r
EIGHTEEN MINERS KILLED
4 Explosinn Occurs at Noon when
Most Workmen Were Out.
.9 ALL THE BODIES WERE FOUND
Condition of the Bodies Showed
That Death Came from
Suffocation.
A terrific explosion occurred About
noon in the Detroit and Kanawha
Coal company's mine nt Detroit, on
Paint Creek, about 25 miles above
Charleston, W. Va., entombing 18
nien.
That more men were not. In the
mine at the time of the nccldent was
due to the fact that almost all of
the day men, consisting of miners,
loaders and drivers, were eating their
dinners on the outside and thus es
caped the fate of their comrades, the
explosion having occurred nt 12:30
o'clock. Had It been either before
or after the noon hour hundreds of
men. would have been killed. '
The force of the explosion was bo
great that the hills trembled. Tons
of wreckage and debris were hurled
from the mouth of the mine, blocking
the entrance and making the work of
rescue difficult. News of the disaster
quickly spread to nearby mines and
hundreds of men were soon at the
scene, eager to join in the effort to
rescue the entombed miners if alive,
or recover their bodies if dead.
The ventilating fan was blown out
of position by the explosion, and It
was not until 4 o'clock that It had
been repaired and put back in its
place. .As soon as It was set In mo
tion, a fairly good current of air
was sent circulating through the en
tries. AH of the 18 bodies have been re
covered. The men, except one, were
found at their places of work, show
ing that the explosion came without
warning. The condition of the bod
ies shows that death came to most
of them from suffocation.
This mine was purchased a few
days ago from the Detroit and Kana
wha company by the Mucklow syn
dicate of Scranton (Pa.) capitalists
and the transfer of the property was
made Monday, January 15. A few
days before the transfer was made
the mine was examined by the mine
inspector who reported that it was
in good condition.
FRANCE WANT8 SATISFACTION
Resents Action of Venezuela in the
Case of M. Taigny.
Further complications have resulted
in the relations between France and
Venezuela, which put rather a ser
ious aspect upon the situation. M.
Taigny, the French charge d'affaires
at Caracas, having gone on board a
French steamer without first receiv
ing permission from the Venezuelan
authorities was later prohibited from
leaving the vessel and returning to
the land. There was a disposition In
Parts not to view the matter too
Kravely because diplomatic relations
had been severed between France and
Venezuela, and M. Taigny could there
fore be regarded as only a French
private citizen, and not as a repre
sentative of his government. The
French government has, however, re
sented the action of that of Venezue
la In the ease of M. Taigny by ord
ering the Venezuelan charge d'affaires
at Taris to leave France.
It is also reported that the French
government will now make a strong
naval demonstration against Venezue
la In order to obtain satisfaction for
its various grievances.
Suicide Follows Failure.
Judge J. H. Rotinghaus, for 20
years Justice of the Peace, and 40
years a merchant at Laramac, near
Wapakoneta, O., committed suicide.
His body was found In the canal.
Judge Rotinghaus, who was worth
about $50,000, and who was the own
er of an Ohio coal mine, was forced
into an assignment Monday by the
midden call of a $10,000 loan. This
Is supposed to have brought about
mental derangement..
SAYS GARFIELD BROKE FAITH
Commissioner Criticised for Course
He is Alleged to Have Pursued.
Attorneys for the Indicted Chicago
meat packers arraigned the Oovcrn
ment sharply for the policy they de
clared it had, through Commissioner
of Corporations Garfield, pursued in
the investigation of charges made
against the packers.
Attorney John B. Miller, who made
the opening statement for the pack
ers, declared that Commissioner Gar
field had declared In the presence of
witnesses that if he was allowed to
obtain evidence from the books of
the packers he would consider the
evidence so gained to be the same as
if It had been developed before him
in a formal hearing. He declared
that he would prove this by Com
missioner Garfield himself, if the Com
missioner would take the stand.
The Erie directors authorized the
double-tracking of the road between
Carrollton and Cuba, N. Y., a dis
tance of 25 miles. When this is com
pleted the Erie will have a double
track line 414 miles long from Sala
manca to Jersey City.
.Leads in Railway Mileage.
