Image provided by: Hillsboro Public Library; Hillsboro, OR
About Hillsboro independent. (Hillsboro, Washington County, Or.) 189?-1932 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 9, 1906)
Hillsboro Independent Urn 4 I HILLSBORO OREGON NEWS OF THE WEEK la a Condensed form for Our Busy Readers. A Resume of ths Let Important but Not Less Interesting Events ' of the Past Week. Zdro weather prevails thro' giout the United States eaat of the Rocky mountains. LEASE RANGE LAND. Is Near at Five bodies have been recovered frona V e wreck on the Northern Pacific near Helena. A fa le emperor of Rusiia and his suite, who have been stirring up the people of the Volga region, have been arretted. Fire which was started in the match department of a Lexingon, Kentucky, wnoleaale house, destroyed $150,000 worth of property. President Roosevelt condemns bas ing, but says the law proposed by con Kress is too revere and would cripple the navy. He auks for a modification. 1' red I. lent Roosevelt has formally withdrawn the apointmtnt of W. C. Bristol as Unite 1 States attorney for Oregon and forwarded the charges to Mr. Bristol for an explanation. General Grodekoff, who became not el for his ruthless measures in restor ing order in Amur during the Boxer trouble, will suceed Linievitch as Rus sian viceroy of the Far Kaat, with com uiand of the land and sea forces John E. Wilkie, cbiefl of the United States secret service, says that the cap tain of every steamer which has been wrecked on the Pacific coant in the Iaat three years has been found to have been fraudulently naturalized. Under the law no man can become captain of au American ship unless he is an Ameri can citizen. Russian soldiers are killing off rebels by the wholesale. Zero temperature prevails throughout the central states. Day of Small Cattlemen Hand in West. Washington, Feb. . The time is unquestionably coming when congress will authorize the leasing of that part ol the public domaiii suitable for graz ing, but not a the present session. The tendency of the times is to break down the large stockmen who have dominated the public range in times past and to protect and enconrase the small siockowner. The cattle baron of the past, like those of his number w ho till survive, had little interest in the public welfare. His was a war of ex termination on the small stockman ; he had no care for the future; he looked only to the profits of today. The result been that, when allowed full ; " ii OREGON STATE ITEMS OF INTEREST TEN MEASURES FILED. ROAD TO BF REBUILT. has Russca is negotiating for a new treaty with China. Georgia traveling men Lave started a "clean sheet" crusade. A worn five-cent piece led to the ar rest of a burglar in Seattle. One of Dowie'e leading Elders de clares that the prophet is a fa'lure. Wallace says there is too much red tape connected with the wort on the Panama canal. swing, he has demolished all competi tion, he has ruined the public range, and has grown rich to some extent at public expense. But this order of things is coming to an end. The Roosevelt administration is no lover of the wanton cattle baron. It perfera to see the West filled with small stock owners, for these men be come citizens, and good citizens; they have an interest in the public welfare; they exert an influence for good, and it is the purpose of the adminietration to help them as far as possible. But the process of evolution most be slow ; it cannot be accomplished in day. One of the most effective means of pro tecting the small stockowner is to adopt a system of leasing the public grazing lands and exerting a government con trol which will preclude monopoly and give the settler and the small stock owner a "square deal" in the parceling out of the public range. A bill for this purpose, which in general meets the approval of the administration, was drawn and introduced by Representa tive Lacey, of Iowa, chairman of the house committee on public lands. True, it stands little chance of passing trie present congress, because there is a strong sentiment among certain West ern senators and representatives against the leasing of the publie domain. It is a new departure; it is a radical niove, and, while it is bound to come, the sentiment against it is sufficiently strong at this time to defeat the Lacey bill. But iiie hill serves a tood purpose it brings the leasing question before the public; it will lad to general dis cussion throughout the West; it will be instrumental in shaping public sen timent, and in the end it, or some sim ilar bill, will go through, and a mater ial check will be placed upon the oper ations of the cattle baron. The bill is the basis of what in time will become a