LEXINGTON WHEATFIELD
S. A. THOMAS, Publisher
LEXINGTON
OREGON
NEWS OFTHE WEEE
In a Condensed Form lor Our
Busy Readers.
A Resume of the Less Important but
Not Less Interesting Events
of the Past Week.
Honduras has declared war on Nica
ragua. The survivors of the steamer Berlin
number eleven.
Cleveland says the only thing to do
with ex -presidents is to turn them loose
and let them fish.
Senator Fuluton proposes that no
more forest reserves be created without
the consent of congress. i
At a Washington birthday speech
Governor Hisggins, of Khode Island,
criticised the first president.
Over 40 persons were injured and a
dozen unaccounted for in a wreck on
the Pennsylvania railroad, at Mineral
Point, Pa.
Russian terrorists attacked the War
saw postoflice and after killing five
persons secured all the money on hand
and escaped.
The State department has about con
eluded that blood letting is the nnlv
cure for the trouble between Central
American republics.
It is said that Japanese laborers now
in Hawaii, who desiie to enter the
United States, propose to do so by
going through Mexico.
Mayor Dunne has carried the Chi
cago Democratic primaries.
. Slight earthquakes are still felt in
San Francisco occasionally.
Taft is going to Cuba in April to
investigate conditions there.
The Japatnese minister and Secretary
Root are working on a new treaty.
A Kentucky woman has just given
birth to five children. All are doing
well.
Senator Bailey, of Texas, says all
charges are false and he would like to
shoot accusers.
Tawney says the present session of
congress will appropriate more than
one billion dollars.
Frederick T. Gates, Rockefeller's
business representative, says the oil
king's income is about $20,000,000
per year.
Trainmen of the West are demanding
increase of wages and as the railroad
companies are inclined to refuse,
trouble may follow.
An association has been formed in
Chicago for the purpose o,f holding the
largest corn exposition next fall ever
attempted in the United States.
The Connecticut tax commissioner
offered to sell an appointment and now
he is out.
The Alabama railway commission
has ordered a 2-cent passenger rate on
all railways.
A Northern Pacific train was ditched
near Paha, Wash. Floods had weak
ened a trestle.
Wisconsin railroads are complying
with the order of the railroad commis
sion for a 2 cent passenger rate.
The Great Northern announces that
all blockades in the Northwest from
the recent storms have been cleared
Sickness of a juror in the Hermann
trial nas caused tne selection of a new
man and started the case at the begin
ning again;
The Nebraska legislature has passed
a 2-cent passenger rate bill. The goy
ernor openly favors the measure, so it
is likely to become law.
The National Red Cross society has
sent 7,500 bushels of seed wheat to
famine districts of China. The Pa
cific Steamship company carries it free.
Melting snow has again caused seri
ous washouts on the O. R. & N. The
mam line is not seriously affected.
The Pendleton-Walla Walla and Shan
iko branches are not yet open from
former troubles and what work has been
done will have to be built over.
The British cabinet stands firm for
greater Irish liberty.
The church cria's in the French cab
inet has been staved off.
The trouble which caused a suspen
sion of all Butte papers is far from an
end.
Four separate investigations are be
ing made of the Brewster, New York,
railroad wreck. The death list has now
reached 21 .
An explosion in a coal mine near
Monterey. Mexico, caused 30 deaths.
Register Nolan, of The Dalles kind
office, has been removed.
HUNDREDS LOST.
Big Steamer Wrecked and Passengerij
London, Feb. 22. The worst disaster
foi many years in the history of the
busy cross-chanel traffic between Eng
land and the continent occurred during
a violent gale shortly befoie 6 o'clock
this morning, when the Rotterdam
mail steamer Berlin, from Harwich to
Hook of Holland, having satisfactorily
weathered the hurricane, was wrecked
as she was entering port.
Altogether 143 persons are either dead
or clinging hopelessly to the wreck.
The terriflic seas broke upon the
steamer with such awful suddenness
that attempts to save life appear to
have been utterly hopeless. Late to
night it is reported that a few surviv
ors were clinging to the wreck, but as
the heroic efforts all day of the lifeboat
crews had failed to reach them, little
hope that they will be saved remains.
