LEXINGTON WHE1TFIELD
S. A. THOMAS, PubtWMtr
LEXINGTON .OREGON
NEWS OFTHE WEEK
la a Condensed Form for Oar
Bosy Headers.
A Resume of the Less Important but
Not Less Interesting Events
of the Past Week.
French and German papers are die-'
cussing war.
King Edward has Btarted on a visit
to European rulers.
The battleship Oregon has left Ma
nila for Fuget sound.
The burning of a wheat elevator at
Buffalo, N, Y., caused a loss of $175,
000. Germany has fortified its legation at
Pekin against possible attack by Chi
nese. ,
The senate committee has voted to
lay the Philippine tariff bill on the
table. This effectually kills the meas
ure. Meridian, Miss., has been swept by
a tornado, which killed over 100 people
and laid waste half the town. Fire
broke out and much of the ruins
burned. The loss will reach $1,500,
000. Former Chief Engineer Wallace 'says
the British railroad across the isthmus
of Tehuantepec will anticipate in a
large measure the benefits of construc
tion of the Panama canal and give im
mediate relief.
Hermann entered a demurrer in the
"ise charging him with destroying pub
lic records of the geaeral land office.
Argument will be heard on the de
murrer March 16. It is believed these
tactics will be continued, to prevent
the congressman from facing a jury, as
long as possible.
Japan intends to secure control of all
railroads in that country.
Postmasters are not to be removed in
future for political reasons.
A great snow storm in the Becky
mountains is again delaying traffic.
Tne iinti-ioreien Hiruauon in uuiua
is being fanned by , Boxers, who start
riots. ' . "
The latest account o' the Massacre at
Nanchang says the trouble was caused
by French priests.
Germany has made new demands
regarding Morocco which the Ffench
promptly rejected.
The senate is almost sure to pass the
rate bill, but will defeat statehood,
Philippine tariff and Dominican tariff.
It is said the beef packers attempted
to get Garfield to conceal the facts he
discovered about the combine of the
various companies forming the trust.
Secretary Taft recommends an appro
priation of $400,000 for the jetty at
the mouth of the Columbia and au
thorization of contracts for completing
the work.
Austro-Hungary has just completed a
new trade treaty with Germany, Italy,
Bussia and Belgium. This, it is be
lieved, will in a large measure ' relieve
the growing discontent.
John D. Spreckles is seriously ill.
Many coal operators will resist con
cessions to the miners.
The . senate will allow Arizona and
New Mexico to vote on union, thus de
feating statehood.
There is small hope of settlement of
the Moroccan dispute, though the czar
is trying to mediate.
The president recommends the army
and navy to follow Togo's advice and
be ever ready for war.
Since January 1 the Salvation Army
of England has sent 4,000 of London's
unemployed to Canada.
A cotton compress and lumber yard
at La Grange, Texas, burned. The
loss is placed at $200,000.
Representative Curtis, of Kansas,
favors giving most favored nations a 20
per cent reduction of the Dingley tariff.
Professor Langlye, secretary of the
Smithsonian institution, is dwd. He
was also the inventor fo the Langley
flying machine.
American, French and British war
ships are going to Nanchan.
Six men were killed and 12 so badly
injured that msot of them are expected
to die by an explosion in a coal mine
at Piper, Ala., near Birmingham.
The house committee on agriculture
has voted not to recommend any appro
priation to buy seeds for free distribu
tion by the department of Agriculture.
This means a saving of $250,000 an
nually. The deepest snow of the winter now
covers the Middle West.
ARMY IS READY.
All Details Arranged to Send 25,000
Men to China.
Washington, March 2. It is possible
today to give for the first time the de
tails of the preparations which the
War department is making for an in
vasion of China. In case of necessity,
which to military minds Beems immi
nent, it is the intention of the govern
ment to dispatch 20,000 regulars from
the United States to join a Philippine
force of 5,000 men for an expedition to
the Chinese empire.
