QAZEr
A.
WEEKLY.
SSM-i-'Zil!"...! Consolidated Feb., 1899.
CORVAX.I.IS, BENTOK COUNTY, OREGON", FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1902.
VOIi. XXXIX. NO. 52.
CQRVALLIS
EVENTS OF THE DAY
GATHERED FROM ALL PARTS OF THE
TWO HEMISPHERES.
Comprehensive Review of the Import
ant Happenings of the Past Week,
Presented in Condensed Form, Most
Likely to Prove Interesting to Our
Many Readers.
Miners continue to spring damaging
testimony against the coal operators.
A fruit company with a capital of
$4,500,000 has been organized in Cal
ifornia. John D. Rockefeller has contributed
another million to the University of
Chicago.
Germany approves of the United
States' protest against the Venezu
elan blockade.
Ohio River rose 12 feet in 24 hours
r.nd swept away coal-laden barges
valued at $50,000.
Trainwreckers removed a rail from
an Alabama road and caused a bad
wreck. No fatalities.
A coroner's jury decided that Mrs.
Mary Collins, of Seattle, was mur
dered by strangulation.
A British collier sank during a
storm in the English Channel and 16
men went down with her.
Venezuelan troops were twice de
feated by revolutionary forces, who
are now advancing on Caracas.
The house has passed the senate
bill appropriating $22,000 for a light
house at Mukilteo Point, Wash.
A noted Umatilla chief named Five
Crows was found dead near Athena,
Ore. He was drunk when last seen
alive.
Secretary of War has sent to con
gress an estimate of $60,000 for a new
hospital at Vancouver barracks,
Wash.
A company of crack rifle shots is
being organized among mountaineers
in Montana to go to the aid of Presi
dent Castro.
Admiral Dewey has been ordered to
keep his fleet together near Venezu
ela, presumably to escort American
ships through the "peaceful blockade"
of La Guayra.
President Gompers, of the Ameri
can Federation of Labor, testifies be
fore strike commission that operators
are directly responsible for importa
tion of ignorant foreigners.
The Japanese government has or
dered several large X-ray .machines to
be used in the mint for photographing
employes who are suspected of swal
lowing coins. The coins show plainly
on the photographic plate.
Severe cold weather In Austria is
causing acute suffering.
The strike Commission may investi
gate freight rates on coal.
The Alaska salmon pack for 1902
will amount to 2,470,000 cases or more
than the pack of 1901.
Martin Tower of Marshfleld, has
been appointed collector of customs
for the Coos Bay district.
Hon. Solomon Hirsch, a pioneer
merchant of Portland, legislator and
ex-minister to Turkey, is dead.
A Columbian steamer, carrying a
large number of soldiers, was wreck
ed and nearly all on board drowned.
New York continues -without
enough coal to meet the demands.
At present 50,000 tons a day are con
sumed. The Marseilles strike is practical
ly over. The men are returning to
their old places without gaining any
of their demands.
Three men attempted to hold up an
Alvord, . Tex., bank. The officers had
been notified and were waiting for
them. One of the robbers was killed,
another seriously wounded and the
third Is in custody.
Germany, though its claims are
clear, is willing to arbitrate the Vene
zuelan trouble.
The new army staff bill, if passed,
will not be effective until the retire
ment of General Miles.
Italy has taken a hand in the Vene
zuelan affair and has demanded the
same treatment as England and Ger
many. Coal shortage in Nebraska is causing
intense suffering, aggravated by the
extreme cold weather prevailing
throughout the state.
A joint resolution has been intro
duced in congress changing the term of
president, making the term begin at
noon April 30, instead of March 4.
The president has appointed Lloyd
Griscom, jr., now minister to Persia,
to be minister to Japan. He has also
Belected Richmond Pearson, of North
Carolina, at present consul general at
Teheran, Persia, to succeed Mr. Gris
com. The announcement is made that Mar
coni has another invention, which he
expects will startle the world. He
will not formally announce it nntil the
wireless experiments are completed,
which he says will be before the end of
the year.
Spain is trying to buy warships from
foreign powers.
The first blizzard of the winter has
swept Iowa and Nebraska.
