unday Bee
PART ONE
NEWS SECTION
PAGES 1 TO I
ADVERTISE IN THE
OMAHA DEE
BEST IN TlIE WEST
VOL. XXXVIII NO. 28!
OMAHA, SUNDAY MORNING, DECKMBEIl 27, 1008. FIVE SECTIONS TWENTY-EIGHT PAGES.
SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS.
LAND PURCHASE BILL
SUMMARY OF THE BEE
GOMEZ IS A(Tr:
A Dress Rehearsal.
SanfsaTsnTnTaTsaae'sar a
m .I,,,.,-!,,,,.,,..,, ni,nwm
m is
n
The Omaha
Sunday, Ptnabrr 3T, 1909.
1908 December 1908
srx ttz. Ufa Tmf r&.
- I 2 3 4o5
OrZ 8 0 W 11 12
13 U 15 16 1Z 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 23 26
2Z 23 2930 31 -
British Government ii Too Busy end
Dropi Measure.
IRISH GRIEVANCES OLD STORY
Promise Mada to Take Matter Up at
Next Seasion.
NOT LIKELY TO BE FULFILLED
New Executive of J..tuela Recog
nized Officially and Unofficially.
Clau Spreckels Dies at Home in San
Francisco of Pneumonia.
FIRSTy BLOODLESS BEV0LUTI0N
Complete Change in Government
Made Without Loss of Life.
CATTLE MONOPOLY IS ABOLISHED
ILLNESS OF BTJT FEW DAYS
Despite His Eighty Years He Was
Active in Conduct of Business.
ESTATE OF OVER FORTY MILLIONS
i, . . ,v )f ' l '' ' ' .- m
I . 1 - : ;
I
It
ill
ii.
r
J Jut
Many Anomaliei of the Irith Old Ag-a
' ' Pension Act.
ii.MMii.n - imri. frnTAtfOITTjUI' x-rair anil coiner nummy.
(urjrXiiuLnis di xuxi wflw.Mflnr.r
More Wast Money Thau Cum Mat
Ikswi Be RHcMtlo to Re
eelv It Faulty Brit
. lak Statistics.
DUBLIN. Dec. 28. (Special. That hope
ful looking measure, the new Irish land
purchase bill which It waa thought would
speedily brrng about the resumption of the
transfer of Irish land from the landlords
to the tenant farmers, la dead already.
It has perished In the slaughter of the In
nocents and Its abandonment forma only
nnother argument for tha necessity of an
Irish legislature to make lawa for Ireland.
It Is, necessary, of course, that at the
end of a session of Parliament a certain
number of bills must be Jettisoned, becauae
there la no time to consider and pass
them and It la the practice of every gov
ernment to drop those which It considers
least Important. , Ireland does not matter
to an English government, which Is over
burdened with the task of legislating for
Kngland, and the Irish land bill, which
waa one of the most Important measures
for Ireland .brought In for several year,
had to go. It It true that Mr. Blrrell, the
chief secretary for Ireland promisee that It
will be carried over to the next session of
Parliament, but the probability Is that
there will be no next session for the pres
ent government, and even If there Is It
will be too busy getting ready for a gen
eral election, wtiich must come next year,
to pay much attention, to the clalma of
Ireland from wfliom It has nothing to
gain or lose at the polls.
. Old Are Pension.
The old age pensions act continues to
furnish all sorts of pussies for the admin
istrator It now turna out that a total
of 191138 persons claiming to be more than
. seventy years old have applied for pen
sions In Ireland. The official census re
turns ahow that there are only 184,000 per-
.aons over seventy In Ireland and It Is es
timated that 82,000 of these are In receipt
.of poor law relief and therefore Ineligible
for pensions, so. that on the face of the
official figure there should be only 152,000
persona of pensionable age, and. of course,
a number of these should be . In circum
stances whioh would render a, pension un-
necessary. I ,
The English papers have raised a howl
about Irish dishonesty,, but.. the trouble
earns to-llaJa JJi JfliULCUrate English sta
ttstlc. It Is well known that there waa no
provision for the registration of births In
Ireland until long after the youngest living
septuagenarian was born, and It ' la el no
woll known that' .the Irish peasant la very
- shy, as a rule, about ttfllng his age. It la
'fair 'to assume that Inaccurate answers
have been given by many to the ceroius
man, and that the prospect of a pension
has Induced many persons to tell their real
.age.
