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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 24, 1904)
jj (Shxgtttitifttt. Jft VOL. XLIV. NO. 13,742. PORTLAND, OREGON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1904. PRICE FIVE CENTS. EABNOCHARQ iitchell and Hermann Come to Face Jury. HNOGENT, THEY SAY leny That They Are Implicated in Land Frauds. IGNORANT OF WRONG-DOING Senator and Representative Declare They Can Convince Jury That -They Have Not Conspired to Defraud Government. Senator Mitcholl and Representative Hermann, accompanied by Frank C Baker, chairman of the Republican Stato Central Committee, reached Port land last nluht over the Northern Pa cific after their long Journey across the I continent from "Washington. Judge Albert H. Tanner, the law part ner of Senator Mitchell, met the Sena tor at the train and went with him to his apartments at the v Portland. Mr. Hermann went to the Imperial, whore he stays when in the city. Both of the gentlemen were tired by their continuous travel and neither had much to say concerning the cause which led them to come from "Washington at this time, though both were emphatic in their denial of any Implication in the land frauds, and expressed their firm conviction that they would be able to explain to the grand jury when they appeared before that body anything that might have led to the inception of the rumors which have been afloat for iome time and which had caused them to come to Portland now. Senator Mitciell Speaks. Senator Mitchell was seen at the Portland shortly after his arrival and consented to make a state ment, though he said his ignor ance of any charges which might be made against him would not permit Jiim to say much more than to state his! Tould be able to explain away all doubt tJtat might arise at; to any of his acts in' the past. 'If you wtll state just .wihat I say," paid the Senator, "I" will tell you my position in the matter.' Assurance was given, and the Senator continued: -Not until last Saturday," he said, "had I any knowledge or intimation that It was claimed by the prosecuting officers, or by anyone, that I was con nected in any way with the Oregon land frauds. "On that date, however, I received dispatches from Portland to the effect that it was current rumor on the streets of Portland that the persons engaged In the prosecution of these land, frauds liad Implicated me and that there would "be an effort to indict me with the oth ers. "Here to Disprove Accusations." "On learning this," continued the Senator, "I immediately dropped every duty, both public and private, and started for Portland for the purpose of finding out what accusations were made against me and to disprove them. I am here for that purpose, having ar rived at 7 o'clook this evening. I have not as yet had any communication-with anyone, and therefore am not advised at the present time as to what charges. If any. have been made, or are intended to bf made, against me, or by what al leged facts such charges are claimed to be sustained. l ntil I learn further, therefore, as to these matters, I have nothing farther to say except this: That I am abso lutely innocent of any connection what soever with the Oregon land frauds or o'her land frauds, and f have not the s.ightest fear of being connected there with, it nothing but the truth is told. Later on, after I have learned the situa tion. I may have something more to say in the press. 5 1 may say in this connection, how ever, that I earnestly hope that all who have been In any way improperly con nected with land frauds will be con victed. Hermann Declares His innocence. Representative Hermann was enter taining some of his personal friends when he was called upon at the Im perial The visit being nearly over, he came down Into the lobby, where he was greeted by several acquaintances. He said in reply to the question as to whether he had any statement to make at this time that he did not in reality know enough of the situation here to make any comment on it other than to announce his entire innocence of any thing fraudulent and to express his confidence !n his being able to clear his name of any suspicious connection with the Oregon land irregularities. "I have just readied the city, as you know." said Mr. Hermann, "and I have not as yet had time to see any of the prosecution or any one who could tell me anything of the nature of the alle gauons oeing maae against me or against Senator Mitchell. "Until very recently we had no in timation that we were to be implicated in any way with the frauds being found here, and when we were apprised of the fact we at once took the train for Portland to