Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, January 14, 1905, Page 4

V. JOHNSON IS TAKES OATH OF OFFICE BEFORE JOINT SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE. READS HIS FIRST MESSAGE TENDERED IMPROMPTU RECEP- TION BY SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES. VAN SANT’S LAST MESSAGE REVIEWS EXTENSIVELY THE WORK OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT. St. Paul, Jan. 5—John A. Johnson of St. Peter is governor of Minnesota. With head slightly bowed, and right hand raised, he stood on the dais of the speaker of the house of represen- tatives in the new capitol, facing Chief Justice C. M. Start, who admin- istered the oath of office. The oath was administered at the conclusion of Gov. S. R. Van Sant’s message to the legislature at 11:40 o'clock. “So help me God,” the closing words of the oath had scarcely been uttered by Mr. Start, when the main doors of the hall were opened, and a picture of Gov. Johnson, surrounded by a huge floral frame, was carried down the center aisle by four men, amid ap- plause that continued for several min- utes. The picture was placed in front of the chief clerk’s desk and Repre- sentative James R. Hickey of, St. Paul briefly presented it to the new gov- ernor in behalf of his St. Paul friends. Informal Reception. When the applause subsided, Gov. Johnson began reading his message to the legislature. He read rapidly, clearly, in a voice that penetrated to every recess of the galleries. He finished his message in just twenty- seven minutes. There was a hearty round of applause and the joint con- vention adjourned. There was arush of senators and representatives to the speaker’s desk to shake hands with the mew govern- or, and an impromptu reception was held at the left side of the chief elerk’s desk, the legislators passing through the door at the side of the dais to the retiring room of the house, and thence to the house corridor. Gov. Van Sant soon joined Mr. Johnson and the former governor and the governor of thirty minutes were kept busy shaking hands for half an hour. The joint session convened soon after 10:30 o’clock to hear the mes- sages of the outgoing and incoming governors. Gov. Van Sant’s Message. Gov. Van Sant, in his last message to the Minnesota legislature, reviews extensively the work of each depart- ment of the state government and the state’s finances. He devoted considerable time to the disc ssion of the litigation against the Northern Securities company and to transportation. He urged the enact- ment of law prohibiting railroads from increasing freight rates without the permission of the Minnesota rail- road and warehouse commission, and an indorsement of the Cooper bill. His message discussed taxation at considerable length and urged the sub- mission to the people of constitution- al amendments giving the legislature more latitude in matters of taxation, a tax on franchises and the establish- ment of a permanent tax commission. Primary Election Law. The primary election law was re- viewed and its extension was urged so as to include nominations for state officers and United States senators. The establishment of a_ separate state training school for girls and the admission of wives and widows of sol- diers to the soldiers’ home should be provided for. The fees collected by the insurance commissioner for making examina- tions of company’s resources should be turned into the state treasury. Other Suggestions. Other recommendations were: An appropriation for a_ statue of Gov. Alexander Ramsey in the na- tional capitol at Washington, as sug- gested by William P. Murray of St. Paul. An appropriation for monuments to mark positions of Minnesota troops at the battle of Vicksburg. An increase of $50,000 in the appro- priation for the drainage of swamp lands. The establishment of a state high- way commission. CRESCO STORES BURN. Losses In lowa Town Fairly Well Covered by Insurance. Cresco, Iowa, Jan. 6. — Fire at 10 o'clock last night destroyed two frame stores. The loss of the W. K. Barker estate is $800, insurance $500; M. M. Moon’s loss is $2,000, insurance $1,000; James McArthur, harness shop, loss $1,600, insurance $1,200; H. H. Hussel- man’s meat market, loss $1,600, insur- ance $1,000. The firemen saved ad- joining buildings. Origin of the fire is unknown. MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE. Resolutions in Both Houses Urge Con- gress to Pass Quarles-Cooper Bill. St. Paul, Jan. 11.