Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, January 13, 1910, Page 1

THE OMAHA BEE goes to the homes—is read by the women-—sells goods for advertises TS, _—_— WEATHFR FORECAST. For Nebraska-—8Snow. For lowa—Snow, For weather report see page 2 - VOL. XXXIX-—NO. 15 e ———— OMAHA, THURSDAY 13, 1910 -TEN PAGES. PRESIDENT.A & A i‘ Executive Indicates He it holding Patronage from gents Fighting Cannon: SENATOR BROWN AT WHITE HG Taft Asks Republicans All to Stand by Party Pledges. SPEAKERSHIP NOT ISSUE TO HIM | Main Thing is to Carry Out Will of the People. 1 | | INKLING OF INTENT TO CANNON President Carries on Correspondence with Congressman Norris, and Make FPublic nonncement Soon. May ro- (F"rom a Staff Correspondent.) WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.—(Special gram.)—Senator Norrls Brown saw dent Taft today and had a There s nothing strange or unusual in cither of these statements, for it happens very frequently, but the resuit of that talk 1s significant. President Taft i= not with holding patronage from republicans who are fighting Speaker Cannon and his rules, as has been alleged, nor will he, but he Insists that whera platform pledges have been made It Is the business of republicans to stand by the administration in its efforts to make these pledges offective, instead of fighiing w he-wlsps and the pairing the solldarity of the party. President Taft is not wedded to Speaker Carnon nor will ho punish those who are inimical to the “Iron Dulke of Illinols,” but what the presidont most wants is unani- mity of actlon, for he told Senator Brown there was much to do In the next year or two and he wanted every republican to help carry out pre-clection pledges. In an evening newspaper Senator Rrown is quoted as saying on emorging from the president's room: “We're golng to gt those anurchists before this sesslon s | over."” “Who do you mean Senator Brown was asked. “I mean the ‘regulars'—the Aldrich crew,” he answered. When asked about this statement Senator Brown laughingly sald it was intended for a joke as much as anything. He satd he | had told the newspaper men about the | White House that he had mothing to say for publication, but on belng “badgered” had used the words attributed to him. but with no thought of thelr being seriously accepted. Ca 4 Speakership. One thing Senator Brown ls Insistant upon and that ls the president realizes the In- tensity of the situation and will do every- thing possihle . to.. bring ahout honoranle peace Petween the contending factions and it may be that the White House will in- form Speaker Cannon that to persist in his intention to be speaker of the Sixty-second congress will mean a democrat in the place he now occuples. Run for congress if he | will in the Danville district, but keep ofit | of the speakevship fight. That correspondence has passed between the president and Representative Norris of | Nebraska, one of the foremost of the In- | surgents, concerning the situation was ad- | mitted by the Nebraska member today, but | in the absence of official sanction he de- | clined to make public the contents of the letters. President Taft is sald to have writien Mr. Norrls a letter declaring that the ad- ministration wes making no war upon any member of the house and that he in no wise blamed indivldual members for acting in “n Independent capacity in anything af- fecting themselves or their districts. The president, however, is sald to have deprecated the action of the republican in- | surgents In making such a fight as to cause | the press and the public to believe ’that a division had occurred within the party, and that the administration was confronted | with a serlous defection in its own ranks before it had become & year old. Tele- Presi- with him. | & | by anarchists?" i BALKS ON SENATE MOVE| Ballinger Inquiry Resolution is Sent to Conference, WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.