The Oregon mist. (St. Helens, Columbia County, Or.) 188?-1913, January 20, 1905, Image 1

The Oregon mist., January 20, 1905, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextOREGON MIST. VOL. xxii. ST. HELENS, OREGON, FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 1905. NO. 6. THE NEWS OF THE WEEK In a Condensed Fcria lor Our Busy Readers. HAPPENINGS OF TWO CONTINENTS A Raauma of tha Leaa Important but Not Lea Intereatlng Eventa of tho Pa! Week. Marshal Oyama U preparing to ad Vance on Mukden. KfT.irtu to bring aliout reciprocity with Caiia.U wilt lull, Great strike are ou In tho mil fac tories slid Imtt work o Hui. The supreme court ha ordered a new trial for Senator Hurtuu, of Kansas. Turk r carrying on reign of tor Mr In Macedonia nl England refuse to Ititotfitre, Robert II. Armstrong, aaalatant sec retary lo accept mi Important bunluea poaltlou In New York. Tim wnate I'M confirmed the an point nimit of Vciaalan Werner, of Ml imiii, to I commissioner of penatone. The entire population of the Vlaayan village at the Ht. I .on I fair haa started on their way home In the Philippine, by may of Seattle, Unusually cold weather la prevailing throughout Italy. Huow la falling even in Home, where there haa bwo no now In the paat 10 year. The coffee rrnp of llaytl la alinnat failure, accordliigt to a report to the Hate department from Minister Powell, lie saya that not niore than 60 per cent of the rrnp will I saved. Japan accuse Franco of favoring Ruanta. Itandita hold up whole town in Morocco. The rhaure of tariff revialon are stronger. Five pcrnon were suffocated in New York fire. Morgan will halld railroad acmee China, with foreign aid. More indictment have Un iaeued at Pueblo In Connection w lib tlie elec tion fraiida. The total deposit of Chicago lnka I $m)2,000,000. Thla I 110,000,000 more than ever before reported. ltuwla dnnlea that ahe haa bought any (aland In the Indian ocean to uae aa a naval atation An the route to the Far Kant. The strike In the Kuaalan oil field I not yet settled. Mauy men are Hill out. Fire continue and much prop el y la I wing destroyed. A I'hiladidphia dynamiter tried to blow tip the statue of F"rederick the Great, at Wanhluglon, and the ateamer Uuihrla. Ileaay he belong to a ao clety orgnlel to deetroy Britiah ship ling. Riot are breaking out among the atriklng (iertnan coal miner. Secretary Taft recommenls annuling the Parlfle mail contra:t with the Pan ama railroad. The president recommend the reduc tion in number of I'anama canal com missioner to three member. It haa developed that Tort Arthur hail prnviaiona for two month and dis sension rauaed the urrender. The president haa appolonted Vespa ian Warner, of lllinola, to ucceed War aa )enlon commissioner. Utah politician aay polygamy I op posed by young Mormon and will die of ilacll if given an opportunity. , Rrletow ha resigned a fourth analst arit poat mauler geueral and the pre! dtmt haa designated htm a a apoclal comiiilenloner to make an investigation into the prenent trade condition and freight rate between tho Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and lietween the weel coast of South America and the at coaat of the United Bute and of Kur 0e and to determine the licet policy of nianagcliig thu Panama railroad. A naval battle in the Indian ocean I expected. Tho miner' trlke in Germany I nprending. Tho Colorado legislature ha expelled two aonaUini In connection with the election fraud. ' Runnia ha entereil a proteat to the powers, claiming that Japan it organ ising Chinese troop agalut her. Oyiuna ha received a largo number of reinforcement and' Kuroputkln will mnke a aupreme effort to crunh him before more arrive. Appropriations, though mall, will he muod for the Columbia Jetty and clinmud, and Fulton hn Joined In the fight for the Celllo canal. A bill will be Introduced In the on ntu to ruNtore tlio army canteen. Two Sunta I'e train collided head on near Ia Vega, New Mexico, and three person were klllCMl and a number of othura lujnroil, two futally. Tho Japane war office ha notified MlniHtor Griscom that it will be pleased to pomlt General MacArthur to accompany the anuy of Japan in Manchuria. The National Livestock association la In session at Denver, 0OINQS IN CONGRESS. Tuatday, January 10. Tha innate Unlay continued consider atlon of tho Joint etatohood bill, tha chief accompllhment being tho accept ance, of moat of tha amendment sug gested by tha committee on Indian affair. Senator Cultom reported tha legla latlve, Judicial and exocutlve appropri ation bill aa amended by the tenato committee on appropriation. Tli to ut carried i $29,192,1(02, a net in ereaa of $434,7711 over tha amount ap propriated by the bill aa panned by the house. Tha session of the houaa wa given over