Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, January 31, 1906, Image 1

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VOL. 5XT.- TsT0. 14,087.
PORTLAND, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31r 1906.
sn
PRICE FIVE CENTS. iK
CAPTAIN LOSES
ENTIRE CONTROL
Appears to Be Dazed
"by Calamity.
URGES WOMEN TO STAY ABOARD
Life-Rafts, He Declares, Are
Not Trustworthy,
BOATS ARE OVERLOADED
Members or the Crew Mingle With
the Passengers and Struggle for
Places, Thrusting Women
Out of Their "Way.
YESTERDAY'S TESTIMONY IN
BRIEF.
Immediately after the Valencia
struck the lifeboats n-ere lowered to
the saloon dock, hut were not lathed
fast. The crew did not prevent the
passengers from crowding Into the
boats.
Members of the crow were dlstrust
ful of the life preservers and one. at
least throw away a tulc preserver and
secured one of cork.
Captain Johnson lost control of his
crew and the day following tho
Valencia's grounding seemed to lose
control over himself.
The roliof party that went ashore
to send word of the disaster paid no
attention to a line that was shot
ashore and which, if properly . re
ceived, would have enabled many lives
to have been saved.
Tho steamer Qnecn and the tug
Czar might have raved lives had they
attempted it. It would have been
dangerous, but the Queen could have
sont boats to the Valencia and the
Czar could have worked in close
enough to get a line aboard the
doomed steamer.
Captain Johnson discouraged the
women from going aboard the life
raft. He warned passengers they
werf tfk'nsr toir.Jlvj-y,hrsiJi5-yi5--
and the women, confident the Queen
and Czar would come to their rescue,
refused to assume the risk.
SEATTLE, Jan. 30. (Special.) Little by
little the testimony of survivors of the
Pacific Coast Company's steamer Valen
cla, bofore Inspectors Whitney and Turn
er, is demonstrating that immediately
after the boat struck there -was a mad
rush for the boats, in which men jostled
women aside and fought for places, and
in which the crew either was powerless
to prevent the overcrowding of the boats.
or. losing courage. Joined the rush.
There are conspicuous examples of sea'
men who did not attempt to save them
selves, and there stands out occasionally
a man who advised caution, but among
the majority of the crew there seems to
have spread a panic as great as that felt
by the passengers themselves.
Inspectors Whitney and Turner the
.former, in particular show a sympathy
for Captain Johnson that 1s evident in
their examination of witnesses. Inspector
Whitney today seemed eager to demon
strate that Captain Johnson intended to
have held the lifeboats on the Valencia
until the morning after she struck and
then send off the passengers. He was
just as anxious to bring out proof that
the passengers led a rush toward the life
boats, and were responsible for their over
crowding and loss.
Women. Not Given a Chance.
Strongest of all the testimony that bears
upon the crew's responsibility is that o
Quartermaster Martin Tarpey, who testi
fied late today that he had helped to lower
lifeboat No. J. whose fall collapsed and
precipitated the passengers into the water.
Tarpey says, too, that a watchman begged
the men to stand back from the boats and
give the women a chance.
The most sensational of the evidence to
"be taken will probably come tomorrow
Professor Frank F. Bunker, assistant su
perlntendont of the Seattle public schools.
will be here then, and ls expected to be
called immediately. He has already se
verely criticised the company and the Va
lencla's crew, and is now on his way here
from the west coast, where he was assist
ing in the recovery of bodies washed
ashore by the tides.
A. H. Hawkins, a second-class passcn
ger, today testified that the morning the
life raft went off with the 18 who were
picked up by tho Topeka, Captain John
son announced that all who wanted to
take their lives in their hands could get
aboard the raft.
Wait for Rescue Boats.
The women, asked to go, clung to the
rigging, and, looking out toward the mo
tionless Queen and Czar, declared they
would stay by the wreck. They said
the two rescue boats would soon come to
their relief.
Hawkins stated that Captain Johnson
was greatly excited, and seemed to have
no idea of what was going on. The women
"believed his declaration that the life-rafts
were not trustworthy, and declared they
could not be saved that way.
