The Omaha Daily Bee
VOL. XXXVI-NO. 158.
OMAHA, WEDNESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 19, 190G-TWELVE PAGES.
SINGLE COPY TIIKEE CENTS.
FAMINE IS SERIOUS
Interstate Commerce Commiiiien Startled
by Bepliei to Telearami.
30TH COAL AND CARS ARE SCARCE
r arm era in North Dakota Barninr Bnild
lici to Keep from I reeling.
RAILROAD CARRIES SMALL SUPPLY
Bill Cfflciali Bay Bead 5Ter Has Hore
Thau Enough Fael for 1 ew Days.
PRESIDENT INTERESTED IN SITUATION
Chief Executive Consults Senator
llausbrougrh and Will Ulvs ths
dstitloa Ills Perionml
Attention.
MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. lS.-The Interstate
Commerce commission, which Is Investiga
ting the car and coal shortage In the
northwest, ha ben startled by the replies
received to the telegrams of Inquiry sent
out to the country which Is suffering from
lack of fuel, as well as lack of cars to
transport Brain to market. A scarcity of
fuel, widespread, far-reaching; In effect and
serious in the extreme. Is Indicated by the
commission's reports, which also show that
there has been no general overstatement
of the situation. The testimony today re
garding car shortage, delays In transit and
the effect has brought out matter Indicating
a condition of affairs In the general sense
even more worthy of attention than the
commission had at first supposed when they
decided to take up the Inquiry.
James J. Hill, president of the Great
Northern railroad, arrived late today to
attend the hearing and appear as a wit
ness, but, owing to the lateness of the
honr. It was decided that Mr. Hill would
b caried tomorrow morning.
Tho commission had sent out telegrams
of Inquiry to many points asking as to
the coal supply. The telegrams which
poured In today made it clear that the
commission had acted none too quickly
In securing the promise of co-operatlon by
coal companies and railroads, for In some
localities farmers have been burning fences
and outbuildings and valuable lumber had
been cut into fuel to keep people from
freezing. Farmers who came In numbers
from North Dakota told the commission
how wheat prices have been depressed ab
normally because elevators were full and
they had either to sacrifice Us price or
haul it home again.
The commissioners expressed themselves
as startled at some of the reports.
One of the star witnesses for the railroads
was L. W. Bowen, superintendent of the
Great Northern at Will mar. Mr. Bowen
aid his road . kept only a few days ahead
on coal supply, that the smallest margin
tMs fall bad been twenty-four hours, the
widest two weeks. He said that the oar
situation hatf never been Interfered with, as
steel, hopper-bottom tare had been used
for the coal.
"Do you believe the reports of ear sbort-
. age are' untruaT' asked f he court.
"No: I do not. But I do think that the
Reports ' do not Indicate as great blame
for tho railroad companies as generally
believed."
President Roosevelt Interested.
WASHINGTON, Deo, 18. That President
ttoosevelt has taken a determined Interest
with a view to finding a legislative remedy
for the car shortage in the northwest.
whioh now threatens the people with frees
Ing and starvation because the railroads
are unable to transport fuel and food to
them, was Indicated by a conference at
tho White House today.
The president sent for Senator Hana
b rough and asked him whether the actual
danger of suffering Is as great as has been
reported by press dispatches and tele
gram from Individuals. The North Da-
kota senator reported that from dispatches
lie had received the statement of condi
tions In his state, Minnesota and South
Dakota has not been exaggerated.
The president promised to give the ques
tion his personal tttenllon, with a view to
alleviating any immediate suffering, and
aid he desired Senator Hansbrough to de
vote bis time and thought to some legisla
tive remedy, In order to avoid recurrences
of present conditions.
Kvldeaes Taken In it. I .ants,
ST. LOUIS, Deo. 18. The Interstate Com
meres commission convened In the federal
building today and began an Investigation
Into the shortage of freight ears. The
hearing is expected to conclude tomorrow
afternoon, when the members of the com
mission will go to Kansas City and resume
the Investigation.
Commissioner C, A. Prouty presided and
wltnesces were examined by P. J. Faxrell.
attorney for the commission.
Prior to the opening of the session Com
missioner Prouty said:
"The Interstate Commerce commission Is
here to ascertain. If possible. If the short
age of freight cars Is due to a scarcity of
engines or to Improper management on the
part of railroads. We expect to fix the
responsibility and then try to remedy It.'
Martin L. Clardy, general attorney for
the Missouri Pacific, road, appeared In be
half of the railroads.
J. C. Lincoln, commissioner of the Mer
chants' Exchange Traffic bureau, was the
first witness. He declared that the delay
in the movement of freight was due not so
much to an Insufficiency of cars as to a
luck ot motive power and facilities for
handling the cars. II emphasised the
neea 01 Deiter Joint MalVc facilities to
eliminate delays at Jul. iii points.
C. D. Johnson, who is connected with
companies mat operate lumber mills In
Arkansas, Louisiana und Texas, testified
that there had been a very great shortage
of care d.irlng ths lust three months.
"This is the worst shortage 1 have ever
known." he said. -The embargo which
rouds employ to keep the cars from leaving
their own lines Is as bad as a car famine.