come here and vindicate ourselves before the grand jury. "On the road out here we hatfe not had the advantage of the Portland papers and therefore do not know the conditions here. Being, therefore, en tirely in the dark, it is Impossible to make any statement. "Not Implicated In Conspiracy." ""When I have found out with what I am charged I will be In a position to make some statement in my behalf, but not until then. I have no idea what the allegations of the prosecution are, or will be. but I am confident that when the time comes I shall be able to explain to the jury my entire Inno cence of any connection with the frauds being found in the public lands in Oregon or In any other state. I have no fear of the outcome of this mattor and am sure that I can explain to the Jury that I am, not la any manner im plicated in any conspiracy or any plot to defraud the Government- of any of its lands." Both Senator Mitchell and Mr. Her mann will wait until summoned before the grand jury by Mr. Honey and expect to be able to gain a hearing when the jury reconvenes after the holidays. INDICTMENTS ARE . EXPECTED Cases of S. B. Ornisby and C E. Loomis Before Grand Jury. The Federal grand jury had an,, appar ently quiet day yesterday, .though it is expecteji that something will be doing this rooming before the men leave for their Christmas holidays. The curious specta tors whp have been hanging around the corridors of the Postofflce building watch ing the witnesses as they go into the jury room have seemingly made up their minds, that nothing coujd'he' expected 'for some time and have been conspicuous by their absence for a few days. Frank H. Walgamot was one of the' men'wlio went into the presence of the jurors yesterday, and his stay was a long one. When ho came out, Colonel -A. R. Greene, the special Inspector of the In terior Department, Was called for an ex tended conference. Thomas R. "Wilson was the next witness. He Is the State's Prison employe who was alleged to have been one of the witnesses to the Frank H. Walgamot claim, and whoso- affidavit was found In the Loomis report on. the lands in township 11 south, range 7 east. He was at the time the report was made an employe of the Dennlson News Com pany, but when he was brought before Mr. "Walgamot, the latter was unable -to, recognize him. Following these witnesses, George R. Ogden, the Land Office clerk, was called to give his testimony. The witnesses examined yesterday would lead to the belief 'that the cases of S. B. Ormsby and C. E. Loomis were being con sidered by the Jury, and It is the general supposition that indictments will be re turned against these men before the jury adjourns today. The testimony of the. otHer members of the 11-7 conspiracy has been taken before this time, and the men examined yesterday complete the list of those interested in that case. Greeno was the man who uncovered the frauds and exposed the falsity of the Ormsby and Loomis reports. "Walgamot was one of the men whose claim was passed through the Land Office un the false affidavits of these two agents of the Government. T. R. Wilson was represented to have been one of the men witnessing the false land entry. G. R. Ogden was the clerk in the Gonoral Land Cificc who did not think that the first report made upon the lands was sufficiently clear and who or dered the second report to be made by, Onnsby. All this evidence tends to im-' plicate Lpomls and Ormsby. The jury adjourned yesterday until this morning at 10 o'clock, f wlien they will work for the first part of the day at least. When the adjournment is taken It will be until Tuesday next at 10 o'clock In the morning. The evidence In the Mitchell-Hermann cases will be placed before the jury dur ing the next weok. Owing to the fact that the two men are now in Portland waiting for an opportunity to appear be fore the jury, the prosecution has de cided to take these cases up next on the list In order to have them over and allow the geutloroan to return to Washington for'tne rest of the Congressional cession. WHICH ME Steel Girders Cost City $37,170." BOSTON, EXHIBIT '70 '05 FAffi 1 ' ' ' ' 'mm .Jf " T " -University Medical School Display Won Gold Medal at St. Louis. BOSTON, Mass., Dec. 23. (Special.) The exhibit sent to the St. Louis exposition by Boston University is to be transferred to the Lewis and Clark Exposition at the expense of Massachusetts. This exhibit won the gold medal over all other exhibi tions of American medical -schools, and at tracted much attention from the medical profession. PRESIDENT DEPOSES COITRT. Castro Believed Man Guilty of Mur der Who Was Acquitted. WASHINGTON, Dec. 23. It has been reported