m
VOL. XIF.- 'O. 14,059.
PORTIiAXD, OREGON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1905.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
S
Great Fortunes Made
on Wall Street.
LAWSON RECOVERS LOSSES
Standard Oil Men Make Fabu
lous Profits.
MONEY AT 125 PER CENT
Groat Supply From West and Mor
gan's Pool Break Corner of Un
scrupulous Bankers Rus
sell Sage on Scene.
CHEAT DAY IX WALL STREET.
Boom In copper stocks makes for-
tunes for Lawson as well as Standard
Oil crowd, and pinches London
brokers.
Call money In Now Tork opens a 30
per cent, rises to maximum of 125
no
per cent, declines to minimum of 0 per
cent and closed at 15 bid, 20 ofTered.
Russell Sage "comes out of retire
ment and lends total of $30,000,000 In
three hours at 85 to 00 per cent.
Unscrupulous New York bankers
cause money stringency, but corner Is
broken by Morgan syndicate and sup
ply rut-hod from "Western cities.
Crisis expected today. Brokers may
have to pay COO per cent for use of
money till "Tuesday,
NEW YORK. Dec. 2S. (Special.) The
shares of Anaconda Mining Company, a
subsidiary of he Amalgamated Copper
Company, made a sensational rise to 27a.
u new high record, today. In the face of
h rise in the price of call money to 123,
the highest of years.
The rise In Anaconda Is attributed to a
squeeze of the bears here and In London,
which almost started a bear panic. Some
-Jme am-a rich discovery -was made in
one of the Anaconda mines. The Stand
ard Oil party, .which controls Amalga
mated and Anaconda, tried to keep the
discovery secret and began to corner Ana
conda shares. The news leaked out here
several days ago, but is said to have be
come generally known In London only
today.
Keen London traders, who had been
selling Anaconda short In large blocks,
attracted by the high prices, found that
the Standard Oil crowd had absorbed
practically the supply of shares, and that
they could not borrow enough for deliv
ery on their sales of Wednesday.
Anaconda opened at 239 and rose rapidly
to 275. For a time the fluctuations were
a cry wide. The stock at one time broke
to 230, and then rapidly ran up to 25S, at
which It closed.
Lawson and Standard Make Millions
The boom In Amalgamated Copper and
Anaconda has made many new fortunes
In Wall street. One prominent operator Is
fald to have made several millions. It is
the richest stock-market strike the Stand
ard Oil party has made in many years.
Henry H. Rogers, Wllliiam Rockefeller.
James Stillman and several of their asso
ciates are credited with making fabulous
sums out of the great rise In the copper
stocks.
It is generally believed that Thomas W.
l.awson has also recouped his fortune,
notwithstanding his assertion that he was
short of Amalgamated Copper.
West Breaks Money Market.
The fluctuations In the money rate were
wider than those in Anaconda. Call money
opened at 30. advanced to 110 per cent on
the Stock Exchange, and to 125 per cent
outside, then dropped to 3 per cent and
closed at 6.
The cause -of the decline was the fact
that millions of dollars have bcon rushed
here from Chicago, Cincinnati. Cleveland.
St. Louis and many other Interior cities
which have money to spare. At the same
lime it Is reported that Mr. Morgan and
a number of prominent bankers had
formed a 550,000,000 pool to fight the money
corner.
It Is now generally believed that the
price of money has been manipulated by
The more unscrupulous banks. There is.
of course, a stringency, but It is believed
that It will end early in the new year,
when tho dividend and Interest disburse
ments begin.
Crisis Will Come Today.
Tomorrow the crisis will probably be
reached. There Is no call money on the
market Saturday, and, as Monday will be
a holiday, the brokers will be compelled
to provide themselves with funds to carry
stocks over until Tuesday. If money lends
at 323 again tomorrow, they will be com
pelled to pay 600 per cent for the use of
money until Tuesday. This rate is almost
prohibitive, but so firm Is the faith of
Wall street In the stability of the present
market and the prediction that the street
is on the cvo of one of the greatest bull
movements In Its history that brokers to
day expressed their determination to pay
even a greater , rate rather than throw
their stocks over.
SAGE COULD NOT STAY AWAY
Lends $80,808,060 at High Rates,
Just for Relaxation.
