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(ITV OWNERSHIP DINNER.
SIR. DALRYMPLE GUEST.
Ht TeJU of Municipal Tramway
Profits in Glasgow.
Jane* Dalrymple, the superintendent of Mu
■r.telpal Tramways In Glasgow. Scotland, was
entertained at dinner last night at the Hoffman
'House by twenty -one members of the Municipal
Ownership League of New-York. J. G. Phelpa
Btoltes presided. At 8:30 o'clock the diners
rraUced to the reception room, where about three
hundred and fifty persons "were waiting to see
«U3<l hear Mr. Dalrymple. He was introduced by
Mr. Stokes, who aaid:
' "We have met here this evening: to welcome
•on© who has done much to prove the practica
bility of municipal ownership. Tho city owner
ship of the railroads In Glasgow pays financially,
gives the public better service than formerly,
'has reduced the hours of labor 25 per cent and
Increased wages to a like extent. With a 3-cent
fare the roads pay more than 60 per cent of
their earnings to the city In the form ofj profit.
Mr. Dalryn-.ple was received with cheers. lie
Bald, after a brass band that had been hired by
the league to gather a crowd before the bulld
:incr to listen to campaign speeches for munici
pal ownership had te-nporarially subsided:
I have to tell only a simple story and leave
:the people to draw, their own conclusions.
'We ia Glasgow have been operating public tram
ways for eleven years. Prior to 1904, when the
werrtce was In the hanSs of a private concern,
{the people were greatly dissatisfied. The peo
jpl* finally decided unanimously for municipal
•ownership.
i, It was a bold venture. The citizens soon be
«an to see benefit from the move. The service
-\ras better, the cars were cleaner, the employes
"were more respectable, the fares were smaller
send there were other advantages. Now we
IhtTt as good 6 car service as 'there is in ,~,reat
i Britain.
I am not here to cay anything about the
problem of municipal ownership itself. It is
possible for a city to make a mess of & railroad
enterprise and for a company to give the best of
• Service. It is also possible for a city to give
good service, but a company could give just as
igood. The ends of the company are different
from that of the city. The company must look
cat for its shareholders. The people get the
benefit when the city is in charge.
': There are peopje in Glasgow who say £hat the
city has not made a financial success of the rail
fcwad. Yet on a fare that Is less than 2 cents
■we make as much profit as an ordinary company.
"We run the road as a private company w.ould.
TThe revenue from the road is $3,750,000. Less
than half goes to current expenses. With the
remainder we are paying off our debts. What Is
«xtra is used for the betterment of the service.
•We are going to lay aside a capital bo that we
can keep in step with modern improvements.
, It has coct us $14,500,000 from first to last to
install our system. We have Btill a debt of $S.
500,000. The government gave us thirty years
in which to pay this debt and we are removing
tat a quicker rate. Our objects at present are
to give the best service for the lowest fare and
to pay our debts as soon as possible. We may
find It possible to lower our fare again.
The menu of the dinner follows;
Buffet russe.
dam cocktaiL
Eaeene* of chicken and tomatoes.
Cftndsßom. Rashes. Olive*. CWerjr.
Chateau Vlr:v?ati, lfcSS.
Soft shell crabs on toast. Tartar Mac*.
Cucumbers.
Safidl* of milk iamb, Colbert saaoa.
New potatc*» Ponn.-intea.
N'iW peas.
Chateau Mouton Rothschild, 1655.
Sweetbreads en croust&des. with fraeh nnufhrooroi
Sorbet cardinal.
Mo*t & abandon Brut Imperial.
Broiled 6<iuab, with Virginia, ham.
Aiparagus vinaigrette.
Strawberry ehorteake.
Mottoes.
Cheese.
Coffee.
MR. DALRYMPLE'S VISIT.
Municipal Ownership League Mem
hers Entertain Him.
James Palrymple, general manager of the city
tramway system of Glasgow, arrived yesterday on
"tha Campania, In response to the Invitation of
Mayer Dunne, of Chicago, to advise the officials
<' that city on the plans for th© municipal control
tot tho street railways there. Mr. Dalrymple was
ir.et down the bay by James OShaughn<;sy, repre
sentative of Mayor Dunne; Thomas Gllleran, sec
ond vice-chairman of the Municipal Ownership
J>ok 3.6, and M. W. Ihmsen, secretary of the league.
&Ir. Dalrymple went directly from the pier to the
Jfoffmnn Hoosa He was subsequently taken for
ma automobile lide, which ended at the City Club,
(where ha was the guest at luncheon of the men
*rho met him on his arrival. Later In the day he
/ac taken on a trip through the svbway and on the
elevated and surface lines.
v Katuraing to the Hoffman House, Mr. Dalrymple
was entertained at dinner by twenty-five members
Ef the district clubs of the Municipal Ownership
fc*ague, following which he was the guest of honor
jit a reception for leag»» members and others in
tcrotcd in the subject ot which ho is a practical
fzponent.
