The Omaha Daily Bee
FARM FACTS
advertised In The Bee will be raid by
IntelUg ent and prosperous farm land
Investors. Ask us for further infor
mation. THE WEATHER.
Cloudy; Cooler
VOL. XLI1I NO. 24S.
OMAHA, WKDNKSDAY MORNING, MAY 1.1, 1!U TWMIA'K PAUKS
On Tralna and at
Kotti Nw Stand, Sc.
S1NQLK COPY . TWO CENTS.
BALD JACK" ROSE
AND SHAPIRO TESTIFY
IN CASE OF BECKER
Star Witnesses Again Tell of Cir
cumstances Attending Kill
ing of Gambler.
CRIME PACT IS DESCRIBED
Relations of Rosenthal and
fendant Are Set Forth.
De-
THEIR QUARRELS PART OF STORY
.Plotting of Squealer's Death When
Exposure is Imminent
CHAUFFEUR BECOMES CONFUSED
Testimony Dor Not Altnitether
A (tree with Story tit FlrM Trial
Hose. Sit)' Meeker a nil
Rosenthal Unnrrrleil,
NEW YORK", May 12.-"Bald Jack"
Rose, star witness of the first trial of
Charles Becker for the murder of Her
man Rosenthal, appeared In that role
again today. He took the stand shortly
bfore noon and calmly told of the part
he played In the cventB leading up to the
gambler's death. Substantially, It was
the same story he told at the first trial.
Brlefy Rose recited how Becker and
Rosenthal hnd entered Into partnership
In a gambling establishment; how they
quarreled; how exposure for Becker was
Imminent, and how Rosenthal's death was
plotted.
William Shapiro, driver of the sun
men's car, testified In tho Becker mur
der trial today. Ho said he knew "Bald
Jack" Rose and "Brldgle" Webber. Ho
told of receiving a call at his stand in
front of the Cafe Boulevard late at night
on July 15. He the went to Tom Shar
key's saloon, where he picked up Rose,
Jtarry Vnllon and Sam Schepps. "At
Brldgle Webber's poker rooms the occu
pants of the car got out," he said. "Fif
teen minutes later Dago Frank, Gyp tho
Blood, Whlty Lewis and Lefty Louie
came out and I was ordered to go to the
Metropole hotel.
Sees Jinn Fnll
"At the Metropole rago Frank ordered
me to turn the car around so It would
face toward Sixth avenue. The four men
got- out and went to tho other side of tho
street. In fifteen minutes 1 heard a shot
artd then four more.
"I looked toward the Metropole and saw
a man fall. 1 started my machine. I
was going to get away from there. I
had gono about fifty feet when the four
men caught up with .me and Jumped on
board.
"I hard AVhltey say: 'Make the chauf
feur turn around and wait. The copa
arfl all. fixed. Everything Is all right.
Betfcer has fixed them.' .--f-.
"After the murder 1 took tiie four men
to One Hundred and Twenty-sixth street,
where-they left me."
''.Where were you last night V asked
the district attorney.
"In your house," answered Shapiro.
"How much money have you received
from my office?"
"Fifty dollars, for expenses out of the
city."
"What did you say was the conversa
tion In your car before the murder?"
asked Mr. Manlon of Becker's counsel.
"Whltey said, 'Everything Is all right;
Becker has the cops fixed,' "
Mr. Manlon read a copy of the testi
mony Shapiro offered at the trial of the
gunmen. In that Shapiro said, "Frank
said 'everything is all right; Becker told
me so." ' Under a fire of cross examina
tion the witness got badly confused and
was unablo fully to reconcile Ills testi
mony of today with that of the previous
trial.
nose Take Stand.
Jack Ros took the stand. He gave his
occupation as a lecturer and writer. Un
der questioning he told how he first met
Becker in 1911. He talked In a low tone
and persons In the back of the room
coilld hardly hear him. Rose described
a. New Tear's eve banquet at tho Elks'"
club. "Becker " he said, "went up behind
Rosenthal, who was sitting next to his
wife. He placed his arms around Rosen
thal and said to Mrs. Rosenthal, 'You
don't have to worry any more, I'll take
care of him from now on. Everything is
all right.' " !