NE"WT YORK, Dec. 26.-(Specia!.) T&c
COPPER
BOOM
MONEY
alluring call of 100 per cent Interest
reached RusscJl Sage today, dragged him
from his Fifth-avenue mansion and
planted him in his old Wall-street office
for first time In many weeks. For three
hours the IX)-yrar-old financier loaned out
money to Wall -street borrowers, and In
that time he got rid of about 530,000.W
$10,000,000 an hour.
This money was loaned at from SS to M
pr cent. The interest rate Jumped to
125 when all the Sage money was gone,
but later on It dropped back to SO.
"Don't crowd. the boys too hard," in
structed Mr. Sage, as he started home.
The weakening effects of Mr. Sage's
illness have kept his out of Wall street
for a long time, but he has kept in close
touch with the situation and the mar
kets. When he hoard that borrowers
were offering 300 per cent for call money
before the opening of the market, his
house could not hold him. He felt that
Wall street needed him and his money
at 100 per cent or thereabouts.
Calling an automobile, Mr. Sage was
rushed to his office. There he opened his
safes and sot out about 530,000.000. He
could have got us high as 120 per cent,
but all he exacted was from S3 to SO,
which was about the avorage between
the extreme fluctuations. In tbccourse
of the day the interest rat made such
leaps as from 110 U 50 and back. The
Sage money had a tonic effect upon the
market.
Trading was remarkably brisk and all
lines advanced. Generally, when money
is high, stocks are low.
Mr. Sage remained In his office until
everybody that called had been accom
modated. When he started uptown he
paid that he believed the little relaxa
tion had done him a lot of good.
HOW DID LAWSON" COME OUT?
Boston Says He Is Bankrupt or Made
Great Fortune.
BOSTON. Maws.. Dec. 2S. (Special.)
Has or has not Wall Street got the scarp
of Thomas W. Law-fon, of Boston, dang,
ling at Its belt? This is the uppermost
question in the financial world. Mr. Law
son himself Is noncommittal.
.It Is rumored that he is "done." yet a
momber of the governing committee of
the Boston Stock Exchange today de
clared his belief that no one man ha?
made as much money out of the stock
market in the last 30 days as Mr. Law
son. Taking Mr. Lawson's latest published
remarks literally, the recent skyrocket
ing of the copper stocks would naturally
have put him and his $13,000,003 pool be
yond all hope of resurrection. But if the
skyrocketing did not scnash him and his
pool beyond repair, the sharp setback In
the market must have put both on "easy
street."
STOCK TRADING N'OT CHECKED
Wall Street Operators Still Buy and
Bid Up Prices.
NEW YORK. Dec. 2S. The organized
speculation In control of the stock market
showed the courage of Its convictions to
day by buying stocks and putting up
prices In the face of rates for call money
at 100 per cent and above. Large amounts
were lent on the Stock Exchange at 110
per cent, and funds were placed outside
the exchange at 125 per cent. So long as
money could be had at these terms, the
rates were determined not to be prohibi
tive of the holding of stocks on margin,
and they were paid rather than sell out
stock holdings. They were paid also on
the assumption that the -high rate may
hold or even be exceeded on the remain
ing day of the week.
The argument was heard among specu
lative operators that this year the rate of
Interest was well worth paying for the
day or two until the end of the year on
the prospect that prices -would likely ad
vance in larger proportion than the dally
amount of increase reported at this rate.
It was asserted -with eager enthusiasm,
also, that these few remaining days of
stringent money .would offer the only op
portunity for securing stocks at the pres
ent level of, prices. Such was the spirit
that dominated an extraordinary stock
market which Ignored money conditions
that have been the signal for a panicky
unloading of securities in the past experi
ence of the Stock Exchange.
There was something of a scramble to
unload stocks during the early transac
tions In the market, owing to an appre
hension that It would be found impossible
to borrow money on any terms. Probably
the liquidation thus effected caused some
relief In the money tension. The extraor
dinary Interest rates also had their effect
in bringing offerings Into the market from
many unexpected sources, some of them
Insignificant In themselx-cs. Including small
private deposit accounts, but making up a
large aggregate. Some banking funds
were made available from outside soarccs.
