The Scranton tribune. (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, December 17, 1902, Image 1

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THE ONLY SCRANTON PAPER RECEIVING THE COMPLETE NEWS SERVICE OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, THE GREATEST NEWS AGENCY IN THE WORLD.
SCKANTOxV, LA., WEDNESDAY 31GKNING, DECEMBER 17, 1902.
TWO CENTS. TWELVE PAGES
TWELVE PAGES TWO CENTS.
MINERS' CASE HAS
BEEN COKvLUDED
Tcstimonu Closed with Examination
o! President Samuel Gompcrs
of Federation of Labor.
IMPORTANT DECISION
BY THE COMMISSION
Will Not Go Into the Question of Al
leged Discrimination in Freight
Rates Against Hard Coal or Exist
ence of a Community of Inteiests
Among the Operators, as It Is Out
side the Scope of the Commission.
Judge Qiay Again Speaks About
Child Labor Statistics of the Hill
side Coal and lion Company Oper
ator Testifies as Mlueis' Witness.
After prrx-ontlng testlninn lor ivv nly
(lay, from HO ultnpss.es. the minors
yesteiday concluded their rav in chief
before the mine strike ommlsIon, and
today the respondents will jointly enter
upon Ihelr delent.
Sclons will bo held hoie for the re
liinlnder ot the week, and on Satin day
the eoniinl.-slon will adjourn oer the
holldn.v i. to meet again Monday, Janu
ai y .. 1W", in Philadelphia to heal the
i lrwluelrr of the respondents' easy.
The rilwttal testimony ot the miners
will like)', he he.uel In Sciantou
The" ic-pondents will open their ase
today by the indentation ot a joint
st iteinciit for the big coninanies, Indo
pcnlcutsx am1 lion-union men. It will
h" lend bvlAttoiney Simon P. Wohn
tuii. of tounsel lor the Philadelphia
nd Heading coinpany. The Del.iv.' no
ind Hudson company v. Ill then piocetd
in lay its eae before the commission.
Yestei day's session was one of the
most intei pstliH; and impoitant jet
lifld. A ti'il tienlaily iuipoi taut lealme
wis the nit unexpected tefiisai ot the
commission to iro Into an Investigation
ol the luteial Questions ol exotbit.int
Height rate 0n bard coal, and the
piellts or Idsget ot anthi.iclte mining,
unless il developed thai the opeiatois
vlll defend aganibt the demand for in
ire.isud wtnjesoi;-.lls;laiouud that It
i an not aflord to' pav'them
Only I In oo witnesses weio on the
stand, but eat I: of them gave testi
mony oC an unusualb intcic-tlng and
P'l'Inent ehaiaetcr.
A bit of a MiiprNo was spuing at the
morning session bv the nilneis' side
calling to ihe stand J . Haddock, of
Wilkes-Banc an independent opeutor,
who has nol been winking in haimony
itb the bis companies and who was
not at all tehutnnt to giving testimony
unfavorable to his fellow -opeiatoir
Gompeis on the Stand.
The whole ol th" atteinoop session
was taken up with the elimination ot
famiiel Gompois president ni the
AniPilean Kedeiatlon of L-ibor, who
told of the Mieeessful woi kings of tiade
asitcments, and the polioies and piln
i Iples of tiade imionl.sni In geneinl. lie
made rn excellent witness, and, no
doubt, made a strong Impiesslor. on the
commission. Tie was asked a gieat
many 'iiietlniis by ho coimnNsiono's,
and wlirn be concluded bi.s testimony
was thankpd for his assistance by
riialinian fiiav
The other wllmss was l!ov. Peter
Huberts, I'h.D who was le-onlleef to
plaln a chiiii he had made showing
the lluotiintlnns In haul run! pioduo
tlun dining the past ten ear., lor Hie
pill pose of suppoulug the eoiltention of
the mliiPiv' side that the pnr liiOl was
so ooiiipar.itl.vly good as to be nb
uoiinal, 'ind, llieiefoie. not a piopcr
poilod to setvo aw a eiltoilon or luln-i ?
I (arnliiBs
At th( opening of iho nioinlng ses
sion, .liidgo Ciiay lefined to the testi
mony of the silk mill girls of the thij
Kioto, and. In the name of the com
nissou eillcd upon the eoiiunimlt) to
take Plops to lenieiiv tin had condition
or ittl'nlis unfolded by the stoiios of the
little Kills llii pai tienlaily tccemi
pieiuled that legislation Iki passed for
bidding children or females from w Dik
ing all night.
A Minimal v or ihe statistics of tho
Jllllsldo foal and lion eoinpuity for tho
ear lfifll wen Hied during tho after
noon by .Mm lor Hveielt AVutroii. It
showed that tho nvoiiigc numlipr of
pounds of piepated and pea coal pin
dueed per Illinois' top weie 2.0SS; aer
nge (timings of miners, JGSfi.LS; aver
ago earnings of eoiupany hands, men
nnd bos i3Vi.ni. iiVPiiigelioiiiH wotked
per day, iiii-10. Tho summary is piluted
In full in (mother plip e.
