Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, March 16, 1888, Page 1

THE OMAHA DaiLy BEE SEVENTEENTH YEAR. OMAHA, FRIDAY. MORNING, MARCH 16, 1888, NUMBER 272, SPREAD TO THE SANTA FE. Bngineers and Firemen On Another System Go Out. RUMORS OF MORE TO FOLLOW. A Number of Complications Arise Un- expectedly in the Strike Situa- tion—Talks of a Compro- mise—The Outlook. The Santa Fe Tied Up. Cnicaco, March 15.—Thirty-two hundred miles of railway were tied up this afternoon in exactly ten minutes by the brotherhodds of locomotive cngineers and firemen. The entire main line of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe company and all its branches were brought to a standstill. A stretch of terri tory from St. Paul on the north to EL Paso on the south—practically the whole breadth of the United States—is now involved in the struggle that started between the Burlington company and its employes. Kaxsas City, Mo, March 13.—The Santa Fe strike created intense excitement and sur- prise here for the reason that the road has not been handling Burlington freight. That the strike was ordered by some one in au- thority there is no doubt, but in this city the men profess ignorance of the issuing of any such orders and say they have quit because they are “tired.” The first indication of trouble here was at half past 4 o'clock this afternoon when the Osage City express was scheduled to depart. Conductor Murray gave order to start, when Engincer Higgins quiotly stepped from his cab and refused to pull out. At the same time that Higgins left his engineat the union depot forty men employed in_ the Santa Fe freights at Argentine quit work, all declar ing themselves “tired.” Nothing positive can be said as to the origin or cause of the strike. The men had a_grievance a month ago and a conference with the officiuls and were granted all they asked for. Resolu- tions were adopted at the grievance commit- tee meeting at Topeka some days ago, threat- ening a strike if the company accepted Bur- lington freight, but it has been understood that the Santa Fe was not handling boycotted business, TorexA, Kan., March 15.—This afternoon J. 1. Goddard, general manager of the A tch- ison, Topeka & Santa Fe railway, received the following telegram: J. T. Goddard: 'The engineers and firemen of the Santa Fe system quit at 4 this after- noon. (Signed) To which Mr. reply: The chairman of the general grievance committee of the brotherhood of engineers, who is now in this city, received a_telegram from Arthur to-night instructing him to send a committee to Chicago at once and intimat- ing that the Santa Fe company was ready to compromise. The chairman replied by ask- ing if the Burlington would yield to its de- mands in case the Santa Fe strike was lifted. No reply has been received as yet. Toreka, March 15.—T. Conroe, Chairman Grievance Committee, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway, Kansas City: At 3:50 this afternoon I received your telegram no- tifying me that the engineers and firemien whom you represent would quit at 4 o’clock to-day. As we have faithfully kept every written and verbal agreement made with your organization your action is a_surprise, and I would be glad to know on what it is taken; also do you intend that it shall cover pessenger train service as well as freights. (Signed) J. T GobDARD. The Associated press agent has learncd the facts concerning the relationship of the brotherhood engineers to the Atchison, To- peka & Santa e company and a statement of the facts concerning the relationship with- out comment will probably place the railroad company and brotherhood in a proper light before the public.. For several years the brotherhood of engincers has been recognized and fostered as o legitimate and reputable trade association by the Santa Fe railroad company. Fully % per cent of the engineers employed by the company have been for ears hrotherhood engineers. From time to ime representatives of the brotherhood have med with the managers of the railroad com- pany and discussed grievances or enterod into friendly con ion of matters look- ing to the improvement of their condition. The company has done this in pursuance of a policy which it believed was due to the public to pursue, viz: To have stability and experience in its motive power department in the interest of the safoty of the life and property of its patrons.” No just request which has ever been made to the company by the representatives of the brotherhood has been refused; and but very recently the very mileage schedule which is the cause of the quarrel between the brother- hood and the Chicago, Burlington & uincy was submitted to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa - Fe railroad company, and in a friendly conference was accepted and put in force by the company. The Atchison, Topeka & Santa e railroad company, through its proper ofticers, about February 1, entered into a contract with the locomotive engineers and firemen upon the Santa Fe and Southern Kausas railway sys- tem. Every item in the contract—consisting of twenty-six_articles, the larger part of which looked to the benefit of the employes— was _carefully gone over at Chicago by representatives of the brotherhood aud the vice president of the company. In consideration of the concessions made and the large benefits and advantages given, and the perfect confidence bestowed by the com- pany upon this class of its employes, the engineers and firemen agreed, through their representatives, that they woild not fail to perform their duties without giving the com- pany thirty days notice. On the 8th and 9th days of March confer ences were hold which 1 resulted in the servico of notices by representatives of the brotherhood upon the company to the effeet that after Sunday morning, the 1ith, the engineers and firemen would refuse to haul Burlington cars, They udmitted _they had no grievance against the Santa ¥Fe road, but sympathized with their brothers' on the Burlington and desired to aid them in their fight. The com- mittee repeatediy stated that no strike would be ordered ; that each man would act for him- self. The ‘company assured the committeo they could not act in violation of the inter- spalo commerce law. They would lay the notice before the board of divectors for con- sideration, pending which it was presumed 1o action would be taken by the engineers— certaurly not without the notice providod for in their contract. Since that time the engin- eers had not been asked