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. 0 LAST EDITION WEDNEb EVENING. TOPEKA, KANSAS, JUNE 27, 1900. WEDNESDAY EVENING. TWO CENTS. HELP REACHES jjEYMOOB. Communication Opened With the British Admiral By the Rescuing Force From Tien Tsin. FOUND TEN MILES OUT With Three Hundred Men Sick and Wounded. Supply of Prorislons Was Al most Exhausted. London, June 27. A special from Shanghai dated last evening, says that communication with Admiral Seymour was opened by the Tien Tain relief force Sunday. Admiral Seymour was at that time said to be ten miles from Tien Tsin. Three hundred "of the members of his jjarty reported sick and wounded; only a. few had been killed. They were short cf provisions, and were returning with out having rescued the legations. HEAVY LOSSES. Shanghai, June 27. A German paper lias an uncredited statement to the effect that Admiral Seymour is eight miles from Tien Tsin with sixty-two killed and 200 wounded. MINISTERS HAVE LEFT PEKIN. Paris, June 27. 10 a. m. The French consul general at Shanghai telegraphing under date of yesterday announces that the allied troops have entered Tien Tsin. He states also that the foreign ministers have departed from Pekin for the north accompanied by a Chinese escort. It is supposed that they are headed for Shanghai Kouan following the course of the great wall. The telegram adds that the viceroy of Nankin and the viceroy of Tieheng Otchetong have re quested the consul to announce to the French government that they are pro tecting the interests of some of the mis sionaries and some of the foreign mer chants in that region. A Yang Tse telegram of the same date states that the French consul at Che Foo confirms the news of the deliverance from Tien Tsin and the fact that the foreign min isters left Pekin under an escort. ANOTHER MISSION BURNED. London, June 27. A dispatch from Tsin Tan dated yesterday says that the Protestant mission at "Weisien was burned down by rebels Monday night last. . CHINA DRAWS THE LINE, "Washington, June 27. The Chinese minister called this morning on the sec retary of state and communicated ' to him the contents of a dispatch which he had received from the Tsung Li Yamen at Pekin, dated on the lth instant. The dispatch states that the foreign minis ters had before this date asked permis sion for the legation guards to enter the city, which permission had been granted; that they -subsequently asked that these guards be reinforced which the Chinese government was not dispos ed to permit. The dispatch then goes on to state that the consul general at Tien Tsin supposed to be the French consul general had telegraphed to the viceroy of Chi Li that the foreign ad miral had demanded the surrender of the Taku forts and that the foreign ministers were shortly to leave Pekin Cor Tien Tsin with their guards. MR. WIT HEARS FROM HOME. Washington, June 27. The Chinese minister has just received a telegram from Pekin. via Ching Fu. dated June 19, saying that the ministers and for eigners in Pekin were safe there and well, and that arrangements were being made to provide them with an escort out of the city. NECK AND NECK. London, June 27. A special dispatch from Che Foo, says: "The fight cf the allied forces against the combined boxers and Chinese sol diery, barring the road to Tien Tsin. opened a: daybreak. One hundred and fitty Americans were among the 2.000 in ternational troops. The Chinese soon, broke under heavy shelling, and then the arsenal was attacked and the guns were gradually silenced. The fight was practically over at noon. "The keen, friendly rivalry for the honor of first entering the city, resulted in the Americans and British going in Hearts May i With the betrothal of H. R. H. the Princess of the Asturias, sister of the little King of Spain, to Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Caserta comes a vision of by no means remote possibilities. Should anything happen to the boy monarch, this future couple would occupy the Spanish throne as Queen and Prince Con tort. Their Royal Highnesses are to have one of the most sumptuous weddings In the annals of European society. neck and neck, with the others close up." IN CHINA TO STAY. London, June 27.-2:03 p. m. The ca ble messages from the far east today are so far conflicting in their tenor that almost any desired view of the situa tion is deduced therefrom. On the whole however, the news is encouraging and It seems safe to asume that Vice Ad miral Seymour and theiegations.whether together or separately, will ultimately reach a place of safety. Various re ports locate the legationeers at divers places, but it seema agreed that they are safely away from Pekin. The latest Shanghai report says Prince Tuan, the head .of the Chinese foreign office, and father of the heir apparent, has sent the legationeers to Sian Fu under escort and adds that Sian Fu will be the new capital, in the event of Pekin being occupied by the international force. Admiral Seymour, it Is