LEXINGTON WHEATFIELD
S. A. THOMAS, Publisher
LEXINGTON OREGON
NEWS OFTHE WEEK
In a Condensed Form lor Our
Bnsy Readers.
A Resume of the Less Important but
Not Less Interesting Events
of the Past Week.
The Nebraska legislature has passed
au anti-pass bill.
The British premier favors action on
disarmament at The Hague.
Reform of land laws will go over to
the next session of congress.
Russian terrorists have planned a
wholesale massacre of officers.
The president may create many for
est reserves before the new law takes
effect.
Forty-two Greek laborers were in
jured in a emashup of a construction
train on the Salt Lake road at Leith,
Nev.
Railroads affected by the 2-cent pas
senger rate laws passed in several
states will combine to carry the fight
into the courts.
Fighting between Nicaragua and
Honduras is now general. The former
seems to have the advantage, though
. balvador is helping Honduras.
Sylvester R. Rush, of Nebraska, has
been appointed Epecial assistant to the
attorney general. He is to have charge
of the land fraud inestigations in the
Northwest. He has had much success
in convicting land thieves in Nebraska.
Chinese famine sufferers are dying
by thousands.
Hill has purchased the Astoria &
Columbia River railroad.
A number of senators and representa
tives will Tisit Hawaii this summer.
General Koslevsky was assassinated
after joking about threats made to kill
him.
The National Arbitration and Peace
congress will meet in New York April
14 to 17.
President Roosevelt and Secretary
Root have been asked to urge the peo
ple to help the Russian famine suffer
ers.
A Baltimore & )hio express train
was wrecked near Connellsville, Pa.,
and two persons killed and eight in
jured. The Iowa legislature has adopted a
resolution calling on congress to call a
convention to amend the constitution
so that United States senators may be
elected by direct vote of the people.
The San Francisco water board has
revoked the franchise supplying the
city with water on the ground that the
company has been collecting excessive
rates. The property is estimated to be
worth $5,300,000.
The French accuse the church of hav
ing meddled in politics.
The St. Paul railroad has stopped all
improvements till popular wrath cools
Sixteen children and their teacher
were burned to death in a Montreal
school.
Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia nar
rowly escaped being blown up by a ter
rorist bomb.
Stoeseel is called a coward by Smir-
noff , one of the generals at Port Arthur
during the siege.
Fire at Los Angeles destroyed proper
ty valued at $200,000. Firemen rescu
ed 12 people from the flames.
A British naval paymaster at Vic
toria, B. C, is to be court martialed
because his carelessness caused a loss of
$1,550..
The English parliament will arrange
a loan of $5,000,000 for Kingston, the
money tc be used to rebuild the busi
ness portion of the city.
George Von L. Meyer, former Ameri
can ambassador to Russia, has returned
to tne United States to bectme post
master general in President Roosevelt's
cabinet.
The Texas senate has voted to exon
erate Senator Bailey.
A Denver man has confessed to kill
ing his wife that he might marry an
other woman.
The senate has approved of another
Federal judge for the Northern district
of California.
The senate has refused to consider a
measure to reduce tariff on sugar, to
bacco and rice from the Philippines.
Secretary Shaw will leave the cabinet
March 4 to become president of the
Carnegie Trust company, of New York.
Pittsburg has just had a fire in the
heart of the business district, the loss
amounting to several hundred thousand
dollars.
MUST NOT OWN PROPERTY.
California Legislature Passes
Against Orientals.
a Bill
Sacramento, Cal., Mar. 1. The low'
er house of the legislature today passed
a sweeping anti-Japanese and anti-
Chinese measure, introduced by Asseni'
blyman Drew, ol Fresno, lhe Dill is
known as the "anti-alien property
holding bill." It is aimed at the
Japanese and Chinese property owners
in this state and is intended to prevent
them from acquiring and owning prop-
erty for a longer period than five years
In urging the passage of the bill
Drew stated that since January 1 of
this year one-third of the property
transfers in Fresno had been to Japaii'
ese.