The United States leads the world
both In the present mileage and the
recent growth of its railways. This
Js shown In a report on "the trans
portation routes and systems of the
world," issued by the Bureau of Sta
tistics of the Department of Com
merce and Labor. It points out that
of the total railway mileage of the
"world, aggregating in 1904 543,000
miles, there was 211,074 miles in the
United States.
DUN'S WEEKLY SUMMARY
Open Winter Aid Building Opera
tlont 8teady Demand for Iron
and Structural 8teel.
It. O. Dun & Co.'s "Weekly Review
of Trade" says. Trade reports are
more irregular, chiefly because of the
vagaries of the weather. . At some
points results are all that could be
desired, the new year starting with
much heavier transactions than In
1905, but high temperature nnd ex
cessive rains In other localities re
tard retail distribution . of winter
goods, nnd it Is becoming necessary
to reduce stocks by clearance sales.
Nothing disturbs the vigorous prep
arations for spring business, which
promises to make a most gratifying
exhibit.
Open weather Is facilitating outdoor
work, building operations progressing
at an unprecedented pace for the
season. Permits were issued in 1 905
to the value of $528,180,412, which Is
40, per cent, ft excess of the preced
ing year. Official returns of foreign
commerce also tell of a new record
established last year, the total for
December exports alone rising about
$25,000,000 beyond nny other month
in the Nation's history. To some ex
tent this Is attributed to the approach
ing tariff regulations in Germany.
For the last week at New York ex
ports showed an Increase of $4,102,
t83 and imports gained $1,209,057. as
compared with the same week last
year.
More ndvances In wages are an
nounced and an agreement as to coal
mining Is more probable, but some
friction Is noted In 1 he building
trades. Manufacturing plants made
favorable reports, especially those of
the leading Industry, and another new
high record has been established In
the security market. Hallway earn
ings thus far reported for January
were 7.7 larger than a year ago.
Closing of large contracts for pig
iron by the leading interest provided
an element, of strength In the Iron
and steel industry that improves the
tone and makes Die outlook for the
first quarter most satisfactory.
Activity of Eastern wholesalers In
handling samples indicates lhat origi
nal orders for fall shoes will be plac
ed much earlier than In previous
seasons.
BUT ONE OF THIRTEEN ALIVE
Lone Survivor Adrift on Gang Plank
for Fifty-six Hours.
Adrift on a gang plank from 9
o'clock Saturday morning until 5
o'clock Monday afternoon without
food or water, Carl Summer, the only
known surviving member of a party
of 13 people aboard the four-masted
schooner Robert E. Stevenson, was
picked up by the German steamer
Europa, bound from Philadelphia for
Savannah, in latitude 34.58 north,
longtitude 35.52 west, and brought to
Savannah, (la.
Besides the ship's crew threre were
four women aboard, the wife of the
captain, two relatives and a colored
servant, all going to Havana on a
pleasure trip.
The Stevenson sailed from Phila
delphia January 6 for Havana. Capl.
Higbce was In charge, with First
Male Lewis. Sumner says the
schooner grounded on Diamond
Ghouls. All save four seamen, him
self included, took to the boats, one
boat being smashed and the first mate
and twd men being drowned. This
fate he witnessed.' He thinks the
others capsized.
Two of the men who remained 'with
the schooner left, on a raft, he left on
the gang plank, and the fourth ro-
: maineu. several snips passed Hum-
n'er nt a distance before he was
1 picked up.
CAPITAL NEWS NOTES
Lieutenant General Chaffee resigned
as chief of staff, l ulled States Army,
General Chaffee does not go on the re
tired list until February 1, but he de
sired to have a 15-day leave of ab
sence before retiring. General Bates
now assistant chief, will succeed him
as chief of staff.
James Brown Scott of California,
professor of law at Columbia Uni
versity, New York, has been appoint
ed solicitor of the State Department to
succeed Judge Penfield, resigned.
Secretary Bonaparte approved the
sentence of dismissal Imposed by
court-martial at Annapolis in the case
of Midshipman Trenmor Coffin on con
viction of hnzing and ordered his dis
missal from the academy.
The Senate Committee on Judiciary
agreed to report favorably the iiuiv.1
natlon of George W. Atkinson of West
Virginia to be Judge of the United
States Court of Claims.
The Senate Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds reported fav
orbly a bill appropriating $100,000
for a new Federal building at Blue
field, W. Va.
