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• 16 PAGES ] vol. xxxvu. I>I>TY 1 • AC\ T?"M TPCI by carrier NUMBER 147. JLltH^Jlj. 4tU l'ljl>ln PER MONTH GOVERNMENT IN FIRST TEST WINS BY BARE MARGIN Fiscal Amendment Is Re jected by Vote, 285 to 254 EXCITEMENT REIGNS Ministry's Existence De pends on Dealing with House of Lords Veto [Associated Press] LONDON, Feb. 24.—The first trial of strength in the new parliament occurred tonight at a crowded session of the house of commons, when Austen Chamberlain's iisc»l amend ment was rejected by a vote of 285 to 254. Although victorious only by a nar row majority, the government may re gard the result as satisfactory, inas much as there was no cross voting and no evidence of any intention on the part of the discontented groups to overthrow the ministry. All the Nationalists, O'Brlenlsts as ■well as Redmondites, abstained from voting. The Laborites voted with the government! and three Liberals ab stained. Division was taken amid a scene of great excitement, and the figures as announced, were received with tremen dous opposition cheering. The premier, having given notice he would move Monday that government business take precedence until March 24, the house adjourned. The government's existence now will depend on the production of a plan satisfactory to the Nationalists and Radicals for dealing in a drastic man ner with the house of lords veto. Freemans Journal of Dublin tomor row will say: "It cannot be stated with too much emphas-is that the Irish party has not budged a hair's breadth from the policy which John Redmond has laid down. Unless the government speedily produces a veto scheme and presses It to an issue, the Irish party will enter on a policy of vigorous op position to the government with the re sult that the ministry either will be defeated in a few days or wifi be con tented to eke out a contemptible ex istence by the aid of Balfour's sup porters." Freemans Journal further explains that it was not out of consideration for the government that the National ists abstained from voting, but be cause they did not desire to commit themselves to a tariff reform policy or to take a step that would divert the issue of the next elections from the house of lords to the tariff. Meetings of Liberal and Radical groups.dally are sending deputations to Premier Asquith, urging him to take a strong line on the yeto question. STRIKE SITUATION IN ISLAND SERIOUS RIOTING AND INCENDIARISM ARE RAMPANT Bloody Conflicts Take Place, and Con. stabulary Force Has Diffi. culty Suppressing Violators P\RIS, Feb. 24. —A special dispatch from Point-a-Pitrie says: "The strike situation continue! serious. Rioting and incendiarism ure rampant; plan tations have been burned, telephones cut and factories destroyed. Bloody conflict! have taken place between the strikers and the gendarmes in various Darts of the island. The rioters can not be repressed, as the entire con stabulary force numbers only 140. A factory inspector, who was stripped and bound to a stake, was driven mad by the tortures he endured. "At St. Francois the manager of a factory and two gendarmes were pur sued by rioters and took refuge in the building. In a desperate battle that followed tho gendarmes were wounded, three rioters were killed and many were wounded. Several of the latter draeced themselves into the sugar cane and were burned to death, the lire having been started by the Itrlk er#! 'The consulates at Point-a-Pitrl are cuarded by soldiers. The governor ad mits he is unable to suppress tho movement, which is now revolutionary. The consuls have asked that an Eng lish warship be sent, and people are anxious that the United States send aid to Point-a-Pitrie." GUADALUPE GOVERNOR APPEALS TO THE STRIKERS POINT-A-PITRK Guadalupe, Feb. 24 The governor today issued a proclamation, appealing to the good sense of the striking sugar cane cut ters He said: "Already blood has flowed. Cease the fratricidal strife. I counsel you to return to the fields and resume your work in the grinding plants for the reason that satisfaction has been accorded you. I beg you not to com promise your cause." PARIS, Feb. 24.—Following a con ference between Premier Briand und M Trouillot, minister of colonies, to day decided to immediately dispatch the armored cruiser Victor Hugo with marines to Guadalupe to restore order among the sugar cane cutters on utrike there. A message was also sent to the governor of Matlnique instruct ing him to send 100 soldiers to the scene of the trouble. FRANCE SENDS CRUISER TOULON, Feb. 24.