Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, May 9, 1887, Page 1

Koo % n a L SR THE OMAHA DAILY BEE OMAHA, MONDAY MORNING, MAY 9, 1887, OMAHA'S POLICE COMMISSION. Governor Thayer Names the Four Members of the Board. SOME SENSIBLE SUGGESTIONS. Smith and Gilbert Appointed For Two and Bennett and Hartman For Four Years-—-News From Nebraska, The Lucky Four. (aNcorN, Neb,, May S.—[Special to the Brk.|—GovernowThayer has inade the fol lowing appointments of lire and police com- misstioners for Omaha, To serve two years, Howard B. Smith and George 1. Gil- to serve four years, L. M. Bennett and stian Hartman, In transmitting these appointments the governor forwards the fol- lowing letter regarding the law and his view of action: To Messrs. Howard B, Smith, Giibert, L. M. Bennett and Chr man, Omaha, Nebraska The following is an extri creating the Omaha charter: Soction 145, In each city of the metropoli- tan class there shall be a ‘board of fire and police to consist of the mayorr (who shall be ex-officio chalrman of said " board) and four electors of said city, to be a‘)]mmte(l by tne %(u nor. ‘I'he governor shall appoint as he commissioners above four citizens, not more than two of whom shall be of the same volitical }mrly. and two of them, of different political faith and allegience, shall be desig- Dated 1n thelr appointments, to serve fortwo years, and the other two, also of different political party faith, shall be designated to serve for four years: and thereatter, at the expiration of sald term, and each period of two vears, the governor shall appoint two members of said board. For official miscon- duct the governor may remove any of said commissioners; and all vacancies in said board by death, resignation or removal shal be filled by the governor for the unexpired term, and all vacancies from whatever cause shall be so filled; that not more than two of the members of ghall be of the same political puted. All powers and duties with, and Incident to, the appointment, re- moval, government and discipline of theé of- ficers and wmembers of the fire and police de- partment of the city under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by ordi- nance shall be vested in and exercised by said board.” Under the authority thus granted you have been appointed fire and police commissioners for the city of Omana, You, in_conjunction with the mayor, will constitute the board. ‘The power to'appoint and remove the com- missioners, taken In connection with the sworn duty of the governor, to see that the laws be faithtully executed, plainly implies that his duty and interest in the matter should not cease with the selection of the commissioners. At least, I so interpret it. 1t will not, therefore, be out of place for me to present some views and suggestions which will, without doubt, commend themselves to your {mlguwnt. It is generally admitted that there isa pressing necessity for a complete and most thorough renovation and reorganization of the me« department of your city., Tothe working ont of this purpose it now becomes your duty to devote vourselves, Recently I passed five days in Omaha listening to what every one had to say who desired to converse with me_in reference to appointments and police affairs, making ob- servations, lx\klngenoles and learning every- thing 1 could bearing on the subject. I traversed various streets, road around the suburbs on two evenings, and from Thurs- day evening till Mundt:( forenoon I saw but one policeman, and he did not seem to be on duty. lm‘mrhlg of various persons, *Where are the police, 1 see none?”’ the answer came from eleven different reputable citizens, ‘It ou will look into the saloons and gambling houses you will find them.” A physician in- formed me that, going home about 9 o’clock [e(zenlly. he found a man 1inside his fence, ing on the flmuudn!uw steps trom his oor, drunk. street lookin, y Dear 81 from the law e went up and down the for a policeman without tind- ing any till he entered a saloon and there tound one, 'The papers have reported fre- quent cases of persons being “*held up” while returning from business to their homes in the early evening, and of burglars entering and ransacking dwellings. 1n my walks around the city towards even- ing I observed gatherings of persons upon certain street corners, which I'should desig- nate loating corners, through which ladies could elbow their way only with much difli- culty. 1 saw one lady take her little girl and suP off the sidewalk Into the street to go around the crowd and in doing 80 a team came along in close rmxlmlly to the child, and the lady saved it rom harm by quickly drawing it ‘one side. Tlooked around for a policeman, but none was Insight. All these outrages and evils, and kindred ones, must be brought to an end. ‘The inkabitants of the city are taxed 1~ sunport a police, and the police must be what It 18 designed to be—a protection to the people. They have a right to demand this. T a{)lnin intent and meaning of the law 1s, that there shall be a non-partisan police. T have complied with the Iaw in sefecting two from each ot the great political parties. From this time on, in any action which I may have to take, and In _my consultations with the commissioners, I shall know no politics, and I shall exxect you to be gov- erned by the same rule. Any attempt to re- ward partisans would be _regarded by me as “oficial misconduct.” No one should be made an ofticer or member of the police force ns a reward for litical service, or to pay any political debt. The only points to lui considered should be the integrity, the abil ity, the intelligence and the fitness of the one proposed. No one should be appointed unless his habits are entirely above reproach. No man who has been accustomed to hang around saloons and gambling places or low dives, and no one unless he be strictly tem- perate, should be placed upon the force, ‘The city will, of course, be laid off into regular beats, and rules and regulations will be adopted by you. ‘The members of the volice force should be thoroughly informed and instructed as to their duties. They should be under as thorough and completo discipline as if they belongea to the United States army. They shonld inform themseves as rapidly as vossible as to different loealities and places ot business, so that they can im- rt information to all who may seek it "hey should answer all questions in a cour- teous, respectful mal ‘Their deportment should be such at ail times that every person will mstinctively feel that the policemen are gentlemen and are their protectors. Their power should be exercised with tirmness, but neverin a brutal or inhuman manner. 