COLUMBIA REGISTER
HOULTON. OREGON
NEWS OFTHE WEEK
la a Catfensci Perm for Csr
Essy -Readers.
A Ruum of th Lass Important but
Not Lm Interesting Events
of th Pat Wk.
Portland is shipping cattle to Japan.
King Oscar ay he doe not favor a
forcible union with Norway.
A severe wind storm ha wiped out
the town of Anawa, Wisconsin.
All telegraph operators on the North
era Pacific railway are ready to go on
atrike.
The Union passenger depot at Louis
ville, Kentucky, ha been burned.
Loss, $350,000.
A Boston man baa been arrested in
Kingston, Jamaica, for taking photo
graphs of the fortifications.
Witte says that while he favors
peace with Japan, he will not agtes
to it at any terms that may be offend
Unusually heavy rainstorms are re
ported in various part of Germany.
Immense damage ha been done to
crops.
The Chinese government is sending a
number of its aristocrats to various
countries to stidy foreign ways.' It is
regarded generally as a step in the
right direction.
Within nine days 98 infants under
one year of age have died in Cleveland,
Ohio. The health authorities are mak
ing a close investigation into the sani
tary conditions of the milk supply.
The Japanese are driving the Rus
sians north.
New York City has purchased a home
for consumptive.
Sweden will send an ultimatum to
Norway and is ready for war.
Japan ia well pleased at the appoint
ment of Witte a a peace envoy.
Terrorist have attempted to take the
life of the governor general ot St. Pe
tersburg. It is tally settled that Witte is to be
one of the Russian peace enoys and will
be given full powers.
During the past two years the United
States government has spent $73,000,
000 more than it has taken in.
A move ia said to have been started
to force the czar to abdicate and that
he will tarn the affair ef the govern
ment into other hands to administer
for bis son and heir.
An aged man living under the name
of Livingston has his home at Freeport,
Illinois. He greatly resembes pictures
of John D. Rockefeller's father and it
is believed by many that he is.
The president has signed a proclama
tion opening to homesteaders and town-'
site entry the Unitah reservation in
Utah. The reservation contains 2,445,
000 acres, but lands reserved for roili,
tary, forestry and other purposes will
leave only 1,069,000 availabe for entry.
The kaiser is trying to prevent Nor
way from becoming a republic.
The mutineers of the Russian battle
ship Potemkin have all been shot or
are in chains..
A party has been formed by promin
ent Italians for the exploration of the
upper Amazon river.
Minister Witte has bad a stormy in
terview with the czar and may refuse
to act as a peace envoy.
Major Langfitt, government engineer,
with headquarters at Portland, is to be
succeeded by Major Boeesler.
Indiana officer have arrested 1 1 men
believed to be a gang who have been
systematically robbing freight cars of
silk.
Chief Forester Pinchot has ordered
that forest supervisors muBt accept no
fees for services performed, under pain
of dismissal.
During a high wind, following a st
vere rain and electric storm, the walls
of a brick building in course of con
Bturction at Winnipeg, Manitoba, fell,
burying a nmuber of people. It ia
feared at least ten are dead.
The battleship Oregon holds the
troph for high scores in gunnery among
all battleships of the American navy.
The salaries of the Russian plenipo
tentiaries have been fixed at $200 per
day each, besides an allowance of $7,
600 for traveling and other expenses.
The British navy is to be concentrat
ed near home.
Dynamite has been found in the
czar's palace at Moscow.
A great German naval demonstration
isto be made off Sweden.'
WANT A LONG CONTRACT.
Only Trms on Which Japan Will
Work on Canal.
Seattle, July 18. Japanee labor
contractor will not agree to th Isth
mian commission' programme of ex
perimenting with the labor of different
countries. A recent 'dispatch from
Washington aay th romiuiaaion ha
decided to secure 2,000 laborer of dif
ferent nationalities under a 600 day
contract, with th idea In view of re
newing the contract for auch laborer
as were found satisfactory.