The strictly local character of the strin
gency is a remarkable feature of the epi
sode. Money on call at near-by cities con
tinues to rule at not over 6 per cent.
While a good demand exists for money
throughout the country, this contrast with
rates paid on the New York Stock Ex
change offers an attraction to transmit
funds to- this center.
Rumors continued very persistent of
contemplated measures of relief for the
money market by the Secretary of the
Treasury, but the arrival of that official
at Chicago confirmed the assertion that
such measures of relief would be mado
dependent upon the finding of evidence of
the need outside of the speculative cen
ters. It was broadly Intimated, however,
that the Treasury Department would
adopt a tolerant attitude toward the re
serve requirements of the banks during
the existence of any crisis in the money
market, and It was the general supposi
tion that the- banks were availing them
selves of this implied permission to en
croach liberally upon their reserves.
There was an urgent demand for time
loans lor the shorter periods, as well as
for call loans, and the commissions de
manded to secure 60 and 3-day funds
made the Interest rate equivalent to 9
per cent. This condition In the time-loan
market opens a serious question as to
the justification for overweening confi
dence in speculative circles of an imme
diate relaxation in the money stringency
after the first of the year.
The -weekly statement of the Bank of
England disclosed an ajmost unprece
dentedly weak condition of that institu-
(CecJu4t4 sm. Pax .)
CONFESS SINS
TO FATHER KNAPP
Railroad Men Ask Commis
sion's Aid in Abandoning
Their Evil Ways.
DISCRIMINATE NO MORE
Stubbs Heads Committee or Penitent
Traffic Officials In Conference
With Commission Plan
or Co-Opcratlon.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 2S. Representa
tives of the leading trans-Mlsslsslppi rail
roads were In conference with the Inter
state Commerce Commission today con
cerning rates and the efforts of the com
mission to do away with discrimination
by the railroads In favor of large ship
pers. J. C Stubbs, vie-prcsldent and
traffic director of tho Ilarrlman lines, was
the spokesman for the railroad men and
held a brief conference wilh his associates
before they appeared before the com
mission. Chairman Knapp and Commissioners
Cockrcll and Clements were the only
members present, the other commissioners
being out of the city. Among the rail
road men who attended the conference
were T. G. Nicholson, vlce-prtldent of
the Atchison. Topeka &. Santa Fe; J. M.
Johnson, assistant to the vice-president
of the Gould lines, and J. T. Holdon.
freight traffic manager of the Rock
Island.
Desire Aid or Commission.
The conference, which was not public,
lasted for more than two hours. The rep
resentatives of the railroads referred all
inquiries concerning the meeting to Mr.
Knapp. who said the committee desired
the assistance of the commission in pre
venting rebates and through the repre
sentatives of the different Western roads
stated that the companies are determined
to put a stop to discrimination in favor of
the large shippers.
Through Mr. Stubbs and practically all
tho other members of the committee, the
railway Interests were represented as be
ing anxious to have the commission as
sist a railway committee In looking Into
all grievances. Mr. Knapp said the speak
ers even expressed a willingness to have
such a committee headed by a .man wlth-
CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER
The Weather.
TESTER DAY'S Maximum .temperature. 42
dep.; minimum, SC Precipitation. 0.18 of
an inch.
TODAY'S Occasional tight rain. Winds
mostly southerly.
Rust!.
Moscow rebols murder Chief ef Police.
Page 4.
Revolt In Moscow almost suppressed; leaders
and arsenal captured. Page 4.
Seciet court In Reval executes enemies of
rebellion. Page 4.
Troop and treasure trains wrecked. Page -I.
Foreign.
New version of manner ef signing Ortan
Japanese treaty. Pace 5.
Princess Ena, to become Catholic before
marrying Alfonso. Page 4.
Morales gathers forces In north ef Saate Do
mingo. Page S.
National.
Report of Canal Commission. Page 14.
New obstacle to Umatilla Irrigation. Page 3.
Roosevelt hunts rabbits In Virginia. Page 4.
Trial of Midshipman Cetan for hazing.
'Page o.
Railroad men agree to expes rate discrim
ination. Page 1.
.Money Market.
Great boom In copper stocks makes great
fortunes. Page 1.
Exorbitant Interest paid for call money due
to corner by banks. Page 1.
