SIEGE CONDITIONS PREVAIL IN PARIS Postal Strike Ties Up French Capital. SCARCITY OF FOOD DEVELOPS 3usiness Utterly Blocked and Government Helpless. MILLION LETTERS HELD UP Military Telegraphers Unable to Handle Postal Instruments and Merchants Offer Clcrk9 aa Volunteer Mall-Carriers. PARIS, March 18. Mt-Careme. the middle of Lent, usually celebrated -with grotesque processions throughout France, and -with particular gaycty In Paris, found the capital today In a state of virtual siege. Because of the postal strike no mall deliveries were made, banks held up payments on checks because of their Inability to receive advices from their correspondents, stamps were not on sale, telegrams were refused accept ance, and the prices of provisions were soaring, while eggs, milk, butter and oilier country produce were painfully scarce. Over a million letters are stacked in the postoftlce awaiting sorting and dis putih, as the postal employes in the other branches besides the telegraph service have gone on a sympathetic strike. The last American malls have not yet been removed from their sacks, nmt practically no letters have left the country. Three thousand telegrams are piled on the dispatching hooks, awaiting transmission, as the military tele graphers pressed into service, are un familiar with the postal instruments; and cannot use them. The Govern ment has threatened to call upon the army to furnish men to deliver the mall' but as yet has not taken this step. Business is at a standstill, and conditions are grave in all lines that depend upon the postal activity for their daily continuance. Strikers to Be Dismissed. The Cabinet passed a decree tonight authorising the dismissal of the strikers from the state service and reaffirming its determinatlcn not to yield. The semi official note giving the result of the meet ing announced that many merchants had offered to lend to the government their employes. This indicated the complete ness of the tieup, and the extremity to which the government had been forcedT The note does not mention the sen sational report that the government intends to call the reservists to the keys, thus gathering In virtually all the male postal employes and forcing them to work as soldiers under pen alty of mutiny. Tha report is dis credited. On the contrary, it is believed that Premier Clemenceau seeks only to save the principle for which he has con tended, and that If the Chamber to morrow indorses the government's at titude the Tremier will be ready for the resignation of M. Slmyah. under secretary of posts and telegraphs, and thus open the way to end the strike. The funds necessary for the smooth running of the provincial trade are hung up In the postoffice, and the supply of eggs. milk, butter, meat and country produce threatens speedily to cease. Already merchants have been obliged to send agents to the prov inces with ready cash to obtain sup plies and prices at the stores are soar ing. A large body of strikers gathered at central telegraph station today and threatened a breach of the peace, but when they found a company of infantry in rooms adjoining the main office, they left without creating any disturbance. The real element of danger lies in the threat of the General Confederation of labor. which is purely a revolutionary organisation and the railroad unions to tin-lure sympathetic strikes. strikers tialn Recruit. The strikers gained many adherents to i!h the men employed on the pneumatic tuhea Joining the movement and the as sociation of 3n.ooo postal apprentices in dorsing by their votes the strike principle. The lead.-rs are claiming victory, in spit of the sol.l front assumed by Premier Clemenceau." who declares the government cannot yield and Intends to have recourse first to soldiers and then to replace the strikers with new appointees. The belief is becoming stranger, how ever, that the government will be com pelled to make some advances looking to a compromise. In order to prove their patriotism, the strikers have detailed two expert opera tors to UansmH the cipher dispatches w hich the government is exchanging with the powers In connection with the Balkan crisis. Wireless Service Proposed. LONDON. March 18. The postoffice authorities are trying to arrange a wire less telegraph service between London and Paris, with the object of relieving the congestion due to the strike of the French telegraph and postal employes. The de lay In the transmission of messages is causing heavy losses to business interests. MRS. TAFT SETTLES $13,000 TAX BILL PRESIDENT'S SISTER-IN-LAW PAYS ACCOUNT. Failure or Appraisers to Value In heritance Adds $4000 to Original Amount. CHICAGO, March 18.-(Special.)