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HI s^v Vh -i volume 6i i, 4 -I BILL PASSED SENATE TAKES ACTION ON MEAS URE ENLARGING POWERS OF COUNTY ATTORNEYS SUPPLE MENTING SHERIFFS' BILL- BUSY WEEK FOR THE COMMITTEES THERE ARE 151 BILLS IN THE HOUSE AND 116 IN THE SENATE TO BE EITHER REPORTED OR BURIED. Des Moines Bureau of The Ottumwa Courier. Des Moines, Feb. 1. As a supplement to the bill giving sheriffs additional duties with regard to the enforcement of the laws, passed Saturday, the senate passed unanim ously the bill to give additional du ties and responsibilities to the county attorneys. There was little discussion and it was explained that the sole pur pose of the bill was to require that county attorneys prosecute all offen ders against the law and in case they fail to do so there will be grounds for their removal. Four Other Bills Passed. The senate also passed a bill to re quire the placing out at interest of county funds In the hands of county treasurers and the bill to require the placing of lights on steamboats in Iowa. The house passed the bill to ex empt dentists from Jury service and the hill to give fifty dollars for burial expenses of eld soldiers. Feet Down While Dictating. In the house. Representative Still man introduced a resolution for a se lect committee to prepare changes in the drainage laws to conform to the constitutional amendment adopted last year. Representative Allred introduc ed a resolution to forbid members of the house from giving dictation to stenographers while they, the mem bers, haye their feet on the desks or are engaged in smoking, and requiring members to do their smoking in the cloak rooms. Busy Week for Legislature. The present week in the legislature promises to be a busy one for the committees. In the house 151 bills have been introduced and the senate has more than kept up to its share by introducing 116. Of the 277 measures less than 40 have been taken up by the. committees. This means tha: much work must be done soon in or der that a great number of bills may escape the grasping fingers of the sifting committees at the end of the session. This week two important committee hearings are scheduled. The senate committee tomorrow will hear the op ponents of the Allen bill to compel railroads to furnish care when ship pers desire them. Railroad attorneys will tell why the-two words "when possible" should not be stricken from the present statute, and the members of the committee will solemnly pro pound questions that will cause the brows of the railroad counsels to Wrinkle in perplexity and the com mlttee will no doubt shift to a 3ub committee the task of deciding wheth er the bill shall be recommended or buried under that awe-inspiring "in definite postponement" headstone. On Friday the two school commit tees and as many others as can crowd into the committee room will listen to arguments for and against the bill which proposes to put the rural schools imder a plan of county control. The "school bill" is so bulky that few members of the legislature outside of the membership of the schools com mittee have enough knowledge of its provisions to enable them to vote in telligently upon it. Consequently much interest attaches to the hear ings. Ora Williams. TAKES ROOT FOR A PUGILIST. Guest at Hot Springs Hotel According ly Addresses Secretary of State to the Latter's Amusement. Hot Springs, Feb. 1.—Ex-Secretary of State Root does not look much like a man in need of rest, if one guest at the hotel is to be believed. The for mer secretary was mistaken today in the hallway In his bath for Billy Papke, a western pugilist, who is stop ping at the same hotel. Mr. Root was walking to the big bathroom and was clad only in a Turk ish robe and sandals. He met Jack Pollux, a traveling salesman, who was returning. "Say, Bill," said the traveling man, "I thought I'd meet you in the bath. I wanted to talk over some matters with you." Then Pollux saw his mistake and apologized. Mr. Root was amused when informed for whom he was taken and asked if Papke's bath robe was the same color as his. (Mntmttt Lost Milwaukee Train is Located Passengers Gone La Crosse, Wis., Feb. 1.