Lexington wheatfield., March 21, 1907, Image 2

LEXINGTON WHE1TFIELD
S. A. THOMAS, Publisher
LEXINGTON . ....... OREGON
NEWS OF THE WEEK
In a Condensed Form for Our
Busy Headers. '
A Resume of the Less Important but
Not Less Interesting Events
of the Past Week.
Tillman says third terra will bo the
issue in 1908.
An Austiran officer predicts an American-Japanese
war and American defeat.
The Interstate Commerce commission
is after the coal roads of Illinois and
Indiana.
London woman suffragists declare
themselves ready to wear short hair to
win their cause.
The G. A. R. national encampment
will be held at Saratoga, N. Y., the
week of September 9.
In a clash between American troops
and Cuban rural guards at Satnta
Clara, Cuba, five were seriously in
jured. Oklahoma's constitution has been
completed. The initiative and referen
dum and direct primary laws of Oregon
have been copied.
Roosevelt has demanded Harriman's
deposition and his backers will take
away contiol from him so he will lose
all his railroads.
The railroad presidents have con
cluded thej have no mandate to present
to the president and have decided they
want to obey the law.
So great has been the Japanese im
migration through El Paso, Tex., that
Mexicans have been displaced by the
brown men after assisting them to en
te this country.
Dowie's funeral sermon, written by
himself, cursed his enemies.
Haniman wants railroads excepted
from Sherman anti-trust law.
Finland has just held its first elec
tion under universal suffrage.
The Japanese agreement has been
carried out in San Franciscc and Wash
ington. Schmitz and Ruef, the San Francisco
grafters, have lost every point so far in
the courts.
The total deaths due to the disaster
on the French warship Jena has now
reached 103.
Speaker Cannon and other members
of the congiessional party at Panama
express surprise at the amount of work
that has been done on the canal.
Ex-Senator Burton, of Kansas, will
probably sta in jail an extra month
because of his inability to pay his fine
of $2,500.
Homer Davenport will send one of
his Arabian horses across the continent
to prove the strong enduring powers of
that breed. A cousin of the cartoonist
will ride the animal.
The improvement in Archie Roose
velt's condition continues.
Paper manufacturers throughout the
country will advance the price of their
products soon.
Roosevelt has told Governor Gillette
that legislation by California will pre
vent Japanese exclusion.
The strike of Portland millmen may
close down some business houses that
have need for many boxes.
Stuyvestant Fish, who was thrown
out of the Illinois Central presidency
by llarriman, has gone to Gould.
Fifteen passengers on a Los AngeleB
trolley car were badly injured by a
Southern Pacific engine striking the
car.
A Chicago grand jury is after the so
called church and school furniture
trust. The indictments charge the
trust with controlling 80 per cent of
the business of the country.
Ono of the Japanese warships coming
to Jamestown will have great attractions
for naval men. It has a speed better
than any of ours and was finished in
less than two yearB after the keel was
laid, which is better time than is made
In American yards. The vessel was
built by the Japanese.
The people of Oklahoma are to vote
on prohibition.
. M. Potkoff, the Bulgarian premier,
has been assassinated.
Nicaragua cs accused of spying on
tne American minister.
Premier Stolypin promises not to dis
solve the Russian douma.
Nicaragua is said to be prepacring a
force with which to attack Honduras by
sea.
The Kansas house has passed the
senate bill providing for 2-cent passen
ger fare.
POINT AGAINST HERMANN.
Answered Letters, but Copies of An
swers Not Found.
Washington, March 15. Evidence
decidedly damaging to Binger Her
mann was introduced by the govern
ment today in the trial of the ex-land
commissioner for destruction of 35 let
terpress copybooks, alleged to have
contained official correspondence.
Charles L. Dubois, chief of survey di
vision; D. C. Sherman, formerly Her
mann's financial clerk, and John S.
Wile, another clerk in the land office,
all identified several letters taken from
the files of the land office, all pertain
ing to government business and all en
dorsed on the back,' "answered by
commissioner."
They all agreed that this endorse
ment signified that Hermann himself
dictated the leplies and that -his an
swers were press-copied in what were
known as the commissioner's "person
al" letter-books. It was also brought
out by the government that careful
search through the letter-books now in
the land office failed to disclose copies
of the answers to these particular let
ters, thereby strongly intimating that
the letters must have been copied in
the books destroyed by Hermann as
charged in the indictment, and that
the books, therefore, contained official
correspondence.
No stronger evidence in support of
indictment has heretofore been given
during the protracted trial. In fact,
most of the evidence submiitted up to
this time has been designed to show a
motive for the destruction of the books
and had no direct bearing upon the
actual charge contained in the indict
ment. Today's evidence is very strong
in support of the indictment, and while
it is circumstantial, yet leaves little
doubt in the minds of those who have
followed the case that Hermann's so
called "private" letter-books in fact
contained much correspondence relat
ing to the business of his office.
