VOL. XLVIIL-XO. 14,989. PORTLAND, olti, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 19Q8. FIVE CENTS.
..r I on lrAni r pdai irvine IninnTP TiinriTO f 14 1 1 I IQ AnMIRFh I R I I mr nninTP
HILL IS ADMIRED
ALLEGE BRIBES
WROTE THREATS
"JUNGLE" AUTHOR
GETS CONCESSION
CABLE GROUNDS,
E AT ISSUE
FOR HIS ABILITY
RISES IN WRATH
REFUSES HIGH PRICE FOR HIS
VEGETARIAN 3IEAX.
LIGHTS GO OUT
WERE OFFERED
FOR PHILIPPINES
MERELY AS JOKE
WITH ROOSEVELT
EVEN KAISER HAS CHANGE IX
SENTIMENT FOR AMERICAN.
(ACCIDENT THROWS ENTIRE
crrr ix darkness.
HUMS
Adopts Secret Service
Resolutions.
PRESIDENT HAS COME-BACK
Ready for Legislators With
Another" Broadside.
COMMITTEE IS APPOINTED
rerklns and Four Other Members to
Investigate Statement in Message
Which Members Consider Re
flect on Congress.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 11. (Special.)
Amid a profound silence the House of
Representative!! today adopted unani
mously without debate a resolution of
fered by Representative James Breck
Perkins, of New York, referring to. a
special committee of five members the
question of what should be dona with
that portion of the President's messag
which castigated Congress for limiting
the act:vil!es of the Secret Service. Thta
committee will report to the House.
Following are the members of the
i-ommlttee: James B. Perkins. New
York, chairman; Edwin Denby. Michi
gan: John TV". Weeks. Massachusetts;
John Sharp Wlltlanis. Mississippi; James
T. Lloyd. Missouri.
Kders to Dignity of Congress.
Ir. presenting the resolution Mr. Per
kins made a brief statement, saying he
was satisfied thai the House, would not
hesitate to take such action as the dig
nity of that body required. He said that
sum of the President's expressions were
unfortunate.
Mr. Perkins said that the statements
by the President could not be lightly
.'regarded, as they might impair the
usefulness of the Congress; that undue
jbtuseness might argue a lack of proper
self-respect.
Only once In the course of Mr. Per
kins" impressive remarks did the House
applaud. At that juncture Mr. Perkins
said he yielded to no man in his re
spect for the President or of Congress.
None of the recognised 'White House"
members opposed the resolution. and
Representative Nicholas Long-worth, the
President's son-ln-law. remained silent.
KoosevelL Has Another Broadside.
It Is known that as late ns yester
day afternoon the White xiouse did not
anticipate that Congress would take any
action with respect to the strictures in
the message. Today it was. rumored, but
no baala could be found for the report,
that the White House had let It be
known that the President was prepared
to unload another broadside on CongTess
on the question at Issue.
The committee appointed by the
Speaker to consider the matter is rec
ognized as one of weight and dignity.
Representatives Denby. of Michigan, and
Weeks, of Massachusetts, are recognized
as friends of the Roosevelt administra
tion and of the President himself. Chair
man . Perkins, while not ostentatiously
prominent at the White House, is re
garded as a man of ability and integrity.
John Sharp Williams, late minority
leader In the House, and Representative
Lloyd, chairman of the Democratic Con
gressional committee, are the Democratic
members. The House does not now ex
pect to hear from the committee before
next week.
Will Keport Before Holidays.
Mr. Perkins has called a meeting of
' the committee for tomorrow afternoon.
He said that he expects to be able to
bring in a report before the holiday
recess of Congress.
Republican Senators today considered
what ac'ion should be taken by the Sen
ate concerning the message or the Pres
ident, and it was practically decided
to permit the resolution to be brought
in by some Democratic Senator. The
resolution will provide for an Investiga
tion of the whole subject by the Senate
committee on appropriations.
VICTORIA FEARS JAPANESE
Appeal to Dominion Government to
Abrogate Treaty.
