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6c a week CATHER FORECAST: TOMORROW: FAIR. "DOLLAR GAS" FRANCHISE PASSES THE CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY Mayor Daggett Will Sign It—Promoter I Kyle Will Accept It, Regardless o; Burdensome Conditions—Press, Sin* gle Handed, Wins a Great Victory for the People. In the language of our friend, Mr. Aldrich: "Dollar gas is com ing." In fact, in so far as the city gov ernment is concerned "dollar gas" Is here. The "dollar gas" franchise was passed unanimously by the city council last night. Mayor Daggett has assured The Press that he will sign the fran chise ordinance. A signal victory has been won by The Spokane Pre6s in the interest of the people. Single handed, over two months ago, this paper began an exi>ose of the Aldrich-Andeison-Philadelphia gas combine in this city. The evi dence produced of the deception and crookedness practiced by this concern created a sensation and was labeled by some as unbeliev able. However, ns days went by nnd the statements nnd evidence of The Press went unchallenged by the concern under flre. even the REPORT ALL DEAD Late News From Valencia Carries the Awful Intel* legence. Wreck on Rocky Shore where Assistance Is Impossible. (Scrlpps News Association.) VICTORIA, B. 0 H Jan. 24. — A message has Just been received from Pamfield which says the Va lencia Is a total wreck and every body Is drowned. The worst fears of all concerned have been realized. The Valencia is a total loss and went to pieces during the night, carrying to death between 90 and 100 people. Ves sels which went to its assistance were unable to render aid. The steamer Salvori now on was to this port with between 50 and 60 bodies on board. VICTORIA, B C, Jan 24,-No news was received this morning from the Valencia, although three vessels from Victoria and the City ALDRICH GROWS WARLIKE OVER PRESS GAS EXPOSE Thinking over The Press' expose of the Spokane gas company's methods, Mr. Aldrich, its erstwhile manager, last a'ght grow belliger ent. Ho selected as the object of his wrath one Henry W Mahany, formerly head solicitor for tho old gas company and more lately em ployed by the "dollar gas" puoplc In securing contracts for tho future product of the company. Aldrich saw Mahany passing the offlro of tho monopoly aiul called him in. Mahany states he began U> abuse him for bavlni: furnUhed most skeptical were convinced that Spokane had in its midst one of the most corrupt and conscience less public service corporations to be found anywhere outside of the home of its parent, the Union Gas company of Philadelphia. There were no less than 23 lead stories carried by this paper, each devoted to some particular phase of wrong doing on the part of this company. Since the main stories appeared, the paper has published many short stories telling of the deception and fraud practiced upon particular residents of this community. These individual instances were selected from scores on file in The Press office. In connection with these articles The Press urged COMPETITION as the only relief which the public could obtain from its despised op pressor. In response to The Press' de mands for gas competition, Mr. Kyle nnd associates came forward of Topelui which was dispatched from Seattle last night must be on the scene long ere this. The Queen City from this port was at Clo- Oose at 1 o'clock yesterday after noon, but saw nothing of the wreck and heard nothing till she got to Bamfleld. The captain reported the weather thick and a big sea coming up. He said be could do nothing If he returned. He was ordered by agents here to continue on his trip. This morning private advices from llamfleld cable station state the weather Is very thick with heavy sea running and that nothing could be descerned of the rescue ships. It Is the belief here that after last night's weather nothing is left of the steamer, although the saloon was dry when the two boats which reached laud left her. The Press with material for its ex pose after leaving the employ of the monopoly. Aldrich character ized this as a trick. Mahany de nied the accusation and proceeded to tell the former manager of the air-gas concern what he and the people of Spokane thought of him, during which various examples of strong English agitatod the atmo sphere. Aldrich, so It Is stated, grabbed a chair, either for support or de fense, and a melee ensued in which the chair somehow got into Ma The Spokane Press. with their "dollar gas" franchise. This franchise was submitted to the management of this paper for criticism before being presented to the citl council and many of the conditions safeguarding the inter est of the public were incorporated in this franchise at Tho Press' sug gestion. For this paper maintains that in the long run what is best for the people will be best for the public corporation. The people will support any institution that shows an Inclination to treat the public with fairness. After presentation to the council, the franchise was amended in sev eral respects. It was plainly evi dent several of these amendments were made that the applicants would be unable to operate under it. For Instance, the $5000 deposit of good faith, and no similar de posit has ever been demanded in this city, is compelled to be made in a national bank. Why national bank? Because VICTORIA, Jan. 24—A message from T. Patterson, light keeper at Cape Beale, says a vossel Is ashore at a bad place. It is tho Valencia of San Francisco, with 100 on board, 60 are drowned. She asks assistance. SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 21 —Offi- cials of the