against their wishes 1o haul any trainscontaining Burlington cars, At 1o time, how has the company put itself beyond the pale of the law or done-sny- thing to visit upon it penalties for disobe- T. CONROE, Goddard transmitted this Kan., March 15 —No Santa Fe d here this evening from Strong City and none left here for Salina or Con- A Union Pucific engineer passing here (o-night being informed of the strike on the Sauta Fe, stated that before morning the engineers on the Union Pacific weuld leave their engines, LAJUNTA, Colo., March 15 —All the freight engineers struck ut 4 p. m. to-day on the Santa Fe on account of the road huuling Bur- lington freight. All trains that left hero be. fore the time set for the strike will be al- lowed to make the round trip and will be tied up Lere on their rn, The engineers state that after 4 p. . to-duy no passcuger tra will be allowed to leaye Los Angeles or Kan- sas City, but those that had started before that time will be allowed to' run through to their destination, . DexvEg, Colo., ‘March 15.—The superin- tendent of the Santa Fe company to-night stated that he had been informed the engin- and firemen are not strikiug begcause of y ¢iesatisfaction us to wages or the policy 1 simply through sympa thy with the Burlingtou girikers. The Chi cago express and all freights icft here as usual to-night, but it is not kuown - whether they will be ryn through or not. The opivion N gD I8 that the new wove on the part of the Santa Fe men will be ex- tended. Auntquenque, N. M., March 15 Tt is un. derstood at this point that the cause of the strike on the Santa Fe was because the com- pany requested the men to_haul Burlington cars. A committee of engineers waited on the manager of the road and informed him of their detormination. The officials told the committee that the inter-state commerce law compelled them to_handle Burlington cars. This the men refused to do and 2,000 engincers and firemen on the Santa Fe and and about 1,000 on the Atlantic & Pacific stopped work, All passenger trains which started before 4 this evening will be taken to their destinations, Widely Varying Assertions. Ciicago, March 15.—|Speeial Telogram to the Bee.]—“The strike on the Burlington will be declared off within the next forty- eight hours,” sad the general manager of one of the most. important railway systems in the country to your correspondent this afternoon. ‘The gentleman referred to is in a position to know something of the inside workings of the Burlington and of the brotherhood. “That is my firm belief,” he continued, ‘‘and it is the best thing the brotherhood can do. Tt will hurt them less to surrender than any other move they can make at this junc- ture. Public sympathy will still be with them and their organization will not be hurt by such action, while to extend the strike means death to the brotherhood. I think both sides will learn a lesson from their ex- verience in this case. The road will be more disposed to compromise and the brotherhood will be sure hereafter that all their demands are just before presenting them. I, as a rail- way manager, endorse and approve of the brotherhood. It is the best labor organmza- tion there is, and I should dislike to see it hurt.” ‘‘What has this strike cost the railway, do you think" e ‘'Not less than $1,000,000. If it is stopped to-day I am satisfied that their February earnings will show that decrease.” The events of the day seem to confirm the prediction of the railroad men and the belief is general to-night that a crisis of some kind is at hand. All the eastern_and western lines have be- gun to handle and deliver Burlington freight again for the first time since the embargo was placed on it. The Belt line has weakened at the prospeet of a suit at law, deeming it the better part of valor to use discretion. "The bill filed last night by the Chicaco, Bur- lington & Quincy seems to have taken cffect very rapidly. This morning Trainmaster Pope, of the “Q.,” received the following brief note, which explains itself: Commencing this morning we will receive from and deliver to you as usual. A. RANKIN. Mr. Rankin is the agent of the Belt line at Hawthorne, the crossing of the Belt line and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy tracks. The Union Stock Yards and Transit company notified Mr. Pope that they were ready to handle all their cars. George Titus Williams, secretary of the Stock Yards company, has written to the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy ofticials that their letter of the 9th, asking that the “Q.” traffic be handled, was left un- answered to see how matters would develop by the first, second or third days of this week. The engincers employed by the switching department have decided to deliver to the consignees all Chicago, Burlington & Quincy cars. Yesterday at noon, without saying a word or sending a note, the Northwestern railroad pulled out forty-six Burlington cars that had been waiting for them on the trans- fer track, which may be accepted as an indi- cation that the Northwestern will handlo “Q.” freight. Thus the boycott is over with all roads except the Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Rock Island. 1t is understood thut ive in at once legal proceedings will be iustituted to compel them to handle freight and then the last bar will come down and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy may be suid to bave won an unqualified vietory. A reporter asked Paul Morton about the - me evolved by the strikers to ham- 'he new policy of the roads, as outlined by the str . scems to be that the Burling- ton shall be crowded with all the freight that can be deli ed,"? “What fix will that put the Burlington in?" “That will be just what we want. We will take everything offcred in the way of freight, and be d to get it.” “‘It has been stated that you were so block- aded on Forty-cighth strect that your men locked the switches to keep the belt line men from shoving in more cars, and that the belt line people broke the locks and crowded them in anyhow.” “The man who gave that information w either misinformed himself or eJse he had an impediment in his veracity. The alleged blockade is nothing like we have had n ordi- nary times—don’t begin to be as great.” “Yes; but ther you had your full comple- ment of engineers,” “Well, we have practically our full comple- ment of men in the Chicago ds now. Here's where the glut would be if there were any to speak of.” “‘What effect will the strike or the