fitoxwmx JBk $
mpnnfttt.
VOL. XL. NO. 12,250.
PORTLAND. OREGON, SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1900.
PRICE FIVE CENT&t
tW. -
ANY SIZE.
ANT QUANTITY.
MACKINTOSHES. RUBBER AND OIL CLOTHING
Goodyear Rubber Company
Rubber Boots and Shoes, Beltinf, Packing and Host.
Larcest and moat complete assortment of all kinds of Rubber Goods
P. H. PEASE, Vice-Pres. and Manager
THE MOST COMPLETE STOCK OF
Photographic
In the City at Retail and Wholesale.
Newest, Best and Up-to-Date Goods Only.
Agents for Volgtlncnder CoIIInear Lenses.
BLUMAUER-FRANK DRUG CO., 144-148 Fourth St, Near Morrison
Furs! Furs! Furs!
Manufacturers of Exclusive Novelties In Fine Furs, ALASKA
OUTFITS In Fur Robes, Fur Overcoats, Caps, Gloves,
Moccasins, etc. HIghestxprlce paid for Raw Furs.
Q. P. Rumrnelin & Sons,
Oregon Phone Main 401. 126 SECOND ST., near WashlnQton.
Established 1870
HOTEL PERKINS
fifth and Washington Streets . . PORTLAND, OREGON
EUROPEAN PLAN
First-Class Check Restnurant
Connected With Hotel.
J.F.DAVIES, Prcs.
St. Charles Hotel
CO. (INCORPORATED).
FRONT AND MORRISON STREETS
PORTLAND, OREGON
American and European Plan.
AFULL-ASSORTMENT OF
CALL
Portland Seed Company
CORNER ALDER AND FRONT STREETS
"PIONEER BRAND" OF
MINCED SEA CLAMS
The small amount saved, between the fresh article and the Pioneer Brand
of Minced Sea Clams, will not pay for the trouble of cleaning the fresh ones.
The 2-pound cans are as cheap as the fresh Clams. Just the thing for Ho
tels and Restaurants.
All Wholesale and Retail Houses sell the "Pioneer Brand."
Antique Rare
Turkish and Persian
AT BONAFIDE
AUCTION
Rugs almost being given away at this sale.
You cannot afford to miss it. Come and
THIS
s .-
Better Ones at $50,
STUDEBAKER
Carriages, Wagons, Harness, 320-336 E. Morrison St.
ORDERED TO CHINA.
American Warships Will Protect Mis
sionary Interests.
WASHINGTON, March 16. Secretary
Long has cabled Instructions to Admiral
"ttatson, at Cavlte, to fend a warship to
Taku, China, at the mouth of the Pie Ho
River, to look after American missionary
Interests that are threatened. He has left
the selection of the ship to "Watson.
Short Session of the Cabinet.
WASHINGTON. March 16. The Cabinet
was in session but 35 minutes today, and
nothing of Importance was done. Attorney-General
Griggs, Secretary Root and
P s .master-General Emery Smith -were absent.
ANT STYLE.
73 and 75 first St, Portland, Or.
Goods
Single rooms 75c to $1.50 per day
Double rooms $1.00 to $2.00 per day
C T. BELCHER, Sec. and Treas.
American
European
plan 91.25. $1.50, $1.75
plan 50c. 75c. $1.00
ON US
FRY'S SQUIRREL POISON
Kills the Squirrels
And Saves the- Grain.
Ask for FRY'S, and use It now. For sale by
druRptets and reneral merchants. Prepared
only by DAN'It J. FRT. Miff. Pharmacist, Sa
lem. Or.
FOR. MICE.
FRY'S S. P. is the greatest detroyer of mice
on earth. Put up In boxes containing' enough
to kill 500 mice. Price 10 cents.
BLUMAUER-FRAXK DRUG CO., Agents
Portland, Or.
TODAY
at 2 and 8 P. M.
see.
AT 126 THIRD ST.,
OPPOSITE THE DEKUM
WEEK
$40
$60, $75 and $100
from $6p to $250
SERMONS BY TELEPHONE.
The Plan, of the Pastor of a. Baptist
Chnrch at Columbus.
COLUMBUS. O.. March IS. Rev. H. H.
Barbour, pastor of the First Baptist
Church of this city, proposes to dispense
his sermons by telephone to those who are
unable to attend services At the church.