asserted suc ceeded in getting a message into Tien Tsin, Monday, according to which he was then eight miles westward, terribly harassed, could only hold out another two days and had 63 killed and over 200 wounded. He did not mention the min isters or others from Pekin. It is thought at Shanghai that now Tien Tsin is relieved, the combined in ternational forces will have no difficulty in reacmng renin, tnougn it is expect ed it will be found that all the foreign ers have already left. It is claimed that the reports as to the damage done at Tien Tsin and the casualties among the foreign residents have been highly col ored. The exodus of Chinese from Shanghai is unabated. Every steamer is thronged and the authorities have been obliged to resort to the use of the fire hose to pre vent the fugitives fi'om over1 crowding the vessels. The commander of the Eritish first class cruiser Undaunted, however, has landed supplies of rifles and ammunition, and guns have been placed in position at commanding points with the result that the foreigners are confident they can overcome any at tack on the settlement, into which the foreigners from the out stations are rapidly congregating. According to a dispatch from New Chang the Russians there are barely able to cone with the situation. The Chinese it appears, are burning all the railway material, killing isolated Rus sians at every opportunity and destroy ing the coal mines. The St. James Gazette expresses the opinion that "China is teaching Amer ica the impossibility or a great trading nation avoiding imperialism," adding: "America's experience will teach her it is not the desire to grab distant lands, but unavoidable destiny that drives Great Britain ever forward. Washington has no choice but to protect the imperil ed American citizens, and having once interfered in China to protect her in terests, she shall never be able to shake from her shoes the dust of the celestial empire." CHAFFEE STARTS FOR CHINA. Washington, June 27. General Chaf fee, who has been ordered to command the American troops in China, left Washington at 10:40 o'clock today for San Francisco, accompanied by Lieu tenant Harper, his aide. He ia due at San Francisco at 5 o clocK btinaay morning, and sails for Nagasaki on the transport Grant with the Sixth cavalry the same day. MIKADO GRANTS WAR FUND. Yokohama, June 27. The emperor has sanctioned an outlay of 15 million yen towards the cost of the military opera tions in China. It is reported in Seoul that there is increasing hostility towards Christians in Korea. Korea, it is said, repudiates the land contract which gave to Russia a site for a coal depot and a naval hos pital as Russia wished to apply towards the price the amount of the pending claims against Korea. SEYMOUR'S BAD PLIGHT. Berlin, June 27. The German consul at Che Foo confirms the contents of the message from Vice Admiral Seymour which reached Tien Tsin Monday, say ing he was then eight miles westward of that city, terribly harassed, could only hold out another two days and had sixty-three men killed and over 200 wounded, and adds that the admiral asked for the dispatch of a relief col umn cf .0f0 men. This column left Tien Tsin during the morning of June 25 under Russian command. FLEET VANISHES. Japan's Recent Collection of Warships Dispersed. Yokohama, June 15, via Victoria, B. C, June 27. The great fleet of foreign warships recently at anchor here, has vanished, speeding to the new seat of war, whither ail eyes in the east are now turned. That the crisis in China has at last come and that the empire is on the eve of the long-predicted dis memberment is very manifest, and all (Continued on Sixth Page.) Weld a Diadem. -' .- : WOOLEY' LEADS. Editor of the New Yoke Appears to Be the Favorite Among the Candidates For the Nomination OF PROHIBITIONISTS. National .Convention Called to Order hy 0. W. Stewart With a Large Majority of the Delegates Present. Chicago, June 27. The national con vention of the Prohibition party met today in the First regiment armory. Sixteenth street and Michigan avenue. Of the 1,034 delegates who were enti tled to seats in the national convention more than three-fourths were in attend ance when Chairman Oliver W. Stewart of the national executive committee called the convention to order, and it is expected that by tomorrow when the nominations for president and vice pres- laent will be made that nearly a thous and representatives of the party will be present to take part in the choosing oi tne national leaders. Nearly all of the eastern and central western states had full delegations present, the absentees in most instances being from southern and Pacific coast states. Three avowed candidates for the presidential nomination are in the field, John G. Wooley of Chicago, editor of the New Voice and a prominent plat form advocate of the cause of prohibi tion; Hale Johnson of Newton, 111., and Rev. Silas C. Swallow of Harrisburg. fa., une latter has a high reputation