OF CURRENT WEEK Brief Resume of General News From Ail Around the Earth. UNIVERSAL HAPPENINGS IN A NUTSHQ1 Live News Items of All Nations and Pacific Northwest Condensed for Our Busy Readers. All Florida cold-weather records for this late in - April are broken by low temperatures over the state. The minimum was 42, with light frost in the country districts. The house of representatives agreed to all Oregon and Washington appro priations in the river and harbor bill, in the amounts reported by the river and harbor committee. The senate rejected, 41 to 25, an amendment by Senator Lodge to in clude a tariff on coal tar dyes in the bill providing for retention of the present tariff of a cent a pound on sugar until 1920. A civilian military encampment on lines similar to the Plattsburg camp will be held in Fort Terry, N. Y., dur ing July. It is expected that between 600 and 1500 men will be in quarters during that period. The result either of a murder and suicide or a double suicide, the bodies of Mary Hawn, 18, and C. M. Frazier, 50, were found on a bed in a room in the Grand Hotel at Walla Walla. Both were fully dressed. Contracts for two steamships, under construction in American yards, were sold in New York at public auction on the floor of the Maritime Exchange, instituting the first ship auction held In the United States. An attempt was made to assassinate the chief of the military police at Amoy, China. A bomb thrown through a window of his residence damaged the building badly, but no one was injured. The assasBins escaped. Three men were fatally shot and an- other dangerously wounded in a riot which started at a dance conducted by a carnival company at Buffalo, Okla, one of the latest oil towns to spring up in the Stone Bluff field. Nine more steamers have been de stroyed by German submarines, ac cording to announcements from various British sources. Seven of the vessels were under the British flag, one was Norwegian and the other Spanish. Official denial Is made by J. W, White, inspector of immigration agen cles of the Canadian government, that William and Louis Schroeder, of Iowa, had been executed or condemned as spies at Clavet, Saskatchewan, on March 24. Professor Charles A. Davis, accred ited one of the foremost authorities on peat, dies in Washington at the age of 65 years. He had been connected with the United States Bureau of MineB for some years and had written numerous scientific articles. The monthly statement of unfilled orders of the United States Steel cor poration breaks all records. The or ders stood on March 81 at 9,331,001 tons, an increase of 702,035 tons over February 29, when they were 8,668,- 966 tons, the previous high record. At a meeting of the relief commit tee for indigent Jews held in Berlin the president said that 700,000 Jews in the occupied districts of Poland re- quired assistance. Thus far nearly 12,000,000 has been spent in relief work, which has been made possible largely by help of Jews in America. Governor Spry, of Utah, issued call for a conference on control and eradication of the alfalfa weevil, to be held in Salt Lake April 20 and 21. The states of California, Washington, Ore gon, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Col orado, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona and Utah are expected to participate inthe meeting. Mrs. Joseph E. Howard, daughter of Michael Kilgallon, millionaire stool magnate of Chicago, and wife of Jos eph E. Howard, actor and writer of popular songs, committed suicide by shooting at a hotel in Omaha. An actress acquaintance, who was with her at the time, said Mrs. Howard was temporarily demented. Washington denies any Intention of abandoning the pursuit of Villa. Many families have been driven from their homes by floods in the Mis sissippi in Wisconsin. A Spanish cabinet council has been called to consider the question of the torpedoing of Spanish vessels. Five cattlegrowers who said they were prosperous and contented protest ed to the house judiciary sub-committee against the Borland resolution for investigation of the packing industry. Grant county, Oregon, is preparing to fight spotted fever, one case having been reported in Frame City. The pa tient is said to be critically ill. Be cause of the disease appearing so early It is feared there will be many cases this season. Twenty Apache Indian scouts, led'bv the famous trailer, Peaches, will join the American forces in their hunt for Villa. Latest reports seem to Indicate be yond doubt the victory of Henry L. Ford over Senator Smith, of Michigan, for Republican presidential preference. An Athens dispatch to the London Daily Mail says that a telegram has been received from Preveza to the effect that a large transport belonging to the entente allies has been sunk otf the west coast of Greece, and that it to believed many were lost. iERMANS IN MASS ATTACK ON VERDUN FRONT MOWED Paris Abandoning the new open formation and the lately established practice of night attack, the Germans Tuesday engaged two army corps (80,- 000 men) in dense masses against the French positions northwest of Verdun, between Avocourt and Cumieres. Forces numbering at least a division and a half (about 30,000 men) charged the line between Avocourt and Bethin court. They approached within 100 yards of the French trenches, and seemed insensible to the fact that hundreds of their