The difficulties which are being thrown
In the way of applicants for pensions,
however, are likely to ehut off a good
many peraona who are entitled to them,- 1
have Just been looking at a form which
the small land holder whose Income la
less than 12.60 A week. Is required to fill
out. There are no less than thirty-four
separate headings under which he or she
-Is required to estimate his annual recelpta
He Is expected to set forth separately his
profits from the sale bf '.cattle, sheep,
horses, pigs, buttar, milk, poultry, eggs,
honey, ' corn, flax,' hay and straw, pota
toes, turf flnh, seaweed and turnips. H
Is also required to state the value of the
.farm produce which he consumes himself
'In the course of the year, and another form
requires the applicant to estimate his earn
ings every year from agricultural labor
weaving, ' spinning, knitting, needlework,
kfcee, crochet and' fishing. Of course All
this Is ImpoMlhle,' to an old man or woman
who cannot read or write, and there la no
doubt that this glaring, piece of red tape
will shut out a number of person who
are genuinely entitled to pensions.
Bl pan Left tho Poor.
The village .of Ardsttcw, County Tyrone
has Just had a windfall under the will of
a Mrs. Knox of Auckland. New Zealand
who was born there. 8he- has left 120.000
' for the deserving poor of the village and
$2,(00 for the Improvement of the Ardstraw
Presbyterian church. Her total estate
amounted tp about $SoO,ooo, of which 1350 000
goes to various charltsbl and public In
. stltutlons, and the balance to relatives who
live In or near Ardstraw.
- An amusing story of a prisoner who did
not want his t'.berty has Juat Coma to me
from the north. It terms that two mem
tiers of the Royal Irish constabulary were
ii .true ted to take' a prisoner from Belfast
to Derry. AH went well until, they reached
Portadown. which la a great railway junc
tion, and at which tliey' had to change
trains. They had a few minutes to wait
and they went to the refreshment room
with their prisoner, but stayed too long
and Just emerged on the platform to see
ttie Derry train starting to rr.ove. The con
stables. Intent on . catching their train
trade a rush for It and, Jumped aboard,
forgetting all about their prisoner, who
waa left st sliding In -amazement on tha
platform. The policemen, when they real
ised what had happened, saw visions of
dismissal, and when the train reached th
next station, twenty miles' away, they gof
out and hired a horse-and trap and drova
back to Portadown. Their tlrel rait of
course, waa at the police station, an there
to their amazement and relief, they found
their prisoner sitting, waiting for them
He had derided that It would be unfair to
escape from two policemen who had treated
him ao well.
Anolhur remarkable case of Irish long
evity has Just come to light by the death
of Bartholomew O'Leary of Berlin, near
Bantry. County Cork. He waa bora tn
17V7, and waa therefore 111 years old when
l.e died. He worked regularly as a farm
laborer until ha was loft years old. and foi
the last eleven years he has done a good
deal of light farm work. He waa 111 only
a week before his death, and this, he de
clared, was the first Illness he ever had
He never spoke a word of English, al
though he understood it when spoken to
' him, and ha frequently declared that he
would never apeak any other than his na-
jtiTu lougue. s r. X CUIXEN.
TMM WIATIIB.
FOR OMAHA. COUNCIL BLUFFS AND
I "s-- . am ar a a i
- for Nebraska
-Fair and colder Sun-
day, .
FOR IOWA Partly cloudy 8unday; colder
Bunriay.
Temperatures at Omaha yesterday:
Hour. Deg.
6 a. m...
6 a. m...
7 a. m...
8 a. m...
9 a. m...
10 a. m...
11 a. m...
12 m
1 p. m...
2 p. m...
8 p. m...
4 p. m...
5 p. m...
6 p. m...
7 p. m...
50
62
t2 .
DOMXBTTO.
Senator Burkett has conference with
War department officials regarding bill
for. enlargement of signal corps post at
Fort Omaha. Bill has a good chance of
becoming a law. - X, lag 1
Claus Spreckles, the- sugar king, died
yesterday at San Francisco. X, Page 1
It la believed the special session of
congress for revision of the tariff may
be called Immediately after the Inaugu
ration of President Taft. X, Page 1
President Roosevelt lias Issued a state
ment In which he says he cannot now
Interfere In tha matter of the sentence
of the labor leaders because the case is
not through th courts. X, Fag 1
The statement of attorneys for the de
fense In the Halna case have revealed
that the Hain brothers did not go to
Bayside with a view of killing William
Annis. . . X, Pag 8y
H. W. Poor, doing business as II. W.
Poor & Co.,falle d for $3,000,000.
x, rag a
The Hargls Jury disagreed and was dis
charged. X, Pag 1
Admiral George Dewey observed hla
71st birthday yesterday. X, Fag 1
The election court la In progress with
the LUley case In hand. X, rag 1
. President-elect Taft took a trolley ride
yesterday with John Hays Hammond
from Augusta to Aiken, 8. C. X, rag 1
A battle between miners and officers
In the Kentucky mining district has
probably resulted In a number of fatali
ties. X, rag X
romxxav.
