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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 1908)
Omaha Daily Bee VOL. XXXVII NO. 212. OMAIIA, TITURSDAY MOKNING, FEBRUARY 20, 1908 TEN PAGES. SINGLE COPY TWO CENTS. The if TO AVOID LABOR WAR President Writes Letter on Threat to Cut Railroad Wages. HE CALLS FOE AL fcHE FACTS Commerce Commission As. lo Look Into Meriti of Ca. ,S . - PUBLIC IS VITALLY INTER Charge that New Laws Are Respon sible it Resented. SEEKS TO. AVOID CONFLICT Objection to Attempt to t'a Lawa to Opprm Rmplorfi or .Use Em ployea to treat. Sentiment Against Uwi. WASHINGTON. Feb. 19.-Serlous Indus trial disputes In prospect were In the mind of President Roosevelt when he wrote a letter to the Interstate Commerce commis sion yesterday, which was made public "day. ' He says that Information has reached Mm that on account of the enact ment of unfavorable laws by the con gress and by the various state legislatures It la regarded as necessary by railroad companies to reduce the pay of employes. He points out that under the law either party may demand the services of . the chairman of tho Interstate Commerce com mission and of the commissioner of labor as a board of conciliation. He suggests, therefore, that the Inter state Commerce commission make such an Investigation as will enable It to furnish data concerning wape conditions on various railroads as may relate, directly or Indi rectly, to the possible Impending contro versy, i Test of Message. Tho full text of the president's letter fol lows: "THE WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON, Feb. 18. 19C& To the Interstate Commerce Commission: I am Informed that a num ber of railroad companies have served no tice of a proposed reduction of wages on their employes. One of them, the Louis ville St Nashville, In announcing the re duction, states that the drastic laws Ini mical to the Interests of the railroad that have In the last year or two been enaoted by congress and the state legislatures' are largely or chiefly responsible for the con ditions requiring the reduction. "Under such circumstances It Is Impos sible that the public may soon be con fronted by serious Industrial disputes, and the law provides that In such cams either party may demand the services of your chairman and of the commissioner of labor as a board of mediation and conciliation. These reductions In wages may be war ranted, or they may not As to this, the public, which Is a vitally Interested party, can form no judgment wlfhout a more com plete kno.jfd-er of the essential facts and real rner'tu ot the ease than It no has or than It can possibly obtain from the special pleadings eertsln to be pat forth by each side In case their dlxpute should bring serious Interruption to traffic." All the Facts Wasted. If the reduction In wages Is due to na tural causes, the loss of business being such that the burden should fee, and Is equitably distributed between capitalist and wage workers, the public and congress should know It and If It Is caused by mis conduct In the past financial or other op erations of any railroad, then everybody should know It, especially If the excuse of unfriendly legislation Is advanced as method of covering up past business mis conduct by the railroad managers, or as a just Justification for failure to treat fairly the wage earning employes of the company. "Moreover, an Industrial conflict between a railroad corporation and Us employes offers peculiar opportunities to any small number of evil disposed persons to destroy llfo and property and foment public dls cord. Of course, If life and property and public order are endangered, prompt and drastic measures for their protection be comes the first plan duty. All other duties then become subordinate to the preserva tion of the public peace and the real merits of tlio original controversy are necessarily lost lroin view. This vital consideration should ever be kept In mid by all law abiding and far-sighted members of labor organizations. Hoh for Peaceful Solution. "It la sincerely to be hoped therefore, that any wage controversy that may arise between the railroads and their employes may find a peaceful solution through the methods of conciliation and arbitration, al ready Jiov dot toi hy congress, which have Urovit . . .iw during the past year. -o i. . a.Uslon should be In a pok.i .. t.-ullable for any board if . .i nit ration relevant data l't.. . ... i-.irrlers as may become Inv.. . ...jjs.I hiI disputes. Should cone. ... . ia. I u effect a settlement and at bin be rejected, accurate informa tion B.uiim im' available In order to develop a pruiii.y .nturnied public opinion. "I liicicioie ask you to make such In vestigation both of your records and by any means at your command as will en able you to furnish data concerning such condition obtaining on the Louisville & Nashville and any other roads as may ret- late, dlrvctty or Indirectly to the real merits of possibly Impending controversy. "THEQIK3RE ROOSEVELT." BRYAN GRATIFIED WITH OHIO Meetings In Colnmbas Have Left Hint In Pleasant Frame al Mlad. COLUMBUS. O., ttu. 19. William J. Bryan Iff t Columbus today for Hamilton, 1).. wheie be will make an address In the evening. Mr. Bryan