1f any officer or member of the force neglects his duty, or is off his beat, or enters a saloon while on duty, except in the performance of an official duty, should be immediately dis- charged, Gentlemen, there must be a thoroughly or- anized, & llmmu‘(hly eficient, “and horoughly controlled police departinent in the eity of Omaha. It must be made safe for any peaceably disposed citizeus to walk the streets at any bour of the night if duty so re- quires, And_ the uccomplishment of this rurpose now devolves upon you, 1 think I now the good veople of “your city well enough to justify me in saying that I know you will have the hearty encouragement and support of all in this work, And you will know also that, at all times, you will have all the power and influence of the state execu- tive to sustain you. Very respectfull JORrN M. THAYER, Governor. —— Bad Fire at Ailnsworth, ANsworTH, Neb,, May 8.—'Special Tele- gram to the BEE, The Burns house caught five this mornin gat 1:30 o’clock and burned to the ground. Loss, §0,000; insurance, $4.000. The fire is supposed to have been started by incendiaries, @illett’s market and Leipsas’ bottling works were also burned, ANOTHER ACCOUNT. AINSWORTH Neb., May 8.—|Special Tele- gram to the Itk About 1:30 this morning Ainsworth had the first tire since its found- ing. The Burns house took fire from an un- known source, in all probability incendiary, 8o quickly did the Ilr&o two-story structure rn that the alasm had scarcely been circu- eusrally When the holel was a wass of ruins. A strong wind had blown all nizht, and at the time of the fire it was biowing southwest, but changed to northwest while the fire was burning. At one time it was thought the southern portion of the town would all be burned, and goods were hastily moved into the street. The inmates of the Burns house barely escaped with their lives and such articles ‘as they could carry in their arms, The fire spread 80 rapidly that the employes lost all their ef- fects, in many cases escaping but half clothed. A brigade was formed and the buildings near protected. A market belong- ing to F. E. Gillett across the street was burned with the fixtures. It was a very close call for the town, While this tire was in progress another started in the west end of town in_the bot- tling works of T. R. Lepsas, the fire almost cutting off his escape from the building in which he was asleep. The works were very complete and are a great loss to the town. ‘The Burns house was owned by J. F. Burns, one of the pioneers of town, and the furniture owned by J. M. Brackett, the land- lord, and valued at about $6,000. ‘T'he insur- ance on the building was 00; on the fur- niture N ‘The bottling werks were val- ued at $1.000: insured for $750. The spring term of the district eourt begins here to-mor- row. There will be inany strangers here dur- ing the session and this fire makes accommo- dations guite limited. Holdrege Badly Scorched. HorpreGE, Neb., May S.—[Special tele- gram to the Brr.|—A fire broke out this morning about 7 o’clock in Einsel’s building on West avenue, formerly occupied by N. J. Chesline as an implement house. The fire was not discovered until it had so far con- sumed the building that it could not be saved. From this the fire soon spread to other build- ings. The wind was blowing from the north and it was soon discovered that all the build- ings in the block must go. The buildings burned were a dwelling, Einsel’s building, where the fire originated; W. O. Smith’s music emporium, Moore Bri billiard hall, McWinquest's merchant tailor establish- ment, Sheneberger’s & Wagner's hardware store, and John Same’s meat markef The aggregate loss is $2,500 with about §1,200 in- suranc 'he Commn I state bank block, belonging to Einsel Bros., was damaged to the extent of £1,000. All the plate glass wa broken by the heat and the cornice melted away. The fire is supposed to be the work of an incendiary, An Educational Appeal. CoruMpus, Neb, May 8.—|Special Tele- gram to the BEE,|—President Perry, of Doane college, made two masterly efforts on behalf of the Congregational organization in whose Interest lie is an able champlon. The services, both morning and evening, were largely attended. His appeal, vigor of thought and close analysis of the life of ‘Abraham and his journeys from Ur among the Chaldees to Bethel was one of those rare treats of mental culture, infusing heroic im- pulses into the young men who were present, The appeal for help should bring a liberal response for such a needed institution as the Doane college. An Alnsworth Wedding. Aixswontil, Neb,, May 8.—[Special Tele- gram to the B —J, . Ackerman, of the firm of Munson & Ackerman, general mer- chants, and Miss Nellie Murphy were wmar- ried at 5 o’clock this morning and went east on the 6 o’clock train for a wedding trip in the east. ———— THE ULEARANCE RECORD. Omaha in Line With Another Big Increase. BosToN, May 8.—|Special Telegram to the Beg,|—Following table compiled from dispatches to the Post from managers of the leading clearing houses in the United States show gross exchanges for the week ending May 7, with percentage increase and de- crease from corresponding week last year: CITIES, CLEARINGS. Se. Decrease, New York. Boston. Chicago Philadelphia . St. Louis en San Francisco.. Baltimore. Cincinnati.. Pittsbure. Kansas City. New Orlean: Louisvill St. Paul Milwaul Minneapolis Providence. Detroit . Cleveland. Omaha. *Duluth Denver. Columbus. . Indianapolis . Memphis Hartford . St. Joseph New Haven. Peoria. . Springfield. .. Worcest: Portland Galvestol Wichita Netmeluded in_ totals, e S A BIG CATTLE DEAL, A Combination Formed to Control the Country's Beef Industry. Cincaao, May. 8. —[Special Telegram to the B he ‘Tribune says to-day that the celebrated American Cotton Oil 15t will soon be entirely overshadowed by a new in- vestment “trust,” in which no less than §25,000,000 has been invested, The new com- bination is the “Amer| Cattle Trus with its interests settled in New York, cago und the great cattle rancues of the west. Millionaire Nelson Morris is its conspicuous head in Chicago, and the other western trus- tees, just selected, are’ Mr. Frank Vogel, of thé Fairbank Canning company, Chicago; ex-Governor Rutt, of "Colorado; Thomas Sturges, president of the Wyom- ing Cattle company, Cheyenne; Captain Lytle, of