J. H. Allen, a cotton commission mer
chant, bruthur of Private John" Allen o
Tupelo, Miss., testified that his company
had very great dlfflculiy in procuring cars
to remOTS the cotton from the southern
fluids to the markets. He said: "The rail
mgt.es do not pull together and they have
Bt pjuyu-ed for the great prosperity of she
sun try.'
Car Makers Hehlnd Order.
Vice President McBrldu of tho American
Car and Foinidjy company testified the
manufacturers of cars had Increased 1$ per
cent In quantity and 60 per cent in quality
en ths pant few years.
Mr. McBride said that his company was
about six weeks behind In the delivery of
' Its orders, but that the capacity of its
plant was mortgaged for future delivery
aMut nine months.
"Uupposs you bad an order for 100u0 cars
(Continued on Second - Fags-l
WYOMING MAN KILLS WIFE
Oirnr Carlson Shoots Woman Who
Had "ent for sheriff
Admits finllt.
CTrFTK N'VR, Wy., TVo. IX. (Ppeolal
Oscnr CnrNon, proprietor of a hoarsens;
house nt Pine Fluffs, Wyn., thirty miles
Rst of here, yesterday afternoon shot his
wife to death and then sttempted to beat
out Ms brnlns with a hummer. Carlson
was brought to the county Jail here early
this morning. Enroute he admitted that
he had killed his wife, saying:
'It was cold-blooded murder, all rlr
nd t am willing to stretch for It."
The Csrlsnns came to Pine HI-
years ago from Iowa. They ,
boarding house and Mrs. Ca
the work and supported her hu. .
Is a large, powerful man, a N
as he Is large. Neighbors snS-,,
son
habitually beat his wife. Two wee. A ago
he was arrested and fined for beating his
wife.
Testerday he told his wife he was going
but Into the country with the horse and
carriage. Mrs. Carlson remonstrated, say
ing Sunday wag the only dny she had to
use the horse, and she thought he might
leave It for her. He paid no attention to
his wife's request. He returned about 6
o'clock, when his wife told him she had
sent for the sheriff.
"What for?" he Inquired.
"Because you have been cruel to me and
I want you prosecuted."
Well, you will never send for another
sheriff." gnd going Into another room he
secured his son's 22-callber riffle and, re
turning to the kitchen, took careful aim
nd shot his wife, who was seated In a
rocking chair and was unable to offer re
sistance.
Mrs. Carlson died In about two hours
without regaining consciousness. The chil
dren Informed the neighbors of what had
occurred and they rushed Into the house
to find Carlson stabbing himself with a
knife and beating his head with a Btone
hammer. They grappled with Carlson and
after a terrific struggle overpowered him.
He begged to be killed.
For a time there was talk of lynching,
but as Carlson admitted the crime, and be
lieving that the courts will deal out sum
mary punishment, the people decided to let
the law take its course.
HAFF TO FIGHT EXTRADITION
Governor Refuses to Rescind Action
nd He Appeals to the
Courts.
PIERRE, S. D., Dc. 18. (Special Tele-
grom.) Several days ago Governor Elrod
granted an extradition warrant for John
A. Half, wanted In New York on a charge
of child desertion. Haff, who was located
at Ipswich, demanded a right to be heard
before he should be taken out of the state
on the warrant, and today appeared be
fore the governor to present his case. Ho
was arrester at Ipswich on the day his
divorce action was to be heard and before
the hearing, and brought to this city, ac
companied by the sheriff of Edmunds
county and Charles Farley, the state agent
of New York, who had come after him.
On a hearing and examination of the papers
in the case Governor Elrod decided Ms
action should stand.
Haff immediately employed attorneys ar.d
served notice of an application of habeas
corpus and. this afternoon, the party
started for Eureka for a hearing before
Judge Boucher. Both Haff and Farley are
members of the Tarn m tiny organisation In
New York, and W. T. Jerome appears to
be taking an active interest In the case.
GREAT SHOW OF DAKOTA CORN
Hundred . and Seventy-Five Exhibi
tors at the First Annual
Competition.
MITCHELL, S. D., Deo. 18.-(Speclal Tel
egram.) The first corn show ever held In
this state, of state wide scope, began here
this afternoon with an at ten lance of sev
eral hundred farmers and town land own
ers who are Interested In the development
of the corn industry. Mayor Bronson gave
the address of welcome and he was re
sponded to by Secretary Warner In the ab
sence of President Chamberlain, who got
in on a late train.
There are about ITS exhibitors at the corn
exhibition, which has brought the highest
prciii from Prof. Hull of the Illinois State
Agricultural college, who did not anticipate
suon a display. The corn Is on display
In the city hall building, where the corn
school was conducted this afternoon by
Prof. HulL The premiums will be awarded
tomorrow and the show will come to a close
Thursday evening.
Edltor Arrritrd on Libel Charge.
