The river press. [volume], October 01, 1913, Image 1

About The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
The
Press.
Vol. XXXIII.
Fort Benton, Montana, Wednesday, Oktober 1, 1913.
No. 59
TARIFF CONFERENCE REPORT
Underwood Measure has Undergone
Changes in Many Provisions.
Washington, Sept. 29.—The confer
ence report of the Underwood-Sim
mons tariff bill, representing the final
adjustment of disputes between the
senate and house over the former's
amendments, was made public today
when the democratic managers sub
mitted it for the first time to their
republican colleagues on the confer
ence committee.
In the form in which the tariff bill
ultimately will go to President Wil
son for his signature, it carries many
changes from the original Underwood
bill passed by the house last May.
While the senate gave way on many
of its amendments in the two weeks'
fight in the conference committee,
many Important changes were retain
ed, and the general average of rates
of the house bill was reduced about
4 per cent ad valorem.
Some of the more important
changes agred to by the conference
covered the schedule of agricultural
products and provisions. In addition
to putting cattle and sheep on the free
list, the conference agreed to reduc
tions on oats, butter, beets, extracts
of meats, currants, chocolate and
other provisions and vegetables.
The democratic tariff revision was
begun early last April and has been
constantly before congress since that
time. For over two and a half weeks
the eight democratic members of the
conference committee nave been at
work adjusting their differences and
compromising disputed questions.
When the six republicans were called
in it was only to give their formal
expressions of opinion on a report
which the democrats had prepared.
As the tariff bill went Into the con
ference committee it carried more than
670 amendments made by the senate
and which the house refused to ac
cept. All of these had been settled
with the exception of the Clark
amendment proposing a tax on trad
ing in cotton futures.
Cannot Pacify Mexican Rebels
Washington, Sept. 29.—The admin
istration has reluctantly concluded
that at present there is no constitu
tional means of opening communica
tion with an official basis with the in
surgent parties in Mexico. This fact
developed today as the result of an
inquiry whether Mr. Lind, the presi
dent's special commissioner to Mexi
co, was able to get into communica
tion with the constitutionalists with
a view to securing an agreement from
them to respect a truce, while the pro
jected October elections in Mexico are
under way.
Trouble is brewing in the state of
Tabasco, which has been quiet for
some time and there are rumors that
the insurrectionists in the southern
part of the state are only awaiting the
arrival of expected reinforcements to
renew hostilities.
Sick Stranger was Wealthy
San Francisco, Sept. 29.—Edward
McDonald a plainly dressed middle
aged man, was found ill in a cheap
lodging house here last night with
five cents in change in his pocketbook
but with $1,270,000 in negotiable
bonds and securities sewed up in an
Inside pocket. The papers are said
to be securities of forty-five of bona
fide companies in active operation
and all drawing interest.
The sick man is in a state of coma
and no explanation regarding his
wealth has been discovered. He is
believed, however, to have amassed
the fortune through frugae living and
investments.
Importing Australian Meat
San Francisco, Sept. 29.—Six hun
dred tons of refrigerated meat, con
signed to this port formed part of the
cargo of the British steamer Canada
Cape which arrived taday from New
Castle and Sydney. The vessel will
proceed to Vancouver and discharge
more meat and a consignment of coal.
Federal Aid for Good Roads
Detroit, Sept. 29.—Secretary Hous
ton of the United States department
of agriculture, in an address before
the American road congres# here, to
day, explained the interest of the fed
eral government with reference to
road building. He urged good roads
for the farmer in preference to great
transcontinental highways for auto
mobilists, but said he did not under
estimate the valuable service render
ed by automobilists for road building.
"That the suggestion of federal aid
to road building raises grave ques
tions and Involves possible dangers,
no thoughtful citizen doubts," said
the secretary. "There are proposals
before the public mind which would
bankrupt the federal treasury, and
suggest possible abuses before which
those of the worst pork barrel bills
of the past would pale Into insignifi
cance. No proposal which does not
carry with it the assurance of safe
guarding the treasury m this direc
tion seems to me to stand the ghost
of a chance of favorable considera
tion."
