The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume], December 31, 1899, Image 1

About The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914

Image provided by: Washington State Library; Olympia, WA

                
THE SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER.
Hfe XXXVII., NO. 47.
START THE NEW YEAR RIGHT
Do YOU KNOW thai cartlen and indifferent buying has bankrupted .
fhowandi of families? It really ought to be an important part of
your business to keep thoroughly potted on prices of everything you
ITC imagine because you know the value of a few staple articles that
*■ know K all How can anyone succeed financially and pay any kind of a
iSt for supplies without knowing whether K is right or whether If s twenty,
I lite ar Itty per cent higher than it should be ? The new year starts to
-1 jjnmr. Suppose you look this matter up and procure free, at the store, as
: £* » ponibie, one of our 80-page catalogues, which gives prices and de-
H nations on over 4,000 articles. If you cannot call send us your name and
k «•*«* and we will mall a copy free.
Store Closed All Day Tomorrow.
i;*, A I ..... ioa ui 106 rmt ifMM,
Cooper & Levy "k
' fltei S NEW YEAR'S BONBONS.
\ \ WIN A WELCOME EVERYWHERE.
Ptciifu contain fall weight of ink Chocolates.
(8 lltvon in a I*l. bom»
"Oh, Thanks!" Oclhrwadanywhmiacttyor aentby oaaO.
STEWART a HOI MIS DRW <O, fW Avow, Font g Cherry street#
M. SELLER * CO. M. SELLER t> CO.
fi* Clearance Sale
OF ODDS AND ENDS CONTINUES—
STILL GREATER REDUCTIONS.
nobnwn assortments in this store must bo sold out. We have cut the
fries* with a liberal hand and the result must surely interest you.
S««ry sort ef desirable thing for decorative purposes and household use
' fatness that's here is reduced in price. If* a genuine clearance sale and
IK* proverbial early person get* * better variety to choose among.
iJbbey's Cut Glass, f Lamp Prices m?
BaStprfoeJ are Kdu3?» per ~ W "°° : c,#arHlc#
mi • AT i.^lrrt 1 ""? 1 * —11 Rococo Finished Lamp, gold trlm-
I nina SPEWAI med. very pretty, worth HJ.OO;
Vsllllla BARGAINS. • ► clearance sale price, K.OO.
Jss l^ .•srssrsrs w.r ,»o L rtVs n ar.
XK U Efi^•prCtt tS 00 mm<<, ■
CTFDMUr. m I 1,. ' < I 13.00 Stand Lamp, splendid color,
*555° Novelties. ~
Tt. very best grade and a very 0 value at the regular price; sale
Uige assortment should induce the prtce, ».».
toer to come hero, anyway. With <, Many others Just as temptingly
the strong price reduction your priced.
WDlag here Is almost assured. < .
SSS -1 " *" I Wire Door AVats.
!? e - l< Dnnlfumn/I " ° At considerably lees than coat yeu'll
FAMOUS KOOKWOOQ And a neat, serviceable kind of
* ' > wire door mat. Thoroughly well
Heokwood pottery, world famous, made; folds up and can be stored In
■ here priced at 331-3 per cent off. 4 ' a small space. Easily cleaned.
(I J.J . , o » >"® he » * » Inches*, was 90c,
Splendid Jardinieres. 7£- ««o m wa.
<o"jarttalwe"« *no
*•[11 dmply remind you of the ex- ~ D< w *oc
•wwat Una of pretty ones here. 36 Inches x 48 Inches, was M 00,
Mw* are Just half. 0 now t1.50.
Bohemian Glassware t Ornaments, BRlCE^RAC
■ohenlan glassware, the desirable Hundreds of little things In Art
PKteros, afepriced here now at less < > Goods, large and small, are in-
Wto cost, plenty of suggestions if eluded In the sweeping clearance
roe setae In and look around. < > sale. Come In and look around.
M. SELLER & CO. "■"AStt.'vT A "°
PIPE FITTINGS AND VALVES. #
MANUFACTURERS OF ' »
SAW MILL, SHINGLE MILL AND f
ALASKA MACHINERY. |
PUGET SOUND MACHINERY DEPOT 1
11 Corner Wuhington Street and Railroad Avenue. £
FRISCH BROS.
*3O First AT*., Seattle. J6WolCfs & WittiUDdKCrS AltoSwtLßY.
FITTING GLASSES.
ISSk 11 * profession of itself requiring a knowledge of the laws of
"inl, the construction and working of the human aye. and ailments
which lmperfections of the eye may cause. Have them fitted property by
—3!?. CHAS. G. HOLCOMB, Optician, 216-218 Burke Buildin*.
genuine Pork Sausage.-Hi- 10c lb
SH. WAGONER, D. D. S., Painless Dentist.
