THE
OREGON
VOL. XXII.
ST. HELENS, OK KG ON, FRIDAY, MAKCII 3, 1905.
NO. 12.
MIST.
NEWS OFJHE WEEK
In a Condensed Form lor Our
Busy Readers.
HAPPENINGS OF TWO CONTINENTS
A Rum of th Less Important but
Not Less Interesting Evsnti
of the Pat Week.
Toe eiiwt Mill not increase tlx' Co.
litmliiti river appropriaton.
JMH)lt W. J. I ha liewii IIRlned
fur ron'iit general at Panama,
The I'MnaiiiM canal commlwdoner
.ve violated the law in Ixiylnic sup
plies without advertisement public lor
hid.
ticorge H. lloulwell, ol Mrliiicll,
formerly necrelnry ol the treasury, In
dead.
la nt are joltiinjt In th trik
movement In Poland and are burning
mIooII.
Tito Rnln officer who broks their
imiolo have lieen ordered tack to Han
r iauclco.
The final settlement of the Klamilh
irrigation cheine h been iitolil
until April.
Tim )Cuin government Im adopted
.troiig measure (o keep the railways
III (Ttllll.
Tli Kuln Third Pacific squadron
liu) prl Cherbourg, France, on It.
way to the Far Kt.
tiorky, tli prict strike leader, lis
released mill rw-rtttil, 10 I ex
iled Irom HI. Petersburg.
F.leveii jieroii were killed and mor
tlnttt no other injured, torn protably
fatally, by the oill ol floor in
New York colored church.
Starvation threaten Fairhank,
Ahuka.
Secretary Talt will pck t the lwl
mill Clark lair.
Oil limn ol several Rtatee have united
to fight tlm Standard till company.
Northwest niton have ked an in
crease In river and harbor appropria
tion, Automobile are to rare from (he At-aliilit-
roast to Portland lor tlm Iia
ami Clark lair.
A tit lew gorge ha carried out a
liilon Pacific railroad bridge on lu
river, at Columbu. Nebnuka.
HI. Umi financier are Interesting
capital lor the construction ol an !
tru- mal Irom Ht. Louis to Kaatiaaa
City.
What U Iwlieved to Jiavn Iwii I'aul
June' body ha lmg found ly tlm
searcher in the old Ht. IaiuIs cemetery,
in I'ari.
Tlm secretary ol slate ha received
tr presentation to President Koevell
a large photorgaph ol tlm eiiiir do
ap'r, ol C'liin.
Tlm JaanrK liavi raptnrwl a Kua-
ian i-nltum ol imjortm- alti-r an
awlul Uttlo. Tlm Ii.ium ol Im.iIi iilin
ltl reai li into tlm tlioinwmla, lint it i
IwlinviNl tlm JapaiiMMi lot tlm imwl
mm.
It in WIIkvimI that Ju!k Kwayiiv will
I arilittrN.
John I). Ihik ) the Monro loc
trlnn I rarriiil too (ar.
Tlm hlorkxle ol Vla.livontok i now
roiiilt, Iml loot! i not wane.
KIiik Ktlwanl favor lriuli lllx-rty a
a lrp to AiiKlo-Anmriran llianc.
Tlm raar haa ylnlilwl Ui tlm railroad
triknr ami tralUe will lw irauinwl.
Norway thrrotfn to dllv Imr
niiion with Hwmlon and twtabliiih a r
imlilic. Tlm Krratmt hallin of tlm war ha
lifKiin In Manrliuria, tlm Japamwn out.
llaukiiiK the Uumiana,
The hilt dlvldlnu Orison Into two
Judicial (liBtrli l haa Uhii killinl and a
uliuiliir VHhiiifton hill iihwhiI.
Iir. 1aiu Wilfomon, who
rhari(Ml with havinfj a I'liiUnl Htaltn
houd, molmi 20 ynam K '"" lh'
Miuihiittan bank, haa Un nhajHHl on
$10,000 hail, and w ill now .-k for H.
W. Millwr, fnim whom he ohtaine.1
the ImuiiI.
Kire hroke out in the New York Ji
vwiile RHylum, hut all the 1,200 child
run were tnken out in 1ft minute and
the Hiiiiik wore Hn ritiiiK"'"liHl.