President Castro's ' enemies have been
Invited back to Venezuela by Acting
President Oomes. " - ' X, rag 1
The chief of the secret police of Mos
t-cow wee killed yesterday- In a - battle
with revolutionists.1 X, rag a
X.OCAX.
Thousands -of little ones made happy at
the Chrlstmaa distribution at the Au
" " .
dltorlum.
Wrecker agrees to pay county for the
material In the old Jail and remove It
from the ground.' X, rag 5
Merchant without - exception report
Christmas trad th largest In the his
tory of the city. ' X, rag 4
Douglas county delegation Is lined up
for Clark for speaker of the house.
I, rag 4
Oosslp of th playhouses, plays and
players. XX, rag
Doings of Omaha society folks during
the last week. XX, rag a
oosarxsvoxAX Airs xxrovsTmiAX.
t Live stock markets. XX, rag a
Other financial and commercial news.
XX, rag 8
xA&r-Toira sicnoir.
Nebraska City, Its Industries and peo
ple, and some views of the old and new
city. Present Douglas county court house
and Jail, which are soon to give way to
more pretentious and convenient struc
ture. College .freshmep at the Corn
ahow. Steamers which make trips around
the African continent Four Fagea
OOMXO 8SCTXOIT-.
Buster and Tlge convert the bath tub
Into a couch for uncle, but It proves In
secure. Page of reading for the little
folks. Activities of women In the vari
ous walks of life. Fluffy Ruffles nun an
exciting New Year's experience in Paris.
Four Fagea
KOTEMIITI OF OOBAaT BTBAIISKXPS.
Part. Arrived. slld.
NKW YORK Prorl '
LIVERPOOL luonn
NAPLES Cratle
TROUBLE IN MINING DISTRICT
Strikers and Oflleera Have Pitched
Battle In Kentneky and Num
ber Are Wonaded.
LEXINGTON. Ky., Deo. 26.-Excltement
In Intense today at Stearns, Whitley
county,- where two pitched battlea occurred
yesterday between deputy I'nlted States
marshals and miners, connected with tha
strike there. The posse, whioh was ex
pected to go Into the mountains last night to
search for the missing and wounded did
not go, but will likely go during the day.
Officer Ryan, who became aeparsted from
his companlona during the fight yesterday
la atlll wandering In th mountains. If not
already captured and shot to death by the
Infuriated atrlkera. Berrv Rlmns.n. who
(iwned the hotel in which the fight occurred, j 'ke"- The former president exhibited the
and whtch was burned. It was learned ! 8re'lu,t ln'ret In the evolutions, of the
today, escaped during the battle Into tha lkat'r' whom h watched for a consder
mountalns and la being protected there. It I 'ble U"16, H then Ikd n hour through
la thought, by hla friends. He Is alleged th 'oret " returned to the hospital.
to have been the leader of th strikers.
It Is believed that at leaat five men were
burned to death la the hotel, as tha miners
FITZGERALD ASKS. DAMAGES
Former Teller of Calrago " Bnb
' Treasury Asks Bis Sam for
Arrest.
CHICAGO. Dec. 2.-Oeorge W. Fitzger
ald, former assorting teller of the I'nlted
(Mates subtreasury at Chicago today filed
suit for $50,000 against William Bolden
week." who la In charge of the subtreasury,
and Herbert K. Toung. a private defective,
Th auit is an outgrowth of the sensational
arrest of. Fitzgerald last spring charged
with stealing $17J.0iO from the subtreasury
vaults. Fitzgerald 's. acquittal promptly fol
lowed Mr. Bolden week s refusal, under
order from Waahlngtoa to testify, to th
case. ' -
Freedom of Press is Be-established
and Political Prisoners Beleased.
EXILES INVITED TO BETUBN
Generals Rolando. Alaya and Ampard,
Who Have Been Living In New
York. Sail on, Steamer
Maraealbo.
CARACAS, Venezuela, Wednesday, Dec.
28,-tVla Port of Spain, Trinidad, Dec. 26.)
The presidency of Juan Vicente Gome has
been recognized by the country at large.
officially and unofficially, and Venezuela
I" through with one of the most popular
revolutions In the annals of the renubllo. a
...VUlUblVI, IU H IIIVII IIU, VII. UIVy W - V.UUM
was shed.
