Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, January 26, 1910, Page 1

. THE OMAHA BEE goes to the homes—is read by the women—sells lm,;dl for advertisers. THE OMAHA DAILY BEE VOL. XXXIX—NO. 169. OMAHA, WEDNESDAY WANT UNCLE SAM TO BACK DOWN Commercial Bodies Are)Alarmed at Prospect of Tariff War with Germany. F CITIES SEND PETI™ 'S 7 National Board of Trade U‘l? , Ask State Department to Recy }i CATTLE TRADE NOT IMPORTA ,:' A Exports to Germany Are Small anc Will Become Smaller. ISSUE IS NOT WORTH MAKING Statement that It Will Endanger Trade of Neurly Four Iundred Millions nnd that Germany Cannot Yield Point. — WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.—Alarmed by the eritical turn In the taritf controversy be- tween the United States and Germany, ap- peals from the chambers of commerce and boards of trade of several citles were made to the Natlonal Board of Trade in session here today, urging that body to recom- mend that the State department recede from its position that American beef and cattle must be admitted to Germany, If the trads between the two nations, repre- senting $350,000,000 a year to American busi-yf ness houses, is not to be subjected to the effects of a tariff war. Resolutions pre- sented to the national body maintain there ean be no advantage In insisting German market for American beef because the home consumption I8 Increasing at such a rate as soon to command all the supply, and in support of this it Is sighted that American cattle exports have de- creased by $2.000,000. It fs pointed out that the agrarian party, in control of the Relch- stag, has stood for the principle that the farmers of Ggrmany must supply its beef, and that the imperial government could not admit thé American produet If it would. A commission to settle the dispute is sug- gested. Many delegates bringing from their home oltles demands for~an investigation of a national character into the high cost of living have made consideration of that subject imperative. The national body to- day decided to appoint a special committee of five men to determine the reasons for present prices. Ax today's session a movement was launched to credte a national headquarters and legislative bureau fn Washington. Sixty Cities Represented. Sixty Chambers of Commerce and oBards of Trade, yoicing the business needs of the nation from as many citles, are repre- gented In the meeting. Concerted action on the live lssues of the day will be taken and expressions of the national body indicative of the senti- ment of b sta will be. given in ¢he form of i proposing somie legislation, favoring some new proposed and asking for the reépeal of some now ih force: i . _ Fight on Currency Law. here promises to be & fight on what shall be the endorsement of the national body regarding currency legislation. One element represented opposes a central bank with power to issue currency ‘on the, grounds that such a plan would be too experimentdl and tend to destroy con- tidence. Another element is in favor of the creation of a central bank system to conform with the conditions of the present financial system and urges that the s tem should be gradually made to conform to the ventral ldea. The supporters of this plan olte that the financlal system of Burope h#s demonstration the superionity of a central bank system in providing a stable currency, always responsive to the requirements of legitimate business inter- ests. The question of permitting raliroads to make agreements among themselves for interstate traffic under the suprevision and approval of the Interstate Commorce com- misslon will be discussed. There is a sen- timent to have the national body favor such & plan as well as to favor amend- ments to the law glying to the shipper the | right to route his freight. An attempt | will be made to get the national body to| favor legisiation to compel the rallrbads to settle damage claims at actual value | instead of Invoice value and the movement | for a uniform classification will be taken up. There 1s considerable division of opinion on the question of parcels post. Some of the bedies reported oppose It In Its en- tirety on the basis that it would be a loss | to the government and operate to the ad-| vantage of a few against the many; others | favor It for the rural free dellvery system and would gonfine its use to that branch of the postal service. 