The troops for the Oriental service
have been selected, the posts from
which they will be taken are named
in the plans and the proper allotment
has been made among the various
branches of the service. Not only has
this been done by the officers who have
been working out the invasion scheme,
but they have perfected a plan for the
distribution of the troops which will
remain in the United States, so that
they may be available in case of home
disturbances.
The scheme of invasion as at present
contemplated is with the view princi
pally of a combination of the Ameri
can forces with those of other powers,
but a subsidiary arrangement has been
made to meet the possibility that the
United States will be forced to act
alone.
If the situation in China demands
the dispatching of American soldiers
for a march to Pekin, within three
weeks of th time of the call to arms
there will not be a regular infantryman
left within the borders of the United
States, for it is the intention of the
department to send its full force into
the field, save only the infantrymen
doing duty in the Philippines.
As stated in previous dispatches, the
officers of the War College have esti
mated that 100,000 men will te neces
sary to make an invading force strong
enough to conduct a successful cam
paign against Pekin. If by an unfor
tunate trend of events it should become
necessary that America act alone, there
would be no attempt at the outset to
reach the Forbidden City. Tentative
plans, in caBe America goes alone into
the fight, contemplate a joint army and
navy expedition to seize one of the
greater coast towns in China. This
might or might not have an effect on
the Chinese government, but, because
of recent events, it would seem that
the Chinese governments is not all
powerful in the control of its affairs,
and as a consequence such a seizure
might be of little avail, save possibly
for indemnity purposes.
RAISE PAY OF RURAL CARRIERS.
Cortelydu Recommends an Increase
When Routes are Adjusted.
Washington, March 2. This state
ment has been furnished the Associated
Press tor transmission :
"In the matter of rural carriers' pay,
it can be authoritatively , stated that
there is no disposition on the part of
the Postoffice department to cut rates.
On the contrary, the-department has
strongly recommended the advisability
of congressional consideration of the
subject, looking to more adequate com
pensation. "In the recent readjustments to com
plete county service, the number of
routes reduced in mileage has exceeded
the number increased. These condi
tions have resulted in lowering the pay
of the carriers somewhat. Until the
service is completed throughout the
country, the average of carriers' salaries
based upon present legal allowance will
naturally fluctuate from time to time
as routes are increased or decreased in
length. Under the so-called new rural
policy of the department, out of a total
of 34,938 routes installed up to Febru
ary 1, but 27 had been discontinued.
These discontinuances were mostly due
to readjustments in order to complete
service in counties."
Continues Present Rates.
Washington, March 2. President
Roosevelt today issued a proclamation
imposing the rates of duties provided
by section 3 of the Dingley act upon
imports from Germany in return for
Germany's concession of minimum
tariff rates on United States products.
The articles and rate of duty named in
the president's proclamation are the
same as those now in force, which
would have been terminated yesterday,
but for the recent action of the German
government in giving this country the
benefit of its minimum tariff.
Report on Female and Child Labor.
Washington, March 1. The house of
committee on labor decided today to
make a favorable report on a bill ap
propriating $300,000 for a compilation
of full statistics by the department of
Commerce and Labor on the condition
of women and child workers through
out the United States. This bill grew
out of the movement inaugurated by
Governor Curtis Guild, of Massachu
setts, for the investigation of labor con
ditions. Aid Sent to Famine Sufferers.
Wasbingotn, March 2. The Nation
al Red Cross today cabled to the Japan
ese Bed Cross $5,000, making a total
of $27,000 contributed by the Ameri
can people and transmitted to Japan
through that organization for relief of
the famine sufferers.
IN THE NATIONAL HALLS OF CONGRESS
Friday, March 2.
Washington, March 2. The senate
today passed the bill providing for the
settlement of the affairs of the Five
Civilized Tribes. Under the guiBe of
considering the bill, the senate Bpent
practically the entire day in discussion
of the railway question. The bill has
passed both the house and the senate,
but as the senate amended it in many
respects, it will now go into coher
ence. It is a general bill for the ad
justment of the affairs of these tribes
upon their abandonment of their tribal
organization, i
Washington, March 2. The first pri
vate claim Bession of the 58th congress
occupied the house today, 25 bills be
ing passed. All these measures carried
small amounts for the relief of private
individuals, who are precluded under
the laws from obtaining their rights.