Rose also told of alleged meetings be-
tween Rosenthal and Becker at the lat- :
ter'a home and at other places. j
The Weather
Forecast of the weather for Wednes
day: Fair, with slowly rising temperature.
Temperature nt Omaha Yesterday.
Hours. Dcg.
6 n. m 3-S
e .., .
7 a" n, S7
8 it. m :tr.
! " 5
10 a. in....
11 a, m
12 in
1 p. m
2 p. m
3 p. m
4 p. in
5 p. in
ii p. in
7 p. in
t p. in
l.oi!uI lleoord
I'oiiiiiHrntli c
1 Highest yesterday.
Lowest yesterday..
Mean tenmoruture .
PreclDltatlon 00
Temperature una precipitation uepar-
tures from the normal:
Normal temperature CI
Deficiency for the day 17
Total excess since March 1 09
Nr.rmal precipitation.. IS Inch
Deficiency for tho day 16 Inch
'jotal ruinfau sinee March 1. ...t.sO Inches
Deficiency since March 1 1.19lnchos
tixcers for cor. period, 1913.....1.90inchcs
Deficiency for cor, period, 1912 .90 Inch
Reports from Stations at 7 1. 31.
Station and State Temp. High- Raln
of Weather. 7 p. m. est. fall.
Cheyenne, cloudy SS 40 .(
Davenport, cloudy 0 St .01
Denver, cloudy 44 4! .4
De Moines, cloudy , 60 DJ .02
North Platte, cloudy.... JO U .0)
Omaha, clear St SS .00
Rapid City, cloudy 44 4'i .Oj
.Sheridan, clear V) ii i-l
Sioux City, pt cloudy.... 61 -j, m
Valentine, cloudy 4 60 oo
T Indicates trace of precipitation.
L. A. WELSH. Local Forecakter
ii
WARMER
Coal Miners Begin
to Erect New Tent
Colony at Ludlow
TRINIDAD. Col., May li.-Unlon
leaders In the southern Colorado strute
fields today began preparations for the
erection of n new tent colony at Ludlow
Strikers were engaged In clearing the site
of the old colony, which was destroyed
by fire April 20, when 22 people were
kilted.
Present plans contemplate the erection i
of tho new colony adjacent to the ol'l :
site. .
According to previous statements of the
military officers authotity for the con
struction of a new camp was not to bo
given until union leaders hnd secured ap
proval of men selected to have chargu
of the colony and submitted a roster ot
Us inhabitants. When this would be doiib
was not known definitely. Operators were
formulating plans for the operation
mines which were being run before
April 20.
The voluntary surrender of arms by
residents of the Trinidad district prac
tically cease today, though receiving of
ficers were at their posts In the five
designated districts. A few stragglers
among the townspeople were the only
ones who appeured with arms to give up.
The time limit for peaceful surrender ot
all arms will expire at 6 oclock tomor
row afternoon, nfter which time persons
Biispccted of carrying arms will be seised
and searched, according to Colonel 1ock.
ett's order,
Bandit Will Kill
Three Americans for
Each Outlaw Slain
JUAREZ, Mexico, May 12, No word of
the progress of the assault on Tamplco
by constitutionalists reached here today.
Since the w-d was received ot the open
ing of the attack Sunday night every
channel of news has remained closed. Not
only have the border points been able
to learn the progress of the fighting,
but constitutionalist leaders at Toreon
have been without reports.
Three American lives is the price that
will bo collected by General Rodrlgo
Quovedo for every bandit in his com
mand killed by constitutionalist soldiers,
according to a defiance from Quevedo to
day. Quevcdo said he would kill Ameri
cans at tho ratio of three to one for his
own losses in revenge for the action of
the big northern Chihuahua cattle com
panies, owned by Americans, which had
demanded protection of the constitution
alists. As a result of the representation
a force of constitutionalist cavalry was
sent out from Juarez which has been In
pursuit of the bandits and has killed sev
eral of them In a running fight.
