- - - .-
. .' : Jiwiffltrfll (jimnmiuu,
VOL. XLV. JHO. 13,795.
PORTLAND, OBEGON, FRIDAY FEBRUARY 24, 1905.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
BEICN QFTERRQR
Rebellion Rampant in
the .Caucasus.
TROOPS ARE BESIEGED
Oyer One Thousand Killed in
Riots at Baku,
POLAND CUT OFF FROM WORLD
Railroad Strike Stops All Communi
cation, and Strikers Again Grow
Riotous Black Sea Fleet
Bombards Rebel Town.
SPECIAL CABLE.
ST. PETERSBURG. Feb. 24 That there
5s a reign, ol terror in the Caucasus is no
longer denied by the officials here; in
fact, it is openly admitted at the War
Office that communication with the dis
trict is absolutely cut off and that the
troops there are simply unable to com
municate with St. Petersburg. In many
places the soldiers are besieged in their
barracks and are"only holding their po
sitions by force of numbers.
One report received here states that
sailors and marines from the Black Sea
squadron have been landed and hurried
Into the district to cope -with the infuri
ated mobs of strikers, who are parading
throughout the country districts looting
the mansions of the nobles and carrying
away ail of the livestock of the several
places.
It is reported here this morning that
the Czar has issued an edict drafting re
servists from all of the outlying districts
and from SL Petersburg and Moscow to
dp duty in the Caucasus, and several bri
gades which were destined for the Far
East have been ordered to remain until
this latest insurrectionary movement is
put down.
MOBS RIOT IN BAKU STREETS
Strikers and Tartars Fight, and Over
' a Thousand Xre killed.
SPECIAL CABLE.
BAKU, Russia. Feb. 24. Not in the his
tory of this city have such, scenes as
have transpired during the last three days
been known, and in nearly every house
hold there is a. mourning today, and the
end is not yet.
On Sunday a street brawl broke out be
tween a party of strikers and Tartar boys,
which soon resolved Itself Into a general
riot. Fighting continued until "Wednes
day, when both sides called a truce.
Hundreds of houses were burned about
the heads of their occupants, and, while
the casualties are as yet unknown, it is
estimated that over 1000 persons were
killed, while more than twice -that num
ber were injured. Entire families have
been dragged from their homes and mas
sacred and their bodies shockingly muti
lated and left in the streets.
A mob of fully 3000 persons made an
attack upon the Pitoyeff and Kasplgsk
works, but were finally repulsed by the
guards, leaving behind them over DO dead.
More trouble is feared.
WARSHIPS BOMBARD REBELS
They Control Batoum, and Govern
ment Is Powerless.
CONSTANTINOPLE, Feb. 28. Bx-
tremely alarming reports are current
here concerning the situation at Ba
toum and Potl. It Is alleged that some
vessels of the Black Sea squadron
(Russian) have bombarded Potl.
An English merchant who has just
arrived here says he was obliged to
flee from Batoum, where his life was
menaced by strikers and his office de
stroyed. This merchant says . the au
thorities of Batoum are powerless. The
strikers are all Georgians, and are es
timated to number 40,000.
The steamship lines from Constanti
nople to Batoum have suspended serv
ice. AWFUL CRIMES STAIN BAKU
Whole Family Burned to Death, and
Many Murders Committed.
BAKU, Feb. 23. The town Is now
quiet. All the Armenian shops have
have been closed, but the banks are
doing- business under military protec
tion. Order has been restored at Ba
lakhany. but at Romany today strikers
attacked two factories and as a result
30 persons were killed or wounded.
In Baku many terrible murders have
been committed. Manager Adamoff, of
the Naphtha Refining Worxs, his wife
and children were burned to death. A
legal official and a bazaar owner, with
the latter's family, have been mur
dered. POLAND CUT OFF FROM WORLD
Railroads Are Tied Up, Strikers Vio
lent and Strike Spreading.
"WARSAW. Feb. 23. The situation hero
is causing the greatest anxiety in all cir
cles. The assistant of the Governor-General,
who was Interviewed today, frankly
admitted that the government is at a loss
to know what to do. Alarming reports
are current concerning the intention and
plans of the revolutionary party, and
March 4 is awaited with much apprehen
sion. The strike agitation Is spreading in
every direction, and bank clerks. Journal
ists, office servants, printers, drivers and
stationary engineers and mechanics in
general are all threatening- to strike. Not
withstanding- all this, the situation' In the
city is remarkably quiet.