sickness of the Union Pacific engineers have on your trafic?” “None at all. We don’t wish to brag or say anything offensive, but the strike is o' We have won it. This is not meant to be said in a boasting spirit. We are simply serene in the consciousness of victory.” When the Belt line case came up before Judge Gresham this afternoon it was agreed to postpone the matter until the Burlington counsel should call it up. The general freight agent of the Burlington issued o notice to shippers, agents and connecting lines that they were now ready to receive all live stock, perishable and other freight to all stations on the Burlington or branches and all freights for all points beyond Chicago. But Arthur and Sargent asserted this afternoon that there was 1o important change in the situation. Alexander Sullivan, who is counsel for the brotherhood, said as far as ho kuew there were no thoughts of surren- der, He belicved the stories that the strike would be declared off wepe being industri- ously circulated by the Burlington with the hope of frightening the men. ~ At the strik- ers’ headquarters the chairman of the press committee, O'Brien, said: *1 see by one of the papers that there is likely to be a split in the brotherhood and that Chief Arthur prac- tically acknowledges himself beaten. Well, now, my son, just let me breathe one little word 'in your ear,” and, raising his powerful fist in the air, he brought it down on the table with whack as he breathed, in a voice that made the windows rattle, ‘'both statements are lies,"” and then after catching his breath, he resumed: “There is not the slightest sign of a split in the brotherhood. The grievunce committee did not, it is true, come. to any definite understanding last night, or rather did not finish their busindss, but they are in session to-day ‘and when they adjourn some harmonious plau of operation will have been decided upon.” *What will that plan be “1 can't say. Now, as to our being dis- heartened and acknowledging ourselves beaten, 1 will say that sice the beginning.of the strike we have had no greater reason to feel encouraged than now, We feel confident of winning, and_you may say as much for Mr. Arthur. I have every confidence that the strike will be over in a few days and that we will win.” “Do you mean to say that you really believe the Burlington wil accede to your demand {” “I do, most assuredly. I can't give you mwy reasons just at present, but do not think they are any the less weighty for that The Belt Line's Position. CuicaGo, March 15.—When the position of the Burliagton railwiy against the Belt line road came up for hearing this afternoon, eounsel for the Burlington stated that the Belt line was now receiving Burlington cars and evidently making every effort possible to hundle their freight. He therefore re- quested the court to- postpone further pro- ceed in the case until called up by coun- sel for deicadant, Judge Greshaw wsked if such arrangément would be_satisfactory for counsel for the Belt line. He replied that it would, but at the same time he wished it dis- tinctly understood that the action of the bselt line was not due 6 the petition of the Bur- lington, but was a_voluntary proceeding on the part of the directors of the company. But Little Local Change There is very little change that can be learnedof with regard to the great strike. All was quict about the B.& M. depot yes- tesday and the only noticeable thing was the following order posted in a conspicuous place: Al persons not_pmployed by this com- pany are hereby warned not to trespass on the company’s grounds.” F. B. CaLverT, [Signed. } General Superintendent. This order is a direct strike at the strikers, and is so accepted by them. Notone of the brotherhood engineers could be seen at the deput yesterday. " THR BUNLINGTON CONPIDENT. The officers of the B. & M. in this city deny that thereis now any strike or trouble of any kind on their road. They claim that all trains are moving and that they have a sufticient force to take care of their business. They say they have won a_decisive victory and do not recognize any alleged rights of their former employes. The fact that the consultation between the brotherhood engi- neers that are employed on the Union Pucific switch engines and officers of that road sulted in them returning to work and consent- ing to move Burlington cars, is considered to be an additional victory for the B. & M. From Union Pacific oficials it is learned that they are receiving both freight and cars Trom the Burlington road aud that it is be- ing moved. : A Ten Days' Trip. As an instance of the inconvenience the public have to undergo on account of the re- fusal of the Burlington road to employ com- petent engineers, it is stated on good author- ity that a farmer named Dawson, who had decided to remove from Dunlap, Ia., to York county, Nebraska, has had his personal ef- fects, beside three cars of stock, including horses, on the road for ten days before reach- ing his destination. The animals were in a very thin condition before they reached the end of their trip. One gentleman informed a Bee reporter yesterday that he loaded his household goods at Beatrice on Friday last to be shipped 1o this point and that they have hot arrived yet. Ho says he expects that the Chicago, Burlington & Quiney will probably charge him for storage in addition to freight. The Situation at Lincoln, LaNcory, Neb., March 15.—[Speciat Tele- gram to the Bee.]—The local ficld in strike matters is unchanged. The Union Pacific handles no Burlington cars at this point, and it is generally understood that the refusal came from the Union Pacific headquarters. The delay in local passenger trains at this poiat does not imiprove and but very httle be- yond strictly local freight is handled. Ship- ments in locul freights are running very light under the unsettled condition of affairs, and trade in the city is visibly affected thereby. The boys at the hall maintain their confidence, and the report circulated for effect in the city that numbers of them are leaving the city for other parts is wholly unfounded. Contributions and expressions of good will find their way tq the hall hourly. Mayer Bros., Shilling Bros., Ed Young, W. G. Bohannan and H. B. Vail have kept the boys flooded with cigars, and a baker sent a couple of boxes of oranges to the hall. The usual number of dispatchés were received from all points yesterday. Hannibal, Mo., reports ten engines disabled at that point. seardstown, ILL, reports trains delayed for lack of '‘engines to pull them and tha circulars were sent out daily there to the men, urging them to return ‘to work, but norie have returnc Creston reports another engine added yestc day to the list of those burned out. Quinc 111, reports freight trains almost totally d continuied, the men contented and satisfied with Judge ¢ decision. MeCook re- ports hare perienced there by the r 3 ns, being required to bring the Denver train to that point yesterday. They report not a compet ent engineer employed at that point. 