The cause has not yet been assigned
for the disaster and it probably never
will be known how the steamer came to
miss the channel. It is conjectured
that some derangement of the engines
or steering gear may have rendered the
vessel uncontrollable. Captain Pre
cious has a good record of 14 years' ser
vice. The list of pasesengers was lost, and
all the names of those who were on
board have not yet been learned, but as
far as has been ascertained there were
no Amei icans among them .
A terrific southwest gale was blow
ing inshore, and drove the steamer on
a sand bank close to the northern jetty
as she was trying to enter the new
waterway. Heavy seas quickly pound
ed the vessel to pieces,. She broke in
two, her fore part sinking immedi
ateiy, wmie the doomed passengers
and crew clustered upon the after part.
PLAYGROUNDS FOR CHILDREN.
Roosevelt Endorses Movement to Ac
quire Them In Cities
Washington, Feb. 22. Municipal
playgrounds within easy walking dig
tance for every boy and girl in the
large cities were advocated tonight by
resident Koosevelt in a letter, and by
.Representative Uoutell, of Chicago; E
Xj. isrown, united states commissioner
of education; Henry S. Carlis, superm
tendent of Washington playgrounds
and other speakers at a "playgrounds
banquet" given under the auspices of
the Washington Playgrounds associa
tion. M. Boutell explained the ob
ject of his bill now pending in congress
The president in his letter expressed
nope that Mc. Boutelrs bill for play
grounds in Washington will pass con
gress, that sites may be secured before
prices become prohibitive, saying;
regard this as one of the most import
ant steps toward making Washington
the model city which we all feel that
the capital should be."
He praises the work in this direction
done by Chicago and the High School
Athletic league of New York, and calls
attention to the inclusion of games in
the curriculum of German and English
schools and several noted private
scnoois in America.
GREAT REJOICING IN UTAH.
State Legislature Congratulates
ate, Smoot and Sutherland
Sen
Bait Lake City, Feb. 22 Among
tne active KepuDlicans and the leaders
of the Mormon church there was great
rejoicing when the news came from
Washington that Senator Smoot had
been sustained. By unanimous standing
vote the lower house of the Utah legis
lature adopted the following joint reso
lution, which was also introduced in
the senate:
"Be it resolved by the legislature of
the state of Utah, that, in determining
that Hon. Reed Smoot is entitled to
his seat, the United States senate has
stood for constitutional rights against
powerful influences and has avoided a
dangerous precedent.
"Therefore, the thanks and the con
Kramiauons oi toe state oi Utah are
hereby extended to the senate for its
final action in this case.
"Personal congratulations are sent to
senator Smoot and his colleague, Sena
01. .1.1 1 , 1 . . . . '
mr ouuieriana, ano to tne other sena
tors who spoke and voted in protection
oi tne rights or the state of Utaji."
Committed to the Asylum.
Seattle, Feb. 22. Esther Mitchell,
who since July last has been confined
in the county jail here, was sent to the
state asylum for the insane at Steila-
coom today. Superior- Judge Frater,
who called a lunacy commission to ex
amine into the girl's mental condition,
signed the commitment this morning.
The killing of George Mitchell bv his
sister was the result of the reicm of
Holy Rollerism in Oregon. Georee
Mitchell killed Franz Edmund Creflield,
the Holy Roller leader, in this city
last May.
Chamberlain a Physical Wreck.
London, Feb. 22. -An interestinsr au
thoritative statement concerning the
health of Joseph Chamberlain is pub
lished here today. Although it does
not confirm the worst rumors, it shows
that Mr. Chamberlain is completely
broken physically, although he is men
tally alert.
IN THE NATIONAL HALLS OF CONGRESS
Friday, February 22.
Washington, Feb. 22. The senate
at tonight's session passed the bill
making appropriations of $1,947,383
ior tne support oi the military aead
emy. ihe bill was passed just as it
came from the committee.