Ice forming on the "third" rail of
the New York elevated roads has stop
ped all trains.
A Rock Island passenger train was
wrecked by a broken rail near Terrill,
Tex., and the engineer and fireman
killed.
Fire destroyed a five story building
at Scranton, Pa., in which was located
a wholesale grocery firm. The loss will
mount to $175,000.
ANOTHER SURPRISE.
Middlemen Getting $11 to $12 Per Ton
for Coal While Poor Are Freezing.
Scranton, Pa., Dec. 18. When the
coal strike commission met yester
day Chairman Gray opened the pro
ceedings by saying that the com
missioners were impressed with the
spectacle of the little girls who. were
before the commission- yesterday and
testified that 'they worked all night.
He said the people of the community
and citizens of the commonwealth
should not let the incident pass with
out taking some steps to have the
Legislature of Pennsylvania serious
ly consider the enactment of a law
that will forbid the employment of
children at night. At the suggestion
of the commission the statements' of
the wages of the fathers of two of
the girls were presented. One earned
more than $1000 last year and the
other over $900.
The miners sprung another sur
prise by presenting an individual
operator on the witness stand against
the operators. He was John C. Had
dock, of WJilkesbarre, president of
the Ffymouth Coal company. Mr.
Haddock, in answer to questions put
to him by C. S. Darrow for the
miners, said he had been in the coal
business 35 years. His company op
erated the Black Diamond and Dod-
son mines near Wilkesbarre. He said
his company went into the hands of
receivers on March 14, and on No
vember 14 trustees took hold of the
property.
Mr. Haddock - then explained that
the miner's ton, which runs from 2700
to 3200 pounds, was fixed years ago
so that the employer could get out
of the ton 2240 pounds of pure coal
above the size of pea. Pea coal and
all sizes below that was waste. This
is now being utilized.
Regarding the price of Coal Mr.
Haddock said the middlemen in New
York are paying $11 and $12 a ton.
Judge Gray "Do they pay the op
erators that price?"
"Possibly."
MURDERERS SENTENCED.
Oscar Bradshaw Must Suffer Death
Kellett Oets 20 Years.
Walla Walla, Wash., Dec. 18. Un
der sentence of death to be carried
out, at the state penitentiary, Oscar
Bradshaw, a young man, arrived in
the city yesterday .morning, in charge
of Sheriff I. J. Davis, of Franklin
County. Bradshaw was sentenced to
death at Pasco by Judge Rudkin, of
North Yakima, for the murder of
Peter Nelson, at Pasco, last July.
The death penalty is to be inflicted
February. 2, jjnless an appeaL,to the
Supreme Court is perfected.
With Bradshaw came William Kel
lett, a much older man, under sen
tence of 20 years at hard labor, for
the part he took in the murder of
Nelson. Bradshaw was tried Decem
ber 3 and 4, and a verdict of guilty
of murder in the first degree was en
tered by the jury after a strong ef
fort for a lighter verdict. Upon the
action of the jury being announced to
Kellett he asked to be allowed to
plead guilty to murder in the second
degree. After the state had advised
in the matter the plea was accepted,
and the sentence of 20 years inflicted
by Judge Rudkin yesterday.
VOLUNTEERS FOR CASTRO.
Crack Shots and Old Mountain Men from
Montana Will Join Venezuelans.
Butte, Mont., Dec. 18. It is stated
on what appears to be good author
ity that a filibustering party is being
organized in Butte to go to Venezuela.
It is said, at least, that an alleged
josh" story in the Inter-Mountain,
concerning a party of Montana fili
busters, who are organizing to go to
Venezuela, is really based upon fact.
A number of Butte .men have
already enlisted. The men conduct
ing the scheme are keeping it quiet,
but it is said at least one well-armed
company, all crack-shots, and old
mountain men, will go South in 'a few
days. A number of Spanish war vet
erans and several veterans of the
Fenian invasion of Canada are among
the men enlisted.
CONTINUE TO RUN TRANSPORTS.
Ludington Advising House Committee
Against Contract System.
Washington. Dec. 17. Quartermaster-General
Ludington of the
Army, before the House committee on
military affairs, today advocated con
tinuing the transport service under
the control of the War Department.