to the State Department that President Castro has deposed the entire personnel of the Superior Court of Vene zuela, on the alleged ground that the court had acquitted a prisoner of the charge of murder whom the President be lieved should have been convicted. HLY EROFIT- IS MADE Expert Says They Cost -Contractor $22,000. :f BRIDGE REPORT :IS , FILED Charles S. Bihler Declares Morrison Street Structure Is- a. Credit to City, but Finds . Excessive Cost for Extras. HIGH TRICE FOR STEEL GIRDERS. The contract price of the Pacific Coa--struotion. Company for"tho Morrison etreot brfdc was $331,343,' On January 5; on ' recommendation of City Engineer Elliott, the bridge com mittee of the Executive Board recom mended the substitution of steel girders for wooden, stringers, as originally spe cified. The Executive Board accepted the bid of the Pacific Construction Company for this extra, work, $37,170, no other bids beirc advertised for. The Council's expert has shown that tho steel girders, allowing for a fair profit, should -cost, the. city $22,000, a difference of over $15,000. No serious flaws in the construction of the new Morrlson-slreet bridge have been discovered by Charles S. Bihler, the expert who yesterday submitted his official report to the special investiga tion committee of the Council. By Mr. Blhler's figures, however, the city will be asked to pay $15,000 moro for the substituted steel girders than they cost the contractors, even when a reasonable profit, is included. Accord ing to the contract,, extras are to be charged up at- tht actual cost of ma terial and labor, plus 15 per cent profit. . Mr. Bihler, .-who was brought "from Ta coma to inspect . this bridge, makes an impartial report. He, with Howard C. Holmes, of San Francisco, constituted the bonrd of consulting engineers which in conjunction with City Engineer El liott selected the plan for the bridge out of those submitted last November.. So far as Mr. Blhler's statements con cerning the exorbitant price charged up to the city for steel girders Instead of wooden is concerned he proves his point by quoting current market prices for steel. When he shows that the city Is scheduled to pay $37,170 where It is getting value received for only $22,000, he puts it as a cold business proposi tion. Mr. Bihler has been engaged to expert the Balch's-Gulch bridge at "Willamette Heights, and the South Front-street bridge across Marquam Gulch. Ques tions of vital importance have been raised concerning the construction of these bridges. Upon the South Front- street bridge the Pacific Construction Company holds the contract, but . an other contractor is doing .the work on a sublet contract. Mr. Bihler is em ployed by the Taxpayers' League' -as weli.as the Council committee. He geta. $30 a day. The report of Mr. Bihler was adopted at a meeting oj the special bridge in vestigation committee of theVCouncil, Messrs. Rumelln, 'Waiting" .and; Foeller, and the executive committee of the Taxpayers' Leaue.-. y -. ; Pertinent queid?s iad previously been asked of'MrBlhler, and he' adds the anjsFers tot5se -queries to. 'his v regular report,- The ;slt, of the wholo .matter Is that Mr.BihTer Is acceptable to the Taxpayers League and the Couri- oilmen Twho. have Decome Involved In tne recent1 investigations. Therefore he is? to -continue, his work here. Within, -a few. days -ho -will begja. ,lchpcar examinatIffh'e'oThstructures. ' fHow Contractors 'Saved Money. Following iskn interesting portion of Mr Blhler's " report -upon the substitu tion of'steel girders for wooden string ers: i "In connection . with the substitution of steel stringers it became necessary to provide some timber strips on top of the steel joists for, the purpose . of , attach ment .to the planking. These-strips were apparently , Included In the p'roposlUo'n:'of" the ' bridge company. -The ' 'change"-1- re leased about 200,000 feet, ,boad"'measure, -Of jolsts,r Jthe reasonable value of -which may-be. placed at $3200. The nailing strips amount to" about 00,000 feet, board measure.- worth s3y $1200 'in place. The-cost of the steel stringers, therefore would be approximately $37,170. . " - "I figure that the steel. stringers amount, to about 600,000 pounds of beams, and C001) pounds of bolts' and washers. The weight may be somewhat .greater,, but this' Is what I could' derive from tne plans -at my disposal. The cost to the .city of these stringers is, according to this, 6.4 cents per pound in place. "I flnd that steel beams were quoted at the time "the supplementary contract was made at $1.60 to- $L7o per 100 pounds; add ing cost of punching, shop paint and freight would bring the cost at Portland at $2.55' to $2.70. Handling, delivery at bridge site, placing and painting should be worth 35 - to 50 cents, making actual cost In place $2.90 to $3.20, and with a fair profit the reasonable cost $3.50 to $3.80 per 100 -pounds. "The total cost of substitution should be accordingly: Steel beams, '606,000 pounds at $3.S0.. $23,028 Bolts, 6000 pounds at $3 300 GOOO feet board measure timber at $20. -1,200 Total $24,523 Credit 200,000 feet board measure at 16 $ 3,200 Total : .