SIOUX FALLS, S. D.. Dec. 18. (Special
Telegram.) When the case of J. A. Boss,
editor of the Sioux Critic, a local weekly
newspaper, who was arrested today on the
charge of criminal libel, was called this
afternoon for preliminary hearing before
Judge Dickey, the defendant asked that
the time for the hearing be fixed at 10
o'clock tomorrow morning. His request
was granted. The complaining witness in
the case Is Joe Kirby, a leading local at
torney, who Is associated with the prosecu
tion in the cane of Mrs. Km ma Kaufmsnn,
wife of a wealthy Sioux Falls brewer, who
Is charged with the murder of her hired
girl. Editor Ross printed an article re
flecting on the conduct of Attorney Klrby
ln this case and the criminal suit was based
,1,1. . I.' .1 1 , Drvaa' .. .
upon this.
j.i,,.,. ivum who "cu i
$300.
Talk of Glass Factory,
NEWCASTLE. Wyo., Dec. 18. (Spe
cial.) Capitalists of Pittsburg. I 'a., have
been in the vicinity of Newcastle this
week Investigating the feasibility of es
tablishing a glass manuf:ictory here.
Their Investigation has been very thor
ough, and It Is understood their report will
be in favor of th" establishment of a plant
to employ at least 1,000 men. Plllea, the
principal lmrredlent. Is found here In im
mense quantities, and Is said to be fit a
superior quality. Lime, potash, soda and
lead oxide are also to be found either here
or In nearby counties, and Ingredients nec
essary to bring fnom other points can be
brought here at mu-'h less expense than
to ship the sand.
Atfnesj Grosser ot Insane.
YANKTON, 8. D.. rc li-ffpeclal.)
I the Agnes Oresser case, the second
hearing was closed Mnnduy afternoon and j
the board of Insanity discharged her. The '
board had at first committed her to the
State hospital for treatment. Miss dresser
was at one time auacnea to tne Sacred
Heart convent, tut was dlschargi-d as to
tally unfit for the lif of a nun. Her eccen.
trlcltles at lust brought her before the
county insanity board and she was com
mitted. This action raised a storm of In-
d'gnatlon on the part of the woman's
friends and the second hearing resulted. -
Eight city doctors, among the most pronU- Fuel is short on the old Rosebud reserva
nent in the city, testiUcd the wuuuui was ! tlon. where consumers are paying fiM tor
perfectly soue. I suit coal tod 4) for anthracite.
BUILDING BIG FOR NEW YEAR
Gigantic It rides ii Development Antioi
. pated, Despite Eome Iacreaie in Cost.
INTERIOR FIXTURES GO UP IN PRICE
Lumber and Structural Iron Remain
Str ' and Dealers Look for Enor-
Residence and Busl-
v? - House Erection,
V
s? '
,-J"N ia contractors are looking forward
v .i ilher big year of building operations
' 19-T. It will be a year ot dwelling house
section, they say, though there will still
be great activity In the business district.
The Union Pacific headquarters and sev
eral large wholesale buildings are planned
and numerous business structures of mod
erate size will be erected, but the home
building movement Is expected to be much
greater than In
This belief Is based on the fact that
building operations are not abated by the
cold weather and on the Inquiry regarding
material at the offices of the local lumber
firms.
"Our books Indicate there will be a
greater demand for lumber In 1907 than for
many years," said George W. Plainer of
the Cady Lumber company.
"Ordinarily there Is not much Inquiry on
lumber at this time of year, but the sit
uatlon Is entirely different this season. We ;
are figuring lumber bills every day for J
peoplo who will build as soon as spring !
opens. Here are nine different Jobs fig
ured on our books this morning and all of
them came In between 4 and t o'clock Mon
day afternoon. Of course, these are not
sales; they are merely bills on which peo
ple want estimates, but they show there
will be a lot of building."
Advances In Many Prices.
This bright prospect obtains In spite of
the advance made In the year 1906 In many
lines of building material. Lumber Itself
has not Increased In price at all this year,
according to the statements of the dealers
and contractors, but many other materials
have gone up by leaps and bounds. About
sixty days ago plumbing and heating ap
paratus was advanced 20 per cent, brass
fixtures 25 per cent, bath tubs and all
enamel ware per cent. Builders' hard
ware has gone up 30 per cent In 1906, while
window glass has advanced so rapidly
through the year that builders cannot ke p
tab on It. '
Lumber scored Its big advance in 190f.
This year some articles In the line are I
trifle lower than then and some a trifle and found one wrist broken ana one nana
higher, but on the whole the price is about ,i rushed.
the same as last year.'- Such advances as Conductor H. 8. Whitney, who was on the
have been made are qn flr. hardwood ! rear platform when Miss Spreen fell, as
mlllwork lumber and will -not affec the serted he called to her to look out when the
majority of home builders. Lath are liv I car . started, and made a move to catch
than a year ago. Plaster Is lower. Struc
tural Iron, brick and stone run at about
the same price as last year.
Any Increase In the cost ot building for
1907 over 1906 will come In the advance In
plumbing and heating apparatus, nails,
glass and hinges and other accessories.
SHAH OF PERSIA IS BETTER
Ruler Passes Fairly Good Night and
Day and Discusses Public
AaTalrs.
TEHERAN,-, Persia, Doc. 18. The health'
of the shah today shows some Improvement.