notorious fight in congress. Questions To Be Submitted to People for Their Decision. Salem The last day for filing initia tive measures in the office of the secre tary of state has passed and sis meas ures were added to the four already on file. The bills and proposed amend ments to be.voted upon are as follows: The ll.DOO.OUO appropriation bill passed b the last legislature and held up by referendum petittions. The local option bill proposed by the Liquordealers' association as an amend ment to the present local option law. The bill filed by the owners of the Barlow road, requiring the state to buy the road for the sum of 124,000. The proposed constitutional amend ment filed by the Equal Hp ft rage league, extending the elective franchise to women. A bill by the People's Power leaaue making it unlawful for public service corpo ations to give passes or free or reduced rate service to public officials. A bill by the State grange, levying a license tax upon the groea earnings of refrigerator and sleeping cars and oil companies. A conatitutional amendment proposed by the People's Power league to amend section 1 of article 12 so that the pub lic printing will be entirely within the control of the legislature, and may be let by contract, or a printer elected or appointed, upon a salary or other com pensation. An amendment proposed by the Peo ple's Power league to amend article 4 of the constitution so that the referend um may be demanded npon any item or section ol a bill and extending the rights of initiative and referendum to municipalities. An amendment proposed by the Peo ple's Power league to amend sections 1 and 2 of article 17, so that one legisla tive assembly may submit constitution. al amendments, and that when the vo'e upon an amendment has been canvassed by the governor and a majority found in its favor he shall proclaim it adopt ed, and it shall then be a part of the constitution, beyond the power of the courts to pass npon; also that no law for a constitutional convention shall be in force until approved by a vote of the peoplj. An amendment proposed by thn Peo ple's Power league to amend section 2 of article 11, giving the legirl voters ol a municipality power to frame and adopt their own charters, and forbid ding theJegislature to create municipal corporations. Government Work and Immigration Stimulates Klamath Line. Klamath Falls Iof rniation received t Kla-iath Falls indicates t -at the Klamath Lake railroad, connecting ith the Sjotl ero pacific at Thrall and extending to P.kegama, recently ac quired by the Weyerhaeuser Lumber company, will be practically, recon structed during the present year, track laid better to enuble the line to corn mad traffic of the Klamath Falls region for some time, while also better sxrving the purposes of its new owners in the development of lumber industries. Four new locomotives have been order ed, new passenger coach and a num ber of cars are to be purchased, w hich is understood to be indicative of the in tentions witn reference to the railroad. No official information is had as to the intentions in the way of adding mileage, but it is known that investiga tions made before the acquisition of the property were with a view to determin ing the traffic assured by reason of the government work in constructing the canal for which Mason, Davis A Co., of Portland, now have the first contract. With absolute knowledge of the ton nage of traffic that was handled during 1105, and its grest increase over the preceding year, and an additional ton nage for the next year that will surely double the commodity traffic of 1005. to sy nothing of the immigration that will mean a great deal of business, the railroad officials feel more tbon Justi fied in large expenditures and will com plete their projected work at the ear liest possible date. State to Buy Books. Salem Miss Marvin, secretary of the State Library commission, an nounces that the contract for the pur chase of about 15,000 worth of books for school libraries will be awarded at the next meeting the of commission. The commission called for bids some time ago, and several publishing houses are figuring on the contract. Under the law, each county is required to levy a tax sufficient to equal 10 cents a head for each child of schcol age in the county for the purchase of books for the school library. TEMPEST OF FLAME. Great Fire Devours Elevator, Wheat and Horses in St. Louis. St. Louis, Feb. 6. Fire, which orig inated in the Union Grain eUvator in East St. Louis, ID., last eight, after completely dtstroying that structure, spread to surrounding buildings and freight cars in the yards of the Termin al association, and caused damage esti mated at $ 1,20. 