breakfasted early at the Southern hotel, where be retired after his speech at Memorial hall last night. Many of bis trtetids Joined htm In his room at the hotel today and bid him good-bye. tJlr. Bryan expressed himself as being very much pleased with Ills reception In Colum bus. THAW NOT TO ASK DIVORCE Denies Rawer that lie Contemplates Bringing Proceedings Against His Wife. MATTE A WAN. N. T.". Feb. IS. Harry K. Thaw today denied the reports that he has begun or Is about to begin proceedings to secure a divorce from tils wife, Evelyn Nesblt Thaw. A letter was sent to Thaw at the statu hospital for the Insane asking him to reply to the following question: "Have you begun or are you about to begta divorce proceedings against Evelyn." Tbair returned 11. tuweti "No." SUMMARY OF THE DEE Thandsn February SO, 190ft. 1908 $EBRtJARy 1908 STY tfoY TTTL ft fa TUlf ' fPj J32 XT "Z" J 23 4 5 6 Z 8 0 10 11 12 Id 14 15 16 1Z 18 19 20 21 22 2$ 2425 20 2Z 28 29 m VS1THEB, Tnf rm i - fnurMl nittffa -ril-.tv Fair Thursday; rlfflng temperature. For Nebraska Fair Thursday; rising temperature. For Iowa Fair Thur-rtftV! rnnr temner. atura. Temperature at Omaha yesterday: Hour. Deg. ... 6 ... 4 ... S ... 1 ... S ... 6 ... 7 ... 10 ... 11 ... 14 ... 15 ... IS ... 14 ... 13 ... 13 ... 12 ... 12 S a, m... 6 a m... 7 a m... 5 a. m... a. m... 10 a m... 11 a. m... 12 m 1 p. m... t p. m... 3 p. rn... 4 p. m... 6 p. m... 6 p. m... 7 p. m... 8 p. m... 9 p. m... BOMZSTZO. President Roosevelt has asked Interstato Commerce commission to ascertain facts relative to necessity of threatened reduc tion of wages by railroads. Page 1 Omaha Commercial club files a protest on proposal of Lincoln to rigidly enforce the long and short haul clause. Tags 1 Indiana, ' Michigan and Wisconsin felt the severity of the storm yesterday, which almost completely blocked traffic Page 1 Beadle county men of South Dakota are for Governor Crawford for United States senator. rags 1 George J. Gould denies that the Gould lines will be- forced Into a receivership. Page 1 Comptroller Rldgely Is In Kansas City, going over the plans for the reopening of the National Darnt--of Commerce. Page 1 Attorney General Byers of Iowa takes steps to drive out the gamblers from Bur lington. Page 1 Battleship Nebraska arrives at Mag- delana bay. Page 1 Mr. Bryan Is exceedingly gratified with the showing made In Ohio. Page 1 District Judge of Oklahoma holds the state bank tax law legal. Page 1 Senator Knox Introduces a parcels post bill, which embodies the Ideas of Post master General Meyer. Page 1 Lyman Gage favors the Fowler bill and opposes the Aldrlch bill. Page 1 Secretary Taft spends the day in cities of New Hampshire. , Pace 1 Missouri Pacific railroad is granted a continuance in the railroad cases In fed eral court at Lincoln. Pag 1 Judge Ball's decision in the Illinois Cen tral case Is expected today. Page 1 House committee on coinage decides to recommend replacing the motto, "In God We Trtuu" on coins. , Page 1 ' sTXBKASKA. ' Holding of prisoners thirty days by sheriff an expensive thing for the state. Attorneys for Unlen Pacific uncertain what to do about passes.1 Pegs 3 PO&EXOK. German Imperial treasury Is speculating on the feasibility of engaging in a mo nopoly of oil. Page S Japanese cabinet Is facing a crisis over the Immigration question. Page a American trade has been damaged in the orient and complaints have been made to the State department that Japan is re sponsible. Page 9 Japanese are testing the new natal act passed by the Parliament of British Co lumbia . Page a Judges take the case of General Stoeasel In consideration. Page 8 OOXMEBCIAX. AITS UTOUSTBlaX. Live stock markets. Pag T Grain markets. Page 7 Stock and' bonds. Page 7 BXOYEMZsTTS OP OCXAJT STEAaUlKa. Port. AniTea, S lie 4. NEW YORK.., Ctronl. NEW YORK Kron Pr. Cseell. TAFT SEES a.L MANCHESTER Guest of Governor Floyd and Former Governor Rollins In New Hampshire City. MANCHESTER. N. H., Feb. 19. Follow ing a crowded day and night of traveling, speechmaklng and sightseeing. Secretary Taft arose early today and began another strenuous day's campaign. He was the guest during the night of Governor Floyd. He started on an early tour about the city this morning accompanied by the governor and former Governor Rollins. The weather was cold and a light snow was falling, but Secretary Taft and his escort drove In an open carriage. A com mittee of Nassau rttixens came to Man chester this morning to escort the secre tary to their city, where he will make an address this afternoon. NASHUA. N. H.. Feb. 19. A crowd of several hundred persons greeted Secretary Taft on his arrival here. When Secretary Taft and his party stepped from bis car they were heartily cheered. IOWA PACKERS THREATENED Redaction In Iow4 Stock Rates Woild Injnre Them, Saya Ottnmwa Man. t CHICAOO, Feb. 18 Before Interstate Commerce Commissioner Prouty today John H. Morrell of Ottumwa, la., declared that any reduction on the present rate on live stock might drive the Iowa packers out of business. He declared Uat the Iowa packers get a through rate of 40 cents to New Tork; 1 cents to Chicago and SJ cents from Chicago to New York; while the Chicago packers pay 30 cents from Chicago to New York. Chicago packers would be able to crowd the Iowa men out of busi ness, Mr. Morrell declared. If the rates were reduced. FATHER'S ARMS MISS CHILD Uaby and Slather lajared tn Lean from Third Story Tene ment. BOSTON. Feb. 19.