$22,323 Judging from Mr. Blhler's report he does not consider $7225 an exhorbltant price for the treated wood blocks. He holds that treated timbers are better for the cleanliness of the structure. The last addition to the original con tract of $331.34 was made by the Execu tive Board November 7, when the oki of the Pacific Construction Company for the construction of tender-hpuses and wait-lug-rooms. .Uodjr- -."si-atem, of center pier, hanging footwa!;f around center pltf-, and other mhinr .extrah .was authorized. Mr. Bihler says: ' 'In thr., -absence Of plans for the pro posed work I hesitate to make any fig ures as to the proper cost of tho various items composing this supplementary con tract It would seem that It would bo more satisfactory to have extra work of this kind, where the work Is not well defined "beforehand, done on a percentage basis, or at least to have the proposition made for each part separately, so that the charge for each could be scrutinized. In stead of having it all lumped together." Following is the expert's summary un der the headlnng "general": "As far as the physical conditions of the bridge is concern'ed. In regard to quantities and quality of material ' and character of workmanship, I consider the work quite up to the specifications, and a credit to the city aj well as to the builders." Fog Lifts at Liverpool. LIVERPOOL, Dec. 23. The fog lift ed at 3 o'clock this morning, and the White Star liner Oceanic and the Cu hard liner Saxonla will shortly land their passengers. i IS SPOILED 'sBjgtiner Too Late for Reception, MINNESOTA AT SEATTLE Mmmojh Steamship Reaches Port Long After Dark, " ROUGH TRIP UP 'THE COAST jLoses Anchor and Chain-by Dragging While in Royal Roads Alter ations and Repairs Are to Be Made'. SEATTLE, Dec. 23. (Staff Correspond ence.) The Great Northern Steamship Company's new iner', Minnesota, clrdgpod anchor in SeattlA'harbor about 10 o'clock tonight. The mammoth vessel had a rough trip" up the coast, and there was enough' re maining of yesterday's gale to prevent her reaching Seattle In time to admit of the programme of welcome being carried-out as planned. The heavy gale which swept over the straits made It Impossible to place the Orientalcrew aboard last night, and1 It was still so rough this forenoon that the undertaking was very slow and hazardous, and Instead of leaving the Ca nadian port at daylight, as planned, it was nearly 1 o'clock this afternoon before she sailed. The vessel has aboard about 6000 tons of cargo coal, and this amount is so small in comparison with Her size that the wind had a pretty full sweep' at her vast sides, and progress was. necessarily slow. The belated departure of - tho steamer from Victoria precluded all possibility of her reaching Seattle before dark, and accordingly a large number of craft that had been. placed In readiness to meet her a few miles out and escort her into port did not move from their docks. The steamer City of Seattle, which had been placed 'at the disposal of the Chamber of Commerce, and the steamship Umatilla, each carrying about 500 peqple. departed at 2 o'clock and met the new liner a few -nllo nt'f Wim Pnrf Tnwimon1 - ro f In'or 1 nerves havo been keyed- up .to a high ten sion all day, and hours before the big steamer had left Victoria, the docks were thronged with people who did not know or did not believe that the vessel would not make port before dark. The Seattleltes have always been in clined to become mildly hysterical over the big things that happen here, and they made as muchr fuss and noise over the arrival of the Minnesota as they did over the launching of the Nebraska. This Is not the first, reception Seattle has given an Oriental liner. When James J. Hill had his first dream of Oriental trade he chartered an ancient British tramp named The Crown of Scotland, and carrying a few hundred 'tons of freight. - This vessel drifted Into Seattle about 12 years ago. It was a raw, chilly afternoon when s"he ar rived, and It was raw and chilly today. The reception committee did not go out In' a boat to meet the Crown of Scotland, but they stood on the dock and howled themselves hoarse, along with the rest of the