Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, March 25, 1890, Page 1

— == ——— NUMBER WIPED 0UT BY THE FLAMES | Kearney’s Big Hotel Midway Burned to the Ground. ™ MAN LOSES HIS LIFE ONE Harry Deming of South Omaha Killed by Jamping from a Fourth Btory Window--Many Very Narrow Escapes. Fire During a Hurricane. Kerarxey, Neb,, March 24.—[Special Tele- gram to Tue Bee.|—The Midway hotel was entirely destroyed by fire this morning and Harry Deming of South Omaha lost his life. The fire alarm was turned in at 7:00. A burricane was blowing a fearful gale from the northwest, filling tho air with clouds of dust and flying rubbish. 'I'he fire was first discovered between the roof and ceiling of the fourth floor, and before water could be turned on the eutire roof was in a forest of licking flames. I'rom the peculiar construc- tion of the roof the firemen were almost en- tirely unable to fight the flames, and their attention was directed to saving lifo and adjacent property. Flying embers were carried ten blocks awayand ignited heaps of rubbish ana in some instances roofs of frame buildings. It was thought for a time that the bulk of the city must go. Water buckets and lawn sprinklers were brought into requisition and by watchful efforts no serious losses oc- curred. The Grand [sland fire department was telegraphed for and reached here at 11 o'clock, ‘The entire loss is approximated at §150,000, with partial insuranco on buildings and fix- tures, Several narrow escapes trom loss of life occurred and only by heroic efforts and cool-headed work on the part of the hotel employes was a trightful holocaust avoided. Two women and children were carried down the fire escapes in their night clothes. . Among theguests the loss was heavy. The important losses were Moses Alexander,sales- man for Joseph Forrester & Co. of Dubuque, samples. £1,500, and a_s'lk salesman for a New York house, loss $1,800, Harry Deming of South Omaha, property man for the Worden dramatic company, jumped from the fourth-story window and died at 11 o'clock. A. Gordon Royle of the same company escaped with his leg and oack injured from a falling wall. i Dr. Mardin, the proprictor, 18 left penni- less. Steps wiil be taken to ut once re- ‘build. ‘The Midway was one of the finest hotels in the state, The orizinal building cost £60,- 000 and was furnished in the most lavish manner, and the annex, which had only heen occupied about thirty days, cost $0,000, making the total cast of the structure $ 000. It was erected by Josiah Keck of Cin- cinnati and furnisbed, owned and occupied by T. C. Brainard, one of the present pro- prietors of the Paxton hotel in Omaha. A year ago Mr. Brainard sold out to Dr. Mar- din of Boston, who has since controlled if Mr. Brainard isslightly touched by the los though fully covered by insurance. A large public meeting was held at the opera hiouee here this afternoon at the call of Mayor Finch to consider the situation _with réference to the loss of the Midway. Flirst temporary relief was proposed for the employes of the hotel who had lost all of their effects, many of them escaping only with their night clothes. About §200 in cash was raised and as much more subscribed, besides offers of clothing were promptly made. . A general howl of indignation has gone up all over this city at the action of the officials of the Union Pacific road in refusing a special train to convey the Grand Isiand fire department here. After repeated re- quests from the mayor of Grand Island, the reply came: “Hitch on to 17." “Ilie firemen report that they were side- tracked at different times on the way, and that they were delayed thirty minutes while a freight trai was being wade up. The B, & M. had special trains made up at Lincoln, Hastings and Holdrege and held with in- structions to start with fire companys at a minute's warning. Luckily no beip was needed, but this move on the part of the k & M. will be remembered by the busines men of this city. The Furst Trial Ended. FREMONT, Neb., March 24.—[Special Tele- gram to Tue Bee'|—The defense in the Furst murler trial had its turn today. Several witnesses were called o prove the insanity of defendant's father, who com- mitted suicide, among these being physi cinns of the city who testified as experts, in general that as a rule persons who' suicide arc insane’ Other witnesses were put en the stand to show that the defendant mani~ fested peculiar trai similar in some re- spects to those of his father. It was shown that on one occasion he traded watches with the manager of the Fremont gas works; that afterwards Furst returned tho watch he had received in the trade upon a repre- sentation that be (Furst) had been made manager of the gas works. Other petty trausactions were reviewed for the purpose of convincing the jury that the prisoner was of unsound mind. Mrs. Furst, mothe of the defendant, was the last witne: called by the defense. At 5 o'clock the defense rested. The prosecution called two or three witnesses for rebuttal evidence to show that Furst is rational and of sound mind. Court then adjourned until tomorrow morning, when the attorneys will begin their arguments, It is expected a verdict will be reached to- morrow morning. Many think it will be murder in the second degree. Rallroad Contractors File a Lien, Bearrice, Neb., March 24.—[Special Tele- gram to Tne Bee|-—Kiloatrick Hros & Collins on Saturday last filed o lien for $27,- U88.83 agaiost the Kansas City & Beatrice railroad with interest, being the amount due the firm for constructiog said road, furnish- iog material, etc., from the Kansasstate live tbrough Pawnee and Gage counties to Virginia station and for certan work and material furnished in this city. A like lien ‘was filed in Pawnee county. The Kansas City, Fort Scolt & Mewphis railroad has also filed lieus against the Kansas City & Beatrice 1n Pawnee and Gage counties for materisl furnished the road, amounting with interost, to $30,631.04. It is learned hcro this evening that the Kansas City, ‘Wyandowte & Northwestern, of wkich the Kausas City & Beatrice is the Nebraska ex- tension, went Into tho hands of a receiver to- 8y ? Sent to His Home, Brarrice, Neb, March 24.—[Special Tele- gram W Tus Bee. ) —A young- fellow named Sherman Morrow, who has been confined 1n juil here since Saturday because of his evi- dent lnsanity, was today sent to his home in Nebraska City. The chap cried nearly all day yosterday and today, being apprehensive that he was to be hanged for some imag- inary crime. Veterans Have a Lively Discussion. REyxoLps, Neb, March #.