A discussion lasting throughout the
entire day, to which was added a futih
night session, failed to secure final ac
tion on the amendments to the agricul
tural appropriation bill pioposingto
niaKe an increase of $ 1,000,000 in the
item for the support of the forest re
serve. Forceful speeches were made by
Burdett, Depew and Beveridge in de
fense of the work of Chief Forester
Pinchot, and opposed to the extension
of the forest service by Heyburn, who
went into me entire subject.
Washington, Feb. 22. The house in
committee of the whole placed itself
squarely on record today in favor of
limiting the power of special agents of
the department of the interior by a
vote restricting the use of the appro-
pntion of 250,000 covered by the
sundry civil appropriation bill to pay
me salaries oi such agents.
At 6:15 the committee rose, having
completed 119 pages of the sundry civil
Dill.
Thursday, February 21.
ITT 1 A ill a.
niisinngion, ieD. xi. it was con
ceded today by senators in charge of
the agricultural bill that the grazing
lease provision will be eliminated on
a point of order. The reading of the
bill was completed after most of the
day had been spent in debate on the
forestry system and the grazing meae
ure, and it will again be considered
tomorrow for final action.
An amendment was agreed to, at the
suggestion of Nelson, which will add
$500 each year to the appropriation for
agricultural colleges until tne total
amount for each state for these col
leges shall be $50,000 annually, in
stead of $30,000, as at present.
Washington, Feb. 21. The sundry
civil appropriation bill was considered
by the house today. By a vote of 165
to 41 general debate was closed and the
bill was taken up under the five-minute
rule.
Mann of Illinois offered an amend
ment, which was adopted, appropriat
ing $5,000 to enable the Interstate
Commerce commission to investigate
block signal systems and appliances for
the automatic control of railway trains.
The house passed a number of bills
and resolutions, including one calling
on the secretary of the navy for infor
mation regarding repairs being made
on the battleship Louisiana, and an
other enlarging the act relating shang
haiing. '
The river and harbor bill was sent
to conference.
Wednesday, February 20.
Washington, Feb.20. Senator Smoot
retains his seat in the United States
senate. This was decided today by a
vote of 42 to 28, ending a long contest.
Eighteen senators were paired, making
the actual standing on the resolution 51
for and 37 against. Smoot did nol
vote and Wetmore was absent and not
paired. Senators Fulton and Mulkey
of Oregon, Piles and Ankeny of Wash
ington and Heyburn of Idaho voted for
Smoot, while Dubois of Idaho voted
against him. I
The naval appropriation bill, carry
ing $100,727,607, was passed by the
senate tonight in 52 minutes. All the
committee amendments were agreed to.
ine only amendment adopted added
$250,000 to the appropriation for coal
and transportation and $130,000 for a
powder plant at the Norfolk navy yard.
Washington, Feb. 20. The postofnee
appropriation bill, the largest ever re
ported by the committee on postoffices
and post roads, passed the house today.
All the provisions relating to increased
pay affecting 90 per cent of the postal
employes, which yesterday were strick
en out on points of order, were today
restored to the bill. This was accom
plished by a rule presented by the
committee on rules after the bill had
been reported to the house by commit
tee of the whole. Points of order were
the feature of the day, the battle con
tinuing throughout the session.
Tuesday, February 19.
Washington. Feb. 19. Smoot's ad
dress to the senate today in defense of
nis position as senator was the feature
of the session. He was supported bv
Dillingham of Vermont in an analytical
Says Pinchot Packed Hall.
Washington. Feb. 20. Senator Hey
burn, during a speech in the senate,
flatly charged that the Forest service,
on the occasion of his speech at the
Irrigation congress in Boise last Sep
tember, packed the hall with its em
ployes, and, according to a prearranged
plan, deliberately hissed him down
when he was attacking Forester Pin
chot and the administration. He said
the hissing was done entirely by For
estry employes. Senator Carter, who
presided at that meeting, promptly
denied It.
speech on the evidence.
