- id
— ~~
BY P. GRAY MEEK.
Ink Slings.
me —
Unless you get your paper paid
Within the next few days,
It can no longer visit you
So the Boss Postmaster says.
—Get right with the WATCHMAN, Your
time is short.
—Looal option is the sugar coat that is
being used on the Prohibition pill just
now.
—If you bave the spring fever already
don’t complain because you are out of
work.
—It looks more like BRYAN every day
and, on the other side, Mr. TAFT seems to
bave the call.
—The New York to Parie automobile
race is drawing near to San Francisco, but
Paris is some distance off.
—This is the last call for those who are
more than two years in arrears, and
haven't made any arrangement about set-
tling.
—The condition of Senator PENROSE
was unimproved yesterday. He has heen
0 ill that there has been some doubt of his
recovery.
—Mr. R. B. TAYLOR has the Republican
nomination for Legisiatare cinched. Tt is
all over now except hearing BERT tell bow
it bap pened and that will be delicious.
— Spring is here according to the alma-
pac, bat don’t get too gay with the first
glints of warm sunshine. There is many a
case of pneumonia lurking on the shady
side of the street.
—The Republican newspapers of the
country are as basy trying to make believe
that prosperity is coming on by leaps and
bounds as we are telling about the crowds
that are breaking into the soup houses.
—The serious illness of Senator PENROSE
is likely to take considerable of the svap
out of Pennsylvania politics just at this
time, when his own political preservation
was almost as precarious as his health.
—80 Dr. DAVID JAYNE HILL is persona
non grata to his royal nibhs the Kaiser.
Well, well, it ie too bad that such men as
Dr. HILL have to put up with the snubs
that any whipper-snapper of a foreign
potentate may chose to inflict.
—The “‘Night Riders” are gradually de-
populating Kentuoky. Is it any wonder ?
Would yon want to live in a community
where a crowd of lawless ruffians vide forth
all night abusing and killing people who
dare to sell their products in the best mar-
kets ?
—The President is to send a new mes-
sage to Congress. This one will probably
dilate on the sanitary condition of the soup
honees and the ease with which heads of
the ideal RoosEvELTian families can make
ends meet on ten hour’s employment a
week.
—Get right with the WATCHMAN. We
want you to have it, but the Post-office
Department has ruled that we can’t send
it to you after this issue unless your sub.
goription is paid up to within two years.
We don’t want to stop your paper, but we
can’s help it.
—This will probably be the last visit of
the WATCHMAN to a few homes it has been
going into for many years. There is still
time to continue it, but the time ie grow:
ing short and unless they call or write be-
fore April 3rd, the date of the next issue,
some names will have to be dropped.
—Congressman LITTLEFIELD, of Maine,
bas resigned because he wants to get back
to his more profitable law business. This
means more than the casual reader imag-
ines. It means that Cougressman LITTLE-
FIELD is an honest man or that pickins
are not good at Washington any more.
—The Rev. J. B. MANN, who said at
the Methodist conference at York on
Thursday night ‘‘the daily newspapers con-
stitute the country’s greatest evil, except-
ing. only the rum power,” possibly lost
sight of the monstrous harm that an ase ar-
raved in clerical robes might accomplish.
—The Democrats of Centre county have
two candidates for delegate to the Nation-
al convention, Messrs NAGINEY and
SPANGLER both of whom may be voted
for. Four years ago Clearfield connty had
both the delegates so Centre county is en-
gitled so both this time. Therefore remem-
ber to vote for both NAGINEY and SPANG-
LER at the primaries on the 11th.
~The death of Senator WILLIAM J.
BRYAN, of Florida, after only three
month's service in the upper branch of
Congress is partionlarly sad since be was
the youngest man since HENRY CLAY to
hold the high office of United States Sena-
tor. While the country had no opportuni-
ty of measuring the ability of the young
man there is no doubt that he might have
developed into a statesman of more than
ordinary calibre.