Tho decision of the commission io
nising to accept, at this time, testi
mony beating on fi eight tales and al
leged community of inteiests among the
opeiatois followed a speech by Henry
D. Lloyd advocating- the acceptance of
the data ho has luepared on this sub
ject, and which he was engaged In pie
renting, tho day befoie. when objec
tions on the pait of the companies
moved the commission to usk Mr, Llojd
to defer tho further reading or his data
until later,
Mr, Lloyd's Speech.
Mr. Lloyd uail his upeech (torn
manuscript, as follows;
Mr, rinlinian, I dome to ask tljo com.
nilsiou lo allow us to put n evidence
with icgard to the cMoitloiinto and dig.
criminating Height rales, for this icuson,
tho fact Ihut siieh tales hau been and
tiro charged bo to tho very root of tho
questions at isbiio hero between tha coal
companies uncr their men.
We do not de-dm to submit, this rj.
cli'iuo for tile putpnsn of asking the coin
mission to take cognizant o of it as n,
matter within your Jmlsdlctlon. Wo do
iiot ask joii to ussuino tho fiimttons
delegated by loiujrcss to thu Intrrnluto
CoiiiinciKj C'oitiinUalun. Tlie lntctstato
!
.y-
Conmicrc.p Com
l luivo nlicady
stlon and Us llnil
lenco wo wish tc
pronounced on tin
a
.
lugs ai o part of tl.
.submit, but wo nsk .
celve this eldcni.o b
a state of affairs of c.
mnllsslou to te
It shows that
llimnrt to lll-
bor In tills conunuull.
V Hrtunn mill
how.
A state of lwulng pi a 'Jy but 0110
einploer ftom whom to It that ne
cessity of life, woik. to-da ONlsts. This
evidence) shows that almost nil of tho
capitalists engaged In the coal business
hae been welded Into one combination
with power over tho laboring population
as snpieine as Hint over would-be com
pptltois. Power controlled Is alwnV3
abused and this power Is no exception,
and tho power has been obtained and Is
maintained to-dnv by this discrimination
in tales which we deIie to show.
Wo sock to pi oio It not as u matter of
lallioad economies, but us a. matter of
labor economics, pertinent to the issues
heie, nnd for that teason we ask that
Mill will allow us to piesent out of tho
leportit of the companies the liuther
evidence wo have lo offer of Ihe com
munity of Interests between the tall
roads and the coal companies, that Is of
Itulustilal monopoly. We do not ask this
bieauso we expei t or dpshe
The cliali man What was the last prop
osition? 31 r. T.IomI Tho last Is that we ask jou
to allow us to present out of the leports
of the companies tho further evidence
we have of this community of Interest
leading to the picumptloii that theie Is
but ono emplovei In this Industry. AVe do
not ask this liccnuw we i'ptet or ileslip
that jou will undertake to deel.ue that
thu combination Is unlawful Nut at all.
But we ask you lo take engntzancp of tlio
fact that an unbioken line of evidence
for neailv fortv jeais discloses the trans
portation and tho mining and the maiket
ing of coal moving, and to-dav as sttong
lv as ever, toward an over and our
Incieaslng monopolv, and that monopoly
nppllon to the working men, whom It op-pics'-er
mose severely.
Fiom Kepoits of Companies.
We olter to supplement tho evidence
fiom the ofllelul Investigation Riven jts
ttnlov, the ev idi nee taken fioin the ip
poits ol the companies themselves, hi lug
lug the evidence that thete is luit one
einplover down to date We do not at
tack the piinciples of combination: we
claim the Uprht of combination for our
solves. Hut here Is an abuse of combin
ation with the gicitesl economic effect.
You have to diclde between the p irties
befoie jou as to whetlnran advance of
ti iv. or a shot teutng of liouis. shall or
sb ill not be given, and If given, how
much. Nothing could be muio peitineiit
to your cousidei.itlon of this matter than
proof that the wane- and bonis of labor
mid tortus of emplovment existing in
these indusliies .lie tlio icsuit, not of
iiatiual economic toices plnvlng In tiee
doin. but of tho unnatural combination
pioduced bv foices and tho violation ot
law. Wo do not ask you to llnd that
this Is the fact, but we do ask jou to
take eognUaneo that it is a fact of IhK
situation. That this has been found to
bo so bv eveiy ollkial bodj- to which It
has been hi ought either by the people or
bv Individuals for an enthe geneiation.
We wish to convince jou that the level
of wages lieie Is uunaliual by showing
von that an Him itural economic condi
tion lias been at woik. Tt Is Impossible
that the knowledge of this fact, if It bo
a lact. should not be of weight In our
delibtiatlon as to whether jou can give
ten tier cent, or tvvent; per cent, or one
per cent, of betteiinent of conditions.