Great Falls, Sept. 29.—Following a
week's search for the body of a man
su PP° sed to be c - L - Morton of Cedar
Rapids, Iowa, the body was recovered
from the Missouri river this afternoon
above this city at a point nearly 10
miles down stream from where a par
ty directed by the sheriff had been
dragging and using dynamite since
last Monday. On Sunday duck hunt
ers found a suitcase containing cloth
ing and marked with the name on the
river bank about 17 miles above this
city, and this led to the presumption
that the owner had been drowned.
Will Recount 8ilver Dollars
Washington, Sept. 27.—The United
States mint at San Francisco has
been robbed, although it is believed
the amount taken is small. Treas
ury officals today confirmed reports
of thefts from the coinage plant on
the Pacific It will require a dol
lar-for-dollar count of $61,754,000 of
silver stored there to discover the
exact loss.
Only $7 has been found to be miss
ing up to this time, but the circum
stances indicate that the sum will
be increased. George E. Roberts, di
rector of the mint, said today that
undoubtedly there had been a scheme
of "petty pilfering" but he was con
fident no great amount had been stol
en. The stealing, he added, was from
the great stock of silver dollars stor
ed in bags containing $1,000 each. In
a few of these bags it was found that
one or two dollars had been taken and
iron washers substituted.
Canadians Expect Benefit
3t. Paul, Sept. 27.—Canadian butter
and farm products are being shipped
to commission men here and held in
bonded warehouses until the passage
of the democratic tariff bill, which
is expected to lower the rate material
ly and to represent a saving in tariff
of approximately $1,000 a car. Sev
eral large shipments of produce also
are being held on the Canadian-side
of the border, it is said, iintil the tar
iff bill has become a law.
MUST PAY INCOME TAX
About 425,000 Citizens Will be Re
quired to Contribute
Washington, Sept. 27.—According
to estimates by treasury experts, 425,
000 American citizens must report to
the income tax collector next spring
exactly how much they owe the gov
ernment under the new income tax
law. Tho jaw is embodlt.t' in the
tariff bill, which will not be si«qo'l
u-itil î ext v eek, but the first /etui na
do not have to be made to the inter
nal revenue collectors before March
pany of Pittsburg for steel bolts to be
1, 1914. But when the returns are
made they will cover the income of
citizens from March 1, 1913, to De
cember 31, and the first payment of
tax will be for money received during
this period.
Every single person, citizen or for
eigner, or resident whose annual in
come exceeds $3,000, and every mar
ried person with an income above
$4,000 is expected to report his or her
receipts in detail to the government
agents March 1, of each year. The
estimate completed today indicates
that the income tax will produce $82,
298,000 from the 425,000 persons tax
ed. To this will be added the $35,
000,000 or more produced by the pers
ent corporation tax, which is con
tinued as part of the law.
The amount of the Income tax as
finally agreed upon follows:
;«'rom $3,000 to $20,000, 1 per cent;
from $20,000 to $50,000, 2 per cent;
from $75,000 to $100,000; 4 per cent;
$100,000 to $250,000, 5 per cent; $250,
00 to $500,000, 6 per cent; above $500,
000, 7 per cent.
A single man with an Income of
$25,000, for example, would pay 1 per
cent on $17,000, and 2 per cent on
$5,000, a total tax of $270. If married
the frst tax of 1 per cent would apply
only to $16,u00 of his income.
Discovers Armor Plate Combine
Washington, Sept. 27.—Continuing
his campaign against the armor plate
"combine" Secretary Daniels awarded
a contract to the Carbon Steel com
pany of Pittsburg for stel bolts to be
used in the construction of battleship
No. 39, at $448 per ton. This was
$100 a ton less than had' been paid
heretofore when the big armor plate
companies were permitted to combine
contracts for bolts and plates. Tlii
Carbon company's bid was the only
one made public.
Tho secretary has given the con
tract for making boiu.e bolts for the
same la'tluship to the New Ycrk Hi
\y yard, where It is ;-;aid they oai !>e
ma mt'acn. red at a saving of $300 a
tin
Pays Big Inheritance Tax
Albany, N. Y., Sept. 27—State
Comptroller Schmer received today a
check for $2,500,000 in payment of
-the inheritance tax on a part of the
estate of the late J. Pierpont Morgan.
