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About Heppner gazette. (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 31, 1907)
Heppner Gazette buued Thursday of Each Week HEPPNER OREGON RESUME OF THE WEEK'S DOINGS General Review of Important Hap penings Presented in a Brief and Comprehensive Manner for Busy Readers National, Political, His torical and Commercial. Hill says he has not watered his rail way stock. Ex-Governor Higgins, of New York, is slightly improved. Twenty miners were killed by an ex plosion in a West Virginia mine. The Northwestern mil road is chang ing its locomotives to oil burners. The powers are already divided on the question of disarmament at the Hague conference. The Oklahoma constitution provides that 15 per cent of the voters are re quired to bring an amendment before the people. President Castio, of Venezuela, has sent a message from his siek bed de claring he will survive this illness and also that he lias no intention of becom ing dictator. The Alaska delegate in congress op poses land grants to the companies pro- Tviaintr t.i build new railroads. He says the trusts have ample capital to do the work without Federal assistance. George A. Rurnham, Jr., has been sent to Sing Sing for two years for grand larceny from the Mutual Reserve Life Insurance company. He was counsel and vice president of the com pany and his conviction is the result of the recent investigations. The Panama canal contract will like ly be given to Olliver, one of the recent bidders. Russia has announced her intention of withdrawing all troops from Man churia except a railway guaid. At a meeting of tariff revisionists at Chicago a special session jf congress to revise the tariff laws was advocated. Attorney General Bonaparte has been asked to bring suit to prevent the form ation of a gigantic copper trust extend ing into Europe. San Francisco relief work for January is estimated at $445,470, which amount has been forwarded by the National Red Cross society. At the Interstate Commerce inquiry at Washington into the coal monopoly it was shown that only favorites were able to obtain cars. The North Dakota blizzard continues with unabated fury. The tempertaure ranges from 5 to 45 below zero and all railroad tratiie is at a standstill. Swettenhma still obstructs relief work at Kingston. A report in London that he has presented his resignation will be neither denied or affirmed by officials. The attorney general of Minnesota has begun suit to cancel die charter of the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railroad company. This is really the parent company of the Great Northern Railroad company and the Great North ern is joined in the suit. Another blizzard has blocked Dakota railroads. Shonts denies that friction caused him to resign. More charges are being made against Senatur Bailey, of Texas. Another bloody battle has occurred be tween Mexicans and Yaquis. The British cabinet admits that Swettenham will be recalled. Chicago has traced much of the scar let fever epidemic to sweat shops. The blizzard in Europe has been the cause of many people freezing to death. Eastern Republicans would grant ship subsidy to South American lines only. The naval appropriation bill carries $253, 000 for the Puget sound navy yard. Bristol will retain his office as United States attorney for Oregon until the land fraud trials are finished. The census bureau has just issued a bulletin which shows that 1,750,000 childrenl between the ages of 10 and 15 years are employed as breadwinners. Governor Swettenham, of Jamaica, threatens to dissolve the Kingston coun cil for taking sides against him. There is a great need of lumber, but the gov ernor refuses to receive it. ' The flood of the Ohio river is receding slightly. Jamaicans denounce Swettenham and ask h"s recall. A rate discrimination inquiry is in progress in Denver. The Colorado legislature has passed an anti-cartoon law. The mavoraltv contest will cost the gpeople of New York about '$400,000, whether Hearst or McClellan wini out. Oil in great quantities has been found on land owned by W. R. Hearst in Mexico. A revised list of the dead and injured of the Terre Haute train wre:k ehows 29 killed and 23 injured. The senate subcommittee baa report ed against Bristol's confirmation as die trict attorney for Oregon. POWERFUL CENSORSHIP. Proposed to Give Postal Authorities Control of Newspapers. Washington, Jan. 29. The bill of the Joint Postal commission, just com pleted, if enacted into law, would cre ate a press censorship in the hands of government employes to determine what information the reading public wants, and extend a paternalistic guardianship oer the counting room by limiting the amount of advertising and specifying just how it shall be printed in the pages of daily newspa pers. The joint commission started work on the hypothesis that second class mail matter is