He passed a fairly good day today, in the
course of which he frequently discussed
public affairs.
The heir apparent, Prince All Mirza, is
Incensed at the reports that he is a reac
tionary and Indignantly denies that he is
opposed to the national Parliament or the
granting of a constitution. In a letter to a
leading priest, who Is also a member of
Parliament, published today, the prlnen
emphatically says that he has always been
and always will be in favor or reforms and
progress and can always be depended on to
advance the welfare of the nation.
KING OSCAR S, IMPROVING
Physicians Will Issue but One
Bulletin a Day on Sweden's
Ruler.
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Dec. U.-KIng
Oscar Is so much Improved in his health
that his attending physicians announce
that after today they will issue only one
bulletin daily. This morning's bulletin was
as follows:
The king slept seven hours during the
night. His temperature this morning was
SB 1 and his pulse was stronger, although
mill somewhat Irregular. There Is still a
slight discharge ot mucus from the trachea.
FLEET TO AVOID 'FRISCO
Japanese "Rememner tho Maine" and
Will Xot Send Warships to
Golden Gate.
HONOLULU, Dec. 18. The Japanese con
sul here says that the visiting squadron
which will arrive In Honolulu In February
will not proceed to San Francisco, as origin
ally Intended, because repetition of the
Maine disaster Is feared, owing to the al
leged overwrought condition of American
feeling.
Flshlna Fleet In lee.
ST. JOHNS, N. F., Dec. 18 The Ameri
can cruiser Potomac and forty-six Amerl-
. can Canadian and Newfoundland fishing
' .....
vt suols were rausril in ice noes near liavnn
Islands yesterday. A steamer, with the aid
of the crews of the fishing vessels, suc
ceeded lr. getting out the Potomac. The
ico. was then broken by the cruller and the
whole fleet was liberated.
l iner May Re a Wreek.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Dec. 18 Accord
ing to the reports from Port Royal, ths
Prinsessln Victoria Louise Is likely to bo
come a total wreck. The vessel Is so close
to shore that people can almost walk
aboard from the beach. It has heeled
heavllv to starboard and it can be seen
that its bottom Is badly damaged.
Women Prefer frUon.
IiONDON. Dec. 18. Eleven more female
suffragists today elected to spend Christ
mas In Jult rather than pay small fines for
creating disturbances within the precincts
of the House of Commons last night. The
women are apparently proud of being the
so-called suffragettes who already art In
prison.
COLD WEATHER IN DAKOTA
i Thrr. Dearees Below Eero ..J .,
Scaree on Old Roaohud
Reservation.
NORFOIJC. Neb.. Dec. 18.-A cold wave
. prevails wkh temperature 3 degrees b low
WOMAN KILLED BY MOTOR
Miss Frieda sprrrn Attempts to
AllRht as Car Marts, nr.d is
Thrown Vnder Wheels,
Miss Frieda Spreen. aged PS years, Thir
tieth and Spring streets, was crushed under
the wheels of the trailer of a northbound
South Omaha car at Twenty-fourth and
Vinton streets a few minutes before 6
o'clock Tuesday evening, dying a short time
afterward. Her head was crushed. She
had fallen in alighting from the back
platform of the forward car and was drawn
Inward between the cars, directly under
the wheels of the trailer.
Miss Spreen was returning home from
work at the Cudahy Packing company
plant In South Omaha, where she was fore
woman In the glue manufacturing depart
ment. In company with two girl friends,
Katie Turner and Marie Secretary, also
employed at the packing house. Her uncle,
William VVispeler, in whose home she lived,
was also aboard the train, standing on the
front platform ot the trailer. Mls Turner
lives near the Spreen home and Miss Sec
retary near Twenty-ninth and Castellar
streets. For years the members of the
party, except the last named, have been
In the habit of going home from work to
gether, leaving the cars at Twenty-fourth
and Vinton streets.
As the motor and trailer approached the
corner Motorman Z. A. Hetfleld saw a car
coming from the north, and as two cars
cannot round a curve at the same time, he
brought his train to a standstill unOT the
track was clear, when he again started
up. While the cars had been standing
still Miss Turner alighted safely and Miss
Spreen, already standing on the platform,
was following her example when the car
started forward and she was thrown. Re
taining hold of the rail with her left hand,
she was drawn onto the tracks. Both
wheels passed over her head before the
car could be stopped.
The first to Jump to the aid of the woman
was her uncle, Wlspeler, who had been a
spectator of the tragedy. He found the
rear wheel had not passed entirely over
the head, and called to have the car backed.
Someone else called to have It moved for
ward, and this was done. The limp form
was then pulled out and in the darkness
the extent of the Injury was easily seen.
Police Surgeon Pugsley happened to be on
the car for which Motorman Hetfleld had
waited, and, hearing of the accident, he
Jumped to the street. He stayed with the
woman until she died, the pulse and res
piration continuing for more than half
an hour in spite of the severe Injury.
Coroner Brailey took charge of the body
her, .but someone got In his way. The story
of witnesses varied but slightly in the de
tails ol' the accident.
