DOINGS OF OUR NATIONAL
CONGRESS RESUMES.
'. '
Short Meeting of Fifty-Ninth Session
at Work.
Washington, Dec. 4. The 5!)th con
gress began its last session at noon yes
terday. It took the senate 15 minutes
to arrange ita preliminaries and the
house an hour. The senate received
from President Roosevelt a long list of
appointments for ita confirmation, and
..., 4: ....: r . i
in executive session of It) minutes de
cided, as the nominations had been re
ceived before the body had been organ
ized formally, to make no confirmations
until the president's annual message
had been received and the session fair
ly started.
Senators Penrose, of Pennsylvania,
and Foraker, of Ohio, came forward
with resolutions of inouirv nvanlimr
the discharge of the negro troops of the
Twenty-fitfh infantry. One was ad
dressed to the president and the other
to the secretary of war. After the rip
ple of surprise bad passed and Vice
President Fairbanks bad suggested that
it was unusual to transact any business
until the president's message had been
received, the n solutions went over by
unanimous consent. Senator Dupont,
of Delaware, took the oath of oflice.
The opening of the two houses was
witnessed by an animated throng,
which filled the gallaries to their ca-
pacity. Hundreds went away disap-
pointed in not gaining admission to!
wit ncss the session of either senate or.
house. j
Not in years have a larger number of
members-elect of the lower house of
congress presented themselves at the
.speaker's desk to take the oath of oflice
Death has been unusually active among
the membership during theclosingdays
of the iast session and the beginning of
the present, and Chaplain Couden feel
ingly called the attention of the body
to the work of the grim reaper during
the months since adjournment.
After the appointment of the usual
Committee to wait upon the president
and inform him that the house was or
ganized and ready to receive any com
munication be might desire to make of
interest to the public service, the house
adjourned out of respect to the memory
of the deceased members. The presi
dent's message will be received both in
the house and senate today. No bills
were introduced in the senate. In the
house t hree were US public measures
and 350 of a private character.
Work ot Congress.
Washington, Dec. 4. The reading of
the president's message consumed two
hours and 25 minutes in the house to
day and was followed closely by a large
number of members, while the crowd
ed galleries gave close attention.
After the customary resolution relat
ing to the printing of the message, the
bouse, at 2:5.'?, adjourned until noon
tomorrow.
Washington, Dec. 4. President
Roosevelt's annual message to congress
occupied the attention of the senate for
two and one-half hours today, to the
exclusion of nearly all fit her business.
The exception to this was the introduc
tion of a resolution fin the Japanese
situation bv Raynor, of Maryland, ami
the adoption of appropriate resolutions 1
regarding those members of the house
of representatives who have tlied since
the last session. As a mark of further
respect to their memories, adjournment
was taken at 2:54 o'clock.
Wednesday, December 5.
Washington, Dec. 5. The brief ses
sion of the senate today resulted in the
introduction of many bills, resolutions,
petitions anil memorials, and the re
ceipt of a number of communications
from the executive department. Sena
tor Foraker's insistence that immediate
action be taken on the pending resolu- , V alia alia and (. oeur d Alene coun
tions asking for information regarding ties last night, local coal dealers were
the discharge of negro soldiwrs of the
Twenty-fifth infantry developed discus
toon, but resulted in postponing action
until tomorrow.
Washington, Dec. ft. The house to
day, awaiting the report of the appro
priation bills, began its legislative
grind by passing three measures:
JneorjinrHt ing the National (ierman
American alliance; authorizing the sec
retary fd the treasury to duplicate gold
vcrtificates in lieu of ones lost or de-
t roved; and amending the national
banking las, permitting national
lmnking associations to make loans on
real estate as security and
amount of such loans.
limtiing the
Worse Treated In Mexico
San Antonio, Tex., Dec. 4. A dis
patch to the Express from Eagle Pass,
Tex., says: Three hundred Japanese
have entered the Cnited Slates from
Mexico through Eagle Pass since No
vember 1. Thev are leaving Mexico
because of ill treatment which they r
d at the bands of Mexican employ-
ts. The Jaanese say they were hired j
into Mexico with promises of good pay
and pleasant work en farms. So invit
ing were the promises that Japanese
immigration societies worked to get
Japanese for agricultural work.