Pacific Coast Steam ship company, owners of the Va lencia, report up to 10 o'clock this morning not a single telegram has been received so far from the scene of the disaster. No news ex pected until some time this after noon, when steamer Queen City or City of Topeka return. Muny anx ious people besiege the offices of the steamship company by tele phone and In person. FIELD WILL TO BE PROBATED CHICAGO, Jan. 24—lawyers for tho Field estate this afternoon said the will would be filed as soon as papers could be prepared, probably late this afternoon. It was read last Saturday to the family and ex ecutors. No estimate of its size has been made by executors. hany's possession anil was passed through tho air in the direction of I the head of said Aldrich, which It missed. The chair was broken by I contact with something -exterior to the person of the said Aldrich. All of which, it is stated, Aldrich characterized as an offense against the peace and dignity of the state and he promised to appeal to the courts today for redress. The gas company is still selling air-gas. Its new manager is expect ed today. Exeunt Aldrich. .1 -i v . U (Bcrlpps News Association.) SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, "WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1906. The "dollar gas" franchise provides: That gas shall be sold at $1.00 a thousand cubic feet. That 2 per cent of the gross earnings shall be paid to the city. That the plant can be bought by the city after 10 years. That $5000 shall be deposited in a bank as an earnest of good faith. That a. $20,000 bond shall be given to protect the city. That construction shall commence in three months and end in 18 months. That the franchise shall run for 40 years. Kyle, the applicant, is connected with another banking institution in the city and it was thought he would resent It. After these burdens, somo condi tions were attached. One of the city councilmen remarked that he guessed tho applicants could not use the franchise in that shape. But the mayor has stated his in tention of signing the franchise; Mr. Kyle has announced that he intends accepting, and the people are in a fair way to have cheap light and fuel. The Press claims a great meas ure of the credit for gas competi tion. The battel thus far has been won without, the aid of the cham ber of commerce and 150,000 club, which Institutions have been sig- SUIT CASE OF SUSPECTS HELD MUCH SILVERWARE R. E. Weils Ed Wells, Henry Ham and William Mosgrove were arrested yesterday as suspects. Of what they were suspected the po lice refused to state. The men were supposed to be taken to the police court this afternoon and charged with some offense, but this was delayed until the owners of the articles discovered in a suit case found in their possession arj found. WHILE THEY WORKED Morgan: Deacon Belmont, did you hear about those awful bond forgers in Ohio? Belmont: Yos, Brother Morgan. It pains me to see crime rampant In this godly world; Gates: And the worst of it is, the caught 'em in tho act. nificantly silent —so much so that one can almost hear the whispered reason. What this victory means, the experience of other cities makes plain. It means not alone a saving of thousands annually to the peo ple and the extetnsion of the con sumption of gas to the poor of Spo kane, but it means that in cheap fuel and light the town has an ad that will attract the attention of thousands of prospective citizens. Achieved without the aid of the puissant chamber of commerce and 150,000 club, these bodies can now talk themselves hoarse about it through their traveling megaphones and insert It In all the literature paid for by the people's $30,000, not $40,000, publicity fund. i This morning the suit case wi*> opened and found to contain si!"er knives, forks, spoons and other ar ticles which had been stolen from Davenport's. There were also found iv the case cloth suit, one morocco covered clock, napkins taken from Davenport's restaurant and one traveling case, probably worth $20. When the things are identified, the will be tried for grand larceny. The two men. Mosgrove and Ham, were arrested by Detective Bob Briley early yesterday afternoon, PACKERS CLAIMING IMMUNITY (Scrlpps News Association.) CHICAGO, Jan. 24.—1n the fed eral court this morning District At torney Morrison expounded the common law which provides im munity for persons who turn state's evidence. Morrison's understanding of the law is that witness can not claim Immunity unless he testified under oath in court. The court dis agreed with the main points in Mor rison's plea. The case this afternoon took on a phase that promises tho release of the defendants. At the conclu sion of the argument of Morrison, Louis C. Krauthoff, attorney for Armour, was called to the stand to prove that Garfield had promised immunity to defendants. Commis sion then went into consultation with packers' lawyers, shortly af ter announced attorneys on" both sides agreed to a private confer ence "to get together on facts." WORLD'S RECORD BEEN SROKEN (Scrlpps News Association.) ORMON'D, Fla., Jan. 24—Lancia broke the world's five mile automo bile record today going tho dis tance in 2:54 3-4. Hemery then beat this by 20 3-5 seconds, going it in 2:34. and the other two men were arrest ed by Detectives Weir and Briley some time later. The four men pose as fruit pedlers. The suit case was found in the wagon used by Main and Mosgrove. These men stated that they were simply mov ing the case for the Weils. The oldest Weil was questioned as to where he got the traveling case and stated his wife had given it to him last April for a