The morning Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1899-1930, February 13, 1907, Image 1

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    r
JwHl
4 ll 4y JJI I'ill-JM
OOVBRS TM MORNINO PI1LO ON TM LOWIft OOLUMBIAil
UBLI8HKS FULL AO0IAT10 RIPOPIT
VOLUME LXIU NO.
rjrr.rassrLL-.!! ,:,,. , . - - nnrnn -rrxrr' mrVTC .
ASTORIA, OREGON WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 13, ru.
BUI FEW
SURVIVE
Of Two Hundred on Boat
Nineteen are Saved.
MANY FROZEN TO DEATH
Schooner Knowleton Rams the
Urchmont and Both Go
to Bottom.
CAUSE OF DISASTER UNKNOWN
Oceurrad on Dark But Starry Night
and 8teamer Wat Plainly Vlaibli
to Thota On Board tha
, Knowleton.
BLOCK ISLAND. R. L Feb. 13 In
the atorin-awept aeaa of the Atlantic,
with the temperature below xero, ap
proximately 180 persona are believed to
have met death aa result of the
achoonPr Knowleton and the ateamer
Larchmont colliding oft Block laland
laat night. The Urchmont carried an
eatlmated paaaenger list of 160 and a
crew of about 50. The Larchmont aank
ten mlnutea after tho colllaton, and
the Knowleton, laden with coal, foun
dered aoon after.
A acore of bodtea have been washed
ashore. Including Captain McVey, of
the Larchmont, eight of the officer and
crew of hla vessel were aaved. Sur
vivor exprpaa the opinion that al
though all on board the Larchmont ee-
curcd placea on board rafts or In the
boata, that acorea of them were awept
overboard by the high aeua and that
many auerumbed to cold before they
had been afloat but a ahort time
Captain Haley, of the Knowleton, In
a tatement. aaya that he la unable to
account for tho colllalon. The stars
were bright and the atmoaphcre waa
clear
Koaldenta on the neighboring ahore
turned out In tho bitter cold to holp
In the efforta to rescue. One boat
reached ahore bearing a number of
survivors, and half a dozen that had
died of cold during the trip from the
wrerk to the ahore.
WATCH HILL, R. I., Feb. 12,-In de
scribing hi experience, Captain Ha
ley, of tho Harry Knowleton, aald the
Knowleton rammed the Larchmont on
the port Hide about a quarter way from
the bow. Tho blow carried away the
nchooner's jlbboom and bowsprit, and
nil her forward rigging, opening up
the seams and making a great hole
forward, through which the water
rushed. Desperate work at the pumps
alone saved the lives of the crow.
Captain Haley and his lx men nil took
a hand In the work until the moment
came to launch tho boat In which they
were nblo to reach the shore at Watch
Hill.
Captnln Haley snld the Larchmont,
ns soon as the two boats had cleared
after the collision, appeared to con
tinue westward and Captain Haley and
lila men heard no calls for assistance.
However, they were so much engaged
1n keeping afloat that they had little
tlmo to watch the Larchmont.
"I never ahall quite understand how
this accident occurred," aald Captain
Haley. "The might was dark, but star
ry. We were making fair progress
. .. , , .i ko.'now represented bv Sonator Hodson
through tne ouna. n. Jung "i
Tore the accident happened we had
sighted the Larchmont steaming west
ward. Soma of the crew were on deck
awhile and we "poke of the picture
tho Larchmont made, all lighted up.
"We saw then that' the steamer seemed
to be heading directly for us. I looked
up at our HghtB, Which were burning
all right, and, of course, I expected
I tie inn- s look ou for u
Hhn rlght on, and some of us
ahoi warnlnir. and one member
of our crew blew a horn constantly. 1
did not dure attempt to tack to clear
the path of tho steamer because I
hought she would turn out for u.
When aim was right ahead there woa
nothing fur ua to do but lilt her. The
blow was n very light one, 1 thought
wo wore going down nt once, tin the
MtiMimi-r quivered and reeled backward.
The water rushed It at once, The
ateamnr lurched and continued on her
way. Hho did not aocm to be badly
ilumugnd."
Captain Haley narrated the exper
ience of hlmaelf And crew In work
ing hla voel shoreward, Willi five
feet of water In tho hold and gaining,
manning tho pump wan exceedingly
difficult, a the water aurged about the
men all the lime. Kindly It waa .!
decide. to abandon 'he veeaet and all
hand look to the bonta.
RIGHT OF APPEAL.
Privilege of Government In Certain
Criminal Caiat Oitouaaed.
