The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972, December 27, 1905, Image 1

The Oregon daily journal., December 27, 1905, Image 1

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Newspaper Page Text- GOOD EVE HI IT G Journal Circulation 1 THE WEATHER. Yesterday 6" ' T Partly cloudy ; Thursday occasional fc light Vain; southwest winds! j VOL.'IV;f NO. 254.1 SAM m The $2,500,000 : a Year" Legal Force Defend ing: the Sixteen Beef Barons Lays Clever i Plan of Battle ;and Reverses; Positions GARFIELD MAY BOWL OVER: THEIR : SCHEMES BY; HIS REVELATIONS HeWill Swearlt ls Said, -That Lawbreakers r Begged Immunity, 1 : and WillShowHidden.Half of Report. ' -1 1 " (Journal amtU luiiln.) Chteago, Dec, f). ri contrast te.ths general -belief of the layman that the beef trust d lot tor of the "price of the - World's meat supply Is on trial In -the - federal court In Chicago, the real , facta are that the governments Itself Is on trial. By a strategic move the packers . - have 'turned and placed, the government ,w uiaianu .temporarily secapeo iiiin . - selves. ' :..-.. .. , r Vie- beef combine has maVJe Ahargea ' against the legislature, against' .Federal Commissioner of Corporations James. R. Garfield, against -the United States torney-general and against the president himself. .. HL has filed special pleas ac - - cuslng the government of having prom ised Its packers Immunity If they would, open their books and lead. Mr. Garfield - to discover whether or not there was a beef trust, fit has accused Mr. Gar .field of hsving turned the -evidence he ' secured from the packers Into the grand jury's hands to be used In Indicting the trust members. . ' . - " A Jury has been selected' out of a venire of 141 northern' Illinois farmers to try the government on .these charges. ' If the jury decides the government to . , be- guUiy - as charged the packers , will go free. Under such circumstances ''they cannot be prosequted even though ... they have violated the law by eonsplr tin to regulate the prices of the world's beef supply, - The constitution provides ' , thst n man cannot be compelled to "tea. "ttfy against- himself. ; t ; . - , . v .. ' This, in brief, Is the exsct and amas lng status of the beef trust cases' - In ;ths lUnlted, States district - court j in Chicago, . -v.-V , . ,r , What Brldeae Shows.- . , It Is not ths construction given, how . ever; either by the attorneys, for prose cution or defense. It Is the status .'' found -to extat by examining a mass of '' legal documents and -sitting through s day's session. , V t. , A day's session of the beef trial 'oc cuples four, hours, jfrom 10 o'clock 'In - : ths morning sntll 11, and from 1 o'clock " in the afternoon, until 4, i Five-minute ' adjournments are. taken in the middle pf each session. " . The fight la undoubtedly, one of the j greatest . legal battles of Its kind that '"' over occurred In the United States. .-.... t . , Sixteen beef barons are struggling t ' v escape the 'penalty -of years' Imprison , ment 1 In Jail. All are fabulously wealthy. They have ruled the rail roads, mastered the markets, dominated " the world of finance. Thirty-five lawyers, are battling In ths courtroom in S last desperate stand ' a to prsvent their millionaire clients from being tried v These trust attorneys' combined salaries .amount to t T.OOO s dsy, or I3.W0.OO0 A year, II their serv -' . Ices are required so long. , One attorney Is arrayed against them " in the courtroom In behalf of the gov eminent and the people. His salary If IS.OOO a year. - i .' . I Two hundred of the foremost lsw , '. yers of the United States are aiding the -V i counsel ' for the beef trust .'by advice and suggestion. Hordes of detectives are scouring . this federal district- to . look up . the records ' of the Jurors . In i si'-,1- ) i IS 00 TRIAL Which " He Refused, whose hands the beef . trust's case .'Is Intrusted. i ..; v-. , The, one government attorney is aided by one, sometimes two' and possibly three, advisory assistants. He hss no detectlvea He looked up " the records of the veniremen by questioning them in the courtroom. , -In the many preliminaries of- the case the government attorneys, United States District Attorney W. R. Morrison, and fiTa aaslatanta, ' dwood ; Oodman' and BoberfW.