The retirement from active service
of 'Rear Admiral H. N. Manney has
been announced by the Navy De
partment to take effect next Monday,
when he will be succeeded as Chief
of the Bureau of 'Equipment by
Captain W. S. Cowles, a brother-in-law
of President Roosevelt.
Senator Knox favored the imprison
ment of Poultney Bigelow for defying
the power of the United States sen
ate In refusing to answer questions.
Henry C. Frick, In an Interview,
says Pittsburg real estate Is booming,
and that general prosperity is every
where, with no Indication of a
change in the situation.
Pittsburg's Old City Hall Burned.
Fire which brcke out about 12:20
o'clock in the morning In a pile of
baskets lying beside Wilson's restaur
ant, at 430 Market street, completely
destroyed the old market house
building on Market street. Pittsburg,
containing historic Old City hall. In
which many notable gatherings have
been held In recent years.
At Piedmont, W. Va., James Did
diwicks, 40 years old. a miner was
killed by a fall of rock.
DEATH OF MARSHALL FIELD
Chicago's Greatest Merchant a
Victim of Pneumonia.
WORLD'S RICHEST MERCHANT
Foundation of His Wealth Laid Dur
ing Civil War Passes Through
the Great Fire of 1871.
Murshall Field Uf Chicago, million
aire merchant and a leader in the
drygoods trade of the world, died at
the Holland house, New York after
an Illness extending over more than
a week beginning with a bad cold and
developing quickly into pneumonia
which affected both lungs.
Marshall Field, merchant and fi
nancier, was born In Conway, Mass.,
August, 1835. He was of Puritan de
scent, his earliest American ancest
ors having settled in New England
about 1050. His father was a farmer,
and he received the. thorough In
dustrial training of a New England
country boy, and with It a common
school nnd academic education.
At the age of 17 he went to Pitts
field, in his native State, as a clerk
in a drygoods store, and In 1850, soon
after attaining his majority, removed
to Chicago. Entering the employ of
t'ooley, Wadsworth, & Co., one of
the pioneer mercantile houses of the
young Western city, he rendered such
valuable service to his employers that
In 18U0 he was admitted to a partner
ship. This partnership being subsequent
ly dissolved, the firm of Field, Palmer
& Letter was formed In 18fi5. Two
years later Mr. Palmer retired and the
business, which had by that time as
sumed vast proportions, was con
ducted until 1881 under the name of
Kleld, Letter & Co. At that date Mr.
I'Meld purchased Mr. Leiter's Interest,
and lias since continued the business
as Marshall Field & Co
Prior to the Chicago lire In 1871 the
sales of the establishment of which
Mr. Field was the head amounted to
$12,000,000 a year. Since that time
the saleB have steadily Increased until
they reached in 1895 $35,000,000 a
year. The Chicago lire destroyed for
Mr. Field and his associates proper
ty valued at $3,500,000.
Marshall Field was one of the
world's richest men, his wealth be
ing estimated at anywhere from $100,
000,000 to $200,000,000.
Mr. Field was twice married, his
first wife having died several years
ago. Mrs. Field left two children,
Ethel, now married, and" living at
Leamington, England, and Marshall
Field, Jr., who accidentally shot him
self, November 22, 1905, and died five
days later. September 5, 1905, Mr.
Field was married In London to Mrs.
Arthur J. Calon of Chicago. Mrs.
Field has lost two husbands within
12 months. Just one year ago yester
day her former husband, Arthur Ca
ton, died nt the Waldorf-Astoria In
New York.
Marshall Field was the richest mer
chant In the world. He was also a
great philanthropist, but that fact Is
not advertised; rather. It Is kept. In
the background as much as possible.
He gave most liberally to deserving
charitable institutions of Chicago,
but no definite knowledge or his muni
ficence can be obtained.
GOVERNOR WHIPS CONVICT
Affair to Be Investigated by Mississip
pi Legislature.
Governor Vardanian, in a recent
message to the Mississippi Legisla
ture, charged that body to make a
thorough Investigation of the State
I convict system. Governor Vardanian
recently thrashed a convict at the
I executive mansion for making an lm-
pudent remark while blacking his
j ahoes, according to an interview he
I gave.
j The governor said he kicked the
i convict, then, taking a broom, gave
him a sound thrashing. This act. is
I to be Investigated by the legislative
I committee which was appointed on
I the governor's recommendation.
