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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 22, 1913)
Live One's Monologue: "l MiouM uonj because my sleepy comjMJtltor docs not know enough to nilvcrtiso." The Omaha Daily Bee THE WEATHER. Fair VOL. XLLU-NU. 160. OMAHA, MONDAY MORNlNtl, DKCMBIOR On Trains and at Hottl News Stand, Sc. SINGLE COPY TWO CENTS. CONFEREES SMOOTH OUT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HOUSES All-Day Conference of Joint Con gressional Committee Held on Currenoy Bill. DIFFER ON FORTV-TWO POINTS Capital Stock Four Million Dollars for Reserve Banks. COMPROMISES ARE IN ORDER Each Side Disproved to Yield Some thing for Settlement. HOPE TO PASS BILL TODAY 12 cry Hffort HcIiik Mnilc to Settle Controversy no Member. Mny Tnlie Tlielr llollilny Vneiitlti ii. WASHINGTON. Dec. 21. An all-day conference of the Joint congressional committee on tho currency bills pushed that measure close to perfection tonight. Problem Involving the reservo pio visions, tho size and character of the fed eral reservo board, the redemption of 2 per cent government bondH and tho re tirement of the present national bank currency proved troublesome, but tho conferees finally smoothed out most of tho Issues between house and senate. When the two branches of congress convene tomorrow It Is expected plana will Ik made for a long recess begin ning Tuesday. It was predicted tonight that the currency bill could be com pleted and signed by the president late tomorrow or Tuesday, and congress has dropped all other problems In the an ticipation of the first actual recess that It will have enjoyed since April 7. It Is planned to drop all business until Jan uary 12. President Wilson will leave Ay'ashlngton for Pass Christian as soon as tlc currency bill Is signed. Point fif Difference. An analysis of the bill by Senator Owen and representative Glass, chair men of the conferees, showed forty-two points of difference between tho two houses, but many of theso were of a minor character and disposed of quickly. Among tho more Important decisions of tho committee today were the following: Tho minimum capital stock of each le sion reservo bank was fixed at H.000,000, a compromise between tho $3,000,000 mini mum of tho senate bill and the $."1,000,000 minimum of tho house bill. The senate provision "for from eight to twelve regional banks was accepted , b tho. houso in place of the minimum j of twelve fixed In tho house bill. Tho senate's provision that each -"went; l.cr bank" must subscribe for stock of the region bank 1n. Its territory equal to character In exist- C per cent of the member banks capital, -acll fi fw ccnts lo and surplus was accepted by the house, fpw doUarfl ftnd ,ieW fi thou. to replace its own provision that he gan(J(j Qf ,e .. Hubscryptlon must equal u per cent ot tho BoU) t)Me cl(iuses lm(, bpen urgued member bank s ca pital. at Wngth at th(J prevlullg MOarlnB on lho eiuCe en V. -.f . case and In the morning Judge McPher- Tho senate gave way on Hn provision i son l,ad heId thnt he couW on,y ,,lsml83 that no "clnss 15" director of u regional ! "without prejudice" the Injunction bills, bank could be a stockholder In any mem- 1 Nevertheless, after the filing of tho mo bor batik. This would permit the three j U(,n Juu"Ke McPherson Issued his new directors who represent "agricultural. I ordcr suspending the "entering" of tho commercial or industrial" Intcrests'in the!decrees l,nUI lanuar' 10 directorate of each regional reserve I tnta order the railroad lawyers say bank to own stock In local banks In their ;' tno b''"Blng of any and all suits against district tlus railroads Is stopped until the motion The attempt of the house conferees to ls "caid. have the secretary of agriculture and I j Tl tho comptroller of tho currency made (jOITeCt JjCOnOlUlC n embers of the organization committee to Inaugurate the new system and per- mancnt members of tho federal reservo board held tho attention of tho confer ence through much of the afternoon. Tho house bill Included these federal offl-' cers as members of the board, whllo the j CHICAGO, Dec. 20. The currency bill wnatc allow! only tho secretary of tho j Is the political miracle of tho ago "be treasury to remain on the board. i cause not ten of the men In the houso .Should iho conference report bo ready 'who voted for the bill