Opposition to mny of. the bills was
made by Mann, of Illinois, and Shack
leford, of Missouri. This opposition
accounted for the small number of
measures considered.
Thursday, March I. .
Washington, March 1. The discus
sion of the railroad rate question was
continued in the senate today by Dol
liver, who spoke in -support of the
Dollier-Hepburn bill. He said that the
bill was intended merely to supplement
the existing interstate commerce law,
and contended for its validity from a
consittutional point of view, predicting
that government ownership of the rail
roads would be forced upon the coun
try if congress did not meet the present
demand for regulation. Dolliver was
not questioned, and, when he con
cluded, the remainder of the day was
devoted to the bill providing for the
settlement of the affairs of the Five
Civilized Tribes of Indians after the
termination of their tribal relations.
Washington, March 1. The house
today passed the army appropriation
bill, also the'Foraker bill providing for
the marking of the graves of Confed
erate dead buried in the North. The
discussion developed a unanimity of
sentiment in favor of marking Confed
erate graves and, as the bill had re
ceived favorable action by the military
committee, it was brought in by Prince
and passed unanimously, amid ap
plause on both sides of the house.
The army bill as passed carries some
thing more than $69,000,000.
The house agreed to a senate joint
resolution, which ' continues the tribal
government of the Five Civilized Tribes
in the Indian Territory until the prop
erty of the Indians shall be disposed of.
Wednesday, February 28.
Washington, Feb. 28. The details
of the provisions of the army appropri
ation bill occupied the house of repre
sentatives throughout the day.
Throughout members of the appropri
ation committee, beaded by Chairman
Tawney, were in controversy with
Chairman Hull and the members of
the military committee. Each contest
was an effort either in the direction of
reducing or restricting the amounts
carried in the bill. In some cases the
appropriations committee was - success
ful, and in others the military com
mittee. Washington, Feb. 28. The treaty
between the United States and the Do
minican Republic, under which the
former undertakes to collect and dis
burse the customs revenues of the lat
ter, was reported to the senate in exec
utive session today by Senator Lodge.
While the treaty was given a place
on the senate legislative calendar by
the report made today, it will not be
called up until after the railroad bill
has been disposed of, and even then it
may go over for some time.
For three hours, lacking three min
utes, today, Foraker held the attention
of the senate while he read a carefully
prepared speech on the railroad rate
question. His speech was a protest
against any general legislation, on the
theory that the existing Elkins law
could be so extended as to make it an
swer all the requirements. He did
not fail, howe er, to point out what
he considered the ' defects of the
Hepburn-Dolliver bill, and he made
the declaration more than once that it
woudl fail to remedy the evils com
plained of The speech was listened to
by a large attendance, both on the
floor and in the galleries, and at its
Smopt Makes an Enemy.
Washington, Feb. 27. When the
senate takes a vote on the Smoot case,
it is quite likely that Senator Hey burn,
of Idaho, will vote to unseat Mr.
Smoot, notwithstanding it has always
been understood that Mr. Heyburn was
a Mormon sympathizer in his own
state, and was elected by Mormon
votes in the Idaho legislature. Be
hind this apparent change of front on
the part of Senator Heyburn lies an
interesting story that developed during
the course of bis now famous speech
against Boosevelt's forest reserve policy.
close the senator was warmly congratu
lated bj a number of his colleagues.
Tuesday, February 27.
WaBhignton, Feb. 27. The senate
today agreed to vote on the statehood
bill before adjournment on Friday,
March 9. The proposition was made
by Beveridge, and there was little diffi
culty in reaching an understanding.
The suggestion immediately followed a
speech in support of the bill by Hop
kins, during the course of which Hale
suggested that the territories were not
prepared for statehood, and suggested
that their admission be deferred.