carried at a loss to the government, and does not pay its pro portionate share in revenue. One of the main rresults of its pondering is the discovery that the newspaper, es pecially the Sunday edition, has ex panded too much in the direction of the magazine. The members of the com mission avow that the miscellaneous matter contained in the Sunday issue of a newspaper lacks the "quality to make it socially and educationally val uable." They would reform every thing by abolishing the Sunday supple ment or else make it so inocuous that nobody would care to read it. A glance at the above provisions of the bill will fully convince any one of the radical nature of the law the com mission proposes. It would limit the amount of advertising; it would elimi nate all legitimate advertising matter from supplements, and it would pre vent the publication in the supple ments of all fiction, of all matter of general and useful information regard ing the affairs of the world, and make the supplement merely an overflow for the news of the main sheet. CROPS CAUSED SHORTAGE. Railroads Had So Much Traffic They Could Not Carry Coal. Washington, Jan. 29. Representa tive Marshal, of North Dakota, in an interview tonight declared that while there is a shortage of fuel at some points in North Dakota and danger of shortage at other points, growing pri marily out of the so-called car shortage, and later of an unusual snow storm, North Dakota is in no need of financial assistance. "The shortage of cars," he said, "grew out largely of the enormous crops raised throughout the state and through the expansion of business far beyond all ordinary limits, which literally swamped the railroads, not only with products going out of the slate, but also with merchandise and materials com ing in. In an attempt to handle this tremendous volume of traffic, the rail way companies were grossly negligent in relation to the fuel supply, so our great prosperity is the real cause oj our temporary embarrassed condition. It is not a financial shortage, but a rail road shortage which embarrasses the people of the state at this time." LAGUNA DAM ENDANGERED. Rio Colorado Threatening to Destroy Irrigation Project. Los Angeles, Jan. 29. The Times this morning says: If the Rio Colo rado should not be forced to return to its old channel and remain there, the Laguna dam, constructed by the United States Reclamation service across the river 12 miles above Yuma, will be de stroyed and the irrigation of hundreds of thousands of acres in Arizona, Califor nia and Mexico will be impossible. The Laguna dam is unique in that the danger threatening its existence lurks below instead of above the sur face. During the past three years, the Colorado, instead of repairing its breaks by salt deposits, has cut them wider and deeper, and it has formed a gorge GO feet deep and 1,500 feet wide through the cultivattecl lands of tho Imperial valley. During the period of the highest flood it cut back at the rate of a third of a mile a day. The Laguna dam is said to have cost about $2,000, 000. Sent Many Goods to Cuba. Washington, Jan. 29. Never before in the history of United States com merce with Cuba was the export trade of this country to that island so great as during the past calendar year. American importations from that re public are considerably below that for the preceding year. The total exports from this country to Cuba were valued at $46,491,944, which is more than $2, 000.000 over the exjHjrtations for 1905. The importations from Cuba were val ued at $85,055,295, showing a falling off of about $10,000,000. Contract Goes to Olliver. Washington, Jan. 29. Following a Conference at the White House it was officially announced that the contract for building the Panama canal would be awarded to William D. Olliver, who, with Anh'n M. Bangs, was the lowest bidder in the recent cometition, provided that within the next ten days he and his a-sociates, with at least two inderendent contractors shall cover the entire field of tin- work to be jerformed under the contract. Capture Desperate Cuban Bardit. Havana, Jan. 29. Enrique Mesa, a bandit of the province of Santiago, who for more than two years bad terrorized Eastern Culia and defied the rural guard", and who was wanted- for al leged inurd'TS. was captured here last night by the secret police. DOINGS OF OUR NATIONAL BODY OF LAWMAKERS Saturday, January 26. Washington, Jan. 20. The senate was in session today only for a little more than an hour, the early adjourn ment being taken to permit attendance at the funeral of the late Senator Alger. A few bills of minor importance were passed, but most of the time the sitting was devoted to the further discussion of Hale's resolution providing for an in quiry into the. personal interes mani fested by naval officers in the navy per sonnel bill. The resolution was ulti mately refererd to the committee on naval