ttpiiinn
VOL. XLV.- NO. 14,004.
PORTLAND, OREGON,
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1905.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
SOCIAL REVOLT
SHAKES RUSSIA
St; Petersburg tut Off
- by Strikers.
PEOPliE CLAMOR FOR LIBERTY
Witte to Take Helm and Seek
to Rule Storm. ,
BLOODY FIGHTING IN SOUTH
Nearly Every Railroad Tied Up.
Rioting in St. Petersburg, Riga
and Ekaterlnoslav Czar
May jLcave Empire.
ST. PETERSBURG. Oct. 25. An en
counter took place this evening be
tween strikers and englnedrHers who
were preparing to take out trains. Re
volver shots -were ozchanged and a
number of persons were killed or
wounded.
ST. PETERSBURG, Oct 2C (G
A. (Special.) South Russia Is in
open revolt. Workmen have erected
fortifications .and wire entanglements.
St. Petersburg's citizens have become
panic-stricken, fearing the downfall of
the government and the proclamation
of mob-rule.
LONDON', Oct. 25. (Special.) Dr.
Dillon, correspondent of the London
Telegraph at St Petersburg, wires:
"NobSdy any longer questions the
reality of the revolution, or the reign
of anarchy. The government is blind
and palsied, purblind and frenzied.
Anything, even monstrous doings such
as history has never yet recorded, Is,
to put It mildly, quite possible in the
Czardom of today."
ST. PETERSBURG. Oct 26.-(4 A. M.)
Confronted by a situation more serious
lha.n -any since the beginning: of the
political and social upheaval of Russia,.
which at the time this dispatch Is filed
shows no signs o amelioration, the
Emperor's ministers, under the leader
ship of Count Witte, spent almost all
of yesterday In conferences In the hope
of finding some way out of the crisis Into
which the revolutionists and the Social
ists have cast the country. The general
strike on the railroads Is complete ex
cept in a few border provinces, and St
Petersburg, Moscow and other large
cities are almost as closely beleaguered
as If they were invested by beselging
armies. At the same time the industrial
strike has assumed large dimensions and
the turbulent elements in several locali
ties arc forming open resistance to the
troops. The ministers who had bee'n In
session during the day resumed their
meeting after a short interval for din
ner and continued deliberations until long
after midnight The result of these de
liberations is not known.
Witte Appointed Saturday.
The ministers were summoned to meet,
not as the Committee of Ministers, of
which Count "Witte Is president, but as
the Council of Ministers, 'of which Count
Solsky is president, and . the selection
of Count Witte to preside, which was
done by direction of the Emperor, shows
that a ministerial cabinet is actually
though not formally an accomplished
fact It Is understood that an edict
formally establishing a ministerial cab
inet which will bear the old name of
"Sovyet," or council, will be published
in th'e official messenger Saturday next,
together with an imperial rescript ad
dressed personally to Count "Witte, on
trusting him with the simultaneously
created position of premier, There ap
pears to be some question as to whether
the Count will take the portfolio of
Finance or that of Minister of the In
terior. The Finland railroads to Helslngfors
arid the steamers constitute St Peters
burg's only means of communication
with the outer world this 'morning. The
postal authorities are now 'refusing to
accept ordinary mail and international
correspondence is at a standstill.
The strike' Is completed from the fac
tory region on both banks of 4he Neva
above the city and In several other in
dustrial quarters. Forty thousand men
are out but they are conducting them
selves In a most orderly manner. The
Store Clerks Union tonight proclaimed a
two weeks' sympathetic- strike for politi
cal rights, but It Is probable that it will
be only partially observed.
Prudent Inhabitants are laying in stocks
of provisions so as o prepare lor emer
genclcs. As a consequence, the prices of
provisions have risen sharply.
Large meetings, mainly of workmen.
were held last night in the university
and the higher schools, at which the sen
tlment was unanimous for continuing the
strike on the railroads to the bitter end,
The proceedings at several of the meet
ings wore of a strongly revolutionary
character, the orators calling on their
auditors to slay all chlnovnlks and the
police and to meet the-troops with armed
force. These speeches were received with
enthusiastic cheers. The police were
powerless to Interfre. the predicts of the
university being forbidden ground to
them under an Imperial ukase.