The Vienna railroad is still completely
at a standstill, and there appears no hope
of a speedy settlement of the difficulty.
The directors had a long session today,
but were unable to find a solution. They
will renew the conference tomorrow.
"Western Poland Is completely cut off
from communication with Middle and
"Western Europe, except by telegraph. No
mails are arriving or leaving, the author
ities apparently preferring to hold mails
rather than send them by circuitous
routes. Commercial Interests and private
individuals are much inconvenienced.
The city Is threatened with a coal fam
ine, the entire supply of coal coming from
the District of Dombrova over the Vienna
road. The Governor-General has offered
to supply military men to work the
trains. 4 but it is impracticable, as the
strikers have destroped switches. Many
troops going from Moscow and St. Pet
ersburg are detained hero and great quan
tities of perishable freight from France
and Italy are being utterly spoiled by the
delay.
A telephone message from Lodz says
the workmen in most of the .factories
there have returned to their labors, but,
as the big mills are only paying the old
wages, while the pay of the men In the
small mills has been Increased, it is
feared that the improvement is only tem
porary. The employes of the "Warsaw-Mlava
section of the Vistula Railway have
struck, cutting off the last direct line of
communication with Germany. Only very
circuitous routes are now open.
"WARSAW, Feb. 4 (12:50 A. M.). The
strikers are resorting to violence. They
have destroyed the great switchboard sta
tion outside the city and a gang cut a
number of telegraph wires.
FIGHTING IN CITY STREETS
Black Sea Squadron Reduces Potl to
Ruins.
SPECIAL CABLE.
CONSTANTINOPLE, Feb. 24. It is
reported here that the situation along
the Black Sea in Russia is most threatening-
and that rioting and -fighting in
the streets of all the cities has been
In progress for several days.
One report has if that the Russian
Black Bea squadron opened, on Potl
with its guns and wrecked a large por
tion of the city.
BONDS OF SOCIETY LOOSENED
Strikes and Riots Everywhere Czar
Called "Nicholas the Last."
ST. PETERSBURG. Pet). 24 (3:S0 A.
M.) Dispatches from many cities in
the south of Russia as well as in the
Caucasus proper make this region the
center of interest in the week's strike
developments, though there have been
sporadic strikes in all portions of Rus
sia. The tie-ups of railroads radiating
irom Moscow is a very serious feature
of the situation. In the Caucasus re
gion the authorities appear for the mo
ment to have gained the upper hand,
but the situation may at any time
again pass out of their control. Even
the reinforcements of the military in
all of the cities seem to have been
Inadequate to prevent the continuance
of conditions tending to robbery, mur
der and terrorism.
Telegraphic communication was re
stored to Batoum this evening- and a
dispatch received from that city indi
cated that the troops and authorities
have regained control, but that ma
rauders are unceasingly active, while
racial strife- continues and the whole
population, is in a state of panic
Baku also is comparatively quiet,
though the phrase is only relative to
the. previous era of open murder and
pillage.
There is no news from Poti or Ku
tais, but it Is presumed that they also
have been temporarily pacified.
On the other hand, other cities out
side the Caucasus are in a condition of
complete disorder owing to strikes.
The forces of law and order apparently
have been unable to prevent the strik
ers from resorting to the tactics of
their fellows in St. Petersburg and
marching from shop to shop and forc
ing out every workman. Many Gov
ernment works in various parts of the
country are Included in the suspen
sions. Half of the workmen in Libau
are on strike, seriously affecting the
manufacture of military supplies.
The St. Petersburg workmen have
temporarily resumed their occupations
while voting for memoers for the im
perial mixod commission, but they are
possessed of the spirit of unrest, and
their sense of power is being- fed by
incendiary proclamations, the latest of
which alludes to the Emperor as
"Nicholas the Last," and makes a rabid
attack upon the motives of the Gov
ernment. RUSSIAN AUTHORS ARRESTED
One of Them Vividly Depicted Scenes
of Bloody Sunday.
MOSCOW, Feb. 23. The police to
night arrested Leonido Andrieff, a well
known author, and two other less
known writers. The police refuse to
say whether the arrest is in connection
with the assassination of Grand Duke
Sorgius or for complicity with Gorky
and other Liberals in alleged revolu
tionary conspiracies.
