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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 12, 1901)
LIBHAEY, Portland, -.Oregon. Iff rtVlifttlT J68r rtllifit mttm VOL. XLL NO. 12,533. PORTLAND, OREGON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1901. PRICE FIVE CENTS. "WHITE US BEFORE PIECING TOUR ORDERS FOR RUBBER BELTING, PACKING AND HOSE CRACK-PROOF, SNAG-PROOF MINING BOOTS. Rubber and Oil-Clothing, Boots and Shoes. HEADQUARTERS FOR ALL KINDS OF RUBBER GOODS. Goodyear Rubber Company R. H. FEASE. President. F. M. SHEPARD. JR.. Treteurer. J. A. SHEPARD. Secretary. Shaws Pure Malt the Condensed Strength and Nutriment o! Barley and Rye Blumaiier & Hoch, lOS and HO Fourth Street . Sole Distributers for Oregon HOTEL PERKIINS Fifth and Washington Sts. . . . PORTLAND, OREGON EUROPEAN PLAN Rooms Single 75c to 11.50 per day First-Class Checlc Restaurant Rooms Double $1.00 to 12 00 per day Connected With Hotel. Rooms Family $1.50 to $3.00 per day J. F. DA VIES, Pre. St. Charles Hotel CO. (INCORPORATED). FRONT AND MORRISON STREETS PORTLAND, OREGON American and European Plan. Enables You To Play Your Piano The Pianola will enable you to play your piano even if you do npt know ono note from another. 9 , Mi B, WELLS, Northwest Agent for the Aeoltin Company Aeolian Hall. 353-355 Washinston Street, cor. Park, Portland. Or. We ar Sols Agents tor lb Pianola; also tor the Eulnwny, tfca Cnus sn4 the Emum Piano. A LINCOLN BANQUET. "Watterson and Marie Twain Were Among1 the Speakers. NEW YORK, Feb7"lL Carnegie Hall was filled tonight with people who had assembled to commemorate the 92d anni versary of Abraham Lincoln's birth, the proceeds of the meeting to go for the benefit of the Lincoln Memorial University at Chamberlain's Gap, Tenn. Mr. Clemens (Mark Twain) presided. Seated with him on either side of, a bust of Lincoln were General Joseph "Wheeler, Professor Charles Roberts, General John R. Brooke, General Nelson A. Miles, Col onel Henry Watterson, General O. O. How ard and General Charles O'Brien. Mr. Clemens read a letter of regret from Pres ident McKinley. Henry "Watterson spoke upon "Abraham Lincoln." In introducing the speaker, Mr. Clemens said: "It is a remarkable fact that with the whole country to pick from you should have called upon two old rebels, Colonel Watterson and myself, to take the prin cipal parts lrf this great meeting. But are not the blue and the gray one today? I was a Second Lieutenant in the Con federate service. Watterson here, as Colonel, rendered me such assist ance as he could. If he had only strictly obeyed my orders I ghouid have succeeded In my vast enter prise. It was my Intention to drive Gen eral Grant Into the Pacific. I told General Watterson to surround the Eastern armies and wait until I came. But he was insub ordinate and the Union was saved." Excerpts from Colonel Watterson's ad dress follow: 'Lincoln was at no time an extremist. He had been for 30 year In unconscious preparation for the fray. At the time of his debate with Douglas, the Democratic party, as now, seemed hopelessly divided. "I want to say Just here a few words about the relation of Abraham Lincoln to the South. He was tha only one who could nave come to the position without animosity toward the South. For my part I thank God that the war did not end at Fortress Monroe, or by any other civil proceeding, but was fought on out to the bitter end at Appomattox so that slavery might be annihilated. What was the mys terious power of this mysterious man? It was the genius of commonsense. He was a common man, expanded to giant proportions. Truly he was inspired of God, as Shakespeare and Mozart. A hun dred yoars hence no tragedy will be fol lowed by mankind with deeper reverence th.an that which tells the story of his life and death." The Tax on Banlca. WASHINGTON. Feb. 1L Senator , Aid rich today sent the following dispatch: "Washington, Fob. 1L Mr. A. B. Hep burn, chairman American Association of Bankers, Chase National Bank, New York City: Am receiving a large number of letters from banks and bankers through out the country, sent In response to re quest issued by your secretary, demanding that the tax en bank capital shall be en tirely removed. The House retained the entire tax and the Senate has. reduced one half. No action Is possible in conference except to agree to either the House or the Senate provision or to adopt some compromise between the two. I hope this statement will save the members of your association and the members of the finance committee much unnecessary cor respondence." Lloyd Grlscom Coming Home. WASHINGTON, Feb. 1L Lloyd Gris cm. United States secretary of legation and oharge. at Constantinople, is coming home on leave of absence. He has not resigned, as had been reported. 