LEXIN6T0N WHEATFIELD
S. A. THOMAS, Publisher
LEXINGTON OREGON
NEWS OF THE IEK
Id a Condensed Form for Our
Bosy Readers.
A Resume of the Less Important but
Ndt Less Interesting Events
of the Past Week.
New York will expend $160,000,000
in adding to the city's water system
The San Francisco fire destroyed
proof of the citizenship of 100,000 vot
era.
Wn Ting Fang, ex-Chinese minister
to the United States, proposes radical
reforms in China.
John Mitchell, president of the Unit
ed MineworkerB, will soonjreaign to
take up the practice of law.
Barracks have been built in Golden
Gate park, San Francisco, which will
accommodate 5,000 persons.
The Interstate Commerce commission
has secured more admissions of graft
ing by Pennsylvania railroad officials.
Insurance companies have already
paid about $200,000 San Francisco
losses and it is expected all undisputed
claims will be paid by June 1.
A great forest fire in Michigan has
burned over an area of 200 square
miles and latest accounts report the
flames still burning. Fourteen towns
have been wiped out entirely and
thousands of people are ' homeless. As
far as known no liveB. have been lost,
although Bveeral entire families have
not been accounted for and may have
perished. The money loss will be
enormous.
The president has declared himself
in favor of ship BubBidy.
Evidence of rebating has been found
against the Pennsylvania railroad.
Cumberland Presbyterians will go to
law to prevent if possible church union.
Natives at Guantanamo, Cuba, at
tacked United States sailors, killing
one and wounding 22.
Governor Blanchard, of Louisiana,
has sent a special message to the legis
lature asking for an insurance reform
law.
A court of inquiry has found General
Btoessel wrong in surrendering Port
Arthur and he may be disgraced and
sent to prison.
Commissioner Garfield has produced
much documentary evidence against the
Standard Oil at the Interstate Com
merce hearings.
A New York man just returned from
Panama says that country is practically
a monarchy with the president at the
head. He scys the government is con
stituted on the plan of the big insur
ance companies the president's rela
tives all hold jobs in the government
service and control all the good places.
The Russian parliament is preparing
demands to the czar for liberty.
Municipal ownership in Denver has
been beaten by blunders and treachery.
The Great Northern and Burlington
are to run through trains from Portland
to Chicago,
Taft has again declared that he will
continue to buy canal supplies in the
cheapest market until restricted by con
gress. Bains and floods are causing enor
mous damage in Texas, Oklahoma and
Indian Territory. A number of per
sons have been drowned.
The house committee on insular
affairs has made a favorable report on
the bill extending United States citi
zenship to the inhabitants of Porto
Kico.
Well known scientists who have been
studying Vesuvius are preparing to pre-
diet earthquakes and eruptions and say
insurance risks may be reduced to a
minimum. '
Will J. Davis, who was manager of
the Iroquoia theater, Chicago, at the
time of the great fire in that building,
has been arraigned on a charge o( man
slaughter, growing out of the fire.
Witte has come to the front in the
Russian upper house.
An obnoxious police official at War
saw, Russia, has been blown up by a
bomb.
San Francisco is slowly but method
ically preparing plana for the rebuild
ing of the city.
The Mutual Life Insurance company
has begun suit against its officers to re
cover wasted company money.
Bunau-Varilla, ex-minister of Pana
ma to the United States, says a Bea
level canal ia the only practicable one
to build.
A suit has been started at Decatur,
Illinois, to prevent the union of Cum
berland Presbyterian with the old Prea
byterian church. "
DANGER OF QUAKES.
One of Chief Reasons for!Committee
Favoring Sea Level Canal.
Washington, May 18. That the
earthquake that destroyed San Francis
co helped determine the vote of the
senate committee on interoceanic canals
in favor of a sea level type is apparent
from the fact that a feature of the ma
jority report is a discussion of the
effect earthquakes might have on locks
and dams. The majority report in
favor of a sea level canal was submitted
today by Senator Kittredge.