Russell Sage loans money tor first time In
weeks. Page 1.
Question whether Lawson made or lest.
Page 1.
Domeitle.
State Insurance officials testify bcxere com
mittee. Page 1.
Mrs. Fltzsimmons will allege cruelty.
Page 14.
Arranging details of Presbyterian church
union. Page -4.
Politics.
William J. Lachner. of Baker City, would
represent Oregon In Congress from the
Second District. Page C.
Frank. W. Benson, of Roseburg. is a candi
date for Secretary of State of Oregon.
Page C
Sport.
College conference on football rules. Tage 14.
Pacific Ceatt.
Three ol the dead from the wrecked Pass
of Mclfort are buried on Vancouver Is
land. Page C.
Seattle spiritualists find prey la S. A. Rich
ards, a wealthy man, whose wife was
drowsed. Page 0.
Palouse ranchers will demand a Joint rate
on wheat. Page o.
Spanking with a paddle did not subdue Se
attle girl at Reform School. Page 6.
Washington Board of Control makes order
to oust Dr. James Watson from Van
couver School. Page C
Commercial asd Marine.
Holiday dullness In local cereal markets.
Page 15.
Citrus fruit auctions begin at San Francisco
January s. Page 15.
Heavy buying of structural it eel and rails.
Pace IS.
Bearish news depresses Chicago wheat mar
ket. Page 10.
Steamer Henley chartered to load 2wOO,000
feet of lumber for Australia. Page XL
Ste-amer Toledo sold by Marshal to satisfy
claims. Page 11.
River pilots oppose construction f railroad
bridge at proposed location. Page IX.
PortUad isl VlcktKy.
Lane nquirros on the witness stand in civil
service inquisition. Page X.
South Portland Exchange saloon rabject of
police comment. Page 10.
Practical Jokers get A. Walter Wclfe In Jail
In San Francisco by wiring Chief of Po-
lice to detain him. Page 10.
Receiver asked for by surety for executor of
estate. Page XX.
Footpad offers to trap confederate la crime It
promised Immunity. Page 10.
Quarterly inspection, parade and review of
companies of the Oregoa National Guard.
PajM 12.
United, Cigar Store Cowfaaay invades Port
i.s4 tobacco war will follow. Page 0.
out railway interests, who shall act as
the get-between In all conferences between
the railway committee and the commis
sion. Shippers Conscience AroHSCd.
Several of the railway men assured the
commission that the public conscience
had been aroused by rebate disclosures
and that many prominent shippers have
announced they will accept no concessions
of any sort which may cause them to be
classed with corporations which have
profited by spedal rates. This senti
ment. It was urged by the railway men.
will assist materially In the movement of
the railways to abolish rebates.
Mr. Knapp and the other two members
of the commission who attended the con
ference assured the railway men that
the commission will gladly co-operate
with tho railway Interests In stopping re
bates, and In Investigating any grievances.
In return for activity among the railways
In trying to abolish discriminations. Mr.
Knapp said the railway committee did
not ask concessions of any sort from the
commlfjilon, but that they desired co
operation. All Western Roads Represented.
Tho following official statement con
cerning the meeting was made by the
Interstate Commerce Commission:
"Tha conference today with Westrrn
railway officials was not sought by the
Commission, as certain papers have In
correctly stated, but Its purpose was le
gitimate and commendable, and warrants
the expectation of beneficial results. At
a recent meeting In Chicago, the repre
sentatives of practically all the lines
west of that city, from tho Canadian
border to the Gulf, adopted the follow
ing resolution:
That a Joint coenmttee representative of lines
la the Western trunk line committee, the
trans-Mlsnour! freight bureau. Southwestern
tariff committee and the transcontinental
frelght.rate committee be appointed and In
structed to wait upon the Interstate Com
merce Commission. The desire and purpw?
of the respective mmbera of said committees
or bureaus to co-operate with the Commis
sion In the enforcement of the law to the
extent of pointing out ways and means and
giving the CemmlMCon any specific Informa
tion that may cme to Its knowledge whleh
win lead to effective Inquiry In uncovering
unlawful practices.
Will Inform on Lawbreakers.