—The initiative has heen taken by Har-
vard toward reducing the number of ath-
letio contests the teams of that University
may engage in. While it is a question
that will bear much digcussion on its mer-
its the Harvard stand is most timely, if for
nothing else than that it will have a deter-
rent effect on colleges that plan for and
schedule games for basket ball, foot ball
and base ball on the principle that the
more games played the better the season
and the more pretentious the institution
represented.
“STATE RIGHTS AND FEDERAL UNION.
———————————————————— er rmm— - ———
——
a ——————— a ——
VOL. 53
Pennsylvania Democrats in Congress,
Of the present Democratic delegation in
Cougress from this State five will be nomi-
nated for re-election. To the great regret
of their colleagues, JOHN T. LENAHAN, of
Luzerne county, and J. Davis BRoAD-
HEAD, of Northampton, have decided to
retire as the end of their preseat term. I$
is within the limits of conservatism to say
that this determination entails a positive
loss tothe public. Mr. LENAHAN is a
lawyer of profound ability and in his brief
experience Mr. BROADHEAD bas developed
au adaptability for legislative work which
would soon bave made him a most efficient
Representatives. But Mr. LENAHAN feels
shat he can’t afford to neglect his profes
sion and Mr. BROADHEAD is bound by an
agreement entered into as the time of his
nomination two years ago.
The others Messrs, ROTHERMEL, of Berks
county; NicHoOLS, of Lackawanna; Kipp,
of Bedford; WrLsoN, of Tioga; and Mo-
HENRY, of Colambia, bave earned the
continued confidence of the people and in
consenting to return for another term are
conferring a valuable favor upon their con-
stituents. Probably if they would consult
their own interests neither of them would
consent to a re-election. WILSON and
NicuoLs are labor leaders of splendid
ability who have their hearts in their
work. Both of them have been zealous
and earnest supporters of legislation in the
interest of labor and more for the reason
shat there will be better opportunity to
serve the cause in Congress than anywhere
else than a desire for personal aggrandize-
ment, they are willing to continue in Con-
gress.
Joux C. McHENRY, the capable and in-
dustrions Representative of the Sixteenth
distrios, is a man of large business interests
whose absence from the scenes of his busi-
ness activities entail vast sacrifices. But
he hae undertaken to compass certain legis-
lative reforms of vast importance and is
order to achieve them. Grorae W. Kipp,
of Towanda, is equally unselfish. He bas
entered upon a work in which there is prom-
ise of splendid results and though immense
business interests demand his attention at
home, the interests of the public will he
conserved by his re-election to Congress,
Each of these gentlemen ought to be re-
turned by a uvauimous vote. Of course
Mr. Rothermel’s re-election will be an
overwhelming trinmph.
Ship Subsidy In Sight.
The subsidy mongers appear to be rea-
sonahly certaiv of getting their steamship
bounty bill through Congress in time to
serve the party during the coming presi-
dential campaign. Twelve years ago the
late Senator HANNA promised this source
of largesses to the ship builders and got a
generous contnbution fund. Bat he was
unable to redeem his pledge. The Demo-
cratic Senators held oat with sabstantial
unanimity against such treasary looting.
But the virae of Populism bas been spread-
ing since that and it looks now asifa
modified subsidy bill will be passed daring
the present session. Some southern Dem-
oorats have yielded to the infection.
The pending measure is neither as broad
nor as costly as the HANNA deal contem-
plated. It proposes to pay only mail
steamers for actual service. But it is the
entering wedge for an iniquity which will
make the people groan uoder a burden of
taxation later. HANNA made the mis-
take of asking too much. He frightened
even the Senators of his own party into
opposition. The vaes possibilities for loot
under bis measare were appalling and
Senators were afraid. The present scheme
is more canning. It provides for only a
modest outlay bat it avswers the purpose.
Is makes ship subsidies a policy of the
government and from year to year the
system oan he expanded and the appropria-
tion moreased.
There is neither need tor nor wisdom in
thie method of looting the treasury. As
paval auxiliaries she subsidized ships will
be a failore and the difference in speed of
mail ships will cost more than it is worth.