Quevedo, in his communications, said
that already his men had begun to earn
out the threat to destroy the windmills
of various cattle companies. He said,
however, that they would 'not destroy all
the windmills Immediately, but would
burn enough to show their threat was
In earnest. ' "
Asquith Promises to
Introduce Home
Rule Amendment
LONDON, May 12,. Premier Asquith
In the House of Commons today pledged
the government to Introduce an amend
ing bill to the home rule measure In the
hope of passing It by agreement between
parties. It this offer Is accepted, the
original home rule bill and the amend
ing bill will become law practically
simultaneously. This he contended was
the only proper way ot carrying ont any
ngrced settlement which might be reached.
The prime minister ndded that ob
viously In order to take advantage of the
provisions of the parliament act no
change could be made In the home rule
bill whllo it was in the committee stage
and therefore any debate during that
stage would be pure waste of time.
Mr. Bonar Law, leader of the opposi
tion bitterly criticised the "gag" meth
ods, he declared Mr. Asquith proposed
and accused him of falling to redeem
his pledges to reconstitute the House of
Lords.
Seven Killed and
Several Injured by
Explosion on Ship
J NORFOLK. Va., May IJ.-Seven per
j cons were killed In an explosion In the
I engine room ot the Old Dominion ship
' Jefferson, near Cape Henry, last night.
The ship returned to Norfolk, left the
dend and Injured and then resumed its
j trip to New York.
; Tho dead are members of the Jeffer
J non's engine room crew, but have not yet
: been Identified. According to local offi
cers of the Old Dominion line, the vtssel
i wu not badly damaged by the explosion
! which occurred nt 10:30 last nleht n thn
; Jefferson wan passing out from this port
for New York.
First word of the explosion reached
Norfolk late last night, but that fatalltler
I had occurred was not learned until today.
fi Lightning Sets Fire
to Two Oil Tanks
lilt. lUU. 1912. 1911. .
.... a SO ' 6t Ti TI ISA. Okl., :.:ay u.-To tanks, con
" in ! Italians approximately 60,000 barrels ot
.00 .00 .OJl""' l,lc l""!"'" vl ine nerco uil cor-
iporanon near miaa, urea by
ngntning
Hast night, aro still burning and efforts
to extinguish them have been abandoned.
Tho low Is estimated at $50,000.
IOWA MEDICAL WOMEN FOR
DRASTIC HEALTH REFORM
SIOUX CITY. fa.. May 12-Iowa medi
cal women in convention here today de
manded the enactment of drastic health
legislation that will cut down the tre
mendous Infant mortality, stop the waste
of money spont In "trying to get well,"
and bring Into tho worl4.lhe "eugenic
child."'
Demand for u better "crop" of babies
was the key note ot the annual address
of Dr Flornre Itrown Khebron of Colfax,
president of the organization.
NEW HAVEN DIRECTORS!-
WILL NOTTAKE STAND
Indications Are Mellen, Rockefeller
and Others Won't Be Called
to Testify-
DISAPPROVED BY M'REYNOIDS
Attorney General Fears it Would
Give Them Immunity.
TELLS FOLK OF HIS INTENTIO
Cabinet Official Has Short Confer
ence with Wilson.
RATE BOARD IS MAKING INQUIRY
1 mm! Illation In Civil I'rut'ei'ill uu
mill linn No Connection Mlth
I'liiiinclnl Affnlrs of
Knitil.
WASHINGTON. May I2.-Inillcntlims I
wero large tonight that Charles Mellen.
former president, and lwls Cass Ld- '
yard, William Rockefeller, George F.
Baker and George MeCulloch Miller, di
rectors of the Now York, New Haven
& Hartford railroad, would not bo called i
to testify lr the Inquiry blng condtictd
by the Interstate Commerce commission '
Into the financial operations of the NVw
York, New Haven & Hortford rallroml
and the Billiard company.