—The French ar mored cruiser Victor Hugo, with 120 infantrymen on board, will sail Sat urday for Guadeloupe. MUST SERVE 10 YEARS LEAVENWORTH. Kas.. Feb. 24.— ■phll Allen, Jr., former vice president ft he First National bank of Mineral Point Wls., arrived at the federal prison here this afternoon under a ten year sentence. . ( i i LOS ANGELES HERALD INDEX OF HERALD'S NEWS TODAY FORECAST For Los Angeles and vicinity: Cloudy Friday; probably showers; moderate north winds, changing to southwest. Maximum temperature yesterday 64 degrees, minimum tem perature 46 degrees. LOS ANGELES Pennies offered for fare by woman leads to conductor suing phyr.ician for $20,000. PACK 9 Religion and Jail bar* considered as crime deterrents In forgery case. FACIE 8 Fatal shooting of Daniel Todd at De Turk ranch held to be. result of an accident. PAGE 8 Roo&avelt auxiliary, Spanish War veterans, gives delightfully appointed military ball. PAGE 7 John Burton, arrested here by Chinese, Is also wanted for burglary In Illi nois. PAGE 9 Fourth divorce suit brings separation to wealthy produce dealer. PAGE '•* Two cities of San Dlceo and Oakland Join movement for U. S. steamship line. "PAGE 1 Yuma land line still patiently waiting for Instructions from Washington. PAGE 9 Democrats of county will tomorrow chose 110 delegates to state confer ence. FACIE 9 Automobile accident trial delayed be cause witness makes conflicting statements. PAGE 6 A. D. Myers, who was sued for 1100. --000 by woman, denied he promised to marry her. PAGE 5 Charter board organizes and begins work of drafting new rules for muni cipality. PAGE 5 Fire Chief Lips is "spanked" twice In a day by city officials. PAGE '■ Y. M. C. A. aviation meet brines the membership close to 6000 mark. PAGE 6 More trouble for police purity squad Is threatened by women arrested on word of police spy. ' PAGE 9 Editorial, Letter box, Haskln'a letter. PAGE 4 Society and music PAGE 7 Marriage licenses, birth, deaths. PAGE 14 Municipal affairs. PAGE 5 News of the courts. PAGE 6 Mines and oil fields. PAGE 13 Markets and financial. PAGE IS Theaters. PAGE 7 Building permits. PAGE 6 Citrus fruit report. PAGE 12 Shipping. PAGE ■ 6 Sports. PAGE 10 Automobiles. PAGE 11 City brevities. I'AUK i Classified advertising. PAGES 11-15 SOUTH CALIFORNIA State control of national resources op posed by Orange county chambers, of commerce. PAGE 14 Ocean Park Good Government league adopts platform for spring campaign. PAGE 11 Ownership of Long Beach bank prop erty Is In doubt as result of tax title , case. PAGE 14 Two brothers meet after many years as result of Yuma land, line. PAGE 14 Stewart Edward White of Santa Bar bara to hunt big game In Africa. PAGB 8 San Bernardino blacksmith shop near police station Is robbed. PAGE 11 COAST Business men In Bakersfleld protest against freight charges. PAGE 3 Gov. Glllett and Bishop Hughes of San Francisco address Y. M. C. A. con-• ventlon at Sacramento. PAGh, 8 EASTERN Dr J R. Hull, charged .with being Impli cated in murder of Prol. Vaughn. PAOO 3 Chicago woman hugs robber so tightly lat ter throws git coat and escapes. PAGE 2 Bailey scores postal savings bank bill In stirring speech In V. 8. Senate. PAGE 3 Helm of Kentucky opposes ship subsidies; calls U. S. government huso pawn shop. PAG B 2 Delegate "W'lckersham pleads for revision of Alaikan mining laws. PAGE 2 Undertaker discovers Rwope's coffin has been tampered with and defendant Hyde's counsel will make use of knowledge. PAGE 1 Fifteen Indictments will be handed in by Nf\v Jersey, which has been Investigating high cost of living. PAGB 1 Churchmen In Philadelphia request car com pany to refer strike question to arbi tration. . P.ViE 1 Vnlted States Rets part of earnings of citizens and heavy fine In store for delin quents. I'AOB 1 Gordon, leaving senate, bids colleagues goodby In unique speech. PAGE 3 Chairman Conncrs.of N. T. state de mocracy forced to yield to power of Tammany Chief Murphy. PAGE 2 Packer Valentine too 111 to attend the grand jury Investigation into the methods of the su-called beef trust. Magonn, In speech at Boston, says U. S. should depose all despots. PAdE 8 FOREIGN Jan.ineso press takes war talk with the I'nitcd State* seriously; Secretary Knox says friendliest relations exist. PACE, 3 Viscount Sono opposes annexation of Korea by Japan; says revolt would ensue. PAUE 3 German government not to lend Its moral support to American machinery exhibi tion. PAaa i French senators dispute In committee and duel Is fought as result; one is slightly Injured. I AL.E 3 Crl*la In Thibet puzzles British par liament; no information of what caused trouble having