VOL. XLVI.-NO. 14,124. , PORTIA2ST), OREGON, THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1906. PRICE FIVE CENTS. Wjfs
PRIOE FIVE CENTS.
SLOT METERS IRE
RiGH GAS GRAFT
Council Inquiry Shows
-Greedy Methods.
EVIDENCE IS UNSHAKEN
Witnesses Tell of Their Many
Grievances.
LOWER RATE, BIGGER BILLS
Taking of Testimony Against tlic Gas
Company Is Concluded Corpor
ation Will Put In Its De
fense Next Tuesday.
" sdmmaky or testimony.
J. H. COUKTNEy Although Tic
sltewoB Ms financial standing, meter
dapeslt ef ?5 was exacted.
JOHN 11. ADAMS leaking gas
oflHMrd aoeldont on Burnpide-street
bridge
HENRY JIETEIt-Although price,
f aaa has boon ropcatcdly reduced,
kl MMe are higher, though no more
KRBD AV. G HAVES Cost r run
ntac gas stove "Uns doubled In seven
yiar. When he cut off the use of
Me pfi lctT en account of the vlhs
anteM hi Wtt shewed an Increase, al
y Ufa mi git he wed no gas for lighting.
M. V. 1VHITTIBK Curtailed use of
PRfc. hot Mils remained the Mine.
Overcharge of 1CU0 feet In one month
wss aUreovored.
ALFTtKn n. BLOOMEK Bills have
almtist doubled In a year.
JOIIKAXDBRSEfC Ilnfused to pay
Mil for vacated Btere. meter was rc
Smotw from hie rowidonce.
A. H. MORHIJX-December hill
stoeTCp targe Increase. Had to remove
gate IimMt en aeoeuHt ef bad odor.
C1SORGE 1CST156 Bjcnosd lho slet-ft-bl.
or prepaid meter graft.
clMHrtif hew company received an
exretwtvo rate fer the gas furnished.
The Inking- of testimony against the
PortlHiid Ghs Company In the City Coun
cil's Investigation Into the .methods of
tSmi corporation was concluded last
night. Nino additional witnesses were
catted and. a large amount of incriminat
ing testimony, the strongest and most
iwt in nmti- respects that has yet been"
temtgul out. was given by them.
Shortly aftar 9:30 o'clock Attorney H.
X. McGinn announced that while there
1 were a numbor of witnesses whose testi
mony hitd not been hoard, ho would
fce .oittiMfttd to submit tlic case as It
rm4. The legal representatives of the
Si company did not take up tholr side
of tho case, as had been expected. At
torney J. N. Teal, leader of the Gas
fwves, pleaded fatigue sifter a hard day's
grlna. a4 a postponement was taken
um.1t Tuesday aftornoon at 1:30 o'clock.
One More Session Planned.
One sitting will suffice, Mr. Teal stated,
to examine' such witnesses as the com
pany wiH call, after which the work of
g experts and export accountants will
be taken up. It Is generally believed
that the date is not far distant when the
case will be given Into the hands of the
Council cqmmittee for a verdict.
The most Important witness at last
night's session was George ISstcs, of the
Portland Trust Company. Direct and
unimpeachable was bis evidence, in which
he .substantiated the charge that the
, ge company Is openly defrauding those
of Ite patrons who use prepaid or slot
lnttchtne meters. Mr. Estcs broke down
vory barrier of defense that the gas
company had built about this important
Itaue and the rigid cross-examination to
which he was subjected failed to shake
his evidence in any detail.
Graft Fully Explained.
He niude It entirely plain that the people-
who use the prepaid motors arc over
charged for. no honest reason In the
world; and that this system of graft nets
the gas company several hundred dollars
each month oven using their own ligures
as a basis for deduction.
Mr. ISstcs was the last witness on the
stand. Ills statements were volunteered
and he was not subjected, to direct ex
amination. He said he gained his knowl
edge of the prepaid motors through" tho
use of them in the rooming and ;ipart-inunt-houso
conducted by Mrs. Estcs at
Second and Clay streets.
"What Tvo got to say is that the Port
land Gas Company advertises Its gas at
51.15 per 1000 cubic feet, but the company
docs not soli it for that price. That fig
ure Is only true in part. There is a -largo
class of patrons of the Portland Gas
Company who pay $1.50 for less than 1000
cubic feet -of gas. I refer to those who
use the prepaid meters. This is a ma
vhlno whereby the consumer gets a quan
tity of gas by depositing a 23-cout piece
In a meter. I
Meters Arc Guagcd Short.