-Mrs. Mary McDonald and her 19-months'-old baby were danger ously injured In escaping a fire In their tenement In Tremont street today. The husband, Patrick McDonald, Ju.iiped to the street from the third floor without sustaining serious - injury and the wife threw her two babies to hlro. The first. 4 months' old, he caught In his arms safely but the older one fell to the street. The woman herself received a fractured akuU. STORM CONTINUES UNABATED Wind and Snow Still Cause Trouble in Michigan and Wisconsin. EALLBOADS AEE ALMOST TIED UP Chicago Traction Lines Doing Their Beet to Penetrate Blockades St. Levis Has Stinging; Snow Storm. DEROIT, Mich., Feb. 1.-The billiard which swept down upon the lower portion of Michigan from the west yesterday after noon still prevails with great severity and already the snowfall ranges from eight Inches In Detroit to eighteen Inches In the southwestern section of the state. Accom panied by a twenty to thirty mile an hour wind the snow Is dlfting badly through the country districts and roads . are badly blocked. Trains are late everywhere, al though railroad officials generally express themselves as greatly pleased over their success in keeping the lines open. The storm Is most severe In that part of the state below a line drawn from Saginaw bay across to Lake Michigan. Kalamaxoo reports that all trains In the southwestern section of the state are from one-half an hour to four hours late and that the Lake Shore railway has entirely abandoned 1 traf flo on tta branch through there today. Interurban lines In southwest ern Michigan are having a desperate fight to get cars through. The Michigan Cen tral, Fere Marquette, Wabash and Grand Trunk railroads all reported here today practically the same condition of affairs along their lines snow from eight to eighteen Inches In depth, trains being doubleheaded and delays In traffic from the west running from half an hour to five or six hours late. The Wabash reports the storm less severe through Canada and westbound passenger trains arriving with small delays. Chicago Under Deep Snow. CHICAGO, Feb. 19. The bltisard which began here yesterday and which almost paralyzed all transportation facilities in Chicago and suburbs was still In progress today although the greatest fury of the storm had passed. A light snow fell dur ing the early part of the day and was piled Into great drifts by a strong wind. Trafflo on all surface and elevated street car lines, as well as on steam roads, was greatly de layed In spite of the strenuous efforts of the officials of the various lines who had large squads of men working all night In an endeavor to keep the tracks clear of snow. Even worse delays were experienced because through trains from the east ar rived here today all the way from one to seven hours late. Many additional accidents to pedestrlajis, and one death, were reported to the police. An unidentified man, about forty years of age, was struck by a freight train on the Chicago & Northwestern road and died an hour later at St. Ann's sanatarium. Two men, who had been overcome by the storm, were found by the police almost completely burled In the snow. An abandoned automobile' was found In a snow drift early today at Stewart avenue and Sixty-sixth street.- The license tag and head lamps were missing, and nothing was found by means of which the Identity of the owner could be learned. Service on the electric line running be tween Elgin and Chicago was almost at a standstill. Trains operating east of Whea ton, on the same line, however, were only slightly delayed. The body of John Johnson was found In a snowbank today at Sixty-third street and Sacramento avenue. It Is believed he was frosen to death. Foot of Snow at Milwaukee MILWAUKEE, Wis., Feb. 19. The bill iard which started In this section yesterday continues with but slightly abated fierce ness today. About a foot of snow has fal len In Milwaukee and vicinity. The elec tric line to Racine Is tied up on account of huge drifts. The Waukesha line Is open, but the cars are badly delayed. Trains on the steam roads are considerably delayed. ST. LOUIS. Mo., Feb. 19. The tempera ture dropped down to 22 degrees above sero today and a stinging snow storm prevails, being driven by a hard northwest wind blowing 2S miles an hour. TOPEKA. Kan., Feb. 1. Last night was the coldest of the season In Kansas. Little snow haa fallen and railroad traffic has not been Impeded. KANSAS CITY. Feb. 19.-A fall of twenty degrees In temperature was regis tered over western Missouri during the past twenty-four hours. A brisk northwest wind during the sight caused the three Inches of snow that had fallen to drift badly. Street cars are running regularly today and trains are resuming their schedules. SCRANTON, Pa., Feb. 19. Heavy snow haa fallen today throughout northeastern Pennsylvania Street car traffic In the Lackawanna valley is blockaded and steam roads are greatly handicapped. GOSHEN, Ind., Feb. 19. The worst snow storm In twenty years Is raging here. Eighteen Inches of snow have fallen and In places It has drifted badly. Southbound trains from Michigan points are blocked. At Warsaw twelve Inches of snow has fal len. Other points In northern Indiana are reporting similar conditions. JOLIET, 111., Feb. 19.