WASHINGTON. Keb. 12. Tho Ken
ate occupied the day In argument on
iho bill granting tho government the
right of appeal on points of law In
criminal ens,. a. The opposition came
muliily from Senators Rayner. Whyle,
of Maryland, and llcyburn of Idaho,
and elaborate defense of tho proposi
tion were made by Senator Patterson,
Knox, Nelson and Spooner. No action
waa taken on tho meaaure. Nelson
gave notice that he would move for
it conaldcratlon tomorrow.
ILL CAUSE DEBATE
Bill for Senatorial Reapportion'
ment Is Not Popular.
SUBJECT IS DELICATE ONE
8enatori Object to Having Their Dit
triot Vanish Into Nothingnoaa ai
Now Maatura Would Provide
In 8cvaral Inatanooa.
SALEM, Ore., Feb. 12. Reappor
tlonment of the 30 Senatorial districts
of the state promises to ha a hotbed of
dissension before the session ends. It
wag given a start when Sonator Hart
introduced 8. B. 212. Already there
Is a feeling of antagonism to the meas
urc and Ill-feeling Is cropping out. The
consideration of tho bill will be left to
a special committee of Ave, to be ap
pointed by President Hnlnes
Senator Wright and Miller of Linn
and Marlon, suffer, or at least their
districts do. Senator Miller's district
Is wiped off the slnte and Senator
Wright's Is so adjusted that he la out
and Injured.
Tho principal changes follow:
Mnrlon and Linn Joint, eliminated,
resulting In the loss of half a vote
foe each of these counties and not
making up for It In any other dlrec
tion.
Benton, which has had a single vote,
Is made to share It with Lincoln and
Tillamook, which latter two are now
with Yamhill, the district of Wright.
In tacking Tillamook and Lincoln to
Benton, Sonator Johnson of Benton, Is
not pleased any more than Wright or
Miller.
Yamhill loses a Joint vote and re
colves no compensation,
Multnomah recolves seven whole
votes and; one Joint with Columbia and
Clackamas, making eight all told. This
eliminated the Joint district of Mult
nomah, Columbia and Washington,
- -
and the Joint district of Multnomah
and Clackamas, now filled by Senator
Bailey. This reapportionment does not
affect Clackamas and Columbia mater
ially, for the nominees on the Joint
districts will be dictate and elected
from Multnomah, as formerly.
Grant county, which has been Joint
(Continued on Page 8 )
CHOPIN BILL
IS
Minority Report of House
Committee Adopted.
BOARD WILL APPOINT
Railroad Commission Will
Named By Three State
Officials.
Be
WARM DEBATE IN THE HOUSE
Party Politico Figuro in Fight For and
Againit Board Vote I Cloao,
Being Twonty-nine to
Thirty.
SALEM, Ore., Feb. 12. When House
bill No. 2 the Chapln railroad com
mission bill came up at 3 o'clock In
tho afternoon, the majority and mi
nority reports of the Joint committee
on railroads were read. The former
recommenJed that tho governor, the
tatter that a state board, appoint the
commission. It was then moved that
the House adopt the majority report
of the committees, which was after
ward amended to read the minority re
port.
Sneaker Davy said: '1 am not op
posed to the Chapln bill, In spirit or
In fact, but I am opposed to putting
the appointing power In the hands of
the governor. I believe In the people
of Oregon and I think the people are
competent to choose a railroad com
mlslon that Is competent to execute
the people's wishes. I have fought for
the Republican party and was elected
by the Republican party, and now the
Democratic minority of this state asks
us to enact a railroad commission law
and turn It over to their governor to
let the party run the commission as
It pleases. It Is a brawn and cheeky
demand.
"Are there among "0,000 Republican
voters none able enough' to execute
this law?"
Coffey spoke In favor of the majority
report of the Joint committee. He said
In part:
I believe in the honor of the com
mittee who handed In the minority re
port, but I think they are mistaken
in bringing this question up at this
time. I am a Republican, I am one
born and bred, but I'm a citizen of this
state first, nnd this state wants the
governor to be held responsible for
the personnel of the commission. This
is business and It is not politics. I
hope this House can remember that
when it comes to vote on tho majority
report of the' committee that spent a
month on this bill."
"Let's give the peopel of tho state
what they want," said Edwards. "They
want tho governor to appoint and they
want an efficient commission. There
Is only one way to get this now, and
that is to adopt the majority report.
Again I tell you this is business, not
politics."
Northup made one of the chief
speeches for the majority report. He
said:
"There Is union In the Senate now
over this question of appointment and
If we adopt the minority report the
two houses of this legislature are at
outs, and the entire bill Is endangered.