-Chllds,- have showed Ithem selves abundantly able to care for the people's Interests. , . The' one thing that ' may ' defeat a trial of; the packers' is the unparalleled cleverness of - the -trust attorneys In making the plaintiff a defendant. . "The multi-millionaire beef barons will take -thw stand, it Is said, and testify that Mr. Garfield dtft -promise them Im munity.' The scene will be one of the most notable In the Chicago courts. - - v OaxCsld Kay Tell- AH.""-v - ,j" ' The government has prepared a stag gering defense to the charges made by the packers, according to the federal dlstrlot' attorney, who confidently ex pects that ths Jury .wUl decide th- spe cial ple In favor of the government and make It necessary for the, beef trust to stand rial. It Is'P'romlsed that.afr. GArfletd will furnish the' surprise. . The seal , of si lence will be removel from the com missioners' Hps for the first time when he takes 'the stand, snd hs will lsy bare all the inner details of the government's investigation of the beef combine. - He will relate his conversations with ths packers, his personal experiences at the stockyards, hji private reports to President Rooseveft and -the momentous secret conferences at Washington Which have led up to the criminal prosecution of the meat millionaires. ' . r . Oarfleld will swear - that ths packers offered, .even pleaded for the chance, to confess sverything if be. would let them swear to tneir testimony, and thus se cure . the protection -of the- immunity law. '' .; . - ' . . ' He will testify that he steadfastly refused to put the oath-on the packers sfter reporting their " desire to Wash ington snd' conferring . with . President Roosevelt. Secretary Cortelyou and Attorney-General Moody, who ordered that the packers be denied- the privilege of making confessions. . 4 Wamss 4 Vaots. '. !; '.;.'" Garfield will allege specif Id Instances In whtch the packera refused him infor mation, giving as . the reason that he declined to. grant them .the immunity of the oath. . .,- 1 He will name the packers, and attor neys 'present end the dates of these, negotiations touching.' Immunity snd will produce telegrams on the subject sent to ; Washington and" received by him,- ' " : r ,: - ' "" --: 1-' A, H. Veeder, ' the Indicted general counsel of Swift A. Co.; Alfred RrUrlon of ArmOur Co. ahd W. M. Borders of Morris at Co. will be named in the testi mony as figuring In these conferences. Ths word of Garfield and his assist ants will be measured by the Jury - (Continued ,on Page- Seven.) .ii--wjL' BIRDSEYE VIEW OF THE CITY J)F RIGA, '. -r", . .V;:';' -V ";V';' v v- .:- " . , i.'-s-v'--' ,iMwr 3;' Vcl-? v.1.' ' fte -,-, x . ..TiTTv, ' v -.u'- i: -'4r " ' -.-M-f-- . .V1?O.RTLAND- OREGON, 'WEDNESDAY ;r EVENING,' DECEMBER - f -!' v 'i ' - I . V James LEVY IS FIXED AT Cotiricil, After Heated 'Argu ment, Gives Up Fight for LSAC High Tax. - - PROMINENT CITIZENS v ; i INFLUENCE ITS ACTION Councilman Sharkey Makes Two Un: successful. Attempts to" Introduce Ordinance Providint for Commit - tee to Investigate Tax Rolls.- : -- The tax levy for city purposes Is , mills- Ths- ordinance- flxln-" the levy was passed at a meeting of the city council yesterday afternoon ' after a heated argument ' lasting nearly' three hours In which eonncllmen' and taxpay ers ' freely '. psrtlclpsted. " . . ' -The fight hlngea'on the adoption of the majority report of the ways and means committee recommending a 6.1 mill- levy, ss against the minority re port recommending a i.t mill levy. When ths vote was taken there were 11 ayes snd 4 nays. Councilman Anhand, Beldlng, Dunning, Gray, Masters, Mane fee, Preston, Shepherd, Vaughn, Wallace and Wills, voted to-sustain the majority report, while Councllmen-Bennett. Rash light, Kellaher and Sharkey opposed It. When the vote on the ordinance fix ing the levy at t-S mills was presented, it passed witnout a aissenting vote, - Twice at yesterday's meeting, Coun cilman Sharkey attempted to get a mo- tlon before the council providing for tbeJ appolntment of a committee to Invest! gate the taxrolls. Each time his motion earns when another was before the coun cil and was ruled out of order by the msyor. Sharkey's .action was regarded as a direct thrust at County Assessor