The senate spent several hours in
further consideration of the forestry
provisions in the agricultural appropn
ation bill, with the result that several
amendments were agreed to which re-
strict the operations of the buroau in
several respects. The section of the
bill had not been comploted when a re
cess was taken for the evening session.
ine senate neid a three-hour session
tonight. Three hundred private pen
sion bills and half a hundred private
claim bills were passed.
Washington, Feb. 19. After passing
a number of bills under unanimous
consent today, the house resumed con'
sideration of the postoflice appropria-
tion bill. During the general debate.
which terminated at 4 o'clock, speeches
were made by Gillespie of Texas, Mur-
phy of Missouri, Robinson of Arkansas,
Badgett of Tennessee, Lloyd of Mis
souri, Stonerson of Minnesota, Finley
of bouth Carolina and Stafford of Wis
oonsin. Monday, February 18.
wasnington, tea. is. Alter more
than five hours consideration of the ag-
ricultural appropriation bill, the senate
increased from $3,500 to $5,000 the sal
ary of Gifford Pinchot, chief forester,
The debate was devoted mostly to the
methods of administration and general
policy of the forest service, and at times
broadened to include the public land
question generally. 1'ractically no
progress was made on the argicultural
bill.
Washingtoon, Feb. 18. The house
today adopted a resolution presented by
Overstreet, of Indiana, authorizing the
clerk to insert a provision in the post
oflice appropriation bill looking to the
reduction of compensation to railroads
for carrying the mail, to take effect
Julyl.
The amendment to the immigration
bill, as passed by the senate Saturday,
was agreed to in the house today. This
will, it is believed, effectively bar Jap
anese coolies from the United States
and settle the Japanese school question
Saturday, February 16.
Washington, Feb. 16 The Adminis
tration plan to settle the California-
Japanese situation wag approved in the
senate today by the adoption or the sen
ate committee report on the immigra
tion bill. This report continues a pro
vision which authorizes the president to
exclude Japanese laborers from the
United States at his discretion. The re
port will now go to the house for its
approval, which is assured. The entire
day was devoted to debate on the re
port.
Washington, Feb. 16. In the discus
sion of the postoflice appropriation bill
in the house today Overstreet said the
committee had reached the conclusion
that a reduction in the railway mail
was absolutely necessary.
ine railroads are trying to stam
pede the house," he said, "yet there
not a scintilla of evidence to show
that the reduction is excessive. The
postal service will not be impaired in
the slightest degree, and not a train
will be cut off, notwithstanding the
threats of the railroad companies. There
bag not been a telegram received by the
members of this house from a business
concern or a commercial body which has
not been prompted by theTailroads. and
for one I refuse to be stampeded bv
their threats or deflected by their en
treaties." General debate on the bill was not
concluded when the house adjourned.
Disregards President's Request.
Washington, Feb. 20. The house
committee on appropriations complete
ly disregarded the president's request
for an extra appropriation of $500,000
for special agents to investigate public
land entries and merely inserted in the
sundry civil bill the regular appropri
ation of $250,000. In view of the fact
that the president greatly modified his
order regarding the examination of
entries, there is little necessity for an
increased appropriation. It is very
doubtful if the senate or house will in
crease this item.
Washington, Feb. 16. The Navy de-
partment was informed today by cable
that the cruiser Chicago had arrived at
Acajutla, Salvador, whither she had
been sent from Magdalena bay to look
after American interests during the ex
isting friction between Nicaragua and
Honduras. The vessel will be kept
within ream of cable connection with
the department for a few days, ready to
meet any demands upon her.
Not Drawing Two Salaries.
Washington, Feb 19. At yesterday's
meeting of the senate committee on inter-oceanic
canal, an effort was made to
have reported on confirmation the
names of the recently appointed canal
commissioners, but it was frustrated by
an objection from Culberson, who stat
ed that he had heard it reported that
Mr. Shonts is drawing a large salary
from the Interborough Railroad com
pany, in addition to his salary as canal
commissioner. Mr. Shonts denied the
report, but the denial was received too
late to permit action.
BITTER FIGHT PROMISED.
Hoasa Will Endeavor to Pass SI Ip.
j ... ' Subsidy Bill.