The payment indicates a valuation of
approximately $65,000,000. This, how
ever does not cover the entire es
tate, but only that part over which
an agreement has been reached be
tween representatives of the comp
troller and the Morgan executors.
All the news in the River Press.
STRIKE TARIF F SNAGS
Conference Unable to Agree Upon
Several Subjects
Washington, Sept. 26.— Another
•lay's work on disputed points be
tween the senate and house on the
Jnderwood-Simmons bill brought
the conferees together with the hope
that a report might be finished for
presentation to the house tomorrow.
The parliamentary rule which re
quires such a report to lay over a
day put the finishing touches on the
tariff over to next week.
Disagreement on the time when
free raw wool and the new woolen
schedule should become effective and
differences over the rates on cotton
yarns and cloth, lead and zinc ores
were up today for settlement. It was
definitely understood that a complete
disagreement would be reported on
the much discussed cotton futures
tax.
Chairman Simmons had a brief con
ference with President Wilson before
going to the capitol. He said that in
an effort to arrive at an agreement
on zinc, lead and a date for the wool
en schedule to go into effect, he had
sought suggestions from the presi
dent. The senator declined to reveal
what suggestions the president had
made, but indicated that he would
lay them before the conferees.
Meat Supply is Short
Washington, Sept. 26.—Shortage of
tho meat supply in England, as in
the United States, is due to a con
siderable extent to the butchering of
breeding stock, according to G. A.
Bell, assistant chief of the division
of animal husbandry of the depart
ment of agriculture, who has just re
turned from a four months' trip
through Europe studying livestock
conditions. Mr. Bell expressed the
opinion that after Argentina, now the
meat supply house of England and
some other countries, had begun to
fence her ranges and restrict the cat
tle territory the world supply would
shift to Africa.
Wants Bureau of Marketing
Washington, Sept. 26.—The estab
lishment of a bureau of marketing
in the department of agriculture, with
a chief at a salary of $10,000 a year,
is provided for in a bill introduced
in the house by Representative Hat
ton W. Summers, of Texas. The po
sition would be the highest paid of
its sort in the United States govern
ment and according to Mr. Summers,
would not be overpaid.
' The cost to consumers of agricul
tural products," said Mr. Summers,
"cannot be reduced except by getting
to market the millions of dollars'
worth of fruit and vegetables which
rot in the fields and in the railroad
yards, while a hungry but unlocated
- rket awaits their arrival, and by
t'-aucing the intervening cost be
tween producer and consumer,"
May Lose 8oft Jobs
Washington, Sept. 26.—A sliakeup
in the department of agriculture to
eliminate duplication of work and re
duce expenses was predicted by Sec
retary Houston today before the
l-ouse agricultural committee. The
secretary said his plan was not ready
but declared that in one office he had
discovered 25 unnecessary employes.
Revenue From Grazing Fees
Washington, D. C., Sept. 26.—The
amount of livestock grazed on na
tional forest ranges is more than 4
per cent greater this year than last,
nearly ten million domestic animals
having been occupied during the sum
aier in converting one of the by-pro
ducts of the forest into meat, hides
and wool, according to forest service
i sports. During the year passed the
government received more than $1,
000 ,000 from grazing fees, of which
$350,000 went to schools and roads in
the states, where the forests are lo
cated.
Politics in Banking
Chicago, Sept. 26.—George M. Rey
nolds, president of the Continental
Commercial National bank, discussing
the currency bill before the Illinois
Bankers' association, said today it
would put the whole fabric of credits
»nto politics. He said that with five
members out of the seven of the pro
poned board of control appointed by
the president the consent of the two
members not thus appointed should
be required before certain fundamen
tal Bteps should be taken.
Big Crowd at State Fair
Helena, Sept. 24.—Clear weather on
the third day of the state fair re
sulted in the largest attendance of
the week. Many of the features
which have been eliminated on pre
vious days on account of the weather
were in evidence today. August Lar
son of Big Horn country was adjudg
ed the winner in the boys' corn grow
ing contest, Allen Dale of Dawson
second and Frank Wylie of Custer
third.