Blgler. Hs Intimated that, the . assess ment had not been' made equitably. Long before the meeting of Jhe coun cil the floor of the council chamber was crowded with taxpayers who went to remonstrate against a high' tax. The courtesy' of the floor was extended to the visitors snd severs of them made (Continued on Pkje Seven.) f .... v:y. r ... i -: ., --'V,' f-'VW-iw-liWe' tfrvT"M1':,, tl'",,,'' vflsjtir'-''wM!s-,!t v -'-Sr t Lotsn. JAMES LOTAH -ILL AT HIS HOME Is Suffering From , Rheumatism . -Family Expect Him Out 'In a Few Days, ''. PROMINENT FOR YEARS . ; ; JN OREGON POUTICS "v ' 1 . .r Wag Machinist, Afterwards Govern. ment Boiler Inspector and Made Friends Everywhere erved Fif ' teen Years Ago as Collector. '. , ! James Lotani who ones was one of the political captains' of Oregon, is ill at his home st 195 Fourteenth "street - Hs has been sick for the past-week, and his condition has caused his 'friends con siderable concern. . It was said- at his house- this- morning, however, that he expects to' be able to be out In a- few days. 'Rheumatism Is the malady?" James Lotan could not be omitted from the history of ' Oregon politics without an hiatus like that in the Ham let some one proposed to play without Hamlet. Many times he demonstrated by success In Important campaigns thatt he possessed tne genius or leadership. Great struggles occurred between him snd ex-United States Senator Joseph Simon ahd : each, . potent ., in political batle. was st times at the head -of the Republican party- organisation -In the state. - '.'.,' . , Mr. Lotan's triumphs, however, were not sione on ine jieiu pi political warfare.-for In the business anc industrial wora he is recognised sa a representa- tlvs man.'- . He- was a ' machinist many years, ago In the shops, of the company that preceded , the present Willamette Iron A Steel Works, with Which is affiliated the Willamette Boiler Works. Holding -the position 'of (foreman, he finally, became the head-of the concern and managed its affairs with skill. In later -years he has been' connected with the corporation only Is! an advisory capacity, the active management having been assumed by younger men.' Thirty years ago' Mr. "Lotan wss ap pointed United- States' boiler Inspector. (Continued on Page Three.) SCtNE OF ONf OF THE STIRRING -".:V'r -: Vv y -27,- 19Q5. FOURTEEN 7 PACES. I t ' " ' , St. Petersburg Police and Troops Make a Big Capture of Revo lutionists and Seize Arms . , . . and Ammunition. ; ; - s.':-' - - ; - ' STRIKE IN SYMPATHY " WITH MOSCOW RECALLED Government ' Considers ; Revolt at Moscow Crushed, Although Fight - lng Occurred During' the Night Warsaw. Railway Employes Strike New Lav? Disappointment.' '' ,;. ' " ' v f j .' ' (XJawnal Special Strrke.) .. i" "' St. Petersburg. Dec 17. (Bulletin) The. official side of the situation as given out by the government is that the strikers st Moscow, are . crushed and the government -hss practically complete control.. It la also eld that other points are becoming quieter snd ths striker ar returning to work," The revolutionists report- that ' late news from Moscow ' shows that, the women are aiding the striker; and that fighting is being carried on with undi minished energy, that casualties are nu merpus snd the troops worn out In con stant conflicts, but thst reinforcements are arriving. . rr y (Jotmwl SptcuJ aWlee.) St. PetesburgrDec 17.-pWblle the sit uation in St. Petersburg Is of a most three tenlngr nature, the government has as, yet practical control. Although Count Witte realises that the Ores of revolution have reached a stage where they cannot .be quenched at a single stroke, be hopes to secure the assistance of the moderators of sll classes in help ing him counsel for good order, and through this channel expects to see the government In .full control and again wielding complete authority, in all in stances In the near future. Fifty arrests were made -today as ' a result of ths discovery bit tb military of a terrorist plot, the number Including several prominent agitators In ths recent troubles. At the Putlloff Iron works, the strik ers,' who hsd congregated In force this morning listening to a harangue by one of their number, were charged ' by a squad of Cossacks, and three . Of ths strikers seriously