been received Government wins by narrow margin In first test vote In new English Par llament. ™M 1 Russia offers alternative railroad plan following announcement that Eng land and U. B. would finance the Manchurian line. PAGE 16 MINING AND OIL Geologist Ralph Arnold begins work on wattr case In Coallnga. PAGE 13 Eastern oil men will drill at Vallcjo. PAGE 13 Standard Oil depresses price of oil and ac tion taken by Pennsylvania producers may^ react upon trust. PAGE 13 Twin lost mine Is found by Nacazarl prospector In Sonora. PAGE 13 SPORTING Jeffrira starts light training for his [\«ht with Johnson by dolne road work. PAOa 10 Younfc woman who is to marry Wolgast is daughter of widow proprietor of cafe at Venl.i-. PAGB 16 Players Henderson and Sheehan are refused reinstatement at meeting of National Basetiull commission. PAOB 1U Cloudlllht wins handicap feature at Emeryville; long shots win majority of all events. PAUB 10 Abe Attell whlpn Frankie Nell In a short bout In New York that proves •low and uninteresting. PAGE 10 FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 25, 1910. GERMANY FEARS EXHIBITION OF U.S. MACHINERY Imperial Government Not to Morally Support Enterprise PROMOTERS WORRY Interests See in Venture Danger to Home Industry [Associated Press) BERLIN, Feb. 24.—The statement of Herr Delbrueck, minister of in terior, in the relchstag, the gov- I ernmtnt hud not given and would not! give material or moral rapport to the I American exhibition of machinery in ' this city next summer Ims caused astonishment on the part of the pro moters of the exposition. The promoters are Gorman capital ists, such as Isadjrc Loewe of the Mauser ritle Manufactory and Ludwig Loewe of the machine tool works, who obtained before approaching Americans on the subject what they thought was the moral support or the Imperial gov ernment. When Baron Yon Branden stein went to the United States as the representative of the exposition man agement one of the attaches of the German embassy at Washington, Baron Hartmann yon Rlchthofen, was as signed to accompany him to New York and assist him In his mission. They visited prominent New Yorkers, and it was understood that the idea of the foreign office was to help the enterprise as far as possible morally without com mitting the government to official or financial .obligations. Many distinguished Americans who signed* the appeal \to American indus tries for participation in the exposition did so under the impression that this German enterprise was supported morally by the German government. Prince Henry of Prussia is chairman of the German reception committee, and among those associated with him are Grand Duke Adolph Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Prince Hatz feldt and Prince Henickel Donners marck. Since the exposition was launched some of the . machinery interests of Germany have appeared to think that i there was danger ahead for the Ger man industry. Various newspapers, especially the Rheniseh Westphaelische Zeitung, published at Essen, have op posed the American exhibit. Apparent ly It was the recognition of these ob jections that led Minister Delbrueck to make the declaration on behalf of the government. He was speaking yesterday as the representative of the chancellor, and doubt Is expressed whether he knew that the government had actually given Its moral support to the enterprise. It also has been understood here that the appointment of commissioners by the department of commerce and labor of the United States was due to the desire of the American government to aid an undertaking already strongly supported by the German government. 15 INDICTMENTS IN FOOD INQUIRY CONSPIRACY IN RESTRAINT OF TRADE IS CHARGE New Jersey Jury After Long Investi gation Takes Action Against Packing Interests Maintain, ing Storage Plants [Associated Pressl NEW YORK, Feb. 24.—After weeks of investigation by a, (rand jury in Hudson county, New Jersey, indica tions tonight are that fifteen Indict ment! Will be handed up tomorrow against the packing interests main taining cold storage plants in Jeney Just who will be named as Individ ual directors or officer! it is impos sible* to ascertain, but it is known definitely that Indictment! have been prepared which will charge conspiracy in restraint of trade under the New- Jersey laws. The inquiry at Jersey Oity has been the most important In the east Blnce public opinion demanded legal steps to lighten the burden of the tost of liv ing The great storehouses there hold the' food supplies upon which New York and its suburbs draw, and New York and New