Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, January 31, 1900, Image 1

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    VOL. XXXDL NO. 12,212.
PORTLAND, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1900. -TWELVE PAGES.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
she True Criterion Is Quality
The attention of connoisseurs is called to the Superlative Quality
of POMMERY CHAMPAGNE, which is being shipped to this coun
try. In London, the acknowledged home of wine connoisseurs,
where QUALITY regulates prices, Pommery commands from two
to six dollars more a case than other leading brands, as per figures
taken from Ridley's wine and spirit trade circular.
20-26 North First St.
PHIL XETSCHAN. Pre.
SEVENTH AND WASHINGTON
CHANGE) OF
American and European PLAN:
THE CELEBRATED
In Bulk and Cases. For sale by
BLUMAUER - FRANK DRUG CO.
KUSAlANA
e
Is a mountain-grown Ceylon Tea of the highest excellence.
It Is clean-made, economical and refreshing. Costs no
more than ordinary English Breakfast or Japan Teas and
will go twice es far.
CORBITT & MACLEAY CO., importers PORTLAND
PORTLHND,
2
AMERICAN PLAN
H'
GZaSZ" '"-HJy "
COST ONE MILLION DOLLARS
HEADQUARTERS fOR TOURISTS AND COMMERCIAL TRAVELERS
Special rates made to families an d alngle gentlemen. The manage
Bent Ttlll lie pleased at all times to show rooms and give prices. A mod.
em Turkish liath establishment in the hotel. H. C. BOWEHS, Manager.
Library Association of Portland
24,000 volumes and
$5.00 a year or $1.50
Two books allowed
HOURS From 9.00 A. M. to 9:00 P.
SALE CLOSES
JANUARY 31st
Women's Kid, Women's Calf, lace
and button, com toe, (f QC
values to $3.00, at....$ lod
EX.
&CO.
OnEGONIAT eotudhjo.
PLAGUE UNDER CONTROL.
X.ntcst Steamer Prom Honolulu
Brings Better News.
PORT TOWNSEND, "Wash.. Jan. 30.
The Japanese steamship Nanyo Mara ar
rived this evening from Honolulu, bringing
4S passengers, She had a clean bill of
hea.th from the American authorities at
Honolulu. Her officers report that Janu
ary i., the flay she sailed, the bubonic
plague was under control, no new cases
haIng been reported, and that a feeling
cf Fecurlty prevailed at Honolulu.
To Keep Ont the Plague.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 30. Federal
Quarantine Officer Kinyaun is determined
t? take no chances on the bubonic plague
beng brought into this port. He has Is
sue J .nstructions to tne pilots that all
vessels, steam or call, arriving here from
Kobe, Hong Kong, Sydney and Honolulu,
xrast go into quarantine pending an ex
amination. The pilots have been Instructed
to fly a yellow flag on all vessels coming
Into the harbor from the ports named.
ros.
C. W. KNOWLE5, MT.
STS., P0HTU5. 0REQ31
MANAGEMENT.
SSSSS pv;.v:::::K &S 8
EXCLUSIVE CARPET
HOUSE.
J.OJack&Co.
88 Third St.
frp. Chamber of Commerce
OHBCON
2
$3.00 PER DAY
Asd Upward.
V&
STARS STREET
fetateo Seventh se4 P5
over 200 periodicals
a quarter
on all subscriptions
M. dally, except Sundays and hofldaw
An Ounce
Of
Prevention
Nearly every day I find peo
ple who have cataracts form
ingusually In both eyes, oc
casionally only one. Of course
only an operation will prevent
eventual blindness. Even then
the vision Is seldom more than
two-fifths normal. In nine
cases out of ten this Is caused
by putting: off wearing: glasses
when they are really needed.
The forced strain upon the
eyes breaks down and destroys
the tissues.
Prevent future trouble by
giving: your eyes attention
NOW.
WALTER REED
Eye Specialist
133 SIXTH STREET
OREGONIAN BUILDING
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE.
Call tor a. Republican Caucus Being
Freely Signed.
SACRAMENTO. CaL, Jan. 30. A storm
was started in the senate this forenoon
by the introduction of a resolution ad
journing the legislature sine die February
10. A heated discussion followed, and
action was finally deferred until tomorrow.