"The object of the Joint committee,
whose names have already been pub
lished, was to present this resolution and
assure the Commission of the united and
determined disposition of the lines rep
resented to conform to theTiw In good
faith and In every respect, and to aid
the Commission In Its enforcement.
Pledges to this effect were given by all
present, with the further promise to re
port every illegal transaction which may
come to their knowledge, or of which
they may have well-grounded suspicion.
"While this visit was unsolicited, as
above stated, it was not unwelcome, and
the Commission has no reason to doubt
the sincerity of the movement or Its
practical value. That It will result In
the complete discontinuance of wrongful
practices is perhaps too much to expect,
for time alone will test the desire qf Its
uefulncss: but a marked '. i IfplyenQ
In the observance or tariff raits' ihay
be fairly anticipated. If the promised
co-operation is actually and continuously
afforded, the payment of rebates and the
granting of -secret advantages will be. It
Is hoped, reduced to a minimum."
FOUND PASSAGE SHOAL
GJOA COMPELLED TO JETTISON
PART OF CARGO.
Observations at Magnetic Pole, Taken
With Seir-Reglstcrlng Instru
ments, Sent to England.
SEATTLE. Dec. 23. Captain William
Mogg, of the whaling schooner Bonanza,
wrecked on Herschcl Island a few months
ago. arrived In Seattle this morning on
the steamer Jefferson. He Is the man
who walked SCO miles from Herschcl
Island 'to Fort Eagle in company with
Roald Amundsen, of the little schooner
GJoa. which was sailed from Norway
through the long lost Northwest passage
and who ultimately found the magnetic
North Pole.
Captain Mogg says Captain Amundsen
accomplished all of the matters relative
to the location of the north magnetic pole,
and sailed his vessel through the North
west Passage. Captain Amundsen was
compelled to jettison a part of his cargo
In order to accomplish bis feat of navi
gating the Northwest Passage, which
shows that the Northwest Passage, now
that it has been defined. Is not deep
enough for vessels large enough for com
mercial tonnage.
"It will probably be from 12 to 13 months
before the value of the observations taken
by Captain Amundsen at the north mag
netic pole Is made known to the scientific
world." said Captain Mogg. "For two
years Captain Amundsen photographed
every movement o the needle, finding
that it moved back and forth practically
In a circle. The observations were taken
with sclf-rcglstcrlng Instruments, and no
member of the expedition Is able to give
the results. This data will be submitted
to the Royal Geographical Society of Lon
don and the scientific and geographic body
of Norway and Sweden which assisted in
rending out the expedition.
"There are-only about three men In the
world who are able to read the self-registering
Instruments used by Captain
Amundsen In taking the observations of
the movement of the north' magnetic pole.
It Is estimated that at least a year will
be required In compiling the data. Cap
tain Amundsen expects to leave on his re
turn to the ship GJoa. which Is within a
stone's throw of the wrecked schooner Bo
nanza, and plans to bring the GJoa out by
Behrlng Strait to San Francisco, reaching
that dty early next September.
"Captain Amundsen has already sent
out the observations as registered by the
Instruments In his sealed copper cans.
This report has been forwarded to Lon
don, and will first be examined by the
Royal Geographical Society.
"In the measurements of water taken by
Amundsen In the passage the depth of
only nine feet six' Inches was found at the
place where the GJoa. went aground. As
near ss could be ascertained by Captain
Amundsen, there Is no great depth of wa
ter at any place la the passage, although
It Is possible that a waterway may exist
where the passage is entirely blocked with
Ice."
Odessa' Strike Nearly Over.
ODESSA. Dec. 3S. Martial law has
been proclsiraed 'la this dty. The strike,
however, 1 MnV ever. Hmfctfc ef ar
rvcts hve been mmdt.
PAYH DENIES HE
RECEIVED BRIBE
Ex-Insurance Official Turns on
Mutual Reserve's
Officers. .
SPURNED M'CURDY' CASH
Mutual Lire President Ofrcrcd Re
tainer to State Superintendent.
Angry Because Lcrt Out or
Deal In Trust Stock.
