THE WEATHER
FAIR TO-NIGHT
AND TO MORROW
I Kttllrt Hrr«rt. Pitt •
HEMMS?" VOL. 77-N;
SAYS COT CAN
BUY FAR ORDER
TAYLOjrSFIGHRE
Mayor Asserts He Can
Purchase Playground
Plot in Hoffman's
Woods
AT LESS THAN
$4,000 AN ACRE
Declares Any Part of 17-acre Plot Can
Be Acquired, and the City Commis
sioners Tell H.m to Have the Prop
osition Submitted in Writing
Opposition to his plan to pay J2.700
for about three acres of land for a
playground at Fifth and Emerald
streets caused M. Harvey Taylor. Park
Commissioner, at the meeting of the
City Commissioners this afternoon to
otter amendments to his ordinance pro
viding for the purchase. His latest
plau is to buy one and three-quarter
acres of ground to frout 305 feet on
Emerald street and 252 feet on Fourth
and Fifth streets, and pay $14,700 for
it.
This price. Taylor said, is a trifle
more than $29 a foot front, practically
the same average as he proposed to
pay under the ordinance as it stood
originally for the whole plot. None of
the Commissioners expressed approval
of the amendment, but they consented
to this being made, without adopting
the ordinance as a whole.
Then Mayor Royal said that he may
have a substitute for Taylor's amend
ment at the meeting next Tuesday.
The Mayor explained he has received
an offer under which the Cit;
any part of tne seventeen-acre Hoff
man 's woods, just north of the citv
limits, a few blocks north of the Fifth
and Emerald streets site, for less than
$4,000 an acre.
Want It Put In Writing
This plan appealed to the Commis
sioners and they urged the Mayor to
get an offer "in writing' to be pre
sented next Tuesday when the Taylor
ord'nance may be further amended.
Highway Commissioner Lynch's
recommendation for the award of the
contract for the proposed municipal
asphalt repair plant to the F. D. Cum
mer & Son Company, of Cleveland, 0„
was held over one week at the sug
gestion of the Commissioners. The
Cummer Company bid $9,768 on' a
plant which would have a daily out
put of from 750 to 1.000 yards of as
phalt while the Barber Aephalt Com
pany, of Buffalo. N. Y„ bid $7,495
on what the Highway Commissioner
termed a "somewhat similar" plant.
Comparison of the plants and specifi
cations. made at his recent inspection
led Lynch to decide to recommend
the Cummer plant, he said.
The contracts for constructing and
equipping the Royal Fire Company
houee were awarded to the low bid
ders as recommended by Commission
(onttanrd un .Mnth Pace.
$15,500 FOR INSANE HOSPITAL
Committee Lops Off 510.300 From
Amount Sought by Local Institution
In the Se >ate last night among the
bills reported favorably were a num
ber from the Appropriations Commit
tee. The State Lunatic hospital. Har
risburg. asked for $31,800 and was
given $15,500. The request for $15,-
000 for land and buildings was denied
f.nd the committee lopped $1,300 off
the request for $2,800 for pig pens.
Wernersville Insane hospital asked
$197,800; got $112,800.
Miners' hospital. Treverton, asked
$113,000; got 555.000.
Carlisle hospital asked $15,000; eot
$7,000.
For reimbursing counties for boun
ties on noxious animals a total of
$240,320.47 was recommended.
Homeopathic State hospital. Ritters
ville, asked $323,239; got $72,161.
J ITS EY COM PA \Y IS CHARTERED
Governor Brumbaugh Approves Appli
cation of K&YOOU Harrisburg Firm
Governor Brumbaugh last evening
approved the charter of the Jitney
Transportation Company of Harrisburg
and the paper was made out at the
State Department this morning, and
will be filed with the County Prothono
tary.
The company is chartered ft>r the
purpose of transporting passengers,
baggage and freight by motor vehicles
upon and over the streets and public
highways in Harrisburg, Steelton and
in the territory adjacent. The capital
is $25,000 and the incorporators are
Augustus Wildman, Hoss Oenslager and
Owen M. Copelin, the latter being
treasurer.