almut entirely to diacumlon of the bill on banking and currency "to Im prove currency condition." Tha lniieachment charge on which Judge Charlea Hwayne will be tried were presented Juat before adjournment and notice given that on Thuraday they would be called op for action in the-liouae. Wdnday, January II. The attention of the annate today wa divided by the atelchood quetlon and government regulation of railroad. All amendment to the atatehood bill ex cept on were agreed to. In the bonne the army appropriation bill received eonaldcration. The ex pene of tha army and navy were e verely crlticiaed by veveral member. Attention waa called to the large re tired tiat of vlllcer, which Include 2Hfl brigadier general. An effot wa maIe to reduce the y of retired officer above the rank of major when aaaigned to duty with tha militia of tha aeveral talea. Thi wa aimed at (leueral Mllea aa (ecrotary general of Maaaa elmaett. Thunday, January 12. Tlie lcglalatlve, executive and Judi cial billa were read at length In the aenate and there waa conaiderable dla cuaaion of the civil aervlce qucatlon and the provlaion for an inventlgation of foreign trade condition by the de rtuiPiit of MBinimi. The houae devoted It aentire aiiwion to the diacumlon of Impeachment charge againat Judge Charli Kwayne, of the Northern diatrict of Florida. Friday, Jan. 13. Further eonnidcratton wa given in the houae today of the ini lunciit chargM againat Judge Hwayne. There wa a noticeable lark of inlernit In the cane except among a few member. The defenae charged that tho whole thing waa a raae ol private vengeance. The houan cmrurrrd in tha aenate amendment to the Philippine govern ment bill and eeiit the bill to confer ence. The aenate Unlay paiwd the legisla tive, executive and judicial appropria tion bill and alao a number of private penalon bill. Saturday, Jan. 14. In the aenate today an unavailing effort wa made to aecure coiiwut Ui fix a day for taking a vote on tho atatehood bill. A bill making it a felony to counter feit the great seal of tha United Ktatc waa pawed. IVnnlnii h-giiilntion at the rate of 359 hill In 10H mimitee waa indulged In by the bonne Unlay, the reault being the annulling of all previou reconl of the houae a to lcgialativn nlmblent. Hill wcra paxmnl to author ie the nra ol earth, atone and timiier from the foreel reaorve and public, lamia tor the construction of Irrigation projwtaj to prohibit the word "l'nitel 8tlca aa aay" or any word conmmttting the giivernment to the quality of gold or aitver article. Monday, January 10. 1)111 panned by the nenate were: For the relief of the Weatcrn Alanka Con tructinu Company' railroad by grunt ing an extenaion of time for comple tion of tho flrat aection of at leant 20 mile; to fix the compensation of crier and bailiff in the United HUte court at 3 a day. The !atchKxl bill wa mncnneti lor three hour today. Hevoral nenator tulkoil againnt uniting New Mexico ami Ariiona and annio queaioned the unit ing of Oklahoma and Inilian Territory. Ileyburn aald hel could eo no reaaon for It except for a ahortnlglited ilcnire to abut tho door of tho' aenate. agalnat tho Wet. Ruttia Buy Uland. 81. PeterHburg, Jan. 14. A rcinirt I in circulation hero that tho Kuavian government ha connuunnateil the pur chane of an Inland In the Indian ocean, the harbor facilitiea of which will en able Vice Admiral ttnjoatvenaky'a atpiadron of tho Kuaalan aecoud ltaltic fleet to await the arrival of the third Itnltie fleet. Well Informed partlea place llttlo credence In It. It 1 point ed out that the nule of audi an inland at thi time would be a gron breach of neutrality, ou tlia part of the milling nation. Mora Submarlnaavfpr Japan. Minneapolis, Jan. 14. cAnothcr con signment ol aubmarino torpedo boat wita handed from the Burlington road to tho llrent Northern railroad atllnm line anil runhed onward to the const Unlay. It wn Identical In nature with the shipment of boat which panned through hero In tho summer. These shipment of war enpplie hove become so numerous a to excite little attention at tlio transfer station . They consint ol ammunition, guns, boof and medicines. Wlicomin at tha Fair. Milwaukee, Jan. 14. In bis mesnngo to tho legislature Governor LaFollette recommended an appropriation of $80, 000 for a suitable representation of Wisconsin at tlio Lewis and Clark exposition. OREGON STATE ITEMS OF INTEREST LEGISLATURE MEST8. Oragon Lawmaker Now In Session at Salam. Halem, Jan. 10. Nina ballot were taken In the aenate for president thi morning without material change. At 1 1 :!I0 adjournment wa taken until 2 p.m. Negotiation were commenced by the opposing faction looking toward a final settlement, and at 8 o'clock ad journment w taken until 4 o'clock. At that time negotiation were not