Jersey have been co operating in the investigation A grand jury in New York county is to begin an investigation in a few days. Plants under investigation are op erated by the National Packing com pany, Nelson Morris & Co., Swift & Co and Armour & Co. Pierre Garven, public prosecutor of Hudson county, conducted the inves tigation, but recently he has been balked in his attempts to obtain the books of the National Packing com n-inv The prosecutor threatens to ob tain a court writ to get possession, and, failing in this, to take steps to revoke the packing company s char tCThere was circulated today a story that men from Chicago had attempted to bribe Mr. Garven to call a halt in the investigation. While the prose cutor declined either to can ,m or deny the report it was said that he intimated that some sort of advances had been made to him, details of which he declined to discuss. DYNAMITE AS EVIDENCE ST LOUIS, Feb. M.—BlfbUen sticks of'dynamite, said to have been brought here from Leavenworth, Washington county by W. W. Lowe and George Ebeling, are In the DOMeMlon of local inspectors. Lowe and Ebeling are huld on charge* of robbing the mails in a Missouri Pacific train holdup last month. A woman who owns the house where Lowe and Ebellns Uv«d toll the police the men brought the explo sive to her home two years ago. CHURCHMEN ASK CARMEN'S STRIKE BE ARBITRATED No i Immediate Reply to Question Given by Qua ker City Company POLICE GUARD CARS Boys Soap Track and Hurl Brick and Stone, But Traffic Continues WASHINGTON, Feb. 24.—The presi dent today directed th« United States attorney nt Philadelphia be ordered to Bee that mall ngencles are not inter fered with (lining the strike, to ram the arrest and exert every effort to se cure the conviction uf any one attempt ing to interfere with the mall in any way. and to see that the government* contract with the Philadelphia Rapid Tilllihil company Is carried out. [Associated Press] PHILADELPHIA. Feb. 24.—Surface cars were operated on the princi pal streets of Philadelphia until midnight, for the first time since the beginning of the present strike- against the Rapid Transit company. Guarded by members of the state police, the cars continued to run, even through the turbulent mill districts of Kensington and Frankford. Although the company reported that eighty-lour cars had been stoned to- day, no disturbance whs permitted to reach serious proportions. All out break! were quickly quelled by the po lice, and not a riot call was sent in. According to the compan. 's figures, 744 ears were in operation and sixty six continued to run until midnight. Increased Mi-vice is promised by the company, which announces that 4UO new men, many formerly in the em ploy of the company, were hired today and will take out cars tomorrow. Officials of the company refused to comment on the request irom the com mittee of churchmen that the griev ances of the strikers be submitted to arbitration. The request will be re ferred to the directors of the company. This proposal for arbitration, made by representatives of twenty-six reli gious denominations, including the leading clergymen in the city, has been approved by the strikers, who suggest, however, that one of the seven mem bers on the proposed board of arbitra tion be a representative of organized labor. Number of Arrests Reduced Only one-tlirrt as many arrests were made by the police today as yesterday, when seventv-eiLht persons were taken into custody. Among those arrested was the son of v constable in the of fice of the committing magistrate. Ho confessed he was a member of a band of youths who manufactur-d a quan tity of explosive caps and then drew lots to see who should place them on the tracks. He drew the fateful straw and was arrested when placing the ex plosives on the tracks. A new and dangerous method of showing their antipathy to the com pany was adopted by crowds of boys in the uptown district late this afternoon, when soap was used on the rails. For fifteen minutes bricks and stones and other missiles wore thrown into one car, breakin; windows and throw ing the passengers into a panic. A detail of police gave chase to the rioters who lied. Soon afterward the same crowd souped a down grade, and the next car slid down the slippery rails, but came to a halt before crash ing into the preceding car. Ihe mob was driven away. Plans for the proposed sympathetic strike have been deferred for the pres ent. The striking car men at their meeting today requested that the gen eral strike be held in f.beyance. As a result the Central Labor union and the Allied