—|Special to Tur Hse]-Major Potter post No. 15 Grana Army of tho Republic, at Reynolds, bad a very lively time last evening jn the way of a debate on the question: '“‘Re- solved, That free trade in the Unitea States, would be better for the masses of the peo- ple.”’ The question was Noally decided in he afirmative, from which there was an @ppeal, aud ao agreement to discuss the question over aeain at the next meeting of the post. A majority of the members of the post are farmers and belong to the farmers’ allisnce, which appears to be strongly in favor of free trade, and in their argument say there 18 no danger of making corn or hogs or the products of the west wortheless than they now are. Nearly all the farmers of this section are allisnce men and they are working as they never did before, Came to Egypt for Corn, "REMONT, Neb, March 24.- pecial to Tue Ber)-The Nyo & Schneider company of this city today contracted a large supply of corn for the South Dakota erers. Thesoliciting committee now in Chicago, among whom is Governor Mellette, wired the company Saturday to ascertain the figure at which it could farnish 100 cars of corn. A price was named dhd today the offer was accepted. It will amount to about sixty-five thousand bushels and will be loa abonce st the different stations on the Fremont, Eikhorn & Mistouri Valley road where the Nye & Schneider company is doing business. A Plaze at Chadron, Cuapnos, Neb., March 24.—[Special Tele- gram to Tue Bee. ) “ire broke out in the rear of the Chadron house about 1 o'clock this afternoon. A very strong wind was blowing from the west, and as the fire staried from a flue in that end of the building it was remarkable that the building was saved. The proprictor. M. O'Hanlon, has the fol- lowing insurance on the property: German- American, $1,000; North Lritish and Mer- chants', $1,000; Pennsylvania fire, $1.000 on building, 'The furniture was insured in the Orient for $1,500. Loss om building about £1,800: on furniture abcut $300, * M ipal Nominees. B Hastixes, Neb., March 24 —[Special Tele- gram to Tue Bes |—Tha republican city convention assembled at the court house this evening for the purpose of nominating can- didates for city offices. The convention was called to order by Chuirman O. D. Thatcher. On motion of Fred Olmstead, W. P. MeCreary was elocted chairman of the con- vention and M. L. Elsmore secretary. Nomi- nations were then mado for mayor. ~ Charies L. Stone was nominated by acclamation. D. Miner was nominated for city tre urer by acclamation. For city clerk H. C. Haverly was unanimously nominated. J. H. Flewing and A, H. Cramer were nominated for members of theschool board. Poncas Kidnap Their Children. NioukaRA, Neb., March 24.—[Special Tele- gram to Tne Bee. |—Tho Ponca Indians who were refused the request of their children attending the governwment schools at Santee agency, succéeded in kidnapping four Satur- day evening. The Indians had ponies se- creted under the hill close by the traders’ store and they sent two boys to the teachor and gained permission for the chilaren to go with them to the store for some article. ‘hiey then went from the store to the hiding place and all went over the hids to join their peonle bound for Indian territory, fifty in Agent Hill's police employes are iu pursuit, Hasting: Julia Creates a Scnsation. Nenraska Ciry, Neb., March 26.—|Special Telegram to Tmw Brg.]—Julia Gibbs, the frail young woman who recently made sev- eral desperate attempts to commit suicide, created enothor excitement last night in her ighborhood by calling for a doctor and declaring that she had been poisoned by two well known young men, who had forced her 1 take the drug. A physician made pn examination, when sbo confessed that she was in an_iuteresting coundition and the young men forcod her to take the medicine 1o relieve her and them of any nossible responsibility. Prosecutions are liable to follow. Barns Destroyed at Hastings. HasTiNGS, Neb., March 21.—|Special Tele- gram to Tur Bee.]—At 7:30 p. m. fire broke out in the Tyler barn, corner Burlington and Third streets, spreading to three neigh- voring barns, and all were entirely con- sumed. Four horses were burned to deatb. The entire city was in excitement, this be- ing one of the largest blazes here for several years. Hastings, having sent a lot of hose to Kearncy, was somewhat disabled itself to immediately control the flam However, the firemen fought bravely, saving a lary number of frame buildings at the fire's mercy. Great winds have been blowing since yesterday moraing, but as they ceased with the sunset the greatest danger was over. Opponents of High License. BEATRICE, Neb., March 24.—[Special Tele- gram to Tup Bee.)—The auditorium was thronged tonight on the occasion of the peo- ples city convention to nominate a ticket in opposition to the high license ticket placed in the field one week ago. Hon. E. R. Fogg was made chairwan of the convention and George A. Murphy secretary, ‘The follow- ing city ticket was placed in nomination: For mayor, J. i.. Tait; treasurer, Augustin W. Bradt;'city clerk, 'J. T. Phillips; school board, George A. Murphy aud W. . Nich- olls. ' Au interesting feature of the pro ceedings was a communication from O. H, Phillips declining to permit the use of his nanie as a candidate for mayor beford the convention. A Farm Hous» Burned. Avsioy, Neb,, Murch 24.—[Special Tele- gram to Tue Bee.|—At 11 o'clock today, while the wind storm was at its height, the farm buildings of Morrill G. Curtis. u farmer living three miles southwest of town, were discovered to bo on fire. At tae time of the discovery the fire had gained such beadway that it was impossible to save anything. The house ana all the outbuildiogs with their contents were destroyed. The loss is esti- mated at §1,500, partly insured. The fire is supposed to have been caused by sparks from the kitchen stove, Nebraska City Municipal Ticket. Neniaska City, Neb., March 24.—| Special Telegram to Tue Bes.|-The republican city convention today nominated Panl Schminke for mayor, David Goff clerk, G. W. Borgert treasurer, and M. T. Johnson, Frahk Faunce, H, H. Bartling, Antun Zim- merer and John Zimmerer for councilwen. The Pender Town Elrction. , Neb., March 24.-[Special to To 'he town election whizh will take place one week from tomorrow promises to be one of far more interest than usual, there being an unrelenting tight waged by the auti saloon element awainst the issuance of licenses the coming year, but 1t is believed that ticense will carry by & small majority, Booked for a Penitentiary Torm. Bratnice, Neb., March 24.