1t is reported *hat a narrow escape oceurred ne: Seward from a collision. A huuling a freight, ran low on and, taking his engine, he started for § for 'water, running on'the time of a passen- ger train.’ He met the passenger train near ‘Pamora, but as it was ou u straight track both engines were stopped in time to avert a collision. A Wreck at David City. Davip Crry, Neb, March 15.—[Special Telegram to the Bee.]—The south bound B. & M. freight train was wrecked this afte noon between this place and Bellwood through the éarelessness of a scab engineer. “The train got stuck eoming up the hill north of town, when eight cars were cut of, brought up the grade and sidetracked. In backing down the grade for the remuining cars the engineer was unable to control bLis locomotive, which smashed back into the cars, derailing one freight car and the ca- boose. The north bound freight crew attempted to assist, and part of it is now a wreck. Two brakemen abandoned the wrecked train. The north bound passenger is now sidetracked with all its passengers at The passenger engine and crew o hielp clear away the wreck, 1t is ful if the traiu leaves this place before morning. No one was seriously injured, though all received a terrible shaking up. Offers to Receive All Freight, Cuicaco, March General Freight Agent Ripley of the Burlington road to-night issued a notice that the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, Chicago & Towa, Chicago, Bur- lington & Northern, Chicago, Burlington & Kansas, St. Louis, Keokuk & Northwestern, Haunibal & St. Joe, Kansas City, St. Joe & Council Bluffs, Humeston enandoah, Burlington & Western, Byrlington & North. western, and Burlington & Missour: River Railroad in Nebraska, are now readv to re- ceive and ¢ all freight, mcluding live stock, for shipment over lines named and also to points beyond Chicago or other 1lli- Dois junction points. Two More Strikes Threatened. Kaxsas Ciry, Mo., March 15.—Rumors are persistently circulated here late to-night that @ strike will begin on the Kansas City, Ft. Scott & Gulf system at 10 a. m, to-morrow and on the Missouri Pacific engincersat 1 p. m. to-morrow. The brotherhood disclaim any knowledge of auy such plan, butthe sud- den and surprising turn of affairs on the Santa Fe this evening strengthens the be- lief in the reports, Standing By Their Brothers, CHicAGo, March 16.—A meeting of dele- gates from the engineers and firemen of every road entering Chicago was continued to:diy and will be in_session again to-mor- row. To-day they voted, cast und west alike unanimously, to uphold the Burlington strikers. A uniform plan of action was de- termined upon, Arthur Silen March 15.—Chief Engineer and Master Sargent were in ved to-night at an early hour when the re- porter called with news of the great Atchison strike. After much hammering on the door saigent was lnduced 1@ come forth, ould give no information regarding iLé & , 1t was all news to him. CuicAGo, Arthur and Sympathy of Fairbury Knights. Faiupusy, Neb., March 15.—([Special to the Bee.]—The followiug resolutions were unan- imqusly adopted by Local Assembly No. 10651, Knights of Labor, at its last regular meetng : Whereas, This is a struggle between the [Continued on Segund Lager) DISPOSING OF ‘LAND CASES. The Secretary of the Interior De- cldes Some in Nebraska. DENOUNCING MILLS' MEASURE. Congressman Goff, of West Virginia, Showa How It Wounld Paralyze the Leading Industries of That State. Clearing Up Titles. WasmiNaroy Bureau Tk OMAEA Bee, } 518 FOURTEENTH STREET, WasmiNetox, D. C., March 15, A number of Nebraska land cases were disposed of by the secretary of the interior to-day. 'The decision of the land commis- sioner, holding for cancellation the timber culture entry of George H. Randall, con- tested by Calvin H. Reed, from the McCook land district, and involving the southeast 1{ of section 17, township 8, north range 20, west, is reversed by the secretary of the interior. This confirms the original decision of the local land officers, who visited the claim ana made o personal examination as to the improvements made, but from thie de- cision contestant appealed and the commission held the land for cancellation. The entry is now held to be legal and the decision of the land ofticers recognized as valia, In the pre-emption contest of Alva G. Noble vs Fernando C.Etrod, from the Niobrara district, and involving the northwest i of section 85, township 28, nort range 4, west, the decision of the commissioner rejecting appellant’s final proof and holding his declar- atory statement for cancellation, is affirmed. The decision of the commissioner in the appeal case of William T. Butterfield, hold- ing for cancellution the pre-emption cash entry for the northeast 4§ of section 2, town- ship 1, north, range 25, Bloomington land district, is also afirmed on the ground thut Butterfield had moved from other land of his own in Nebraska to the land in contro- versy. The appeal case of James E. Antrim, in- volving the southwest 15 of section 33, town- ship 2 north, range 16 cast, Ncbraska dis- trict, holding his declaratory pre-emption statement for cancellation, is returned to the commissioner for further consideration, with additional testimony. The secretary suys that the decision of the local officors in re- jecting the claimant,s proof because he had commuted a homestéad entry, and the com- missioner's decision” affirming such action, are erroncous. The new testimony is in_the form of an abstract of title to the quarter section entered by the claimant under the homestead law, showing that the title had passed from him priorto his settiement on the pre-emption claim, TO PAY TIHE OMAIAS I TWO YEARS. From the senate committee on Indian af- fairs to-day Mr. Dawes made & favorable re- port on the bill to pay in two annual mstall- ments of §35,000 each the $70,000 due to the Omaha tribe of Indians in Nebraska and payable under existing laws in _seven annual installments of $10,000 each. The moncy is 10 be paid per capita and is to_be applied to the improvement of Indian lands, cte. PADDOCK'S EULOGY ON MOFFATT. Among those who delivered culogies in the senate on Representative Moffatt, of Michi- gan, was Senator Paddock, who' spoke for ten minutes in commamoration of the dead congressman. Mr, Paddock’s speech was a wsily delivered analysis of Mr. ts of churacter and was well r VIRGINIA FOR TARIFF PROTECTION. This evening I met General Goff, repre- sentative of the fivst West Virginia_ du the leading republican of that state asked him what he thought of the Mills ta bill. He said: It is the most pernicious bill proposed since the democratic party has had control of the house, It threatens the entire Dusiness interests of the nation. 