Where the owneiship and operation of
an entite iudiistiv the emplovmeul of
labor, aie all passing Into one set of
hands legulattng piiies and wages, il
Ing output, deciding who shall and who
shall not be allowed to engage la tho
husiiipi-f. as laboi er miner, canler,
niuie limit, or eapllallsls, jud on what
terms-blacklisting moiiev as will as
men It Is Inevltablo tho woiklng man
should be forced down to a lower Indus
till! life than ho would bo othciwlse.
We ask tho commission to allow us to
complete our offer of proof that, through
the natnuil monopoly of antluacito coal
hi these vallejs, and the unuatuinl
monopoly of mining, lianspoitation and
matkctlng which has been supeiadded. It
has come about that theio Is piactlcally
but ono omploj'ef of labor, that this em
ployer, ns emplojeis nlvvnjs do when
they have such a power, has taken full
advantage of this monopolv that has ic
sulted theretoim, that tho wages of labor
and other conditions aie unnaturally de
pressed and thai In jour nvvaid this is
our point, sir that hi jour nvvard tho
commission should therefoio glvo the
laigpst lellef In their power,
Still at Woik.
W seek to show that these forces aie
still nt woik and must be piovtded
against by the commission, if the award
Is to lm iffcetivo and If It Is not to be
nullllled In eveiy possible wnv after It
lms been made. The completion of tho
evidence, Mr. Cluiltmnn, will tako about
twenty-live minutes,
The CltnlrnmnThn commission have
cousldeieil, since tho last adjournment,
tho substance of tho offer ou now make,
Mr, l.lo.vd, nnd T tccl that tho Issues pie
si nli d to us must be cnnlhied to what
we consider reasonably within tho four
coiueis of the submission by the parties
lo the emit i overs That limitation nnd
cbnracteilzatlon of our duty Is contained
In the llrst place. In tho open letter of tho
opointois in which n icipiest Is made that
tho Piesldent shall appoint n commission
and secondly, In tho ncceptuueo of tho of
fer of submission theieln mudo bv tho
mine workers bv their ptococdhigs nt tho
Wllkes-liano convention.
Tlio offer of submission by the opet.i
tors, so far as It Is pnttlnent to this ciucs
tlon Is "wo suggest that a commission bo
appointed by tho President of tho United
Stntes (If bo In willing to perform that
publlo scrvleol, to whom Bhall be ic
fcrred nil tptestlons nt Issue between tho
respective companies and their own em
ployes, whether they belong to a union
or not. nnd tho decision of that commis
sion shall bo accepted by us." , , , ,
"Tho findings of lids commission bhall
IK tho d.ilo when tho same shall bo ef.
fectlve, mid shall govern tho conditions
of eniplojment between tho respectlvo
companies and their own emplojca for a
term of nt least throo years."
Tho nilno woikcis submitted through
their counsel tho following as tho (iies
tlons at Issue: "First an Incieaso of
twenty per cent, upon tho prices paid
during tho year 1901, to employes per
forming conlnict or plcco woik. Second,
a 1 eduction of twenty per rent. In hours
of labor, without uny reductions in earn
ings, for all cinplovos paid by (bo hour,
clay or week. Third, tho adoption of a
sjslciu bv which crtal shall bo weighed
and paid for by weight wherever praotlr.
nblej tho minimum rutn per ton to be, six
ty cents for legal ton of L.2I0 noundsi?
tlio dlftcieutlals now existing at tho var
ious mines to bo maintained, l-'ouith, tho
iiicoipoiniiuu in an ugicc merit between
the United Jlltiej Woikuis of Amcilca and
...ft. 4.t
mil
tho Anthracite Coal Companies of tho
wages which shnll ho paid and tho condi
tions of employment which shall obtain,
together with satisfactory methods for
tlio adjustment of gi lev uncos which may
arise f i om time to time lo tho cud that
stilkes nnd lock-outs may bo unneces
sary," Vast Fields of Inquiry.
The commission Is not unmindful of tho
fact that tho Issues thus ptesclitcd, llko
most Issues presented for the determina
tion of the human faculties, touch at
various points vast Holds of tncpilry, nnd
In this case they do touch upon tin
boundailes of huge sociological questions,
undoubtedly, and for that veij reason
the commission have felt that It was vciy
Impel Innl that thev should not be templ
ed Into these Ileitis, however attiactlvc
for oitplmatloii, but should confine them
selves within what they think a leuson
ahle limit of investigation.
The aw aid of which joil speak, Mr.
Lloyd,' and as to which volt expressed a
wish that It mav be ono that will he pio
ebiotlvo of good lcsults and permanent
peace, would bo In the dim and distant
futuio If wo attempted to explore thor
oughly these llelds which jou, bv your
offer, open to us,
I do not mean that you propose to tako
much time in reading the evidence to
which you lefer, but once open that door
and wo cannot do otherwise than mnke
it complete Investigation. We must en
deavor at least not to arrive at half
truths and wo must Invite the other side
to go Into that Held with us and assist,
as vou would assist, In at riving at a 10
sult that would be comfoimablo to tiulh
and justice, and to arrive nt economic
fncts, befcuo attempting lo applv then:
to the real issues that we have In band.