The bill provides that any alien who
does not become a citizen of the United
States shall acquire and hold title to
land in this state for not more than
five years. If within that time the
alien does not become a citizen, the
district attorney shall compel the sale
of his land or houses. Japanese and
Chinese are not specifically named, but,
as they cannot become citizens, the
bill is aimed directly at them and pre
cludes them from owning property for
more than five years. The measure
also provides that no contract, agree
ment or lease of real estate for a long-
er period than one year shall be made
to any alien and any lease, agreement
or devise of real estate made to any
alien for a longer period shall be null
and void.
The impression is given out that if
the bill reaches the govenor he will
sign it.
LABORATORY FOR NORTHWEST.
Agricultural Department Will Estab
lish One Soon.
Washington. March 1. In the near
future the department of Agricultuie
will locate a pure food laboratory in
some Northwestern city and make it
headquarters for the examination of all
food products imported into that section
irom aDioaa. investigations are now
being made to determine whether it
shall be located at Portland or Seattle.
Senator Bourne is urging the depart
ment to locate the laboratory in Port
land, but before this can be done Port
land must convince the department
that its food imports exceed those of
Seattle, or else offer adantages in the
way of quarters that cannot be obtained
at Seattle. The department desires to
locate the laboratory in a public build
ing.
It is of the greatest importance to
Portlai d to make a creditable showing,
for if the laboratory is located there
rather than at Seattle, it will have a
tendency to increase importations of
food products at that port, where they
can be properly examined, rather than
at other ports where there would neces-
sanly be delay.
Mr. Bourne is looking to the chamber
of commerce to support him in his
efforts.
STICKS TO HERMANN.
Former Private Secretary Says Good
Things for Defendant.
Washington, March 1. The prosecu
tion in the trial of Representativ Her
mann consumed today in a futile at
tempt, to break down the evidence given
yesterday by Elliott r. Hough, former
private secretary to the defendant
which was most favorable to Hermann.
Hough had been put on the stand by
ine prosecution with the expectation
that his testimony would be damaging
to the defendant, and District Attorney
isaker was incensed that he should give
evidence so much in Hermann's favor
as his statements yesterday that Her
mann ana jonn a. iienson, who is un
der indictment for alleged land frauds,
were not gocd friends; that, if official
letters got into Hermann's private
D00K8 it was through his fault: and
that it had been the custom of all out
going commissioners previous to Her
mann's time to take their private let
terpress copybooks with them.
ChristTian II. Muller and Alexander
E, Foster, who had been messengers in
the land office under Hermann and who
destroyed the letter press copybooks by
his ireciton, testified to the part they
naa piayea. jur. Muller received an
order from Hermann three weeks he.
fore the latter retired to take the letter
books, about 35 in number, from Her
mann's private room.
Beatty to Continue Duties.
Boise, Idaho, March 1. "In answer
to a telegram received from the attor
ney general asking me to withhold my
resignation for a time," said Judge J.
H. Beatty, of the United States District
court, today, "I sent a telegram stat
ing that I would willingly continue the
duties of my office until after the March
term. If by that time my successor
has not been named, I shall probably
urge the people in Washington to push
matters. " The telegram to Judge Beat
ty arrived some days after his resigna
tion had started for Washington.
Favors Philippine Bank Bill.
Washington, March 1. The house
committee on insular affairs today de
cided to make a favorable report on the
Philippine agricultural bank bill as
passed by the senate.
PROCEEDINGS OF OREGON LEGISLATURE
Saturday, February 23.
Salem, Feb. 23. The legislature
which adjourned today went down in
history as the most lavish Oregon has
ever had. A grand total of $3,500,000
has been appropriated.
The senate refused to adopt the house
bill changing the brush fire law.
The house reconsidered a vote of yes
terday and passed two bills giving farm
mDcrers ana tnresnermeii liens on
crops for money due them.
Indorsed by nearly every assessor in
lhe state, the bill providing for an
equitable system of assessing the tim
ber Jands of the state went down to de
feat in the senate.
The house finished up its business at
11M0 but it was 2 o'clock before the
senate was through, and it was neces
sary for the house to continue in session
until that time.