Andrieff, who is known as "Little
Gorky," has recently attracted much
attention by a powerful sketch entitled
"The Red Laugh," which is appearing
.in a magazine, and which resembles not
only in name, but in vigor and vivid
ness Stephen Crane's "Red Badge of
Courage." 'The' sketch was written
under tho inspiration of the tragedy of
January 22, .first depicting tho ghastly
merriment or pools of blood In Manchu
ria at findinp: themselves repeated in
the streets of Russian cities. One critic
characterizes the sketch as a "Verestl
shagln In pros."
WILL ABOL'JSH THE CENSORS
Minister Bouligan Declares In Favor
of Fee Press.
ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 23. Tho
conference opened under the presi
dency of Privy Councillor Kobeko to
consider the question of the censorship
has in principle declared in favor of
the abolition of the censorship of news
papers. The report of , the Minister of
the Interior declared' that Minister
Bouligan himself favored this course
and he wished that the change be made
gradually. The jonference' further ad
vocated the abolition of the book cen
sor for origlnaLfcrorks and translations.
ON FUR OFF
Commission Advocates
Ready for Deal.
LUMBERMEN QUITE SHY
Demurrage Matter Can be Set
tled at Later Date.
EAST SIDERS ALL PLEDGED
House Caucus Has Agreed on the
Unit Rule In Dealing With All
Matters In Connection With
Crane-Dickson .Bill.
OLTMPIA, Wash., Feb. 23. (Special.)
Tho developments of another day have
not brought any encouragement to the
railway commission men. The prospect
of an alliance with the lumbermen of the
Senate on the Earles demurrage bill now
seems very remote, although the commis
sion leaders of the House have sent out
a steering- committee to make a deal, it
possible, on this or almost any other
basis that will secure enough votes to put
the Crane-Dickson measure through. This
steering committee was appointed at a
caucus of East Side members of the
House after adjournment this afternoon,
and the men comprising It are Repre
sentatives Dickson, Relter and Crane.
The East Side combine of House mem
bers now claims every East Side vote In
the House with the exception of Hux
table of Spokane, who is a railway con
ductor, and who in the Joint committee
favored the railroad amendments to the
subcommittee bill. The caucus has .agreed
to go down the lino on the Crane-Dickson,
bill and has adopted the unit rule
for dealing- with other matters that may
arise in connection with the railway com
mission bill.
Lumbermen Are Flirting..
Several outside lumbermen appeared, on
the scene today, including George H.
Emerson, of, Hoqulam,- and -George Log
gie, of Bellingham. If any efforts were
made to secure a meeting of men Inter
ested In the demurrage bill they were
without avail, and the impression is
afloat that other proposals have been
made to the lumbermen that will ef
fectually shut off negotiations between
them and the commission men.
In discussing the tentative proposal
made by the Earles men tonight one of
the House commission men was disposed
to threaten dire consequences to the de
murrage bill if it should be passed by the
Senate through the concessions of the
anti-commission men, given in order to
defeat the passage of the House railway
commission bill. It was asserted that the
commission men had enough votes in the
House to kill the demurrage bill, and
would do so under such circumstances.
If the lumbermen are flirting with the
other side, however, it is partly due to
tho fact that the plan was not feasible in
tho first place, because of the inability
of the lumbermen to swing all their
strength on such a question. .
Another element also enters into the
case. The logical course of the railway
commission fight Is the passage of the
bill by the House and the cutting of It
to pieces in the Senate with amendments.
Under the present terms of the bill the
commission would undoubtedly have- the
power to deal with the demurrage ques
tion and the passage of both the Earles
bill and the Dickson-Crane bill would only
bo double-shooting tho turn, with the
slight advantage of having tho demur
rage question settled positively without
leaving It to the subsequent determina
tion of a commission.
In the absence of an inability to get
together on a trade with the commis
sion men, the lumbermen will not worry
over the ability of tho House to kill the
Earles bill, but will expect to save the
powers of the commission in that di
rection when conference committees are
appointed to agree, if possible, on the
amendments put in the commission bill
by the Senate.
Factory Bill to Be a Club.