He said the cost of the service as now
conducted is about $3000 less than
any of the estimates submitted by
private concerns, but said that in his
opinion it would be in the interest of
the soldier and service for the War
Department to operate its own line.
General Ludington, speaking of mat
ter of carrying private parties on the
Government transports, said the num
ber was insignificant and that where
abuses had occurred in that direction
they already had been corrected.
A Western Philanthropist.
Louisville, Ky., Dec. 18. A deed
was recorded yesterday, whereby
South Park, formerly a Summer re
sort, situated 13 miles from Louis
ville, passed into the hands of Wil
liam H. Beach, a Los Angeles, Cal.,
capitalist. It is stated that he will
i'onvert part of the property into a
Summer resort and another part into
.t children's home, where abandoned
waifs will be given every care and
attention. The place contains about
300 acres of land and a 25-acre lake.
Russians Raised Wheat in Alaska.
Tacoma, Dec. 18. That wheat was
grown in Alaska by the Russians a
century ago is proved by the discov
ery of two old flour mills built -by
the subjects of the Czar. One of
these is on Wood Island, in South
eastern Alaska, and the other in the
interior. The former mill has just
been investigated by R. B. Taylor.
He says the old flour mill was built
early in the last century.
NEWS OF OREGON
ITFMS OF INTEREST FROM ALL PARTS
OF THE STATE.
Eastern Oregon Wants Law Prohibiting
Sheep Herding Within Two Mile of
Habitations Wasco Is Refused Rural
Mall Routes Linn County Sportsmen
Favor More Stringent Game Laws.
Commissioner Hermann hag recom
mended the repeal of the lieu land law.
The Multnomah club of Portland has
commenced airangements for holding
a street fair.
Three men have heen nrmsfpd at Ash
land charged with the recent Grants
Pass stage hold-up.
The nrenent session of coneresp will
not be asked for a government appro
priation for the 1905 fair. "
F. S. Ingram, who fa circulating a
petition asking for aid from the state
legislature, is securing many signa
tures. He has in the neighborhood of
400. Very few people refuse to sign.
Linn county sportsmen ara taking
active measures to secure the -enact
ment of better game laws.- All concur
in the opinion that hunting for the
market should be entirely prohibited.
. C. Clement, special agent of rural
free delivery, after viewing two ruial
free delivery routes out of Wasco, states
that he is not able to approve the peti
tions. The reason given is that there
are not the required number of families
within the 50 miles of territory covered
by the two petitions.
There is a petition being circulated
in the eastern part of the state asking
the legislature to enact -a law prohibit
ing the herding of sheep within a dis
tance of two miles of any habitation.
It is being pressed by cattlemen in the
main although a great many business
men who are not interested in stock are
signing. Idaho and California have
such lawp.
Senator Mitchell called the attention
of Commissioner of Pensions Ware to
the number of applications for pensions
under the Indian war veteran act of
the last session which have not as yet
been granted. The commissioner
states that considerable difficulty is
being experienced in getting the mili
tary service of the claimants but he
hopes to have all straighened up shortly.
M.jJ A A Jt J JX iuai I TV 111 WVUilUQUtV
in Albany March 1, 1903.
An Odd Fellows lodge has been in
stituted at Durkee, Eastern Oregon.
There are about 30 members.
Probably the largest shipment of
wool ever made from Independence at
one time occurred last week. H. A.
Doutj shipped direct to Boston 120,000
pounds of wool. The shipment made
up almost 10 freight cars.
The Linn county jail walls will be
lined with three-sixteenths inch steel
plates. The ceiling will also be cov
ered with a network of steel bars.
These improvements to the jail have
been made necessary by numerous jail
breaks in the paBt two years.
The new Oregon code, compiled by
Judge C. B. Bellinger and W. W.
Cotton, has been issued. This code
was authorized by the last legislature
and will hereafter be used in the courts
in place of the codes heretofore in use.
One thousand copies will be delivered
to the secretary of state.