000 before its progrest was checked. At an ealy Lour this morning the flames were still casting a ruddy glare, but it is believed that the fire is well under control, and there is little further danger of its spreading.' A detailed estimate of the losses fol lows: Union elevator, 300,000; grain in elevator, $'J50,000; St. Louis Cat company, barn, 115,000, horses, $16, 600, feed, $3,000; Waters-Pierce Oil company, $5,000; seven dwellings, $7, 000; 20 box cars, $20,000; total, $1, S1A.500. The fire originated in a brick engine bouse, SO feet away from the elevator proper, and was discovered by the night watchman. Before the arrival of the fire department, the flames bad spread to the elevator. Assistance was sent from St. Louis, and the efforts of the firemen were principally directed toward preventing the fire from spread ing to adjoining elevators and ware houses, the Union elevator having been converted into furnace within a few minutes alter it caught fire. The Leavens were brightly illumi nated and it is estimated that 60,000 persons viewed the fire from both banks of the Mississippi river and the bridge. Seven dwellings were covered by burning oil by the explosion of four tank cars and entirely destroyed. The occupants, however, were either outside viewing the conflagration, or were able to escape before the flames consumed their h miee. IN THE NATIONAL' HALLS OF CONGRESS Tuesday. February 6. Washington, Feb. 6 The senate did not Lave an opportunity today to Lear the discusaion of Patterson a resolution on the action of the democratic caucus ahich wss parlinlly promised, but gave ttie entire aay to a review oi me prerogatives of the senate in the matter of framing treaties. The question wat raised by Bacon. In a speech on his resolution requesting information con cerning the Algeciraa conference. Lodge gave notice of a speech Mon day on the railroad rate bill. Washington, Feb. 6. Having fixed the end of the general debate on the rate bill at 4:30 o'clock tomorrow, the recognition of the cba'r was passed around at a lively rate in the Louse today. Seventeen speeches were made, all of them for the measure. The rail roads came in for an unusual, amount of criticism. PICKING UP THE VICTIMS. Are PUBLIC WORKS IN HAWAII. Portland is to be invaded by a drug trust, a newly formed concern with a capital of $10,000,000. An appropriation of $4,839,903 lor fortifications in 11)07 Las been agreed upon by the house committee on appro priations. The Reorganized Mormon rhnrch has been started in Halt Lake Citv and ita members will be the principal witness es against 8 moot. One regiment of infantry and two squadrons of cavalry are being held in readiness at Manila to go to China at the first sign of an outbreak. W. C. Bristol, United States attorney for Oregon, will have to go. The charge of "unprofessional conduct" is placed against him. It is said that he attempted to draw fees from both sides of a case. Castro vows vengeance on France. Democratic senators Lave united to fight the San Domingo treaty. The w ill of the late Charles T. Yerkes may be contested by his widow. t The Union Pacific Las bought a con trol of the Illinois Central railroad. W. C. T. U. workers will ask Roosevelt to bar wine from her ding. Miss wed Kansas authorities are after a broth er of John D. Rockefeller for land fraud, John A. Linn, clerk of the Cook county, Illinois, court, is charged with embezzling $50,000. From present indications the dispute between France and Germany in Mo rocco cannot be settled. The Washington railroad commission may make a stricter ruling on issuing passes by railway companies. Germany is exasperated because of her inability to secure a reciprocity treaty witn the United States. The governor of Iowa will call meeting of the various governors early In the summer for the purpose of unit ing on a plan to secure election of United States senators by the people. Witte is preparing a plan to sell land to peasanst. Roosevelt denies that he is acting as dictator to congress. The pope has "advised French Cath olics to give In to the state. Colonel Colton reports that pce Lau leen restored in Santo Domingo. Twenty-seven bodies Lave been re covers! from the wreck of the Valencia. Seattle people are Indiansnt over the Valencia investigation and demand a more ng'd inquiry. Ureat I'ntain may institute radical reforms in her army to please Japan. A cold wave has struck the eastern portion ol the United States. In plac es the temperature dropped 40 degrees in 24 hours. The American Smelting trust is bny Ing control in the large copr compan ies and it is believed a huge trust is being formed. The United Mineworkers of America have