7375 FIRST ST. PORTLAND, OR. BETTER THAN EVER, Beau Brummell BEST 5-CENT CIGAR BLUMAUER-FRANK DRUG CO. 144146 Fourth Street PORTLAND, OR. C T. BELCHER. Sec. and Troas. American plan European plan ...... fl.23. $1.00. 1.T3 50c. 75c, $1.00 THE NEW CHINA. Progress of Sixty Years of Civiliza tion. "NEW YORK. lreb. 1L Rev. Robert S. McArthur. in a sermon last night at Calvary Baptist Church, on the subject of "The New China," said: "It is now about 60 years since China first opened her doors to the so-called bar barians. The opium war. with all its evils, was the hammer which shattered the door of Chinese isolation. The war with Japan virtually broke down all her doors. Treaty ports speedily multiplied; she has now nearly 400 miles of railroad in opera tion, and nearly 4000 miles projected. With in the last five years cotton spinning has become an Industry and she has over 400, 000 spindles and over 2000 looms. Tele graphs are already domesticated, electrio cars are now running, and four years ago the imperial postofflce was organized; -locks and watches in China indicate thaf time is now an object of consideration in that once dreamy land. A school for women is opened in Shanghai, and in the same city another for boys has been founded. It will surprise many to know that in a single year nearly 1,000,000 copies of the bible or some parts of It have been circulated in China. "China is becoming modern. Antl-foot-blndlng societies are growing in number and influence. China is vastly further ad vanced than was Japan 50 years ago. Who dares say that 50 years hence China will not be largely Occidental, and domlnantly Christian in religion? She is the prize for commerical ambition in America. She is In. need of all forms of manufactured pro ducts that America knows how to supply. China Is to be the paradise for American enterprise. Let no manufacturer and no statesman forget that China is to be one of the greatest among the great nations of the 20th Century. "Our friend Wu Ting Fang, will find out that the missionaries are the best friends of his country; that he can best advance Its interests by a sympathetic attitude toward Christianity and by re fraining from unwise criticism of the offic ials of the American Republic We shall soon welcome China Into the great sister hood of great, progressive, civilized and Christian nations of the earth." Hoolccr-Condit-Smlth. WASHINGTON. Feb. 11. TJ-ntennnt i Richard S. Hooker and Miss Mary O. Condit-Sm'ith were married at noon today at Epiphany Church by Bishop Satterlee. Lieutenant Hooker Is stationed at Brook lyn navy-yard. He Is the grandson of Senator Stewart. The bride is the daugh ter of the late J. Condlt-Smlth, of New York. While solonrnlnir In CThinn. newrftl months ago, she became a prisoner during the siege of Pekin. Contracts for Protected Cruisers. WASHINGTON, Feb. 1L The Board of Naval Constrution today decided to re port to Secretary Long that the bid of Neafle & Neavy, for constructing one of the protected cruisers, should be accepted, but that the two other contracts be not awarded, in view of the heavy cuts made in the specifications by the bidders. They recommended a readvertlsement. A New Swiss Loan. NEW YORK. Feb. 1L A Swiss Govern ment loan of $15,000,000 was tendered on the New York market today. The offer ing consisted, of 4 per cent railroad federal annuity bonds. Maurice Thompson Dying. CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind., Feb. 1L Maurice Thompson, the author, is barely alive tonight. TEN NEW REGIMENTS Orders Prepared for Their Organization. UNDER THE NEW ARMY LAW The Twenty-eighth Infantry Is to Be Assembled and Equipped at Van couver Barracks To Be For Trardcd to the Presidio. WASHINGTON, Feb. 1L Orders were prepared at the "War Department today for the organization, assembling and equipment of 10 additional regiments au thorized by the Army reorganization law. According to these orders, the new regi ments will be designated and