as a pulpit orator and has many support ers among the delegates from the east ern states. Friends of Mr. . Wooley expressed themselves as being confident of his nomination on the third or fourth bal lot, claiming for him the almost solid support of the Michigan, Wisconsin, Maryland, Missouri and Nebraska dele gates, a majority of the votes of the New York, Kansas, California and Ohio delegates and half of the vote of Illi nois. Last night Mr. Wooley was also assured of the support of the Delaware delegation, a representative of that del egation asking to be allowed to place Mr. Wooley in nomination. Thi3, accord ing to Mr. Wooley's partisans, assures him the nomination. For Hale Johnson the votes of North and South Dakota delegations solid, a majority from Minnesota and half of Illinois, besides scattering votes from other states were assured. A majority of the votes of the New Enarland states. Colorado, Pennsylvania and Indiana delegations were claimed, the Indiana delegates desiring the nomination for president of an eastern man on account of the vice presidential boom for Felix F. McWhirter, of Indianapolis. For vice president, besides Prof. McWhirter, Henry B. Metcalf, of Rhode Island, W. B. YV itherspoon. of Alabama, and W. W. Smith of New York, are candidates. The vice presidential nomination, how ever, probably will be governed entire ly py tne result of the ballotiner for president, the nomination of a western man being almost certain to result in the choice of an eastern man for second place on the ticket and vice versa. Nearly twenty-five hundred Prohibi tionists including the delegates to the national convention and to the state convention which met here yesterday, gathered at the Palmer House and marched through the down town streets to the first regiment armory. Previous to the parade the reception committee had met Joshua Lovering of Baltimore, Prohibition candidate for the presidency in 18i)6, who arrived this morning and escorted him to the Palmer House. It was exactly 10:30 a. m., when Chairman Stewart of the national com mittee rapped for order. At that time nearly all the delegates were in their seats while the galleries surrounding the big drill room of the Fii'st regiment were filled with spectators. Just pre vious to the fall of the gavel, the dele gates from the New England states, marched into the hall in a body, each delegate carrying a canteen with the letters "TJ. S." inverted and bearing the legend "Anti-Canteen." They were lib erallv applauded. MR. STEWART'S SPEECH. In calling the convention to order, Mr. Stewart said: "It affords me great pleasure, in call ing this convention to order, to congrat ulate you on this great gathering. The Prohibition party is not dead. It is not asleep. It is wide awake and full of life. Slowly but surely has the realiza tion come to us all that this year af fords the greatest opportunity in the history of the party. 1 have said often that if we had the spirit of 1888 or 1892 along with the opportunity 1900 brings to us, we could poll a million votes. I have said that in the past, doubtin? whether we could succeed in raising the party to the zeal and enthusiasm of those years. This convention proves be yond doubt that the task is not an im possible one. "This is to be a history making con vention, and you who are here as dele gates to participate in its deliberations occupy positions of no small honor and responsibility. That you will discharge your duties in a proper manner is not doubted. I am confident that your plat form declarations will be acceptable to all the members of the party. It is not an easy thing to prepare a platform up on which a great reform organization is to go Detore the country, but our duty is so clear and'so plain that this con vention could not get far astray. We are set for the overthrow of the liquor traffic. We intend that the American saloon shall be outlawed. On that ac count we have withdrawn ourselves from the other political parties and have Danaea ourselves together as Prohibi tionists. "Wre are agreed that the saloon ought to die and upon that declaration we are ready to face the world. This convention is to nominate candidates for our party. There are many able men from whom to make the selection. "It is a source of rejoicing to know that whatever contest there may be for the honors of this convention, it will be, on the part of all, a friendly rivalry. If. in its wisdom, the convention chooses as its standard bearer him who lives in this city by the lake, the mention of whose name always thrills our hearts, he will be loyally followed by F'rohib itior.ists beyond the Alleghanies and Rockies, as we!! as by these of the great Mississippi valley. Should your choice be him who will be named by the Key stone state, vour support will not be less enthusiastic and if southern Illi nois is to have this honor in the per , son of her favorite son, the nomination will meet with a hearty response from all portions' of