AVe feel we must confine ourselves
somewhat stiletlj-, not too strlctlv, but
somewhere stilctlv, within the bounds of
investigation marked out bv the siibmls-
I slon on both sides. The discrimination
I alleged to have been made bv the coal
' carrjlng companies mav or may not bo
true. We have heaieMlt is In the ah
that such dlsctimlnntlmis are made, but
we do not think that at present otliose dls
crlmlnitlons, w lather lliev I line or
not, whether the foot be one v v or tho
othet, will vciy much, or at ..II, affect
the work we have in hand, or the llnd
inks that wo maj- heiealter make. AVe
do not think we will be aflccted bv them.
If we should ell- cover It was uccc-saij-,
In order to make a Uncling satlsfactm v to
ouisclves and the public, thev should
be gone into, we will not hesitate- to turn
to any souiee of infoi motion that may
enlighten our pathwav.
As to the second blanch of vour ollei,
which 1 am f,olng to ask j-oti to lepeat
again, kliullv, as I niiiv mis-state It-
Mi. Llojd: For tho same leisoe wo
ask that you will allow us to present out
ol tho lcpoits of Ihe companies the lm til
er evidence we hive to Ivm of the com
munity of Intel ests
Chairman's Heply.
Tim chati mini That epiestlon. which
Mill invite us to go Into, can only be (.ono
Into, if at all, thoroughly of course. AVo
will licelvo and we will expei t to ic
ceive, and doubtless will leceive. if wo
once attempt it, fnmi tho other side a
contentious presentation of their side. In
that lespnut.
Dut whether theio be community of in
teiests or no, the great eiiiestion as to
the justlllableness of the demands mado
bj- tho mine vvoikeis remains and wo do
not seo ol this time just how' we dM to
be affeoled In oar findings, or aided by
going Into this emestlon.
AVo think, with God's help, we mav lie
able, we sinceiely piaj wo mav be able
to assist all pai ties In this legion to ai
rlvc at a better tindei standing and at
moio liberal conditions than have at
taint d heie for xixirs past. AVhetlier we
do or not. we do not think would de
pend on emb.iii.isshig ouisclves bv tho
ixcuisioiis light and left of oui pilh
way that x cm invito us lo take. If he le
afier tho testimony should open the way.
or make it necessary that evidence on
any of these subjects should be gone Into
wo will not deny jou the opportunity to
meet the contention of jour opponents.
Kor the icasons that 1 have biiellj and
Impel feetly stated, the commission am of
the opinion that wo will not go liuther
In that diiectlon Until wo have alicady
gone.
Judge Ginj's leleience to the child
labor qiiestluii took place at the open
ing of the fnoining' session. He said:
"Gentlemen, the commission aie anx
ious that tho lesson of jesteiday, dtawn
flora the testimony of those little gills,
should be impressed upon this commun
ity and upon the clthcens of this com
monwealth. Of comse, we do not wish
to intrude or ciitlel.e the execution of
the laws in a commonwealth of which
wo are not citizens, but we do believe
that the good people of this common
wealth will take It to heart and see
that the laws which were evidently
framed to meet such eas?s are execut
ed. "Wo all have an Inleiest, although
wo mn but guests of -our common
wealth, In tho conditions which affeutJ
our common humanity, nnd I hope that
any emphasis that wn can give to that
situation, although we aio not of your
household, mny attract the public at
tention that it deserves-,"
"If the chairman please," sold Ma
jor AVnrren, "the deputy faetniy In
spector Is heio and can explain, I
think, to tho commission, the conduct
of these parents nnd the way these
children weie employed, as well ns the
efforts that aio taken by tho common
wealth to enfoice obedience to our laws.
And he will relieve the commission, I
think, of the Idea that Iheio are pot
such steps taken as can be taken to
try to comply with lensonablo legtila
tlons nnd rules concerning the employ
ment of child lnbor,"
"We all think, T am sure," said the
chalunati, "if you will take It In good
pat t for us to Include- our advice, that
your leglsliitum ought beilously to con
sider whether It would not bo for the
public good to ennct a law forbidding
the employment of nny child labor nt
night, or of any female labor nt night,"
Judge Gray hero stnted thaU he had
seen In the morning papets that the
wages of these little gills' parents had
been ascertained and asked that they
be presented.
Mr, narrow objected on the grounds
that his sldo had Information that the
wugo statements were not correct nnd
ho wanted time to Investlgato them.
They had bpent a good part of tho night
looking Into the mnlter but had not
completed their Investigations.
Statements Presented.
Judge Gray deelded to take the statc
menls and glvo Mr. Darrovv opportun
ity to chullongo them latei, The state
ments were then presented by Major
Wan en, for the Pennsylvania Coal com
pany and Mr. Hcynolds, for the Nay
Aug Coal company.