The dead woman is survived In her im
mediate family by a mother, 69 yearse old,
and three sisters. She had been employed
at the Cudahy plant for five years, aiding
In the support of her mother, who was
the home.
KANSAS-COLORADO CASE UP
Supreme Caart 'Hears 'Argument In
Suit Between States for Ar
kansas River Water,
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18. The supreme
court of the United States today continued
its hearing In the Kansaa-Coloiado Irriga
tion case growing out of the use of the
waters of . the Arkanstis river. Attorney
Aahbaugh, arguing for Kansas, addressed
his remarks principally to the question Of
the underflow water cf the river. Ho con
tended that Kansas had been deprived of
the greater part of this hitherto most lm-
: portant supply and declared Colorado has
appropriated 40,000 cubic feet of water per
' second, which practically takes all the sup
ply of the stream In the irrigation season.
He placed the total damage suffered by
Kansas demands a fair division cf the
water of the Arkansas river, which would
not be lees than 700 cubic feet a second.
Attorney Loomis, also speakliuT for Kan
sas, contended that Colorado not only
claims the right to all the water of the
Arkansas river, but actually takes It all.
In support of this contention he quoted a
number of witnesses who had been sum
moned to testify in behalf of Colorado
itself. He also undertook to show that
there la not now nearly so much water in
the Arkansas, in Kansas, as there were in
the early days and again marshalled a
number of Colorado witnesses to sustain
his position.
As to the Colorado contention that most
of the irrigation water returns to the
stream through seepage, he declared that
two-thirds of the water taken out of the
river Is either lost by evaporation or ab
sorbed In plant life.
In conclusion, he said Kansas Is entitled
under all the laws of right and Justice, to
a fair deal of the water of this Important
stream, and contended for a recognition
of this fact.
Attorneys Clyde ' C. Dawson and Piatt
Rogers followed for Colorado.
DEFECTS IN ARID LAND LAWS
Senators Talk of Measure to Care
Some Defects In Pres
ent Act.
WASinNOTON, Dec. 18.-What are con
sidered defects in the act of the reclama
tion of arid lands wtre pointed out In a
general discussion In the B'-nate today dur
ing the consideration of a bill to amend
that action. No action was taken on the
measure, as senators desired to Indulge lu
further debate than was permitted during;
Hie nfornlng hour.
The bill requires estimates for propose!
reclamation work to be sent annually to
congress and amendments were proposed
making a direct appropriation necessary
before the work can proceed. Objection
was developed to the provision In the bill
Increasing the salary of the director of
the geological survey from KOOO to 110,000,
PRESIDENT TALKS OF SALARIES
Opposed to General Increase, but
Favors Hlcher Pay for
gome Employes.
WASHINGTON, Dec lA-Representatlve
Llttauer of New York, a member of the
committee on appropriations, talked with
President Roosevelt tod;iy on the question I
of Increasing the salaries of government
employfs. The president is not understood
to favor a blanket increase of 2u per cent,
as has been proposed, although he Is said
to feel that thure are many members in
the government service who deserve more
than they are receiving. The president ia
obtaining the views of congressmen on the
subject.
Mr. Littauer Is oppused to a general In
crease, but be believes there are men in
the service, particularly at the haada of
bureaus, who deserve mors mpT
JUDICIAL BILL TROUBLES
Hebraska Toleration Bothered Over De
tails of the Measure.
ALL AGREED ON PRINCIPLE INVOLVED
Strife Detweea Members of South Da
kota Delegation Over Appoint
ments Keeps the Path Warm
to the White House.
(From a Staff Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18.-(Speclal Tele
gram.) The federal division bill, which Is
held up In committee on Judiciary, continues
to give a great deal of trouble to the mem
bers representing the western portion of
the state. Judge Norrls. who, with Repre
sentative Kinkald, is endeavoring to amend
the bill so as to Include divisions satisfac
tory to their constituents, said today:
"At the beginning of the agitation for
the division of Nebraska Into two Judicial
districts I was anxious that provision
should be made not only for the holding
of court In the western part of the state,
but that provision should also be made
that suits arising In the western part of
the state should be tried there.
"I was the originator of the Idea that
the districts should be divided into
divisions, and that In such divisions there
should be a place designated for the hold
ing; of court, and that all cases arising
within any division should be tried In such
division. My experience In a residence of
more than twenty years In the western
part of the stnte convinced me that it was
not only unfair, but many times a prac
tical denial of Justice, to require people
In the western part of our state to travel
several hundred miles to attend sessions
of the United States courts. This was
not only an injustice to members cf the
bar, but was equally unfair to the people
who for reason had been brought Into
the United States court.
"At the beginning It seemed as though
this Injustice could be best remedied by a
division of the state into an eastern dis
trict and a western district. An examina
tion, however, of methods of communica
tion and travel in Nebraska will, I think,
! convince anyone that such division wpuld
not be as practical as to divide the state
Into a northern and southern district.
Moreover if these districts are divided into
divisions the real objection raised by the
people of the western part of the state Is
completely met as fully as though the
state were divided Into an eastern district
and a western district.
lto Disagreement on Principle.