The church has been wired by the Citi
zens' Telephone Company, and as soon as
i their lines are In operation, Dr. Barbour
will cause a big transmitter to be hung
on the front ot the gallery, which will
supply as many private lines as are con
nected with it. Dr. Barbour explained
that in this way the members of the
church can stay at home and hear all the
service. Including the singing, the prayers
J and the sermon.
RUGS
OPEN TO THE CAPE
Bloemfontcin Has Through Rail
. Communication.
ADVANCE ON PRETORIA CAN BEGIN
Mafeklngr Is the Only Point of Anx
iety to the British Roberts'
Forthcoming: Proclamation.
LONDON, .March 16. Lord Roberts has
sent the following dispatch to the War
Office: ,.
"Bloemfonteln, Friday, March 16. Gen
eral Clements crossed the Orange River
yesterday. Repairs to the railway bridge
at Norval's Pont have commenced, and It
will shortly be ready for traffic General
Pole-Carew telegraphs his arrival at
Sprlngfonteln, so that Bloemfonteln now
Is practically In rail communication wltn
Cape Town.
"My proclamation Is already having an
excellent effect. Several hundred burgh
ers have expressed their intention to sur
render their arms and return to their oc
cupations. The resident commissioner ot
Basutuland reports that S00 Boers lately
arrived from Bloemfonteln, and that a
further contingent from AHwal North was
only waiting to know the terms of my
proclamation to surrender. They had re
fused to attend a council at Kroonstad,
to which President Steyn had summoned
them."
Gatacre Found Bethulle Deserted.
BETHULTE, March 15. General Gat
acre, on arriving here, found that all the
Boers had fled. The town was nearly
deserted, the Dutch having trekked on
hearing of the occupation of Bloemfon
teln. It is believed the Boers retired in
the direction of Wewetsdorp.
The telegraph is open to Sprlngfonteln.
It Is understood that President Kruger,
two days ago. annexed the Orange Free
State to the South African Republic
Entrenching at Vereeni-ins.
LONDON, March 17. The Dally Mall
has the following dispatch from Lourenco
Marques, dated Friday, March 16:
"Entrenching is proceeding on the Vaal
River at Vereeniging. Late arrivals from
Pretoria say that the Boers themselves
now admit that their cause is hopeless.
General Lucas Meyer refuses to tight
again, and has returned to his farm. Gen
eral Schalkberger has also returned, and
the burghers aro going home by hun
dreds. Brabant's Force in the Free State.
" JAMESTOWN, Cape Colony, Thursday,
March 15. There was much enthusiasm
at Allwal North when General Brabant's
troops occupied that place. Commanda
Oliver, the Boer Commander, apologized
for the action of the Boers during the
last fow days of the occupation, saying he
could not control his men.
ThcBrltlsh areniKentrenchd on tbej
rxee &taie sae guimjjwrnye w. er, wun
the Boers holding an advantageou hill
in front of them. General Brabant is
greatly hampered owing to the lack of
artillery, having only two 15-pounders.
Many Boers Surrendered.
BLOEMFONTEIN. March 16. It is safe
to say that the Boers have completely col
lapsed in the Free State south of this
point. The British cavalry patrols, going
as far as the Modder River, have found
no sign of the enemy. The bridge Is un
touched. Altogether 400 Boers have come
in here to surrender. General Pretty
man's proclamation stipulated that the
arms must be delivered by noon Sunday,
March IS.
British at Vanryl.
VANZYL, Thursday, March 15. The
bridge over the Orange River here has
been completed. The British forces have
crossed tonight. They are bivouacking on
Free State soil.
Gatacre's Sconts nt Springrfontein.
BETHTJLIE. March 16. General Gat
acre's scouts have occupied Sprlngfonteln.
The country Is clear of the enemy- The
main column Is following the scouts.
THE ADVANCE ON PRETORIA.
With Comnrnnications Opea, Roberts
Cnn Now Boffin the Movement.
LONDON, March 17, 4:20 A. M. With
the railway communication to the Cape
intact. Lord Roberts will In a very few
days be in a position to begin the ad
vance on Pretoria. His deep political intui
tion, combined with hla bold strategy. Is
having the result desired In the southern
sections of the Orange Free Statek which
are rapidly calming down.
Mafeklng Is now the only point of anxi
ety, and as It Is known that a force has
left Klmberley, its relief may be an
nounced before many dajs pass. The effi
ciency of the relieving column Is height
ened by the fact that It Is partly com
posed of regulars.