Utah Coal Land Withdrawn,
Salt-Lake City, iHv. 4. The Ctah
tdate land lxard has received notice
from the general land ollice at Washing
ton f the withdrawal from all forms of
appropriation under the public land
laws of 1S4, 21 acres of land in Vtah.
This land had Ih-cii selected by the l lai.
land lioard for transfer to private par
ties as argicultural land, hut it is now
withdrawn by the government on the
advice of csjHTts, who pronounce it coal
land.
BODY OF LAWMAKERS
I Thursday, December 6.
I , WaHhington, Dec. 0. The senate to-
day adopted the Penrose resolution aHk-
ing the president for information re
garding the discharge of the negro
troops of the Twenty-fifth infantry,
and alHo the Foraker resolution direct
ing the secretary of War to transmit
information on the same nubiect.
Senator Keveridge introduced a bill
, y . me,"i V' mt"'l 1'isj.ection act
by requiring that the cost of inspection
liy requiring tliat the cost of inspi
shall be paid by the packers. Another
amendment requires that the date of
inspection and packing or canning shall
be placed on each package.
W....1, 1... Tl.. ItA Tl.
. , . i,.. i i t . i
by a vote of 1 10 to 104 Unlay defeated
the bill of Littlefield of Maine remov-
I In uiHcnminatKiiiH against American
' H"1 lui. W8elH ,"' 1 ,e coasting traae.
llie debate raged for four hours ana a
half and the result of the vote was a
surprise to the friends of the measure,
who openly charged its defeat to the
American Federation of Labor.
Friday, December 7.
Washington, Dec. 7. By a practi
cally unanimous vote the house today
passed tt.e hill limiting the regulation
of interstate commerce between the sev-
i . ......... . . .
j oral states in articles manufactured by
convict labor or in any prison or re-
formatorv. The bill was
introduced
by Hunt, of Missouri, a practical stone
mason, i 1 a -r tiie Wilson Mil, which
became a law in 1K90, convict labor-
made goods may enter into active com
petition with the goods manufactured
by "free labor" and under this Federal
law a state could not pass a law that
would prevent the shipping into the
state of prison-made goixls of other
i states.
The sovereignity of the state was the
subject of earnest debate in the house
today, growing out of the consideration
of a bill to establish a game preserve of
nearly7(H),(KKI acres in the Olympia
forest reserve in the state of Washing
ton. The bill was passed without divi
sion. READY FOR WAR.
Our Army and Navy Prepared if Japan
Wants to Fieht.
Washintgon, Dec. 4. Nothing which
has been said in the whole range of
comment on the possibility of war be
tween the United States and Japan has
surprised certain Washington officials
so much as t he seeming unanimity of
opinion in the country that we are ut
terly unprepared for a tight with the
Orientals.
There is a prayerful hope that no war
will come, but, if it should come, the
strong probabilities are that the pessi
mists, and they seem to abound in
every section of the land, will find that
they have looked upon the prospect with
blue glasses.
Congressmen have come into Wash
intgon fmm every district and all of
them seem burdened with the belief
that, if trouble comes with Japan over
the California school question which
is a minor matter or over the enact
ment of a Japanese exclusion law
which is a major matter the Philip-
pines will be lost to us, temporarily
it
least, within a month
The Japanese will not take the Phil
ippines, fir, if they do, they will be suc
cessful in an exploit that will bring
them such honors of war as few people.
FRANTIC APPEAL FOR COAL.
Spokane Dealers Hear From Entire
Inland Empire.
Spokane, Wash., Dec. 7. Stimu
lated . by the heavy fall of snow
throughout the Pig Bend, Palouse,
today flooded with frantic appeals from
I,cwiston, Colfax, Davenport, Pullman,
Wallace and other cities for coal.
In response to this demand six
.. . .. ' i - i
entire territory affected. issued
. j . . iii- .i ii -
signed statement declaring they had
i.. .t i. ....jr...: ... - :.. . . ......
...... ..v., ... ... r-,.,,-
I ply the entire Inland Empire, but that
;the (. R. & N. and Northern Pacific
'railways were refusing fir were unable
to furnish cars with which to deliver
the coal. They criticised the railway
for placing them in a false light by ad
vertising reduced rates on find and an-
iiounccd their intention of appealing to ,
the Railwav commission
for
an l nves-
I tigation.
Must Appear in St. Louis.