Joseph M. Caffrey, who saw both boats
lost, declares the first was loaded badly,
the bow being heaviest, He declares the
boats were not made fast anywherel Then
when Inspector Whitney asked If he want
ed to add any statement, he said:
Tho crew was not disciplined. They
appeared to bo badly rattled. The men
were not at their posts. Members of the
crew mingled with the passengers and
struggled for places in the boats. They
should have tried to preserve order."
Passengers Crowd the Lifeboats.
Martin Tarpey, the quartermaster who
would have gone on duty at midnight.
was called and entered the pilothouse Just
after the boat struck. He declared Cap
tain Johnson ordered the crew to get out
the lifeboats and lower them to the saloon
deck and make them fast.
Everybody rushed to the saloon deck.
and It was overcrowded." Tarpey claimed.
The crew tried to keep the passongers
out of the boat, but could not do so. I
helped lower the first boat, which was
overcrowded. 35 persons being aboard. The
forward fall gave way and the boat
dropped into the sea. The watchman
aboard the Valencia stood by the boats
and tried, to keep back the men. I hoard
him crying:
" 'For God's sake, men, let the women
set in.' "
Tarpey stated that the passengers might
have been saved if they had kept away
from the boats. and wailed for dawn be
fore attempting to reach shore.
Line Fired Far Ashore.
Speaking of the attempts to get a line
aahore, Tarpey says the Valencia fired
three shots. The first line was carried
away, the second was lost, but the third
was carried into the woods an eighth of a
mile on shore. Had the relief expodltion
gone back to the bluff and attempted to
do so they could have taken this line and
helped in an efficient rescue. Tarpey de
clared the crew was composed of expe
rienced men, and the officers did the best
they could.
"Could boats from the Queen have come
in to you?" asked Inspector Whitney.
"Yes. they could." declared Tarpey. "It
would have been risky, but they could
have made it. The Czar should have shot
a line abonrd to us. We stayed there
watching and expecting the tug would do
su.
'When the last two rafts were brought
alongside, Captain Johnson would allow
no one to get aboard until all the passen
gers had been offered the chance to save
themselves. After those passengors who
wanted to take the chanco had gone
aboard he told the crew that if the men
wanted to they could go aboard."
Greek Hero's Simple Story.
John Segalos. the Greek whose attempt
to reach the shore with a life line made
him one of the heroes of the wreck, was
as prosaic in his testimony as he Was
spectacular In his life-saving effort. His
description of his .attempt to carry a line
ashore was lucid:
"I was feel sorry." he related simply.
"I say to myself. I go ashore. If I live.
many will live. So 1 make cross; take off
my coat. Then I my, 'Good-bye. boyi,.
and Jump into the water. The water was
too rough and I could not got on the
shore. So I come back."
Segalos declared the em thai wa.s jrwo-.
nlrig hori was so rough tliat no boat
could live in It- Ho contradicted Cor
nelius Allison, the aged man who was
rescued on a liferaft, and who wore that
the sea had calmed down by the time the
boat was sinking.
Wrhen the passcngerp and crew climbed
Into the rigging, the Greek alleged, the
seas were running over the vessel and
the waves threatened to dash the ship to
pieces.
Blames Passengers for Crowding.
Segalos emphasized the story that con
fusion existed on deck when the first
lifeboats were sent off, but he blames the
(Concluded on Page S.)
TESTIMONY OP THE SURVIVORS.
Charges of Negligence.
Officers and crew of the Valencia
alleged to have been Incompetent.
Captain Johnson, a comparatively
new man on the run, felt compelled by
the Pacific Coast Company's orders to
forge ahead at ordinary speed in dirty
weather, though he knew he was near
a dangerous coast.
Vessel piles up on Vancouver Island
when the captain supposed he was
far to the south.
Captain Johnson loses his hoad when
crash comes, and discipline Is thrown
to the winds.
Lifeboats are hastily launched in the
darkness, when delay until morning
would have meant the saving of many
lives.
Crew was not drilled In the handling
of life-saving apparatus.
Lifeboat- are put off without being
properly manned.
Life preservers filled with rushes in
stead of cork.
Wooden pins of the oarlocks would
not fit.