Attorney General Mclteynolds. while do- ,
cllnlng durlncr the day to mako nnv '
statement, frankly Informed Joseph W.
Polk, chief counsel for the commission.
that he disapproved of the. calling ot thsae 1
witnesses at this lime. It Is known that
members or the commission doubt the '
HdvlRHbllltV llf mitdnir llmin nn M.o nfa.i.l I
lest the evidence they give should render
them Immune from any prosecution thnt
... I rr I. V. . -1.1 I .... . '
Oo ii fern with Wilson.
The attorney general had a brief con
ference With President Wilson tonight
on the New Haven situation. Later he
was asked whether he thought the exam
ination of Mr. Mellen and the New Haven
directors would give them Immunity from
prosecution.
"I think It would," lie replied.
The adjustment of the affairs of the
New Haven and Boston & Maine, upon
which the Department of Justice has been
working Involving the separation of tho
two systems,. Is a civil proceeding. It has
no relation with the financial affairs of
the New Haven, which the commission
now has under investigation and depart
ment officials have explained that it
would have no crfect on the question of
whether there shall be prosecutions In
the criminal courts.
Intention of Folk.
It was the Intention of Chief Counsel
Folk, when .the hearing was adjourned
today, to call Mr. Mollen probably to
morrow. Four of th6 Now Haven di
rectors were subpoenaed for tomorrow
and Lewis Cass Ledyard Is alao'hVro. "
Mr. Lcdyard attended today's sessions
and participated In a lively verbal tilt
with William B. Lawrence of Boston, one
of the witnesses who represents .the larg
est Individual holdings of Boston & Maine
stock. Mr. Lawrence said that his fam
ily's holdings of Boston & Maine stock
had depreciated nearly 11,600,000 since the
absorption of the Boston and Maine by
the New Haven.
Roosevelt Peeved at
Skepticism Over His
Discovery of River
BRIDGETOWN, Barbadoes, May 12.
Colonel Theodore "Ro6evelt with G. IC.
Cherry and Leo L. Miller ot the Amer
ican museum of natural history arrived
here today on their way from Para,
Brazil, to New York.
The condition ot health of the colonel
has Improved during the voyage and he
expects his recovery from the abscess on
his leg will be complete by the time he
arrives in New York. The other members
of the party were In a fair state of re
cuperation from the effects of their long
Journey in the wilds of Brazil.
Much annoyanee waji expressed by the
members of Colonel Roosevelt's expedi
tion In regard to the skepticism displayed
In various quarters as to the discov
ery of a hitherto unknown and Impor
tant river running Into the Madeira. They
declared the existence of tho Rhine; the,
Elbe or the Hudson might Ju.it as well
be questioned. They were surprised at
the alleged unbelief of Sir Clements
Markham, former president of the Royal
Geographical society ot London.
Colonel Roosevelt Is going to Madrid
to attend tho wedding ot his son, Kermlt,
with Miss Willard. He declined to say
anything concerning the Mexican sltua
tlon or politics In general until he ar
rived In New York.
Plotz Discovers
: Typhus Fever Germ
j NEW YORK, .May 12.-In a paper
I which lie will read tomorrow before the
American Association of Physicians, In
.convention nt Atlantic City, Dr. Harry
Plotz of the pathological department of
; Mount Hlnnl hospital of this city will
S toll ot his discovery and Isolation of the
j germ which causes typhvn fever.
Woman Convicted of
Murder Kills Self!
NKW ORLEANS. La., May 12.-Au-gusta
Agnes Kd wards, sentenced to life
Imprisonment for murder, committed
suicide In her cell here late last night by
swallowing poison after being Informed
that the supremo court had overruled her
petition for & new trial.
British Cruiser is
Ordered to Tampico
LONDON, May 12,-The British cruiser
Rristol. now stationed at Portsmouth,
was ordered today to proceed to Tamplco
as speedily as possible.