This commission must be free of po
litical bias and must be a business
body of experts. The people elect the
governor, the long purse often elects
the other state officers, whom you
would make equally responsible with
the governor In the selection of the
commission. Does any one think xne
railroads want the governor to appoint?
PASSED
The leaders fighting against his ap
pointing know better. You are trying
to put the business Interest of the
state under the feet of the politician,
and you are trying to play party pol
itics when the entire state sent you
here to enact some adequate railroad
laws,"
It's a matter of business," aald Mr.
Chapln. "1 have a desk full of letters
from Republicans of Influence who
wish the governor to appoint. Mr.
Davey a few days ago wanted the
textbook commission appointed by the
governor. Why this sudden change?"
The House supported the minority
report of the Joint committee favoring
the appointment of the commissioners
by the governor, secretary of state and
state treasurer by a vote of 30 to 29,
and adjourned until tho night session,
when the amended bill was passed,!
with but one dissenting vote, that of
Adams, of Multnomah, who later
changed to yes.
RECORD 8TOCK DAY.
CHICAGO, Feb. 12. The Chicago &
Northwestern Railroad established a
new record for livestock traffic yes
terday by bringing to Chicago 1,028
carloads of stock, the largest amount
ever brought here In a single day by
any railroad.
At least 75 per cent of this stock
originated In Iowa and Nebraska, the
average haul being about 400 miles and
the average speed 25 to 30 miles an
hour. A remarkable fact Is that all
of the thirty-five traintoads of stock
were delivered here before 6:30 o'clock
yesterday morning and the last car of
livestock was unloaded at the Union
stockyards before 10:30 a. m.
ROAD BILL ATTACKED
Property Interests Nearly
Defeat the Measure,
OFFER KILLING AMENDMENT
Senator Newell Attempts to Tack Ap
propriation for Convict-Worked
Rook Quarry Which Would In
sure Defeat of Meaaure.
SALEM, Feb. 12. Big property In
terests this morning came near de
featlng the only road bill likely to
pass the legislature this session. When
Senate bill 96 came up for considera
tion In the committee of the whole,
Newell offered an amendment pro
viding that $25,000 be appropriated for
a rock quarry, and that the convicts
be set to work crushing rock. Per
ktns. of Jackson, nlaced the Issue
squarely before the House. "If this
amendment Is adopted It will kill this
bill, which is just what the big prop
erty Interests want," he said. "The
Senate passed this bill by a narrow
margin, but if convict labor was made
pnmrailsnrv tiv thfi bill It WOuU fall
of passage In the Senate."
Certain members of the Portland
contingent, Speaker Davey, and other
Representatives, generally those who
endeavored to sidetrack the Chapln
bill yesterday, supported the amend
ment Campbell, of Multnomah, said:
"I'm tired of having the Senate held
u a club over my head. Pass the
amendment, and If the Senate kills the
bill It's their funeral."
By a narrow margin the amendment
was lost, chiefly through the Eastern
tn-tiva standing to
gether against the amendment.
The bill provides for the creation of
a State Board of Road Commission
era and a State Road Engineer, at a
salary of $1,800 a year. The measure
will enable any section of the state
to improve its highways if the Inter
ested property owners pay a third of
the expenses, the county another third
ami th state the rest. Under the
act about three-quarters of a million
dollars annually will be available
for road building under the charge of
an expert.
(Continued on Pg 8 )
CLASH OF
COUNSELS
Jerome Objects to Ques
tion By Delmas.
FOSTERED FALSE IDEA
Latter Takes Serious Exception
to His Heated Re
marks. TRIAL OF THAW IS ENLIVENED
Alienist Testifies That Defendant Was
Suffering From Mental Derange
ment at Time of Murder Eve
lyn Thaw to be Recalled.
NEW YORK, Feb. 12. District At
torney Jerome and Delphln M. Delmas
came together today In the first serious
clahs between the counsel of the Harry
K. Thaw trlai. The California attor
ney, who was directing the defense,
took exception to certain statements of
the prosecuting officer and had Insert
ed In the record a protest against "the
misconduct of the learned district at
torney," Jerome hotly accused Del
mas of trying to instill In the minds
of the jury the Implied suggestion that
the operation performed on Evelyn
Nesblt In 1903 before Thaw took her
to Europe was of "a criminal nature,
when as a matter of fact, he Bald, it
was for appendicitis.
Delmas called the attention of Jus
tice Fitzgerald to this saying of the
district attorney, stating that the facts
we're not in evidence and that "very
serious exception must be taken to his
remarks."