Plugs for the lifeboats are missing
and water rushes In from the bottom.
No life-saving stations provided by
the United States or the Canadian
government along a stern coast where
many vessels have been wrecked.
Charges of Cowardice.
Women are brutally hustled out of
the way In the mad rush for the
boats when the Valencia plies up.
Members of the crew struggle with
passengers for places In boats and on
liferafts.
Steamer Queen stands far off from
wreck. Her master. Captain Cousins,
ignores frantic signals for assistance
from men, women and children hang
ing in the rigging, and sails for San
Francisco.
Tug Salvor stays In safe harbor at
Bamfleld Creek the night, after the
wreck, although her master. Captain
Troup, had been Informed of the loca
tion of the broken hulk with human
freight.
Tug Czar, of light draft, makes no
attempt at rescue, though In close
proximity to the wreck.
Passengers that get ashore do not
attempt to haul In line fired from the
Valencia.
Relief crew from the Valencia
jnakes no attempt to send beats to
the rescue.
United States marines aboard the
Queen offer to man lifeboats, tut Cap
tain Cousins will not permit them.
No attempt made by Pacific Coast
Company boats to pick up passengers
and crew floating In the water.
HEARST MEN LOSE
THEIR THUNDER
Republicans and Democrats
Shout for Cheap Gas in
New York City.
GAS TRUST IS FRIENDLESS
Old Political Hands in Board of
Alderman and Alhany Put Own
ership 3Icn in the Hole by
Their Shrewd Moves.
NEW YORK. Jan. 23.-6pcclaL)-The
poor old gas trust hasn t any incnas
those days. All parties are taking a
whaok nt it, and the indications are that
prlcos will tumble before long. And the
joke of it is that the real friend of the
people, the Municipal Ownership League,
has been left far behind in the race for
the favor of the public by its two more
experienced political antagonists, the Re
publican and Democratic parties.
I told you. away back last Fall, when
Hearst's campaign had only fairly got
under way, that the real issue of the
campaign was not municipal ownership.
which no human bclfig clearly under
stands, but gas. It seems that this fact
has struck the Republican and Demo
cratic leaders, too. and they are prepared
to take all the credit for It.
A municipal ownership bill, providing
for 75-cent gas. now sleeps soundly In
the Assembly cities committee. It will
never, never be heard from again. The
present plan is to have the Republican
State Gas Commission fix tho price. If
that plan is changed. Chairman Jean Bur
nett, of the cities committee, will intro
duce a gas bill which will be made a
party mnasurc in caucus, pushed through
botli houses under the party whip, ac
companied by party cries, and signed by
a party Governor.
Then there can certainly be no doubt
among the "common people" that "Cod-
lln's the friend, not Short."
Ownership Men Ciphers.
What will the Municipal Ownership As
semblymen do when such a programme is
sprung upon them? Confidentially, no
body knows and nobody cares. They can
vole for the bill, vote against it, or go on
the roof of the Capitol and indulge in
war whooDS. It is a matter of sublime
indlCrcnaeuYtbs m,'tutb nmuai.'crrrof the
majority.
"Tho Municipal Ownership Assembly
men," said one member of the House, in
private conversation the other day, "came
up here lelleving that they were going to
run everything, and that everybody would
yield to their wishes and whims. Thoy
have gradually been brought to realize
that they will be permitted to ride on the
New York Central as often as they buy
tickets, that each has a desk and chair
on the floor of the Assembly, and that so
long as they sit there and are 'good, no
body will bother them.- But that Is all.
dear boy, that is all. On the subject of
legislation they are in the position of the
little boy who asked for the core of the
apple there wasn't any core, and there
will not be any Municipal Ownership
League legislation.
"But why should they worry? Nobody
will object to their receiving salary and
mileage, as duly provided by law."
Tammany Leader's Bombshell.
This is the Republican end of the plot.