'There appears to by no opposition to postal savings banks. Revision of Postnl Charmes. The deficit in the postoffice, however, reveals some differences of opinfon for a remedy. Several organizations demand 1- cent letter postage to be applied to let- ters for delivery In th#ame towns and cities as they originate; others modify it | to 1 cent per ounce and declare the post- office can make a profit of 150 per cent at such rate. That plan entails revision | of the entire scale of postal charges, sug- | gesting that newspapers be placed in one | class and' magusines and miscellaneous periodicals in another on which the postal rate would be increased. The sentiment 18 to forde every class of postage to pay it3 own transportation. Repeal, of the federal corporation tax passed at the last session of congress will | be urged, amendments to the Sherman | anti-tfust law which will preserve its in- tent And define its limitations, and the creat of a permanent nonpartisan tars it commission will be suxgested A great many other national questions will be brought befofe the body for actlon, among them the encouragement of desir- able Immigration, recommendation for uni- formity of business laws In the states where a contrarlety exists, the federal in- spection of graln, commerclal education and preservation of the public health. Resolutions urging the government to initiate steps to bring about the organiza. tion of the proposed International court of arbitral justice will also be proposed. The sessions will contipue untll Friday. | On Wednesday evening President Taft will peak at a dinnel King on Wisconsin Faculty, ‘IADIMN. Wis, Jan. 2% —(Special Tele- m,)=W. I. King of Lincoln has been ap- polnted aseistant professor in political eonomy st Wisconsin university. Taft’s Position on Trusts Set Forthin Message President Issues Statement Denying Rumors of Widespread Attack on Corporation: WAEHINGTON, Jan. %.—President Taft (oday made public the following statement ¢ to the reports that the administration \ planning a crusade against unlawful Mbinations of capital: 0 statement was issued, either from (torney general's office or from the JHouse, indlcating the purpose of the Yration with reference to prosecu- jer the anti-trust laws other than L rth In the message of the presi- 6t Janvary 7, 1000 ensational statements that there were to be a new departure and indiscriminate prosecution of important industries have no foundation. The purpose of the admin- istration is as already stated In the presi- deny's message.” The statement was issued after the presi- dent had talked with James J. Hill, the rallway maognate, and haa recélved infor- mation that prices were crumbling In New York under the varlous reports printed vesterday and this morning. There was no statement from the White House except the foregoing. Mr. Hill on leaving the White House sald he did not pretend to represent or speak for the president in anything he sald, but he was sure the president would not attack corporations, but only the sins of the cor- porations. If the corporations were vio- lating the laws he supposed they would be brought to book. Garficld Against Ballinger Act Former Secretary of Interior Says President Now Has Power to Withdraw Land, WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.—Former Seo- retary of the Interior Garfield appeared be- fore the senate committee on lands today and opposed the bill’ submitted by Secre- tary Ballinger authorizing the secretary to withdraw public lands from the public domain pending reccmmendation to con- gress thereto. Mr. Garfield declared that leglslation of this character was not needed, as the president had authority under tho existing law to withdraw public lands believed to contain valuable timber or mineral, or to be valued for the development of power. He took the position that there was no good reason for extending this power to the secretary of the interior, A brief bearing directly upon the ques- tion Involved in the bill under considera- tion was presented to the committee by Chalrman Nelson. The conclusions reached were as. follows: The power of the ‘president to reserve: public lands from sdfe afd EAtHy " Fédts upon. various statutes, upon nuferous de- cistons of the courts and upon long estab- lished-and long recognized usage. *“The pre-emption act of 1580 provided that the privilege of pre-emption should not extend to any land ‘which is reserved from sale by act.of congress or by order of the president.” This celarly glves the president the power of his own motion to make the reservation and leaves it in his discretion to exercise the power and the power may be exercised’ through an exeeutive depart- ment. In such cases it is deemed the act of the president. A number of decisions were cited by Mr. Neleon to show that the courts are agreed OTHER PACKERS UNDER PROBE Federal Grand Jury Investigation at Chicago Will Not Be Confined to National Company. INQUIRY WILL BEGIN TODAY | Subpoenaes for Eight Persons Will Be Served This Morning. LANDIS FURNISHES INFORMATION Detailed Charges Come to the Judge in Form of a Letter. PRICES DROP IN NEW YORK Milk, ward Eggs and Butter Start Downe Result of Widespread Revolt Agninst Existing Conditions. CHICAGO, Jan. %.