-Mrs. Anna Taft, sister-in-law of President Taft, has paid County Treasurer John R. Thompson J13.456.39 due as sn Inheritance tax from the e&tate of her father, David Slnton, of Cincinnati. The tax became due more than eight years ago, but through delay in the appraisal of the estate was not paia. Mrs. Taft is the wife of Charles P. Taft, the President's brother. She was the only daughter of Mr. Sinton, who died August 31, 1900. Included in her father's estate was real property valued at J923.030. The Inheritance tax on this amounted to J.S901.7O. Last year the ap praisers determined the value of the property, but in the eight years that elapsed from the time of Mr. Sinton's death. Interest of $4554.69 had been added to the original tax. MARY GARDEN TO. MARRY Sweet Singer Won by Russian Prince She Enchants. PHILADELPHIA, March 18 (Spe cial.) It was announced at- the Phil adelphia Opera House this evening that Mary Garden, one of the brightest songbirds In Hammersteln's concep tion, is going to marry Prince Maz codato, of Russia, ' who has been fol lowing her from city to city for some time. She said that she would sail for Russia on April 13. and that the mar riage ceremony would be performed upon her arrival in that country. She acknowledged that the beautiful strings of large pearls which she wears at various times were a gift of the Prince. , Prince Mavcordato is a well-known figure on the Continent. He has been a persistent wooer of the singer for two or three years. MRS. DAN J. M00RE DIES AYife of Hotelnian Passes After Long Illness. Mrs. Dan J. Moore, wife of the well known hotelman, died at 2:30 this morn ing at the Good .Samaritan Hospital. Mrs. Moore had been seriously ill for many weeks and had gradually been los ing strength after an " operation per formed in the hope of saving her life. Her death, while expected, comes with a sense of sorrow to a wide circle of friends. CANNON KISSES HEROINE Mrs. McCann Gets a Medal, Too, for Her Bravery In 1D04. WASHINGTON, March 18. For her he roism in saving the lives of nine children during the burning of the General Slo cum near New York in 19M. Mrs. Mary McCann was today presented by Speaker Cannon, on behalf of Congress, with a silver life-saving medal. The "Iron Duke of American politics" took her blushing face between his hands and kissed her. NOTED CAR AS PATHFINDER American Auto That Won New York to Paris Race to Cross Nation. NEW YORK. March IS. The pathfind ing car for the New York-Seattle endur ance contest, which will be one of the chief motoring features of the Summer, will leave New York tomorrow. This car is the one that won the New' York-Paris race and will be driven in its 4000-mile trip by George Miller, who acted as me chanician in the previous contest. TAFT'S AIDE BADLY HURT Naval Lieutenant Crushed by Horse During Ride In Park. WASHINGTON. Semmes Read, XJ. President Taft, w Jured late today eral other naval Park. His horse him, crushing his him internally. , March 18. Lieutenant . S. N., naval aide to as probably fatally in while riding with sev offlcers In Rock Creek stumbled and fell upon left thigh and injuring CATSUP POURED INTO BAY Waters of Xarragansctt 3ay Sea soned by Impure Product. PROVIDENCE, R. I., March IS. The waters of Narragansett Bay were well seasoned with tomato catsup today when 650 cases, containing 15.600 bottles, were dumped into the sea because they did not meet the requirements of the Federal pure food law. BIG UNION DEPOT BURNS Louisville Suffers $100,000 Loss. Decides on New Building. LOUISVILLE. Ky., March IS. The Louisville Union depot, valued at 1400.000, was destroyed by fire tonight. Half an hour after the building collapsed, the Commercial Club had decided that the city must have an elaborate new station at once. E "TELEPHONE CONTROL CHANGES Syndicate Buys Stock Worth $750,000. PORTLAND SYSTEM ACQUIRED Deal Also Affects Sound and Long-Distance Companies. BIG OUTLAY IS PLANNED Capitalists Who Have Bought From Los Angeles Concern Expect to Spend $700,000 on t Local Plant This Year. Portland and Seattle capitalists have bought the control of the stock of the automatic telephone companies in the Pacific Northwest from the National Se curities Company, of Los Angeles. The deal was completed here yesterday and means the transfer of stock in the inde pendent companies valued at about 750, 000. The price paid for the stock is not revealed. A syndicate composed of Sam Hill, Hervey Lindley, K. A. Stuart, W. G. Col lins and M. A. Arnold, of Seattle, and William M. Ladd, P. L. Willis. W F Burrell. F. H. Page and I. N. Fleischner! of Portland, has purchased the entire stock holdings of the National Securities Company In the three independent tele phone companies in Oregon and Wash ington. This constitutes between 40 and 60 per cent of stock. of the Home Tele phone Company of Portland, the Home Telephone Company of Puget Sound and the Northwestern Long Distance Tele phone Company of Portland. Over 50 per cent of the stock of the long distance company has been tiken over. Conferences Are at End. William Mead, president of the National