-A relief party has left here to rescue the passengers on a Jollet & Southern interurban car stalled In the snow near Plalnfleld. The car left here last night carrying twenty passen gers. INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 19 The flood sit uation In southern ndlana la more serious today. Swollen rivers Increased their depth during last night and thousands of addi tional acres of lowlands are submerged. At Evansrllle the Ohio Is rising one Inch an hour. Rain and snow fell during the night, followed today by a cold wind, caus ing much suffering among flood refugees. Trains Still Delayed. BEATRICE, Neb., Feb. 19.-Speclal Tele gram.) The railroads have not yet recov ered from the effects of yesterday's storm. Burlington passenger No. 98 left Beatrice last evening for Nebraska City and be came stalled in a snowdrift two miles east of town, where It remained all night. Roadraaater Wright of Tecumseb and one of his men walked to town and this morn ing secured an engine from Wymore to pull the train out of the drift. The pas sengers suffered no 111 effects as a result of the delay. The Rock Island haa not had a train through here for two days and trains on the Burlington and Union Pacific are badly delayed. Iowa Central Tied Up. mIkSHALLTOWN. Ia., Feb. 19. The bllsxard has completely tied up trafflo on the Iowa Central. In the drifts near Glf ford a passenger train Is snowed in. The Chicago It Northwestern train with two locomotives and double sections for through trains Is from four to seven hours late. MtaaooH Democrats to Meet. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.. Feb. 19.-The Missouri state democratic committee met here today and deci.ied to hold the state convention here on May JO Jefferson City won the' convention over BprlugCield by XI to U vulnt SQUADRON N EARING CALLAO American Battleships Will Bench Peravlen Port nt O'clock Thla Morning. LIMA. Feb. 19. The American battleship fleet Is expected to reach Callao about S o'clock tomorrow morning. Two wireless messages were received here today. The first conveyed the Information that the fleet was then 224 miles from the port and the second, timed much later In the day, forwarded a message of thanks from Rear Admiral Evans.' He expressed his appre ciation of the affectionate welcome by the Peruvian nation and the president. Ad miral Evans said he considered the Peru vian escort to Callao a great honor and thanked the government for Ita offer to transmit his messages o the Navy depart ment at Washington, but added that he had nothing at present to communicate. The government has Issued a decree mak ing Saturday a holiday In honor of Wash ington's birthday and the Americans' visit and It has ordered the Peruvian warships to salute the American flag at noon. The banks and commercial houses have decided to close tomorrow and great crowds are expected to greet the fleet when It steams Into port and take part In the later fes tivities. President Pardo will give a public reception to Rear Admiral Evans and the other officers at S o'clock on Friday after noon. The wireless message from the Connecti cut said that Admiral Evans has not yet recovered his health. MOORS MEET MORE REVERSES Attack French In Narrow Delle, bat Are Repulsed at Point of Bayonet. PARIS, Feb. 19. A dispatch received here from Vice Admiral Phlllbert. the French naval commander In Morocco says that on February 16 and 17 the French had a serious battle with the Moors at a point fifteen miles southeast of Fedala. The French had two officers and several soldiers killed. The casualties of the Moors were heavy. The French column, which as commanded by Colonel Taupln was attacked by the Moors In a narrow defile. The encounter was marked by a series of fierce' struggles at the point of the bayonet. In the engagement three days ago be tween troops of General D'Amades' force and the Madaghra tribesmen the casualties sustained by the enemy were heavy. Gen eral D'Amades was assisted by the Mzab tribesmen who surrendered ' recently. JUDGES TAKE STOESSEL CASE Evidence In and Members of Conrt Retire to Deliberate .Ver dict Thursday. ST. PETERSBURG. Feb. 19. The court which has been trying General Stoessel for the surrender of Port Arthur to the Japan ese retired for deliberation at noon today, ordering General Steeeeel and the other defendants In the courtmartial proceedings, Geperal FocK and Heine, to appear feDru jriy 30 at 11 o'clock In the morning, when sentence Is expected to be pronounced. Sentrlos have been stationed at the doors leading to the Judges' room, which has been provided with beds, t-. tund Indicates the Judges anticipate a "strangle' In their efforts to reach a verdict. Dnbonchrt Given Freedom. ODESSA, Feb. 19. Dr. Dubouchet, the American citizen who was arrested re cently In this city on the charge of being connected with the revolutionary organ isation, waa released today, but he was ordered to leave Russia within ten days. He probably will Join his wrfe In Swlts