P. B. B~ PLACES LARGE OKDER
6.300 Freight Cere to Be Added on
Western Lines .
Inquiries for the cost of 6,500
freight cars, 50 engines and 35 steel
passenger cars were sent out by the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company yester
day. operating on the lines west of
Pittsburgh. This order was not in
cluded in the targe order sent out Sat
urday. The cost will be additional
$8,000,000.
The latest inquiry, added to the for
mal order, gives a total equipment in
quiry of 16.245 freight cars, 195 loco
motives and 191 all-steel passenger
ears.
O. 117.
GETS AN QPHON ON CROSS
PROPERTIES ON MARKET ST.
A. J. Snyder, Associated With the
Kaufman Interests, Obtains Long-
Term Bight to Purchase Buildings
Adjoining Stores at Rear
It became known to day that A. J.
I Snyder, associated with - Davr.l Kauf
man in the Kaufman Underselling
; Stores, 4. 6 and 8 South Market
' square, which were destroyed by fire on
the night of January IS, has obtained
a long-term option to purchase the
Gross properties, 115, 11" and 119
I Market street, adjoining the site of the
Kaufman stores at the rear.
E. Z. Gross, one of the heirs of the
' estate which owns the buildings, said
this morning that Mr. Snyder obtained
| the option shortly after the tire and
j before the option expired obtained an
I extension. The Gross drug store, which
occupies the first fiaor at 119 Market
street, will be permitted to remain in
the present quarters in the event of the
purchase, according to Mr. Gross.
Roberts & Meek, wholesale paper
dealers, occupy the buikiing at 115
Market street and the third floor over
117 Market street. The lower floors
of Xo. 117 are occupied by Edward B.
Biack, art dealer, and No. 119 is the
Gross drug store.
When Mr. Snyder, who is manager
of the office of the Kaufman store,
was seen in the Kaufman temporary
' store at 7 North Market square, he
said he had the option but declined
to discuss a rumor that the Kaufman
stores plau an extension on the site of
the Gross properties.
RECEIVER FORROCK7SLAND
Petition Filed in U. S. District Court
To-day by American Steel Foun
dries Company
Bv Associated Press.
Chicago. April 20.—Petition for a
receiver for the Chicago, Rock Island
«ud Panne Railway Company was
I tiled in the United States District Court
here to-day by the American Steel
| Foundries Company. The railroad
company filed an answer, consenting to
a receiver, and Judge Carpenter an
nounced that he would hold the matter
under advisement until this afternoon.
Ralph M. Shaw, of cqunsel for the
American Steel Foundries Company,
>tared U> Judge Caifetoer 'lhat Wi*
Rock Isiwid had admitted its inability
to meet obligation; ai>i that for the
benefit of stockholders, bondholders
; and other creditors his client was
•moved to ask for a receiver. Judge
Carpenter asked why the bondholders
had not made the application insteavi
of the foundries company and the law
yer explained that thus far the com-
I pany has uot defaulted on its interest
i on bonds.
H. U. Mudge. president of the rail
; way company and J. M. Dickinson.
' former secretary of war, were appoint
i ed receivers.
Game Bill in Governor's Hands
The new game bill, which was put
through the Legislature by the State
i Sportsmen s Association, is now in the
I hands of the Governor, who will have
j until Saturday, next, to take action on
j it. Sportsmen express confidence that
| the measure will be approved. It
makes manv changes in the present
lull.
jornTebyJs~st«Tcken
County Commissioner Suffers Attack of
the Heart at His Home and for
a Time Is Unconscious
City Commissioner John H. Ebv. it j
was announced in the Court House to
j day, was stricken with heart trouble at
! his home in Lvkens Sunday afternoon.
| On Sunday night Mr. Eby became un- j
| conscious and his condition caused'
I grave alarm. He rallied yesterday
I from his stupor and late this afternoon
was considerably stronger.
WHEAT TAKES A Bid DROP
May Delivery Suffers a Break of Al
most Seven Cents a Bushel
By Associated Press.