—[Special Tele gram to ‘Fur Ber.]—Charles Boyle and J. G. arrell were found guilty by the jury at6é o'clock last evening, after being out since Saturday, of having burclars’ tools in their possession, and are consequently booked for a terw in the penitentiary. Machinery for a Twine Factory. FueMoxt, Neb. .\ March 24.--[Special w0 Tuxk Bee.]—The directors of the Kremont hemp and twine company have just ordered the machinery for the new twino factory, which comes direct from England. It is vx- pected 10 areive 1a time to be set up and the factory ready for operation by October 1. * Run Over ana Killed. Pawxge City, Neb,, March 24.—([Special Pelegram to Tne Bee.]—W. A. Sbaonon, a prominent farmer living three miles west of town, was run over and killed this afternoon by a B, & M. freight train, self in the Foot, Beathice, Neb.,, March 24—[Special Telegram to Tug Ber |—Jimmie McGee, a young son of J. L. MeGea of this city, shot himself through the foot accidentally while huntiog Saturday. The wound, though paio- ful, 1s not aangerous. GENERAL CROOK'S FUNERAL. His Remains Tenderly Laid to Rest at Oakiand, Md. OAKLAND, Md., March 24.—General Crook's funeral train on the Baltimore & Ohio road arrived at 10:07 ti morning. Toe day was fine and the people of the town and from the country around about were at the station to receive the remains, A8 soon as the body was remoyed from tho. car the procession was formed and the march to the cemetery taken up. Theie the exercises were observed according to the programmo. The war department was wepresented by the following officers: Lieutenant Colonel Beck, assistant adjutant general; Captain J. . Bourke, Third cavairy; Captain George Anderson, Sixth cavalry and First Lieu- tenant Charles B. Schofield, Second cavalry. General Schenck’s Burial. Wasnixerox. March 24.—The funeral ser- vices over the remains of General Schenck were held this afternoon and tonight the body was taken to Dayton, O. Droppea Dead. Nonmis, Mareh 24.—Rev. R. F. Shinn, pastor of the Congregational chureh, dropped dead in the pulpit at tfe close of the services last night. Heart failure was the cause. —-— STEELE A GOOD OFFICER. The Testimony of His Superior Very Flattering, Cuicago, March 24.—The court-martial for the trial of Licutenant Steele, churged with harsh treatment of Private Wild, reas- sembled this nornine. Lieutenant Steele took the stand in his own defense and after relating the story of his encounter with Wilde, as priuted horetofore,Captain Phelps, his euperior ofticer, testified as to Steele's bearing toward the men under him. Fe also testified that Wild was fosolent and insub- ordinate and gave more trouble than any other man in the troop. Witness had never known in twenty years’ expericr.ce a better officer of his uge than Lieutenant Steele. Cuptain Weeks (retired) testified to the goud character and repatation of Lieutenant Steele, Colonel Townsend, commander at Fort Yates, suid a report of the case was made to him by both Lieutenant Stecle and Wild, Steele admitted having struck Wild in a moment of passion and regretted it. Town- send rebuked biam for it and told him that no ofticer who could not control his own temper could expect to control ether men. Private Wild then came in and asked 1t Steele had any rigat to call Lim a miserable deserter aud to strike him. Townsend replied that he had not ana further told Wild the order be had refused to obey was a perfectly proper one and that he was guilty of a grave vreach of discipline, Steele asked the col- onel if Wild should not be tried by ca garrison court-martial, as the pumishment he would receive there would be less than he might get from a gen- eral court-martial. Colonel Towusend con- sidered Lieutenant Stcele one of the best young ofticers of the army. This ended the testimony, and after arguments by Steele's counsel and Judge Advocate Murray the case ciosed. The finding of the court will not be known for some time, On account of Gen~ eral Crook’s death it will be passed upon by General Schofield, The McCalia laqairy. NEw York, March 24.—In the McCalla trial today more wstimony was heard re- garding punishments. Private Sapford of the marine testified he knew Fireman Walker jn the Washingion navy yard under the name of Proby. McCalla’s coursel offered in evidence Proby’s record i1n Washingtoo, showing that he had been in the house of refuge and had a bad character wenerally. During the pendency of his trial for an offense Proby skipped his bail and enlisted. Surgeon Herndon testitied that no men suffered in health during the cruise from commitment in straight jackets. The re- mainder of the proceedings of the inquiry will be private. THE OHIO STATIONARY. Apprehensions of a Serious Flood no Longer Felt, CixciNyaTr, March 24.—Tonight the ap- prehensions of a serious flood hatve been dissipated. Reports from all points up the river are to the effect that it is stationary or fallng, and tbe same 18 true of all its northern tributaries as well as the Kentucky river. If there is no heavy rain in the Ohio valley within forty eight hours the river will " not rise beyond sixty feet. Along the water fronts of this city the basements are flooded and the drst floors of some of the stores. Merchants generally bave hauled their goods away to places of safety ana little fear of damage is entertained. The factories on Water and Frout streets have suspended tewporarily on account of water in tueir cel- lars. All navigation is stopped by the hizh water and the swift cuirent, SeveraP coal fleets are laid up and some coal barges have been sunk iu collision with bridge piers. Covingtén and Newport are cit off from the city now as far as street car trafic is concerned. The ferries are also obliged to stop, as they cannot fin landing points. Two men and a boy were drowned back of Covicgton by the capsizing of a 8kiff. Newport suffers more than any other suburb by the high water. Quite a large district is already flooded and the residents are compelled to vacate their houses, Rising Again, Nrw OnLeaxs, March 24.