affairs. Washington, Jan. 26. The house spent the gi eater part of the day de bating the agricultural appropriation bill, and it was still under considera tion when adjournment was taken. The question of the free distribution of garden seeds cont inued to hold the most, prominent place with the speeihmak ers, although action on this provision of the bill, by a vote of 71 to (19, was postponed until Monday. Tho senate lull incorporating the International Sunday School association of America was passed. Friday, January 25. Washington, Jan. 25. Resolutions to check naval officers from "lighting a lire under senators and representatives to compel the enactment of the naval personnel bill at this session" were pre sented in the senate today by Hale, and, after causing a snappy debate of short duration, went over for future consider ation. Hale's resolution cites the pres ident's order forbidding government employes to "lobby," and directs an in quiry by the secretary of the navy to ascertain whether the order is being violated. The urgent deficiency appropriation bill, carrying $279,000 as it came from the house and authorizing by a senate amendment a loan of $1,000,000 to the Jamestown Exposition company, was passed. The latter part of the day was devoted to the disposition of pension bills. Washington, Jan. 25. The house to day passed a number of bills of a local nature, including 830 private pension bills. The agricultural appropriation bill was then taken up and. while it was under consideration, Kahn, of Cal ifornia, addressed the house on fire in surance companies and, their relation to the city of San Francisco, before and after the earthquake and fire. The question of the free distribution of gar den seeds occupied the rest of the day. There whs a general debate on the committee provision appropriating $238,000 for the purchase and testing of new, rare and uncommon seeds, bulbs, trees, shrubs and vines, and omitting the usual appropriation for the purchase of ordinary flower and garden seed for distribution. Thursday, January 24. Washington, Jan. 24. The session of the senate today was held entirely with reference to the death of Mr. Alger. Dr. Edward Everett Hale .!; livered a special prayer, and after the reading of the journal of yesterday was completed Senator Burrows presented resolutions expressing regret and sorrow at the sudden death and providing for a special committee of 12 senators to represent the senate at the funeral in this city and attend the body to De troit. The resolutions were agreed to, and on motion of Senator Burrows the senate at 12:17 adjourned as a further mark of respect. Washington, Jan. 24. The house today voted to abolish all the pension agencies throughout the country, 18 in number, and centralize the payment of pensions in the City of Washington. This action was taken on the pension appropriation bill after spirited opposi tion on the part of those having pen sion agencies in their states. The pension appropriation bill, car rying $138,000,000 in round numbers, was passed. Wednesday, January 23 Washington, Jan. 23. The senate today accepted the propositiion of the house of representatives to increase the salaries of senators, representatives and territorial delegates to $7,500 annually and those of the vice president, the speaker of the house and members of the president's cabinet to $12,000. This action was taken by a vote of 53 to 21 and followed a discussion of near ly three hours. Senator Allert J. Beveridge, of Indi- Fight for Pension Agencies. Washington, Jan. 23. Representa tive Dalzell, of Pennsylvania, stated today that he intends to organize a fight against the abolition of nine of the 18 pension agencies of the United States. The house committee on appropriations has reported a bill appropriating for only nine of the present agencies, and the members of the committee defend the action on the ground of economy. Dalzell says it would be far more eco nomical to pay all pensions from Wash ington, and will take the stand that all the present agencies should go. Gold Production Increases. Washington, Jan. 22. The Geologi cal survey announc;ed today the total production of gold and silver in the United States for 1905, aggregating 00,- 365,342 fine ounces, with a valuation of $122,402,6.6. Production of gold ag gregated 4.265,742 fine ounces, valued at $88,180,700, an increase of $7,716 over the previous year. Total produc tion of silver was 56,101,600 fine ounc es, valued at $34,221,976, a decrease of 1,581,200 ounces in actual output. ana, addressing the senate today on his ; bill to prohibit the transportation in interstate commerce of the products of 'child lalior, declared that the census shows that nearly 2,000,000 child bread winners under 15 years of age are now at work. 