1t is a blow at the farmer, it would ruin the manufactur- ing, it will destroy the wool interest, now one of 'the largest and most important in the country, made so by the protective system. Wenow produce one-sixth of all the wool grown in the world.” “How would the bill affect West Virginia It is o suvage attack upon most of Ler in- ustries—wool, lumber and salt—West Vir- ginia’s products upon the free list. Our lum- ber trade is now large and_increasing. Our forests arc cxtensive and_amor most valuable on the continent. We make large shipments to all the eastern and citics. With free lumber this will ¢ unless we have great reduction in our 1 nd transportation . This measure will ard the development of our state, be a set- baci of the boom recently inaugurated, pre vent the building of railroads and generally discourage our people,” How will it bear on the industries of your districts ! “That strikes them particularly hard. Tt destroys wool growing, in which ‘my district is largely interested, It will close our woolen mills and severely injure our glass and pot- establishments, as also ron and ecl works. 1t pretends to correct an equal- v as between ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ stcel. Emi- nently proper, which should have been done Dy a separate measure. ‘Then it would have d without, difficulty. As it is it will fail er correcting, in one sense, the equ mentioned, it then virtually destroys the dustry or squeczes into death the men gaged in it. 1t will close our potte an unpardonable blow at them. They not continue in business under this bill unless there is a large reduction in the wages of those employed in them. That should not be asked nor forced by law, The reduction it this particular is ruinous, On decor: vare it is 83 per cent of the duty and m plain it is per cent. In my judgment there should be no reduction as fai as this industry is con- cerned. But this will do now; some other time for the rest.” “*You do not find much good in the bill, T sce. Will it pass T do not think it will pass, Tt is a mon- strous proposition. It is the entering wedge to free trade. 1t is as far us they daré go now. The bill is patchwork, abounding in consistencies put together to cateh votes, is scetional in its characteristics and full of fa voritism.” PRESIDENTIAL PRATTLE, Representative Cannon, of Illinois, in dis- cussing presidential probabilities this after- noon, said he believed the west would this time nominate the head of the ticket and that among the strongest men in his state was ex enator Harrison, of Indiana. He said Har son would make one of the most thoroughly successful and manfal campaigns and one of cleanest presidents that the country had ever hud. He believed that I1linois will give him support in the eénvention. Mr. Caunon reprosents the Danville district and is the oldest republicau member from the state, as well as one of the brainiest and most influen- tial. This evening's Critic, in two. columns of interviews with various promine ub- lican members and senator cludes from the general expression . Harrison is as likely to be nominated as any mau mentioned siuce the withdrawal of Blaine. Burrows, of Michi- gan, regards Blaine as clear outside of the rauge of presidential possibilities, and Harri- nen’ before the country, republican of national reputation, who does’ not desire his name used, says that his state will beyond any question of reasonable doubt cast some votes in the convention from the first for Hurrison, and that there 18 a disposition on the part of the paity in lllinois to support Gresham; that if the républicans of 1llinows' endorse anybody with unanimity Le will be Senator Culiom, and that if Gresham sncu'd be nomi- nated hie would have to immediately re his position on the bench, to which™ he pre- dicts Revresentative Holw of Indiana, would be nowinated by the ident, us the party wants Holman out.of the house, THE OMANA POSTOFFICE BILL. There was a meeting this afternoon of the conference committee on the Omaha public building bill, Sevator Quay was not pres- en- ent and final action could not bo taken, A general discussion of the bill as it passed the senate and the house amended it ensued, in which Mr. McShane showed the necessity of making the fuil appropriation at this time for the purchase of the site and the construc tion of the building, and he said to-night the outlook was uery encouraging. No indica- cation was given, however, of what will fin- ally be done and the commiittee adjourned to meet next week upon the call of the chairman _ on the part of the senate and _house conferences, and M. McShane said to night that he felt very much encouraged, but he could not_say from the roceedings this afternoon what would be dotie, as thero was not enough of expression to indicate definitely the ideas of the confer- ence committee as & whole, Senator Quay, of the committee, has been at his home in Pennsylvania fo some time, but is_expected to be present when the committee meets again, MIXOR MATTERS. George C. Baker aud wife. of Des Moines, are at the Ebbett. Captain Gordon Winslow, Eighth infantry, has been ordered to revort for examination by tho army retiring board at Fort Leaven- worth. Captain_Charles C. Western, Fourteenth infantry, is granted seven days' extensiorrof cave. Senator Paddock introduced a bill to-day to remove the charge of desertion from the wilitary record of Loren W. Hastin Peruy S, Hearm, el DEATH ON THE RAIL, Three Fatal Accidents on the Lehigh Valley Road. Eastox, Pa,, March 15, —A snow-plow acei- dent occurred yesterday on the Lehigh Val- ley railroad at Three Bridges, N.J., threo ngines being derailed and overturned. En. gineers Apgar and Derry and Conductor Bullman were killed, and Fireman Pixley fatally scalded. On the Morris and Essex branch another catastroplie of A similar nature occurred in which one engineer was killed, On the New Jderscy Central, near Hamp- ton, a fireman was fatally injured when the engine was bucking a drift, by packed snow bursting through the front of the cab and jamming him against the tank. sl THE COMMISSION AT CHICAGO. Upon Leaving the Cream City They Will Come Direct to Omaha. Criicaco. March 15.