchi-
son, Topeka Santa Fe road, and M.
Maxon, a former agent of the Standard
Oil company In Illinois. The last witness
gave testimony which in many Instances
was the same as that given by Mr. Wll
holt. The inquiry by the government through
the Interstate Commerce commission Into
the relatione between the Standard Oil
company and the railroads of the country
commenced here today.
Two of the ponlts upon which It Is aald
the Investigation - will endeavor to throw
light are th matter of th pip line of
th Standard Oil company which are laid
along the railroad' right-of-way and the
purchase of Galena oil by the railroads
for headlight and signal purposes.
The first witness waa E. M. Wilhoft of
Springfield. Mo., now an Independent oil
operator, but ten years ago an agent of
the Standard Oil company. He testified
that while tn the employ of tbe Standard
Oil company he had. la following out the
Instructions of his superior officers, bripad
clerks in the offices of railroads and em
ploye of Independent .' oil concerns in
order to obtain Information of the details
of the business done by the rivals of the
Standard OH company. He declared that
agents of the Standard Oil company are
held personally responsible for all oil sold
in their territory by Independent com
panies and that driver of tank wagona are
expected to keep up their stock by selling
205 to 20S gallons from a wagohload of 20
gallons. He said that the actual teats ot
tlte products of the Standard Oil company
to determine the quality at carefully
guarded and that when It waa found neces
sary to cut thep rlc to meet the figure
of a competitor a cheaper quality of oil
was substituted and guaranteed to be of
a higher grade than It really waa.
Railway Clerk Bribed.
Beveral letters were read by tha witness,
in which he was Instructed to watch ship
ment tn his territory and report th nam
of every customer Of the Independent com
panies and the quality and quantity of oil
received by him. He said ha had bribed
clerks In tha office of the Rock Island,
Santa Fe and Missouri Pacific to give him
lists of shipments to the customers of In
dependent companies. He told Also ot
bribing teamsters tn order to obtain In
formation. "Cylinder oil Is the most protltabl sold,"
said the witness, "and the Standard Oil
company dislikes to have any Independent
sell any of this grade. Our Instruction
were that If we found a competitor aelllng
this oil in our territory to cut th price
so as to get the orders, and then substitute
an Inferior grade of oil and guaraauM It
to be of superior quality."
A to Short Bfeasnr.
"Did you ever give short measure to your
customers?" asked Commissioner Pruuty.
"Well, we did not call It that," replied
the witness. "I waa frequently advised
by agent of the company that my stock
was not showing ap a It snould and waa
told that It was a slmpl matter to sell
to 20k gallons from a 200-gallon load of olL
Th company explained this by saying thai
tho oil expanded In the wagon."
Attorney Miller, atorney for the Standard
Oil company, broke In at this point to In
quire the scope of the Investigation. He
aald that it was his understanding that the
power of the commission waa limited to an
Investigation of the relations of the uom
pany with eommoh carriers and so far not
the slightest evidence upon the point had
been given, lie Was opposed, he said, Ut
th raking over ot muck snd scandal by
going back ten years in history.
"For your information I will assure you
that the Standard Oil company 1 douif
the same things today," said Mr. Wllholt.
"1 object to that statement," shouted At
torney Miller. Commissioner Cleiuaut, in
answer to the inquiry of Mr. Millar, said
that it waa desired to obtain all th In
formation possible and report it tor th
consideration of congress.
"Then, a I understand it," said Mr.
Miller, "the commission takes the posi
tion thst for the purpose of this Inquiry
its power Is equal to that of the bureau
of commerce and that the commission will
simply report the results of Its Investiga
tion to congress without attempting td ex
ercise any of Its remedial powers."
"That Is tha position of tbe commission,
aa I understand It," replied Commissioner
Clements.
Mr. Wllholt said that frequently three
grades of oil were sold from the same
tank by agents of the Standard Oil com
pany. Ohio Record Introduced.
Mr. Derail wa asked for the otlicuil rec
ord of the trust agi-?nieut of the Stand
ard Oil company, as contained In a esse
tried In Ohio, and U waa lutredHtd Into
the record of th bearing.
pip Un ioaa.-UwB tey gCZXySaTlisi
ilm. V