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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (May 31, 1917)
University f Oregon Lllirary WEATHER Maximum Yesterday 75; Minimum Today 41. FORECAST Tonight, and Tomorrow Partly Cloudy. edford Mail Tribune rty-BPVenth Year. ,ly Twelfth Yonr. MEDFORD OREGON, THURSDAY. MAY 31. 1917 N. 60 I BY RATE CASE dford Complaint of Discrimination In Rates to Northern California Points to be Heard by Interstate Commerce Commission Tomorrow Adverse Decision Kills Shinning. h i railroad rate case involving Med rd's future us a city will lie lieiml Pore the Interstate Commerce com ssion at Medford Friday at the leral building. The ease is that the Medford Commercial club vs. y Southern Pacific railroad com ny, nnd n decision adverse to Med rd will destroy the city as a joh ip and shipping center. Die Med lord complaint charges 1111- e discrimination in rates against sdforu in favor of Sacramento nnd n Francisco nnd Portland on ship ints to northern California points. . rates complained of have been spended pending a hearing of the dford complaint, hut if sustained, iuld make it impossible to ship from re to northern California or Klam li county points in competition Avith n Francisco or Portland. The rates complained of were or. red established ns a result of de iion in November last of the Cali rniastate railroad commission in lich reduction of class rates from in Francisco and Sacramento north the state line of from 10 to 25 per nt were ordered. Following the decision Portland ed a complaint demanding a redue in in rates from Portland to the ilifornia points to equalize the re ction from San Francisco. Medford shippers caught between e two reductions filed complaint at will he heard Friday bv Attorney caminer J. T. Hell of Washington, "C., representing the Interstate immerce commission. Attorney m C. Pay of Portland will rrpre nt the legal department of the mthern Pacific, and Freight Agent . A. llinshaw and J. II. Mulchay, as lant general freight ngent, the trnf 3 department, H. A. Adams nnd C. McDonald, assistant superinteiid its, will represent the trnnsporta- n departments. Frank 11. McCnne ill represent the Medford Comincr- al club. Mr. McCunc successfully presented Medford shippers in pre ous rate cases. E 10 THE SENATE WASHINGTON, May 31. Prim dine, head of the Italian mission, t vered in the senate chamber todav message from King Victor Kimnan el to the American people. lies lendently pnrbed in uniforms of gold nd blue with green shoulder sashe le mission was enthusiastically n eived. The union of effort nnd purpose of uly nnd the United States was em hasized by the prince, who spoke in nrt ns follows : "In -this hour of danger, in whicl Hillary misoiuiism is threatening feryone, there are nations that have orgotten old and new competitions nd have united to defeat this men ee to the common safetv. We arc l a more fortunate position, lie ivcen the United States of America nd Italy there lin never been nnv nuse of conflict. This new nnd cios r union means for us a greater bnm; f sympathy nnd solidarity, ndded to hose which already linked us. "This long friendship without ttrife. firs union without mistrust, thi loudless future nre enhanced bv the net that both our peoples nre at wa defend the same ideals of human iy and justice'' PORTLAND, May 3 1. Kenneth 'fenton, Portland attorney, fell two lies from a sleeping porch he was pairing and suffered a fractured kail. Attending physicians say he annot recover. Fenton Is a son of V. D. Fenton, former counsel for the oothern Pacific here and was proml et In Standford university athletics BTeral years ago. i 1 JTURE OF GUY pf!JH U bt UtblUtU ARMY DRAFT LAW WASHINGTON, May 31. In a joint statement Issued today from their respective party headquarters here. Chairman Willcox of the republican na- tional committee and Chair- man McCormick of the demo- cratlc national committee, call- ed upon party committeemen and workers in all communities thruout the country to put their machinery into operation to aid army draft registration officers. AMSTERDAM, May 31. Dr. Gus tav A. Gross, leader of the German National league, has been elected president of the lower house of the Austrian parliament, according to i Vienna dispatch. In his opening ad dress, Dr. Gross promised freedom of speech and impartiality in debates He urged the bouse to see to it that the