In the Board of Aldermen. Tammany, al
though in a minority, has been getting
In Its fine work. "Little Tim" Sullivan.
the Tigers leader, who is the nearest
thing to a statesman on the board, start
ed tho trouble by introducing a resolu
tion solemnly pledging the members in
favor of the municipal ownership of pub
lic utilities. Sullivan supported his reso
lution by a speech which sounded like an
extract from tho oratory of a Hearst
meeting last campaign. He declared mu
nicipal ownership was a grand and noble
thing, and that the Board of Aldcrmon
should lose no time in getting on record
on the subject. Then he aaked unanimous
consent for the immediate passage of his
resolution. Under the rules, if one mem
ber objected, it would have to be sent to
a committee.
Of course this created a panic among
the Municipal Ownership Assemblymen.
They did not know what to make of it.
and in their flurry did precisely what Sul
livan had hoped they would do. They ob
jected to immediate consideration, and
the resolution went to a committee.
Consequently, oh, joy! Tammany was
in favor of municipal ownership, but was
prevented from Jumping in right away
and "saving the people" by the action of
the high priests of municipal ownership
themselves. These tyros in politics aro
kept busy day and night trying to explain
to their constituents why they blocked
the "chariot of progress," to use the
words of an inquisitive orator.
Explanations Don't Explain.
"But Tammany Introduced it," replied
the Alderman he addressed.
"Isn't if Just the kind of a bill you were
calling for during the campaign?" was
the stern question.
The Alderman admitted it was.
"Then do you mean to say," was the
comment, "that you are so narrow, and
partisan that you would rather see the
public suffer from, the extortions of the
traction trust and the gas trust than ac
cept aid from your political enemies? True
friends of the people would welcome the
assistance of anybody, it it "helped the
cause of the common people. Shame upon
you! Have you, too, been bought up by
the trusts?"
Now, what could the poor Aldermen do?
Ho is perfectly honest and sincere but he
was simply fooled by a bright politician
whose tricks be did not understand.
The Municipal Ownership Aldermen
vi we so busy tei44j- what tkey were go
ing to do that they delayed beginning.
That was how Tim Sullivan beat them
to the post on municipal ownership, and
now the Mayor has followed by "trim
ming them" on the gas question. The
Board of Aldermen had not even de
manded three cheers for cheaper gas
when the Mayor threw a bombshell into
the camp by forwarding the following
message:
Gentlemen: There Is now pending before
the State Legislature a bill designed to fix
the maximum price of gas In the boroughs of
Manhattan" and The Bronx, the borough of
Brooklyn (except that portion known as
Coney Island), and In the First Ward of the
borough of Queens, at SO cents per thousand
fet. and to provide for reductions of similar
proportions In the other parts of the city. A
similar measure suffered defeat In the last
session of the Legislature, partly. I regret to
say. through the votes of a number of Sen
ators from this city who endeavored to ex
cuse their action by stating that the senti
ment In favor of the bill did not emanate
from th people of the city, notwithstand
ing my request as Mayor that the Senators
support the bllL
In view ci the Importance of the bill now
pending, and to prevent. If possible, a re
currence of the action of last year, so unjust
to New York. I respectfully recommend to
your honorable board that you. an represen
tatives of the several sections of this mu
nicipality, give public expression to the uni
versal demand for the passage of this meas
ure. Respectfully.
OEOHGE B. M'CLELLAX. Mayor.
The Municipal Ownership Aldermen al
most cried when they heard this read. It
not only took all the wind out of their
sails, but It carried away the sails, too.
"Little Tim" Sullivan promptly moved
the adoption of a resolution embodying
the message, but again the Municipal
Ownership men headed it off. They ex
pressed a desire to "alter the phraseol
ogy." but Tammany scored a triumph
through the mere fact that Hearst men
sent the resolution to a committee.
Innocent, but Called Traitors.
And all over the districts where the
third parly showed the greatest strength
voters are saying angrily:
"What's the matter with that bunch
we elected? They vote against cheap
gas and they vote against municipal own
ership. Are they all traitors?"
It's mighty hard for Innocent men to
explain away a charge IJko this. And
they are innocent,'
And in the meantime. Tammany men
endorse this statement of a Bowery char
acter:
"Webster a statesman? 'Little Tim
makes him look like a piker."
LYNCHERS HOT ON TRAIL
Georgia Ncro Assaults Woman and
Leaves Her Dying.