complete and a further reces wa taken until S. At that hour the senators Umk their sent and tha first roll call gave Kuykendall the entire Republi can vote, electing him. Adjournment wa then taken and the Republican went into caucus to aelect clerk. Tha houne wa called to order by Chief Clck Thompson, Speaker Mill being alwent. liailey of Multnomah wa elected speaker pro tern. The usual resolution foriipplleof stanijis, code and inection of state office and institutions, for printing the calendar and for obtaining newspaiera were offered , Fifty billa were Introduced and read tha first time. They will be referred after Hpcaker Milla shall have an nounce! the committee. Among the bill introduced were: To cede Klamath lake land to the United 8 U tea to create Jefferson county from part of Crook and Wasco counties: fixing salaries of state officers, and a la wo number amending town charter. Balnm, Jan. 11. This was the flrat day of real work in the senate, anil 87 bill were introduced a a starter. Tlie usual resolution were offered concurr ing with those of the house for sundry expense and innecting vsrious state institution. Probably the most im portant of the bill wa that by Brown ell of Clackamas, providing for a con stitutions! convention to be held on the second Monday in Keptemlier, 11HJS. Among the measures were: To create a date mining bureau; to fix fee of county recorder and clerks; amend ing act of 1U03, and to regulate use of water from Oregon streams. In the houne legislation wa asked for the protection of forest against Are; for new irrigation code; Axing riparian right on the Colutnpia, and amending general school laws. Altogether 25 bills were introduced inlhe house to day. The two house will meet in joint convention Uimorrow at 1 1 o'chx-k to listen to the rending of Governor Cham berlain's message fUlem, Jan. 12. Governor Cham Iwrlain read bin biennial message to the legislature today, before the two houses in joint assembly. F'.ighleen new billa were introduced in the senate and 10 in the house. Among those of the senate were: Making eight hours a day's work; to provide corporal punishment for wife liraters; authorising employe to bring action against either the employer or an insurance company insuring the employer against loss, and Ui raise the limit of damages for taking human life from $S,000 to $10,000. Among the houae bills were: To cre ate state tax commission; for girls' an nex to state reform school; to raise marriage license fee U $5. After calling attention to the general prosperity of tlie state, the governor In hi message called the attention of the legislature to the need of a state tax commission; to the masiy thousand acre of land in the state on which no taxes are being paid; recommends tax ation of franchisee for state purpose ; improvement of schools in rural dis tricts; favors single board for normal schools; more money for state game warden; an appropriation for enforce ment of child labor law ; further Im provement of road by convict labor; reduction of expense of stato printing olllce; placing state o Ulcers on fixed salaries; a Juvenile court. Ho dealt at length on the proper protection against forest firea; gave much praise to those who worked for the right of way for the portage road and asked that the United State government be appealed to to nurchane tho canal and lock at Willamette falls. He favor whatever legislation is necessary to help the government In tho reclamation of arid lands and closed with the hope that the legislature would see tho advisability of an early adjournment and not to put off the to last the passage of Important measures. ltoth branches of the legislature ad journed until Monday, Buy Wasco Land. The Piillos llomeseokers are be ginning to arrive in this section and some are already buying land. T. L and B. F. Hemingway, recently from Spokftno, bought tho Tat Gorman farm of 440 acres, near Kingsley, for 18,000. Tho Messrs. Hemingway have traveled pretty well over Fastern Oregon look ing for land, and finally determined that Wasco county afforded better In ducements than any other section of tlio eastern part of the state. They say no other section of Oregon ha land that will produce as much. To Light Jacksonville. Jacksonville A franchise has been granted to tho Condor Water A Tower company to furnish electric lights for Jacksonville. The company is the owner of tho fine dam across tho Rogue river near Gold Hill, and tho power and light must be transmitted a dis tance of 12 miles. ' The poles are al rendy set for the lighting, inasmuch as tho company is now furnishing power to run the Opp mining machinery, one inilo west from Jacksonville. 