Texas, an D. H. Head, presidentof the American Ranch association. ~ Associated with these are a large number of heavy eastern capitalists. ‘The object of this great *‘trust” is to largely increase, develop and encourage the rmsm.i and handling of cattle, the slaughtering o them by first hands and the placing of their prodmets in the different markets of the world, The new venture is to be inaugura- ted upon an immense scale, The $25,000,000, it is said, has been pald in. The projectors say that It is not too much ‘to_expect that it will secure the mastery over the great cattle interests of the country, which, however, they claim will be a_benefit to all raisers of cattleand herders of beet. 1t is not meant that all the Kkilling a acking shall be done near the ranges. The trust has control of a large numoer of establishments which it will run to the best advantage. ‘The coibi- nation includes ranchmen from Texas to the Britisn line, who believe they will be able to handle their cattle to much better advantage than has been the case of late, and that they will not be forced to put them on the market but be enabled to do {t only when its profits are to be had. A meeting of the trust will be held in New York next week and it is proba- ble that Thomas Sturges, of Wyoming, will be elected to the presidency. At that time more details of the scheme “will doubtless be made publie. 2 et R Glass Works Burned, PITTSBURG y 8.—The Homestead glass- works at Homestead, Pa., burned this morn- ing.. The loss is $50,000, fully insured. One hundred men will be temporarily thrown out.of work, CANADIAN ANNEXATION TALK The Scheme Again Revived of Giving Us Englana’e Oostly Province. A VERY USELESS APPENDAGE. Commlssioner Coleman Positive That He Did Not Use the Word *‘Car« casses”'—A Foreign Offi- cial's Bad Butler, 0, Thanks, WASHINGTON, May % —[Special Telegram to the Br:k.|—There is again some agitation of the question of annexing Canada to the United States, 1t is reported that influential and wealthy Canadians are favoring the pro- position, while the great bulk of manutac- turers, mechanics and laborers are working for annexation. An educated manufacturer at Ontario has written a letter here, in which hesays: “Weare all annexationists. We believe that our future properiy depends on a speedy admission into the American union. ‘The people 1n my trade across the border make nearly 10 per cent more than I do with the same number of employ There are many other things. We are greatly dissatis- wed with our present position as a British dependency. Suppose the mother country was to get into a war to-morrow. We would be greatly jeopardized, for our Atlantic and Pacilic coasts are greatly exposed. We might be ruined by being involved in a quarrel we h nothing to do with making. ‘Then there is another matter that causes the greatest dis- contentment. We have no representatives in the imperial parliament. As a part of the American union we would be beyond dan- ger of attack whenever Encland became in- volved in war, Besides our rights as s ony we would be part of a great nation with a volce in its affairs, There is an organiza- tion in this country, extending all over Canada, which is for the purpose of promot- ing the growth of the amendment for an- nexation, The movement here includes nearly thre leading men of is “distriet has the same strength all ~ over western Ontario. it 1s especially influential in Manitoba and the northwestern vrovinces on the Pacitic. It is a secret society in that its meeting are not open to the general public. We intend to agitate the question till we succeed. Lansdowne’s course as governor gen aiding us greatly, The French sp class of our people have not forgotten Papineau and 1537 and they are for annexa- tion to a man. ‘The only people who oppose us are the would-be x\rls(ul-nwr and those who call themselves the court circle. By the next general election in the states we want to be ready to ask you to take us iuto the Aumerican union.”” ad r Jordan’s Successor. [Special Telegram he new bank in New York with which Mr. C. F. Jordan, treasurer of the United States, is to be connected is to begin business on Tuesday. 1t is exvected that the president will endeavor to accommodate Mr. Jordan by selecting his successor in time to allow Mr. Jordan time to assume his new duties this week. 1t is understood that the president lhas authorized him to select a proper man as his own successor, and that Mr. Jordan has chosen Mr. John M. Hyatt, the national bank examiner for Connecticut and Rhode Island. Mr. Jordan sald to-day that he thought that Mr. Hyatt would make an_excellent treasurer if lhe could be induced to accept the place, but that he does not seem at all anxious to take it. Mr. Hyatt arrived here last night and is quartered at the Arlington, where ex-Senator arnum is also stopping, The ex-senator is understood to be warmly in favor of the ppointment and it 1s reported that he is 'ving to induce his protege to accept the of- fice if it is tendered him by the president to- wmorrow, a8 it probably will be. Mr. Hyatt has the strongest kind of endorsements from the bankers and the business men of New England, and his appointment would doubt- less give general satistaction to all parties interested, ~Mr. Jordan cannot leave his post until his suceessor files his bonds, as he is responsible for the funds stored in the treasury building and their custody cannot be transferred to any official who is not bonded. Coleman on Butterine. WASHINGTON, May 8.—[Special Telegram to the BEE.]—Referring to the report of the recent interview with him respecting the components of oleomargarine, butterine, ete,, and the Investigation by the depariment of agriculture relating thereto, Commissioner Coleman to-day said: *I was misunderstood in regard to the word ‘carcasses.” I said it had been charged before both the senate and house committees on agriculture that fat —not carcasses of horses, dogs and swine—had been used in the manufacture of oleo oil. That is true, as the records will bear witness. 1also said, and I reaffirm it, that no chemist—nobody—can tell whether fats used in the manufacture of oleo or oleo- margarine were taken from animals which were slauchtered or from animals which had died, I have written to Armour & Co., of Chicago, in response to an inquiry that 1.did not use the word ‘carcasses.’ ‘The reporter misunderstood, but I do not believe that he intended to misrepresent what 1 said.” An Audacious Butler. WAsHiNaToN, May 8.