There is a movement on foot to di
vide the Eighth judicial district, con
sisting of Baker, Umatilla and Wallowa
counties, into two districts. Union
and Wallowa will constitute one,, and
Baker county will be constituted a
judicial district by itself, if the plan
is carried out. The reason for the
change is that the district is so popu
lous that there is too much for one
judge to do.
PORTLAND MARKETS.
Wheat Walla Walla. 70,3 71c: bine
stem 7879c; valley, 7576c.
Barley Feed, $23.50 per ton; brew
ing, $24.00.
Flour Best grade, 3.60(34 10: grah
am, $3.203.60.
Millstnffs Bran. 119.00 tMtr ton:
middlings, $23.50; shorts, $19.50;
chop, $18.
Oats No. 1 white, $1.151.17J;
gray, $1.121.15 per cental.
Hay Timothy. $10011: clover.
$9.00; cheat, $89 per ton.
Potatoes Best Burbanks, 60 79c
ner sack: ordinary. ftQGh&Qp. nnr mntal
growers' prices; Merced sweets, $1.75
$z.per cental.
Poultry Chickens, mixed, 11c;
young, 10c; hens, llll$c; turkeys,
live. 13 0 14c: dressed. 15 0 17:
ducks, $56 per dozen; geese, $6.5 "
7.
Cheese Full cream, twins, 16 M
17c; Young America, 17s18 .
factory prices, l13tfc less.
Butter Fancy creamery, 27)30c
per pound; extras, 30c; dairy, 20
22c; store, 1518.
Eggs 2535c per dozen.
Hops New crop, 2326c per pound.
Wool Valley, 12)15c; Eastern
Oregon, 814Kc; mohair, 2628c.
Beef Gross, cows, 33)c per
pound; steers, 4c; dressed, 67c.
Veal 78Xr.
Mutton Gross, 3c per pound;
dressed, 6c
Lambs Gross, 3Xc per pound;
dressed, &Hc
Hogs Gross, 6Ji6Jfe per pound:
dressed,
SNOW IN THE ROCKIES.
-: fv-:,.
Fell Over Large Area and Is Gladly Wel-
corned in Most Places.
Denver, Dee. 17. The entire Rocky
Mountain region fromJNorthern Wyom
ing to Southern New Mexico - has been
visited by a storm daring! the past 36
hours. The ground in the plateau
section is covered to a depth of six
inches, while the fall in ; the moun
tains has been much Heavier. The
greater portion of the precipitation
fell yesterday and last , night. Today
about two inches of snow, fell during
the morning in most sections of Colo
rado, but tonight the .weather has
cleared. No snow fell in Western Wy
oming today, although around Chey
enne and in the regiorr immediately
north of there a light snowfall was ex
perienced. In Southern 'New Mexico
a light rainfall was reported, with snow
in the north. In some parts of Colo
rado, particularly in the San Lais val
ley in the south, the enow was the
heaviest for years. . .
For the past three years- drouth has
visited the San Luis valley, and the
present moisture has brought rejoicing,
assuring as it does good conditions for
next year's crops. Rairoad traffic is
experiencing no serious 'interruption
as a result of the storm, because of the
fact that the snow drifted but little.
For the same reason there is no fear for
the safety of stock on the ranges, and
no losses have been reported. The
storm originated in Arizona, and the
temperature at no time Las been un
comfortably cold.
THE .AIDED RAILROADS.
Only One Owes the Government, Accord
ing to Commissioner Longstreet,
Washington, Dec. - 17.--The annual
report of General Longstreet, the' com
missioner of railroads, says that, of the
railroad companies which have received
government subsidies in bonds, all have
settled their indebtedness with the gov
ernment except the Central Branch
railway company, the su jtessor of the
Central Branch Union Pacific railway
company. The reports of the bond
aided and land grant roads show an in
crease of $20,000,000 in 'net earnings
over those for 1901. There was an in
crease of over $5,000,(100, in gross
earnings and of $27,000,000 in ex
penses, v
The report deals with ! detailed an
nual summaries of the operations of
the roads, embraces the principal ' laws
of congress that relate to the bond-aided
and land grant roads, and includes ab
stracts of the decisions of the supreme
court in cases affecting the bond-aided
Pacific companies, and to which the
United States is party.
THREAT TO RENEW STRIKE.