In the lobbies of Parliament last even
ing It was rumored that Lord Roberts is
about to Issue a proclamation announcing
that the former system of government In
the Orange Free State Is abolished, and
promising Free Staters who Immediately
surrender due consideration.
It Is understood that all the Continental
powers, with one exception, uncompro
misingly refused to Intervene. The ex
ception was Russia, whose reply was
couched In less firm language, although,
like the others, she declined to Interfere.
It Is said that the Pope was also appealed
to, but that he declined to do anything
beyond writing a letter to the Queen, ap
pealing to her to stop the further effusion
of blood. Dr. Leyds efforts with King
Leopold were quite futile.
The possibility of the destruction ot
Johannesburg Is still discussed here, but
It is expected that the French and Ger
man shareholders would offer a strong
protest.
The latest advices respecting the sur
render of Bloemfonteln show that the ap
proach of the British caused a stampede.
Thirteen trains, each composed of 40 cars,
and all crammed wth Boers, hurried
northward just before the line was cut.
Mr. Steyn would have been compelled to
surrender, but he pretended that he was
going to visit one of the outposts, and
at midnight took a carriage, which was
waiting for him outside the town, and
thus escaped. The Boers got the bulk o
their wagons and artillery stores away.
General Hector McDonald's wound has
nearly healed. He accompanied the bri
gade to Bloemfonteln.
Lord Roberts' comments upon the earlier
operations of the war In the London
Gazette and his absolute silence respect
ing Lord Methuen's dispatch. Is regarded
as very significant. The -Times observes
that this silence Is perhaps more signifi
cant than words, especially when con
nected with the fact that Lord Methuen
no longer takes any prominent part In the
campaign. ,
The Dally Mall publishes an Interview
this morning with Cecil Rhodes, secured
by Julian Ralph, in the course of which,
complaining of the bungling of the home
authorities, he said:
"General Buller's' extraordinary orders
to Lord Methuen to relieve Klmberley
were to take all the people away and to
fall back to the Orange River. You peo
ple in England have wonderful ideas
about Buller's generalship, but such a re
treat would have been monstrous."
Mr. 'Rhodes declared that there had
only been 30,000 Boers In the field alto
gether, and that the foreign mercenaries
were only about 15.000. The number of the
Boers, he said, had been exaggerated In
order to explain the British reverses.
THE STOR31BEBG DEFEAT.
Lord Roberts' Criticism of Gatacre's
Generalship.
LONDON, March 16. Lord Roberts, in
transmitting General Gatacre's report of
the Stonnberg defeat, gives his opinion
thus:
"The failure was mainly due to the re
liance on inaccurate information regard
ing the ground to be traversed, to the po
sition held by the Boers, to the employ
ment of too small a force and to the men
being played out by a long night march
before they came In contact with the en
emy. "When it became evident, shortly
after midnight, that the guides were lead
ing the column In the wrong direction, I
consider Gatacre should have halted and
endeavored to find a proper road or should
have fallen, back on Molteno, rather than.
havo risked the safety of the entire force
by following a route which brought the
troops into difficult ground, commanded on
both sides by Boers."
GERMANY'S ANSWER.
"Will Not Tender Its Offlces Where
They Are Not "Wanted.
PRETORIA, March 14, via Lourenco
Marques, Thursday, March 15. The Ger
man Consul has handed the following dis
patch to President Kruger:
"The Government of Germany and the
Emperor will be glad and ready to assist
In friendly mediation as soon as the fun
damental conditions to such are apparent
and as soon as it Is demonstrated that
both opponents desire mediation. "Whether
the desire already exists on the British
side can be found by the Republics on
direct inquiry at London, or through the
good offices of a third Government, which
has no important interests of Its own to
consider in South Africa. The latter as
sumption Is qualified to a. number of na
tions in and outside Europe, but not to
Germany. Any such step on the part of
the German Government would awaken
suspicions and have other than a human
itarian .view. The Increased mistrust
thereby engendered -would not promote a
peaceable settlement. The request of the
Republics to transmit their appeal for
mediation to the Austro-Hungarian and
Swiss Governments, whose Interests are
watched by the German Consulate, has
been immediately fulfilled."
The Fovrerful Returns to England.
CAPE TOWN, Thursday, March 15. The
British flrst-class cruiser Powerful, with
the naval brigade which has been operat
ing against the Boers in South Africa,
sailed for England today.
War Loan Closed in Neir York.