United States mall was carried by
aerial post for the first time in Mon
tana, when Miss Katherine Stinson,
the youngest aviatrix in the world,
took a mail bag from the fair grounds
substation aloft with her on a long
twenty-mile flight, and though a stiff
wind was blowing, Miss Stinson had
full control of the machine all the
time, and gave an exhibition that
could not be bettered.
I The wild west features occupy a
stellar place on the program, and are
easily the best ever seen here. "Wild
Horse Mike," while riding a steer,
was jolted so violently his right wrist
was broken. He remained fast on the
animal's back, notwithstanding the
accident.
Gave Life for Children
New York, Sept. 26.—Edward Skul
iy, a superintendent in the street
I cleaning department, sacrificed his
life" today to save a crowd of school
children. A runaway horse was head
ed toward a corner in Brooklyn oc
c.ioied by two public schools. On the
fi dewalk were some 300 children.
Skully dashed out of his office, seized
the animal's bridle and turned it Into
the curb. Although he had checked
the runaway he was carried under
the horse's hoofs and was instantly
killed.
I
Free Wool After December 1
Washington, Sept. 27.—The confer
ence committee on the tariff bill to
day accepted Senator Walsh's amend
ment which provides tliat raw wool
shall not go on the free list until
Dec. 1. This means that the present
duty will continue in effect until that
date. The house conferees fought
bitterly to place wool immediately on
the free list, but President Wilson
advocated- the adoption of the Walsh
amendment and the house members
backed down.
Great Falls Woman Swindled
San Francisco, Sept. 27.—The po
lice (are looking for Austin O'Hara,
"spièler" of a San Francisco sight
seeing car who is charged by Mrs.
Elisabeth J. McCollough of Great
Falls, Montana, with having captured'
$2,100 from her, along with her heart.
Mrs. McCollough a divorcee, says
she fell in love with O'Hara while
riding in his car and allowed him to
remove a $600 diamond ring from her
finger. He pawned it, she claims, for
$300, and she had him arrested. While
in jail, O'Hara wrote her some touch
ing notes and she refused to prose
cute him. Out of jail, O'Hara restor
ed himself to Mrs. McCollough's favor
she sllîys, and induced her to loan him
a large sum of money with which to
buy a sight-seeing car for himself.
O'Hara, it is alleged, promptly dis
appeared with the money. Detectives
have trailed him as far as Los An
geles.
F-ort Peck Drawing Completed
Glasgow, Sept. 25.—Owing to the
rapidity of the men at work under
Judge Witten by which the world
beating record of 8,500 names were
drawn yesterday, the Fort Peck draw
ing ended late last night. Judge Wit
ten now has a force of clerks at work
on the tabulating and sending out of
notifications, and this will be rushed
with all possible dispatch.
James F. Collins, St. Paul, was the
drawer of the last number, 12,000.
There are but 8,406 claims to be giv
en out, but as it is estimated that from
20 to 40 per cent of registrations will
not show up it is within the range of
possibilities that Mr. Collins will have
a chance to use his number.
Lee Jordan, the Jefferson City, Mo.,
man, who drew 13, was a believer in
tliat figure. He left his home in a
sleeper berth numbered 13 on Sept.
13, arrived here at 13 minutes past
the hour, took a room in a local hotel
numbered 13, and registered the 13th
in line that day. All this purposely,
as he told his Missouri friends that
he was going to get claim No. 13 and
he did.
Witnesses Accused of Perjury
Billings, Sept. 26. —Sensational in
cidents have occurred in connection
with a series of gambling trials now
in progress in the district court, Judge
Pierson declaring in one instance that
witnesses for one of the defendants
had perjured themselves in his behalf.
One man has been fined $1,000, an
other has been sentenced to jail for
60 days and several others have
pleaded guilty and thrown themselves
on the mercy of the court.
The arrests result from a raid con
ducted by county officials in an effort
to stamp out poker playing and con
siderable ill-feeling has been aroused
by the employment of "stool pigeons"
one of whom, it was shown in court,
had served time in a Washington jail
upon conviction of embezzelment.
Helena, Sept. 26.—Business men of
Helena offer a reward of $1,000 for
the arrest and conviction of the thugs
wiio robbed and assaulted three men
in Helena Wednesday night, and at
tempted to rob and assault three oth
er*. A subscription list was started
yesterday by Lewis Penwell, presi
dent of the State Fair, and Dr. O. M.