TWO KILLED.
Result of a Freight Train. Collision at
Newton Falls, O.
. Two men were killed and a third
fatally injured In a rear-end collision
on the Mahoning Valley western
branch of f'e Baltimore & Ohio rail
road at Newton Falls, O. The dead
are Peter Laughlin nnd Thomas
Blainey, both of Cleveland. Michael
Berry of Kent will die.
The first section of an eastbound
freight train was standing on the main
track when the second, falling to see
the flagman, crashed Into the ca-"
boose. The two men killed were
bollermakers In the caboose. Berry
was the fireman of the second sec
lion. Two Railroaders Killed In Wreck.
Engineer W. S. Taylor and Brake
man Edward E. Rockman are dead,
and T. J. Eden, fireman, Is missing
as the result of a head on collision
between a. northbound through freight
and a switch engine on the Seaboard
Air Line railroad near Mina, Ga. W.
F. Head, a switchman, was fatally
j scalded. The accident is said to have
been caused by alleged carelessness
of the crew of the switch engine.
Odell Company Loses Petition.
I i ne injunction securea some weeKs
ago restraining the Western Unions
the stock exchange tickers from the
offices of W. J. Odell ' company, of
Cincinnati, was dissolved by the Cir
cuit court, to which the case had
been carried on appeal from tlje Com
mon Pleas court. An arrest of Judg
ment was asked that the case may
be carried to the Ohio Supreme
court.
NEQRO SAILORS MUTINY
Try to Abandon Vessel, but Are Pre
vented by Captain.
The St. Paul, which arrived at New
York from Cherbourg, brought Cap
tain Sheppard and crew of nine men
of the American bark Edward L.
Mayberry which was abandoned at
Ben December 15 when 250 miles east
of Cape Hatteras. The men of the
Mayherry's crew were rescued by the
American bark Statla and were land
ed at Havre.
According to Captain Slieppard his
crew was for four days in practical
mutiny. When the Mayberry became
unmanageable on December 10 the
crew, negroes shipped in the South,
collected a butt of water, some pork,
flour and beans nnd carried them to
the top of the deckhouse. Later four
of the negroes declared that they
were going to desert the ship. Cap
tain Sheppard pulled bis revolver and
announced lhat he would shoot the
llrst man who attempted to take the
boat.
"On the night of December 12,"
says Captain Sheppard, "1 know they
had decided to murder me. They
continually followed my movements,
keeping as near as possible. I didn't
get a wink of sleep but sat and
watched them as best I could revolver
In hand." On December 35 they were
sighted by the Statla.
COPPER MINE ABANDONED
Westinghouse Spends Over a Million
In Developing It.
After expending more than $1,600,
000 during the past six years In pur
chasing and working the copper fields
mines, for many years the third larg
est In the United States, . George
Westinghouse of Pittsburg has aband
oned his search for copper In the
Yershlre in Vermont mountains, and
as a result the village Is now prac
tically deserted. VVestlnghouse's
representatives declare that the cop
per vein Is worthless.
Scores of miners and their families
have left town, and now there are not
a dozen families where the popula
tion at one time was more than ,
000. Throughout the village all the
dwellings formerly occupied by the
employes are being sold and moved
away or torn down. The machinery,
boilers and furnaces are being blown
up by dynamite. '
REBELS 8URRENDER
Give. Up Monte Cristl and Gunboat
Revolution Ended.
The port of Monte Cristl, on the
north coast of San Domingo, which re
cently had been In the hands of the
revolutionists, capitulated to the
Government forces, the latter guar
anteeing to protect the llfes and
property of the rebels.
The Dominican gunboat Indepencla,
which supported General Morales, the
former President of Santo Domingo,
also surrendered after her command
er had sought refuge on one of the
American warships. The revolution
is ended and all Is quiet.
WIRELES3 RECORD BROKEN
Dewey Drydock Tow 8ends Message
More Than 3,000 Miles.
Officials at the Government wire
less telegraph stution at Cape Eliza
beth announced that they were in
communication with one of Uw tugs
accompanying the drydock Dewey.