NEW YORK. March 16-J. 'P. Mb:
kiodayi&nBeuMMd th4ekiiiV1tt';BrItii
fwaroanrThVarAGuiit o''tfeHcSu&
received aere was about $50,000,000.
Irish Demonstration TL.it Failed.
DUBLIN, March IS. A mass meeting
was summoned this evening to denounce
the act of the corporation Inviting an
address to the Queen, but It was almost
a fiasco. Only a few hundred were pres
ent at the stipulated time, and the gath
ering never amounted to more than 3000.
John Daly, Mayor of Limerick, addressed
the meeting and seconded a resolution,
which was adopted, protesting against
the corporation's decisions. After the
meeting broke up about 500 persons
marched past the Mansion, hooting, but
there was no disorder.
Strathcona Corp s Embarked.
HALIFAX, March 16? The Strathcona
Horse Regiment and 100 recruits to fill
vacancies In the First Canada contingent
In South Africa embarked on the trans
port Monterey today. The troops were
given a grander send-off than that ex
tended to previous bodies.
Spared From St. Helena.
LONDON, March 17. The Cape Town
correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says:
"The Boer prisoners, I learn, will be de
tained lndellnltely on board the transports,
and the Free Staters will perhaps be
spared the trip to St. Helena."
Portu-rueset Force for Dclafroa Bay.
LONDON, March 17. The Lisbon corre
spondent of the Standard says:
"A military force of 70 officers and 712
men will sail for Lourenco Marques Tues
day next. This will Include a battery and
a squadron of cavalry."
GRAVEDIGGERS UNION.
Chicago's Dead "Will Remain Unbur
ied Unless in Union-Made Coffins.
CHICAGO, March 16. The Times-Herald
tomorrow will say:
"Unless a body goes to Its last resting
place In a union-made coffin, It will he
refused burial In the cemeteries of CM
cago and vicinity. If the plans of the la
bor unions to organize a gravedlggers'
union are carried out. Already they nave
compelled the placing of union labels on
every cradle manufactured, and It Is the
avowed object of the unions to unionize
everything, from the cradle to the grave.
Inclusive. A committee has been appoint
ed by the woodworkers to unionize the
coffin factories. They will Insist that each
casket bear the union label, which Is a
metal plate with the words 'Union-Made,
Amalgamated Woodworkers' Interna
tional Union of America.'
"A large number of members of the
woodworkers organization have been em
ployed In the making of coffins, but here
tofore there has been no movement to
compel the manufacturers to unionize
their factories, and so none of the cas
kets have borne the union label.
"Teenforce the use of union coffins,
the Food workers, as soon' as they have
organized the factories, will attempt to
organize the gravedlggers Into a union
and have them refuse absolutely to Inter
a body unless Inclosed In a union-made
casket It Is estimated that Ihere are
about 150 gravedlggers employed In the
cemeteries of Chicago, and by organizing
them the labor unions feel that they
could control the situation."
a
TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY.
General Board Organized
in the
Navy Department.
WASHINGTON, March 16. Secretary
Long today Issued the order constituting
a general board "to Insure efficient prep
aration of the fleet in case of war, and
fcr the naval defense of the coast." The
order designates the Admiral of the Navy,
;he Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, the
Chief Intelligence Officer and principal as
sistant, the President- of the Naval War
College . and his principal assistant, and
three other officers, not yet named, as the
board, which is to -meet once' a month in
j this city. .
FILIPINO WAR OYER
Only
a Few Guerrillas Remain
to Be Run Down.
TROOPS ARE DOING GOOD WORK
General Wheeler, Who Arrived
in
WftshinstonYesterday, Says the
End Is in Sight.
WASHINGTON, March 16. General Jo
seph Wheeler arrived In this city this
morning from Atlanta. He went over to
the War Department this afternoon. In
the absence of Secretary Root he reported
formally to Adjutant-General Corbln, thus
complying with the order from the depart-"
ment which brought him from Manila. The
General was In the uniform of a Brigadier-,
General of the Volunteer Army. He looked
the picture of health; better than when
he left Washington for Manila.
He gave General Corbln a brief de
scription of the conditions In Luzon. He.
insisted that the wax Is over, and that
nothing more Is to be done except to run
down a few guerrillas and Irregulars.
There Is difficulty In this work, he said,
and there Is danger, too, but Its prosecu
tlon'ls not "war." Ambuscades were fre
quent and annoying, and It was not easy
to tell whether the hidden foe was strong
r weak. Three men had been mistaken
for a company In some cases.