When asked by Judge Gray If tlio
statements were coriect, General Man
ager Muy of the llrlo coal department
said they weio copied fiom the attest-
(Continued oil I'ago 31
W . ,. jJMJM tiJMfe
HOWELL QUITS
WASMNGAON
The Ambitious Visitor Decides That
He Was Upon the Ground
Too Earlu.
UNUSUAL PROCEEDING
NOT ENCOURAGED
The Effoit to Enlist the Sympathy of
Democratic Members in His Cause
Is Unsuccessful A Mission That
Has Established a Precedent in the
Way of Piesumptive Audacity.
Upon Realizing the Hopelessness
of His Visit, the Aspirant for Hon
oi s Silently Departs Without a
Handshake.
Special to the Sciantou Tilbime.
AVushlnglon, Dec. 1G. The visit of
Geoige Howell, of Scranton, who claims
lo be the member-elect fiom thu Elev
enth f Pennsylvania) district, teimin
ated this morning, when he suddenly
lelt the national capital for his home.
It was said to have been the intention
of Mr. Howell to have leinained here
until the holiday adjournment, but the
lack of encouragement he met with In
bis search for sj'inpathy and suppoi t
tilled him with such disgust that be
abruptly changed his plans and took a
bast j' dPoaitute. The visit of Mr.
Howell, however bilef It was, served
one purpose at least. It established a
piecedent which Is lemaikable for Its
presumptive auelacitv. Nowbeic in
legislative annals has the spectacle
ever befoie been piesented of a person
so Indecently eager to giasp the fruits
of such a doubtful victory as was made
nppaient by the efforts of Mr. Howell
em the lloor of tho house j'esterdny. As
a matter of fact, those with whom lie
came in contact weie prone to over
look the giave infiaction of decency
and good taste, on the giound of ignor
ance pci tabling to inatteis of this char
acter, but after It bad been so pointed
out to him, and Mr. Howell Insisted on
Ills unusual comse, then the membeis
whom be had approached plainlj- told
him that he was utteily destiojing and
obllteiatlng whatever vestige of a case
lie ma j' h.ue hail In the (list place.
Even at that he did not cease bis 1m
poitunInKjuitil one southern member
abiuptly turned his back upon him and
walked a wnv.
Without a Handshake.
AVhen it llnully dawned upon tlio
eager uspiinnt lor congiessional hon
oi s that he was transgressing the niles
of deiency to nn inexcusable extent, bo
depnited alone and without a hand
shake. In his biief talk with the Demo
eiatic membeis who consented to listen
to him, Mr. Howell unwittingly di
vulged his hopes as well as his fear?.
He frankly stated to one of the Demo
cratic membeis from Pennsylvania that
the order of the federal court Impound
ing all the ballots for futtue count was
a souiee of gmvo danger to his chances
for the seat. He said that while a
gieat many Irregulniilles would un
doubtedly be shown, jet it would take
the election committee po long to ex
amine the ballots that the better p.u t
of the session would be at an end, and
then he would give up the seat with
less legiet
If Mr. Howell Is banking his hopes of
succession on this fact, he Is surely fol
lowing a false trail. It Is pielty gen
et ally legaided here that the fraud In
the count of tho Eleventh district bal
lot was so flagrant and so apparent,
that It will not take the committee
twenty-four hours to decide In favor of
the contestant, AA'hen that Is done, the
vote In favor of seating Mr, Connell
will bo overwhelming, for there never
vv.is n moie popular member in any
congiess. At the same time, the mem
bers will not only record their nppiecl
ntlon of .Air, Connell, but they will ad
minister n piopcr lebuko to glailng
fiaud.
Hemic taking the ti.ilu home, Mr.
Howell Hpoltf" his miiul, in an inter
view: "l'vo Just been looking the Held
over," ho said, "I don't know as I
havo gained anj thing by coming here,
ns I found out that It Is a little too
soon to begin my campaign.. However,
It will taku the contest election com
mittee some time to decldo who Is en
titled to the sent, and I'll be able to
gratify my ambition to that extent,
an how."
TROUBLE-
IN HAYTI
Shooting in Streets at Port au
Prince Many Seek Ref
uge In U, S Legation.
Hy i:clushe Wires from Tlio AssoUatfil I'rMi.
Poit au Piince, Dec, 10. General
iSalnt-Ftilx Colin, minister of the in
terior and opponent of General Nord in
tho contest for the presidency, has
sought icfugo In tho United States le
gation. Theio has been much thing In
the city and a state of gieat excitement
prevails..
Washington, Hoc, IC The following
cablegiam has been iccelved fiom Vice
Consul Geueiijl Keries, dated Port au
Prince today:
"General Noid ni lived Sunday. Gieat
pxcltoment. Shooting In the Mieets.
Secietary of thu intetlor with general
police at legation. Setlous trouble ex
pected. Pott nu Pilnto, Hayti, Dec. 10. All
the nillltnty nuthoiltles who havo been
supporters of tieneriuo Pierre's taudl
dacy for the ptesldency anil, theieiote,
opposed to Cm net al Nord, ultv, sought
lefugo in the consulates.