A new sensational drama by Maxim
Gorky, entitled "The Children of ,the
Sun," dealing with revolution In Rus
sia, which four months ago would-probably
have landed Its author In prison,
was presented here for the first time
las,t night and seajs for It were sold out
several weeks In advance. The play
satirizes the Russian higher classes and
for the first time a scene Is allowed to
be presented on the Russian stage In
which the people rise In revolt against
the directors who are endeavoring to
save them from cholera. This scene
shows the superstition and brutality of
the Russian moujik when, once aroused.
The play, though finely presented, is
brutal and' hideously realistic in char
acter. The audience madly applauded
every allusion of a political character.
Maxim Gorky was not present His
health has again collapsed under the
trying climate ot St Petersburg and
he has been forced to leave suddenly
for the Crimea In order to save his life.
IGHT OF TERROR IN CAPITAL
Czar 3Iay Flee, Leaving "Witte to
Rulo Empire.
ST. PETERSBURG, Oct 26. (Special.)
After a night of Inexpressible terror,
Russia today Is plunged Into the deepest
gloom. Following the declaration by the
workingmen yesterday afternoon of a
general strike to reinforce the railway
strike -which has paralyzed the Industry
of the country, rioting and street fighting
kept the city In a state of terrible unrest
all last night. "What makosHhc situation
seem hopeless Is that the crisis, appar
ently, Is not yet reached.
So serious are the conditions that It is
said the Czar will soon leave Russia, pay
ing a two months' visit to Denmark. The
.Czar's visit will be ostensibly to recuper
ate from the strain of the last two years.
In reality. It is said, those behind the
government desire him out of the way and
In a place of safety should an uprising
evolve Itself out of the present labor diffi
culties. Count "Witte, according to Infor
mation from Peterhof, will hold an office
equivalent to that of regent during the
absence of the Emperor and will hold full
powers as head of the government
Must Make Concessions.
A meeting of the Council of Ministers
was held last night under the presidency
of Count "Witte to discuss the strike situa
tion and the danger which threatens the
empire unless the movement can be
checked. It Is understood that no at
tempt was made to disguise the fact that
the government faces, a crisis and that
only radical concessions to the strikers
and the people generally can have any
effect in bringing order out of the present
chaos.
Since this warning was uttered, the sit
uation has grown immeasurably worse.
Thousands of additional men are on the
streets, where they become the prey of
(Concluded on Page 4.)
CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER
t JiV. ' TheC ; "Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum Jemperatur. 57
deg.: minimum. 40. Precipitation,. 0.0D of
an inch: ' "
TOr.r vittt "Bht frost ,n
morning. Isorthwesterly winds.
Railroad strike cut oft capital and cuts
communication with Vienna. Page 1.
Riots in St Petersburg and several other
cities. Page J.
Strike spreads to all factories and profes
sional men Join. Page 1.
Czar gives Witte supreme power and may
flee the country. Page 1.
Foreign.
France expects Intervention in Venezuela will
succeed. Page 8.
Great slaughter In riots at Santiago de
Chile. Page S.
.National.
Roosevelt speaks at tittle Rock on lynch
law and rich criminals. Page 3.
Wide effect of new civil service rule. paKe i
Congress may reform land laws next session.
Page 1.
Taft denies he will resign to campaign for
Presidency. Page 1.
Cotton bulletin causes flurry on market and
charge of scheming. Page 2.
Politics. W
Attempt of railroads to' pack Interstate Com
merce Convention may cause panic. Page 3
Flemmer withdraws in favor of Jerome.
Page 5.
Domestic.
Mutual ILife starts investigation of Its man
agement Page L
Actuary tells why Mutual Life dividends
grow smaller. Page J.'
Students fight police who -stop class .rush.
Page -4.
Harriman and Miss Roosevelt reach Chicago
ahead of time. Page 8.
Son of millionaire says he gave away wealth
at suggestion of spiritualist 'age 4.
Civil and criminal suits against Enterprise
bankwrcckers. Page 2. .
Sport.
Oregon Agricultural College team goes to
play Berkeley. Page 7.
Pacific Coast scores: San Francisco 7, Port
land 1; Tacoma 8. Oakland 2; Los An
geles C, Seattle 2. Page 7.
Toung Erne- knocks out Young Corbett
Pago 5.
Pacific Coast.
