m VOL. XLV tO. 14,023. PORTLAND, OREGON, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1905. PRICE FIVE CENTS. OOELL DENIES HUE'S CHARGES Dramatic Scene at In surance Inquiry. FLUSHED FACE, CLENCHED FIST Never Influenced Legislation to Enforce Claim. DEPEW ALSO TESTIFIES Big Politicians and Financiers Tell Siorlcs About One Another Like Schoolgirls Hyde Turned Down by Roosevelt. NEW TORK. Nov. 10. Ex-Governor Benamin B. Odell. Jr., and United States Senator C. M. Depew, as wit nesses before the Armstrong legisla tive insurance investigating oommlt tee, today denied parts of the testi mony of James H. Hyde in which their names were used. Mr. Odell in the course of his testimony called Mr. Hyde's statements "base calumny" and, when he was askea whether he directly or Indirectly had made the threats to have the charter of the Mercantile Trust Company revoked, his face flushed, and, striking the arm of the witness chair with his fist, he ex claimed: "There is no truth In that statement, so help me God." Mr. OdGll was the flrst witness ot the day. He said no political pressure was brought to bear In the settlement of hi? suit against the Mercantile Trust Company and that It was settled the same as suits brought by others. He said he had been advised by counsel that his claim was Just and that any court would have awarded him more tban he received In the settlement. He koew of the Introduction of thP Am- bier bill, which ho satH "inTgfit"have af fected the Mercantile Trust Company's charter, and, while he did not suggest its Introduction, he saw no objection to it. Mr. Odell denied that he ever made a statement to E. H. Harrlman or any one else' that retaliatory measures would be taken against the Mercantile Trust Company. The witness said he and Mr. Harrlman were personal friends, but that they had no business relations. He wrote a. letter on behalf of Mr. Hyde's candidacy for the post of Ambassador to France. This was at the request of 'William H. Mclntyre, one of the vice-presidents of the Equit able Life. Mr. Odell said he had never solicited political contributions, but possibly some moneys might have come to him through the National committee or Sen ator Thomas C Piatt, as the latter had always gathered together the funds In New York state except in the last year. Depew an Insurance Reformer. Senator Depew was examined with regard to his syndicate participation and his duties as counsel to the Equit able Society. Regarding the Ambassa dorship to Paris, he said Mr. Hyde came to him and solicited his influence to secure the appointment. " He brought the matter to the -attention of the President, although ho told Mr. Hyde that he was too young and the President said It was utterly Impos sible to make such an appointment The Senator advocated. In the inter ests of the public, the limiting of In surance risks, and favored a public audit of the accounts of companies at stated periods by a chartered account ant. This, he thought, would obviate i j - - 11- r. . i . . ..... . . , Boomer. I -.- - J - .... .- ...4 many suits that are now frequently brought for an accounting on the part of a policy-holder. John Gilchrist, In charge of the se curity department of the Equitable Life Assurance Society, told of millions of dollars lnIoans made at the end of the year in the names of clerks of Kuhn, Loeb & Co. to comply with the law that the surplus should be in vested or to keep down the cash bal ances. No collateral was held by the Equitable on these loans and the check which was given for them was de posited in the bank and a certificate of deposit received. The check, however, was never cleared and on the first of the year would be taken out and the certificate surrendered. These loans were made at the Instance of T. D. Jordan,' former controller of the. Equit able. Odell Denies Hyde's Story. Mr. Odell was the first witness. Before his testimony was be gun, Samuel Untermyer, counsel for James H. Hyde, entered an objection pro testing against the investigation of the affairs of the United States Shipbuilding Company by the committee. Mr. Hughes, counsel to the committee, began by asking Sir. Odell to tell the facts pertaining to the Mercantile Trust Company charter, and the witness said he would prefer to tell of the whole trans action leading up to the settlement, if permitted. Mr. Untermyer protested thaf If the committee permitted this, it would take them far outside the legitimate line of Inquiry. Senator Armstrong referred the protest to Mr. Hughes, who said ho would call to Mr. Od ell's attention "the fact, that the matter which concerns the committee is simply the question whether there was any political influence xr pres sure brought to bear upon the Mercantile Trust Company, directly or Jndlrectly, to Induce a settlement "There was not," said Mr. Odell. "Will you state. Governor." said Mr. Hughes, 'whether you had any Informa tion with regard to the Introduction of a bill in the Senate for the purpose of repealing the charter of the Mercantile Trust Company?" "I knew of It at the time, yes." "Who advised you of