deviled to call a strike in every sat April 1. The order is expected to affect 600,000 men and cut off the fuel apply of the nation. i Delegation Comes to Urge that Cus toms Money Be Used There. Washington, Feb. 6 A delegation of Hawaiian citizens arrived here today to appear before a committee of con gress to advocate legislation requiring three-fouths of the customs duties and internal revenues collected, in the terri tory to be expended on public works there. It is said $1,200,000 a year, equal to $8 per capita of the population, is taken out of the territory, which the members of the delegation say consti tutes a heavy drain on ita resources. The 'memlwrs of the delf gation include W. O. Smith, attorney general of the Island before the annexation; George W. Smith, president of the board of supervisors of Oahu county, in which Honolulu is situated: Mark B.Robin. son, J. R. Gait, E. A. MiQuerny, D. H. Case and A. B. Loebenstein. W. O. 8mith, the chairman of the commis sion, in speaking of the visit of the delegation, tonight, said: "We ask nothing for the exclusive benefit of Hawai'. We are here to ask that 75 per cent of the customs duties and internal revenue collected in the territory for the next twenty years be expended on public works. We do not ask a dollar for our own current ex penses. The only benefit the people of the islands will reap will be that the money spent for wages on the proposed public works w ill be kpt in circulation in the islands instead of being shipped in gold to San Francisco. Large Depot at Austin. Sumpter The Sumpter Valley Rail road company has just finished an 80 foot depot at the terminus of the road now known as Austin station. Much freight is received st that poit, neces sitating larger depot than is generally round at othtr stations on the line of the road. A few other buildings have been erected at Austin and the place is beginning to assume the proportions of a village. There is no authenticated repo-t current as to whether the Sump ter Valley intends to extend its line be- yond that point during the coming sea son or not. New Sawmills for Linn. Albany Two sawmills are looking lor locations in this city, and it i ex peeled both will establish here before the end of the coming summer. One is the mill at Lyons, east of this city, in the Cascade mountains. It is the property of N. H. Wheeler. The other is a sa v and planing mill of large ca p?city now located at another point in whs state. The mill will employ about 100 hands, and, if it comes here, . : 1 1 . i . . . . . "in require si least 10 acres lor a site The owners are not ready to have their names made public. Italy Has Forest Fire. Milan, Feb. 6. A forest fire that started three days ago on the St. Goth ard railroad is still burning, and now covers 12 square miles. Several hun dred workmen are endeavoring to save the signal posts along the track and peasants are working to preserve their homes from destruction. A number of factories and a chapel have been destroyed. The big electric station at niiinma, near I'ommodm la is sur rounded by fire, and several towns are without light, and many factories have shut down for want of motive power. Klamath Horses Sell High. Merrill J. Frank Adams has Just sold 100 head of horses to Charles Stewart, of San Francisco, for prices ranging from $100 to $150 each. Mr. Stewart purchased the horses to take to San Francisco and perhaps a large portion of them will go to Honolulu or be transorted for service in the United States army. Sixty head of the ani mals brought $100 each and 40 Lead were sold at $150 each. Theyaveraged from l,2.r0 to 1,500 pounds each, and some of them were only halter broken. This is considered a good price. Road Taps Mining District. Baker City A special from Samnter says it is assured that the Sumpter Operate Eugene Mill. Eugene Final papers have been made out in Salem for the sale of the Eugene Woolen mill to a Salem organ ization, to be known as the Eugene Woolen Mill company. The Thomas Kay Woolen Mill company of Salem is the principal stockholder. John P. Wilbur and Will Wright, of Union, Or., more than a year ago purchased the plant at a receiver's sale. The company w hich has just bought it an nounces it will have the mill rnnnino within 60 days. The plant Las been idle about three years. Plans Cheese Factory. Dallas R. Robinson, of Tillamook, is in Dallas and plans to establish a cheese factory here. Mr. Robinson says if the farmers will guarantee 250 cows to start with he will immediately mane an arrangements for the plant. He expects to rent space in the Dallas ice plant, where cold storage will be convenient, thereby avoiding the ex pense and delay of