the land. "I feel it an honor to call this con vension to order. Following our time honored and proper customs, we will come first to the throne of grace and ask the help of Him who holds the des tinies of nations in His hand, to guide us in all deliberations of this conven tion." Mr. Stewart's references to the dif ferent political candidates and his state ment that the party would loyally sup port the standard bearer of the party were heartily cheered,' applause lasting for several minutes greeting his refer ence to his "neighbor and worker from Chicago" (John G. Wooley), hundreds of the delegates standing on their chairs and waving flags. Chairman Stewart then introduced Dr. John H. Hill, of Chicago, who deliv ered a lengthy address of welcome. TEMPORARY OFFICERS. Chairman Stewart then announced temporary officers as follows: Chairman, Samuel Dickie, of Michi gan: secretary, A. E. Wilson, Chicago; assistant secretary. Cole Jellis, Tennes see and E. B. Sutton, Idaho. Chairman Dickie made a brief speech outlining the work to be done by the convention. Mr. Dickie bitterly assailed the ad ministration for its position on the can teen law and charged it with "debauch ing the peoples of Jts new possession in the Philippines." f He also accused the government with using its consular service for gather ing information for the use of distillers and brewers. At the conclusion of Chairman Dick ie's speech the rules and order of busi ness were adopted and the roll of states was called for the appointment of com mittees. A recess until 2:30 p. id., was then taken. At that hour permanent officers of the convention will be announced and the report of the committee on creden tials presented. This latter w'ill be en tirely perfunctory as no contests are to be heard by the committee. A contest may result over the perma nent chairman. Samuel Dickie, tempo rary chairman, it Is understood is slat ed for the position, but the Indiana del egation has announced tnat it will ngnt for the election of John G. Wooley with the avowed purpose of sidetracking him as a presidential candidate. This is in order to pusn tne vice pres idential candidacy of Prof. McWThirter. The deieeation. it is said will vote- sol idly for Dr. Swallow, of Pennsylvania, for president. In today's issue of the "New Voice, the prohibition national organ Is pub lished a personal statement signed by John G. WToolev in which the latter de clares that he will be a candidate only on a Dlatform subordinating all other issues to the prohibition question. Oth erwise he declares he does not desire his name to come before the convention. Tn accent on a "broad platform" would, he declared, be unfair to the party and to himself. . HERE ON L10UDAY Plans For RoOStVelt'S TriO Are Again Changed. General Passenger Agent Black of the Santa Fe and General Attorney M. A. Low of the Rock Island today received word that Governor Theodore Roosevelt would not leave Chicago on his trip to attend the Rough Riders' reunion in Oklahoma City until Sunday night. The first announcement was to the effect that he would leave there Saturday night, arriving in Kansas City Sunday morning and Oklahoma City Sunday night. The change will bring him through Kansas and Oklahoma Monday instead of Sunday. The schedule of stops at various places along the Santa Fe will be car ried out as announced. Mr. Low stated today that in all prob ability arrangements wrould be made to bring Governor Roosevelt ack through Kansas on the Fourth. His return trip will be made over the Rock Island, and will be so arranged that the New York executive will make many speeches to Kansans. The schedule for the return trip will be made up as soon as it is definitely known when Governor Roosevelt in tends to leave Oklahoma City. ROOSEVELT'S TRAIN. Governor Theodore Roosevelt will travel from Kansas City to Oklahoma City to attend the Rough Riders' re union over the Santa Fe in a special train consisting of a baggage car, a coach and two private cars. Vice Pres ident Paul Morton of the Santa Fe will have personal direction of the train, and a schedule has been arranged to allow the vice presidential nominee to make speeches through Kansas and Okla homa. He will leave Chicago Sunday evening, July 1, at 6:30 o'clock and will arrive in Kansas City at 8:30 Monday morning. The special train will leave Kansas City at 9 o'clock, and the sche dule of stops is as follows:-. Arrive Lawrence 10:10 a. m.; leave Lawrence 10:20 a. m. Arrive Topeka 11:05 a. m.; leave To peka 11:20 a, m . Arrive Osage City 12:30 p. m.; leave Osage City 12:40 p. m. Arrive Emporia 1:30 p. m.; leave Em poria 1:40 p. m. Arrive Newton 4:00 p. m. ; leave New ton 4:1a p. m. Arrive Wichita 5:05 p. m.; leave Wich ita 5:20 p. m. Arrive W'infield 6:40 p. m.; leave Win field 6:50 p. m. Arrive Arkansas City 7:20 p. m.; leave Arkansas City 7:35 p. m. ' Arrive Ponca City 8:25 p. m. ; leave Ponca City -8:30 p.