understood Its tomorrow It will bo given the right-of- j fundamental principles." way In both tho senate and house and j This Is the opinion of J. Laurence rejournment will follow as soon as tho j Laughlln, professor of political economy president signs tho bill. Members of boUt i at the fmverslty of Chicago, expressed houses are preparing to leave Washing- I today In an address to members of tho ton for the holidays, even beforo Presi dent Wilson writes his approval on tho new currency law. PARCEL POST TRAFFIC AT OMAHA BREAKS RECORDS Saturday established a new high water mark In the parcel post business done through the Omaha terminals, when 1.23J!tno currencv problem has been that ,t pouches of such mall went through the (l,))cndc,i ,, the Quantity of money In .llurllngtou terminal and WJ pouches j crcu)utlon through the Union Pacific terminal in j .., am mK i0 stake my reputation Council Bluffs. In addition to this quaq- , tlmt tno m wll ,,e for good or good for tlty of mall handled at the Union Pacific , notUnBi not becauso of the regulation terminal, thoro were 933 pouches of sec-jof noto UgUMI ml lp quantity ot money ond class matter, and the force there , , clrcuitttion. but becauso of tho organl- warned oui pacKages oi letters. Officials In both the railway mall serv- ico and the local postotflco believe that they will bo able to meet the emergencies of the first parcel post Christmas without being overwhelmed with tho volumo of bulness. The Weather I'or Nebraska and Iowu Fair. Te-nprmtaru nt Omaha Yeatcrilny. Hours. Degs. 6 a. m 13 DCWTtt T.a. m S a. m . I; 9 a. in II 10 a. in.. 11 a. in.. 12 m 26 2 C: t p. m 31 p. m.. 28 I! p. m 23 7 P. in 2! 1, ueal Record. Loinjinrtitlve 1813. 1912. 1911. 1910. Highest yesterday....... 32 34 10 lxiwpst yestcruay M..n lomnprnture 32 32 32 Precipitation 0 .IT . Temperature and nroolpltatlon depar - Vonnnl'ti-inneratiire 2ft iirfi'ienry for the day i " .. .. 1 v ru , a. I Ton! excess si m March 1 vii'.' ;91S &iaUH,' "K Tetal rainfall since March 1 2S.W lucbrK iieflclercv since .Maren i incnes DcfMency for tor pcrloil. 1912. 4.02 IncheH JJetlUeucy for cor period. 1911 13.13 Inches RAIL KATE CASE IN TANGLE Injunction Suit Against Two-Cent Law in Missouri Dismissed. JUDGE THEN SUSPENDS DECREE Attorney Grnrrnl IIckIii Action for Tun Million tlnlliirn .nlnt MUsunrl Pacific, ltnll rnnd. KANSAS CITY. Dec 21. Almost simul taneous with the filing at Joffcrson City yesterday of a suit for $2,000,000 against tho Missouri Pacific railroad, by John T. Parker, attorney general) for claimed overcharges made by the road whllo tho 2-cent fare and maximum freight rato laws were enjoined, Judge Smith Mc pherson In tho federal court here made a new order suspending until Jnhunry 10. the decrees he hnd ordered at tho Homing session of the eoutt. The order left the Missouri rate cases tonight in a more complex tangle than ever. Another trip to tho supreme court of the United States, more litigation and more delay appeared to bo In prospect for tho cases, which have been In the courts since 1!0S, and In thirteen of which the supremo court upheld the icnsonuble ness' of the rates In a decision last sum mer. At the morning session of tho court. Judge McPhcrson read from tho bench bis decMon. holding that under tho mandates of the supreme court he could do nothing but dismiss tho injunction suits without prejudice, not reserving, as tho railroads had asked, Jurisdiction to decide tho many thousands of claims of overcharges while the laws were held up by Injunction, The nllroad counsel left the court room without making a motion or any request for tho decree to bo held up until motion could be filed, llnrker Urlim Suit. Immediately upon hearing ot Judgo McPherson's decision, Attorney General Barker at Jefferson City brought suit agalliHt tho Missouri Pacific road. He rrepared to fllo It Immediately, fearing the railroads might enjoin him from suing. Later In the afternoon. Krank linger man, attorney for the railroads presented a now motion to tho court asking tho Judges 'to amend the decrees he offered at the morning session by inserting provi sions retaining Jurisdiction of the claims tor overcharges. In this motion, the rail toads asked tho thing Judgo McPhcrson had held in his morning decision he could not put In the mandate. Tho railroads asked two clauses to bo Inserted In the decree. The first clauso rcud: Tho court reserves Jurisdiction to settle and determlno liability, if any, for ul leged overcharges after tho granting of the Injunction bond herein flleih The Second Inline. The second clause asked by the rail roads read: Tim nnn.t wl Until, .if 1iernfter refer I to a special master to be hereafter ap- ,)0nted. tho ascertainment, after due no tlce, of tho liability to shippers and pas- gangers ror allesefl overcnarge. .Jn support of tho motion, the petition said tho complainants "offer to provo lt.i.1 1.nHA ..,. n.. 1. ... 