building. Mr. Rob inson already owns seveia! plants in Oregon. United States Revenue Cutters Cruising Off the Straits. Victoria, B. C, Feb. 5. A special dispatch to the Associated Press from Bamfield tonight says the United States cutter Perry landed a party at Darling creek today and succeeded in getting nine bodies from the beach, and also took off Lieutenant Gromville and six men let there the previous night. The Perry also picked up one male body al sea, badly decomposed. I lie Lnited States steamer Grant also found a male body badly decomposed and unrecognizable. This is the 30th body recovertd. The 11 bodies Lave been landed at Bam field and will be shipped to Victoria by tug leaving to morrow morning. All the bodies have now been taken from the shore at Dar ling creek, but the searchers will re main in the Lope that some others mav come ashore. It is feared, however, that those now coming ashore will be in such bad condition that they will be on recognizable. The tug Wyadda brought eight bod ies, five that were picked up by the Perry on Friday and three taken from the beach at Darling creek, a landing having been efficted from the Wyadda this morning in a dory. The majority are in a badly decomposed condition, some with parts of the head and skull missing. Both the revenue cutters n i . ... rerry ami urani win remain cruising near the wreck in search of other bodies that may be found floating. Monday, February 5. Washington, Feb 6. The senate was treated to a sensation today by Patter son, Detn., Colo., who followed up bis tetirement of last Sturday from the Democratic caucus by intro lucing a resolution in effect declaring the action of the caucus to Lave been contrary to the constitution of the United States. Gallinger succeeded during the day. in securing the fixing of a date lor vot ing on the shipping bill, the Lour nsmed being Wednesday at 3 p. m. Several bills were passed during the day and Teller made a speech in oppo sition to the shipping bill. roraker announced that tie tiad no intention of attempting to delay action on trie statehood bill, which lie op posed. Washington, Feb. 6. Considerable fault was found with the railroad rate bill in the house today, considering the fact that it is a measure of both parties LitllofieM, of Maine, and Groevenor, of Ohio, both spoke against the bill Ten other speeches were made, all of them by members who will vote for the bill, but some of whom would like sn opportunity to amend it. Gaines, of lennessee, Las an anti-pass amendment which he will bring forward at the proper time. At the conclusion of the day Hep burn, in charge of the measure, said it locked now as tliOiih debate would conclude at 3 o'clo k Wednesday. The reading of the bill w ill begin at once, and he thinks it can be concluded, all proposed amendments disposed of and the bill passed that day before adjourn meni. business and, as the statehood bill oo rupieU the nrst place, the secretary La begun to read it before any of its oppo nents realized the situation. He had covered but a few pages when Teller put a stop to the proceedings for the lime. The shipping bill was made the basis of a running debate between Patterson n opposition and Gallingtr and Per kins in support. At the. conclusion of this debate a bill authorising the treasury to investi gate certain Missouri state war claims. was passed. Thursday, February I. Washington, Feb. 1. The discussion- of the railroad rate bill was taken up and prosecuted with vigor throughout the day. So many speakers have come to the front on this measure that the bouse agreed to meet at 11 o'clock hereafter until the debate is ended The feature of the debate was the engthy speech of Sibley, of Pennsyl vania, who arraigned the legislation, with arguments of varied character. 11 of which tended to give Lis reasons for being unalterably opposed to the bill. The resolution of Burton, of Ohio, looking to the preservation of Niagara Falls, was agreed to witbont discus- ion. The resolution calls for informa tion from the International commission on that subject. Washington, Feb. 1. The senate to day passed 30 or 40 miscellaneous bi 1 Is -snd gave several hours to the consid eration of the shipping bill. Among the bills passed was one providing for a delegate in congress from Alaska and number providing for light houses. revenue cutters and fish culture sta tions. The greater part of the time devoted to the shipping bill was con sumed by Penrose in a stieecb in sup port of the measure. Use Sagebrush Fuel. Salem W. K. Burke, of Harney county, representing the Portland Land company, was before the State Land board at its last meeting arranging to perfect proof of reclamation for about 9,000 acres, under the Carey act, in Harney county, near Burns. This com pany will obtain water from wells by pumping, using sagebrush for fuel to generate the steam power. 