Chicago, April 20.—May delivery
of wheat suffered a break to-day of
almost 7 cenft a bushel, Free selling '
of small lots of the May option at the j
! opening caught a number of stop loss
orders and in the afbeence of any strong !
j support the market dropped with start- !
i ling rapidity. May, which closed last
I night at 163 3-4. sold to-day as low i
as 156 l-*2 but reacted to within one ;
I cent of last night.
New crop months, July and Sep- I
! tember, in which most of the specula
tive business has centered of late, '
j were comparatively unaffected by the
i flurry in, the old crop delivery, May. j
I MERITKY AT SIMMER HEAT j
Fall in Temperature To-night After
Maximum of HO Degrees Is Reached
The temperature is -due for a fall to
night after giving Harrisburg un
usual spring weather. No records were
smashed but the temperature to-dav
and yesterday hovered around the
eighty-degree mark. The passing out of
a storm area will cause a drop in
temperature to-night of twelve degrees
over that of -last night,/to fifty de
grees
A high pressure area from the
northwest will bring normal weather, j
Yesterday's mean temperature of 68
was 16 <lfgrees above normal. To-day
will not show such a departure in
temperature.
HARRISBURG, PA., TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 30, 1915—12 PAGES.
STRirS UTILITIES
WDOFIHn
Bill Passed by House
To-day Takes Away
Many Functions of
Commission
WINS BY VOTE
OF 155 TO 27
■
Measure Permits Muncipalitles to Oper
ate Water and Light Companies
Afer Having Obtained Approval
of the Common Pleas Court
A measure taking asvay from the
Public Service Commission the power to
control municipal public utilities was
passed in the House this morning by a
vote of 155 to 27 after a debate of an
hour and a half,
j The bill, which has been styled the
| "municipal home rule for utilities
bill," has the support of country mem
bers and many others outside the Phila
delphia delegation. If it should get
the approval of the Senate and the sig
nature of the Governor municipalities
I will be able to operate water and light
j conipauies after getting the approval
I of the common pleas court.
A companion bill was passed imme
diately afterward which would compel
the municipality, after getting the ap
proval of the Court, to offer to purchase
the plant of the private company then
operating in the municipality.
Objection was raised to the public
utilities law on this subject on the
ground that it is too expensive for a
municipality's representatives to come
to Harrisburg with engineers to seek
a charter.
Mr. Vickerman. the sponsor, opened
j the debate by saying that the public
j utilities act has worKed hardships on
the small boroughs in the western part
j of the State. Representative Forster, of
| Philadelphia, bore the brunt of the op
j position. He said the bill would prac
tically repeal the public utilities act
by taking away from the commission
most of its work.
The bill is State-wide and applies to
: all municipal corporations.
' *
TO-MORROW DECIDES FATE
OK OPTION IN THE HOUSE
Governor Brumbaugh to-day con
fined his efforts in behalf of the local
option bill to questioning the Phila
delphia delegation, the memfoers of
which he invited to see him in the
Executive Chamber. One by one, dur
ing the morning session of the House
1 the Philadelphia members went to the
i Executive Chamber in response to his
summons.
Senator Vare. of Philadelphia, who
; is generally believed to hold the key
to the local option situation, declined
to say anything on the subject. How
successful Governor Brumbaugh's plan
i of campaign for this bill has been will
be known definitely to-morrow for the
bill will come up for final action in the
j Houee on special order of business in
j the morning at 11 o 'clock.
To-night will see again a gathering
of optionists and anti-optionists from
! all parts of the State. Representatives
| of the State Liquor Dealers' Associa
j tion. have been in Harrisburg for two
days watching the final preparations to
' support and fight the bill. It is esti-
I mated that 1,500 visitors will !be in
I Hirrisburg to-morrow morning to hear
| the debate and count the vote on the
} measure.
Governor Brumbaugh is confident
of the passage of the bill and the opin
ion prevails on the Hill to-day that
he will be- successful in the House.
Whether he has enough votes to pass
; it without the Vare Philadelphia mem
! bers is not known. Just how many
■ votes he will have no one predicts to
day.
THE BILL TO CONSOLIDATE
PENITENTIARIES REVIVED
The measure providing for the con
! solidution of the two penitentiaries of
the State on the site of the new one in
j Centre county was placed on the cal
endar in the House this morning and
made a special order of business for
i next More-lay night at 9.30 o'clock.