It?" "I knew of It before its Introduction." "From whom did you get the Informa tion?" "Oh, various people, as to the propriety of the Introduction of such a measure.' "Did you suggest Its Introduction?" "No." "Did you request Its Introduction?" Reasons for Ambler's Bill. "I saw no objection to it." "Did you state that you saw no ob jection to the-introductlon of the meaa ure?' "At the time It was Introduced I did; yes." "To whom?". "Oh, to anyone who asked mo; I have forgotten." "What -was the 'ground for that action or approval?" "Simply because the scandal Incident to th Shipbuilding Tru'at was uppermost In the people's mind, and it was claimed that the Mercantile Trust Company had been behind lS or 16 corporations, every one of which had "been insolvent, and it was time, I thought, such matters In the pmic ui ntn BUUU1U ue sioppcu. "KJhile Mr. Odell was testifying. Sena tor Depew entered the room. Continuing. Mr. Odell said the bill was intended to provide, for an investigation of the Mer canine -trust company. He could not recall that he had an interview with As semblyman Fish with regard to the Intro duction in the Assembly of a bill similar to Senator Ambler's repeal bill. His only Interview with Senator Ambler about the bill "R-as after it had been introduced. At that time he had no suit pending against the Mercantile Trust Company. Sold Out Stock Beforehand. His suit was brought in Au gust, 1904. "When the bill was Introduced, in March, 1904, the witness said, he still had every dollar's worth of his shipbuilding holdings. These holdings were sold at auction and brought $43,687 against ;iG4,171 paid for them. Since their sale, witness had had no interest in the shipbuilding company. The sale was made oecause he felt that matters of legislation would come up af fecting shipbuilding affairs, and ho felt that the Governor should not be inter ested, directly or Indirectly. In the bonds. Ho contemplated bringing an action against the Mercantile Trust Company In August. 1904. He had no Interview with J. P. Morgan regarding his shipbuilding claim, but he did havo -with Charles M. Schwab. His Interview with Mr. Schwab was when the company was In the hands of a receiver. "Did you make any statement to any body In the City of New Tork that re- (Concluded on Page 7.) HARRY MURPHY SKETCHES EGISTER WEST LOSES IIS SCULP Summarily Removed From the Lewiston Land Office by President. . . SPECULATED IN CLAIMS Charges of Working Up Contests for Profit Sustained by Ttvo Inves tigators 3Iay Be Prose cuted by Ruick. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash ington. Nov, 16.-John B. West. Register of the Lewiston Land Office, Idaho, was removed from office today by President Roopevelt " for "speculating In relinquish ments, undue political activity, etc." No successor has yet been chosen. Made Money on Contests. Charges were preferred against West some time ago, alleging that he was making improper use of his office and participating too freely in politics. , Nu merous ouch charges were submitted, al leging that West, aided by his brother, had aided settler? in making filings on land which had previously been entered upon by other persons. They then per suadedythe settlers to institute contests before the Lewiston Land Office and Im mediately entered Into negotiations with the parties to the contest, inducing one to make relinquishment in favor of the other. Whenever they secured a relin quishment, the West brothers collected money from the successful contestant. In brief. West was using his office as Register to glva blm power to bring about relinquishments in contests which he and his brother had planned and making con siderable money on the side" by this practice. XWhen the charges were sent him, he made swet?lng denials, but two investi gations were made by Special Agent Goodwin, and Inspector O'Fallon, which sustained the charges, and on their rec ommendations, indorsed by Land Com missioner Richards and Secretary Hitch cock, West was summarily relieved.. Office Closed for Time. Senator Heyburn will probably be re-nut-tlon to. recommend ,a successor to West. Meanwhile, until the vacancy is filled, the Lewiston Land Office must remain virtually" closed for receipt of papers. ' Whether or not West will figure in the greater land frauds in Northern Idaho in connection with Kettenbach and others is to be decided. The evidence against hint was worked up while Special agents were after land thieves, aud it is quite possible. If his offense constitutes a vio- latlon of the law. that he will be caught In the tolls at the request of District Attorney Ruick. He was appointed Reg ister March 31, 1S9S, and reappointed Jan uary 19, 1903. . . j KEEP LID OX NATION'S CASH Cannon Holds Out No Hope of Ap propriations for Rivers. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash ington. Nov. 16. Representative Cush man rode from Chicago to Washington with Speaker Cannon and. while he .elic ited no promises, ho became thoroughly imbued with the Idea that he and every other member of the House will haveto fight hard for any appropriations pf a local character this senon. Mr. Cannon Impressed upon Mr. Cushman that alKun necessary appropriations were to be cut off and even those that wcrp necessary would be held down to the minimum. The Speaker would not discuss the merits of any proposed appropriations. but Mr. Cushman is jatlsfied from what he learned that the Speaker Is going to keep the lid down on the Treasury, as far as It lies in his power, from which he In fers that it will be extremely difficult to get any appropriations for river and har bor Improvement, save those, which were authorized in the last river and harbor bill. He expects lo see no omnibus pub MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS MEN'S EXCURSION lic building bill nor any legislation of local Importance that requires appro prlatlons. Hitcltcock Hears From Mitchell. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash ington, Nov. 16. Much to his surprise. Secretary Hitchcock today received a let ter from Senator Mitchell, asking that a certain land case pending before the de partment be taken up out of order and acted upon. As the case Is before the Land Office, Mitchell's letter was referred to Commissioner Richards without com ment. Nothing is known about 'the mer its of the case. It Involves a single entry in Oregon. Argument on Bcrison-Hydc Case. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash ington, Nov. 16. Notice was today given District Attorney Heney that the .Su preme Court of the District of Columbia would tomorrow call up and set a time for-argument on the demurrer In the case of the Benson-Hyde land ring ot San Francisco. Argument may be deferred several days. Votes Salary to King Charles. CHRISTIAN IA. Nov. 16. The Norwe gian Parliament today, by 10) to It votes, appropriated 53)6,000 annually for the new King's civil list. Premier Mlchelsen will announce the election of Prince Charles to King Oscar on Saturday. CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER The Wetker. TESTERDATS Maximum temperature. 45 dec: minimum. 38. Precipitation, none. TODAY'S Threatening with occasional rain. Southerly, winds. Czar Uiues manifesto granting land conces sions to peasant. Page 1. Strike general in three cities, but does not affeot railroads. Page 1. Pretender to Czardota leads peasant revolt. Page 1. Horrible massacre of Tatars by Armenians. Page 1. More than $300,000 raised for Jewish relief. Page II. lerelgH. Curzon tells reasons for resigning as Viceroy or jnaia. rage s. French dockyard strike fails. Page 8. NaUesal. Moody denies beef trust's claim to immunity. Page 14. Quartermaster-General favors keeping Army transports, rage -i. Hitchcock denounces light sentence on Illegal fences and Judge Munger replies. Pare 14 President removes Register West, of Lewis- ton i ana ornce. rage 1. TeUtlcs. President Mellen declares for Roosevelt's rate policy. Page 3. Illegal voter in New Tork Jumps his ball ana bondsmen will be prosecuted. Page 3. Grots errors in count of New Tork vote. Page 3. Speaker Cannon declares against tariff re vision. Page 3. InsBraBcet Scandal-. Odell denies Hyde's charges and tells bis story of case. Page 1. McCurdy voluntarily reduces his salary. Page 4. Mutual Utt commiiea Inaugurate radlcsJ reforms. Pag 4. Bryderi confers with Roosevelt.- Fa re -4. .IM&sUc. . . Socialists propose radical measures at Labor Federation convention. Page 5. Citizens Industrial Association proposes prosecution of labor trusts. Page 5. Interchurch Conference asked to denounce massacre of Jews. Page S. Sport. Pacific Coast scores: Portland 5. San Fran cisco 3; Tacoma C. Oakland 2. Page 7. PacMc .Coast. Portland business men visit valley towns from Roseburg to Albany. Page 1. Testimony is all In In the trial of Frank Rels for murder at The Dalles. Page 6. O. R. & N. makes coal-rate reduction In Eastern Washington. Page 6. Superintendent of General Electric Com pany's station at Oregon City burned br short circuit. Page G. Pert Angeles & Olympla Railway Company is incorporated. Page C. CoBinwrcIal a ad Mariae. Statistical position of Oregon hop market. Page 13. Drouth causes alarm In California trading circles. Pago 13. Chicago wheat market develops strength. Page 13." Normal conditions resumed In "Wall street. Page 15. Steamer Senator arrives 54 hours late. Page 14. - Pertload a-ad YlcIRy. George E. Pluxnmer, of San Francisco, here to engage three sailing ships to carry 0,000.000 feet of lumber around the Horn to New Tork. Page 10. Charles Petraln refuses to defend roan In Municipal Court, saying. "Give the case to some of the favorites of Bill Ladd's po lice force." Page 10. Father and mn victims of Oregon "Water Power & Railway Company's employes. Pare 11. Relief fund for persecuted Jews Increased by a thousand dollars. Page 11. State sura to get Its percentage of profits from the tolls at the Oregon City locks. Pag 3. Councilman hopes to make railway pay the city for ure of Fourth street. Page JO. Mayor thinks municipality should assist financially, the East Side fills. Page 9. I HIS BIG DOMAIN GIVEN PEWS Czar Remits Millions Due