Idaho land-fraud trials go over until Spring
term; grand Jury in session. Page 1.
Secret Service agents -working on land-fraud
cases in Washington. Page 6.
Vashon Island Italian girl; glad to go home,
denies story of drowning of drunken men.
Page C.
Oregon Land Board votes to validate sale of
land bought by "innocent purchasers."
Page 0. ...
Mixed red wheat will not be called bluestem
by .Washington Grain Commission. Pago 0.
J. W. Prall, of Medford, Or., and Dr. J. H-
Messner convicted of conspiracy at Sdo-M
kane. Page 6.
Commercial 'ami Xarise. .
Local wheat market Arm but not active.
Paga 15.
Russian disorders stimulate Eastern -wheat
prices. Page 15.
Sharp drop" in stockB at New York. Page 15.
California wpol market easier. Page 15.
Lane County hopgfowers not selling. Page 15.
Schooner Maid of Orleans In distress. Page 7.
Cruiser -Chicago to arrive next week. Page 7.
Portland aad Vic laity.
Surveyors at work on Coos Bay line; 10.000
tons of steel rails ordered. Page 10.
Members of Society of Japanese Art Ad
mirers raise' cry of bunco. Page 10.
Chances bright Xor Portland winning Na
tional Educational Convention. Page 14.
Japanese murderer is caught Page 10.
"William F. Lalsner's action for divorce from
Martha H. Lalsner being heard in Judge
George's court Page 14.
Rev. James Edmunds denies having spoken
disrespectfully of G. A. R. veterans and
repeats language used. Page 9.
Councilman Shepherd refuses to defend
woman charged with violating city or
dinances as contrary to -his own ideas of
propriety on the part of a city official.
Page 3. -
Oregon wins manyawArjgs inihorflculture at
' tho Exposition.' PagevlL
CAN DISCKE
INCOMPETENTS
New Civil Service Rule Greatly
Increases Cabinet Offi
cers Power.
NO APPEAL NOW ALLOWED
Knife Fell First on Obstructive
Chnuffeur and Clerk AVho
, "Sasscd". Taft Much Red
Tape Out of the "Way.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash
ington. Oct. 25. President Roosevelt
certainly set the tongues wagging
whenvhe issued his order amending the
Civil Service rules so as to permit Cab
inet officers to remove Government
clerks and other subordinate officials
whenever they deem such removals In
the interest of the service. This Is the
most sweeping- OIvIl Service rule that
has been forthcoming In many years;
its effect Is more far-reaching than Is
generally supposed, and In some re
spects it entirely does away with tho
proltectlve feature of the Civil Service
law. In an administration of spoils
men this rule may, work great havoc;
but it Is not believed any danger will
result at this time, for Mr. Roosevelt
Is a. Arm believer in the merit system,
and he would not consent to the adop
tion of a spoils system In appointments,
even though he does bestow great au
thority upon the members of his Cab
inet. "What Pcovokcd Order.
Various reasons are advanced why
4hc President Issued this surprising
order. One story relates that, while
driving down a prominent residence
street with Mrs. Roosevelt, the Presi
dent was annoyed by the driver of a
Government automobile repeatedly
crossing In front of his carriage. In
the face of a caution from a secret
service officer,-who was following the
President. - This chauffeur, whether re
sponsible for the new order or not, felt
Its full force, for the very day the
order was promulgated he lost his Job.
Another story Is that Secretary Taft
threatened to dismiss a clerk in his
department - for. - grass . mlsconduco
purely tof a personal character, how
ever, and In no way connected with his
work in the 'department. The clerk
promptly informed the "Secretary that
he was protected by the Civil Service
law and. Inasmuch as his work as a
clerk was satisfactory, the Secretary
could not remove him. The Secretary
Is reported to have replied that he
would show him what he could do. The
story goes that In a few days the Pres
ident's order was forthcoming, and Mr.
Clerk was pfliptly dismissed and had
no redress.
Obstacle to Efficiency Gone.