HlotM at Itnku, Kuiwia, have rmtinxl
1,0110 iIkuIIim, and twic a many ,r
woiindiol.
lluilroad atrike have rut off Poland
ami all nonthweHtern Kiiwila from the
rent of the world.
KollowinK an oration for ajipendi-
ltU, Hulney Dillon Hlpley, the llnan
fler, i critically ill at hi home in
New York.
The Ut awienihly of WiiM-onain ha
plowed hill prohihitlnR the ale of
Kiunt flreirrucker and other duntioron
exploaive.
Twenty-one building in the heart of
Cope May (Jourthouiie, the county eat
of Cape May county, N. J., wore de
ll royed hy flie.
It Roem that the doo.Ulon of th
North ea conimlmilon will let both
nut Ion down cattily, not lieliiK ft do
. tided report either way.
DOING! iN CONQRE88.
Tu(ir, February 21.
Tlm hoiiMt today pael the Philip,
plus tariff bill, practical' it cnme
from th committe. Tlm river and
harbor appropriation bill wa then
Uken up but It wr noon laid anldii and
aeveral meaaiire were phmmI, the iiiiwt
liii.rtnt of which wait the authoriaa
lloii glvoil the ecreUry ol war t return
to th several ta the t 'liiou and Con
(ixlcrate hattlellaK.
The muiate coinmittoe today rejiorted
that it would lie luipoMiihle to act on
the railroad rate hill at thi WMtlon
without iiioriiiK the ruilroad. Con
sideration of the Indian appropriatoin
hill wa Imkiiii. A hort time wa
Klven to the defenae of Jud(n Hwayne,
and the iiute hexali the coiialdcration
ol Hie hill fur the Kovurnmeiit of the
Uthmlan canal lone.
Wdndv. February 22.
Uovertiment ownerahip of railroad
wa diacumted by th M-iiate tolay in
eonnertion with the pim-hane ol the
Panama railroad, while the hill lor the
Kovernment of the canal (one w a under
miilderKtkm. Coiialderatlon of the
hill wa not i-nmphtted when the aciiate
aIJouruel.
A IiiiioImt of wltiieM4 were exam
ined in behalf of Jud(e Hwayne in the
liiix'iu litiipiil i.r.xatxl I mk" Klnl him.
Alter a brii i but pihted dclwte the
houie today wiil Lurk to conlerence
the army appropriation hill. All eu
ate amendment were again IUi;rced
to, exreptinit one ajipropriatitiK fuA,
0(MI for itiiitinuiiiK the cable from
Yalde to Seward, Alaaka.
Thuriday, February 23.
Wlthoiil a dollar lx-inn addivl or ault
traded the river and harlior appropria
tion bill pawn! (he Imiiiihi lly, after
I'm Mwaion had run well into the even
il(. The Uital amount carried by the
hill I 17,j:H,Hfi7. It wa iiiil.ii
by th ottering of auietidmrnt. but
only tlm preM'iiltil by the committee
were adnptiil.
The lt testimony in the liiteirnt ol
Judge Hwavne in the Imiieacliiiieiit
t!nliil him wa tolay premnted to
the nenale.
The bill providing a form of govern,
niriit for the Panama canal aolie
pauml early in the day.
Friday, February 24,
The time of the senate tolay wa
divided letween the Hwayne iliieach.
mint trial and the motion of Iteveridge
to appoint conferee on the joint (ul
IioimI bill. It i the exvlation tint a
vote on the Hwayne matter will U'
reached Monday. No agreement wa
reacheil in the apintmrnt of tle
ImkhI conlert.
A renolutmn wa introduced In the
hnuiw dir ting the attorney general to
proceed agaiuat the armor plate trunl.
A numlier of i-ni"ii bill from the
neuate were rnniiderctl, altogether lift
being pael. Four hour w a given
to the anudry civil appropriation bill.
Saturday, February 26.
The houoe today divided it time lie
tween leglalation and patriotic ener
cini. An hour and a half wa nt
in aing minor bill. The aauie
iwri.nl wa devoted to the uiidrv ap
propriation bill, without reaching a
conclualon. Igilatloii then gave way
to weche by several mendier honor
ing the memory of llouaton and Au
tin ; when the marble (tattle ol each,
given hy the mate oi ioih, wcreec
ceptetl. Home sharp criticism ol tlm presi
dent' jMilicy towad Santo iKuningo and
in enlarging the navy ws Imliilgnl In
today by senators ou Imlh side during
the debate on the naval appropriation
till.