population, and every steam whis tle between Ballard and Kent joined- in tho greeting. A similar greeting awaited the Minneso ta had she arrived in daylight, but the crowd on the docks, after shifting their weight from one log to the other since early this morning, was too tired to make much of a demonstration, and satisfied themselves with mild comments--on the shadowy ma"ss which loomed up big in the pale moonlight. Most of the steamers in port gave the big liner a welcome "With their whistles, but the' factory whistles were out of steam so late in the evening. The Minnesota, as all know, is the larg est steamship on the Pacific Ocean, but she. was slammed around by tho gale last night as easily as it she was an ordinary sized craft. In the height of the gale, while lying in the Royal Roads, she be gan dragging anchor, and' when she brought up, her great weight caused the cable to part, and an anchor and 65 fath oms of chain were lost. Of the coal on board - the vessel, LoO tons Is for -Portland and the remaindor for Seattle. It is all anthracite and Cum berland blacksmith. coal, and while It Is being discharged at the bunkers here the steamer will take on fuel coal for her trip across the Pacific. "It Is expected that there will be numer ous alterations and repairs made, and In order that no time may be lost, those will be attended to while the' vessel Js dis charging and loading. Unless thoro is a. change in the plans, the steamer will not visit Tacoma on her first trip. Mr. Hill's able corps of freight rustlers have been preparing for the Minnesota's arrival and have in sight nearly enough freight from this jort to fill the big ship. Cotton, do mestics, salmon, steeland 25,000 barrels of flour will be the principal items on the manifest, and in weight and measurement the' big steamer will carry about 22,000 tons. E. W. W. LOSES ANCHOR AND CABLE.' Giant Minnesota and Other Steamers Withstand Strong Gusts. VICTORIA, B. C, Dec. 23. (Special.) During the height of the southeast storm which raged on the Straits this morning tho steamer Minnesota began to drag her anchors In Royal Roads." As a result of the straining one of the cablfes parted and the vessel lost an anchor and 65 fathoms of new steel cable. Another anchor was let go, and the big steamer rode out the gale In safety. Some of the gusts were rated at between SO and 90 miles an hour, and as the Minne sota stood far out of the water she got the full benefit of the wind. It "was with great difficulty that she shipped the 172 members of her crew of Chinese from the tender this morning. Another instance -of severe weather was the fact that the cap tain of the big White Funnel liner Yangtze decided to wait at the outer wharf until the gale raging in the Strait3 and oft Cape Flattery should abate, be fore putting to sea, although she wae ready to sail at daylight. The Yangtze, although tied up to tho quter wharf with all the" wire cables and hump hawsers she could belay, had her starboard anchor down as a precaution. She sailed later In the day, wnen It was reported that the weather had moderated. The Yangtze shipped here 400 tons of salted dog salmon which the steamer Ger manlcus was unable to stow in her hold. She also took a Targe party of Japanese reservists, summoned to join the colors in Manchuria and at Port Arthur. The Canadian-Australian liner Aorangi had to run for Esquimau Harbor Thurs day night when the hurricane wa3 blow ing, and she remained In shelter there until noon today, when-, having landed her passengers and mall at Esquimau, she proceeded to Vancouver. Funeral of Bishop Phelan. PITTSBURG, Dec. 23. The obsequies of Bishop Phelan, held today, were marked by simplicity. Pontifical requiem mass was celebrated by Bishop Canevln, after which absolution was given by five bish ops Individually. At the grave the ser vices were brief, consisting of the ritual for the burial of a bishop and the bless ing of the grave by Bishop Canevln, as sisted by the officers of the mass. There were many high dignitaries of the church present from different parts of the country. STEAMSHIP MINNESOTA, WHICH ARRIVED AT SEATTLE "YESTERDAY The Minnesota, which arrived In Seattle yesterday. Is the first of the Great Northern Steamship Company's new mammoth vessels to reach' the Coast. This ship was built for rervice between Pucet Sound and Japana, China, Hen? Konc and the Philippines, and shares with her Kiztcr ship, the DaTcota, tho distinction of being the largest cargo-carrier In the world. The Minnesota la 630 feet In length. 