The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], April 03, 1913, Image 1

About The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950

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AGE-HERALD
APRIL 3, 1913 _12 PARES_NUMBER 332
1 CLAIM COMER-SMITH
i CONVICT CONTRACT
THE BEST EVER MADE
jb J. C. Maben, Jr., of Sloss Co.
Witness in the Convict
Probe Yesterday
DESCRIBES IN DETAIL
MAKING OF CONTRACT
•
Two Contracts Made With Present
Administration, One for 42'/j Cents
and the Other 45 Cents for Coal
Delivered at Mouth of Mine
By L S. BETTY
Montgomery, April 2.—(Special)—
That the contract which former Gov
ernor B. B. Comer and J. Craig Smith,
i former president of the state board of
| convict Inspectors, made with the Sloss
| Sheffield Steel and Iron company for
tthe employment of convicts at Flat Top
jnilne, was the best the state ever made
was brought out this morning In the
■worn testimony of J. C. Maben, Jr.,
president of the Sloss company.
Mr. Maben described In detail the
making of the contract with the former
administration. Under the terms of
that contract, the company paid tne
■tate 50 cents per ton for coal mined
and delivered at the mouth of the mine,
iwhlch was considerably In excess of
what the other mining companies were
paying the state for the hire of con
victs.
Two contracts were made with the
present administration, one on a basis
of 42)4 cents per ton for coal delivered
at the mouth of the mine, known as
the Oakley contract, and the other,
known as the O'Neal contract, which
is In operation at present, on a basis
of 46 cents per ton for coal delivdred
at the mouth of the mine.
Mr. Maben presented figures to show
that the company was entitled to a re
duction In price paid for mining coal.
He submitted figures to show that the
Oakley contract, at 42)4 cents per ton,
would have netted the slate In 1911
about *6 per man per month more than
any other contract In force In that
year, and that the second contract, pro
viding for a payment of 46 cents per
ton would have netted the state *8
per man per month more than any other
mining contract. Mr. Maben said the
Ctpner contract was excessive.
Worked 350 Convicts
According to Mi. Maben, the Sloss
Sheffield company works In the neigh
borhood of 360 convicts, all of whom
are worked according to tasks, five,
four, three ai*d two cars being respec
tive tasks for the four classes of con
victs.
The weigher at the mines is paid
Jointly by the state and company, each
paying *60 per month. Following the
testimony of Mr. Maben, H. Franklin,
the auditor of the Sloss-Sheffleld Steel
and iron company, testified before the
examining hoard. Mr. Franklin testi
fied that all payments to the state for
convict hire came through his office.
He had statements with him showing
ail transactions between the company
and state for convict labor.
Mr. Maben and Mr. Franklin were
the only witnesses exrfjiined by the
prcblng committee Wednesday morn
ing. Following their testimony the In
vestigation adjourned for the day.
y Session in Detail
J. C. Maben, Jr., vice president of Sloss
Bhefficld Steel and Iron company, was
tho first witness of the morning. Mr.
Maben has been connected with the com
pany as vice president since December
1911.
Under terms of contract, the Sloss-Shef
field Coal and Iron company may employ
850 convicts. The contract has been In
force since March 1, 1912. The basis on
which the contract operates Is 46 cents
per ton. on run of coal at tipple, or mouth
of mine, \
Convicts are worked according to tasks,
five, four, three and two tons being re
spective tasks for four clascs of con
victs. The oars are picked by slate pick
ers In order to got the slate and rock out
of the coal. The scales of the company
control the weights on which the com
pany pays, as well as the tasks per
formed by the convicts. The weighers;
are paid jointly by the company and^
state, at $00 per month each. The bulk
of the coal mined at Flat Top is used by
the company at some of its ovens.