1 ...... .1 1. ,.f l r Vlll PilT) IP riTnhnnlPfl x x muifiu JJUiwuuiuu in Bill Unwittingly City club. "The wonder of It," the professor said, "Is that they Incorporated the correct economic principle without rcalllntf It. "The present banking laws have been on tho statute books since tho civil war and sound currency legislation has been almost Impossible to secure," ho said. Slnco that time the fundamental Idea of , of ..... nrovided for. It seems to me a miracle tins tiling snouiu navo been Incorporated In this bill. No ono has talked about this feature of tho bill and yet It Is ten times as Important as the regulation of noto ! sues and tho umount of money In cir culation. It Is a source of marvel to me (that 2W men In the houso voted for this bill when there were not ten men In tho houso who understood Its fundamental ! principles. The fault In the panic of 1007 lay In, i. . . ... nr Pointers for Solons. On Pushing Business ' Given by Committee tFrom a Staff Correspondent.) LINCOLN. Neb., Dec. 21.-(8peclal Tel egram.) Tho special commission ap pointed by tho last legislature to pre pare a plan for the better and more i economical running of the legislature BdJouml this evening nfter partially 1 a,i0ptng a plan whereby they will rec- 1 oinmend that tho number of 'committee In each house be lessened, the long-hand ' sytem nf vngroslng bills be abolished. Iforenooj.s given over to committee woik I and four hour ca h afternoon to es- .i,.,. t , ",J 1 mended- slu-.s. Other chafigcs will be recoiu- MISTLETOE TO HANG INSIDE COURT HOUSE Big Spray Will Be Suspended f:c High Dome by One-Hundrc Foot Cord. TREE IS READY Huge Derrick Place Today. SINGERS PRACTICE FOR EVENT Children and Choirs Busily gaged in Preparation. DECORATIONS TO BE BRILLIANT One Thonsnitil Inennilencent lilRhta mill Other Dreornt Ions Will lie I'lnceu lit llrnnelien l'lne ' Munlrnl Pronrmn. A big spray of mistletoe, suspended by n cord 100 feet long Intertwined with green foliage, will hang over the center of tho first floor of the court houso Christmas eve. Warning that this ancient and histori cal plant was to havo Its sharo in Doug las county's unprecedented ivopular eclo. brntlon of the holiday was given yester day by County Cummlsslpnur John Lynch, who succeeded In securing the ap proval of his fellow members ot tha board. Uy authority of his office of chairman of the committee on tho court houso and grounds Mr. Lynch decreed that tho mistletoe Khali hang In tho precise ccntor of the building. From the top of the huge dotno the cord will descend, four 6tortes In length, ending several foot above tho first floor. "I am anxious to havo the oact loca tion of tho mistletoe mado known," satd Mr. Lynch, "in order that till may havo lair warning." (Continued on Prige Two.) The gigantic tree, mound which all Omaha will sing carols on Christmas eve, Is now in tho court Iioiimj square, ready to bo hoisted Into place by many work men on Monday. A big scenery wagon and three stout horses wero noccssnry to haul It from lho two railway flat cars In the North western yani. to the central location where the cclebtatlon will take place. A laige derrick had to be ued to lift It off the wagon. It will bo raised to Its In tended position and fastened In placo Monday, and then brilliantly trimmed and wired for 1,000 incandescent lights. Hundreds of school children, City mis sion children, church choir singers and ether vocalists and Ocorge Green's band will take part In tho lengthy program of Christmas music that will be given from 8 o'clock until midnight. Mr?. Mabellc'fawfoTirVlptbn'SMII "ho tho vocal soloist, and will sing shortly after 10 o'clock, when all tho employes of thu stores will be off duty to tttend the cela bratlon. It Is expected that thousands of citizens