ATLANTA, Ga., Jan. D3. Mrs. Nina
May Dupree. a young woman about SO
years old. who lives with W. H. Grogan.
a prosperous farmer about six. miles from
Atlanta, near Cornell, was assaulted by
a negro this afternoon. After cutting her
throat and leaving her dying from loss
of blood and nervous excitement, the
negro escaped.
A pojye of more than a hundred citi
zens with hounds' is following Ihc negro
tonight, and. if he is captured he will in
ail probability be summarily lynched.
Grogan awdV his wife, returning '8fp
Hum Auaiii Ab mat liuui. iuuuu uiua
Dupree dying In the dining-room in a
pool of blood. Physicians who were Im
mediately summoned despair of her re
covery. She was too weak to say more
than that a tall black negro was the
perpetrator of the crimo.
CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature. 58
deg.; minimum. 40. Precipitation. 0.02 of
an Inch.
TODAY'S Frobably occasional light rain.
Easterly winds.
Foreign.
Frederick proclaimed King of TJenmark.
Page 8.
Unionists clamor for Balfour to retire In
favor of Chamberlain. Page 3.
Rebels In Caucasus submit by thousands.
Page 5.
High official In Tiflls blown to pieces with
bomb. Page o.
National.
Railroad rate bill Introduced In House.
Page 1.
Senate passes consular bill, discusses ship
subsidy bill and passes many Pacific Coast
bills. Pago 2.
Shonts telle why he cancelled Markel con
tract. Page C
Witnesses for packers on claim of Immunity.
Page 4.
Politic.
Ownership party's thunder stolen on cheap
gas for New York. Page 1.
Domestic
Two livestock associations unite at Denver.
Page 4.
Route of St. Paul road's Pacific extension.
Page 4.
Attempted graft on insurance inquiry
blocked. Page 3.
Georgia negro brute pursued by lynchers.
Page 1.
Black Hand letters sent from Portland to
publishers of exposure of Congo horrors.
Page 1.
Grover Cleveland gives doctors a lecture.
Page 5.
Pacific Coast.
Testimony In Valencia wreck Investigation
at Seattle. Page 1.
Twenty-two bodies of victims of the wreck
have been recoered. Page 6.
Oregon Supreme Court decisions. Page 6.
Salem lawyers views on the workings of
the Initiative. Page 6.
Ktfll Ke!zr.. of Cottage Grove. Or., killed
by dranketrsnan with a gun. Page 0.
Three werak"IIJed In wreck of Oriental LIm
I ted trains- In Montana. Page 0.
Bunker H1U. & Sullivan mine Is on fire.
Page 9.
Commercial nsd Marine.
Hopgrowers asking above current rates.
Page 13.
Wheat strong and higher at Chicago.
Page 15.
Oranges more plentiful In San Francisco
market. Page 15.
Bad break iafetock market. Page 15.
Boston wool ..rsarket firmer. Page 15.
January reports of grain and lumber from
Portland reach a total value or nearly
S1.000,00OJ"sT?age 14.
Major Roessler. United States Engineer, de
clines to recommend permission to drive
dolphins In river at East Side landing of
the LowerjAlblna ferry. Page 14.
rjjrtlaBd mad VIclalty.
Swifts purchase land on the Peninsula for
big abattoir Page 18.
Southern Pace's aodera hospital on wheels
visits Portland. Page 10.
President Leyey of the North-Bank Road
discusses sjidge. draws. Page 11.
Maegly Junction disputed right of way will
be argued iefiay-' Page 14.
Examination Tor appointment of Annapolis
cadet to eV-feeld March L Page 9.
Martin Rea4rBot aned. though willing at
one tlmo Implead guilty. Page 1
Fish asd Gajaja Association plaas state Mi
hatchery. Fr" I.
Portias iMi&trJghteu many mercfeast
various clefts with Its Mack feaM ad.
Page II. '
gx-City XifM- acid t have Vee give
high psttMwka Uatoa FaeWc Fa
3r" , .