MAY PROMOTE IMMIGRATION.
Government Will Not interfere With
Movement of Southern States.
Washington, March 15. Informa
tion received today renders it clear
that the immigration authorities, as
one result of the several conferences re
cently held, in which the president,
Secretary Straus, Attorney General
Bonaparte, Commissioner of Immigra
tion Sargent and prominent men of the
South have participated, will interpret
tne existing immigration law as it was
interpreted in the South Carolina case.
The attorney general has held that the
immigrants landed at Charleston, S. C,
last November, are legally in the coun
try. They were induced to come to
America by authorized agents of South
Carolina and the passage money for
some, at least, of them was paid by
the state, and others by contributions
of the citizens. Several other Southern
states have decided to seek immigra
tion along the same lines as were fol
lowed by South Carolina and it is un
derstood they will not be interfered
with.
CHANGES CANAL BOARD.
Roosevelt Receives Resignations and
Appoints New Members.
Washington, March 15. The presi
dent today received the resignations as
members of the Isthmian Canal com
mission of Rear Admiral Endicott,
Brigadier General C. P. Haines and D.
M. Harrod, to take effect tomorrow.
To fill the vacancies he announced the
appointment of John F. Stevens as
chairman of the commission to succeed
T. P. Shouts, and as commissioners
Lieutenant Colonel Goethals, Majors
Gaillard and Siebert, Civil Enginneer
Rogseau, Dr. Gorgas'c and Jackson
Smith.
Ex-Senator Blackburn will have to
await the retirement from the commis
sion of Mr. Stevens about April 1.
Enjoins New Copper Deal.
Grand Rapids, Mich., March 15.
Judge Knappen, of the United States
Circuit court, today admitted that yes
terday he issued a restraining order for
bidding stockholders of the CalumetA
Heela Mining company from holding a
meeting to vote proxies in the Osceola
company, and hearing on an injunction
was set for March 25. Judge Knappen
refused absolutely to discuss the matter.
The action before Judge Knappen was
instituted by Mr. Boynton, attorney for
the Bigelow interests in the Osceola
mine.
Sell to Insurance Company.
Milan, March 15. In the town of
Borsano, near this city, 2,000 porsons
were today made homeless by a fire
which destroyed tho greater part of the
village. The people were Indifferent
to the spread of the flames, because
their property was insured, and the au
thorities were obliged to force peasants
to work to chock the fire.
FLOOD IS RECEDING
Damage at Pittsburg Estimated
Ten to Twenty Millions.
AT LEAST TWENTY LIVES LOST
Whole Business Center of the Smoky
City is Submerged When Ice
Gorges Go Out.
Pittsburg, Pa., March 10. With the
rapid receding of tho waters in the Mo
nongahela, Alleghany and Ohio rivers,
conditions are resuming normal pro
portions. The approaches tc the
bridges are now clear of water and
street car service in tho flooded district
has been resumed.
At 9 o'clock last night the river had
fallen almost eight feet. At that hour
the stage was 29 feet and dropping six
inches an hour.
Ten square miles were inundated.
The loss is summarized as follows:
Loss in output of steel mills, $3,
000,000. Loss in output of other industries,
$2,000,000.
Losses in wages of employes, $1,837,
777. t
Damage to industrial plants, $2,
500,000. Total, $9,337,000.
Various other estimates ae being
made, ranging from $10,000 000 to
$20,000,000.
Reports from numerous Western
Pennsylvania towns are . to the effect
that the flood is subsiding.
The water in this city reached 37
feet at 6 a. m. yesterday, the highest
stage ever recorded. More than 100,
000 persons were temporarily thrown
out of employment; every transporta
tion company in the city was interrupt
ed; skiffs carried hundreds of people to
their places of business, and the utiliz
ation of wagons and horses as convey
ances, which did valuable service, was
discontinued, owing to the strenuous
protests by the Humane society.
Twenty fatalities have occurred in
Allegheny county, directly due to high
water.
In a fire that threatened the entire
Mount Washington section cf the city
25 business structures and dwellings
were destroyed or damaged today, caus
ing a loss estimated at $200,000. Many
of the dwellings were tenements or
apartment hcuses, and there were many
narrow escapes.
The structures were mostly of frame
construction and, because of a break in
the water main, the only available fire
quenching materials were chemicals
l'roin extinguishers and buckets.
Two attempts were made to stop the
flames by dynamiting buildings on
either side, but each time the wreck
age caught fire. It finally burned itself
out.
COLLUSION, SAYS GREENE,
Substance of Idaho Irrigation Frand
Charges by Inspector.