—[Specal Telegram to the Bee.]—“You will have to see the chair- man of the commission, Judge Cooley, in the adjoining parlor,” said Congressman William R. Morrison to-day, when interrogated as to the programme of the inter-state commission now in session here. “I am here at ihe re- quest of the commission,” he added. “No, I have nothing to say about politics. I don’t mean by that that I am not interested in public questions, only that I have nothing to say on the subject just now.” Judge Cooley was found in parlor Q in com- puny with several gentlemen, He stated that the commission had no regular pro- gramme for the day. They were having a great many visitors and doing a great many things. There would be no public session, and nothing of public interest would be done, It is understood the commission will spend several days in this city on its way to Ne- braska to hear eight or nine cases which would be tried at Omuha or Lincoln. While here the commission will meet the general manager of the Canadian Pacific railway to 0 over with him the business which had i yover the road to or from the tates. It is not thought thatthe strike will come up before the commission. it ey A BRUTE'S VICTIM. Miss O'Dowd Still Suffering Great Pain From Her Injuries, .p, Mo., March 15.—[Special Telegram to the Brr]—The excitemeut caused by Dr. Cox's attack on Miss O’Dowd continues, Kenton Cox, the son, left the city lust night. Miss O'Dowd is no better, and she is suffering from the br as well as burns, One car i E d by the acid, and her face 15 and swollen, A large portion of her b s fallen out, and of glas remoyed from under the skin last 1 Miss O'Dowd_was raisec Weston, Mo, ' Her father, and ‘mother d City and one in Lawr Cox denied sending cither ‘telegrams or puss to her, and it is now thought that his father sent them himself to decoy her. Fenton Tears and Turbulence, Brenrwuiy, Mareh 15,—The precinets of the hedral yesterday again presented constant scenes of excitement, gaiety and_turbulence, that was little in accord with the signs of mourning observed elsawhere in the city. The open space in front of the cathicdral was filled with companies of soldiers with loaded rifics and had ull the appeacances of a bivouac, The square was entirely closed to the public except on the eastern side, where @ longline of visitors formed between a double line of soldicrs, The streets in the vicinity are crowded, but order was main- tained by a strong cordon of police. Traflic entirely stopped in the vicinity ats along the route of the funeral pro- cession are selling from 5 to 20 marks, Members of the reichstag and landtag vis? ited the cathedral Tuesday might, and pri® vately viewed the remains of the cmperor. In accordance with the wishes of Empress Augusta, the late emperor’s. rooms will be left absolutely intact, just as when be lived in them. Ten thousand persons were unable to entar the cathedral ‘Tucsda, William said something must ve done instructions were given to keep the cathe- dral open all night. The emperor of Japan and shah of Persia sent telegrams of con- dolenc Loxnoy, March “15.—The war office has ordered the principal military garrisons at home and abroad to pi e flags at_half mast to-morrow and 1 incty-one minute guns to noon as a mark of respect for the late Emperor Willlam. Nauval stations received similar instructions. The tower of London, Edinburgh castle, Plymouth and Dover werd meluded in these orders March_ 15.—Mgs represent the vatican remoni nected with the accession of Emperor rick, The vatican will not be represented at the funeral of William. abimberti will con- Indiscretions. he Journal Oficiale v8: Boulanger came to Paris on February aguin on March 2; again on March 10, without permission from the war office and in disguise. The paper dwells on the scrious nuture of such breaches of discipline by general officer. It further says the report of placing Boulanger on the non-active list by depriving him of his present command has been approved by President Carnot., The Journal Oficale publishes a decrce do- priving General Boulanger of his command for breach of discipline 1 visiting Paris three times without permission. Boulanger announces his iutention of coming to Paris to-night, and excited crowds are gathering at the station, Panis, March 15 The Chinese Treaty Signed WASHINGTON, March 14.— tary Ba) ard said to-night the treaty with China has been signed and would be sent to the presi- dent at once for transmission to congress. He declined to speak as to the provisions of the treaty, - - Buccessful Camp Fire. Horbrege, N March 15.—|Special Tel- egraw to the Bes.)—The campfire of the Sous of Veterans of“Glover post G. A. R., No. 111, proved an immense success, the opera house being crowded to overflowing le to hear Van Wyck. His speech with rounds of applause; Filot Boat Sunk. New York, March 15.—-The steamer Japan from the - Mediterranean collided with & pilot boat, and it is believed the latter sunk with five wen, THE EASTERN S§TORM, Probability That the Loss of Life and Property Wil Never Be Known. Lrwes, Del., March 15.—The story of ship- wrecks and 10ss of Jife between Sandy Hook and Cape Charles between Sunday afternoon and Monday moon cannot be told in fall for many days, if ever. The opinion of pilots is ssels went down during the storm h ttever will be heard from. The list of wrecks known bf is increasing daily. Among th sels lost was the barge Hazeltine, Captain_ Vankirk and a crew of five mon The bark Briminga had a crew of twenty- three all told, twenty-two of whom were lost. A number of bodies were washed ashore, The Weather in New York New Yok, March 15.