' Mr. .Dalrympie Is a little past fifty years old and
|ooj£s ton years younsfit* We is slightly under me
glum height and is sturdily built. He lias the man-
Mr ol an enerveti executive, with abundant cor-
KUaUtjr. He was clean cut and enthusiastic in his
expressions on the success of municipal ownership
ana control of tramway* and otlier public- utilities
:n Glasgow. Of the application of the same policy
In C.iicago. be said be preferred to talk after he
t&*ffttSSH3£& ia now mMng hia pr ? 1
Glasgow now controls its a«. electricity, tram
ways, water, markets, parks, baths, lodging houses
and telephone system. Tho municipal telephone
fyetem is i in competition with a private enterprise,
'jmg established, and yet the cost to patrons Is only
*alf tiiat exacted by the company under private
DECLARE FOR MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP.
[BY THLEORAPJI TO THE TIUECNB.I
WJlmlr.gton. Del May 27.— A1l the candidates
en the Democratic ticket for the city election
"have tigr.ed a statement declaring for mv-
J::c3pul ownership.
THINKS EXPLOSION ACCIDENTAL.
Captain Hayes Says There Ib No Connection
with, the One on Pennsylvania Tine.
There seems to be no connection between the ex
£!o*lon which occurred on Friday afternoon in the
*xcavatlon of the New-York Truck. and Con
tracting Company at the Pennsylvania terminal
and th« hie 1 114 op of the Pennsylvania Railroad's
..bridge over the Haekensack River, -which occurred
rarly yesterday morning. Both the officials of the
.contracting company and the police have investi
gated, but their efforts have developed no euspi-
JBBSSJs circumstances.
: Captain Cornelius G. Hayes, -whose precinct in
cludes the excavation bounded by West Slst end
•Bd tu. and "th and 9th ayes.. said yesterday:
1 No person was hurt On . Friday afternoon, so far
as we havo been able to learn. Officer faunphy
,tna<le a house to house canvas of the neighbor
hood, and found nothing more serious than broken
,irl*6S. There «re two officer* always at the exca
;vation one detailed by Commissioner 3icAdoo to
look after the blasting, -with which he is familiar
and to see that nothing is done ill advisedly the
other to attend to accidents or other trouble* in th*
neighborhood.
There is a supposition that th* dynamite was ex
ploded by sparks from one of the engines used to
move diit in the excavation setting fire to the box
.about 2 feet lone by V 2V 2 feet wide, which held the
« tuff. O'ilara, the foreman in charge of the blast
ing, aad Superintendent Collins, who has charge
'of th* entire work, told my roundsman to-day that
they believe that a bowlder or ' "nigger head " a
large Isolated «ton» which had been drilled and
cViargod with an explosive, was probably the cause
of the miß3hle<. Thia charge, left corked up with
: a blockholo or mudcap, may have been set off by
the ooncussion from a neighboring 1 blast. Such a
charge exploding near the box of dynamite could
■have eet it en fire.
CANAL PURCHASING STATIONS.
Washington. May 27.— The Isthmian Canal Com
!mission has established purchasing and supply sta
tion* at New-York, JC«*r-Orleans and San Fran-
( clsco. These stations will t<« snder tho supervision
>iof purchasing agents of th« commission, but it
,<loee not mean that purchases will not be made In
all parts cf the country. It was decided that these
three Mints wore the best places to assemble «up
jpuca for tit» canal and the shipment of such sup-
PHHbm
CALLED TO NEW-YORK PULPIT.
Nee/tour^ N. V ., May 27.-The Rev. Dr. T. H.
;Baragwanath. pastor of Trinity Methodist Eplsco
•S*l Church, of this city, l.as been invited to th«
•t*4t«ate c« Graca Methodist JuvlmcaxaX Church.
Xew-Tork. made vacant by the transfer of the
Rev Dr. E S. Tipple, who has accepted the pro
feK3or B hip of pastoral theology in Drew Theologi
cal Seminary.
LABOR MEN SUSPECTED.
Attempt to Wreck Bridge Folhtred
Assault and Threatening Letter.
The attempt made early yesterday to destroy -with
dynamite th* new drawbridge of the Pennsyl
vania Railroad ov«r the Hackenßack Rlrer was a
failure, so far as the damage Inflicted is calculated
in dollars and cents, but the act of vandalism was
a Bticcess In the extent of the serious alarm it haa
caused. It has revealed that the railway com
pany has a secret and desperate foe, with anar
chistic predilections 1 .
Whether It is Justified or not, suspicion points to
union labor men. The Pennsylvania Railroad keeps
constantly a corps of bridge builders. It does not
require them to b« union men; It does exact that
they be experts in their line. Three weks ago
William Merskon, assistant master carpenter of
the company and one of the foremen of construc
tion on the new bridge, was assaulted by clx
men. who fled before they could be apprehended.
A few days later Assistant Engineer Miller, it is
said, received a threatening letter.
The company, howevor, increased Its force of
Bpecial officers at the new bridge to exclude more
rigidly those who were not acUially employed in
the construction. "The unprovoked assault, the
threatening letter and the attempt to blow up the
bridge have now been -welded into links In a chain
by the officials, who expect to add other links until
they have the offender or offenders.
That the explosive was dynamite is evident from
th" result. It exploded between two Btout steel
girders and twisted and tore the framework on
which the flooring would ho laid. The damage to
the bridge Is trivial and will not exceed WOO. That
the charge used was a heavy one was apparent in
the tremendous force of tha concussion. It shook
Jersey City on the east and Harrison and Kearny
on the west with a tremor that suggested a mild
enrthauake. In the buildings on tho west slope of
Jersey City Heights windows were shattered. The
report of the explosion was heard for miles.