—The appointment of a joint committee from the house and senate to investigate freight rates in Minnesota preparatory to proposed legislatign, increasing the powers of the state railroad and warehouse commission, is provided for in a reso- lution adopted by the senate yester- | day on motion of Senator A. O. Eber- hardt of Mankato. Resolutions were also introduced in both houses urging ‘congress to pass the so-called Quarles-Cooper bill, giv- ing the interstate commerce commis- ysion power to set aside a rate which it may deem to be unreasonable, fix a reasonable rate and put it into effect. The resolution, introduced in the sen- ate by Senator Eberhardt, mentions the Quarles-Cooper bill, but the one presented in the house by W. P. Rob- erts of Minneapolis does not. Both resolutions were referred to the rail- road committee. The standing committee of the house of representatives were an- nounced yesterday morning by Speak- er Frank Clague. A constitutional amendment remov- ing all restrictions upon the power of the legislature to prescribe methods of taxation except that taxes shall be uniform upon the same class of stib- jects was the first bill introduced in the house of representatives. The capitol commission is author- ized to appoint one of its members superintendent of the new capitol at a salary of $3,000 a year for not longer than two years in a bill introduced yesterday by Senator Hiler H. Horton of St. Paul. The measure was given its second reading and ordered print- ed and placed on the calendar for final passage. fi A bill was introduced in the senate prohibiting the giving or receiving ‘of free railroad or street railway passes or free coupons for telegraph or tele- phone messages. Gov. Johnson submitted his list of appoointments ‘to the senate yester- day. PHYSICIANS ON TRAINS. Duluth & tron Range Road Has Doc- tor Inspect Its Passengers. Two Harbors, Minn., Jan. 11.—As a guard to prevent the spreading of smallpox, physicians were placed on all passenger trains of the Duluth & Iron range road yesterday to make inspections of all passengers, and especially men who come from the lumber camps. If the situation de- mands it the same _ precautionary measure will be made by the officials of the Duluth, Missabe & Northern road. Every effort will be made, as far as the authority of the health de- partments extend, to locate and iso- Jate all cases before they reach the cities. Under the stem proposed, any patient suffering from the disease who eludes the local authorities and boards a train will be compelled to stop at the first station after discov- ery and be _ isolated. The coach in which such a victim is a passenger will be cut out of the train and imme- diately fumigated. DULUTH JURIES w INDICT THREE. Postal Clerks Accused of Embezzling Office Funds. Duluth, Minn., Jan. 11—The United States grand jury yesterday indicted Frank Benoit of Crookston on the charge of embezzling from the United States mail. Benoit was formerly a railway mail clerk. The grand jury also brought in an indictment against Allan B. Chandler, postmaster at Brimson, on the Duluth & Iron Range road, charging him with having falsi- fied his cancellation accounts to t- crease his pay. The district grand jury brought in an indictment against Frank Vandyke, charging him with murder in the first degree. Vandyke is a prisoner in the county jail and committed the murder since his ar- rest, killing his cellmate, John Lind- erberg. RELEASED FROM HER LORD. Sioux City Woman’s Romance Ends in Divorce Court. Sioux City, Iowa, Jan. 11. — Quick release from a bogus English lord has been secured by Mrs. Flora Follett Towne, a wealthy young woman of this city taken in by a reputed Eng- lish officer and nobleman. Mrs. Fol- lett Towne and her young son went to London, where they were to find a new home in a swell hotel. They lived there until the spurious lord de- camped, and Mrs. Towne was put to the necessity of cabling home for money to keen her out of a debtor's prison. A divorce was given her late yesterday and the name honorably be- stowed on her by her first husband re- stored. Boy Killed While Coasting. Marshalltown, Iowa, Jan. 11. — Ar- thur Glyeck, fifteen years old, died yesterday morning from injuries re- ceived while coasting with a number of playmates a few days ago. The rope on the stearing apparatus broke, the sled becoming unmanageable. The boy’s head was dashed against a tree. Assaulted Man May Die. Clinton, Iowa, Jan. 11.