located as follows: Eleventh Cavalry, headquarters at Fort Myer, Va. Twelfth Cavalry, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Thirteenth Cavalry, Fort Meade, S. D. Fourteenth Cavalry, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Fifteenth Cavalry, Presidio, San Fran cisco. Twenty-sixth Infantry, Fort McPher son, Ga. Twenty-seventh Infantry, Plattsburg Barracks, N. Y. Twenty-eighth Infantry, Vancouver Barracks, Wash. Twenty-ninth Infantry, Fort Sheridan, 111. Thirtieth Infantry, Fort Logan, Colo. The first battalions of the Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh have been already organized at San Francisco and will be sent to Manila on the Sherifan, which sails the 16th Inst. As the other regi ments are organized, equipped and drilled, they will be forwarded by battalions to San Francisco for transportation to the Philippines. The designations of the new regiments are in continuation of the numerical sys tem of the existing Army. The field and regimental officers for each of the new regiments have been chosen, and will be officially announced in a few days. Similar arrangements are being made for the Immediate organization of the batteries of light artillery provided for under the new law. " The nominations of the many junior of ficers of the Army under the reorganiza tion act, it Is said at the War Depart ment, probably will be submitted to the Senate at the end of the present week. The applications are In the ratio of at least 10 to 1, compared with the positions. The War Department has found it neces sary to ask for some corrective legislation in connection with the Army reorganiza tion act. This is to be secured by a "ride to one of the .appropriation Mite. The" corrections 'concern the commissary and, Quartermaster's departments, and the purpose Is to open these departments to volunteer officers of all branches of the service. PRIMARY ELECTION RIOT. Ballot Box Stolen and Throe Men Hurt In a Fight in St. Louis. ST. LOUIS, Feb. 1L More than 150 shots were fired, a sergeant of police and two negroes were wounded, and a ballot box was stolen in the course of a riot about the second district polling place of the Fourth "Ward, at Twelfth and Linden streets, early this evening. It was only after a riot call had brought Captain Klley, with 40 police and riot guns to the scene, that a semblance of order was re stored. Even then the streets were filled with negroes and some white, men, all of whom were armed, many ofMhem intoxi cated and looking for trouble. Not a bal lot was cast there during the day. The wounded were: Sergeant Quinllvan, of the Fourth district, shot In the leg; George Monroe, shot in the arm, and Fred Jones, shot in the leg. The trouble had been brewing all the afternoon. The Tinker Judges disagreed with the Wells men as to the advisability of opening the back door of the polling place. One claimed that the other had a host of heelers in waiting and if the door were opened, these men would press in to cause confusion and prevent their opponents from voting. A third faction asserted that both the other factions were Jockeying to prevent any voting what ever, because, theyv said, the ward was overwhelmingly for their leader, Noonan. The judges being unable to agree, no voting was done. Finally, a shot was fired, supposedly from the revolver of Arthur Gardiner, a negro. As soon as the shot rang out, the street about the polling place be came the scene of a. fusillade. Every man drew one or two revolvers. Judge John Ryan ran out Into the street and shot squarely at a negro advancing upon the booth, gun in hand. The police, under Ser geant Quinllvan. rushed upon the bolder rioters, attempting to disarm them. It was while he was arresting George Mon roe, who had resisted the attempt to disarm him, that Sergeant Quinllvan was shot. Detective McGrath ran to his as sistance, disarmed the negro, and in the midst of. a scattering fire, wrapped a handkerchief about the sergeant's wound ed leg to stop the flow of blood from a severed artery. Ten policemen were on the spot in a few minutes and succeeded in quelling the riot and dispersing the 200 negroes who had figured most prominently in the af fray. After order had been restored, it was found that the ballot box had been stolen. Every judge and clerk had been at the windows or front door, holding the fort. Someone had