men were falling by the way; but notwithstanding their courage and the weight of their masses they were stopped. There was a dead line beyond which they could not pass. When the attacking columns were thinned out by artillery and machine gun fire so that a reformation became necessary, the order to retire was given. Twice they were obliged to nil up the gaps in their ranks, but none of 'Saviour of Paris" Must Quit Central Michael Maunoury. General Michael Maunoury, who led the army out of Paris which turned the right wing of General von Kluck on what seemed to be a victorious Ger man march to the city, has been com pelled to give up the military gover norship of Paris by ill heatlh. For this exploit he was hailed as the sa vior of Paris. While on a tour of in spection a year ago he was struck by a German shell which destroyed his left eye and broke his jaw. their three onslaughts shook the French line, which had been consider ably strengthened in the region of Bethincourt by the withdrawal of forces from the dangerously exposed salient to commanding positions be hind the village. Two fresh divisions attacked Dead Man's Hill while the assault was in progress on the Bethincourt line, other forces at the Bame time trying to slip through the ravine near Cumieres. To aid the maneuver, Bn attack was simultaneously made on the east bank of the Meuse in the region of Champ- neuville-Vacherauville. The few hun dred men who had succeeded in pene trating the ravine were left on the field after the action proved unsuccess ful. U. S. Troops Ordered to Cross Border. Washington, D. C. Such a marked improvement in conditions along the Mexican border has been reported by General Funston that the War depart ment is now considering drawing upon some of the troops stationed in Texas to strengthen the ever lengthening lines of communication of the expedi tion seeking Villa. Many alarming rumors have been disposed of, and the border situation generally is said to be quieter than heretofore, but the plan is not to disturb the garrisons or patrol In New Mexico or Arizona for the present. A part of the Twenty-fourth infantry, negroes, withdrawn from Del Rio, Tex., at the request of the local authorities after one of the soldiers had been killed by a ranger attempting to arrest him, already has been or dered into Mexico. Shells Beset Norwegian. New York The Brabloch, a Norwe gian sailing vessel, which arrived Tuesday from Kolding, Denmark, re ported escaping from a choice of de struction between flouting mines and guns of a British cruiiser when she was beating through the passage between the Orkney Islands and Scotland. When off the coast of Scotland the Brabloch encountered winds so heavy that she was driven into the Orkney passages, which, unknown to her cap tain, are mined and closed to all but naval vossels. Interned Ships May Sail. 1 London Any proposals put forward by neutral governments with the idea of obtaining immunity from capture tor vessels owned in nations at war with Great Britain and placed in serv ice by neutrals will receive careful consideration irom the Britisn govern ment. Lord Robert Cecil made this statement in response to a question in the house of commons. He said the government considered the question of employment of vessels belonging to hostile nations in neutral ports was a matter for neutral governments. Lake Ports Ice-Bound. Cleveland, Ohio Backwardness in the opening of the navigation season, together with great increase in de mand, has caused congestion of freight in Lake ports amounting to 100,000, 000 tons of iron ore and grain, accord ing to a statement issued by the Lake Carriers' association. The weather continues to hold the ice in Upper Lake ports and it probably will be May 1 before navigation really la under way, ays the statement. I V" ) BANDITS ON WAY TO JOIN PANCFIO VILLA General Salazar, tiuerta Leader, Plans Campaign on I). S. PERSHING'S TROOPS EQUIPPED ANEW Clothing Worth $100,000 Now On Way to Front, Also Mexican Gold to Pay Off Soldiers. El Paso General Ynez Salazar, one of the best known of the former Hu etra generals, who has been living here, was reported Sunday night to have crossed the border with the an nounced intention of taking up arms against the United States. The information was given to the police by a man who was colsely as sociated with Salazar and was ac cepted by them as true, after investi gation. Torreon, Mex. Canuto Reyes, at the head of a considerable number of bandits, passed the Durango railroad Sunday near Pedricena, going north. It is supposed that his object is to join Villa, who, according to latest reports, is somewhere midway between Tor reon and Parral. A large number of bandits are re ported bv arrivals from the north to be operating in the Sierra Mojada, The Sierra Mojada is 120 miles north of Torreon and an equal distance west of Parral. It is one of the wildest and most desolate spots in Mexico. There is a good deal of speculation hore as to the possibility that Villa and Canuto Reyes are planning to concentrate their forces in this sierra. If they do, any troops coming from the direction of Parral would have to cross the terrible Mapini deseit, a burning waste stretching 100 miles north and south and from 50 to 60 miles broad. It is a spot that is dread ed by Mexicans and shunned by fore igners. Columbus, N. M. American troops in