—The housasto- y refused to coneur in the senate amend- }hll to the Pinchot-Ballinger resolution 3¢ #Ba decided to ask for a conference. The speaker named the following cop- | ferees Representatives Dalzell of Pennsylvanla, Smith of lowa and Fitagerald of New York, When the actlon { of the house was re ported to the senate it agreed to the con ference, Bemators Nelson, Clark of Wyoming and MeEnery named as | conferees. o | By a viva voce vote the house today passed the Bennett-Sabath “white slave” il The “white slave” bill Is the result of an Investigation: of traffic In allen women made by the Natlonal Immigration com- | mission. Provision {s made for the deporta- | tion and exclusion of immoral aliens and for the exclusion and punishment of their | procurers. Traffic in immoral women be- | comes subject to the restrictions of Inter- state commerce laws. Immigration laws are aumended so as to exclude persons who are supported by or who recelve procceds from the immorality of allens and provision is made for the eriminal prosecution of persons who shall | harbor aliens for immoral purposes. Ay | alien inmate of a house of 1l fame and any allen who In any way assists such an in- mate are made Mable to deportation. The measure makes It a erime punishable by & fine of not more than $,00 ana im. prisonment for not more than ten years for any person to procure a ticket for any | person to go from one state to another to § ensage in a lite of immorality BOTH DOXEYS ARE HELD Former Col were | ST. LOUIS, Jan. 12 —(Special Telegram.)— Mrs. Dora E. Doxey and Dr. Loren B. Doxey are foinfly eharged with murder in the first degree In indictments for the kill- Ing with polson of Willlam J. Erder which were returned by the grand jury in Jud MoQuillin's court this afternoon. Mrs. Doxey is alleged to have married Erder at Clayton and to have collected Insurance £ bis life atter he died. 4 > | haa read in Ncw Rivers Bill Will Provide for Western Streams see Takes Favorable Action on .casure—Finds it Hard to Re- lieve Situation at Decatur. v (From a Staff Correspondent.) WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.—(Special Tele- gram.)—In executive session today the rivers and harbors committee of the house vcted for the annual rivers and harbors bill. The bill, which will in all probability be introduced about February 1, will ca about $30,000,000 It will take care of the Mississippl and its tributaries and deal fairly, according to Chairman Alexander, with the Missourl from Kansas City to Slcux City. “This bill will go down in history, In my Jjudgment, as an inland waterways bill,” sald Colonel Alexander, Senator Burkett, who has been Indefati- gable In” his efforts to hold the Missouri river In bounds at Decatur, Burt county, where of late years serious washouts have occurred, sald today that Indications strongly pointed to something being done by the War department in the spring to- ward fixing the banks. The senator suc- ceeded In getting an allowance through In the last army bill of $,600 for repair of the Missourl's banks In the vieinity of Decatur. Major Schults of the engineer corps, in charge of that district, recently visited Decatur and reports the river completely frozen over and giving promise of continu- ing 80 for several months to come. “Bad slumps were discovered at place,” the major says In his report to General Marshall. “Dike construction Is eded.” He says that this will be begun as s00n as the river is free of ice, and that terlal stored at Sloux Clty can bo towed to Decatur, thereby saving considerably in the work of comstruction, Work which the government contemplates through its engineer office will be done in March and April, and should the appropria- tion not be sutticlent, Major Schultz says additional funds will be used which will be this |asked for if found necessary. Senator Burkett has been asked to desig note a humber of delegates to the Interna tional Good Roads league, which will mee in St. Augustine, Fla., January 26 and 2, ‘This is an opportunity for Nebraskans pla ning a Florida trip to become officlally co: nected with one of the growing movemen of the day. Senator Crawford today introduced a bi fixing the salary of the surveyor gener: of South Dakota at $3,000 per annum. Girl and Waiter Are Taken Back Roberta de Janon and Frederick Cohen Will Reach Philadelphia This Afternoon. CHICAGO, Jan. 12<Robefta "De Jaron, the Philadelphia heiress, and Frederick €ohen, the waiter with whugs she eloped on December 29, lett for Philauelphia today with Detective Sergeants A, J. Emanuel and James Scanlon. The party is due in Philadelphia tomorrow afternoon. The Philadelphia detectives observed the greatest secrecy in getting the elopers out of the city. They were taken to the depot in a closed carriage with the curtains drawn, were smuggled Into the baggage room and taken to a room below In