A call for a republican caucus of the
members of the majority of each house is
out and is being signed by most of the
repu-blican, members. It provides that the
caucus shall be held the evening of Thurs
day, February 1, and that 43 vot win hn
required to nominate a candidate, whn
shall receive the united support of those
who attend the caucus.
o r
Bombardment of Kimberley.
KIMBERLEY. Friday, Jan. 2C The
wholesale bombardment, which lasted all
day yesterday, was resumed this morn
ing. The Boers sent 3S0 shells Into all
parts of Kimberley. There were several
casualties, including a woman and child. I
TEA
PORTLAND
William Goebel Shot Down
at Frankfort.
Victim of a Rifle Ball Fired by
an Unknown Person.
INNOCENT MAN UNDER ARREST
The Senator Was Approaching the
Capitol at the Time of the At
tempted Assansination.
FRANKFORT, Ky., Jan. 30. While
walking through the capitol grounds, on
his way to the capitol building, at 11:10
o'clock this morning, "William Goebel. the
democratic contestant for governor of
Kentucky, was shot down and very dan
gerously wounded.
Harland "Whittaker, a farmer from But
ler county, the home of Governor Taylor.
Is now In jail In Louisville charged with
the crime. There is no direct evidence
against Whittaker, and he was placed
under arrest more because he was caught
around the capitol building when the shots
were fired than for any other apparent
reason. He denied In the most positive
manner that he had any connection with
the shooting or knew anything about It.
He was running toward the scene of the
shocking, and not away from it, when he
was caught and arrested.
Senator Goebel was wounded by a rifle
ball of small caliber, not over 38, which
struck him in the right side just Delow the
armpit. The ball passed through the back
part of the right lung, across the body on
a diagonal line, passing out below the left
shoulder blade. No vital organs were in
jured except the right lung.
Mr. Goebel was on his way to the senate
chamber In company with Colonel Jack
Chinn and Warden Eph Lillard, of the
Frankfort penitentiary. Mr. Lillard was a
few feet in advance of Goebel and Chinn,
who were walking side Dy side, Goebel
being on the right and Chinn on the left.
From the outer edge of the capitol
grounds to the steps of the capitol, the
distance is about 300 feet. Two-thirds of
this had been passed, and the men were
in walking slowly,-when' suddenly a shot
rang out from a large three-story building
Which stands 50 feet east of the capitol
building. This building is used for offices
by nearly all the leading officials of the
state. Governor Taylor and the secretary
of state having rooms on the first floor.
Several Shots Fired.
As the shot was heard, Goebel gave a
quick, involuntary exclamation of pain,
and made an effort to draw his revolver.
His strength was unequal to the task,
however, and he sank upon the pavement.
With great rapidity several more shots
were fired, the bullets all striking the
brick sidewalk close to where Goebel lay.
None of them touched him, however.
Lillard hastily turned around to aid Goe
bel, who was supported by Chinn, who
had his arms about him almost as soon as
he touched the pavement.
"Get help," said Chinn to Lillard, and,
turning to Goebel, he asked: "Are you
hurt, Goebel? Did they get you?"
"They have got me this time," replied
Mr. Goebel. "I guess they have killed
me."
In less than a minute a crowd of men
was around Mr. Goebel. He was losing
much blood and was becoming very weak.
He was hastily carried to the office of Dr.
E. E. Hume. In the basement of the Cap
itol hotel, atout 1000 feet away from the
spot where the shooting occurred. Here
he was laid on a sofa, while Dr. Hume
made a hasty examination, pronouncing
the wound to be of a nature that must
cause death In a short time. Mr. Goebel,
who showed great fortitude and courage
throughout, smiled weakly as he heard
the verdict and feebly rolled his head
from side to side, Jn token of dissent from
the opinion expressed by the physician.
He was then carried to his room on the
second floor of the Capitol hotel, and in
addition to Dr. Hume, Drs. McCormick
and Ely were summoned to attend him.
After a careful examination of the wound,
the doctors announced that, while exceed
ingly dangerous, It was not necessarily
fatal, unless complications or blood poi
soning should set in. The patient himself
kept up his courage, insisting again and
again that he was not going to die. It
was decided by his friends to call in the
services also of Dr. McMurty, a prominent
surgeon of Louisville, and urgent mes
sages were at once sent for him.