erland. Mrs. Dubouchet Is a Russian woman of noble birth. It has been declared that she spent a large part of her fortune In aiding the Russian revolutionary move ment. BALL'S DECISION THURSDAY Control of Illinois Central Railroad Will Be Settled by Conrt's Decree. CHICAGO. Feb. 19. Judge Ball, In the superior court, will tomorrow morning ren der his decision in the famous Illinois Cen tral railroad case. The chief legal point Involved Is whether or not It Is lawful for corporations outside of Illinois to control and vote stock in Illinois corporations. In cidentally, the decision will settle whether Stuyvesant Fish or E. H. Harrtman Is to control the Illinois Central railroad during the ensuing year. , NEW YORK. Feb. 19. No action waa taken by the directors of the Illinois Cen tral railroad at a meeting in this city today upon the proposed Issue of $30,000,000 of equipment obligations, which was to come up for discussion. E. IL Harriman and Stuyvesant Floh attended the meeting. Mr. Harriman when questioned about the proposed Issue said: "It Is not every rail road that haa mooo.OCO worth of free equipment." STATE BANK TAX HELD LEGAL District Jadgo la Oklahoma Snstalna the Law at First Test Case. GUTHRIE. Okl., Feb. 19.-Judge A. H.' Houston, in the district court here today, sustained a demurrer filed by Attorney General West In an Injunction suit brought by the Noble State bank against the State Banking Board and the bank commis sioner regarding the collection of state bank tax, on the ground that there was not sufficient facts in the petition to con stitute a case of action. This is the first test on the Oklahoma guaranty deposit law. In passing on the case Judge Hous ton stated that under the police powers of the state given by the act the defendants have the power to collect the tax, as the banks that are allowed to do business In this state are corporations and that they are as much accountable to the legislature as any other corporation which serves the public "IN, GOD WE TRUST' TO STAY Honse Committee on Coinage Votes Against President Hooee velt's Baling. WASHINGTON. Feb. 9 -Presldent Roose velt was overridden today by the house committee on coinage, weights and meat. ur.s, when by unanimous vote It was agreed to report favorably the McKlnk-y till.) bill requiring the restoration to gold and silver coins of the national motto "In Uod We Trust." During the discussion Representative Knowland of California, being In a facetious mood, moved that the committee further recommend the placing upon all clearing house certificates the biblical inscription "I know that my Re deemer llveth." Boost for Telephone Capital. CHICAGO. Feb. 19 The state of Illinois has given the Chicago Telephone company permission to Increase the company's capi tal Of eAI.VU6.UUU to fJU.OOC.tMl PRICES BRING THE BUYERS Wholesalers of Omaha Are Securing' the Western Trade. BUSINESS ON AN UP GRADE m Commissioner Gnlld Signs Bnnehee of Checks for Car Fnre for Largo Number of Coantry Merchants. Evidence that Omaha will attract this spring larger number of buyers than ever before, regardless of financial conditions which have prevailed In the country for three months, was given by J. M. Guild, commissioner of the Commercial club, Wednesday, when he signed half a hun dred checks for the car fare of merchants coming to Omaha to buy goods. The season for buying goods Is usually from February 1 to March 1, but it will be late this year and the merchants' meetings are to be continued until April 1, the whole salers of Omaha agreeing to pay the car fare of their customers who come to the city during that time. The uncertainty of the weather has been about as much re sponsible for the late season as any other reason. The merchants have waited for the present snow storm. They knew It was coming and when to buy spring goods has been a matter of mystery to them. But from the number who arrived Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the present week It Is evident that the stream will be continuous until the first of April and will probably reach Its height about the first week of March. Car Fare to Tell Story. "In view of the ' general conditions throughout the country the trade conditions are surprisingly good," said Mr. Guild. "In both wholesale and retail lines the leading houses report a decided Increase In busi ness. It was generally supposed that the first part of February would show a de crease, while at a matter of fact the busi ness has been better than normal all along the line. I believe the amount of car fare which will be paid by the Omaha whole salers will tell the story at the end of the season. The spring trade will show as large an Increase over the trade of last fall as the fall trade showed over the spring trade of a year ago. Commissioner Guild calls attention to the fact that Omaha Is becoming known as the market city of the west where the merchants of the country secure as good values as they would get on the eastern markets and save the freight or better. Another factor which Is bringing large numbers of merchants to Omaha la the re fund of car fare. But one other city on the Missouri river Is as generous to Its customers as the wholesalers ot Omaha, and the Omaha merchants deserve the credit for starting the movement, all other cities being "after It" BEADLE MEN FOR CRAWFORD Stalwarts Condemned! In Reaolntlon Passed by Connty Committee at Meetinsr. HURON a D-. Fen. 19.