This orfcer. while It may seem rad
ical, has many good points. Under the
old method, when every clerk, before
being dismissed, had an opportunity
to reply to written charges, dismissals
were difficult to bring about, except In
very clear cases of misconduct or In
efficiency, and the Civil Service Com
mission, which acted as Intermediary
between the Cabinet officer and the
employe, usually threw its influence
to the latter. Now the Civil Service
Commission has Nothing to say about
it, and the dismissals can be brought
about speedily and at the mere direc
tion of a Cabinet officer. This will do
away with protracted correspondence
and explanations, will reduce the effect
of influence on -.behalf of accused em
ployes, and will give the members of
the Cabinet a free hand to weed out In
competent subordinates as well as to
dismiss many persons who are unfit
to hold Government positions from
other causes than Incompetency. ;
There is no reason to expect a gen
eral sweeping out In the Federal serv
ice; It is not believed that such a thing
wa3 contemplated, but In the future
there will be more dismissals than In
the past, and clerks and others who
wish to. regain their positions will Je
more careful to meet requirements than
they were when they could fall back
on the protection of the Civil Service
law.
REFORM PUBLIC LAND IiAAVS
Time Is Opportune for Congress at
Coming Session. .
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash
ington, Oct. 25. There Is some doubt in
the minds of members of the Public
Lands Commission as to their ability to
make a ifnal report to the President be
fore Congress convenes on December 4,
but there ls little, doubt that the Presi
dent, in his annual message, will forcibly
remind Congress that It has a duty to
perform in redrafting some of the public
land laws which are now so drawn as to
foster and encourage fraud. If the Pub
lic Lands Commission makes its last re
port during the coming seseion. the Presi
dent will send that report to Congress
with a special message, and will renew
and Tetaforce what he has to say on that
subject In his message at the opening of
the session.
The President Is more determined than
ever before to have the land laws revised,
especially the laws that permit the dis
posal of Umber lands at a. nominal price,
and which, furthermore, offer so many
opportunities to speculators and thieves.
In light of the convictions at -Portland
and of other convictions soon likely to
follow both in Washington and In Port
land, It would seem that the coming ses
sion Is the proper time for land law re
form. With several notable examples of
land thievery clearly fixed In the public
mind, there will be more Incentive to
remodel the laws now than there will be
a year or two hence, and a reform
brought about nxt session Is more apt
to be satisfactory than one that Is se
cured after the public has forgotten about
the case of Senator Mitchell and other
prominent men who have fallen Into the
clutches of the law.
The coming session affords an Ideal op
portunity for taking up and disposing ot
the land law question. There will be
plenty of time, for It I? a long session,
without limit; there will be adequate op-,
portunlty for discussion and debate; there
Is no reason why" a systematic reform
cannot be made before adjournment. A
great part of the discussion of this Im
portant question will take place In com
mittee, and. while the Interstate com
merce commltteels wrestling with the
.rate problem, while the ways and mean?
committee Is casting about for an excuse
to sidetrack the tariff, while the Immi
gration committee is talking over the Chi
nese exclusion puzzle, and the merchant.
marine committee Is giving hearings on
the ship subsidy, propaganda, the public
lands committee, with the message of the
President and the report of the Commis
sion before It, will have a splendid op
portunity to frame a bill which will bring
the land laws up to date and cut out the
numerous Incentives which are held out
to thieves and corruptlonlsts by the 'ex
isting statutes.
There Is. It Is true, a widespread differ
ence of opinion among Western Senators
and Representatives as to how the land
laws should be reformed, but on several
Important Issues there is an almost unan
imous sentiment. An earnest and an hon
est effort on the part of the public lands
committee would result in legislation
within a reasonable time. It would prob
ably have to "be . compromise legislation,
but It would be a compromise that would
meet general approval. ,
For Instance, while It Is acknowledged
by almost every one that the timber and
stone act Is bad law, there Is a wide dlf
ferce of opinion a to what form of law
should be substituted. To repeal It out
right without providing some other
method of acquiring public timber would
work a hardship and practically put a
stop to the revenues which now go to
make up the reclamation fund. Some
favor selling Government Umber at
stumpage value; some favor auction
sales; others have different ideas. But
those views could be harmonized. The
iame Is true of the conflicting Ideas as to
the desert land law, which Is condemned
In some quarters and upheld In others.
And so on through the whole list- The
Public Lands Commission Is going to
show how every one of these laws oper
ates; will point out Its shortcomings, and
will leave no doubt In the minds of fair
persons as to where corrections should
be made.
If the House committee re'porto a new
set of public" land' law. It will take only
a few days to get the bill through the
House, for that hodythas a way of dlspo:
Ing of legislative problems in a remark
ably short Utne. when It gets started.