It was announced to the members of
the legislature that it would be more
convenient to buy tickets at the depot
than to pay fares on the train. Passes
would not do, as the new anti-pass law
is in effect.
PASSED IMPORTANT BILLS.
What
the Legislature Accomplished
During the Session.
Salem Many important bills passed
both houses of the Oregon legislature
at the session just ended, and a consid
erable number were defeated. The ap
propriations are very large amounting
to some $3,500,000 and no bills passed
raisins any considerable amount of rev
enue by new methods.
Several bills for new revenue were
defeated. Among them was that of
Representative Beals to tax timber
holdings on the basis of cruisings sub
mitted to assessors by their owners.
Another was that prepared by the lat
tax commission and introduced by Rep
resentative Freeman taxing public ser
vice corporations on their capitalized
net earnings. A third was that of Rep
resentative Settlemier for collection of
taxes on land that had escaped taxation
in the last six years.
One of the defeated measures of large
moment was that of the Portland board
of trade, for control of the water pow-
era of the state. Another was that for
a $60,000 appropriation for extension
of the portage road to The Dalles.
First of all the enactments was that
for a railroad commission. The bill
for this law was introduced by Repre
sentative Chapin and the three commis
sioners already have been appointed
1. K. Campbell, C. B. Aitchison and
Oswald West.
Representative Jones, of Polk, is
father of a successful bill appropriating
$300,000 for free locks at Willamette
falls, contingent on the national gov
ernment's appropriating an additional
sum sufficient to provide the locks and
maintain them.
Representative Eaton, of Lane, has
the credit of having secured enactment
of a bill granting to the State universi
ty an annual standing appropriation of
$125,000.
Representative Jackson, of Douglas,
introduced a successful bill appopriat
ing f iuu,uuu lor JNational uuard arm
ories.
Representative Perking, of Jackson,
has the credit of securing for fruitmen
a law to prevent false labeling and
branding of packed fruit, and of anoth-
er law to prevent false marking of nur-
sery stock A third bill of his permit
oichardists to kill birds that destroy
crops, but this bill is in danger of t
veto.
Representative Slusher is father of t
successful bill creating a sheep commis
sion and a sheep inspector, and author
izing inspectors of the bureau of anima,
industry to exercise police powers in
the state for eradication of sheep scab.
Representative Settlemier's bill pass
ed both houses to appropriate $100,000
for the beattle exposition in 1009.
Kepresentative Edwards was pro
moter of an important enactment to
raise the per capita tax of school dis
tricts to $7.
Representative Vawter of Jackson
had a hill passed to create one board of
regents for all the normals, also to ap
propriate $40,000 for the Ashland nor
mal. Representative Barrett of Uma
tilla did the same for the Weston nor
mal, in the sum of $35,000. Senator
Loughary secured enactment of his bill
providing $36,000 for Monmoulh and
Representative Jackson put a successful
rider on it appropriating $27,000 for
Drain. Representative Carter of Ben
ton secured passage of a $125,000 ap
propriation for new. buildings at the
State Agricultural college, and Senator
Johnson of a $75,000 appropriation for
maintenance.
Representative Beals ie author of an
enactment creating the office of cheese,
dairy and creamery inspector, as dep
uty to the state dairy commissioner.
Kepresentative Driscoll introduced
the bill for the act creating the Port of
Columbia District of Multnomah, Co
lumbia and Clatsop counties, for regu
lation of towage and pilotage at the
mouth of the Columbia river.
Senator M. A. Miller, of Linn, has
to his credit a compulsory education
law, which promises to be the most
effective measure of the kind ever pro
posed in Oregon.
most important senate
was tne Haines banking
bill, which, though acknowledged to be
imperfect, is believed to be a wise
measure for the reason that it is the
beginning of state supervision of bank
ing. Senator M. G. Miller, of Linn, was
the author of a hill that has passed
both houses providing for the loaning
of surplus funds in the state treasury to
banks giving security and paying in
terest on daily balances.
Senator F. J. Miller, of Linn-Marion
secured the passage of bills for the es
tablishment of an institution for the
feeble-minded, an institution for which
there has been general demand in or
der to place under control a class of
people not fit for the asylum but who
ought not to be at large.