Best teeth $7 0) M-K. Gold Crowns...» 00
Silver fillings CO up Gold fillings IN up
A five years' guarantee with all work. _ ,
Offices IS-IS-17 Haller Building. Telephone Msln 403
UOS'T BH DECEIVED. „ your eyes ache . something Is I the
lttlQesS (natter. It may bo a temporary or It may be a permanent
iBHSSc matter. W« carefully and scientifically examine your
eyes with the latest and most perfect Instruments
S-EU: mar&a&Ei ■sjisk'irjyfi.r
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1899.—THIRTY-SIX PAGES.
■SB
II UK
No Cause for Action (Jnder
the Anti-Trust Law.
NO CONSPIRACY PROVEN.
Classification Prepared Does Not
Necessarily Affeot Bates.
la Any Brest tha Antl-Tmat Law
Doaa Hot Apply to Aaythinv Kx
oept a Coatraet, Combination of
Conspiracy in Reetralat of Trade
—There la ffothta* la the Pro
posed Olaastfloattoa Which Coasea
tader Either of Theee Heads, as
tha Railroads Are Left Free to
Establish Ratea as Thar Bee Fit.
WASHINGTON, Deo. SO.—Attorney Gen
eral Griggs today returned to the inter
state oommerce commission the transcript
of the evidence taken at a hearing before
the commission laat week In the matter ot
the new freight classification, with a view
to aotlon by the attorney general under the
anti-trust law tt his Judgment should war
rant the same.
In his letter to the commission, refer
ring to the demand of' the shippers that
legal action against the railroads be taken,
the attorney general says:
"Too express no opinion on the matter,
but properly leave me to determine wheth
er the facta should warrant me In apply
ing for an Injunction to restrain the op
eration of the new classification, on the
ground that In adopting it the railroad
companies violated the anti-trust law."
Bow Classification Was Adopted.
Discussing the methods of -the railroad
in establishing a common classification, the
attcrney general says:
"There Is an official classification com
mittee composed of some fourteen rail
road officers from different sections. This
committee meets on the call of Its chair
man and upon the request of three mem
bers. At Its meeting suggested change*
are considered. Such changes as the com
mittee with substantial unanimity recom
mends are noted by the chairman and in
corporated Into a new official classifica
tion, which is then submitted to eaoh
company for Its Individual action. Borne
sixty railroad companies thus Indepen
dently pass upon the classification. The
secretaries signify their adoption to the
chairman, who, after the official classifi
cation has been thus adopted, files it with
the Interstate commerce commission In
compliance with the law."
New Question Presented.
Continuing, Attorney-General Grlggp
says that the legality of the method of
preparing, adopting and filing this official
classification has never before been ques
tioned. In fact, he says the question of
legality was not raised In this case until
after the railroad officials had refused
during the course, of the hearing before
the Interstate commerce commission to
postpone the time for the new classifica
tion to take effect for sixty days. Fur
thermore, says the attouiey-general. it is
apparent from the protests originally filed
that It Is the changes made, and not the
method of making them, which is com
plained of.
What the Anti-Trnst Law Provide*.
Taking up this question of the responsi
bilities of the rates, Mr. Griggs says:
"A railroad company may raise its rates
to an unreasonable point, it may discrim
inate among its shippers. It may charge
more for a short than a long haul, but
none of these acts, however unjust and
wrongful, amounts to a violation of the
anti-trust law. To authorise the attorney
general to direct an injunction proceeding
under this law it must be shown that
there Is a contract, combination or con
spiracy In restraint of trade or commerce
among the several states.
No Conspiracy Shown.
"In the first place mere Is no contract.
combination or conspiracy shown. There
Is consultation by representative railroad
men In committees respecting suggested
changes In classification. There is subse
quent Independent action by railroad com
panies In the adoption of the new classi
fication recommended by the committee.
The testimony taken does not show that
any railroad acted under compulsion of a
combination In adopting the official classi
fication. It must be conceded that a com
mon' classification by railroad companies
operating In the same territory is a de
sirable thing. Will It be Insisted that rail
roads cannot consult respecting freight
clarifications, or that because one
railway company adopts a certain classi
fication another cannotT The anti-trust
law says there must be a contract or com
bination or conspiracy. This must be
shown. And it must be shown to restrain
Individual action. This Is not shown In
the testimony submitted.
Classification Doea not Ills Rates.