slipped In the back way and taken the box from behind them. The upshot was that no votes were polled today in the second district of the Fourth Ward. ELECTION REPEATERS. Gang- From Chicago Arrested by St. Louis Police. ST. LOUIS, Feb. U. The Post-Dispatch today says: "Twenty-five men, who say they are from Chicago, were arrested today on suspicion that they were brought to St. Louis to be used as repeaters in the Dem ocratic primary election. Information reached the police Sunday night, through David Perry, a Chicago saloon-keeper, that a large party of men had left that city for St. Louis with the expressed in tention of taking part in the primaries here. According to the terms of their agreement, so the police were informed, the man were paid $100 each before the train left Chicago, and were to receive $200 more at the conclusion of their day's work. Upon the opening of the primaries. If Itt enf thfttr wbld tA )ia evvrirl?Af1 rltV guns and ammunition. Their instruc tions, the police declare, were to vote at the primaries as often-'as told to do so, and to use force with anybody who inter fered with them, whether police, election officials or party workers. "The police say the arrangements for bringing the men to St. Louis were made by two candidates for nomination to the House of Delegates. Acting upon the ad vice of the Chicago saloon-keeper, the en tire detective force of the Police Depart ment was sent out to locate the men this morning, resulting In the arrest of 26 of the supposed gang. The photographs of some of the men are said to adorn the collection of the National Identification Bureau." MRS. MAYBRICK NOT FREE British Home Office Gives Out the Denial. LONDON, Feb. 11. The officials of the Home Office say there is no foundation whatever for the report that Mrs. Flor ence Maybrick has beeji pardoned. The official denial would have been Issued earlier but for the red-tape rule of the Home Office, which alone of all the Brit ish Government departments requires that press inquiries shall be made In writing and answered through the mails. The only exception was made known this af ternoon for the benefit of the Associated Press. After this was done the officials freely said the Maybrick story was on a par with the recent epidemic of "fakes" published in the United States, among them being the statements that King Edward Is suffering from cancer; that there is friction between Lord Salisbury and King Edward, and that General Sir Evelyn Wood is going to South Africa as a peace commissioner, etc. The Maybrick report was circulated freely here, Sun day, and Mr. Choate, the United States Ambassador, told Its authors last night that it was untrue. But this evidently had no weight with them, and when It was published nothing remained to do but to wait until the Home Office had made up Its mind to break through tradition and give the quietus to the latest of the utterly baseless reports. Deadlock May Be Broken. LINCOLN, Neb., Feb. 11. The vote on United States Senator today was as fol lows: Allen, 44; Cummins, 4; W. H. Thompson, 25; Hitchcock, 16; Berge, 4; Coffee, 9; Crounse, 6; Currle, 18; Hainer, 5; Hlnshaw, 10; Martin, 9; Meiklejohn, 2s; Rosewater, 15; D. E. Thompson, 31; scat tering, 9. A possible ending of the Nebraska Sen atorial deadlock came tonight when 70 Republican Legislators, two short of the" entire Republican membership, signed an agreement to go Into caucus tomorrow night. The call provides that 50 members shall nominate by open ballot and that nominations for the long and short .terms shall be simultaneous. The agreement came unexpectedly after different caucus petitions had been circulated during the evening. It cannot be seen that the agreement especially favors any ono par ticular candidate. HELENA, Mont., Feb. ll.-Tohn Mac Ginnis led the Fuslonlsts in the contest for Senator today. The vote follows: Mantle, 31; MacGlnnls, 21; Cooper, 7; Hoff man, 2; Cobum, 2. Purchasing for Moriwa." ,. 