The report says that the canal struc
tures would be exposed to injury by
eartnquakes, particularly the locks at
Gatun. If the lock walls Bhould be
moved, leakage would result and the
gates would be useless. In case of
fracture of locks, months or years
might be required for repairs, and
meanwhile traffic would be interrupted.
It is maintained that the dam at
Gamboa proposed by the majority of
the board of consulting engineers, is
not liable to injury by earthquakes, for
it will be built on a solid rock founda
tion, reinforced with strong walls and
buttressed at each end with walls of
rock. Nor are the side slopes of the
Culebra cut likely to be disturbed,
but an earth dam on an alluvial base
might be cracked, draining the lock
and ruining the canal. The committee
says:
"At San Francisco, where the water
pipes were broken, the disaster was
greatly augmented by this cause, for
the water could not be held - in the
pipes and directed on the flames. What
would happen to the aqueduct, con
duits, pipes and valves, buried in the
concrete walls, used for filling and
emptying the locks, cannot be well
conjectured."
It ia stated that ships of all classes
could be passed through the sea level
canal in 8$ hours less than the time
that would be consumed in passing
ships through locks alone.' The cost of
annual maintenance is estimated at
$1,840,000 for the sea level and $2,-
330,000 for the lock type. A sea level
canal free from all obstacles could pass
100 warships in less than a day. Naval
commanders and commercial shipmas
ters oppose locks.
The majority argues that an enemy
could destroy a lock canal much easier
than a sea level canal with explosives.
The cost of a sea level canal is estimat-;
ed at $250, 000, COO, while the total cost
of the lock canal would be at least
$190,000,000, and the cost of trans
forming the latter into a sea level canal
would be $200,000,000. The conclu
sion of the majority ia "that the sea
level canal canbe realized in 10 or 12
years at a cost not exceeding $60,000,-
000 above that required by the con
struction of the multilock canal pro
posed by the minority."
AIDS TO PACIFIC NAVIGATION.
Omnibus Bill in House for Lightships
and Signal Stations.
Washington, May 18. The house
committee on interstate and foreign
commerce today authorized a favorable
report on an omnibus bill carrying be
tween 20 and 25 projects as "aids to
navigation and authorizing an appro
priation of something in excess of $1,
300,000. Among the provisions are:
Light station at Makapuu Point, Is
land of Oahu, Territory of Hawaii,
$60,000.
Lipht station and range lights at
Honolulu harbor, $40,000.
Fog signal at entrance to harbor at
Humboldt, California, $15,000.
Lightkeeper'a dwelling at Cape Men
docino, Cal., $5,500.
Light and fog Bignal station near
Point Cabrillo, California, $5,000.
Light vessel for use off the mouth of
the Columbia river, Oregon, $13,0,000.
Lightkeeper's dwelling at Robinson
Point, Washington, $5,000.
Fog Bignal at Ediz Hook light sta
tion, State of Washington, $10,000.
New tender for innpection service in
the 13th lighthouse district, $110,000,
in addition to the unexpended balance
of $40,000 for the repair of the tender
Manzanilla to' be applied on the new
tender.
Rebuilding of Stanford.
San Francisco, May 18. Stanford
University will be reconstructed at
once, and by next September every
building necessary to the work of the
college will be in perfect condition.
The work has already commenced, and
there is plenty of money on hand to as
sure the trustees that the repairs may,
be accomplished aa quickly as they de
sire. The structures will be rendered
earthquake proof. Three experts have
been appointed, and their report will
be the basis for whatever changes are
considered-necessary.
Withdraw Troops June I.
Washington, May 18. General Gree
ley has reported to the War Depart
ment from San Francisco under date of
last night that the reported killing of a
large number of people by the army
during the San Francisco fire is incor
rect. General Greeley adds that he has
notified the citizens' committee and the
Red Crois that the troops will be drawn
from San Francisco not later than
Junel.
IN THE NATIONAL HAILS OF CONGRESS
Friday, May 18.