expectations of Austria's enemies that great dissension would develop during the session should remain un filled. We are one in our unshakeable determination," he said, "to continue the fight which was forced on us to the greatly desired honorable peace which will guarantee our safety and Independence in the future. At the same time nothing is further from our thoughts than suppression of oth er nations." After the policies of various parties had been stated by their representa tives. Premier Count Clam-Martinic said the government wovld make a declaration in regard to all the ques tions raised, in one of the first sit tings after the speech from the throne. The next sitting was fixed for June 5. Commenting on the meeting of the Austrian parliament, the Tageblatt of Berlin says divergencies of opinion were marked, especially between the Germans and the Czechs and that the Austrian government had done noth ing to improve this situation. It con tinues: The fact is that the government appears before the house without a majority behind it nnd It may easily happen that the government will find itself In the minority." Various successors to Count Clam Martinic already are mentioned. PKTlil Kill AI, May 31. The pro visional government on the proposal of the Finnish senate, has proclaimed the complete or partial remission of sentences pronounced on all Finnish citizens for crimes or offenses com mitted prior to March 29, 1017. The government has nlso decreed pressive measures against the abuse of alcohol. Persons gelling drunk or drinking to excess in public places are liable to 18 months' imprisonment. Persons while drunk committing rob beries, nets of violence or other of fenses will be liable to penal servi tude for six or eight years. EAST ST. FAST ST. I.tll lS, III., May 31. liar-e rioting broke out ngain last night despite the fact that the city was patrolled by local police, special deputies and national guardsmen. Five men shot one negro lind bent two others. The disturbances which started Monday night grew out of a prole against the importation of ncsro la bor from the south. Citv officials believe the situation is well in huud today. GERMANS FAIL IN EFFORTS TO Repeated Assaults Upon Positions of Vantage Recently Taken by French in Champagne Are Repuls edArtillery Duel on British Front Quiet Broken by Raids. PARIS, May 31. The Germans at tacked the French line in the Cham pagne with extreme violence at sev eral points last night. The attacking forces were checked at Borne places by the French fire and at others at the point of the bayonet, the Germans re tiring each time after heavy losses, the war office announced today. LONDON', May 31. "A hostile raiding party was driven off early this morning south of Armentleres," says today's official report on the Franco-Belgian front operations. "We secured a few prisoners. "There was considerable artillery activity on both sides during the night in the neighborhood of Bullecotirt and on the right bank of the Scarpe. Lino Remains Intact. Desperate attempts by the Germans to push back the French from the vantage ground won in the recent at tacks by General Petain's forces in the Champagne region have been re newed. As a whole the French line re mained Intact under the successive se vere blows deal it early today in a sustained effort of an exeremely vio lent and sanguinary character, gas shells being liberally employed. The front was dented at only one point and this but slightly, the crown prince's troopB gaining a footing in some advanced trenches northeast of Mont Hnut , , At tho Teton, the Casque, at posi tions northwest of Auberive and at Mont Blond, on the front against which the attacks were launched, the net German gain was nil, the valua ble ground which the French need for the pushing of a further offensive, particularly for observation purposes, being retained Intact. . Quiet, on Ilrltlsh Front. Along the British line In France the comparative quiet continues, broken into only by trench raids. In creased artillery activity from the Arras battle front, however is eported today, the big guns on both sides hav In started up again In somewhat live ly fashion near BitUccourt and fur ther north along the Scarpe east of Arras. ROME, May 81. Italian troops in Albania have occupied the villages of Cerevoda, Vellsest, Ozoja and Cafa the war office announced today. The towns occupied by the