—Advices from various points along the Mississippi tonight show that thers has been no increase in any of the levee breaks, but at the same time not much headway has been made towards closing them. Water continues to pour through the Offuts and Raleigh breaks in Mississippi and northern Louistana, and all the land in that wvicinity is badly flooded. Most of all the peovle, however, have been able to move out tho larger part of their be- longings to places of safety. At Arkanss City the river is rising again tonight and the water is pouring down on the town rapidly from the Sappington breaks. At Wheeling. ‘WageLiNG, W, Va., March 24.—The river came to a stand this afternoon. Some stores on the low lands are flooded but no great loss has occurred. PAN-AM - RICAN CONGRESS, Granting of Government Aid Steamers Advocated. Wasmixaroy, March 24.—The Pan-Ameri- can congress today adopted the report of the committees ou communication on the Atlautic and Pacific, recommending the granting of government aid to lines of steamers. The mouetary committee presented reports. The South and Central American delegates on the committee united in a report in fayor of an international silver coin. Estee, one of the United States members agreed in the gengral recommendation but differed in des il. He recommeuded the coinage of a sil- ver dollar of 412 grains, 900 fine, and the or- ganization of a mouetary union under whose direction coinage would be executed. He and the foreign delegates are bi-metallists, but Mr. Coolidge, the other United States member, is a Wono-metallist. - South Dakota Bonds Sol Sioux Farus, S. D, March 24. Telegram to Tuz Bee.)-State Swmith this eveniug sola at auction $15,000 worth of state bonds to the Jarvis Conklin mortgage and trust company of New York for 1005, The bands draw 4 per cent and run for twenty years. It is the first sale of state bonds in South Dakota and the price at which they sold higher than any state bouds have ever been sold west of the Mississippl, to ON THE FREE LIST. | il The Protest of the New England Shod Meh Provails. RIDES TIN PLATE MUST PAY DUTY. Canners' Arguments Avail Nothing— The Suzar Question Reopened— A Leading Repablioan on Tar- I Legtslation, 513 FounteesTn Stresr, WasmiNetox, D, C., March 24, The committee ox Ways and means heid no meeting today beeause the chairman, Mr. McKinley, is in attendance at the funeral of General Crook, but i will hold a meeting at the treasury departiient tomorrow in con- ferenco with Secretary Windom and As- sistant Secretary Tichnor to discusss par- ticularly the sugar question, which has been reopened. The adminisiration is opposed to ad valorem duties and Mr. Windom is urg- ing the committe to ehange the form of as- sessment and to iMpose a specific duty amounting to 25 or 30 per-cent of ihe present tax upon imported sugar, Hides have been placed back on the free list to gratity the shoemakers of New Eng- land, and the existing tarif on lumber will be maintained in agcordance with the de- mands of the lumbeFmen of Maine, Pennsyl- vania, Michigan aad W isconsin. The duty that has been imposed on tin will remain, notwithstanding the proiest of the fruit and meat packer 3 The duty on carpet. wools, which has been increasea fron 21§ to 34 cents a pound is still undecided, and fhe carpet manufactur- ers of New England Bnd New York are mak- ing a 'desperate efforf” to have it restored to the existing figures. The lead ore queption will also be d cussed with the sedr@tary of the treasury, and he is in favor . of taxing that import at the rate of 1!¢ cents per pound, although the smelters throughout the entire coyotry are bringiog an enormous pressure to bear upon the committee and, otlier members of con- gress. ASTINGTON BUREAU Taz Osama Bz, } A LOG-WURLING DILL. One of the foremoss-ieaders of the repub- lican party said today: “If I couid write the tariff ‘bill I would place upon the free list every article that does not absolutely require protection to enable its manufactur- ers to compete with their competitors in Europe and Lam certain that the public sen timent of the country would sustain such a policy. If the republican party cxpects to win at the next election it must do some such thing. [ am nad talking for publication for I do not want to §e arraigned lor heresy by all the party orgaus, but the time has come for us toyabandon the prac- tice of catering 'to little chques and rings of manufagturers in order to increase their profits. I would levy cus- toms duties us heavily ug are necessary upon all imported aniicles faf we can not produce as chesply here us’ they ure prodiced in Europe. *1 would give such protection as would prevent a reduction of wages awong our working classes, bat I would place upon the freo list the thousand aud one little articles which teed%no protection, but are taxed simply Lo gratify members of cougress and the favored mauudacturers of theyr d tricts. Under such a policy the republicans can win, but the bill that is under considera- tivn now has bees ranged us riyer and harbor bills ure “Up. Aot of little creeks and useless harbors are fucluded so as to get votes enough to secure appropria- tions that are absolurely necessury. It is a log-rolling pill and the people are beginning to recognizé the “act, We have got o have some wise lemslation or thereis no use of trying to elect the néxt congress or a presi- dent two years hencg.” WOKLD'§PAIR BILL. Within the next tweuty-four hours the fight over the world's fair bill will be prac- tically settled, for the vote in the house of representatives will be accepted as an {ndex to public opinion, and it is not at all probable that the senate will make any serious altera- tions in the plan. It tnay change the date for holding the fair aud postpone it a year longer, but will not disturb the question of location, and in fact if anything of the kind were at: temted there are sufficient votes i that body in favor of Chigago to defeat any other city. £ A MEMORIAL ARCH. The delegates to ihe international Amer- ican conference are still discussing the vian of erecting a monument or arch to commen- orate the first meeting of the eighteen Amer- 1can republics and it may be decided to pluce an arch over one of ithe prinzipal streots of Washington on the Columbian anniversary in 1502, Such a schame has been suggestad by Miss Elizabeth Hryant Johoston of this city and 18 received with great favor. There are now only four conspicuous. monuments to Columbus. The handsomest is in Genoa, erected in 1862; another in Barcelona, Spain one in the City of Mexico, which compares favorably with any group in the new world, and another on the isthmus of Panama. GETTING UNWIELDY. The house of rep.Asentatives is composed of 330 members and 1f Idaho and Wyoming are admitted iu tims