—Eight subpoenas were issued today and will be served to- morrow on witnesses to appear before the federal grand jury in the government's investigation of thé so-called beef. trust. By tomorrow afternoon it is expected the government's force formally will have be- gun its inquiry into the charges that the dressed meat fndustry of the country ls controlled by practically one pfice-fixing company. The names of the witnesses for whom subpoenas were Issued were not divulged, but it was made known that the secret service men were ready to visit the offices of ‘the Nntional Packing company. Be- fore the investigation s comploted, prob- ably weeks hencd, everyone connected with the packing houses in Chicago and in other cities who can throw any light on the subject, is to be called. Routine docket cases occupled the at- thntion of the jurors today. These, it was sald, would be cleared by 2 p. m. to- morrow. It became known that the information which came to Judge Landis was in the form of a letter making detalled charges. These charges were of such a nature that Judge Landis immediately reported them to United States District Attorney Sims. Due to Congestion in East. NEW YORK, Jan., %.—Milk, eggs and butter led the procession of receding pricas in food products here today. Nation-wide agitation aided by potent local influsnces have brought about the drop. Meat, too, is on the depline, following a greatly 1e- duced consumption. State anti-monopoly laws are to e in- voked in the movement to combat the trusts that have advanced food prices. Today a special grand jury, whose particular office it will be to consider the effect of combi- nation among dealers in food stuffs, was sworn in. While It is expected first to deal with the alleged milk combine, the meat question 18 likely to be put to it styongly and possibly“‘the #hale scops of the food situation will be taken in-during its probing, Milk fs down a cent a quart already on two routes, butter, ip the best qualities has been cut 5 cents a pound and eggs are off 5 cents a dozen In the local mar- kets. Storage eggs that have been selling ag “strictly fresh” at high prices are no longer put out as such, the big whole- salers say. Weather conditions were none to good for the Union Sguare mass meeting’ in pro- test against high food prices, but a great outpouring nevertheless was expected. Local Food Trust at Des Moines. DES MOINES, Ia, Jan. 2. —(Special Telegram.)—The proposition to establish a upon the point he mukes. ' American Express on Union Pacific]| NEW YORK, Jan. %.—James F. Pargo, president of the American Express com- pany confirmed today the report that his company will take over the express busi- ness of the Union Pacific. Mr. Fargo said! ‘On April 1, we shall assume.control of the express transportation of the Unlon Pacific. This will be our first through western connection with the exception of the Chicago & Northwestcrn, and we ex- pect that considerable incredse In earnings will result. | AN M By AT MAY MERGE COPPER CONCERNS Judges Dissolve Injunction Secured Against Utah Company and Boston Consolidated. TRINTON, N. Y., Jan. %.—Judge Lanning and Judge Cross late this afternoon filed a memorandum dissolving the injunction restraining the stockholders of the Utah Copper company from meeting to pass on the question of acquiring the property of the Boston Consolidated Mining company. This decision permits the carrying out of the plan for the merger of the two com- panies. ) — Child Smothere ow, MEETEETSE, Wyo., Jan, 26.—(Spectal.) —The infant child of Mr, and Mrs. B. W. Peoples was smothered to death Sunday while the parents were sleigh riding. The weather was cold and the child had been wrapped heavily to keep out the cold. The parents were horrified when they re- turned home from the ride to find the baby dead. co-operative meat market in Des Moines recetved a new impetus today from a num- ber of prominent cifizens and incidentally tiere was a drop in the price of some food stuffs. The price of butter went | down 6 cents wholesale and b cents retafl today. At the same time the grand jury began work on a letter from a prominent grocer, who insists that there is a com- bination among grécers and that it s through this that prices are fixed. The price of beef at wholesale lso dropped 10 cents, but the retail price remained the same. The city counell made an offer of space on city ground for a public meat market. Onkland Keeps Out. OAKLAND, Cal., Jan. %.-Declering that a boycott would hurt only the farmer and retalled, the Central Labor councll of Oakland last might refused to pass a resolution declaring a boycott on meat, butter and eggs. DENVER, Jan. %.—The Colorado State| Federation of Labor today adopted reso- lutions to boycott meat. It is eallmmnd| that 50,000 men In this state wil join the boycott. . Missouri Cowrt Acts. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., Jan. 2.—Chief Justice Valliant of the supreme court today appointed Danfel Dillon of St. Louls, ex- aminer, to take testtmony in the proceed- ings against the beef packers filed by the attorney general last Saturday. The hearing probably will begin in two weeks. Karl OlMver Found Dead. ! SIOUX CITY, Ia., Jan. 2.—(Specigl Tele- gram.)—The body of Karl J. Oliver, a brother of Justice Stephen Oliver of Sloan, Ia., was found this morning in an alley at 410 Wall street. He was a heavy drinker, W ¢ . . 'Creighton Heirs Lose by Settling Before Last Decision Heirs of Count Creighton are regretful that they settled with Creighton university and other beneficlaries under the will on the terms they did. For according to the interpretation of the will as handed down by the district court, the university and the other legatees would have got far less cash than they did—and the heirs more. Now it Is, of course, too late. Principals in the litigation ended so far as district court is concerned, have not yet squared away for further action—they are still in thelr corners, as it were. Each side wishes the matter to go to the su- preme court in the hope that. that august tribunal will rule wholly in favor of the wisher. But each side also fears a little that the supreme court may rule wholly the other way. The interpretation by the court of the thirteenth paragraph of Count Crelghton will has moved disrespectful laymen to re- marks on the subject of wills and attor- neys who draw them. The last testament of Count Creighton was drawn up by the late James M. Wool- worth, admittedly one of the ablest law- ers who ever entered a Nebraska court room. And yet, according to Judges Redick, Troup and Estelle, Judge Woolworth made Count Crelghton say in this will exactly the opposite of what he Intended to say with respect to the devising of the residue of the estate. The hearlng has also brought out the fact that Count Creighton when he drew up his will was worth $1150,00. This was in 1904 In 1906 the estate was worth $3,500,- 000. An increase of nearly 100 per cent a vear, as compared to 1904 This increase, say lawyers speaks volumes for the up- ward tendency of Omaha real estate values, MORNING, , JANUARY 26, 1910—-TWELVE PAGES. WEATHER FORECAST. For Nebraska—Partly cloudy; colder For lowa— Ungettled. For weather report see page 2. SINGLE COPY TWO CENTS. Bobbie: ‘“‘Somehow or Other I Ain’t Got an Appetite!”’ From the Cleveland Plain Dealer. BENNET CLASHES WITH MACON Head of Immigration Committee Answers Extravagance Charge. FACTS EASILY LEARNED, HE SAYS Declares Trip to Europe Was Not a Junket and Did Not Even See Applan Way or St Peter's. WASHINGTON, Jan. 25~Denouncing as “‘infamously and maliciously and wantonly false” statements made in the house yes- terday by Representative Macon of Arkan- sas, Representative Bennet of New York, 2 member of the immigration committee, arose to.a question of personal privilege in the house today to defend the eommission against the attacks which were made upon it. Mr. Bennet declared the gentleman from Arkansas by a five-minute walk from the capitol could have reached the headquar- ters of the commission and.eould have found that the charges he voiced ‘were un- true, “1 said,” interpesed Mr. had- been advised that w4ld waw true. The gentleman does not, Y-hope, deny that I recelved such inforation." Insisting that Mr. Macon might easily have discovered the falsity of his charges, Mr. Bennet referred to a report made to the house within two weeks, and accessi ble to everybody, which he sald ‘showed the facts In relation to ‘‘the white slave traffic.” “I am very anxious to have the gontle- man make a statement of the proceedings of the commission,” protested Mr. Macon. ‘that 1 Demands Immedinte Retraetion. “The expenses of the commission and seven employes,” proceeded Mr. Bennet, “for three months' travel on the continent of Europe was only $13,000, traveling as we did as the commissioners of the best gov- ernment under the sun.” ““This statement requires plete and full retraction,” thundered Mr. Bennet, glaring across the aisle into the eyes of Mp. Macon. A storm of applause broke forth from the republican side. Mr. Bennet sald he had spent only one day in Naples'in “taking a vacation,” by seeing some objects of Interest. “I went through .Rome, he continued, “without seeing St. Peter's or the Appian Way. 1 did visit the king of Italy, which it was my duty to do.” Mr. Bennet Insisted that as the result of the trip abroad the head tax on Immigrants ‘was ralsed by the legisiation of 1907, which had increased the amount in the treasury 33,300,000, “The expenses of this trip,” Mr. Bennet continued, “‘were barne hy each of us to a Breater extent than by the