a freight elevator. From here they hurried aboard the train and the curtains of the drawing room and and section reserved were drawn. Cohen’s picture and measurements by the Bertillon system were taken. “I suppose they will give me about five years for this,” sald Ferdinand Cohen, the walter, today to Miss Roberta De Janon, whom he is accused of abducting. ‘“‘But I don't care. 1 have made you happy for a short time, any way, and that is enough for me." . Cohen and Miss De Janon met at the Harrison street police station for the first time since their arrest. They had a nice little talk together, to use the girl's ex- pression. Cohen pinched her cheek and told her he the papers that she thought more of her dog than she did of him. She denled it strongly. “You know I dom't,” sald she. “All right, then,” said Cohen. Many Are Hurt in Vandalia Wreck Truck Under Tender of Locomotive Breaks and K Coaches Are Derailed. VINCENNES, Ind., Jan. 12—A passenger train on the Vandalia raflroad south bound was wrecked-threo miles north of this eity this afternoon. Many persons were hurt, but none fatally. A truek under the tender of the locomotive broke and the coaches being deralled, rolled down the embank- ment. | ines of Mr. Heard's address. |CATTLE MEN ASK MANY REFORMS Resolutions Presented to Convention of National Live Stock Associa- tion Will Provoke Debate, OBJECT TO COMMERCE COURT Granting of Increased Power to the Commission is Favored. FOREST SERVICE IS PRAISED Lease Law Governing Use of Public Lands Advocated. CAREY AND HEARD SPEAK Arizona Man Says Only Hope for Grasers Lies in Federal Con- trol of the Range. Open DENVER, Jan. 12.—-Many governmental veforms are demanded in resolutions pre- serted to the Natlonal Live Stock ussocia- don for adoption today. The grantmg of power of the Interstate Commerce commission 10 review railway classifications, to annul changes in regula- tons and to institute proceedirigs on its own motion, as recommended by President Latt, are favored, but the resolution opposes the apponument of any intersiate commerce vourt, ‘The Pinchot administration of the forest service is endorsed and recommendations are made for a lease law governing the use of public 1ands for grazing. The resolu- tURS also favor the continuation of the ght against free hides. Lhe Future of the Live Stock Industry in the Range Country” was the subject of 4n address by Joseph M. Carey of Chey- crre, Wyo. A. D. Meivin, chief of the vureau of animal industry of the Depart- uent ot Agriculture, spoke on ‘‘Sanitary onditions of Our Live Stock.” A strong plea for the sclentific use of the auge was made at the afternoon session of 4e American Live Stock association by wight Heard of Phoenix. He declared that srestry, Irrigation and grazing were in- parable and that the only hope for gras- -4 using the public lauds was in federal .6trol of the open range. ‘The only fight of the convention will vme on the resolution framed along the ‘The endorsement of the Pinchot adminis- -ration will meet with violent opposition «rom the Colorado delegates. Herbert. W. Mumford of the Illinois Agri- cultural college, and Issa Tamunura, royal commissioner of live stock Industry of Japan, addressed the convention today. High Fhight by Paulhan French Aviator Reaches an Altitude of 4,600 Feet in an Aeroplane at Los Angeles. AVIATION FIELD, LOS ANGELES, Cal, Jan. 12—Paulhan, in an attempt at the world’s record for altitude in a heavier-than-air machine, was in the air 50:46%. The anerold on his machine made his greatest height at 4,600 feet. M’CLEVEY JOINS STAFF OF WESTERN NEWSPAPER UNION Leaves Position as Chicago Manager of American Press Association to Take New Management. W. 8. McClevey, who has been manager of the Chicago office of the American Press assoclation, has made an engage- ment to fill a position of jmportance on the executive staff of the Western News- paper union. NONUNION MEN Twelve Hills | N MINES| Workings Will Resume at Once Under Pub- lished Order. LEAD, 8. D., Jan. 12—Twelve mines, em- ploying about 50 men, today published rotice that they would resume operations at once, and that only non-union men would be employed. Several of these mines | have been idle for the last six months and the others have not been operated for two months or longer. With the resumption of the Homestake | mine a total of 3,000 idle miners will: be | given employment. BAKER IS