The remainder of the day was devot
ed to the discussion of the bill provid
ing for the settlement of the affairs of
the Five Civilized Tribes of Indians,
the major portion of the time being
given to the provision for the disposal
of the coal landB in Indian Territory.
Washington, Feb. 27. Military mat
ters held the attention of the house to
day, the army appropriation bill being
under consideration for amendment.
That General Corbin and General Mac
Arthur might become lieutenant gen
erals, the provision abolishing that
rank was eliminated on a point of order
raised by Groavenor, of Ohio, who sub
stituted an amendment to abolish the
grade after these officers had been pro
moted, but this, too, met defeat. Mem
bers of the appropriations committee
disputed the right of the military com
mittee to appropriate for an apparatus
for fire control of field artillery, but
without success. Only eight of the 50
pages of the bill were passed upon
when the house adjourned.
Monday, February 26.
Washington, Feb. 26. The death of
ex-Speaker David B. Henderson was
the subject of appropriate action in the
houne of representatives today, when,
after the transaction of less than a
day's business, resolutions of regret
and esteem were adopted and adjourn
merit taken as a further mark of respect
to bis memory. Several bills relating
to the District of Columbia were
passed, incorporating the Lake Erie &
Ohio River Ship Canal company. The
bill will be put on its passage the first
thing tomorrow.
During the consideration of district
legislation, Sims, of Tennessee, made a
severe arraignment of the form of the
District. It was un-American, cn-
repuolican and un-democratic.
A bill was passed giving a national
charter to the National Society of Sons
of the American Revolution.
Washington, Feb. 26. The Hepburn
railroad rate bill was reported to the
senate today by Tillman, in accord'
ance with the action of the senate com'
mittee on interstate commerce last
Friday. Large crowds assembled in
the galleries, anticipating a field day
of debate, but were disappointed.
There was little of interest in the pro
ceedings regarding the bill. A brief
statement from Tillman with the neces
sary arrangement for printing the re
port of the hearings before the commit;
tee and a promise that a formal report
would be made later, was followed by a
few remarks from Aldrich, showing the
position' of the five Republicans who
opposed the bill as reported. Aldrich
indicated that there would be no un
necessary delay, but that the bill would
be discussed in accordance with its im
portance. Clapp called up the bill to dispose
of the affairs of the five civilized tribes
in Indian Territory, and the prelim
inary discussion was mainly criticism
of the disposition of the coal lands
owned by the Indians.
Dick occupied the floor during the
afternoon, continuing his speech in sup
port of the joint statehoood bill.
Among the bills passed was one ap
propriating $75,000 for a public build
ing at Moscow, Idaho, and one at Baker
City, Oregon, costing $75,000.
Five Year Census of Agriculture.
Washington, March 1. Secretary
Wilson, of the department of Agricul
ture, appeared before the house com
mittee on census today in support of
the Burleson bill for the compilation
of farm statistics by the government
every live years, instead of every ten
years. Secretary Tomlinson, of the
Stockgrowers' association, also urged
favorable action on the bill.
Decides for -Railroads.
Washington, Feb. 28. The suits
known as the .citrus fruit cases, in
which all the railroads of Southern
California were inrtoduced, were today
decided favorably to the railroads by
the Supreme court of the United States,
the opinion being by Justice Peckham.
The cases involved the right of the
railroad companies to designate the
route for fruit shipped East after leav
ing their, own lines. The decision of
the Circuit court for tb Southern dis
trict of California and also the order
of the commission were reversed.
SAYS WORK IS BEING DONE.
HarrlsoVi Returns From Panama and
, ' Praises Canal Officials.
New York, Fbe, 28. Ex-Congrses-man
Francis Burton Harrison returned
to New York yesterday after a trip of
six weeks through Central America.