St. 1niis, Dec. 7. The clerk of the
I'nitcd States Circuit court today re
ceived notification from the 1'nited
States marshal's ollice in New
that service had beci ordered on
Yor k i
John
D. Rockefeller and oi l ers in the gov
ernment suit against llie Standard Oil
company recently tiled in St. Louis. In
addition to Rockefeller, ti e follow it
joint defendan's with hnn were served:
Henry H- Roger-
William Rockcf 1
John D. Arcbbold
II. M. Flagler and
Oliver II. Pavne. Thev will In
i
i-d to enter an appearance liete.
n q iir-
Lesson to Free-Traders.
L union, iVe. 7. The Daily Mail
comments this morning upon the "Tale
of American Prosjierity" told in Sccr"
tary of the Treasury Shaw's report. It
says the striking fact a Unit this daz
zling prosjierity is that it prevails in a
country which l'.rit isb free traders. 15
years ago, predicted would U' ruined
by protection. The Daily Mail regard
Mr. Shaw's currency proposals as a
I mll statement, not feasible except for
the $(0,UI0,UIU duties collected.
SHOWS BIG DEFICIT.
j Washington, Dec. 11. The annual
n a. i r a. . a, d. d.i.!-j r i
report of Postmaster General Cortelyou
shows receipts for the past year were
$17,!).'52,782.!)5, while expenditures
were $1 78, 44!), 778.8!). The deficit is
$10,516,995.94.
Th postmaster general discusses the
deficit hut says he is less concerned
about that than aliout the efficiency of
the department. He attributes the
failure to show a profit to the growing
public demand for increased postal fa-
..... . .. ...... .... , ,
dimes, ine ueucn in miv uiaigeu w
anv one branch of the service
The remarkable efficiency of some
departments is commented upon, par
ticularly of the registry service. For
half a century all causes of loss
, .
in-
eluding burglary, theft and fire, have
shown a loss of only three one-thousandths
of 1 per cent. Mr. Cortelyou
recommends that a deputy postmaster
general be appointed, who shall relieve
the burden borne by the postmaster
general and his four assistants. The
department has .'!20, 000 persons in its
employ and it is recommended tl at the
deputy's position be made permanent
and that lie shall be general manager of
the postal service, (ireater accuracy in
m .
statistics is recommende.l and Mr. Cor-
telvou asks that nrovision be made for
expert statisticians and accountants.
llie congestion f i man m .New orK
to tlje ,,ew postofliee building, a site for
i V II I
C it v is indicated and attention called
winch lias lieen acquired at the pro
nosed terminal station of the Pennsyl
vania railroad.
FROM PRESIDENT'S VIEW.
Gives Reasons for Dismissing Former
Ambassador Storer.
Washington, Dec. 11. President
Roosevelt tonight made public a long
letter addressed to Secretary Root, giv
ing correspondence between the presi
dent and ex-Ambassador Bellamy Stor
er, in which lie says that Mr. Storer's
refusal to answer his letters and the
publication of various private letters
justified the ambassador's removal;
that Mr. Storer's publication of private
correspondence was peculiarly ungentle
manly and that he (the president) had
stated with absolute clearness his posi
tion, the reason why it was out of the
(piestion for him as president to try to
get any archbishop made cardinal,
though expressing his admiration fur
Archbishop Ireland as well as leaders
of other denomination.
The president's action follows the
publication of a "confidential pamph
let" which Mr. Storer last week sent to
the president, the cabinet anil the sen
ate and foreign relations committee.
PRESIDENT CASTRO ILL.
Chief Executive of Venezuela Removed
to Seacoast Town on a Bed.
Fort de France, Martinique, Dec. 11.
Reliable advices here from Venezuela
set forth that President Castro was
moved down to the little seacoast vil
lage of Macuto, near La (iuayra, last
week. The president is described as
being very ill. lie made the trip from
Caracas in a bed. When be arrived at
Macuto, he -appeared to be absolutely
unconscious. It is generally believed
that he has no chance of recovery.
Violently worded posters have leen
circulated in Caracas declaring that no
one is today deceived regarding the
gravity of President Castro's illness,
and insisting that the exercise of the
executive power lie assured through a
vice president, which is provided for in j
me constitution. lor a
long time,
past the poster continued, only routine
government matters have been attended
to, and imjxirtant questions are being
hel in alieyance.