the field will soon be equipped with new clothing to replace that torn into shreds in the strain of the campaign. A consignment of shoes, hats, uni forms, sweaters and other wearing ap parel, valued at $100,000, was for warded south along the American line of communication Sunday. With the clothing went a shipment of approxi mately a quarter of a million dollars in Mexican gold and silver coin to be used in paying the wages of the sol diers. Newly-Discovered Serum Is Used Successfully in Drowning Cases Baltimore, Md. Physicians at the Johns Hopkins hospital invented some time ago a device to restore to life those apparently dead from drowning. It proved successful on animals that could be put under treatment immedi ately after the accident. With the idea of restoring life some time after the accident, physi cians began to search for a desired serum. However, in most of the cases there have been after effects, Buch as high blood pressure or hardening of the ar teries. According to the physicians, if the serum can be injected into the person even several hours after the accident, it will restore life. In one case on an animal the serum was injected four hours after "drowning," and the ani mal was brought back to life, although it died later from high blood pressure. Peace Advocate Mobbed. London An attempt to hold a non conscription and peace meeting in Tra falgar Square Sunday was broken up by thousands of persons, who charged the procession and tore up the banners and flags. Various peace societies had organized the demonstration. Sylvia Pankhurst was prominent among them. After the procession had dispersed the leaders mounted the plinth of the Nel son column and endeavored to make speeches, but the crowd pelted them with flour. The speakers faced the ordeal for five minutes and retreated. East Buys Oregon Paper. Oregon City, Or. Local paper mills, which have sent their product princi pally to Western and Middle Western states, are now finding a new market, capable of great development, in the Eastern states. Competing with some of the largest mills in the country, the Crown Wil lamette Paper company is now filling an order for four trainloads of 25 cars each of news print paper for one of the large Philadelphia dailies. These mills recently sent a cargo to Australia. Three Killed in Auto Race. Corona, Cal. Eddie O'Donell won the third Corona boulevard race Satur day in a "Roman holiday." Bob Burman, of Detroit, the race driver, his mechanician, Eric Schroed er, of Chicago, and a guard, W. H. Spcer, of Corona, all were killed or died soon after the race and five others, were injured when Burman's car lurched off the track. The list of dead and injured was greater than the number of drivers who crossed the finish line. 92 Saved From Steamer. Malta, via London One engineer and eight Lascars of the crew of the steamer Chantala, were killed when the vessel was sunk by a submarine. Ninety-two survivors were rescued and landed here. They declare they had no warning of the impending attack. London Lloyds Monday announced the sinking of the British steamers Ovona, 6507 tons, and Adamton, 2204 tons. SENATE VOTE ON PREPAREDNESS BILL IS PROMISED APRIL 18 Washington, D. C With the final vote on the army organization bill as sured in the senate on April 18, there still is much speculation as to the prob able final form in which the first of the great national preparedness measures will go to the joint conference com mittee of the senate and the house. The senate agreed Monday to devote to the army bill all its sessions be tween now and April 18, with the ex ception of next Monday and Tuesday, which were reserved for discussion of the free sugar repeal bill. The agree ment contemplates final disposition of the army bill before adjournment, April 18. Some senators believe that a consid erable increase will be made by the senate over the committee's proposal to fix the peace strength of the stand ing army at 180,000 enlisted men. Both Republican and Democratic members have declared on the floor they would support amendments for a WILBUR J. CARR Wi'b'T J. Carr is the director of the consular service of the United States, exercising general supervision over the commercial agents of the country who are In every corner of the world, and also having Immodiate control of the expenditures for the maintenance of the organization. greater figure, some advocating as large a force as 300,000. Senator Chamberlain, chairman of the military committee, originally proposed a peace strength of 220,000. During the week of discussion on the bill there has been nothing to indi cate the position of the majority of senators. It has been noticeable, however, that there have been no pro posals to reduce the committee's fig ures. The bill passed by the house provides for a peace strength of 140, 000 and the struggle to come in the conference committee is expected to be sharply outlined. Business Boom Reaches Retailers. Chicago As spring approaches and the period for more active outdoor operations it at hand, the business sit uation is being featured by an inten sity of activity exceeding even that of the boom months just past. The effects of full employment and rising wages are seen in the excellent reports on the retail trade which come from all sections of the country. There is a large distribution of merchandise and retailers, inBtead