After the wound had been dressed Sen
ator Goebel showed great exhaustion, and
It was announced by the physicians that
he would in all probability die within a
short time. He rallied, However, and un
der the influence of an opiate sank into
a gentle slumber, which lasted several
hours.
Where the Shots Came From.
The bullet which struck Mr. Goebel was
fired from a window In the center of the
third story of the office oullding just east
or tne capitol. That window was raised
about eight Inches from the sill to permit
an unobstructed passage for the bullet
when Mr. Goebel should come within
range. Both Chinn and Lillard assert that
wnne tne nrst snot came -from the direc
tion of the window Jn the third story,
there were other shots fired from different
portions of the same building. Some of
those who heard the shots say that at
least one shot was fired from the office
of the secretary of state. This, Jiowever,
is not true, as there were men in the
office of the secretary of state, who rushed
to the window as soon as the shots were
heard, and all of them declare that there
was no shot fired at all from that part
of the building. The window in the third
story was left open, no effort having been
made to close It by the would-be assassin,
while not another window In the build
ing was opened, ncr were there any places
where bullets had been fired through
them.
Arrest of IVhittalser,
Whittaker was arrested as he came
down the steps on the east side of the
state office building, directly below the
window from hich the shots had been
fired. As he reached tne sidewalk and
was hastening toward the scene of the
shooting, he was met by John E. Mies,
who is 76 years of age. Without hesita
tion Miles threw himself upon Whittaker,
winding his arme around him and calling
loudly for help.
It was right at hand, and in an Instant
Whittaker was surrounded by a group of
men, many of them with drawn revolvers.
He made no attempt to escape, knowing J
well that the slightest attempt to do so
would have brought a dozen bullet3 into
his body. He submitted quietly to a
search, which was quickly made of his
clothing, the contents being three revolv
ers and a big knife. A quick examination
of the revolvers showed that none of the
cartridges had been used, and there was
no powder smoke on any part of his
weapons, proving conclusively that he
could not have used any of his three re
volvers. In addition to this, all those who
heard the sho'ts join In the statement that
they were from a rifle and not from a
small weapon.
Whittaker was quickly led away and
placed in jail, while a guard was placed
at the outer entrance to keep out all peo
ple who had no connection with the insti
tution. The prisoner Is a man slightly over the
medium size, with sandy hair and mus
tache. He was disposed to take things
calmly, although he repeated again and
again that he knew nothing whatever
about the shooting.
"I was on the first floor of the build
ing," he said, "when I heard Governor
Taylor tell that man Davis, the capitol
policeman, to go over at once to see Gen
eral Collier. I said I would go with him,
and that was where I was going. I wanted
to know, too, what the shooting was about.
When I stepped outside, that man grabbed
me, and that is all I know, and that's a
fact."
Few people believe that Whittaker is
guilty, but the fact that he was hastily
leaving the building from which the shoot
ing was done was enough to make trouble
for him. "That man Davis," to whom
Whittaker referred, is Colonel John Davis,
the custodian of the capitol grounds. His
story agrees with that of. Whittaker.
"I was just outside of Governor Tay
lor's office," said Colonel Davis, "when I
heard the shots, and heard Governor Tay
lor say:
" 'My God; what have they done. He
called to me at once to go over to the
office of Adjutant-General Collier, and
Whittaker went along. I am positive that
he could not have done the shooting. We
were at the doors of the building in too
short a time for that,"
Armed Mountaineers on Hand.
As soon as it was known that the bullet
which struck down Mr. Goebel had come
from the building to the east, a group of
men gathered in front of the door on the
east side. Others ran around to the door
on the west side to prevent the escape
of anybody from there. Several men at
tempted to enter the doors from the out
side, but were prevented by groups of
mountaineers, who stood In the doorways.
Some of these men held Winchesters In
their hands, and presented an aspect to
generally uninviting that no attempt was
made to1 search the building, and nobody
gained entrance to It for several minutes
after the shooting had been done, and
the assassin had ample opportunity to es
cape, That the shooting of Mr. Goebel was the
result of a carefully laidiplan, Is without
question. The man who did the work had
evidently taken his stand at the window,
which had previously been raised in or
der to nllpw.thjB-free. ftassajgefyhejbul-
let, andtwhited unjil hsWlStis-lpHail
sight before firing.