Asa matter of faot the ounly substantial
effect of she expenditure of the millions
contemplated by the subsidy mongers will
be to the corruption fund of the Republi-
can party. There was some uncertainty
as to where the money so debauch the
voters was to come from this year. The
subsidy bill solved that problem. The
ship builders will oreate the cornucopia
out of whioh the golden stream will flow
freeiy and copiously. Democratic Sena-
tors oughs to have prevented it.
——Ata joint meeting of the commis-
gioners of Centre and Clearfield counties
beld in Philipsburg on Wednesday of last
week it wae decided to build a bridge over
Mosbaonon creek leading from Philips-
barg to Chester Hill, and J. H. Wetzel, of
this place, was awarded the contract to
draw up two sets of plans and specifica
tions for the same, one for a concrete bridge
ja one for a protected steel structure.
willing to forego personal advantages in
BELLEFONTE, PA., MARCH 27, 1908.
Scariet Will Not be
It is reported that JAMES SCARLET will
pot participate in the future grafs trials at
Harrishurg. The machive leaders probably
begrudge him the glory which came to him
ont of the successful issue of the first case.
In the report of the investigating ocommit-
tee the name of Mr. BERRY was entirely
omitted. In organizing for the trial JAMES
A. STRANAHAN, who had ably assisted in
the investigation, was left out and a Re-
publican lawyer of les ability substituted.
Obviously the machine covets all the
honors to be acquired from the litigation.
Mr. SCARLET is a Republican but not of
Dropped.
counsel table detracts from the glory of the
machine,
It Mr. BERRY had remained silent there
would have been no investigation and no
trial. After his exposure Governor PENNY-
PACKER and the Auditor General protested
that his accusations were maligoant lies.
On the stamp Governor STUART declared
that while he didn’t believe that any
frauds bad been perpetrated, he would
nevertheless, order an investigation and all
the other orators and newspapersol the
party denounced BERRY as a villifier of
good avd true men. But when the crimes
were uncovered and concealment was uo
longer possible, the machine managers de-
termined to make the most out of it for
themselves. It is the selfish way of selfish
and dishonest men.
Bus we don’t believe that Mr. SCARLET
will be lefs out of the nexs trial. Without
bim she last trial would bave been a farce.
Deputy Attorney General CUNNINGHAM,
who wants to be a judge, was given every
opportunity to exploit himsell and Attor-
ney General Topp nenrped she right of the
last speech to the jury which belonged to
SCARLET. Bat the people understand and
pat the credit where it belongs and Topp
and CUNNINGHAM will not take the
chances of failure in the next case. Mr.
SCARLET may be dropped after that but he
will not be distuibed now. That would
involve too great a danger of failure. The
machine has no altervative and is will
make she most of necessity.
—————————
Senator La Folleite's Strange Notion.
Senator LA FOLLETTE, of Wisconsin, is
among those statesmen who imagine that
she constitation of the United States is
inadequate for the purpose it is intended to
conserve. He also appears to entertain
the opinion that Congress is incompetent to
perform ite coustitatioval functions. Both
of these ideas are of Papnlist origin and
tinotured with federalistio fallacy. The
first ie the spawn of inordinate ambition.
The second is the fruitage of conscious in-
competency. Ambition is restive an ler
restraint. The history und achievements
of the country are the ample refutation of
the first. The presence in the Senate of
such men as LA FOLLETTE gives oolor to
the other.
Senator LA FOLLETTE wants a perma.
nent tariff commission to be composed of
pine commissioners, each to receive a
salary of $10,000 per annum. The business
of the commission would be to instruct
Congress in the work of framing and enact-
ing tariff legislation. The constitution
provides that all legislation shall be enaoct-
ed by Congress ‘‘which shall consist of a
Senate and House of Representatives.”
The framers of that instrument probably
contemplated the eleotion of mes to those
bodies, who are capable of performing the
| duties. In these degenerate days that
reasonable expectation may be disappoint
ed for a time, bus it will be for a brief
period. Popular intelligence will reassert
itself.