For their quarter the consumers aro
supioscd to get about 170 cubic feet of
gas. It is a fact, though, that half these
meters are guaged at 360 nnd the other
half at 1C So, you can sec,- they pay
$1.50 for even less than tho 1000 feet that
otbur consumers get for ?L1C. It Is Just
the sat no thing as selling 12 ounces of
butter to on customer for a pound and
giving another custpmcr 16 ounces, i It
makes a difference to tho gas ce-mpany
in this city of fronJS9 to $700 a meth.
if et ater that's according to their.
own figures of the number of slot meters
'in use.
"They say, though, that they don't en
courage the use jf these meters," con
tinued "Mr. Estcs., "You might just as
well say a grocer wouldn't encourage peo
ple -to - use sanded sugar or that a rail
road company wouldn't encourage people
to use second-hand tickets.
Defense Pure Nonsense.
"Tlic gas company also pleads that
there is danger of loss thnough 'slugs'
and countorfeiti?," added the witness.
"That Is absolute nonsense. Even If a
washer or a bogus coin or slug is put
Into .one of these slots the gas company
docs not lo'se a cent.' No, the keeper, of
tlic house lias to make good the amount.
I say that if anything different from the
rest, the slot meters ought to be cheaper.
You have to pay in 'advance, so there's
absolutely no danger of loss.
"X. .did not go to the gas company
wltjj my complaint, but brought It di
rectly before this committee. To go to
the gas company would be the .same
thing as going to a railroad company
and complaining against the passenger
rates in effect. As to this ncwly-an-nouueed
reduction to S cents I can't
see that it will be offective unless it
is made to include tlic slot or prepaid
meters."
Favors Straight Meiers.
"Do you not know that the company
will put In straight motors and would
prqfor to do it?" asked Mr. "Wood on
cross-oxamination.
"Xo. sir. It is impracticable to put
them in lodging or jipartment-he-uses.
The landlord could not apportion tho
bills among his tenants."
"You could have straight meters for
'each room." suggested Mr. Wood.
"That would not be feasible," said
the witness. "It would, mean a con
stant reading of meters as tenants
moved in and out and the gas com
pany would never do that."
"As I understand your position," said
Mr. Wood In crons-cxnml nation, "you
want your butter wrapped In "gilt paper?'
"No," replied the witness; "I want 16
ounces of butter gix'on to me for a pound."
Wood Makes No Jlctidwaj.
"If I, as a householder." pursued Mr.
Wood, "am taxed by the gas company
on the stanight meter system, while you,
in your rooming-house, have the gas used
by several families charged to the straight
meter system also, I would consider that
I had a kick against tlic gas company."
"Not at all." said Mr. Kstes. "The gas
companj- wants as many consumers to
the mile of'maln as possible. It is more
profitable to tlic company to have a. large
number of consumers In one place, as the
cost of connections is reduced to the min
imum. A large number of meters In one
house Is favorable to the gas company-"
"Well, I see no reason fo prolong-tlils
discussion." said Mr. Wood, and the ex
amination of the witness ended.
Attendnnce Is I.argc.
There was no falling off in the matter
of attendance last night. All the -scats
on the lower floor were occupied, and
many remained standing, while tho gal
lery was filled. Closest interest jvas man
ifested In every part of the proceedings.
Tile session opened promptly at 7:30
o'clock, and the examination of the wit
nesses was proceeded with at once.
Five members of the committee were
present: Mencfec. Masters, Rushlight,
Kollaher and Bennett, li. E. McGinn
conducted the examination of witnesses
for the committee. C. E. S. Wood and
J. N. Teal were both prcent for the cor
poration. City Attorney McNary pat with
tho Investigating .committee but took no
active part in the proceedings.
Forced to Make 3Ictcr Deposit.
j. H. Courtney. 77 North Third street,
was called as the first witness. He had
several causes of complaint against the
gas company. Chief among them was
that he had been forced to make a $3 do
posit before the gas would be turned on
in his place. Having been solicited to use
gas. and lraving paid $12 for lamps, he
testified that he made the deposit In or
der to secure the light, but hoped Jo es
tablish his reliability and secure the re
turn -ii the amount. Mr. Courtney testi
fied that he furnished references to the
company and showed his, financial btsnd
lnrr to be good, but his deposit was posi
tively refused him. unless he wished the
service discontinued. Not being willing
to submit to this imposition, he staled
that he finally ordered the meter removed
from his place.