—Miss ing train No. 23 on the South ern Minnesota division of the St. Paul road was officially found today when wire communication was established with Jackson, Minn. The train was unable to get through the snow drifts be yond Ja.kson and had discharg ed its passengers. They were sent to their destinations by round about routes. BATTLESHIPS AT GIBRALTAR BOATS OF OTHER NATIONS JOIN IN WELCOMING FLEET AT FAMOUS FORT Gibraltar, Feb. 1. —For an hour this morning the port of Gibral tar was the scene of a naval en gagement at close range while the American battleships that ar rived yesterday were exchanging salutes with the shore and for eign warships in the harbor that were omitted because of its be ing Sunday. Rear Admiral Sperry, accompanied by the members of his staff, came ashore at noou and called upon General Sir Frederick Forrestier Walker, the military governor. Gibraltar, Feb. 1. The first divi sion of the United States Atlantic fleet, composed of the Connecticut, Vermont, Kansas and Minnesota, un der command of Rear Admiral Sperry, arrived thig morning from Vil.le franche. Althoug hthe arrival of the squad ron lacked the noisy accompaniment of thundering guns, the formal ex change of salutes being postponed un til tomorrow in deference to the day, the British welcome was no less hearty and cordial. From the moment the glistening white hulls of the American ships were mere specks, upon the blue wat ers of the Mediterranean every coign of vantage pn the rock of Gibraltar was occupied, and by the time they were ready to round majectically into the harbor the entire population seemed to be massed on the water front. Nations Joion in Greetings. The two British battleships, Albe marle and Albion, and the four ships of the second cruiser squadron just returned from South American wat ers the Russian battleships, Tzare vitch and Slava, and the protected cruisers Bogatyr and Oleg the French gunboat, Heimadal, lying in side the breakwater, with sides manned, flags dipping, and bands playing, greeted the Americans as each in turn entered and was berthed. The American battleships responded with flags and music, the band on board the Connecticut playing the na tional anthem of each country repre sented. As they passed the jackios aboard the Russian warships uncov ered and stood with bared heads while the American bands rendered "God Save the Czar." FIFTEEN HURT IN WRECK Milwaukee Passenger Goes Down Embankment Into Five Feet of Water in "Minnesota. Winona, Minn., Feb. 1.—A west bound Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul passenger train was wrecked three miles from Rushford at noon today and the engine, baggage, mail and smoking cars went down the en bankment into Root river, where the water is four (o flve feet deep. The accident was due to spreading rails. There were about thirty passengers on board. Advices are to the effect that no lives were lost, although about fif teen persons were injured. BROWN TAKES HIS POST lowan.Who Began as Section Hand. Goes to Seat as President of N. Y. Central. New York, Feb. 1.—William C. Brown who began his railroad career forty years ago as a section hand on the St. Paul railroad at a dollar a ray, today became the president of the system of railroads of which the New York Central is the chief line. He stepped into office today without In augurating any changes affecting the personnel of the road. RECEIVERS ARE NAIVfED J. A. Johnson of Bonaparte and C. L. Powell of Des Moines in Charge of Meek Firm. Bonaparte, Feb. 1. —(Speical.) The federal court at Keokuk today named J- A. Johnson of Bonaparte and Attorney Charles L. Powell of Des Moines as receivers for Meek Bros. & -Co., who recently went Into bankruptpy. The receivers will take charge at once and wind up the affairs of the concern. OFFICERS ARE TAINED BY I MINERS UPHOLD ACTION OF PRESIDENT LEWIS AND EXECU TIVE BOARD IN SUSPENDING INDIANIANS.' Indianapolis, Ind., Feb. 1.