A SPECIAL MESSAGE
President Sends Commncicatian
to Congress on Jap Question.
The following communication haa
been transmitted to both houses of Cou-
areas by th President:
"I lm-loa herewith for your Informa
tion tlia final report made to ma per
sonally by s ruiy Metcalf on Ilia all
uation affecting- tiie Japanese In San
Francisco, Tha report deals with thraa
matters or controversy first, in ea
clualon of tha Javanese children from
tha Ban Francisco sclioola; second, tha
boycouln of Japanese restaurants, ami.
third, acta of violence committed
against tha Japanese.
"As to tha first matter, I call your
especial attention to 'he vary aniall
number of Japanese ehlUiren who at
tend school, to tha testimony aa to
tha brightness, cleanllneaa and good be
havior of these Japanese rhIUIren In the
schools, and to the fact that, owing to
their being scattered throughout the
city, the requirement for them all to
go to one special school la Impossible
of fulfillment and means that they can
not have school facilities, Istt me point
out further that there would be no ob
jection whatever to excluding from the
schools any Japanese on the score of
age. It la obviously not desirable that
young men should go to school with
children. The only point la the exclu
lon of the children themselves. The
number ot Jaraneae children attending
the public schools In San Francisco was
very small. The government haa al
ready directed that stilt be brought to
test the constitutionality of the act In
question; but my very earnest hope Is
that such suit will not be necessary,
and that aa a matter of comity the cal
icos of San Francisco will reluae to de
prive these young Japanese children of
education and will permit them to go to
the schools.
"The question aa to the violence
aaainst the Japanese la most admirably
put bv Secretary Metcalf, and I have
nothing to add to his statement. 1 am
entirely comldeiit that, as Secretary
Metcaif says, the overwhelming senti
ment of the state of California Is for
law and order and for the protection of
tlie Japanese In their persona and prop
erty. Both the chief of pollea and the
acting mayor of San Francisco assured
Secretary Metcalf that everything pos
sible would be done to protect the Jap
anese in the city. I authorised and di
rected Secretary Metcalf to stale that
If there waa failure to protect persons
and property, then the entire power of
the Federal government within the lim
its of the constitution would be used
promptly and vigorously to enforce the
observance of our treaty, the aupreme
law of the land which treaty guaran
teed to Japanese residents everywhere In
the I'nlon full and perfect protection
for their persona and property: and to
this end everything In my power would
be done, and all the forces of the United
States, both civil and military, which
I could lawfully employ would be em
ployed. I call especial attention to the
concluding sentence of Secretary Met
calfs report of November 26, 1808.
Secretary Metcalf" s report Is ad
dressed to the President under date of
November 2 last, and In part la as fol-
"ln my previous report I said npth
Ing as to the causes leading up to the
action of the school board In passing
the resolution of October 11, and the
effect of such action upon Japanese
children, residents of the city of San
Francisco, desiring to attend the public
schools of that city. A report on this
matter will now be made.
"It seems that for several years the
board of education of San Francisco had
been considering the advisability of es
tablishing separate schools for Chinese,
Japanese and Corean children, and on
May , 1S05, passed the following reso
lution: j j
" Resolved. That the board of educa
tion Is determined In its efforts to ef
fect the establishment of separate
schools for Chinese and Japanese pupils,
not only for the purpose of relieving the
congestion at present prevailing in our
schools, but also for the hlKher end
that our children should not be placed
In any position where their youthful Im
pressions may be affected by association
with pupils of the Mongolian race.
And on October 11 the board passed
the following resolution:
" Resolved, That in accordance with
jirtlcle X. section 1662. of the school
law of California, principals are hereby
-directed to send all Chinese. Japanese
or Corean children to the Oriental pub
lic school, situated on the south side
of Clay street, between Powell and Ma
son streets, on and after Monday, Oc
tober IB, 106."
"The action of the board In the pass
age of the resolutions of May 6. 1905,
and October 11, 1906, was undoubtedly
largely Influenced by the activity of
the Japanese and Corean Exclusion
league, an organization formed for the
purpose of securing enactment by the
congress of the United States of a law
extending the provisions of the exist
ing Chinese exclusion act so as to ex
clude Japanese and Coreans.
"The number of schools In San Fran
cisco prior to Anrll 18 was 78. Of this
number 28 primary or grammar schools
and two high schools were destroyed by
fire, and one high school was destroyed
by earthquake, leaving 45 schools. Since
April 18, 27 temporary structures have
been erected, making the total number
of school buildings at the present time
72.