8ulem, Jan. 10. Two bill of the 1U03 session, amending the Australian ballot law, and relating to the Eighth Judicial district, which the governor vetoed, were returned to tlie senate and failed to pass. A Joint memorial wa adopted urging early action on the part of the government in the construc tion of the Celllo canal. Among the new billa were: To limit the hour of service of railroad employes; to create juvenile courts, and to amend district irrigation law of 1896. Upon the house convening today Hpcaker Milt announced the standing committee. The Celilo canal resolu tion wa adopted. A resolution for a 40-cont lumber rate to the Missouri river waa referred. Among the new measure Introduced were: To make district primary law orative in ltfOfi; extending o)ien salmon aeaaon for Co lumbia from Augsut IS to August 26: to exempt from taxation property of householder to f 500 valuation, and to create Cascade county. The new county I to be cut out of Wasco and it temporary and probably permanent county seat I to be Hood River. FRUITMEN TALK OF UNION. Josephine Grower Want to See Pro duct of Rogue Rivar Boomed. Grant Pans The success met by fruitgrowers' union in other aection of the state, and the great Increase in the acreage of orchard and vineyards in Josephine county, have induced the leading fruitgrower of thi section to plan organisation of a Josephine County Fruitgrowers' union. They be lieve it would enable them to secure better price for their fruit and lower rates on their boxes, and other mater ial. Another and more important ad vantage would be the establishment of a standard of fruit for shipment, by better grading and selection. As is done at Hood River, and at California point south of here, expert packer would visit the various orchard and give instructions as to the proper man ner of packing and selection. It would also result in the creation of a market for Rogue river apples, and would spread the (a'me and name of "Rogue River" a the fruitgrowers of Hood Ktver have done by the famous "Hood River" product of orchard .and traw berry field. Reopen Woolen Mill. F'ugene John P. Wilbur and Wil liam Wright, of Union, have secured an option on the Willamette Valley Woolen Manufacturing cmopany's mill in this ci ty, which has been closed for almost a year on account of the com pany going into bankrupU-y. They are now examining the title to the prop erty and looking into a few minor de tails, and it is given out by Receiver A. C. Woodcock that the sale of the property to these gentlemen is certain. The plant wiil be thoroughly over hauled and new machinery added. Highest Award for Wheat. Pendleton Umatilla county leads the world in the production of fine wheat, according to the superior jury on award of the Iyiuisiana Purchase exposition. W, P. Temple, an active farmer ol this county, received official notice of the highest award receive! for the display of wheat at the exposition. Mr. Temple's specimens consisted of three sheave of bluestem wheat and formed part of Umatilla county' por tion of the Oregon exhibit. Wasco' Educational Exhibit. Hood River Wasco county intend to be well represented with an educa tional exhibit at the Lewis and Clark exposition. At a meeting of the Wasco County Principals' club in the ItooO River high school arrangement were made to la-gin at once on tho work of preparing the county s exhibit. R.winr to Aonlerrowara. Hood River The fruitgrower of Hood River are contracting with the Davenport Bros. Lumber company of . I t 1 - V L. .. rlr HUB City lor ('mo umiiv m ably low price of 8.4' cents a box. Last year the prevailing price waa 10 and 11 cent. Oregon Land Withdrawn from Entry' Washington On account of the Che wankan irrigation project, the general land olllce has withdrawn from all form of disposr.1 7 townships, aggre gating about 172,8,00 acres, In the Lakeview land district. Appropriation for Portage Road. Moro At the January term of the county court of Sherman county 12,000 was appropriated for aid in the con struction of tlie state portage railway. PORTLAND MARKETS. Wheat Walla Walla, 86c ; blue- stem, SStitOOc; valley, 87c. Oata No. 1 white, 1.32H'2.85, gray, 11.85(31.40 per cental. Hay Timothy, 1416 per ton; clover, $11(812; grain, 1112; cheat, $12C818. Potatoes Oregon fancy, 8095c; common, 6075c. Apples Baldwins, $1.25; Spitxen bergs, $1.762 per box. Eggs Oregon ranch, 2930c. Butter Fancy creamery, 2527K Hop Choice, 29 (8 30c; prime, 279 28c per pound. Wool Valley, 1920c; Eastern Oregon, 10 17c; mohair, 25(9260 per pound. 