THE CHIEF SPEAKER Prestdent of National Federation Ad- dresses Weatern Implement Dealers. KANSAS CITY, Jan. 12—Joseph C. Baker, | president of the National Federation, was | the chief speaker here today on the pro- | gram for the second day’s session of the | convention of the Wesetrn Implement and | Vehicle Dealers assoclation. Bxhibitors at| the convention report unusually heavy buy- ing orders. { Peerless Leade‘r is Roaste by Ad.j._Gencral Hartigan| Echoes are still resounding from the af- fair at the Omaka Guards' ney armory Monday evening, to which who came not was—Governor Shallenberger. Friends of General Morton, Colonel Gar- dener and the other United States army officers are saying what the offigers are 0o courteous to say about the governor's tallure even to excuse himself. But the Omaha friends of the “Peerless One"’—and he has & féw left yet—are “burn- Ing up,” as one of them expressed it. The source of thelr heat, chagrin and ery for vengeance is Adjutant General Hartigan. During his talk to the assembled officers, guardsmen and their friends General Har- ugan took occasion to say some blunt things directed straight at the one-time colonel of the Third Nebraska regiment. “It may be called democratic treason in me quarters to say It but it Is true nevertheless that men In high station and of great Influence in the dominant party in this state used that influence to be ap- pointed to responsible commands in the d army, when they had absolutely no knowl- edge of military matters or of the dutles and respomsibilities of commanding offi- cers. It is in fact of record that they did not know the first rudiments of camp san- itation or how to care for the health of their men." Mayor Dahlman, with all his cool nerve, tightened his lips & trifle when he caught Hartigan's meaning. Tom Flynn, with his fine sense of humor, smiled within while keeping a serious fa City Clerk Dan Butler began to look dangerous before Gen- eral Hartigan had finished, and several vociferous partisans of Bryan were actu- ! From the Minneapolls Journal. NOBODY HAS A CINCH ON HIg JOB Now ¢ Bryan Arrives, SI GLE FLOODS MENACE AT ST, LOUIS Rain Causes Mississippi to Assume Threatening Aspect. GORGE FORMS BELOW THE.CITY Warning 1s Issued to River Mem to Be Prepared to Proteet Their Property—Kansas Usder Delneriit ST. LOUIS, Jan. 12.—Rain teday in Mis- sourl and northern points caused the Mis- sissippi river to assume a threatening as- pect. (The weather bureau lssued a warn- ing to the river men to be prepared to pro- tect their property. The Mississippi river Is gorged with fce from Chester, IIl, sixty miles below St. Louls, to this clty. The Missouri river s gorged at Hermann, |‘Mo., and many smaller gorges are reported north of St. Louis. The river gauge this morning stood at 219 feet, a rise of .7 feet in twenty-tour hours. deluged by a rain that commenced last night and which is' continuing today. An inch and a half fall was recorded at the local weather bureau this morning. The snow has melted and small streams are rising rapidly. l]olr for Brokers by Committee in Wall Street Finding of Board Investigating Rock Island Episode May Involve Three Firms. NEW YORK, Jan. 12.—The findings of the governing committee of the stock ex- change in what has become known as the “Rock Island episode,” will occasion much surprise and no little consternation, accord- ing to statements made in Wall street to- day. Well informed Individuals declare that not one, but at least three well known brokerage houses will be severely dis- ciplined and that the acts proved against them are all- connected with the mani- pulation of Rock Island stock, but ante- date the sensational movement of Decem- i ber 27 last. The governors seem to have discovered évidence of a long and well sustained movement in Rock Island common under clrcumstances regarded as suspicious on the stock exchange. One of the accused members was before the special committee again today accompanied by his partner also & board member. A formal statement probably will be made tomorrow by Presi- dent Thomas from the rostrum of the ex- change. Marriage prise for Friemds. LYONS, Neb, Jan. I12—(Speclal)—Un- known to their friends here, Roy Butio nd Nettie Peterson were married on New ‘s day at Omaha and spent their honeymoon at New Hampton, Ia. They are both Lyons young folks. Let us help you find the room you want. On the Want Ad page of The Bee you will find a list of practically every vacant room ally sick at the stomach. There was noth- ing to do but grin and bear It, how ver, for Hartigan was there to say what he had to say regardless. And what hurts the Bryan men most s that they know that Governor Shallenber- ger 1s not and never has been a Bryan ad- mirer, Hartigan's animadversions will meet his views exactiy—‘“and what are you golng to do about 1t?" in Omaha. The people who have rooms to rent are learn- ing that the way to secure ten- ants is to advertise the rooms in The Bee. Have you read the want ads today? TOPEKA, Kan., Jan. 12.