the next house will comprise 355 members under the present ap~ portionment. Thero is & movement on foot for an apportionment as soon as_ the figures from the new census are obtained, but it will be necessary: for a special session of congress to carry out this plan in order that the redistricting mey be done by the legis- latures of twenty-five states which meet in January, 1501, 1 tie bill is passed as late as March 1, 1501, the legislat of more than thirty states would have to be called in_special session i order to comply with the provisions of the act bLefore the presidential electian in 1891. It is generally conceded on both sides that the house of rep- resentatives is naw oo large for convenience and that its membership ougbt to be cut down to 250 or 275 members at the most- The electoral collexe on the basis of 243 mem. bers would be 408 and the succossful candi- date for president ‘weuld have to bave at least 202 votes. A respportionment would be of udvantage toithe republicans because the greatest increase of ‘population has boen in the northern and: morthwest:rn states, which are puetty certmn to o republican, while the population pf the southern and solidly dewoeratic | states has almost re- maine] stationary. The matter has not yet been brought 1o the attention of the presi- dent, but it is believed be would call a speciul session of congress far the purpose of pass- ing a reapportionment biil provided it was the desire of the leadess of his party. MisCRELANEOUS, The New Yori Herald of yesterday con- tained a column and & balf devoted to Mr. Edward Rosewater's startiing testimony be- fora the committec oA postoflices and ~ post roads, which it desembed as one of the most interesting revelations of telegraph methods which had ever been. presonted to the public. The New York Sun devoted an_equal space to an article copied from the New York In- dependent upa n: cost of electric lighting in various cities signed Victor Rosewater, Jobn Hopkins uniyersity. A decision was 1ot rendered by the su- preme court in the Burrus habeas corpus case today as was expected, but it is stated :!hu a decision will be reacled on next Mon- ay. The secretary of war has issued an order transterring Chaplain Orville J, Nave from Fort Omaha to Fort Niobrara, Caplaio John D. Parker from Fort Riley to Fort Omaha, Chuplain Thomas W, Berry from Fort Sid* ney to Fort Sully. The Nabrasks scmators todav presented otitio from the bricklayers of Kearue North Piatte and Liacola urging the ouuct- ment of legislation to prohibit the employ- ment of alien labor upon government build- iogs. Petitions signed by mearly every ‘citizen of tue cities of Gythaie, Oklanoma City and vassers on Kingficher, Oklahoma, in favor of ths ap- pointment of Jacob Roberts, late of David City, Neb., now register of the Kinglisher land office, to one of the judgeships on the supreme bench of the territory have been received by the Nebraska delegation. The delegation will recommend him to the presi- dent as soon as the Oklahoma bill is finally disposea of. - The treasury department, in rasponse to a request from the ate finance committee, has aporoved the biil to increase tho salary of the surveyor of the port of Lincoln. Mr. Clark'of Wahoo, who was removed from Lis position in the treasury department under President Cieveland, has been stated under the amended civil sorvice laws at the earnest solicitation of Senator Man derson. A board of pension examiners will prob- bly bo appointed within a few days at El- wood, Gosper county, A number of petitions havo becn received from Laucuster county against the reduction of the duty on sugar. Tho Lancaster farmers want to try their hand on beet sugar, John T. Speficer will probably be charged with the duty of paying the Owaha Indians the second instailment of 15,000 due them from the sale of their lands. The bill providing for a public building at Fremont was passed in the senato today. This is the first Nebraska bill to secure the endorsement of both houses and it will go to the president for his signature as soon us it can be sigaed by the president of the senato and speakegof the house. It provides for building to®st 0,000, but it wil: be neces- sary to piss the sundry civil appropriation bill’ before, any money wiil be available for the purchase of a site, a8 tie aporopriation clause in the Fremont building bill was stricken out. The declination of Mr. W. P. Gurley of Omaha of tho position of assistant United States district attorney, offered him some time ago, has caused the Nebraska deloga- tion a great deal of trouble in the matter of selecting somo one else. So many applica- tions have been received that at a meeting of tho delegation this morning it was de- cided to refer all of them to District As- torney Baker, who is likely to know more of the legal abilities of the various applicants than the senators or members. When Mr. Baker makes his selection the gentleman will probably be appointed on the recom- mendation of the delogation. V. W. Davis was today appointea fourth class posumaster at Jesup. Buchanan county, Towa, vice E. C. Brown, removed. Prny 5. HEATH. B R THE MONTANA SENATORS. Mbsjority Report Made by the Com- mittee on Elections. WasniNiox, March 24—The report of the majority of the senate committe on priv- rleges and elections upon the Montana elec- tion case was submitted today, The report gives at the outset the circumstances sur- rounding the election of Messrs. Saunders and Powers by the iron hall or republican legislature, composed of onchalf of the members of tne senate and the republican representa- tives claiming to be elected; and of Messrs. Maginnis and Clark by the court house legis- lature, composed of half of tho senate and democratic.representatives claiming to be clected. Noue of tho scnators had their election called in question, but there were two sets of five representatives from Silver Bow county claiming to be elected. The case, therefore, turned upon the question which of these two sets of five representa- tives were entitled to sit as such. The report says: *‘We think the credeatials of the five republican members from Silver Bow are fully supported by the facts of the election as they are disclosed to us by tne comuus sions of both s:des and by tho uadisputed ev- idence taken in judicial proceedings in Mon- tana and laid before us by Messrs. Clark and T VEEAHER he minority report asserts that the true lemzlature of Montana was the scnate and house which met at the ccurt house