—The for tunes of war were with the adminis tration party when the third week of the convention of the United Mine Workers of America opened this morning. The assembly was more tur bulent than ever, but there was mani fested among the delegates a determin ation to proceed to business without further personal controversies. John Walker of Illinois, attempted to con tinue his denunciation of the action of President Lewis and the international executive hoard in suspending the oill cers of district number eleven, of In diana, for having disobeyed their man date. The motion to extend the time of debate in favor of Walker was lost amid cheers and he had to take his seat. On the question of accepting the report of the committee approving of the president and the international board in suspending the Indiana offi cere it was obvious the ayes had it, but the anti-Lewis faction demanded a roll call which proceeded amid much disorder. FARE NOW FIVE CENTS Cleveland Gives Up Three-Cent Exper iment When Roads Face Bankruptcy. Cleveland, Feb. 1.—In accordance with instructions recently issued by Federal Judge Taylor to the receivers of the entire street railway system of this city, the rate of fare was today increased from three to flve cents on all lines except upon those where the franchises siwclflcaV'y provide a rate of not more? than three cents. The rate fare was increased because of the inability of tlxe company to pay its running expenses and liquidate the accumulated debts under the three cent fare. SIX-DAY RACE IS ON Best Talent of Country Entered in Contest Which Opened at Kan sas City Today. Kansas City, Feb. 1.—With eight teams reputed to he the cream of the six day bicycle riders of the country as contestants an eight hour day, six day bicycle race began this afternoon in convention hall. The contestants are: Moran-Kramer New Jersey, Fogler-Root, New York. Bardgett-Mitten, Iowa. Demara-Hill, California. Walker-Palmer, Australia. Wilcox-Senhouse, Utah. Wiley-Cameron, Brooklyn. Devomvitch-Mckay, Russia. PASTOR GETS TERM FOR THEFT. Rev. Henry Wilmer of Rome, Georgia, Convicted and Given Three Years in the Pen. Rome, Ga., Feb. 1.—Rev. Henry Wil mer, pastor of the East Rome Bap tist church, after a long asd sensation al trial, has been found guilty of lar ceny and sentenced to three years in the penitentiary by Judge Morris. Mr. Wilmer apparently tired of the atmos phere of Rome and told the members of his congregation that if he secured his expenses to Chicago he would be able to interest some wealthy men there In the Rome church and erect a new building. A large expense fund was raised and Mr. Wilmer disappear ed for months, finally being found in Chattanooga and extradited back to Georgia. Wi8Consin-ltlinoiB League Opens May 6 Milwaukee, Feb. 1.—The News to day says the opening baseball games of the Wisconsin-Illinois league will be on May 6, and will be Green Bay at Appleton OshkOBh at Fon du Lac Madison at Racine, and Freeport at Rockforfl. The schedule calls for 128 games. The season closes September 12. One Farmer L06t 60 Steers. Marshalltown, Feb. 1.—(Special)— The heaviest loss as a result of the blizzard was learned today from St. Anthony where James McManus, a farmer lost forty out sixty head of steers. Twenty-six animals were found dead in one creek bed. In present condition they are worth fifty a head. Anxious About German Steamer. Philadelphia, Feb. 1.—There is con siderable anxiety over the safety of the German steamship,, Maria Rick mers now ten days overdue. The ship is under the command of Captain Rupp and carried a crew of thirty-two men when she left Grenock, Scotland, January 2. •. •/••••,•*. f- yuwr*-*-.- gSf ti-ttkeMg a. OTTUMWA. WAPELLO COUNTY, x,ej00H '"w^oTSSjS^Y __J S GEORGE BUSSE EXONERATED BY CORONER'S JURY AFTER ACCI DENTALLY KILLING DAUGHTER OF ARMY OFFICER. Chicago, Feb. 1. George Busse, brother of Mayor Busse, who last night accidentally shot and killed Mrs. Lucius C. Tucker man in an apartment, building, was exonerated from all blame by the coroner's jury today. Chicago, Feb. 1. George Busse, brother of Fred A. Busse, mayor of Chicago, last night accidentally shot and killed Mrs. •Lucius C. Tuckerman wife of a fruit dealer at Milton, N. Y. The bullet struck Mrs. Tuckerman In the heart and she died instantly. The shooting occurred in the Wal ton apartment building at 305 North Clark street. Mrs. Tuckerman was vis iting her father, Brigadier General A. C. Gerard, retired, who occupies an apartment in the building.. Shortly be fore 7 o'clock George Busse, in his apartment across