Witness said that last suinin t his com
pany was short of convicts. He related
an Instance in which 30 men were taken
fey the convict deparament from Flat Top
and placed at Banner mines. Witness said
he did not think this was good treat
ment, inasmuch as the men his company
had received in exchange were less expe
rienced miners than those who had been
taken away. At present there are 247
state convicts at Flat Top mines. The
number of county convicts employed at1
present are also worked by tasks, on the
same basis as state convicts.
Witness said convicts were well taken
care of and well treated. Said he had
heard of no complaints.
Convicts have been worked hy the/sioss
Eheffleld compuny on the tonnage] basis
since 1903. The first contract with the
state under the present administration,
made in the fall of 1911, was Inf force
only a few months. Under this contract
the company paid the slate 42% rents pen
ton for coal delivered at the moutti of the
mine.
Mr. Mahen described in detail the trans
actions leading up to the making)of the
new contract. The chief featureJot this,
contract is that the company shall be re
sponsible for all delays around tile mines
as a result of non-operation of tlie mine.
H. Franklin, auditor of Sloss-Jsheffleld
Steel and Iron company, follaAved Mr.
Maben on the stand. All payments to the
atate for convict hire came through the
auditor's office. Witness produJed cheeks
and vouchers showing payments of the
company to state for convictflabor.
Payments undjr the Craig pmith von
tract averaged around *18,900 tier month.
Maben had testified. Under life contract,
entered Into January 1, 1*12, jflie monthly
payments dropped to $13,00 »er month.
Mr. Maben was recalled Jnd told the
examiner that the net eArnings per
mun per month In 1911 atji'our mines
were: Flat Top, $40.19; Aratt mine,
*27.19: Luctle, *27.01; Belle Alien. *25.08.
The gross earnings of Flat Top per
man In 1911 was about f *45.50 per
month. §
In January, 1913, the grass earnings
of the convicts per man wJk more than
*50, with more than 300M convicts at
work. Witness said the ■approximate
cost of maintaining ronviAn per month
1*1912 averaged! *13.46 Mr man. This
THEM) STATES
TOKOGNIZE THE
CllESEREPUNJC
NoteH Recognition Being
„ PiHired at the State
■Department
govInment wants
TO Bow FRIENDSHIP
Secret a ^Rtryan and Wilson Confer
ComHing Details of Recog
nition—No Formal
| Announcement
Washington, April 2.—The United States
government has decided to recognize the
new Chinese republic. Secretary Bryan
conferred with President Wilson for
nearly an hour today at the White House
completing the details and a note is be
ing prepared at the state department to
be addref M .il to China through the Chi
nese minister here.
Whether It will be presented before,
the meeting of the constituted assembly
next Tuesday or is Intended to reach the
Chinese government on that date has
not been disclosed, but the mere presen
tation of the note to the Chinese min
ister and resumption of formal interna
tional relit'ions with the Chinese minis
ter are regarded in diplomatic circles as
tantamount to recognition. The United
States go lament is anxious to show
its friendliness toward China and while
there have \jeen rumors that other na
tions might anticipate the action of this
country ai t ^recognize China before the
United States does, in official circles,
however, ir fas believed that the United
States woiHi| be found first to show its
faith in the new republic. No formal an
nouncement is expected from the admin
istration ho *e until the Chinese govern
ment is in “eceipt of the American gov
ernment’s wte.
Embassies Received
This aft‘-moon at the request of the
Secretary fl State, members of most of
the foreign embassies and legations in
Washingtol I appeared at the state de
partment \ (id were received individually
by Mr. Bii-pn. Among them were rep
resentative*-! of Bnazil, Japan, Great Brit
ain, Russi. Port sal, Fiance, Germany,
Netherlands Be ium, Sweden, Peru,
Denmark, fexlcc Austria-Hungary and
Spain. Tht calls asted but a few min
utes in en‘h ca • > and both Secretary
Bryan and his victors by agreement de
clined to it tike any- statement as to the
object of fie ' visas.