- m. Arrive Perry, 9:25 p. m. ; leave Perry 9:30 p. m. Arrive Guthrie 10:25 p. m. ;leave Guth rie 10:30 p. m. Arrive Oklahoma City, 11:30 p. m. HEATH GOING OUT. Has Resigned, or Will Do So Soon. "Washington, June 27. First Assistant Postmaster General Perry S. Heath has tendered his resignation, or will do so in a few days. This information is based on the highest authority. It is understood that the administra tion considers Heath too great a load to carry during the campaign, and, while he is ostensibly to retire to assume his former duties m connection with the Re publican national committee, the real cause for his retirement is the result of public sentiment aroused by the Cuban scandals. GRIMESSURPRISE His Home Convention Tables Some Important Resolutions. Refused to Endorse Mr. Grimes and State Administration. HOW HE EXPLAINS IT. Says it Was a Scheme of the Baker Men. Resolutions Carried Endorse ment of Long For Senator. The Republican convention In Wich ita county tabled resolutions endorsing Frank Grimes, state treasurer, the state and national administrations and there by gave the politicians one of the sever est shocks of the year. When it is re membered that Wichita county is the home of the state treasurer it is not strange that the action of the Repub lican convention should be a great sur prise to all interested in that party's affairs. The resolutions which the convention laid upon the table are as follows: Be it. "Resolved by the Republican voters of Wichita in mass convention assembled that we renew our allegiance to the principles of the Republican party as enunciated in the St. Louis platform and have the utmost confidence in the ability of our leaders to successfully cope with the new issues which may arise from the late war. "We hail with pride the present pros perity which has come . to our nation through Republican legislation and we insist that, these conditions shall not be disturbed by any visionary legislation. We heartily endorse the administra tion of Governor Stanley and his asso ciates and take special pride in the able and businesslike management of the financial affairs of the state by our esteemed fellow citizen, F. E. Grimes. "We most heartily endorse the con gressional career of our representative, Chester I. Long and eagerly look for ward to the day when he will grace the halls of the United States senate and should he conclude to be a candidate at the coming session of tne legislature, we hereby respectfully instruct our repre sentatives to vote for him." The report of the committee on reso lutions, submitting the foregoing is signed by J. M. Holden, Frank Campbell and George Willis, the committee. Grimes is figuring on keeping Wichita countv in line for J.- R. Riirtnn and the senatorial question seems to have stirred up considerable strife in the po litical affairs of the county. Especially is this condition believed to be true in view of the utterances of theLeoti Stan dard, the Republican paper of the coun ty, which says, commenting upon the action of the convention: "One bad move was made, however, as can be seen from the small vote, the matter was not thoroughly under stood. This was the laying of the reso lutions on the table. In the first place we will say that they should have been adopted but if the majority did not ap prove of all of them, they should have been amended or changed to suit and then adopted. "It's a mild slam on the state and na tional administrations as well as on our congressman, in the way in which it was disposed of. though this was unin tended, it stands out as a fact never theless. "These resolutions were gotten up by our own citizens and we believe if the reasons for each clause had been given that they would have voiced the senti ments of nine-tenths of the Republic- n voters or lcmta county." If nine-tenths of the Republicans of W7ichita county are for Long for sen ator. Mr. Grimes will have some trouble holding the county in line for Burton. But, the Burton managers claim there is another side to this story. Mr. Grimes himself laughs at the in cident of the convention and claims that the feature of the resolutions endorsing ivir. long were responsible tor the de feat of the resolutions, as a whole. He does not say, but of course, means that the county is with him for Burton. Some of the politicians in talking over ;he subject suggested that perhaps the convention aia not Know how to amend the resolutions. When a contest on the adoption was apparent the whole mat ter was disposed of by carrying the res olutions to the table by a vote of 32 to 17. One of the close friends of Mr. Grimes charges Senator Baker's lieutenants Patriotism Professor Martin G. Brumbaugh, Commissioner of Education for Porto Rico, will include a course of Patriotic Instruction in the curriculum of the insular schools. The pupils will learn not only the history of the United States but the inner meaning thereof, and will be coached in the higher feelings of patriotism as well as in political economy. Every child will be