The Omaha Daily Bee VOL. XXXV11I NO. 17:.'. OMAHA, "WEDNESDAY MORNING JANUARY 6, 1009 TWELVE PAGES. SINGLE COPY TWO CENTS. I SHOCKS AT -V: VCG10 : i -. Quake at Noon Causes i x of Damaged Walls to F . CITY IS ALMOST ABAND ? Few Fersoni Remain Except Troops and British Marines. FEVER FOLLOWS THE FAMINE SUMMARY OF THE DEE SMITH IS ON THE WABPATH Iowa Congressman Proposes to Reply to the President. THURSDAY SET FOR ONSLAUGHT STARTS WITH A ROW Wednesday, January fl, 10O9. if. i Jyf -wm w ' -) m w -a Indications tt the Ontset Legislature. ' Will Be a Kilkenny Cat Affair. SORE SPOTS OVER SPEAKERSHIP Burlington Railroad and the Brewert Said to B; the Bosses. I Typhoid Threatens to Become Epi demic at Messina. FEW FOREIGNERS ARE KILLED Nearly All toe Victims Are Italians ICarape of t'nltert States Vice t'onsal Lupton Almoit Miraculous. Bl'LLETIN. JtEGGIO, Jan. 5. Earthquakes have oc curred here today at Intervals of twenty minutes. At noon a earthijuake stronger than the others caused a number of the standing walls to collapse and created a condition of panic among- the survivors. It Is not thought there were any ?aualtles. HOME. Jnn. 6. The prompt dispatch of a part of the American battleships with the fleet commander. Rear Admiral Sperry, to effer aid In the earthquake relief work, has added to the public feeling of apprecia tion and gratitude. Word has come that Admiral 8perry has opened a fund for the sufferers and that the men of tha fleet are contributing generously. Dlspstohes received today from Messina and Regglo Indicate that although the situation la In some respect better, fresh complications have arisen. Typhoid fever has broken out at Messina. The lack of pure water and the Increasing pollution of the air causes tho physicians In charge of the Red Cross work to rear an epidemic. The medical administration. In conference with tha government authorities, are con iderlng tho compulsory removal of all the living In the destroyed cities. The work of searching ur.der the ruins had al most ceased because there la no expecta tion of finding any one alive. The earth tremors continue, causing fresh apprehen sions among the already painfully affected survivors and the workers from outside few Foreigner Are Killed. Tim catastrophe is almost wholly Italian, few foreigner being among the dead. The Ami l ice n embassy and Americans who huvo gone to the scene, either aa volun teers In relief work or a correspondents, have not found any further Americans f irong the victims. Slgnor Rava, the Italian minister of pub lic Instruction, has received a telegram from Messina saying that the university there has been completely destroyed. The library, famous for Its collection of manu scripts, msy.be recovered, but the authori se have,, not thought it pre per to make, ai.y attempt In that direction while human suffering remains unrelieved. The cele brated Museum of Natural History Is lost. Reggjlo Almost Abandoned. Keggto has been practically evacuated except for the troops, and tha marines from two British warships are causing the populace to evacuate villa San Giovanni, which la' considered to have been the cen ter of the earthquake. The bay of Regglo still is strewn with broken boats and other debris. Numerous persons still living, were taken today from beneath the ruins, while the voices of others could be distinctly heard appealing for aid. Within a few days the rescue work at Regglo will have ceased. Then the tottering buildings will be razed and the bodies that have not been burled will be burned. Rala at Messina. The Associated Tress had the first cor respondent ' on the scene at Messina. He found a condition of utter confusion exist ing. The first shock of earthquake virtu ally had thrown down the entire city. The Italian soldiers were overwhelmed, and In a state of bewilderment wandered over the ruins In squads, numbering from three to fifty men. Little work was done until the arrival of the crews from the Russian and British warships, which worked valiantly, especially was this true f the Russians. Large numbers of the survivors were erased by grief. And panic seemed to have laid hold of all. In the camp of the refuges piteous scenes were enacted. Many persons threw themselves upon their knees begging for bread, while five minutes walk beyond were orange groves rich with ripe fruit The fear for their safety seemed to hold them petrified in this small haven of refuge. Escape of Vleo Consul I.uptoa. Stuart K. Lupton. the American vice consul, was In Ms room at the Hotel Vlt torla when that building was