Another club is mentioned In connec
tion with the forcing of the railway com
mission bill. This is the Davis factory
inspection bill, now on third reading in
the House. Tho bill is a modification of
the present factory inspection law, which
Is unsatisfactory to factory and lum
bermen. The lumbermen want tho Davis
bill passed and the threat to km this
bill unless the lumbermen line up in the
Senato for the House commission bill is
under discussion as a possible means of
converting Senators to the railway com
mission Idea.
The East Side caucusers havo put out
an agreement tonight which they are cir
culating among both Houso and Senate
members. It pledges the signers to stand
by the Crane-Dickeon bill without amend
ments. The railway commission men
are not entering into the fight thus ear
nestly with any great degree of confi
dence. They have every confidence of
passing the Crane-Dickson bill in tho
House nnd assert that they havo suffi
cient strength pledged to do so. They are
not positive of a two-thirds vote, how
ever, and are therefore not asserting that
they will be able to suspend the rules to
morrow, and put the bill on final pass
age. Undoubtedly the attempt will be
made, but if the opponents of. the bill are
seeking delay it Is likely they will be
able to postpone final action for a few
days in the lower branch.
The possibility of delays does not worry
the commission men nearly so much as
the status of the fight in"-the -Senate, and
a toothless measure or none .at all are
their only genuine expectations as to the
final result.
HOUSE KILLS OSTEOPATH BILL
Measure Required Examination Be
fore State Medical Board.
OLTMPIA, Wash., Feb. 23. (Special.)
It took the House about three minutes
this afternoon to kill the "Wilson osteo
path bill. This measure originated in
the Senate and was passed by that body
la spite of the opposition of a lobby main
tained by the members of the osteopathic
profession.
The hill has been referred to facetiously
as a "measure to require osteopaths to
submit to an examination before a packed
Jury." It required an examination and
certification before the State Board of
Medical Examiners as a prerequisite to
practicing osteopathy, and gave to that
school one member out of ten on the
board. The bill was on the calendar for
second reading, and when It was reached
Booth of King promptly moved its in
definite postponement. The motion car
ried 'with only & murmur of opposition.
Prior to, the killing of the osteopath bill,
another measure by Senator Wilson, giv
ing the State Board of Health- control of
vital statistics, ran a gauntlet of opposi
tion from the friends of the newer schools
of medicine and surgery. The bill con
tained a provision that in all cases of
death an examination and burial certifi
cate should be secured from a licensed
medical practitioner. It was alleged that
this section was in the interests of a
"medical trust," confined to members of
the older schools of medicine.
Crane of Spokane Introduced one amend
ment Intended to correct the offending
section, and it was voted down. He then
introduced another, and while It was un
der discussion a motion indefinitely to
postpone the bill was made and defeated.
Crane's second amendment was then
passed and the bill was advanced to third
reading.
The crane amendment provides that in
the event a person dies without the at
tendance of a licensed practitioner, any
adult person may certify to the cause
of death for purposes of furnishing sta
tistics to the Board of Health and pet
mltting the Issuance of a burial certifi
cate. The House passed a number of impor
tant Senate bills today. They include
Tucker's bill, making It a felony to adul
terate milk with formaldehyde or other
poisonous or deleterious substances; Rus
sell's bill, fixing a maximum penalty at
life Imprisonment for aiding prisoners
to escape from the State Penitentiary by
the use of explosives, abti Potts' bill,
making it a felony to obtain money on a
bank check drawn against Imaginary
funds.
The House passed Senator Moore's bill,
requiring hotel and restaurant kitchens
to be kept in a sanitary condition and
prescribing certain regulations to attain
that end. The bill as it passed the Sen
ato made It the duty of the State Labor
Commissioner to inspect kitchens and
prosecute violations of the act in a sim
ilar manner to the investigations and
prosecutions prescribed in Moore's bill of
two years ago affecting bakeshops, which
is now o-.law. J
Tha: HYuiif TOKCjer, tf:3'-ft?ll?veI ihf
State Labor Commissioner of any control
over the kitchen regulations. The bill,
as passed, fixes the regulations and leaves
It to the city authorities to enforce the
act. -
The House today passed a bill which
prescribes a method for taking up and
(Concluded on Page 12.)
CONTENTS OF TODAY'S PAPEB
The "Weather.
TESTERDAT'S -Maximum temperature. 57 de
gress; minimum, 4S degrees. Precipitation,
trace.
TODAY'S Haln. Southerly winds.
The War in the Par East.