"The Oriental school, the school set
apart for the Chinese, Japanese and Co
rean children, is in the burned section.
There is only one Japanese studunt at
tending this school at the present time,
and there are no Japanese children at
tending any of the other public schools.
I visited ihe Oriental school In com
pany with the Japanese consul and
found It to compare favorably with
many of the new temporary structures
erected in the city. The course of In
struction is exactly the same as at the
other public schools, and competent
teachers are assigned for duty in this
sclfool. Nearly all of the pupils at
tending this school have to be taught
the English language.
"I found the sentiment in the state
very strong against Japanese young
men attending the primary grades. Many
of the people were outspoken In their
condemnation of this course, saying
that they would take exactly the same
stand against American young men of
similar ages attending the primary
grades. I am frank to say that this
objection seems to me a most reasonable
one. All of the political parties in the
state have Inserted In their platforms
planks in favor of Japanese and Co
rean exclusion, and on March 7, 1905, the
state legislature passed a Joint resolu
tion urging that action be taken by
treaty or otherwise to limit and dimin
ish the further immigration of Japan
se laborers Into the United States.
"The press of San Francisco pretty
generally upholds the action of the
board of education. Of the attitude of
the more violent and radical newspapers
it Is unnecessary to speak further than
to say that their tone Is the usual tone
of hostility to 'Mongol hordes,' and the
burden of their claim is that Japanese
sre no better than Chinese, and that
the same reasons which dictated the ex
clusion of the Chinese call for the ex
clusion of ths Japanese as well.
"The temper and tone of the mora
conservative newspapers may better be
Illustrated by an epitome of their r
fuiiient upon the public school que
Hon. That argument practically Is aa
follows: Tha public achol of California
re a stale and not a Federal Institu
tion. Ths stale haa the power to shol
isli those schools entirely, and ths Fed
eral government would have no right
to lift Its vole In protest. Upon lh
other hand, the stale mav extend the
privileges ot lis schools lo aliens upon
uch terms aa It, the slate, may elect,
nut the Federal government has no
right to question Its action In this re
gard. Primarily and essentially Ihe
public schools are designed for tha edu
cation of the clllicna of the slat. The
late la Interested In the education of
Us own cltlxens alone. It would not
for a moment maintain this expensive
Institution to educate foreigners and
aliens who would carry to their coun
tries the fruits of such education. There
fore, If it should be held that there was
a discrimination operating In violation
of the treaty with Jnpun In tha stale's
treatment or Japanese children, or even
if a new treaty with Japan should he
framed which would contain on behalf
of Japanese subtects the most-favord-natton'
clause, this could and would be
met by the state, which would then ex
clude from the use of Its public schools
all alien children of every nationality
and limit the riaiita of free education to
children of Its own cltlsens, for whom
the system is primarily dealrned and
maintained, and If the state should do
this th Federal government could not
complain, since no treaty right could be
violated when the children or Japanese
were treated precisely aa tha children
of all foreign nations.
"The feeling In the state is mrtner
Intensified, especially In labor circles.
by the report on the conditions In the
Hawaiian islands aa contained in rtui
letln 88 of the liureau of I.abnr. tv-
partment of Commerce and tabor. The
claim Is made that white labor haa been
almost entirely driven from the Ha
waiian islands, and that the Japanese
are gradualy forcing even the small
white traders out or business.
"Alsnv of the foremost educators In
the state, on the other hand, are strong
ly opposed to the action or the Kan
Francisco board of education. Japan
ese are admitted to the University of
California, an Institution maintained
and supported by the state. They are
also admitted to. and gladly welcomed
at, Stanford University. San Francisco,
so tar us known, is the only city which
haa discriminated against Japanese chil
dren. I talked with a number of promi
nent labor men. and they all said that
they hud ho objection to Japanese chil
dren attending the primary grades: that
they wanted Japanese children now in
the United States to have the same
school privileges as children of other
nations, but that they were unalterably
opposed to Japanese young men attend
ing me primary graucs.
"The objection to Japanese men at
tending the primary grades could very
readily be met by a simple rule limit
ing the ages of all children attending
those grades. All of the teachers with
whom 1 talked while In San Francisco
spoke In the highest terms of the Jan-
snese children, saying that they were
among the very best of their pupils,
cleanly In their persons, well behaved,
studious, and remarkubly bright.