demolished. His escape was miraculous. Wearing only his trousers and carrying his shoes and his overcoat In. his hands, he groped his way along the quay, knee deep in water, toward the American consulate. On the way he met a woman and a man, both quite naked, and Instinctively laid his overcoat ever the shoulders of the woman. Cumbering over the ruins of the consu late he became conscious of the fact that his feet were bruised und bleeding. Then he wondered why he had carried his shoes In his hand. He continued In a state of bewilderment until he established himself uu a British ship In the harbor. Later he aghln came ashore. nc raised the Ameri tan flag over the new consulate In a damaged condition, but cne cf the few remaining todUilnga n the ouUklrts of the t'lty. Then ' Mr. Lupton began an Indus trious search for Americans. All of the Americans who have not been heard frotti may be considered safe. Probably all are In the south of Sicily. Those who are known to have suffered from the earth liske have been reported. The telegraph and telephonu wires have been placed at the service of the government and personal menaces will be delayed indefinitely. vTh Associated Press correspondent found amid the rulna of the Hotel Victoria, the blackboard with the full list of the guvsts of the hotel clearly written upon it on the night or the disaster. It bore, besides the name of Mr. Lupton, one two other Eng lish names. PORT BAID. Jan. l-The American acout cruiser Yankton left hero this morn ing for Messina with medical supplies and provisions on board for the earthquake suf ferer. It carries also a number of doc tors. The Connecticut, the flagship of Rear Admiral Bperry; the Vermont. O. Kansas and the Minnesota arrived here f rem BL.es last night. They will sail for (Continued oa Fifth Page.) '909 J ANUARYI909 SUN HON TUE WED THU FRI 5 AT 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 2X 2526 2728 2930 THE WEATKXB. KOR OMAHA. COUNCIL T'Ll'FFS AND VI IN'ITY Rl ing temperature Wednesday. KOR NKHKA -KA know Wednesday; lis !ng temperature. KOK IOWA Wednesday fair li the east, snow and warmer in west portion. Temperature at Omaha yeate.cay: Hour. Dg. .. 6 4 6 a. m u. m 7 a. m a. m i a. m 10 a. m 11 a. m 1. ni 1 p. m 2 p. m a v. m v . 6 4 p. m 7 6 p. m 7 6 p. m 7 7 p. m 7 p. tn 8 9 p. m 10 DOMESTIC. Congressman Smith of Council Bluffs Is on the warpath and proposes to reply to strictures of the president. Page 1 Thornton J. Halns goes on the witness stand In his own behalf and is subjected to severe cross-examination. Page Authoritative statement is made that Standard OH cases are not ended and Dis. trlct Attorney Sims says $40,000,000 may be collected In fines under car lot order. Fag a Engineer and firemen are killed and several Injured In wreck of fast train near Huntington, W. Va. rage 1 roxEiair. Kpldemlc of typhoid fever Is now threat ening Messina and strenuous measures will be taken by authorities. Page 1 X.OCAI.. Coldest weather in two years comes with the north wind Tuesday. Page 1 Hill lines to make a fight for the wheat traffic of the northwest. S Building permits Issued show there Is a persistent demand for residences In Omaha. Pag 6 Two more stories may be added to the south portion of the Schlitz building and the top one utilized as a roof garden. Page 5 Kansas City man makes a humorous plea In discussing the grain rate cose. Pars 4 COKMZBCIAX AMD UrDTJSTKIAL. Live stock markets. Page Orain markets. Page Storks and bonds. Page KOTSKXriS OP OCX AK BTZAM3KIP. Port. Arrived. Sailed. NEW TORK .Rrndam narharoata. ROTTERDAM Stmtendtm. NAPLES Ni.rt) Amrrlka. I'HERBOt'RO Philadelphia. HAUKAX untarlan. TRAIN HURLED FROM TRACK Engineer and Fireman and Several Passengers Are Reported Killed. HUNTINGTON, W. Va., Jnn. 5 A num ber of passengers are reported to have been killed when the fast Flying V rgintan No. 1 on the Chesapeake & Ohio ral.ioid, die in Cincinnati at 9 a. m., ran Into an p n switch early today near Capeitown, seventy miles east of here. The train went hurling into the side of a steep embank rent and Thomas Edwards of Barboursvllle, the third oldest engineer on the Chesape-.ke & Ohio, and Fireman Feti-r Trent of Russell, Ky., were Instantly klllad. Wrecking crews have been dispatched from th.s city and Handley to the scene of the wreck. LOUISVILLE, Ky., Jan. 6. Advices to the local offices of the Chesapeake & Ohio are to the effect that only the engine of the fast flying Virginian left the track In the derailment near Capirton. No definite Information as to ti e death or Injury of any passengers has been received, but it la stated that the engineer and fireman were killed. MOTHER SLAYS THREE SONS Then Turns Ona on Herself and Inflicts Wonnd that Proves Fatal. LAKE CITY. La., Jan. 8.