will gather In the court house snuare to witness the spcctaclo and listen to tho music. The committee of public spirited citizen who havo organized the affair urge that all members of ltoman Catholic choirs and all other Catholics who sing, attend the rehearsal of their part of the pro gram, this afternoon at Crelghton uni versity library rooms, Twenty-fifth and California streets. Children Practice Carols. Public school children of tho flrt. sec end and third grades have been practic ing Christmas carols for the celebration during the last fow weeks. Tho commit tee requests that parents of theso chil dren co-operate with tho committee by escorting the children to tho court houso Wednesday evening at 7:30 o'clock, In order that a largo number may bo on hand to sing their songs as planned. They will meet In tho rotunda of the building and then march out on the steps to sing their part of tho program, after which they will return to the parents. A responsible committee of well known teachers, assisted by other workers, will bo on hand to see that tho children re ceive proper care. Those who will assist In this ipattor uro Miss Juliet McCuno and a corps of other teachers, Miss Joy Illgglns, Miss Adams and Miss h'chacfer of tho social settlement, Miss Dorothy Hlngwalt, Miss Lcota Holdrege, Miss Carmellta Chasn, Miss Alleo Buchanan, Mrs. riitllp Potter, Ira J. Heapd of tho Young Men's Christian association and n police officer. Court House llecnratrd. Tho court hoiiBo will bo decorated and brightly Irjhted, and tho county com missioners will hold a reception In tho building before tho program takes place cutsldc in the square. As tho municipal troo Is tho first gen eral Christmas celebration ever planned to allow all Omaha to Join in tho obser anco ot tho holiday, enthusiasm over tho idea Is widespread, and thousands plan to gather around the tmmonso tree Christmas night. Judge Ben Lindsey Weds 'Little Rebel;' Word Obey Omitted CHICAGO, Dec. Sl.-Judgo Henjamln R. I.lndsey, founder of tho Juvenile court nt Denver, and Miss Henrietta Urevoort, stepdaughter of Dr. F. J. Cllppcrt of Detroit, wero married hero last night. Judgo Lindsey met his bride several months ago while they wero guests at a sanltoriuin at llattlo Creek, Mich. She Is a socialist and Is referred to by her husband as "The little Ilebel." Sho has been a student In a local firm of Interior decorators and Judge Lindsey spoke of hsr proudly as a "working girl." The marrlago was crformed tonight at a hotel by a Methodist minister and tho word "obey" was omitted from the ceremony. James Itandolph Walker; a long-time friend of the Judgo, mndii all ariangements and was host man. Mrs. j Hiulviy Is 21 years old anil the Judgo j Is nineteen years her senior h .Mr. and Mrs. I.lndsey will eiu- to ' morrow for New York and will be at I home at Denver ubout Junuary W. ft -v. - -VV ft Drawn for Tho Bee by Wlnsor McCay. ASKKU TO PUT BACK 0,000 i Lynch Will Introduce Resolution Corncerning Smith. RETAINSAT,U.RmZATI0Nvr2ES)hC!k '''NWoTif "fe&vlll Clerk of lllatrlct Court Sii,n Win Continue to iiolil Collect lon l-nln.-t. i 1 i - - - - .......... of Court. A resolution demanding that Itobert Smith, clerk or tho district court, pay to. tho county treasurer about $5,000, con sisting of hair tho naturalization feei collected by his office during the sis years ho has held tho offlco nnd In structing the county attorney to bring suit If ho refuses will bo Introduced In tho Board of County Commissioners nt Its next meeting by Commissioner John Lynch. It is expected that the board will pass tho resolution and that n fight In tho courts will bo the result, for Mr. Smith made a statement yesterday that ho would not relinquish the fees. "Half of tho fees go to tho federal gov ernment," said Commissioner Lynch, "and Smith Is getting tho other hulf. I not only demand that ho turn over what sums ho may collect In tho future, but that ho put bade the amounts he now holds. "Smith's Job Is paying him In salary M.000 a year for merely nominal services. Why he should receive largo sums In naturalization fees when tho county Is furnishing the building, the supplies and the employes who do the work I cannot understand." Mr. Smith mado a statement that'he considered ho was entitled to the fees and that he would muko a fight on tho issue. "I have received In the