"Any Impression that has been conveyed
that our senators and representative from
the eastern part of the state are opposed
to the division fit the districts into divi
sions with statutory requirements for the
trial of causes within the division where
they arose, Is absolutely erronepus and
without any foundation whatever. From
the very beginning of this discussion both
fit our senators and four representatives
from the eastern part of the state have
agreed that any amendments to what Is
known as the Burkett bill, which Mr. Kin
kald and myself might desire, providing
for a division of the districts and the trial
of causes in the division where they a nose,
would no rml ybe agreed to by them, but
would be heartily supported by them. Sen
ator Burkett. who ' Introduced the bill
which passed the senate, has always ex
pressed himself not only as wilting to
agree to such amendments, but as being In
favor of and willing to support them,
"It was the understanding at the last
session of congress that such amendments
would be presented immediately upon the
convening of this session, and the only
reason that the same have not been pro
posed and acted uppn by the delegation is
because Mr. Kinkald has not satt- fled him
self as to Just what divisions should be
made In the west half of the northern
district.
"There has at no time been any nilsun
dcrstandlng among the members of the
delegation, but on the contrary there has
been absolute unanimity on the principal
point division of the districts into dl
visions and the holding of court In each
division and It only remains that the de
tails should be worked out."
IS'orrls Offers Amendment.
Following out suggestions In his Inter
view. Judge Norrls today Introduced a bill
amending certain sections of the Burkett
bill, diving the southern district of Ne
braska into three divisions to be known as
the Lincoln, Hastings and McCook dl
visions. The counties of Polk, York, Fill
more, Thayer, and all counties in said
southern district east of the last-named
counties to constitute the Lincoln division,
all terms of court for which shall be in
the city of Lincoln. The counties of Ham
ilton, Clay, Nuckolls, Adams, Webster,
Kearney, Franklin, Phelps and Harlan
shall constitute the Hastings division, with
court to lie held at the city of Hastings
The counties of Goeper, Furnas and other
counties In said southern district west of
the last-named counties shall constitute the
McCook division, court to be held in the
city of McCook. Other sections of the bill
make provision for bringing of suits In the
divisions where the defendant resides.
In his letter written to the district Judges
In the south part of the Sixth district, a
copy of which has been published In Ne
braska, asking them for their advice as to
the formation of divisions within the dls-.
trlct to be created north of the Platte by
the bill which has passed the senate, and
Is now pending In the house, to divide
Nebraska Into two federal Judicial districts,
Congressman Kinkald, to prevent a con
struction not Intended by him, but deemed
possible, stated "that Senator Burkett, and
so far as he knows all other members of
the delegation, have been ready at all times
to accord to the western part of the state
by provisions In the bill, the formation
of divisions, with places for holding court
therein, as speclfle'd In his letter."
Mr. Kinkald did mention that It was not
practicable to secure a division of the
state into an east and west end district,
confronted with the argument that the
great weight of population Is in the east
end of the state, and the course of the
railroads generally east and west.
Trouble In South Dakota.
The battle between the warring factions
of representation In congress from South
Dakota shows no signs of abatement since
the members arrived In Washington to
attend the present session of congress.
This may be Judged largely from the fre-
; quent visits to the White House, timing
their visits alternately so as not to run
afoul of one another in their pleas with
tha president, which South Dakolanu have
mode in ths last week.
It would seem thai the confirmation of
United States Attorney Elliott Is not the
only quesilta In coutreversy. It is known
ttiat the Mini of ofuce of quite a number
of presidential postmasters have expired.
After the state convention and during the
closing days of the lost session It was
observable that tbe recommendation of
(CouUnusd od Fourth. Page.J
NEBRASKA WEATHER FORECAST
Fair and Warmer Wrdnradayi Thurs
day Fair.
Fair and Warmer Wednesday.
Honr. lira. Hour. Ilea.
Ha. m ..... , j i p. m Hi!
. m T 2 p, ni V.1
T a. m T a p. m ST
""I I 4 p. m SI
n n h n ii, m yr
10 a. m 11 a p. m S'
11 n. m it T p. m Sfl
111 m Il M p. m St
ft P. m at
ROBBER KILLS HIMSELF
Man Who Held In Jeweler Commits
Suicide In Crowded Jlew
York Street.
NFW YOHK. Dec. IS-Wllllam Madison.
also known as McPherson, whose photo
graph Is In the rogues' gallery, shot and
killed himself today to avoid capture for
the robbery of a Jewelry store at Mount
ernnn last night. Madison might have
killed an officer or two had he been so
Inclined, but after holding up his pursuers
ho turned the weapon on himself.
Aocompnnled by policemen, the Jeweler
who was beld up began a search for the
robber today, eventually meeting him on
the street. The letter showed fight, and
while his right hand was bandaged, "he
swung his left, knocking the policeman
down. Regaining his feet, the officer
struck Madison over tho head with his
club.
Madison fled, and, followed bv half a
dozen policemen, threaded his way nmong
hundreds of Christmas shoppers. Twice
he stopped In an open space and fired
Into the pavement. He had run several
blocks when two policemen overtook him.