2RONTON, O., Veb. lL-Colonel B. J. Bird, Jr., late superintendent of the Mar tin Iron & Steel Company, is here repre senting J. P. Morgan & Co., for the pur chaso of the plant of the Hanging Rock Iron Company, the Belfonte Iron Works Company, the Kelly Nail & Iron Com pany, the Martin Iron & Steel Company, the Norton Iron Works Company and the Ashland Steel Company, Ashland, Ky. If the deal is- consummated, other plants will be erected here. SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT NEWS Domestic. An order Is being prepared for the organiza tion of 10 new regiments. Page 1. The new regiment of the Twenty-eighth in fantry is to be organized at Vancouver. Page 1. Mrs. Nation says she is going on a, world tour of "Joint" smashing-. Page 2. All the saloons a Topeka, -were oloeed yester day. Page 2. A ballot box was stolen and three were hurt In an election riot in St. Louis. Page 1. The prizefight injunction case will bo decided Thursday. Page 3. Testimony Important for the defense was intro duced in the Hamilton trial". Page 0. Congress. The House bad a lively session. Page 2. Suiter's proBoer speech almost led to hostili ties. Page 2. The House voted to ask for a conference on the war-tax bill. Page 2. The Senate passed the Naval appropriation bill. Page 3. Caffery spoke against the ship subsidy bill. Page 3. Philippines. Bids for Manila harbor improvements will soon be advertised for. Page 2. The pacification of Panay Is complete. Page 2. The Philippine tariff act has reached Wash ington.. Page 2. There s a lack of cordiality between Army men and the- commissioners. Page 2. Foreign. Ei-Klns Milan Is dead. Page 1. The disorders In Madrid and other Spanish cities continue. Page 3. The Chinese plenipotentiaries will be excluded from meetings of the foreign envoys. Page 3. There Is no longer any doubt of the plague at ' Cape Town. Page 3. Northwest Legislatures. Washington politicians form a powerful anti railroad combine In the Interest of Governor Rogers. Page 1. Move will be made to have Washington Sen ate reconsider Preston railway bill. Page 1. Railroad rate and liability bills wero consid ered, by the Oregon House In a lively com mittee session. Page 5. Mitchell Is the man McBrlde forces want for United States Senator from Oregon, and Is the only one who will receive their genuine support. Page 4. Oregon Senatorial deadlock continues. Page 4. Idaho House passed bill for an eight-hour day for underground workers and employes of smelters and redaction works. Page 4. " Pacific Coast. The Mammoth has been added to the list of Eastern Oregon producing mines. Page 6. An institute at Pleasant Hill was given to dis cussion of farm topics. Page C. Commercial and Marine. Wheat market resists efforts of the bears. Page 11. Union Pacific the feature In Wall street? yes terday. Page 11. In-bound grain fleet delayed by east winds. Page 10. Two more grain cargoes clear. Page 10. German ship Edmund reaches San Diego. Page 10. Portland and Vicinity. Rev. John Fllnn, former Methodist preacher, made legatee ot $25,000. Page 12. Most of the lawyers oppose a constitutional convention for Oregon. Page 8. Boy kidnaper pleads guilty and makes a third "confession." Page 8. Lincoln's birthday will be celebrated at Cen tenary Methodist Church tonight. Page 10. Colonel D. B. Bush's editorial presenting Lin coln for President. Page T. MING MILAN DEAD Exiled Ruler of Servia Passed Away at Vienna. NEITHER WIFE NOR SON THERE He Retained Possession of His Fac ulties Until "Within a Quarter of an Hoar of His Death Remains to Be Interred In Slavonia. VIENNA, Feb. 11. Ex-King Milan of Servia- is dead. He passed a sleepless night and was unable to take sufficient nourishment. The remains will be Interred at Kronchol, a sacred monastic shrine in THE LATE EX-KING Syrmla, Slavonia, with the honors due a member of the reigning dynasty. Last evening (Sunday) he received Ad jutant Popvlas, who had been sent by King Alexander. The Interview excited him somewhat, but he rocgnlzed and talked with the adjutant. From that time his strength failed rapidly, and the diffi culty of breathing rendered further con versation Impossible. At noon today he again received the adjutant. He was then in full possession of his faculties, and seemed to have no Idea that his life was In danger. Consciousness was retained until within a quarter of an hour of his death, which came quietly. In the pres ence of his uncle. Colonel Constantlnevlcs, and his friend, Count Zlchy. The Illness began with Influenza. Milan left his bed too quickly, and the result was pneumonia. The doctors also found faty degeneration of the heart, which was the actual cause of death, as the danger Immediately arising from the lung trouble had been overcome. Fearing a fatal issue, the