-Speclal.)-Mrs. Jack Puwell shot her three little boys, aged 8. 6 and 4 y?ars, and then turned the gun on herself Monday after noon. The two older boys aro dead and the mother also, while the other boy Is not expected to live. Mr. and Mrs. Powell were well-to-do peo ple living five miles northeast of this place. Mr. Powell was away at a neighbors help lrg to shell corn when the news reached him. While the shooting was going on a neigh bor and his wife drove into the yard and, hearing the shooting, rushed Into the house, but were too lste, as all four lay In one room with the blrod oozing from the wounds. PACKING INQUIRY BROADENS Claim Agents of Two Cincinnati Hoads Ordered to Prodnee Books an d Records. CINCINNATI. O., Jan. S.-Many of the leading railroad men of the United St-ites ure to be called to appear before the fed eral grand Jury investigating th pack ng ho.:ae situation in Chicago, accord ng to a witness summoned1 here today. Suhpoenaes were served here on F. H. Bols au of the Big Four railroad claim agents' department end T,. H. Noonan of the Continental lines. Mr. Noonan said he was not at all sur pr sed that he was called. Men connected with the claim agents' office said none knew the nature of the books and papers which Mr. Bolsaeau was officially o der d to produce In Chicago. FORAKER BACK TO PRACTICE senator May Represent Brownsville Soldiers la Teat of Prest. dent's Action. WASHINGTON, Jan. 6. After March 4 text the activities of Senator Foraker of Ohio will be transferred from the United States senate to the courts. While no definite understanding has been reached concerning his course. It Is be lieved he will become attorney for some cf the Brownsville soldiers in an effort to test the constitutionality of the president's action In discharging them without honor before the end of their enlistments. Free Water la Asked for I se of Esperlmental Farms la Irrigation Districts Reaurveys Asked for Lands In Nebraska. 'From a Staff Correspondent.) WASHINGTON, Jan. 6. (Special Tele gram.) Judge Walter I. Smith of Council Bluffs, who has been prominently men tioned by the president In his message of yesterday regarding the failure to make appropriations for the secret servlc. Is maJ all through. Yesterday Mr. Smith said had thngs about the president and his de ductions on the failure of congress to support the hands of the administration In appropriating money for the secret service. Twenty-four hours, however. Instead of abating the wrath of uJdge Smith, seems to have accentuated It, for he said today that In all probability he would reply to the message of the president on Thurs day. That personally he had nothing to say as to his being mentioned among the four whom the president singled out for castigatlon, but he would defend the action of the appropriations committee, of which he Is a member. It Is Interesting to note in this connec tion that the appropriation for the secret service was reduced $10,000, this reduction being due to the fact that Chief Wllkle had stated to the committee that there was a surplus of $19,000 coming over from previous years. At the same time the re duction was made In the annual appropria tion for the secret service the appropria tions committee of the house voted $150, 000 for the use of the Interior department In hunting down land thieves, which, to the men mentioned by the president In hhls message of yesterday. Judge Wal ter I. Smith of Iowa, Chairman Tawney of Minnesota, Representative H. Sherley of Kentucky and Representative Fitzgerald of New York, suggests that somebody has misconceived the purposes of the secret service reduction. The gentlemen named propose to defend this action and it is thought Judge Smith will open the ball on Thursday, rising under a question of per sonal privilege to tell why he voted for the reduction of the appropriation tor the secret service. Free Water for Experiments. Governor Sheldon Is anxious for the pass age of Senator McCumbtr's bill providing for free water to any educational Institu tion In Irrigated districts. In a letter to Senator Brown the governor urges the pass age of this bill, declaring his desire for the establishment of an eperlment station in the irrigated country similar to the dry farming station now located at North Platte. With the passage of McCumbera bill the state would be at no expense for building