'RECIPROCITY WITH GERMANY Berlin Chamber of Commerce Peti tion President. Berlin, Jan. 18. The American Chamber of Commerce of Berlin con sider that the moment ia favorable for a movement loking toward a reciprocity treaty between the United Bute and Germany, and especially so because the new system of reciprocity treaties Ger many has concluded most probably will affect American trade adversely. The Chamber of Commerce sent a petition to President Roosevelt, which In part follows: "The American Chamber of Com merce of Berlin, organised with the purpose of furthering good relations between the United HUte and Ger many, especially in tha direction of commercial affair, and including among it member of leading concern of both nationalities trading between the two countries, pray that you urge upon congress and other authorities the pressing need of prompt action for a reciprocity treaty with Germany and alao of new law and regulation for the appraisal of merchandise, to replace the present very faulty and often un just ytem which baa been and atill ia constantly causing much bitternee of feeling among practically all tha Im porter of cotumoditiea into porta of the United Bute." The American Chamber of Commerce offer ita aervicea in the collection of information1. THREAT TO RAILROAD MEN. Roosevelt Plan of Regulation to Be Followed by Cut in Wage. Boston, Jan. 18. In an add res be fore the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineer, Division 61, on the occasion of ita 40th anniversary, today, Presi dent Lucins Tuttle, of the Boston i Maine railroad, spoke of President Roosevelt' proposal that railroad rate be regulated under congressional super vision and authority. Mr. Tuttle declared that such poli cy, if carried out, must ineviubly affect the income of the 1,000,000 persons who gain their livelihood directly from the railroads. He did not think it had been or could be shown that the makers of the constitution ever had any other thought in mind in connection with the delegation to congress of the power to regulate interstate commerce relation than a well defined intent forever to prevent the erection by any state of any customs, tariffs'or other barriers that should be an obstruction to the free current of commerce. "The railroads of 1903," he said, "were able only to pay their share holder an average dividend of lea than 3 per cent, and any further general re duction of rates must necessarily be followed by a reduction of operating expenses." IDAHO SURVEY TO BE MADE Pahaamarl Valley Said to Offer Good Field for Irrigation. Washington, Jan. 18. The attention of the reclamation engineer haa been directed to the Pahsamari valley, in Custer and Lemhi counties, Idaho, where, it is believed by citixens, prob ably 200,000 acre of fertile land could be reclaimed by water now going to waste in that section. A careful reconnaissance will be made under the supervision of District Engineer D. W. Rosa when the field season opens in the spring. Data now in his possession tends to show the ex istence of reclaimablo lands in small rather than in large bodies. The val ley is comparatively narrow, foothills crowding down close to the river on both sides. In order to determine the feasibility of any scheme for the irri gation of these lands, however, a care ful inquiry will be made. Closed Seaaon for Salmon. Ottawa, Ont., Jan. 18. The Domin ion government baa been asked by a delegation representing the salmon in dustriee of British Columbia to agree to a closed season of 30 hours each week and an entire closed season in 1906 and 1909, so aa to prevent the de pletion of the fisheries. The state of Washington has agreed to the proposal and Canada will probably do so. Smoke Drives Out Fireman. Chicago, Jan. 18. Thirty-five com panics of firemen tonight fought a fire in the beef storage department of Schwarxchild & Sulsberger. company, and when the fire waa finally put out not over $5,000 damage had been done. The fire caught In aawdust and the stream of water poured upon it had no noticeable effect for four hour. The volume of smoke wa so dense that the firemen were compelled to relieve each other every few minutes until the fire was under control to escape suffocation, by ita fumea. Bloody Riot at Saratoff. London, Jan. 18. The Vienna corre spondent of the London Daily Leader reports serious rioting at Saratoff, the capital of Russian government at Sara toff. The trouble started some days ago, when the reservists were called out, and the police were sent into the homes of those who did not report on time. On Friday and Saturday several minor excesses occurred and on Sunday 200 reserviBta gathered in a saloon and listened to revolutionary speeches. Prize Vesaal Taken to Japan, Nagasaki, Jan. 18. The British steamer Roeely, which waa captured January 11 by the Japanese cruiser in the Sea of Japan, has arrived at Saa ebo, where she will be tried by the prise court on the charge of attempt ing to carry coal to Vladivostok. NO MONEY FOR BOTH Celllo Ganal or Mouth ol Colum bia Must Suffer. EURTON FIRM IK HIS DECISION