The bill had been defeated but the
| vote by which it was defeated was rc
| considered after a speech by Repre
-1 sentative Hess, of Lancaster,' the spon
j sor of the measure. He then moved
j it be made a special order of business.
; Mr. Hess, who sponsored the bill
i for electrocution in Pennsylvania,
| spoke of the work of reformation
among the men confined in penal in
■ stitutions. He pleaded for one big
■ penitentiary on the site of the new
one, where 5,000 acres are at the dis
j posal of the State.
ITHE HOUSE PASSES BILL
REPEALING 853 LAWS
The Ambler bill, which repeals 853
obselete, superseded and unconstitu
tional bills on the statute books of
Pennsylvania, was passed in the House
fhie morning. The bill is one of a num
ber which propose a new code of gen
eral laws in the State. Other bills
passed finally were:
Regulating the size and use of
buildings in cities of the first class.
Making the State liable for county
tax on foreet preserves.
Amending the commodities bill in
regard to legal weight of apples and
beets.
The House shortly after noon took
a recess until 7.30 o'clock this even
ing.
JUDGE AND LEADING COUNAEL
IN THE BARNES-ROOSEVELT SUIT FOR DAMAGES
-x 'ST E WiL - I ■> A NOW yfi J LA, I:T,S t*K
Three of the promineut figures in the Barnes Koosevelt libel action now on trial at Syracuse, N. Y., are William M
Ivins, who is looking out for the Barnes interests: John M. Bowers, who is defending Mr. Roosevelt, and Justice Wil
Ham 8. Andrews, who is hearing the proceedings.
MAJOR BENT, PROMINENT
ENGINEER, DIES. AGED 85
Former Superintendent of Pennsylva
nia Steel Works and Well-Known
Business Man Is a Victim of Pa
ralysis in Philadelphia
Word was received here of the death
of Major Luther Stedman Bent, for
merly superintendent of the Pennsyl
vania Steel Works, a Civil War veteran
and prominent civil engineer, which
occurred at his home in Philadelphia
yesterday afternoon. Death was due
to a ten-dav illness of paralysis. He
was in the 86th year of his age.
Mr. Bent was born in Quincy, Mass.,
December 6, 1829, the son of Ebenezer
and Nancy Bent. While a boy he at
tended the public schools there until
12 years of age, after which he worked
on his father's farm until fifteen years
old, when he went to Boston, where he
served five years in the New England
glass factory, than one of the largest
concerns in the country.
During the war he served as ma,ior
of the 18th Massachusetts Volunteers.
At the close of the war he was em
ployed as civil engineer to supervise
the construction of the Union Pacific
Railway, and remained in that com
pany's service from the commence
ment to the completion of that great
work, filling various positions. IJe was
one of the largest contractors for grad
ing the road comprising 200 miles
through Salt I*ike Valley and the
Promontory.
Following the completion of this
work he became engaged in cattle
raising, being the first to establish cat
tle ranches along the line of railroad
in Nebraska. Here he remained for
three years.
About 1874 he returned East and
took the superintendcticy of the Penn
sylvania Steel Works. He retired as
head of the company about ten years
ago. At the time of his death he was
a director of the Northern Central
Railroad and the Earn Steamship Com
panv.
He was an active member of the
Tirst Unitarian church and the Loyal
Legion. In club life his connections
were with the Philadelphia, Art, Engi
neers,' Automobile, Corinthian Yacht
and Merion Cricket Clubs.
While in this city he was an active
business man and took much interest
in the advancement of Steelton. He
was a part owner of the Harrisburg
Railways Company, the Steelton Na
tional Bank, Steelton Trust Compar
and the Harrisburg National Bank.
He is survived by his widow, who
was Miss Mary Stern Felton, of Phila
delphia, and three sons, Felton, Sted
man and Quincy Bent.