-h.
av ---
General Nurd Is acclaimed president
by the troops and seems to bo master
of the situation. Notwithstanding the
fact that tlie mnjorlty of congress Is In
Tnice of Sencntie Pierre. It Is believed
tlmt Genet nl Nord will dissolve the
chamber of communes and the senate
nnd will older other elections which will
result In his favor.
Firing continued this nfternoon In the
slieets, but tho foreign residents ate In
no danger.
courtingVavor
with senator quay
Prominent Pennsylvania Politicians
riock to the National Capital
Piopavetl to Haivest Plums,
Special to tno Sciantou Tiibune
Washington, Dec, IC There was nn
Inlltix of prominent Pennsylvania, pol
iticians to the national capital today,
all of them bent upon securing the np
piovlng nod and the glad hand from
big boss Quay. It is getting near to the
time w'hen Goveinor-Elect Pennypack
er, will shake the gubernatorial plum
tree, ami all the anxious ones arc mak
ing every effmt to be heie when the
juicy fruit comes tumbling down. All
ot them know that Senator Quay will
have a hand in the distribution of the
good things, and' this explains the mo
tive for the visit. The flist to anlve
were Attorney-General Elkln and Lairy
T. Eyie. They were quickly followed
by "Bill" Flynn and George Aron Bonn
hurst, of Pittsbuig, and by Senator
Snyder. Last to arrive was AVesley
Thomas, collector of the port of Phila
delphia, who Is nui sing a mayoralty
boom.
It Is taken for granted here that
Dodgeis, of Allegheny, will be selected
as attorney general, although other
piomlnent mimes aie mentioned as pos
sibilities. Geoige A'on Bonnhurst is
anxious to become banking commis
sioner, and It Is thought that Mr. Flynn
is bete in bis interest. Senator Snyder
wants veiy much to become speaker
pro tern of tlio senate and this place
will be available If Senator Scott ac
cepts the nomination for mayor of Phil
adelphia, bany Eyre is anxious to :e
tain his place as superintendent of the
capitol at Hanisburg, and General Elk
in is thought to be heie to help him in
his desiies. i ,, '
None of them would talk about their
missions.
GAS TANK
EXPLODES
Five Children Killed Mother
Seriously Injured The
House Demolished.
By i:M.luhe ire fiom flic Associated Pie,
Fott Lee, X. J.. Dec. 16. By the ex
plosion of gas today the residence of
John Puglughi was demolished, his five
chlldien instantly killed and his wife so
seriously Injuied that her recovery Is
doubtful. The dead:
Ida, Puglughi, aged 14.
Tillle Puglughi, 12 years.
Iiene Puglughi. 10 years.
Adelene Puglughi, 7 ears.
George Puglughi, 5 years.
The mother was found two huudied
feet from where the explosion took
place, her right arm almost torn from
her body.
Just icturned from school, the chlld
ien were nt tho lunch table, when tho
explosion oecuired. The roof and sides
of the house weio blown out. An ad
joining cottage was also partially de
stioyed. The debris Immediately took
lire and the bodies of the dead were
badly chancel. Jlrs. Puglughi, who
was waiting on the children at the
table was blown through the side of
thp house and found in the road. Tho
father was away from home.
The tank which pxploded was In tho
cellar and supplied the Illuminating g,iH
for the building.
' -
FAS EXPRESS TRAIN DITCHED.
Engineer Reported to Have Been
Killed, Fheman Injuied.
B Kxcliulvc W Ire from The Associated Press.
Clevolanel, 0 Dec, 10, Tho east
bound limited tialn on the Ihio road,
which left this city bhortly before noon
today, went Into the d(tch nt Newburg,
a suburb.
John Hush, (he engineer, Is reported
to hnvo been killed, and his fireman,
II, H, Landon, seilously Injured. Sev
eial passengeis are also reported to
have been hurt.
Governor Pennypacker's Secretary.
Dy Exclusive Wire from The Amoclalcc Press.
Philadelphia, Dec, lfi Governor-elect
Pennyp.iekcr to-day appointed ns bis
private seerotnry Henry I', Dottercr, of
this city. Mr. Dotleicr has for three
3, ears been assistant treasurer of thu
Philadelphia Commercial museums nnd
was auditor of the oxpoit exhibition held
heio lu 1S19, He Is 61 jeius ot age, Mr.
Dottercr Is a member of seveial histor
ical societies and has for years been a,
peisonnl ti lend of l-'ouner JiuIko Penny,
packer, Ho Is not prominent hi politics.
Steamship Arrivals.
By lhcliubi) Ire from Tlie Associated prcus.
'SW York, Dec. 16-
Ai lived; Steamers
Vadcrland, Antwerp;
Jsormadle, Liver-
pool.
Cleared: .Stcamcis St, Paul, Southamp
ton; Oceanic, Liverpool,
Eighteen Gypsies Piozen.