A vole on the Hwayne impeachment
.... . . ..!
cane W ill He IttKen .uoiuiay.
Monday. February 27.
Charlea Hwayne, district judge ol the
Northern district of Florida, 1I.V
ci)illttil by t he senate of all 12 ar
ticle of imeuc!imont against nun.
President lSoosevelt'ji (Hilicy of build
ing up a great navy came in for more
criticism today in the senate when the
naval appropriation bill was under con-
idrriitinn. The bill was passwl, carry
ing appropriations of f 100,800,000.
The house agrec.1 to "m conierence
reHirt on the army aplropriution hill.
The aundry civil appropriation bill
wu passed, carrying W,8i2,2HO.
Wanhlpt Bombard Rebel.
r,.tntiiioiile. Feb. 24. Kxlremely
alarming resirt are current here i-on-
cerning tlm sltuiuion i loiiomn n....
Poti. It is allegixl that ome vessels
oftholllack sea iUilmn (Russian)
have Uimhanh-1 Poti. An Mignsii
merchant who ha Just arrived here
nays bo wa oniigeo io nee irom
toum, where hi life was menaced by
trikera and hi otlic destroyed. This
merchant say the authorities of lla
toum are powerhw. The striker are
all tieorgian. and are estimated to
numlier 0,QiiO.
Rumora of Great Event.
Ht. Petersburg, Feb. 2-1. A second
day ha passed without dlspntche hav
ing lieen given out from .tieueral Kuro
.at kin, which is Interpreted to support
the rumors that great event are in
piogreH in Manchuria. The war olllce,
however, steadfastly maintain that
there l no Important new and that
there have lieen no development since
the last dispatches made public, in
which the commander-in-chief re
ported all quiet.
Extra Settlon of Senate.
n-..i.u,.,i., Knli. 24. The nrcHidcnt
today issued a proclamation convening
the senate in pecini mwhhi
March 4 next, to "re-
cel ve such communication a may be
iniulo by Iho nxceutlve.
OREGON STATE ITEMS OF INTEREST
NO STATE FAIR THIS YEAR.
Attorney General Sayt Stale Fundi
Cannot be Used for Race Meet.
Hali-iii "No state fair can lie held in
IllOi," declare Attorney (ieneral
Crawlord, in auwser to an inquiry from
the Mate fair board. The legislature at
its recent session passed an act author
ixing and directing the state fair Ismrd
to exietul the annual appropriation of
110,0111) for improvement in I "0ft, and
relieving the board from holding an ex
liil.it in that year.
The fair Imard, however, wan anxious
to hold a fair this year and nought to
llnd authority therefor In section 4 1'tH
of the rode, milking It the duty of the
hoard to hold "an annual fair or exhi
bition," which section has not been re-Is-aled.
The attorney general holds that, al
though this section ha not been re
iealcd, expressly or by implication,
the h-gislatuie ha ueudel the hold
ing of the lair for one year. He a I ho
holds that the annual appropriation ol
$10,000, together with the additional
l.'i.llOO appropriated by the legislature,
must be lined f ir improvement at the
fair grounds during the year IM05, and
that any sum not o used will revert to
the general fund. In eonclusion Attor
ney (ieneral Crawford say there is
nothing to prevent the lnl from
holding a race meet in liiOA, but none
of the state appropriation can be used
for that purose.
SNOW COVERED WASCO FIELDS.
Only Damage to Wheat it Along the
Columbia Rivr.
The Dalles From report farmer
make, Wasco county has w itliMood the
recent cold Is-ttcr than almost any oth
er section of KsMcrii Oregon. During
the cold weather snow covered all grain
Ili-lds, with the exception of those in
the extreme north part ol the county,
hence very little, it any, damage, was
lone lall grain in the principal wheat
section ol the county. Along the Co.
Inuibi river the snow had melted lie
fore the frecxe came, and in that section
grain ha been more or lens injured,
and remit ing will lie necesrary. tin
Tygh ridge and about Dufur, the most
extensive grain growing section, the
damage I nominal, and only isolated
instance w ill rcm-.ling Is- required.
Where the snow has gone off since the
Ireete grain i of good color ami thrifty,
and bids lair to make an excellent crop.