Securities Company, was in Portland yesterday closing the deal and left for his home in Los Angeles last night after the papers had been signed and the stock transfer effected. Conferences were held throughout the day at the offices of the Home Telephone Company at Park and Burnside streets. Directors .of the Portland Home Tele phone Company also held a meeting yes terday and elected Sam Hill and Hervey Lindley to the Board. These new di rectors fill the vacancies made by the re tirement of W. H. Allen, of Los Angeles, and Robert Tucker, of Toledo, O. Arrangements have already been made for the expenditure of $200,000 on Improvements to the Portland plant, and engineers are now drawing up the plans. It is announced that this outlay will be followed by $500,000 within the coming year. A large amount is also to be expended In Tacoma on Immediate betterments, to the Puget Sound com pany's plant. Bonds of the three companies do not (Concluded on Page 9.) U. S. "I HOM ' "' '"iiiinii ' CHINESE BOYCOTT JAP GOODS AGAIN IXVASIOX OF OUTLYING" ISL ANDS IS CAUSE. Dragon Followers Enraged Over Mi kado's Attempts to "Invade" Iso lated Parts of China. HONGKONG, March 19. The Chinese residents of this city have entered upon a revival of the boycott against Jap anese goods, and are showing intense feeling against the Japanese because the latter are gradually occupying Pra tas Island, a reef in the China Sea about midway between this port and the Philippine group, and are working the deposits of guano, which It is claimed are richer than those along the coast of Peru. It is reported also that the Japanese are Invading Parcels Islands. 150 miles east of Annam. in the China Sea. and two cruisers of the Chinese navy are being made ready for a visit to that group. Feeling over this so-called invasion of Chinese rights by the Japanese has run so high that the Viceroy at Canton has prohibited the press of that city from commenting on It. In the fear that Inflammatory articles might incite an outbreak against the Japanese liv ing there. PENNY LUNCH AT SCHOOLS Poor Boya and Girls to Be Fed at Los Angeles. LOS ANGELES. March IS. (Special.) An innovation in the form of penny lunches to the public school children at tracted much interest today. It was started by the Civic Federation, and the large Ann Street school in the poorer quarter of the city was the first to bene fit. Eventually all are to be included, and served every school day in the year. Large, airy dining-rooms- are provided, and there was a great rush today at the opening, hundreds gathering at the tables. Each one was given all the soup, fruit and buns he or she could eat for one cent. Each lunch costs the associa tion about four cents. The charitable public helps in maintenance. Other departures, such as half an hour of story-telling at lunch time, are to be made. This is in line with the agitation going on the country over because chil dren of poor parents are sent by the thousands to school without having had proper food. OREGON LAD LEADS ATTACK W. V. Dolph, or Portland, Heads Sophomore Rush at Williams. BOSTON, Mass., March 18. (Special.) William V. Dolph, of Portland, Or., and Jay w. Chapman, son of J. Wilbur Chapman, the Evangelist, played fea ture parts In tonight's spectacular pa rade of the Freshman class at Williams College, at Williamstown. Toung Chapman led the odd parade after escaping the Sophomores, by whom he had been earlier kidnapped. The Portland man headed the Sopho mores, who attacked the Freshmen and divested them of their nightshirts. Dolph then made a speech in which the Freshies were roasted. The parade started from the opera house In Williamstown. When West College Hill was reached the Sopho mores, led by Dolph, charged upon the paraders,', destroying their transpar encies. THINK I CAN SEE THIS REPUBLIC'S TARIFF FIGHT WILL BE FREE-FOR-ALL Party Lines to Be Wiped Out in Conflict. DEMOCRATS ALREADY SPLIT Clark Will Lead Attack on Wool Schedule. DEFEND LUMBER TARIFF Democrats and' Republicans Will Unites on Issue Democrats Will Divide on Philippine Free Trade Proviso. WASHINGTON, March 18. That party lines wil be eliminated during the con sideration in the House of the Payne tariff bill was indicated by the action of Broussard, of Louisiana, In with drawing today from the meeting of the minority committee members,, because he differed from their views on the tariff. With few exceptions each member will fight for the interests of his home district. There is little prospect of a lengthy general debate and the consid eration of the measure under the five minute rule for amendment will be pro ceeded with as soon as possible, prob ably by the end of this week. Will Attack Wool Schedule. Unless a "gag" rule for the prevention of unlimited amendment under- the five minute rule Is brought In. the minority members of the ways and means com mittee will not report a separate