neighborhood of J3.000 in this way Ju tho last six years," he said, "tho amount having been Increased to above tho normal by tho new federal law providing for lapsing of first papers after a defined period. -Tho half I havo been receiving ordinarily would average nbotit J500 a. year. "I consider that I urn entitled to theso feeB because courts' decisions so Indi cate, and County Attorney Mugney has said 1 might receive them. "The county's expenses are not in creased by tho naturalization work," Mr. Smith continued. "Tho employes arc here In tho office and the cost of lights. Janitor service, etc., go on anyway. IT the county board wiintw to attempt to recover theso fees it will havo to bo taken Into the courts." k .n TXT Ti Woman Dies AffeQ VVOman DIGS XlgUU. T J vxxiuixx XJLKJU of Shock as Bandit and Grocer Battle DKNVEK, Dec. 21. As a result of n liHtttn helween nn linlndentlflffl hnndlt iiiwl I. Finesllvcr, proprietor of a grocery store, which won robbed by tho bandit, Mrs. Mary Jnno C'arnsew In dead ot shock and tho robber Is dying In tho county hos. pltal from a bullet wound In hl heart. , . v.,ll .... . The robber entered tho store Just bo fore closing time tonight, brandished a revolver, drove Flnesllver and tho one customer in the store from his proximity to the cashier's desk, and was proced Ing to help himself, when Finesllvcr se cured a rovolver and, chasing the burg lar to tho street, with a shot foiled him, Mrs. CarnHow, "5 yearn ot age, in bed In her home adjoining the. store, hearing , the snooting went to in iront door just jus Flnesllver and the bandit were at ithe height of their battle. She stuggcred Into the house und dropped dead as the Jbundlt fell. The Saint of the Season, YrV- widow gets verdict . run Uttt ln Ur nUbUAiMU MAD1HON. Neb., Dec. 21.-(SpeeltvJ.)- Tho Jury .In tho case ot Mrs. Bergman purety bond companies returned n ver- diet ot 49.W0 against Martin It. Hporn '"hil the Title Guaranty and Surety com- pany In favor of Mrs. Bergman Mrii. Hergmon's husband whllo. Intoxicated was struck and kilted by a Northwestern passenger train nt Norfolk Junction and this action was brought against lU: saloonkeeper charged with' having sold him tho lltpior and' his bond company. M'KENRY STIRS FOOD LAWS Judge at Des Moines Sets Up a New Butter Fat Standard. BEYOND THE LEGISLATURE Jurlnt .Mnlulnlim Hint I.iiiviiuiUf r Cnnuot Insist t'pon n Cerlnlii ("renin Test In Ice ('renin. A decision handed down by Judge McIIenry of the district court In Des Moines to the effect that the pure food law relatlvo to tho butter fat stundard for Ico cream is unconstitutional has caused a stir In local puro food officers' circles and a teBt 'caso of tho Nobroska i law is not' now unexpected. Judgo McIIenry held that tho loglsla- turn could not tlx tho per cent of butter fat len eremn sho, ,1,1 e.mtaln nnv morn than It could lrglsluto the quality f soup. He says thero Is nothing In butter fat or tho lack of it to injure health or enmfnrt n.. n,nrl III .leelnlnn. In imrt. follows: Ilutter fat is the natural product which Is extracted from cream or milk and ns crctly tho Moripons oro opposed to our a food product Is generally known and I republican form of government. He recognized us a harmless food product j pointed out that the Mormons tench that und sultnblo for tho maintenance and .. .... . ... ...i.ii. ,,. support ot tho physical bodies of men. o eminent nxiept that which they Yet It Is equally well known and com- havo established Is Illegal ami unauthor monly understood Unit a food product Zed: that all law except that which Without butter fat may bo equally harm- ' ... . ..HihIr nr.lnl,, or nlinrnve In of tin less or equally lielioflclul. Ice cream Is ' u" 'r PrHsts ordnln or appro o Is of no not a natural food product, but a man- , effect, and that opposition by any gov ufactured combination of other Ingredl- ornmunt or nny people to tho decree ot nnllL . , 1 tho Mormon prophet is direct rebellion To one man Ico creiin contulnlng 12 i ., ,.,. ... per cent of butter fat might lm beneficial I "Viilnat AlinlMity JoU. and acceptabln to his tustc. To another ( "This nation, In their iiyos," he said, man Ice cream contulnlng but per cent , H sinner, and must suffer for Its of butter fat might bo more suitable, and , , Tl r(,,.U,i,. in n,eir Vlew must In both cases It is u matter of common "m