The shock of the explosion, it is said, produced
a change which resulted fatally in the condition
of Charles Brennerholz, an aged man, suffering
from apoplexy at his home, No. 2^9 Glles-ave H
Jersey City. He collapsed after the vibration and
report of the explosion, and died last evening.
Chief Detective Daniel McKally of the railway
company is reported to have said:
There ia no doubt that it was the work of the
Parks frang-. We have received letters from these
men threatening death to the railroad officials
and destruction to railroad property by dynamite.
If we can lay hands on thorn they will be taken
away by undertakers. That is the only way we
can deal with them.
DEATH AT FIRE PLAY.
Deceived I/ima Crowd Cheers Fatal
Fall — Not a Dummy.
When the audience watching the "Fire and
Flames" shoir at I>una Park last night saw one of
the firemen fall from the. third story window of the
burning building, they thought it a realistic bit of
acting. The announcer picked up his megaphone
and yelled that a dummy hod fallen.
In spite of tho announcer's statement, one of the
firemen, George McLean, had been killed by the
falL In trying to swing from one window to an
other on the third floor he lost his footing, and fell
over and over to the pavement. Two of his com
panions picked him up and carried him behind the
scenes. Thence he was removed on a stretcher to
the Coney Island Emergency Hospital, where It
was found he had a compound fracture of the skull.
He di*d half an hour later in the hospital. More
than three thousand people saw him when he
plunged to death.
HOODOO ON ALABAMA.
Quartermaster Drowned, Third of
Crew to Die in Short Time.
When word was taken to the battleship Alabama
at the Brooklyn Navy Yard last night that the
body of A. V. Murtha, first class quartermaster,
had been picked up in the water at Kent-sU Green*
point, the Jackiea began to gossip and wonder
amosz themselves whether some sort of hoodoo
did not rest over the ship. It was only two weeks
ego that Peter Lydell, gunner's mate, who had
been in the navy for twenty-four years, killed him
celf in the ordnance room of the Alabama. His
shipmates could not account for tho deed, although
he had been sev«raly reprimanded for getting
drunk.
The next •■Say one of the sailors on the battleship
was found dead in a hotel in Fulton-st. The gas
was turned on and ho had been asphyxiated. It
was not learned whether it was an accidental death
or not. And now comes the finding 1 of the body of
young Murtha. He had been missing from the ship
for two days. He was a strong swimmer, so the
theory that he was drowned accidentally Is not be
injr considered. The body was taken from the
water la Oreenpoint in the morning. When it
reached the morgue a letter addressed to him
gave a clow to Murtha's identity, and last night
a hospital steward made a positive Identification.
"Who will be next?" was the question that was
being asked aboard ship last night.
ÜBS. ROGERS LOSES CASE.
Vermont Supreme Court Denies
New Trial to Murderess.
Montpeller, Vt., May 27.— The petition of Mrs.
Mary if. Rogers, convicted of the murder of her
husband, for a new trial has been denied by tho
Supreme Court of Vermont. A reprieve granted
by Governor Bell the day before Mrs. Kogers
was to have been hanged last February, will
expire June 2. Under Vermont laws only com
mutation by the Governor can now avert tho
hanging of the woman on the date named.
Mrs. Rogers wiis convicted of the murder of
her husband at Bennlngton in a particularly re
volting manner, assisted by Luon Perham. who
ia serving a life sentence in State prison. While
embracing her husband Mrs. Rogers chloro
formed him and, with Perham's help, threw tho
body Into the Walloomsac River, where it Vus
found later.
It was held that Perham had admitted that
he lied on the witness stand and that Rogers
died of a fractured skull Instead of by chloro
forming. In announcing the decision of the full
ben b of the Supreme Court to-day Justice John
Watson said that the affidavit of Perham did
not Btate in what particular he had falsilled in
his testimony, and that the fracture of the skull
might have been caused by the physicians who
performed an autopsy on Rogers's body. Mrs.
Roge:a woe declared to be sane.
Counsel for Mrs. Rogers, ufter appealing In
vain for aji opportunity to present additional
newly discovered evidence before the court and
to secure a continuance of six weeks, announced
their intention of carrying the case to the United
Etatea Supremo Court. A writ of error will be
presented to the State Supreme Court for the
lnuorßement of the Chief Justice and the clerk,
and will then bo filed with the clerk, of the
United States Supreme Court. The Indorsement
of the writ of error by the Chief Justice of the
Vermont Supreme Court will act as a stay of
execution.
MAJOE GENERAL YON PFISTER HERE,
Dinner To Be Given Delegate of King Will
iam II of Wnrtembiirg.
Major General Albert yon Pflster. of Stuttgart,
Germany, who came to th© United States a month
ego as the epecial delegate of His Majesty King
William II of Wurtemburg to tho Schiller com
memoration In Chicago, arrived yesterday at the
Hotel Astor. He is accompanied by Mrs. yon Pfls
ter. Since his arrival In the country General yon
Pflster represented his sovereign In the- presenta
tion of a Schiller bust to Johns Hopkins University,
which institution gave him the degree of Doctor of
Laws. The degree was conferred "In recognition
of hi* historical research, work."