Washington, March 16. Secretary
Garfield is working on a report sent to
his predecessor by Special Agent A. R.
Greene, detailing alleged frauds which
he believes he has uncovered in connec
tion with the construction of the Boise
Payette irrigation project in Idaho.
Mr. Greene, so it is reported, alleges
there has been collusion, between con
tractors on the Deer Flat reservoir dam
and Reclamation Engineer D. W. Ross,
it being rumored that Mr. Greene
charges that the contractors, in return
for favors shown by Mr. Ross, made
him a present of 12,000 acres of land.
Officials of the reclamation service ab
solutely discredit the report, and have
the utmost confidence in Mr. Ross. It
is their belief that investigation will
show Mr. Greene to he in errcr.
Three Drown In Ohio Town.
Zanesville, Ohio, March 16. Three
Hungarians were drowned here as the
result of the flood this morning. A
score of foreigners were living in a
house that was surrounded by the Mus
kingum river, which overflowed during
the night. When they started to wade
to land throe were caught in the current
and swept out into the river. Flood
conditions through Muskingum county
are unprecedented and growing worse"
hourly. The Muskingum and Licking
rivers are out of bounds in this city and
doing much damage.
Another Naval Disaster.
Brest, March 16. There was another
accident to a French warship off this
port today. During torpedo practice
the coast defense ship Fulminant was
struck and seriously damaged on the
water line by a torpedo. Collision mats
were at once applied to the vessel's
side and she was towed into port in a
sinking condition.
GRAFT IN IRRIGATION.
Officials ana I. actors in Idaho
Work Suspected.
Boise, March 13. Evidences of graft
in the arid land reclamation service of
the govornmont has been discovered
and is now in possession of the depart
ment of the Interior at Washington.
Action looking toward a number of in
dictments is anticipated. The princi
pal evidence, so far as disclosed hero,
relates to grafts in Idaho, but it is
said that similar conditions exist
throughout tho service and that officials
in nearly all the Western states whore
irrigation work is in progress will have
to answer.
The Federal grand jury, now in ses
sion hero, will probably take tho mat
ter up, so far as this Btute is affected,
if the new 'secretary of the interior,
James R. Garfield, says the word, and
decides to furnish evidence now in his
possession. Agents of the depatrment
have been conducting an investigation
for some time. Their discoveries in
Idaho are said to typify conditions in
other places, and a reorganization of
the department is said to be in pros
pect. The charges in general are that en
gineers and other officials of the de
partment are "standing in" with fa
vored contractors' in some instances,
and in other instances have thrown out
bids in order to make commissions on
the purchase of machinery bythegos
eminent and to profit in other ways.
In Idaho the Boise-Payette irrigation
project has been uuder special scrutiny.
Evidence has been secured bearing
on the rleations of the contracting firm
of Hubbard & Carlson, having head
quarters at Boisv, with certain depart
ment officials. It is charged in affi
davits now on file that this firm has re
ceived many special favors and expla
nation has been asked of the reason for
this.
EXPLOSION ON WARSHIP.
All France Appalled at Disaster on
New Battleship.
Toulon, March 13. The powder
magazines on board the French battle
ship Jena blew up at 1:35 o'clock yes
terday afternoon, and aB a result Cap
tain Adigard, commander of the battle
ship; Captain Vertier, chief cf staff of
the Mediterranean squadron, and from
70 to 80 bluejackets are dead, while
Eear Admiral Maneeron and hundreds
of men are suffering from injuries.
Naval circles are aghast and the public
is stunned by the appalling catastrophe,
coming so soon after the loss of the
French submarine boat Lutin, in which
16 men met death.
The entire after part of the Jena was
blown to pieces. The bodies of the vic
tims were hurled through the air by a
succession of explosions and panic
stricken workmen at the arsenal fled
for their lives from the vicinity of the
drydoek. Seoreson board the Jena
jumped overboard on the stone quays
and sustained serious injuries.
The primary cause of the accident
was tho premature explosion of a tor
pedo. What caused the explosion is
not known, but the powder magazines
of the Jena were set on fire and the re
sulting explosions practically destroyed
what was considered one of the best
vessels of the French navy. The Jena
had just undergone the final construc
tion of her hull and machinery, the
latter part having been partly over
hauled preparatory to joining the
squadron today.
DAKOTA'S CREW PAID OFF.
Sailors of Wrecked Steamship to be
Sent Home.
Yokohama, March 12. The crew of
the wrecked steamer Dakota has been
discharged Tho Europeans will be
sent to America on the American
steamer Tremont. The Asiatics will
be sent to Hongkong. The majority of
the passengers left here will take the
steamer Siberia. Their hotel and other
expenses were paid by the Gcreat
Northern Steamship company, owners
of the Dakota.