Italians are in the central part of southern Albania. This extension of the Mace donian front westward to Avlona on the Adriatic has been long held by Italian forces. Their advance is re claiming more of Albania from Aus trian influence. RUSSIA TO RAISE PETKOORAD, May 31. The pro visionnl government today approved the proposal of Temporary Finance Minister Teretschenko to raise 2,000, 01111,0(1(1 rubles nnd take steps for se curing for the treasury "the supply of paper money which already has be come indispensable," the official news agency nnnounces. The government's nproval of the measure was unanimous, it is sai.l. KAISER RECEIVED AT Dl COPKNHAGKN, May 31. The German emperor on his recent visit to the western front was received nt Douni by General Von Huelow. Gen eral Von Buelow wns former' in command of the German forces on the Monnstir front and recently has been brought across Europe to com mand one of the armies on the Amis front. RECAPTURELINE OF WASHINGTON, May 31. President Wilson has sent a document to the Russian gov ment outlining the war alms of the United States and It Is un derstood, dealing with the po sition of "no annexations." "no Indemnities' set out by Rus sian officials. It is not to be published until Ambassador Francis In Petrogrnd has hud opportunity to present It to the Russian government and then It will be given out In Washington. The terms of the communication meanwhile are regarded as highly confidential. PEACE PROGRAM BY COPF.NflAGF.N, May 31. The pro gram of the majority Socialist dele gates to the Stockholm conlerence evidently from tho statements of Dr. Eduard David, one of the lending delegates, carries no endorsement by the German government. Dr. David clearly intimated that the action of the delegation is only binding upon its party nnd that tho envoys have no definite pledges or authorization from the administration nt Berlin. The hopesof the delegates that the German government ultimately will be found amenable to the majority socialist program of pence without annexations or indemnities nre bnsed partly iixn tho party's strength and inflenee in Germany nmU-partlv upon the indefinite statements of that mus ter pliruse-ninkcr, Chancellor Von Bethmnnn-Ilollwcg, like his declara tion that the government is rend to conclude a peace "which will leave no thorns to rankle." Dr. David does not hope that pence will result directly from the Stock holm movement. The utmost he ex pects is that tho conference will lny basis for a peace movement on which peace lovers in nil countries can unite. If conferences prove abortive, Dr. David declares that Germany has perfected its organization so ns to live on what it can raise nnd it will continue the struggle without weaken ing. In answer to n question regard ing the present Germnn attitude to ward America, the socialist leader said that there was no one in Ger many who did not regret the break with the United Stnles nnd that it was the general hope that the wnr would be concluded before America's participation in the conflict could be come netunl. T COPENHAGEN, May 31. The Lo kal Anzelger is quoted in a Berlin dis patch us stilting that tho Austrian and German governments have decid ed against the appointment of a re gent for Poland at the present time, ft is proposed, however, to Increase the powers of tho provisional council of state, the newspaper says, follow ing the declaration by the council that an immediate Institution of the regen cy was imperative. The Lokal Anzelger's statement would tend to confirm yesterday's re port that the council of stale had re signed. TWELVE KILLED IN MISSOURI CYCLONE ST. UlUlS, Mo., May 31 Twelve persons were killed and iibout forty injured in the tornadoes that swept southeastern Missouri nnd southern Illinois yesterday afternoon. The town of Mineral Point, Mo where four persons lost their lives. was wiped out. Losses of life also were reported at Dichlstudt, Mo., nnd Palmer, Mo., and three negroes per ished nt Hodges Park, Alexander county, Ills. Morn than twenty per sons were hurt at Mounds, Ills. SUGAR , COFFEE AND TEA TO PAY Ti Senate Committee Places Two Cents a Pound on Coffe, Five Cents on Tea, Half a Cent on Sugar and Three Cents on Cocoa Tax Upon Munitions to be Eliminated. WASHINGTON, .May 31. Tho sen ate finance committee today decided to provide in the war tax bill to raise $80,000,000 by consumption taxes or two cents