Judge Zellex, of the Court of Special Session*,
and other members of the Canstadter Volksfest
Vereln called upon General yon Pflster last night
and completed the arrangements for a dinner to b*
given by the socltty at the Hotel Astor to-morrow
night, In the general's honor. He will attend the
unveilins of the tilocum statue on Tuesday. &nd on
Vl'ednesaay will -visit -West-Point.
NEW-YOKK DAILY .TRIBUNE. SUNDAY. MAY 28. IDOS.
EXTRA SESSION OPPOSED
Congressmen Talk to the President
Against It.
InOil THX TRTBT7NH BTmEAO.]
"Washington, May 27. — Several members of
Congress are anxious to have the President
postpone or abandon his plan of calling Con
gress Into extraordinary session this falL
Among those who called at the White House
to-day with this purpose In view were Senators
Blkins and Cullom and Representative Foster,
of Vermont. Two or three days ago Speaker
Cannon and Senator Kean came on the same
mission.
If the President has been moved by the argu
ments advanced by these lawmakers, ha has
thus far given no sign, for his visitors left the
White House to-day no wiser on this point than
they were when they entered the executive
office.
"I told the President to put it off as long as
he could," said Senator Elklns. "There is no
earthly reason why an extra session should he
called, anyway. One of tho great things to be
considered was this railroad rate legislation.
Well, I told the President that L would call the
Interstate Commerce Committee of the Senate
together two or three weeks before Congress
meets, whether in extraordinary or In regular
session, and would prepare the report and the
bill so as to have it all ready by the time th»
lawmakers got together. We would have plenty
of time to prepare tho report and bill within
three weeks of the regular session, and as there
ia no limit on the length of tho session itself
next year, I cannot see what advantage would
be gained by getting together before the regular
time."
Senator Cullom was of the opinion that the
President would not call Congress together until
November. "I don't believe that he'll bring us
here before the State elections," said the Senator
after his call, "and I hope he won't do it all. I
cannot ccc any sense in his calling an extra
cession, and haven't any of the time."
"Tho people of the country are opposed to the
extra session Idea," said Representative Foster,
of Vermont, after his talk with the President,
"and I believe that tho President will come to
the same conclusion. There's plenty of time In
the next long session to transact any and all
business that the President wishes brought be
fore Congress, co I do not see the advantage in
bringing us here ahead of time."
Elmer Dover, secretary of the Republican Na
tional Committee, who called at the White
House this afternoon, said he understood Octo
ber 16 to be tho date for the extra session, Mr.
Dover recalled tho fact that Secretary Taft, In
his speech at Columbus, referred to an extraor
dinary session as If there were no Question
about It
TO EXTEND MEAT MARKET
President Promises to Deal with the
Subject in His Message.
Washington, May 27.— For the purpose of en
listing the sympathies of President Roosevelt
In a larger export market for American meats,
P. J. Hagenbarth, of Salt Lake City, president
of the National Livestock Association, called at
the White House to-day. He was introduced to
the President by Commissioner Garfield, of tho
Bureau of Corporations. So great was the Presi
dent's Interest that he has promised to deal with
the subject in his annual message to Congress
and will take up a number of other questions of
vital Importance to livestock men.
In addition to calling on tho President, Mr.
Hagenbarth has seen officials of the Department
of Agriculture, Mr. North, the Director of the
Census; Commissioner Garfield and a number
of other government officials. His association
ha 3 determined to embark on a campaign of
education to demonstrate that there are ques*-
Hons which It considers more vital to the com
mercial Interests than rate legislation, although
Mr. Hagenbarth commended the President
highly for the position he has taken on that
•übjeot
"Nothing can compensate for the loss of a
market, except to get that market hack." said
Mr. Hagenbarth to the President. "We have
lost more than $1, 000, 000 annually for the last
three or four years In the export market for
meats alone through commercial mlsundertand
lngrs which have resulted in tariff retaliation
against meat from this country. Germany's dis
crimination has been the most severe, although
the loss of the French market has cost livestock
interests $40,000,000 annually."
The President encouraged Mr. Hagenbarth to
continue his explanation, and then asked him
what he proposed as a solution.
"Reciprocity, preferably; and, if we can't get
that, retaliation," replied Mr. Hagenbarth.
The President agreed as to the remedy, al
though he thought that reciprocity and retalia
tion could both be adopted by the United States
—a reciprocal arrangement with countries that
were disposed to be friendly commercially, and
saving the retaliatory methods for those that
were Inclined to treat tho I'nited States with un
fairness. He agreed with Mr. Hapenbarth that
the subject should go before Congress and
the people and asked the president of the Live
Stock Association to present a brief that would
Inform him of the association's position.
Mr. Hagrenbarth desires that the Department
of Commerce and Labor take a census of live
stock and farm products biennially at least, and
the President promised to fdve his attention to
this subject. Another Question taken up was
that of larger appropriations for the Department
of Agriculture. Th« livestock men say that the
sphere of usefulness of this department should
ta greatly increased, particularly as relates to
livestock interests. All these subjects will be
treated by Mr. Hagenbarth in the brief he has
promised to put In tho President's hands by
July 1.
OBITUARY.
MRB CHARLES W. HELD.