I . , Wh rn 1
GENESIS GIVES MAN ' I &) s&2- S
authority to nunc) , iJ4X I mAT A
-JeLllV?. ill W THE F1RST rflfjih
illP ! ill TovmfaioTT QTAKT liWMt
I 3Spc3bv JT III us a coLLKCTiarnv J MwJf
' fWm(( W , 1 1 ART TIWASOXKSj ) JSUSSt
mEM&&; y-2S555S2s& SINGLE TAX , v ttfi S'
jf
Drawn
CHEAPER FARES BLOCKED
Judge Sears Grants Temporary Re
straining Order to Company.
IS NOT AN ADEQUATE RETURN
Holds thnt Seven Fnrra for n Quar
ter Wnnlri Not Pay Sufficient
on the Investment Mnile
lij- the Coinpnity.
Issuauce by District JUdgo Sears yes
terday of a temporary Injunction hold
ing, .upenforctment ot the'seVerf street
nar fares for a quarter ordinance pend
ing hearing on its merits, on the sole
ground that the rate named In the new
initiative ordinance Is, according to
pleadings so fat- made, confiscatory on
Its face, Is a forerunner of a law suit of
huge dimensions.
Speuklng of the court order, W. C.
Lambert, of counsel for the city, dcclaics
that when the injunction case comes up
for hearing on application to make the
restraining order pormanont, the formid
able .task of physical valuation of tho 1
Omaha & Council Bluffs Htrect railway j
would be forced and the company would
be required to open Its books to public
view.
John L. Wtbsler, attorney for the street
railway company, vigorously cast aside
the thought.
"No question Involving physical valuu
ilon Is In the slightest degree raised In
this case," he declared. "What does H
cost to carry pasnenKeis How much do
we pay for wages, coal, cars and sup
plies? Those are the things' the court
will want to know at the final hearing."
Makes the Issue,
The Issue, whether the seven fares for
a quarter rate is compensatory to tho
company or whether It Is confiscatory
and so unconstitutional, was raised
squarely by the Judge's decision. Noth
ing Is left to It but to meet this point, for
It cannot go to the supreme court until It
ban done so.
For the present he found the Issue pf
sufficient Income easy ot solution slncn
under the rules of legal procedure the
city had had no opportunity to date to
oppose tho allegation of the street rail
way company that the rate would not be
compensatory and the company's prima
facie showing was enough on this score,
the Judge said, according to the official
shorthand report:
"There is one other question raised by
the pleadings on which there Is no evl-
'(Continued on Page Two.)
The National Capital
TueailH), Mn fj, I III I.
The Neunte.
Interstate commerce ommltteo consid
ered Hiitl-tiiiHt bill. i
Adjourned nt 6:01 p. in. to 11 a. in, on
Wcdnnsday.
rrt.-. 1 1 .. ., .u
Kin . ..i...
.diav7 win 1'iunur iui imil mil n ry
.n. ir.u.,1 c....L
htors bv popular vote considered.
TiiiIab rnnimlltite rmr1nt. anninl ,-nln
Chllo Hnd the Argentine republic.
. v -. ... v ' ........ i. riptuaeoitn jii
Debate continued on Panama canal tolls
exomptlon.
Took up agricultural appropriation bill.
Senato bill to create coast guard out of
1 1 ii c .-H vnm ami luvrnuo i-uuer servicei
lavorniuy reponeo uy laiersiaic com
merce committee.
Federal censorship of motion pictures
advocated by Rev. William H. Chase of
Ilrooklyn before education committee.
QUI for temporary provision for opular
olectlon of United States senators passel
practically without opposition.
Representative Dupree of IxjulsUna
presented a minority report on tho na-tion-wldc
prohibition resolution, asserting
the right of every community to regu
late Us own affairs, v
Passed bills to elevate American lega
tion to Chile and Argentina to em
bassies. lk-gan debate on annual diplomatic and
consular appropriation bill carrying
l.4'6.2ii2.
Rural credits bill Introduced by Repre
sentative Rulkley after sessions of Joint
subcommittee on credits.
Adjourned at 6.08 p. m until noon on
Wednesday.
for Tho Bee by Powell.