"The board of education of San Fran
cisco declined to rescind Its resolution
of October 11. claiming that, having es
tablished a separate school tor t ninese,
Japanese and Corean children, the pro
visions of section ltfrti of the political
code became mandatory."
Resume of Japanese attending public
schools In San Francisco as mentioned
In the foregoing communication:
Number of pupils 8'
Number or schools iney auenueu -4
Number of pupils at
8 years old
7 years old
S years old
8 years old '
10 years old "
11 years old ;
12 years old ;
13 years old
14 years old 4
15 years old 1J
18 years old J
17 years old ljj
18 years old
IS years old J
20 vears old 2
Number of pupils at
First grade
Second grade 10
Third grade 2
Fourth grade 1J
Fifth grade
Sixth grade 1J
Seventh grade ;
Kichth grade 1"
Number of pupils born In
Japan
United States 25
Number of
Roys 85
"A hovrott was maintained In San
Francisco from October 3 to October 24
by members of the Cooks and Walters'
Union against Japanese restaurants do
ing business In that city, nearly an ot
the leaders of labor organisations In
Sun Friinclscn Interviewed on this sub
ject disclaimed any knowledge of any
formal action Deing laaen lur tne Boy
cotting of these restaurants.
As a matter or fact, a most eneci-
Ive boycott was maintained against
nearly sll of the Japanese restaurants
located In San Francisco for at least
three weeks. Pickets were stationed In
front of these restaurants and every ef
fort was made to prevent people from
patronizing them. At times stones were
thrown and windows broken, and in one
or two Instances the proprietors of the
restaurants were struck bv tnese stones.
"I am satisfied, from Inquiries made
by me and from statements made to
me by the Japanese restaurant keepers,
that the throwing of stones and break
ing of windows was not done by the men
picketing the restaurants, but by young
men and boys who had gathered In front
of the restaurants as soon as the boycott
was instituted.
'Assaults have from time to time
been made upon Japanese subjects resi
dent In the city of San Francisco. I
was Informed by the chief of police that
upon receipt of a communication from
the Japanese consul he at once Instruct
ed captains of police to make every ef
fort to ston these assaults, and. If nec
essary, to assign men In citizens' clothes
to accomplish the purpose.
"These attacks, so I am Informed,
with but one exception were made when
no policeman was In the Immediate
neighborhood. Most of them were made
by boys and young men; many of them
were vicious in character, and only one
appears to have been made with a view
of robbing the persons attacked. All
these assaults appear to have been mnde
subsequent to the fire and earthquake
in oan r rancisco, ana my attention was
not called to any assaults made prior to
the 18th day of April. 1908
"I know that these assaults unnn tha
Japanese are universally condemned by
all good citizens of California. For
months the citizens of Snn Franc son
and Oakland have been terrorized by
numerous murders, assaults and rob
beries, both at dav and night. The po
lice have been powerless. The assaults
upon the Japanese, however, were not
made, In my Judgment, with a view of
robbery, but rather from a feellnir of
racial hostility, stirred up possibly by
newspaper accounts of meetings that
have been held at different times rela
tive to the exclusion of Japanese from
me unuea mates.
"While the sentiment of tha stnlo of
California, as manifested by the public
utterances 01 me Japanese ana corean
Exclusion league, by articles In many
of the leading newspapers In the state,
by declarations of the political parties
in their platforms, and bv the passage
of a Joint resolution bv the state legis
lature on March 7, 1805, Is In favor of
the exclusion of Japanese coolies, yet
the overwhelming sentiment In the state
la for law and order and for the pro
tection of Jstxinese In their persona and
their property.
"The chief of police of th elly nf Han
Francisco, s also th acting mayor of
th city, assured tn that everything
possible would lie done Id protect the
Japanese subjects In Kn Francisco, and
they urgently requested that all cases
of assault snd all violations nf law af
fecting th Japanese he at once reported
to th chief of police.
"I Impressed very strongly upon th
acting mayor of the city, as also upon
th chief nf police, the gravity at th
situation, and told them that, aa offi
cer charged with th enforcement of
th law and th protection of property
and person, you looked to- them to see
that all Japanese subjects resident In
San Francisco wr afforded th full
protection guaranteed, to then, by our
treaty with Japan.