—[Special Telegram here is a story afloat to the etfect that a prominent toreign minister has been recently experiencing considerable an- noyance at the hands of his butler, whose audacious behavior he is prevented from re- senting in the proper manner by a certain domestic complication to which the fellow nolds a key. About a fortnight since the butler went to Baltimore, where, putting up atoneof the large hotels, he rezistered in- stead of his own name that of his employer. ‘The entry was quickly noticed and before the lapse of twenty-four hours a shower of cards and invitations to dine poured in upon the supposed diplomat. Resolving to make the most of the occasion, the fellow actually accepted several of these invitations and solemnly attended dinners, keeping up the farce throughout and completely hoodwink- ing his entertainers, who were personally unacquainted with the ministe Since the butler’s return to Washington the story has leaked out. oo Blaine Buying Real Estate. WASHINGTON, May S.—|Special Tele- gram to the Bee.|—James G. Blaine, who is said to have a good deal of money in specu- lation, evidently believes in the stability of suburban property in this Distriet, for dur- ing the past week a real estate firm here has purchased for him a cor ner lot on Meridian hill, on Sixteenth and Huron streets, seventy-tive feet front, for £4,500, Whether Mr. Blaine intends to erect upon this lota quiet suburban residence from which he can overlook the capital city and keep track of the workings of the democratic administra- tion is not stated. A New Indian Mission. TON, May 8.—[Special Telegram k2. ) —Miss Grace Howard, daughter of Joe Howard, of New York, is visiting Mrs, A. A. Cole, this city. Miss Howard will leave in June for Crowfoot, Dak., where she starts a mission in the shape of an indus- trial home for Hampton Indian girls, who return to the reservations when _there is no appropriate work for them. Her mission will be thirty miles from the oune founded last fall by Mrs, Tilston, At the Capital. WAsHINGTON, May 8.—[Special Tele- gram to the Bee.|—P. G. Ballinzall, Ot- tumwa, Ia., Is seeing the sights of Washing- ton, J. J. Richardson, of Davenport, Ia., isat e Ebbist, itk S A NEWSPAPER DUEL. Triangular Political Fight Between Germany, Austria and Russia. [Copyright 1857 by James Gordon Bennett.) BERL1Y, May 8.—[New York Herald Cable ~Special to the Bek.|=Politically the past week has been spent in a long range news- paper duel between the Moscow Gazette, oth- erwise Katkoff plus an uncertain amount of the czar of Russia; the Pester Lloyd, speak- ing for Count Andrassy, and the North German Gazette, the ofticial paper of the for- eign oftice. hrough these papers many irri- tating statements were made, which, in the nature of things, could only come from dip- lomats, yet of a type which diplomacy, un- aided by newspapers, would have to leave unsaid. Germany proved, despite denials, that Austrla twelve years ago at- tempted to divide Turkey with Russia, but without mentioning the matter to Germany, though Germany was then avd since was, according to the German point ot view, Rus- sia’s firmest friend. Katkoff replies that he does not believe all this. He would hate Germany just the same anyway. The Pester Lloyd whines fiercely that some one scems to be lying, as Austria never meant anything. These sort of answers and counter-answers came first in a sammary by telegraph, then post, so that each day’s issue of the Combat- ants contains a quarrel in all the stages of its progress. What is most amusing in all the discussion is that after the air has been thus cleared an idea is gained of the strength of the hand each nation hokds. Then diplomacy will gravely disavow the ofticial nature of the newspaper statements. Several other articles have attracted much attention, notably one headed “Why War?” in the Kreuz Zeitung, a very able review of the situation, but show ing the conviction that war must come. Following this were several articles on dyuamite, interesting mainly because showing how vigorously but continuoysly the experiment with high power explosives is being carried on by all Eurove. REVIEWING THE TROOPS. In Potsdam Tuesday the emperor made his first appearance atthe manauvres, reviewing aregiment of guards. Prince William, with a brilliant staff, was present. His children looked on from the palace window. Among the spectators was General Kaulbars, of Bul- garian fame, now quietly visiting Berlin. At the later mancuvres with the new repeating rifle the crown prince will also take part, as a few weeks’ rest at Ems has so completely stopped his throat trouble that the prince re- turns soon to remain here until he goes to England’s jubilee celebeation. A FURIOUS 8TO hroughout Germany the played havoe this week. Hailstones of the size of hen’s eggs stripped the fruit trees of buds and made things generally uncomfort- able for all exposed portions or things. One church was tlooded until the altar tloated away. Ip another place lightning burned a barn with 300 sheep, cows, horses, ete. In Berlin we escaped with a heavy wind storm which did no damage beyond breaking off many tree branches. ‘T'his is one sign of soring. Another is that the beattles with the swans have begun in the various lakes and streams near Berlin, One boat full o picnickers was set upon by a swan which used its wings to such advan- tage that it drove the party away from its resort. f. Herald storm A STEAM OMNIRUS. From Dresden I hear of the successful trial of a steam omnibus which intends to run regularly over the country roads. It is man- aged by two men and carries forty-six pas- sengers, with considerable freight. As re- gards expense nothing is said. American travelers will havea chance to try it this summer, as it will replace the former means of communication between two small towns frequented by Americans. Berlin curiosity has been greatly excited all the week by big yellow posters stuck up over the city reading **Alfred, return. All is forgiven. Thy Father.”” Who Alired may be,and why he needs yellow posters to bring him home, no one has yetdiscovered. FRIGHTFUL AUSTRIAN FIRES, Thousands of People Made Homeless and Several Lives Lost, VIENNA, May 8.