General Parades, an ex-revolutionists,
now in exile, is organizing a seri
f 'us insurrectionary movement, and
, ., . , . . ., .. ,
ciarcs wiai in' will soon rake Tin
, - . , . r . .
field.
.....in.- mi,.- a..,'v'v. inn-r-
at his
disposition.
Ten Days' Time to Refund.
Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 11. State
Commissioner of Insurance R. E. Folk
today sent telegrams to the Mutual Life
and New York Life Insurance compan-
ies giving them ten dins in which 1o
refund certain ainount- of policy hold
ers' money. The Mutual, he charges,
has used several thousand dollars as
compensation and expenses for agents
to electioneer for the admini-t nit ion
ticket. The New York Life officials are
given ten days in which to cover it
""eanry money spent for print ns: and
circulating Mm administration ha I Ms.
Sale of Mexican Mine.
El Paxil, Tex., Dec. 11. News was
received today of the consummation of
the sale of the hvn mud famoii- go'd
aed silver mining properties in the
st ate of Sonora. Las Chi-lia. a 'a-n-o'is
producer, has Wen void t -a New
York ;ii Paris syndicate for C.iMin.ood
Jiesos ($:LOO0.OO0 goldl. The I'.adi.an
ora mines, in the same district, one of
the most famous of the Antiguas groir-,
has been sold to D. F. O. Pea-e, of Chi
cago, and his associates.
Sampans Sunk in Squall.
Tokio, Dec. 11. A miiiiU'r of sam
pans (small harlwtr Uiat' U-longing to
the Japatiee cruiser Chitis were sunk
in a squall here twlay while kbe was
returning from a trip. A tininUT of
the Uiats were overturned and 0 men
were drowned.
NEWS ITEMS OF GENERAL INTEREST
FROM THE STATE OF OREGON
BUSINESS PARALYZED.
Car Shortage Causing Heavy Losses
to Shippers.
McMinnville To say nothing of the
air shortage for the immense lumber
tni(ie jn this county, shippers are at
wist ;w (5ir(J Hlort. A McMinnville
honbnver said that the growers in this
part of the county are already losers
. ....
by $;.'u,UOU on account Ot not lieing
able to get cars when they had a chance
to sell, and little relief is in sight.
Wool shipments have been delayed,
ami the farmers put to great inconven
ience and loss.
The potato crop is waiting shipment
with no fairs. A great part of it is on
! the sidetracks and a freeze would re
' suit in great loss. A prominent ship
! rier Kii id :
..The company not build enough
keep up with the wonderful in-
' crea8P of business, and what they have
aro poorly handled. For instance, cars
mm(i in nere (JV,.rv (j!iy from f)le East)
arp uni0il(ied here and are sent empty
to Portland, after staying here for two
!, .!... ,i..u ti, ,.,.,.,, 1,1 .,0 .n
ii ii x (Jti n . Jiii vuiiM u.?l tirs nrw
: hm, for vporthtrii. The car
' ,.i...4 :.. .i i i: i
. jusint,sa this section of country has
! eVer suffered fro n
Lane Could Use 3,000 Cars.
Eugene The Willamette valley car
shortage is seriously affecting the busi
ness of Lane county lumber concerns.
The Booth-Kelly company's big mill at
Wend ling has closed down on that ac
count, forcing between 250 and 400
men into idleness. The company's
Springfield mill is running only in the
day time, the night shift having been
laid off several months ago, forcing 100
men to seek employment elsewhere.
The company at the present time is
short 1 , 7(H) cars, and it is estimated
that the total shortage in the county is
3, OW cars. The Mohawk Lumber com
pany's mill has closed down.
Brownsville Feels Gloomy.
Brownsville Inability to obtain cars
for transportation of lumber is jmralyz
ing the business of the lumbermen of
this section. The shortage has existed
for seven weeks, during which period
not a single car lias been loaded at this
station, the railroad company absolute
ly refusing to supply cars at all. That
no relief is in sight is jvitent from the
fact that a conference, held in Portland
a few days ago, between Mayor W. P.
Elmore, of this city, and J. P. O'Brien,
of the Southern Pacific, in reference
to the car shortage, failed utterly, no
encouragement whatever being offered.
Linn Needs 50 for Grain.
Albany There is great suffering
from the car shortage in towns on the
branch lines in this part of the state.