73.6 feet beam and 50 feet deep from the keel to saloon deck amidships. The total depth from keel to the upper navigating- bridge is SS feet, 4 Inches. The veal has a cubical capacity of 28.000 tons available:, for cargo, 2000 people can be carried, the accommodations covering 250 cabin passengers. 68 Intermediate. lflOO steerage, and a crew of 230 men. An ordinary cargo for this boat would make loo railway traln'loads of 25 cars each, or a single train seven miles long. WIND FANS . Sioux City Shoppers Run for Their Lives, ' TWO BLOCKS DESTROYED Two Million-Dollar Loss From Department Store Blaze. JIAAN JUMPS AND IS KILLED In Three and a Half Hours Largest Buildings in Business Section Are Destroyed, and Flames Are Gotten Under Control. PARTIAL, IJST OF LOSSES. Pelletler Dry Goods Company, $210,000. J. K. Brush & Co.. $60,000. R. R. Purslow, West Hotel and other - buildings, S45.0CO. Commercial block. $t?,00O. Schuleln estate, $C0,O(X. George M. Conway, wholesale tobbac- conlet, ?55',000. State BanU building. Toy building. $175,000. Martin Bros., department store, $23,000. SIOUX CIY, Dec. 23. A fire, which re sulted in the death of one man, a- mon etary loss roughly estimated at 52,0CO. 000, and the destruction of nearly two whole "blocks," started in the basement of the Pelletler. department store, in the Toy block, a six-story stone building at Fourth and Jackson streets, at 8 o'clock tonight. The district burned over lies in the center of the business portion of the city and among the buildings were several of the most substantial structures in the city. In these buildings were located a large number of large stores and several wholesale establishments and three Na- (Concluded on Tag Five.) CONTENTS OF TODAY'S PPEB The Weather. TODAVS-rRaln. pcsslSly snow; southerly wind. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 44 deg.; minimum, 35. Precipitation, 0.32. inch. War In Far East. Port Arthur fleet ready to sail south at a moment's notice. Page 5. Disarmed Russian cruiser Diana said 'to be ready to leave Largon with load o coal. Page 3. Chinese seize Russian rifle1 ammunition hid den in bales . of wool. Page 5. Youns-Murder Trial. Jury cannot arrive at" a decision as to the guilt or Innocence of Xan Patterson, and Is discharged-. Page i. Actress Is taken back to the Tombs In a state of collapse. Paga 4. Counsel endeavoring to have amount of bail reduced. Page 4. Foreljrn. London editors deny, that British press can bemuzled by the Government. Page. 3'. Russian minister of the Interior ha3 a stormy Interview with the Czar. Page S. Former Princess Louise may lose allowance in attempt to see her Children. Page 4. Warrant said to have been Issued for widow- of Deputy Syveton. Page 3. National. President Roosevelt says his part in pro moting international peace conference has been accomplished. Page u. Scheme to bring in Chinese by way of Liv erpool and Rouse's Point. Page 0. Domestic , Two-mlllton-ilollar Are deatroy's fine build ings In business district of Sioux City, la. Pase 1. . At threat of student strike suspension of Gould hazers Is left to the- sophomores. Page 3. Union Pacific people deny sinking of railroad track on Lacln cut-oft" across Salt Lake. Page 3. Counsel for clerk charges thai. Denver ballot-boxes were tampered with after the election. Page 7. Mrs. Belie Schloeman blames her ill luck on fatal number 13. Page 4. HonUon. with top weight romps in ahead in the Oakland handicap. Page T. Pacific Coast. Big liner Minnesota arrive3 at Seattle. Page 1. Spokane man threatens to slay hla daughter's seducer. Page (!. Beef trust, cases In Supreme Court of Mon tana. Page 7. Carnegie turns down Spokane library's re Quest for .another donation. Page- 0. Secretary Dunbar suggests amendments to state census law. Page 6. Commefcial and Jlarine. Expected break occurs In local turkey mar ket. Page 15. . Turkeys at San Francisco bring high prices. Page 13. Forecast of cold wave causes firmness In wheat at Chicago. Page 15. ' Mercantile agencies report unusually heavy holiday trade. Page 13. New York stocks dull, but undertone is firm. Page"15. French ship detained because sailor is miss ing. Page 14. -Portland and Vicinity. Bridge expert makes report showing steel girders cost city $15,000 more than con tractors. Pago 1. Contest for presidency of State Senate may . result In deadlock. Page 11. George H. Howell charges that bridge profits are excessive In speech before Executive Board. Page 16. Senator Mitchell and Reprsentativo Her mann deny that they are Implicated. In land frauds. Page 1. Son is reftuked and fined for striking father. Page 16. Vermont and New Hampshire will erect buildings at the Lewis and Clark Exposi tion. Page 10. Christmas - services will commence In tho churches tonight. Page 1L 1