an areaway, was demonstrating the use of a revolver to Miss Bertha Lamke, his housemaid, so that she could employ the weapon in case of burglars. Suddenly the re volver was discharged and the bullet went through two windows and cross ing the areaway into the Gerard apartment and pierced Mrs. Tucker man's heart. Mayor Busse was present at the shooting and as soon as he learned of the fatal consequences no tified the police. Mrs. Tuckerman was in a bedroom dressing. When struck by the bullet which crashed through the window at her side, she staggered Into a hallway. General GVrard and Mrs. Tuckerman's 5-year-old son Alfred rushed in. "Oh, father, I've been shot and I'm dying," said Mrs. Tuckerman, and ex pired. A moment later there was a loud pounding a,t the door Of"th6 Gir ard apartment and Mayor Busse and his brother George, came in. Mayor Busse's wife and his mother followed. The .mayor summoned a physician an 1 notified the police by telephone. But the woman died before the physician arrived. No arrest were made. Gen. Girard expressing himself as satis fied that the shooting was purely ac cidental. According to the statements made to the police, George Busse was about to leave his mother and her maid home alone, without- some means of protection. He therefore purchased a revolver, and was instructing the maid how to use it, when the trigger was pulled accidentally. George Busse was to have left for Springfield, 111., on political business. Mrs. Tuckerman had been out walking with her son and was preparing for dinner when she was shot. ZERO WEATHER THROUGH EAST STORM WHICH SWEPT THROUGH WE8T CAUSES SUFFERING THERE SOUTH HIT. New York, Feb. 1.—New York, Pennsylvania and other eastern states today experienced the coldest weather of the season. At points in the Adiron dacks the mercury was as low as 32 degrees below zero, while in central and western New York the tempera ture was from 3 to 5 degrees below. Railway traffic was not interfered with. There is great suffering in this city among the homeless and during the night thousands were given food and shelter at various public and pri vate charitable institutions. Cold In Kentucky. Lexington, Ky., Feb. 1.—Although the weather was intensely cold throughout central and eastern Ken tucky ,the temperature continued slow ly dropping today. Great suffering is reported in the mountain districts and much live stock is reported to have died from the cold. *j«,! Zero Weather No Gas. Toledo, Feb. 1.—Zero weather and a diminishing supply of natural gas ow ing to a serious break in the main, is the situation Toledoans are facing to day. At Lancaster, upper Sandusky and other points similar conditions prevail. Fatcories have been closed and schools dismissed because of the lack of gas. 4THE WEATHER. Iowa and Wisconsin—Fair tonight and Tuesday warmer east tonight. Local Weather. Nine o'clock last evening... I ig Seven o'clock this morning 22 Two o'clock this afternoon 40 Sunrise, 7:03 sunset, 5:03 moon set, 4:29. -.ir,-' TTt )zu I BY BROTHER OF .*»* Illinois Congressman Who is Placed in Ananias Club by President of Panama ::v••: ilii! fr 1 J* PRESIDENT OF PANAMA DENIES OBALDIA AND ASSEMBLYMEN BRAND STATEMENTS OF CON GRESSMAN RAINEY"UNTRTjl£ Panama, Feb. 1. The charges made in the American congress ie cently by Representative Rainey ol Illinois against Domingo de Obaldia, president of Panama, and others, have brought out denials from the president and sixteen members of the national assembly. The assemblymen have signed a statement that they were present at the meeting in the president's office where the contract for the exploitation of the timber in dustry along the Atlantic coast of Panama was discussed and that dur ing the meeting neither President Obaldia nor any one else said or im plied that Charles P. Taft, William Nelson Cromwell and Roger L. Farn ham had any direct or indirect partici pation in the business. Among those signing the statement are the pronjinent opposition leaders of the assembly. President Obaldia has discharged the local government employe who published a pamphlet criticising Cromwell and President Roosevelt. BRIGHTON WOMAN SANE? Mrs. Womelsdorf Whose Husband was Killed Some Years Ago Before Commissioners of Insane. Fairfield, .Feb. 1.