Washington, May 18. After 70 days
of almoBt continuous deliberation the
senate today at 4:53 p.m. passed the
railroad rate bitl by the practically
unanimous vote of 71 to 3. The three
negative votes were cast by Foraker,
Republican, of Ohio, and Morgan and
Pettus, Democrats, of Alabama. There
was a somewhat larger attendance of
senators than usual, but the attendance
in the galleries was by no means ab
normal, and there was no manifesta
tion of any kind when the result was
announced. There was, however, an
almost general sigh of relief among the
senators.
WaHhlnot.nn Mav 18 Reminiscent
c.wu, . j
of the stressful days of the 47th con
gress were the scenes in and about the
house todav. Harrilv had the iournal
w . j - m
been approved when the Democrats,
under the leadership of Williams, of
Mississippi, began the first real fili
buster in a number of yearn, their ob
lect heinc to He (sat, the bill tiavine to
the estate of Samuel Lee, of South
Carolina, $10,482 for allowances made
by reason of the election of Lee, a ne
gro contestant for a seat in the 47 th
congresB.
This bill Via hnnn reported favorablv
by nine congresses six times by Re
publicans and three timea by Demo
crats.
After aoendinor almost the entire day
on the question the bill waa passed.
Thursday, May 17.
Washington, May 17. With the ex
ception of Bailey's digression, the en
tire day waa devoted by the aenate to a
review of tbe amendments made in
committee of the whole and covered
somewhat more than half of the meas
ure. There was a prospect of conclud
ing the reading until tbe section grant
ing to the Interstate Commerce com
mission power to fix rates waa reached
and the question of the constitutional
ity of that provision waa raised. The
attack waa made on the clause giving to
the committee discretion in the matter
of preserving rates, and a long debate
enBued. The question waa still under
discussion when the day came to a
close. '
Washington, May 17. After two
weeks' debate the house today passed
the naval, appropriation bill, carrying
$99,74,6000. The amendment provid
ing that the secretary of the navv could
go into tbe open market and purchase
chains, anchors and cordage, should it
be demonstrated that they could be
had cheaper in free markets than they
could be made by the government,
waa defeated today by a vote of 188 to
129.
By the action of the house on a sec
ond amendment, upon which a separate
vote was demanded, a 4 per cent differ
ential will be allowed bidders from tbe
Pacific Coast on ships constructed
there. The vote waa very close, three
Republicans changing from no to yes,
Haugben of Iowa, Thomas and Long
worth. After the passage of the naval budget
the house, in committee of the whole,
resumed consideration of the so-called
naturalization bill, but not great head
way was made.
Wednesday, May 16.
Washington, May 16. The consider
ation of the rate bill in committee of
the whole was concluded by the senate
today, and the measure was then re
ported to the senate, where there will
be opportunity to review and alter all
the amendments heretofore made.
Practically the entire day waa devoted
to consideration of the anti-pass amend
ment, which was adopted after making
so many exceptions aa to arouse laugh
ter every time the provision was read
Tbe work of the senate after the bill
was reported was confined to the partial
consideration of tbe pipe line provision,
which waa so amended as to strike but
the Morgan proviso extending its ope-1
ration to other ycountnea where the
uiiueu oimes naa jurisuicuou.
Washington. Mav 16. The naval
appropriation bill, carrying nearly
$100,000,000, was completed today in
the bouse after one of the busiest days
oi ine present congrese. The mature
of the day'a debate grew out of the at-
(omnt in J.I - 4.1 .aBH.i.l!n(i
fall UHlCHt liJe appi UJJJ labiuu tyt
the largest battleship of its claas in the
i j - - i i i . , i . j
wuriu aua ins tenor or ine speecuen ir
the big ship was that the American re
public muBt hn ahreast of the nations
of the world in the strength of her
navy. The opponenta talked for peace,
Will Double Alaska Cables.