Then there. would have to -be the same,
committee discussion and readjustment In
the Senate before the bill went into the
open Senate.
Xow. the Senate this Winter will want
something to talk about. The public land
laws afford a wholesome subject, though
to some a personal subject. Why not
talk about land law reform when the
Senate docs not want to talk railroad
rates? The land law bill could be used
for filibustering purposes: .that is, -the
Senate could talk land laws, to the ex
clusion of rates. Panama.- etc., and yet
It would be serving a good purpose, for.
when the topic was exhausted, the bill
could be passed, and some other subject
for discussion could be brought forward.
The land laws could be reformed at
the approaching session without Interfer
ing with any other important business.
And President Roosevelt will probably do
his 'best to see that this subject 1? not
only considered, but disposed of before
the next adjournment.
NOT SEEKING PRESIDENCY
Taft Denies lie Will Resign or Cam
paign for Office.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 23. The Post to
morrow wlllsay: Secretary Taft has an
nounced: "I have no Intention of resigning from
the cabinet to make a campaign for the
Presidency and. furthermore. I have no
Intention whatever of making a cam
paign for the office of the naUon's chief
executive."
EL-KINS CALLS HIS COM3IITTEE
Senators Will Consider Testimony on
Rate Question.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23. Senator Si
skins, chairman of the Senate Comralt-
iee on iniennaie commerce, today
called a meeting of that committee for
November 21 for the purpose of consider
ing the iteaUmony taken early in the
Summer 'relative to the regulation of
railroad rates, with the ulUmate view of
reporting a bill to the Senate.
Young Court-Martial Trial Ends.
MARE ISLAND, Cal.. Oct. 2X For an
hour and a half this morning. Captain
E. E. West addressed the naval court-
marUal trying Commander Luclen Toung,
his argument for the prosecution bring
ing the trial to a close shortly before
noon. He pointed out that Jnasmuch as
Captain Young knew the boilers were
In a poor condition and Ensign "Wade
had not had previous experience In the
engineer department,, there was a lax
state of discipline. The captain should
have had papers to show that he had
made frequent inspections. The court
will meet in closed session, later and,
when a finding shall have been reached.
the case of Ensfgn Charles G. Wade
will be taken up, probably on Friday
morning.
Slionts III From Overwork.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23. Chairman
Shonts. of the Isthmian Canal- Commls.
si on, has been confined to his residence In
thts city tor several days, although yes
terday he had been transacUnc- the more
Important business concerning the canal
Secretary Taft called on -Mr. Shonts this
morning, but. did not undertake to dis
cuss canal affairs. Mr. Shonts has been
working hard and his IndlspoelUori1 Is due
to the close attention' he has been giving
to business.
M'GURDT STARTS
B
Committee of Mutual Life Will
Investigate Its Man-agement.-
EQUITABLE SHOWS GAINS
Increase In Receipts and Decrease in
Expenses Actuary of 'Mutual
Iiife Explains Decline in
Dividends on Policies.
NEW YORK. Oct. 25. More startling
than the testimony before the legisla
tive committee Investigating the meth
ods of insurance companies today was
the announcement by President Rich
ard A. McCurdy, of the Mutual Life In
surance Company, that a committee, of
the board of trustees of his company
had been appointed to investigate the
company and Its methods. The members"
of the committee are William H. Trues
dale. Effingham B. Morris and John W.
Auchincloss. all prominent in the finan
cial and business world.
This action was taken at a meeting
of the board today and was the result
of the Insurance Investigation. The
matter was brought before, the board
by Mr. McCurdy and the committee will
begin its work at once.
Still another Interesting thing In in
surance matters was the statement Is
sued today by President Morton, of
the Equitable Life, showing that the
rccelpt3 of that company for the nine
months of this year exceed .expendi
tures by $16,723.10". an increase of over
$600,000 compared with the same period
last year. Receipts from premiums on
policies for 'the third quarter of this
year were ver $1,000,000 less than In
1904. The expenses of the third quarter
was $S39.91S less than last year, but
for the first six months there was an
Increase over last year of $424,913.,
After an entire day given over t6 the
examination of Emory McClintock. act
uary of the Mutual Life Insurance
Company, and to the reading of column
after column of figures, he legislative
committee adjourned until November
S, the day after the municipal election.