-(Speclal.)-At a largely attended meeting here Monday afternoon, the Beadle county republican committee fixed the baala of representa tion for the convention here March 21, at one delegate for each fifteen votes cast for Coe I. Crawford for governor, giving the county ten delegates to the state convention to be held here April 7. Among resolutions adopted were these: That we, hereby, express our confidence In Governor Coe I. Crawford and heartily endorse his administration as governor of this state and, believing In his integrity and and answering fidelity to the principles of tho platform, upon which he was elected, we take great pleasure In endorsing him for United States senator. That, we condemn the attempt i of the stalwart faction of the republican party to overthrow those acts enacted by the last legislature In the Interests of tho people and their attempt to return to the regime of one-man domination of party politics and machine rule and most emphatically con demn policies formerly In vogue In this state, whereby public service corporation controlled the politics and dictated legis lation under the leadership of Senator Kltt redge. That we hall the leadership of Governor Coe I. Crwford, whose policies have brought relief frcm corporate dictation and has Inaugurated the system, by which the whole people can decide what laws shall be enacted and the representative wno snail enact and the officers who shall enforce them. POWER PR0JECT AT NIAGARA Scientist Sara Forty Thousand Feet of Water a Second Will In jure Falls. WASHINGTON. Feb. 9. Dr. J. W. Spen cer, the British scientist, who was com missioned by the geological survey of Can ada to mako an investigation of the Niagara Falls problem, discussed today In an Interesting manner the effect of the utilisation of lta waters by power plants upon the scenic beauty of that natural wonder. At the Instance of the American Clvlo Federation Dr. Spencer has appeared be fore the house rivers and harbors commit, tee and presented facta and figures to show what effect the request of the On tario Power company for a power fran chise, to develop which would require 40.0UO cubic feet of water per second, would have on the falls. It was contended by Dr. Spencer that this request la for from 20 to SB per cent of the discharge of Niagara river and would greatly impair the characteristics of the whirlpool rapids, lower the river bed up to the falls, break up the surface rock at the foot of the American falls and Goat island and thereby cause a more rapid re cession of the horseshoe. ARMENIAN TO GO -ON TRIAL District Attorney Jerome Hopes to Break I'p Blaekmalllng Band la New York. NEW YORK. Feb. i9. Father Levnnt Martougesslan, the Armenian priest, who Is said to be the head of the Hunchaklst so ciety, will be placed on trial tomorrow charged with the robbery and blackmailing of prominent Armenians, it Is said that, however this esse Is determined, the priest will be charged wtlh complicity In the murder of II. 8. Tavshanjlan, a wealthy Armenian rug merchant, who was mur dered last summer by Bedros Hampart ouinlan, who Is now serving a term of Im prisonment for the crime. It Is stated It Is likely that Hampartsoumlan will be a witness against the priest He, according to the police theory, la simply a tool In the hands of a band of blackmailers, who used his patriotism and the name of the Hunchaklst society, formerly an Armenian revolutionary organisation, in order to levy tribute from wealthy Armenians. Several Armenian merchants will appear against the priest today and District Attorney Jerome announces that be la certain he wUi secui a CunvicUwf CHAMPIONS FOR FOWLER BILL Credit Currency on Proper Aasets Ef fective System of Ranking, Saya Lyman tinge. WASHINGTON. Feb. 19.-The principles of the Fowler financial bill were defended today by former Secretary of the Treasury Lyman J. Gage, Charles A. Conant of New York and Prof. Joseph French Johnson of the New York university before the house committee on banking and currency. Sec retary Gage said that we have reached the most Important period In the financial his tory of the country for the last forty or fifty years and that Die solution ot the problem depended largely upon the men making up the banking and currency com mittee. It was early Impressed upon him, said Mr. Gage, that a credit currency Issued on proper assets was an effective, useful and economic agency In the industrial exchange of the people and was the best system of banking. Taking up the present financial system Mr. Gage said he thought It ought to be revised from the very beginning. He re garded the Fowler bill as a comprehensive measure containing In Itself the evidence that the author understands clearly and specifically- the principles which underlie the banking and currency relationship of things and has brought forth a measure which in contrast to the one offered In the senate has reached the fundamentals. RECEIVERSHIP STORY DENIED George J. Goald Says No Possibility of Missouri Pacific Going that War. NEW TORK, Feb. 19.