r,l'"lu' ln inr lc.. must knowledge that It Is u harmless food f"" " punishment for having atwentcd product, not Injurious to public health. I to tho slaying of the Piophets Joseph inorHlH or welfare. The state of Iowa j UIld Uynun smith." cream that It shall have 10 per cent by ; actual weight of sugar. The faetB upon which this law Is founded arc simply ar- lilt ran' und the presence of 12 per cent or butter rat In Ico cream has no rela tion whatever, and cannot possibly havo any relation, to public health, murals or welfare If the legislature of the stuto of Iowa. cun suy to the manufacturer you cannot soli Ico cream within tho state of Iowa Unless It COntaillH 12 Per cent of butter J Con'sl'!nPrBIJ4m11'j prevenUilnom buying I mid cotiMimlng Ico cream with it less I percontngo than 12 per cent of butter fat 'J"' 'uw "ot ""'' I'Uerfcres with tho ni'eilj ui iii. iiiniiuinuiuiui . iiui iim feres with tho liberty of tho consumer who muy, by reuson of his pcrsonul tusto and desires, prefer Ico cream of a lower percentage of butter fat. Wnlkcr'a Nnrrmv Khcuiic. OUAU.AM, Neb., Dec. SI. (Speclnl.) As H M. Walker wan crossing the I'nlon Pnclfli- tracks at" tho Ognllala crossing ut noon today tho westbound local struck his bi'ggy In such a mannor as to kill one nurse, injuro um inner nun huiiiiiibii the bunt:)'- Mr. Walker was struck on tint si oulder but not seriously hurl. I,. O, Harris, who was riding with Wulkei did n niche any serious Injury. Mi I ASSAILS MORMON-PRACTICES Senator Cannon Talks of Crimes and Treason of Church. ' CALLS POLYGAMY CORNERSTONE Well Knoivn Vtuli Mini AnxertP -Mormon llnve Never Alnttiiloiirtl I 'In nil Miirrlna;ri unit Still I'roteet Practice. "The Crimes and Treosop of tho Mor mon Church" was tho subloct of scath ing criticism by Senator Frank J. Cannon of Denver, In an address at tho First Methodist church last night, who ap peared la.il regular lecturo courso there. Senator Cannon was tho llrst United States senator from Utah. Il described tho Mormon system as "treason mas querading us religion," as an "empire I l,c,8,nK nn ft church" und as "Turkish marrlago systems and oriental politics transplanted to the &oll of the I'nlted Stntes," "Polygamy Is tho basis und corner stone of Mormon theology," he sold, "It Is tho order of tho Mormon social system. Tho church hna neviv aban doned It nnd has never planned or en forced any order for Its abandonment. Tho church ulwuys protects nnd rewards : its practice. You can throw one of the Mormon priests into the greatest ragn by Intimating that polygumy ls not of Clod." 1'enrs Miiriuniin In CoiiKreas. Tho senator'soundod u warning against j letting Mormons gain representation In i congress and reverted to tho famous Smoot caso. In which nn Investigation j was made by a senato committee to de - , tcrmlno whether Senator Ilecd Hmoot of , vt,lU WdB " Polygamlst. and whether he SllOUld bo OXpellCll from tllO Senate. He said Mormon representation was exceed- I lugly' jlungeroiis to the republic as se- 1 Umm.mI 1 .. 1 1 . I ... I I Tho speaker reviewed the political bar gains of tho .Mormon church, touched on secret political leagucH formed with po litical bosses tor udvantagc, dealt with the commercial despotism of tho Mor mon, and suggested soino remedies for what ho called "Mormon church crimes." Ho pointed out thnt Mormons havo re- I celved from the I'nlted States govern- menl na,M.ly for past offenses and , restoration of citizenship, and declared that the nation has a right to ask that ionders shall observe In good fulth tho terms of the treaty made between tho federal government and themselves. Davis of Omaha to Head the Surgeons ST. I.Ol'IS, Mo.. Dec. 21.-Dr. It. U. Davis of Omuha was elected president of tho Western Surgical association at Its meeting hero today. Other offlrriu 'chosen were: Dr Leonard Freeman, Dcn , ver, vice i, resident, and Dr. Arthur T. J.Munii, Minneapolis, secretary-treasurer. INDEPENDENTS LIKE PROVISIONS OF THE PHONE AGREEMENT Pleased to Have Use of Thousands of Miles of Trunk Lines Oper ated by Bell Companies. WIRES OPEN TO THEM ALL Announcement of Dissolution of Trust Causes Speculation. BURLESON HAS DATA READY Won't Submit Findings as to Publio Ownership Unless Asked. I AMERICAN STOCK ADVANCES i mm f l'lnn ti "Hunt" Monopoly In KolltMTrit ) I'onrtren-Polnt lllse on the Sfw York