The General said that the American
troops are doing splendid work there. They)
are sound and healthy, and In quite as
good shape as they would be at home, en
gaged m similar service. This Is owing
In a measure to the excellent care for
their men exhibited by officers, and to
the watchful precautions of the staff of
the Army.
General Wheeler said that as soon as his
resignation Is accepted by the President
he Intends to make the Issue as to his
right to a seat In the House of Representa
tives as a Representative from Alabama.
He says the Issue will not be one for the
decision of Speaker Henderson. He will
present, himself at the bar of the House
and ask to be sworn In. As he understands
the rules, the Speaker will have no option,
but must submit -the matter to the House.
General Wheeler Is confident the decision
will be In his favor, though he realizes that
there may be some delay, owing to a
reference of his case to the committee on
elections.
At the contusion of his interview with
General Corbln. General Wheeler went
over to the White House, his purpose
being to secure speedy action upon his
resignation. It Is learned that such action
has been withheld by the President only
to legalize General Wheeler's traveling
expenses and per diem up to the moment
of his arrival In Washington. General
Wheeler was with the President some
time. On leaving the White House he said
his resignation had not -yet been accepted,
but he expects a decision will be reached
within a few days.
ItjKECOMMEXDED FOR BREVET.
Instances ol Bravery 1b the San II de
fonso Campaign.
WASHINGTON, March 16. The War
Department has made public the report of
Colonel Charles Hood, commanding tho
Sixteenth Infantry, upon the campaign
conducted by him near San Ildefonso and
the Maasln River, In the Island of Luzon,
during the early part of December last.
The campaign was a complete success,
and Colonel Hood mentions the following
officers for brevet "for conspicuous valor
hv battle." recommending that the com
mission bo one grade in advance of that
held by them at the present time:
Captains Joseph Henry Walsh and Jos
eph T. Klrkman, Sixteenth Infantry; Cap
tains Henry Klrkman and Henry Bale
man, Thirteenth Infantry; Captains
Thurston and Burk, Sixteenth Infantry;
Captain Charles B. George, Captain, and
Quartermaster, Sixteenth Infantry; Cap
tain Charles G. Dwyer, Third Infantry;
Captain Thomas M. Moody, Adjutant, Six
teenth Infantry! First Lieutenants John
E. Woodward, Isaac H. Erwin,. Guy G.
Palmer, John F. Preston, jr., James B.
Gowen, Edgar F. Rldenour, Sixteenth In
fantry; Morrl3 K. Barroll, P. Saul Gld
dlngs. Henry S. Wygant and Philip E. M.
Walker, Third Infantry; Edward T. Balch,
Thirty-seventh Volunteer Infantry, and
First Lieutenant Henry S. Greenleaf, As
sistant Surgeon, medical department;
Second Lieutenants Charles L. McKaln,
Ernest Hagadorn, Jack Hayes, Charles
W. Weeks and Charles M. Gordon, jr..
Sixteenth Infantry, and Edward Klmmel,
Third Artillery.
Colonel Hood mentions and commends
tho high order of courage displayed by
Captain Thomas ,Moody, Adjutant. Six
teenth Infantry, and Assistant Adjutant
General of the command, and cites, as an
instance of the same, a personal combat
with an insurgent near Maasln River Ds
cember 6, resulting In the capture of the
Filipino. He also commends the valuabia
services rendered during the campaign by
Chaplain Patrick J. Hart, Acting Assist
ant Surgeon W. H. Dade and three en
listed men of the Sixteenth Infantry;
Scrgeant-Major Samuel E. Patterson, Mu
sician Howard W. Hllder, Company A,
and Private Edward A. J. Sweeney, Com
pany D. Ho says: v
"Each was mounted and employed In
transmitting orders or otherwise obeying
my commands, and though unable to use
their arms to protect themselves from
the deadly fire of the enemy, did not hes
itate or falter for a moment at -any of
several times when I considered their lives
In extreme jeopardy."
MANAUENSE INVESTIGATION.
Finding Received in Washington,
But Not Made Public.
WASHINGTON, March 16. Thev reports
ot the War Department officials at San
Francisco, charged with an investigation
into tho condition of the transport Man
auense on her trip to Manila, have been
received. The allegations were that the
machinery of the vessel was In very bad
condition, and that she was otherwise
unfit for the use to which she was put.