NEW YORK. Dec. 3. Louis F. Payn
and J. Ryder Cady. who was employed at
times as counsel by Mr. Payn while the
latter was State Superintendent of Insur
ance, were the witnesses today before the
Insurance investigation committee, and
furnished practically all of the Interesting
testimony, notwithstanding the fact that
more witnesses were examined than on
any other day since the Investigation be
gan. Mr. Payn was called to complete his tes
timony. Interrupted by adjournment yes
terday, and. In reply to one of the first
questions asked him. emphatically denied
the report that he had received WQ.00O
from the Mutual Reserve Life Insurance
Company, and had allowed that company
to write Its own report of an investigation
which Mr. Payn had caused to be made In
1K9. Mr. Payn characterized the report
as absolutely false In every particular,
and said It grew out of a fight between
James D. Wells, cx-vice-prcsident of the
Mutual Reserve, and President Burnhanf.
of tho same company. He said nothing
cither of these men said was worthy of
consideration.
He Rejected McCurdy's Money.
Judge Cady was brought Into the Inves
tigation by reason of his having appeared
before Mr. Payn In the Interest of Prus
sian insurance companies seeking admis
sion Into the United States. This applica
tion was denied by Mr. Payn. but two"
years later was granted. President Mc
Curdy. of the Mutual Life Insurance Com
pany, had asked that this permission be
held up until he could see Mr. Payn. This
request was refused, but Mr. Payn had
Judge Cady call upon Mr. McCurdy.
Mr. Hughes asked If Mr. McCurdy said
the Mutual Life would par an' money for
n contrary decision. Judge Cady said he
did not. but that Mr. McCurdy offered
hlra a retainer In behalf of the Mutual
Life, which he refused.
Hunter Used His Influence.
The New York office of the Insurance
Department was inquired Into when Rob
ert Hunter. Deputy Superintendent, was
called. Mr. Hunter could add nothing as
to the conduct of the Insurance Depart
ment to what already had been supplied.
It was brought out that through his In
fluence he had a medical examiner of the
Equitable Life Assurance Society in
Poughkeepsie discharged. Mr. Hunter
said:
"I went to the Equitable Life in my per
sonal capacity and asked them If they
wanted a man like Powell working for
them, and he was dismissed."
Asked how the Equitable Life differen
tiated his personal from his official ca
pacity. Mr. Hunter said he did not know.
McCurdy's Claims Ignored.
Accumulative evidence on the allotment
of the 1CC0 shares of stock of the Lawyers
Mortgage Insurance Company, which,
while held for the Mutual Life Insurance
Company, were credited to members of
the finance board, was taken In the exam
inations of Adrian Iselln and G. G. Haven,
of the finance committee, and of Fred
erick H. Cromwell, the present acting
president of the Mutual Life. Henry Mor
genthau. of the Lawyers Mortgage In
surance Company, told how Mr. McCurdy
had become Indignant because he had not
been allotted shares In the Lawyers Title
Insurance Sc. Trust Company, and to ap
pease him a block of Lawyers' Mortgage
Insurance Company stock was offered
him. but he would not take It. and further
gave Mr. Morgentbau to understand that
no applications for loans from either com
pany would receive consideration from
the Mutual Life.
Mr. Cromwell said he knew nothing of
the stock being offered to Mr. McCurdy.
but that Mr. Haven brought It to his at
tention. Mr. Cromwell said:
"I'm very sorroy to have to testify
against Mr. McCurdy, but he never did
bring it to the attention of the finance
committee."
Mr. Haven said he did not know that
he was a member of the subcommittee of
the finance committee to fix salaries until
It was brought out In this Investigation.
A. D. JuiUard and George F. Baker wer
tee other members1, lie thought Presl
dent McCurdy appointed the committee to
fix salaries, and that he had power under
the by-laws. The committee fixed the sal
aries of the president and all of the off!
cers. and no report was made to any
committee or to the board Itself.
Will Save 3lHtual $1,500,000.
When Mr. Cromwell was on the stand
he was asked what consideration he had
given to economies In the Mutual Life
Insurance Company. He said he could
not give exact figures for the record, but
that there would be a saving of perhaps
a million and a half dollars next ye?x.
He added that the most unpleasant duty-
be had had to perform was that of being
headsman In discharging employes during;
the last few weeks.