irrigation works and it would be furnished water free of chargo by the gov ernment. Senator Brown has declared himself In hearty accordance with the Ideas of .the governor and will assist In the passage of the McCumber bill. Bills for Resurreys. Congressman Klnkald has Introduced a bill authorizing the resurvey of the west half of McPherson county, the east half being now In course of resurvey by a bill passed by congress about two years ago. His present bill also provides for the re survey of township S3, range 16, In Boyd county, township 51, range 26, In Blaine county: township 90, range S9. in Cherry county; township 27,- range 89, In Cherry county, and township 21, range 48, In Chey enne county. Congressman Klnkald has Introduced a bill to amend the Irrigation law In many respects as requested by many leading citizens of Morrill in Scott's Bluff county. Minor Matters at Capital. Congressman Klnkald has recommended John M. Dietel for postmaster at Adaton, Sheridan county, vice C. S. Rucker re signed. Also the appointment of Archie B. Wynes as postmaster at Oslikosh, vice August Sudman. resigned. George A. Wilson has been appointed regular and William F. Oaks substitute rural carrier for route 1 at Tobias. Neb. MRS. RANKIN WEEPS IN COURT Widow of Night Riders' Vletlm Breaks Down During; Attor ney's Address. UNION CITY, Tenn., Jan. 6. For the first time during the trial of the night riders, Mrs. Rankin, widow of the man for whose murder the eight alleged night riders are now on trial, was in court today when the arguments began. Accompanied by a score or more of women friends, Mrs. Rankin was escorted to a seat within the bar. She was clad In deep mourning. Major Hal Holmes opened for the state. As the little attorney In an eloquent way pictured Captain Rankin as one of the cleanest, purest men in Tennessee, and described his fearful end. Mrs. Rankin broke down, and leaning her heavily veiled head on the shoulder of her sister, the little widow sobbed plteously. Two of the accused men gasen closely at her. their faces working involuntarily. They were Tld Burton and Bob Hoffman. The latter la the man who, according to at least two witnesses, fired the shot that pierced Quentln Rankin's heart, as he was slowly strangling to death while, hanging from the forked tree at Walnut Ixg. Mrs. Rankin raised her head a moment, caught sight of the two faces fixed on her, shivered and turned her tear strained features from the men who are charged with her husbands murder. The defendants settled back Into their seats and did not again look at Mrs. Rankin. FLEE FROM SUPPOSED QUAKE Ksplosloa of Big Oil Tank Throws Woodrlver People Into a Fanle, ST. LOUIS. Mo.. Jan. 6. An explosion which shook houses and shattered windows five miles distant occurred at Woodriver. 111., today when an oil tank of 100,000 gal lons capacity caught fire. Henry Johnson, a watchman, was burned to death. Almost every window in the vicinity waa broken and the residents fled from their beds fear ing that an earthquake had taken place. Brahesnaa Fatally I a) red. IOWA FALLS, la., Jan. S. (Special Tele gram.) Roy McCallough, a Rock Island brakeman of this city, wits fatally Injured last night by the breaking of the driving rod on the engine pulling a special freight near Cleaves. He wss riding In the cab which waa badly wrecked. He waa brought to tha hospital here alive this morning, but the surgeons say he can lire but fsw hours. The United States Fleet From the Minneapolis Journal. COLD WAVE BEATS FORECAST Mercury Descends Lower Than Offi cial Prediction Prophesies. WEATHER COLDEST IN TWO YEARS j Government Thermometer Registers 1 10 at 9 P. M. Last Night and Ont look Is for Cold Day Wednes day at All Events. After days and dayg of mild and pleas ant weather, Nebraska and a large part of the United States ara In the grip of the coldest weather which this state, nt least, has experienced In two years. By 9 o'clock last night the mercury column had de scended to 10. It seems likely that the rising tempera ture predicted for Wednesday will start to rise from a point so low that no one will be complaining of the heat at noon today. The decline' In temperature yesterday was a gracefully graduated affair. Save for a little hesitation from 8 to 8 a. ra the mercury showed a downward determi nation of admirable consistency and relia bility. Beginning at S a. m. . with 5 above, the government thermometer .had dropped to 3 by 8 o'clock. At 9 It had risen to. 4 and this was the only fight made against the cold wave. The rest of the day and for a part of the