Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Lexington wheatfield. (Lexington, Or.) 1905-19?? | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 1907)
V. LEXINGTON WHE1TFIELD S. A. THOMAS, Publisher LEXINGTON OREGON NEWS OFTHE WEEK In a Condensed Form for Our Busy Readers. A Resume of the Less Important but Not Less Interesting Events of the Past Week. Hayti and Germany aie quarreling. The floods in Nebraska are receding. A bill for woman surffage has been introduced in the house of commons. The house land committee has yield ed to Roosevelt's plea for the leasing of coal land. Discharged negro soldiers declare there was a plot to kill them at Brownsville. The house pension committee has an nounced that it has completed its work fort his session. The president has reached a final agreement with the Californians on the school question. Senator Hopkins of Illinois, threat ens to talk the river and harbor bill to death. He would have a three weeks' task. The Postal Telegraph company has announced an increase in pay for its employes following the action of the Western Union in advancing wages. Railroads of the United States need $500,000,000 for improvements, but fin'e the Interstate Commerce com mission inquiries they cannot obtain the money on watered stock and the railway magnates don't know where to look for relief. Floods in Nebraska have blocked railway traffic. Castro has caused the wholesale ar rest of suspected enemies. The British cabinet has announced the first step towards Irish home rule. Senator Knox, of Pennsylvania, de fends Smoot's right to a seat in the senate. The Massachusetts legislature has petitioned congress to revise the pres ent tariff laws. The Thaw trial has been postponed on account of the death of the wife of one of the jorois. Trouble with employes has caused all papers in Butte and jAnaconda to sus pend and in a statement the publishers declare they will not issue another pa per until the men give in. Hermann's original letters have been admitted as evidence in his letter book trial. Postponement has also been granted to give further time for the de fense to prepare for the admission of these letters. Kuropatkin says he met defeat at the hands of the Japanese because his gen erals disobeyed orders. He makes a ghastly contrast between Japanese valor and etliciency and Russian indifference and incompetence. Ex-Governor Higgins, of New York, is dead. A new Santo Domingo treaty has been sent to the senate. Roosevelt has a way to settle the Japanese trouble and will call on con gress for help. The British parliameut is open. The king's speech foreshadows war between the two houses. Jerome will attempt to send Thaw to an insane asylum if he escapes convic tion for killing White, Fourteen persons were injured by a freight train on the Northern Pacific crashing into a passenger train near Seattle. The San Francisco unions which struck against the street car company will win thoir point through an arbi tration board. The Hermann jury is almost com plete. This is for the trial of the rep resentative for hurning letter books while la the general land office. In twelve states Lincoln's birthday is a legal holiday and February 12 was appropriately remembered. The states are; New York, Colorado, Connecti cut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Dakota. Pennsylvania, Washington and Wyom ing. Nicaragua is preparing to invade Honduras. A revolt against the government is on in Persia. Ex-Governor Higgins, of New York, is again failing in health, Boers are gradually securing control of the Transvaal parliament. A Clinton, N. C, grand jury hag in dicted a number of county ollicialB for embezzlement. MOST LIBERAL IN HISTORY River and Harbor Bill Gives Almost All Northwest Asked Washington, Feb. 15. Never before in the history of rivers and harbors leg islation has any congress dealt so liber ally with the Pacific Northwest as the present congress will do in the pending river and harbor bill. Not only is the aggregate appropriation larger than ever before, but the appropriations more nearly appoximate the estimates of the engineers. This is in a very large measure due to the remarkably efficient work of Representative Jones, of Washington, who is on the river and harbor committee as repesentative of his own and neighboring states. Mr. Jones was in a position to do things, and his accomplishments speak for themselves. Indeed the house has been so very liberal that the senate has nothing left to do, unless it be to raise a few appropriations that fall below the house figures, and it is doubtful if many such increases can be secured, for in eveiy instance where the house cut the estimates on Oregon and Wash ington projects it was for some specific and very good reason. In his work in committee Mi. Jones had the active support of Senator Ful ton, and the Oregon senator did every thing that a man not a member of the committee could do to aid in getting liberal recognition for Oregon and Co lumbia river projects. There was ab solute harmony throughout, and the two men worked together to a common end. The effectiveness of Mr. Jones' work is found in the figures themselves. The total amount recommended by the en gineeis for Oregon and Washington projects was $5,110,244; the total ap propriation carried by the house bill is $4,670,244, a difference of $440,000. The reductions were on the Celilo ca nal, $150,000 being taken from the amount recommended and given to the upper river, for which a new project was recommended late in December; on the Willamette and