PLANS CONCERTS IN PARK
Association Formed to Collect Money
to Support Them Weekly Dur
ing Summer at Reservoir
Planning to stage band concerts in
Reservoir Park at least one evening
each week during the months of June,
July and August, in addition to after
noon and evening concerts on Memorial
Day, Independence Day and Labor
Day, the Harrisburg Band Concert
Association to-day appointed a commit
tee of ten solicitors to obtain funds
with which to carry out the project.
On this committee are: M. Harvey
Taylor, president; Clarence Backeii
stoss, treasurer; R. Ross Seaman, secre
tary, together with W. Fred Weber.
E. E. Eshenour, Frank Blumenstine, V.
Grant Forrer, Harry C. Hartzcll, H. H.
Etter and J. Steawrt Askins. The
Chamber of Commerce has approved
the formation and purposes of the new
organization.
Besides the afternoon and evening
holiday concerts the following dates
have been selected: Each Friday in
June; last three Friday in July" and
all Fridays in August. Since July 4
falls on Sunday the holidays concerts
will be hell on Monday, July 5.
It is estimated that )1,500 will be
necessary to carry out the association's
plans afod that any additional concerts
will require more money.
ROSEBUDS FOR CHILDREN
Five Thousand Youngsters Will Plant
, Trees at Wild wood
Five thousand rosebuds are to be dis
tributed among school children taking
part in the Arbor Day celebration at
Wildwood Park on Friday afternoon
when the public schools of "the city will
be closed for the event.
Miss IMira Lloyd Dock, of Chambers
burg, will be in charge. Five thousand
trees will be planted-by the youngsters
under the direction of City Forester
i Mueller.
IPHOTOUPHS
OF ALLEGED LIBEL
Barnes' Counsel to In
t rod lice Copies of
Newspaper Article
Attributed to Colonel
JURORS SPEND
NIGHT AT HOME
Rumor That the Talesmen Would Be
Kept in Custody After the Taking
of Testimony Was Begun Is Au
thoritatively Denied To-day
By Associated Press.
Syracuse, April 'JO.—Counsel for
William Barnes in his suit for alleged
libol against Theodore Roosevelt rest
ed their ease to-day after they had of
fered evidence calculates to prove
publication of the alleged libelous
statements uttered against the former
chairman of the Republican State Com
mittee by the former President of the
United States.
Mr. Barnes' counsel place l ,l only one
witness on the stand. He was John
McGrath, Colonel Roosevelt's private
secretary. He testified that he gave
out the statement complained of to
newspaper reporters at Oyster Bay.
The case of the plaintiff was rest
ed after counsel for both sides had de
livered their opening addresses to tho
jury and one witness was heard.
William H. Van Benschoten, for the
defense, described the colonel as the
champion of good and honest govern
ment and said that he had been
prompted to make the statement by
the belief that there was corruption
and rottenness in the administration
of the government of the State of New
York.
Roosevelt Takes the Stand
Roosevelt went upon the witness
stand to defend himself in the suit. In
reply to a question he said he was the
man who made the statement com
plained of. He added: "1 am 58 years
old and have a wife.and six children."
In replv to questions by Mr. Bow
ers he toid in a firm clear voice the
story of his early life. Then he sketch
ed hk political career. He told of his
appointment on the Civil Service Com
mission, to the office of police commis
sioner of New York and Assistant Sec
retary of the Navj. He then told of
organizing with Ge'neral Wood of the
Rough Rider regiment to participate
in the war with Spain.
Tells His Record in Spanish War
\ft. Ivins, Mr. Barnes' attorney,
objected to this line of testimony and
Mr. Bowers said he was trying to" show
just who the witness was and withdrew
the question. The witness then describ
ed his first engagement in the Spanish
war and Mr. Ivins again objected.
The court did not rule and Colonel
Koosevelt continued: "We then moved
forward toward Santiago."
"I object to that," said Mr. Ivins,
"what difference does it make where
he moved % tof 1 want to shorten this
trial as much as possible."
Justice Andrews said the witness
had ibetter confine himself to the is
sue.
The first witnesses, it was said,
would be newspaper reporters to whom
Colonel Roosevelt gave the statement
upon which the suit is based and to
whom he is said to have made certain
verbal statements. Mr. Barnes' coun
sel also had ready to introduce in evi
dence nearly a hundred photographs of
newspapers containing this statement
and others which it claimed Colonel
Roosevelt issued. The attorneys said
they expected to show that Colonel
Rocsevclt for many years has exhibited
malice toward Mr. Barnes in written
and verbal statements.