bill. Their report will be drafted by Champ Clark, and will severely criticise tne wool schedule. It is con ended by the Democrats that it has not been cut sufficiently to place It on a revenue basis. Probably' numerous amend ments will be offered and heated dis cussions are anticipated. The inheritance tax, Philippine free trade, internal revenue and maximum and minimum features of the bill are Indorsed by the minority leader and there has been much favorable com ment upon the measure by Democratic Congressmen. Champ Clark today de clared that he had not had sufficient time to look into Its provisions to en able him to comment upon them. Unlimited Tree Trade Wanted. It is understood that the minority leaders favor the removal of the re strictions upon the quantity of sugar and tobacco that -can be admitted from the Philippine Islands free of duty. On the other hand, several Southern Dem ocrats are endeavoring to have the free trade provision amended so as to ex clude rice, their contention being that rice could be sent from the Philippines to the. United States markets and sold (Continued on Page 4.) FINISH!" BRYAN PROPOUNDS THREE QUESTIONS SEEKS SIGNIFICANCE OF COURT DECISIONS. Remarks That Trusts Rely Upon Federal Courts for Relief From Adverse State Rulings. LINCOLN, Neb.. March 18. (Special.) Discussing In his Commoner of to morrow the decision of Federal Judge Anderson In the Standard Oil suit, and of Federal Judge McPherson In the Missouri rate cases, Mr. Bryan asks three pointed questions, as follows: "Is it significant that the only re lief from corporation imposition so far as concerns legislative action, has been given through the legislative machin ery of the states? "Is it significant that the one judicial opinion seeking to apply the law to a powerful corporation that has seemed so Inclusive, so complete as to bring the powerful lawbreaker to a nn.itnn where It is actually wise to beg for terms, was rendered by the Supreme Court of a state? "Is It significant that on this occa sion, as on other occasions, the decis ions upon which these great corpora tions depend for escape from punish ment are rendered by Federal Courts?" Mr. Byran praises District Attorney Kealing. of Indiana, for resigning rath er than prosecute the Panama libel suits, and advises President Taft to order the dismissal of the suits. COOPER JURY STILL OUT Popular Opinion Growing That There Will Be Disagreement. NASHVILLE. Tenn., March 18. With no word from the 12 men who are trying to decide the fate of Colonel Cooper. Robin Cooper and John D. Sharpe, charged with the murder of E. W. Car mack, the feeling grew today that there would be a disagreement. After dinner tonight the Jurors hurried back to the room to resume their delib erations. Judge Hart remained at the Courthouse until . noon. . He then left, after telling the Sheriff that if the jury reached a decision he would not receive It before 9 A. M. tomorrow. PRIMARY LAW COMPROMISE Colorado Senate Modifies Scheme to Provide for Convention liatifj ing. DENVER. March IS. The State Sen ate passed today on second reading, by a vote of 19 to 16, the primary elec tion law, with the convention plan of making nominations incorporated there in. This action closes a fight extending over eight weeks. As the bill now stands, the names to be placed on the primary election ballots must be certi fied to by party conventions. It is further provided that additional nom inations may be made by petition. . ROBBERS TERRORIZE TOWN Dynamite Two Banks and Defeat Citizens in Fight. LITTLE ROCK. Ark., March 19.-A dispatch from .Bald Knob., Ark., to the Gazette says: Two bank buildings were dynamited and the town of Bald Knob terrorized early today by a small band of men. Citi zens who ventured from their houses were met by a fusillade of bullets and in the running fight which followed one citizen was wounded, the robbers escaping. Posses are in pursuit. KERENS NEW AMBASSADOR St. Louis Man Will Represent United States at Vienna. CHICAGO. March 18. The following is a special cable to the Daily. News from Vienna: The new American Ambassador to Austria will be Richard Kerens, of St. Louis. The State Department has asked the Austrian government if he is per sona grata, and an affirmative reply has been sent- JOHNSON SIGNS FOR FIGHT Negro Champion to Meet Ketchell for $3000 Side Bet. NEW TORK. March 18. A match be tween Jack Johnson, heavyweight cham pion of the world, and Stanley Ketchel for a sids bet of $5000 is said to have been arranged by, friends of both fighters. The fight will be a ten-round bout, and if fought in New York Is to take place in twelve weeks. ISALCO IS IN ERUPTION "Lighthouse of Pacific" Violently Active Once More. SAN SALVADOR. Salvador. March 18. Isalco. a volcano in Salvador, known as the "Lighthouse of the Pacific." is In .violent eruption. Isalco is ten miles north of Sonsonate. CUBAN