The authority of President Gomea is ac
cepted as aupreme. Even General Celestlno
Castro, brother of the former president,
who was chief of the department of Ta
chlra, has turned over to the new military
commander of that district all the arms
and ammunition in his possession, amount
ing to 6.000 rifles and 3.000,000 rounds of
ammunition. Crlestlno Castro'a acceptance
of the m-w regime Is regarded aa final and
conclusive evidence that his brother Is no
longer a factor In the present situation.
President Gomez Is showing In many ways
his desire to propitiate all Interests, pro
mote business, both local and foreign, and
Improve foreign relations.
Clprlano Castro ' Is being sued In the
Caracas courts for moneys and property al
leged to have been obtained wrongfully.
Among others, Madame Crespo, widow of
former President Joaquin Crespo, has
brought action to recover two years' rental
of the Mlraflores palace In Caracas. This
beautiful building was erected by her hus
band when he was president, and It has
been used by Clprlano Castro since his tri
umphal entry into Caracas nine years ago.
These various actions probably will result
in Clprlano losing property to the value of
$2,000,000, which he left behind In Venezuela
when he sailed for France about a month
ago. '
The doors of the country have been
opened to all Venezuelans residing abroad,
and all former patriots and revolutionary
agitators have been urged to return.
Cattle Monopoly Abolished.
The cattle monopoly maintained for so
many years by Clprlano Castro hris been
abolished and the press lias been given Its
freedom. All the political prisoners in the
land, excepting the men who were connected
with the recent plHJa assassinate President
tiomez, have been freed, and vite president
has settled the dispute with hi neighbor
on the- west.- the United" States of Colombo.
This, difficulty has exlstfd for 'many years
and arose over a contested boundary line.
' A risnn. llo.t k. ..!!. .1....
- . v w M J V ,JV , , a 1 1 1 C 11 1 , a 1 It CI
to Colombian navigation and restores the
frontier customs house at Vlllamlsar.
Jose J. J. Paul, who was minister of for
eign affairs In the Castro cabinet, received
two days ago, a despach from Clprlano
Castro at Berlin reading as follows:
"Declare the Dutch warships pirates. Sus
pend the payments to the powers under the
Washington protocols. I am forwarding you
solution of the difficulty."
This communication has been received
here with ridicule.
Castro's Enemies Sent For.
NEW YORK, Dec. 26.-Cheers and Venez
uelan flags speeded the steamer Maraealbo
when It awung out from Its pier today
bearing General Nicolas Rolando, General
Ramon A la a, General Felix Ampard and
other exiles of the Castro regime on their
way back to Venezuela at the special In
vitation of the new head of the republic,
Juan Vicente Gomes, to assist In th new
order of things governmental following
the overthrow of Castro.
Qineral Rolando, the central figure of
the day. was smiling and calm and full
of confidence In the promises of Acting
President Gome. He declared no harm
wou'd come to himself or his lieutenants.
"Ju;n Vicente Gomez," he said, "hap
pened to be the man in charge of tha
Castro forcea into whose hands I fell a
prisoner In a battle between the revolu
tionary forcea which I commanded five
years ago. We have never known each
other personally, but It never has occurred
to mo to question his motive in the matter
of Inviting me back to Venezuela to take
part In the new government he la forming.
He baa said his aim la to carry out rs
forma for which I, together with others.
have fought and again would fight, and
believe him to be sincere. Treachery In
an affair like thla would not be tolerated
by the country."
Others In the party were Julia Bolet,
brother of Nlcanar Bolet, the treasurer of
the revolutionary Junta, which was finan
cing General Rolando's proposed expedi
tion to overthrow Caatro; J. M. Ortega
Martinez, Lino Duarte Level and Alberto-
Larasaba.
Castro Takes Drive.
BERLIN, Dec. 26. &.-nor Castro went out
today for th first time since entering Dr.
Israel's hospital. He made an excursion to
Grunwald, where he witnessed what waa to
n,m unique spectacle, a anowstornj and
' thousands of persons skating on the small
I oenor (.astro says tnat he feels compara
tlvely welt, but will remain under observa
tion for some time yet.
SUBPOENAS F0R OMAHA MEN
District Attorney 81m ' Ha Seat
ember of Them to Various
Cities.
. CHICAGO, Dec. 26. Score of subpoenas
from th office of District Attorney 81ms
were sent today to St Louis. Kansaa City,
8t. Joseph and Omaha, where they will. It
Is aaid, be served on employ of railroads
and packing houses, Th federal grand
jury in Investigating rebate charges against
a certain stock yarda firm, is said to hav
unearthed a clew, the development of
which ia expected to Illuminate the man
ner . In which meat price are aaid to
be determined by certain influential pack
s'. .....
,v- - 4 .
From Harper's .Weekly.