Witness said also that he had grAt dif
ficulty In getting his gas turned on. Al
tlicugh prompt service had been promisTl.
ho sale" a week elapsed before lie wa able
to secure light. He told of a second olid
similar experience when he moved dur
ing the Summer, beiug forced to Walt
abr.ut a week before t receiving service.
For three months In the Summery when
he hac no use for gas, Jie notified tho
company to this effect, and testified that
he wan charged 23 cents a mon.U pre
mnably for the rent of the meter, sine
J!; used little or no gas. No change In
his testimony was brought out in the
bnef cross-examination by Mr. Toil.
Leaking Ghs Caused Accident.
Join H. Adams, brldgctender nt tho
Bumsidc bridge, was next called. Leak
ing gas had caused- an accident- on the
brids. according to his testimony, "which
severely burned him and might nave re
sulted seriously.
"We have a switch on the bridge," tald
Mr. Adams, "to take light from tho trol
ley wires overhead at such times as tho
arc light on the fridge Is out. About 8
o clock or the evening in question the arc
light-"went puf, and 1 wvnt to tap the
trolley. There was a. leak in the gooseneck.-
and a spark of electricity sec off
the letking gas. It enveloped me la
llamcs and burned my hands and face."
Price llcduced, Bills Higher.
tlenry Meyer. 113 Gnnd avenue, was
next called before the committee." Irf
answer to questions by Judge McGtan, ho
said he Lad been a patron of lho Port
land Gas Company for a period of 21
year- His experience was that as reduc
tions in piice wore made the size, of his
bills became larger. He had with iiim a
comparative statement of his gas tills
covering several years.
"There was a time," said he, "cvhan I
paid $2.50 a thousand for gas. Then cams
reductions and higher bills. I. find ti.at
whero J 'used- to bo charged with 'from
4000 to 5000 cubic feet of gas. I .low have
to piy for m) to SOCK) feet."
"Is there any Increase In the amount
of gas oy use, so far as you kn-jw?'
asted Mr. McGinn.
"Not that I know of; I have "no addi
tional light," replied the witsers.
"I have called the attention of the gas
company to the. high rbhargca snany times
but have reeivea no .sktisfactiMt. They
(CwaefcHoA a fa JAJ
SENATE WARMS UP
IN BUTE DEBATE
Rayner's Speech Arouses Pro
tests From Both
Factions.
REVIEW PROVISO THE CRUX
Forakcr Denies 31c Is Jtailroad Sen
ator, and THJmmi Dcclnrcs Hep
burn Bill Not His Baby,
" hut a Foundling.
WASHINGTON. March H. The rail
road ' rate bill today reached tho con
troversial 'stage In the; Senate Tho
question came up in the regular order
of business -shortly before 2 o'clock
and held the floor until the doors were
closed for a brief executive session
shortly after 5 o'clock. Itayner was
the chief speaker of the day. Among
the Senators who were aroused by him
were Forakcr, Lodge and Dollvcr. Both
the Ohio and Massachusetts Senators
took exception to Rnyner's contention
that the railroads have Interfered with
the framing of the bill and Forakcr
also expressed himself as dissatisfied
with the intimation that the railroads
are represented -on the floor of the
Senate.
Avaunt With Such Support.
Dolllver expressed displeasure with
the plea for amendments, and went so
far as to say that the help of such
friends as Rayner could very well bo
dispensed with. Other Senators who
participated In the debate were Aid
rich, Tillman and Knox. Knox freely
expressed his opinion Jliat the bill
would be unconstitutional without a
provision of review. T.Jllmnn reiterated
his objection to the bill' and Indulged
In some characteristic phrases In stat
ing his position, concluding with the
remark that he believed that tho bill
could be so amended as to make It ac
ceptable. Rayner. In his speech, announce his
adherence to the rate bill as It passed
the House. After stating that the
power to regulate commerce among the
states Is the greatest power conferred
upon Congress by tho Constitution,
Jlnyncr entered immediately upon the
consideration of the various branches
of his subject. He expressed the opin
ion that discrimination Is the real
issue, and continued:
Discrimination Among Iiocalltlcs.