Ily Kxcluilu' ire irom 1 he? Asck Ulcil l'rc.
Vienna, Dec. P). Ulwhtvvn gipMcs, who
weio encamped at rlUtspoy, mar Arad,
Hungary, havo been' frozen to death.
Muny persons In other pails of tlie
country alio havo met death ns a lesult
of tho intense 'coki' weather prevailing.
-sfceL 'ULje. aSskA
Rb:42M
THE VENEZUELAN
SITUATION ACUTE
t
.
Significant Action in Regard to Ad-
miral Dewey's Fleet Is Taken by
the Navy Department.
THE DISPOSITION OF ; ., ,
AMERICAN MEN-OF-WAR
During the Holidays It Will Be Under the Direction of tlu
Navy Department at Washington Secretary Hay's Note
Is Well. Received In Berlin No Word from Lou
don Concerning Arbitration Request.
Ily Exclusive Wire irom The Associated Press.
"Washington, Dec. IC Disposition of
the men-of-war of Admiral Dewey's
lleet during the holidays is to be made
under the direction of the secretary of
the navy, in view of the increasing
complications arising in connection
with Venezuela, and the wish of this
government not to arouse suspicion un
necessarily by dispatching a, large
naval foico to Venezuelan waters. Ad
mit til Dewey cabled the depattnient
jesterdny in regard to the fleet during
the Christmas holidays. Orders are
now in preparation for the various ves
sels and will bo forwarded to the ad
miral lu the next day or tw o.
Xo lellection upon Admhal Dewey is
Intended bv the navy department in
deciding to draw up tho orders for his
ships Instead of giving him a free hand
In tlie matter, as was expected would
be done. That there may be a, thor
ough co-operation of the navy with the
state department In the handling of
the Venezuelan matter. It seemed that
the question could be more sutlsfae
torlly settled heie, as the navy depart
ment Is in possession of all the facta
legurdlng the action of tho allied pow
ers and danger of conflicting with the
policy of the state department will bo
aveited. It is unlikely that men-of-war
will be sent to La Guayra, the leellng
being that the piesence of American
men-of-war nt this time knight cause
uneasiness among the allied povveis, as
well us offer encouragement to Presi
dent Castio to maintain his defiant at
titude. On the other hand, tho situ
ation has grown so acute within tlie
pact few days that both state and
navy depattnient ofllelals are ngteed
that it will not be unwise to rendez
vous the fleet in poits within easy
range of the Venezuelan coast.
Hay's Note Received in Berlin.
Berlin, Dec. 16. Secretary Ilny's note
excepting Ameilcan ships from certain
of tho Venezuelan blockade is favoiably
received by the German government.
The foreign olllco treats the mutter as
not raising any essential difficulty and
as being within precedent, since Ger
many made a similar reservation In the
Cretan! blockade. The precise status ot
American vessels under the blockade
will bo defined in an official notifica
tion. London, Dec. IS. At tho foreign ofllce
this evening It was said no decision had
been arrived at yet in regaid to the
A'enezuel.in arbitration. Many dlfllcul
tles have arisen In the way of ai living
at a basis of what can be nrbltralecl
and what can bo otherwise settled. The
outlook for a pacific settlement of the
dispute Is not pat tienlaily blight,
HESITATION IN LONDON.
England Apparently Sees No Way to
Submit Claims to Arbitration.
Hi Kvchile Wire from The Awic I iteel 1'ic.s.
Loudon, Dec. 10. Judging fiom state
ments given out by the lorelgn ollke,
tho Venezuelan sltuutlon tonight does
not appear to be any neater a pettle
ment, I'p to u late hour tonight no
suggestion had been made that Gieat
llrltaln could eventually see Its way to
submitting Its claims to aibitratlon,
and the foreign olllco points out that
Venezuela's offer to ntbltiato Is ex
tremely vague. President Castio, lu
tho communication lu which ho ex
presses his willingness to icsort to ar
bitration, piovldes no guarantee that
the lights of Hrltlsh subjects in Vene
zuela will bo jespected pending the
aw.ud. The foreign olllco claims that
some mattcis aio impossible to nibl
trate, Instancing tho disrespectful
treatment of Mr. Haggard, Hrltlsh
minister to Venezuela, and all his rep
resentatlons. The willingness of Vene
zuela to arhltrato tho financial claims,
however, will meet with no opposition
lu nlllclal circles lu London, nor is
theio any deslio to stir up opposition
heio by continuing unuecessuilly tho
present nrmed compact with Geiniany;
but, tiuotlng from the fotelgn olllco, "at
tho s.imo time thete Is not tlio slightest
Inclination lo leave Venezuela go un
punished for her lepeated insults and
Injuries. The offer to aibltrato comes
erj late In tho duj. AVe are not seek
ing a riuairel, but wo must insure our
selves against a recuiieuce of the acts
whlcn led to the piesent situation."