A noticeable fpc-n however, was the ab
sence of ilie Cljj'-se minister, and it
was concluded thW in order to present a
repetition of the Hticisms in foreign cap
itals occasioned Ify the recent Chinese
loan statement, Me state department in
this instanco hjl given due notice of
its intentions remrding China to all in
terested powers Ip fore publication thereof.
It was admitted at the department that
a formal sfatemcht of the attitude of the
administration towards the new Chinese
government would be given to the press
in the course of a few days and there
Is ground for the belief that without im
mediately recognizing China, assurance
has been conveyed to Yuan Shi ICai’s
government and the world powders have
been notified ’hat such recognition will
lie extended after the first Chinese con
gress has assembled and organized next
Monday.
OlSUlZER
AFTER BARNES
-rs Barnes Caused Trouble
Over Pre-Election
Promise
j Albany, N. Y., April 2.—Governor Sulzer
'.tonight accused William Barnes, Jr.,
chairman of the republican state commit
tee, of having instigated the resolution
offered yesterday by Senator Brown re
questing the Senate Judiciary committee
to determine what, if any, action Rhould
be taken by the senate or the legislature
In relation to a published letter In which
the governor was quoted as having made
a pre-election promises to sign the full
crew bill.
"If Boss Barnes does not keep out of
the senate and keep hts hands oft the
legislature, T will get after Mr. Barnes,”
declared the governor. ‘Barnes Is the
man who instigated that resolution. He
Is a part of the invisible government.
He lias no business meddling with the
legislature. There would be a howl If Mr.
Murphy came here and went Into Senator
Wagner's room and drew resolutions
against the governor. I want Mr. Wag
against the governor. I want Mr. Barnes
to okeep away from the capltol. He is
the republican boss. The people do not
want basses up here. The people are the
bosses now.
"Even If I had promised I would sign
it ho full crew bill. It would be all right.
Governor Hughes and others promised
they would sign certain bills It they could
get them passed. There Is nothing wrong
In that. I notice Governor Fielder signed
a full crew bill yesterday over In New
Jersey. Between the railroads and the
people, I am with the people. In/ my
opinion, one human life Is worth more
than a- train of ^-elght cars.”
Senator Brown denied that Mr. Barnes
had any part In drafting his resolution
Governor Sulzer aid tonight that John
Fitzgibbons of Oswego, a legislative' rep
resentative of the Bortherhood of Rail
road Trainmen, has denied the authorship
of the letter accredited to him. In which 1
the statement was made that the gover
nor had promised to sign the full crew
hill If elected. %
Stokers Under Fire
New York, April 2.-Mechanical stokers
used on locomotives of some railroads
were under the fire all day today of wit
nesses for the Brotherhood of Locomo
tive Firemen and Englnemen in the ar
bitration proceedings between the fire
men and 54 eastern railroads. Witness
after witness testliied that the stokers
lightened the work of the firemen not at
oil and In some cases increased It. These
witnesses testified in rebuttal to evidence
Introduced previously by. the raUorada.
notice^
^ -V
or STOi-eM
|^OST ^RAY^ETU^eP‘
OH APPEARS AS
WITNESS FOR STATE
IN VANDIVER TRIAL
Says Vandiver Remarked
Rowan Was Making
Serious Charges
HOOD CORROBORATES
O’NEAL’S TESTIMONY
Vandiver Declares Only Once Did
He Say Rowan Made Slander
ous Remarks Con
cerning Him
Montgomery, April 2.—(Special.)—(Sov.
Emmet O'Neal, appearing as a witness
for the state in the trial of Henry F.
Vandiver, formerly a business man of
Montgomery and member of the gover
nor’s staff, swore to a jury this afternoon
that Vandiver while in his office once
remarked that Sloan Rowan had circu
lated the report that he (Vandiver) was
intimate with Walter Jones’ wife.
Vandiver is charged with aiding in the
murder of Rowan, who was shot to death
by Jones July 16, 1912. Jones will be
hanged for the crime Friday.