If an accurate railroad discrimination map
of the United Slates were publNhtd today
there 1a hardly any one who could be made
to believe that It truly represent tho actual
situation. We know, for Instance, that the
rate on certain lines of merchandlM from
Chicago to Denver U nearly three times as
much as the rate on precisely the wme lino
of merchant! lee from New York to San Fran
cisco. We know that It corti cn to thin
goodfl the entire distance acrocs the continent
than it does to ship the une goodi one-third
the dUtanoe, and that when good are destined
tram Boston to Salt Lake they are carried to
California, and back again to, Salt Lake In
order to obtain the cheap 'rate; aad knowing
thee things we must realize that iueh a
condition of affairs at leant requires super
vision upon the part of mme tribunal outside.
of and beyond the railroad, that are simply
building up their own territory to Increase
their own revenue and profits.
Admitting the difficulty of dealing with
this subject because of the effect of water
competition, Mr. Rayner said:
What we require Is a little common sense
upon this subject. We cannot pass a law
ENGAGED TO SON OF WILMAX
WALDORF ASTOR.
Mr. Robert Shaw.
The engagement of Mrp. Robert
Shaw., who was Miss Langfaorne. sis
ter of Mrs. Charles Dana Gibson, to
"Waldorf Astor. son of William Wal
dorf" Astor. of London, Is announced.
Mr. Robert Shaw was divorced, on
February 4. IMC, from her husband,
Robert Gould Shaw. 2d. Boston so-"
clety man and multi-millionaire. Be
fore her marriage to Mr. Sbaw. in Oc
tober. 1897, she was one of the "four
beautiful Langhorne girls of Alber
marlo County."
Mrs. Shaw Is a superb horsewoman,
and is fond cf many outdoor sports.'
She was only 38 at the time of her
marriage. She and. her sisters were
tho xnodels.for the "Glbon" pictures.
William Waldorf Astor. Jr,, known
generally as "Waldorf' Astor. Jias Uvea
In England place he was a small boy.
and Is British la his ideas and ways, '
social and political, although he has
always clalEsed American citizenship,
by right of birth, "feelBg a native of
New York City. Hla recent admission
to the British array, however.
aBftovated ta a retmRckuloa.
t
that will convert the towns and hamlet oT.
Iqpa immediately Into great, manufacturing
centers, but what we can do la to, take a
broad view of the whole field and amertata
If we cannot endow a tribunal with adequate
power, whenever cases occur where unneces
sary discrimination la practiced, to apply a
remedy without Inflicting any Injury upon the
railroad.
Congress IFas Ample Power.
Then he referred to what he declared
to be the lmpotcncy of the Interstate
Commerce Commission under pie present
law to" enforce rate-making decrees, say
ing: We may scheme and force and fashion. b
it is not within the realm of human Insenulty
to formulate any plan except the ratemakln;
power that will remedy the defect and supply
the omission.
He contended that tlicre Is no doubt
of the power of Congress to vest a com
mission with the power to establish rates,
basing his conclusion upon decisions of
the Supreme Court.
Referring to Forakcr's contention that
the holdings of the court arc against
this power, he declared the" contrary to
be true. Rayner replied seriatim to 'For-,
akor's points. He declared his satisfac
tion with the bill as it passed the House
Reference was made to the claim that
tlic enactment of the proposed legisla
tion would demoralize the railroad sys
tem and the business Interests of the
country, and in that connection Rayner
said he would admit that "it would bo
a great pity t6 destroy the equilibrium
or destroy the proper balance of Va'n
dcrbllt. Morgan. Gould and Harriman."
Courts Will Protect Kallronds.
On the question of a review of the find
ings of the commission by ' the courts,
RaJThcr said he had reached the conclu
sion that the courts, with the power re
posed In them, will give ample protection
I fBli. sfl 1
I ..MS j
j Senator Jttder Rayaer. j
4
to the carriers In every case where the
commission does not allow them Just com.-,
pensation -and, will .not compel-.them' to
prove that. a single rate 4s absolutely
confiscatory. He said:
I am In favor of an amendment to th
Hepburn bill vesting In the court the rl;ht
to try the question of unjust cotnpenmtlon.
with restraining orders abolished; and' with
the further rlcht. If possible, to let tho court
fix the rate If It reverses the order of tho
Commliwloti: With these chanies. I am In
(Concluded on Page .
CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPR
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature. SS
dejc.r minimum. 2C Precipitation, none.
TODAYS Fair with slightly higher tem
perature. Nor'therlr winds.
i'orrlira. "
Germany gives, up hope of settlement about
Morocco. 'Page 3.
New French Cabinet declares policy. Paite 5.
Conspiracy at Russian court to re no re
despotism. Page 3.
German desperado captured after remark
able career. Page 1.
NaUeaaL'
Rate bill causes vigorous debate In Senate.
Page 1.
Insurgents unwilling to go Into statehood
caucus. Page 4.
General Wood answers criticisms on slaugh
ter of Moros. Pago 3.
President speaks on need of consular re
form. Page A.
Oil inquiry at Kansas City completed.
Tage ". .
Domestic.
British steamer sink off Atlantic Coast:
gallant rescue of half her crew. Pag 1.
Portland second wheat-shipping 3rt of Na
tion. Page L
Adverse declclon causes rapid decline of
Chicago traction stocks. Page 4.
Grand Jury wants to know If giving Insur
ance xnone. to politics Is stealing. Pas;, -I.
Plot to murder Dr. Parkhurst revealed.
Page 3.
Huge fraud In New York traction merger
under investigation. Page 1.
Sport. .
Nelson has advantage of McGovern In un-
satisfactory fight. Page 7. ,
Gardner and Poggenberg tied In billiard
-match. Page 7.
Pacific Coast.
Vincent St John, released on habeas corpus.
Is Immediately rearrested at Boise.
Page a.
Boy bandit at Walla Walla Is sent to the
penitentiary. Page C
Plan of Joint debate proposed to candidates
by Judge S. A Lowell. Pago C
Tacoma schoolteacher is robbed as she
sleeps. Page 7.
Children in settlement In Washington taught
In foreign tongue. Page 6.
Commercial aad Marl a e.
Advance In English wool market expected
by trade. Page 13.
Eastern wheat markets bulled by reports of
Russian -famine, rage 13.
Heavy orders for rails placed In East.
Page 15.
California hop market quiet. Page -13.
Dealings .In stock are smallest In months;
Page 13,
First officer of British ship EskasonI frus
trates attempt of sailors " to desert.
Page 14.
Bridge, workers cause trouble on Steel
bridge. Page 11.
rerUaad aad YIcIaHy.
Commercial Club to have 1060 -members by
April 7. dat of annual dinner. Pago 1.&
Anti.Saloon League Superintendent Rader
and Detective Kay bound over., Page 19.
Ministers hear r&Icy teatlraony la Police
Court. Page 11.
Funeral of Coloael L. L. Hawkins held.
FK . 4
O. R. & X. to ?ea J60.600 in Improrliftc
roadb between. Trontdale and. Bonne-
filler Page 7.
Meat was, breaks eut between local coramls-
sloaaMeR aad packers. Page 22.
St. Jokaa declares for a double-deck bridge.
Page 1L
Halted Hallways claims 10 votes la Coascll
for its Front-streftt fraacatee. Page 10. J
President Levey, of Portland. & Seattle, gives
views os feriage question, page 10.
Ail tl -Word Democrats held meeting tomor
row. Pa a IS. '
Te4lmMy for id-la-gas. graft -laautry is
" ctlwdsd. Page L
PORTLAND
III GIN EXPORTS
All Puget Sound Ports Have to
Combine .to Sur---
pass Her.
'SECOND 'IN' UNITED STATES
Greatest Wheal nnd Flour Shipping
Port Year by Year Value for-'
Eight Months Is Xcnrly
$7,000,000. .
PORTLAND LEADING GRAIN PORT
Wheat exports la eight months end
ing February. ItWtJ:
Bushels.
3.U00.2US
3.50A.UU0
6.273.313
2tH.777
Portland
New, York
Puget Sound ports, alt com
bined San Francises
Total United States 27.2S3.778
Flour exports In eight months end
ing February;
100C 1003.
Barrel. Barrels.
' Portland S3.X223 30-I.3S7
Paget Sound ports. 1.403.172. .......