of buying for immediate wants only, are endeavor ing to stock up for some time to come. This always is the case when the turn has been completely made, and the effect is to overwhelm jobbers and wholesalers and stimulate prices unduly. Militia Lobby Is Denied. Washington, D. C A denial that the National Guard had maintained a lobby in connection with preparedness legis lation, as charged in the senate by Chairman Chamberlain, and others, was made in a letter to Senator Lee, by General J. C. R. Foster, chairman of the executive committee of the Na tional Guard association, for incor poration in the senate record. General Foster declared that the association had not sought interviews with con gressmen, circulated literature or maintained headquarters for lobbying. African Captures Grow. London The British success in East Africa reported Sunday included the capture of more than 400 men, accord ing to an official statement. This statement is as follows: "Further re ports from the South indicate that General Vandeventer's success in the Arusha district was more extensive than at first appeared. The German force surrounded and compelled to ca pitulate was considerable. The Ger man casualties were numerous. Al ready 17 Europeans and 404 native soldiers have surrendered." Smoot Hits Garbage Can. Washington, D. C. "The American garbage can is the fattest in all the world," declared Senator Smoot to the Senate Saturday, injecting into the discussion on preparedness a plea for preparedness for good housekeeping and better homes. Senator Smoot urged action on his bill for increased appropriations for home economics, to prepare the girls and mothers of the country for their life duties. Allies Plan Tariffs. Paris It is known that at the con ference of the entente allies here on April 20 the continuation of the al liance and its extension to economic and politial problems after the war will be considered. Tariffs designed to discriminate against enemy coun tries, to favor the present allies and to give reasonable encouragement to neutrals are expected. Ct' J -ii- l GERMAN DESPAIRS OF FAVOR IN U. S. Reichstag Leader Says Exporters Bow to British Trade. PEACE PROPOSALS STILL ACCEPTABLE No Hope Entertained, However, of Reply From Allies Must Fight On for Their Fatherland. Berlin, via London Following the speech of historical importance made in the reichstag Friday by Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg, Dr. Peter Spahn, leader of the Center party, and Friederich Ebert, leader of the Social ists, endeavored to expand upon the chancellor s declarations concerning Begium and the relations between Germany and the United States. Dr. Spahn said America had shown that her sympathies favored England. Dr. Ebert said neutral rights must be respected conscientiously and that un restricted use of the torpedo must be opposed "with the utmost sharpness." Taking up the American question, Dr. Spahn said: "The press, people and the govern ment of America have shown by their conduct that their sympathies and bus iness interests favor England and not Germany. America has become a regular-arsenal and base of supplies on a large scale for our enemies. "The American government has bound itself where we are concerned to the formal lutter of the law and has employed regularly a more generous interpretation of the regulations of neutrality only in favor of the states hostile to us. Much has been permit ted there which, if done by us, would have been used in America to provoke an outbreak of hatred against us." Dr. Spahn referred to the prolonged negotiations with he. United States in regard to the submarine question, say ing in that connection: "Americans of German descent have indeed endeavored to create a senti ment for our view, unfortunately with out success. It is incomprehensible in view of the sound business instinct of A'mericans, that the interests con cerned in legitimate export trade con tinually bow to British encroachments on maritime rights. The hopes placed in the American congress in this re gard have been disappointed." Herr Ebert said he welcomed the enunciation by the chancellor of a more definite peace program, but de clared he had no expectation of any response from the governments at London, Paris and Petrograd, although it was evident the inclination for peace was increasing among the peo ples. "Therefore," he continued, "Ger many must continue the war for de fense of the fatherland, and the Social ists, who, as representatives of the working classes, would be chief suffer ers from the project in the throttling of German trade and industry, must continue to support the government resolutely." Carranza Denies Giving U. S. Permission to Use Railways Queretaro, Mex. The Mexican gov ernment has not given the American government permission to use Mexican railways for any purpose whatever. said General Candido Aguilar, Mexican minister of foreign relations, after a meeting of the Carranza cabinet Sat urday. At the cabinet meeting General Car ranza and his advisers discussed the modifications suggested by the United States in the recent proposals for an agreement for crossing the frontier between the United States and Mexico by armed forces of the respective gov ernments. General Aguilar denied vigorously stories published in the American press to the effect that the Carranza govern ment had