The appearance of Governor O'Neal in
the case Seated a sensation. Vandiver
was removed from the governor’s staff
soon after his name was mentioned in
connection with arson cases In Lowndes
county, which led to the murder of Row
an. Vandiver's rank on the staff was
colonel and while he was witji Governor
O’Neal at the commencement of the Ala
bama Polytechnic Institute last June re
marked several times about Rowan, ac
cording to Governor O'Neal's testimony.
Exact words of the conversation could
not be given and the court refused to ad
mit. the evidence.
Positive of Keport
# Governor O'Neal was positive that Van
diver, while in his office and in the pres
ence of J. H. Felder and W. J. Cowling,
stated that Rowan was circulating the
report that he was intimate with Jones'
wife. Sheriff Horn! Tuesday testified that
he heard Vandiver make the remark at
another time.
Vandiver, while a witness this morn
ing, denied that he ever said Rowan was
making the remark except on one occa
sion. when Waller Jones and his father
were at his home. Governor O’Neal's
testimony was meant to prove that Van
diver’s testimony was false. The defend
ant’s evidence was a denial in toto that
he was behind the killing of Rowan or
in any way aided Jones and was the re
verse of Jones’ story to the jury last
week.
Defendant Continually Harassed
••I wax nearly run crazy by Jones,"
said Vandiver. "He was constantly after
me for money with which to purchase
cartridges anil rifles or guns which he
wonted to take to Benton.”
The defendant said he never urged nor
advised Jones to kill Rowan, but on the
contrary lie begged and pleaded with him
to turn from his determination to do so.
The witness detailed various buslndbs
transactions he had witli Jones prior to
the Rowan killing.
I,. B. Farley, president of the new
Farley bank, a witness for Vandiver,
testified tha.t he heard Vandiver tell
Jones to stay away from I-owndes county
ax he would only get into trouble by
going there and E. Ewing, superintend
ent of the Vandiver plantation, said
he overheard Vandiver tell Jones that he
wanted him to keep out of trouble, as
he owed him too much money.
hooper denounced
BY SPEAKERS
Nashville, April 2.—Declaring that the
language used hy Governor Hooper in
his mess|iges vetoing the election bill and
the bill providing severe penalties for
breaking a legislative quorum was ••un
parliamentary. ' the house of representa
tives today returned to Governor Hooper
the two vetoes. The debate on the reso
lution to return was featured by violent
attacks on the executive and he was se
verely denounced by a number of speak
ers It Is doubtful if the return of the
messages will have any practical effect
as the vetoes had been entered upon the
journal the previous day. There was no
motion to expunge the messages from the
Journal.
THIRTEEN BUILDINGS GO
UP IN SMOKE AT HAMILTON
Fire Starting in Hotel Roof Causes Fire Entailing Loss of
$21,000—Blaze Worst in Town’s History—Court
house Saved By Slate Roof
Hamilton, April 2.—(Special.)—The worst
fire in the history of Hamilton occurred
this afternoon about 1:30 p. m., destroying
13 buildings, entailing a loss of between
$20,000 and $21,000. The fire was first dis
covered in the hotel roof, supposed to
have caught from a defective flue. The
wind was blowing from the south and the
fire had such a start that nothing could
be done to check the flames.
The following buildings were destroyed:
W. R. Cantrell’s hotel, loss $3000, no in
surance; barber shop of A. V. Stidham,
loss $400, no insurance; soft *drink stand
building belonging to M. K. Holliday, loss
$1100, and stock of goods of Dow Pearce,
$100, no insurance; law office of C. E.
Mitchell and part of the law library, loss
$2000, no insurance; Marion County News,
Q. J. Wilson, proprietor, loss, building
and contents, $4000, no insurance; 13. W.
Quinn, law office and library, loss $2000,
insurance $600; J. H. Smith, residence and
part of contents, $20()u loss, no insurance;
Mrs. Phebe Brown, residence and con
tents, $16,000 loss, no insurance; Mrs. M.