He Call on Northwest Member of Congr to Choose Between I Important Projects. Washington, Jan. 18. In spite W all entreaties and explanations, Chair man Burton, of the house committee on rivers and harbors, refuse to give in to the demand of the delegates from Oregon and Washington in regard to the Columbia river improvements. He still maintains that they must choose between The Dalles-Celilo canal and the improvement of the mouth of the river: that they must sacrifice one pro ject in the interest of the other, and, from present indications, ue wilt force them to express the'r preference. He seems determined not to consent to sn appropriation for both project at thi sion. It i difficult to understand Mr. Bur ton' attitude. He is willing to appro priate sufficient money to continue work on the jetty at the mouth of the river, but is unwilling to commence construction of tlie Celilo canal. He appear friendly enough to the former project, but very unfavorably impressed with the latter. Mr. Burton will wot admit that both projects are of equal importance; he will not listen to ex planations that the people of Oregon are aa anxious for the Celilo canal as for a deep channel across the Columbia river bar. He i not at all impressed by the fact that the Oregon legislature ha appealed to the government in be half of both project. He consented to make a brief statement of his position today, when told that the people of Portland were a friendly to the Celilo canal a to the mouth of the river. "We cannot make provisioons for both project within the limits of our bill," aaid he, "at least to any consid erable extent. We shall have to leave one or the other with a comparatively small appropriation. It would seem to be a more business-like way to proceed with one or the other project with a view to iu completion." Beyond this Mr. Burton refused to discuss the matter. Those who have Ulked with bim, while not permitted to qnote him, feel that he is decidedly opposed to the Celilo canal project. He seem to feel that it would prove a very costly work, especially in propor tion to the amount of commerce that would be benefited. In hi opinion it would cost more on the basis of the commerce involved than almost any other project in the United States that has been sanctioned by congress. WILL DEFFND CHINA. Hay's Note Denies Charges and Cite Russia's Own Misdeeds. Washington, Jan. 18. Secreu:ry Hay will soon reply to the Russiaan note alleging that China has violated her neutrality obligations. He will vigorously defend China. He will in sist that China has done all possible to maintain strict neutrality. He will refuse to admit that there have been any intentional violations of neutrality. He will cite instances in which Rus sian troops have invaded Chinese ter ritory and provoked some reprisals for which the Pekin goveruiiicut should not be held accountable. Russia will be urged to consider the attitude of China as a government and not that of individuals. Copies of Secretary Hay's note will be sent to all the powers. It is expect ed that some of them will use their moral influence to prevent Russia from breaking the former agreement limiting the lone of motilities. Intimations have already reached her that this ac tion will be taken. Irrigation on KUmath. Washington, Jan. 18. F. H. Newell, chief of the reclamation service, and all field engineers, who have made a study of the Klamath basin, are very enthusiastic over the Klamath irriga tion project, and are bringing every in fluence to bear to remove the few re maining obstacles which stand in the way of its adoption. The Klamath project, according to preliminary esti mates, " will reclaim in tlie neighbor hood of 312,000 acres of land in South ern Oregon and Northern California, the major portion in Oregon. Exchange of Prisoners. St. Petersburg, Jan. 18. Japan's consent to an exchange of prisoners, ac cording to class and rank, has just been .received here. Consequently, in the near future, three Russian olticers cap tured on the Rusnian volunteer fleet cruiser Ekateriouslav by the Japanese will be traded for three Japanese pris oners captured on the transports Kin- shiu, captured by the Russians in the Sea of Japan, and Sado, driven ashore by the Russians in the Sea ol Japan. Many Miners Entombed. Decatur, 111., Jan. 18. Five foreign born miners are known to be dead and a score more entombed by fire and smoke in a 600-foot coal mine shaft near here. Rescuing parties have gone into the mine, but have been unable to do anything on account of the' dense smoke. More than a score of rescuers were cut off by the flame and held prisoner. . They may be dead. ACTION ON RATES. Rapreaentatlve Hepburn Haa Freight Rata Bill Ready for Congress. Washington, Jan. 17. President