The Bug Is in the Air
Omaha Boy in Navy
Wounded by Mexican
While, at San Diego
Howard. Hunt, of the I'nlted mates
navy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Krncst C. Hunt
of Omaha, was shot through the teg by
a Mexican bandit at Ban Diego shortly
before the flotilla sailed southward.
Howard Hunt of the Truxton had been
visiting friends on shore leave In San-
Dlecrn. nnil wna wnlllncr fnr n Atpt .u r
when h was annronehe.t l.v . M.len.
.1. ,.." .7...; .7. ' l.
the sailor, he drw k eun. alSdhovinir
tho mUxitle Ot Hie weapon against tlie
young man's chest, ordered him to throw
up his hands. Hunt had- Just placed a
cigar In his mouth, and with a sharp
downward blow of his hand, struck the
revolver. Klther the blow" of a tug at
the trigger discharged the weapon, The
bullet entered his leg below the knee,
coming out on the other side of the limb
nearly eight Inches nearer the foot. He
was given emergency treatment at a
- ' '
hospital In fan Diego, and removed to
tho ship, proceeding tdward Mexican
I waters the following day, with the
flotilla. His parents here nre. not alarmed
over the young man's condition, the
wound being not a serloun one.
Rebels Run Fire of
Batteries to Blow Up
Federal Gunboat
NOC1ALK9. Sonora. Moy IS. Tho de
struction of the federal gunboat Morelos
In tho harbor of Mazatlan Inst Sunday
was accomplished by four constitution
alists who ran the fire of the federal
batteries, according to details which
renched hore today.
Hqulpped with Inflammable materials
saturated with oil tho four men In a'row-
tbout made their way to tho war vessel,
which hud been grounded and abundoned
by Its crew. Under tho fire of the federal
batteries they placed their oil soaked
torches, hurried back to their small boat
and agnln ran the gauntlet or the bat
teries to safety.
The magazine of the Morel us exploded,
completely destroying the vessel.
The constitutionalist field commanders
reported they were drawing their lines
closer about Mazatlan, the fall of which
was momentarily expected.
Iowa Supreme Court
Upholds Three Laws
DKS MOINKS, la., Slay 12.-The su
preme court today upheld three state
laws the constitutionality of which had
been attacked. In tho case of the pure
food law. requiring I2t per cent of but
ter fat In Ice cream, the court reverted
the decision of District Judge Mclfenry
of Polk county, who held tho provision
was void.
... .
. Ill thn casn nf Thertier nrnln.l n.w.li
worth, the court sustalnod the ruling of
the lower court, which held the soldiers'
jpieference law to be constitutional.
Tho court also sustained the teachers'
minimum wage law.
Common Trough for
Animals Under Ban
PHILADELPHIA, Pa., May 12,-Fol-lowing
Its ban on the common drinking
cup for human beings, the Hoard of
Health here, today forbade the use of com
mon drinking troughs for animals. The
state live stock sanitary board declared
that glanders and other diseases were be
ing sprrad by the common troughs.
Ilulioult! 1'lnnue In Colombia,
PANAMA, May 12. A seven-day quar
antine has been declared against all
x rU of Colombia, owing to reports In
dicating that conditions there In regard
to the bubonic plague have become se-
i r.c us
SLOAN ON REVENUE CUTTERS
Fourth District Representative
Pokes Hot One at Demioraoy
GREATEST REVENUE CUTTER
Senator .Vorrls Introduce Measure
to tllve Title to Holders of l.ana
on V. V. Ill Klit -of-War Who
Have Ailverse l'ofou.
Kr'n Hlutt Correspondent.)
WAHHINGTON. D. C. May 12,-,IHne
cl' TelegraiiU-Representallve William
I a.
C. Adamson of Georgia. ehAlrman of the
Interstate and forelgp commerce commit
tee of the house, wheu the bill providing
tor the construction of four revenue cut
ters came up In the house today made
thn statement that under pressure he de
sired to cut the number of revenue cut
ters provided for by the bill from four
to two, as conditions were such trial the
mcney might be desired for other pur
poses than policing the high seas.