DEBUTE ON MTES
BEGINS IN HOUSE
Townsend Introduces Bill and
the.-Democratlc Party
Supports It
APPLIES TO ALL TRAFFIC
Provisions .Explained by Father of
Measure, Who "Warns Hail
roads to Accept, Lest
AVorse Befall Them.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 30. Members of
the Housevlnced a more general interest
In the discussion of the railroad-rate bill
throughout today than in" any- other topic
of legislation for some time. The debate
throughout was listened to attentively
and many questions were asked of the
different speakers to bring out cither ob
scure points in the measure, or evils com
plained of, which no attempt had been
made to include in the bill. The debate
-bv--Townsend. of Michigan
Georgia, representing the
followed in commendation of
the measure, and in praise of President
Roosevelt's stand on the question. Hln-
shaw. of Nebraska, depicted the benefit
the legislation would do to the great
trans-Mississippi country, and Richard
son, of Alabama, discussed, as a Demo
crat things done and left undone in the
measure.
Questions addressed to the -various
speakers Indicated that there is to bo
some opposition to the bill, at least in
debate. The feature seemingly most sub
Ject to attack Is as to Just what will be
the authority of the Interstate Commerce
Commission under the bill relative to
differentials in rates between competing
cities and localities.
Regarding the question as one of the
most important ever before Congress,
Townsend advocated the bill as the cor
rect remedy for the evils which exist, and
predicted that, notwithstanding Che pro
tests of the roads, greater prosperity
would come to them under its provisions
than otherwise. To substantiate this, he
called attention to the tremendous strides
of a year In the transportation business
and this in the face of the legislation
which the last Congress Initiated and
which the present Congress Is taking up
in somewhat more strenuous form.
Like the bill of last year which bore
Townscnd's name, he said, the present
one was the very least the people would
accept, yet the present bill confers wider
powers and extends over every facility of
transportation. However, the present bill
he believed to be not only fully within the
constitutional powers of Congress, but
it was simply an expression of the plain
duty of Congress to the American people.
In brief, the bill attempts, he said, to
place' under the supervision of the Inter
state Commerce Commission, every form
of Interstate and foreign commerce and
all instrumentalities of commerce and
transportation.
Applies to Private Cars.
The most serious complaints on the part
of the shippers, he said, have been dl
rected against special services, such as
private cars. Icing, elevator and terminal
charges and the like. Townsend believes
the bill affords a complete remedy for
all of these evils, as hereafter every such
charge must be just and reasonable, and
in case it is not. the Commission has
power to make it so.
The ovll of the "midnight rate" was
described and the remedy set forth, re
quiring- 30 days notice of a change of
rate. Briefly, the "midnight rate" Is
a device -whereby a large shipper no
tides a road that on a certain date
large shipment will be made. On that
date the published tariff Is changed
for a day. the shipment made at the
lower rate and the tariff immediately
raised.
Power to 3Iake Rates.
The main feature of the bill bearing-
on the point about which the greatest
controversy Is heard, and the one
which Townsend believes lies at the
foundation of the whole question. Is
that which gives the Commission power.
upon complaint and after a full hear
ing', to substitute a reasonable xnasf
mum rate in place of one found to be
unjust or unreasonable. Townsend
went at length into this phase of the
proposed legislation. It was the prin
ciple against which the weight of the
eppeeitioa had been directed, he ex
plained, ana this preposition had been
based, alike- o the queetlo&ed cestl-
Representative Charles Townsend.
tutionality, the impossibility for the :
Commission to find a just rate, and the
Injury such a finding; would entail
alike on business, the railroads and
the widowed and orphaned sharehold
ers. In the broader view of the ques-
tion and in the correct conclusion on :
any of these phases, he saw but one
answer that to require the railroads j
to be just and reasonable could not
harm anyone, while it would benefit
all.
Railroads Not Really Alarmed.
As showing- how deep were the fears
of the railroad world, he stated that
200 miles of road had been built dur
ing tho past year In the United States,
and -up to June 30 orders for more
than $200,000,000 worth of railroad
equipment had been placed.
."While the number of Commissioners
Is Increased by two and their salaries
raised to 510,000 a year, Townsend ex
pressed the belief that, when the law
was once established, the duties of the
Commission would decrease rather than
Increase. The railroads, he sug
gested, would doubtless realize the
justness of the law and fix their rates
with reference to it. He realized fully
the great power that was conferred
upon the Commission, and believed the
higher salary only an adequate com
pensation for men of the character
needed.