Building Trades council decided tonight to postpone further action un til Sunday. . Flans for crippling U>e service of the company by a strike of the power hnuso employes were discussed at a meet in- of the Stationary Engineers and Firemen's union today. These men were in session until after midnight. Powerhouses Guarded Uepotts that powerhouses of the company would be attacked resulted in detailing the state fencibles to guard these structures. Orders thai they were nnt to lire hair ing been withdrawn, these young sol diers say they will redeem themselves from their recent inglorious fiasco The company posted a notice in each of its nineteen barns today that all em ployes who ha.ye remained loyal to the company, anil who may become inca pacitated by injuries in strike disorders, will be cared for the rest of their lives. At the offices of the company there was a. long line of unemployed men seeking places as conductors and mo tormen. The. company is advertising for "000 men. It Is offering 22Vi cents an hour, with a guarantee oi an early increase. The company states that it ureters Philadelphians seeking employ ment, and does not desire to engage men who will work only during the strike. Many in the long line of men were engaged. Many boy rioters arrested in the last few days were taken into the juvenile court today. They were for the most Dart a penitent lot, and a majority paid dearly for the fun they thought they were having in attacking cars. All promised to be good, but promises had So weight with the court, and tines varying from $S to $20 were inflicted. Some of the boys will stay thirty days in the house of detention and others until the strike Is over. There has been no interference with the transportation of the malls over the lines of the transit company. So far as renorted, there have been only two in stances of blocking the cars carrying mails between the sub-stations in the city. t t t JACKSON NEW COUNSEL ST. PAUL, Feb. 24.—President L. W. Hill today announced the appointment of Richard J. Jackson as general coun sel of the Great Northern to succeed \V X Begg, resigned. The appoint ment of Mr. Jackson, formerly chair man of the Chicago, Hock Island & Pacific railway, will become effective March 10. \\ COLLECTS INCOME TAX FROM CORPORATIONS V. ftfrny' *w" ' ■ >>?..;:■>*> JIB ROYALL E. CABELL U.S. GETS PART OF EARNINGS HEAVY FINE IN STORE FOR DE LINQUENTS Local Office Crowded with Represent. atlves of Concerns Seeking to Comply with the Law WASHINGTON, Feb. 24.—One of the busiest men in Washington these days Is Royall E. Cabell, commissioner of Internal revenue, upon whom falls the duty, according to the new tariff law, of collecting from the corporations of the country the tax Imposed by that law. The information required by the terms of the law from the corporations must be filed with the commissioner on or before March 1. Every corporation that falls to have its report, properly made out. in the hands of the collector of internal rev enue by that time for transmission to the commissioner makes itself liable to a fine, of not less than $1000 and pos sibly $10,000. Very many of the returns are being received as the time limit draws near. There Is a great deal of work about the collection and examination and re cording of the returns. The law provides that every corpo rrtion shall pay a tax of 1 per cent upon its entire net income over and above $5000. In enacting the law congress appro priated $100,000 for its enforcement. Local Office Busy The offices of Claude I. Parker, In ternal revenue collector, are crowded with officers of corporations, big and little, who are hastening to file their reports before March 1. One thousand reports have reached the collector this week, although 2'ooo remain to be filed. Collector Parker reports, how ever, that the corporations have de layed their business with the govern ment so long It will be impossible to file the reports that are still out in the short time that remains. NO NELLIE BLY SPEED FOR U. P. FREIGHT TRAINS Siipt. Park 3of Harriman Line Testifies at Hearing on Government's Suit to Stop Merger NEW YORK, Feb. 24.—Testimony showing why the Southern Pacific had lengthened its freight train schedules was piled up today at the hearing in the government's suit to dissolve the Union Pacific-Southern Pacific merger. Superintendent Wm. L. Park of the Union Pacific sketched the history of the famous "Nellie Bly" special freight which was put on by the Union Pacific in its war with the Oregon short line, making the run on passenger train schedule between Council Bluffs and Ogden in thirty-two hours. Superintendent Park said he rode several times on this train and con sidered its speed unsafe. The train was withdrawn. Increasing traffic on the Union Pa cific gradually demoralized train schedules, Mr. Park testified, the cli max being reached during the fall and winter following the San Francisco fire. The congestion forced a general slowing up of running time. BRYANS IN ARGENTINA ANDES, Chile, Feb. 24.