a pound on coffee, five conts on ten, and one-half cent on sugar und three cents on cocoa. Another important change agreed upon was the elimination of the pres ent tax of 1214 per cent tax on war munitions, now raising $26,000,000. Substitutes for tea and coffee will bo tnxed. From the new taxes the committee estimates tho following revenue will be raised: Sugar, $50,000,000; cof fee, $18,000,000; tea, $3,000,000 and Cocoa, $7,000,000. Coffee and tea taxes will he levied upon Imports. Ar rangomonts are being mndo to take care of Import contracts made before May 1 by requiring purchasers from Importers Instead of the latter to pay the taxes. Under the house bill It was proposed to tax coffee one cent a pound and tea two cents. Abolish .Munitions Tax. The decision to abolish the present speclnl tax of 12 per cent on war munitions was said to be due to two reason diminishing of the tax and imposition of increased excoss profits on all corporations which will roach the munitions makers. While this year's revenue from the munitions tax was estimated to yield $25,000 000, treasury experts told .the com mittee It would be much smaller next year. , Another provision adopted today by the committee would exempt from taxation alcohol reclaimed by rotlnlng beer and reducing its alcohol content in the making of "near beer" when such alcohol becomes denatured for commercial purposes. The committee did not discuss the proposed postal incrouse on second class publications. E BY CLEVELAND, May 31. Earth shocks wore recorded at St. Ignutlu observatory early today. Beginning at 4:03 a. in. they reached the maxi mum at 4:15 nnd subsided at 5 a. m. No estimate as to distance or location is given. WASHINGTON, May 31. Earth quake tremors lasting over a period of two hours were recorded this morn ing by the Georgetown University seismograph. They began at 3:5 o clock, reached their maximum n 4:20 nnd censed at 0 o'clock. Unlvcr slty oxperts estimated tho center of tho disturbance at 4 000 miles dls tant. SEATTLE, May 31. A vlolcn earthquake, whoso seat was Indicated lu Aluska, 1000 miles northwest of Seattle, was recorded on the Univer sity of Washington seismograph last night and this morning, beginning at 11:54, nttalning Its maximum in tw violent shocks at 12:02 and 12:0 anil subsiding at 1:20. The courso of tho needlo Indicated enrth slips rather than volcanic outbursts. ANTI-DRAFT PLOT COLt Mlil'S, 0 May 31. An an ti-dral'l plot, with national headiiuar tcrs in this city, to induce young me of military age to retrain from regis tcring fur draft next Tuesday, ha been uncovered by slate and govern mcnt secret service agents, according to announcement made this otter- noon by Governor Jnmcs M. Cox. A printing shop was raided nnd mass of literature seized. AXES FOR WAR AGAIN REJECTED BY HOUSE BY 184 T0 144 WASHINGTON, May 31. A motion to recommit the espi onngo bill with Instructions to strike out the press censorship section was carried in tho house today by a vote of IS! to 144. BRITISH LOSSES FRONT 112,000 IN MAY LONDON, May 31 British ens unities ns published ill May show a total of 51)02 officers nnd 10(1,331 Tho British offensive on the Ar ras trout, involving some ot the se verest fighting of the war, naturally has resulted in a largo increase in disunities over tho inactivo winter season. disunities lor the Inst lew mouths have not been received, but in February the total reported was only 1,243 ofieers nnd 17,185 men, llio assertion of the British tluit their losses are fifty per cent smaller than in tho battle of the Somme, not withstanding the fact that larger forces are engaged, is not borne out by the May figures, nlllio in the ab sence of the casualties report for April, early in which month the of tensive wus launched, the showing is not conclusive. The casualties re corded in the first three lnonllw of the Somme drive were 3(17,10!) offi cers nnd men. In August Inst yenr the second month of the Somme but tle, the casualties were 117,04), ns compared with 112,233 for May, the second month of the Anns battle. NO PAY DAY FOR SAN FHANCISCO, May 31. All the formalities of pay day except one were gone through with nt the offi cers training camp here today. The men drew no money. So long as the men own their own razors nnd shoo rags, it, is hard to tell which ones are millionaires and which nre without funds, but un un dercurrent of uneasiness exists