Washington, Feb. 20. Ship subsidy
will probably be considered by the
house at night sessions late this week.
Speaker Cannon and Representative
Watson,, the Republican whip, con
ferred with the president concerning
the matter today and, although no pos
itive argooment has been reached, Mr.
Watson said that it now Booms likely
that the Littauer bill will be consid
ered on the floor. In caso the subsidy
measure ' is taken up by the house lb
probably will be under a rulo limiting
the debate to two evenings, and the bill
will be Eubjoct to amendment.
After the pustollice appropriation
bill, which the house will dispose of
today, the measure limiting the hours
of railroad employes to 10 out of 24
will be taken up at the day sessions.
The sundry civil bill will then be
brought forward and, as there has been
a general refusal to grant ship subsidy
any time during the session, its frionds
asked for its consideration at night.
They soem now about to win their
point, although the general impression
is that the subsidy bill will be bitterly
attacked on the floor and amendod in
many ways, if not defeated entirely.
CONFER ON CANAL CONTRACT.
President Questions Oliver and Asso
ciates in Bidding.
' Washington, Feb.20. The president
told a number of contractors who are
associated with W. J. Oliver in his
bid for the construction of the Panama
canal that a decision would not be
reached before March 1. What will
probably be the final conference pre
liminary to the decision was held today
with a number of contractors associated
with Mr. Oliver. Secretary Taft said
that no conclusion had been reached to
day. Those at the conference included, in
addition to the president, Mr. Taft,
Chairman Shonts and Mr. Rogers.
counsel of the Isthmian Canal commis
sion, and the following contractors and
others associated with Mr. Oliver:
Patrick F. Walsh, of Davenport; P. J.
Brennan, of this city, Robert Russell.
of Lynchburg; R. A. Chester, of the
Commercial National bank, of this citv.
and L. C. Gunther. of Knoxville. Tenn.
All of them were questioned It the
president and his advisers as to their
experience and as to the Qualifications
to do the work which thev contract to
do. All the contractors associated with
Mr. Oliver have now been interviewed
by the president except the dredgmen.
it has not yet been determined whether
or not they will be required to come to
Washington.
GREAT NORTHERN INDICTED.
Hill's Road is Accused of Rebating on
Sugar.
New York, Feb. 20. The Federal
grand jury today indicted the Great
Northern Railroad company on charges
that in 1904 it paid $10,000 in rebates
on sugar shipments to Lowell M. Pal-
mer
traflic agent of the American
bugar Refining company. A second
count of the same indictment charges
that $554 additional rebates were paid
to Mr. Palmer by various railroads in
conjunction with the Great Northern.
The indictment charges that the
Great Northern effected freight combin
ations with the Lehigh Valley, at the-
New York Central and the New York,
New Haven & Hcrrtford railroads, the
through route of the last named being
in combination with the Erie railroad.
the Great Northern Steamship company
arid the Great Northern Railroad com
pany, whereby sugar was transported
from New York and Boston to Sioux
City, Iowa, at less than the published
tariffs.
The latter, the indictment charges,.
was 52 cents per 100 pounds, bub
through an agreement alleged to have
en made by Alonzo W. Lake and A .
W. Steel as agents of the Great North
ern company, and Lowell M. Palmer,
the agent of the American Sugar Refin
ing company, it is charged that the
sugar refining company was granted a
through rate on sugar between the
points named of 33 cents per 100
pornds.
Hawaalan Japanese Protest.
Honolulu, Feb. 20. The following
cablegram was sent to President Roose
velt last night by prominent Japanese:
"The Hawaiian Japanese respect
fully protest in the name of humanity
and civilization against the prohibition
of their emigration to the United States.
It enslaves us permanently to Ha
waiian capitalists." The Japanese For
eign office was cabled as follows: "The
Hawaiian Japanese are unanimous in
firm opposition to the action of the
American congress in prohibiting them
from emigration to America."
Great Cement Works Burned.
Alpena, Mich.. Feb. 20 Th r,inT,f
of the Alpena Portland Cement com
pany was burned tonight. The Ua a
estimated at (400,000.