Laustrum. Pledges were quickly se
emed guaranteeing $1,000. This will
be paid to the person or persons who
will give information that will lead
io arrest and conviction of the hold
ups.
DEFEND CAUCUS METHOD
Speaker Clark Makes Vigorous Reply
To Opponents.
Washington, Sept. 24.—Speaker
Clark quit his gavel to take the floor
to defend the democratic caucus
against republican attack.
i "This continual howl about the cau
, eus is the most idiotic thing that has
ascended to heaven in the last gen
eration," shouted the speaker. "The
country wants to know what congress
I does—it does not care three whoops
how it did it.
j "We have revised the tariff and
j put through a bill changing the bank
I ing and currency system. If these meas
ures are not good we will be the ones
to suffer; if they are we will gain;
I but we did not propose to let you re
publicans bring up other subjects on
I the floor while they were under con
i sideration and attract the attention
of members and of the country from
the great issues involved."
Speaker Clark said he would not
answer republican attacks by calling
attention to the way former Speakers
Reed and Cannon put through legis
I lation.
j "That would be a case of the pot
I calling the kettle black," he said. "A
j lot of you fellows have been talking
' too much for your own good, any
I how," continued the speaker, to the
accompaniment of prolonged out
| bursts of applause from the demo
crats.
Oppose Currency Bill
Washington, Sept. 24.—Th« admin
istration currency bill from the view
point of the farmer and the grain
merchant was discussed today before
the senate banking committee by a
delegation of me; jitm s from the
northwest who oppose! the provi
sions of the bii. as they expect them
to affect the country banks.
F. E. Kenaston, manufacturer of
farm machinery, suggested tiiat the
committee, before passing on the bill,
visit the farming and busities3 com
munities of the west.
Senator Bristow expressed the opin
ion that a majority of the commit
tee would support him in a demand
that all bankers, business men, mer
chants and others desiring to dis
cuss the bill be allowed to appear be
fore the committee. If that course is
followed the bill may be in the com
mittee at least a month, and probably
until November 1.
Funerals Cost Too Much
Washington, Sept. 24.—The high
cost of dying disturbed George E.
Downey, comptroller of the treasury,
today when he was called upon to
decide officially what constitutes "a
decent burial."
The widow of a lighthouse employe
who died at Washington, N. C., in the
line of duty and will be buried in Bal
timore, presented a bill for $190,
which the comptroller said was too
high, wherefore he proceeded to cut
the account in two.
A hearse and one hack for the wid
ow, ^he comptroller conceded, might
be essential to the "decent burial" of
a married man, but he refused to pay
for a funeral cortege of seven car
riages.
Montana Senators Get Busy
Washington, Sept. 24.—Senators
Myers and Walsh appeared before
the senate appropriations committee
and urged an increase in the appro
priation in the deficiency bill for the
Helena assay office from $1,0'') to
$2,000, as recommended by A;s:iyer
Miller. The appropriations lor all as
say offices were cut down at tbe last
session, and this additional appropri
ation is necessary to Ree > the Helena
office going.
The deficiency bill proposes to
abolish judgeships now held bv mem
bers of the commerce court, Juc'.go
William H. Hunt, of Montana be • v
among the number. Senator Walsh
will make a fight to defeat this pro
vision of the house bill when it comr.s
up.
First Touch of Winter
Denver, Sept. 24.—Colorado, Wyo
ming, Utah and parts of New Mexico
and Arizona, experienced their first
touch of winter last night and today.
Snow or rain fell generally through
out Colorado and Wyoming, with a
considerable rainfall in northern New
Mexico and Arizona. Freezing tem
peratures were reported from parts
of Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona and
Utah.
Produce 6,000 Cars of Spuds
Boise, Sept. 25.—Southern and east
ern Idaho will produce this year a
total of 6000 carloads of potatoes,
4000 carloads of which will be distrib
utd throughout the United States un
der the direction of the North Pacific
Fruit Distributors and the remaining
2000 will be for home consumption.
These figures are given out by John
U. McPlierson, former horticultural
inspector of Idaho, now general field
superintendent of the North Pacific.