Th question of employing Japanee
laborer on the isthmus waa first taken
up with the commission and Secretary
Taft by the Oriental Trading company,
of Seattle. This is th most important
labor contracting firm in th North
west. Vice President C. T. Takahashl aaid
today that his company would not
agree to such a proposal. "There ia no
money in auch a short contract," he
continued. "It we could get a tour
year or a five-year contract, Japanese
laborers could be supplied. As it is
the laborers would have to be brought
from Japan and returned to their
homes after the work was completed.
To collect 2,000 men, carry them to
the isthmus and then return them to
their homes after a 600-day contract
had been completed is not practicable.
"Our proposal to supply Japanese
labor has been before the commission
and Washington officials for some time.
We have not been notified that an
experimental contract might be made
and I do not think we would accept a
contract if offered one."
The Oriental Trading company pro
posed to provide its own foremen,
choosing men accustomed to directing
railroad and similar construction work.
MINERS IN TERROR.
Appeal to Government for Protection
Against Outlaws.
Seattle, July 18. Miners operating
on the creeks near Fairbanks, Alaska,
have appealed to the United States
government for protection from out
laws who are terrorizing that district.
General Constance Williams, in com
mand of the Department of the Colum
bia, has been instructed by the Wax
department to investigate, and if condi
tions are as bad as the miners claim,
troops will I rushed into the Tanana
country. The telegraph line into
Fairbanks are down and General Wil
liams' investigation is likely to be de
layed for several days. In the mean
time a large Alaska community is ter
rorized, for the situation is even worse
than that which existed at Skagway
during the "Soapy Smith" days.
Telegraphic advices from the North
declare that hold-ups and the boldest of
robberies are becoming so frequent that
an attack on some of the bank is
feared by the miners. The mine owner
are afraid to either bring their dust
into town or keep it at their camps.
The outlaws are holding up strong pack
trains and robberies at camps are so
numerous that they have become ex
pected. The miners in the Tsnana country
have but a few weeks in which to make
their annual cleanup and the depreda
tions of the outlaws threaten the year's
business. The district about Fairbanks
l as had a remarkable winter and the
cleanup would be the heaviest in the
camp's history if the miners are able
to work. Fear of losing everything by
robbery is holding back the spring
clean-up.
Independence for Corea.
Honolulu, July 18. Corea ns here
have raised a fund to rend Rev. P. T.
Yon, a Corean Methodist minister, to
Washington to see President Roosevelt
for the purpose of asking that efforts
be made by the United States in the
forthcoming negotiations to bring about
an agreement by which the Corean na
tion will become independent within
20 years if it shows fitness for self
government. Rev. Mr. Yon will so
licit the good oflices of President Roose
velt to ask Japan to grant independ
ence as the United States did Cuba.
Captain King in Blackmar' Place
Baltimore, July 18. By the death of
General Blackmar, Captain John R.
King, of this city, senior vice com
mander in chief, becomes, under the
laws of the G. A. R., acting commander-in-chief,
and will continue such un
til the next National encampment.
Captain King is pension agent for
Maryland, District of Columbia, Vir
ginia and West Virginia, arid has an
office in Washington. .
Ripe Fruit Can Be Carried.
Sacramento, Cal., July 18. Harold
Powell, of the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, say he has
demonstrated conclusively that ripe
fruit, well refrigerated before shipment
will arrive sound under ordinary rail
road refrigeration, even after being
from 10 to 15 days on the way.
Packing Plant I Destroyed.
Columbus, 0., July 18. The plant
of the Columbus Packing company on
the 8outh Side, was destroyed by fire
today. Loss, $185,000. The fire is
believed to have been of incendiary
origin.
CLAIMS INNOCENCE
Williamson Denies Entering Plot
to Suborn Perjury.
KNEW GESNER LOANED MONEY
Croit Examination by District Attor
nay Hanay Bring Out This
Fact from Witn.