New Grant Pat Iron Foundry,
lirants Pas Two carloads of ma
chinery have arrived here for the new
(irauts' Pass Iron and Hteel work, the
enterprise that ha lx-come a mieisity
hy the rapid growth of the mines and
the demand for mining machinery and
castings. Us-al eople are backing the
enterprise, and it will lie the largest
foundrv and machine shop in the state
south of Portland. The huge planing
machine, turning lathe and drill pre,
capable of handling the largest castings
or shaftings, are among the consign
ment and are being unloaded. A live
ton and three-ton ciiKila will handle
the casting for the foundry.
Contract to Sell Wool.
Pendleton Kil Keliney, who reside
southwest ol here, ha contracted hi
wool lor thi yeir to Zack Itrown, the
hide dealer ol this city, receiving 13
cent a pound for the clip. The wool
come Irom the Sandy district, and, al
though the price seems small for this
vcar's crop, it is an advance of II cents
over lust vcar and is a good figure.
Mr. Kennev is one of the few ol the
county who have ctv'tracled, as the
greater numlier of the sheepmen desire
to hold, lielieving that the price will ad
vance even more than it ha.
Cougar Deitroying Stock.
Cottage tirove Cougar are qu te
numerous in the hill west of this
ol.ice. A few farmers have rciiortcd a
' . . . . .1... l....t
COIUmnm IOH8 Ol flio III UIO mm ll-r.
months and numerous goats ami Bhecp
have been disappearing for the past
mouth. Several cougar have lieen
killed this w inter, and if there wa a
Umntv for the killing thi part of Une
would furnish it share of the beast
Where a cougar turn hi attention
to uxMtn. he often "gets away" with
alsiut two a day.
Peach Crop Injured by Cold.
Milton S. S. Shields, commission
I, in,) here, savs that on hi inves
tigation and inquiry from others the
peach crop tor me coining year nan on-n
seriously injured by the recent severe
cold snap. ,B estimate tliBt there
will he half a crop or neiier. me -rietle
most injured are the Klliertu,
Solway and the late Crawford. Other
...... i, , in have fared better.
Other kinds of fruit seem to have es
caped.
Almond Tree in Bloom,
(rant 1'hhh Almond trees are in
hhsiin In (irants Pa, the warm weath
er of the punt month having brought
them out several weeks earlier than
UMiial. Peach trees ate also ready to
burnt into bloom, and will be in full
blossom within the next ten day. The
bloom i very heavy on the almond
trees, and if not nipped by late frosts,
the crop of almond from Southern Ore
gon will be good thi season.
Will Open Seed Houte.
Pendleton S. II. F'orshaw, the llor
it, lias leased the Despain building on
Alta Btroet, formerly occupied by p.
Kemler with a grocery store, and will
open a seed room, handling also cut
Dower and nursery stock.
GRAIN OUTLOOK GOOD.
No Damage Don, by Cold In Grand
Rond and Acreage Large.
Im firamle L'p to the' preeent proe-
iect for the Urgest grain crop ever
raised east ol the JIlue mountain are
iiiont flattering in the tirand Konde.
The late cold pell did not do the
slightest damage to any of the fall town
grain, which i Jlooking eicellent.
Since the iiasiing of the cold wave the
(iraud Itomle baa been having ideal
weather. Farmer in the valley are
overhauling their agricultural imple
ment with the intention ol doing a
greater amount of plowing than ever.
Omuiiil both in the Grand Konde and
Wallowa valley I In excellent condi
tion, owing to the abundant rainfall
during the winter month, the acreage
in KtOA will far exceed that of any pre.
vioti year.
Not only in cereal, but also in augar
licet cultivation will the acreage 1 in
creased.
(i. W. Huckman, one of the pror.
ou farmer in thi valley, will plant
.'00 arret in beet, lie will alao put
in 2,000 ai re in wheat, and will do all
hi plowing hy steam thi mio on.
RICHER THAN FIRST REPORTED.
Strike in Bohemia Mine Improve on
Further Development.