Being a railroad junction and a distri
buting point, Albany is more favored
than any other valley city, but condi
tions even here are very bad. Shippers
can get cars for Portland, but absolute
ly nothing for the south. The greatest
need is for cars for grain and farm pro
duce on branch lines. Shippers are un
able to fill orders, and the demand for
cars is growing greater every day. At
least 50 cars are needed now for grain
alone. '
Inconvenience at Grants Pass.
Grants Pass The Southern Pacific
will not furnish cars for California
Doints. evcetit fur fruit. The California
Pine Box & Lumber company is also
hand icanned bv nut heimr able to .t,,f
lumber shipped from outside points. 1
l,t tl,. .,.....,,- rnin.r ita 1 !
force, and is putt ing in full t ime. The i
Fruit Growers' union has been able to
get all the cars needed to ship apples
both to California and the East. Merch
ants have been inconvenienced.
Woocburn Wants 58-
Woodburn If relief does not come
soon there will be considerable loss
; from the car shortage here, if a freeze
comes aim the contents ot warehouse
are affected. Among the cars needed
are H5 for potatoes, "0 for hay and 22
for hops. Of these ftS cars, some were
ordered before November 1. Farmers
are anxious to sell, but the commission
houses cannot buy so long as they , can
not get cars.
Clackamas Wants Better Roads.
Oregon Citv Commendable interest
in bringing alwmt an improved condi
tion in many of the highways of the
county is lwing exhibited by the taxjuiy
ers r siding in several of the inijwirtant
road districts. Several meetings have
been held in different sections of the
county, when a special tax has been or
dered levied, the proceeds from which
'will K utilized, together with what
may lie appropriated by the county, in
placing in substanital reair the thor
oughfares in such districts. At a meet
ing of the taxpayers of the Highland
road district a swcial tax of (i mills was
ordered levied for this purpise.
Irrigation at Freewater.
Freewater Winter irrigation of the
Hudson Hay district. 10 miles below
thi" city, is now in full prorgess, irri
gation from the big P.urlingame ditch
and its laterals covering an area "f
about L'lt.tKX acres of fruit and rich al
falfa land. At this season of 1 he year
all the waters of the Walla Walla'and
the Tuni-a-lnm rivers lie low the Pea
cock and Eagle mills in this city are
available for irrigation, which has
proved to be a successful plan in this
particular district.
EVERY COUNTY PAID IN FULL.
Oregon is Out of Debt, and Will Be
Until Early Next Year.
Salem For the first time in the his
tory of the state every county has paid
its state taxes in full. In the last
three or four years the payments have
been prompt and only two or three
counties were delinquent and only for
eomjiaratively small sums. Now, how
ever, that the last half of the state tax
from the several counties is delinquent,
a balance of accounts has been struck
and not a dollar is found to be due the
state. Until a few days ago fine county
had not paid, but the county treasurer
remitted before delinquency started the
accumulation of interest.
Though the finances of the state are
in excellent condition and the state has
not a dollar of debt, it is apjiarent that
the treasury will be depleted early in
1!)07, and that for some time warrants
must be indorsed for want of funds and
the state must pay interest thereon.
No more state taxes will be due until
April.
Corn in Benton County.
Corvallis On old wheat land in this
county, John Whitakcr, living 12 miles
south of Corvallis, grew this swi.son 1,
XHj bushels of corn on 14 acres of
ground. The yield is more than 70
bushels per acre, which is understood
to be a satisfactory yield in the corn
belt of the Middle West. The soil is
sandy loam, but has been cropped for
many years to wheat. The success Mr.
Whitaker has had this and other years
will lead him to plant a larger acreage
of corn next season.
Will Colonize Big Tract.
Oregon City Judge T. F. Ryan has
made the sale for II. Grim, of Texas,
of 800 acres of land, four miles north
east of Molalla, U W. II. Pair, of Can
by. This farm will be subdivided into
small tracts and disposed of through a
plan of colonization. Only 80 acres of
the large tract are under cultivation,
but the rest can easily be cleared by
the individual purchaseas of the tracts.
The land is rich and productive and is
one of the most fertile sections in the
county.
Can Factory for Astoria.
Astoria Articles of incorporation of
the Kendall Can company have been
filed in the county clerk's oflice. The
incorporators are George W. Sanborn,
F. P. Kendall and G. C. Fulton, and
the capital stock is $K0,OOO, divided
into 1,(H0 shares of 100 each. The
company is making arrangements for
the erection of a plant that will be
equipped with the most modern machin
ery for the manufacture of all classes of
cans.