Value of Portland wheat ex-
,.Ports $3.03rsC72
alue if Portland flour ex
Ports 3.033.06S
Total A SC.000.O40
OREGOXIAN NEWS BUREAf. Wash
ington. March 14. The February
statement of the Department of Com
merce anil Labor shows that Portland
Is exporting more wheat than any
other port In the United States except
New York, which Is leading by a small
margin, but, what Is more Important,
these official statistics demonstrate
that, year In and year out. Portland is
unquestionably the leading- wheat port"
of tne entire United States.
During the eight months ending with
February, 190C. Portland exported 5.
203,228 bushels of wheat as against
only 1,131.302 bushels a year ago. New
York during the past eight months
heats Portland by 300.000 bushels, but
a year ago Now York exported only
12.030 bushels and In that year Port
land distanced all ports.
Last month the wheat shipments
from Portland aggregated 446.117
bushels as against 110.045 bushels In
February, 1305
Puget Sound Ports Combined.
From those same statistics It Is
found that the Puget Sound ports com
bined, which during the eight months
ending with February, 1305, exported
1.217.S42 bushels of wheat, have during
the past eight months exported- 6,275.
513 bushels, their combined shipment
being but 1.000.000 bushels ahead of
Portland.
San Francisco, which a year ago ex
ported 1.214.134 bushels, exported only
264.777 bushels In the last eight
months.
The wheat export trade of the entire
country experienced a great slump last
yoar, but Is recovering rapidly. During
the past eight months the total wheat
export was 27.2S3.77S bushels as
against 4,195,022 bushels in the cor
responding months a year ago. While
Portland's Increase has not been as
great proportionately as that of tho
entire country, it is noticed tlult prac
tically all the wheat exported a year
ago left ports on the Pacific Coast,
Portland in the load. New York, which
now hoad's the list, exported only 12,000
bushels last year and Galveston which
PENNILESS MONK IS ON A 40,000
MILE TOUR.
Superior Graeral Mayer of the Car
melite Order.
To Inspect all tho houses of the or
der la the United States. Canada and
South America, the Rev. Plus Mayer,
superior general of the Carmelite Or
der, haa arrived In New York City.
He will travel about 40.000 miles be;
'fore getting back to Rome next year.
In all this traveling the superior
general will be without a penny, of
money, and hU only baggage wilV
consist of a small handbag- contain
ing articles necessary for his toilet.
The'rulo of the order is poverty.
Father Mayer is an American, and
until a few years ago lived la Pitts
burg. .
This inspection . of the booses Is
required once la three years," he said.
The -work of the order Is progreaa--'hir.
slowly In this country. Ht la
Holland, and 1 Spala the outlook is
much brighter.;
Is exporting- over 3,000,000 bushels, last
ycaf shipped only 55,000.
Portland Leads Them All.
The figures conclusively show that
the' wheat export trade on the Pacific
Coast 13 more permanent than else
where, but San Francisco Is dropping
out. leaving tho bulk of the business
to Portland and Puget Sound, but
Portland Is well ahead of any other
Coast port.
Portland Is making rapid strides In
the development of the Hour trade.
Duripg the past -eight months It ex
ported 833,22? barrels of flour as
against 504.3S7 barrels the year pre
vious and against the combined ex
port of 1,495,172 barrels from Puget
Sound.
The Government figures show Port
land's wheat export for the pa3t eight
months was valued -a? 53,956,672, three
times the value a year ago, while Its
flour trade represents $3,033,96S
against leas than $2,000,000 the year
previous.
SENT BACK FOR CORRECTION
Senate Does Not Iilke Hcyburn's
Way or Drafting Bill.
OREGONIAN NEWS "BUREAU, Wash
ington. March 14. The Senate does not
like the way Senator Heyburn draws
his bills. After a brief discussion the
Senate today sent back to committee
the Heyburn bill permitting railroads
to transport livestock for periods of
36 consecutive hours Instead of 28
hours, as now stipulated by law. Sen
ator Lodge said the bill was poorly
druftcd and ought to be materialjjr
amended in phraseology. Thero waa
llttie opposition to tho main purpose
of the legislation save from Tillman.
Western Senators appear to generally
favor extension of the time of livestock
shipments.