at the camp. Most of the men expected to get $100 n month and it is sai.l the chances are they will get it as soon as congress gets around to il, but il has not ycl been appropriated. Those who borrowed money to gel here spenl part of it today in postage I'or Idlers explaining why, just now, they cannot pay it back. Owners of places of amusement reported today a diminu tion in attendance of students from the camp. Tobacco merchants said that the sale of expensive cigarettes had decreased but there was strong demand for cigarette papers und sninll bags of tobacco. WASHINGTON, May 31,-Thc long drawn out contest over the qucs- tion of a newspaper censorship was renewed in the house today. Party lilies stood mil ns the ileliate began. Republicans generally opisiscd the censorship section while democrats generally supported it. Modification of the censorship pro posed by conference report on the espionage bill would forbid wilful publication of military intonmilion, but not news of equipment of nrmed forces and the president would be au thorized to declare by proclamation whnt information would not he use ful to the enemy and might be pub lishcd. Jury trial lor persons ac cused of violations would bo per mitted, CONFRONTSSPAIN AS WAR RESULT Constitutional Guarantee to Be Sus pended Former Premier.. Declares Conditions Becoming Graver Every Hour Recent Mass Meeting of Pro-Aly Sympathizers Important. MADRID, May 31. According to tho newspapers tho constitutional guarantees will be suspended again In two or three days. Former Premier Count Romanones has declared to an intimate friend that he regretted ho was not Invited to the mass meeting held by pro-ally sympathizers last Sunday. He said that if ho bad been present he would havo maintained the declarations made In his letter to King Alfonso at the time he resigned. He added that many Liberals, who were partisans ot tho allies, would also have liked to be present. Discussing the same subject with the correspondent ot a French, newspaper, Count Romanones said: "The meeting was of enormous im portance. lt will perhaps exercise a greater Influence on foreign than home policies. Kit tuition Confused. . Asked what he thought ot the situ ation in Spain, the former premier declared that it became more grave and more confused "every day and every hour ot the day." Questioned as to whether he thought the Cortes would be summoned, Count Romano nes smiled and said: "I am not too sure of that." . ' '1 . Minister ot tho Interior Burets has prohibited nil public manifestations relative to International question as "dangorous to tho interest of the country, in view of the Important di plomatic negotiations now going on," Sovornl such , demonstrations had bocn planned' In Madrid and other cities. devolution Humored. The constitutional guarantees were suspended nt Spain at the end of March following sovoral strlkeB and serious dlsordors thruout the country. It was reported in Washington that a revolutionary movement was In pro gross, but this was denied by the Spanish ambassador. The operations of tho censorship have cut off definite Information regarding the recent In ternal situation In Spain. KEEP SLACKERS LEAVING U. S. JACKSONVILLE, Fin., May 31." Sheriffs along tho Florida coast to day maintained close watch for slack ers who might attempt to leave the stuto for foreign shores by launch or steamer to escape registration. Un der instructions from Governor Catts, who says ho has information that not a few draft subjects have already left for Cuba, tho sheriffs will from now until next Tuesday detain any person within the ago limit suspected ot try ing to escnpo. WASHINGTON, May 31. It was announced todny that steps had been taken to prevent men subject to mili tary registration from leaving the country beforo Juno 5. Department of Justice officials said every effort was being mndo to prevent evasion ot tho Inw by leaving the country. IRAL DEAD AT AGE OF 94 WASHINGTON, May 31. Ameri can naval officers everywhere today wire mourning the dentil of Rear Admiral Upshur, who until his dentil here last night of heart failure, wnH the olilest living graduate of the na val academy nnd deun of the flag officers. He wus !)l yenrs old nnd his naval career had included service with Commodore Perry in the his toric voyage to Japan, service in the civil war with Porter nnd ninny im IMirlunt eninuiands with the newer nnvy.