"if. therefor, th police power of Pan
Francisco I not sufficient to meet Ih
situation and guard and protect Japan
ese residents In Han Francisco, to whom
umier our treaty witn Japan w guar
antee full and perfect protection for
their persona and properly,' then, li
seems to me. It la clearlv ths duty nf
th Federal government to afford such
protection. All considerations which
may move a nation, every consideration
of dutv In the preservation of our treaty
obligations, every consideration orompt.
a ty mi years or mnr or close rrlend
shlp with th empire of Japan, would
unit In demand!. It seems to me, nl
the United States government and all
Its people, th fullest protection and ths
highest consideration for th subjects ot
Japan."
Four rich Xehraskana have hm con
victed ot luiul f minis.
Oregon miners will ask the next leg
Mature (urn state mining inspector.
Railroad men ami shippers attribute
much ot the car shortage to excessive
prosperity.
Creditors of Zlnn City are making
strenuous efforts tt) gel afTtilrs of the
Howie city settled.
The pope has sent ft protest against
the French church policy to nil the
pajal representative abrmd.
The Sun Francisco school board ac
cuses Roosevelt of meddling Hiul mis
representation in Ihe Jajianrse ques
tion. C. A. Prouty, of Vermont, member
of ihe Interstate commission, nay
freight rates will soon be reduced all
over the country.
Hilary Herbert, ex-secretary of the
Navy, says the president did nothing
mora in the discharge of the negro
troops than I i rant and Lee both did.
The Chinese famine is growing
worse.
There is a move to put a Ilritish
prince on the Servian throne.
All Italian shipping has been tied up
by the general strike of aeamt-n.
At Norflok.X eb., the temperature is
3 below xero with cuil at $20 per ton.
Japanese warships will avoid Snn
Francisco fur a time lest the Maine (lis
aster recur.
A mining exchange lias been organ
ized in Chicago in connection with the
board of trade.
Germans are confident of a tariff
agreement between their country and
the United states.
A fuel famine Is on at Phoenix, Ariz.
There is no oil mid the gus and electric
plants have shut down.
Governor Mead has appointed a hih-
cial committee to Investigate tho short
age of coal in Washington.
PORTLAND MARKETS.
Butter Fancy creamery, 30n5e.
Kggs Oregon ranch, 35c per dozen.
PoultryAverage old hens, ll(12e
per pound; mixed chickens, lie 12c;
spring, U12c; old roosters, l(311c;
dressed chickens, 14 15c; turkeys,
live, 17 174c; turkeys, dressed,
choice, 20($22c; gecso, live, 10c;
ducks, 15Klc.
Fruits Apples, common to choice,
50(g75c per box ; choice to fancy, $1
2.50; pears, $11.50; cranberries,
$11.5012.S0 per barrel; persimmons,
$I.5l) per box.
Vegetables - Turnips, f)0(Y5 $l per
pack; carrots, 90c$l per sack; beets,
$1.25 ftj 1.60 per sack; horseradish, 11
10c per pound; sweet potatoes, 2
2?ic per pound; cabbage, IJ's'SIJc
per pound; cauliflower. $1 .25 per doz
en; celery, $44.50 per crate; lettuce,
head, 30c per dozen; onions, 1012)$c
per dozen; pumpkins, lc per pound;
spinach, 4 C 5c per pound; squash 1
lMc per pound.
Onions Oregon, 75e$l per hun
dred. Potatoes Oregon Burbanks, fancy,
lfel.10; Common, 75(n;85c,
Wheat Club, fiSfodOc; bluestem,
67r,(l8c; valley, ObT 67c; red, 63c.
Outs No, 1 white, (25(20; gray,
t24.60(n,.25.
Hurley Feed, t21(?)21.60 per ton;
brewing, t22.50; rolled, t22.50(o,24.
Kye tl .40rt)l. 46 perewt.
Com Whole, t26; cracked, (27 per
ton.
Hay Valley timothy, No. 1, til
12 per ton; Kastern Oregon timothy,
tl4f)fl; clover, t7M; cheat, t7.60
i8.50; grain hay, $7.50fTr)8.60; alfalfa,
$11.50; vetch hay, t7(Si7.50.
Veal Dressed, 5(mfie per pound.
Beef DresHed bulls, lfr2c per
pound; cows, 4 5c; country steers,
6fe5K.
Mutton Prcflsed, fancy, 89c per
pound; ordinary, 6C)7c.
Pork Dressed, 6(S8c per pound.