Coxe Brothers' Miners Demand Relnstafl
ment of Union Men.
New York, Dec.' 17. More than 4,
000 miners at Drifton, hear Hazelton,
will go out on strike unless their em
ployers adjust grievances they com
plain of, says a dispatch from Scran
ton to the Press. The shipment of
coal to New York will be decreased
10,000 tons a day if this strike is de
clared. The dissatisfied miners are
employed by Coxe Bros. & Co., the
large independent operators. They
say that the company has repeatedly
refused to re-employ all its union
miners.
District Presidents Duffy, Fahey and
Nichols, who are in this city, have
had a conference regarding the ques
tion. Duffy upholds the attitude of
the Drifton miners, but the other dis
trict presidents, together with their
attorney representing the miners be
fore the strike commission, are doing
their utmost to prevent a suspension
of work. They belive that the action
of the Drifton miners in declaring a
strike before they see whether the
commissions Intend to protect their
rights in their decision will have a
bad effect.
MORE SHOTS AT THE KING.
Leopold of Belgium Fired Upon as He Was
Leaving the Royal Train.
New York, fDec. 17. The Ameri
can's correspondent at Brussels says:
As Leopold, the king of the Belgians,
was leaving the royal train at the sta
tion at La ken, two shots were fired at
him, although neither took effect.
It is not known"; whether the shots
where fired by an assassin or by poach
ers, but in view of the dissatisfaction
with the king becasue of his cruel treat
ment of his daugther, the Princess
Stephanie, the shooting is generally be
lieved to have been a deliberate at
tempt to kill him, and much excite
ment prevails.
The guards that surround the - king
have been doubled.
Snow All Over Kansas.
Topeka, Kan., Dec. 17. The first
heavy snowstorm of the winter pre
vailed all over Kansas today. The fall
in some places amounted to four inches
on the level. No severe cold accom
panied the storm, and great goodt o the
wheat crop in Central Kansas will
result. Trains on all roads were de
layed today, the snow in some places
preventing traffic. There has been no
relief of the fuel famine in Kiowa
county.
Logs to Increase In Price.
Vancouver, B. C, Dec. 17. Another
increase in the price of logs is ex
pected by Coast loggers within the
next few days At the present time
the ruling price is from $7.50 to $8.
It is thought this will be increased by
at least 50 cents before the end of the
week. .
SHIPS WERE SUNK
BRITISH CANNON PUT FATAL HOLES
THROUGH VENEZUELAN BOATS.
Towed Them to Sea from the Harbor of
La Guayra and Returned Two Hours
Later Without Them Cannon Shots
Were Distinctly Heard by Officers in
Venezuelan Forts. ;
Caracas, Dec. 18. The Governor of
Margarita Island reports that British
and German warships are off that
island. -. - '
When the combined fleets seized
the Venezuela ships at La Guayra the
German commander delivered to the
Venezuelan captains the following
document:
"By order of my . sovereign and at
the command of the commodore of
the German squadron in West Indian
waters, I, the commander of the Pan
ther, request you to lower your ship's
nag Immediately and leave your ship
with your crew within ten minutes.
This is not a measure of war on the
part of Germany, but only with -.the
object of making a provisional seiz
ure of your ship in order to oblige
the Venezuelan Government to re
cognize our just demands. In case
you disobey and wish to defend your
ship I shall be obliged to prevent you
from so doing by the discharge of
arms.
"ECKERMAN, Commander."
Further details of the sinking of
the Venezuelan ships have fceen "ob
tained from an entry .made in the
books of the signal men of the fort
ress at La Guayra. It is as follows:
"Tuesday, December 9, 1:30 night.
"The Adjutant called "me to see if
I knew the steamer Retribution of
the English Navy was towing the
steamers Crespo and Totune, of the
National Navy, three or four miles
north. I had heard four cannon shots
and saw the two steamers had disap-
peared and understood they had
been sunk by the Vineta and Retri
bution. At the end of an hour the
Retribution returned to the harbor
alone."
The fact that the Retribution re
turned to La Guayra alone two hours
after leaving with the captured ves
sels was confirmed by English res
idents of La Guayra. Consequently
she did not have time to conduct the
Venezuelan ships to Curacoa or Trin
idad.