The opportunity wns too good for Con
gressman Sloan. The mere mention of
revenue cutters gave him an Introduction
which, whether It had been planned or
not, seemed to the liking of the alert
representative of the Fourth Nebraska
district, nud he agreed with Mr. Adamson
that the- revenue cutters should be cut
down in number (o be consistent with thw
greatest revenue cut that has occurred
In many, many years. He said the rev
enue for tho last several months showed
J75.00O,O0O, as against $123,000,000 on Octo
ber 23 last. Mr. Sloan remarked that he
was In fnvor of ths chairman's recom
mendation of two revenue. cutters Instead
of four, us tho bill originally planned
on the theory that the really greatest
and most noteworthy revenue cutter of
all, the democratic party, had about es
tablished Its lecord. and he stood willing
to aid It In every retrenchment possible
ut this time.
The satire of Mr. Bleon created con
siderable, consternation on the floor. To
say the least. It was effective, and r.nme
as a climax after a whole day spent In
legislating for the District of Columbia,
wherein the foes of tho district were un
mercifully beaten In nn effort to clisnsc
tho system of taxation for the capital.
I . P. ltlKht-of-Var run.
Keiistor Harris today introduced his bill
to forfeit to the government ttmt portion
of the right-of-way of the Union Pacific
and affiliated lines in Nebraska, Kansas,
Wyoming and Colorado lying outside a
strip 1M feet wide. I'nder the terms of
the bill there is no forfeiture, ot any of
the ilght-of-way now In actual use for
railway purposes. It affects only the
areas used ns building sites, streets,
country roada nnd for agricultural pur
pnhts, The land involved In the forfeiture a
proposed by the Norris bill Is said to be
worth several million dollars. It Includes
areas In some of the prosperous towns
along tho Union Pacific as well as strips
used for farming lands.
Senator Norris' bill Includes a provision
I that the leasing by the railroad of any
!,,arl of rlKnt way lha" cn1,tute
prima facie evidence of abandonment.
In this connection It is known that the
Union Pacific has already offered to con
firm title of all land owners along Its
right of way to whom It deeded land,
but the roud declined to surrender Its
contest with those claimants holding
strips ot right of way by adverse pos
bctslon. The NorrLs measure Is aimed to benefit
those holding by adverse possession.
O'Connor Nominated. .
Frank A. O'Connor of New Hampton,
ln.( was today nominated to the senate
for United States attorney for tho north
ern district of Iowa.
NO COURT HOUSE BONDS
FOR COUNTY OF SHERMAN
LOUP CITT. Neb., May 12,-(Spelal
Telegram.) Court house bonds were de
feated by a majority of fifteen, the vote
standing 609 against to 765 for.
PROMPT RELEASE OF
CONSUL SILLIMAN
Brazilian Minister in Mexico City
Assured American Official Will
Be Given Freedom-
i
i CABINET TALKS OF MEDIATION
Instructions to American Represent
atives Are Discussed'
VERA CRUZ IS IN NO DANGER
Funston Reports that Attack on City
is Improbable.
NEW SOUTH AMERICAN ISSUE
Arret,of llraalllan on Trump Steam
ship In Vera Cms on Chance nf
nlpliiir Raises Delicate
llllilnmntle Point.
WASHINGTON, May. 12 Members of
the cabinet, nfter a prolonged conference
with President Wilson today on the Mexi
can situation, declared the president
maintained confidence that mediation
would succeed nnd that further serious
consequences In Mexico would be averted
Most ot the discussion In the cabinet
meeting, It Was safd, related to media
tion, and thf: views to be. presented on
behalf ot this government by Justice
l.sninr and Frederick W. Lehmann, when
the South American envoys receive views
of the United States and ltuerta's repre
sentatives at thu Niagara Kalis confer
ence. Tho situation at Tamplco was reported
to have been discussed. Complications
that might arise over the foreign owned
oil property there, should destruction re
sult from the conflict between constitu
tionalist and federal forces, have been
under consideration for some time
The report from London that Great
llrltaln had ordered the Hrlstol, a speedy
cruiser, to proceed to Tamplco was not
tedagred as particularly significant hce
As the Urlstol is ot light draft, it was
believed It might be used to operate In
the Panuco river, along which the British
oil properties are located.