J. Wilson, residence, loss $2000, no insur
ance; telephone exchange of People’s Tel
ephone company, $1600 loss, no insurance;
M. A. Ballard, residence, $500, no Insur
ance.
By heroic w’ork the drug store of Dr.
J. C. .Johnson was saved, thereby stop-!
ping the fire from taking the residences
in the western part of town. The court
house escaped on account of having a
slate roof.
First Floors of Wholesale
Houses Are Inundated.
River is Rapidly
Rising
Paducah, Ky„ April 2.—The flood sit
uation here is growing hourly worse. At
7 o’clock tonight first floors of every
wholesale house and many retail stores
were flooded. The river rose a foot
and a half today, going to a stage of
52.2 feet and the forecast is for four
feet more of water. Should this occur
only five blocks in the city will be
out of water.
Lieut. S. B. Buckner, U. S. A., and
two noncommissioned officers of. the
regular army commandeered the steam
er ltaplds and every power boat they
could get and with three barges start
ed for Cairo. This was done in ac
cordance with orders from the war de
partment.
Lieutenant Buckner said today that
relief work was very well organized
and there would be very little suffer
ing. Small wooden buildings have been
hastily erected on the western edge
of the city and as rapidly as water
poured into new, districts inhabitants
were taken to these shelters. Late to
day there were rations for 10,000 per
sons for 10 days.
Despite conditions here relief work
for a large district will be directed
from Paducah. Relief wprk will be
started at Brookport and Smltliland,
both reported seriously affected by the
flood. The former is cut off from com
munication except by boats and water
Is four feet deep in parts of Smith
land.
Falling at Louisville
Louisville, Ky„ April 2.—The Ohio
river was falling here tonight at the
rate of a little more than one-tenth
of a foot In 12 hours, and at 7 o’clock
the stage was 44.9, a fait of one-tenth
of a foot since 7 o’clock this morn
ing.
Salvage corps tonight were keeping
a watch at several big distillery ware
houses in the western section of the
city, which have been weakened by
flood waters and are in danger of col
lapsing. The receding waters have
disclosed also weakened foundations
under houses In the eastern end of
the city. The police tonight arc pa
trolling that section in boats.
Western Kentucky points tonight
continued to report rising water, witli
serious damage threatened at Paducah
and Hickman. Owensboro and Hender
son were centers of refugee for in
habitants of the lowlands who are
fleeing before the crest of the flood
Wickiffe also with the aid of federal
shipments of tents and supplies was
caring for several thousand refugee .
Tenders Federal Aid
Jackson, Mias., April 2.—Governor
Brewer of Mississippi received a tele
gram today, from Secretary nf .War
.IOwOmM •• Pass UliEfeU
HIGH WATERS KEEP
CAIRO IN STATE OF
TENSE EXPECTANCY
__ !
River Gauge Stands at 54.4.
Trouble in Other Cities
Reported—Hickman
Improved
Evansville, Tnd., April 2.—Every
building In Caseyvllle, Ky., Is afloat
or ruined and inhabitants of tho place
say It will never be rebuilt. They are
encamped tonight on the hills hack of
the townsfte. The buildings that have
not already floated down the Ohio river
are knocking together in the wind
that is stirring up great waves in the
flood. No lives were lost.
Caseyvllle with 300 inhabitants is on
the Ohio In Union county.
Cairo, 111., April 2.—With the highest
flood waters passing Cairo in the Ohio
river tonight the city is at a state of
expectancy never before experienced
here. The river gauge at 5:30 o’clock
stood at 54.4 and rising, a stage three
tenths of an inch higher than any pre
vious record.
Nearly every hour brought reports of
trouble In other cities, the verlfioaticfi
of which wTere impossible from this Iso
lated town. One of the most thrilling
of tho stories to reach here was brought
by Capt. 8. A. Martin, regimental quar
termaster and Capt. S. A. Jamieson of
the Sixth Missouri national guard.