given permission to the United States army forces to use Mex ican railways for transportation of foodstuffs and supplies. British Win in South Africa. London Another success for the British in East Africa is reported by Lieutenant General Jan C. Smuts, commander of the British expedition operating against the Germans, in the following dispatch : "As the result of a movement begun Monday, mounted troops under Gen eral Vanderventer successfully sur prised a German force with machine guns stationed in a mountain strong hold in the Arusha region. This force was surrounded Tuesday and surren dered Thursday." Farmers Win Milk War. Chicago The Chicago milk war was practically settled Saturday, and with in 24 hours it was predicted that the normal supply would be restored to the city, which uses 1,750,000 quarts a day. The result is asserted by the farmers to be a complete victory for them. They demanded an increase from $1.33 1-3 per hundred pounds to $1.55, and this apparently is the price they will get. , Late Saturday night all of the dis tributors except one had agreed to pay the higher price. Indian Hold Potlatch. Pendleton, Or. The old-time In dians of the Umatilla reservation held a potlatch Saturday. This is a custom almost extinct and amounts to an ad ministration of the personal estate of a dead Indian. When a member of the tribe dies without heirs it is customary for the friends to gather and divide the personal effects. This is made an oc casion for feasting and various cere monies are conducted, but these are seldom held in modern days. AMERICAN CAVALRY AGAIN ROUT VILLA BANDITS; THIRTY KILLED San Geronimo, Chihuahua Via aero plane to Colonia Dublan and by wire less to Columbus, N. M. Two hundred American cavalrymen under Colonel W. C. Brown, Tenth cavalry, defeated an equal force of Villistas in the sec ond engagement of the campaign at Aguas Calientes, 30 miles north of Guerrero, on April 1.' This report was made to General Pershing Wednesday by two Mexican ranchmen, who said that the Mexican forces lost 30 men and 40 horses, while the Americans suffered no casualties. Villa was not with the band, accord ing to the ranchmen, who asserted that the American troops believed at first they had encountered the bandit chieftain. An investigation showed that he had not been with the detach ment. For hours the American cavalrymen followed Manued Lopez, one of Villa's JUDGE C. A. DOUGLAS Judge Charles A. Douglas Is the le-J gal adviser of the Carranza faction and represent! It In legal matter In Washington. He la a well-known law yer and, has handled many Internation al cases. lieutenants, and his bandits through tortuous winding canyons and almost impassable trails of the mountains, Believing that they had eluded their pursuers the bandits relaxed their vig ilance and before they realized it they were confronted by the troops of the Tenth cavalry, General Pershing's old regiment, which had been stationed near the town to intercept stray bands attempting to make their escape. Only the most meager details of the ensuing engagement were brought here by the Mexican ranchmen, but in many respects it resembled that of week ago at San Geronimo. Immedi ately the bandits realized the presence of American troops they began a hur ried, disorganized flight from their camp, some seizing their ponies and others trying to make their escape afoot. They went singly and in small parties, all firing at the American troops as they fled. None took aim, the ranchmen said, and as a result none of the bullets found a khaki-clad mark. Principal Results, of Tuesday Elections. Following is a summary of the re sults of last Tuesday's elections held in several eastern states and cities: Chicago Democarts carry 21 wards for Alderman; Mayor Thompson loses ground. Republicans make sweep in Kansas City. Social Democrat leads for mayor of Milwaukee. Butte, Mont.,- retires all Socialists. Henry Ford leads Senator Smith as Republican choice for President in Michigan, but lead is being cut down. Muskogee, Okla., goes Democratic. Moline and Waukegan, 111., oust sa loons ; Bloomington and Lockport, for merly dry, go wet; women vote Mo line dry and feminine vote makes East Dubuque wet. North Platte, Neb., goes dry for first time. Baraga and Clare counties, Michi gan,. added to dry column. ., Standard Oil Boycotted. Pittsburg The Pittsburg Auto Deal ers' association has declared a boycott on the Standard Oil company until the price of gasoline is lowered. All mem bers have pledged themselves not to use gasoline from the Standard com pany. John J. Bell, president of the association, has written to the council demanding that the Standard com pany's contemplated move in installing numerous small gasoline tanks for pri vate consumers be prohibited. The company is planning this move to com bat the auto dealers. Powerful German Attack Repulsed. Paris A powerful German attack against the first lines of the French south of Douaumont was repulsed Tuesday and the Germans were driven back in the direction of Chauffour Wood, which lies to the northwest. The French artillery concentrated their fire on the retiring Germans, who, ac cording to the official statement issued by the French War office Wednesday, suffered considerable losses. On the west of the Meuse a German attack against Haucourt failed. Parole Refused Youtsey. Frankfort, Ky. Parole was