—Kansas 1s being | Panic Stricken Cotton Longs Are Unloading Third Sensational Slump in Prices Since Downward Movement Began Last Week. NEW YORK, Jan. 12.—There was a fur- ther break in the cotton market today, making the third sensational slump in prices since the movement started early last week. Panlo-stricken longs in all parts of the world seemed .to be liquidating their cotton regardiess of prices, and the action of the market showed such Intense excite- ment and demoralization as finds a parallel only In the series of sensational movements following the collapse of the Sully boom. For more than a year the cotton market has been steadily advancing and toward the end of last month prices had reached a level which, since the civil war, had only been equalled when Sully was at the height of his fame, March contracts selling at 16.17¢ and May at 16.46c. But at the culmi- nating point of today's decline March con- tracts sold at 1460c and May at 1475, a loss: from the high record of from $7.85 to $840 per bale, almost all of which has occurred during the last week. The declines from the closing prices of last night amounted to more than $3.50 per bale. There does not appear to have been any change in general trade conditions to war- rant the almost unprecedented slump In prices. It Is apparent, however, that one after another of the big bull cliques, which had been organized independently during the progress of the big bull market, have been liquidating. Possibly the selling move- ment was originally due to an effort to obtain profits on long lines, owing to the approach of the new planting season and expectations of greatly Increased area, while the absence of any speculative short Interest left the market with very little support. It was reported today that spin- ners were buying more freely in the south and late advices from the leading south- ern spot markets show no material weak- ness. THREATS IN SALOON FIGHT Missour! Valley Man and Wife Re- ceive Unsigned Letters Because of Activity. MISSOURI VALLEY, Ia., Jan. 12.—(Spe- cial.)—Following the fight on the saloons of Missourl Valley J. H. South, a merchant here, Mrs. South and Rev. M. C. Hutch- inson have received several letters threat- ening them with harm unless the fight is stopped. Last week, according to Mr. South, the boller under his large store bullding was tampered with and he be- lleves It was by enemies made in the crusade In which he has been a leader. One of the letters was handed Mrs South as she boarded a train for Council Bluffs. It stated harm would come to Mr. South unless he desisted from the fight. The saloons were ralded a month or two ago and some of the cases are now pending in district court at Logan. |INSURGENTS KEEPING BUSY Ex-Speaker Paul Clark Says Work Has Only Begun, ALDRICH MAY BE THEIR MAN David City Man Declared in L with Their Policies—Senutorial Fight % (Ffom a Staff Correspondent) LINCOLN, Jan. 12.-~(Special)—While a Lively Among Demoerats. number of those who attended the meeting of self-styled progressives last Monday have cut for cover and assured the publlc thelr presence was obtained through mis- representation as to the object of the meeting, John C. Fremont McKesson and Paul Clark, the one a grand old genuine standpat progressive and the other speaker of the house of representatives when pro- gressives were not even thought of, still insurging. “You bet we are insurging,” sald Mr. Clark last night. “We have just begun, The public has not heard the last of that meet- ing we held." McKesson falled to show up in his ac- customed haunts toda; 80 there s no reason to say he has quit insurging. The genuing progressives give out the hunch they intend now to include a governor in | their program and that Senator Chester Aldrich of