Turning quickly, revolver In hand, he had
both at his mercy when one of the po
liceman Implored him not to shoot. For a
moment the fugitive hesitated, and then
stepping back a pace fired upon himself.
THAW CASE COMES ljANUARY
Date Set hy Justice Newberarer When
Attorney for Defense Raises
Motion.
NEW YORK, Dec. 18. Harry K. Thaw
will bo tried on January 21 on the charge
of killing Stanford White, according to an
order Issued by Judgo Ncwborger today.
The trial will be before Justice Fitzgerald
In the criminal branch of the state su
preme court.
The date was set by Justice Newberger
when a motion was made by Thaw's coun
sel for the dismissal of the indictment
against Thaw or for the fixing of a date
for the trial was to have been argued.
Clifford W. Hartrldge and John B. Gleason
appeared for Thaw.
It was developed as soon as the motion
was reached that Thaw's counsel, having
withdrawn their application for a com
mission to take evidence in the far west,
tho district attorney had no objection to
taking up the trial at an early date.
Thaw's counsel and Assistant District At
torney Smith then fixed the date and the
order was signed by Judge Newberger.
INDIAN OFFICIAL IS SHORT
Disbursing: Officer III and Saya Money
Was Loaned During; Previous
Administration.
MUSKOGEE, I. T., Dec. 18.-There Is an
apparent shortage of $6,000 In the funds of
the office of the disbursing agent of the
Indian agency here. Tho fact was reported
to the Deparament of the Interior at
Washington. L. K. Lane, the disbursing
officer, has been ill at his home here for
two weeks. Mr. I.ane said today that the
missing money had been paid out on
vouchers as loans to different persons dur
ing a previous administration. Indian
Agent Kolsey declined to discuss the mat
ter. WASHINGTON, Dec. 18. Secretary
Hitchcock today received a communication
from Inspector Wright at the Muskogee
Indian agency stating that an Investiga
tion Is being made of the alleged shortage
of the funds of the Indian agency. No
action will bo taken by the department
until the Investigation shall have been
completed.
COUNTIES FOR NEW STATE
Convention Agrees to Form Forty
from Indian Territory and Thirty
Six from Oklahoma.
GUTHRIE, Okl.. Dec. 18. The report cf
the committee on county boundaries, which
will be presented to the constitutional con
ventlon tomorrow, will provide for siventy-
slx counties In the new state, forty to be
formed from what now Is Indian territory.
and twenty -six from Oklahoma, The other
provisions of the report are that no county
may be organized without having property
valued at $1,000,000, and the county seats
are not to be located, even temporarily, by
the convention. Tomorrow the preamble
and the Initiative and rei'erendum plunk
will be voted on. President Moore of the
National Good Roads association addressed
the convention this afternoon.
WCABE'S CONDITION CRITICAL
Methodist Bishop May Live Throng,!)
the Da at ew York v
Hospital.
NEW YORK, Dtc. 18. Bishop C. C. Mc
Cahe. who Is suffering from a recent at
tack of apoplexy, continued this forenoon
In the same precarious ciuiuillon as last
night. At the hoopltal It was said he was
very low, but that he inig'it live through
the day.
Shortly after noon this afternoon Bishop
McCabe was gradually sinking. He has
not regained consciousness and It was
believed he migiu pass away at any lime,
OD CLARK 7
Just before midnight. It wus said that
the bishop was still alive and that his
vitality had surprised those In attendance.
MRS. BLAIR WILL GET MONEY
Provident Life Society Dismisses Ap
peal Against Salt of Widow
of St. Louis Banker.
JEFFELSON CITY. Mo.. Dec. 18. The
Provident Ufa Assurance society of New
York today dismissed Its appeal in the
supreme court from the Judgment ot the
St. louls circuit court In the suit of Mrs
Appolllne M. Blair to recover the value
of an Insurance policy held by her de
ceased husband, James L. IMalr. Suit was
Instituted against the company by Mrs.
Blair last February. The Jury gave her u
verdict for $.fO and accrued Interest to
the amount of $-M 14. From this Judgment
the insurance ooinan appealed.
FIGHT FOR ST. PAUL
Harriman Interests Fecure Control of
Another Big SjV.em,
HILL CROWD IS OUTGENERALED
Trick ii Turned by If anipnlation cf lew
Btook to Ee lasned.
PREFERRED STOCK HAS THE FIRST CALL
Owners May Snbsrriba for New Iisueto 60
Fer Cent of Foldings.
HILL INTERESTS CONTROL COMMON STOCK
Subscriptions to This Issue Limited
to ! Per Cent of Holdings and
Subscriptions Most Bo
Made Today.
CHICAGO. Dec. lR.-The Chronicle today
says that Edwin H. Harriman has repsld
James J. Hill In his own coin by wresting
victory fnom him In the shadow of defeat
through one of the most effective coups
ever executed In financial battles.
The control of the Chlrngri. Milwaukee
St. Paul road, which Morgan and Hill con
fidently believed to bs theirs yesterday
morning. Is still lodged with the Hrrlman-
Standard Oil Interests and will be strensth-
ened.