VICTORIA. B. C Dec. 1 1. A resolu
tion adopted last night at a mass meet
lug presided over by the Mayor and
addressed by G. H. Barnard. Dominion
member-elect, was telegraphed to Ot
tawa today urging the abrogation of
the treaty arrangement with Japan
and legislation for the exclusion of
Asiatics.
Mr. Barnard called attention to the
dangers, both to Canada and the
L'nlted States, following the greater
Increase of the population In the
Orient than on this continent, of per
mitting Asiatic Immigration.
NO HOPE FOR CLEMSON
Lake Steamer and Crew of 21 Fi
nally Given Vp
PORT WILLIAM. Ont.. Dec. 11. The
steamer Wells, sister ship of the Clem
on, which was lost in the recent atorm
on Lake Superior, brought here today
two hatches of the IU-fat"d vessel, which
were found on White Fish Point. All
hope for the Clemeoa crew nt 2 men
Leaves St. Francis Dinlng-Room In
Haste and Begins Epistolary
War With Manager.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 11. (Spe
cial.) Upton Sinclair, the author, who
is strictly vegetarian in his diet, found
that simplo life as seen at the St. Fran
cis Hotel Is too expensive for him. Be
cause a waiter charged him 25 cents
for a little plate of shredded wheat
biscuit, he rose In his wrath and in
augurated an eplstolatory war on the
swell hotel. The author ordered the
biscuits without reading the price on
the menu card. When he saw his bill,
his anger was stirred.
"What!" roared the author of "The
Jungle." "Twenty-five cents for a
plate of shredded wheat biscuits!
Twenty-five cents for that simple
meal!"
"Can't help It, sir," the waiter ex
plained, "it's on the bill, sir, and we
can't change It, sir; It's th price of
the house."
"The price of the house. Is it?" the
author burst forth; "then It's the price
of extortion. I won't stand for it; I
won't pay It!"
He left the dining-room In wrath
and sent a written protest to the man
ager. Negotiations are still In prog-
MAN BETTER THAN SHEEP
Court Quotes Jesus' Rebuke in De
ciding Against Railroad.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 11. "How much,
then. Is man better than a sheep?"
The rebuke of Christ to the Pharisees
Is cited in a rebuke to the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad Company in a decision by
Justice Stafford of the District Supreme
Court, sustaining a demurrer by F. E.
Goldenstein, Injured In the service of
the company, to the company's plea that
he had bartered away his right to dam
ages by accepting relief benefit. .
The court declares that aa a railroad
cannot secure immunity by a clause in
a bill of lading for livestock, so It can
not kill and maim employes with Im
punity because It provide-, a hospital
kept up chiefly by the men whose lives
are In Its charge.
SENDS MENACING LETTERS
cTUurlde Citixenf Receive. Messages
of Threats.
TELLURIDE. Colo.. Dec. 11. Letters
threatening them with death have been
received by a dozen persons in Tellur
ide, including several prominent in
business and social circles. The letters
are in the handwriting of a woman and
the author Is believed to be Insane, as
no demand Is made for money or valu
ables. The police have taken up the
matter and a strong effort will be made
to locate and arrest the woman.
In some Instances the same persona
have received as many as six letters.
Among the recipients are City Marshal
Runnels and Mayor Heltenhouse.
SAVIOR HOLDS UP TOWN
Insane Man Starts to Save Town by
Robbing Stores.
EDGHWATER. N. J., Dec. 1L Shouting
that he waa "John the Baptist" come to
save the world, an aged Insane man held
this town in terror for nearly an hour
this afternoon. He rushed down the
main street, waving a revolver and
shouting, held up half a dozen citizens,
robbed the tills of three business estab
lishments and exchanged many shots
with a hastily formed posse. -
After a chase of a mile he was shot
twice by his pursuers and captured. His
wounds are not serious.
TAKES UP FRENCH DUELING
Members of New York Athletic Club
Adopt Xrw Game.
NEW YORK, Dec. 11. The French
method of dueling a la mode. In which
wax bullets are used, la to be taken up
aa a sport by the New Tork Athletic
Club.