Secretary Rryan announced after the
meeting that reports made to this gov
ernment by South Americans, In behalf
of the South American sniper under
arrest In Vera Cms, were made at the
request of the Huerta government. He
understood, he said, that this had been
done on the ground that ".nlplng" had
occurred In Mexican territory. He added
there was. a qucstlop as to whether one
of the South Americans accused was a
Hratllan or a. Ventsuellan.
Admiral HqWard, commanding tne.
American fleet, off the west coast of
Mexico, today rsportad a battle between
Mexican: federaU-rirpMfftVolutlon-Ut
-twenty mllea'from -Acipulco. Adnilral
llowarrl said that sixteen revolutionists
were killed. The fighting at Matsatlan
continues, the reftort said.
' WAeHlNOTOS'.-May W.'-Senor Olivers,
the llraslllan minister In Mexico Olty, In
formed tho State department today that
the Mexican governmei.t has orard tn
Immediate release of Vice Consul John
R. Silllman, held a prisbner at Salttllo.
The minister added that as soon s Mr
Silllman reached Mexico City he would
obtain for him sfe comluet to "irii On x.
President Wilson hnd members of th
cabinet discussed today plans for par
ticipation by the United States Jn th
Mexican mediation conference to begin
next Monday , at Niagara Falls, Ont., and
various problems which have arlsn aln' -j
the occuputlon of Vera ,Crux by Amerlcnn
military forces.
Just before the cabinet met a messa.t
wus received from Oenerul Funston at
Vera Crux In which the American com
mander said no attention should be paid
"alarmist reports" that Mexican .force
were threatening to attack the Vera Crux
water works. General Funston said ther
was no Indication of movements ot Mex
ican troops In preparation for any aurli
attack.
"There have been rumors." ueuerAl
Funston' message read, "that an att w
was threatened. These have been due to
remarks attributed to General Maas. Tha
water works cannot be taken from us by
force. If the pipe line should bo cut it
could be repaired In a few hours."
General Funston added that 300 'sack
of American molt destined for Mexico
City and delivered at the break In thu
railroad still lay on the tracks In posses
sion nf the Mexican outpost. He had no
news of Private Parks, who rode Intu
Hi Mexican lines and has not r turned.
South Americans Present Issue.
Among issues the president and cabinet
had under consideration was the appeal
from the Brazilian minister at Mexico
City to Oeneral Funston on rehalf ot e
South Americans now under arrest At
Vera C'rut for "sniping" American sol
diers from a tramp steamer. Three Bra
zilians are among the prisoners, and the
appe.l, coming from a diplomatic repre
sentative of one of. the. mediating na
tions has presented a delicate problem
for decision. The manning by American
forces ot the lighthouse on Lobos Island
eff Tamplco, which, Huerta's .foreign min
ister has protested, Is a violation ot ths
armistice, also was taken up In the cab!
l.et meeting.
Justice Lamur and Frederick; W. Leh
mann, chosen to represent the UnlUd
States at the mediation conference,
awaited word early today from Secretary
Bryan before completing: arrangements
for their mission.
Consul W, R. Alger, from Maxatlan.
reported today at the State department
for Instructions. He stated that between
14,000 and 15,000 constitutionalists were-, in
the vicinity of Maxatlan when he ('
At that time they were prolactins troons
jon the flrlnr line In alternating thousands
In the hope ot wearing out the federals.
Thirty Americans were left In Maxatlan
at their "own wish. Most of these were
women and children.
Offensive atoTen Improbable.
VERA CRUZ, May It-While the Mexi
can commissioners are enroute to attend
the Niagara, Canada, peace conference
and during the sessions of the conference
theie will be no Inauguration of host))-
(Continued on P( Two.)