—William J. Bryan, Mrs. Hryan and their daugh ter" arrived today from Santiago and crossed the mountains into Argentlnia on their way to Buenos Ayres. SINGLE COPIES: S^Vi^fTCWa' SWOPE'S COFFIN TAMPERED WITH SEVERAL SCREWS IN LID OF BURIAL CASE LOOSE Undertaker Makes Discovery When Body Exhumed but Declares Cover Was Fastened Securely [Associated Press] KANSAS CITY, Feb. 24—The testi mony of R. B. Mitchell, an undertak er's assistant, who said today that sev eral screws in the lid of Col. Thomas H. Swope's coffin were loose when the body was removed for an autopsy, is regarded as highly important by attor neys for Dr. B. C. Hyde. While Dr. Hyde's attorneys will not state positively that they will claim the body was tampered with after It was placed In the vault, they admit they will make use of Mitchell's statement. Mitchell's testimony was taken today by Dr. Hyde's attorneys in connection with the slander suit brought by the physician against John G. Paxton, an executor of the Swope estate. After Mitchell had testified, C. A. Lyon, another assistant undertaker, told about fastening the lid of the coffin following the funeral. "When we closed the coffin we took particular care to see that it was sealed tightly," he said. "I know from per sonal knowledge that the screw was put in as tightly as possible." In accordance with an agreement of the interested attorneys the prelimin ary hearing of Dr. B. C. Hyde, charged with the murder of Col. T. H. Swope, was continued until March 4, when called before a justice of the peace at Independence, Mo., today . Dr. Hyde's bond of $50,000 was re newed. It Is not yet known whether Dr. Hyde will consent to appear before the grand jury. 'TELL-TALES' FAIL TO WARN BRAKEMAN; HE MAY DIE Railroad Employe Swept from Top of Car by Frozen Ropes of a Safety Device PITTSBURG, Feb. 24.—"Te11-tales," the little ropes that dangle over rail road tracks at bridge approaches and tunnel mouths to warn brakemen of impending danger, failed In their mis sion on the Monongahela division of the Pennsylvania railroad when, frozen into stalactites of ice, they hurled Brakeman Robert Meyers from a car roof. As a result he is in a hospital in a dying condition. BLACK HAND THREATENS JUDGE NEW YORK, Feb. 24.—Since United States Judge Ray of the Northern dis trict of New York last week sentenced to long terms in the federal prison at Atlanta "Lupe the Wolf" and seven other notorious counterfeiters and al leged "Black Handers," he has re ceived a threatening letter from the Black Hand, the exact nature of which could not be learned. Postofflce in spectors will endeavor to trace the writer. FAIRBANKS GOING TO LONDON PARIS, Feb. 24. —Charles W. Fair banks will remain here until Monday, when he will go to London. A number of affairs In his honor have been ar ranged. He has accepted invitations to visit the French senate and cham ber of deputies. Mr. Fairbanks de clined to comment on the political sit uation in the United States or discuss further the unpleasant Incident in Rome. I OcENTS 2 CITIES JOIN FIGHT FOR U.S. STEAMER LINE Oakland and San Diego Urge Necessity of Fed eral Service HOPING FOR RELIEF Government Owned Ships Only Remedy for Con ditions on Coast TWO NEW and Important namea have been added to the long list of powerful organizations on tha Pacific coast which are boosting Los Angeles' plan for a federal steamship line. Dispatches. received here yes terday state that the chamber of commerce of Oakland has adopted res olutions urging all civic and commer cial bodies on the coast to appeal to congress for relief from the present traffic conditions—obtainable only, through federal service. Secretary A. P. Fleming of the Los Angeles harbor commission announced, yesterday that San Diego, which until recently opposed the plan for a gov ernment-owned steamship line for the relief of the Pacific coast and Panama traffic, is now vigorously boosting tha project, and has gone on record at Washington in favor of the adoption, of such means as will speedily over come the effects of the gross discrimi nation of the railroads, which has worked to the injury of California's in dustrial life for many