—Jens Veers- mersch, an aged man, lies at his home here in a critical condition as the re- sult of an assault made on him by his son-in-law, who had deserted his wife, who was staying with her parents. Died From Injuries. Two Harbors, Minn., Jan. 11—Gust Anderson, a himberman employed at Murphy Bros.’ camp No. 1, sixteen miles north of here, is dead from in- juries received by being struck by a falling limb of a tree. TA PROSECUTION ABOUT THROUGH CHILDS DECIDES NOT TO CALL BROOKS AS A WITNESS FOR THE STATE. PUTS IT UP TO THE COURT CONSIDERS MOTION OF DEFENSE TO DIRECT STATE TO CALL BROOKS. KOCH PREDICTED MURDER WITNESS TESTIFIES THAT KOCH SAID SOME ONE WOULD KILL GEBHARDT. New Ulm, Minn., Jan. 11—A climax in the Koch murder trial was reached shortly before 5 o’clock yesterday when Gen. Childs, in behalf of the state, said that the prosecution had about concluded its presentation of testimony. “A. P. Brooks is said to be an eye witness of the murder,” said Gen. Childs, “but he will not be ¢alled to the stand by the state. The state has produced Mr. Brooks in court and he may be called by either side or by the court.” Gen. Childs said he thought Mr: Brooks should be called as a witness by the court. Judge Webber ordered the jury sent out, and when the bailiffs had with- drawn the jurors, L.. L. Brown, for the defense, addressed the court, saying: State Should Call Him. “The witness mentioned by Gen. Childs appears to have been an eye witness. He was in the immediate neighborhood. The state should call him.” Mr. Brown moved that the state be ‘directed to call Brooks as a witness, which he said should be done in jus- tice to the defendant, and the case was left there when the court ad- journed. The defense is Sincere in its motion, for Brooks made an affidavit of rec- ord in court in a manner exonerating Dr. Koch. In case Judge Webber de- cides to call Brooks as a witness, the defense will offer to produce him as their first witness, subject to cross-ex- amination by the state. Says Koch Predicted Murder. A sensation was developed at the opening of court in the morning. Ole H. Ulen of Lake Hansha was recalled by the state. The witness told how Dr. Koch had talked of the possible death of Dr. Gebhardt. He said: “I had some teeth pulled. When I showed him my mouth he saw that one tooth was pulled. He asked me who pulled it and I told him Dr. Geb- hardat. i He asked me who sent me there, and I told him Hoidale’s clerk. He said he did not see how it was I went there, as Gebhardt was no better than anybody else. He said ‘Dr. Gebhardt will not be there much longer.’ “Some One Will Kill Him.” “Ts he rich?’ I asked. “* No,’ he said, ‘but some one will kill him.’ “He asked me whether I could or would do it. I told him I would not do it for the whole of New Ulm. He said it was not worth that much. - “I said the man who would do that would be punished. He said they could not get him.” Senator Somerville’s cross-examina- tion was for the purpose of showing that the witness could not understand English well and that he was not well acquainted with the defendant. Hillmer Hoidale, law clerk in Hoj- dale & Somsen’s office, was called a: a witness. He testified that he had held conversations with Dr. Koch in which the latter showed ill feeling to- ward Dr. Gebhardt. The talks were in Dr. Koch's laboratory. MURDER, NOT SUICIDE. Light Thrown on Crime Committed Ten Years Ago. Osage, Iowa, Jan. 11.—On Oct. 15, 1895, a school teacher named Price V. Evans was found dead a_ short dis: tance from Osave. It was supposed at the time to be a case of self-destruc- tion. Recent developments, however, | the thief. show that it was murder, and several detectives are on the trail. It was discovered that the records pertaining to the inquest have been stolen from the court house, and the detectives of- fer $50 reward for the conviction of Fire at Bemidji. Bemidji, Minn., Jan. 11. — Fire in “whisky row” yesterday morning de- stroyed six business houses, mostly. saloons, at a loss of $50,000; insurance about half. ; RRR Nine ae eae: MASE Ask New Fair Buildings. Pierre, S. D., Jan. 11. — The state fair board met here last evening and decided to ask for an appropriation of $15,000 for buildings on the grounds at Huron and $5,000 a year for two years for pre Northwest Ne ws. WORKING OUT POISON THEORY PROSECUTION ATTEMPTS TO SHOW THAT KOCH SENT THE POISON. TABLETS WERE AVAILABLE DOCTOR IN ADJOINING OFFICE TO KOCH SAYS HE MISSED STRYCHNINE. New Ulm, Minn., Jan. 11.