'Washington, Jan. 23. The river and harbor appropriation bill, which was reported to the house today by the committee on rivers and harbois, car ries an appropriation aggregating $83, 40(5,188. Of this sum $34,001 ,612 is appropriated in cash, to be available between July 1, 1907, and July 1, 1908, and $48,834,250 is authorized for con tinuing contracts, no time limit being fixed as to when it shall be expended. The bill will probably not be consid ered by the house until next Monday. This bill is a record breaker in size, exceeding bv many millions the amount ' allowed for river and harbor improve- j ments in any previous congress. Tuesday, January 22. Washington, January 22. The sen ate today passed tho compromise For aker resolution authorizing the commit tee on military affairs to investigate the facts of the affray at Brownsville on the nights of August 13 and 14 last, without questioning "the legality or justice of any act of the president in relation to or connected with that affray." This action came after the subject had been tinder consideration almost daily since the first day of the present session of congress, and every phase of the question had been dis cussed on all sides. Washington, Jan. 22. The house to day passed the diplomatic consular ap propriation bill, which carries a total of $3,138,000, and the military academy appropriation bill, carrying $1,954,483. During the consideration of the diplo matic bill, speeches were made by Sher ley of Kentucky, on the "treaty making power;" by Sladen, of Texas, who urg ed a more liberal recognition of the South in the matter of diplomatic ap pointments, and by Longworth, of Ohio, who spoke in favor of the United States owning the residences of its foreign representatives. Cousins, of Iowa, madet he opening speech in epxlana tion of the measure. Monday, January 21. Washington, Jan. 21. A spectacular speech by Senator Tillman was the chief feature of an exciting day in the senate. The South Carolina senator's effort was a reply to the recent criti cism of himself by Spooner. He began with a satirical picture of the senate as a minstrel show, which he later said was his first and last attempt to be "funny," an attempt, which at its con clusion brought a stinging denunciation from Carmack in resentment of allu sions to him. This was preceded by a serious reply from Spooner on the attitude taken by Tillman on the race problem, all final ly resulting in a session of nearly two hours behind closed doors. The secret session was followed by a brief open one, in which Tillman made a profuse apology to Carmack, to all senators whom he had brought into his "first essay in the line of humor," and finally to tho entire senate. The Brownsville affair was the sub ject of controversy, and the day began with the announcement of a compro mise resolution, which brought Repub lican and Democratic senators together on the basis of ordering an investiga tion of the facts of the affray without bringing into question the authority of the president to dismiss the negro troops. The resolution was submitted to and approved by the president at a conference yesterday. After the speeches and mutual apolo gies had been made, Forakr attempted to get a vote on his resolution. Ob jection was made and the matter will be taken up tomorrow. . Washington, Jan. 21. The house to day pronounced unanimously in favor of enlarging and making more efficient field and coast artillery by passing the bill for that purpose. An interesting political discussion grew out of the passage of the so-called "political purity" bill, prohibiting cor porations from making money contri butions in connection with elections. A bill was passed authorizing the secretary of Commerce and Labor to investigate and report upon the "in dustrial, Hocial, moral, educational and physical condition of woman and child workers in the United States." The measure has already passed the senate. McCaskln to Be Major General. Washington, Jan. 23. It is semi officially announced that Brigadier Gen eral William McCaskin, commanding the department of Texas, will be pro moted to the grade of major general on the statutory retirement April 14 next of Major General James F. Wade. The present understanding is that Colonel Charles B. Hall, Thirteenth infantry, in command of the infantry and cavalry school at Fort Leavenworth, Kas., will h unnointed to the vacancy in the list of brigadier generals, which will occur early in March. Appeal for Federal Aid. Washington, Jan. 23. The coal fam ine in North Dakota has become so seri ous that Senator Hansbrough conferred today with the president to see if Fed mrans cannot tie found to relieve ) the eitnation. Telegrams appealing for ! relief were laid before the Interstate Commerce commission by Senator Hans I brough today. The commissioners have I called the attention of the railroads to ' the renewed complaints and relief is , expected. BLEEDING NORTH DAKOTA NOW Northern State, Hungry and Cold, Wrests Title From