Germany Accepts America's Protest.
"Berlin, Dec. 18. Secretary Hay's
note excepting American- ships from
certain restrictions of the Venezuelan
blockade is favorably received by the
German Government. The Foreign
Office treats the matter as not rais
ing any essential difficulty as being
without precedent, since Germany
made a similar reservation ira the
Cretan blockade. The precise status of
American vessels under the blockade
will be defined in an official notifica
tion.
Minister Bowen's communication to
Germany through the United States
Government in behalf of President
Castro, received here yesterday, was
a simple proposal to arbitrate the
question in dispute, and was not ac
companied by any conditions.
England Will Go After Castro.
London, Dec. 18. Replying to a
question in the House of. Lords to
day, Lord Lansdowne, the Foreign
Secretary, said that if the seizure of ,
the Venezuelan gunboats did not pro
duce the desired effect, further co
ercive .measures would he employed.
The matter had beeu considered in
consultation with Germany, and it
had been decided to resort to a block
ade of the ports. It was not intended
to land a British force, and still less
to occupy Venezuelan territory.
New York, Dec. 18. Secretary Hay
has cabled to Ambassabor Tower, at
Berlin, says the World's correspond
ent at Washington, to ask the Ger
man government to define for thi3
country exactly what is meant by a
'peaceful blockade."
Although it has not been, put into
public expression, this government
contends that there is no such thing
as a "peaceful blockade." If a state
of war does not exist this government
will contend, at the proper time, that
United States ships .must be allowed
to pass.
The test will come when the Red D
Line steamer Caracas arrives at La
Guayra, probably next Saturday. If
that ship goes through, as it is ex
pected it will, other ships from other
nations will also demand to go
through, and the "peaceful blockade"
will become a rarce.
If Germany insists on its right to
blockade peaceably and refuse to let
American ships through, then Ad
miral Dewey's fleet will be sent to
Venezuela to convoy the American
ships through the German and English
lines. Admiral Dewey has been told
to keep his fleet together. The rea
son this government makes this de
mand of Germany is because it has
in writing in black and white, the
fullest statement of Germany's inten
tions in Venezuela. It has no such
statement from England. The diplo
mats of that country were shrewd
enough to make only a verbal state
ment of intent.
The Administration is awaiting Ger
many's answer with same anxiety.
The situation is now more critical
than it has been since the trouble be
gan. Italians Gladly Join in Blockade.
London, Dec. 18. News has been
received in London that all the em
ployes of the La Guayra-Caracas and
Puerto Cabello-Valencia Railroads
are safe. Telegrams received here
from Berlin confirm; the statement
that it has . been arranged for Italy
to join the blockade, and say that
the German Government will ask
consent of the Bundersrath to a pro
posal to make the Venezuelan -blockade
more stringent.
MRS. GRANT DEAD.
Widow of Warrior President Succambs
to Heart Failure.
Washington, Dec. 15. Mrs. Ulysses
S. Grant died at her residence in this
city at 11:17 o'clock Sunday night.
Death was due to heart failure, Mrs.
Grant having suffered for -years from
valvular disease of the heart, which
was aggravated by a severe attack of
bronchitis. Her age prevented her
rallying from the attacks. Her daugh
ter, Nellie Grant Sartoris, was the only
one of her children with her at the time
of her death, her three sons, who had
been summoned here, all being oat of
the city. There also were present at
the bedside when the end came Miss
Rosemary Sartoris, a grand daughter;
Dr. Bishop, one of the attending physi
cians, and two trained nurses. .Death
came peacefully, the sufferer retaining
consciouness practically to the end.
Julia Dent Grant was born January
26, 1826. She was married to U. S.
Grant August 22, 1848.
Four children were born to her
three sons. Frederick Dent, Ulysses,
Jr,. and Jesse, and one daughter,
Nellie.
The remains of Mrs. Grant will be
deposited in the tomb at Riverside
park, New York, where those of her
husband now repose. Whether they
will be taken there immediately or this
ceremony postponed for a time could
not be ascertained tonight.