Portland, July 18. After tha coun
sel for the defense place several wit
neaee on tha stand this morning to
how that the timber claim ol Marion
K. Bigg, one of the defendant in the
trial of Representative Williamson and
Or. Keener, was valuable for timber,
all of the evidence will have been laid
before the Jury. By redwing to permit
the defense, to place on the stand a long
list of witnesses to prove the good char
acter of the three defendants, Judge D
Haven shortened the trial and tor the
next few days the couttrooin will he
ringing with the voices of the attorneys
making their argument to the Jury.
Yesterday morning Representative
Williamson took the stand in his own
behalf and declared to the Jury that ho
waa innocent of the charge of conspir
ing to cause, certain applicants" for gov
ernment timber land to commit perjury.
He waa inclined to be combative under
cross-exaniinstionbut District Attorney
Heney, apparently had no desire to
press the witness to the point where he
would lose his tcmtxT. During ihi di
rect and redirect examination, Repre
sentative Williamson frequently turned
full upon the Jury and delivered his
evidence at various times directly
at the 12 men who w ill later pass Judg
ment upon him. Naturally his testi
mony was the feature of the day, and
while he made a good witness for him
self, Mr. Heney ncverthclcs got ad
missions from him that tended to show
that he knew that Gesner was making
loans to entrymen.
TO TAKE VLADIVOSTOK.
Japanese Hope to Capture Fortress
Before Envoy Reach America.
Tokio, July 18 Judging from the
activity at present being displayed at
the Navy department, it seems certain
the investment of Vladivostok can be
expected before the end of this week.
All arrangements are known to have
been completed, and it is reported, evi
dently upon the best authority, that
Admiral Togo's entire fleet will sail
from Sasebo befote nightfall. In addi
tion, an army ot invasion, which was
landed from transports in Peter the
Great bay very recently, is already
moving to complete the investment by
laud. Since June 160 ocean-going
foreign steamers have been placed un
der the Japanese flag, laden with am
munition and supplies, and will accom
pany Togo's fleet.
It is the hope of the Japanese gov
ernment that Vladivostok will be taken
before the peace envoys land on United
States soil. With this object in view,
nothing is to be left undone to' make
the campaign, as planned, brief and
eminently successful.
HEAT IS KILLING.
Temperature in Metropolis of United
States Causes Prostrations.
New York, July 18. After a respite
of one day, the hot wave that swept
over New York last week, cauHing scores
of deaths and hundreds of cases of pros
trations, returned today with renewed
intensity, the temperature being by far
the highest of the season.
The highest point reached was at 4
o'clock in the afternoon, when the
weather bureau thermometer touched
95 degrees. In the streets, however,
the heat was much greater, some ther
mometers recording as high as 103.
While the heat was intense, the air
was stirred by light breeze, and the
general suffering was somewhat miti
gated by the absence of the excessive
humidity that prevailed last week. It
was largely owing to this that only two
cases of death directly resulting from
heat were reported.
Nothing to Investigate.
Caracas, July 18. (Venezuelans were
very much surprised on receiving the
news that President Roosevelt had ap
pointed Judge Calhoun a special com
missioner to Venezuela to investigate
the claims of America. The Constitu
tion, the government organ, says: "If
the claims of Americans or others ex
isted, they would have been already
heard before competent authorities. It
may be the president requires infor
mation regarding the case of the New
York & Bermudex Ashpalt company,
which is still pending."
Assistant Engineer of Canal.
San Antonio, Tex., July 18. Jackson
Smith, formerly passenger agent of the
National railroad of Mexico, has been
appointed assistant to Chief Engineer
Stevens, of the Panama canal, accord
ing to a telegram received here ton ighf.
NEW TRIAL DENIED.
Judge D Havan Daniel Motion In
Mitchell Cat.
Portland, July 18. "The motion In
arrest of Judgment will be denied.
"Tha motion for a new trial will be
denied.
"Is tha defendant in court?"