They were rescued In a launch from a
section of levee which broke away at
Bird Point, Mo., just bleow here.
Thirty-six of their men, they said, arej
now on the levee section, which is 200
yards long and 10 feet wide and floating1
down the Mississippi.
Commander McMunn of tho naval re
serves at once arranged for a steam j
launch and started out to rescue the Mis
souri soldiers. A pilot who understands j
the river course was taken along to!
guide the reserves. There is a swift j
current in the river and tho safety of
the men is causing their commanding of
ficer much worry.
Conditions Improved
Hickman, Ky?, April 2.—(Phone from
C. G. M.)—Notwithstanding that the flood
waters of the Mississippi are pounding
against the embankments with increas
ing force tonight the situation here is
regarded by those directing the fight as
improved. At Hickman the water rose
.six inches during the 24 hours ending
at 10 o’clock tonight. Along the gov
J ernment or Reeifoot levee which pro
tects several populous counties in Keti
! tucky and Tennessee, there is still a safe
margin untouched by the water, accord- j
ing to the United States engineers sta
tioned here, and the city levee, which'
j acts as a protecting barrier for Hfck-j
(CoBtiaued ob rage «Ue>
WILSON AGREES TO
REMOVAL OF TARIFF
FROM RAW WOOL
• _
Ajfreement Reached as Re
sult of Conference With
House Leaders
BRYAN STRONGLY
FAVORS ACTION
New Schedule lo Take Place of 15
Per Cent Duty Agreed Upon by
Committee—Attitude of the
Senate Unknown
Washington, April 2.—Removal of all
tariff from raw wool has been agreed
upon between President Wilson and
members of the* House committee on
ways and means as the insult of con
ferences that ended today. The present
plan, which will have the unanimous
indorsement of the democratic mem
bers of th© committee, provides that
wool shall b© placed on th© free list,
an end for which the free wool demo
crats of the House have fought for two
years.
The concession to President Wilson !
and th© fre© wool advocates takes the j
plac© of the 15 per cent duty which
the committee had agreed upon. This,
in turn, was a reduction from the 20
per cent duty of the democratic woolen
revision bill which passed the House
last summer but failed to become a
law. The fr©e wool agreement, It was
claimed by democrats tonight, is ex
pected to bring Secretary of State
Bryan into full accord with th© tariff
revision programme.
Move Backed by Bryan
The free wool democrats have pressed
their fight before President Wilson in
conferences in which Representatives
Harrison of New York and Ralnely of
Iiltnois, both members of the ways and
means committee, have been the lead
ing figures. Representative Harrison,
backed by Mr. Bryan, made ah ardent
fight in the last Congress to secure in
dorsement of the free wool policy.
The understanding arrived at today
is that the ways and means committee
will present Its bill with the free wool
provision incorporated and with a
unanimous report from its democratic
members and that the President will
make known his thorough accord
with it.
The reception that may be given the
free .vool plan by the Senate leaders
is still a matter of conjecture. Presi
dent Wilson is to meet Senator Sim
mons, chairman of the finance commit
tee, and Senators Hoke Smith and
Stone tomorrow night, and it is ex
pected that the attitude- of the Senate
will then be made clear.
Under the existing law wool carries a
duty of approximately 11 cents per
pound or about 60 per cent when fig
ured on the ad valorem’ basis. Tt is
estimated that the abolition of the duty
will cause a loss of approximately ,
$20,000,000 to the present government
revenues, but democratic tariff leaders
claim it will bring about a substantial
reduction in the price of woolen man
ufactured goods. This reduction in
revenue and the possible loss of ap
proximately $53,000,000 of revenues
should sugar be placed on the free
list would he ' made up, the demo
crats say, by the income tax, the de
tails of which probably will be settled
tomorrow by the ways and means com
mittee.
President Wilson is tonight face to face
with the most serious phases of tariff re- j
vision.