Mrs. Charles W. Held, wife of the Junior mem
ber of the firm of Chandler, Held & Co., piano
dealers, In Brooklyn, died In Ridgewood, N. J.,
Friday r.lc!:t. from Injuries received by being struck
by a train at the station there. She was born in
West Point, N. V., about fifty years ago. She
leaves a husband, a son and a daughter. Tho
funeral will bo held at her Brooklyn home. No. 401
Classon-ave., to-morrow night.
MILTON J. PALMER.
Chicago. May 27.— Milton J. Palmer is dead at his
home here. He was a brother of the late Potter
Palmer, and for many years wus hla partner in the
drygoods business. After th«> gre.it fire he confined
riis attention to the management of his real estate.
He was eighty-one years old.
ELLIS ISLAND CONCESSIONS.
Secretary Metcalf May Make Awards To
morrow — Charges by Rival Bidders.
[feom tpe IWBUKI bureau.]
Washington, May 27.— Secretary Metcalf, of the
Department of Commerce and Labor, announced
to-day that he -would award the Ellis Island immi
grant station contracts on Monday, unless some un
expected Incident caused a postponement. Bids for
the restaurant, money changing and bag-gage haul-
Ins privileges at the Island were opened In the
cilice of the Commissioner General of Immigration
on May 8, and ever since that time the officials of
the bureau have been besieged by a glamoring
crowd of business men, who have demanded In no
polite terms that the powers that b« in the depart
ment "get busy." Som« of these demands have
been mad« by the bidders in person, but by far
the largest number have coma through the malls.
Several have contained open charges that this or
that rival bidder "is working a crooked jams" to
secure th« concession from the department, and
th» writers of these leters have cited various faota
to prove the dark conspiracies. A number of th«
bidders have gone to their members of Cong-rasa.
who have In turn written letters or called at the
department to further the claims of their constitu
ents. Probably the most Importunate of the letter
writers are the men who have received inside in
formation from other and lower bidders which
convinces them that they cannot hope to pecure
the contract* nnd who now want their certified
checks returned. . Bach bidder tow th* privileges
was obliged to deposit a certified check on a na
tional bank for J6OO. nnd. all told, there la Uo.ooo
In these checks now in possession of Chief Clerk
Lamed of the bureau. He must hold them until
after the awards are made.
WATCHING SUBWAY LEASE
VOTES MUST BE LEGAL.
Proinsion of Charter May Prevent
Mr. Jcsup's Taking Part.
Can Morris K. Jesup, president of the Chamber
of Commerce and a member of the Rapid Transit
Commission, as a stockholder of tha Manhattan
Elevated Railway, legally vote on any lease of sub
ways to the Interborough company, the lessee of
the Manhattan?
This is the question that tho Metropolitan people
are asking In view of the sharp battle pending
between the rivals for subway and elevated con
tracts.
Commissioner Jesup makes no concealment of his
ownership of Manhattan stock. At a recent meet-
Ing of the commission Mr. Jesup eaid that he was
a shareholder, and the matter was discussed in all
Its phases.
The section of the charter which bears on this
particular point la as follows:
Officers— Not to be Interested in contracts.
Bection 1,533. No member of the Board of Alder
men, head of department, chief of bureau, deputy
thereof or clerk therein, or other officer of tha
corporation. 6hall be or become interested, directly
or indirectly, as contracting party, partner, or
stockholder, or otherwise, in or In tho iierform
ance of any contract, work or business, or the sale
of any nrticle, the expense, price <>r considera
tion of which is payable from the city treasury,
or by any assessment levied by any act or ordi
nance of the Board of Aldermen, or In the pur
chase or lease of any real estate, or other property
belonging to or taken by tha corporation, or which
shall T>e sold for taxes or assassin en ts, or by virtue
of legal process at the suit of the said corpora
tion.
A violation of the section Is declared to be a
misdemeanor, and on conviotlon there is to be foT
feiture of office.
It Is contended that the section covers the case
of Mr. Jesup, Inasmuch as he 1b a stockholder and
is interested at least indirectly in the continued
prosperity of the Interborough-Manhattan nystetn.
In tha manoeuvring of the Metropolitan and In
terborough people for advantage in obtaining fut
ure subway contracts, tha validity of every sec
tion of every prospective contract la being care
fully scrutinized. Probably nothing would havo
been said of Mr. Jesup's ownership of Manhattan
shares if ha had not brought up the matter him
self. It is said that when it comes to the grant-
Ing of contracts to the InterborouKh-Manhattan in
terests he will ask to be excuseu from voting on
the ground that a close construction of the Section
1.633 might make his vote on the contract illegal
and Improper.
STEEL RAIL PRICES.
Canal Commission Can Buy Cheaper
in Foreign Markets.
"Washington, May 27. — Ia view of the pub
lished policy of the Isthmian Canal Commission
to buy in the cheapest market, there have been
a great many Inquiries as to the price of steel
rails, one of the principal artioles which figured
in tha commission's decision. Colonel Edwards,
administrative officer of the canal commission,
addressed an Inquiry to Secretary Drake, of the
Panama Railroad Company, Intended to elicit
Information on thla point. He received a reply
which In substance ia that the price for steel
rails In the United, States for the last twelve
months has been uniform at $28 a ton, while in
foreign markets the price waa {24 a ton. The
exceptions were where rails were sold la the
United States for export, when the prices were
established by direct negotiation, and were mat
ters of private record. The Panama Railroad
Company convinced the manufacturers that lta
rails were purchased for export to foreign terri
tory (which Mr. Drake says Colon is), and was
able to get in June last seventy pound rails at
$-12 75 for first quality and $21 75 for second
quality. Last January it bought 1,200 tons at
$25 for first class and $2-4 for second class, and
more recently purchased 2,500 tons for the canal
commission and 3.5<X) for the railroad at $26 45.
all these contracts being mada In competition
with foreign manufacturers, whoso last price
was $25 f. o. b, at New- York, or $27 75 c. 1. t. at
Colon, exclusive of wharf and port charges.