The wide publicity of railroad affairs
required In the bill was, in his opinion.
a potent factor for good. The provis
ions expediting- the business of the
Commission and the cases in the
courts growing- out of the operation
of the law he regarded as vital. The
courts are to pass simply on the valid
ity of the decision, and the appeal to
the Supreme Court will be on the ques
tion as to whether a given rate fixed
by the Commission Is or is not confisca
tory.
Warning to Railroads.
"While Townsend regarded the ques
tion as In no sense political, he expressed
himself as pleased that the Republican
party had taken it up. He arraigned the
means employed by the opposition to rate
legislation. He proceeded:
To me It has seemed that a systematic ef
fort has been made to discredit the Admin
istration In various matters In order to direct
attention from this great question, and 1 have
no doubt that delay will be cauged wherever
possible In the vain hope that something will
yet happen to prevent final action. 1
As one of the younger and most humble
Republicans in the House, let me admonish
my party associates In both houses that this
question will not down nor will It much
longer brook delay. The people have spoken
and every day to us their demand I more
Imperative. The day of grace may be passed
and the unpardonable stn of trifling with
duty may not be condoned, even with death
bed repentance.
Temporising will bring nothing but disas
ter. Already we. hear the rumblings of dis
content, and Socialism smiles with satlsfac
Hon with every delay. Regulation of a pub
lic servant Is not a departure from the prln
clples of popular government, but dlregard
of jlghteafcxs. "Vwv- mul wlirucrze io-eyal rc
utrlctlons Impoied to protect the people's
rights Is more than Socialism it Is anarchy.
and were I a railroad agent instead of
people's Representative. I would hall the pro
posed legislation as a salvation to my roaster
from the fate which an Indignant people Is
sure to visit upon the corporations who believe
that they are above and beyond the law and
seek to become a law unto themselves.
Era. of Justice at Hand.
Let the pass and let the railroads heed
Its provisions Instead of retarding its cxecu
tion and Its operation and then Instead of be
ing the objects of suspicion and hatred, they
be recanted an the instruments ot prog
res-a and prceperlty. Rate legislation will es
ter Into history, for Its entry will not be
marked by any business, disturbances, bu
rather It wilt indicate the beginning of an
era of better feeling between the railroads and
the- paople an era of equal right and oppor
tunltlea under a Just and impartial law.
As his closing sentence, Townsend as
serted that the railroads had consistently
and persistently opposed every uevice for
the safety of the public and Its employes
and also that it had maintained rich
and powerful lobbies opposing rate Iegis
lation.
Adamson (Ga.) followed Townsend. He
said the Democrats had labored, since the
courts revealed the weakness of the In
terstate commerce law, to amend its de
(Concluded on page 8.)
WENT DOWN WITH VALENCIA.
Mli Laara Van Wyck.
MJs Laura Van Wyck. who lost her
life, on the steamer Valencia, was" a
prominent young society woman of
9aa Fraaclsco. She was the young
est daughter of Mrs. Sydney M. Van
iWyck. of 1944 Webster street, and a
JCrter-In-la.w ot W. A. Peters, an at-
"i-ney of Seattle. MUs Van Wyck
a strikingly beautiful girl of the
Dapstetie type ana was one or me
es of the Southern set. She was
seen clinging to the rigging of
ft ill-fated Valencia and her clear
g voice rose high above the roar
rafjthe waves when those on the ves
sel started up the Inspiring and con
sollsg grand old hymn. "Nearer My
God to Thee." She proved herself &
heroine to the last, encouraging her
companions in distress to cling to
, hope uatlf the unmerciful sea Anally
.closed, over them. "
VENGEANCE NEAR
FOR BELGIAN KING
Black Hand Letter. From Port
land Threatens His
Accusers.
HAS GUARD AROUND HOUSE
Publisher of Mark Twain's Book on
Congo Horrors Receives Threats.
Postal Officials Seek the
Sender of the Missives.
"KING IEOrOLD'S SOULOQUY."