Explains Deferred DLidIj.-.
Emory McClintock was the first wit
ness. The subject of dividends was
again taken "P- The argument against
deferrej dividend policies-Contained In
the Frlok 'report on .the Equitable Life
Assurance Society was read to the wit
ness. The Frlck report In substance de
clared that there vfas a potentiality of
evil In the system which defers the
distribution of dividends for a period
of years; that the policy-holder who
survives benefits, but those whose poli
cies lapse suffer a disadvantage.
Mr. McClintock said the use of the
word ."surplus" had been a .great detri
ment to the Equitable because It was
generally misunderstood. He said It
implied that the amount of surplus was
available for Immediate division. Other
companies, he continued, had a reserve.
and determined what amount should be
divided among the policy-holders .and
what amount --should be reserved.
Mr. McClintock said that, as each
man understands the conditions of the
deferred dividend policy before 'he
takes it out, there did not seem any
real objection to the plan from the
moral point of view, especially as each
policy carries Its own surrender value.
It appeared to him that the companies
might properly state the total amount
of premium- on each class of policy
that have not yet received their divi
dends. He estimated the amount of such
in .the Mutual at $322,000,000. This
would not enable the policy-holder to
compare his dividend with that of
others, or of other companies.
Five years ago, Mr. McClintock said.
the Connecticut Insurance Company
began to consider that all not needed
to meet Immediate losses and debts
must be surplus, but this, he said. leads
to misapprehension.
Mr. McClintock said -the words "de
ferred dividends" were ambiguous, and
lad the policy-holder to believe that
there were dividends accruing that
would be paid to him at the chd of each
year. The New York Life Insurarico
Company, he said, has stated Its accu
mulation of deferred dividends -for
several years. This was sometimes re
garded. as a legal liability and some
times not. When he became connected
with the Mutual Life Insurance Com
pany there was no calculation of this
accumulation until the end of the dis
tribution period, so that there is no
recognition of legal liability except
for the purposes of bookkeeping.
Why Dividends Decrease.
Mr. McClintock said the Mutual Life
Insurance Company In writing a policy
reserved to itself the right to say what
amount shall be apportioned at the end
of the dividend period. One reason for
decreasing dividends was that policies
that had been In force three years did
not lapse on the failure of the policy
holder to pay premiums, as formerly.
Mr. McKeen read a letter from a policy
holder whose dividends had decreased
from $304 In 1SS3 to $10 in 1504. "From
the apparent diminution of dividends."
said Mr. McKeen. 'it would seem that
the companies either are 'spending too
much or getting too little. The com
mittee would like to know if that Is so
and what can be done to stop it, lest
eventually the reserve be infringed upon."
In reply, Mr. McClintock recited the
efforts he made to secure an agreement
between the New York Life Insurance
M WIN
Company, the Equitable Society and the
Mutual Life to limit the amount of bus
iness each company should write first
to $1,OCO,000.000 and then to $1,500,000,000. but
first James H. Hyde declined to assent
and then George W. Perkins, vice-president
of the New York Life Insurance
Company, jobjected. Mr. Hyde told him
it was his Intention to make the Equit
able the largest business concern In the
world and then to make It -the best com
pany. These views , expressed by Mr. McClin
tock did not coincide with those ex
pressed by President McCurdy of the
Mutual tilfe "insurance Company, when
he testified jf- few days ago that he did
not think the life Insurance business
should be limited even at the point where
It failed to be profitable to the com
pany. The philanthropic part of the- in
surance business. Mr. McCurdy said; de
manded that Its benefits be extended as
widely as possible.
Reverting to the computation or divi
dends, Mr. McClintock said that the
Northwestern Mutual had gone back to
the annual dividend plan.
How Dividends Are Adjusted.
The total gains of the Mutual Life In
surance Company In 1904 were $6,624,676,
said Mr. McClintock. and It applied about
$SCO,000 or $300,000 of that to dividends.
Including the gain In the market value
of securities, the total gain was $9,159.