Tho foreign ofllce appears to bo with
out ofllelul cognizance of the attitude
of tho Washington government, al
though It Is convinced unoillclally that
Washington Is anxious that further
hostilities bo avoided. It Is known that
tho foreign office has mado inquiry as
to whether tho United States would be
willing to guarantee the fulfilling of
Veneueln's pledges, either ut the Im
mediate cessation of tho present Euro
i.-- 'bt, JtSAnrtaar
-A"j
pe.in action, or pending the award of
arbltiators. This Inquiry resulted In a
direct negative from the United States.
ITALY'S ULTIMATUM.
Presented to Venezuela at 5 O'clock
Yesterday Afternoon.
B.v KmIumvc Whe fiom The As-ocialeil Prec.
Caracai, Dec. 16. The Italian minister
to Venezuela, BIgnor DelUva. has ic
celved ordois from Rome to leave Cni
iicas to-morrow morning. He will go on
board tho Italian cruiser Giovanni Bau
son at La Guaira. .
Slgnor Do Rlva lifts teen instructed by
his government to present to the gov
ernment Italy's demand for tho Imme
diate payment of '$542,000 to meet tha
Italian claims arising from former rev
olutions, In the form of an ultimatum. As
it Is known that tho Venezuelan govern
ment cannot pay tho amount demanded,
tbo communication to tho minister In
cludes orders to leave Caracas at once.
The ultimatum from Italy le couched In
stronger terms than those used in tha
ultimatums presented to Venezuola. by
Great Britain .and Germany. Italy will
tako part In future demonstrations
against Venezuela.
The iutiTi'sts of Italy fh Venezuela, will
ho placed In tbo hands of UnlteTet 'State-
Minister Bowen. Tho Italian colony In
Caracas Is a veiy numerous one. Tho .
Italian shield over tho legation door will
bo icmoved from the building and In
structions will bo sent to all Italian con
suls in Venezuela to removo tho shields
over their consulates. This step will be
taken In order that the uipturo between
Itnlv and Venezuela may; bo apparent. N
Siipior do Itlva. prcsonted Italy's ultl- ,
malum to Venezuela at 5 o'clock this nf
teiuoun. PRESIDENT BAER
SCORES INDEPENDENTS
Deprecates the Course Pursued b;
Independent Coal Operatois in
Forcing Coal Prices Up.
Bj hxclusbe Wire from Th AswcUlcd Press
Xew- York, Dec. 16. President Baer,
of the Heading railroad, made a .state
ment today deprecating the couifc pur
suit! by the Independent coal operdtois,
who, it is alleged, have forced tho pile
for their coal up to $11.50 a ton to deal
eis. cental to $14 to the? consumci.
"I'nfoi innately there seems to be no
way to compel them to sell down to the
level fixed by the iailioad." said Mr.
llaer. "If their sense of obligation to
the people cannot iloter them from ask
ing ptohibltive pikes, nothing the pub
llo or the lailro.itls i an do would be of
.my effect.
"Tho railroads euinot refu;o to tians
port their coal; the law regulating tho
business ot all public carriers oppose
It. The chat go that the lalltnads are
felling ralhosd coal to Independents tor
disposal In the open mnrkct Is abso
lutely false. We are doing everything
In our power to keep the price of coal,
down and to get it to nmiket quickly."
rnctory Inspector Acts.
6j Exclusive- Wire from The Assoclitcd Tress.
Hail Man g, Dec. IB, Factory Inspector
James Campbell to-day directed Deputy
i:. W. Ill-chop to Investlgato the; testi
mony given befejro tho coal strike com
mission at Scrauton yesterday in regar?
to llitlo girls working at night and re
port promptly.
m
Giiscom Confirmed.
0 Exclusive Wire from The Asiwclsted Press.
Washington, Deo, IB. Tbo senate to-day
confirmed tbo nomination of 1,16yd IX
Grlscom, of Philadelphia, to bo mlnUter'
to Japan and that or J. A. McKce, to bi
postmaster at Newcastle, Pa.
Pensions Granted.
Ily llxchulic Wire from The Associated Press.
Washington, Dec. IC Pensions granted:'
Thomas Wagner, of Scrantou, $6; John
W, Hlsco, of Dunmore, $8. '
YESTERDAY'S WEATHER,
Local data, for Deo. 16, lOOi). ' '
HlBliest toniperaturo 17 degree
Lowest tompor.iture 2.1 degree
ltclativo humidity;
Sa. m ,.,.,, ,.,,.,.,.,,,,.93 percent
Sp.m ,,,,. .,.,, 97 percent
Precipitation, 21 hours ended t p.' kn
1.16 Inch, '
.. ,
t 4- -f 4- si
-H
WEATHER FORECAST.
M
Washington Dec. 16 1'orecaM for
Wednesdiy apd Thursd.cy: east
ern I'ennsylvanla Pair, colder
Wednesday; brisk northwest winds;
Thiir.sd.1j', fair.
t.t. t.t.t.t.t43tS
3a'
nSSst.
'l.