—Should Dr. G. R. Kogh be convicted of the murder of Dr, L. A. Gebhardt, the ver- dict of the jury will be based as much as anything on the testimony of Dr. O. C. Strickler, offered yesterday af- ternoon. The physician evidently was an unwilling witness, but his conduct on the stand was everything that could be desired of a straight forward man. Dr. Strickler is a close friend of Dr. Koch, occupying adjoining offices with the dentist and with Dr. Vogel, anoth- er physician. They used the same re- ception room. They Saw Much of Each Other both during and outside office hours. Dr. Strickler for three years has been like an older brother of Dr. Koch. The physician was called by the state to testify as to eighty-five or ninety sulphate of strychnine tablets which he missed from his instrument case nearly a month before the mur- der, and about five weeks after the bottle of poison was sent to Dr. Geb- hardt. He was requested also te tes- tify as to Dr. Koch’s manner after the murder, the injuries to Dr. Koch’s hands and the conversation which the accused had with the accused man relative to the murder. Shows Tablets Were Available. Dr. Strickler’s testimony did not di- rectly connect Dr. Koch either with the murder or the sending of the poi- son, but it was developed that the strychnine tablets were available to Dr. Koch. The witness’ examination by Gen. Childs was listened to intent- ly by every one in the court room. When court convened in the morn- ing Judge Webber announced that he had made a_ mistake in ruling out Elizabeth Meskam’s testimony Satur- day as to mailing the blue boxes to Dr. Koch and Dr. Gebhardt Oct. 7. The court cited a decision of the supreme court covering records which may not refresh the memory of the witness. Typewriter in Evidence. The second feature of the day was the attempt of the state to prove that the typewritten address on the poison package was written on a certain make of machine in an insurance of- fice across the hall from Dr. Koch’s office. Two expert witnesses were brought on from St. Paul who testified that a typewriting machine with letters out of alignment has an _ individuality which cannot be duplicated in another machine. Both were positive that the address had been written on the type- writer in the insurance office. MEAT AGENTS RELEASED. Butte Men Arrested in Beef Trust Case Are Free. Helena, Mont., Jan. 11—By order of Judge Smith in the district court yes- terday five agents, residing in Butte, who were arrested in the famous beef trust cases, were discharged from cus- tody and their bondsmen exonerated. H. S. Gunn moved that they be dis- charged on the grounds that the agents of corporations are not liable for the acts of their companies. The motion was granted. The agents were arrested in the proceedings brought by Former Attorney General Donovan against Armour & Co., Cudahy & Co., Swift & Co., and the Hammond Pack- ing Company of Chicago and Pueblo. The attorney general was granted leave by the court to have new sum- monses issued in the case. SAM TRIPP CAUGHT. Alleged Horse Thief Recaptured in Flour City. Hudson, Wis., Jan. 11. — Sam B. Tripp, the alleged horse thief _who proke jail here last week, was recap- tured yesterday in Minneapolis by the local police. Sheriff Johnson and Po- lice John O’Keefe of this city went to Minneapolis yesterday afternoon and secured their prisoner, who was brought here last night to answer to the charge of grand larceny. The whereabouts of George Burton, who fled with Tripp, are still unknown. Indians Rob Store. Aberdeen, S. D., Jan. 11.—The store of L. J. Holmes at Vanderbilt in Camp- bell county, was entered during the night by robbers who carried away about $200 worth of merchandise. One of the robbers left a pair of mittens in the store which led to the identifi- cation of two young Indians from Standing Rock reservation as the thieves. They confessed when ar rested and revealed the hiding place of the goods in a cave on the Missouri river. CONGRESS. House Discusses Bill to Improve Cur- reney Conditions. Washington, Jan. 11.—The session of the house yesterday was given over almost entirely to discussion of the bill reported by the*> committee on banking and currency “to improve currency conditions.” A sudden in- terest in the measure seemed to de- velop, as evidenced by the large mem- bership present throughout the day, The Democratic opposition mainly was dissipated by the adoption of an amendment offered by Mr. Williams (Miss.) providing that government de- posits shall be made only on com- petitive bids. Final action on the bill was not taken. The impeachment charges on which Judge Charles Swayne will be tried were presented just before adjourn- ment and notice was given by Mr. Palmer (Pa.), chairman of the com- mittee of seven which prepared them, that he would call the matter up on Thursday. The senate yesterday continued consideration of the joint statehood bill, the chief accomplishment being the acceptance of most of the amend- ments Suggested by the committee on Indian affairs. The bill for the reimbursement of sealers for losses under the seizures in Bering sea also was considered, but a vote was not reached. - CAN HIRE MEN AT PANAMA. New Rules Obviates Necessity of Se- curing Them From Washington. Washington, Jan. 11.