Ever since the Influx of mountaineers
last week, a large number of them have
been sleeping in the upper part of the
state house. It is not known, however,
that any of these men did the work, or
that they had any knowledge of a pre
meditated crime. There has not, so far,
been discovered the slightest direct evi
dence pointing to any man, and it is not
likely now that any will ever be found.
' Used Smokeless Powder.
The man who fired the shots took the
precaution to conceal his location by using
smokeless powder cartridges. A score of
people were where they had a full view
of the side of the building from which
the firing was done, and all of them de
clare that not a sign of smoke was visible.
Both Chinn and Lillard are men of expe
rience in affairs in which powder smoke
is more or less prominent features, and
both declare that while they could tell
the general direction from which the bul
lets came, they could not guess the spot
from which they were fired.
"I tried hard to get a sight of the fellow,"
said Lillard. "He kept pouring the lead
down at us, and I'll swear there was not
a sign of anything to indicate from where
he was shooting. As many shots as he
tired would make considerable powder
smoke If ordinary cartridges were used,
but never a sign of smoke could I see."
"I looked around In a mighty brief
spell," said Colonel Chinn, "but there was
nothing for me to look at, so I paid at
tention to Goebel. The fellow used smoke
less powder all right, and I guess he was
pretty wise to do it. Somebody might
have got him if they had known where
to look for him."
Republicans Denounce the Crime.
The republican state officials and mem
bers of the legislature, without exception,
denounce the shooting in the most un
measured terms. Governor Taylor imme
diately caused a small address to be pub
lished, in which he declared the affair to be
a disgrace and an outrage, and calling for
the most sober condemnation. He sent or
ders at once to Adjutant-General Collier,
directing him to take steps for the preser
vation of order.
General Collier is a republican, and is
opposed to Mr. Goebel. He declared the
shooting to be a most cowardly affair, and
one that, upon every consideration, was
to be regretted. He lost no time in mak
ing speeches, however, and before Mr.
Goebel had been lifted from the ground
to be carried to the hotel, General Collier
had telephoned to the armory, a half-mile
distant, directing the local infantry com
pany, which was stationed there under
command of Captain Walcott, to proceed
at ence to the capitol grounds, take pos
session of them and the approaches, al
lowing nobody to enter the gates. Twenty
minutes after the shooting Captain Wal
cott and his men marched across the front
of the capitol building and halted at the
foot of the steps.
Orders were issued to companies through
out the state to make ready at once to
come to Frankfort, the entire slate guard
being called into service. It was feared
that the news of the shooting would so
inflame the democrats that they would
come to Frankfort In ewarms, while the
mountaineers would lose no time In com
ing to the capitol for the purpose of up
holding their party principles.
"It makes no difference to me," saiil
General Collier, "who starts anything; we
will preserve order on both sides."
The excitement among the followers of
Goebel was great, and for a short time
immediately following the shooting of their
leader, there was more than a possibility
that some of the hot heads would seek
vengeance upon their political enemieb'.
Threats were made against republican
leaders and attorneys during the excite
ment, but the leading members of the
house and senate soon brought them to
calmer talk.
Excitement In the City.
As the news spread through the streets
that Goebel had been shot, men began to
pour towards the capitol grounds from all
(Concluded on Third Page.)
ARE NEEDED AT HOI
Orders to British Troops Arc
Countermanded.
EIGHTH DIVISION WILL NOT SAIL
Channel Squadron Recalled to Pro
tect the Coasts Mobilization
of Reserve Fleet.
LONDON, Jan. 31, 4 A. M. It 13 now
known that the cabinet devoted much of
its discussions Saturday to the mobiliza
tion of the fleet. Nothing was settled, ex
cept that until further security to the
home coasts had been obtained by naval
STATE SENATOR
WHO WAS SHOT AND PROBABLY FA
j I v
-. -.--- - - - J: . -J- - 1 i1lflflMiy??nfVfi"'nA7
VAS
preparations, the Eighth division shall not
be sent to South Africa,
Monday, the admiralty Issued orders
that the channel squadron, Instead of leav
ing Portland this week for Gibraltar, as
previously directed, shall assemble, Feb
ruary 5, off Eddystone, and proceed to
Bantry, for a fortnight exercise off the
Irish coast, thus keeping in home waters
for a time.
This decision to delay the Eighth division
at a time when reinforcements are so ur
gently required, may mean only more
troops are not yet available, and that the
division will embark when the shipping
is ready.