Roosevelt had a conference today with Secretary Taft and RepresenUtive Hep burn, of Iowa, chairman of the inter Ute and foreign commerce committee of the houae, regarding railroad freight rate legislation. At the conclusion of the conference Mr. Hepburn aid he bad prepared a bill on the aubject of freight rate which embodied the re commendation of the' president so far as they went. Mr. Hepburn added that In a few days a conference would be held, prob ably at the White House, for the con sideration of the measure he had pre pared. The president, Secretary Taft, Attorney General Moody, "and others," aid Mr, Hepburn, "who are especially interested in the legislation will partic ipate in the conference." "Do you think rate legislation will be enacted at the present session?" "I do most certainly," replied Mr. Hepburn. "I believe the house will pass a measure before the end of thla month, and there ia no reason why it should not be crystallized into law be fore the session end. There were some Informal confer ence among senators on the question of railroad legislation after the aenate ad journed today. The general opinion expressed waa that there ia not suffi cient time left to accomplish anything in that line during the presnt aeasion of congrea. JAPAN WILL FOLLOW SUIT. If Russia Violate Neutrality of China So Will She. Washington, Jan. 17. Mr. Takabira, the Japanese minister, had a long talk with Mr. Loomis, acting aecretary of state today, about the Chinese neutral ity and Russia' circular note to the power on the aubject. So far a the press dispatches ahow, there are no alleged instances specified in the latost Russian note of violation by China of neutrality that have not been men tioned in previou note on the subject, and replied to by Japan. Whether the Japanese government will aee fit further to reply probably will not be determined. The official text of the note haa be come generally known. It can be stat ed that the attitude of Japan regarding China' neutrality remain unchanged. The Japanese government waa quick to respond to Secretary Hay' note to the power urging the respecting of the neutrality and "administrative entity of China," and it ia believed that Japan will be opposed to the suspen sion of the agreement of the belliger ents to limit the tone of operations in the effort to adhere to Secretary Hay'a request. In the event, however, that Russia determine to withdraw her adherence to thi principle, it will be necessary for Japan, aa the other bel ligerent, to follow suit, and ahe will probably do it quickly if Russia reachea this decision. AMMUNITION ALL DUMMIES. Russian Officer Say Booty of Port Arthur i Worthies. Chefoo, Jan. 17. Midshipman Klie- orich, the Russian officer who com manded a launch which reached here from Port Arthur January 3, in com menting today on General Nogi'a re port of January 12, giving detail of the Russian property which had been transferred to the Japanese after the surrender of the fortress, said that tho 2,266,800 rounds of rifle ammunition mentioned as among the booty, were unloaded shells, relics of the Chinese occupation of Port Arthur and not fitted for use in Russian rifles. The 82,670 large shells mentioned by Gen eral Nogi, the midshipman said, were also Chinese and were of no use to the Russiau artillery. Midshipman KHbo rich further say that the lock of the 35,253 riflee turned over to the Japan ese were broken before the forties capitulated. To Help Jewish Refugeaa. Chicago, Jan. 17. Jewish citixena of Chicago are taking atop to give aid n nn.t find homos for the hundred of Jews who have fled from Russia to es cape service In the army and are now The Jewish Agri culturists' Aid eociety has been formed, and ha undertaken on a large acaie a scheme of colonization of these refugee nn tha fnrtiln lands of the middle west ern states. Adolph Loeb ia president . . .. n. M ot tbe society, uui oi iu loan tuna it has advanced money to Jews willing to establish themselves as farmers! Object to Barrett'a Scheme. Washington, Jan. 17. Panaman are opposed to the recommendation of Mr. Rarrett, American representative to the isthmus, that the offices of minister and governor of the canal one be merged into the office of governor-min-ister. This news comca in a cablegram from the minister of foreign affairs to the Panaman minister at Washington, M. Obaldia, who called at the state de partment today to inform the official of the fact. ' ' " ' "" . .-v.: Wounded Suffered Terribly. Chefoo, Jan. 17. Japanese who vis ited Port Arthur January 10 aay that .u D.,;.n w,nn.tArt wrn In a terrlhl luo iiumiw. wvfm - state, owing to neglect which could not be avoided when the Japanese entered Port Arthur. Everything poeible, they aay. ia now being done tor tneir relief.