Favor Phonetic Readers.
Pendleton The sixth annual conven
tion of the eastern division of the
State Teachers' association, adopted a
resolution requesting the State Text
lniok commission to adopt some series
of readers based on a system ot pho
net ics.
Cold Weather in John Day.
Canyon City John lav valley resi
dents have experienced a sharp taste of
winter, snow falling in the mountains
until some of the roads werealmost im
passible. No stock was lost, and there
is no fuel famine here.
PORTLAND MARKETS.
Fruits Apples, Common to choice,
5( H-r 75c per box ; choice to fancy, $1W
2.; grapes, $1.6.VS2.25 per crate:
pears, $ 1 (i 1 .50 ; cranberries. $126il3
l(-'r 1,am'' : persimmons, $1. Super box.
egeuo.ies v aooage, i -4 ... i -s. .
cauliflower, 1 .(. per dozen ; celery, o
(n Mk' per dozen ; lettuce, head, .'10c per
dozen; onions, 10(i 12L2c jier dozen;
bell peppers, 8c; pumpkins, l?4f per
pound; spinach, 4fr ftc per pound;
squash, l(.i l.c; turnips, SiOcf$l per
sack; carrots, l'0e(.! $1 per sack; beets,
$1 .'Jft(v 1.50 per sack; horseradish, !("
10c per pound ; sweet potatoes, '2l(n
2L2c per pound.
Onions Oregon, 75efi$l per cwt.
Potatoes Oregon Hurhanks, fancy,
flfVi 1 .10; common, 70(f !HV.
Putter Fancy creamery, '27t0' 32Kc
j er pound.
Eggs Oregon ranch, .17 .,e per
dozen.
Poultry Average old hens. UV.?1.V
per pound: mixed chickens, 2 l-l-flc;
spring. 1 '1 l..fi 1.1 lc; old roosters, Sf.i
10c; dressed chickens, 14(" 1-V; tur
keys, live. KrtlT'ji': turkeys, dressed,
choice, Ll(i L'l'ljC; geese, live, 10c:
thicks, l.V Die;.
Wheat Club, f.:V.i t',4e: bluestem,
(.7( iSc; valley. litiCi l!7c; red. (Uf i CLV.
Oats No 1 white, fLV.i L'V-iO; gray,
f-4.o0( i J"i ht ton.
Harlev Feed. f2 1?1 per ton;
brewing. -,L'.ft0; rolled, $2:.ftii(.f 24.
Rye $1.40d 1.4ft per cwt.
Corn Whole, $2(1; cracked, $27 jht
ton .
Hay Valley timothy, No. 1. $llf-12
per ton; Eastern Oregon timothy. $14
(i lii; clver. $7(.i S; cheat. $7.ft(V.i S..riO;
grain hay. $7.ft0f . S.ftU; alfalfa. $1 1 .V;
vetch hay. $7r- 7..M.
Veal Pressed. S'gf.i Se per pound.
IVef Pressed bulls. U.i 2c per pound :
cows. 4'.i.V; country steer. .V.. ."i '.,.
Mutt n Pressed, fancy. Sm SO..C ivr
jmund: ordinary, ((" 7c.
Pork Dressed. ((. Sc per jimnd.
Hop 11ifl4c per pound, according
to quality.
Wo-il Fa-tern 0-egn a cage bet,
13. if lSe p t pound, mv T lirg to -) r:r.k
age; valley. 20(n21e. :'" r ! i"g to fine
ness; mohair, choice, 2!'nfi 2-'
PROBE HILL ROADS.
j empire uunucr la iicai inuiudio
c : d -1 -i i' ki . r .j: ,j
for Commission Griddle.
Washington, Dec. 10. An investi
gation of the operations ai d manage
ment of the railroads coi.tr died by
James J. Hill and associates, including
the North'-m Pacific, Great Northern
and Chicago, Burlington & Quincy is
in conternplatif n by the Interstate
Commerce commission. After certain
preliminaries have been arranged and
counsel for the commission selected,
formal announcement of the proposed
inquiry will be made.
As in the case of tl e proposed inves
tigation of the Southern Pacific and
Union Pacific railroads of the Ilarriman
sy.-tem, the inquiry is not the outgrowth
of any specific complaints of violations
of the interstate commerce law, but it
is to be undertaken by virtue of the
general inquisitorial powers conferred
upon the commission by congress.