Seward will be the man, Ald- rich has announced his platform und as it includes county option some of the pro- gressives say he should be the running mate of the man who s nominated for senator, Incidentally the little meeting the other day has created some peculiar situations, C. 0. Whedon, Frank Harrison and other anti-D. E. Thompson men carrying water for D. E. Thompson's paper to help carry out D. E. Thompsoa's wishes. ‘“Senatorial Sacrifice.” Democrats of Lincoln are very much in- terested in the announcement of W. H. Thempson as. candidate for the senate, which followed this statement in the Colum- bus Telegram, Edgar Howard's pape “Within this present year there may be on sale at Nebraska book stores a book of | fact which will be as strange as any fiction, The title of the book will be “A Senatorial Sacrifice,”” and it will tell the story of a Nebraska man who willingly sacrificed a seat In the mnational senate in order that his bosom friend might be kept out of the penitentiary. It being recalled that Edgar Howard is manager of the Thompson campaign, that item appears as a threat against some one, and democrats who have read it are won- dering at whom it is directed. It Is the general prediction around here that the fight between Hitchecock and Thompson will be a red-hot one, and as both men have been mixed up In politics together for so long, it Is the general talk that the fight will border on tional, In the meanim: George W. Berge sounding puolic sentiment to see what chance he stands in the fight, while friends the sensa- (Continued on Becond Page.) NEW YORK, Jan. 12.— your board has nd reason o belleve and does not belleve that any officer or direc- or participation fn this fraudulent under- weighing."” This was the answer made by the board of directors of the American Bugar Refin- ing company today to the charges that some one “high up” in the so-called Sugar trust was responsible for the use of doc- tored scales on the Willlashsburg dock by which the United States was defrauded out of more than §2,000,000 in duties, éugar Trust Says No One | Higher Up Knew of Fraud| | | No attempt what- | firing company met in Jersey Clty today | ever has been made to shield anyone, and |4nd the company’s position with regard to the sugar underwelghing was made known in & report of the board of directors. The majority of the stock of the com- tor of this company had any knowledge of | pany, the report states, is held in New ngland. In answer to the charge that the company exercises a monopoly In the | sugar trade the directors sald that not more than 4 per cent of the sugar con- sumed [n the Gountry was refined by the American company. The company has no agreement, direct or tmplied, In regard to the fixing of prices or the regulation of production, and the company meets with the keenest competi- Btockholders of the American SBugar Re- tion, the directors state. are | 1s | ‘COPY TWO CENTS. GRAVES NAMED FOR FORESTER Director of Yale Forest School is Appointed Successor to Gif- ford Pinchot. POTTER SUCCEEDS PRICE Forester and Associate Are Both Known as Pinchot Men, RURAL MAIL SERVICE GROWS Number of Pieces Handled Increases 96 Per Cent in Four Years. ROADS GREATLY IMPROVED Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Say This Is One of the Benefits of Insta of Serviee. WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.—President Taft this afternoon appointed Henry 8. Graves, djrector of the Yale Forest school, as for- ester of the United States to succeed Gif- ford Pinchot. He also appointed Albert F. Potter, at present acting forester, as assoclate forester. The new forester and his assoclate are both known as Pinchot men. Both have served under Mr. Pinchot and both are In sympathy with his polley of administration. It was largely through Mr. Pinchot's of- forts that the Yale Forest school was established and Mr. Graves went from the post of assistant chief of the division of forestry under Mr. Pinchot to become di- rector of the school in 1900. He had served in the forestry division for two years. Mr. Graves graduated from Yale in 182 He was trained in forestry in this country and in Europe and has had extensive experlence in the west, having made the reconnals- sance survey of the Black Hills In 1897 Mr. Graves will take up his duties as for- ester February 1. Mr.» Potter, the new associate forester, who succeeds Overton