taught to lift his hat to the Stars and Stripes wherever he may see them. with being responsible for the complica tions. This view is also shared by Mr. Grimes. MORE TROUBLE Rebellion Breaks Out in British Island of Baratonga. Minneapolis, Minn., June 27. A spec ial from Seattle -says: "One of the strongest rebellions which has taken place in the last hundred years is in full swing in Baratonga, an island un der British rule In the south seas. Ad vices, from the Orient give full particu lars of the progress of the uprising which has spread over the whole isl and. The natives are advancing on the European settlements along the coast and are threatening the capital. "If is were not for the war in South Africa and the Chinese disturbances the rebellion would create world-wide com ment. The .inhabitants of the island were ortgina'lly brought in touch with civilization through the efforts of mis sionaries sent out by the London mis sionary society. Though the disturbing effects of tne 180th degree of longitude the first arrivals to advance the cause of Christianity set the usual day, Sunday ior services. As is well known at the degree o longitude mentioned the days jump back twenty-four hours. Since discovering their mistake the Christian leaders of the island attempted to recti fy it. The move made the natives super stitious to a degree, and upon urging the change the Christians aroused a sul len resentment. Now this has changed to active hostilities, and thinking the white people are deceiving them ail along, the natives are butchering and murdering on all sides. "The greatest carnage and murder is being witnessed. Over fifty Europeans have already been killed. A.t the last reports they were fortifying various coast towns and were preparing for -a desperate resistance. An appeal will be made for assistance from Great Britain according to today's advices." PIERCED BY ROERS. Gen. Bundle's Line Has a Hole in It. London, June 27. Telegrams from South Africa indicate that the renewed Boer activity increases in proportion with Lord Roberts' quiescence, so the completion of the commander in chiefs enveloping movement, supposed to be in progress is anxiously awaited. The news this morning supports the report that the Boers succeeded in piercing Gen. Rundle's lines and penetrated southwards. It , appears that the failure of the British to properly guard their line of communications north of Kroonstad, in volved disaster to a body of Basutos working on the railroad, of whom 20 wTere killed and 200 were made prisoners. This has had a decidedly bad effect on the native mind and a recrudescence of unrest is reported in Basutoland. ON FREE HOMES DAY. Pettigrew, Grow and Eddy Invited to Attend Rough. Riders' Reunion. Oklahoma City, Okla., June 27. Monday, July 2, the second day of the rouEh riders' reunion here, will . be observed as free homes day and a fitting celebration is being planned. Word has been received from Delezate Dennis T. Flynn that he will be present and invitations have been sent also to Senator fettigrew, of South Iakota; Congressman Galusha A. Grow, of Penn sylvania, and Congressman Eddy, of Minnesota. Mr. Grow, who is the oldest member- of the national house, is known as the father of the free homes move ment, having introduced the first free homes bill in 1860. Pettigrew and Eddy both were strong supporters of the meas ure which passed the present congress. TO HATE THE CITY. Each Rough Rider at Reunion to ; Have a Golden Key. Oklahoma City, Okla., June 27. One of the unique badges for the rough riders' reunion will be a golden key, one of which will be given to each rough, rider in attendance. The key is about four inches long and above it are crossed swords. Inscribed on the badge are the words: "Key to Oklahoma City, 1900." Crane's Body Arrives. New York, June 27. Among the pas sengers who arrived this morning per steamer Bremen from Bremen and Southampton were Mrs. Crane and daughter, who accompany the remains of Stephen Crane, who died abroad on June 5. For Porto Rico. STOP ROBBERY. Kansas "Registers of Deeds Have Been Overcharging. Attorney ' General Calls a Halt in OSlcial Opinion. ENTITLED TO 25 CENTS That Is Fee Allowed For Filing , Chattel Mortgages. Other Items Must Also Scaled Down. Be B. H. Trp.cy, assistant attorney gen eral, in an official opinion to the county attorney of McPlverson county, F. O. Johnson, holds that for filing and en tering and releasing a chattel mortgage the register of deeds is entitled to a fea of 25 cents and no more. It ia also held in the same opinion that for entering any instrument upon the general index, both direct-and in direct, the register is entitled to a fee of 10 cents. No fee system in Kansas has been subjected to more general abuse thaa this. Registers in some of the counties of the state have charged clients from 50 cents to $1 for this work which the attorney general holds should be done lor 2a cents. This particular feature of the law has been