All talk ot peace scouted and both nations pre
pare tor decisive battle. Page 2.
Affairs la Bosala.
Rebels In the Caucasus besiege troops In bar
racks and terrorize cities. Page 1.
Race riots .at Baku cause 1000 death and twtca
as many wounded. Paga 1.
Railroad strike ties up Poland and alf South
western Russia. Page 1.
Grand Duke Sergiu9 buried in state at Moscow.
Page 3.
Ulnlater Bouligan declares for free press.
Page 2.
PerelxB.
North Sea, decision declared not wholly for
either nation. Pago 1.
Britlsh "War Secretary defends his army.
Page 4.
Xatlosal.
House passes river and harbor bill. Page 4.
Senate passes Panama. Canal BlU. Pago 4.
Poster makes last attempt to control patronage.
Page 1.
Stuyvcsaat Fish given railroad Bide of rate
question. Page 4.
Hour! calls for documents' on Osage oil lease.
Pace 4.
President will push land fraud trials with
vigor. Page 1.
Interstate Commission decides, against pooling
California fruit traffic Page 4.
Domestic
Dr. Osier expresses startling opinions on us.
leesneM of old men. Pago 3.
Coroner's Jury accuses Hoch of murder.
Page 3.
Politics.
Charles Kratz. accused St. Louis boodler, ac
quitted. Page 4.
How graft money was distributed' in Illlnole
Legislature. Page 4.
Mlesourl Legislature InTtetlgates Juggling with
an tl -pool Mil. Page 4.
District Attorney Jerome exposes Nrx Tork
police corruption. Page 4.
Pactflo Coast.
Referendum may be Invoked on Oregon million-dollar
appropriation bin. Page 6.
Governor Chamberlain Ye toes three more bills.
Page 5.
Alliance between lumbermen and commission
radicals eeema far off. Page 1.
Pacific University applies for injunction against
proposed. Pbrest Grove saloon. Page 5.
Spokane united church people" mourn for Bishop
Mclnturff. Page 5.
Sports.
Portland fans else up McCredla's team.
Page 9.
Commercial and M arise.
Unusual activity in iron and steel markets.
Page 13.
Sensational advance In iron stocks at New
Tork. Page 13.
Chicago wheat dotes weak and lower. Page
13.
Fancy Oregon potatoes In demand at San
Francisco. Page 13.
Steamer Elder may not be floated for two
weeks. Page 12.
Canned beef going to Japan. Page 12.
Portland and vicinity.
Green C Love attacks codicil of his father's
wIlL Page 10.
Steamboat men draft new rules for captains
and pilots. Page 7.
Strife aroused over location of new High
School. Page 14.
Chicago precedent for closing bridges cited.
Page 9.
Cougar hunted with hounds. Page 0.
Troops from Vancouver Barracks will em
bark on transports at Portland. Page 8.
Citizens are united to make Portland a city
beautifal. Page 8.
Expiration of -short term, of : Civil Service
Commissioner Is a puzzle. Page 14.
Vice-checked; says Sheriff "Word.'pige 10.
WAR IS RENlWE
Foster's Last Chance at
Patronage.
WANTS TO NAME JUDGE
New Judicial District Bill Will
Soon Pass,
JONES HAS THE FIRST CALL
Foster Will Havo a Week to Work
on Appointments Before Term
Expires Candidates for
Judgeship.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. "Wash
ington. D. C, Feb. 23. The patronage war
between Senators Foster and Ankeny -was
renewed today when the Senate passed
Representative Jones bill dividing the
State of "Washington into two judicial
districts. This bill authorizes the ap
pointment of a new District Judge, United
States Attorney and Marshal, an for the
new Eastern district, and because of the
Importance of "the positions, both Senators
are anxious to control. A. Senate amend
ment provides that the bill shall become
effective aa soon aa signed by the Presi
dent, which will probably make it opera
tive one week before the expiration of
Foster's term.
This being the case, Foster insists that
bo shall be .consulted In the eelectlon of
these three officials, but in all probability
the new patronage will not be dealt out
until after March 4, and will then be
controlled by Ankeny and Piles. Ankeny
ridicules the idea that Foster shall have
anything to say about those appointments
and will protest to the President if Fos
ter takes the matter to the "White House.
Provisions of Bill.