Large Crowd Again on Hand
As was the case yesterday, a large
crowd gathered at the Court House
early in the hope of being permitted
to enter the rrom where tho trial is in
progress before Supreme Court Justice
William S. Andrews Members of the
jury, which was completed yesterday,
were permitted to spend the" night at
their homes. It was rumored to-day
that there was a plan afoot to keep
the jury in custody after the taking
of testimony had begun. It was au-
Coatlaued oa Seventh Page.
TWO TURKISH TORPEDO BOAT
DESTROYERS ARE BLOWS UP
Paris, April 20.—Two Turkish tor
pedo boat destroyers were blown up,
says a Saloniki dispatch, while passing
through a mine belt which Russian
ships had succeeded in laying across
the entrance to the Bosphorua while
the Turkish fleet was cruising in the
Black sea. The explosions caused by
the destruction of the two Turkish boats
g»*e warning to the rest of the fleet,
which, the dispatch says, was obliged
to remain in the Black sea because no
mine sweepers were available.
BRITISH LOOO MEN IN
FICHT WITHJHE GERMANS
Berlin, by Wireless to Savville. Aipril
20.—Among the items given out for
publication to-day by the Overseas
News Agency were the following:
"Special mail reports from East Af
rica state that in a two days' battle
German troops near Paugani routed a
strong force lauded from British
cruisers and transports. The British
lost 700 j»en. among them four com
panies captured, besides many rifles and
I large stores of ammunition. The Ger->
man casualties were 7 officers and 13
men killed, 14 officers and 22 men
wounded.
"The 'National Tidende,' of Copen
hagen. again asserts that German nffi
cers in Belgium are discouraged with
the results of their administration. It
is officially stated, however, that the
contrary is true. The military govern
ment is supplying Belgian farmers with
seed potatoes and oats, with the under
standing that the same quantities shall
be returned in the fall after the har
vest.
"Eight victims of the late French
aeroplane attack on Freiburg were bur
ied at the city's expense, the entire
population participating in the services.
Berlin school children sent a telegram
of condolence to the relatives of the
[school children k'lled a Freiburg.''
Destroyed by Own Picket Boats
London, April 20. 2.22 P. M. —The
British Admiralty announced officially
to-day that the British submarine E-15
was destroyed in the Dardanelles by
British picket boats.
Official reports say the submarine
was in serviceable condition and iu
danger of falling into enemy's hands.
It was therefore decided to destroy
her. This was a hazardous undertak
ing but it was accomplished success
fully.
Allies' Forces Occupy Important Town
Cape Town, Union of South Africa,
April 20.—Forces of the Union of
South Africa have occupied Keetaans
hop, the most important town in Ger
man Southwest Africa next to Wind
hoek, the capital. It is an important
railroad junction and gives General
Botha, the Boer leader, command of the
railroad to Windhoek.
Austrians Repulsed With Big Losses
London, April 20.—"1t is reported
here," says the "Times' " Bucharest
correspondent, "that the Austrians at
tempted on the night of April 18 a vig
orous attack on the frontier of Bess
arabia, Southwest Russia, but that they
were repulsed with heavy losses after
a violent struggle."
Spirited Artillery Exchanges in France
Paris, April 20, Via I>ondon, 2 P.
M.—The French War Office this after
noon gave out a report of the progress
of hostilities, which reads as follows:
"There have been particularly spir
ited artillery exchanges in the region
of Soissons and in the sectors of
Rheims and the Argonnes; otherwise
there is no news to give out."
LATE WARIjWS SUMMARY
Definite gains by the German forces
in the west are announced to-day by
the Berlin War Office. Attacks were
made yesterday in the districts In
which the French offensive movements
have been undertaken recently, partic
ularly in the region between the Meuse
and the Moselle rivers. The Berlin
Statement says the Germans succeeded
in penetrating French positions, and
stormed and reoccupied the village of
Embermenil.