Kansas. Washington, Jan. 28. Conditions arising from a shortage of fuel and of focxl supplies continue to be bad in por tions of Nortth Dakota, according to dispatches received at the Interstate Commerce commission. At the same time other dispatches show tho rail roads are making efforts to reach the places suffering from the want of these necessities of life. Mayor James J. Dougherty, at Park River, N. D., com plains that the Great Northern railroad is not making any effort to move trains over the lines reaching there. Tho city is entirely out of coal. There has been no mail for six days. The weather is line. Prompt action, the mayor urges, should be taken to compel the delivery of fuel and mail. A dispatch from Sherwood, N. D., dated January 20, says the place is en tirely without fuel of any kind. Three curs of coal for Sherwood, it is assert ed, were confiscated at Mohalt. There has been no train for a week. As pro visions are low, the situation is report ed alarming. Under yesterday's date a dispatch from Milton, N. D., says that two cars of soft coal have arrived, but no mail train as yet. From President Hill, of the Great Northern, a dispatch was re ceived from St. Paul, dated January 20, saying that two freight trains with 17 cars of coal got through Thursday on the line reaching Hannah, one of the pi -tees suffering from a luck of coal. MESSAGE ON CARS. President Will Urge Passage'of Laws . to Cure Shortage. Washington, Jan. 28. The car short age question was considered at the White House today during a conference participated in by the president, Secre tary Root, Secretary Taft, Postmaster General Cortelyou, Assistant Secretary Bacon, Chairman Knapp, of the Inter state Commerce commission, and Com missioner of Corporations Garfield. The president has announced his intention of sending to congress a special mes sage urging legislation of a remedial character to meet car shortage emergen cies like those existing. The Interstate Commerce commission has submitted certain principles which the membeis think should form the basis of any legislation to be recom mended on that subject to congress, and if these meet the views of the president, they will be submitted to that body. The president's decision is one of the results of the recent Chicago reciprocal demurrage convention, and of the very general complaint which has been made to the Interstate Com merce commission of a shortage in the car carrying equipment of t lie country. HAVE TO BRIBE SWITCHMEN. San Francisco Shippers Pay to Get Freight Cars. San Francisco. Jan. 28. The Bulle tin today publishes a story to the effect that when Interstate Commerce Com missioner Lane arrives here this week to investigate the relations between the railroads and shippers, he will find conditions very similar to those at Se attle with respect to the "tipping" system, resorted to by shippers and warehouse men, in order to get their airs. According to the Bulletin's informa tion, the practice has been followed at the Oakland yards for some time, and merchants have found that, in order to get their ears to the warehouses they have to "tip" the switchmen in the yards. At the office of General Manager Cal vin, of the Southern Pacific company, today, it was admitted that this is be ing done, but it was stated that the fault lay with the merchants them selves, who, of their own volition, re sort to this practice in order to get speedy delivery. It was with the ap proval of the company. Not After Governor's Scalp. Washington. Jan. 28. No advices have been received at the State depart ment confirming the report that Gov ernor Swettenham of Jamaica will re sign because qf his clash with Rear Admiral Davis. It was stated posi tively today that no representations have been made by this government to Great Britain asking for the resignation of the governor. In fact, a high official said that the resignation of the governor would be regretted, as many people might think that he had been forced out through me enorts oi me uniMjuoiaiea. Veiled Request From Japan. St. Petersburg, Jan. 28 The Asso ciated Press learns that the decision of the Russian government to withdraw its troops from5 Manchuria immediately Instead of waiting until April 15, the date fixed for this step in the Russo Japanesh Portsmouth treaty, was made at a veiled request from the Japanese government, which apparently forsees trouble in the matter of internal ad ministration of certain provinces of China. Nine Men Blown to Bits. Richmond, Va., Jan. 28. Nine men, all foreigners, were blown to pieces by a dynamite explosion today on the Tidewater railroad, near Pearisburg, Va. Tb" i;T-rs were at dinner and a quantity of the explosive, which was being thawed beside a fire, blew up. No Americans Were Killed. Washington, Jan. 28. The Ameri iu. . o.oMii at Kingston, Jamaica, idviseu ine riai h-i nm-im "ov , that no American dead have been re-J