responsible for mora gouging on the part of officials than any similar provision of the state law. Complaint after complaint has been made concerning this matter by men who deal in the class of business whichi necessitates the recording of such in struments. They have been caught both ways. Charged first for recording oc the chattel mortgage, then being com- pelled, in some instances, to again pay a fee to have the document recorded as released. All of these necessary official transac tions should cost, according to thi9 opinion the small sum of 25 cents. Mr. Tracy, for the attorney general. made an investigation of the subject and wrote an opinion in which he heldi that for each entry on the direct index there shall be a fee of a cents and tor each entry on the indirect index there shall also be a fee of o cents, thus mak ing the total on the general index 10 cents. Mr. Tracy holds that for "filing, enter ing and releasing a chattel mortgage, bill of sale, conditional sale, contract or note, the register is entitled to 25 cents. He states that there is now no law re quiring a chattel mortgage to be enter ed on the general index of the office and therefore no charge can be made for such entries. It is held by the at torney general that only such instru ments as are to be recorded and return ed thereafter to some person authorized to receive them are to be entered upon the reception record. ' This opinion caused a "roar" from the registers and Mr. Tracy was told by mail that he is mistaken. One register says: "I hold etc.," and then goes on to criticise the opinion. Mr. Tracy looked over the letter andi then at the law. After this he said: "I see no reason to change my opinion." Specifically going over the subject, Mr. Tracy said: "In the first place, there is no provis ion of law requiring a chattel mortgage to be entered on the reception record, in the sense that a deed or real estatej mortgage is required to be entered. "In the second place, the law makes no provision for any fee for indexing chattel mortgages or for keeping an in dex of the chattel mortgage minute book. 'Section 7, of chapter 120,of the gener al statutes of 1897, makes the only pro vision the law contains for entering or Indexing chattel mortgages. W hen a chattel mortgage is entered in the min ute book provided for by this section, ic has then been entered and indexed soi far as is contemplated by the fees and salaries law. It is true that this same section provides that an index to said, minute book shall be kept; but the law provides no fee, either expressly or by implication for keeping such index, and, therefore, none can be charged. 'The only provision of the statute for a fee for indexing the records is found in section 134 of chapter 27 of the gen eral statutes of 1897, which provides aa follows: 1 'The register of deeds shall receive from the county for indexing records al ready made such compensation as tha county commissioners may deem suffi cient; and for indexing every tract or lot of land thereafter, in such numerical index, the sum of ten cents each, to be paid by the person having the instru ment recorded." 'It cannot be claimed that the lang uage of this section warrants the charging of any fee for making or keep ing an index to the chattel mortgage minute book or reception record. "The latter part of the section which provides that 'Whenever any instrument has been filed as aforesaid, the register 1 shall immediately make an entry of the same in his receiving book,' relates only to instruments which are to be recorded and which have already been filed by the register, by having endorsed tnere on his certificate, noting the day, hour and minute of reception and the fees for recording the same, as provided in the first part of the section," concluded Mr. Tracy. SUNDAY SCHOOL PICNIC. People of First Presbyterian Church Enjoy an Outing at Reform School. About 500 of the members of the First Presbyterian church and Sunday school attended the annual picnic at the state reform school grounds yesterday after noon. They are enthusiastic in their praise of the generous treatment accorded them bv Superintendent Hancock and his corps of assistants, who furnished free of charse an abundance of ice and water; tables, and a concert by the reform school band. A game of baseball between a team of the reform school boys and from the Sun day school resulted In the success of the former. The party returned by special train on the Rock Island at 8:30 in the evening. Wabash Appointment. St. Louis, Mo., June 27. Vice President and General Manager J. A. Ramsey, jr., of the Wabash railway, - has announced the appointment of E. B. Pryor as as sistant to the vice president, with head quarters in St. Louis. Mr. Pryor has been in the service of the Wabash sinco I6f0. "Weather Indications. Chicago, June 27. Forecast for Kansas:- Thunder storms tonight with cool er in north portion; Thursday partly cloudy and cooler; winds shifting to northerly.