The drydock was then 2,220 miles off
Cape Hatteras and moving four and a
half knots an hour. It was more than
3.000 miles from the local station.
Officials say this breaks all records
for long-distance wireless telegraphy
In this country, the best previous
showing having been the receipt of
a message at Colon, Panama, from a
distance of 2.000 miles.
TELEGRAPHIC BRIEFS
Roland, the 8-year-old son of Wil
liam Powell, of East Liverpool, O.,
was run over and killed by a street
car.
John Ziccnrclli was killed by a
shifting engine nt Salem, O. He was
an Italian crossing watchman, 45
years old, and leaves a family In
Italy.
George Washington was probably
fatally stabbed In a fight at Johns
town, Pa. His alleged assailant,
David Marshall, was arrested.
The Jefferson county (O.) Grand
Jury reported after an eight-days'
session and presented 22 felony cos
es and 24 misdemeanors.
Michael Powaskl, a Russian miner,
was held up at Irwin, Pa., and robbed
of $238. The Russian had been mak
ing a display of his money.
The" Hotel Darlington, at Darling
ton, Pa., was ransacked by thieves
who secured wearing apparel, two
shotguns, a rifle and other goods.
.Following the charge that the Mas
sachusetts savings bank commission
ers neglected to Inspect such Insti
tutions as the Provident. Securities
and Banking company of Boston,
which failed recently, W. E. Locke
and James O. Otis, the commissioners
have presented their resignations to
Gov. Curtis Guild, Jr., who has ac
cepted them. '
The Southern railway has awarded
a contract for the Johnson City rail
way, an extension of the Southern to
run from Embreevllle, Tenn., to Mar
ton, N. C, a distance of about 90
miles.
Fixes Day of Prayer.
The general assembly of the Pres
byterian church in the United States
has appointed January 25 as the day
of prayer for schools and colleges
throughout the country. Special
prayer will also be offered for nn In
crease in the number of candidates
for the ministry.
Aurello Herrera, of Bakersfield.
Cel., knocked out Young Corbet, of
Denver, in the fifth round of a fight at
the Pacific Athletic club pavilion at
Los Angeles.
WHOLE FAMILY WIPED OUT
Mother and Six Children Burned
Father Shot Himself.-
BODIES FOUND IN THE RUINS
Opinion of Officers -is That Wife and
Children Were Killed and
House Fired.
Soveu persons, all members of the
family of Charles Ayer, perished in a
fire which destroyed Ayer's farm
house, near Pembroke, N. IL The
bodies of n child aniK of Ayers's
mother-ln-luw huve been found In the
ruins. Mrs. Ayers and four children
are missing.
Late In the day Ayer was found In
a dying condition on the Northford
turnpike, In the town of Chichester.
There was a bullet In his head. He
died soon afterward.
The victims of the tragedy were:
Charles F. Ayer, aged 43, killed him
self by shooting; Mrs. Addle Ayer, his
wife; Mrs. Isaac Lakeman, Ayer's
mother-in-law; Flossie Ayer, aged
12; Alfred Ayer, aged 10; Bernlce
Ayer, aged G; Andrew Ayer, aged 4;
a girl baby.
The theory of the rounly authori
ties is that Ayer was the murder, but
they nave been unable to find any
evidence to Indicate the methods
employed to wipe out the family.
Whether the victims were shot or
killed by other means hns not been
ascertained. Only 'charred fragments
of two of the .victims have been re
covered, although persons who visit
ed the scene of the fire observed
other chavred bodies In the smoking
ruins.
The fire occurred about 9 o'clock In
the morning, and Ayer drove up lo
the home of his sister, Mrs. George
Bulley, In the town of Chichester, six
miles from his home. Just after 10
o'clock. He remained at Mrs. Bail
ey's place during the afternoon, nnd
when Informed that . bis buildings
had been burned manifested some
agitation. A moment later he drew a
revolver and pointing It nt his temple
tired and fell unconscious. He died
that night.
FRANCE ELECT8 PRESIDENT
President of the Senate Elected Lou
bet's Successor.
M. Clement Armand Fnlllers, presi
dent of the senate, was elected presi
dent of the republic of France, Janu
ary 17, being chosen on the first bal
lot at the joint ballot nt the session
of the senate and chamber of depu
ties at Versailles. He received 449
votes to 371 for M. Dounier.