injured. The revolutionary leaders Ifi - St. Petersburg met last ntght and deliber ated long and fully on the. situation. At the conclusion of the session It wss announced that the decision to call a general conflict hero in sympathy with the Moscow brethren had been recon sidered, but that the strike would be continued ' and every means possible used to force workmen now ' st - their trades to Join the army of strikers who have left their places. Intensely cold weather and deep - snow on the ground has helped to quell the outward signs Lof the. agitation and make tt easier for the government to gain s better hold of the situation. Bevolnttoalsss M Setback. The fighting revolutionary organisa tion in this city has received a serious setback through the capture of Its com mittee, every member ! whom was ar rested by police and troops last night, Ths officers also captured complete plans of the revolutionists, as well as large quantities of ammunition and fire arms. . . ' ' " 1 .-. - ' The executive committee consisted of 47: members, snd all are In prison. ' Xoeoow More Quiet. ' Advices from Moscow state that ths city' Is resuming a. more quiet tone. While: the government considers thst ths revolt ' there has been practically crushed, this assumption cannot be re-. lied, upon - as absolutely certain, as It 4. mav aaain riare up 'amny moment. - Fighting continued until midnight last night - In many parts of the city and the sound of .firearms could be heard at lntervala until daylight. . Oovernor- T (Contlnued on Page Three.) DRAMAS OF THE RUSSIAN ' .'-..4 - ' i- v' '' ,V; V ., PRICE .TWO BY STATEWEHT OF MOHEY AT 1 00 HAflll PEIiCEfiT McCall, First Witness Before Leg islative Investigating - Com7- mittee Todayi Tells of His - Recent Trip to Paris. MASTERFUL DEFENSE " -' MADE BY ALBANY MAN Admits Finding It Necessary to Pay Large Sums to Kill Adverse Legis lation but Refuses to Give Names or Explain ; About. Sum" That Hughes Is Asking About. 7 ' (Jearaal Special SarrUe.) New. York, Dec. 17, John C. McCall. secretary of the New York Life Insur a nee company,' was the first, witness before the Insurance legislative inves tigating committee this' morning. ' Mc Call stated that he. saw Andrew C Ham ilton In Paris, on his recent trip,, snd that Mr. Hamilton's condition was seri ous. ' He said Hamilton waa a very sick man, and In substantiation of hfs state ment he submitted a certificate from a Paris physician. McCall said further that Hamilton refused to give up any checks of check . books, claiming that they had nothing whatever to do with the question at Issue, but r pertained solely to private matters. : . - : , , . The statement of Hamilton, which was Of great length, was read in evidence, and in this report Hamilton admits that hs may owe the New York lAt money,' as heretofore he has not rendered a statement of all the moneys he received. In vlew nf this he offers to place in escrow toe. sum of 1100.000 eash from bis own private funds, from which any amount due ths New York Ufa may be deducted. j : While admitting that he found it necessary in the Interest- of "legislation In connection -with the New York Life to pay certain sums to certain persons. Hamilton refuses- to divulge the names of- such persons, although saying, that they were not attorneys-. ( ,,, Masterful Defense. v Hamilton's statement was a master ful defense of ths legal and legislative business don by him for the benefit of the New York Life snd other insur ance companies. He says that in 18S9 he made an exhaustive report upon the accounts, management and condition of the New York Life for the Russian" gov ernment, which report waa passed upon snd accepted as satisfactory. Ths state ment says further:. "When I waa given charge of the bu reau of taxation and legislation In the New York Life, it became apparent to the officers of that company, as well as to the officers of other Insurance com panies, that If , the mass of proposed legislation was passed, they would be legislated and taxed out of existence. "It waa decided that If secret service wss , permissible as a governmental agency, a - confidential ' service would be the only effective snd at the same time proper ' plan to guard the most extensive commercial Interest In the world, the life Insurance business of New York state. - By this plan I was able to have as my representatives frequently men who would, not have accepted a retainer were it known that they were interested in In surance legislation. Their employment, therefore, waa known only to me. I al ways kept my word with them and the companies I represented did not eveu know who they were. , '"'.'