The mobilization of reserve warships, if
such a course shall be determined upon,
would be of the utmost importance. There
Is nothing in the intelligence possessed by
the public to cause the cabinet's prolonged
discussion of this matter, and the Inference
Is that the fleet may bo mobilized as a
general warning to other countries to keep
their hands off tho Transvaal situation, or
the ministry may have definite knowledge
that the neutral p'owers propose to take
some advantages elsewhere while England
is busy in South Africa. One thing is cer
tain. Ten thousand men, all roady to
go to South Africa, are detained for rea
sons of -which the public has no knowledge.
There Is talk of 47 military battalions be
ing embodied. These are all of the militia
not previously warned.
Such scraps of Information as can be
gathered regarding the movements of the
armies in the field seem to indicate that
the 'relief of Ladysmith has been aban
doned for the present, and that the con
centration of the British for an Invasion
of the Free State is In progress. In addition
to General Kelly Kenny's movement, Gen
eral Brabant, chief of the colonials, has
arrived at Sterkstrom.
The natives report that three Boer guns
have been removed from Spyfonteln to
Kimberley. The Boers are apparently
making a special effort to reduce the place
quickly. The Kimberley garrison was
safe last Sunday.
CONCENTRATION OP THE BRITISH.
The
Two Armies In Cape
Colony
Drawing Together.
LONDON, Jan. SO. A dispatch from
Lord Roberts, dated today, says there is
no change in the situation in South Africa.
The only reliable dispatch of any Im
portance is confirmation of the report that
General Kelly Kenny, commanding the
Sixth division, has occupied Thebus, about
midway between General French, at Rens
berg, and General Gatacre, at Sterkstrom.
From this, it Is believed that a juncture of
the three forces is being made preparatory
to the beginning of the plan of advance
on Bloemfontein.
Buller reports that the casualties to non
commissioned officers and men In action
January 20 and 21 were 17 killed, 233
wounded and G missing.
A dispatch from Durban says a refugee
who has arrived from Johannesburg say3
the destruction of the Boer shell factory
at that place January 20 was accom
plished. The loss, it Is added, Is Irrepara
ble. The Associated Press learns that Lyttle
ton's brigade is still In Its original position
at Potgieter's Drift, showing that part of
Buller's force is still north of the Tugeia
rivet.
IN NORTHERN CAPE COLONY.
French Rcconnoitcrcd the .Boer Po
sition at Rcitfontcln.
RENSBERG, Friday, Jan. 26.'-General
French reconnoltered yesterday by Bas
tard's nek with a force of hussars, Innis
killings, four guns of the royal artillery,
mounted infantry, the Yorkshires, Wilt
shlres and a portion of the Essex regi
ments. Turning to the northeast, he approached
the Boer position at Reltfonteln, nine miles
beyond Colesberg, on the wagon bridge
road, which the enemy have been fortify
ing with a view of falling back when they
evacuate Colesberg. Cautiously approach-
a f wmhmp1 c-aaBnEar - &meE:-wmBBm.vn' gwwgii vmL WBwrgwftt
ing. General French 6helled the enemy,
who replied with artillery and Infantry
fire.
The British, who were well protected,
suffered very little An officer and nine
men were wounded: one of the latter has
since died, and three men are missing. As
the Boers were found In great force, con
firming the reported reinforcements, and
In a strong position. General French dis
continued the attack and returned to camp.
Boer Account Of It.
PRETORIA. Jan. 27. A dispatch from
Colesberg says Commandant Delarey re
ports that a large body of British ad
vanced January 25 and he attacked them,
causing the British to retire after suffer
ing a severe loss. The Boer casualties
were two men slightly wounded.
General Groebler reports heavy fighting
since daybreak, the British in great
force endeavoring to surround the Boer po
sitions. General Schoenman hastened to
the assistance " of General Groebler.
nTZft.p.f.hh evening; ana re-
ports that the British were repulsed and
scnoenman returned this evening, and re
the Boers held their Positions. The Boer
Ices was four men slightly and one man
WILLIAM GOEBEL
'VXiSiTS JWOPNPEPj
j
severely wounded. The British loss is not
known, but must be severe.
The bombardment of Kimberley con
tinues. Other Boer forces are reported
quiet.. -
AT IADYS3IITH WITHIN A WEEK.