GREAT FIRE IN OHIO TOWN.
Sheet Steel Company's Mills Burned at
- a Loss of $1,000,000.
Canal Dover, 0.-Dec. 16. The corru
gating mills, the paint shop, the store
room and the building containing the
four mills on the west side of the
American sheet steel company's mills,
were burned to the ground here last
night, and the company is confronted
with a loss of over $1,000,000, nearly
$750,000 is finished product and the re
mainder in buildings and machinery.
A strong wind was blowing over the
burning pile toward the offices and the
machine shop. fear that these, too,
might be doomed caused a call for help
to be sent to New Philadelphia. The
fire engines from that city rendered
good service. The offices, machine
shops, galvanizing department and the
mills on the east side are all that re
main of this great paint.
The loss is partially covered by in
surance. A dozen railway cars stand
ing at tracks were consumed.
REORGANIZE CONSULAR FORCE.
Bill to Classify and Provide for Examina-
tlon of Applicants.
Washington, Dec. 16. A bill has
been introduced in the house by Repre
sentative Adams, of Pennsylvania, to
provide for the reorganization of the
consular service of the United States.
Provision is made for the classification
of consuls general and consuls, specify
ing the number and salary of each
class, and for the examination of ap
plicants and those now in the service.
Of the latter, those who fail to pass are
to be dropped, but none can be called
for examination within six months of
the day of tlrt passage of the bill.
Consuls general and consuls may be
transferred by the president from one
place to another of the same class.
Special examinations are provided for
those who may be sent where the
United States exercises extra territorial
jurisdiction.
Naval Training Station on Lakes.
Washington, Dec. 16. Secretary
Moody has transmitted to congress the
report of the naval board, headed by
Admiral Taylor, which was created to
select a site for a naval training sta
tion on the great lakes. The report
recommends that the station be located
on Lake Micnigan, Deiow laiuuae
43 :30, and asks for an appropriation of
$250,000 to buy the land and develop
the station, leaving the exact location
to be determined later by the board.
Secretary Moody approved the report
and points out that an immediate ap
propriation will prevent the raising of
land values.
Union Men May Picket.
Indianapolis, Ind., Dec. 16. Judge
Carter, in the supieme court today,
issued an order restraining 20 union
men by name from gathering at the
plant of the Drop Forge company,
where a strike has been on for several
months, for the purpose of intimidat
ing men who wanted to go to work.
The court refused to interfere with the
peaceful picket, which he held to be
legal. The order is a modification'of a
former -decision, which restiained the
entire union from gathering at the
plants.
Fatal Wreck in Missouri.
TCnnpas Citv. Mo.. Dec. 16. A spec
ial to the Star from Buck 1 in, Mo., says
a serious wreck occurred on the Hanni
bal & St. Joseph railroad tonight at 9
o'c ock. A local freight was wrecked
four miles west of Bucklin. A steam
wrecker was sent from Bloomfield. The
wrecker and engine went throngh the
bridge at Yellow creek. Five men were
killed and one other fatally injured and
half a dozen others seriously hurt.
All are railroad employes.
Contract for Rapld-Fire Ouns.
Washington, Dec. 16. General
Crozier, chief of ordinance, has award
ed a contract for the manufactuie of 30
15-pound rapid fire guns and mounts
to the Bethlehem steel works at its bid
nt ta Q3ft tnr anna and monnts. The
only other bid received was from the
American & British ordnance companA
at a slightly higher figure.
POWERS WARNED
AMERICAN VESSELS MUST NOT BE IN
TERFERED WITH.
Secretary of State Hay Denies That Peace
Blockade Has Ever Been Recognized
Is Following Precedent Established In
1898 Must Declare War on Venezue
la to Stop AU Shipping.
Washington, - Dec. 17. Minister
Bowen has confirmed the press re
ports to the effect that the guns of
the allied forces which bombarded
Puerto Cabello were directed entire
ly at the fortifications and not at the
town. Regrettable as it was, this
statement relieves the affair of the
first suspicion that it constituted a
violation of international law,' in the
fact that 24 hours notice was not
served of the bombardment. The re
quirements as to the notice applies to
unfortified or fortified towns where
the fire must be directed upon the In
habitants, and this was" not "the case
at Puerto Cabello, so that, while the
officials here regret that the firing
took place, they have as yet no cause
to protest.