The American consul has sent $150
to the governor of Chibu prefecture for
distribution among the fishermen who
assisted in the rescue of the American
passengers. No salvage measures have
yet been taken .
An official inquiry has been arranged,
steps having been taken for the preser
vation of evidence. Captain Francke,
of the Dakota, is still at the scene of
the wreck, awaiting the decision of the
underwriters.
Uncle Sam to Make Torpedoes.
Washington, March 13. Admiral
Mason, chief of the naval bureau of
ordnance, has completed plans for the
construction of a torpedo factory at the
Newport naval station, and expects to
advertise at once for proposals. This
will be the first time the government
has undertaken to make its own torpe
does on a large scale. The new factory
will give emploment to at least 200
skilled workmen. It is proposed to
make every part of the torpedo except
the steel flask which contains the com
pressed a ii.
Congressmen Arrive at Colon.
Colon, March 13. The steamer Pan
ama arrived today with 53 congress
men, who are desirous of inspecting
the wcrk on the canal.
ROADS TO RETRENCH
State Legislation Everywhere Is
Having Its Effect.
RETALIATION NOT THEIR AIM
Claim It Prudence to Stop Construe
tioh Until They Know Whore
Meney Is Coming From.
. Chicago, March 14. Railroad presi
dents agree that the general disposition
all over the country to attack the roads
by means of hostile bills has reached a
stago whore some decided action must
be taken or tho country will suffer se
verely. As a matter of fact, the roads
already have suffered tremendous
losses, but eventually the heaviest bur
den will fall upon the public in dimin
ished and inferior servico, general re
trenchment, cheaper equipment and
the abandonment of extensions which
would develop new country.
, The greatest danger, according to all
authorities, lies in tho great crop of
two-cent rate bills, icgurdless of the.
conditionB in the states adopting the
bills. In the East it is possible to main
tain good sorvice at this rate. In the
West it is not.
Benjamin Winchell, president of tho
Rock Island system, probably best
epitomizes the sense of all the replies
received to messages sent all presi
dents asking for an opinion on present
conditions and what was mcesfary to
reduce tho danger of poorer sorvice.
Mr. Winchell says:
"If the Interstate Commerco com
mission does its work wisely and
sanely, as I believe it will do, the rail
roads have nothing to fear. They will
(.et even justice, which is all they ask.
I am relying on the sound sense of
fairness of the American people to stop
before the situation becomes acute
financially. It is a mistake to say tho
railroads are retaliating by reducing
their service and abandoning great en
terprises. It is simple prudence, a.
bowing to the storm. We aro forced
to stop building new lines, buying curs
and other equipment until we know
where the money is coining from. It
is simple business sense, and not retal
iation. "I am heartily in accord wtih the
plan for railroad presidents to confer
with President Roosevelt. We must
take the public more into our confi
dence and break down the distrust. Co
operation with the government in
laudable reforms is a good thing."
HOPE TO RECOVER THE MONEY
Treasury Theft Has Not Yet Been
Returned, However.
Chicago, March 14. "If tho man
who got the $173,000 from the sub
treasury will send it back through the
mail or by express, the chances are that
he never will be detected."
This observation was made yesterday
by a high Federal official working on
the disappearance of the money, and it
represents the hope of the government
authorities, so far as can be learned
from anyone engaged in the investiga
tion. The hope that ithe money would
he returned in some mysterious fashion
failed to mateiialize.
Deputy Treasurer Bantz admitted for
the first time that there is a remote
possibility that the cash in the sub-'
treasuiy is not $173,000 short. He
made it with a reservation.
Defects Found in Dreadnai.f ht.
London, March 14. According to
the Chroniclo today, the official ac
counts of the Droadnaught's behavior
on her trip to Trinidad are not alto
gether supported by private letters.
The engines worked well, but the heat
in the engine room exceeded anything
ever experienced by those on board.
Owing to the great size of the ship, her
maneuvering qualities at slow speed
were not equal to those of small ships.
It is stated that the big battleship can
not keep her station with reciprocating
ships at 20 knots, and that for night
maneuvering without lights, in close
formation, the ship is out of the run
ning. Will Carry Out Agreement
Washington, March 14. Following
the receipt of a telegram tonight from
President Walsh of the San Francisco
board of education, announcing the
carrying into effect of the agreement
between the president, Secretary Root,
the San Francisco mayor and school
board on the Japanese question, Presi
dent Roosevelt tomorrow will sign the
passport amendment of the immigra
tion bill. The case pending to test the
constitutionality of the law segregating
Japanese children, will not be dis
missed. Pennsylvania Streams Swollen.
Pittsburg, March 14. Dispatches
from all sections of Western Pennsyl
vania report heavy rains last night and!
rapidly rising waters. Streams are
already beyond their banks and much,
territory is submerged.