—Fire at Nagykarolin caused by a terrible storm ot wind which car- ried sparks to the distant wood yards, set fire to them. ~ Altogether 400 houses were destroyed, and 5,000 people deprived of their homes are camping in the open air. Since the recent fire at Eperis many inmates of the convent and school have been mussing, At the time of the fire several girls were killed by jumping from the windows, A hot sirroco blew the week throughout Hungary, drying up vegetation and render- ing it inflammable.” At Toroczko 300 house were burned and four lives were lost. The conflagration lasted two days. Ruseberg the church and thirty-seven houses were destroved. Many hot ere burned at the village of Merézy. At Eperys all the churches and pe vublic buildings were destroyed and the cem- etery was devastated. 1t is estimated that the total loss will reach $2,500,000. Ail the Hunzarian and Austrian insurance houses are invoived, A Large Congo LCopyrighted 1857 by James Brussens, May 8.—[ cable—Speaial to the Bk pedition which ever started for the Congo Free State sailed to-day from Antwerp on the steamer Vlaand Ren, comprising Jans- sen, governor of the Free State, his secretary, Counts Antsine and Phillipe de Salling, Cap- tain Thys. of Calgium; General Ralstaff and Gaptain Gambier, who goes out to study the question of the establishment of a 1ailroad; four other Belgian oficers: Mr. Delcom- mune, the freshly appointed Belgian consul; Leopold Ville, three Belgian and one Ger- man engineer, six workmen for the Free State, besides five other gentlemen and ten workinen for the Belgian factories estab- lished at Matebs island, in all thirty tive white men, taking with them wooden houses and reat quantity of goods. A large crowd witnessed and cheered their doparture from the pier, pedition, jordon Bennett.] ew York Herald |—=The largest ex- ——— The French Steams| HAVRE, May 8,—The French steamer La gne, Captain De Jouselyn, from New Anpril 30, arrived here at noon to-day. She reports that during the nizht she collided with and sank a Norwegian bark. The crew of the bark was saved. The steamer La Cnampagne, which safled yesterday morn- ing for New York, and which aftewward ere- turned, having been in collision, was run luto by the steamer Ville Derio. "'he latter steamer sank, but her crew and passengers were saved. ‘The eollision caused a panic among the Italians on board the Champagne, who made a rush for the life boat and ca) sized 1t, five of them being drowned, in addi- tion to three sailors who nad tried to prevent the rush. ‘The steamer Ville de Bordeaux rescued fifteen Italians clinging to the cap- sized lite boat. Mgr. Quinn’'s Remains, [Copyright 1857 by James Gordon Hennett.) QUEENSTOWN, May 8.—[New York Her- ald Cable—Special to the BEE.|—Father O'Farrell, of St. Teresa's church, New York, left on the steamship Arizona to-day in charge of the remains of Mcr. Quinn, e okl Weather Indications. For Nebraska, lowa and Eastern Dakota: Fair weather; light variable winds; nearly stationary temperature, LEARNED HAWKEYE LAWYERS Legal Luminaries Who Define Deep Black- stonian Questions, CELEBRATION OF ARBOR DAY A General Revival of Athletic Sports Throughout the State—A State Undertakers’ Organizas tion—lows News. Constitutional Law Cranks. Drs MoiNes, I May 8.—[Special to the BeE.|—lowa is getting famous for its slash- ing away at constitutional questions on slight provocation. Whether this ba because of an impression that the supreme law of the state was put together very hastily, and that ‘legislators didn’t know what they were doing when they made the laws, or because there are an unusually largé number of large headed attorneys who feel competent to in- struct the courts on anything that may come up is not altogether apparent. But for some reason 1t has come to pass that now-a-days when an attorney finds some tritling obstacle in his way, like an ordinary statue, he pro- ceeds immediately to stand up in a chair and declare that statute unconstitutional. That was the way the attorneys for the saloons disposed of the original prohibitory amend- ment. ‘They have attacked the new supple- mentary prohibitory laws in the same way from a dozen sides. They have bombarded nearly every important statute of recent enactment with the same counstitutional am- munition, and now they have laid seige to the law reorganizing the district courts. The defeated clrcuit judges who were legislated out of officc have decided—in their own minds—that the act was unconstitu- tional, and they have brought suit to recover their salaries for the full terms for which they were olected. Some- body down in Mahaska county the ottier day fell into the clutches of the district court, and seeing no other way of escaping, has boldly declared the district coutt an uncon- stitutional body, and he asks the supreme court to have him released ior that reason. 1lis objection to this tribunal is based on the tact that it now by act of the last general as- sembly has three judges, while the original provision of the corstitution, way back at the organization of the state, arranged for only one. On this ground he has brought suit before the supreme court, and it is ex- pected that this august body- will toss off a decision at the June term on this new un- constitutional question. The supreme court has had the constitutional question fired at it so0 often that it isn’t frigntened & bit when some legal luminary gravely informs it that the law of the I is unconstitutional. A term of court without that announcement would be a novelty ARBOR DAY'S OBSERVATION, Arbor day was celebrated the past week very generally throughout Towa. It was the first time for many years that this good cus- tom has had anything like weneral and offi- clal recognicion. At a meeting of a number of citizens the exercises took on apublic character of great interest and included ad- aresses from the representative men of the r One pleasant feature of the day was he pianting of trees to the name and mem - ory of distinguished statesmen. In some instances names of American poets were rpetuated in this way, and children grow- ng “P with the trees will always have be- foro them pleasant suggestions of America’s roll of greatness. Arbor day promises to be one of the popular institutions of the future in Towa. AN ATHLETIC CRAZE. ‘There seems to be a general revival of in- terest in athletic sports this year throughout the state. Base ballat the capital has become a perfect craze. Business and protessional men drop everything to attend the games and the interest inthe result is not confined to this city alone. In a number of the county seats within a radius of thirty-five or forty niiles the games here are bulletined, being telephoned by innings from this cit; Next to base ball, boating istaking a good share of public attention, Clubs are actively at work n Des Moines, Davenport, Cedar Rapids, Keokuk and Ottumwa preparing for the an- nual rezatta of the State Rowing association, which will be held at Spirit Lake July 19 and 20. 