is Helena and was recognized by the governor. Neither the house nor members thereof which ey in Iron hail and elected Sanders and Powers wore ever recognized by the governor, nor was their election as seaatorn certified. The evidence proved also that five versons who acted as members of the house of representatives in the Iron hall convention were elected by the people of Silver Bow county, whom they claimed to represent. ‘They only had certificates of election. Five pef- sons elected by the people and holding cer- tiricates also sat and voted in tho legisiature at the court house. Tho United States senate,” says the report, “in_such a case once before (Sykes 'vs Spencer, from Alabama) passed over any mere question of gertificates and asceriained who were actuully elected. The returns from the county made by the clerk on Octover 1, 1583, under the law and made by the canvassing bourd aud‘clerk on November 7, 1880, both show very clearly that the five persons who acted in Iron hall as representayives were not_elected oy the people of Silver Bow The ~territorial board of can- Yovember 4, 1359, issued cer- tificates to uve persoas not elected, by throwing out the vote of precinet 34, which had given a large majority to the democratic candidate. 'Cnis act of the board was done without any right or authority. Thoy had the full returns of the true vote of the county before thom. Being republicans and anx- ious to serve their party in what they thought an omergency, they refused to count or to canvass the real vote of the people and certified Lo the election of five persons not cnosen, in the hope and with the expecta tion that these apurious representatives might in some way vote for partisans of their own political faith as candidates for the United States senate.” The wajority report is signed by all the re- publican members of the comumittee and the minority report is signed by all the demo- crats, —_— Nebraska and lowa Pensions. WasHINGTON, March 24.--[Special Tele- gram to Tne Bk |—Pensions have been grauted to Nebraskans as follows: Original invalid—Aaron F. Powers, Hausen. In- crease—Willism M. McCracken, Juniata; ‘Bhomas T. Clark, Princeton; O. M. Andrus, ndrusyille; John C. Wertz, Pawnee City; Simpson Gris, Loup City; Leonard F. Kemple, Kirkwood; Edward Harold, Dakin ; E. P._Osgood, Sidey; Isaac A. Hall, Hast: ings; Enoch Clark, Hay Springs; George B, Lewis, Brownstown; Willlam Fisher, Cul- bertson. Reissue—Jonn D). Houdersheldt, Shelby, 1ssue of March 13, 1500 South Dakota. Origipal invalid—John Swanton, Menno; Joseph Corlis, Amberst; Georgo 'W. Nayler, Canton. Increase— George Luthor, Canton; Calvin W. Sprague, Faulkton; Alpheus . Kinaey, Estell, lowa peusions: Originai invalid—Lavern Stanton, Ackley: George T. Dutton, Pitton; George ). Horax, lowa City; Adolphus Car- raway, Primghar; Jobn Campbell, Dysart; George W. Wall Bedford; Gilbert R Hags, Marshalltown; John Elwards, Duplap: william T.' Moin lo: John Vinsca, Bidwell; William S, Curry, Perry; George W. Smith, George; C. Z’ BBedford, Fairfield; John' Abraham, Brooksyille; Samuel Lautz, Muscatine; Samuel Kittle, Leando; Henry C. Markham, Mount Ayii Ralph E. Tucker, Audobon: ‘Amos Mats thews, Waukegan; William Hoff, Marengo; William H. McCune, Ruthven; George H. Randall, Iretown: Lawrence Tierney, Ei mira; William Heory, Eldora; Thomas ‘Thorp, Moscow; James Owens, Altoona. Increase—George 0. Potter, Waukton; Charles P. Tripp, Masonville: John H. Gas. kins, La Porte City: Bernard McCormick, MeCalisourg: John B. Lamb, Walker; John Campbell, Pilot Grove; John M. D. Henton, Maguoketa; Robert S. Harnhill, Onslow} Nathan Godwin, Stewart; John Turgon, Bard: Charles L, Jones, Hristow; Charles G. Curtis, Independeuce; George W. For. sythe, Lamar; Nathan W. Hull, Decorah; William H. Braaleigh, Kellerton; Lawrence Rouke, Argard; Charles Willett, Des Mo:nes; William' R, Culver, Richville} Amos W. Biggs, Spring Hil Wheeler, Algona; Garrewt B. Hubbell, awood | William M. Dobson, Kuoxville; David Bunch, Drakesville; Phineas A. Pearson, Pittsburg. Iestoration and increase—Will iam G, Babery, Avon, Re-issue and increase —Sawmuel D, Cooper, Kuoxville, rein- | THE GRRAN 3 OASES. 3 The Decision of th % ‘innesota State Courts Re~ ved. Wasmisatos, March ~The supreme court of the United State, ¥ reversed the decision of the Minnesota' seme court n what are known as the Gr. = cases. The Minnesota decision was ag#_.v the conten- tion of the railroad companics. The isgue was certain rates prescribed by the railrond commissioners which the raii- road companios asserted wora 80 low a8 to practically amount to depriving the company of 118 property without due process of law Justice i3latehford, delivering the opinion of court, says it must accept the construction upon the stato statue by the Minnesota supreme court. *That court declared that it is the expressed iutention of the legisla. ture that tho rates fixed by the railroad com. mission are not simply advisory, but final and conclusive. That law peither contem. plates nor allows any 1ssue to be made nor any inquiry to be made us to their eauality or reasonableness. In fact, in other words, although a railroad company 18 forbidden to establish rates not equal and reasonable, there is 10 bower in_ the courts to stay the hands of tho commisaion if it chooses to es- tablish rates that are uaequal and unreason- able. The statute so construed confiicts with the federal constitution in the particu- lars complained of * * % .The question of the reasonableness of the rata charged for transportation by a ralroad company,' says the opinion is emineutly a question for judicial investigation requiring due process, of law for its determination. 