There is another characteristic whioh is
| common to usurpers and Populists. It is
freedom with other peoples’ money. Sena:
tor La FOLLETTE proposes to appropriate
$300,000 as the first *‘pop out of the box'’
for this congressional adjuvot, and it
would entail an aunual expense of at least
hall that much as long as it lasted. It
may he said, therefore, that is would be
an expensive luxury as well as a danger-
ous enterprise and upon reflection the peo-
ple of the country will probably think that
is will be both cheaper and safer to 2leot
Senators and Representatives to Congress
who are capable of performing their con-
stitutional duties withont outside help.
——The Bellefonte lodge of Masons have
greatly improved their quarters in their
temple on Allegheny street. Instead of
leasing the suite of rooms to the left
of the entrance on the first floor they now
occupy them themselves. The front and
middle rooms have been furnished as doable
patiors and oonstitute very cheerful and
comfortable lounging rooms. The
long room in the rear has been
occupied as a pool and billiard room,
the tables baving been moved there from
the room formerly used on the second floor.
In asmall passage between the parlors isa
good sized vault which can be used for
storing anything they may wish to pre-
serve.
the machine variety. His presence at the i
| Majority in Congress Growing Bold,
i
| The Republican majority in Congress is
taking on courage. The timidity which
| caused trembling every time an investiga-
| tion was hinted, during the early part of
the session, has heen sbaken off aud the
{ leaders are now deflaus. Even Senator
TILLMAN'S resolutions were patiently re-
ceived and his speeches respectfully listen-
ed to a couple of months ago and when any
obstreperons Demoorat in the House ex
pressed indignation at exoutive outrages,
the majority sat silens in the hope that
the complaius would soon be forgotten.
| But it is altogether different now. Those
| men who are valiant when there is no dan-
ger “talk baok’’ these days and meet at-
tack with a return thrust.
For example, the other day Representa-
tive HARDWICK, of Georgia, offered a reso-
lution callivg upon the President to ‘‘sup-
ply the information on corporations gather-
ed by the Bureau of Corporations,’ and
stated thas though $600,000 bad been ex-
pended in gathering such information
“Congress has not been taken into the
President's confidence.” Early in the ses-
sion such a statement would have spread
consternation among she majority forces
and the resolution would have been silent.
Iy consigned to a committee for barial in a
convenient pigeon hole. Bus instead of
that course being adopted, the other day,
Representative MANN, of Illinois, resented
the proposition and boldly moved to lay it
on the table which was done.
The information acquired by the Barean
of Corporations at the vast cost indicated
by Mr. HARDWICK is the most valuable
present asset of the Republican machine
and to expose it to public view and aoaly-
sis would simply rob it of all its utility.
When the campaign is on the information
will be used, as it was during the contest
of 1904, to compel the managers of trusts
and other predatory corporations to give
up what money is needed to debauch the
electorate of the country and continue for
“four years more” the iniquitous aud
inimical control of the Republican party.
The insurance companies, the various
truste and the railroad mavagersof the
through this information.
Taft and His Competitors.
m—
A combination bas been effected between
the forces of KNOX, FAIRBANKS avd CAN-
NON against Secretary TAFT for the Repub-
lican presidential nomination aod though
the TAFT managers are talking confident
ly, this is ominous. Bat in view of past
events it was inevitable. The President
had become so bold in his traffic with the
“gndesirable’ elements of his party in be-
half of TAFT, that self-respect forced the
other aspirants into a defensive alliance.
Either of them conld have patiently sub-
mitted to an houorable defeat. Bat vo
man will silently yield to one that is cans-
ed by fraud or intrigue.
There was no reason at the ontset that
Senator KNOX should have preferred the
trizmph of either FAIRBANKS or CANNON
so that of TAFT. As a matter of fact there
are many reasons why he shonld have pre-
ferred the sucoess of TAFT to that of CAN-
NON. TAFT is an able, scholarly aud com-
panionable mau while the Speaker is orude
and course. FAIRBANKS, likewise, is a
gentleman of ability and refinement bat
lacks congeniality. On the other hand,
CANNON might have been expected to pre-
fer TAFT to either KNOX or FAIRBANKS,
for the Secretary of War is more amiable
aud less austere than either and CANNON
is a “rough and ready’’ politician. But
they have been driven to the alliance be-
cause of she President’s unfairness.