24 Ewen Swap with Italy. Washington, Feb. . A statement prepared by the secretary of Commerce and Labor shows that the commerce between Italy and the United States in the fiscal year 1!H)5 aggregated $77, 500,000, almost equally divided be tween imports and exports. Exports iroro me Unite-1 Mates to Itiy the last nscal year were valued at $38,740,607 iuiiiris irora naiy in ine same vear were valued at $38,628,579. In 30 years our trade with Italy hasa-nre-at- hi considerably more than $1,000,00), 000. Order for Coal Strike. Indianapolis, Feb. 6. It was inti mated at the national headonartera of the Unite.! Mineworkers of America to day that before the adjournment of the present session of the executive board Secretary-Treasurer W. B. Wilson will be instructed to prepare a formal strike order, effective April 1, In order to avoid the necessity of reassembling the board after the adjonrnment of the present session. No meeting of the board was held today. Japan to Increase Navy. Tokio, Feb. 6. At a meetins of the secional budget committee today dele gates representing the government said that Japan expected to increase the tonnage of her navv to 400.000 tons for the fiscal year 1900-7. cieciric raiiroa.i to the mining camp of Bourne will be built this spring. W. E. Hnrd, of Portland, and Anthon Mohr. of Sumpter. are in the in the interest of the new road, which is planned to handle ores more cheaply. They say the road is practically financ ed. It will be an electric line about een miles long, serving one oi the rich tst mining csmps in the Northwest. Range Horses Die by Score. Baker City It is reported here .'rom the ranges of Baker county that scores of horses, tnrned out by their owners vo ieei memseives during the winter months, have starved to death, while many others are in a most pitiable con dition. This is csused by the unusual ly deep snows, which prevent the ani mals from reaching the dried grasses of the ranges, on which they usually de pend for their wintr substenance. Buying Heavy Draft Horses. John Day J. D. Combs, a local buyer. Las been picking np a ood many hon-ee during the past week for the Willamette valley trade. He pur chased, among other heavy draft horses, the fine team owned by Senator Lavrock. paying therefor the sum of $350. This team is generally thoonht io re tne best in Urant county, and will probably be sold in Portland. Prices generally are good. Money from State Land. Fa'em The State Land board has re. ceived from the sale of public 'ands and interest, on behalf of the pnblic school. the Agricnltnral college and the uni versity, funds duriag January $74, 138.76. The money hat all ben tnrn. ed into the state treasury. For Experiment Station. Echo The United States Government has decided to establish an experiment station of 49 acres on the East Umatilla Irrigation project. Land will be set apart for this purpofe. PORTLAND MARKETS. Wheat Club, tJ9i.'(S70Wc: blue- stem, 70,,(72c; red, b7(68c; valley, 73c. Oats No. 1 white feed. 128: crrav. ,0 . B--SI f 27. Barley Feed. $23(323.50 per ton brewing, $24; rolled, $24(s25. Hiu kwheat $2.25 per cental. Hay Eastern Oregon timothy, fu.ouian; valley timothy, $910; clover. $7.60(38; cheat, $7S; grain Lay, $78 per ton. Fruits A pp'es, common, "Scfatl per d; cnoice, 1. 231.50: fancy, $2(3; pears, $1.25(5(1.60 per box; cranbtr ries, $13813.50 per barrel. Vegetables Cabhage, 2(3 2. Vc per poond, cauliflower, $1.85 per crate: celery, $3.60 per crate; pumpkins, 4 Olc per pound; sprouts. 6W(a7c per ljunu; rquasn, I'jdl VC per pound parsley, 25C; turnips, OOcfr? $1 per sack carrots, 65(3 ,5c per sack; beets, 85c (aft per sack. Onions Oregon. No. 1. $1.10(31.25 per sack; o. 2, 70fl. lotatoes Fancy graded Bnrbanks, ouc per Hundred; ordinary, nominal sweet potatoes, 2g2!4'c per pound. Hotter fancy creamery, J7l(a30c per pound. v r . . r.KK uregon rancn, Z3Z4e per uoaen . loultry Average old bens, ll(12c per pound; mixed chickens, lOlOc; nroners, iorti7c; young roosters, 10c; old roosters, 89c: dressed chickens. uwiic; mrueys. live. 16317c; tor L - j i . . , -. ummi, cno re. iNufZllc: inw live, fi(410c; geese, dressed, 12314c; ducks, 161 8c. Hops Oregon, 1905, choice lOtflllc per pound; prime, 8,9c; medium. l"c; olds, 6S7c. Wool Eastern Oregon average best, 16321c; valley, 24(2c per pound; mohair, choice, 30c. Beef Dressed bulls, t32e per tonnd; cows, 3 3 4l,c; country steers. 