1f the company is deprived of the power of churging reason- able rates in the abseace of investigation by judicial machinery it is deprived of the law- ful use of its property, and thus in substance and effect of the property itself without dua pro~ess of law and in violation 10 the con- stitution, and while other persous are per- mitted to recoivo reasonablo protits from in- ve capital the company is denied tho equal protection of tho law. Justice Miller concurred with some hesita- tion in the judgment of the ¢ He was of the opinion that the lemslature or the commission appointed by it had the right to establish rates, but whero unjust rates were fixed the partics aggrieved had the right to appoal to thb court, Tho proper mode of reliof would be bill in chancery. The railroads snould have the righi to be heard, and as the supreme court of Minuesota refused this, the case, in his opinion, should be reversed on the ground that this is a deniul of due process of law. Justice Bradiey, for himself and Justices Gray and Lamar, 'delivered an oral dissent. It scemed to him' the deeision of the court practically overruled the decisions in other cases in which it had been held that the ar- guments of rates was a legislative and not a judicial prerogative. ‘The courts should never make 1ssuc with the Jesislative depart- ment where it was_possible to avoid it. It might be asked was at the mercy of legislature 8 ‘Ihere hud to be a final tribuna to decido every case. The question was which was the proper final tribunal. In his opinion it was the legislature, He did not mean t there might not arise circum- stances which would give judiciary power in the matter, but it was not so tn this case. —— CAlf THIEVES ARIESTED. One of the Worst Gangs in the North- west Broken Up St. Pavr, Minn., Marc [Special Tel- egram to Tue Bek.j—The greatest gang of railroad thieves that ever infested the north- west 1s broken up, and five of the culprits languish in the Rondo strest station. Their queer work has been going on all winter, and their stealings amount to many thou- sands of dollars. Oun March 15 a large box of goods bearing the mark fof Liadekes, Warner & Shurmeir was found by a team- ster near the Great Northern tracks on Lex- iugton avenue and brought to the central station for identification. The police, after a consuitation with the rail- way officials, came to the conclusion that a car seal had been broken and the box of dry goods, with several other boxes of merchandise, thrown out for the purpose of plunder, Chief Clark detaled several ofticers to look into the matter, and James Cuddick and Daniel Rowley were arrested. The vair gave partial descriptions of several othar thisves, and a warrant was secured for the scarch of the Sweney residence, on the corner of Thomas street and Farrington avenue. The officers were refused admit- tancs, but forced their way in at the point of . revolvers and bplaced the Widow Sweney and her sons, John and Edward, under arcest, The house proved a rich find, and silks, musiins, teas, carpets aud other goods were pulled from the ceilar and gar ret in great profusion. The hoys finally yielded, and said that for several months with two pals, Ed. Maloney and Fred Mo- Counnell, they had bren in the habit of boarding freight cars near Hamlne, and while they were moviug near Lexington avenue would ‘‘dump” from them several boxes of whatever thes happened to con- tain, Their work was all done in tue night. “Now," said John, ‘‘providing you make it easy for me D'l tell you where $1,000 worth. of goods are ‘planted.’’” The officers assented and weat with the prisoner to the corner of Marylaad and Far- rington avenues, where, with bick and shovel, they unearthed box after box of dry goeds, gents' furnishing goods, chests of tea and other things. The value of the goods recovered is nearly $2,000, all of which had been consignea by St. Paul merchants to northweet@n customers. The goods found, however, Bre but a smail part of thosé stolen, 'Th3 thieyes operated on the Great Northern line. Mra. Sweney is charged with ruoning a “fence” and the men with grand larceny. A regular arsenal of rifles, revolvers and bowie kuives was fouud iu the Sweney house. Rawson's Case Settled. March 24.—|Special Telegram |—The noted case of Mrs. wson against Stephen W. Rawson public notice again this afternoon in au opwion rendered by the appellate court. The opinion was as to the irregularity of Judge Jamieson's commt- ment of Mrs, Rawson to sixty days in jail for contempt of court in shooting Henry C. Whitney, her husband’s lawyer, in the court room. Whitney becamo insane and is still in an asylum. Mrs. Rawson subsequently got a divorce from Banker Rawson, bhe making no detense, and s now in Italy, ‘where she 1 sad to be engaged to be married a fourth time. The sentence of Judgo Jamieson has been hanging over her head ever since 1t was imposed. She spent helf a day in jail, but her lawyers took out a writ of error in the nppellate court, which now reversos the decision of Judge Jamieson on the ground that Mrs. Kawson's commitment was wrongly entitled, and also becauss Mrs, Ruwson was not present in court when sen- tence was imposed. A further error maae by Juflge Jamieson, the appellato court bolds, was®in not stating in the order of commitment of what the contempt con- sisted. The order of commitment belag the whole record where the contempt is com- ted in tho presence of the court, 1t is essen tial that it should coutain a statoment of the facts, Mrs. Rawson gets out of serving any more time in jail by the decision, - Mrs. Cuicaco, to Toe Be Meikiel R was brought to Nominations, WasniNatoNs March 24.—The president todzy seat to the senate the following nomi nations: John I, Selby, United States at torney for North Dakota; Major Thaddeus H. Stanton, paymaster, to be lieutenant colonel and deputy paymaster general; Nalvin T\ Spaulding, postmaster at Hrain- ard, Mion, - - The Weather Forecast, For Omaha and vicinity—Fair weather, For Nebraska: Colder, fair, northwest- erly winds. For lowa and and fair weathor, lower temperature, South Dakota: northwesterly Clearing wiads, 274, 'FOR THE POSTAL TELEGRAPH Mr. Rosowater's Strong Argument Favoring Government Control. INTERESTING HISTORY RELATED, Lines Built by the Military During the War Practioally Given Away to the Companies—NRates and Profits, Somn Unwritten History. The following s & portion of Mr. Rosas water's argument and the accompanying des bate befora the house committee on postof- fices and postroads on the Wanamaker postal telegraph bill. Mr. Rosewater uppeared be- fore the committes n Washington, March 18, Thero wers presout Mr. Hingham, chairman; Mr. Evans, sr. Montgomery, Mr. Beckwith, Mr. Blount and Mr. Yurpin, com= prising the committee; Hon. Jonn Wana- maker, postinaster goneral: Hon. Cheadlo M. Marcan, wanager of tha Western Union telegraph cowpany, Hon. James N. Tyver and others. The following is tho statement of Mr. Rosewater: Mr. Bingham--First give to the committeo your name, together with your relations to the service, Mr. Rosewater—My name is Edward Rosewater. Iam now the editor and chief proprietor of Tur Omama B I was for thirteen years actively engaged in the tele graph service; for more thun two years in tno military telegrapn corps, and part of that