Mr. McPlierson has established his
temporary headquarters at Pocatello,
but later will locate at Spokane.
That potato growers in this state
will profit through association with
the North Pacific is the prediction of
Mr. McPherson, who declares that al
ready for potatoes the North Pacific
is shipping if has received this fall
the highest price ever paid for Idaho
spuds f. o.b., or from $1 to $1.10.
High Prices for Ammunition
Washington, Sept. 25.—Representa
tive Clyde H. Tavenner of Illinois
claims the government is cheating fr
self by wasting money on the pur
chase of army and navy material. Ho
asserts it has been doing this for a
great many years. The government
is paying $25 for 4.7 inch sharpnel,
the character of the ammunition used
in heavy field guns, and at the same
time it has been manufacturing at
Frankfard arsenal, Philadelphia, *
portion of its supply for $12.52, all
overhead expenses included, he say*.
The records of the war department
show that the government has been
paying private manufacturers from 25
to 33 per cent more for small arm
cartridges and from 33 to 50 per cent
more for field artillery ammunition
and equipment than it can manufac
ture them for in its own arsenals.
Test Federal Mining Tax
Washington, Sept. 24.—The fight of
mining corporations to escape the cor
poration tax and to require the gov
ernment to refund to them some eight
or ten million dollars already collect
ed, today opened in the supreme court
when a brief for the corporations was
filed.
The Strattons Independent, limited,
a corporation owning a big mine In
Colorado, is leading the fight against
the tax. Its attorney prepared tho
brief filed today, in which it is con
tended that mining corporations ex
haust their capital in making a profit
and that the government in their case
instead of taxing income has taxed
capital.
Estimate Big Wheat Crop
Washington, Sept. 25.—The produc
tion of wheat in the principal coun
t ies of the world that raise it is es
timated to be 4.1 per cent greater this
year than last, the total production
being estimated at 3,330,000,000 bush
els, according to a cablegram to the
department of agriculture from the
international Institute of Agriculture
at Rome.
MAY ARRANGE FUSION
Newspaper Correspondent Declare*
Movement Favors Roosevelt
Washington, Sept. 25.—Sumner Cur
tis lias sent the following to the Chi
cago Record-Herald;
£ome quiet but very important
work looking into the "national fu
sion" of the Republican and Progres
sive parties was done in Washington.
William Loeb, Jr., who was secretary
to the president when Theodore
Roosevelt was in the White House,
still the close personal and political
friend of the former president and
intimately associated with the big
leaders of the Republican party, came
to town to get a grasp on the situa
tion, as reflected here, preparatory
to a systematic move to reunite the
forces that were rent asunder last
year.
it is almost needless to say that the
fusion movement of such potentiality
embraces Colonel Roosevelt as the
central factor.
The movement is predicated on the
fact —apparent to observation at the
capital for many weeks—that the Re
publican leaders In congress, stand
pat and progressive alike, expect Mr.
Roosevelt to be a candidate for the
tegular Republican nomination for
president in 1916.
To Increase Meat Supply
Chicago, Sept. 25. —Three resolu
tory designed to increase the produc
tion of meat were adopted by the
American Meat Packers' association
in convention here yesterday. The
first calls the attention of the secre
tary to the "severe" regulations affect
ing the industry; the second requests
a government appropriation for the
eradication of livestock diseases and
the third asks for direct government
help in bringing about increased pro
duction.
The Best Montana Babies
Helena, Sept. 26—The best baby boy
in Montana hails from Butte, but the
best baby girl and the highest scoring
youngster In the state hails from Hel
ena—Mary Catherine Predmore, who
bcored 98.5. Earl Perry Hancock Is
the Butte baby and he scored 98.4.
The second highest best girl is Jen
nie Dorothy Konen of Butte, who
scored 98. Agnes Lillian Sommer
ville, of Toston, was declared the best
rural baby on a score of 97. Catherine
and Jane Eleanor Gleason of Helena
were declared the finest twins. Gold
uedals and cash prizes of $100 and
$25 were the prizes. The awards
were announced at the fair by Govern
or Stewart today. Three hundred and
thirty babies were entered in the cou
test.
Fine Book and Job Printing a spec
ialty at the RIVER PRESS office.