As Hill threw Harriman out of ths
ownership of the Northern Taclflc In ths
Christmas season of inn, so Harriman
ousts Hill from an ownership In St. FauL
Mr. Hill executed his flunk movement by
retiring the preferred stock of Northern
Pacific, In which opponent's control cen
tered; Mr. Harriman and friends main
tain St. Paul by Issuing two-thirds of a
$100,000,000 stock lncrtase to the holders of
the preferred. While Hill's control of
Northern raclflc common was a golden
apple, his control of St. Paul common is
but ashes.
F.nd of Tttahlo Struggle.
For a month there has been a Titanlo
struggle for the ownership of St. Paul In
the open market. Quietly and almost un
suspected, tha Morgan-Hill people havs
been buying St. Paul In the hope of get
ting control and turning tho Pacific coast
extension southward Into the Harriman
territory. In tbe last week this battle for
stock has been acute and a disturbing
feature to Wall street and the money mar
ket. Much of old bitterness had been
i-roused. The attack of Jacob H. Schlff
upon banks charging excessive money
rates for stock loans was direct -d nalnst
Morgan Institutions. For some d iys the
Morgan banks were callln? loans as ths
money was needed to buy St Paul stock,
the high rates and the calling of loans
forcing out large blocks of this security
and keeping down the price and to some
extent deceiving the trained speculators
as to the real purpose.
Yesterday the crucial point was reached.
The Morgan-HUl Interests were within safe
grounds; they could count on enough stock
to swing ihe management of the road and
they reached for a good margin over actual
control. To their surprise stock came from
quarters known to be friendly to St. Paul
Interests. There was a hesitation In ths
purchases, a searching Inquiry and the In
formation from friends in the enemy's
camp that there would be a coup In ths
announcement of n. stock Issue of $100,000,
000, which was $25,000,000 more than was
expected at this time. Then the contest
was g'.ven up; the stock broke and weak
ened the market.
How Trick Was Turned.
The official announcement betrayed ths
cunning of the Harriman people to make
safe their agreement; to make su,e ths
extension of St. Paul Into Hill territory.
Of the $10,511,000 new Btock, the preferred
is fAtt.W. or 13T. per cent of the pres.
ent Issue of $19,5t,000. There Is to be
$33.1S-l,0O0 new common, or 40 per cent of
the present Issue of r'."i,183.W).
. Subscriptions to this new stock at ths
rate of 75 per cent of present holdings of
preferred and common aro riven to share
holders of record tomorrow, December 1ft,
and tho first Installment of 10 per cent
must be paid on Friday, December 21. In
other words, subscribers who own ths
stock or buy today must exercise their
right by 8 o'clock on Friday at the placa
of registration In New York.
All stock not taken at that time reverts
to a syndlcnto which has been formed, and
this syndicate consists of friends of the
present management, or of IIarrini:in and
the Rockefellers.
Owing to the short notice, not half of
the shareholders outside the warring fao
t'ons will be able to avail themselves of
the opportunity to subscribe. It Is reported
that the Morgan-HII! Interests hold $15,000,.
000 of the common stock, which would glvs
them the privilege of takins $.'53,750,000 of
the $D,511.0jO new securities and mnke their
totnl holdlnps rrS.TRAOOO. The Standard Oil
peoi lu own $30,W.0ii0 of the preferred Issue
and $30 000,000 of the common. The propor
tion of the new stock would increase their
holdings to $S5,000,0iio. Through the short
notice they will profit by securing $2.",G0O,0O
more of the new stock, which would give
them $120,000,000, or a clear majority of ths
$130,848,000 of stock as Increased.
Terms of Subscription.
NEW YORK, Dec. Ui.-Holdera of Chi
cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul stock will be
permitted to bubscrlbe for the new $lio,0i.O,
U00 Issue to the extent of 60 per cent of
their present holdings In preferred stock
and 25 per cent In common. The percent
ago computation will be made on the en
tire amount of stock held, !oth preferred
and common. At the time the announce
ment was made today It was said that
no "split" or fractional share would be
allowed on the warrant. The stock will be
Issued tomorrow.
Following a meeting today of the com
mittee on securities of the Nsw York Stock
exchange announcement was made that
the directors of the Chicago, Milwaukee ds
St. Paul railroad bad agreed to Issue war
rents In loo-shar lots as "rights" for ths
new preferred and common stocks, the Is
suance of which was made public yester
day. Hill Must Obey State Law.
MINNEAPOLIS, Deo, 18 Attorney Oen.
eral B. T. Young has not heard officially
from the Great Northern officials as to
whether they will apply to the State Rail
road and Warehouse commission for per
mission to Issue $0,0bu.oui In stock as pro
vided for In ths revised laws of 1SW6. Ths
attorney gout-rut Is prepar. .1 aaw to ttop
any attempt by Januss J. Hill sr ths Oreat
Northern to Issue the stock without drat
obtaining his permission.
Attorney General Young said he did not
expect any further developments until Jan
uary 4. when the first issue Is scheduled
to take place.
"We will be ready for them," said At.
tomsy Csbsral Toun( "uu that dats aaA