—The weather this morning is again warm and bright. The pros- pect 1s that there will be much thawing. The railroads leading fato tho city are all moving and business men in New Jersey, Long ls- land and the upper part of the state reached New York this morning for the first time sinco Saturday. Some surface cars are run- ning. Almost all Now Jersey towns within fifteen miles of New York have some sortof railroad communication with this city. This morning thousands of business men made their first appearance since Saturday. Over eleven hundred were snowed in at Roseville, on the Delaware & Lacka- wanna railroad, and hundreds wi compelled to ' stay in the cars over twenty-four hours, although their homes werae within four miles. The cold was intense and food scanty, but uo Lives were lost at that point. The food supply is running very slort in these Jersey towns and but little fresh meat and no milk, cggs or vegetables can bo ol tained at any price. The chances of getting relief from New York are small, asthe supply here is decidedly short. The first mail from Philadelphia_and Baltimoro since Monday morning came in this forenoon. Mild and Springlike. WASHINGTON, March 15.—The weather is mild and spring-like and the effect of the storm s rapidly disappearing. Mail com- munication between Washington and Phila- delphia is mow fully established, but all efforts to reach New York either by mail or wire thus far have proved futile. A number of wires to Baltimore have been secured and linemen are steadily pushing their work with the prospect of reopening communication with Philadelphia to-day. Tho telegraph service with the south and west has been restored. No mails from New York have as yet arrived, but Pennsylvama_railroad officials believe ‘that their road will be cleared to New York some time to-day. Mails south and w est are ar- riving with their usual regularity . Out of the Drifts. Pirrsnung, March 15,—The first through train from Philadelphia over the Pennsyl- vania road reached here this morning. 1t carried only thirty pounds of mail from Philadelphia and not a pound from New York. Passengers who had been on the delayed trains tell of their sufferings. At points be- tween Harrisburg ana Philadelphia_ the snow drifted to a depth of fifty feet. Many houses were completely covered and the only signs of habitation was the smoke curling from chimneys. At 6 o'clock this morning the Chicago ex- press, which has been snowed in _since Mon- day at Monroe, came _in.with passengers all well. The cross streets are still blocked with huge drifts of snow. An_attempt is being made to melt the snow by lighting great bon- fires, but the cffect is not perceptible. Fleeced By Farmers. TrexTON, N. J., March 15.—The last train which started out of this city for New York Monday morning was stopped by an immense drift fifteen feet deep, about amile from Princeton Junction. The tr: obliged to stay from 1 o'clock Monday afternoon until 11.0°clock yesterday morning when a relief party succeeded in getting the hungry and half frozen passengers back to Trenton. During two nights they were obliged to walk up and down the car to keep from freezing. Many of them had cars and feet badly froze They had no provisions until Tuesday mor ing when some farmers brought sandwiches on board and asked 5 cents for thewm. Found Frozen Near His Door. MaTTITUCK, L. I, March 15.—Samuel Ran- aall, aged cighty years, was found frozen to death within a few feet of his own housc ‘Tuesday morning. A large sloop, name un- known, is off Peconic bay flying signals of distress, She has several men aboard. As- sistunce canuot be rendered owing to the i in the bay. It is feared she will founder. Several Crews a PuiapeLeuia, Pa, March 15.—A letter from Cambridge, Md., reports the loss of several small vessels during the past few days of the storm. A number of their crews were also lost. Particulars unobtainable, 1 Vessels Lost, Fhe Great Blockade Broken. PuitAperrnia, March 15—The resump- tion of railway traffic between this city and New York was completed to-day; and from this time on everything will probably go on as it did before the great blockade, ‘Weather Indications. For Nebraska and Towa: Colder, light to fresh to northerly, followed by warmer, variable winds, fair weather, For Eastern and Southwestern Dakota: Warmer, fair weather, followed by rain or snow in northern portion. atal Blaze in Mil- waukee. MiLwAvkee, March 15.—A started at 1:45 this morning completely de stroyed the four-ste brick block on west Water street, occupied by Atkins, Ogden & Co., shoe manufacturers, and the Thomas & Wentworth manufacturing compano, whole- sale dealers and manufacturers of brass goods and engine trimmings. About half an hour after the fire broke out the north wall of the burning structure fell with a great crash, demoralizing the one-story addition in the rear of the Gimbel Bros'. dry goods es- tablishment, and vurying a number_of fire- men in the ruins. Herman Lecher, a pipe man, was the first unfortunaté rescued, He died later. The dead body of Fireman John H. Hummekwas recovered avout two hours later, It is feared others are buried under the deoris, which is being cleared away. Thomas Cleary, a cab driver, Juck Dahl, John Coughlan and Peter Vaughn, fifemen, were more or less injured, It is ¢ timated tho loss will uot fall short of £275,000. Atkins, Ogden & Co. _curri a stock valuod at between $100,000 and §115,00 insured for = $50,000. The Thomas & Wentworth manufacturing Co. lost about 50,000, The loss on the build- g which is owned by John Plankinton, will reach §0,000. Loss on the store occu- pied by Gimble Bros. will. probably not ex- ceed $5,000. Gimbel Bros’, loss of stock is $20,000. The entire fire department was called out and it was only by the hardest kind of work that the flames were prevented from destroying the entire squar Destructivs fire which e Denouncing Balfour, LoxnoN,March 15.—At the banquet given at Manchester lust night to the “Irish . political prisoners, Messrs, O'Brien, Sullivan, Blunt, Cox, Hooper and Flynn -were present and made speeches denouncing Balfour, A Bridge Disaster. Beruiy, March 15.—A disaster is reported at Sossin bridge, ap ‘that place, broken by drifting ice. Fifty persons were thrown into the water and many drowned. . Eley bodigs Lave been recovered, SUBTERFUGES OF SHIPPERS, Senator Wilson Tells How the Inter-State Law is Evaded. SECRET REBATES STILL ALLOWED Some of the Tricks Resorted To—Ef fect of Competition By the Canae dian Roads—Proposed Land Grant Forfeitures. Corptration Crookedness. Wasningron, March 15.