Late in the day the United States Life
Insurance Company's affairs were taken
cp by Mr. Hughes. The president of the
company. John P. Kuan, submitted a
number of statements ef syndicate par
ticipations which were read for the rec
ord. alo state eaU ef the cmc a In
surance to his company. He said he
wanted to represent tho United States
Life in the matter of suits for rebates on
taxes so as to prevent any conflict of
claims of companies for rebates. Mr.
Munn said his company paid no retainer
to Hamilton.
Cost or New Business.
A statement of the cost to the comnany
of new business showed that in many
cases It ran over 5X) per cent, and in some
cacs as high as 250 per cent. Mr. Munn
said It was due to the sharp competition
of the large companies.
District Attorney Jerome today, re
ceived a copy of all the evidence thus
far submitted to the committee. There
are numerous volumes. Acting District
Attorney Nott said today that a special
grand Jury would probably be empaneled
In February to consider the testimony.
Investigates Hamilton's Report.
NEW YORK. Dec 2S. Thomnt P. Fow
ler, chairman of the special committee of
the board of trustees of the New York
Life Insurance Company, gave out the
following appended statement for the
committee tonight:
"The committee Is engaged In a thor
ough Investigation of the Hamilton mut
tcr and will at its conclusion, make a
special report to the board of trustees.
Until that time It will have no announce
ment to make."
Hyde Will Return AVhcn Rested.
NEW YORK, Dec 2S. James Hazen
Hyde, formerly, first vicerprestdent of the
Equltablo Life Assurance Society, today
sailed -for France on- the steamer La
Tourralne.
"I am ons to France." he said, "for
a- few months' rest. I wish to deny .em
phatically that' I am' going to " leave
America, to. make my home . In France. I
am all tired out, and I feel the need 6f a
rest."
3rcCurdy. and Thcbaud Resign Again
NEW - YORK. Dec. IS. It was learned
today that Richard A. McCurdy. ex-pres-Ident
of the Mutual Life 'Insurance' Com
pany, and his son-In-Iaw. L. A. Thebaud.
who also was connected with the Mutual
Life, resigned some weeks ago from. the
dlrectora.e o: the United States Mortgage
& Trust Company. Their resignations
have been accepted.
PRIEST SERIOUSLY BORNEO
FIRE BREAKS OUT IX STUDY OP
FATHER CESTELLI.
St. Michael's Church Stirrers Greatly
From Flames CIcrgymun Res
cued With Dirriculty.
Father Cestclll was in no condition at
the hospital last night to explain how
the fire originated or to give any details
of his rescue. The origin of the fire is a
mystery. Before an alarm was turned in
the back part of the church was in
flames, the alarm probably having been
given by Father Cestelli himself- A
piercing scream was heard in the rear
of the church by Policeman Gustafson
two blocks away, and running in the
direction of the yell he arrived In time
to see a pedestrian turn in an alarm,
saying- that the scream had attracted his
notice.
St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church,
located at Fourth and Mill streets. Is
built of brick and stone, the rear por
tion of which Is used is living-rooms and
Rev. Alexander Cestelli. of St.
Michael's Church.
a study for the priest. The fire was
confined to the rear of the church, and
the body of the building Is hardly
damaged. Chief Campbell used as little
water as possible to extinguish the blaze,
and the damage will not amount to more
than a few hundred dollars.
Rev. Alexander Cestelli of St. Michael's
Roman Catholic Italian Church at Fourth
and Mill streets, was badly burned In a
fire which broke out- In the rear room of
the church, -used as a study, at 1 o'clock
this morning. Rev. Cestelli would .have
been overcome but for the prompt ar
rival of two citizens who ran Into his
study and dragged him to the street.
Father Cestelll's robes were almost
burned from his body and besides his
back and breast being cooked his head
and hands are badly scorched.
The father was carried from the burn
ing church to a fire station a. block away
and a physician was summoned, but be
fore he arrived the patrol wagon took
him to St. Vincent's Hospital. He suf
fered agonies on the way to the hospital
and Policemen Price and Johnson covered
his body with clothes taken from their
bodies.
Father Cestelll's injuries are serious,
but at the hospital it Is not thought they
win prove fatal.
Coal Trust Gets Oil Easy.