Columbia rivers below Portland, where $150,000 was deducted because Portland business men had assuied the committee that a new taxation district was to be formed to raise money to aid in this improve ment; and the Cascade locks on the Columbia river, where $105,000 was recommended for grading and filling in behind the completed locks. The com mittee felt that this work was not urg ent, as the canal lock is itself com pleted. With these exceptions, the house bill provides the amounts recommended by the engineers, and in the case of Co quille river the committee appropriates $60,000 when only $40,000 was asked by the War department. The $60,000 will complete this project, as shown by the figures of the local engineers, so the committee decided to clear up the whole matter at one time. The following table gives the various projects and the amounts appropriated by the house bill: Mouth of Columbia river, $2,450, 244; Dalles-Celilo canal, $600,000; rivers, Portland to sea, $300,000; Co lumbia between Celilo and mouth of Snake river, $120,000; Tipper Colum bia, between Wenatchee and Bridge port, $42,000; Upper Columbia and Snake, $10,000; Coquille river, $60, 000; Coos river, $3,000; dredge, Ore gon, and Washington coast harbors, $100,000; Tillamook bay, $10,000; improvement of Upper Willamette, $60,000; Clatskanie, $500; Cowlitz and Lewis rivers, $50,000; Willapa harbor, $25,000; Gray's harbor, $600, 000; Gray's inner harbor, $177,000; Gray's river, $2,500; Puget sound and tributaries (dredging) $75,000; Lake Washington canal, $10,000; Swino mish slough, $75,000; Okanogan and Pend d'Oreille, $20,000. Two Dead, 1,000 Homeless. Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Feb. 15. Not withstanding the rumors in regard to the loss of life as a result of a fire which last night destroyed 90 cottages and residences, three hotels, the Carr memorial church and fully 200 barns and outhouses, entailing a loss of $200, 000, so far as can be learned only two persons lost their lives. They were John Springer, a foreman in the Cotton Belt railroad yard, and a man named Reed, who is said to have gone into a burning building while intoxicated. Nearly 1,000 people are homeless. Finds Huge Spot on Sun. Pittsburg, Feb. 15. Professor John M. Brashear, of the Alleghany observa tory, announces the discovery of one of the greatest sunspots ever brought to the attention of astronomers. He says as a resut electrical disturbances will be experienced throughout the country tomorrow night. The spot can be seen through smoked glass, but the sci entist adds that it is one of the most active of solar spots. Its approximate length is said to be 150,000 miles and 30,000 miles wide, covering an area of about 3,500,000 square miles. Treaty for Prohibition in Africa. Washington, Feb. 15. The senate committee on foreign relations today authorized a favorable report on a gen eral treaty with the powers looking to the suppression of the liquor traffic in Africa by enforcing a prohibitive tariff. IN THE NATIONAL HALLS OF CONGRESS Friday, February 15 Washington, Feb. 15. An agree ment to vote tomorrow on the confer ence report on the immigration bill, which includes the provision intended to settle the California Japanese ques lion, " was reached in the senate today as the result of an entire day of discus sion upon that measure. The principal speakers were Bacon and Tillman in opposition to what they regarded as an effort to prevent the South from getting a desirable class of immigrants. Tillman's remarks on the Japanese question brought a warning from Lodge that if they were continued he should move that the discussion proceed be hind closed doors. International re ferences were not made afterward by lillman. Washington. Feb. 15. The house, after a highly interesting debate, today passed the naval appropriation bill, which carries in round numbers $96, 000,000. Burton of Ohio made an un successful effort to strike out the pro vision for an additional battleship of the JJreailnaught type. An amendment by Foss was adopted, limiting to $800,000 each the cost of two torpedo boat destroyers authorized in the bill, exclusive of armament. Another amendment, also by Foss, was adopted, providing that, of the vessels authorized in last year s naval bill as well as in this year's, not more than one bi.ttleship and one torpedo boat destroyer or two torpedo boats shall be built by one contracting party, The postoffice appropriation bill was taken up under an agreement that gen eral'debate should cease at 12 noon. Thnrsday, February 14. Washington, Feb. 14. The naval appropriation bill occupied the entire time of the house today, and it was al most completed. The single remaining section is that increasing the naval es tablishment. It was allowed to go over until tomorrow, when it is expect ed an effort will be made to reduce the number of battleships provided for in the bill. Points of order were made against many provisions of the bill, and were generally sustained. Washington, Feb. 14. The senate today passed a bill providing , for the investigation of the water sources of the United States. The investigation is to be made by the director of the geologi cal survey. Both underground and surface waters are to be investigated. An amendment was adopted, which permits co-operation between the states and the Federal government in. making hydrographic surveys. A solution of the Japanese problem is threatened with complete failure because of Senator Lodge's irritating and bulldozing tactics. Republicans are alarmed at the situation tonight