Northwest Postal Changes.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash
ington. March 14. Postmastera ap
pointed: Oregon Cayuse, Umatilla County,
Martin Madison, vice James W. Flack,
dead: Prospect. Jackson County, Mar
tha Hallenbcak, vice S. S. Aiken, re
signed. '
Washington Fort Casey; Island
County, S. Lancaster, vice Allen Ward,
resigned.
William B. Bleisoe has been ap
pointed regular, David IT. Funk, sub
stitute rural carrier, route No. 1 at
Monroe, Wash.
Commissary Office at Seattle.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash
ington, March 14. The War Department
today ordered the establishment of a
commissary purchasing agency at Seat
tle, to be In charge of Major Geary, now
returning from the Philippines. This will
probably result In giving Seattle and Ta
coma dealers tho call on food contracts
for Army posts on the Sound and in
Alaska, The establishment of this office
will not In any way Interfere with the
purchasing office at Portland.
GERMAN DESPERADO CAPTURED
AFTER HOT PURSUIT.
Ilennlg. Marrlagc-Brokcr, 3Iurdcrer
and Swindler, Makes Butcher
Rich by Rewards.
BERLIN. March 14. Hennlg, a marriage
broker, whose swindling, murders and
other acts of violence, and his bold es
capes have given the Germans many
thrills during the last few months, was
captured at Stettin today after he had
shot a policeman. The capture was made
by a butcher, who will be made well to
do. owing to the aggregate of the rewards
offered for Hennig's capture.
Hennig Is accused, among other crimes,
of having decoyed a bartender named
Glcrnot to the forest of Grunenwald. near
Berlin, and there murdered him. After
wards he is alleged to have Impersonated
Giernot and hypothecated his property.
Hennig also is chargedwith having shot
a Berlin policeman.
When arrested today, he was fleeing
over housetops while being chased by the
police and others, who were trying to
capture him for attacking an aged and
wealthy landowner. Baron Sltwlr. In a
railroad car. He shot tho Baron six
times, without killing him. however, and
escaped from a moving train.
MANY CHEROKEES IN JAIL
Marshal Fears No General Uprising
to Aid the Wlckllffcs.
VINITA. T. T.. March 14. Marshall Dar
rough arrivedv at Vinlta this afternoon
from Spavinaw and said that the reports
of the trouble with the Cherokee Indians
had been exaggerated. Mr. Darrough ar
rested 15 fullblood Indians on the charge
of harboring and assisting the WIckllffa
boys. These Indians were brought o
Vinlta. late today and will be lodged in
the territorial jail. The WIckllffes had
not been to Spavinaw when Mr. Darrough
left.
The marshal said that, while most ef
the Indians aro favorable to the WIck
llffes. thero Is no danger of an uprising.
A battle Is expected before the despera
does are captured. The 15 Indians ar
rested were taken without difficulty.
While at Spavinaw Mr. Darrough and
his men ascertained the general direction
taken by tho WIckllffes and the officers
will take tho trail and "stay on it until
the men are arrested. Mr. Darrough
will remain in Vinlta. and direct tho gen
eral movements of the-officers from here.
UTAH ROADS DEMORALIZED
Snow, Sand. and. Rain Delay Trains
in All Directions.
SALT LAKE CITY, March 14. Railway
traffic both north and south from Salt
Lake has been badly demoralized by tho
;;torms of the past three days. Trains
from the north on the OregonBhort Line
are 10 to 30 hoars late. The train from
.Portland due at 7:40 last night did not
arrive unui uua iorenoon. united sand
along the Columbia. River and snowdrifts
sear Welser, Idaho, have caused most of
the delay.
Trains from Los Angeles on the Sa.lt
Lake route are detained by washouts SO
rants south of Callente. Ncv. No trains
have passed this joint since Tuesday
aishL
HEROES SNATCH
STORM'S VICTIMS
Gallant Rescues of Perishing
Mariners From Sink-.'
j ing Ship. ' -
HALF CREW GOES JO DEATH
Steamer British King Goes Down in
Atlantic With 27 Men, Others
Being Rescued Tjlfcbcats
Dashed to Pieces.
BOSTON. March 14. Suffering, mental
and physical, and numerous acts of hero
Ism In saving life rarely equaled In, the
record of tragedies of the sea. attended
the loss -of the Phoenix line steamer Brit
ish King, which, on Sunday last, in a rag
ing Atlaptlc storm, foundered about J50
miles south of Sable Island and carried
to death 37 members of the crew.