This bill passed the Senate today in
amended form, and as soon as the House
accepts the Senate amendments will go
to the President for his signature. It
divides the state into two judicial dis
tricts, one east and the other west of the
JbsJL CaleTJduhttcln3.- -IS provides that"!
terms of court in the western district
shall be held at Seattle, commencing on
the first Tuesday In March and Novem
ber, and at Tacoma in February and
July. In the Eastern district court will
be held at Spokane In April and Septem
ber, "Walla Walla In June and Decem
ber and North Yakima in May and Octo
ber. The present District Judge, Mar
shal, "United States Attorney and other
court officials are to be assigned to the
"Western district, and a new Judge, At
torney and Marshal will Immediately be
appointed by the President for tho East
ern district. The new Judge will appoint
deputies, clerks and commisisoners for
his district, the present commissioners
and deputies on duty In Eastern "Washing
ton to resign when their successors are
appointed. The salaries of the Judge and
other officials of the new Eastern, dis
trict will be tho same as are now paid In
the district of "Washington.
Jones Will Name Judge.
But for the personal efforts of Repre
sentative Jones the judicial bill would
not havo passed the House. In view of
this fact, it Is quite probable that Jones
will have the selection of the new Dis
trict Judge, and Ankeny will probably
select the Marshal and Attorney. AH
must be residents of Eastern "Washington
and be men of the highest Integrity and
ability. Tho President will satisfy him
self on this score before he makes the
appointments, and this consideration in
itself will delay the appointments until
after March 4.
The Impression eeems to prevail here
that E. D. Whitson, of North Yakima,
will bo decided upon for Judgo of the new
district. Senator Ankeny positively re
fuses to intimate in any way whom he
will recommend, saying that It will be
time enough to- do that after the bill be
comes a law, but la view of the fact that
the bill contemplates placing the head
Quarters of the court at Spokane, that
city could hardly expect both Judge and
headquarters. Senators Ankeny and
Piles have had no conference on the
matter. Consequently Senator Piles de
clines to discuss the subject.
Aside from "Whitson, the following men
are candidates for the Judgeship: J. I.
Sharps te In and Thomas H. Brents, "Walla.
"Walla; H. I Xennen, J. Z. Mooro,
Joseph Xlnsley, S. R. Stein and E. H.
Sullivan, of Spokane; J. N. Plckerell, of
Colfax, and Judge Charles Miller, of Day
ton. It Is thought that LInsley will
eventually be recommended, In accord
ance with the agreement said to have
been entered Into by the Piles and
Sweeny forces at the time of tho Sena
torial election.
CONFERENCE ON LAND FRAUDS.
District Attorney Heney at White
House President Thanks Burns.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash
ington, D. C., Feb. 23. District Attorney
Heney took lunch with the President to
day by invitation. Secretary Hitchcock
and Attorney-General Moody were pres
ent. The object was to have a confer
ence on the Oregon land fraud- matters.
The President later sent for W. J. Burns,
who had worked up the evidence In these
cases, thanked him and warmly congrat
ulated him on his successful work.
CORNELIUS
IS
POSTMASTER
Fulton Secures His Appointment and
Confirmation at Hlllsboro.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash
ington, D." C, Feb, 23. The President
this morning nominated and the Senate
this evening" confirmed B. H. , Cornelius
as Postmaster at Hlllsboro. This ap
pointment Is made in accordance with the
assurance which the President gave Sen
ator Fulton last Saturday that he should
be permitted to control Oregon patronage
while the other members of the delega
tion are under indictment.
Fulton asked for the appointment of
Cornelius after the Postoffice Depart
ment had refused to send in his name,
with the result above stated. Cornelius
will take charge of the office as soon as
a satisfactory bond Is filed.
New National Bank at Condon.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash
ington, D. C, Feb. 23. The application
of F. T. Hurlburt, of Shaniko, Or.; E. O.
McCoy, W. Li. Lord. J. W. French and
Smith French to organize the Condon
National Bank, of Condon, Or., with $50,
000 capital, has been approved by the
Comptroller of the Currency. .
Piles' Credentials Presented.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash
ington, D. C, Feb. 23. Senator Foster
today presented to the Senate the creden
tials of Senator-elect Piles.