The code Is to be strictly observed at
all competitions and tournaments, even
down to the careful examination of wea
pons. Masks will be worn by the con
testants to protect the face and eyes
and the scoring will be recorded against
a white tunic worn over the chest.
HENEY TO SPEAK IN EAST
Noted Prosecutor to Lecture Before
Many Reform Clubs.
WASHINGTON. Dec 11. President
Roosevelt has received word that Fran
cis J. Heney, the San Francisco "graft"
prosecutor, will be able to come East In
January and keep engagements to make
speeches before reform clubs In a large
number of cities between San Francisco
and New Tork. Mr. Heney also will
confer with the President.
COSGROVE IS IMPROVING
Heart Is Stronger, Though General
Weakness Still Continue.
" PASO ROBLES HOT SPRINGS. Cal.,
Dee. 11. Governor-elect Cosgrove is im
proving some. His heart Is stronger, but
the general weakness continues. His son
Howard arrived here last niaht- Signed,
TaftCompromisesWith
Committee.
SUGAR TRUST COMES DOWN
Consents to Free Admission of
300,000 Tons.
TOBACCO TRUST PACIFIED
President-Elect Favors Compelling
Manufacturers to Testify Will
Hold Veto Club Over Heads
of Senators.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 11. The tariff
hearings before the ways and means com
mittee will continue throughout the- short
session of Congress and President-elect
Taft will have further conferences with
the committee. A compromise has been
reached regarding the tariff on Philippine
sugar and tobacco as a result of the con
ference yesterday between Mr. Taft and
the majority members of the committee.
That the House of Representatives will
pass a bill which will revise thoroughly
the present schedules Is generally admit
ted. ,
At yesterday's conference Mr. Taft did
not discuss any particular schedules, but
expressed the desire to take up some
schedules at some future time. He also
favored action on the part of the com
mittee that would bring before it those
manufacturers who have expressed their
views publicly on the tariff question, as
well as any persons who could furnish
valuable Information in regard to the pro
posed revision. Chairman Payne said to
night that Andrew Carnegie was the only
witness who has been subpenaed up to
the present . and it, therefore, will be
necessary for the committee to hold fur
ther meetings after the Christmas holi
days. Revision VP to Senate.
With Mr. Taft and the House in favor
of a tariff law which will meet present
conditions and materially revise present
duties, mainly downward, the discussion
of the situation centers in the possible
action of the 6enate. While aome assert
the Upper House will not attempt to
make any radical changes in the House
bill to such an extent that Mr. Taft would
be likely to veto It, this latter possibility,
it Is 'believed, may have the effect of get
ting through the Senate the bill which
the House accepts. It is considered likely
that the extra session of Congress will
last late Into the Summer.
While Mr. Taft favors free trade with
the Insular possessions without any re-
Concluded on Page 5.)
T R. "WHY, I THINK
' '
:: ' Wlfl I'll .Wr j
j
! -t
Short Circuit Occurs at Station D.,
Williams Avenue and Knott Street
and Causes Much Trouble.'
For ten minutes last night at about
8 o'clock the'stroet cars stopped run
ning, the lights went out, and the
down-town portion of the city groped
In d?xkness, on account of the ground
ing of a cable In light station "D"
of the Fortland General Electric Com
pany, at Williams avenue and Knott
street. The residence districts on both
sides of the rivtt. down as far as St.
John were similarly discommoded for
from li minutes to an hour.
The trouble was caused by the burn
ing out of a cable carrying 30,000 volts,
leading from the Cazadero generating
plant to substation "D". This had the
effect of grounding the entire system,
and machines in the various lighting
statlor.b were "kicked" out of commis
sion. The accident was not of a seri
ous character and was remedied with
out much expense..
The "trouble department" of the com
pany was besieged with appeals. In the
center of the city, where the lights were
out for the shortest time, the effect of
the eclipse was perhaps more noticeable.
In all public places, except . those with
their own lighting plant, every hotel,
theater, restaurant, store or office
building was without lights.
At the regular theaters the perform
ances had not yet started, but in the
vaudeville houses the sudden darkness
interfered with the performance. At the
Grand the gas was turned on and the
show proceeded ' without delay. At
Pantages the house remained in dark
ness. A vaudeville performer named
McCloud cleverly saved the performance
by singing all the old parodies he knew.