-ReporU . which have been circulated In the west for several days to the effect that a receivership was about to be asked for the Missouri Pacific railroad were given positive denial today by George J. Gould, president of the road. "There Is absolutely not a word of truth In these reports or any reports of that kind Involving this property," said Mr. Gould. Receivership proceedings have not been thought of, or even dreamed of, and there Is not even the most remote possibility that they will be." There were severe declines In low priced railroad stocks on tho stock exchange today. The Gould shares were especially weak. Missouri Pacific, which closed at 84 yesterday, was down to 284; Western Union, another Gould issue, broke from 44 to 414, and the Denver & Rio Grande shares, also belonging to the Gould group, declined, the common selling down from 17 to Hty, and the preferred from 464 to 41 In the afternoon. Other stocks which ran off sharply Included Rock Island com mon from 12 to U and preferred from 24 to 22Ts, Southern Railway common from 10H to 94 and preferred from Sl to 294, and Erie, all of whose Issues were weak. OHIO FL00DAT CINCINNATI Danger Line of Fifty Feet Reached at Noon and Rise 'still Continues. ' CINCINNATI, O., Feb. J9.-The danger line fifty feet was reached by the Ohio river here at noon today and the rise con tinues. Weather. Forecaster Paster esti mated the crest at fifty-two feet and said he expected the river to begin falling by Friday. INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 19. Extremely cold weather developed last night and will retard the rise in the Ohio river here. High winds of the night and today caused considerable distress among the hundreds of lowlands Inhabitants who are Isolated In their homes by the water. TOLEDO, O., Feb. 19. The storm of last night Is continuing today. Street car traffic Is Interfered with. Unless freeslng weather comes quickly a disastrous flood seems certain. NEBRASKA INJVIAGDELENA BAY Warehip First of Secondary Fleet to Gather Before Atlantis Shlpa Arrive. SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 19.-The United States battleship Nebraska, Captain Nichol son, arrived yesterday from Magdalena bay as the vanguard of a fleet which will be In this harbor by Saturday and which, though not so large as that on Its way here under Admiral Evans' command, will be the most Imposing array of fighting machines ever assembled inside the Golden Gate. Admiral Dayton's "Big Four." the West Virginia, Maryland, Colorado and Pennsylvania, and Admiral Sebree's big armored cruisers Tennessee and Washington will be here Friday and will be Jloned Saturday by the South Dakota and California, now anchored between here and Mare Island. These, with the Nebraska, will make nine big first-class warships, with about WO officers and men on each vessel. RIDGELY WILL GO OVER PLANS Comptroller Persistently Says He Haa No Intention of Leaving Hla Position. KANSAS CITY. Mo., Feb. 19.-W. R. Rldgely, comptroller of the currency, ar rived here this morning from the east to go over with the stockholders of the failed National Bank of Commerce their plans for reorganising that institution. Tomorrow the stockholders of the National Bank of Commerce are to hold an election to choose directors, who subsequently will elect a new president. Mr. Rldgely has been asked to assume tho direction of the roorganlsed bajik. He has persistently said that he has no intention of leaving the office of comptroller. BURLINGTON GAMBLERS TO GO Attorney General of Iowa Coatlnnea Campaign for Law Kn force ment In State. BURLINGTON, la., Feb. 19.-Actlng m accordance with Attorney General Byers' campaign for law enforcement In Iowa, the Civic Federation haa notified tne mayor and all other responsible officers that the gamblers must be driven out of Burlington at once. The president of the Civic Feder ation has received a leter from Attornej General Byers offering all the asKlsianc be can give In the enforcement of the law In this city. They propose to make the campaign a strong one. SANTA FE CUTS DOWN FORCE Announcement Made that Eighteen Per Cent of Men Will Be Discharged. TOPEKA. Ksn., Feb. 19.-U Is announced here today that the Atchison, Topeka at Santa Fe Railway company has ordered a reduction of 18 per cent in the mechanical department all over the system. Two hundred were discharged thla afternoon In the Topeka shops. Reductions were made la fatUcr Kansas shops. PROTEST JY OMAIIA Commercial Club Addresses Letter to Members of Nebraska Deleg-ation. '. PLEA OF LINCOLN IS C0MBATTED Abrogation of Long; Haul Clause Would Work Great Injury. COMPETITION BE ELIMINATED Not Only Bates, but Competition for Trade Territory, Curtailed. NO REAL BENEFIT TO ANYONE General Dodge In Washington oa Business Connected with Contra- verer Over the Location of tho Grant Monument.. (From a Staff Correspondent.) WASHINGTON, D. C, Feb. 19.