The book referred to as published
by the P. R. Warren Company mak
ing aspersions on King "Leopold la
"King Leopold's Soliloquy." by Mark
Twain. It makes the King himself
relate. In the course of a soliloquy la,
which he curses his accusers, the "hor
rible cruelties perpetrated by his
authority in the Congo State. It ls
being circulated by the Congo Reform.
Association to raise funds for Its
work. Mark Twain refusing any re
turn from the sale, but desiring that
all proceeds be used In furthering the
efforts for the relief of the people of
the Congo State.
BOSTON. Jan. 30. (Special.) A detail
of police is guarding day and night the
Brookline home of P. R. Warren, a prom
inent Boston publisher, and his family Is
in a state of terror because of a series of
'Black Hand" letters received from Port
land, Or., yesterday, one in each mail.
The last message, bearing the symbol
"Black Hand," contained the words:
"You have but two days left."
Sir. Warren thinks these letters may
have been sent him because he published
Mark Twain's book exposing the Belgian
cruelties In the Congo Free State. Threat
ening letters have also been received by
Judge Sherman, who sentenced Tucker,
the murderer of Mabel Page, to electrocu
tion. His Time Growing Short.
The first letter from Portland gave Mr.
Warren four, the second three and the
last two days to live. The three threaten
ing messages are now, In the hands of
Chief inspector Jetljermaiu of the TJnited
States Postal Service, and every effort is
being made to trace the sender.
A possible clew to the sender has been
discovered by his private secretary. Miss
Cutting, and her suspicions have been
communicated to Mr. Letherman.
Friend of King Leopold.
Mr. Warren thinks that some Belgian,
offended by the aspersions in Mark
Twain's book on King Leopold and the
Congo Is the one making the threat. A
startling theory Is held by police officials.
who are also Investigating this and cer
tain other Black. Hand cases here, that
it is the beginning ot work by a Black
Hand gang of mammoth proportions, with
branches all over the country for mailing
letters, and organized for blackmailing
on a gigantic scale, with cards especially
printed for their purpose.
CLARK'S MILL IS BURNED
CONCENTRATOR AT BDTTE DE
STROYED AT 3ITDNIGHT.
Senator Loses $500,000 and Must
Send Ore to Anaconda His
Smelter Saved,
i
ANACONDA, Mont, Jan. 31. (2:50 A.
M.) Fire of unknown origin partially de
stroyed Senator W. A. Clark's Butte re
daction works this morning. The fire
broke out about midnight, and resisted
all efforts of the firemen until at 2 o'clock
It had enveloped the concentrator build
ing. In which it started, and the large ele
vator used for conveying concentrates.
At' 2:45 the firemen got control, saving
the engine-house, with valuable machin
ery, and the smelter plant.
The fire is still burning, but is confined
to the ruins of the buildings destroyed.
A H. Wethey, local manager for Sen
ator Clark, estimates the loss at $500,000.
only partially insured.
The plant will be rebuilt as soon as pos
sible. In the meantime all ore from the
Clark properties will bo treated at the
Washoe smelter, in Anaconda.
GOES TO MEET COUNTESS
Miss; Roosevelt Welcomes Tuture
' SIster-ln-Law on Steamer.
NEW YORK, Jan. 30. Miss Alice
Roosevelt and her fiance. Congressman
Nicholas Ixmgworth, boarded a reve
nue cutter today and proceeded down
New York harbor to meet the steamer
Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, upon
which Countess de Chambrun, Mr.
Longworth's sjster, was qa passenger.
The Countess, who was formerly Miss
Clara Longrworth of Cincinnati, has
come to this country as a guest at
the forthcoming- wedding".
At quarantine, where the Kaiser ,
Wilhelm der Grosse slowed down, the
revenue cutter went alongside the big
liner. An attempt was made to lower
a companion ladder for Miss Roose
velt, but the dftlay in doing this was
too great and she boarded the steamer
by the pilot ladder.
Conference Dodges Main Issue.
AL.GECIRAS, Jan. 30. The plenipoten
tiaries ot the powers today had quiet talks
together, but avoided the mala' question,
how shall the new military police force
of the Sultan be organized and. controlled?