With the work on the House ways and j
means, committee before him and the ex- j
tra session of Congress only a few days
off the President had proceeded deep
enough in his study of the tariff bill to
realize that before the dt?mocratic caucus
met there were many points upon which
he himself must take a definite stand. It
Was admitted at the White House that
he would do so “in a day or two."
It was declared also that the President
had not. finally made up his mind as to
whether the tariff should be revised
schedule by schedule or in a single bill;
whether sugar should be put on the free
list or given a reasonable amount of pro
tection. and whether the income tax
should be by flat rate or graduated. These
and kindred questions the President hus
not yet decided absolutely, Wit from what
he told bis callers today there was a well
defined impression of his Inclinations. The
President leans toward revision by a
single bill. He thinks the income tax
question can only be decided after an
agreement has been made upon tariff
rates. He believes that sugar should go on
the free list, but is open tq conviction
on that point. The President has been
hearing arguments that people in Louis
iana could readjust their business to meet
the new conditions imposed by the re
moval of the tariff on augur.
Confers With Ewing
But Col. Kobert Ewing, nutlonal com
mitteeman from Louisiana, hus been pre
senting the other side of the question,
and when he left tho White House yester
day he I ad laid the ease in full before
Air, Wilson. Following upon his confer
ence last night with Mr. Underwood, the
first thing the President did today was
to send for Colonel Ewing. He canvassed
the possibility of getting a common agree
ment on the sugar question. Thd Louis
iana national committeeman told the Pres
ident that the business of the sugar grow
ers of his state, with millions of dollars
Invested, would he ruluod If sugar entered
free, but that they were willing to stand
a per cent cut. Mr. Wilson agreed to
study the question further.
Tonight the President talked over tho
tariff situation with Senator William
Hughes of New Jersey, a member of the
new linance committee. Senator Sim
mons, chairman of the committee, sought
an appointment with the President, and
tomorrow will bring with him Senators
Stone and Hoke Smith, also of the finance
commmtttee, for a discussion of the tariff
bill.
Discuss Wool Schedule
The President devoted most of the day
to talking tariff. Ho discussed the woolen
schedule with Kepresentatlve Kalney of
Illinois. The latter is an advocate of free
wool, and on coming away frony the
White House said he was perfectly well
satislied with the President's attitude, ft
Is known that the President believes In
a big reduction on wool. Wit whether It
extends to removal of all the duty Is a
point that has not oeen definitely dis
closed.'
Members of the ways and means com
mittee, after an all day session today,
spent In perfection of tarifl bill details,
declared there was no substantial dlf
(CosUsud OB Pace Klae.)
POWERS 10 FORCE
GIVE UPSTRUGGLE
War Vessels Gather Along
Coast of Seutari to
Stop Fighting
TARABOSCH FORT
PRACTICALLY FALLEN
England, Italy and Austria Assume
Threatening Attitude—May Have
to Deal With the
Servians
London, April 2.—Just as Montenegro
Las scored her first real success by get
ting a foothold at Tarabosch, the key
to Scutari, the warships of the powers
are gathering along the coast to compel
her to give up the most precious fruits of
five months* fighting.
After a series of desperate engagements
the Montenegrins, assisted by the Ser
vians, are practically in command of
Tarabosch. Simultaneously with the ar
rival of this news came the further in
formation that Austrian warships are
anchored off Antlvari, and that British
and Italian warships are on their way to
join them for the purpose of making a
demonstration which is approved by ail
the powers not excepting Russia.
Have to Deal With Servia
Should the demonstration prove inef
fective it is understood that the Montene
grin port of Antivarl and Dulcigno will
he occupied. When the Montenegrin
trouble is out. of the way it is likely
that the powers will have to deal with
Servia. She has informed the British
minister that it was Impossible to with
draw her troops from Scutari,*as Servia
was bound to Montenegro until peace lias
been signed and that any drawing back
at the present time would be the death
knell of the Balkan alliance. Servia, too,
is reported to be* preparing for the perma
nent occupation of Durazzo. This action
Mould be directly against the derision
of the powers.