At the box office was a long line of
people waiting to get in, and Manager
Johnson lighted the one candle that could
found and produced enough light at
the box office window to enable the pub
lic to separate themselves from the price
of admission.
BOOST GOVERNMENT CABLE
British and Colonial Officials Want
Empire to Own System.
LONDON, Dec. 11. The movement In
favor of government ownership of sub
marine ' cables received a substantial
impetus at a meeting held at the Man
sion House this afternoon. The Lord
Mayor of London presided and, among
those present were representatives' of
the various lines Interested.
The speakers were unanimous on
the necessity of a uniform system of
cabling throughout the empire, that
should be available for the masses, and
Mr. Lemieux, the Canadian Postmaster
General, and Mr. Collins, -the Agent
General of Australia, pledged their re
spective governments' support.
Mr. Lemieux declared that public
opinion in Canada and America was ia
favor of lower cable rates between
America and the United Kingdom. A
state-owned cable across the Atlantic
would immediately reduce the cable
charges between England and Canada
by 50 per cent, he declared, and be the
harbinger of a Pan-Britannic system
encircling the globe.
THAT'S A BULLY JOKE. WHERE'S YOUR SENSE OF
HUMOR, MAN " ?
'KnightofWhiteDeath"
Confesses.
FASCINATED BY CONAN DOYLE
Seeks Sherlock Holmes Among
Chicago Police. -
NEVER WENT FOR MONEY
Driver " of Grocery Wagon Steals
Bones and Coffin Nails From
Cemetery to Make Practical
' Joke More Realistic.
CHICAGO, Dec. 11. The mystery of the
"Knights of the White Death" letters,
which were recently sent to various
clergymen and prominent citizens in this
city, with, the threat that unless they left
large sums of money at designated spots,
they would be put to death, was cleared
up tonight, when William Pollard, 22
years old, driver of a grocer's wagon,
was arrested and confessed to having sent
the missives as a joke. Pollard blamed
Conan Doyle's stories of crimes for his
exploit.
Just Experiment on Politics.
Fascinated by the novelist's lurid pic
tures, Pollard declared he had determined
to see how they would work out in the
hands of the Chicago police. So he or
ganized the "Knights of the White
Death" end -with a Sherlock Holmes
fancy wrote out a 'bundle of letters, dec
orated with skulls and cross-bones. The
demands for money, he said, were simply
added to enliven the mystery, as he never
went to see whether the money was left
or not. He sent coffin-nails and trim
mings with the letters. Pollard said in
his confession:
" "How did I get. the human bones and
the coffin trimmings? That was eaBy.
When they dig a new grave in Calvary
Cemetery, the graves are so crowded to
gether that the side of an old grave
often caves In and portions of the inter
ment fall Into the new excavation, which
Is then thrown out with the new sand. At
night I gathered these.
All-Night Vigil Delights Him.
"After I had sent the coffin handle to
Rev. Mr. Waters I was afraid they would
trace it to Calvary Cemetery because of
the cross on it. Besides those sent to
clergymen, I sent letters to Assistant
Chief of Police Schuettler, telling the lat
ter to leave J700 in the confessional box
of St. Charlotte's Church. I was de
lighted when I read that Dr. Dixon, with
the detectives, stood waiting almost all
night for the White Knights to appear
for the money."
Diplomat and Foreign Secretary Tell
Why New Man Is Regarded
With Affection.
BERLIN, Dec. 11. (Special.) Foreign
Secretary Schoen's complimentary refer
ence to Ambassador Hill In yesterday's
Reichstag debate was thoroughly In ac
cord with the views which are widely
and freely expressed by other German
officials.
"Ambassador Hill's short residence In
Berlin," said a diplomat, a member of
the Government, today, "has already
sufficed to enhance his prestige enor
mously. He is respected and admired
for his abilities and also liked for him
self. In the few months since he ar
rived he has made for himself an en
viable position among diplomats here."