General Buller's Talk to His De
feated Troops.
LONDON, Jan. 31. The Cape Town cor
respondent of the Dally Mall, telegraph
ing yesterday, says:
"General Buller yesterday (Monday)
read the following message from the
queen to Sir Charles Warren's force: 'I
must express my admiration of the troops
during the past trying week, especially of
those regiments you jspeclfy and of the
accomplishment of your arduous march.
"General Buller told the men that they
ought not to think because they had re
tired from the position that all their work
was of no avail. On the contrary, in his
opinion, they had gained the key to the
road to Ladysmith, in which he hoped to
be within a week. General Buller then
called for cheers for the queen, which
were heard for miles around."
Brnsh nt Crocodile Fool.
LOTJRENCO MARQUES, Jan. CO. Spe
cial dispatches from Pretoria dated Thurs
day, January 25, report that a collision
occurred at Crocodile Pool between Boer
outposts and the British, who were in
overwhelming force. The burghers at
first retired, but on being reinforced drove
the British from their position. The Boers
had two wounded.
TARIFF FOR THE ISLANDS.
No Free Trade With Puerto Rico and
Philippines.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30. The republi
cans of the ways and means committee
tonight laid down definite lines upon
which tho republicans leaders of the house
have decided to legislature for Puerto Rico,
so far as tariff duties are concerned. The
decision reached is exceedingly important
as it commits the republicans of the ways
and means committee to the theory that
Puerto Rico and the Philippines are not
the territory of the United States within
the meaning of that section of the con
stitution, which provides that customs and
revenue laws shall be uniform throughout
the United States. In other words, it com
mits them to the view that our new
possessions can be governed as colonies
and that discriminating duties can be laid
against them.
The question arose In connection with
the bill Introduced 10 days ago by Repre
sentative Payne, of New York, designed
to remove all tariff barriers between Puer
to Rico and the United States free trade
In other words. The republican members
of the ways and means committee, to
which the bill was referred, discussed It
at several secret meetings, and today de
cided to favor a substitute, which will
be offered when the bill comes up for dis
cussion before the full committee tomor
row. This substitute provides that the
tariff of Puerto Rico against goods from
foreign countries, except the United States,
shall be the same as that against goods
entering the United States from such
countries, but that goods imported into the
United States from Puerto Rico shall pay
25 per cent of the tariff upon foreign goods.
That Is, between Puerto Rico and the
United States there shall be a horizontal
reduction of 75 per cent in the tariff. The
substitute also provides that the revenue
from such tariff duties shall be used to
defray the expenses of administration In
the Island.
-The action of the republicans today
amounts to a decision that the section of.
the constitution above referred to. which
has been the subject of a special investiga
tion of a subcommittee from the ways and
means committee for several weeks, does
not apply to our Insular possessions, and
that the constitution of the United States
does not extend over them.
, 'u!jfcafc-vj"fi,afaa
fATAFBaLNIQB3jCd
NOT THIS SESSION
No River and Harbor Bill Will
Be Presented.
WORK OF ENEMIES OF THE CANAL
Needed Improvements at the Hout2)
of the Columbia Will Be Post
poned Another Year.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30. The river and
harbor committee reached a formal de
termination today not to present a river
and harDOr bm at th praent ae3a, o
rnnpn, a 0fn- oi.n. i..
Ia expre3sed In Vhe senate ad house by
. both th Oroirnn i -,-.,! .le
gations regarding the decision. Thia
means that nothing can be done looking
to the 40-foot channel at the mouth of
the Columbia, as has been recommended
by the englneprs.
While the explanations given out by
members of the committee concerning the
bill are very plausible, there Is yet a
feeling that opposition to the Nicaragua
canal enters into this action. It is feared
by those who oppose the canal that it
will be made a part of the river and har
bor bill In the senate, as it was last ses
sion, and In a long session of congress
the friends of the canal would be able to
force it through. In a short session the
desire for local Improvements would re
sult In some such disposition of the canal
bill as happened last time. The friends
of the canal declare that they will be able
to get the bill through as an independent
measure, and will not be compelled to
make it a rider to the river and harbor
bill.