HANDS OF PRESIDENT TIED
He Could Not Interfere in Labor Case
if He Desired.
STATEMENT FROM WHITE HOUSE
No Intimation Given as to Position of
Kxecntlve, bat He Promises to
Give the Matter III
Attention.
WASHINGTON, Doc. 26. In an official
statement Issued at the White House today
In regard to the presidential Interference
In the cases of President Gompers, Vice
President Mitchell and Becretary Morrison
of the American Federation of Labor, now
under sentence for contempt of court, at
tention 1 !a called to the fact that the
casea are still before the courts and that
no matter what the president's opinion
may be as to the Justness of the sentences
Imposed, he cannot. take any action look
ing to pardon or express any opinion as
to the merits bf the case.
The text of the statement follows:
"Various appeals have been made to the
president to Interfere by pardons In the
case of Mr. Gompers and his associates.
Those making the appeals are unaware of
the fact that the matter is still' before
th courts. It Is civil suit between private
parties and there has been no way by
which the government could have inter-
'nd If lt,'d desired to do ao. Whetl'wr
the president does or does not think the
sentence of Mr. Gompers and his associates
exoeaslve Is. not at present of conse
quence because he cannot take any action
or express any opinions while the case Is
pending before the courts.
Case Not Yet Concluded.
"When . the decision Is made then the
president can promptly consider whether
the terms of Imprisonment are excessive or
Improper. But, it is, of course. Impossible
for the president to act while an appeal
Is pending, for he has nothing whatever
to act about. The courts must finish with
the case first and the defendants are at
the present moment at liberty on ball.
If the defendants see fit to abandon their
appeal the matter will then, of course,
be brought before the executive. In which
case It will receive Immediate and most
careful consideration.
"But the defendants have a perfect right
to prosecute their appeal, and If unsuc
cessful in the final court, then ask for a
pardon or commutation. But as long ai
they are prosecuting an appeal the presi
dent has nothing to do with the matter.
'The president has already Instr.irtaJ the
Department of Jus Ice to keep lilm fully In
formed as to the progress of the case
that In the event of Ita becoming p oper
for him to act he may have at his disposal
all of the facta which will enable him to
decide whether there was Justlficat on for
the sentence and whether if there was Jurtl-fl.-atlon
for such punlshm-nt the sentence
lsir Is not altogethor too severe.
"But at present the president his n i
more to do with the case than with the
case of the 9,000,000 flno Imposed by Judge
Landls on the Standard Oil company which
Is also on appeal and concerning which the
president has also been repeatedly asked t
interfere by well-meaning perse ns who did
not know that he could not interfere While
the matter was atlll before the court on
appeal." .
CHANCE . FOR SIGNAL CORPS
Officials, of War Department Give
Bnrkett Bill an I'nqoallfled
Endorsement.
(From' a Staff Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26. (Special Tel
egram.) Senator Burkett. today 'had - a
long conference with General Allen, chief
aignal officer of the army, with reference
to his bill, for the enlargement of the
signal corps. It haa been recommended
favorably by the staff and line officers
of the War department, and those who
understand it insist - that It la one of
the most advanced steps of military leg
islation for generations. Under present
methods of fighting with long-range guns
and high-power explosives It la evident
that armies In the future will not only
fight at long range, but different por
tions of the same army will be widely
scattered. It Is .therefore necessary .that
algnal corps stations shall be developed
to meet th requirements of this new
method of warfare. Senator Burkett says
tltat If hla bill goes through it will make
Fort Omaha the largest signal station In
tha world.
Rural carrier appointed for Iowa:
Mapleton, rout 2, Anton Handen, carrier
(reinstated); no substitute. Oxford, route
S, Elmer R. Jones, carrier; Harry Hcrvy,
substitute. Charles R. Davis was ap
pointed , poatmaster at Derby, Lucas
county, Iowa, vie W. A. Weatfall, re
signed. Webster (Mr Woman Hurt.
WEBSTER CITT. Ia.. Dec. 26. (Special
Telegram.) Mra R. A. Carrington was
probably fatally Injured by a Northwestern
passenger train thla noon. She attempted
to hurry over a crossing ahead of it and
waa struck, the impact hurling her fifty
feet Her skull Iv crushed.
. ,.' to . 'A, . f
'.';' y ' :. ',-:t I s ' mm" X
-.- X
m.w.
FOUR MONTHS ON THE TARIFF
Special Keaslon May Be Called by
J a dare Taft Immediately After
Inaaajroratlon. '
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26. If leaders In
congress cf both political parties are able
to bring sufficient Influence upon President-elect
Taft, the special session to re
vise the tariff will be called almost Im
mediately after Inauguration. The purpose
will be to cut the special session as short
as possible and secure an adjournment be
fore the extremely hot weather sets in.