"Moreover, there must not only be a
contract, combination or conspiracy, but
It must be In restraint of Interstate com
merce. Aa applied to carriers, this means
a combination to suppress competition. It
Is only by suppressing competition and
arbitrarily fixing rates that a restraint
can be put upon Interstate commerce.
"The filing of an official classification
does not fix the rates. It places articles
In certain classes, but the rates for the
classes are determined by the railroad
companies outside the classification. If a
railroad company maintains the existing
rates, the change of an article from a
lower to a higher class will Increass the
rate, but from aught that appears In this
testimony every railroad company using
the claaslllcatlon Is at liberty at any time
to change the existing rates, upon giving
the notice required by the Interstate com
merce act. Moreover, each railroad com
pany Is free to take any article out of
the existing classification by making a
commodity rate. In other words, no sup
pression of oompetltlon, no arbitrary fix
ing of ratea, no restraint of Interstate
commerce, la shown.
No Precedents for tha Oaae.
"The Transmlsseurl and Joint Trafflo As
sociation cases afford no precedent for
the action requested In this case. Each
of those associations was formed by a
contract, under which the companies se
lected a central authority to fix and main
tain rates. There was an absolute suppres
sion of competition. The power of Inde
pendent action was destroyed. No com
pany could change a rate fixed by the
managers of the association without sub
jecting Itself to a penalty.
Propose* Remedy Absurd.
"If the testimony submitted showed a
combination among the railroad companies
to restrain commerce among the several
states, I would not hesitate to Invoke the
remedy provided by the anti-trust law, but
to take such action upon the faith of the
facts submitted would not only be futile,
but absurd. If there be a remedy for the
complaining shippers, it lis* In an appeal
to your commission under the interstate
commerce law."
GREAT NORTHERN MEN.
QrfttTftnce Committee Hot Pleued
With Result of Co a fere nee With
President Hill.
Special Dispatch to the Post-Intelllgsncer.
ST. PAUL. Dec. 30.—The Great Northern
trainmen's grievance committee finished
their conference with President Hill. Vice
President MOtor «♦ <HW*I BugstfcllM»
dent Ward today, and the result I* t*r
from satisfactory. HUI attempted to con
vince the men that they were getting all
the compensation they were entitled to.
under the rules that govern them.
The men cannot fisure.lt out that way
and are now In consultation to determine If
they will accept the rules as Interpreted
by the Qreat Northern. It Is .difficult to
predict the outcome. All of the representa
tives here are for peace, but It appears
that the only way they can get It la to
accept the terms of the road and go back
to work. Some minor differences were ad
justed, but the principal contention for pay
for switching and other additional work
was turned down.
A Great Northern circular announces the
resignation of J. U. Davis, superintendent
of the Beckinridge division, and the ap
pointment of F, J. Hawn to succeed him.
Mr. Hawn has been assistant superinten
dent of the Montana division for several
months. He will be succeeded as assis
tant superintendent of the Montana divi
sion by J. C. Nolan, now on another divi
sion.
President Hill has also appointed R. A.
Wilkinson right-of-way and tax commis
sioner of the Spokane Falls A Northern,
the Nelson & Fort Shepard and the Red
Mountain railway. Mr. Wilkinson will
have his headquarters in St. Paul.
Tvro Overdue Ships Arrive.
SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. 30.—Two of the
overdue fleet of s}ilps reinsured at an
advance yesterday arrived in port today.
They are the British ship Rajore, from
Liverpool, and Arschal de Turenna. The
vessels report rough weather in the vi
cinity of Cape Horn.
iniw
IS Mi
Satisfactory Replies From
Nearly All the Powers.
ITALY ALONE IS WAITING.
Great Britain Besponded Prompt
ly to the Amerioan Bequest.
la the Moat Comprehensive and
lTae«alvoeal Manner Aaaonnaed
Her Adherence to tha Poller of
Equal Rlahta to All la Chlaaeo
Trade Germaay'a Answer Waa
Loage' aad Conditioned on Ap-
proval of All tha Great Powers,
aa Was Also tha Casa With Rns
sla, tha Uat to Raspoad to Koto.
WASHINGTON, Dec. *o.—Th» negoti
ations opened by Secretary Hay with the
great power* of Europe and the Japanese
toward securing a common understanding
for a continued "open door" policy
throughout China, have met with most
gratifying results. The state department
Is unwilling at present to make publlo the
nature of the replies received, as this In
formation will be embodied In a, special
message to congress.
Countries Respond Favorably.