In the Vosges the Germans pushed
forward, their line UK) yards in an en
gagement near Hartmans-Weilerkopf, a
position which has been in dispute for
several months. Progress in the Cham-
Cwttiaci •» Ntatk Pace.
POSTSCRIPT
PRICE, ONE CENT.
A GENERAL
PEACE PLAN
IS RUMORED
Reports in Rome That
the Grave Questions
Confronting Italy
Will Soon be Solved
MAY TERMINATE
WHOLE CONFLICT
The Time Limit Fixed by Italy for the
Consideration of Any Proposals
Austria Might Wish to Make Ex
pires To-day
Rome, April 20.—Within the past
2 4 hours there have arisen in Rome
persistent reports that the grave inter
national questions confronting Italy
may be solved in the near future by
what at first sight seems almost in
credible, the conclusion of a general
peace in Europe at a no distant date.
While these reports are intangible
and cannot at present be ascribed to
a definite source, they nevertheless are
reflected in high quarters and they are
given heed by careful observers of in
ternational politics.
Excellent Field for Negotiations
Among other reasons in support of
this, the argument is offered that Rome
i» an excellent field for the conduct of
negotiations of this nature; Prince
Von Buelow, one of the ablest of Ger
man 'diplomats, is in Rome as Ambas
sador to Italy; and the official relations
between Italy and Germany as well as
between Italy and the powers of tha
Triple Entente, are cordial.
In certain quarters in Rome the idea
prevails that the advent of spring has
not been such resumption of aggrei.
sive hostilities as has been promised, a
fact regarded as significant.
Sofia is being regarded with much
interest just at present. Efforts are
being made by representatives of the
belligerents to induce King Ferdinand
to announce his decision.
The importance of the attitude of
Bulgaria is recognized fully in Rome.
Should she side with the Teutonic allies
it would be difficult for Rumania to
make war upon Austria-Hungary, for
she would then be subject to attack by
Bulgaria as well as bv Turkish troops
coming through Bulgarian territory.
In this connection a prominent diplo
mat said:
"Once more is the fate of the Bal
kans in the hands of Bulgaria. Indeed,
this time her decision may have great
weight on the general development of
the war."
Von Buelow Visits the Pope
Paris, April 20.—Italy some time
ago fixed April 2 0 as the latest >date
for the consideration of any proposals
Austria might wish to make according
to a report current in Rome, says a
dispatch from the Figaro's correspon
dent. Baron De Macchio, the Austrian
Ambassador, already has given notice
to Embassy servants who are paid dai
ly, it is said, and the same is true of
the payment of tradesmen's bills for
goods supplied the embassy.
The Figaro's dispatch declares it is
stated in Vatican circles that the vis
it made to the Pope a few days ago by
Prince Von Buelow, the German Ambas
sador, was to bid farewell to the Pon
tiff, as the diplomat believes his de
parture from Rome is imminent.
Keeping Swiss Forces Mobilised
Rome, April 19, Via Paris, April
20.—Ulrich Wille, commander of the
Swiss Army, is quoted in an interview
in the "Tribuna" as declaring his
country's military forces must be kept
mobilized. Although no other power
at present threatens Switzerland, he
said, an incident might occur on the
frontier at any time which would com
pel the Swiss to enforce their rights
and their neutrality.
After describing the military organi
zation of Switzerland, Colonel Wills
closed the interview by saying: "Sup
posing as a mere hypothesis that any
one wished to violate our neutrality,
they must first crush us."
Wounded Page in Critical Condition
Word was received here this morn
ing that John Styles, of near Potts
vi lie, a page in the State Senate, who
was accidentally shot by his father
while the latter was endeavoring to
unload a revolver at his home yester
day afternoon, is in a critical condi
tion.
WALL STREET CLOSINQ
fly Ansociatcd Prctt.
New York, April 'M.—Heavy buy
ing was resumed in the last hour. Amal
gamated Copper going to its record
price and New Haven making a total
gain of 7 points. The closing was
strong. To-day's stock market was
swayed by conflicting conditions in the
early trading, but became strong later
Substantial gains were made.-by New
Haven, Coppers and specialties.