The inquiry will lie broad and com
prehensive, with a view to ascertaining
the exact condition of affairs regarding
the jailroad's compliance with the in
terstate commerce act. A member of
the commission, in speaking of the pro
posed inquiry, said:
"Although there has been outward,
compliance with the decree of the Su
preme court in dissolving the Northern
Securities company, yet there has been
n difference in the rates given upon
the united system."
WOULD WELCOME CITIZENSHIP.
Viscount Aoki Says Japanese Are
Eager for Naturalization.
Washington, Dec. 10. Favorable ac
tion by congress on the recommendation
of the president in his last annual mes
sage that an act be passed specifically
providing for the naturalization of Jap
anese who come to the L'nited States
intending to become American citizens,
will go far toward securing a continu
ance of the traditional friendly rela
tions between this country and Japan,
is the opinion Jof Viscount Aoki, the
Japanese ambassador.
"Of course," said Viscount Aoki, to
day, "no nation likes to see its subjects
leave to take up a permanent abode in
a foreign land and lose all relation with
the fatherland, but in many cases it
cannot be helped."
The ambassador expressed the belief
that there were not so many Japanese
in this country to take advantage of
naturalization if it were granted, but
he thought that such an opportunity
should he afforded them along with the
citizens of other countries. He said he
did not think it probable that those
Japanese who were emigrating in
large numlier to Hawaii and the Pacific
coast would aail themselves of natur
alization, because of the fact that they
represented the poorer classes, and
most of them ultimately returned to
Japan. Viscount Aoki said he had
every confidence in the outcome of the
test case which will be brought in the
California courts.
FIX LUMBER PRICE.
Senate May Inves.igate Manufactur
ers Who Control Industry.
Washington, Dec, 10. An investiga
tion of the lumber combine, as pro
posed in the resolution introduced by
Senator Kittredge, of South Dakota,
will lie productive of more good to the
people, in the opinion of some Western
senators, than any inquiry instituted
in recent years. Mr. Kittredge has
collected considerable material, and,
when it is presented to the senate in
connection with details Senator LaFol
lette and other Western senators will
bring fait, a strong majority is expect
ed in favor of the resolution.
In many respects the "gentlemen's
agreement which controls the price of
lumlier is like that which was alleged
in the lieef packing industry. There
are several associations, such as the
Hemlock association, the Pine associa
tion and the Hardwood association,
whose representatives meet once a
month, discuss the conaitions and fix
price-:.
There are no records and no docu
ments that would nici limnate, but
tl r nigh an agreement of "gentlemen"
th output is regulated and prices
fixed.
East River Tunnel Bores Joined,
New York, Dec. 10. Manhattan and
Hnxiklyn Imroughs were connected tin
ier the Fast river t.nlay by the piercing
of the last section which separated the
ends of the north tulie of the tunnel of
the Hrooklyn Rapio Transit extension.
The East river tunnel extends from the
Hattery to Joralmon street, Brooklyn.
It will form part of the Subway Rapid
'T,r;iiiit vtom from Kill', Hriih. ti-i
Hrooklyn. Elect l i" cars of the Long
I-land railroad w ill also run through
the tunnel. At the point of connec
tion the tunnel is 7ft feet under water.
No More Postal Franks.
New York. Dih 10. Clarence II.
Maekay. president of the Potal Tele-
g-av .V Cable company, stated today
that the lioard "1 directors of that com
pany had pasM-d the follow ing resolu
tion: "Rc"ivcd, That owing t
changed condit ion, it has Uvn found
necessary to top all free transmission
of messages and this company will al
solntely dic.ntinue it iie li-t on and
after January 1, 1'07." There arj
nianv frank outstanding.
Wealth From Montana Mines.
Rutte. IVe. D. Montana pr.wli.-ed
in the calendar y ar . f iveft. eopjw-r,
silver, gold and lead to the value of
$7i,.'i7r.fts:'.. The-e value came from
ft. ooo. 000 tone . f or-, and the ajg-e-tM-'t
pr.i-lucti n wa greater bv $lo..
0S-;.7.'!'i than the vilue of the on'n it f
l! '4. which was approximately $10,.
(KM, 00 thfi ti e e.ir U-f :v.