Because of the available funds now on
hand, many of the Oregon projects will
not suffer on account of the failure to
pass the bill. There is now on hand over
52CO.00O for work on the boat railway and
other projects at The Dalles, as soon aa
the secretary of war will authorize tho
expenditure; $140,0CO for the Lower Wil
lamette and Columbia below Portland:1
5111.000 for the Columbia below Tongue
point; 572,000 for a canal at the Cascades,
and proportionate amounts for other
projects, sufficient to carry them through
until the next bill is passed. Those Ore
gon projects that are under the continu
ing contract system will not be affected
by this decision, as provision is made for
them in the sundry civil bill every year.
Congressional Committeeman.
Senator McBride, who has heretofora
been the congressional committeeman
from Oregon, was today re-elected by tho
joint caucus of the senate and house, to
having solicited re-election.
Anti-English. Sentiment.
The sympathy expressed In many quar
ters for the Boers is causing the admin
istration a great deal of concern. Those
representatives" in congtestf who have a
rgetjumcc.yowr are Dasiegmg uia siaia
itdJpartmentand'- president with requests
mlMMoiuiahK:hkwil3how
:e sympathy'of this government-fox vm
countrymen ot tneir constituents in auum
Africa. This, together with the several
countrymen of their constituents in South
meetings held for the expression of sym
pathy, and also the 10 or more papers
in the East, have made It uncomfortable
for the administration, which desires
everything to go along smoothly until
after the next presidential election.
It is not possible for our state depart
ment to Interfere, and It is not likely that
congress can be Induced to take action on
any of the resolutions of sympathy that
have been proposed, as the majority is
determined not to give offense to England
at the present time.
"Vice-Presidential Tallc
An Interesting phase of the vlce-presN
dential talk is that the administration is
determined to have Roosevelt become Mc
Klnley's running mate. H Is understood
that Senator Piatt Is Insisting that Roose
velt shall be the candidate, and has got
the president to say thus far that he pre
fers a New York candidate. All aspirants
have been given an intimation from
White House sources that New York
should have the vice-presidential nomina
tion. This, in the face of the declination
of Roosevelt, Root and others who are
considered available, has caused consid
erable comment. It develops that Piatt
still insists that Roosevelt shall be nomi
nated. He wants to set the governor out
of state politics, as the Independence of
Roosevelt seriously Interferes with the
management of Piatt In the state. It is
the contention of Piatt that, if Roosevalt
Is nominated for vice-president, even if he
Is not a candidate, ha cannot refuse to
accept such an honor. All incipient vice
presidential booms have received a severa
frst at the hands of the administration.
Corporal Tanner's Abase.
The most blatant and offensive of all
men who Insist upon "liberal" pensions
is "Corporal" Tanner, who scandalized
the Harrison administration in the few
months he was commissioner of pensions
and was forced o retire. Tanner has re
cently abused before a house committee
the present management of the pension
office, and defended the pension, attorneys.
Tanner Is a pension attorney. Every ef
fort Is being made to discredit Evans,
but the vote of confidence in the house
has baffled even the pension attorneys.
BRYAN AND THE POPULISTS
Milton Park Aslcs the NebrasUan a
Few Questions.
DALLAS, Tex., Jan. CO. Milton Park,
editor of the Southern Mercury and
chairman of the national committee of the
middle-of-the-road populists, today wired
W. J. Bryan requesting a statement in
regard to his political position. Mr.
Park's message says:
"Hon. W. J. Bryan. Providence, R. L:
Parties claiming to represent Nebraska
populists are submitting Southern popu
lists this proposition:
" 'First Populist national convention to
meet 30 days before democrats, re-Indorse
Omaha platform and make direct legis
lation leading Issue.
" 'Second Nominate you for president
and a populi3t for vice-president.
" 'Third You be there and accept the
nomination on that platform In writing.
" 'Fourth If democrats fail to ratify
this ticket, you to remain the populist
candidate throughout the campaign.'
"Is this proposition adopted by your
authority, and will you agree to abide by
It? Answer by wire at my expense.
"MILTON PARK,
"Managing Editor Southern Mercury and
Chairman National Committee Populist
Party."
Up to a late hour no reply to the above
telegram has been received.
i s
Conference at San Diego.
SAN DIEGO, Cal.. Jan. CO. Rear-Ad-mlral
Crowninahleld has arrived here to
confer with Rear-Admira! Kautr. After
a brief stay here. Admiral Crownlnehield
will proceed to San Francisco to Inspect
the naval training station on Yerba Buena
Island.