Senator John II. Mitchell was not In
court when Judg D Haven pronounced
the words quoted from his decision In
answer to the motions mad last week
by hi attorneys. Senator Mitchell
was represented by odg Bennett and
x-Seoator Thurston, and while Judge
D Haven did not say that ha woul.l
hara rendered Judgment upon the
senator, had he been In court, It is be
lieved from the fact that ha asked If
"the defendant was in court," that he
would have don so. Senator Thurs
ton, when Judge I Haven put hi
query, roue and stated that be wished
further time in which to draw up a bill
of exceptions, and he was given until a
week from Monday morning to present
them.
This means another ten days More
Senator Mitchell will have Judgment
pronounced upon him. The senator'
counsel informed the court that by to
morrow they would have their bill of
exceptions ready and in the hands of
United States District Attorney Heney,
so that he might In turn have his
ansaer ready by the time that the case
will again be taken up by the court.
Judge De Haven seemed willing to
grant the delay, and as there wsi no
objection from Mr. Heney, Hi Honor
set Monday, July 31, a the day for re
ceiving the exceptions.
BIQQS TESTIFIES FOR DEFENSE.
Vigorously Denies Any Thought of
Perpetrating Frsud.
Portland, July 16. Thia coining
week, unless some unforeseen accident
should occur, will see the end of the
Representative Williamson, Ir. Van
Gesner and Marlon R. Biggs trial.
Yesterday Marion Biggs, who is the
United States land commissioner, hmk
the stand in his own behalf, and when
Judge IV Haven adjourned court until
Monday morning, he had paused through
the hands of the district attorney. On
the whole, he made a fair witness for
himself, and the two defendant charg
ed jointly with him in the tlleged con
spiracy. Under the skillful bands of
Attorney Wilson, liiggs told a plausible
story, but District Attorney Heney,
during the course of an extremely rigid
cross examination, tangled the wimesss
up several times.
From the beginning of his testimony
to the end, Itiggs contended that he
was innocent of any wrongdoing, and
he denied having any part in the alleg
ed conspiracy of suborning entrymen to
commit perjury.
DIES AT BOISE.
Commander-in-Chief of Q. A. R. Was
Touring Northwest.
Noise, Idaho, July 18. General W.
W. Blackmar, commander-in-chief of
the (irand Army of the Republic, died
at 5 o'clock this evening of Intestinal
nephritis. His wife was with him
during his illness. The laxly will be
embalmed and taken to the home of
the family in Boston.
The general arrived here on the 10th
on a tour, during which he intended to
visit (irand Army posts throughout the
Northwest. He was ill when h arriv
ed and gradually failed. The serious
ness of his condition was kept from the
public at the request of his wife.
General Blackmar was horn July 25,
1841, at Bristol, Pa. He enlisted in
the Fifteenth Pennsylvania cavalry and
subsequently joined the First West
Virginia. He served with distinction
throughout the war and at Five Forks
was promoted on the field by General
Custer to the rank of captain. Through
the three administrations of Governors
Long, Talbott and Rice he was judge
advocate general of Massachusetts. At
the last National encampment of the
Grand Army of the Republic he was
elected commander-in-chief.
Costly Dirt in New York.
New York, July 17. From the ex
empt tax list, as published today in
the City Record, Rome idea of the value
of earth in that part of the globe cov
ered by New York City may be gath
ered. The total estimated value of
real property which pays no taxes Is
more that $1,000,000,000, and it is
safe to say that the real worth of the
property is more than $2,000,000,000.
Ad ling to this more than $5,000,000,
009 of real estate which was taxed, the
ac'ual valne of the city is more than
$7,000,000,000.
Canal Laborer Leaving.
Panama, July 17. Owing to dila
tory method of paying laborers, a gen
eral exodus of workmen is faking place
among employes of the canal. Reports
from Culebra indicate that, because
they cannot get paid, laborers are quit
ting in scores, and have taken to the
woods of banana and other tropical
froltto ward off starvation.