Several members of congress who have
dlrctssd the subject with Mr. Taft be
lieve that hla views In regard to an early
and short session coincide with the plan
suggested.
Ordinarily, a special session Is not called
intll after some time has elapred after tha
adjournment of a regular session. The delay
has been to give to members of congress an
opportunity to go to their homes and tran
sact persona business and return to Wash
ington for a long stay. There seems to be
a unanimity of protest against a long
siege of Washington summers, however,
and the usual course Is likely to be altered
In Inaugural years the senate Is always
In session for ten days or a fortnight In
order to confirm nominations under thu
new administration, and it has been sug
gested that the house could be in session
also and utilize the time In considering the
tariff bill, aa It will have to be disposed of
there before It can . be taken up by the
senate. It la expected that the house ways
and means committee will have a bill ready
to- repeet-'te -the special session on the day
It .assembles, and that no time will be lost
by committee hearings. Aa soon aa the
bill has been drafted It can be taken up
by the senate committee n finance, and
that committee can bo ready to report. If
It works assldlously, a soon as the bill
haa been passed by ' the house and mes
saged to, the 'senate. If this course Is fol
lowed, and it now seems probable that it
will be, It Is believed the special tariff re
vision can be concluded inside of four
months.
OKLAHOMANS GROW ANXIOUS
Senator Owen, Governor Haskell and
Other Want Indian Land
Caaes Pushed.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.-Senator Owen
of Oklahoma, who is one of several de
fendants In suits brought by the govern
ment to clear up titlea to Indian lands
In 'that state, is urging president Roose
velt to have these cases settled at the
earliest rosstble moment by directing At
torney General Bonaparte to take them
directly to the United States supreme
court If possible.
Governor Haskell and many other promi
nent In Oklahoma are defendants In these
suits for which the government has been
preparing for two years. Senator Owen
says that the slow dragging of the cases
of which there are 23,000, is damaging to
business and development generally. It Is
his contention and that of other defend
ants that the federal courts' have no
Jurisdiction, this matter belonging entirely
to the state courts. Senator Owen be
lieves that much unnecessary delay can
be avoided by framing up the direct quea
tlon as to Jurisdiction and submitting It
to the United States supreme court. '
Secrotary Garfield, who ha consulted
with Attorney ' General Bonaparte several
times as, to the caaes and who saw Sena
tor Owen at the White House, said that
he would be glad to 'have a test case ar
ranged. The question of such a' case,
however, lie said, was now before -Attorney
General Bonaparte for consideration.'
ASSESSORS FIND PROPERTY
Large Amount of Personal Character
. Subject to Taxation. Under
New Law. '
BOSTON, Mass.. Dec. 26. Nearly $30,000,
000 of personal property which heretofore
has escaped taxation, has been, It Is be
lieved, added to the valuation, by a recent
law and the efforts of the local assessors
working In conjunction with the tax com
missioner of the state.
The property Involved Is wholly personal,
consisting largely of. shares of stocks In
business corporations, and its existence for
taxation purposes became known under the
law passed by the last legislature requiring
the state tax commissioner to place at the
disposal of the local assessors such Infor
mation as he might secure through the in
heritance tax law. .
DEWEY OBSERVES BIRTHDAY
Hero of - Manila Bay Seventy-One
Years of Age Friends Pay
Respects.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 24 Admiral George
Dewey, hero of Manila bay, and ranking
officer In the navy, celebrated hla seventy
first birthday .today, mora than ten years
after th exploit which. mad him world
famous. .
Still vigorous of mind, th aged admiral
Is not enjoying th best of health, having
been suffering for tha htat six week with
a bad attack of sciatica. He therefor
pent th day at hla home, many of hi In
timate friend calling to pay their respects
and to tender their congratulations. -
f
.Vti-.cy jjff SfU&a Jln.tr?i
CUWLES NAMES HIS STAFF
Only One of Present Employes of
Land Commissioner Retained.
CHANGE FEE COLLECTION SYSTEM
Will Refuse to Accept Money for Fee
Earned tn Office, but They Must
Be Paid Direct to the
T renanrer.
(From a Staff Correspondent.)
LINCOLN, Dec. 26. (Special.) E. B.
Cowles, land commissioner, has announced
the following office: C. C. Boslow of York
county, ex-county clerk, deputy; George E.
Emery of Beatrice, ex-county clerk of Gage
county, chief clork; Cal. R. Phllllppl. ex
county superintendent of Thayer county,
lease and contract clerk; Ernes B. Fair
field, present state accountant, bookkeeper;
Maud Bratney of Adams county, delinquent
clerk; Metfa Swain, Otoe county, stenog
rapher; Robert Harvey of Howard county,
surveyor.