., ' . Protected Company. '"Under this system the protection of the companies - became ample. - Each company was supplied dally with a list of legislative propositions-? and-- their progress complete In every particular. ThS seal of many legislators unfa miliar with legal and Insurance matters leads them to attempt to enact tax In surance -bills that would discriminate against the masses not resident in their partlculasjtaie." :. v - ' (Continued on Psgs Three.) REVOLUTION '. tesl s-ej s-al.i,s-. .CENTS.; StA-JicalK Call Loans Strike Record Figure In L.ast Hours of Trading f.y'on New York Exchange V." ;' ' ' . Today, NO MONEY TO BE HAD : . EVp AT THAT RATE Lawson Has Made Money In the Last Few Days. Is 4 the. Assertion of Frank Rockefeller, Brother to John D. Panic Among the Stock' Brokers. . ; . -:' . y,"'V,'.. .. " - . (Special Dispatch to Tbe loarsal.) ' - ' New York. Pec 27. Records In mone tary loans were shattered today In the trading on the New 'York stock ex-1-" 1 change. - During the. closing . hours of the trading 100 per cent was bid for money, but there were no offnrs even at that enormous rate. Those that had the money were unwilling to loan It at any figure. One loan was made during the) day at 10 per cent, this being ths high est per -cent recorded In the Nsw York ' market'- ' r Call loans opened today at ttfjFer'oent and by degrees the biddings sent ths lntereet rate-up to 90,-per cent. Then It broke off sharply to 69 per cent; but recovered a moment later and went back to 100 per cent bid, ths highest figure ever bid for money In the New York msrket. Financial Crisis. ' " A financial crisis Is what the brokers terra the present situation In the money market -Never In recent years hava loans been so hard to obtain. A year ago call loans were quoted In ths New York msrket around t per cent. k. " Faaio om 'Change. ' Amid the turmoil of the market to day the rumors of the assassination of the csar of Russia and several smalt bank failures in this country added to the weakness The-i Nw York - stock market was never more excited than during today's session. - The belief was -geneaal smong the .traders that prices were' due to react, but none had antici pated the great slump that actually oc curred In the market today. The great rises In the market during the past few days, due. it is -said, to pure mantpula-. tlon of the Standard Oil forces, has caused many traders to go long 'end the slaughter of the lambs was unmerciful. 1 Prominent : financiers are . of the opinion that Lawson has made mora money by trading on the New York" ! stock exchange during the past few days thsn sver before, and that Instead of being broke the buster of f remind institutions is better off financially than ever. A considerable number of purchases of Amalgamated Oopper-and Anaconda hava been made during the past week or so that were believed to be for the Lawson crowd. Brokers who are popularly sup posed to be bidding for the Boston man were the purchasers. The profits on these stocks amount to many millions of dollars. .. Mlrn Calls Scare Traders. - In the stock market today wild con fusion was supreme. The market opened with calls sd high that traders were scared. f'j?r a few moments after the opening jOTe trade was rather light. Then, without a moment's pause, the slump continued until the gong had sounded the closing of the 'market At (0 per cent call money had reached the) highest point' "since 1891. ' The largest ' loss shown t rr today's trading was In Tennessee Coal at Iron. which closed with a decline or 14.60 a share. "Amalgamated Copper and Ana conda Copper sold off sharply, the for mer losing tl.75 a share, while the lat ter closed off ft a long share or 11 for small ones. ' ugar Refining this an other of the Weak features of the mar ket, there belng-s net loss shown at the closing when, compared with that : -(Continued on-Page Three.)