DEFENSE TESTIFIES
Gesner Says Ttcre Was Ko la
tent to Break Laws.
TIMBER LAND DEALS LEGITIMATE.
Testimony of Witn' that Imptlad
Contract Had Bn Mad I
Vigorously Dnld.
Portland, Jot? 15. Dr. Van Gesner,
partner ot Representative Williamson
and Marlon R. Biggs, United State
land comiwioner, two of the defendant
In the case now on trial before Judg
IV Haven, testified yesterday in their
own behalf. Dr. Gesner passed through
the rigid cross examination conducted
by Diktrict Attorney Heney, and, al
though his original story was not shak
en much, he waa forced into several
admissions that w ill be used when the
government comes to mske It argu
ment. Thia morning Marlon Biggs
will be subjected to cross examination
and unless court should adjourn at
noon, it Is possiMe that Representative
Williamson will take the stand.
Dr. Gesner, In answer to the ques
tions asked by Attorney Wilson, gave
his version of the way in which he had
started out to obtain the tiinler lands
which since have involved him in the
case at bar. He admitted having made
the loan to a numlier ot the entrymen,
but said that he did so in order to pro
tect the projerty he already had in
that section of the country. Dr. Ges
ner denied thai he had any contract
with the various entrymen, and stated
there had been no conspiracy with Ma
rion Biggs and Representative William
son The witness gave ta history of
the war between the sheep and cattle
men, In w hich the now famous "30-30"
men played such an important part in
the Horse Heaven country. The entry
men, he testified, had first approach!
him and asked him to lend the money
with which to (lie on the claims. He
stated that he agreed to furnish them
the money, providing they would give
him the use of the land for a range for
his sheep. For the use of the range he
had agreed not to charge them Interest
on the loans. He said that the sheep
shooter hsd established a dead line
and in order to protect his property ho
was forced to secure more range and
thought that he had gone the right
way about it, when he made the loans
to the entrymen who came to him, and
asked for financial help.
Before agreeing to furnish the money
to the entrymen, Dr. Gesner stated that
he had first consulted Biggs and had
engaged him as a lawyer. He also
consulted Attorney Barnes, and had
been assured by both that what he in
tended to do was legal, provided he did
not enter into a contract with the en
trymun before they mado their filings.
MONOPOLY IS Al AN END.
Pacific Mail No Longer Control the
Traffic of th Isthmus.
New York, July 15. The contract
between the Panama Railroad company
and the Pacific Mail Steamship com
pany, under which the later has for
years enjoyed the exclusive privilege of
handling freight on the Pacific Hido
on through bills of hiding, terminated
today. Hereafter all carriers will 1
on a parity in rcsjiect to transit facil
ities on the isthmus.
Mr. Bristow In his recent report on
the Panama railroad recommended that
if the Pacific Mail Steamship company
withdraws its present Panama line an
effort lie made to induce some other
company to establish a first-class serv
ice between the important Pacific coast
ports of the United States and Panama.
Upon excellent authority it can bo
stated that the government does not
anticipate that the Pacific Mail will
carry out it threat to take it vessels
from the Panama-San Francisco serv
ice, nor does it expect the abrogation
of the contract to affect in any way the
shipment of merchandise from New
York to San Francisco.
Balfour Opp6se Conscription.
London, July 15. In the hoiiBo of
common tonight Premier Balfour re-
ferred to the speech of I ield Marshal
Lord Roberts in the house of lords
Monday laBt, in which the latter said
that the armed forces of Great Britain
a a 1)0(1 y were absolutely unfitted and
unprepared for war, and declared em
phatically that the choice lay between
conscription and some practical system
of universal training. The premier'
said he could never be led to believe
that conscription could be successfully
adopted in England.
Must Keep Cuban Cities. Healthy.
Havana, July 15. President Palma. '
has vetoed the action of congress which
continued in effect the budget for thet '
fiscal year ending Jane 30. His reason,
for so doing is that the old budget did,
not include any provision for the sani
tation of cities.