The officials here decline to make public
the report of the Investigation, and prob
ably will await the return to the city of
Secretary Root before taking any action
In tho matter.
Acting Secretary Melklejohn said today
that on her trip to Manila the department
lost $5000 worth of commissary stores, due
to defects In the refrigerating apparatus
of the ship, and he has directed that If
any money be due the owner of the ves
sel an equal amount be deducted to recom
pense the Government for Its loss.
Assistant Quartermaster for Otis.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 16. Captain
Charles D. Palmer, who has been sta
tioned in Chicago since June, 1SS8, as As
sistant Quartermaster of the Department
of the Lakes, sailed for Manila today. He
will act as Assistant Quartermaster on
General Otis' staff.
Sir Frederick William Burton.
LONDON, March 16. Sir Frederick Will-
lam Burton, ex-Director of the National
Gallery, is dead. He was born In Ireland
in 1S16. In 1S74, Mr. Burton succeeded Sir
"William Roxall In the directorship of the
National Gallery, from which post he re
tired In 1S34. In 1SS1 he received the honor
of knighthood, and In 1SS9 the honorary de
gree of LL."D. of Dublin.
a .
STANDARD OIL'S EARNINGS.
Representative Fitzgerald "Wonts
the Trust Prosecuted.
WASHINGTON, March 16. Representa
tive Fitzgerald, of Massachusetts, today
miroaucea ine iouowing resolution:
"Whereas, It appears as a matter of
public record that the Standard Oil Com
pany paid In the City of New York on
March 15, 1300, the sum of 517,000,000, this
amount being an extra dividend In addi
tion to the regular quarterly dividend of
$3,000,000, and,
"Whereas, It Is a matter of public rec
ord that this last dividend is $3,000,000 in
excess of the last quarterly dividend paid
by this corporation, and,
"Whereas, It is also a matter of public
record that the price of kerosene, the sole
method of lighting used by the middle
and poorer classes of people, during the
period of time bfdeclaratlon of these div
idends was. Increased 3 cents per gallon,
constituting a tax on every home in the
land, therefore be It
"Resolved, That In the opinion of Con
gress this action of the Standard Oil Com
'pany'is in direct, violation of the provls
"JanSfOfthe' Sherpian anti-trust law and,
therefore, punishable by fine and Impris
onment, and the Attorney-General Is
hereby directed, In accordance with the
provisions of this act, to direct the sev
eral District Attorneys of the United
States in their several districts to insti
tute proceedings to bring the above-named
violators of law to justice."
VIOLATION OF RATE LAW.
Damage Suit Bcsmn Agrninst Rail
roads in Nebraska,
LINCOLN, Neb., March 16. Attorney
General Smythe today began suit against
three Nebraska railroad companies for
damages aggregating $670,000. Suits are
filed In the District Courts of three coun
ties. In Colfax for $310,000 against the
Union Pacific; in Saline for $210,000 against
tho Missouri Pacific, and In Thayer for
$150,000 against the Rock Island. The dam
ages demanded are penalties which tne
Attorney-General says are due for al
leged violation of the Nebraska maximum
rate law. The suits are entirely separate
from those now pending In the Supreme
Court against the same roads.
The action Is remarkable In view of tne
fact that the Supreme Court of the United
States held that the Nebraska rate law
was unconstitutional. Attorney-General
Smythe contends that the decision holds
good only In so far as It affects the sched
uled rates fixed by the law, and tbat
the principle of the legislative enactment
Is operative. The Supreme Court, It is
maintained, declared that certain sched
ules were unreasonably low, but did not
pass upon the merits of the law as a
whole. The action comes as the greatest
surprise to railroad attorneys, who re
garded the Supreme Court decision, as
settliRgthe-whole-questlon of narmHfVlthnlan'd7oth are being coith-
frelght rates in this state.
-6-
EXPL0SI0N AT BLAST FURNACE
One Man Entirely Cremated and Four
Others Injured.
PITTSBURG, March 16. By the fall of
a "hung" at the Monongahela furnace at
McKeesport today one man was cremat
ed, two were fatally burned and two oth
ers were badly Injured. George Martin
Is the cremated man. George Curvan and
Sydney Jackson were so badly burned that
their recovery Is Impossible. Stephen Sto
beowskl and John Borcneck were badly
burned, but will recover.
Explosions of this character are fre
quent in this section, but the absolute
disappearance of Martin lends an air of
mystery to the affair. Three hundred
tons of molten ore. coke and minerals
used In the production of pig-Iron became
fast in the furnace, and Martin and Cur
van, as top fillers, tried to dislodge It.