W. Price, is a native of California and had spent all of his lite in the west until he became a member of the forestry staff nine years ago. He has had jurisdiction over all grasing privileges within the preserves. He is well acquainted with western conditions and is thoroughly informed of all the policles and practices of the forestry service. / Rural Mail Service Grows. An Increase of 96 per cent In the amount of mall handled on rural delivery routes during the fiscal year ended June 30 last over the fiscal year of 1905 Is shown in the annual report of the fourth assistant postmaster, General P. V. Degraw, which was transmitted today to the postmaster general. Commenting upon this fact, Mr. Degraw say “This remarkable Increase is conclusive evidence that the institution of rural de- livery has enlarged the amount of th mails handled and therstore-increased the revenue. ““This is true, althodish 46 per cent of (e bulk of mail on rural routes is second- class matter, as the Increase appiles to all classes of matter, especially to letters and postal icards, the latter due to the enormous use of souvenir or plcture postal cards.’ The report shows that during the last year 3,376 petitions for rural dellvery serv- ice of mail were filed with the department. Of this number 31 were pending on June %, 1909, Of the 3,015 petitions disposed of, %7, or 31 per cent, were rejected and 2,108 petitions were accepted for investigation, On June 30, 1909, reports had been made in 1400 of these cases, of which 647, or # per cent, were adverse to the Installation of the service. Mr. De Graw says that the nstallation of rural delivery, as a rule, has been fol- lowed by an increase In the amount of mall delivered and collected within the territories, respectively, covered by that service. During the last fiscal year the total ex- penditures for rural free dellvery was $35,- 661,034, an increase over the previous year of $1,289,006. “There has been unprecedented im- provement of the roads traversed by rural carriers,” the report says, “due to the intelligent and well directed interest of postmasters and carriers.” At the dead letter division the recelpts of mail matter for the year aggregated 11,077,325 pleces, a decrease of 1,1,847 from the preceding twelve months. The revenue derived from dead matter for the year amounted to $29,234, Government and Powder Combine. Whether the government shall continue to buy its great supply of smokeless pow- der from the DuPont Powder company, the alleged “powder trust,” or extend the work of maunfacturing its own powder, was considered by the house naval com- mittee today and officers of the army aand navy and officlals of the powder company gavo evidence at length, F. G. Buckner, vice president of the pow- der company, denied that the company 15 a trust. He said there weer a dozen com- peting companles in the United States and instanced the fact that a rival concern had recently captured the blg government contract for the powder usea on the Isth- mus of Panama. Denlal was made by Mr. the charge that prie when | | Buckner of s company had raised the to the government for powder needed the Spanish war began. On the contrary, he sald, prices were lowered. The | glvernment now pays 63 cents per pound to the DuPont company, a decrease from last year. It costs the government 63 cents to manu- facture powder, but labor, salaries and other charges bring the cost up to the amount pald the private concern, Brigadier General Crosler, chief of ordnance, and Rear Admiral N. F. Mason, chief of the bureau of ordnance, offered no contradic- tion of Mr. Buckner's testimony, Status of Federal Coal Land Of the 122000000 acres of webtern |lands 70,000,000 acres still remain in hands o fthe federal government, acc t0 @ statement contalned In & bulletin issued by the United States geologlcal survey. The report goes on to deal with the present scheme of classification and valuation by the government of its coal lands, whicih I8 based on welling coal lands at coal prices and fixing the prics per acre |on an estimate of tonnage content and quality of coal, In speaking of the effect 0f the new valvation plans upon government coal sales G. H. Ashley of the survey seys the | higher prices seem to have increassd rather than decreased the sales of coal lands, In Beptember last the sales at Salt Lake Ciy averaged more than WS an were and i coal the ing