Senator Sichel fathered two bills
that will have considerable effect. One
provides for the working of husbands
who fail to support their families, and
the payment of $1.50 a day to the fam
ily for their support. The other pro
vides a uniform insurance policy.
Senator Coshow will be remembered
kindly by all jurors hereafter, for he
secured the enactment of a law raising
the fees of jurors Worn $2 to $3 a day.
Senator Hart of Baker was author of
the bill which placos restrictions upon
the pasturing of foreign sheep in Ore
gon, so as to protect Oregon sheepmen
Senator Malarkey introduced three
measures which will be of considerable
importance. One limits the hours of
labor of trainmen, another makes the
husband's courtesy the same as a wife's
dower, and the third provides for the
building of a bridge across the Willam
ette at Oswego, thus affording the
means of taking the trains off Fourth
street in Portland.
senator jmuit oi Jackson remem
bered the widows and orphans by se
curing the enactment of a law which
raises from $3,000 to $7,5000 the
amount that maj be recovered for acts
causing death.
Senator Cake framed the bill which
has passed providing for the appoint
ment of two supreme court commission
ers to assist the court in catching up
with Its work.
Senator Kay pleased the merchants
everywhere by securing the enactment
of a law which provides for the garnish
ment of wages of public employes.
Such employes are very often judgment
proof without such a law.
Senator Schofield fathered a number
of fishery laws, and has had the census
law amended so that it is now suited
to modern conditions.
Senator Nottingham interested him
self in the improvement of public morals
as usual, and secured the enactment of
a law for the punishment of persons
guilty of enticing away children under
18 years for immoral purposes
Senator Bingham was father of a new
forest fire law, the efficiency of which
has yet to be shown. It requires the
burning of the debris of logging operr
tions, and there were conflicting opin
ions as to the practical working of the
measure.
PORTLAND MARKETS.
Wheat Club, 70c; bluestem,
72c;
valley, 70c; red, 68c
Oats No. 1 white, $29; gray, $28.50
Barley Feed, $22.50 per ton; brew
ing, $23; rolled, $23.5024.50. .
Rye $1.451.50 per cwt.
Corn Whole, $24.50:
cracked,
1, $14
$22.50 per ton.
Hay Valley timothy, No,
15 per ton: Eastern Oregon
timothy,
$1718; clover, $9; cheat, $9; grain
hay, $910; alfalfa, $14.
Butter Fancy creamery, 3235c
per pound.
Butter fat First grade cream, 33c
per pound ; second grade cream, 2c less
per pound.
Eggs Oregon ranch, 1819c per
dozen.
Poultry Average old hens, 14
15c per pound; mixed chickens, 14
14c; spring,13)14c; old roosters, 9
10c; dressed chickens, 1415c; tur
keys, live, 16c; turkeys, dressed,
choice, 1820c; geese, live, 910c;
ducks, 1618c;.
Apples Common, 75c $1.25 per
box; choice, $1.502.60.
Vegetables Turnips, $11.25 per
sack; carrots, $11.25 per sack; beets,
$1.2o1.50 per sack; horseradish, 7
8c per pound; sweet potatoes, 3c
per pound; cauliflower, $2.50 per doz
en; celery, $3.503.75 crate; sprouts,
9c; rhubaib, lloperpound; asparagus,
17c per pound.
Onions Oregon, $11.15 per hun
dred.
Potatoes Oregon Burbanks, fancy,
$1.40; common, 75c$l.
J:eal Dressed, 6)9c per pound,
leef Dressed bulls, 23)c per
pound; cows, A 5c; country
steers, 5)6)c.
Mutton Dressed, fancy, 89c per
pound; ordinary, 67c.
Pork Dressed, 69c per pound.
Hops 8Uai0)6c Per pound, accord
ing to quality.
Wool Eastern Oregon average best,
1318c, according to shrinkage; val
ley, 20 23c, according to fineness;
mohair, choice, 2730c per pound.
Among the
bills enacted
LET NO CONTRACT.