DESPONDENT WOMAN A SUICIDE.
Mlddletown, N. T., May 2T.— Despondent because
of lllnoss, Mrs. George Drake, thirty-six years
old, took her own life to-day by shooting.
1—»1 — » .
PRISON FOR TWENTY ILLEGAL VOTERS.
I4ttle Falls, K. T., May 27.— Twenty residents of
Salisbury, Herklmer County, and of Stratford. Ful
ton County, pleaded guilty In the county court at
Long Luke yesterday of illegal voting at a town
meeting in Arietta, Hamilton County, and were
sentenced to two years' imprisonment at Danne
mora. The sentences were susptiulod. The illegal
voting was fur Frank Fornla, Republican candidate
for Highway Commissioner, who has been indicted
on a charge of colonizing voters. Fvrnla is a State
gaiuo protector.
DINNER FOE B. & 0. OFFICIAL.
Popular New General Manager Entertained
by Employes at Fairmont, W. Va.
The employes of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road g-ave a dinner for Thomas Fitzgerald, general
manager of the road, In the Grand Opera House at
Fairmont, W. Va., last night The new general
manager knows more men personally in tha service
of the road, from track walkers to the highest
ofaciu.lt>. than a number of tha officials combined.
There were more than four hundred seated at
the tubles, including President Murray and the
Governors of Maryland and West Virginia- Those
at the tables Included also A. B. Fleming, of West
Virginia; First Vice-President George Y. Randolph.
Second Vlca-President Hugh I* Jktond. jr.. Third
Vice-President George L. Potter, Fourth Vico-
Presldent J. V. McNaaX Assistant to tho Presi
dent aeorge M. Shriver. Gonerul Superintendent of
Transportation Arthur Hale. Chief Ftnginoer D. D.
Caretbera General Superiiuendent of Motive
Power J. E. Muhlfeld and others.
K. D. Walker waa toastmaster, and the speakers
were W. M. O, ! lawsun, Qovenor of West Vir
ginia: W. *. Tribby, the Rer. Isaac A. Barnes, of
Plttaburg; Dennis Kearney, of Newark, Ohio; Kil
win W:n-fleld. Governor ot' Maryland; Judge W. S.
Hammond, of Fairmont, W. Va. : O. S. MoKinney,
i". v. Hossefross, C. w. Galloway and *;. w. stur
nior, chairman.
Tli-» committee, consisting of Messrs. W. A.
Tribby, C. W. Galloway, A. P. Prendergast. w. p.
Bruutner. J. J. Tatum, W. E. Cav.y, P. J. Cough
iin. F. W. Bturmer. C. C. Gardner, A. WllUon.
C. W. Riding and J. P. Hess, presented a set or
resolutions to Mr. Fitzgerald.
VERMONT BOARD ON POLLUTION.
Health Authorities Support Other Reports of
Lake Champlain Contamination.
Fresh Impetus has been given to the agitation
for the suppression of the pollution of Lake Cham
plain by pulp mills by th© action of tha State Board
of Health of Vermont, which has declared that th©
publlo water supplies of Burlington and other
cities along the lake have been so contaminated
its to be unfit for use. Professor Otta H. Lantlreth,
of Union College, consulting engineer of th« State
Department of Health, who made an Investigation,
found that the pulp mills did seriously pollute tho
rivers and the lake.
In addition to the investigations already made
the United States Geological Survey has finished
and is about to publish the results of an investiga
tion of the pollution of the lake and lta tributaries
conducted by Professor Marshall O. Lelghton, at
th* request of Governor MoCullough of Vermont.
In concluding his report. Professor Lelghton de
clares that there is no doubt whatever conoornlne
tha damaging efTect of the mill waste upon the
waters in question. Dr, G. C. Whipple. sanitary
biologist of New-York City, until recently director
oi the Mount Prospect Laboratory of the New-
York Water Department, and formerly biologist of
the Boston waterworks, has also made a similar
report. The null for $25,000 brought by the New-
York and Pennsylvania Company owners of pulp
mills on the Boquet River against A. H. Kills, on
the complaint 'hut he declared that the death of
his KiHtt-r and the ill condition of himself and other
members of his family revolted from drinking the
lime impregnated waters of the lake, which came
up for trial the other day In Elizabethtown, >;, y.^
was postponeu until th* fall. It 1* believed the case
will be dropped.
STANDARD CUTS KANSAS OIL.
Independence, Kun., M:iy Z"-— The Prairie Oil and
Gas Company, a branch of the Standard Oil Com.
pany. to-day announced a cut in Kansas oil of four
cf-nta a burn-1. This make* the top prioe U cents a
barrel and Uie bottom price 33 cents.
The Financial V/orld.