C0KEER 02T LAUD-FRAUD CASES
President Will Push Them Vigor
ously Further Arrests Likely
WASHINGTON. Feb. 23. As the re
sult of conferences held at the White
House today with President Roosevelt,
further developments in the land fraud
cases in Oregon and California may be
expected at no distant day. Since the
first steps were taken looking to the
prosecution of the alleged offenders the
President has shown a keen Interest In
the Investigations and the Indictments
which followed. With the view of ac
quainting hlmelf with the situation, the
President today was In close conference
with Secretary Hitchcock, Attorney-General
Moody and Special Attorney F. J.
Heney, who discussed with him the evi
dence so far gathered.
Later he held a second conference, at
which were present Secretary Hitchcock,
Mr. Heney and Secret Service Inspector
William E. Bums, who was active In
bringing about a number of the arrests.
At this latter meeting it is understood a
plan of action was mapped out, and the
statement was made tonight that It need
not occasion surprise If further arrests
are ordered. To Mr. Burns, It is under
stood, the President conveyed his warm
commendation for weaving around the al
leged offenders a chain of evidence on
which tho indictments were procured.
None of the persons mentioned would
make any statement, but from a reliable
source the information was gleaned that
the President purposes to carry the pros
ecution to a final conclusion as vigorous
ly as were tho Postoffice cases.
STILL BTrCOTERIKG.THll. DEAD
Rescuers in Ruined Coal Mine Baf
fled by Foul Odors.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Feb. 23. At 8
o'clock tonight 92 bodies had been recov
ered from the Virginia mines, and the
rescue work continues. The foul odors
from the decomposing bodies have now
beoome so unbearable that the rescuers
work in short relays, and hundreds of
pounds of disinfectant have been used to
make further work possiDle.
Fifty-five funerals were conducted In
the suburbs of Birmingham today, all of
which were for victims of the awful dis
aster. It is estimated that there are at least
25 more bodies to be taken out. and the
rescuera have to finish up the level they
are on now and open one more level.
There are three bodies In the bottom, of
the lowest level, which it Is expected will
require at least 10 days to Teach. The
bodies are those of the pumper and his
assistants. They are covered with water,
and. since the pumping machinery was
ruined by the explosion, it will take much
time to get the water out of the mine.
Governor Cunningham has officially In
structed State Mine Inspector Gray and
his assistants to make a thorough in
vestigation of the disaster and report to
him at the earliest practicable moment.
The relief fund for the stricken fam
ilies so far amounts to more than $13,000.
Coroner Paris today impaneled a
Jury, which was taken into the mine as
soon as possible, In order that It may
be aided in reaching- a conclusion as to
the' cause of the disaster.
The relief work was abandoned at
midnight and will not bo resumed until
morning. Many of the bodies found in
the innermost recesses of the mine were
In a kneeling posture, as though the
men spent their last moments in prayer.
arUBDEREP Aim THEf? bushed
Tragic End of Aged Women Attrib
uted to Missing Coachman.
MONTCLAIR, N. J., Feb. 23. Follow
ing the discovery of the body of Mrs.
Hannah B. Ross, a wealthy octogenarian,
in the ruins of her home in High street
today, the police expressed the opinion
that the woman had been murdered and
the house fired to conceal the crime. A
German coachman, who was the only
domestic employed by Mrs. Ross, has not
been seen since the fire, and a search of
the ruinB failed to reveal any trace of
his body. Three adjacent houses were de
stroyed by the fire, which started In the
Ross house, but the occupants had no
difficulty In escaping.
Mrs. Ross made her will last Saturday
and It was witnessed by the missing
coachman. The house and the valuable
furniture which it contained she left to
her adopted daughter, Mrs. Rupe, of Bal
timore. When her body was found It
was completely dressed.
The police believe that, if she was mur
dered, the fire was incendiary and the
motive was one of revenge. All the wo
man's rings were on her fingers.
May Sustain Governor Adams.
DENVER, Feb. 23. The Gubernatorial
contest committee tomorrow afternoon
will receive the briefs of the attorneys.
Under the rules. Its report will have to
be comploted by next Wednesday. Un
confirmed reports are In circulation to
the effect that the majority of the com
mittee, which consists of 19 Republicans
and 8 Democrats, will sustain Governor
Adams and recommend that Peabody be
given leave to 'withdraw his petition.
Mad Mullah on the Warpath.
ADEN, Arabia, Ffeb. 23. Tho Somali
Mullah, "the Mad Mullah," la again on
the warpath. He Is reported to' be a
day's march from Obdla and to have
seized and killed a number of the Sultan
of Obdla's followers.
much us m?