and apprehensive that tho exclusion amendment added to the immigration bill will be opposed by a strong Demo cratic filibuster that cannot prove other than successful at this late period of the session. Democratic senators are also considering the advisability of calling a conference on the amendment and making it a party measure. Wednesday, February 13. Washington, Feb. 13. The senate today passed a bill giving the govern ment the right to appeal to , the Su preme court for a construction of the constitutionailty of any law involved in a criminal Buit. This measure has been under consideration for several days and was passed only after many amendments had been adopted at the suggestion of senators who have criti cized the provisions of the bill. The District of Columbia appropria tion bill, carrying nearly $11,000,000, was passed after an hour's considera tion. The bill establishing an agricultural bank in the Philippines was taken up for consideration, but difficulty was en countered because the Philippine tariff bill, which passed the house at the last session, was interposed as an amend ment by McCreary, of Kentucky. No action resulted. The first night session was held to night to consider private pension bills. Washington, Feb. 13. Headway was made today by the house in its consid eration of the naval appropriation bill, and more than half the bill perfected. A number of points df order were made and sustained against minor provisions in the bill. The appropriation for a steel floating Co ngress Leaders to Help. Washington, Feb. 13. That the San Francisco Bchool question will be set tled is the general opinion in official circels. Mayor Schmitz and his asso ciates received a message from the pres ident saying he desired to confer with them today at 2:45 o'.clock. Secretary Root had a long conference with Speak er Cannon and while both declined to talk, it is the general belief that the Japanese school question was discuss ed. It is admitted that communica tions have been exchanged between the Japanese ambaEsador and Root. drydock to cost not exceeding $1,400, 000 was struck out of the bill on a point of order, which was made by Mr. Maun, of Illinois. Tuesday, February 12, Washington, Feb. 12. The senate occupied the day in argument of the bill granting the government tho right to take an appeal on points of law in criminal cases. No action was taken on the measure. The District of Columbia appropria tion bill, carrying $10,724,523, an in crease of $087,298 over tho amount as passed by the house, was taken up and notice has been given that the bill will be put on its passage tomorrow. Washington, Feb. 12. After the passage of a number of bills under unanimous consont the house today re solved itself into committee of the whole to consider the naval appropria tion bill. A number of recommenda tions of the naval appropriations com mittee were eliminated on points of order. The army appropriation bill, the fortifications appropriations bill and the omniubs lighthouse bill were sent to conference. The naval appropriation bill was con sidered by sections under the five minute rule. Monday, February II. Washington, Feb. 11. The senate today passed the army appropriation bill, carrying $81,000,000. The amend ment which permitted the government to accept reduced rates on army sup plies and permitted army officers and enlisted men to accept reduced trans portation and an amendment increasing by 20 per cent the pay of officers and enlisted men were defeated on points of order. Washington, Feb. 11. Bills relat ing to the government of the District of Columbia were considered in the house today. The house in committee of the whole favored a flat 4-cent street railway fare, together with a provision for eight tickets for 25 cents in the District of Columbia, but in the house the amendment was defeated. There upon "no quorum" was made and the house at 5:10 adjourned. The Indian appropriation bill was sent to conference. Saturday, February 9. Washingotn, Feb. 9. After confer ring with Speaker Cannon and with the committee on rules, Chairman Foss of the naval affairs committee, asked the house to consider general debate upon the naval appropriation bill closed, so that, when the bill is again taken up, it may be under the five- minute rule for amendment. Mr. Foss urged that the house pay heed to the passing of the days and t he ap proaching adjournment of congress. The house then adjourned out of respect to the memory of Mr. Rixey. Washington, Feb. 9. The adoption of an amendment authorizing the secre tary of war to supply militia for tho various states with arms and equip ment used by the regular army created considerable discussion in the senate today. The senate passed the omnibus light house bill, which carries Senator Ful ton's amendments for Cape Blanco and Cape Arago. The bill also carrie $30, 000 for a lighthouse at Eliza island, Belilngham bay, and $125,000 for a lighthouse on Cross Point, Alaska. Seattle Fair Bill Must Wait. Washington, Feb. 12. Senator Piles today attempted to call up Senator An- keny's bill appropriating $700,000 lor government buildings and exhibits at the Seattle exposition, but was unsuc cessful. He has hopes of passing the bill through the senate later this week, but it is understood no attempt will be made to have it acted on by the house before next winter. Want Fair Closed Sunday. Seattle "Closed on Sunday" is the siirn the Seattle Ministerial federation desires to see hung over the gates of the Alaska-Yukon-racinc exposition in 1909. A meeting of the