HxchniiRC. WASHINGTON, Dec. 31. Attorney Oen ernl Mclleynolds told friends yesterday that scores of the Independent telephone 1 companies In the United States were, ! gratified with the agreement tho' bo i called telephone trust has made with the Department of Justice, which will glvo them the use nf thousands of miles ot trunk lines operated by tho Bell com panies. The dcpiutmcnt, he said, could hardly have forced the Dell company to allow Independents to make use ot Hell equip ment and there was no rhanco that they could ralho sufficient funds, If they had tho deslrn to build competing long dis tance lines. To bring about competition In Inter state business. It was pointed out, would havo required nn outlay of many mil lions of dollar and piobnbly would have meant loss or n severe falling off In the receipts of tho Hell and the Independent companies that tried to get long dlstnnco business, According to figures laid be fol-o tho attorney general, tho vice pres ident of the American Telephone and Telegraph company, who conducted tho agreement of lost night, there are more than 20.000 Independent ?elcphono com panies In the country. All l'niiiinnlen llnve lllftht. Tho opening of tho llcll lines to oil theso companies under this slmpie nnd Inoxpcnslve plan, It ls declared, will mean that every ono of these companies has thn right to make use of tho Bell lines In every part of the union. Thero was talk today nt the Depart ment of Justice of action by tho Bell company to allow subscribers ot Inde pendent companies In cities to talk to Hell subscribers through nil exchanges ' anil Bel) lines, but Nr. Mclleynolds said that thin was rt,sTcl5flial seemed'to bo far In flur future. Bo far ns he knew the Independent companies were well sat isfied with the American Telephono and Telegraph company's proposal, and Its agreement (o make no further extension und to glvo up Its holdings. In such In stances as tho depaitment or the Inter statu Commerce commission suggested such action. Announcement ot tho agreement caused an unusilal buzz ot speculation Iioro today. In some quar ters. It was regarded as an Indication of tho fight that some of tho conserva tive members of President Wilson's cab inet will make against government own ership of publio utilities. McIlrynnlilN Opponeil. It Is known that Mr. Mclleynolds ls strongly opposed to government owner ship. Tho attorney general Is said to feel that government ownership la likely to come in the I'nlted States unless there can be a restoration of free competition In public service, "but ho believes the agreement with the American Telephono and Telegraph company Is a long step toward a return to competition In the telephono and telegraph field. In hlrt opinion the Sherman law Is a sufficiently strong weapon to force nny monopoly to come to terms nnd ho Is convinced that a clrur demonstration of tho power will do much to allay the growing sentiment for government ownership. Postmaster General Burleson. It became known today, now has before htm all dutn, collected and put In concreto form resecting the proposed government ' acquisition of telegraph and telephone lines, but It Is understood that It ls not his present purposo to submit the find ings of his exports to congress unlets they are desired. If congress wishes to take up the ques tion, tho postmaster general is prepared nt an hour's notice to submit .data on the subject. ln the summary of Mr. Burleson's an- (Continued on Pago Two.) " Don't Wait for the "Day Before" Any reader of Tho Bee who hnw ever done any Christmas shopping the "day before" well knows tho big peualty ono pays for putting it off. Stocks are literally "shot to pieces," stores are topsy-turvy, shoppers are In a temper and salespeople are worn and weary. DON'T PROCRASTINATE! Enterprising stores havo long been waiting for you. They aro laden with thousands of things from which you may choose If you make up your mind to act. From father's slippers to baby's toys; from mother's pleco of lace to sister's set ot furs dozens of suggestions for evory member of tho family aro made dally In the advertising; columns of Tho Bee. Make your selections first from the newspapers. That simplifies shopping. It saves time and you are sure to have no regrets ufterwards, for you havo carefully considered every possible present and chosen the one you know is right.