Hops ll15c per pound, according
to quality.
Wool Eastern Oregon average best,
1318c, according to shrinkage; val
ley, 2023c, according to fineness; mo
hair, choice, 2628c.
IN THE NATIONAL
Thursday, Dee 90.
Washington, lVe. 20 Senator For
kr occupied the attention of the sen
ate in its butt session Is' for the holiday
recess today In an extended criticism
of tho htmia of the piesident's action
in dirrlutrgiiig the negro troop of the
Twenty-II ftli Infantry on account of the
Brownsville raid. He was replied to
briefly by Lodge, while Scult sustained
the demand of tho Ohio senator for
full Invest igntii u of the mailer by the
senate military committee, A resolu
tion declaring (r such an investiga
tion la before the senate for action at
Its nest meeting.
Washington, Ier, 20. After being
in atittion for three-quarter of an hour
today, the house adjourned until Janu
ary 8, 1007, Kmpty desks greeted the
waker when the house convened, and
the desire to get away fur the holiday
was superior to the Inclination for busi
ness. Mondell, of Wyoming, suiveeded In
passing the bill extending to May IS,
1007, the time in which entry men uuiy
make Html Settlement on the Shoshone
Indian reservation. Then Payne, of
New York, called up his resolution re
lating to the distribution of the presi
dent's annual message lo the several
committee In accordance with a cus
tom that has existed since tliu founda
tion of the government.
The house passed tha resolution ami
adjourned at 12:45 t. m. A hundred
members wnittni lo extcml toe season
greeting to Speaker Cannon,
Wednesday, Dee. 10.
Washington, IHt lt. President
Roosevelt's message dealing with his
action In dismissing from the army the
negro troops of the three companies ot
the Twenty-fifth Infantry furnished the
one topic ot interest In the senate's ses
sion tlay. A lively debate followed
the reading of the message as to whul
should lie done with it.
Forakcr wanted It sent to the mili
tary committee with Instructions to
make further investigation, should the
committee deem It necessary. He said
that In reality much that ap)cred to
he left iniony was not testimony, s
much of It was not under oath. (Hi
objection from Clay, the senate swt-
poiicd action until tomorrow.
The iehsion calendar was cleared by
the passage of more than 200 private
pension bills.
At the suggestion of Senator Ixxlge,
Pnwideiit KotHtevelt's Panama message
will be printed for the Semite In "nor
mal" spelling. Kittrcdge secured the
adoption of an order for 20,000 copies.
Washington, IVc. 10. In the house
today Ijtcey, of Iowa, bk a pronounc
ed position in opposition to the adjourn
ment of congress for tho I hrlstmas hol
idays, declaring that "it is idiotic for
the house, to adjourn and then Jam all
legislation through under whip and
spur during the closing days."
( lark, of Missouri, declared t hot the
statement made hy Ijicev alsmt the
Idiocy of adjourning for the holtilnys
ni the most sensible thing he had said
for the past 12 years.
After considerable discussion on a
protsKMHl increase of clerks nil olwcnce
of a quorum was revealed and the house
adjourned.
Tuesday, December 18.
Washington, Dec. 18. The senate
today, devoted nearly four hours to
consideration of unobjected bills on its
calendar. The result was the lDissnge
of a number of measures of minor im-
ixirtance. Among those passed was one
authorizing a government loan of $10,
000,000 to the Jamsetown Tercenten
nial Exposition comntny, and another
providing for an investigation of the
Industrial, social, moral, educational
and phyiscal condition of women ami
child workres In the I nited States by
the department of Commerce and Iji
bor. The urgent deficiency appropria
tion bill was also passed.
Washlntgon, Dec, 18. During the
session of the house today the Indian
appropriation bill was passed practi
cally as It camo from the committee on
appropriations. Tho early morning
session was devoted to the considera
tion of District of Columbia business.
Tho exodus of members bus already
commenced for the Christmus holidays.
Monday, Dee. 17.
Washington, Dec. 17. A pietorially
illustrated message from President
Hoosevelt portraying conditions as he
Was There Congo Lobby?
Washington, Dec. 10. Senator Pat
terson In a resolution has asked that
the charges by a New York newspaper
in relation to a lobby having been sent
to the United States at the lant session
of congress to influence senators con
cerning Congo Free State legislation be
Investigated by the senate committee
on foreign relations. The resolution
recites that the lobby Is alleged to have
been maintained by a foreign govern
ment and that a consular ofiiclal sent
communications to senators In an effort
to influence them.