night the column con tinued to decline and decline until those who looked at It every hour began to fear leBt It would nover stop. The coM snap P'VtJ considerable suf fering. T'.ere was ttrilttlo temporary In convenience for the well-fel and warm'jr clad, but th real sufferers were the poor. In many an ill-heated shack between the Missouri river and the western coast there was acute tihvslcal suffcrlnsr last nlaht and may be again tonight. Many charity work-' era, however, rose to the'r opportunity and the City Mission did good work among the destitute. The Associated Charities lent a hand and so did the Salvation Army and the Vo unte;ra. Various refuses were eag erly sought and the police station proved a haven for some weathorheaten, frost nipped and homeless wayfarers. The weather produced one strange phe nomenon. It is In the vernal spring that the poet Is supposed to well forth in verse, but the chill hours of Tuesday served to bring out a set of verses on til? wind and weather which reached The Bee off.ee dur ing the night via the postoflice. The first stanza of this effusion ran as follows: Wild It whls.les down old Sixteenth, Coming from the long lost pole. No need now to cope with consc.ence, It ha frcze our very soul. This was the only humorojs eplsjda of the cold wave. Other Incidents had to do too much with human suffering In greater or less degree to be funny. Cold Wave Covers State. NORFOLK. Neb.. Jan. G. (Syeclal.) The temperature dropped fifty degrees In northern Nebraska and southern south Dakota this morning, ranging from 2 below in northern Nebraska to 10 below at ChaU ron. Dead wood and Gregory, S. D. Seven below was registered In Norfolk. -Light snow flurries are reported in the Black Hills. BEATRICE. Neb.. Jan. 5 (Special Tele gram.) The coldest weather of the season prevails here this evening. Temperature. 6 degrees below zero. LOUISVILLE, Ky., Jan. 5.-8outhem Indiana and portions of Kentucky and Ten nessee were enveloped early today In a dense fog which Interfered to some extent with wire communication and rail trans portation. The weather bureau promised tonight the coldest wave of the season. VAN BUREN. Ark., Jan. 5.-The mild winter has caused tie peach buds to swell and It Is believed that the severe storm which psssed through this section last night caused the loss of huyidreds of thousands of dollars to the owners of com mercial peach orchards. Severely Cold In tho North. ST. PAUL. Minn.. Jan. 5. Twelve de grees below zero was the lowest record of the United States weather bureau ther mometer today. A biting northwest wind is driving a fine snow about making almost blizzard .conditions. Street car traffic waa demoralised in this city during the rush hours of the morning. LEAD, S. D., Jan. 6. The mercury dropped to 20 degrees below zero here last night, the coldest weather experienced here In many years. Heavy snows in the moun tain districts make travel very difficult and a continuance of the present cold snap would cause suffering in the outlying dis tricts. Points in the valleys adjacent re port the temperature 18 below zero this morning. HURON, 8. D., Jan. 6.-8peclal Tele gram.) This was the coldest day of the season, the temperature being 10 to 13 below zero. Four Inches of snow has fallen and it Is badly drifted. The storm covers tho northern and central parts of the slate and east from the Missouri river. WASHINGTON, Jan. S.-The cold wave which Is headed for the east and south has reached the western lake region and tho middle Mississippi river valley, accord ing to the weather bureau's announcement today. The lowest temperatures of the winter are reported today In the Dakotaa, Montana and the British northwest. There is another storm blowing In the middle (Continued on Third Page.) Will Bombard Stricken Sicily with PROCLAMATION FOB ITALY. To the rsople of Omaha I A few days ago the whole world waa shocked at the terrible disas ter that cams upon the people of Italy. The press dlspatohea tell us that ever 800,000 Uvea ware lost and whole cities wiped from the faoe of the earth. Those that ara living are mourning for the dead, bat thay themselves are begging for food and shelter they are dying by the 'hundreds. They must depend for the present oa those who aro able to give. Everywhere the people are responding to their appeal. The Italians of oar elty aro doing what they oan. The three dally papers are receiving oontrlbntlons, large or stnslL I hope that the psople of Omaha will give what they oan, so that we may in a small way assist in alleviating the exist ing