4?5c. Mutton Dressed, fancv, 88Sc per pound; ordinary, 435c; lambs, 73 Veal Dressed, 3V38c P' pound. Pork Dressed, 6 3 7 e per pound. fLIZZARD SWEEPS DAKOTAS. Mercury Falls 65 Dr tn o Hours Railroads Blockaded. Grand Forks, N. 1)., Feb. 6. One of the most severe blizzards of the winter is rsging in this state. While there has been only a slight snowfall here, tLe western part t t the etate has had a general and heavy snowfall. The wind has blown a gale all day and night, and no trains have arrived from the west since morning. At midnight wie storm was unabated, and it promis es to tie up railroad traffic badly. Deadwood, 8. D., Feb. 6. A high wind and driving snow all day Las broken the summer weather here, the mercury falling 65 degress in the last 24 hours. Tonight the thermometer registers 10 below zero. Saturday, February 3. Washington, Feb. 3. Various phases of the railroad rate question were threshed over in the houre today in the course of nine speeches which occupied six and a half hours. This.concludes the fifth day oi the discussion, but the end Is not yet. Many members on both sides of the house desire to record their views and general debate will be allowed to continue. Representative Randall today offer! a bill that he w ill offer as an amend ment. It makes stringent provisions against the giving or accepting of rail way parses or franks by seuators, con . . . . ItresBiuen anu judges. lie proposes a fine of not less than $1,000, or impria . i i uiiiuuv lor not tees man one year, or both, and disqualification from ever again holding public office. The agent or oinciai ot tlie company giving the pass or frank, upon eonviction, is to be nned not less than $100, nor more than $1,000, or imprisoned for not less than six months nor more than one year, or uom. Many Burned In Mine. " Genesee, N. Y., Feb. 5. Fifty men were burned, many of them seriously, in fire st the Sterling company's mine, near Schuyler today. The ex plosion was caused hv an accnmnlatinn of gas in the sandbouse near the sur- mce. ins men were coming up the shaft at the close of today's work when the gas was ignited by one nf their lamps. A blinding eiplosion followed. The men were all brought to the sur fwe by rescue parties. The most seri ously injured include Manager John B. Knox, Jr. Friday. February 2. Washington, Feb. 2. Oratory on the railroad rate bill held the attention of the house for six hours today. The speeches of Burton, Ohio, McCall. ft ' aiass., ana Ksssell. lex., were featnrna. while Thomas, N. C . Burke. 8. I).. and Goulden, N. Y., took up particular ami specmc topics. Before proceeding to consideration id tne rate bill the house passed a bill ex lenuing me public land laws to a tract of land ten miles square in Wyoming ceded to the government in 1897 by the ouusuone ana Arapanoe Indians. -d.,,hi,,ii, ttu, i . mere was lor a moment todav a nrnsnert !,. n.. 1 I 1 - .'... .1117 Statebood bid would receive ita flr.t formal reading in that body, always the uiuai nep in ine consideration of any measure reported from committee. The senate took up the calendar imme diately after disposing of the routine Wednesday, January 31. Washington, Jan. 31. Discussion of the railroad rate bill continued in the house today. Incident to it two speeches, the efforts of Campbell, of kamas, and Martin, of Sruth Dakota. took a wide range and swept the hori zon of "trust evils" generally. Bart- lett, of Georgia, a minority member of the committee reporting the bill, made a two Lours' speech, in which he dis cussed the legal and constitutional questions involved and advocated the passage of the bill as a pauper remedy fir an intolerable condition. The first speech in opposition to the bill, which concluded the day's discussion, was made by Perkins, of New York. He based his opposition to government control of rates on an inherent aversion to government control of business en terprises. Red tape and fixed condi tions, be said were an inseparable part of government action on any matter. A bill was parsed erantina a Federal charter to the Carnegie fund for the ad vancement of teaching. The fund con- sists of $10,000,000. the which is to furnish pensions to retired educators. Washingtm, Jan. 31. In the senate. today Patterson strongly endorsed th position of the president In Santo Do mingo and In the matter of the Moroc can conference. He said that he was sorry to differ from his Democratic col leagues, but that Le felt it Lis dutv to. do so in these matters. He also ex pressed absolute confidence id the pa triotism of the president and in him good faith in announcing his determin. at ion not again to be a candidate for the presidency. The remainder of ths session was devoted to a debate on that shipping bill. New Naturalization Bin". Washington, Feb. 6. The Louse. committee