time in tho field and for nearly o year in the war dopartment. I was for seven years manager of Western Union telezraph company for one year manager of the / nd Great Western For more twenty-five yeurs 1 have been firmiy convinced that the safety of this government demands the control of the telegraph system by one of the brauches of the government—whether it be postal or otherwise, is not so material. In 1871, on the first day of the session of the Nebraska legislaturé, of which I was then a member, [ introduced ths following resolution: “Resolved, That United States 1s ear cyre as early as vracticable the full control of the present telegraph system by pur- cnasing or le*ing the lines now owned by the different'telegraph companies, oxcepting only iines used and owned by railroad eom panics for the legitimate busimess of said roads. ““RResolved, That our representatives in the United States senate are mstructed, and our representatives i®the house of representa- uves are requested to vote for any bill de- signed to sccurs the object set forth in this memorial »’ Tam not here to advocate any particular bill, nor do I desire to au ticular telegraph ¢ A vatrons of the \Western Union company to the extent of over §15,000 o year for special dispatchies, and bold a membership in tho Associated press: so that certainly my re- lations to the Associated press and the Western Union are not inimical. I believe for myself and for the people of the country thatit is of the most vital im- portance that some step should be taken at an early day for the government to acquire the lings. At the outset the queation would be asked, 1n the language of Dr. Green: ‘‘ls it truo that in this country the people need to be prote ted from the governmentt” My personal observation is to the contrary. 1 will recite briefly some ancieat telegraph history. In 1850 the United States aud the Dominion of Canada were sub-divided and controlled by what was then known as the - Six nations. These telegraph companies had ncquired, terric toriaily, the control in various sectione of the country, and had eed among thems selves not to invade each other's territory, but to protect aad work with eacn other. ‘Lhese companies were tho American telo- graph company, the Western Union tele- graph company, the Magnetic teiegraph company, the Caton lines and the Dominion company. These companies had an offcusive as well as defensive alliance with each other. When the war broke out they acuvely co- oporated to protect the interests of each other, regardless of the interests of the gov- ernment. I was then in the cmploy of the Southern company &t Nashville, of which company Dr. Green was'the president. The headquarters of that company were at Louis- ville. When President Lincoln's proglamas tion was issued discontinuing all communi- cation between the north and south by wire, circulars were seut by the company to the northern cities to partiss who were carrying on commerce with the south and wero in sympathy with the secession moves ment, to send theiv dispatches by mail to Louisville and thence they would be for- warded by telegraph. The operations of this and other companies in the southern states were inimical to the government und all their exertions were directed aguinst the government, When [ was in the war de- partment in 1362.63, observing what was going on, 1 came to the conclusion that the government was not in safe lhuds. No sooncr had the war brokea out than the Western Union exerted its influcnce to ac- quire the coutrol ot the milivary telegrapn of the United States, To that end they had their general superintendent, Anson Stager, appointed 1o take charge of the military lines of tho United States. General Stager held two positions at the same time through the cntire war—that of general manager of the telegrdph system of the Western Union and_ that' of commander-in.chief of tho United States military tele- eraph corps. ‘Lo show the relation existing between General Stager and his company, I need only to cite one fact. Wo were always on very good terms and only a few months before he died he told me that his salary as a colonel and assistant quartermaster in the United States army during the entire war was turned over to tho Western Union com- pany, and that he nover got any part of his salary as au army officer. Ar. Bingham--Whatslines were they? Mr. Rosewater—Ile was general superin- tendent of the Western Union telegraph company at that time, - He was ulso chief of the military telegraph corps of the United States at the same time, *Now when the war was over, what bocame of the military telegraph lines! When [ came to this city a fow days ago 1 simply had 8 surmise that these wires, cables and everything that we had built during the war ad been turned over as old junk or sold at #0 wuch a pound to tho existing telegraph company, But upon ransacking the war de- partment in the quartermaster-general's office, 1 found that a military order had been {ssued on the 27th day of i'ebruary, 1566, by which the Usited States military™ telegraph lines and appurtennnces, within the states south of the Ohio river, were turned over to the several commercial companies owning the telegraph patent right within said terri- tory. 'Lhis was in consideration of the re- linquishment by the telegraph companies of all claims sgainst the United States for uge of their lines and for the detention of the lines, and as compensation to said companies for the exclusion of commercial pusiness in that portion of tueir Lines which had been in the possession of the United States. Mr. Bingham—Do you know what lines they arel Mr. Rosewater—Yes, sir; the lines are enumerated. It stiows that the government at that time owned 14,211 miles of iaud line and 178 miles of subuiariue cable, Mr. Blount—What are you reading from? Mr. Rosewater—1 am ‘reading from the annual report of the quartermaster general of the United States army for 1866, pages 300 and 501 Mr. Bingham—If it will not interrupt you, and in order to -make your description o this point perhaps somewhat more intelligi- ble, I will read this letter that I recelved this morning from Dr. Norvin Green and which I will submit to the committee later, whorein he makes application to be heard again o answer some of Mr. Hubbard's slatemonts, That is the bvoint you are now waking. For iostance, Mr. Hubbard rays that one of the chief ob Jects for procuring the passage of the act of lantic & the to se. the congress of sty requested are the