Transactions of the week supply Indubitable
evidence of Inherent strength In the security
market. There have I*** «Pl«»»£ *™*£
ments. Including the failures of the Merchants
Trust Company of New York. Holzman A .Co
of Cincinnati, members of the New York Stock
Exchange; Burnett. Cummings * Co.. a hank
ing firm of Boston, and two or three small
country banks. Additional bear ammunition
was furnished by the announced "dissolution"
Of the steel rail pool and of the structural steel
pool; and further elements of depression were
afforded by the death of Baron de Rothschild
and prolonged waiting for the naval battts in
the Orient. Under this combined pressure, quo
tations suffered distinct breaks— extending at
times to an average of five points for son • lead-
Ing issues— but what is the week-end result?
The average of prices is actually higher than
a week ago, clear proof that common sense is
in the ascendant and Justifying what was said
in this review last Sunday: "Facts are bound
finally to force a market that Is normal."
Certainly had conditions been euch as tho
pessimists would have us believe, the security
market could not have withstood all the suc
cessive blows noted— reaction would have run
into demoralization. That contrary movement
appears is a tribute to public comprehen
sion of the real situation — realization that fun
damental strength has never offered mere am
ple warrant for confidence.
Of course, there haa been newa of other char
acter — notably official explicit announcement of
harmonious settlement between the various in
terests recently at loggerheads over the North
ern Securities case. And that this is not a mere
sentimental display is proved by the action of
the executive committees of Northern Pariiic
and Union Pacific, Instructing their operating
officials to prepare agreements for "the Joint
construction" of a new railroad in tho Clear
water district — and thus a menace of four years
melts away.
Tbls is the season of the year when Wall
Street keeps its ear to the ground for crop news
—and it gets a plenty. Already the crop-killer
is abroad with predictions of famine yield, and
he will be in evidence for some time to come.
To him a wet May means destruction of wheat,
corn and cotton to the starvation point, and he
finds a ready Wall Street audience. It is a
curioua feature that a certain speculative con
tingent utterly Ignores official reports, preferring
always to pin their faith to the professional
crop-killer. It was so last year when corn was
declared to be a failure— the final actual yield
In bushels being nearly the record and actual
cash value of the crop far surpassing all rec
ords. Now government reports foreshadow an
enormous Winter wheat crop despite whatever
seasonal deterioration may have taken place
since May 1, when the yield was estimated at
460,000,000 bushela— even a 10 per cent, reduc
tion would still leave a vast harvest. Later
sown crops are admitted to be about two weeks
behind because of cool, rainy weather, but there
is nothing alarming in this; it is a condition
frequent at this time of year and Is speedily
overcome by a week or ten days' warmth. There
Is absolutely no reason yet disclosed to expect
anything; but bountiful crops.
Incidental to this crop development, which is
the basis of our prosperity, some most interest
ing statements are made by President Festus J.
Wade, of the Mercantile Trust Company, of Bt.
Louis, reviewing the progress of the twelve
Btates and territories West of the Mississippi,
where between 1800 and 1000 farm acreage In
creased from 228 million to 877 million acres,
and from IS9O to 1004 the following expansion
appeared in crop yield:
ISOO. ' 1004.
Corn, bushels 811.250.500 1.253,228,020
Wheat, bushels 164,821.000 821.893,517
Cotton, bales 2,010.005 S.USS.4CG
This is. indeed, wonderful development, and
commenting upon It Mr. Wade, who Is one of
the most alert of observers and preeminently
conservative, Is amply warranted in concluding:
"The fact la the people of the States and Terri
"tories mentioned have been acquiring wealth
"at such a phenomenal rate that with the
"continuance of present prosperity it is only a
"question of a comparatively few years until
"their banks and trust companies will be obliged
"to invade the Eastern and New England States
"to loan their money at profitable rates."
This is the record of just one section— but typi
cal absolutely of the progress that rules In
every productive part of our whole land. Wall
Street In Its professionalism and prejudice
doesn't know the west, doesn't know the south.
Nowhere in either Bection is pessimism even
vaguely a possibility.
Intervals of doubt and suspicion may have,
for the time, permitted adverse operators to
force current quotations down, but throughout
the market there is bristling evidence that the
depression campaign cannot long continue, —
cannot eradicate facts or subdue the influence
of prosperity. Proclamations about trouble In
the Steel trade are exaggerations. And, so,
through tho general business situatl n, satis
factory conditions continue, sensational tales to
the contrary being fables. All this is sure soon
to force Impression upon the public mind.
Proofs of good times are too clear for any man
ner of denial or misrepresentation.
In the stock market we have a larg-r short
interest than for a long time past. Every talker
in Wall Street is a bear, all the oracles have ?old
stocks they do not own and which ultimately
they must buy back to make their delivery con
tracts good. Illustration of what the status is in
this regard appeared yesterday In Canadian Pa
cific. That stock has been aggressively assailed
and forced down, regardless of the progressive
records that the company's earnings continually
show month after month, moet optimistic
prophecies being far outreaohe.l. The price
was Jammed down around 143 on Friday, a;ui
throughout yesterday's Stock Exchange session
it was held around 144 till Just before the close
of business, when representatives of one short
interest undertook to cover some of tru-::
tracts— then of a sudden the stock rose above
14.", with so few shares available that after the
Stock Exchange had closed purchases were
urgently made at 146 U. This Is a mere straw.