on immigration and natural ization practically agreed today on the. Howell naturalization bill in a sliuhtiir amended form. As the bill stands now. It reonirea applicants to file their application for final citizetsjhlp papers 90 dava l,e,.r. the hearing; provides that the court order shall not issue until 30 days sfter the bearing and allows anneals fronk court orders. WasLington, Feb. t. The monthlr statement of the public debt day shows that the debt less cash in the treasury amounts to $991,624,646. which is a decrease' for the month of $3,345,072. Baltic-Black Sea Canal. St. Petershnrg, Feb. 5. An Ameri can named Wendell Jackson has a pro ject for linking the Duna and Dnieper i.7 . cinai near Vitebsk and f irming an international waterway from the Baltic ses to thn Black sea. The plan is seriously thought of in some quarters and a committee was eatah. lished today and authorised to examine ami make a report on the matter, though, owing to the financial situa tion, there is no prospect of immediste further action being taken in the matter. Will Not Sell Telegraph. Washington. Feb. 5. Tha ar.... of war Las turned down ajpropoeal made u7 me local leiepnone company of Nome to take over the entire trovernmunt !. graph system of Alaska on condition operate the same and transmit government business fra cost for the next 25 years. The depart ment is not ready to dispose of the gov. ernment telegraph system, but when it decides to tske this step, will not sell inor less man its actual valne. Many New Rural Routes. Wallace Before Committee. Washington, Feb. 6. John F. Wal lace was before the senate inter-oceanic canal committer today and made a statement regarding the severance ot his relations with the Csnal oommis sion. In it be spoke of the violent at tack of Secretary Taft and Mr Crom well, tLe only basis of which wss, he said, a difference of opinion between himself and Taft and Cromwell as to his right to. decide wl en Le thought the welfare of the enterprise snd his own justified his resignation. He was lible m be disroiasel at any time. i Taft's Plea for Philippines. W-l.l.- . ..apoingion. tto. o Secretary of War Taft today was heard before the senate committee on Philippines in favor of the Philippine tariff bill. The obligations of the United States to the islands provided the theme for an earn est appeal made with an emphasis that he has not ordinarily exhibited in ad dressing committees of congress The islands are being used for the purpose of improving business in te United Slates. Le declared, and Le asked w here j - guardian should show Washington, feb. 6. Areordin- . , . the report of Fn-th 7 V1"1?' ,Q 'V'001 P of master General De Graw, 271 rural de livery routes were eetahliah.l rfn-i-- January. Of the 3,468 applications for routes now pending. 2 ha. h,- assigned for establishment. Jones Wants Experimental Farms Washington, Feb. 6. Representa tive Jones Introduced a bill appropri sting $120,000 to est.blieh and main tain experimental farms in Wsahington to determine tha Vin.t -r . . f ..... r. t i ' . "'" th- a I .. . ,TU,M " ordr 'rem the Agricultural derertment for the drainage of 30,000 acres of swamn land curver.a county. Tha l.-i w 1 urn in drained, ally. will be valuable agricultur- Call on Venezuela to Pay. Washington, Feb. 6. W. J. Calhoun, the president's special commissioner in the asphalt controversy with Venezuela, has arrived in Washington, and today called at the State department to con sult with Secretary Root in relation to the presentation of facts in bis official report. The decision of the again to demand of the Venezuelan government a settlement of at least a part of the asphalt company's claims, it Is said, marks the refusal of tLe State department to accept tLe Vene sutlan contention. Would Drain Swamp Land. Washington, Feb. 6. The senate ir ngation committee today favorably re ported Senator Hansbrough's bill segre "ting $l,t)00,000 from the reclamation und for om in draining swamp lands n North Dakota. The bill is a slap at the national irrigation law, and, if passed, would go far to hamper the W0'k of irri.atin- arid l.,i. r. i. i.atedthat today', .ction WM" ukflrl out of compliment to Mr. Hansbrough, it being generally nn,l,.i ... bill will not be passed by either branch of congress. Townsites on Irrigated Land. Washington, Feb. o.-The senate Ir rigation committee today ordered a favorable report on Senator Heybnrn's bill provld.ng for the segregation of IfiO acre townsites on government urigstion tracts and requiring the secretary of the towns for municipsl and domestic pur Poses, such water ri.t.r. i. v ' . . snd controlled by the towns. The bill towns for power pnbposes.