—At the February term of the .district court, which open ed this afternoon, with Judge Ander son presiding, the mental condition of Mrs. Nanoy Womelsdorf of near Brighton will be investigated. Mrs. Womelsdorf is known in Fairfield by her connection with the trial of Dan Shepherd a few years ago for the murder of her husband, Chris Womels dorf. Shepherd is now serving a term at Ft. Madison for the crime and at the trial Mrs. Womelsdorf was one of the principal witnesses for the state. She is past eighty years old and it is claimed that since the tragic death of her husband her mind has been grad ually giving away until a guardian is necessary. NEBRASKAN DIES IN IRELAND. Hugh Murphy of Bloomfieid Stricken While in Railroad Station Dur ing Visit to Erin. Dublin, Feb, 1.—Hugh Murphy ct Bloomfieid, Neb., died suddenly Satur day at the Glengarry railway station while he was putting his bicycle on board a train. Mr. Murphy was on a visit to Ireland. He leaves a widow and family in Nebraska. British Steamer Wrecked Many Drown Melbourne. Fab. 1.—The British steamer Clan Ranald is a total wreck near Edithburg, the captain and forty six of the crew, most of whom are Asiatics, are drowned. Eighteen mem bers of the crew were picked up. Two Hundred Dead In China. FEBROAEY 2, 1909 7STUMBER 77 VS&N 4* H* Henry Rainey. Representative Rainey made a fiery speech in the house recently in de fense of his resolution asking an investigation of the Panama canal pur chase. He said William Nelson Cromwell, Charles P. Taft and President Obaldia of Panama were principals In a scheme of graft in Panama. Presi dent Obaldia today added his denial to that of the other parties named by Mr. Rainey. Woman Loses Hair When Her Celluloid Comb Catches Fire Moulton, Feb. 1.—(Special)— A peculiar accident happened to Mrs. Cam Shclton, north of Moul ton. jSaturday. Whilft -Bitting by. the stove she stooped over and the celluloid comb In her hair became ignited, burning the hair from her head. In trying to help his wife Mr. Shelton's hands were badly burned. TAFT ENGINEERS INSPECTING WORK CULEBRA CUT TRAMPED OVER TODAY GATUN LOCK AND OAM FOUND O. K. Culebra, Panama, Feb. 1, —Wm. II. Taft and the engineers reached here from Panama today and made a de tailed examination of fourteen miles of the Culebra cut. The fact that the existing plans for the lock and Hum at Gatun are satisfactory to the visit ing engineers has created a local leei ing of optimism and feats of delay in the completing of the work hare been relieved. The construction of the Gatun dam is as good as it could be and the cea sure of it will be declared unfounded by the official investigators. The engineers who accompanied President-elect Taft to the isthmus and who have been examining the canal construction, spent-today at Ga tun, with the chief engineer of the canal, Lieut. Col. Goethals. Plans for Safeguarding Complete. After close investigation they had no fault to find with the natural foun dations for the dam and they regarded the plans for safeguarding it as being complete in every respect! They will make a report to Presi dent Roosevelt and, it is understood, will refute the criticisms that have been made. CHEAP GAS FOR NEW YORK Supreme Court Denies Rehearing Corporation in Eighty Cent Case. Canton, China, Feb. l.—At least two seps, widow of Count Ferdinand de hundred lives were lost In a fire which Lesseps, the protnoter of ,the ship occurred today in the fleet of the Flow erboars. FIRST SPIKE to Washington, D. C„ Feb. 1.—The su preme cout of the United States today denied the application of the Consoli dated Gas company of New York for a rehearing of the case involved in the validity of the 80 cont gas law which was recently decided against the company and in favor of the mu nicipality. Oskaloosa Boy Shot While Hunting. Oskaloosa, Feb. 1. (Special. Tom McDonough, aged 20, and scion of a leading family was shat In tho leg while rabbit hunting. H$ bled to death before medical aid could be st cured. Countess De Lesseps Dead. Paris, Feb. l.-The Countess de Les- -[canals of Suez, Corinth and Panama, I died here yesterday.-.