HALLS OF CONGRESS
found them on the Isthmus of Panma
during his recent visit occupied tho
senate during the greater portion of tta
session todny, Printed enpiea of the
message, handsomely bound, were
placed on the desk nf each senator and
the reading of the document wo closely
followed. Preceding the IVnama mes
sage, the president's recoimnendatiiui
rcirctlng public lands and Uie naval
(icrnonucl were received and rend.
The senate agreed to the hollitay ad
journment resolution and will be In re
cce from Die end of the session Thurs
day next until January 3,
Itceoliition sere agreed to directing
an Investigation bv the deartmetit of
Commerce and Ijilsir of the Interna
tional I larvester miuny to ascertain
whether It effects restraint of trade;
also directing the senate Judiciary
committee to report what authority
congress may have under Uie ciunuierce
clause ot the constitution to prevent In
terstate commerce in chitd-inade gisal.
Washington, lec. 17. The hotuse
began the last week before the Christ
mas holiday with a determination to
dissw of as much legislation aa oas.
ble, to make way for the mure active
work shich will devolve on it wi-n
congress again convene. To this end
several small bills were sissed under
susMnslon of the rule. The Indian
sppropriatinti bill was taken up and 15
of the 67 imgcs complete! when it was
laid aside tor the president's message
concerning the Panama ennui, which
consumed more than an hour In ita
reading, being listened to by ft large
number of nieinlicra.
The pictorial feature of the messaga
afforded an (psirtttuity for good Ma
tured comment, the innovation of cuts
in a state wer being looked on with
favor. Message from the president on
public lands and the naval personnel
were also read.
8tt Right In Australia.
Sydney, N. S. W., Dec. 20 Joseph
Hector Carrulhcra, premier ot New
Suiih Wales, has entered a strongly
wordisl protest against any Interference
on tho part ot the liiisrlal common
wealth In the rights of the stale gov
ernments In state affairs. He declare
that the Australian states declined to
permit Alfred lVukln, the prime min
ister of Ihe commonwealth, to stcnk
In their behalf, and that any resolu
tions adopted at the colonial conference
concerning state mutters would bo Ig
nore I unless Uie individual stale were
represented.
Fulton Look Out for Counties.
Washington, Ice. 20. Senator Ful
ton today secured the promise of the
senate public lands committee to
amend the hill repealing the timber
and stone act so that 20 ht cent of
the receipt from the sales of public
timber shall be paid to counties In
which the timlsir is cut. This is in
lieu of taxes. The bill provides that
hereafter public timU'r not In forest
reserves can only lie acquired by pur
chase at not less than its appraised
value,
North Dakota Hal No Coal.
St. Paul, Dec. 18. A siecial to the
Despatch from Grand Forks, N. I).,
says that the fuel situation today pre
sents tho most critical condition that
has existed in the history of tho state.
Careful Inquiry in every portion of the
northern half of the state shows that
there Is not a town In which coal could
be had to supply immediate needs and
In dozens of places there Is not a pound
to lie bought, the dealers having been
out of fuel for days and weeks.
Oppose Blanket Inereas.
Washington, Dec. 19. Uepresenla
tive I.ittuuer, a member of the commit
tee on appropriations, talked with
President ltoosevelt t is lay on the ques
tion of incrensing the sularics of gov
ernment employes. The president is
understood not to favor a blanket in
crease of 20 per cent, although he is
said to feel that there are many men
In tho government service who deserve
more than they aro receiving.
Pay Lawma' r By the Day.
Washington, Dec. 18. Kepresonta
tive Gaines introduced a bill tin lay
providing (hat senators and representa
tives shall recoivo $13.75 a day, their
pay to be deducted from their salaries
for each day they fail to attend ses
sions. The sickness of moinlicrM or
illness In their fumilles are the only
valid excuses.
May Agree on One Clastif cation.
Chicago, Doc. 10. An effort is to
be mode by tho railroads to obtain a
universal and systematic, classification
of freight in response to the domands of
the shippers and to the suggentions of
the Interstate Commerce coiiiiulfHion.
The first step In this direction w: t
taken by the Central Freight assoclaa
tlon, which has asked the Kastern lines
to join it In considering the question.
The plan is to appoint committees
which will confer together and see if a
uniform classification cannot be agreed
upon.