—Civil Service Commissioner, Greene yesterday said that the civil service regulations re- cently adopted for the isthmian canal employes *.ad been approved by Chief Engineer Wallace, that skilled labor- ers getting less than $4 a day in gold, being almost exclusively natives, have been exempted from examination by the president's order; that a local ex- amining board has been established at the isthmus composed of the highest class officials, and that a register sep- arate from that kept here will be kept on the isthmus for skilled laborers getting more than $4. Under these provisions Chief Engineer Wallace is empowered to select employes at Pan- ama without waiting to secure them from the register kept here. BLOWS OUT HIS BRAINS. Dr. Sylvester, American Dentist to Emperor William, a Suicide. Berlin, Jan. 11.—Dr. Alonzo H. Syl- vester, Emperor William’s American dentist, committed suicide here yes- terday. He shot himself through the head in his bedroom. The emperor was fond of Dr. Sylvester. He cre- ated him a royal Prussian councillor and appointed him to the body of dentists and gave him many presents. Dr. Sylvester was the pioneer Ameri- can dentist in Berlin, having come here thirty years ago. He had an ex- traordinarily large professional in- come, but had, nevertheless, financial difficulties. Recently Dr. Sylvester had been suffering from a severe at- tack of influenza, and for two or three days past he had talked incoherently. THE MARKETS. Latest Quotations From Grain and Live Stock Centers. St. Paul, Jan. 11. — Wheat — No. 1 Northern, $1.13 1-4@1.133-8; No. 2 Northern, $1.06 1-4@1.08 1-4; No. 3, $1 @1.03. Corn—No. 3 yellow, 40@41c Oats—No. 3 white, 28 1-2@29c. Minneapolis, Jan. 11.—Wheat — No. 1 hard, $1.175-8; No. 1 Northern $1.151-8; No.2 Northern, $1.11 7-8@ 1.13 7-8. Oats—No. 3 white, 28c. Duluth, Jan. 11. — Wheat — No. 1 Northern, $1.145-8; No. 2 Northern $1.07 5-8; flax, $1.23; rye, 73c. Milwaukee, Jan. 11. —- Wheat — No. 1 Northern, $1.15 1-2@1.16 1-2; No. 2 Northern, $1.09@1.13. Rye—No. 1, 79 @80c. Barley — No. 2, 53c. Oats — Standard, 311-2@32c. Corn—No. 3, 42 @42 1-2c. Chicago, Jan. 11. — Wheat — No. 2 red, $1.171-2; No.3 red, $112 @ 1.16; No. 2 hard, $1.13@1.16; No. 3 hard, $1.06 @ 1.12; No. 1 Northern $1.18 1-2@1.20; No. 2 Northern, $1.10@ 1.15. Corh—No. 2, 421-4ce. Oats—No 2, 30 1-4¢c. Sioux City, Iowa, Jan. 11. — Cattle —Beeves, $3.°0@5.85; cows, bulls and mixed, $2.25@3.50; stockers and feed- ers, $2.75@3.60; calves and yearlings, $2.25 @ 3.25.. Hogs — Bulk, $4.35 @ 4.45. Chicago, Jan. 11. — Cattle—Good to prime steers, $5.60 @ 6; stockers and feeders, $2.20 @ 4; cows, $1.40 @ 4; heifers, $2@5; calves, $3.50 @ 6.75 Hogs — Mixed and butchers, §4.35 @ 4.671-2; bulk, $4.45@4.571-2. ‘Sheep —Good to choice wethers, $4.6045.50; native lambs, $5 @ 6.85: Western lambs. $5.50@6.75. South St. Paul, Jan. 11. — Cattle — Good to choice steers, $5.50 @ 6; good to choice cows and heifers, $2.65 @3.50; butcher bulls, $2.35@3; veals, $2 @ 5; good to choice stock steers, $2.75@3.65; good to choice mich cows, $30@40. Hogs — Range price, $4.15@4.50; bulk, $4.25@4.35. Sheep —Good to choice lambs, $5.75@6.26; fair to good, $5.50 @ 5.75; good 10 choice yearling wethers, $4.50@5.25; good to choice ewes, $4@4.25. ACTRESS’ THROAT BETTER. Operation Not Necessary, Says Jail Physician. New York, Jan. 11.—No operation will be performed on Nan Patterson’s throat, Jail Physician McGuire said, after visiting the actress in the Tombs yesterday. She was threatened with ‘tonsilitis, but her condition has im- proved. Thirty-three letters for the former Florodora girl were received by her yesterday. All of them were written in a sympathetic vein, _ pet, Washington, Jan. 5.