Cottage drove The etrike in the
Cryatal Consolidated mine in Ilohemla,
made over a month ago, of ix feet of
ore, partly free milling and partly liae,
ha ureatlv improved ince men. me
drilt haa been extended ome 25 feet
and the ledge now bow even feet of
olid ore. The ore i high grade. Test
were made on the ore at the tune of
the ttrike and assayed 54 per ton, car
rying copr, lead and tine. -
One of the miner lut arrived irom
there report that the ore is now much
Is-tter than it wa given wnen me icsi
was made. The company i gelling
everything ready to start it (tampmill
a soon a the weather win erinii,
probably April 1. The object of rnill
imr thi ore i to reduce it to concen
trate, whu-li will prolbly 1 4 to 1,
anil separate the copper, lead and tine
on their concentrator. The concen
trate will then be shipped to emelter
where that class of mineral i treated.
Another Independent Line.
Cliemawa Pole have been et and
wire strung for the Chemawa farmer'
telephone line. A sloe company naa
lw.n formed and incorporated and the
member of the association have done
the construction work among them
selves. An agreement ha been entered
into with the Pacific State telephone
company on term that will assure the
subscriber of the yteui very reason
lie rate. They now have about 30
phone on the system, which tap one
of the best sulmrUn district of the
...nitil citv. and will mean an increase
of business for several Salem firm.
New Telephone Line March 6.
Pendleton The change from the old
style telephone system to the central
nnr svirtem will be completed by the
Mh of March, w hen the ;cnt over will
he made, i nder present circunmance
,!, ..1.1 ti.li.ilione inav lie used with
the new Imard, which ha been placed
in position, but the new instrument
will not work with the old board. The
inutmnients are aereat iinproveent
over the old one in appearance, being
much mailer. The nattery oox i aie
pensed with and the electricity generat
ed at the central ollice.
Purchase Large Sheep Ranch.
Pendleton Joseph Dougherty haa
sold hi interest in the firm of Umgh-
erty Hrother to hi brother Patrick,
ami linn tinrc based Casa Matlock' farm
...ur Morrow count v line, together
w ith hi sheep. The farm consist of
several thousand acre, and the price
paid was lft,000, including 2,200
h.i. Patrick Dougherty will con-
tinue the raising of sheep on the
much formerly held in ioint partner
ship.
To Enlarge Mill at Wetton.
.1. J. Morton, of Wtsiaor.
IiIhIhi. has mirvliawHi the Hourinir mill
lit It run k lllair. Sr.. Mr. Morton is
going to enlarge and remodel the mill,
which, when completed, will have a ca-
nncit v of 60 barrels a day. He will
Imve it In shane to commence on the
new crop. The power will be steam,
u'itli water when Pine creek affords a
aullicient supply.
Grand Ronde Farm Sold.
La tirande John S. Killan haa pur
chased a 240-acre farm west of Sum
merville from J. K. Westover, paying
12,000, or 52.20 per acre. It i con
sidered one of the rlrat-claas farma in
the lirand Konde.
PORTLAND MARKETS.
Wheat Walla Walla, 7e; bluettem,
4c; valley, 87c per bushel.
Oats No. 1 white, $1.85(81.40; gray,
$1.40(81.45 per cental.
llav Timothy. IHalrt per ton;
clover, ffll12; grain, $1112; cheat,
$12(813.
Kggs Oregon ranch, lflt17c per
doxen.
llutter-Fancy creamery, 27 (932 c.
Potatoes Oregon fancy, 7585c;
common, (I0(9ti5c.
A pplea 4 -tier Bald w in, 1 .25 1 .60 ;
Spitxenberg, $ 1 .75(32.
Hop 1004, 2482tlc per pound.
Wool Valley, l(820c per pound;
Ruatern Oregon, 1217c; mohair, 26
2tlc per pound for choice.
AT LEVEL OF SEA.
Panama Canal Commilon' Plan for
Isthmian Waterway;
Washington, Feb. 28 Theflrat defi
nite enigueering plan (or the conatruc
tion of the Panama canal have Jut
lieen laid before the Isthmian canal
commimion by the engineering com it
tee of that body, conaiiting ol Corn
missioner Burr, Parsons and Itevit.
The principal recommendation are
summed up in thi resolution:
"Resolved, That this committee ap
prove and recommend for adoption" by
the commimion a plan for a sea-level
canal, with a bottom width of 150 feet
and a minimum depth of water of 36
feet, and with twin tidal locks at Mira-
Dure, whose usable dimeniijon shall
be 1,000 feet long and 100 feet wide, at.
a total estimated cost of $230,600,000.