"Send the jury out of the room If
you want to," exclaimed Jerome, "but
I am going to get this thing straight
I am not going to have these false
impressions fostered before this jury
Dr. Britton D. Evansfl superlnten
dent of the State Hospital for the
Insane, of Morris Plains, N. X, was
testifying at the time of the disagree
ment. He had declared that he was
of the opinion that Harry K. Thaw
was Insane at the time of the trag
edy. He had been called upon to
answer a long nypoineucai quesuuu
In which reference had been made to
a "serious If not capital" operation on
Miss Nesblt. when the storm brokg.
Justice Fitzgerald did not rule out any
of Jerome's remarks before the Jury
and Delmas took care to have every
exception he made "seriously noted."
Evans was by far the most satisfac
tory expert witness whom the defense
has so far produced. He detailed to
the jury his observations and examlna
tions of Thaw during the eight visits
to the prlsonor at the Tombs and de
clared his opinion that Thaw was suf
fering from "a brain storm or an ex
plosive or fulminating condition of
iinaniinrioaB." at the time he
shot White. Evans may be cross ex
amlned tomorrow, though Evelyn Thaw
may be called upon to continue her
Thn defense may call other
alienists to testify.
ANOTHER PORTLAND OUTRAGE
Probable Attempt to Blow Up Street
Car Discovered.
PORTLAND, Feb. 12. A cartridge
three inches long, containing enough
nltro-glycerlne, to blow to bits any
car striking It, waa found beside the
track at Thirtieth and Gladstone
streets today. Several weeks ago a
stick of dynamite was found by the
tracks of the St. John's division. The
motive oi me ouirage ia hoi uncii -
certained by the police who are work
ing on the cane.
FOR CLEANER 8PORT.
Mova by Englishmen to Have Yaoht
Skippera Licensed.
NEW YORK, Feb. 12. Lord Wol-
verton, who has been for many years
an enthusiastic member of the Royal
Yacht squadron and was associated
with Lord Dunraven In the owner
ship of the Valkyrie which was beat
en, by the Vigilant In an attempt to
lift the America cup, arrived here yes
terday on the Hner Carmanta, He
wishes to discuss the yachting system
with members of the New York Yacht
Club. Lord Wolverton is back of the
movement in England toward having
the Royal Yacht Squadron license
yacht skippers and assume the right
to disqualify amateur skippers If found
guilty of reprehensible practices, to
prevent their competing In Great Bri
tain or the British possessions. Lord
Wolerton may suggest that this move
ment be taken up here and he may
also broach the subject of an Inter
national race in 1908.
KILLED BY 8TREET CAR.
CHICAGO, Feb. 12. V. O'Keefe, 5
years old, whose home was In Fort
Smith, Ark., and who was said to have
been a mining promoter, waa run over,
and killed by a Btreet car In Austin,
a suburb, last , night He was walk
ing on the car track and the motor-
man did not see him. His head was
almost severed from hla body. The
motorman and the conductor of the
car were arrested.
DENY ANY CHANGES
Road Officials Say Hiring Japs
is Their Custom.
W00DBURN AFFAIR ENLARGED
Policy Has Been to Employ Japanese
er Other Foreigners Where Satis
factory White Labor Is Unob
tainableWages Lower.
PORTLAND, Feb. 12. Reports that
Japanese section hands are succeed
ing white labor along the line of the
Southern Pacific because the former
can be employed at cheaper wages, is
denied by officers of the Harrlmaa
lines. The affair at Woodburn, which
resulted In a new crowd of Japanese
leaving the section-house because of
threats by rowdies, Is attributed by
them to a drunken mob.
At Ashland It Is rumored Japanese
are to supplant white men on that
section, and changes are looked for at
other points. The reason given for
the changes is that there were not
enough white men on the section to
perform the work, and as more could
not be employed, the Japanese will be
detailed, as they are obtainable in
larger numbers.
Section men board themselves and
whites are paid $1.50 a day and Japs
$1.30 to $1.35. Railroaders say It is
the rule to employ either white men
on a section or gangs of foreigners
who hall from the same domain. Greeks,
Japanese or Italians are employed. It
Is pointed out that Japanese were used
on the system before it became a por
tion of the Harrlman merger, and that
many have since been introduced on
the O. R. & N. That the Japanese
are peaceful and work for less, as they
can live more cheaply Is In their favor,
while experience has taught the op
erating departments that It Is Impos
sible to work white men with foreign
ers In unison. y1
With from $2.50 to $3 being paid on
construction work, it has proven dif
ficult to secure white men for section
requirements at a. less wage, though
the Japs are seldom paid above $1.40
and often they receive much less. Jap
anese contractors are said to reap a
percentage of the daily stipend.