-—General James F. Wilson to-day delivered a two hours argus ment before the sub-committee of the house commerce committee on the defeécts in the inter-state commerce law. He was persuaded that violations both of its spirit and letter were frequent. Persons interested in large shipping houses had been secretly appointed agents of the railroads and put upon salaries for the purpose of securing special freight rates. The salary amounts to a rebate and is a fraud and outrage upon other shippers, Another form of illegal discrimination is to bill gran or produce from Chicago to Liver- pool or London at an agreed through rate and then to stop it through an agent of the railrond at the port of shipment on the flimsy pretext that vessel owners cannot be induced to perform their part of the service for that portion of the rate which is left after deduct- ing the charges bv the fixed tariff of the land lines, This is equivalent to a rebate of the ocean freightand 1s a fraud upon the law and an injury to other shippers. There are other ingenious methods of evading the law, such as granting a free pass for separate states traversed by the railroad and good only in the state named, the billing of freight under a different classification from that to which it belongs; deranging railroad scales so that over weights are largely increased, overloading, hauling be- yond proper distunce, paying unusual kY. mileage, cartage, warchouse, elevator and other charges. These are all secret practices that can be carried on successfully only by concealment. A secret source of disturbance to the far and equitable working of the law is caused by the uncontrolled competition of the Cana dlan railroads in the transit trade. The Canadian roads are cutting into and injuring American roads by making rebates, granting passes, charging more for a short thun long haul and entering into all kinds of secret engagements with American contractors. It is by taking advantage of that system of re- bates, cut rates und secretage amounts, that the great packers have built up their enormous fortunes and turned $7,000,000 of trafiic over to Canadian roads, The propos sition that the Dominion government shall pass a law similar to the inter-state coms merce law will not remove the difficulty as long as conditions are so different. It can not be doubted that it would be prudent to shut out these roads from American trade, as we now do Canadian vessels. For section 6 of the present law should be substituted section providing that nothing contain therein shall authorize any railroad compan) to receive goods for transportation througl any foreign counfry to another place in the United States. 1If this were gdone and the making of secret agrecements Torbidden, two great difficulties in the way of enforcing the inter-state commerce law would be removed. In conclusion, General Wilson submitted a draftof a bill to amend the act in the mannew indicated. The Land Grant Ques tion, | Wasnixaroy, Mmech 15.—Although the house committee on public lands dirceted the preparations of a general bill forfeiting rail- road land grants, the whole subject was opened up afresh to-day by the action of thd sub-committee which, instead of bringing i a gencral bill, reported bills for the completa forfeiture of the Northern and Southern Pas cific railroad land grants and the partial fors ferture of the grant to the Hastings & Da- kota railroa »sentation of these reports joned diccussion froml which it appeared that there was a misunder- standing on the part of the members of the purpose of the resolution adopted at the las meeting of the committee. With a view td clearing this and defining the sentimeni of the committee, Mr. Stone of Missouri, offered the following resolution : Resolved, That the committce adopt the principle of declaring the forfeiture’ of the entire grant, where the roads were uot com- pleted in the contract time. The meeting adjourned without action. el ey Taken in By a Nebraskan, CuicaGo, March 15, -[Special Telegram to the Bee.]—A cattleman named Owens, from Nebraska, who wears a rather verdant ex- pression, arrived at the stockyards some days ago, and hearing considerable talk about the exploits of a stockyards sprinter named Cody, remarked he could run a little himselfy Cody’s friends quickly picked him up and & match was made for a race of 100 yards for $100 a side. It was run off yesterday after- noon and 2,000 people turned out to witness it. _The friends of Cody wagered freely 10 to 8 on their man and a number of Owens! friends took their bets quietly. There was over $1,000up on the race when both men jumped out at the firing of a pistol. The ards people grinned when they started, but before the sprinters had gone s dozen vards an expression of deep gloom spread over the faces of that crowd. The Nebraska man's big feet shot through the air as though they intended to say farewcll to his legs and move to fowa, and when the goal was reached Cody was 50 far in the rear that he couldn't! sce the westerner with a telescope, Things wore a subdued aspect in We Cody bailiwicke last evening. A Muscum For St. v, Joskri, Mo., March 15, gram to the B Mrs. ( Thumb and J. E. Sackett, of the musee coms pany of Minneapohs and Omaha, have closed the contracts for the lease of a building on Thifd street between Edmond and Charles, in which they will locate & museum, One of the owners of the leased puilding 18 W. A, RRoss, of Kansas City. The lessees claim that the museum will be strictly first class i y particular, Mrs. Thumb has had cir- culars distributed, in whicn she informs the St. Joseph public ' that she intcnds to make ber howe among them, and subscribes hers sclf as the public's servant, Joe. special Teles Indiana Prohibitionist INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., March ‘I'he prohfs bition state convention to-day nominated for governor Rey. J, S. Hughes, of this erty, The platform demands straight-out probibjs tion and favors female suffrage. —— Poisoned By Head Cheese, Broomingroy, I, March: 15 —Mr. and Mrs, Charles Doyle, their two children and Mr. and Mrs. Adams, their boarders, at@ head cheese last night for supper. The; were all poisoned and Mr. and Mrs. Adami and children are at the point of death, ~ - The Last Spike Driven, DikxVER, Colo., March 15.—The last rail was laid and the t gpike driven in th@ Denvye xas & Fort Worth road y-sterday at 4 0'clock at a poiut twenty miles south of Denver and 524 uorth of Fort Worth, Den. ver now has un wir lne to Fort Worth an thence through to the Guif of Mexico, Couldn't Stand Two Fights, Ciicaco, Maroh 15 —The Chicago, Bups lington & Quinoy had a survrise in store fow the western reads to-day in the way of ungualified conseht to réstoration of rates, i agrecing to advance them iu common other lings ou Murch 20,