years. The San Diego chamber of com merce has instructed the Los Angeles harbor commission to represent it in promoting the project at Washington. This is an important advantage, for it places San Diego in Hne with every other port on the Pacific coast, south of Seattle, in favor of the federal steamship plan. San Francisco, San Dirgo, and one or two northern port cities formerly objected to the plan for reasons which. they afterward learned were erroneous, and as a result the entire Pacific coast may now be said to have come to the aid of the undertaking launched by Senator Frank P. Flint and emanat ing from the people of Los Angeles. Railroad Discrimination Like San Francisco, the city of San Diego is convinced the only salvation, of Southern California is in the fed eral steamship project. The railroads have grossly discriminated against Los Angeles and San Diego, and otherwise have proved inadequate to handle our vast citrus and other outputs. "I brought this fact forcibly horn» to San Diego," said Mr. Fleming, "when in citing the report of Special Commissioner J. L. Bristow, appointed by Roosevelt to investigate the con ditions of Pacific coast ports in con nection with the Panama railroad. I called the attention of the city to the. fact that the loss of one item of ship ping nlone, consisting of 99,888 balea of cotton, received at San Diego ia two years prior to the discriminatory combine of the railroads, should exem plify its need of a federal steamship line, for the loss of that cotton to San Diego meant also a financial loss of many thousands of dollars. "Commissioner Bristow, in his re port, said the combination of the rail roads closed the port of San Diego to all foreign trade except Baja Califor nia and Mexico, jus;, as it closed the port of Los Angeles practically to tha world. '•Before the railroads entered into the agreement whereby the vast vol ume of business that should come by water and could be carried thus at comparatively low rates and with nu merous advantages not to be had in railway transportation, the traffic of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and of: all Europe and the Orient, logically oceanic traffic, was monopolized by the railroads, who acquired immense profits by transporting it via the inter ior—an absurd and costly method. "The commerce of South and Cen tral America, Panama and Mexico, to whose first handling Los Angeles and San Diego are entitled by virtue of pvery known fact, was given to San. Francisco. "No wonder San Francisco had been, able so rapidly to rehabilitate from Its fire and earthquake. "San Diego, which handled $2,258,000 worth of cotton in two years before the combine, surrendered this and all the other traffic it had handled by rail from the Mississippi valley. And San, Francisco got it. Los Angeles Suffers "Los Angeles, to whose port millions of dollars of the world's commerce was and still is directed, also suffered. Commerce that should have come to our harbor, came by a ridiculous round-about way over deserts and mountains, to the railway yards of San Francisco, thence to Los Angeles. And the people of Los Angeles have paid out millions of dollars for thosu extra miles of unsatisfactory railway transportation, while our harbor haa been shorn of ships and deprived of its sustaining patronage. "And while San Francisco has bene fited by this unjust treatment of the southwest, she has awakened to the fact that Bhe also loses far more than she gains by the monopolistic methods of the Pacific Mail Steamship cpm pany, and that If she would command further commerce, commensurate with her harbor and facilities, she must promote the federal steamship project. "Let the railroads of the interior handle the freight of the interior, but let the ships of the sea handle the commerce of the sea, and let them stop at all important ports, just as trains must stop at all important cit ies This done, the volume of com merce that will pass through western ports, and into western channels will prove sufficient to develop all of tha great natural harbors of the west, and the east will no longer prosper at the cost of the west. "The people must realize the tremen dous importance of the great work un derta'cen by the Los Angeles harbor commission, and when they do it will not take us long to get relief." CONDUCTOR KILLED IN CRASH CHICAGO, Feb. 24. —John Lawler, street car conductor, was killed, Mo torman John Corcoran probably fa tally Injured and fifteen passengers severely hurt here today In a collision of a street car and a Chicago, Mil waukee & St. Paul passenger train.