Foreign Secretary Schoen's declaration
that Mr. Hill is held in esteem by all
the German officials, "high and low." is
interpreted as an indirect reference to
the present attitude of the Kaiser. The
remark camo in reply to a speech by
Deputy Haussmann, who said that Am
bassador Hill is a man of great intellect
ual gifts and that men of this type are
greatly to be preferred In such positions
to mere millionaires.
SPREE LEADS TO FORTUNE
Property Bought While Drunk
Makes Purchaser Rich.
CHICAGO, Dec. 11. A spree that ulti
mately netted its owner in the neighbor
hood of JS0.000 was related in Judge
Mack's court today as part of the
evidence resulting In the court setting
aside the will of the late Joseph Willis
at the request of his widow, Mrs. Bertha
Willis.
Willis, it was related, while intoxicated
some years ago, bought a piece of West
Side real estate for M300. When he be
came sober he regretted the deal, think
ing some one had taken advantage of hla
condition. He investigated, however, and
decided to make the best of what he
considered a bad bargain. He made suf
ficient Improvements to pay taxes and a
little profit. The property today is ap
praised at $S5,000.
In setting aside the will. Judge Mack
found that the testator was of unsound
mind when the instrument was executed.
BIGAMIST GIVES SELF UP
Surrenders to Stockton Police, Ac
knowledging Crime.
STOCKTON. Cal., Dec. 11. Albert G.
Gillman, declaring he had a wife in
Boise, Idaho, and one in Sacramento,
who he married last month, gave him
self up as a bigamist to the local police
today. He stated that in 1904 he had
married- Mrs. Helen Newcomb, at Boise,
Idaho.
In 1906 he left her, so he declared,
and came West, and at Sacramento, on
November 12, this year, he married
Mrs. Mary Fleemer. Gillman added
that he was stricken by remorse, had
made his peace with God, .and wanted
to be punished according to law.
COBBLER GETS FORTUNE
But AVill Continue Work, Rather
Than Become Loafer.
LOS ANGELES, ec. 11. William J.
Perrey. a cobbler working at his trade
In a little four-by-flfteen-foot hols in the
wall in South Main street has been sud
denly raised from his humble station to a
position of affluence by the inheritance
of his wife of J100.000 in dlvdend-paying
stocks and a promise of 1300,000 more on
May 1.
Perrey says he will not give up his
trad just yet. as he has always worked
for his living and it "would seem mighty
hard to lie around idle."
CONTROL ALL PINE TIMBER
Big Lumbermen of Middle West Or
ganizing Huge Trust.
Dt'LL'TH, Minn., Dec. 11. The lumber
interests represented by the Weyerhaeu
sers. O'Brien & Cook, of St. Paul and
Duluth. and Edward Hines. of Chicago,
are here working on the formation of
a lumber company- which will control
practically all the pine in North Amer
ica. The greatest secrecy is being ob
served, but it is known that the deal is
almost finished. The transfer of the Du
luth, Virginia A Rainy Lake Railroad Is
said to be the only obstacle.
WILL INQUIRE INTO RATES
Interstate Commerce Commission to
Decide Value or Cpper Berth.
CHICAGO, Dec. 11. The Interstate
Commerce Commission, it was an
nounced today, has decided to resume
the investigation into the reasonabll
lty of some of the rates charged by the
Pullman Company. The complaint is an
old one, made by George C. Loftus. of
St. Paul. Commissioner Lane will begin
the hearing here next Monday. As
originally drawn, the complaint holds
that less should be charged for an
upper berth than for a lower.
Official Investigation Ends.
ST. LOUIS. Dec 11. Official Investi
gation Into the death of Francis D.
Hirschburg, who was killed mysteri
ously Tuesday, ended last night with
the open verdict of the Corner's Jury.
National League Um
pires Offer Proof.
COMMITTEE WILL INVESTIGATE
Efforts to Throw Champion
ship Game to Be Probed.
NAMES OF BRIBERS KNOWN
Persons Who Offered Klem and
Johnstone Money Named in Affi
davits Prosecution of Of
fenders Will Follow.