"Much estimate include an allow
ance for administration, engineering,'
sanitation and contingencies, amount
ing to $38,460,000, but without allow
ance for interest daring construction,
expense of tone government and collat
eral costs and water supply sewers or
paving of Panama or Colon, which last
items are to be retiaid by the inhabi
tants of those cities." - t
The committee estimates that a sea-
level canal can tie completed within 10
or 12 years from the present time. .
These recommendations are the con
clusion of a report to the committee
prepared in the canal sone under date
of F'ebraury 1 last, and baaed on com
plete engineering reports on ail of yie
problem involved. .
The committee decided that, under
no circumstances, should the surface of
the canal be more than 00 feet above
the sea, and estimates that this level
the cost would be $178,013,06. A 30-
foot level is estimated to cost $19,213,
401. MINERS LOSE LIVES.
Twenty-Three Killed in Wtt Virginia
Mine Explosion.
Bluefleld, W. Va., Feb. 28. As a
result of an explosion in ihaft No. 1
of the United State Coal and Coke
company, at Wilcoe, today, 23 miners
are supposed to have lost their Uvea,
and it is possible that the number will
exceed this.
I'p to 8 p. m. 15 bodies had beeq
taken fioin the shafts. A large rescu
ing party is in the mines tonight. It
is barely poiible, but not likely, that
some ol the remaining en torn nee mm
er will be rescued alive. -
The explosion was of terrific force,
and shattered windows a mile distant.
Immediately after the shock great num
bers of miners, who were off duty,
rushed to the shaft to find great clouds
of smoke and dust gushing from its
mouth. Mother, children and other
relatives soon were weeping and plead
ing for the rescue of those dear to them
entombed in the mine. The official
of the mine were aoon on the scene. 1
The company usually work in this
shaft about 75 miners, but today the
men were not all in, and the small loss
of life can be attributed only to this
fact.
VICTORY IS BARREN.
Russian Were Able to Retire from
Position in Good Order.
Tokio, Feb. 28. The reports that are
arriving from the front indicate that
the severe engagements of the last few
days are the prelude of what now seems
will prove one of the bloodiest battles
of the war. A large portion of General
Kuroki s army bas been engaged since
Thursday, and the latest report indi
cate that the fighting still continue,
with the advantage on the side of the
Japanese.
The capture of Beresneft by the Jap
anese, while a brilliant exploit, wa
practically barren of result, in that
the Russian were enabled to retire in
good order, and concentrate at Txenti
pass, which is now being attacked.
According to the latest reports from
the front that the public is permitted
to have access to General Kuroki s col
umn haa been heavily reinforced, es
pecially with artillery, and many ' of
the siege guns of heavy caliber which
were used bv the Russians at Port Ar
tlmr, and fell into the hands of General
Nogi'a men after the fall of the "Gib
raltar of the East," are now being
trained against General Kuropatkin'a
forces.
Troops Moving Slowly.
London, Feb. 28. The correspondent
at St. Petersburg of the Times says that
the government is making concessions
to the railway men and placing the
railway under martial law with a viiw
to expediting the transportation ol
troop to the Far East. The South
rifle brigade, which left Odessa, two
month ago, is atill near Omsk
The
some 25.000 men and 48 guns from
Caucasian garrisons. They cannot
reach General Kuropatkin before April,
at the earliest.
Prince of Wales to Visit India
Ixindon, Feb. 28. It has been offi
cially arranged that the prince and
princes of Wales shall visit inoia in
November, and stay until March, mak
ing a tour of the principal cities and
native states, receiving the chiefs and
princes on behalf of King F'.dwarU,
who, after consultation w ith the vice
roy, haa directed that for this occasion
the exchange of ceremonial presents
shall lie dispensed with. Consequently
no presents will be accpted.
Deacons Await Their Prophet.
Mexico City, Feb. 28. Prophet
Dowie, of Zion City, is expected to ar
rive here tomorrow from Cuba. His
five deacons now here refuse to talk on
the Zioniat's plans, but it is understood
a Zionist colony will be settled in the
hot country, and devote itself to raising
augar cane, coffee and other products
AT MUi
(DEN!
Japanese Strike Decisive Blow
at Main Position.
OYAMA ORDERED TO ADVANCE
Mutt Act Before Snow Melts May
Attempt to Isolate Vladivostok
At Same Time.