The American mind resents intrigae and
injustice in behalf of one man against oth-
ers. If President RoosgvzLt had follow-
ed the precepts of justice between men,
TAFT would have probably been the seo-
ond choice of every man who will sit in the
Chicago convention who wasn’s committed
to him as first choice. But this bas been
changed by ROOSEVELT'S methods of foro-
ing men to his way of thioking whether
they liked it or not. It may justly be ae-
samed, therefore, that if TAFT ia defeated
for the nomination the responsibility will
be upon ROOSEVELT.
———————————
——Monday evening Mr. F. Potts Green,
the druggist, called at the WATCHMAN of-
fice and presented us with two pound boxes
a little story. For some time past Greens
have handled Liggetts “Saturday Brand,”
s0 called because every Saturday you can
buy a pound box of it for twenty-nine
cents. They advertised the candy and the
result was they have bad a big eale of it.
In fact their sales have been the largest the
past few months of any dealer in a town
the size of Bellefonte and because of this
the manufacturer sent them fifty pounds of
candy free. Always generous Mr. Green
at onoe started ar«and distributing some of
the candy among his friends and quite nat-
urally Tels a box at this office “just for the
ladies,” for which they all return sincere
thanks.
wm
some of she
atsitade
capital.
HARRIMAN tyve will be put nuder sribate
put legislation through in
can delay it indefinitely.
doing
senate
and can do what it will.
do provide for freedom of debate, but at
fhe same time majority rule very properly
8
Republican congress succeeded a
ent moment in enacting one pu
It might be worth while for the newspa-
of Liggette candies, and thereby hangs | P®
Lk Bue us iaby pation of this singnlar lethargy.
NO.15.,
—————
A Program of lunaction.
From the Philadelphia Record.
What purports to be a program of action
agreed upon between the President and
Congressional leaders is really
a program of inaction. It is not an attempt
to deal with [presen issues, bus simply to
put the Republican party into a plausible
for she Presidential campaign. It
is not legislation, bus politics, upon which
the President and the men who tell Con-
what to do have agreed.
The first article of the agreement is a
promise to revise the tariff after the elec-
tion. Twelve years ago the Republican
National Cobvention promised to re-
establish and reciprocity policy, but it was
pever done. This Congress can no more
bind the nexs one than a convention can
bind Congress. It is notorious that the
Republican leaders have no notion of re.
vising the tariff, bat find is necessary todo
something to meet the growing demand for
revision. The next Congress will do as it
likes about revision whether this Congress
shall adopt the proposed resolution or not.
It may raise duties or it may let the Ding-
ley law alone.
The Sherman law was passed by the Re-
publican party to placate a demand for
the restraint of Trusts, both of labor and
The application of the law bav-
ing oreated some discontent, the Republi-
can leaders feel that it is important to
eviscerate their statue on the eve ofa
Presidential caiapaign. The | to
limit the Courts in the issue anction
is of course a bid for the fabor vote, and it
in very certain that the unions will ges
only a nominal concession. The Aldrich
bill will not settle the currency matter at
all. It is only offered as a makeshift. The
apology of its author is that he and his
associates think nothing more thorough
could be passed, but they take good care
not to try. They are afraid to do more
than just pretend, as au election is coming
to remedy a long-standing evil.
President the onal leaders
are merely playing for position in the
national campaign.
Our Mission of Peace in Cuba.
From the Review of Reviews.
Our mission in Cuba 10 years ago was
one of peace. Revolutionary trouble had
been chronic there for three-quarters of a
century aod a devastating war had been
in progress for three years. Spain had
nearly 200,000 men io Cuba and could
neither conquer the insurgents nor with
draw from the islands withous oreating
revolution at home. The Cuhans could
not drive the Spaniiygs trom Havaua or
‘atreir other strongholds, wed ap
their own kiod of harassing warlare for an
indefinite period. Iv was a dead looked
situation. The intervention of the United
States was justified in principle aud
doubly jussified by its merciful results.