doctors caused messages to be sent King Alexander and ex-Queen Natalie, but although Milan desired to see them and himself sent messages requesting their presence, neither came. Natalie's reply, which was to the effect that she would come If her presence was really desired, reached him just before death. Emperor Francis Joseph, who sent an ald-de-camp to the deathbed, has ordered a military funeral, as Milan was formerly the Colonel of an Austrian regiment. It was Milan's written wish that he should be burled at Syrmia. He said he had been greatly disappointed at the absence of hisson, whose Ingratitude has pro voked much comment in Vienna. Accord ing to the Neue Freie Presse, be said to his physician: "I feel that I must die, but it is very sad to be compelled to die at 47." (Ex-King Milan, who was born in 1854, abdicated the throne In favor of his son, Alexander I, March 6, 1889. The circum stances that compelled the King to abdi cate arose from the policy that he had pusued at the beginning of his reign, both in domestic and foreign affairs. The new Servian constltuion was adopted by the Grand Skupshtina January 2, 1SS9, by a majority of 494 votes against 75. The Ministry of Nikola Crlstich resigned. The King was unwilling- to appoint a Radical Cabinet, and applied first to Jovan Rls tlch, but could not induce that statesman to form a Cabinet. The Radicals refused to take office unless Tauschanovlch, a revolutionist, who had been condemned to death for participation In the Tlmok Val ley uprising, should be given the port folio of the Interior. The King's throne was at stake. He determined to appoint Liberal prefects and sub-prefects, and at tempt by pressure on the people to bring In a Liberal majority in the elections In the Autumn. The Radicals became en raged at he determination to exclude them from office. Crlstich was unwilling to play so dangerous a game, and told King Milan that it was impossible for him to remain In office. Milan abdicated the throne in the presence of the Ministers and chief dignitaries, and the members of the diplomatic body assembled in the Konah to celebrate the anniversary ot the erection of Servia into a kingdom in 18S2. On being promised a liberal yearly allow ance, he agreed In 1888 to go into perpet ual exile. It was decided that Queen Na talie should likewise live abroad. Queen Natalie, however, came back, and was only expelled after a desperate resistance on the part of her adherents In 1E9L) The News in Servln. BELGRADE, Servia, Feb. 11. King Alexander, who was at Nish when he re ceived the news of the death of his father, Immediately summoned the mem bers of the Cabinet to meet at Konah, where he communicated the Information to them officially. The King and Queen I V, j i - m ts swwww osi i i left Nish this evening for Belgrade, not going to Vienna. The remains will be brought here. In the Narodna-Skupshtlna, or national assembly, the Premier, M. Yovanovltch, announced the death of the ex-King, eu logized his services in obtaining more com plete independence and territorial exten sion for Servia. "Although political circumstances of late caused his absence from the coun try," said the Premier,, "these services will not be forgotten." During the speech the entire chamber remained standing. A resolution was adopted that the members of the House should attend the obsequies in a body at Belgrade. The sitting was then closed by royal decree. DR. VAN SCOY DEAD. For Years President of the Portland University. HELENA, Mont., Feb. 1L Rev. Dr. Thomas Van Scoy, president of the Wes leyan University, of Helena, died today of penumonia. He was one of the best educators and church men of the state. He came to Helena from Portland, where he was for several years president of the Portland University. Colonel Ferris Forman. STOCKTON. Cal., Feb. ll.-Colonel Fer- MILAN, OF SERVIA. rls" Forman, who was in command of an Illinois regiment during the Mexican War, of which he was the last surviving field officer, died here today at the age of 94 years. He was appointed District Attor ney of Illinois by President Buchanan, was the first Postmaster of Sacramento, Cal., and was Secretary of State under one of the early Governors of Cali fornia. John TV. Power. HELENA, Mont., Feb. ll.