But it is now probable that the Unit
ed States will break its attitude of in-
activity in the event that an attempt
is made to enforce the "peaceful
blockade" toward an American shin.
While the allies were considering the
ways and means of bringing Vene
zuela to terms and a blockade of this
character had been decided upon,
the German government informed the
United States that when the blockade
was established it would turn back
all shipping, though no effort would
be made to seize the ships. The Unit
ed States government made no re
sponse to this statement at the time
(last year) not feeling called upon to
do so, before presentation of an actu
al case. But now that the blockade
is sought to be established, Secretary
Hay has informed the German govern
ment that American ships should not
be interfered with in their trading,
except the inhibition applies to all
shipping, and further, the note inti
mates a disapproval of stoppage at
In so doing the state department is
following a precedent, for, during the
effort of the pewers to establish a
peaceful blockade" off Crete in
1698, Secretary Sherman formally re
corded a refusal to be bound by it.
It happended that no American ship
nad occasion to enter a Cretan port
during the brief period of time the
blockade was in force, so the issue"
was not .made then, but in the present
case, with regular lines of American
steamers entering . Venezuelan ports
at short intervals, a test case may
soon follow. It is within the legal
rights of the allies to close these
ports, but probably this can be ac
complished without a protest on Our
part only after a formal declaration
of war. The hope is growing here
that such a declaration can after all
be averted, owing to the energy with
which Mr. Bowen has acted.
The proposal of President Castro to
the allied powers for a peaceful set
tlement was suggested by Mr. Bowen,
and it camte to the State Department
throneh his hands. It has been for
warded to London and Berlin through
the embassies here, and as both Great
Britain and Germany have heretofore
professed a desire to settle the issues
peaceably, it is hoped that they will
avail themselves of this opportunity.
The proposal did not mention the
methods of arbitration nor the limita
tions, and the point of doubt which
may prevent the acceptance of the
scheme is believed to be Castro s un
willingness to bind himself in advartce
to the recognition of the principal
liability; he would leave the arbitra
tors to determine whether or not ,he
is liable at all.
COLOMBIA MAKES READY. t
i '
Will Invade Nicaragua in Order to Hold
Both Canal Routes. ' -
Washington, Dec. 17. Whatever
doubt existed in Nicaragua as to pie
intention of Columbia to carry out ner
threat to attack her as soon as her
own revolutionary movement had
been checked has been removed -iby
the receipt of advices of a semiofficial
character here that the Colombian
army officers at Panama and Colon
are steadily but quietly making ready
for ah invasion of Nicaragua.
It is stated further that there is a
double reason for the attack. In fhe
first place, Colombia wishes to take
forcible possesion of the Mosquito
strip, which would control both route's
available for an Isthmian canal, and "
so enable her to make her own terms ; .
and secondly, she must find congenial
employment for the Colombian ibl-.
diers who have been fighting rebels
for four years, and cannot noyr'Jpe
easily turned to ways of peace, and
would, it is feared, start a new reto
lution if not allowed an outlet ,lor
their energies outside of Colombia.
The advices are to the effect irfat
the officials in Managua are seriously
disturbed at the outlook and are cast
ing about for means to avert thd'at
tack by Colombia.
. zi .
Want Patos Island. '
Panama, Dec. 17. It is the general
opinion on the isthmus that Patois
land is at the bottom of the aggres
siveness of-England. It is beliejtd
that England has combined with -Crer-many
under the futile pretext of- -$1-lecting
unacknowledged debts anjj-to
punish President Castro for his Jm
ilAtarminatinn n nf tn nllnw "Rnp-tsd
b.vu J ' - IU y .
to quietly usurp Patos Island :Xad
other valuable acquisitions in, 460
neighborhood of the Orinoco river. -
Shut Down for Lack of Coal, f-flf '
Wilmington, Dec. 17. The wqta
of the Diamond State Steel Company J
in this city were shut down todayn
account of inability to obtain coal,"
temporarily throwing about 3000 men
and boys out of employment.