Is relieved Spain o' an intolerable burden,
and it gave Cuba t basis for a normal and
hopeful fature. Already the change in
Cuba i8 wonderful. The recent difficulty
that resulted in our sending Governor Ma-
goon to aot temporarily as Chief Magis-
trate Las only served to illustiate the
statesmanlike wisdom of the plan upon
whioh the Cuban Government was estah-
lished. There is no longer any oppression
of the individual in Cuba. Everybody is
secure in the personal and social nights
that the Cubaus bave always wanted, but
never hefore So long as they
oan carry on the higher affaire of State in
an orderly way their independence is ahso-
late. But as against revolution and disor-
der, the United States, with its great navy
and its adequate army, will intervene so
promptly as to guarantee all legitimate
interests as against loss or danger, just as it
would in any pars of this country. Such
an arrangement is of incalonlable value to
a voung Republic like Cuba, with the long
tradition of turbulence and insurrections.
To have brought ahont such a situation as
now exists in Cuba within a decade after
the retirement of Spain is a brilliant tri-
amph.
——————————
The Work of Congress
From the Johnstown Democrat.
The first session of the Sixtieth congress
is more shan half finished and to day there
has been no single measure of pablic inter-
est by the two bouses and sent to
the president for his approval. There have
been sume private pension bills, some joint
resolutions, some matters of individaal
importance enacted into law, but absolate-
ly not one single public measure has passed
both houses. It mighs be said that this is
not a matter to he cbarged against any
political party. That, however, can only
be said by people who do not understand
present
house of
nated by Speaker Cannon and the Messrs.
congressional procedure. The
representalives is absolutely domi-
Dalgell, Payne and Hepburn. They can
48 hours or they
What they are
now is to fight for delay. In the
the Repablican majority ie dominant
The rules there
acoepted.
But neither in house nor Ssate lias the
the pra.
w.
lio
ra of the country to demand some expla-
A ———————————————
——The Bellefonte Academy basket ball
team will close its season tonight witha
game with the Cornell preps, of Ithaca,
N. Y., in the Bellefonte Y. M. C. A. gym-
pasium. This will probably be the bard-
est game the Academy team will have this
season. The Ithacans ave known to be
strong and it will make the Academy hus-
tle if they want to win, but they are de-
termined to do their hest and it will en-
courage them to have a large crowd pres-
ent. Therefore go and see this last game
of the season.
——————————
eee masa
—— Subscribe for the WATCHMAN,
spawls from the Keystone.
—William Lewis, who for many years Was
a resident of Philipsburg, died very suddenly
on Thursday at his home at Glen Campbell,
Clearfield county.
—The return of the seven breweries in
Northampton county for last year show the
manufacture of 146,931 barrels of beer, an in-
crease of 9,503 barrels over the product of
the preceding year.
—A number of wild ducks have made their
appearance on streams in different parts of
Clearfield county. On Moshannon creek an
army of men with guns failed to kill a duck
out of the many on the stream.
—Scouting aronad on South Mountain,
Fulton county, Willliam Furman, of Mont
Alto, recently discovered purticles of what
he thought to be copper, although a subse-
quent assay proved them to be fine gold.
—The Eagle Copper company, which owns
an extensive tract of land in Franklin coun-
ty, on which it has sunk shafts, will soon
erect a stamp mill, to cost $50,000 or $60,000.
The fine copper ores taken out are said to be®
very satisfactory.
—F. M. Ream, of Manheim, Lancaster
county, on Monday entered suit in the com-
mon pleas court of that county against Bar-
bara Wallick, of Marietta, for $5,000. damage
for breach of promise to marry after an en-
gagement of five yesrs' standing.
—Five minutes after his wife bad died and
after he had remarked that he would soon
follow her, Jobn Scheidhauer, of Mifflin
township, Allegheny county, Was stricken
with heart failure,and died before physicians
could arrive. Each was 44 years old almost
to a day.
—Shad are reported to have appeared
in great numbers in the Susquehanna up to
McCall's Ferry where the great power dam
prevents them from going up higher. The
fisheries below the dam will do a big business
but up river catch, where the most savory
shad are caught, will be poor.