President Decides to Let Army En
gineers Dig Canal.
Washington, Feb. 2'. By an ordor
addressed to Chairman Shonts of the
Isthmian Canal commission today,
President Roosovelt, as far as lay in
his power under existing law, trans
ferred to the engineer branch of the
army the responsibility for the further
construction of the Panama canal, lie
also formal ly recorded the abandon
ment, for the present at least, of the
project of having the canal work done
ly contract on the percentage system.
Another feature was the announce
ment of the resignation of John F.
Stevens as engineer in chief of canal
construction. Mr. Shonts is in' New
York, where he will tomorrow preside
at a meeting of the directors of the
Panama Railroad company, of which
he is president, and will formally re
sign that office
The presidont intends that there
shall he an entire reorganization of the
commission with three army officers of
the engineer corps as its leading mem
bers, who are to have charge of the en
gineering features of the canal work.
The chairman and engineer in chief of
the commission will be Major G. W.
Goethals. His associates will be Major
DuB. Gaillard and Major William L.
Siebert, to rank in the order named.
These officers are all comparatively
young, ambitious and energetic.
Senator Joseph S. C. Blackburn, of
Kentucky, who will retire from the
United States senate on March 4, is to
be made a member of the reorganized
commission.
HELPED LAND THIEVES.
Informer About Frauds Betrayed by
"Hermann,
Washington, Feb. 27. Interest in
the trial of Representative Hermann
was revived today by the introduction
in evidence of letters written him in
1901 by Benjamin T. May of La
Grande, calling his attention to specific
land frauds in Oregon and a later letter
criticizing Hermann . for omitting to
make an investigation of the alleged
frauds, and also for having made known
to interested parties the name of the
informer.
After their identification by May,
the letters were read to the jury. The
first was from May to Hermann and in
formed him that sawmill owners were
securing title to public land in the
Blue mountains by fraud. Their plan
was to get an employe to file on a cer
tain tract and, when the claim was
proved up, the employe was to deed the
property over to them and receive $50
for his work. One firm kept a man
employed to look out for the best tim
ber land and to secure it in this man
ner for his firm. In the year preceding
the writing of this letter May charged
that this firm had placed on record
about 60 deeds secured in this manner.
May concluded his letter with the state
ment that he was a poor laborer and
had no ax to grind and only desired to
keep out land grabbers.
HARRIMAN EXPLAINS.
Tells Interstate Commerce Commis
sion a Few Things. .
New York, Feb. 27. An assertion by
E. H. Harriman that Stuyvesant Fish
was deposed from the presidency of the
Illinois Central because of misconduct
as to the funds of the company was a
leading feature of today's session of the
Interstate Commerce commission. Mr.
Harriman was the only witness of the
day, the events brought out by his tes
timony making the hearing a memor
able one. ,
Other features of Mr. Harriman's
testimony follow:
A continued refusal to answer ques
tions relating to individual stock trans
action.
Explanations of the transfer of 300.-
000 shares of Southern Pacific stock to
William G. Rockefeller during the at
tempt of James R. Keene to secure con
trol of the road, and of the delayed an
nouncement of the dividends on Union.
Pacific and Southern Pacific.
Attempts of the government to show
that the Union Pacific charges unfair
rates, stifles competition in the vast
territory traversed by its lines and its
dividend of 10 per cent and its expend
iture of $240,000,000 on betterments
came from an unfair toll on its patrons.
Miners Vote for Advance.
Butte, Mont., Feb. 27. The vote of
the Miners' union on the increase of
wage scale resulted 2,349 in favoi -and .
,068 against, the new scale of $4 to-
take effect May 1 . Many miners did
not vote. The mines of Butte will con
tinue in operation, notwithstanding the
demand, but development work in all
of the Amalgamated properties will
cease. Officers of the union are em
phatic, however, that there will be no
strike. Companies will devote all time
and energy to taking out ore and mak
ing copper.
Two-cent Fare is Law In Indiana.
Indianapolis, Feb. 27. The governor
today signed the 2-cent railroad fare
act. It has no emergency clause, and
goes into effect with the publication oL
the new laws about May or June.