—Upon recon- vening yesterday after the holiday re- cess the senate plunged directly into the consideration of the bill for the admission of two states to be com- posed uf Arizona and New Mexico and Oklahoma and Indian Territory. <A motion by Mr. Beveridge to take up the bill prevailed by a two-thirds ma- jority. Mr. Heyburn, who renewed his effort to get up the pure food bill, voted with the Democrats on one roll call, but with this exception the Re- publicans voted solidly to proceed witth the consideration of the state- hood bill and the Democrats solidly against the course. A motion by Mr. Bate to recommit was voted down. Mr. Neilson spoke at length in advo- cacy of the bill. A bill introduced in the house by Representative Stevens of Minnesota proposes to amend the interstate com: merce act so as to bring within tha control of interstate commerce com- mission private car companies en- gaged in carrying freight traffic and to place such companies under the juris- diction of the interstate commerce law. Provision is made against grant- ing discriminating rates or rebates. Washington, Jan. 6. — The joint statehood bill again yesterday occu- pied the major portion of the atten- tion of the senate and Mr. Nelson completed his speech in support of it. The omnibus claims bill was read in part, but no effort was made to secure action on it. Bills for the reorganiza- tion of the medical corps of the army and regulating promotions of army of- ficers in the ordnance department were passed. The government’s cotton statistics as prepared by the agricultural de- partment and census bureau, formed the subject of an extended discussion in the house yesterday. Representa- tive Livingston of Georgia attacked the reliability of the government’s es- timates and charged that the inaccur- acy of the figures had created a panic in the cotton market. The bill to im- prove currency conditions @as further discussed, but adjournment was taken without final action on it. Washington, Jan. 7—Senator Bard yesterday occupied the entire time of the senate given to the joint statehood bill. He made an argument against the union of Arizona and New Mexico on the ground that the people of the two territories do not desire it. Several bills of minor importance were passed. The house passed the fortifications appropriation bill and adjourned until Monday. Washington, Jan. 10. — After the passage of the omnibus Dill and fixing Jan. 28 for the delivery of addresses in memory of the late Senator Hoar, the senate devoted yesterday to the state- hood bill. Mr. Morgan spoke for two hours against the Dill. The house yesterday adopted the senate resolution providing among other things for the holding of the in- augural ‘ball in the pension building. On a viva voce vote the resolution was lost, but a roll call enabled those fa- yorable to the pension building prop- osition to muster their strength and pass it. Speaker Cannon and several of the Republican leaders recorded themselves as being opposed to the idea of the employment of the pension building for the purpose. of the in- augural ball. ELEVEN VOTES FOR ROOSEVELT. Minnesota’s Electors Officially Ballot for President and Vice President. St. Paul, Jan. 11—George W. Peter- son of Long Prairie was yesterday se- lected as the messenger to carry to Washington the tidings that Minneso- ta casts eleven electoral votes for Theodore Roosevelt for president of the United States. The eleven elec- tors met in St. Paul for the purpose of electing a messenger. The board organized by electing Thomas Lowry president and Harold Wright secre- tary. The presidential electors met in each state yesterday and voted for president and vice president. The re- turns will be sent by special messen- gers from évery state to the care of the president of the senate, and these sealed returns will be opened Jater in the presence of both, bodies of con- gress, the vote canvassed and the re- sult declared. MANGLED UNDER WHEELS. One Man Killed and Twelve Persons Injured in Wreck. Urbana, Ill., Jan. 11—Ralph C. Rob- erts of Keokuk, lowa, captain of the University of Illinois baseball team, was killed and twelve persons were injured, several seriously, in a wreck at Rising. The wreck was caused by a dining car of the train leaving the track. None of the injured is danger- ously, hurt. Roberts was standing on the steps preparing to jump and was thrown under the wheels. He was mangled and lived but a few minutes. PENSION BILL PARED DOWN. Appropriation Measure Reported Car- ries $138,250,100. Waghington, Jan. 11. — The house committee on appropriations yester- day reported the pension appropria- tion biil, carrying $138,250,100. This dis $110,600 less than the current ap- propriation. The payment of surgeons is cut $100,000 and the amount for the payment of pensions is made $137,000,- 000, instead of 138,110,000 appropria- ted for the current year. The bill con- tains no new legislation. A i