oil Landjand Makes Pur chase Easy. STRIKE GROWS IN CAPITAL Intellectuals Join Under Protest, but Railroads Are Still Running. Pretender leads Peasant .Revolt Workmen Out. LONDON', Nov. 17; (6 A. M.) A dis patch from St. Petersburg: to Reuter's Telegram Company says that an Impe rial manifesto granting land conces sions to the peasants was Issued this morning-. By its terms the land re demtplon tax payments from January 14, 1905. -will be reduced by one-half, and from January H, 1907, the pay ments -will be totally abolished. At the same time the capital of the Peasant Bank Is increased and the bank Is granted additional loan privileges with the object of facilitating to the utmost the purchase of lands by peas ants. It Is estimated that the amount of taxation thus lifted from the peasants by the manifesto will aggregate J43, 000.000, while the extension of the field of operations of the Peasants' Bank will enable vast tracts of crown and private lands gradually tov become the property of the peasants. STRIKE NOT YET GENERAL Leaders Tic Up Capitals, but Not Main Railroads. ST. PETERSBURG, Nov. 17. (2:33 A. M.) Though the Industrial tieup In St. Petersburg yesterday was even more complete than It was We'dnesday and though no break has 'been mani fested in the ranks of the workmen and strikes have broken out at Mos cow and Reval, the most Important feature of yesterday's developments was the failure ot the walkout to spread generally outside the capital. The movement apparently lacks the spontaneity and fOQjtaglousjiess' of tho last great strike, whlcn'broko outfit Moscow and spread to the Industrial centcrsof Russia. Tho faeiorv strlk at Sfiwpnw. nL-hlnh, probably -45.000 men being out. has no direct connection with, the Stj Peters burg walkout, and dispatches fromjthe olfi capital say that the railroad' hien received the Tequest of the St. Peters burg strike committee coldly.' The whole great network of railroads cen tering at Moscow, except the Sf. Pe tersburg line. Is still In operation. At Reval the employes of the railroad shops struck, but the reason, for the, I oirjKe is not statea. i In St. Petersburg yesterday passed with complete order. Patrols were vis ible in all the industrial quarters and Cossacks were trotting" tip and down the Nevsky Prospect among the swiftly dashing carriages and sleighs, but the workmen. In obedience to the order of the strike committee. keptgencrally in doors and did not attempt demonstra tions, so there was no occasion for a resort to force to avert trouble. Strikers Force Suspension. The strikers forced the closing of the Moscow railway station early yesterday, stopping outgoing traffic for Moscow, and at 10 o'clock last night they finally suc ceeded In closing the electric stations and In cutting off light- from the city. .Com mittees were sent to all the theaters and succeeded In stopping the performances In several of them, and In the outlying dis tricts they went from drugstore to drug store, ordering the pharmacists to close. and threatening them with the destruction of their stocks it they refused. Other stores were not interfered with. - The action of the strikers with regard AND SOME OF THOSE to the druggists Is in . striking contrast with the course pursued In Finland where, when everj other business participated In the general strike, the druggists were directed to remain open in order that the sick might not suffer. The course is con demned by a large part of the population. May End Strike Saturday. At a meeting of the strike committee last rght, the question of the termination of the strike was noC brought up. but the Associated Press noticed an expectation on the part of the many delegates that the strike would end Saturday night. The principal question under discussion at the meeting was the formation of a strike treasury by gathering funds to be used in future walkouts, and after long consid eration It was decided to ask Sic work men to contribute 1 per cent of their wages for this purpose, the fund to be at the disposal of the committee. A proposition to call out the cabdrlvers was also discussed, but although several delegates asserted that the drivers were ready to strike at a nod from the com mittee, there was general doubt as to whether such a strike could be effected. Peasants Still Riotous. There is a betterment of the agrarian conditions. Dispatches from Kusk. Pol tava. RIazan. Samara and other prov inces continue to report the spread of dis orders, which In Poltava are taking an anti-Jewish turn. However, the Imperial manifesto regarding the distribution of the crown domains, which by strenuous work was finished last night, will be Issued early this morning and, the Emperor and Count Witte expect, will help to pacify the peasants and have a tactical effect on the coming struggle with the Socialists and other anti-government forces in the elections for the Douma. FOLLOW LEADERS LIKE SHEEP Intellectuals Join Strike Which They Condemn Black Gangs Feared. ST. PETERSBURG. Nov. 17. (Special.) Premier Wltte's telegram to the strik ers. Imploring them to resume