distress and help in providing homes, food and olothlng for the destitute and needy.' JAKES O. DAHXMAZT, Mayor. Tuesday, January 5, 1S09. ENACTS FATAL SCENE IN COURT Mrs. Belael Gives Drasistle Story of the Shooting; of J. Clay, ton Krb. MEDIA, Ps., Jan. S. Mrs. Catherine Belsel, who was on the witness stand yes terday when court adjourned In the trial in which she tnd her sister, Mrs. M. Flor ence Erb, are charged with the killing of the letter's husband, J. Clayton Erb, con tinued under direct examination today her story of the shooting of Erb. The witness told of having been summoned by tele phone from a nearby hotel by her sister, who said that Captain Erb had been beat ing her. "When I got to the house," she continued, "we went to my sister's room and a minute later my sister went to the bathroom, saying that she would tell mo all about Brb beating her since he camo home. Then I heard Mr. Erb's voice." Mrs. Belsel covered her face with her hands and shook with emotion. She went on: "I ran Into the hall. I saw him with a revolver. 'I'll get you now," he said, "and came toward me. As he came I sprang at him." , The spectators In the room gaped open eyed at the witness as she enacted In the witness box the tragedy of Erb's death. She said she did not know whether she got the revolver then or during the strug gle afterwards. She told of the tussel with Erb for life; how he held the pistol toward her face; how she knocked It up, braced herself egalnst the door, and released her self from his grasp and how he caught her again. "I tired at him." Mrs. Beisel's voice rang to the farthest cornur of the court room. She fired and fired, she said. Then all grew dark before her and she did not know what happened next. She had fainted. The witness told of events subsequent to the shootjng and was then cross-examined by District Attorney McDade. This brought out nothing new. TROOPS FIRE ON HINDU MOB Religions Zealots Attack Moaqne and Battle with Moslems Follows. CALCUTTA, Jan. S.-The religious riots between Mohammedans and Hindus have taken a more sertous turn again, requiring the active intervention of British troops today at Llloghur, who fired upon the Hindu mob. The Hindus had resumed the attacks of two previous days on the Mosque at Tlta ghur because the Mohammedans had sacrlfeced cows. The Hindus destroyed the sacred furniture in the mosque and partially demolished the walls. Inflamed Mohammedans gathered to the defense of the mosque and were subsequently sur rounded by a nillltsry cordon, which formed a barrier between the 'Mohammedans and the Hindi rioters who assaulted the mili tary in an endeavor to come to close quar ters with the Mohemmadans. The troops fired upon the zealots, killing and wound ing several of them. Isolated combats between Hindus and Mohammedans are taking place through the disturbed district. Mohammedans from more remote quarters are making their way to Tltaghur to revenge the Hindu Insults to their faith. THRICE CONVICTED. GOES FREE John Martin Boeyer, Who Kills Own Son Tamed Lsoae by Sa presae Coart. KANSAS C1TT. Jan. (.-John Martin Bneyer of New Orleans, who on July 17, 1901, murdered his t-year-old son Freddie by cutting the boy's throat, was released from the county Jail hare today. Speyer had been convicted three times of murder, but each time the supreme court reversed the decision and remanded the case. Speyer. who waa a member of a carnival company, cut his little son's throat In the performers' tent while outside a mob was attempting to secure Speyer for an alleged assault upon a young girl. av a -. t TWJ Missiles of Mercy. HOUSE COMMITTEE AT WORK I Tlroctifl Musinm Ulafiv tn Kjtrrftt Service Controversy Considered. REPORT WILL BE MADE THURSDAY President's Friends Will Resent Any Extreme Aetlon and Warm Debate Is Expected on the Floor. WASHINGTON, Jan. 5. Drastic meas ures were considered today by the 1'erkins special committee of tho house, appointed to recommend action In defense of the body In reply to th criticisms made by the president In his annual message in re ferring to secret service legislation. After a meeting of the committee a re port spread that the committee would recommend to the house that the portion of the message referring to the secret service be expunged from the record. An- I oiner report, was inai. cim irw.ti ...cBBaga In reply to the request for more Informa tion on the subject would be returned to tho chief executive. Neither report could be confirmed. A report probably will be agreed upon by the committee tomorrow, but Chairman Perkins eald