Washington, May 15. Ordere have
been issued by General Allen; the chief
signal officer of the army, for the in
stallment of the duplex system on tbe
Alaska cables. The commercial busi
ness of the cables baa bec6me so heavy
that even by working night and day the
"operators are not able to handle all the
disatchea With tbe- new system the
capacity of the cable will be increased
about 75 per cent. The, supreme court
of the United States baa denied the
petition for a rehearing in the Chicago
traction cases.
disarmament and arbitration, and in
sisted that there was no national need
for such a large navy. The amend
ment introduced by Burton, of Ohio,
to strike out the appropriation for a
rival to the British Dreadnaught was
defeated, as was the amendment leav
ing Hip oonntruetion of the battleship
to the discretion of the secretary of the
navy after the second Hague conierence.
A final vote on the bill will be taken
tomorrow.
Tuesday, May 15.
Washington, May 15. With the ex
ception of the anti-puss amendment,
tbe senate concluded its discussion o!
the railroad rate bill in committee of
the whole and, aa soon us that provi
sion shall be disposed of, will take it
up in the senate. Tbe general expec
tation is that the pass question will be
disposed of early tomorrow, and the
general hope is that the bill may be
passed before the close of tomorrow's
session. The greater part of the day
was spent in discussing the eighth sec
tion of the bill, relating to tbe person
nel of the Interstate Commerce com
mission, resulting in the elimination
of the entire section and the restoration
of the present law, which provides for
five commissioners at salaries of $7,500.
Washington, May 15. The House
by a decided vote today reaffirmed its
faith in the Navy department,' defeat
ing an amendment of Tawney, chair
man of the appropriations committee,
to limit the expenditurea on a ship to
10 per cent of the cost, a vote of con
fidence coming after two hours' hot
debate. Having reached the section of
the naval bill dealing with increase
in the Navy and, realizing that consid
erable debate must ensue, the house ad
journed until, noon tomorrow.
Tawney waa emphatic in declaring
that it waa both bad policy and bad ad
ministration to give to the Navy de
partment the right of spending $11,-
000,000 for repairs of vessels without
so much as being compelled to give an
account to any one for the money ex
pended.
Monday, May, 14.
Washington, May 14. The session
of the senate today passed without an
exciting incident and without the adop
tion of a single amendment to the rail
road rate bill, notwithstanding that
measure was under consideration prac
tically all the time from the hour of
convening, 11 o clock, until adjourn
ment at 5:15 p m. The most charac
teristic feature of the day was the re
jection of amendments. This waa ac
compliahed either by direct vote or by
the process of laying on the table and
one followed another in rapid suces
sion.
Among the provisions thua adversely
disposed of were several intended to fix
the liability of railroad companies for
injury to employes. The presentation
of provisions intended to accomplish
this purpose had the effect of bringing
out a practically authoritative state'
ment that the committee on interstate
commerce will report the independent
house bill on that subject which is now
pending before it.
Washington, May 14. The house
had under consideration today bills re
lating to tbe government of the District
of Columbia. It completed the bills
reorganizing the Washington public
school system, then adjourned in the
absence of a quorum, postponing action
on the bills under consideration.
These bills will be taken up tomorrow
Saturday, May 12.
. Washington, May 12. Tbe senate
proceedings today were devoted exclu
sively to the consideration of the rail
road rate bill, and they included many
interesting and some sensational feat
ures. The actual accomplishments of
the day consisted in the completion of
the consideration of the Allison amend
ments, covering the question of review
by courts of the orders of the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
There were several of these provis'
ions and all were accepted aa presented
or suggested by tbe Iowa senator, show
ing an almost perfect agreement among
Repuplican senators. Indeed, one of
the noteworthy features of the day was
the practical unanimity of the Repub
Means. They not only voted almost
solidly for the . Allison amendments,
but were just as nearly united against
opposing propositions. When an ad
journment was reached, there waa still
prospect of the continuance of the de
bate for next week.
Jiminer Plans Revolution.
. Washington, May 15. Reports have
reached the State department of the
organization of another revolutionary
movement directed against-the govern
ment of President Caceres, of Santo
Domingo. It ia understood that the
island of Porto Rico ia -the base of
operations, and it ia supposed that ex
President Morales and Jiminez are the
leadera of the movement. Instructions
have been sent to the insular governor
of Porto Rico to take steps to carry out
the neutrality laws, which would pre
vent departure of hostile expedition.