refused Wednesday by the State board of pris on commissioners to Henry Youtsey, convicted 16 years ago of conspiracy in the assassination of Governor Goebel and sentenced to life imprisonment. Youtsey is the only person among the, six accused of complicity in the i assassination who is serving a prison term. The others either were ac quitted or received executive clemency. FEDERAL VOLUNTEER ARMY SEEMS SAVED Supporters of Measure -Assert Victory in Senate. NATIONAL GUARD ACCUSED OF POLITICS Senator Says if Intimidation Contin-. lies He Will Favor Elimination of Guard as War Factor. Washington, D. C The senate re tained the Federal Volunteer provision in the army bill late Friday by a vote of 36 to 34, rejecting Senator Lea's amendment to strike the section out of the bill. The vote ended a four-day debate on the section. Washington, D. C Advocates of the Federal volunteer provision of the senate army bill believed the section had been saved by a narrow margin when the senate recessed Thursday night, without having reached a vote on the Lee amendment to strike it out. Senator Chamberlain, chairman of the military committee, asked again that action be deferred, as one or two senators still desired to be heard. Debate on the volunteer provision lasted all day, champions of the Na tional Guard, supporting the amend ment, occupying most ' of the time. In the closing hours, however, Senator Chamberlain vigorously defended the provision as vital to any military plan and denounced attempts of National Guard organizations to interfere with legislation. He was joined by Senators O'Gor man and Williams in warning to the senate that at the close of the Euro pean war the United States would need a great navy and an adequate army to back her demands on the bel ligerent powers for indemnification at losses sustained through violations of her rights as a neutral. "As surely as the sun rises tomor row morning," Senator Williams said, "unless this country puts itself into a condition where it can resist and with stand bullying, we are going to be in trouble with the victor in this war un less we surrender the positions we have taken and timidly submit to the rule which the victor may lay down for immunity or disclaimer." "Self-preservation iB the interna tional code of the belligerent," said Senator O'Gorman, who contended that rights of neutrals had been invaded by all of the warring European powers. "Protests of neutrals will be regard ed," he added, "only if backed by sufficient power to enforce their de mands." "When this war is over," said Sen ator Chamberlain, "if we intend to demand recompense for American lives and property destroyed, if we are go ing to demand any satisfaction, then we ought to be prepared to back all our demands by force of arms if neces sary. And in what condition are we? We have not the power to enforce a single demand we have made." Senator Williams declared that while increasing the army was import ant, enlarging the navy was of first importance. The senator favored such a navy by 1918 that it could meet and defeat any force that might be started against it. Senator Chamberlain's arraignment of the National Guard's activities was supported by Senators McCumber and Nelson, who called attention to tele grams from National Guard officials sent to many senators, urging them to vote against the Federal volunteer provision. "If the National Guard intends to come here and undertake to control legislation calculated to protect Amer ica against the world," Baid the Ore gon senator, "I for one from now on shall favor the elimination of the Na tional Guard as a military factor in this country. They have been here and are here for this purpose." Senator Nelson declared that he had never before seen "such lobbying as these outside influences have brought to bear to defeat certain sections of this bill." Beef Shrinkage Big. Washington, D. C How livestock producers are losing more than $2,500, 000 a year through natural shrinkage in cattle and an untold amount through alleged stifled competition due to the packers postponing the buying hour in the yards from 8 to 11 o'clock in the morning, wad described by Edward L. Burke, of Omaha, Thursday, to the house sub-committee considering the Borland resolution to investigate the packers for violation of the anti-trust laws. Mr. Burke represented the American Livestock association. New Sea Line to Start. Francisco Eleven American San freighters, manned by American crews and flying the house flag of the recently-organized Oriental Alliance Steam ship company, are scon to be placed on the trans-Pacific run between San Francisco and the Orient, according to Peter D. Milloy, president of the com pany, who is here arranging for the in stitution of the service. Should busi ness prove sufficient, the company la ter will operate two boats between New York and San Francisco through the Panama canal. Easy Spelling Way Gains. New York The number of univer sities, colleges and normal schools which have adopted simplified spelling now is 144, a gain of 57 in the last year, according to a report made to the Simplified Spelling Board at its annual meeting here. In these institutions there are 130.000 students. The num ber of newspapers and periodicals using at least the 11 simpler spellings adopt ed by the National Education associa tion has increased from 70 to 250.