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.