M. Fullieres wus born November C,
1841, at Mezln, department of Lot-et-Garonne.
In 1870 he was elected
to the chamber of deputies as a Re
publican and affiliated himself with
the Republican left group In the
chamber. He distinguished himself
as nn orator and was re-elected In
1877 and In 1878. In 1880 M. Fallieres
was mimed as under secretary to the
minister of the Interior nnd he was
again re-elected to the assembly In
1881. lie retired from the ministry
at the time of the fall of the Jules
Ferry Cabinet, but returned to pow
er the following year and was made
president of the council and ad Inter
im minister of foreign affairs. Sub
sequently M. Fallieres was success
ively minister of public instruction,
minister of the interior nnd minister
of justice. He was elected Renator
In 1890, a position which he has held
since that time, and was elected to
the presidency of the senate In 1899.
He was re-elected in 1900 nnd wan
again re-elected January 11 of the
present year.
Another Battle Fought.'
A dispatch from Cape llaitlen,
Haiti, Jan. 14 says: "A sanguinary
and what probably will prove to be
the final battle has taken place near
Ouayubln between the troops of Gen.
Caceres. the temporary president of
Santo Domingo, and the insurgents.
The former was victorious. Several
generals on both sides were killed
or wounded."
Miners May Strike.
Unless the bituminous coal opera
tors grant the minora In the Pennsyl
vania,' Ohio und Illinois districts an
advance in the wage a gigantic strike
will be declared Aprl 1. President
Mitchell will lead the struggle of the
soft coal miners for a wage increase.
This was one of a series of de
velopments nt the first session of
the United Mine Workers' convention
in Indianapolis.
President Appoints Vernon.
President Roosevelt has announced
the appointment of W. T. Vernon,
principal of the Quinduro Institute at
Quindaro, Kan., to be register of
the Treasury In succession lo J ml eon
W. Lyons. Charges were- pending
against Vernon, but they were not
sustained by the Investigation made
by direction of the President.
Three Officers Killed.
At Riga, Livonia, a band of revolu
tionaries attacked three lieutenants
of police and killed them with revol
vers. The assassins escape"d. The
lieutenants were returning from a
conference at the palace of the gov
ernor general.
Want Discrimination Prohibited.
The report of the committee on
interstate commerce law of the Na
tional Board of Trade, In session at
Wnshir-tton. made its report. It
calls iiijun Congress to enact such
legislation as will prevent abuses in
transportation methods, and that the
system of rebating by railroads be
prohibited. The report was adopted
by the convention.
At Unlontown, Pa., Alexander
Koskl was arrested on a charge of
horse stealing at Fairmont, W. Va.
EXTRA LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Pennsylvania Lawmaker Meet ta
Consider Reform Measures at
Governor' Call.
The Pennsylvania Legislature con
veqed in extra session January 15 for
the enactment of reform legislation
proposed by Gov. 8. W. Pennypacker
In a proclamation issued Saturday fol
lowlag the last general election and a
supplementary call Issued January 9.
The reforms speclUed by the Gov
ernor In his calls are:
To increase the Interest on Slate
deposits, limit the deposits In each
bank und mnke It a misdemeanor to
give or receive State deposits for
political Influence.
To re-apportion Hie Htute senator
ial and Legislative districts.
To provide for the personal regis
tration of voters in cities.
To repeal the Philadelphia "rip
per," passed by- the last Legislature,
limiting the authority over the de
partments of public safety and public
works.
To limit the amount of State money
annually paid for county bridges.
To consolidate the cities of Pitts
burg and Allegheny Into a Greater
Pittsburg.
To cover the fees of the Secretary
of the Commonwealth and the Insur
ance Commissioner Into tTTe State
Treasury and pay those officials salar
ies. To provide for a uniform primary
elections law.
To establish civil Bervlce regulations
In the State offices.
To regulate the campaign expenses
by and for candidates.
In Ills message Governor Pennypack
er devotes about one fourth of the
matter to general remarks highly
complimentary to the Legislature for
the work done at the last regular ses
sion, and further says.
"The unfortunate failure of the
Greater Pittsburg legislation through
the finding of the Supreme Court that
the net was unconstitutional, and the
failure of a bank, Incorporated ahd
supervised by the national govern
ment, holding at the time a large
amount, of state funds, have given
the legal occusion for the cnlllng of
the legislature together In extraordi
nary session under Article IV., Section
12, of the constitution."