Mr. Cowles has an office force of aeven,
which takes the place of ten that now con
stltute the office force. Robert Harvey is
the only reappointment,
XI Pnwl.1 will nnt r-nl lr snv fees in
v... . 1, u. rfi enii.et I
.... ... ,."- .
any fees, "All fee. earned by my office,
said Mr. Cowles, "will hav to be paid Into
'.the state treasury. It understand it has
been the custom for fees to be collected In
the office and usually they are paid to the
deputy, but I shall change that Fees due
the office will have to be paid to the state
state treasurer direct."
Increase In Telephone Rates.
Tho Home Telephone company, which
operates at Gretna, Papilllon and Spring
field, has been given permission by tho
railway commission to Increase Its rates
as follows: Residence telephones, from $1
to $1.25; rural telephones, from $1.15 to $1.50;
business telephones, from $1.50 to $2 a
month. The decision was rendered by
Chairman Wlnnett and Member Williams.
Mr, Clarke waa not sitting because a rela
tive of his is president of the company.
Morrill County Official Vote.
The official vote of Morrill county, the
recently organized county, has been re
ceived by the secretary of state. For county
seat Bridgeport received 575, Bayard 27t,
Northport S, Irvington 2, Angora S and
Cleman J Thirty votes were not cast on
this question. The following officers were
elected: Frank Irving, treasurer; C. D.
Casper, clerk; J. H. Steutevllle, judge;
John Beldon, sheriff; F. B. Williams, at
torney; T. O. Burke, assessor; C. R, Ed
wards, surveyor; Mary E. Walford, super
intendent; Fred R. Lindberg, H. a Smith,
W. T. McKelvey, commissioners.
Application for Pardons,
Governor Sheldon heard two applications
for pardons today, L. J. Hosaman of
Dour las county, sent up for eight years
for burglary, and M. F. Kalrn of Gago
county, serving two and a half years for
obtaining, money under false pretensea
Hossman lias served almost four years,
wl.lle Kalrn has served about one year.
Hotsman Is a young man and with a gang
ctmmltted several daylight burglaries,
going Into ' houses during the absence of
the people from home. He with other
stole a quantity of women' 'wearing ap
parel,' which was recovered. '
Health Inspector Report.
." Dr. W. H. Wilson, Inspector for the State
Board of Health, haa filed an annual re
port for the year ending November 24,
1S. containing an Itemized list of expen
ditures and trips made to various parts
of the state. He made sixty-three trips,
some of them to the extreme northwestern
and western part of the state. He spent
$-'K0.30 for railroad fare. Tho total expense,
Including his salary of $1,800 a year, waa
$2,174.38.
An appropriation of $10,000 was made by
the last legislature for the State Board
of Health. Of that amount $6,400 waa ap
portioned by the board for the expense of
collecting vital statistics, office furniture
and traveling expenses of one Inspector.
In addition to the'alxty-three trip made,
a large number of contagious disease dis
putes were settled by telephone and by
letter.
in his report Dr. Wilson says:
Many calls hav come In from over the
stare ror assistance In the matter of Im
proving sanitary conditions. Impure water,
etc. Most of such calls had to be de.
cimea rrom lack of funds for traveling
expenses, also from lack of jurisdiction in
such cases. However, advisory letters
wera sent out In each Instance and In
thla way frequently Improved tha situa
tion.. In my opinion. If the powers of the
board were enlarged and th expense fund
more liberal, the Inspector might ma
terially assist In bettering th sanitary and
health conditions of the stale.
Dr. Wilson believes th Stat Board of
Health ought to have jurisdiction In mat
ters which are now apparently under the
control of local boards of health. Forty-
four of the sixty-three rails were for tha
Investigation of smallpox cases.
Congressman R. C. llavey.
NEW ORLEANS, Deo. 21 -Congressman
Robert C. Pavy of Louisiana died her to
day after an Illness of several months.
Large Interests in California and the
Hawaiian Islands.
WILL TO BE OPENED MONDAY
Radolph and t'. A. prerkels
Appointed A dm In Intra tors, i
Certain Matters Required
Attention at Onet,
Are
SAN FRANCISCO. Cal. Dec. J6. Claus
Spreckels, 'widely known as the "sugar
king" of the Pacific coast, died at 4:30
o'clock today at his home In this city in
his eightieth year. The Immediate cause
of death was an attack of pneumonkt,
which developed with alarming symptoms
during the last few days. His condition
last night told his physicians the end was
near and relatives remained at his bed
sldo until the hour of his death. Rudolph
Spreckels, who returned from Honolulu
yesterday on board the steamer Nippon
Maru, was one of the number. John D.