Thirteen members were rescued from
the sinking vessel by the LeylandJIner
Bostonlan. bound from Manchester to
Boston, and 11 by the tank steamer Mann
heim, Rotterdam. " for New York.
Five others, who had been drawn down.
In the vortex in which the British King- "
was engulfed, were picked up by the Bos
tonlan from a frail bit of wreckage which
they had grasped after a desperate strug
gle for life In the whirlpool. The Bosto
nlan arrived here this afternoon, and the
details of the disaster became known.
Captain Dies of Injuries.
Captain James O'Hagan, of tho British
King, died on board the Bostonlan from
the effects of the terrible injuries sus
tained In trying to save his ship.
The rescued, who were brought here to
day, include James Flanagan, the second
officer; J. D. Crawford, tho chief engi
neer; Adolphus Brew, the fourth engi
neer.,and William J. Curry, tho steward.
The others were coalpassers and sailors. -mostly
Belgians, and one stowaway from
New York.
Two lifeboats from tne Bostonlan. were
crushed to fragments, and the volunteer
crews which manned them were' thrown
into tho high, running seas, while' en
gaged in the work of rescue, but all were
safely landed on board tho steamer.
Waves Smash Idfcboats.
When the first lifeboafc was lowered
from the Bostonlan, the small craft was
swept against the stem of the big- ship
and destroyed, and several of tho sea
men we're bruised and maimed. Yet, de
spite the boisterous conditions of the sea,
the volunteers were rescued by lines
thrown out from their own steamer.
jc second attempt to reach the' sinking
ship was successful, and 13 "men. includ-,
ing Captain O'-Hngan. were taken from
the British King to the Bostonlan. Then
again a powerful billow carried tho life
boat against the side of Hhe ship and de
stroyed It, and the Ufesavers were thrown
into tho sea, to be rescued qnly after an -hour's
work by their comrades.
Wreck Plunges to Bottom.
Volunteers from the Mannheim, after a
heroic battle with the waves, had taken
off 11 men from the British King, but
after thi3 neither of the steamers, In con
sequence of the increasing gale and on
coming darkness, could make an attempt
to reach the foundering freighter. Soon
afterward the British King, which was
then water-logged and Jielpless, plunged
to the bottom.
The British King sailed from New York
last Wednesday, bound for Antwerp, with
a miscellaneous cargo and 130 cattle.
Previous to the appearance of the rescu
ing steamers, every small boat of the
British King had been demolished, and
there was no way in which the crew
could leave the ship.-
Fifty seamen, including a stowaway,
were on board the British King, and 27
of these, it Is deemed almost certain,
perished with their ship.
No Passengers on Board.
NEW YORK. March 14. Sanderson &
Son. the New York agents of the company
Jwhich operates the steamer British King.
said toaay mat mere nt-re iiu pussugers
on board. The British King was built
at Newcastle' in 1S31. She registered 4717
tons gross, and 3042 tons net. Her di
mensions were 405 feet long, 47.9 feet
beam and 27.9 feet depth of hold. She '
was owned by the British Shipowners'
Company (Limited) of Liverpool.
NEW YORK TRACTION MERGER
STARTS SCANDAL. -
3Ictropolitan Paid . Commission and
Discount on Vast Amount in.
Bonds Never Issued.
NEW YORK. March 14. A special to
the Herald from Buffalo says: -State
Railroad Commissioners J. W. Bunn and
Joseph I. Dltfeey, who aro here listen
ing to the protest against the application
of the Buffalo Frontier Terminal Railroad .
Company, began an Investigation in 'this
city today of tho charge that In the bring
ing about of thq Ryan-Belmont street,
elevated and subway roads merger in
New York, 53,000,003 was diverted-
Tho complaint which forms the Basis of .
the Investigation sets forth that the sworn
statements of the Metropolitan. Railway
Company for 1S0S and 1904 do Jiot account
for the sum of $4,500,000. which was
charged against the company for com
mission and discounts on the 515,000,000
3 per cent notes, of which only- ?3,465,GG0
were Issued The $3,4$5.0CO of notes,vthe
complaint says, were nearly all retired'
before the statement, for 1904 was pre-
pared.
The Inquiry 13 made whether "Insiders"
formed a syndicate to secure from, the v
treasury-of the company $4,500,000, a3 waa
latimated by certain newspapeija,
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