But in other quarters, thoroughly relia
ble and In a position to have trustworthy
formation. It 1s learned that favorable
responses have been made by Great Brit
ain, Germany, France, Russia (the Rus
sian communication coming as late as yes
terday) and Japan. There is no doubt, it
Is thought here, that Italy, the remaining
country addressed, will make favorable
answer if. Indeed, it has not already dona
so. The position of Italy Is felt to be as
sured by the favorable course adopted by
the other great powers of Europe.
Importance I* Very Great.
The Importance of this unanimous ver
dict by all the first-class powers of the
world—Great Britain, Russia, Germany.
France, Italy and Japan, in conjunction
with the United States—can hardly be
ovei
ited, so far u it relate* to the
of China and the commerce of the
world in that empire. The state depart
ment la loath to discuss the far-reaching
results to be secured when the agreement
advances to the stage of formal consum
mation, for each favorable response is con
ditioned on the favorable action of all the
other parties, so that In each case the
negotiations may be regarded as short of
absolute finality. But while the depart
ment is silent, the details came from
sources believed to be fully conversant
with what has occurred.
British Aiswer Comprehensive.
According to this Information the Brit
ish answer was the first to be submitted
and waa exceptionally comprehensive and
explicit in yielding to every suggestion
made by the United States relative to
maintaining the freest entry to the porta
of China.- The British anawer is said to
emphasize concurrence with the United
States by adopting word for word
much of the phraseology employed by
Secretary Hay when he addressed his or
iginal note to Great Britain and other pow
ers. The wording Is such as to make
plain that the British government con
curs, for the present, and hereafter, with
out limitation. In a policy of free access
to China.
Some Irritation Elsewhere.
Although much secrecy was observed in
the transmission of the British answer,
its general purport soon became known to
the other European capitals, and there
was not a little Irritation at what was
regarded as a precipitate response, pur
posely designed to embarrass the conti
nental powers by showing that Great
Britain and the United States were act-
BJETWEEIST TWO FIRES.
Ins '» concert, white the reat of the world
bold aloof. But the situation waa mad*
mora satisfactory to tha continental pow
er* by their determination to act for them
aeJvea.
Germany Rather Mora Vafst.
Germany la said to have been tha next
power to answer In the affirmative. Ac
cording to the Information already referred
to tha German aniwer was rather more
vague than the one which had preceded
It, but Its general tendency was favorable,
the only condition being that any arrange
ment as to free aceesa to China should
be universal and assented to by aU of the
powers.
French Response Peculiar.
The French answer Is understood to
have come next, and the circumstances
attending It were rather peculiar and not
In the nature of a direct answer, although
the result was regarded 'as most satis
factory, Secretary Hay's note had been
forwarded to Gen. Horace Porter, the
United States ambassador to France, who
promptly called upon M. Delcasse, minis
ter of foreign affairs In the French cabi
net. Gen. Porter made known his mis
sion, whereupon M. Delcaase showed the
most sympathetic spirit and stated that
ho had already made ample answer to
just such a communication, although at
the time he had not Intended It as an
answer to the American note. This an
swer, M. Delcasse explained, waa given
In a speech made by htm on November
24 In the French chamber. The main
point' of that speech. In Its reference to
China, was that France desired the most
ample freedom of commerce. M. Del
casse referred Gen. Porter to this speech,
and told him that it fully gave the as
surance which the United States desired.
It Is said that the meeting was gratifying
on both sides and with results considered
to be ftvorable acceptance from France.
Raaalaa Negotlatloaa Dragged.
The Russian negotiations have proceed
ed less briskly, so that It seemed for a
time that Russia's attitude might not be
favorable. This was dissipated, however,
by the Russian ambassador. Count Cas
slnl, In the course of Interviews with
Secretary Hay. On theaa occaalons
Count Caaalnl pointed out that a hurried
answer was by no means the best evi
dence of a favorable attitude toward the
American proposition, but tkat Russia
was proceeding with due deliberation in
order to arrive at some solid grounu for
a permanent understanding.
The Russians were desirous of weighing
the many Incidental questions Involved,
such as the effect of the understanding 011
the territory known as "spheres of influ
ence," as well as on the territory actually
leased to tha foreign powers, such aa Ta
llenwan, Klaochiu and tha British and
French ports. Besides giving these assu
ranee* Count Casslnl showed personally
the most friendly spirit toward tha Ameri
can proposition, as well aa being desirous
of giving an answer In thia case which
would be another instance ef tha friendly
co-operation long observed between Rus
sia and tha United Statea. Tha Russian
position. It Is understood, 1a similar to
those preceding It, with tha same condition
that Russia alone shall not be bound, but
that all of the Interested countriea shall
Join in tha agreement to keep tha porta
of China forever open.