ported so far in Jamaica. The situa tion is improving, and the earthquake shocks have ceased. MERGER HAS BEEN PROVEN Commerce Commission Is Satisfied With Portland Hearing. Attorney for Commission Says A 1 That Was Sought To Be Estab lished Has Been Proven Govern ment Brings Out Facts Regarding Harriman Combine. Portland, Jan. 20. After shoowing conclusively that competition was de stroyed by the merger of the Harriman lines in this state, 0. A. Severance an nounced at the close of tho Interstate Commerce commission investigation yesterday afternoon that he would call no more witnesses here, as the facts he came to show had been admitted by the testimony of railroad officials. Commissioner Franklin K. I-ane then adjourned the session to meet in Sun Fjancisco next Tuesday, where R. P. Schwerin, general manager of the Pa cific Mail Steamship company, ami other Harriman officials will be placed on the stand. By the statement of Mr. Seveiance to Commissioner hine, the sessions in Portland have been eminently satis factory to the commission's attorney. Witnesses examined yesterday testi fied that the year 11(01 was an unfortu nate one for Oregon. Then it was that the O. R. it N. and Southern Pacific were merged under one management and the service offered on both roads was impaired. Officials at the head of the system had an eye single to big earnings and a minimum of expendi ture. The service suffered, alternative routes for shippers were denied, and the roads in possession of the territory were amenable to none for business. Shippers said both rail and water lines have depreciated since the merger, there has not been a disposition to ex tend into new territory and the entire Central Oregon region has been effectu ally bottled up. Railroad officials who serve as the head of allied roads and who there maintain there is competition between them, when, as a matter of fact they work together as two partners in one business, were grilled yesterday by At torney Severance. Witnesses maintained that rates showing rank discrimination have been put into effect on ties to California, whose object is to harass the Gould sys tem. Others said the passenger service between Portland and Omaha is abom inable, and is due to the merger of for merly competing lines, w hile the steam er service to Califrnia of of the Harri man companies is worse than it has been for 20 years. While Attorney Cotton was at his best in stemming the tide of adverse? testimony and never showed his adroit ness to better advantage, the facts brought out were strongly against tho Harriman interests. BUILD GREAT BATTLESHIP. Naval Bill Allows for Second Dread naught and More Sailors. Washington, Jan. 20. An appropri ation of about $95,000,0(10 is provided for in the naval appropriation bill agreed upon today by the house com mittee on naval affairs. The bill pro vides for an additional battleship of the type agreed upon in the naval ap propriation bill of last year. It also makes provision for two torpedo boat destrovers and appropriates $2,000,(100 for submarines. This $2,000,000 is ad ditional to the $1,000,000 for subma rines provided in the bill of last year, which has not yet been expended. Pro vision is made for about 3,000 addi tional sailors and 900 marines. The new battleship provided for in the bill is to be a sister ship of the monster authorized by congress last year, which, the bill required, should be a "first-class battleship carrying as heavy armor and as powerful armament as any known vessel of its class, to have the highest practicable speed and greatest practicable radius of action." Will Make Stevens Chairman. Washington, Jan. 25. Announce ment was made today at the War de partment that the offices of chairman and chief engineer of the Isthmian Canal commission would be combined, and that Mr. Stevens, the chief engi neer, would be given the appointment, the understanding being that ho will maintain a residence upon the isthmus. Secretary Taft today announced his pur pose of filling the four vacancies exist ing upon the Islh mian Canal commis sion by the appointment of some bu reau chiefs. Central Russia 47 Below, St. Petersburg, Jan. 25. Reports of heavy loss of life and great suffering on account of the cold are arriving from Akmolinsk steppes, Central Russia, with which communication was inter rupted. During the recent blizzard the temperature fell to 47 below zero. Fif teen lxxlies were recovered in one day in the vicinity of the village of Akomli. Thousands of cattle perished. The winter grain crop is killed in Mid dle Russia, the snowfall lcing light. Keystone State Liberal. Ilarrisburg, Ta., Jan. 25. A bill providing for an appropriation of $75,- 0(H) to arrange for a Pennsylvania ex hibit at the Seattle exposition in 190 was introduced in the lower house the legislature today. The bill als provides fora commission of 20, head ed by tho governor.