Christmas present. The story did not sound good to Briley. FOURTH YEAR. NO. 66. PRICE. ONE CENT TEN YEARS IN PEN FOR WHEELER Morris Wheeler, who pleaded guilty to burglarizing Hellman's restaurant recently, was sentenced by Judge Huneke this morning to 10 years in the penitentiary at Walla Walla. Wheeler had worked at the restaurant for a few days and then entered the place by an air shaft. His arrest was made by Merchants' Policemen Stauffer and Long. To tho court this morning he said that he came to Spokane from Portland seven months ago, that by profession he was a dry goods clerk, but had not worked at that lino since four years ago in Great Falls, Mont. Boyd Bechtel received a sentence of six months in the county jail for unlawful relations with his broth er's wife. Young Bechtel has an excellent reputation and it is said ARRESTED FOR STEALING VALUABLE FAMILY PARROT The trouble in the home of J. H. Metzke has finally landed that fam ily in the police court. The straw that broke the camel's back was the family parrot, valued at $25. The Metzke's have had a world of trouble. Their flflrst fracas arove over, so Metzke states, his wife's going with other men, while his little girl would be left alone in his rooms. Metzke also claimed his wife was not a proper person to care for the little girl. This trou ble was barely over when Mrs. Metzke filed papers for a divorce, STEVENS CANAL WASHINGTON, D. C, Jan. 24.— The form of canal favored by Chief Engineer Stevens and which prob ably will be adopted was made pub lic today. It provides for a lock canal aT elevation of 85 feet, with flight of three locks on Colon side, two on Panama side. Cost estimat ed at $147,000,000, taking seven and a half years. ADVERTISING SHUT MOUTHS TOWN TOPICS NEW YORK, Jan. 24. — Bernard N. Baker of Baltimore, president of the Baltimore Trust company, testified in the Deuel libel suit against Editor Hapgood of Collier's Weekly this morning that an item retlecting upon his family was dis continued in Town Topics after he gave the paper advertising. BRIGHTON, Colo., Jan. 24. — County Judge A. H. Guthiel was arrested this morning after a fight with Sheriff James P. Higgins and his deputy. He was thrown into jail on the charge of assessing ex cessive fees in a recent contempt case against two town trustees. PROTECTION FOR CHARLIE Charlie, the Chinaman who has been assisting the police in break ing up the opium joints In the city, has been threatened with death for betraying his fellow countrymen. Charlie came to tho police station this morning to ask police protec tion or to be given a police star, which he has been after for some time past. Charlie says his dangers come from Lo Wood in the Lottos block. "Lo Wood sell opium all tho time. one cent that there were extenuating cir cumstances in his taking up with the woman, who had been practic ally abandoned by her husband. The pair havo settled their trou bles during the course of which complaint was lodged. Mrs. Pot ter, on behalf of a charitable or ganization, asked clemency for tho young man, stating thct he was a good lad, and doubtless the victim of circumstances. W. P. Holbrook and Vance Rehm were arraigned on a charge of lar ceny from the. person in taking a watch from George W. Becman. F. E. Siler was also arraigned for grain! larceny in taking f35 from the Chicago coffee house. Another arraignment was that of Charles Crohn for burglarizing Bradley's store. All will plead to morrow morning. alleging cruelty. Then Metzke filed a cross complaint. Hardly had tha papers been filed when Mrs. Metz ke enjoined him from selling hla saloon, the Kentucky liquor house, on Sprague avenue. Today Metzzke was arrested on a warrant for larceny. He was ac cused of stealing the family parrot. His case came up for trial be fore Judge Hinkle and was post poned until Saturday. After the trial Metzzke asked for a warrant for the arrest of his wife for rais ing one of hlg checks from $5 to $25. SHE CLOTHED HER BRUTAL HUSBAND Rex S. Seymour, at Intervals dur ing his career in this city as a bar tender, came Just about as near as possible tt> being fined by Judga Huneke this afternoon as one pos sibly could. Seymour was In court In responsa to an order to show cause why ha should not pay his wifo money with which to maintain her suit for divorce on the grounds of cruet ty. As Seymour took the witness stand it was observed that if ha was not under the influence of li quor it was a pretty good imitation. He acknowledged having choked] his wife, but said that he had been aggravated to do it by finding hia wife in company with a negro in * room. When asked to repeat this statement he squirmed away from the repetition. N Mrs. Seymour took the stand and showed a mutilated hand, with not a finger remaining, and said that recently she had earned the money] for the pair to live on. She said that she was paying for the over coat Seymour had at that moment on his back. Seymour frequently; interrupted his wife and his law yer could not control him. Tha court admonished him, and finally, ordered him to pay $75 to his wife. A word from Josh Wise: Dis tance don't lend no enchantment when you have t' walk It I He sell It to all the Chinamen of any one who will buy it. He makes a specialty selling opium to colored woman," sakl Charlie today. 1 "If the Spokane policeman will give mo a star and club, I will ar* rest all the bad Chinamen in Spo> kane. I am not afraid. 1 walk like) this if I get a star," stated Charlie, as he strutted up and down that station swiuglng his club as uoan ag he could as the officers do. Arrests may follow the threats td kill the Chinaman. jj