—The Standard Oil company has secured
a tract of fifty seven acres of land near Reed
Station, Indiana county, with the view of
erecting a pumping station, refining plant
and probably other buildings. Employment
will be given to a number of men and at
least twenty new houses will be built at
Reed Station.
—The Paxinoso Inn, a fine, large summer
resort on Weysnt mountain, near Easton, will
be converted into a female college to be con~
ducted under the auspices of the Lutheran
Ministerium of Pennsylvania, provided the
smaller bondholders of the Inn company
agree to the terms proposed, which it is
thought they will.
—A bold robbery was committed at Orbi-
sonia, Huntingdon county, on Wednesday
night when the big department store of
Shapiro Brothers was broken into and rob-
bed of about $500 or $600 worth of merchan-
dise, including ahont thirty watches, half as
many chains, revolvers, razors, clothing,
silks aud other miscellaneous articles.
—S8ome time during Saturday night an un-
known person hroke into the stable of buteh-
er Fred Hamberger, in the Third ward,
Jersey Shore, and cots deep gash in the
throat of one of the horses. The dastardly
deed was not discovered until Sunday morn~
ing. Veterinary surgeon Sweely was called
and sewed up the wound in the animal's
throat, 11 stitches being required.
—Within the present week the Latrob
coal company, of Latrobe, will fire up forty.
four coke ovens, having received an order
for coke, which will necessitate the starting
up of that number of ovens, in addition to
the sixteen which have never been out,
despite the slump in the coke trade. The
firing up of 44 more ovens will make a total
of sixty in operation, or nearly half of the
plant's capacity.
—While Wiliiam H. Thompson was testi-
fying in the Mercer county court in a suit
which he has brought against the Mercer
Valley Railroad company for $10,000 dam~
ages for injuries sustained, he fell from the
witness stand stricken with an epileptic fit,
which brought the trial to a sudden termina-
tion on Saturday. The attorneys then got
together and effected a settlement, allowing
him suitable damages.
—Charles M. Robb, head of a well known
clothing and gents’ furnishing house in Lock
Haven, died on Monday morning after a fow
days’ illness with poeumonin, aged 35 years,
8 months and 14 days. Deceased was a
member of the Masonic fraternity, the order
of Elks, Golden Eagles, Patriotic Order Sons
of America, Fraternal Order of Eagles and
Sons of Veterans, and was very popular in
the city. He is survived by his wife and
two sons. .
—George Mythinger Brisbin, one of the
Houtz heirs, and the oldest lumber and coal
operator in the Clearfield region, died at his
residence in Osceola Mills last Friday. Mr.
Brisbin was born on Braddock’s battle-
ground, June 20th, 1826. He spent his
early manhood in New Orleans, going to
Osceola Mills near the close of the Civil war.
He was a grandson of Captain John Brisbin
and Captain Jacob Mythinger. He is sur-
vived by a widow and one daughter, Mrs.
Roberta Lowrie, of Philadelphia.
—Potter county will lose over $7,000 a
year in taxes by the Lackawanna Lumber
company selling 38,000 acres of land located
in Stewardson and Abbot townships, to the
state to be added to the state reserve. Two
dollars and twenty-five cents is paid per
acre for the land. The land has been asses.
sed at from $lto $3 per acre, making an
average of about $2 per acre. When it be-
comes the property of the state the county
will receive but five cents an acre on it—
three cents for school purposes and two
cents for road. No poor nor county tax can
be levied against it.
—The Pennsylvania railroad Monday dis-
charged 2,100 of its shopmen in Altoona. It
was the most sweeping reduction in the com-
pany’s history, aud was due to the continued
depression in business. Rut it has ita bright
side, for the remaining workmen will here.
after be engaged 50 hours & week instead of
24 and 32, which have heen in vogue for the
past four months. At present there are 9,000
men on the payrolls, composed of married
and loyal men. The employes discharged
were largely single men, disloyal men and
persons more or less prominently identified
with labor organizations.