Suddenly the entire mass fell, compress
ing the gas below and causing a terrific
explosion.
Not a trace of Martin's body can be
found. Curvan, when discovered, was In
a horrible shape, and can hardly live
until morning. The other men, who were
at the bottom of the furnace, fared some
better, but Jackson Is so badly burned
that his recovery Is next to Impossible.
a
LAKE STEAMER ICEBOUND.
All Effort Made to Rescue the Vessel
Failed.
ST. JOSEPH. Mich., March 16. The
steamer Louisville, of the Graham & Mor
ton line, lies Icebound five miles out 'n
Lake Michigan, in the Chicago course,
tonight, and nothing can be done to relieve
her until daybreak. The steamer went
Into the Ice early today, and the har
bor tug, after five hours' work, reached
the vessel at noon. After three hours'
battling with the ice. the vessel was
abandoned for the night for want of coal.
At daybreak another attempt will be made
with the new supply of coal to bring In
the steamer. Provisions for the 0 pas
sengers on board will also be taken out.
President Graham says he believes the
vessel will weather the storm where she Is
until a new supply of coal Is furnished.
The wind Is nowblowlng 60 miles an
Jiour, and It Is bitter cold. Much anxiety
is felt here over the safety of the ves
sel's crew and passengers. But once this
afternoon did the fall of snow cease so
that the vessel and tug could be sighted.
e t.
TIME EXTENDED.
For
Ratifying Reciprocity Treaties
With British Colonies.
WASHINGTON, March 16.-Secretary
Hay and Lord Pauncefote today, at the
State Department, signed protocols ex
tending the time allowed for the ratifica
tion of the reciprocity treaties between
the United States and the British West
Indian islands of Jamaica, Turks and
Calcos, Bermuda, and the British colony
of Guiana. The protocol provides that the
ratifications shall take place as soon as
possible, or within 12 months at the ut
most. These treaties are now pending be
fore the Senate, behind the French recip
rocity treaty, and the period allowed for
their ratification would expire. In ordi
nary course,, about the end of the present
month. The extension does not mean that
the State Department has abandoned the
idea of securing action upon the treaties
at the present session of Congress, but
simply marks a precaution taken to guard
against unexpected obstacles.
- B
Chinese Detectives.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 16. The Chi
nese Six Companies have offered to pay
for the services of four Chlnase detectives
to aid in maintaining order In Chinatown,
provided the men are vested with full po
lice powers. Chief Sullivan will report fa
vorably on the proposition to the Police
Commissioners.
AS A PARTY MEASURE
Senate Seems Determined; to
Pass the Tariff Bill.-
CAUCUS COMMITTEE FAVORS" IT
Party Leaders Assert That the Attl
tudc of the Country Will Chanse
in a Week or Tvro.
WASHINGTON, March 16. The com
mittee selected by the Republican, caucus
to secure an agreement upon the Puerto
RIcan tariff bill is composed of men, with
one exception, who favor the House bill.
Davis of Minnesota Is very earnest in hl
opposition, and Warren Is lukewarm, in hla
support. The other five will no doubt
dominate the committee, but It Is not be
lieved that they will report a bill satis
factory to Senator Davis, if the commit
tee stands for anything. It means that
the Puerto RIcan tariff bill will go
through, and, notwithstanding the fact
that at least 16 Republican Senators be
lieve that it Is bad policy, the prospect
are yet In favor of the tariff bill passing
the Senate. It Is not believed that more
than six or eight Republicans will finally
stand out and vote for free trade. As
three or four Democrats and one Sllverlte,
Jones of Nevada, are almost sure to vota
against free trade, it is easy to see that
the 15 per cent tariff can pass, even
though it will leave some decidedly sore
spots In the Republican ranks.
If there were any possible compromise
It would gladly be accepted, but It Is dim
cult to see where any compromise or any
juggling of words will make any differ
ence In the bill if a tariff of any kind- Is
still maintained. While party discipline
Is not so strong In the Senate as in the
House, It is yet strong enough to reacn
many Senators who object to a combina
tion with the Democrats to defeat what
is still maintained to be a party measure.