Tokio, Feb. 28. Following the cus
tom of the Japanese government, the
officials at the war office refuse to dis
cus the present movements in Man
churia, but there is a general air of
confidence among the higher officers,
who are absolutely posted on the situa
tion, which is believed to indicate that
General Kuroki bas again scored a com
plete success and that official announce
ment may be expected very toon .
I'p to midnight Monday no particu
lars of the fighting had lieen given out,
but it was stated that, so far i was
known, only the r'.ght and center of
Marshal Oyama's army had been engag
ed and that the conditions on the left
are unchanged.
It is the general opinion among tl e
best informed expert in the Japanese
capital that the present movement, be
fore it end, will result in the capture
of Mukden. It is known that orders
have been sent to Field Marshal Oyama,
telling him that the time is ripe for
taking the Russian main position, as,
if action is postponed much icuger, the
spring thaws with their resultant flood
ill be upon bim and it will be im
possible to do any fighting until the
roads dry up.
There is. of course, possibility mat
the present movement may have for its
object, as well as the capture of Muk
den, the isolation of Vladivostok. In
view of the recent rejxirts that the port
wa being blockaded by sea by a Japan
ese squadron of torpedo boat and pro
tected cruiser, there can tie nine
doubt that, if Kuroki crushes the Rus
sian left, such troops as can be spared
will be assigned to a special campaign
against the Siberian stronghold.
FOR PHILIPPINE FREE TRADE
House Committee Report in Favor of
Curtis' Tariff Bill.
Washington, Feb! 28. Chairman
Paine, of the house way and means
committee, today filed a report favor
ing the passage of the Curtis bill pro
viding for the free entry of products
from the Philippine islands, except
sugar and tobacco, on which 2a per
cent of the Dingley tariff i to be col
lected. The report declares that tne
only logical result of our possession of
the island is free trade.
It has been definitely settled, it says,
that w-e will retain the islands until
their population is fitted for self-gov'
eminent, and he repeats Secretary
Taft'a suggestion that this will be at
least one generation. I ntu the treaty
atipulation between the United States
and Spain Bhall expire in lt0, all
tariff advantages given by the isianu
to the United States must be given to
Spain, and for that reason reciprocal
free trade is not feasible. The present
hill, uvi the report, goes aa far "as is
practicable under these conditions.
FOUR SENATORS EXPELLED.
Result of Bribery Investigation
California Legislature.
in the
Sacramento, Cal., Feb. 28. Crowded
galleries and lobbies this afternoon
watched a dramatic scene when Senat
ors Bunkers, F'rench, Wright and reu
nions were expelled from the state sen
ate of California by a vote which con
tained no diBSenting voice. IHinkers
case was first to be considered. Thirty
four brother senators supported the re
port of the investigating committee that
he be put out. o one voted ior
He was not present.
The report of the committee recom
mending expulsion of all four was
adopted by 35 votes to 0, the four ac
cused sentaors and Senator Walch not
voting. Expulsion balltots then fol
lowed separately.
Anti-Trust Law Sustained.
Washington, Feb. 28. The supreme
court of the United States has decided
the case of the National Cotton Oil
company vs. thentate of Texas, involv
ing the Texas anti-trust law . The state
court found the company guilty under
I that law and held that it had forfeited
i s rieht to do business in the state.
The case was appealed to the supreme
curt on constitutional ground. That
court, however, in its opinion today,
held that the claim was un
tenable and sustained the verdict of
the court below.
Passes Taken by Japanese.
Mukden, Feb. 28. The itussians re
port that the Japanese are in potses-
sion of Taling, and also the paBS lie
tween Taling and Katouling. The pos
session of Taling threatens Fushaiuk,
Tiepling and Hiegesway. Taling is re
garded as of the same consequence to
the Japanese in meir operations
against Mukden as was Motienling in
relation to Liao Yang. In case the
Japanese push on to the southeast
their operations will be in the hills.
Anti-Salt Trust Measure Killed.
Toneka. Feb. 28. A house concur
rent resolution calling for an investiga
tion of the salt trust was defeated by a
vote of 57 to 19. It was necessary for
the resolution to receive a two-thirds
I vote, or 63 votes.
DOCKS WIPED OUT.
New Orleans Suffers a Fir Lots of
Five Million Dollars.
New Orleans, Feb. 27. Fire, involv
ing million of dollars' loss in property
and that strikes a serious blow tempor
arily at the Immense export trade of
New Orleans, iwept the river front to
night and wiped out the vaat freight
terminal of the Illinois Central, known
aa the Stuyvesant docks.