government. It the gentleman will go to the Treasury de- partment he can find what every egg I ate for breakfast cost.” Mr. Bennet denled the forelgn trip. was a “junket" and ridiculed the idea that Prof. Jenks of Cornell, a member of the commission, had any influence upon poli- tles as professor of politics at the Ithaca university “Malicious and Deliberate Lie."” “Whoever told the gentleman from Arkansas,” Bennet sald, “that the com- mission had not begun to make its report until Senator Latimer forced them to do 50 told a wicked, cruel, malicious and de- liberate lle.” The statement that the commission had obtalned its Information from police records, Mr. Bennt sald, was ‘“‘absolutely false and made out of whole cloth.” He then {etalled the classes of information the commission had collected and said the United States Steel corporation alone had spent from $20,000 to $i0000 to gather in- instant, com- (Continugd on Second Page.) There’s no such thing as a useless article. If you don’t need a thing, your neigh- bor may. The Bee Want ads sell what one is glad to be rid of, to another who is glad to get it. Phone your want ad into The Bee if you can’t come down to the office. Want Ad Phone Douglas 238, State Shoeuld Furnish Trees, Says Speaker D. Austin Latchaw Advocates Di tribution of Nursery Stoock to Planters, KANSAS CITY, Jan. 25.—D. Austin Lat- chaw, a*member of the Missouri forestry commission, appointed by Governor Had- ley, delivered the principal address at the opening session here today of the annual convention of the Southwestern Lumber- men's assoclation. Mr. Latchaw, who is & member of the editorial staft of the Kan- sas City Star, spoke on “‘Forestry and Lumbermen.'” “It Is proposed,” sald Mr. Latchaw, “that the formation of a state forestry assocla- tion shall be undertaken similar to a very effective organization of this kind in Louts- lana and to be Inaugurated at a\ state ‘meeting to be called in St. Louls some' time in_April "The tree problem, the problem of meet- Jlu and ultimately overcoming if possible the timbér losses in this country cannot be solved unless the individual land own- er becomes Interested in the subject.” Every state, Mr. Latchaw sald, should have a forestry department, should main- tain nurseries and distribute as many trees as may be wanted for planting. Limited Engine Turns Turtle Twentieth Century Limited Wrecked and Engineer and Fireman Crushed to Death. UTICA, N. Y., Jan. %.—The engine on the New York Central Twentieth Century Limited, east bond, turned completely over about a quarter of a mile west of St. Johns- ville today. It slld 300 feet before it stopped. Under the engine pits Fireman Melvin J. Handville of BSyracuse was crushed beyond recognition. The engineer John Scalon, of Fort Hunter, attempted to leap when the engine left the ralls, but he was caught between the engine and tender apd cut and crushed in a terrible manner. Nonme of the coaches left the track, both trucks of several of them are deralled. Most of the passengers were thrown from their berths and some were siightly injured. NEGRO TEMPERANCE WORKER UNABLE TO GET A ROOM So-Called Black Knight {s Turned Away from Boone Hotels and Y. M. C. A, BOONE, Ia., Jan. 2.—(Speclal Telegram.) ~Rey. John H. Hector, colored, called “The Black Knight," sent to Boone for a three nights' engagement by the state prohibition committee, was denied rooms at all of Boono's hotels and at the Young Men's Christlan associatlon bullding. Th committee here informsd Hector they had made arrangements for his keep at the Young Men's Christlan association. This is against the rules of the association and he was turned away. ) After four hours’ efforts Mayor C. L. Wilder finally was induced to take him to bis home. Hector sald today he would stay at the Young Men's Christian assoclation, but it remalns to be seen what will be the outeome, SCHOOL MERCER DEFEATED Bellevue Will Continue as Inde- pendent Church College. HASTINGS HAS CHURCH SUPPORT Compromise Outcome of Long Ses- sion of Presbyterian Synodical Committee Held Lincoln at (From a Statf Correspondent.) LINCOLN, Jan. %—(Special Telegram.)