today that no report would be submitted to tho house tomorrow. It Is believed the house will be called upon to take action Thursday. One of the most interesting debates of the session Is expected when tho report is brought into the house. Friends of the president will resist any drastic action that may be recommended. On the other hand. Representatives Tawney, Smith, Sherley and Fitzgerald are preparing to defend themselves against the references to themselves In the message. Their remarks, however, will not be a personal defense, as they maintain they should not attempt to divert attention from the controversy, which Is between congress and the presi dent, and not between themselves and tho president. PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE Number of Minor Bills Passed With out Semblance of Quorum. WASHINGTON, Jan. 6. Transacting business without even the semblance of a quorum, the house of representatives today passed several bills of a miscellaneous character, but of little general public lm a)rtance. The only incident worthy of note during the consideration of these measures was a heated discussion among the mem bers of the Indiana delegation over a bill 10 provide for the establishment of Ju dicial divisions in, the district of Indiana. The measure failed of passage through the refusal of a majority to order Its third reading, and Its being subsequently laid upon the table. Over two hours were de voted to consideration of the bill providing for the erection of embassy and legation buildings abroad without any conclusion be ing reached with regard to It. Among the bills to successfully run the gauntlet were the following: Authorizing the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad company and the Lackawanna Railroad company to' con struct a bridge across the Delaware river between Columbia, N. J., and Slateford. Pa., and providing for the granting of leaves of absence with pay for thirty days to employes on the Panama canal injured In ' line of duty. At S p. m. .the house adjourned. PROCEEDINGS OF THE HE1ATE Number of Nominations Confirmed la Executive Session. WASHINGTON. Jan. B.-The business of the senate today consumed less than an hour, nearly half of which was devoted to the consideration of nominations In execu tive session, of which a largo number were confirmed. A motion by Senator Gore of Oklahoma to print the Inaugural addresses and the proclamation of emancipation by President Lincoln in the Congressional Record In celebration of the centenary year of Lin coln's birth, brought Senator Bailey of Texas to his feet with an objection to the prlnMng of the proclamation of emancipa tion. Further discussion was stopped by a reference of the entire matter to the com mittee on printing. MICHIGAN'S OLDEST MAN DEAD Father, Son and Seven t'aeles Had Lived Beyoad Century Mark. JACKSON. Mich.. Jan. 5. Phillip Brus hart, ssld to be the oldest man in Michi gan, died last night, aged 104 years. His father, who fought In the battle of Water loo, lived to be over 100 years old, and he has seven uncles who lived beyond the century msrk. THIRD INAUGURAL FOR JOHNSON Governor ot Mlaaesota Will Take Oath of Onleo and Read Message. ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. J The thirty sixth session of the Minnesota legislature opened at noon today. Governor Johnson will take the oath of office for the third time tomorrow and will then read his an nual message to the legislature. WRANGLE OVER COMMITTEE Caucus, Through Its Committee Triei to Dictate to Speaker. SENATORS ARE ALSO IN A STEW Douglna County Members Accused of II-.KKlnar Things and Fixing the Senate Organisation In Favor ot the Corporations. (From a Staff Correspondent.) LINCOLN, Jan. 8. (6peclal Telegram.) A big row Is promised when tho advisory committee of ihe house meets v. 1th the speaker to discuss committee appointments. The row will start over the power of that committee. Some members of that secret caucus Insist that tho commlttert was clothed with power to name the com mittees, while others sre Just as positive and Insistent that it only has the authority to act In an udvlsory capacity. Over this question the members of the committer, two from each congressional district, and the speaker, will clash. The caucus ad journed without tho matter being definitely settled. As a matter of fact, the motion given oul last night at the conclusion of the caucus showed the committee had "advisory powers" only, but since It has been dis covered today that it is a slap at Mr. Bryan and a turndown for his pet