As with Canadian Pacific, bo practically with
every one of the standard stocks on the list.
Declines have been manipulated. Intrinsic value
warrants quotations materially higher. And the
end— beyond al! peradventure — is bound to be
substantial and lasting appreciation.
One disclosure likely soon to be ma»la has to
do with the future of the Chicago and Great
Western Raftway system, whose security issues
are quoted at relatively Insignificant flguros —
tuking into consideration what the property is
and what it promises to be— what In the future
is assured. If we are to have harmony and
tho incidental features necessary to the making
of Western railway conditions thoroughly a. id
lastingly satisfactory, it Is beyond any ques
tion certain that the Chicago and Oreat West
ern's situation roust be recognized, and that in
a broad sense. Through all vicissitudes A. B.
Btickney has kept Chicago and Great Western
not only in Independent, but in prospering con
dition — and. more, has provklr>(t siu-h an
administration as establishes him to-. lay in
the highest credit with financial powers both
here and abroad. And there is probably more
than idle gossip In hints of new proposals to
Mr. Stickney and his associates to Join now In
plans which have to do with the stablMty «f
Western railway harmony. That we are to
have such harmony is sure.
We are likely to have a general readjustment
of the relations of various scattered lesser prop-
•rtles throughout the country. Well wftfefe ♦>
spirit and letter of the law, there are possfbnu
ties of that community of interest upon which
are set the hearts and minds of our foremost
financiers, and we are certain to hear wieb
more Boon of the great "deals" In which later
est centered a little while ago— proposal* like
those wherein were joined the names of Alston
Pacific. Northwest an.l New York Central. But
it is probable that colncldently, or even some
what In advance, we may find in operation plans
for the absorption or merger of many Of the
smaller independent systems by the greater ones.
Toledo. Bt. Louts and Western, Kansas City
Southern. Wisconsin Central and Green Bay »nd
Western ar« representative in these gro«{>«
of properties where value would gain quick aad
substantial augmentation through new control
or alliance upon the part of transcontinental
systems. In Green Cay and Western prosr«!3
seems already discernible of th betterment
plan— one phase of which proposes the retire
ment of the Debenture B bonds of that corpo
ration, Incidental possibly to the absorption, of
the road by the Pere Marquette or In the Inter
est of developments proposed by James J. Hill
As preliminary to this, it is suggested that a
dividend (2 or 2V» per cent, is the forecast) be
begun upon the Debenture B's. This declaration
(available out of earnings above the 5 per cent.
which the stock of the Company Is now receiv
ing) is, according to communications made
to the management by large owners of. the neni
Issue, clearly due on the contract in the bonds
that "any surplus net earnings" Immediately be
long to the B Debentures. The mere sugges
tion of this was sufficient to start the bonds up
ward yesterday, small transactions resulting la
an Immediate advance of 2 points or more. Any
early dividend prospect on this junior bond
would make it, of course, worth much more in
the market than the Insignificant figure at which
It has been quoted.
When again the general market starts upward
—as, of course, before long It Is bound to do In
an aggressive way— conspicuous among the lead
ers will be found all three of the Erie stocks.
There Is a new Erie. Good management Infuses
it with vigor; comprehensive expansion plans
assure prosperity on broader and broader lines.
Despite all pas; pessimism, Erie common Is on
its way to dividends. H. ALLAWAT,
Time Saved
ts money earned*
You will husband
your energy and
lengthen your bus*
mess-day if you
conduct more of
your business
By
Telephone
THE
"Second
Empire"
Is not a French Event, but a
NEW FAST TRAIN
BETWEEN
New York and Buffalo
VIA
NEW YORK CENTRAL
& Hudson River R. R.
Leaves Grand Central Station dally ex
cept Sunday at 2:30 P. M.. arrive Buffalo
11:30 P. M., stopping at Albany. Utica,
Syracuse and Rochester.
Sec time table in daily papers.
Homer's
Fvirnitvire
THE Summer home
furnisher will find
every Furniture wish
anticipated in our large
and varied stock.
Unequalled aoortmenti.
Unequalled values.
R. J. HORNER <& CO..
Furniture Makers and Importer*
61, 63, 65 West 23d Street.
Auction Sales.
Removal Auction Sale.
REED & BARTON CO.
Silversmiths— 4l Union Square.
C. H. LLENQENE. Auctioneer.
Will sell the entire stcck of good* not te
be moved to the new Reed S. 3artDn stare
on Fifth Avenue.
Thousands of dollars' worth of H!gh Qrada
Silver Plated Tea and Table Services,
Fruit and Berry Dcwls, Odd and Beautiful
Novelties.
Knives, Forks. Spocns. Ladles and Flat
Ware Pieces of every description.
Also a moderate quantity of Sterling Sil
ver Ware. An exceptional opportunity for
the private purchaser, as well as Hotel and
Cafe Proprietors, to replenish stock.
: Note: Every , article guaranteed made by
Reed 4. Barton, and In every way up to
their well' known standard.
SALE OPENS: Thursday, June Ist,
12 Noon to o P. M.
Bach Day Thereafter Until Entire Stock
I* Sol*.
ADVERTISERS USE THE TRIBUNE
more then ever before. They took 1,191 columns
more apace In January. February, March and April*
1905, than In corresponding months of 1304.