95S. He said the proportion paid on divi
dends was selected upon his judgment. It
was not a matter of exact calculation,
but was based upon the figures of previ
ous years. In reply to a question how
long the Mutual Life Insurance Com
pany kept the policyholders contented In
spite of the fluctuations in the earning
,capaclty of their policies, Mr. McClin
tock said:
"Suppose the earnings of the Mutual
are this year $6,000,000, last year 6,250,000,
the year before $$,3CO.0CO. ws take what
we consider a fair average of these re
sults. We take the figures we think
will maintain- a substantial degree of uni
formity in the results."
"Now," said Mr. Hughes, "when you
determine the amounts to be paid paid
up policies, do you consider the exact
amount of interest earned by your com
pany?" "I d not figure it with great' exact
ness. Merely fair allowance."
Mr. McClintock said the-net percentage
of Interest gain had been calculated at
4.1 per cent, while according to the
methods In the State of ConnecUcut It
was probably 3.S9 per cent.
Surplus Earnings Decrease.
Mr. McClintock said the reason for the
large reduction In dividends on ordinary
life policies entlUed to annual dividends
was the gradual reduction In the propor
tion of surplus earnings to the total bus
iness. There wis a reduction In the
value of the company's securities In 1903,
but witness said this did not Influence
him In the amount of the reduction of
the dividend. Hesald this was an ele-
'menfrof danger and. tended to make his
mind mare cautious than it would other
wise have been.
WILTj INVESTIGATE ITSELF.
Committee of Mutual Idfe Appointed
at McCurdy's Request.
NEW YORK. Oct. 23. The affairs of
the Mutual Life Insurance Company
are to be Investigated by a committee
of three members of Its board of trus
tees. A resolution providing for such
an Investigation a3 a result of testi
mony before the legislative Investi
gating committee was offered for con
sideration befpre the board today by
Rlcljard A. McCurdy. president of the
company, and was unanimously adopt
ed. The members of the committee
are William H- Truesdale, Effingham
B. Morris and John W. Auchincloss. At
the close of the meeting at which this
action was taken the following state
ment was given out by direction of
Mr. McCurdy:
. "The president called attention- to
the inquiry by the Joint committee of
the Legislature of the State of New
York into the affairs of the company
and to the public Interest and com
ment with respect thereto. He urged
that the board should take cognizance
of the testimony elicited with a view
to such action as might be found ad
visable In the Interest of the com
Danv nnd Its nol lev-holders. Tha
president asked the consideration by
the board of the following resolu
tlons:
Resolved. That a committee of three be
and they hereby are appointed as a. commit
tee to examine into the organization and
management of the affairs of the company
and to report from time to time to this board
their recommendations In reference thereto.
with power to add to their number and to
fill vacancies.
"The resolution was then moved by
a member of the board, with the ad
ditional suggestion that Messrs. Trues
dale, Morris and Auchincloss Consti
tute the commltee, and was unani
mously adopted.
"The committee will proceed at once
to discharge Its functions and to re
port speedily to the board.
"RICHARD A. McCURDY,
"President."
The three men named as a commit
tee occupy high places In business and
financial circles. John W. Auchincloss,
New York City, merchant. In addition
to his connection with the Mutual. Is
Identified with several other large cor
porations In the capacity of director,
William H- Truesdala Is president
of the Delaware. Lackawanna & West
ern Railroad, and also Is an officer or
director of several other corporations.
His home Is in Greenwich. Conn.
Effingham B. Morris, lawyer and
financier. Is president of the GIrard
Trust Company, of Philadelphia, and
Is Identified with- several corporations
as director, among them the Pennsyl
vania Railroad" Company, the Cambria
Steel Company and the Pennsylvania
Steel Company. 'His home Is In Ard
more. Pa.
CONDITION OF THE EQUITABLE
Morton's Financial Report for Nine
Months of 1905.
NEW YORK. Oct. 23. At the monthly
meeting today of the directors of the
Equitable Life Assurance Society, Sir Wil
liam C. Van Horne. of Montreal, J. D.
Kcrnan. of Utlca. and William C; Red
field, of Brooklyn, were nominated -to fill
vacancies. They will be elected to the
board at the November meeting.
At the meeting today President Morton
and Controller Day submitted statements
dealing with the company's business the
first nine months of the current year.
There also was a statement covering the:
society's real estate loans from January
Concluded on page 2.)
DAHQ TILS TO
GO ON IN SPRING
Government Is Not Ready to
Proceed With Investiga
tion of Land Frauds.