NEW TORK, Dec 11. Even more sen
sational than the tumultuous close of
the recent National League playing sea
son were the closing hours of the league's
annual meeting here today, when charges
of attempted bribery of the umpires who
officiated at the game that derided the
championship of 190S between New York
and Chicage at the Polo Grounds, Octo
ber 8. were sprung, and the magnates
appointed a committee to probe them,
even intimating that criminal prosecution
might follow. Although it is known that
the league has been considering the sub
ject in executive session, the matter
first came Into official notice when Presi
dent Pulllam oday formally presented
it and a statement was drawn for the
purpose as follows:
Were Offered Bribes.
"When the National league had ap
parently transacted all of its business at
Its meeting Thursday, December 10. lfKiS.
and after the, league had received an
official call from the representatives of
the American League, Mr. Pulllam called
attention to a matter which the under
signed considered not only of the utmost
Importance to the league, but to organ
ized baseball as well. He stated tliat
Messrs. . Klem and Johnstone, the um
pires who had officiated at the game
played between the New York and Chi
cago clubs at the Polo Grounds, on Oc
tober 8, 1908, had submitted to him cer
tain signed statements that an effort ha 1
been made to bribe them with respect
to their duties pertaining to that con
test. "In one of these statements the name
of the person who approached the um
pire waa given, as weil as the names of
persons whom he claimed to represent.
In the other statement the names of tho
persona who approached the umpire
were not given, this umpire stating that
they were strangers to him.
Will Make Investigation.
"We are of the opinion that a most
thorough and searching investigation of
this entire matter should be made. In
order to maintain the high standard and
honesty of the game throughout thu
country and. if possible, to punish all per
sons connected with the disreputable
proceeding.
"We desire also at this time to com
mend the actions of the umpires. Messrs.
Klem and Johnstone, in absolutely re
fusing to become parties to this con
temptible act, they by their action again
(Concluded on FaffV-) '
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
Foreign.
Ambassador Hill gains high opinion of
Kaiser nd German Ministers. Jaje 1.
Asqulth will make British campaign against
House of Lords. Page
National.
Hi-um appoints committee on Roosevelt's
Insult to its dignity. Page 1.
Taft arranges compromise on Philippine
tariff. Page 1.
Metcalt shows American Navy second in
strength. Page
House Insurgents appoint committee to draft
proposed changoa in rules. Page
Taft consults Roosevelt about Cabinet.
House passes appropriation in record time
and gives Keefe slap. I'ags
Domestic
Chi-ago roan makes fortune on real estate
bought while he was drunk. Page 1.
Dismissal of Hegeman charges may kill all
insurance fraud cases. l'age
Great Northern rapidly extends telephone
service for train dispatching. Page
Upton Sinclair furious at prlre of vegetarian
meal at St. Francis Hotel. Page 1.
Knights of White Death mystery in Chi
cago revealed. Page 1.
Pport.
Natloral League orders Inquiry into- alleged
attempt to bribe umpires. Page 1.
Three teams lif bicycle race tied and six
miles ahead of record. Page 7.
Commercial and Marine.
Revival of activity in local potato market.
Page J7.
Wheat slumps again at Chicago. Page 17.
Stock market weakened by gold engage
ments. Page 17.
R. P. Schwerln discusses Portland and Asi
atic steamship situation. Page IS.
Fortland and Vicinity.
Salmon fishermen propose measures for good
or Industry. Pae II.
Shortclrcult puts Portland In darkness for
13 minutes. Pag 1.
Jury In Johnson murder case retires at
o'clock. Pa;e 10.
Charter boardj Axes City Attorney's term at
four years and salary $4000. Page
Third Presbyterian Church celebrates open
ing of annex. Page lo.
Ferdinand Reed working on a scheme to
coerca votes for Chamberlain. Page
Financial tangle In Sunnyalde Church
brought to light by former pastors de
mand for back salary. Page 10.
Northern Pacific to put on through daily
train between Portland and Ht. Louis.
Page 16.
T aroma man sues Portland sweetheart for
present and CJsh. Page 9.
Council awaYda contract for bitullthlc rav
ing on East Belmont street. Page 1
i. .W. Sawyer, director