'The list of entries Includes for the first dnr a junior single, junior double, junior pair, junior four and a gig crew. d day’s entries will The sec- be & senior single, senior double, senior pair, senior four and a free-for-all race. Beautiful medals costing about §1,200 will be awarded as prizes, and the free-for-all races are expected to aitract elubs from Minneapolis, Chic , Omaha and Moline, and make a very Interesting regatta, Special arrangements for reduced rates have been made with the railroads. and it is ex- pected that great crowds will be drawn to the most beautiful locality in Iowa. THE ROSSER SHERIDAN RACKET. General Rosser, the ex-Rebel cavalry officer who has leaped into a temporary notoriety by his attack upon General Sheridan, has stirred up an lowa man, who renders same very pertinent remark: General Rosser complains of Sheridan’s ride through the Shenandoah valley as a brutal cutrage upon the sw,u]»lu living there. The lowa man, Mr. W. H. H. Lancaster, who lives a few miles west of this city, writes to the papers that he WAs a military telegraph operator at New Creek station in West Virginia at the time that the Rebel Rosser and his cavalry raiaed that sec- tion. “in company with & number of other Unionists, soldiers and civilians,” says Mr, Lancaster, “'I was completely robbed of money, watches, clothing and all other valu- ables, stripped from head to foot, marched across the country to Staunton almost naked, barefooted and hungry, laid out nightt on the cold, wet ground three and one-half montbs in Castle Thunder, and am still suf- fering from neuralgia and rhenmatism con- tiacted then,” That was the humane and chivalrous treatment received from Rosser and his crowd of freebooters, who now com- plains of Sheridan and asks ' that he be boy- cotted on his proposed pleasure ride throngh the Shenandoah valley. The old veteran’s rise up in the most unexpected places, to ram the ties down rebel throats and defend the honor and inte ldiers, SN The State Music e association have just closed their annual meeting at Grinnell. Thisis one of the youngest of the state associatlons and this w ts second meeting, The attenaance was large, the in- terest lively and the sp of the meeting energetic ‘and progressive. Whatever the difficulty about members of a church choir being together in peace and unity, no such trouble seems to have existed among the music teachers. Despite the rivalries and jeal- ousies of a jealous profession, the members at the Grinnell convention worked together very harmoniously for the interests of their organization and the advancement of the cause of higher musical culture. The con- certs given by the members showed that Iowa has a ‘good deal of musical talent among its instructors and their work is not simply theoretical, The coming musical event of the state Is the May music festival which begins in this city the 17th inst, Five grand concerts will be given, in which a chorus of nearly 800 voices and leading soloists of the northwest will participate, Excursion trains will run and visitors from all parts of the state are expected, The whole undertaking is under the direction of the Philharmonic society of this city, which proposes to make its annual musie festival as great an event for lowa as similar festi- vals in St. Louis and Cincinnati are for the states in which they situated, A GREAT UNDERTAKING, Since it has become the thing for trades and professions to organize and eco-operate together, what more natural than that the undertakers should do the same. now a state orzanization an adonted the eurhuuiuus title of rectors” as a lif They have they have Funeral Di- the “Funeral Directors” will hold nual weeting in this city May 25 and 26, ‘There are 600 “funeral directors” in lowa, and it is expected that a large number of them will be present, ‘The inducement of -‘ cadaver—a real live, that is, dead cadaver to operate upon is held out, with lectures on the art of embalming by a celebrated embalmer of New York City. ~ All sorts of grave quips and quirls from the irreverentcan be ex- pected when these solemn visaged ‘“di- rectors” convene. R — THE BAPIISM OF DEAT Immersion Ceremonies at New Or- leans Result in Seven Drownings. NEW ORLEANS, May 8.—Several colored congregations of the Baptist churches in this city have long made it a practice to baptize the members in the Mississippl river at cer- tain selected points both in the upper and lower districts of the city. The swift current of the river has always made the custom more or less dangerous, but the chances of mishap have until to-day been reduced to the minimum by the care oxercised in se- Tecting the place for the ceremonies, To-day, however, an aceident happened at which seven lives are known to have been lost, Mt. Zion Baptist church has been baptizing its converts at the foot of District street. Bestde the spot runs a wharf which extends into deep water, ‘This morning the cong ation gathered at the spot for the usua ceremonies. A large crowd assembled on the whaif, and in the midst of the exercises the railing oundinz it gave away and fully fifty people were preeipitated into the river. Around the whart were a number of skiffs, and into them many of the people were thrown, overturninz several boats and adding to the number strugglng in the water, The occupants of those skiffs which then floated set to work and rescued all those who could be reached. As stated, however, seven are known to have been drowned, and it is believed that from five to eight more ed, of the drowned, so far as known, Harriett Cook, white, nged seven years: Amelia Williams, age eight; Rose Edwards, age three, both colored; a colored woman namedRoselina Willlams,and two white women and one colored woman, names unknown. Roselina Williams, when she went into the water, had a child in her arms. She strugeled until she camo to the surtace and held the child until one of the res- cue skiffs reached her and the infant was soized and taken on board, and thon sunk, and was carried away by the current. One of the upknown white women was drowned under exactly similar circumstances and the rescued baby Is now held by the police for identification. ‘The other” unknown white woman and unknown colored women were drawn under a flatboat ana all efforts to rescue them, which were herole and ener- fivuc. faile nd many people were injured, ut none seriously. G e na ey THE EARTHQUAKES, More Particulars of the Destruction in Mexico and Arizona, ] May S.