CASES PREPARED -HASTILY
Rumor Grows Alleging That Senator
Heyburn Accepted Fees for
Pressing Land Claims Be
fore the Department. s
MOSCOW, Idaho, Oct. 23. (Special." At
the request of District Attorney Ruick
the trials of Dexter. Kettenbach, Dwyer
and O'Keele will go over unUl next
Spring. Thts morning was the time se
lected by Judge J. H, Beatty for the
United States Attorney to state when the
Government would be ready for trial and
designate the order In which the land
fraud cases. In which George H, Dexter.
William F. Kettenbach, William Dwyer
and Jackson O'Keefe are defendants, were
to be tried. Attorney N. W. Rulck. In the
outset of his address to the court, stated
that the Government would not be ready
to try these cases at the present term of
court. He said these Investigations were
forced before a special Judge at Boise
last July, for the reason that the charges
were of such a date that the statute of
limitations would run before the conven
ing of a regular court. They were hur
ried and confined to just such cases: that
the representatives of the Interior Depart
ment intimated that they were not com
plete, and that whenever convenient the
Government would have a large number ol
witnesses to appear and submit evidence
before a grand Jury
Work for the Grand Jury.
"This." he said, "is the occasion for the
presentation of that testimony, and I may
state to the court that there are some
thing more than 100 witnesses who have
been subpenaed In these particular cases.
The grand Jury has not yet found It con
venlent to enter upon this investigation.
Other business has occupied their atten
tion, and probably will during the remain
der of the day.
"And I will state further to the court
my opinion that the self-same de
fendants who were Indicted In July are to
be subject to in-st!gaUon by this grand
Jury upon other charges of a similar char
acter." Continuing, District Attorney Rulck
stated that for these reasons It was im
possible for him to say what cases he
would try, that he could not determine
now whether the present indictments
would ever be prosecuted, for he might see
fit to prosecute other Indictments should
they be returned by the grand Jury. To
be forced into trial at thlstime, he said,
"or to decide which one of these cases
should be tried first when there are sim
ilar cases against these defendants under
InvestlgaUon. would seem to be unjust to
the Government."
Mr. Rulck continued that he found the
trial Jury list contained names that had
been In the jury box since 1S93; that some
of the men were no longer residents of
the state, and the Marshal was only suc
cessful in serving 15 out of 21. Another
'feature of which he spoke was that a
large number of entries, of timber land
had been made in this district, and that
any person who had filed a claim under
those circumstances could not act as an
impartial juror in these cases.
Difficult to Get a Jury.
The District Attorney thought great dif
ficulty would be experienced In obtaining
a jury, and that the Government "wanted
Jurors who are not In any wise trammeled
by participation in transactions of a char
acter similar to those with which the de
fendants are charged." When the proper
time came, he stated, he would ask the
court to make an order that the Clerk
and Commissioner of the court select not
less than 500 names of persons to serve as
Jurors, and to procure those who. In the
opinion of the court and counsel, would bo
eligible to serve as jurors on these cases.
Mr. Rulck concluded by saying that un
der these circumstances It would be un
just to force the representative of the
Government Into trial: that nothing would
be gained by a special session, and sug
gested that the cases be tried at the
Spring term of court.
The defendant's attorneys, 'In re
sponse to this, statement, said they
were very much surprised, as they had
come prepared to try the cases, that
their clients were prominent business
men of high standing, and anxious to
meet these charges and before an
nouncing their procedure asked for a
consultation until 2 o'clock In the af
ternoon, at which time they appeared
and agreed to a continuance until
next Spring.
No Indictments Yet Returned.
No Indictments other than some per
taining to minor matters have been
found by the grand Jury, and it is un
derstood that up until now no land
fraud cases have been submitted to
them for their consideration. Many
are anticipated and are looked forward
to -with' anxiety and eagerness.
The rumor still lives connecting
Senator W. B. Heyburn's name with
the land fraud investigations, and an
article appearing In' today's Spokesman-Review,
in which It is stated,
"There is no evidence whatever in the
possession of Government officials at
this time connecting Senator Heyburn
with the alleged timber frauds In thia
state," has but served to stimulate
rumors and create more comment in
the direction of that individual.
It has revived n in the minds of citi
zens of the place a rumor concerning
a' letter which was exhibited, it is
said, to prospective settlers by a Io-
Concluded on Page 3.)