Japaa'e Position Unmistakable.
In what order In the negotiation# Japan's
favorable attitude was made known can
not be stated, but It suffices that Japan
made her position unmistakable In favor
of the American proposition, with the
same reservation as in all the other eases.
that unanimity should be reached. Al
though Italy is yet to ber heard from defi
nitely, no doubt Is entertained that this
country also will be favorable, thus mak
ing complete the satisfactory responses
of all the giyat powers.
LAUNCHED THE SEHOME.
Christening Ceremony of the First
Large Vessel Ballt oat Belling
ham Bay largely Atteaded.
Special Dispatch to the Post-Intelligencer.
NEW WHATCOM, Dec. 30.—'Three thou
sand people witnessed the launching today
of the first ship ever built on Belllngham
bay. As the vessel left the ways Miss
Jessie White christened her "Sehome."
The vessel Is a four-masted schooner ITS
feet over all, and with a gross tonnage of
650 tons, and is the first of four vessels to
be built here for the lumber carrying
trade by the Belllngham Bay Improvement
Company. An Interesting contest arose
over the selection of the young lady to
christen the Sehome. Polling places were
established, and about twenty candidate*
were named. Miss White received a plu
rality of about 1,200 out of 2,880 votes cast.
Ten cents was charged for each vote, and
the proceeds go to the public library.
RICE FIVE CENTS.
IHI
II»H
Nothing Transpiring Save
Small Skinhishes.
AN ADVANCE PREDICTED.
Indications That Bailer May Try
It Once More.
Gataere Rtetrcn FoanMtM d
t
Dordrecht u< the IfN Mat*
Flag la RuM Doii» ■♦ttwm
la Ctßflaf OA a Desaltory Ar
tillery Dael at Holier Mw
Communication With U«rnHh
kr Htllomvk Goes oa Despite
(ha Boar A(tea|ta to Interfere
With It kr Haau a( learahll«hta.
LONDON, Dec. U, 4:10 ft. m—The war
office, whan communicating about mld-
night coplea of the messages exchanged
between tha queen and the Inhabitants of
Klmberley, stated that no further newa
had been received up to that hour, and
nothing of Importance haa come from
other sources during the night.
The week's sorties, skirmishes, recon
nolssances and bombardments at various
points where tha British and Boars con
front each other, so far aa can be Judged,
have had no effect upon the general situ
ation at the seat of war, wnlch is practi
cally the same as It was a week ago.
la Active Ooansaleadea.
During the night of December ■ lady
smlth and Chlveley camp ware In fall
communication, the former reporting all
well. While the signaling was In prog
ress the Boers attempted to muddle tha
messages with flashlights from each ex
tremity of their long Intrenched line. The
naval brigade took advantage of tha op
portunity to shell the Boer positions,
which were plainly revealed by their own
lights. The naval battery resumad tha
shelling of the Boer tranches on tha
morning of Deoember B. but their tea
failed to elicit any eigaa at Ufa.
Mras Mats Flas Dm art Perfasaiit.
A dispatch from Cape Town, dated Wed
nesday, December IT, announced that an
armored train had rsatsrsd communica
tion with Dordrecht, where tha Frse lute
flag had been hauled down and that the
Boers had been driven from tha adjacent
hills to Btormberg.
Reported Sortie tassaMaed,
The reported sortie from Ladysmlth re
sulting in the capture of the Boer position
Is not confirmed and apparently is only a
Kaffir story. A Chlveley dlspatoh, dated
December ZS, makes no mention of it.
British Preparing to Advance.
The same message shows renewed activ
ity on the part of the Britlrti, apparently
preparatory to soma action. The Boer po
sition eastward of the camp was thor
oughly reoonnoltered December IS without
drawing the enemy's Are. Tne naval suns
are engaged in dally practice, and it to
said on good authority that thirty or forty
Boers have been killed by the firing dur
ing the two days.
Predictions •( Relief of Udyamitk.
A flspatch from Durban, predicts Lady
smith will be relieved on or about January
T. While there Is nothing to bear out this
forecast, there 1s some disposition to be
lieve that Buller Is preparing an attempt
to advance, this time by an attack on the
Boer position on Innlawe mountain,
lasaranoe Companies Cava* Troable
Advices from Cape Town say there is
great dissatisfaction there at the action of
the British Insurance companies, who are
retarding volunteering by making policy
holders pay a war risk premium, while
the agencies of the leading American com
panies allow perfect freedom for the naval
and military service.
The government has accepted the Cey-