-John W. Power, ex-State Senator, brother of ex United States Senator T. C. Power, died at Fort Fenton today. He was a leading business man of Montana for 33 years. Henry J. Elliott. "WASHINGTON, Feb. 11. Henry J. El liott, the sculptor, long identified with public works of Importance, died suddenly at his residence here today of pneumonia. He was 53 years old. i A MASSACHUSETTS SCANDAL Rumor of a Million Dollar Corrup tion Fund. BOSTON, Feb. 11. 'Representative Mc Pherson, of Farmlngton, was examined by the House committee today relative to the allegation he made at a hearing last week that $1,000,000 had been sot aside on the books of the New England Gas & Coko Company for legislative purposes, and also that many securities of doubt ful nature had been sold to banks in this state. Mr. McPherson repeated his char ges, somewhat modified. Thomas W. Lawson testified that Mc Pherson's charges were true, and that the Coke Company's books would prove it. Mr. Lawson said that he heard that Henry M. Whittler, president of the Gas & Coke Company, had paid him $1,000,000 to stop prosecuting the Coke Company. "One of the directors," said Mr. Law son, "told me that the money had been so voted, and that he had been made one of a committee 'to see that I got It." Mr. Lawson refused to give the name of the director who had given him this in formation, but said he would do so If an investigation was held. The committee took the question of ordering an 'Investi gation under advisement. LOSS A MILLION AND A HALF Gloss Plant Burned In a Pennsyl vania Town. ROCHESTER, Pa., Feb. 11. The town of Rochester, on the Ohio River, about 25 miles from Pittsburg, today suffered the greatest fire In its history. The loss Is estimated at $1,500,000. The fire started I just after midnight in the cooper depart ment of the National Glass plant, the largest tumbler plant In the world, lo- i cated outside Rochester. The night em ployes turned out with their own hose and endeavored to subdue the blaze, but a strong west wind was blowing, and the flames soon spread to the packing de partment. The plant occupied several acres of ground and employed 1500 per sons. The flre departments of nearby towns were called upon. i Topeka Is Not Overdue. WASHINGTON. Feb. 11. The officers of the Navigation Bureau In the Navy De partment are indignant at the circulation of a report that the training-ship Topeka is overdue. She is" only 16" days out from Cape Verde Islands to Barbadoes, they say, and she took 17 days to make the run across from Tompklnsvllle to the Azores, a distance of several hundred miles less than the run from Cape Verde to Barbadoes, so It cannot be said that she is even yet due. COMBINE IS FORMED Politicians Will Fight Wash ington Railroads, GEORGE U. PIPER LEADS MOVE lie Proposes to Pay- Off a Republican Political Debt, and at the Same Time Do Some Work for Rogers OLYMPIA, Wash., Feb. 1L Sensational rumors are afloat In the lobby tonight concerning the future of railroad legisla tion. Boiled down, these rumors are that George U. Piper and W. H. Paulhamus are seeking to effect a combination with Senator Preston, Lieutenant-Governor Mc Brlde and Governor Rogers, whereby the Tolman railway commission bill Is to bo passed. This bill gives the appointive power to the Governor, and can practi cally command the solid Democratic sup port, which the Preston bill failed to re ceive. Mr Piper and Attorney Grosscup, of tho Northern Pacific, are bitter enemies, and Piper's dislike extends to George Steven son, the representative of the Oregon Rail road & Navigation Company, who Is the head of the railroad lobby. Paulhamus Is showing a decided disposition to help Pi per, and he is known to be very influential with several Senators who voted against the Preston bill. It Is asserted that Piper, whose Republicanism is well known, has an understanding of some sort with Gov ernor Rogers, who is very anxious for the passage of the Tolman bill, and that the two are working In absolute harmony. It is known that Preston and McBrlde have not yet entered the combine, but they and Piper were In consultation for several hours tonight. Senator Preston, it is said, desires Pi per's aid In having his commission bill reconsidered. If that falls, it is said ho is then willing to work for the Tolman bill. Several Senators who voted against the Preston bill have expressed a willing ness to vote for the Tolman bill, and Pres ton Is desirous of putting them to the test. It is