The anxiety of the leaders of the House,
who were Instrumental in forcing a tariff
bill through, Is still very great, and they
are making the plea that to reject tho
tariff would leave them In a serious di
lemma. Tho Insistence that the tariff must be
maintained as a party measure seems
predominate, and no amount of argu
ment can convince the Senate leaders,
most of whom are strong Adm'-nlstratlon.
men, that any other policy will do. It' 13
confidently asserted by leaders that a
week or two of delay will change the at
titude of the country, and, that the press
and people will see that It Is better to
pass the tariff bill. Predictions are made
that tho press of the country which Is
opposing the bill vigorously will coma
around to the protection view.
3Iinnesotans Wroujrht Up,
The situation In Minnesota In regard, to
the Puerto RIcan bill Is very acute. Two
members of the House from, that stat,
voted against the Puerto RIcan tariff bill.
and one of them, Mr. Heatwole, was a
I praivuiacedL leader In favornf .free .trad .
being
mended,, but Heatwole especially, for the
stand he took early In the fight, and be
cause he was persistent to tho end and
showed no signs of giving In On the
other hand, one of the most persistent ad
vocates of the Puerto Rlcan tariff was
Tawnay, the first district Representative,
and a member of the House committee
on ways and means. His district Is on
fire, and he Is having a very hard time to
reconcile his vote and1 explain himself.
It was supposed that the Minnesota
Senators were going to stand with the
majority of the House delegation and-sup-port
the tariff bill, but since the situation
In that state has become so hot, they have?
both proposed free trade amendments "to
the bill. This action on the part of the
Senators leaves those members of the
House who supported the tariff frpm that
state in very bad shape, and they' aro
complaining bitterly. In fact, they aro
frightened, and the letters, from Minne
sota Indicate that John Lind, the Silver
Republican, Populist and Democrats
nominee, Is very likely to be reelected
Governor by a good majority unless some
man like Heatwole, who took such proi
nounced grounds against the Puerto
Rlcan tariff, shall be nominated by the
Republicans. If Minnesota is any crt.
terion of the other states, It Is evident
that the people of the country are Very
much wrought up about the attempt to
enforce a system of taxation different
from that of the States.
Dark Day for Quay.
This was another dark day for Quay.
Although his friends will try to make
out that a victory was scored It amounts
to absolutely nothing. The- agreement
reached to take up the case two weeKs
hence in case it does not Interfere wltn
any of the many other subjects to be con.
sldered by the Senate really means that
a speecn can now and then be sand1-
wlched In, If some Senator does not claim
the right to speak on one of the other
numerous Interesting topics. As a matter
of fact, the unanimous-consent agree
ment, if carried out, can be worked by
the opposition to Quay to prevent the
consideration of his case at all. The" only
hope for Quay, In case he has a narrow
majority In the Senate, is to have his case
considered to the exclusion of all other
business. Then Senators anxious to get on
with other matters would allow a vote in
order to get it out of the way. Now, the
Puerto Rico bill, the appropriation bills,
and the Philippines can. be called up at
any time to shunt Quay, and his chances
for a 'vote on his case at this session
are growing remote.
There Is an Indication that Senators
pledged to Quay do not want to be forced
to vote for him, preferring not to estab
lish a precedent or to reverse the prece
dent of the Senate In the Corbett case.
Double Minimum Refunding: Bill.
An effort will be made In the House to
amend the double minimum refunding bill
recently passed by the Senate and now
pending in the House committee. Repre
sentative Brundldge, of Arkansas, will
try to defeat the bill altogether, while
Representative Shafroth, of Colorado, la
endeavoring to have the bill amended' so
that settlers who have sold land embraced
by the provisions of this bill shall not
be entitled to the refund of $1 25 per acr.
He takes the stand that the bill is not
really necessary, but Is rather an act ot
charity on the part of Congress, Intended
for the relief of suffering settlers, ana
not for the purpose of paying out Gov
ernment money to people who perhaps
have sold their lands at a good profit.
Representatives Jones and' Wilson, who
are Interested in this bill, are rather in
clined to accept such an amendment for
the sake of an early report, but Repre
sentative Moody, Avho takes more inter
est in the bill than any one else, stands
out firmly for the bill as drawn; and will
not consent to an amendment. If it is pos
sible, under any circumstances, to get a
report without It.
Bank Examiner for Oregon.
A J. Johnson, of Sclo, Or., has been
appointed Bank Examiner for Oregon.
Johnson was recommended by the Oregon
delegation of the last Congress. Senator
Simon had recommended another candi
date, and the matter had' been held up
for several months. The appointee la
a particular friend of Senator Mc-BrlOs.