DELAYS RELIEF MEASURES.
House Decides to Walt for Further
News From San Francisco.
Washington, May 16. after hearing
Secretary Taft and Supervising Archi-
tict layior, the emergency sub commit
tee of the house committee on appro
priations today decided to delay action
regarding the $500,000 aBked for by
the president for San Francisco and the
$656,000 asked for tq repair the federal
buildings damaged by the recent earth
quake in California.
Aa to the emergency fund, Mr. Taft
explained that he would be able in a
week or ten daye to submit a detailed
estimate which would probably cover
everything which would be needed for
relief purposes. He waa unable to
state what that amount would be.
The estimate regarding the building
was a preliminary recommendation
made by telegraph on a cursory exami
nation of the damage done to the build
ings In question. These buildings are-
in such shape that they are being used '
and the Treasury department ia re
quested to have detailed estimates made
at once with the intention of having
the amount carried in the general defi
ciency bill, which will be taken up by
ma commiuee in two weeks or more.
. Mr. Taft informed the committee
that there would continue to be a con
siderable expenditure for relief pur
poses for some time to come.
MORE CHINESE ADMITTED..
Increasing Number Come as Mem
bers of Exempt Classes.
Washington, May 16. The bureau
of immigration today issued a state
ment regarding'the diapoaition of Chi
nese seeking admission to the United
Btates, covering the month of April,
1906, as compared with April, 1905
Tbe statement ahowa that out of a total
of 100 arriving in April, 1905, 88 were
admitted and 14 deported. A large in
crease of arrivals in April, 1906, ia
noted, 241 having landed in thia coun
try, 13 of whom were deported.
A significant feature of the statement
ia the number of Chinese arriving in
thia country on certificates issued by
the Chinese government, vised by
United States consular officers. In
April, 1905, 12 Buch reached these
shores, only one nfjwhom was deported
whereas in April, 1906, 19 arrived,
none of whom was deported. Thia
showing, it was explained at the bureau
of immigration, ia a refutation of the
charge which it is said repeatedly has
been made that certain classes of Chi
nese were not being accorded that lib
erality o! treatment to which they wera
entitled.
PETS OF THE RAILROADS.
Some Coal Companies Get More Thar
Their Share of Cars.
Philadelphia, May ' 16. Testimony
tending to show favoritism by railroad
companies in the distribution of coal
cars was elicited today when tbe Inter
state Commerce commission resumed
its investigation into the alleged rail
road discrimination.
Shortly before the close of the after
noon session George W. Clark, a car
distributer employed by the Pennsyl
vania Railroad company at Altoona;
Pa., admitted that he had received or
ders to make special assignments of
carB to the Berwind-White Coal com
pany. Arthur Hale, superintendent of trans
portation of the Baltimore & Ohio Rail
road, was on the stand the greater part
of the day. Through him it was
brought out that the Merchants' Coal
company had frequently received many
cars in excess of their percentage allot
ment; while various smaller companies
suffered a shortage.
Limit to Skyscraplng.
San Francisco, May 16. At a meet
ing of the joint committee on building
laws with the various sub-committees
it was definitely decided to recommend
the following ordinances: On streets
100 feet wide or over, the height of
buildinga facing thereon shall be un
limited. On streets 80 feet wide or
over, the height of buildinga shall be
limited to 200 feet. On streets less
than 80 feet wide, the height of build
inga is tj be one and one-half times the
width of the Btreet upon which the
building faces.
Develope Philippine Coal Mine
Washington, May 16. The house
committee on insular affairs today
presented h favorable report on a bill
for the leasing of the military reserva
tion on the Island of Bataan, one of the
Philippine group, for coal mining pur
poses. The requirement is made that
the government ahalL have all the coal
it desires at a price to be 10 per cent
greater than the cost of mining.