—The earthquake y created sad havoc in the north- eastern portions of Sonora, Mexieo. ‘This por- tion of the state is far from railway or tele- graphic communication, The following dis- pateh was received here to-day from Louis Torres, governor of Sonora: HERMOSILLO, Mexico., May 8,.—'I'he earth- quake caused terrible damage in Montezuma and destroyed several villages, but those of the northeastern part suffered most terribly. Oputo had all its houses destroyed and 150 people were killed. Houses were levelled to the ground. A new voleano has appeared and its eruptions destroyed all the tiber and pastures of the adjoining val- leys and mountains, Further detal pected hourly. L0UIS TORRES, ‘The volcano mentioned in the dispatah is in the famous Sierra Madre mountains. In this place a pretty severe shock of earthquake was felt this morning at 2 o’clock. Cr1y oF MEX1C0, (via Galveston), May 8.— The government to-day received its first in- formation regarding the disastrous earth- quake on the 3d inst. at the town of Bahispe, in the district of Montezuma Sonora, by which 150 persons their lives. 'The earth- (\lmke oceurred at 3:7 0., at the same time that volcanic ptions bey the nelghborhood mountains, ligh the summits for a long distance. n is made here by local scientists that Mexico is about to undergo general seis- mic convulsion, and the recent record of the earthquake shows that there is widespread voleanic activity from one end of Mexico to the other. LAREDO, Tex., May 8.—Passengers arriv- ing on the Monterey train report that great fires are raging on the summit of the moun- tains at many rlnces on both sides of the road. aVhether these fires have any connec- tion ‘with the recent earthquake disturbances in Arizona and New Mexico 18 yet to be de- termined, as tops of these mountaius are ul- most inaccessible. TvesoN, Ariz, May '8.—From one to two slight shocks of earthquake have been felt for several days, too slight to cause alarm. ‘There is mo doubt that nearly every moun- tain in southern Arizona has, to a great ex- tent, had its topogranhy changed, but so far as can be learned there’is no active volcano among thewm, — A Terrible Accident. LEXINGTON, May 8.—A terrible tragedy took place this morning near Spring Station, on the farm of Captain James Blackburn, ex- secretary of state, and a brother of Senator J. 8. Blackburn. Miss Henrietta Blackburn, accompanied by her cousin, Henrietta lemp- stead, a young lady of nineteen years, went out to shoot at a mark with a small rifle. They were joined by Samuel Blackburn, a young man of twenty-two, a brother of Miss Henrietta Blackburn, and a friendly contest was bezun as to who should shoot at the mark first. ‘The three engaged in a playful struggle for possession of the ritle, and’ in the struggle the weapon was discharged, the ball piercing the heart of Miss Henrietta Hempstead and killing her instantly. unfortunate lady gave a slicht seream, dropped to the blue grass and breathed her last before her horrilied cousins vealized the awful calamity that had befallen them. Mes- sengers were hurried off for medical and assistance and it was with the utmost difficulty that Miss Blackburn and Miss Hempstead’s moti d be restored from the shock oceasioned by the unexvected and terrible death of the young iady. Miss Hempstead was a great favorite in the eom- munity. The funeral will take place Mon- day aftérnoon at Frankfort. Shot and Killed Her Husband, TELBYVILLE, Ind., May 5,—[Special Tele- gram to the Bee.|—Mrs, John Fromer, of Greensburg, shot her ]Hl:l].lllll in that place yesterday, killing him in stantly. The mur- der was deliberate. Fromer was married to his present wife about two years ago, both having been married previously. A few months ago Mrs. Fromer attempted to poison nim by putting arsenic in his coffee. In tnis she failed. Things have gone from bad to worse until yesterday, when she went to the saloon where Tromer was bartender. Her actions attracting his attention, he went up to her, saying: *“What 1s that you have under your shawl? The reply was the thrusting of a revolver against his left breast and a report. Fromer was dead in fifteen minutes, the ball passing directly under the heart. Mrs. Fromer was arrested charged with murder. Fromer was thirty-live years old and was well thought of “among his triends, e An E Shot Dead JACKSON, Miss,, May 8.—The jury of in- quest in the case ot . D. Gambrill, editor of the Sword and Shleld, who was shot and killed late Thursday night by Colonel Jones S. Hamilton, lessee of the venitentiary, ad- journed at 11:30 o'clock last night after two days’ alnost continuous session, ‘They ren- dered a verdict as follows: **We, the jury of inquest in the case of the death of Roderick Gambrill, tind that he came to his death from istol shots and wounds inflicted by the ands of Jones S. Hamilton, as principal, and others, as abettors, unknown to the Jury.” e — Death of Father Waldron. CHicAGO, May S.—Rev. Jokn Waldron, one of the most widely known Roman Cath- olies ergymen In the west, died so-night after long iliness. He has been pastor of St. John parish in this city over a third of a century and during that time has never had & vacation, ‘lr('n'nlmu- NUMBER 328 GREELY'S NEW DEPARTURE. Weekly Bullotins to Be Tssued Showing the Country’s Olimatic Conditionu. THE FIRST OF THE SERIES, Statistios Concerning tho Tempera- ture and Ratn Fall in the Agricul- tural Districts inthe Various States of the Union, A Bulletin For Agriculturists. WasniNaron, M So~General reely, chief signal officer, has arranged to 10, beginning with to-day, a special woekly bulletin with the view of promptly placing before the public each Monday morning re- liable information relative to the climatie conditions in the icultural districts ot the country. It Is believed that these bulletins, containing the deliclencies or excess relative to tewperatures and rainfall during the growing season, will serve as a reliable basis for determining the conditions favora- ble or unfavorable for prowing crops, 'I'he following 1s the weather crop bulletin for the week ending Saturday, May 7: S1GNAL OFFIC WaAsHt 0N, May 8~ Temperature during tho present year, coms mencing with January 1 and ending May 1, The weather has becn colder than usual in the states