The enactment of a law that will
permit the consolidation of cities Is
urged.
"The Interest now paid to the
state by the banks and trust compan
ies for the use of the state deposits
Is 2 per cent a year. There Is a wide
spread opinion among persons who
ought to be informed that this Is as
much as can properly be charged. The
first consideration is safety and not
large returns. The bunks ought to
have a reasonable profit from the use
of the moneys, taking Into consid
eration risks as well as earnings, and
all the rest of the interest paid by
those who borrow these moneys from
the banks ought to be paid to the
state. There ought to be no margin
which could possibly be paid for any
other purpose or to any other per
son In connection with them. Where
this line should be drawn you will
have to determine, but probably an In
crease of one-half per cent In the In
terest charged would be as much as
could safely be imposed. The amount
deposited with each Institution should
be limited with reference to Its capi
tal and surplus, and in my view ought
not to be more at any one time thali
three-rourths of the total of these two
sums. It ought also to be made a
misdemeanor punishable by fine and
Imprisonment, to pay, offer or re
ceive any consideration for the use of
Such moneys other than the Interest
payable to the state, or to make or
accept any promise based upon alleged
ability to secure the deposit of them.
"1 recommend that the fees collect
ed by the secretary of the common
wealth and the Insurance commission
er be herearter paid into the treasury
of the commonwealth, and that a
proper salary be paid to each of these
officials as sole compensation. The
continuance of fees, in whatever pub
lic office the system may survive, Is a
vicious anarchronism.
"There ought to be a legal desig
nation of the purposes for which
moneys may be expended In political
campaigns, and in securing nomina
tions."
"A syBtem or civil service for the
commonwealth should be established
under the terms of which the routine
appointments may be made only after
the ascertainment of qualifications and
fitness, and providing for the reten
tion of their offices by the Incumbents
during good behavior.
"The time has come when a reapor
tionment of the State into Senatorial
and Legislative districts. In compll
anco with the Constitution must be
made. By dividing the lines of a few
of the counties, a fairly equitable ap
portionment may be made, and one In
accord with all of the other require
ments."
"Legislation ought to be enacted
which will require the primary elec
tions of all political parties within the
commonwealth to be held on the same
day, at the same time, under the sup
ervision of properly constituted of-
! Philippine Tariff Bill Passed.
The Philippine tariff bill was pass-
ed by the Hou-e substantially B3 U
I came from the Ways and Means com
mittee. The vote was 25S to 71. Rice
was made subject to the same tariff
as sugar and tobacco, 25 per cent, of
the Dingley rates, and one or two
changes were made as to language.
Meriwether Charged With Hnzing
Midshipman Minor Meriwethei', Jr.,
of Louisiana, who attained much no
toriety by engaging in a fist fight
with Midshipman James R. Branch
in which the latter received fatal in
juries, has been piacod under arrest
on the charge of hazing. The
charge is supported by sis specifi
cations, alleging the hazing of seV'
eral fourth clnss men by requiring
them to do different physical oxer
cises.
KEYSTONE STATE GULLIN6S
FORCED TO TAKE MONEY
Man la Confronted With a Revolver
and a Dollar Is Thrust In
His Hand.
Held up on a dark street and com
pelled to accept a dollar, was the
experience of 1). D. Rogers, a mer-
chant tailor of Franklin. The high
wayman had a revolver and the ser
iousness with which he did the Job at
once dispelled Mr. Rogers' thought
that his Masonic friends were pluylng
a joke on him. After thrusting the
dollar into his victim's hand, the man
fled. Mr. Rogers thinks it is "con
science" money. .
Gas from the Johnson well of the
Gillespie Oil company, 10 miles north-'
west of Washington, Ignited from the
boiler fires. A 500-barrel oil tank?
caught fire, and Its contents, being
released, ran Into the creek. The
burning oil Ignited the Vance well, of.
the Kelley and Cooper Oil company,
a mile -ast, and soon Hie rig here,
and a 1,000-barrel tank were burning.
The oil continued down the creek
valley, burning fences and small
buildings, but was finally subdued by
farmer. The loss Is estimated at
$15,000.