REBELS GIVE UP Whole Band Led by Cortes Has Sur rendered. HAVANA. March 18. Sergeant Cortes, the leader of the InEurrectiqnists. and his whole band surrendered tonight to the civil authorities of Remedio9. in Santa Clara province. EMERY CONSENTS; GIRL MAY MARRY Americo-Japanese Pair Need Not Elope. HAD BEEN PLANNING FLIGHT Aoki Persuades Girl, but Her Mother Objects. THOUGH APPROVING MATCH Brown and White Lovers Discuss Plans, but 1'ather Removes Ob stacle May Ask Court to Say Jap Is Not Mongolian. SAN FRANCISCO. March 18. (Sjiecial) Gunjiro Aoki had already obtained the consent of Helen Gladys Emery to elope with him and get married at Sacramento, and the couple were only restrained by the objections of the girl's mother when her father. Archdeacon John Emery of the Episcopal Church of Corte. returned home and withdrew his objec tions to the match. Tomorrow Miss Emery will announce to Gunjiro the wel come news, and church bells and orange blossoms will probably close the inci dent that Is, as far as the public Is con cerned. Aoki still has to overcome the legal ob stacle to his marriage with an American girl. The law of California reads that no license will be Issued for the muT-r-ia of a white person to a Mongolian. Aoki is saior to be preparing to . fight this on the technicality that a Japanese Is not a Mongolian. - Were Plotting Elopement. Miss E.-nery plotted an elopement with Aoki this afternoon in a corner of the Perry building, while her mother sat near her, showing no repugnance at the strange Infatuation of her child, but in- ' etead offering advice to further their plan to marry. As they talked, the girl's eyes nevef ceased to stare at the peaked brown face of the Japanese lover. Aoki declared during the conversation that he wished to take the girl to Sacra mento with him immediately. She ac quiesced, but the suggestion frightened the mother, who insisted that it must not be done. Aoki shrugged his shoulders, but ap peared bored. Finally he accepted the situation and the couple planned to meet again at Tiburon at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning, when Aoki may receive the wel- (Concluded on Page 4.) INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature. 49.11 degrees; minimum, 39.6 degrees. TODAY'S Rain; southerly winds. i'oretgn. Chinese boycott against Japan revived Page 1. Strike in France absolutely stops mail, tele graph and telephone service. Page 1. Servia may yield to Joint note from powers. Page 5. National. Knox plainly tells Central America of United States policy, but Zelaya still arms. Page 6. Fight on tariff bill will be free-for-all, both parties splitting. Page 1. Cannon supports demand for free lumber Page 4. Zelaya defies XTnlted States after receiving Knox warning. Page 4. Horse passes census bill aa proposed by Roosevelt, ater flght about rules Page 4. Politics. Taft speaks at Cleveland memorial exer cises. Page 6. Injunction against recall election at Los Angeles to be asked today; Haiper raises cry of conspiracy. Page 7. -Bryan criticises decisions on Standard Oil and 2-cent fare. Page 1. Xtoraestic. f Kruttschnitt denies any official changes on Harriman roads coming. Page 7. Aoki proposes elopement to Gladys Emery but mother objects and father's consent to marriage makes it unnecessary. Page 1. Mrs. C. P. Taft pays overdue inheritance tax. Page 1. Roosevelt predicts he won't die of fever in Africa. Page 7. Son of rich Pennsylvanian. kidnaped and held for $10,000 ransom. Page 4. Court takes away last of Captain O. M. Carter's income. Page 5. Sport. v McCredie discharges two pitchers and one outfielder. Page 12. Kelson calls Packy McFarland quitter. Page 12. Multnomah wrestlers win from Pullman five matches out of six. Page 12. Multnomah wrestlers win meet from Wash ington State J.'ollege. Page 12. Pacific Northwest. Destruction of Coeur d'Alene powder works, in which three lives were lobt, believed to be result of plot. Page 8. Registration of 12.000 Spokane voters in- validated by new primary law. rage &. Commercial and Marine. Few hops are left but market weakens. Page 19. Chicago wheat market closes higher. Page 19. Effect of tariff bill on stock speculation. Page 19. . . Grain shipments to California for eight months double those of same period last season, page IS. Portland and Vicinity. ' . Portland and Seattle capitalists buy control in Home Telephone Companies of North west. Page 1. Taxpayers' committee plans to enjoin Mult nomah from paying more than share of state taxes. Page. 9. Warrants charging speeding are Issued for 16 autoists. Page 18. Crossett Timber Company plans erection of large mill here soon. Page 13. etewardof Geo. w. Elder given divorce. Page 14 r Harriman lines to start two demonstration trains next week. Page 13. Large tract at IJnnton, recentlv platted, will become townsite. Page IS. Colonel W. H- Effinger dies, page ft