Elsewhere matters are moving smoothly.
An agreement bus practically been
reached with regard to the boundary be
tween Turkey and Bulgaria, although
Bulgaria is guarding against any slip in
the peace negotiations and is moving
virtually the whole of her Adrianople
army to Tchataija. The captured town
will be left in possession of gendarmes.
A partial agreement is reported as hav
ing been arranged between Bulgaria and
| Koumania, the latter getting SHistria.
Tarabosch About to Fall
Cettlnje, April 2.—-05:20 p. m.) Great
Tarabosch fort, which for months has
i held the allies off Scutari, is now prue
l Dually In the hands of the Montenegrins,
j thanks fo the.sacrifice of 200 bomb throw
ers, every one of whom lost his life in a
last desperate effort to clear the way to
the town, for the possession of which
Montenegro is ready to give up every
thing.
These bomb throwers ware all picked
men, chosen from several battalions.
Clambering up the mountainside under a
murderous fire from tlie Turkish guns
they cut the wire entanglements and, get
ting to close quarters threw bombs among
the Turks, thus opening the way for the
storming party.
Not one of the bomb throwers returned,
but they had accomplished their object
and the Montenegrin infantry following
close to them charged the trenches.
The Turks covered their ground and a
desperate, bloody, hand to hand fight en
sued, lasting an hour and ending in vic
tory for Hie Montenegrins who lost 3U0
men killed and wounded.
Tier after tier of entrenchments bad
to he taken, but the troops of the south•
ern division under General Martinoviteh,
to whom the task had been assigned,
overcame all obstacles.
The tactics followed, particularly m
regard to the use of bomb throwers, were
similar to those adopted in the capture
of Adrianople. But in the advance on
Adrianople the soldiers who cut and di
vided tlie wire entanglements surround
ing the forts were clad In cuirasses and
provided with shields. At Tarabosch the
rougii mountainside made it necessary
for the Montenegrins to dispense with all
impediments.
Do Not Blame Minister
St. Petersburg. April 2.—"The Russian
government has shown itself capable only
of following Austria's triumphal ear,”
raid Deputy Savenko, a nationalist in in
troducing in the chamber of deputies to
day an interpellation regarding the action
of the police fn charging the crowds and
using their whips to suppress the pro
Slav demonstrations on Monday. These
popular demonstrations were held in honor
of the victories gained by the armies of
the Balkan allies over the Turks.
M. Savenko said that the nationalism
did not blame any Individual minister
for the brutal methods employ'd, but the
supine political policy of the government.
The minister of the interior, in reply
ing. promised to investigate the accusa
tions made against the police and. if
sustained to punish the guilty severely.
After several members had spoken, the
sitting was closed owing to tho uproar.
MARIETTA HEARS
OF MORGAN S DEATH
Columbus, O., April 2.—Completely
out off from the outside world for
seven days the city of Marietta, O.,
today, through the Associated Press,
for the first time, learned that J, P,
Morgan Is dead; that Adrlanople had
fallen, that the Allens had been exe
cuted; that Columbus and I >ayton and
nearly the entire state of Ohio Is
emerging from the worst flood disaster
in Its history.
«*••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••*•••••••
TODAY’S AGE-HERALD
1— Claim Smith-Comer contract best ever
made.
United States to recognize Chinese re
public.
O’Neal on stand in Vandiver trial.
Thirteen buildings burn at Hamilton.
Agree upon free raw wool.
Powers to Interfere with Montenegrins
2— l-rftne makes speech to negroes.
3— New' leader In financial world still
unknown.
4— Editorial comment.
5— -City employes to be elected.
Cincinnati woman speaks on flood,
situation.
inspect end of boulevard.
Anxious to have potlatch buttons worn
k— Society.
7— ~8port».
8— Plan to cope with flood situation.
9— Mrs. Pankhuret pleads^ not guilty.
U—Markets.
12—Experts appear in lumber rate oase.