-(flpecla Telegram.) The Commercial club oi Omaha Is calling the attention of tho Ne braska delegation to senate hill No. 127, which has for Its purpose the elimination of the words "under substantially similar cir cumstances and conditions" from section 4 of the act to regulate commerce. In the Judgment of the club as expressed through Its commissioner, J. M. Guild, the bill will not accomplish the purpose for which It Is intended, namely, lower rates by the rigid application of the long and short haul clause. In this letter to the delegation Mr. Guild says: "We have every reason to believe t'.is railroads in preference to applying terminal rates at intermediate points, especially on circuitous lines, will cancel rates at such terminal points and thereby deprive thrm of much needed competition with no bene fit to other points." Mr. Guild gives as an Incident the Illi nois Central, which In order to reach Omaha from tho south runs through north ern Iowa where higher rates are main tained than at Omaha. This, he says, mny seem unjust, but In similar cases, unless In termediate rates are unreasonable in them selves, the commltslon has invariably sui talned them on account of conditions at any terminal point being entirely dissimi lar to those at Intermediate stations and It Is the commissioner's oplnloln that If a rigid rule were applied as proposed In thft bill Omaha would lose the competition of the Illinois Central and various other lines. "We are not opposed to a reduction of rates," said Mr. Guild, "but believe In equalization to permit competing towns to do business in the same territory on art equitable basis, but In this Instance we can see no benefit for anyone and only Injury to commerce generally." The commissioner's deep-rooted convic tion is that If the change as 'contemplated la made In the act all elasticity In rate will be killed and the discretionary power of the commission taken from It He, the res tore, urged upon the delegation to oppose the measure. Bnrkeft to Speak In Boston. Advices from Massachusetts to Senator Burkett show a great Interest In the forth coming speeches of Secretary Taft and Mr. Burkett at a banquet before the .Re publican club of the state, which will be held in Boston on March S. In addition to the war secretary and. Senator Burkett. other speeches will be made by Governor Curtis Guild and the lieutenant governor. General Dodge In Washington. General Grenvllle M. Dodge of Council Bluffs Is visiting Senator Allison and wtll remain here for the remainder of the week. His visit to Washington Is In connection, with the Grant statue site. Minor Mutters nt Capital. Bids wore opened today at the Treasury department for a conduit wiring system for Illumination of the grounds and public building at Lincoln. The lowest bidder was the Standard Electric company ot Omaha at $1,450. Fred R. Mellck. Marvin L. Col and Charles H, Jones have been appointed car riers and Nell M. Myers, substitute car rier, to commence service March 1 at Perry, la., on which date city delivery service will be Inaugurated. Iowa postmasters appointed: Boxholm, , Boone county, Adolph Rlsholm. vice John Hocke, resigned; El well. Story c6unty. Spencer Smith, vice E. M. Thompson, re- ' signed. KNOX FILES SAVINGS BILL Measure Embodies Postmaster Gesv eral'a Postal Bank Idea. WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-Senator Knox today introduced a bill to establish A sys tem of postal savings banks. The bill em bodies the plan outlined by Postmaster General Meyer In his annual report and which he advocated in public addresses, belhg calculated to encourage economy and thrift and to afford a place of deposit free from any possibility of doubt for vast sums of money which otherwise would be hoarded and kept out of circulation through Ignorance or lack of confidence. The bill authorises the postmaster gen eral to establish a system of postal sav ings banks, comprised of such money order offices as he may designate for that pur pose. . Accounts ,my be opened and deposits made In any postal savings bank estab lished under this act by any person of the sge of 10 years or over !: his own name, . by a married woman In her own name and free from any control or Interference by her husband, by a trustee as euch on bo half of another person, by a parent, guar dian or other person for the benefit of a child under 10 years of age. or by any charitable or benevolent society or asso ciation, provided that no person or or ganisation shall have more than one pos tal savings account, except that a trustee, parents, guardian or other person may have an Individual account in his repre sentative capacity for each person or child for whom he may bo entitled to opeg an account. The bill further provides thst such postal banks shall receive deposits of money In even dollars, with )1 as a minimum, and postmasters are required to make daily reports to the postmaster general, who will forward to the depositors a written ac knowledgment of Its receipt. Deposits are not liable to selsure or detention under legal processes againct the depositor, and such funds are exempt from taxation. In terest at the rate of I per cent per an num la allowed depositors, and the post master general la authorised to place tho money deposited In postal savings banks tn national banks at a rate of Interest satlsfacfy to the secretary of tha treas ury. These national depositories are to be in the Immediate vicinity of postal banks from which the money is drawn, as a Safe- guard agalust centralisation. f curroacj-