Doubt About North Sea
Decision,
BOTH LET DOWN EASILY
One Authority Says Middle
Ground Is Taken,
OTHERS SAY RUSSIA HAS WOfi
Report Is Adopted and Witt Be Pub
llshed on Saturday Finds Can
nonade Justified, but Crit-
Jclses. Russians.
PARIS, Feb. 23. The International?
commission appointed to inquire into
the North Sea incident practically con
cluded its work tonight by finally;
agreeing- to the report, which will be
publicly announced at the closing- ses-r
slon, to be held at Paris next Satur
day. Concerning- the general nature of
the report the following- statement was
made In a most authoritative quarter:
to the Associated Press:
"When the text of the decision be
comes known, it will be more accepta
ble to the press and public than they
have been .led to believe. The semi
official reports which have appeared,
while more or less accurate, tend too
strongly to Bhow Russian success, but
as a matter of fact the Admirals have
sought a middle ground, and the de
cision is not a pronounced victory for
either side. It 13 of such a character
as to preserve Russia's self-respect and
at the same time give tho British pub
lic much ground for satisfaction. If
anything; the decision Is rather more
favorable to Great Britain than to Rus
sia." More Favorable to Russia.
On the other hand the Havas agency
tonight confirmed its semi-official
statement of last night. It says:
"The conclusions as a whole are
quite favorable to Russia, tecogniziui?
that Xdmlrar'Rojestvensky could legi
timately consldor himself in danger
and act as he did. Howrever, the report
contains reservations calculated to sat
isfy British susceptibilities, the most
important being that the Commission
esteems that the Russian fire lasted too
Ions and also that Rojestvensky should
have speedily notified the British mari
time authorities of the deplorable In
cident. Upon tho question of the pres
ence of torpedo boats the Commission
frees all navies from the Imputation.
"The Commission rejected a motion!
of Admiral Beaumont (Great Britain),
blaming the Russian crews.
"The conclusions are said to "be In
the -form of questions whereto the?
Commissioners state their answers
either unanimously or as a majority.
Americans Think It Favors Britain,
The American officials are strongiS!
inclined to accept the view first stated,
that the decision is more favorable toj
Great Britain than to Russia.
The four foreign members save si
banquet tonight In honor of the pre
siding officer, Admiral Fournlep
(France). The latter will return the
compliment on Saturday. President
Doubet will give a luncheon in honor
of the Commission at tne Elysee Palace
Sunday.
Rear Admiral Charles "EL Davis
(United States) and his aide, Ensign
William F. Byckner, havo taken pass
age on the Finland, sailing March -4
from Antwerp. The Admiral's wife
and daughter remain, for a tour ofi
Italy.
QUIET EXULTATION IN RUSSIA
Naval Officials Say Decision Justifies
Action of Fleet.
ST. PETERSBURG. Feb. 24 (2 A. M.).
The intimation that tho decision off
the international commission on. the
Hull affair will be favorable to Russia,
is received with much quiet exultatioo
in Admiralty circles, and by the St. Pe
tersburg public, where it is felt to show:
the baselessness of "the senseless
clamor" against Vice-Admlral Koje3t-
vensky.
Naval officers always have maintained!
that there was another sldo to tha
question as It was presented by the
press of Great Britain and believed R.o
je3tvensky was amply justified in tak
ing all precautions for the safety of hla
fleet, -especially -in view of the warn
ings, the seriousness of which appar
ently was not realized elsewhere, andl
wero convinced that a commission of
Impartial experts would tako the same
view. Hence the report is accepted
without surprise, although It has not
been announced officially.
President Harper Doing Weil.
CHICAGO. Feb. 23. Tho condition oC
President Harper, of the University o
Chicago, who was operated upon
Wednesday afternoon. Is said to be im
proving. In a bulletin issued tonight It
was stated that he was making satis
factory progress toward recovery, all
nausea having disappeared. The patient
took solid nourishment today and slept
restfully most of the time. Eo passed;
a comfortable night last night.
No More Passes for Hoosiers.
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind., Feb. 23. The
Indiana House of Representatives to
day passed the Davis anti-pass bill,
which prohibits tho Issuance of rall
.road passes to any citizenof the state
by a vote of 35 to 9.