CLEVELAND. Dec 2S. The officers of
the Cleveland Retail Coaldealers Asso
ciation. Indicted on the charge of violat
ing the Valentine anti-trust law, pleaded
guilty la Cora mo a Fleas Court today and
were sentenced to pay a fine of 5M
each. Freseetitor Ross then announced
tfcat the hMUetments against the tker
GoeMealezs wouM be soiled.
r '
T
LAKE DENIES BE
BOOSTED BRUIN
Rules Altered for"Good
of City." .
HIS VIEW OF CIVIL SERVICE
Judges It fay Results, Not by
Method.
AGAINST SPOILS SYSTEM
Says Policemen Are Seventy Pec
Cent Brawn and Thirty Per
Cent Brain in. Justirj-ing
Mode or Examination.
BELIEVES DETECTIVES GUILTY.
Mayor Lane testified before the in
vestigating board yesterday afternoon
that he believed charges that were
bandied about by many persons, and
that were given publicity In the press,
regarding corruption among the raem
bern of. the headquarters staff of de
tectives, were true. He engaged Pat
rick Bruin partly, he said, to run
down there rumors, and from all the
circumstances, the Mayor said, he be
lieved the charges were true. It was
Impossible to secure evidence sufficient
to warrant written charges, he de
clared. The rumors concerned detectives
working In collusion with "stool
pigeons. a class of criminals who are
held Immune from punishment for
crimes committed by themselves, so
long as they furnish information con
cerning other criminal operations.
That all the changes, made in the rules
of civil service hr this- city were for the
good of the public service, was tho bur
den of Mayor .Harry Lame's testimony
before the select committee of the City
Council yesterday afternoon, but after
Hhc Honor had completed a long and un
interrupted series of speeches and explan
ations, the fact still stood out bold and
clear that "revision" had practically
killed civil service here, and that this
was done in order to seat Patrick Bruin
as captain of detectives and Inspector
of police.
Civil Service Warped.
Civil service the genuine brand au
thorized by the charter has been so
warped since Mayor Lane's advent into
office and under his administration. It Is
shown, that It is utterly unrecognizable,
and the only feature that remains Intact
is that rule which says that employes
shall not be discharged without cause and
only after a fair and Impartial trial. It
Is rumored that before long this will be
"knocked out," and the bars let down, so
that favorites may be Installed In future
without so much flurry and such a tre
mendous thundering of protest from all
sides as has followed the "boosting" of
Patrick Bruin Into office.
Mayor Lane was given great liberty In
explaining his connection with changes
in tho civil service rules, and his state
ments covered a wide range. At times he
waxed most dramatic, especially In de
tailing how. "for the good of the service,"
he had begged the members of the com
mission to give the city only the best
men for the positions to be filled.
Points at the Charter.
He once pointed at the charter, a copy
of which lay on the desk before Council
man Gray, a member of the select com
mittee, and said that all he had done, all
he had asked should be done, was that
the broadest construction possible be
placed on the charter, still keeping
within Its spirit, and yet giving the city
the best men possible. He declared him
self In favor of civil service, but was not
certain that "open and competitive exam
inations," as called for under the char
ter, would bring the best results.
Mayor Lane denied that he told the civil
service commissioners he wished a change
MAYOR CONTRADICTS CIVIL.
SERVICE COMMISSIONERS.
One of the chief features of Mayor
Lane's testimony before the select
eommlttee of the City Council in the
Investigation of civil service methods
In this city was the fact that he con
tradicted the sworn statements of
Commissioners W. L. Brewster and
p. L. YVHHs in regard to "revisions" of
rules.
Commissioners Brewster and -Willis.
In sworn statements, "passed up to
Mayor Lane practically all responsibil
ity -for all changes In civil service
rules.
Under oath. Mayor Lane yesterday
declared that the only suggestion he
made and he said It was merely a
suggestion to the Civil Service Com
missioners was to make a change, if
possible. In the rule requiring com
petitive examinations for promotions
from the lower classes of service. He
positively disclaimed responsibility for
anything else done by the Civil Serv
ice Commission.
In the rule' which made It necessary for
applicants for examination ' for positions
In the police and other departments ot
the city to have resided here at least one
year previous to such examinations, and'
he wanted it strictly understood that He
did not have 'Patrick Bruin In ralnd at
(Cecltt4d as Fag 19.)