— After an all day session the committee ap- pointed to pass upon the proposition to merge the Believue and Hastings Presby- terian colleges, settled the matter by a com- promise. Bellevue college was made an independent school with the approval of the church and Hastings coliege was made the synodical college. This arrangement is to take effect at the close of the prosent school vear. The effect of this agreement on the part of the committeo Will be to give to the Hastings college all of the financial aid of the Presby church, ‘whieh s now tiyided be two-schools. The are rangemént 16 & compromise between those Who @eriréd a_merger of the schedule and those Who ‘desired the prosent arrangement to stand and those Wwho Insisted that Hastings coliege should be made the synodi- cal school at once. President Turner of Hastings college ap- peared before the committee and argued that his college should be recognized as the synodical school at once, while Fresi- dent Stookey of Bellovue insisted that if that arrangement were made, It should not go Into effect until aftor the present school year. In his fight he was assisted by W. H. eBtts and Henry E. Maxwoll of Omaha, while Senator A. L. Clarke of Hastings appeared with President Turner. The committec was composed of two delegates from each. Presbytery in the state. ORGANIC MATTER LOCATED IN ICE IN DES MOINES Traces Found and ‘Large Quantity Will Be Condemned ns Result, DES MOINES, Ia., Jan. %.—(Speclai Tel- egram.)—The ecity Board of Health today received the report of two eminent local chemists of the inspection of ice taken from the Des Moines river. In the early part of the winter a break occurrsd in a sewer and permitted some sewage to escape into the river. It was found that in all the ice taken from below this point there lIu'e traces of organic matter and it is | probable thasthe health department will condemn several thousand tons of ice stored in the house below this point. Lisle Crabtree, the Second ecavalry trooper who s serving a life term at the Fort Leavenworth prison for the murder of Captain J. C. Raymond, is permanently insane, according to his mother, Mrs. A. W. Beyer, Bhe says that her son has not recovered his reason and\that she belleves he will never recover. The court-martial his insanity plea. \ Expross Cases Go Over, SIOUX FALLS, 8. D., Jan. 2.—On stipu- lation of the attorneys on both the case the hearing scheduled to take place today before Judge Carland of the United States court 1n the Imjunction pro- ceedings instituted by the Wells-Farzo, American, Adams and Great Northern Fx- pross eonipanies to restrain the South Da- kota Board of Rallroad commissioners from putting in effect a new and reduced schedule of express rates In South Dakota has been adjourned until February 18, Fear of Trust Decision Causes S NEW YORK, Jan. 2%.—Promptly with the opening of the stock market today there came a flood of liguidation sales which broke prices severely in all directions and cauged great disorder in the trading. There was no premonition of the violence of the decline in the Londcn market before the opening here. Changes In quotations for Americans there varled from small fractional losses to small fractional ad- vances. Reports of the government's anti-trust program and the bellef that the govern- ment would win the expected decisions In the American Tobacco and Standard OH cases before the supreme court were the accepted explanations of the selling. The active speculative stocks, such as the Pacific rallways, Reading, Chesapeake & Onlo, United States Steel and Amalga- R lump in Stocks) mated Copper were the severest sufferers. A wsale at the openfng of 100 shares of United States Steel at 84% and of 20 shares at 84 werc not recorded untll some time tancous sales of 12,000 shares at £3% to §2%. This comparcd with M¥ for the last! prich yesterday, The stock’s extreme de- cline reached 24, Chesapeake & Oblfo and American Beet Sugar slumped 44, Reading and Interna- tional Harvester 4, Amalgamated Copper Union Pacific 3, General Electric ana International Pump 2. Southern Pacific 24 and the list generally from 1 to 2 points, The fluctuations during the first hour were feverish and unsettled, substantial rallfes being mixed with fresh.and violent S, which tried ,Crabtree refused to consider | sides of | afterwards, belng 1ost In the rush of simui- | PARIS AT MERCY OF RISING RIVER Seine Overflows Its Banks and is Flooding Subways, Carrying Cars and Wires. FACTORIES FORCED TO CLOSE Bursting Sewers and Caving Street: Threaten Buildings. WEATHER IS GROWING WORSE Low Temperature is Accompanied by Rein and Sleet, PUMPING STATIONS IN DANGER Rise of Few Inches Will Cut Off Supply of Drinking Water— Two Hundred Square iles Flooded, Sk, PARIS, Jan. 25.—Fifty thousand soldiers, comprising the garrison of Parls, were placed at the disposition of the municipal authorities this mornirg to Aght the flood whose ravages aro spreading ruln and con- sternation throughout the city. At § o'clock this morning the water at Pont Royal had touched twenty-six feet above low tide and was rising at. the rate of nearly halt an inch an hour with the prospect of the rise continuing until mid- night. The damage already dome Is incalculable, The Industrial life of the city is rapidly becoming paralyzed. Only two sections of the subway are In operation while three- fourthis of the suiface lnes are tied up. | Factories are shutting down because of lack of power due to the electric plants having