work. has had a contrary effect to that ex pected, as- the worklngmen now- declare that the strike must go on, lest It be supposed that they are influenced by the Premier. Although the Intellectuals, as individuals, are almost unanimous In condemning the strike as needlessly blunt ing valuable Instruments of reform, the sheep Instinct to blindly follow the lead of others prevails among their associa tions, and last night many ot these or ganizations resolved to Join the strikers today. The recruits include the engtn eers, the chemists and their assistants, professors and teachers, counting-room clerks and S00 government clerks. The general strike Is entering Its ser ious phase, as It Is feared that the commercial houses, particularly the petty dealers, will become so enraged at their continued losses that hundreds of "black gangs" will spring up and prove to be beyond the -restraining capacity of the government. One thousand Cossacks have beenjlraft- ed to reinforce the regular police of It the city. King Edward of Great Britain has for warded here 2000 pounds to be devoted to the fund for the relief of the unem ployed. ) VICEROY FREES PRISONERS. Tries Pacific Methods While Arme- nlans Massacre Tatars. TIFLIS, Nov. 16. The Viceroy has ordered the liberation of all persons arrested for offenses against the ad ministration. He has asked the people to co-operate with the authorities In restoring tranquility. Two Tatar villages were stormed by Armenians a few days ago. Many-of the Tatars were killed and their bodies were horribly mutilated, the arms, ears and noses being cut offv The Armen ians burned 255 houses and drove off all the livestock belonging to the Ta tars. AUSTRLV CAN'T KEEP ALOOF Her Poles Would Demand Freedom Given Russian Poles. VIENNA. Nov. 16. The report that Austria has promised to support Rus sia against X'ic movement for Polish autonomy Is officially denied. It is conceivable, however, that, should the movement In Russian Poland become serious. Austria might be compelled to act, a tho success of the Russian Poles assuredly would be followed by simi lar demands on the part of the Austrian Poles, Just as the grant, of suffrage In Russia has been followed by an 1m- (Concluded on Page 4.) WHO ENTERTAINED FOR GOOD QFTHE STSTE OF OREGON Valley and City Will Strive Together. I PORTLAND WANTS DEEP RIVER Willamette Asks Removal o Embargo at Locks. UNION SENTIMENT STRONG Business Men's Excursion Has a Day -"of Delightful Experiences in Meeting Friendly People at Number of Cities. VISIT TO CALIFO KM A. EUGENE". Or.. Nov. 10. (Special.) At the rooms of the Eugene Commer cial Club. Manager Tom Richardson, of the Portland Commercial Club, made the announcement that a spe cial excursion will be run from Port land to California. The start will be made on January 13. and six days will be consumed In going as far as Los Angeles. The purpose of the ex cursion Is to make manifest person ally to the people of California the satisfaction all Oregon feela over the magnificent manner In which all Cali fornia contributed to the succoss of the Lewis and Clark Exposition. BT EDGAR B. PIPEH. ALBANY. Or., Nov. 16. (Staff Corre spondence.) Oregon will be united It the experiences of today count for any thing. The business men have heard everywhere that the towns and all communities of the Willamette Valley have an earnest desire to work with Portland for the upbuilding of a greater state. Ay speakers at all places have said that there are no differences between the state and Port land no grievances, no wounds to heal. The Valley wants the Columbia River deepened and in return it asks that the embargo on commerce at the Oregon City locks be removed, cither by the" state 'or by the Nation. Here Is a basis for a mutual agreement that It has been easy to establish. The Valley will help Portland; Port land will help the Valley; both will help the state at large. The end of the third day found tle Portland business men at Albany. There Is a new Albany. Albany has a Commercial Club that has united its business people in a common desire and purpose to work for the benefit ot the town and the large agricultural district of which It Is the center. The club has a beautiful home, and the spirit which Inspires the efforts of all Its members Is fine. Clubmen Meet at Depot. The club came out to the station to night over 100 strong to receive their visitors They made It at once obvious that tKey Intended to extend no per functory greeting, but the glad hand was offered in earnest. The name of the organization, by the way, is the A?co Club. The name was found by the Ingenious process of taking tho first four letters In the four words, Al bany, Linn County. Oregon. Headed by President E. D. Cuslck and Mayor "W. H- Davis. th club mem bers paired off with their guests, and marched to the clubhouse. Here a few minutes were spent in the pleasant task of getting acquainted, and then County Judge C. H. Stewart Intro duced Jlayor W. H. Davis, who for mally extended the hospitality of the city. He was followed by Judge H. H. (Concluded on Page 5.) THEM