Spreckels, proprietor of the San Francisco
Call and head of the Oceanic Steamship
company, was also in attendance at his
father's bedside, as were Mrs. Harry Hol
brook end Mrs. W. Alexander Hamilton,
the daughters of Mr. John D. Spreckels.
Despite hla advanced age, Mr. Spreckels
had devoted a large share of attention to
the various enterprises In which he was
Interested, and It Is not more than a month
since he appeared before the ways and
means committee of the house In Washing
ton as authority on the subject of sugar
duties. Two years ago he was attacked
by a severe illness, but his vigorous con
stitution enabled him to withstand his sick
ness and he was, after a time, restored to
his usual health.
' Spreckels Family Prominent.
Apart from tho Importance which at
tached to Claus Spreckels as the pioneer
sugar refiner of the Paclflo coast, and
an Investor of millions In California and
the Hawaiian Islands, the Spreckels family
has for many years been one of the most
prominent In the state.
John D. Sprecklea, his eldest son, tin
been for years a directing Influence In ori
ental trade, apart from hla other Interests,
and Rudolph, president of the Flrat Na
tional bank of thla city has been a sup
porter of tho graft prosecution In San
Francisco to the extent of thousands of
dollars 1n addition to his active participa
tion. Superior Judge Graham today appointed
Rudolph Sprecklos and C. A. Sprecklea cxe
... . . , .... ... ,
I IT , " , " " r """" v,"u
which was furnished. In applying for let
ters of administration It was stated that
some matters connected with the estat
noedod immediate attention.
The will Is In the possesion of the widow,
Mrs. Anna Spreckles, and will be opened
on Monday. It Is said that all of th dead
capitalist' children are mentioned In the
will and each given a share of th estate.
the value of which I variously estimated
at from $40,000,000 to $50,000,000. It waa stated
that tho Income from the estat exceeded
$250,000 a year.
Eighty Year Old.
Claus Spreckles was born in Lamstadt,
Germany, in 1828 and cam to the United
States in 1846. After being employed for
some time in Charleston, S. C, and New
York, he cams to San Francisco, reaching
this city In 1856. He established a store
here and later conducted a brewery. In
1868 he built tho Bay Sugar refinery and
began the Importation of raw material
from Hawaii.
Prospering tn this business, he estab
lished other refineries and promoted th
beet sugar industry by establishing refin
eries and engaging In the farming of
beets on a large scale. II also built a
refinery at Philadelphia, Invested largely
In the Oceanic Steamship company and
many other enterprises,, including the
building of the San Joaqln Valley rail
way. Many of his Interests in Hawaii are
reported to have been disposed of by his
son Rudolph by the latter's recent trip
to the islands. They Included the banking
house of Claus Spreckles & Co. and some
real estate.
MONOPOLY NOT AGAINST LAW
Circuit Court Rules Out Prosecution
of St. Louis Mht and Power
Company.
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 26 Judge Taylor In the
St. Louis circuit court today sustained th
demurrer of the Union Electric Light and
Power company to the anti-trust suit filed
by Circuit , Attorney Sager to annul the
charter of the company. The capital and
bonded Indebtedness of the ' company I
$25,000,000.
In his petition the circuit attorney had
stated that the company had a monopoly
of selling electricity In St Louis, Judge
Taylor said the Missouri anti-trust law
does not forbid the consolidation of two
or more corporations engaged Ip th same
business. '
"Tho more enjoyment of a monopoly,"
continued the court, "is not ground for th
forfeiture of a corporate franchise."
DALZELL OUT OF THE RACE
""
Pennsylvania House Leader Throw
His Support to Plttsborg
Publlsher.
PITTSBURG, Dec. M.-Congreesman
John Dalsell of this city, who last week
at Washington announced his candidacy
for election by the next Pennsylvania legis
lature to succeed Senator Knox, tooUy
withdrew and tendered his support to
George T. Oliver, a newspaper publisher of
Pittsburg. Mr. Dalzell's decision to with-,
draw was made known in a letter to Mr.
Oliver.
WORK FOR NEW COMMISSION
New York Produe and Cotton
Exchanges Will Be First One '
Investigated.
NEW YORK. Iec.-26.-The New York
Produe and the New York Cotton ex
changes will be the first ones Investigated
by the commission appointed by Governor
Hughes to Inquire iruo th conduct of
the New York exchange. The commis
sioners decided to defray all expenses out
of their own personal ' funds and trust to
th state to reimburse them later.