** i, e-% S-V j'' 1 I :,t^ SEVEN OTTUMWA MEN TAKE IN- ITIATIVE IN FORMING A COM PANY TO BUILD A NEW ROADi OUT OF CITY. .4« IS INCORPORATED WITH $10,000 CAPITAL OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS ARE NAMED—WILL DISPOSE OF NINE TY-THREE $100 8HARE8—TO EM« PLOYE EXPERT SURVEYORS. .,M The first, spike In the ties upon which the first lnterurban into Ottum wa will ride was driven this morning) when the organization of the Inter-! urban Construction Co., with a capltali stock of $10,000 In the office of the] Ottumwa Commercial association "was formed. The concern is incorporated under the laws of Iowa, has received its charter and will upon the sale ot ninety-three $100 shares of stock, be gin at once a system of surveys to as certain the best route to build the ln terurban. The officers of the new coa cern are: President—T. D. Foster. Vice president—J. W. Neasham. Secretary—W. T. Harper. Treasurer—J. W. Garner. ,f These gentlemen with Samuel Ma hon, W. J. Donelan and John Worm houdt compose the board of seven di rectors and each has purchased a par seven $100 shares. The balance ninety-seven are held in trust by PresV-j dent Foster, as trustee, and will bo disposed of as fast as purchasers terinlizo. This $10,000 capital 'will, bo used to conduct expert surveys of the several proposed interurban routes. It1 is the desire of all interested to have the first lnterurban a.paying one, built upon good lines and of the timber of' consequent success that will argue, most vehemently for more lnterur bans. It is not the idea to take anyj one man's pet route, but to secure, from the very best sources possible the servicee of men skilled in the workj of surveying for railroads. It Is. argued that $10,000 thus spent will in the end bring to the city of Ofr tumwa more real good from a com mercial and business standpoint than $50,000 spent on an interurban roadj that after completion is a dead horse,' one that carrier, but little good to the! community. If the nlnety-thre9 shares' have not been disposed of before to morrow noou. '"•hen the regular week ly noon nMcii'ng of +he G'tumwii Com mercial •isaoolKti jn ,'s hfcld, some plant will be made for their distribution. I What an Interurban Means. Now that the foundations to not one but several interurbans have been laid by the Interurban Construction Co., opportunity is given every business man and citizen who really believes that through their medium the city of Ottumwa will advance, to assert his judgment by purchasing stock In tho{ first road. There has been consider able oral agitation along interurban) lines in Ottumwa for the past year.j This volume of speech has now shaped) itself in the. form of the real Jtostitu-j tion, whose object first of all is to pro-) vide Ottumwa with the best possible[ interurban. To realize this no small un dertaking. Money, plenty of it, will! be needed, and to thotse individuals'! who have faith In the future of Ottumr wa_ in its business and population ex pansion, in sustaining its reputation of being active instead of being dor mant, will have air opportunity of pur chasing stock and thus become active ly identified with what many consider' the best possible stroke of progress. The numerous advantages reaped t.hrough the medium of an interurban' is too well known by every intelligent! person to make necessary any further, comment. Suffice it is to say that, history of railroad life of the lnter urban variety has stamped this linking, of smaller cities with larger ones thei very best possible manner of providing the conveniences ot metropolises to those residing in villages. To the commercial success of any of the ter-. minals, much is added and to those who reside in placid country homes, along the line, untold benefits in th« shape of numerous conveniences pro vided through no other means, result. How Road Can Be Built. While it is true that a considerable amount of money is necessary for the construction and equipment of an ln terurban road, this phase of the scheme will not be one of as great a magnitude as at first it seems. The residents of Ottumwa, known as cen ter township will doubtless be eager to vote a three or possibly a five mill tax. The same action, doubtless will be taken by all residents in outside (Continued on page 7.)