bordering on the coast and from New England wi over the great lakes, the upper Mississispl and Missouri valleys and the lhl('kf‘ moun- tains, the regions of the greatest cold being 1n the states bonlerillr on the great lakes and thence westward to the Missouri river, over which the aggregate deficiency of daily mean temperature from January 1 to date range froni 200 degrees to 400, (an average daily deficiency of from about degree to 8 degrees). In northern New England and in the South Atlantic states the total de- ficiency in temperatute ranged from 100 to 300 derees (or an average of trom about 1 to 2 degrees) colder than usual. he weather hLas beon warmer than usual since January 1 in the enst and west Gulf states, ‘Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, and in the north- ern portion of Ohio, lllinois and Missourl, the nggregate excess of daily mean temperatures from January o to date ranging from 100 degrees to 200 degrees over the whole region named. During the week ending May 7, 1887, the temperature has been warner than the averawe for the week in all districts east of the Rocky mountains excepting the Flor- {da peninsula and ‘Texas. ‘I'lie Increase of temperature over the normal for the week in the wheat and corn regions north of the fortieth parallel of latitude has averaged about egrees, and this excess has there- fo re caused a rapid advance ot the season on arezion where it was much retarded. In the south the region of excessive temperature has received some further increase, and along the Atlantic coast the excessof temperature for the week ranged from 25 degrecs to thereby reducing the deliciency in tem ture for the season in these states, and giving conditions favorabletoagricultural interests, Rain fall durln, | on from January 1to May 1, 1857 nuary 1 there has been a large deficiency in rain tall in the northern States, ranging from 6 to 9 inches in the Gulf states and interior of the South Atlantic states. ‘The deficiency In the grain regions of the northwest has been slight, ranging from 1 to 3 inches in the lower Missouri valley, and averaging about 10 inches in the upper Mississippi vallay. The only regions showing an_excess of c{rucmlm tion for the season are as follows: Northern New England, Hudson river, upper Ohio valley, stations on Lake Erie and in eastern Michigan and western portions of Kan and Nebraska. The greatest excess, ri i‘ from 8 to 4 inches for the season, cover: northern Ohlo and western portions of Penne sylvania and New York. Slight deticiency in rain fall tor the season are reported from central and southern California, \ Durin¢ the week ending May 7, 1857.—Dur-_ ing the ‘)ust week the rainfalls in the norths ern portions of Wisconsin, Minnesota an Dakota, and in the W Gulf states, In cen< tral Mississippl, north Georgia and cen=’ tral Alabama, have been slightly above the average for the week, the heaviest rainfall ocs/ curring in eastern Texas, Arkansas and southern Missouri, thus in a measure alles: vating the drouth previously existing in those sections. In the western portions of New York and Pennsylvania and in northern ; Ohio the rainfall for the week has served to increase the excess of rainfall already re- ported in those sections, It willthus be seen that the season to date in_these sections of country has been ahout as follows: In’ the grain reglons of the north! it Nas been comparatively cold and dry; in the cotton regions, the lowest* of Georgia, warm and usually dry: in the cotton and rice regions on the South Atlantle coast, cold and comparatively dry; in the tobacco regions, in Vircinia and North Caros lina, cold ‘and dry: in tobacco regions, I Kentucky, nessee and Pennsylvania, the weather " hi been warm with the rainfall slightly less than usual except in northern Kentucky, where the rainfall was slightly in excess, From reports received it appears that the metorological conditions of the past week have had the effect of rapidly mlvnuum%lho season in those sections where it had been previously retarded. [>igned. | ¥, Oficer. NEW YORK CHIRSTY. Mayor Hewlitt Laws in Gothan NEw Yonrk, May 5.—New Yorkers went thirsty to-day. The opinion of the corpora= tion counsel, as rendered last week, an- nounced that restaurants wero restrained by law from supplying guests with liquor at meals. This decision carried terror to the average hotel man who had hitherto thought that the blue laws would not touch his privileges. The hotel bars were all closed. Beer, wine and other drinks were not sold in any of the hotels. Cards were distributed inall the leading hotels yesterday afternoon announcs ing that the bars would be closed m—dn{ Titis had the desired eficet, The guests 1ald inasupply of the “needful” sufticient to the Sunday carry them over the day. Fewel drunken men were seen on the stree than on any other Sunday for some time. At the kly me hattan Temperanc 10 of the Man- sociation In Masonic temple M. M. (Brick) Pomeroy spoke of the Sunday blue laws, e thought that the pas- sage of the ntor bill by the legislature was an outrage. ‘I'he Cooper union mass meet- ing last night to oppose the blue laws, it ig said, showed the power of the_liguor_inter- est, and it needed a check., Mayor Hewit, was praised for enforcing the Sunday laws ‘The German singing societies met again to< day. It is reported that a committee of three had visited Albany and notified the commit: tee on cities in the legislature that the future political action of the German element de~ pended upon a settiement of the existing troubles in a satisfactory manner. ‘The Can- tor bill was sald to have been the result of the committee’s work, = Burglars L) fay 8, Blanton, both colored, were arrested last week charged with having robbed and afters wards burned the store of A. L. M. Bain, in West Carroll parish, and were placed 1n the parish prison at Floy d. The store was burned some weeks ago and it was evident that the fire was ncendiary. Some of the ruodfl stolen from it were found in the cabin of Grace DBlanton. When arrested she con- tessed all and fmplicated Goodwin in both crimes. On Thurs: it o nasked and armed mob went to the jail and broke it open and took the two incendiarists a wmile and a half from town, where tney hanged them ta atree. ‘T'his is the first lynching of a woman that has ever taken place in the state, paia s Mo Boston, Bosto Dr. McGlynn, of New York, lectured to a large au the Boston theater ta of the New Crusade ence in it upon *“I'he Crosy " and met with a hearty