members, who comnrise Dracticallv all the Pro testant clergymen of the city, has been called, when the question will be dis cussed and a formal protest against Sunday opening of the fair will be formulated. At the same meeting a re ligious revival lor tne city win be planned and closed Sunday exposition will, be agitated until a final decision is announced by the directois. New Santo Domingo Treaty. Washington, Feb. 13. The presi dent today sent to the senate the new treaty with the repubplic of Santo Do mingo relative to the revenues of that country. It sets forth in the preamble the fact that Santo Domingo has entered upon an agreement with her creditos which is made contingent upon the fact that this county shall collect the money and it is then ageed that the president of the United States shall ap point a representative of the govern ment as receiver general to take charge of all the funds collected. ' COLLISION DURING BLlZZAHD Believed 176 Lives Were Lost Many ot Them Froze. Block Island, R. I., Feb. 13. A ma rine disaster with appalling loss of life and entailing suffering almost beyond the limit of human endurance came to light today, when a life boat of the Joy line steamer Larchmoul, humid from Providence to New York, drifted into Block Island harbor. In the boat were several bodies of men who had died from tho effects of lung hours of exposure to a death-dealing temperature. In the boat also wore 11 men whose suffering was so intense that they seemed oblivious to the fact that death was in their midst and they u..,l .,,... .,...1 i ,r ability to withstand the rigor of zero weather in an open boat at sea. The boat brought a tale of disaster that has rarely been equaled in New England waters, and it is believed that, when the final outcome is known, it will be found that not less than 150 lives were lost. Following closely ill the wake of the solitary lifeboat came bodies, lifeboats and rafts, cast on the beach by the angry waves. Owing to the condition of the sur vivors it was impossible to get from them an estimate of the loss of life. From 150 to 175 persons went to their death, and at a late hour tonight it was believed that the latter figures are nearer correct The cause of the accident has not. been satisfactorily explained. It oc curred just off Watch Hill about 11 o'clock lust night, when the three masted schooner Harry Knowlton, bound from South Amboy for Boston with a cargo of coal, crushed into the steamer's port amidships. Captain McVey, of the Larchmont, declares that the Knowlton suddenly swerved from her course, luffed up into the wind and crashed into his vessel. Captain Haley of the Knowlton asserts that the steam er did not give his vessel sufficient sea room. ORDERS NEW VENIRE. Jury Panel in Adams Case Exhausted Second Day. Wallace, Idaho, Feb. 13. At the close of the second day of the trial of Steve Adams for the murder of Fred Tyler, 34 talesmen had been examined, exhausting the panel and the court had ordered the summoning of anew venire Eleven jurors remained in the jury box and the defense still retains the right to four peremptory challenges and the state one. When the court ordered a new venire Attorney E. F. Richardson, counsel for the defense, made an affidavit that the sheiiff is biasea, and asked that a spec ial commission be appointed to summon the venire. In his affidavit it is alleg ed that Angus Sutherland, whose term as sheriff expired last month, was made sheriff in 1899 during the labor troubles by the Mine Owners' association, and that as sheriff he cannot serve two con secutive terms. The present sheriff, William Bailey, was nominated with the understanding that Sutherland should etill be in complete control un der the direction of the corporation hostile to the Western Federation of Mineis. ' A session was held last night to decide the point. BOUND FAST BY RED TAPE. Down Timber Goes to Waste Because Law Forbids Sale. Washington, Feb. 13. There's money going to waste in Klickitat county owing to departmental methods and red tape, as well as to the fact of there being no law under which action can be taken. . LnBt spring a Bevere storm passed through this country, felling an immense number of trees, practically all the timber in two town ships being razed. This timber is on the ground, is rapidly bluing and un less something is done by which it can be utilized it soon will be worthless for lumber purposes. There is a sale for this timber, but the lumber companies are afraid to touch it, as the home steaders upon whose land it is lying have not in all cases commuted their claims and if they should abandon them after selling the down timber, tho buyer might be placed in a very em barrassing position. Travelers Rebel at Food. Leavenworth, Wash., Feb. 13. An other trainload of passengers arrived here today, making about 600 stranded at this place. Conditions in the day coaches are terrible. The rairoad is giving two meals a day, and the food is revolting. Passengers will not pat ronize the dining cars unless allowed to order their dinner in preference to the meal handed them. The large ice house at the depot was wrecked today, the roof caving in from the weight of snow. A Japanese was buried in the debris and sustained a broken arm.' Demurrage Bill Passed. Pierre, S. D., Feb. 13. The house today passed the reciprocal demurraj e bill. The bill to prohibit corporations to contribute to campaign funds was passed. Another bill approved by the house prohibits "treating" in saloonB. All these measures have passed the sen ate and now go to the governor .