Nearly a doxen squares of modern
wharves and freight sheds, two magni
ficent grain elevators, hundreds of
loaded cars and yaat quantities of
freight, including 20,000 bales of cot
ton, were destroyed, together with a
large number of small residences.
The ocean-going shipping seems to
have escaped serious damage. A num
ber of firemen and employes ol the
docks were injured. Actual estimate
of the losses are impossible to obtain
tonight, though they may exceed $5,
000,000. The Htnyveeant docks extend from
Louisiana avenue almost to Napoleon
avenue, a distance of 12 squares. The
wharves between these two points were
covered with miles of trackage, and a
steel and iron shed ran the whole dis
tance. The grain elevator were of the most
modern construction, the upper one
having a capacity of 1,000,000 bushels.
Thousands of bales of cotton, several
hundred thousand packages of sugar,
great quantities of cotton seed oil and
oil cakes, lumber and every conceivable
variety of freight, filled the warehouses
and sheds. Practically all the export
business handled by the Illinois Central
railway was put aboard ships at these
docks. .
BUY WAGON-ROAD LANDS.
Hermann's Bill Relating to Klamath
Reservation Passes House.
Washington, Feb. 27. The house
today passed Representative Hermann's
bill directing the secretary of jthe in
teior to ascertain the value of lands
heretofore conveyed by the United
Bute to Oregon ss a part of a grant to
aid the Eugene City military read and
embraced in the Klamath Indian reser
vation. These lands were awarded to
the California & Oregon land company,
by the supreme court.
The secretary is also directed to as
certain what part of these lands have
been allotted to Indians, the value of
improvements, and the pnee at which
the California A Oregon land company
will sell to the United States or on
what terms it will arrange for other
lands in the Klamath reservation.
Mr. Hermann was not present in the
bouse when his bill was called up and
passed.
NO CAUSE TO FIRE.
North Sea Investigation Commission
Decide Against Russia.
Paris, Feb. 27. The International
commission of inquiry into the attack
of the Russian second Pacific squadorn
upon the Hull fishing fleet on the night
of October 21, 1904, haa found that
there were no hostile torpedo boats
among the fishing coats and that Ad
miral Rojeetvensky was not justified in
firing on the trawlers. This is the
main point of the findings, .which sus
tain the British contentions through
out, though the blow to Russia is soft
ened by the statement that Admiral
Rojeetvensky was justified in taking
all precautions against attack and
acted according to bis belief by declar
ing that his miltiary 7alor and human
ity are not questioned.
The decision says that delay of the
Russian transport Kamtchatka, follow
ing the breaking down of her machin
ery, was perhaps the cause of the inci
dent. The commander of the Kamtch
atka signaled to Admiral Rojeetvensky
during the evening that he had been
attacked by torpedo boats. The ad
miral, therefore, had reason to believe
that he was attacked and gave orders
for strict vigilance against the possible
approach of torpedo boats. The major
ity of the commission considers that
Admiral Rojeetvensky 's orders were not
excessive in time of war, particularly
nnder the circumstanes, and that he
had every reason to consider the situa
tion very alarming.
Witte Again Takes the Lead.
St. Petersburg, Feb. 27. According
to an apparently well grounded report,
Minister of Finance Kokovson will soon
leave the emperor's cabinet and be suc
ceeded by M. Roucaloff, a former assist
ant to President of the Council. Witte,
and a strong supporter of that states
man. There are various reports con
cerning the proceedings of the council
of ministers last night, but in all of
them are indications that M. Witte
played the most prominent part, as lie
did at the previous meeting.
. Great Ice-Gorge Breaking.
Cincinnati, Feb. 27. The ice gorges
in the Ohio river, in this vicinity,
which were the heaviest known for
many years, began to give way during
the night, several breaks occurring at
various points. Although the rher
rose several feet during the same time,
the ice was so heavy that it soon caught
again, forming new gorges. Property
damage estimated at more than $75,000
was caused by these early movements
of the ice, but no loss of life.
Irrigate the Klamath Basin.
Klamath Falls, Feb. 27. The Unit
ed 8tates irrigation committee met here
today and took steps to incorporate the
Klamath Basin Water Users' associa
tion, with a capital stock of $1,000,
000. j Thi will probably be Increased
to $3,000,000 in the near future.