said that the terms of the deal which it is sought to effect are that Gov ernor Rogers Is to name one of the com mission, Preston and McBrlde the second, and Piper and Paulhamus the third. It 'a not believed at this time that Piper can force the passage of the Tolman bill, but, working with Paulhamus, he can give the railroads a much harder fight than they had on the Preston bill. Piper and Paul hamus have Just returned from Texas, where they are interested in a big oil proposition. The trouble between Piper and Grosscup and Stevenson dates back a long time. but it has been fanned into an open flame recently by the determination of the lat ter two to have Piper" deposed as Levi Ankeny's political manager. It is assert ed that they have already accomplished that purpose, and that Piper Is now fight ing for revenge. Paulhamus has in times past worked with the railroads, but It 13 said that in the present trouble he has elected to stand with Piper. The air Is charged with sensational talk tonight, and everybody is wearing an air of expectancy. Important developments are looked for within the next few days. Piper absolutely refuses to discuss his plans, while the railroad people scoff at the Idea of the passage of the Tolman bill, or any other commission bllL K0G0R0 WAS MAD. Japanese Minister's Trying Time at a New Yorlc Banquet. NEW YORK, Feb. U. Over 375 members of the Silk Association of America and their guests sat down to the 29th anniver sary banquet of the association at Del monlco's tonight. The conspicuous guest of the evening was the Chinese Minister. Wu Ting Fang. Senator Thurston, of Nebraska, spoke to the toast "The Great Republic In tho New Century," and Sen ator Galllnger, of New Hampshire, spoko to the toast, "The Congress of the United States in Its Relations to the Silk In dustry." Minister Wu was then Introduced to speak to the toast, "The Youngest Great Nation of the World In the Eyes of the Oldest Great Nation." The orchestra played the "Choy Suey" march, and cheers greeted the Minister as he arose. Wu Ting Fang said In part: "Although your nation is the youngest, I think I am justified in saying that it commands as great respect as the oldest nation on earth. You deserve this not on account of your age, but on account of your wis dom, Intelligence and enterprise." The Japanese Minister, Kogoro Taka hlra, was introduced to respond to the toast, "Japan and Her Estimation of America and American Ideas." The Jap anese Minister began to read his speech in a very loud voice, which commanded attention by it3 tone; but before he had read far he got down to a sing-eons' tone that caused a majority of the diners to forget the speech and talk among them selves. Half a dozen times they talked and laughed so loudly that General Cong don had to rap hard for attention. Then the Minister would break out ot his sing song style and read a few sentences In a clearer tone, but would soon become al most inaudible. The talking and laugh ing continued, and the speaker finally threw down his paper on the table, folded his hands In front of him, and, closing his eyes, stood silent. For a second there was quietness. This was broken by a call for cheers for the Japanese Minister. They were given with great vigor, but the recipient was vexed, and flung his paper down on the floor. Senator Galllnger picked up the paper and handed It to the Minister, who was, preparing to start again. He soon re lapsed into the slng-uuig style, and the talking and laughter began again. There upon the Minister flung the paper down on the table, and. resuming his seat, would not finish. Then many of the diners came up to him and congratulated him on his effort, somewhat molifylm? him. Profits of People's Gas Company. CHICAGO, Feb. 1L According to the annual statement of the People's Gas Company, made at the stockholders' meet ing of that company today, last year waa the most prosperous in the history of the corporation. The statement showed earnings of 7.63 per cent on the capital stock of $28,000,000. The old board of directors was re-elected without change. The directors elected, are: C K. G. Bil Jlngs, Chicago; F. S. Winston, Chicago.; A, N. Brady. Walton Ferguson and A. R. Flower, New York. In submitting: Ida annual report. President Billings, showed that net earnings for last year, after all charges were paid, amounted to $201)71. )