One week of that time he spent in in
vestigating the work of digging the
Panama canal. He is convinced, he
says, that the administration ought to
be upheld in its task. Mr. Harrison
found that, although a Democrat, the
officials engaged in the canal work were
eager to inform . him about it. They
seemed to have nothing to conceal, and
they had work there, be said, to show
for their efforts. He found esprit de
corps among the higher officials, and
he continued!., , , , , ,; .
"Mr. Stevens is working to establish
it all along the line. With the minor
officials, who are appointed by the civil
service, there is little of the spirit ne
cessary for the right kind of work. .
They seem to fear that Washington will
change the plans and change jobs. I
think that the canal commissioners
should be there on the ground.. It
would help a vast deal. Not all of
them would be necessary two or three
might do. . More work would be ac
complished." Mr. Harrison was asked if he ap
proved of the plans for the building of ,
the canal.
"I think it would be folly," be re
plied, "to array any party against
such a work. Criticism might be all
right, but not as partisan criticism . .
"I believe the canal is being dug
honestly, efficiently, and with earnest
ness and intelligence. Any observant
traveler could offer minor criticism as
to what has been done and what ia
being left undone, but we are not deal
ing with trivialities there, nor is the
canal commission to be held account
able like the house committee of a so
cial club. We are building a great
canal, and it is going to be built."
BURIAL OF JONES' BONES.
Naval Hero Will Be Interred at An
napolis With Ceremony.
Annapolis, Md., Feb.' 28. Secretary
of the Navy Bonaparte, General Horace
Porter, Governor Warfleld of Maryland
and Admiral Sands were in conference
yesterday relative to the interment of
the remains of Admiral John Paul
Jones April 24, the anniversary of hia
victory over the British frigate Drake.
The body of the great sea fighter will
on that date be removed from the tem
porary vault, in which it was placed
upon its return to this country, to the
handsome memorial hall in the new
midshipmen's quarters, and not, a
had been expected, to the crypt of the
new chapel, as that will not be ready
in time for the ceremony.
While all the details have not been,
arranged, the ceremonies of April 24,
which will be held in the armory of
the naval academy, will be presided
over by Secretary of the Navy Bona
parte, and addresses will be made by
President Roosevelt, General Porter,
Governor Warfleld and the French am
bassador, M. Jusserand. It was de
cided to make the display a purely
naval one except that various patriotic
societies throughout the country will
be invited to attend and participate.
AROUSED AGAINST FOREIGNERS.
Whole Population Hostile, Encouraged
by Viceroy of Canton.
Manila, Feb. 28. A leading Ameri
can firm in this city has received the
following cable from Canton :
"The boycott has greatly encouraged
the anti-foreign feeling. Teachers, re
formers, agitators and the native news
papers now have the power of that as
sociation behind them, causing a re
markable growth in the reform party
and secet societies, while the anti-foreign,
anti-dynastic viceroy of Canton,
by his autocratic ruling and his antag
onistic attitude to the foreign consuls,
encourages .the masses of the people in
their anti-foreign feeling.
"In the prefecture of Chang Chew,
near Amoy, recent outrages against for
eign court procedure, approved by Pe
kin, has strengthened the revolutionary
forces, who are now eager to try con
clusions with the government.
"In a portion of China between the
Yangtse valley and the Hongkong dis
trict, dangerous anti-foreign feeling ex
ists which is likely to break out at any
moment."
Refuse to Stand Examination. .
New York, Feb. 28. The Mutual
Reserve Life Insurance
out a Btatement today relative to the'
withdrawal of the company from the-
state ot Missouri. The withdrawal fol
lowed a discussion as to an examination
of the comnanv bv Missouri p minora
at the expense of the company. The
Mutual Reserve objected to the' expense
in proBpect, holding that it was exces
sive and illegal. The company's esti
mate of the minimum cost of the
ination is $8,000, while the superin
tendent's is SO.UUU.
Kills State Primary Bill.
Des Moines, la., Feb. 28. The state
primary bill met defeat in the state
senate today by a vote of 29 to 21.
This ends the fight on this subject for
this legislature.