schemo to shift responsibility, some of the mem bers Insist that the committee has full power. Maar Sore Spots. The election of Pool haa left numerous sore spots which have developed during tho day and tonight In the lobby of tin Lincoln It Is public talk from tho democrats that the brewers and the Burlington railroad organized the house. Lee Herdman Is charged with having deserted Clark and gone to Pool with his organization, while Tom Allen Is said to have worked for Pool and against Henry Richmond In order to get even with the World-Herald .for criti cising him for Interfering in the organiza tion. Edgar Howard Is also given great credit for taking votes away from Clnrk. This, together with the fact that Arthur Mullen was forced to keep his hands off the fight, made the victory easy for the Pool forces. Tonight It was told on good authority that Pool had called for help from tho republicans to sustain him If It came to a show down In the house regarding bla. authority. Some of the democrats are talking openly of revolting against tho election of Pool and forming an alliance with the republicans. The question will come up for some so lution at the meeting of the oommittoo and the speaker at a date not yet fixed. The following have been selected na committees to Advise the speaker on the selection of standing committees. First district, Clark of Richardson and Groves of Lancaster; Second district. Holmes of Douglas and Gates of Sarpy; Third dis trict, Graff of Cuming and Gregg of Platte; Fourth district. Murphy of Fill more and Wilson of Polk; Fifth district, Kelley of Furnas and Bowman of Nuck olls; 81xth district, Henry of Holt and Fries of Howard. Resentment Against Douglas. The success of Douglas county senators in capturing the advantageous places on the committees that have the organisation of the upper house in charge has caused a considerable amount of resentment among the senators who have come down for the first time and sea the energetic spoils seekers of their metropolis out After the good things for themselves and constitu ents. The scheme wss managed in a clucus of a few of the senators early on the scene, held by Senator Ransom on the night be fore the caucus of the entire majority membership. It Is said eleven bt the early ones attended and parceled out the places. U was rather unusual to see the three senators from one county secure the chair manships of the three committees on or ganization, but this Is what happened. At the large caucus, as one minority sen ate r exi reused It, those who were mote rtti cent Bat back and passed the mciU' ni that the other senators made and when they came to examine the lists after It wai all over they found they were not represented. With Ransom on the committee on niiea, Tanner heading the committee on commit tees and Howell heading the Committee 01 employes, the chances for Outsiders to got in at thu pie counter are not what would be considered "red hot." O110 of the senators who won his spurs on the battlefield by defeating a repub lican of state-wide reputation sat gloomily In his seat when he was questioned about the prospect. "I will say this," tig rep.led to a qntsti.in sbout the outlook, "thcai committees will be made up In a Way t rat will satisfy everybody." All of which presaged a f;ne t me In tho meeting of the cominiUee on Handing com mittees, which waa scheduled for later In the day. In this connection it Is suggest d that four republican votes added to the number of d saffecteJ dem crats Would bo sufll clent to ccii.r.l suiy action that sloes not appear to be square and fair. The republicans are not l.kily to e iter Into any such combination, as their policy as outlined at the caucus Is to throw ihj burden of what Is done at trig sestlcin upon the maj rliy .arty, which at the start, a one member expressed it, is doing "toler ably well." BOTH IIOlSaCM HEADY FOR WORK Democrat le Caucus ,omlaees Chose Without a Hitch. (From a Staff Correspondent.) LINCOLN. Jan. S. 8ieo!at.)-Th thirty first session of the Nebrsska legislature, Ihe first In the history of the state wherein the majority Is democratic, convened at 12 o'clock todny. After l lie perfection of a permanent organization adjournment was taken until 10 o'clock Wednesday, at which time a Joint session will be held to canvass the votes cast in the last election. Tha election of all offlccru was by unanimous vote or republicans and ilcrno' rats. The weather was cJld sad BS a result only few pc-oiu witnessed the opunlng In the house and even a smalled crowd waa (Continued on Fifth Pf.)