June 8 hns been "fixed as the dite
for the unveiling of (ho Center coun
ty soldiers' monument nnd Curtln
memorial, which ere nearly complet
ed. Col. Thomas J. Stewart, Nation
al Commander A. W. Tanner of thi
0. A. R., and Col. A. K. MeClure will
be Invited to make the principal a I
dresses. The governor and his staff
and Major General Charles Miller and
his staff, with the three brigadier
generals of the National Guard, will
be Invited to attend the ceremonies.
The Altoona glass works, started
10 years ago by popular subscriptions
to stock, was burned. The flames
spread rapidly nnd the only part sav
ed was the stock room, which con
tains $10,000 worth of glass ready
for market. The plant was. valued at
$:I0,000, with $lo,(iM Insurance. The
fire Is believed lo have been Incendi
ary. '
Trackmen who weie citaninir up the
debris near Corry, from the wreck at
Horns, found the head of Fireman
Neal, who was killed. It wus muti
lated and embedded In snow under a
piece of Iron. The head w s brought,
to Spring Creek, whpre It was plaead
In a box and shipped to an under
taker at Sheffield, where Neal resid
ed. The Pennsylvnala railroad In 1905
enjoyed one of the greatest years In
shipment of bituminous ccal and coke.
The Increase over the previous year
was more than 4,000,000 tons. The
heavy demand for soft coal and coke
Indicates the great Increase In busi
ness done by the steel companies and .
other Industrial establishments along
Us lines.
The proposition to advance Union-
town to a city of the third class re
ceived a discouraging setback at the .
Borough Council Council meeting;.
when Borough Solicitor C. F. Kefover -reported
that under exist. ng laws there
Is no provision for a special census
and the last United States census gave
Unlontown less than 8,000 population.
Adjt. Gen. T. J. Stewart has been
advised by the War department that
a detail of United States army officers
has been made for the purpose of at
tending the spring Inspections of the
National Guards of Pennsylvania. The
officers signed to Inspect the Second
brigade are: Capt. A. W. Brewster,
Ninth Infantry; Capt.. H. L. Laubach,
Twenty-third infantry.
Viewers appointed by the Westmore
land county court mrt in the matter
of the condemnation of the wooden
bridge over the Youghlogheny river
nt West Newton. The board unani
mously agreed upon recommending;
the erection of a new bridge, the cost
of which is to be borne by the coun
ty. When the list of applications for
wholesale and retail liquor licenses
closed In Cambria county, it was
found that 'Ml applications have been
filed, two less than last year. Of thle
number, one attorney has 53, one 44
and another 4:i.
The home of 'Cashier D. R. Ander
son, of the Masontown National bank
was entered early In the morning by
robbers and besides considerable cash
some valuable Jewelry was taken.
Sheriff M. A. Klefer arrested Andrew
Alexander on suspicion.
Charles L. Sanford, formerly presi
dent of the Washington (Pa.) Novelty
company, who disappeared last Sep
tember, was arrested at Newark, O.,
on charges of obtaining money under
false pretenses and embezzlement.
Sanford is said to have confessed.
Trouble In the Polish Catholic
church at Footesdale, near Union
town, resulted in a fistic encounter. It
Is alleged, and the priest. Rev. Ignates
Ostasevesky, was arrested, charged
with assault and battery.
Because there Is no authority of law
for Its publication, Gov. Pennypacker
has stopped the printing of tile rail
road map of Pennyslvania Issued by
the department of Internal affairs.
Representative Sibley has recom
mended the reappointment of S. W.
Waters as postmaster at Warren.
Oliver B. Blair was Killed by a train
at Zelinople He was the con of J. W.
Fair.
Dr. J. D. Orr, of Leochburg, pur
chased the Kepple farm, opposite
Vandergrift. for about $G0,000. The'
property contains 274 acre3, Is under
laid with coal and fronts on the Kiskl
minetas river about a mile. The
Pennsylvania railroad, It Is said, la
Interested In the deal.
P. B. Hensler's store, on Mala
street, Irwin, caught fire from a nat
ural gas lamp. The blazo worked Into
the second story and was hard to
handle. Tho loss to the building and
residence adjoining Is about $1,000.
with $3,000 in stock, partially cover
ed by Insurance.