been flooded. Halt of the tele- phones in the city are out of commission and telegraph and raflroad communication is demoralized. The disaster is due chiefly to the faot that the whole marvelous underground architecture of the city, which 1s honey- combed with labyrinths, 1s filling up with water, causing the sewers to burst and the stroets to cave In and threatening the foundations of bulldings, The scene on the river tront is majestlc, but appalling. The stream has broken its barriers at several points and s pouring its yellow torrents Into the surrounding streets, converting them into veritablo lakes. At any minute it may be neces- sary to blow up the Alma bridge, where the water {s but a few Inches from the key- stone of the arch, as a dam there might turn the course of the Seine In such a way as to flood several of the most fashionable sections of the city. Water Causes Explosion. A tremendous explosion which awakened the stricken city at § o'clock léd to the report that the Alma bridge had been blown up, but the explosion proved to have occurred In a chemical factory at Ivrys Bur-Seine, elght . miles -ln‘}u At i pre- suméd that the water inding, the fac- tory came in contaét wl:!éhah\ié‘l’i’i.‘ chug- ing the explosion. During the night the subway &tat'ons at the Orleans terminus ard at Qual Dy Orsay were floodéd and closed and the |sinking of the Rue De Poltlers let ‘the {water through a foot and a half deep into {the Rue De Lille and the Rue De L'Uni- | versite, stfeets, in which live many of tho {old aristocracy. The Vaugirard district, Incar the Boucicault hospital, also is inun- | dated. | The weather grows worse rather than bet- iter, and at noon Paris was the center of |an area of low pressure and bitter cold and rain and sleet were falling through- |out the flooded reglons, adding to the suf- |tering of the poor and homeless ones. The |price of bread and other food has in- | creased owing to the fact that communica- {tion with the provinces is crippled. No |trains from the south are coming beyond | Chotsy-Le-Rof. | The depleted supply of drinking water ihas caused the greatest alarm. With the rise of the flood but & few inches higher ‘the pumplng stations, still in operation, | must stop, and. Parls, In the midst of a minlature ocean, will be-without water fit ito drink. } 200 Square Miles Flooded, | The situation at between twenty and thirty suburban towns above this eity fs | worse than In the capital itself. At Charen- ton, where the swollen river Marne enters the Seine, an area of 200 square miles has been flooded. The rubmerged district in- {cludes Alfortville and Tvry-Sur-Selne, with a total population of [0,000. At this pomt |the soldiers and firemen are doing herole !work In rescuing families in boats and |pontoons. At Alfortville the cemetery has {boen washed out and caskets, lifted from {thelr resting places, are floating down stream, From Autll to 8t. Germain the lower por- tions of all the riverside towns are deep beneath the waters and soldiers are forcing { the residents to evacyate thelr homes. The |domestic water supply at several towns has been cut off. The animals of the zoologlcal gardens, which were In danger of drowning, have been removed to higher grounds. Relfef fs being organized on a large scale. Appeals for funds (ssued by the Red Cross und other Boclotles are meeting with generous responses. Tdmond Rostand has offered to glve the receipts, which are ex- pected to be enormous, from the first night's presentation of his play, “Chantl- cleer." | | | Danger of Epidemie, Physicians fear an epidemic when the | flood submides, as the overflowing sewers |are likely to contaminate the drinking water, and rats, driven out of thelr under- ground homes, are invading residences. The report that the Biffel tower Is dam- aged is wrong. It 1s sald the tower was | bullt with a water base and esch support supplied with hydraulle lifting apparatus, which works automatically, Before noon, the police compelled the evacuation of the Hotel Palals a'Orsay near the Qua d'Orsay, and the surrounding houses. The palace of the Leglon of Honor is menaced and an accumulation of drift wood above the Isle of St. Louls threat- | ens to sweep away the barrier of plies anq the Pont des Arts. News from the provinces show there s & general improvement In tho flood situation this afterncon except in the east and at the affluents of the Seina and Meuse. Teleffraph is Cut Oft, Telegraphiccommunieation in’ the south of France is rapldly going to pleces. The archway of the submerged tunnel between the Qual D'Orsay and the Austerlitz stas tions threatens to fall. A three-story build- declines at new points. Trarsactions were on a very large scale throughout. ing on the Qual De La Rapee collapsed this afternoon. 4 A great fissure has opened in the ground