The Saint Paul globe., June 01, 1901, Image 1

About The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905

Image provided by: Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN

                
OFFiOiAL PAPER
— OF THE —
CITY OF ST. PAUL.
VOL, XXIV.-NQ. 152.
PUBLIC EXAMINER
POPE IS SUSTAINED
Gov. Van Sant Acts In Accordance
With His Report On Tax
Refundment Case.
Investigation of Auditor Johnson's
Office Results In Dismissal of
His Chief Deputy.
"The exnmiuatlon before me beans out fully the report of Gen. Pope,
nn«l eatabltehe* beyond all doubt that tbe bonine** of tne auditor*
oflScc, so for rh refundmeni* are concerned, ha* been conducted in
violation of law."—Gov. Van Sant.
A? a result of the investigation of the
tax refundment transactions in the office
of county Auditor Johnson, of Rams.-y
county, following the srmewnat cen
sorious report recently fiieJ with Gov.
Van Siiiit by Publics Kxaminer Pope,
3hiiiv Griswold. chief deputy in Auditor
Johnson's office, has resigned -that posi
tion by request, and "his official commis
sion has been revoked. A statement to
that effect was made by Auditor John
son yesterday afternoon during the clos
ing proceedings of the investigation of
the charges prefi-md against hi 3 ofi:ce
by the public examiner. That Mr. John
son's action simply anticipated sieps at
ready practicaUy determined, upon by the
state officials was shown in the follow
ing statement, which had already been
pr< pared by the governor, and was read
by him a very few minutes later:
GOV. VAN SANT'S RULfXG.
The report made by the public exam
ine r did not show any wrongful act on
the part of Mr. Johnson, the county
auditor. It. however, disclosed the fact
that gross Irregularities existed in the
et of the imsiness of the office,
:tn<l that in some respects the plain pro
visions of the law had been ignored. In
view of the situation aa disclosed by
the report, I deemed it my duty in the in
t< rest of the public to hold this prelimin
ary Investigation for the purpose of de
termining whether a commission should
be appointed under the statute. Had
there been anything in the report show
ing wrongful acts on the part of Mr.
Johnson, I would immediately have ap
pointed a commission with a view to de
termining whether he should be permitted
Id ins office longer.
POPE IS SUSTAINED.
The examination before .me bears out
fully the report of Gen. Pope, and estab
lishes beyond all doubt that the business
of the auditor's office, so far as tax re
fundments are concerned, has been con
ducted In violation of law. The evidence
■hows that Air. Johnson did not partici
pate in the violations, -and further, that
he had no knowledge that the law had
been thus violated. However, it ap
pears conclusively, that Harry Grlswold,
who was employed in the auditor's of
fice by Mr. Johnson, has been guilty of
the violations referred to. The evidence
satisfies me that public moneys were ad
vanced through Griswold to parties who
were not at the time entitled to receive
the same. He also caused public moneys
to be refunded to parties without the
canceling or filing of the certificates,
and it appears that refundments were
made, but the certificates called for were
missing. Mr. Griswold certainly knew
that he was. violating the law. and jeop
ardizing county funds. The fact is that
l.is conduct has been reprehensible and
I am pleased to learn from Mr. Johnson
that he has dismissed him from office.
As to Mr. Johnson I desire to say that
during the Investigation he has shown no
disposition to defend or excuse the con
duct of Mr. Griswold. Had he approv*
ed of the acts of Mr. Griswold I would
without hesitation feel It my duty to at
once appoint a commission looking to his
dismissal from office. I appreciate the
fact that In conducting the office of the
county auditor much of the work must
be done through subordinates; the audi
tor, however, should have general super
vision of all tnat is done. This should i
enlist his careful personal attention; he
should .be exceedingly careful In the se
lection of employes who are to serve the
public.
I take this occasion to commend Gen
Pope for his energy and earnestness in
this proceeding, and for his promptness
in calling my attention to these matters
so that the Interest of the public may be
preserved. _S. R. VanSant,
Governor. i
During the session of yesterday morn- !
ing In the governor's office, it became
more than ever apparent that the ac
tions of the chief deputy, rather than
those of Mr. Johnson himself, were un
der scrutiny.
POPE 'DEMANDS AN ANSWER.
Gen. Pope stated that he would like to
hear from Mr. Johnson as to whether any
of the points of his report to the gover
nor were still in controversy, and as to
what were his intentions in regard to re
taining Mr. Griswold in the-office. This
question remained unanswered when the
noon- recess was taken, but, when pro
ceedings were resumed at 3 o'clock, Mr.
Zollman. attorney for Mr. Johnson, stat
ed that he would like to have the coun
ty auditor answer that portion of It re
lating to Mr. Gri9wold's possible reten
tion in the auditor's office. It was then
that Mr. Johnson mad« his statement as
related above, but the governor had evi
dently been already inofficial'ly inform
ed of the fact, and the effect. of the
announcement nt that time was merely
to make it a matter of record, In the pro
ceedings of this hearing. Mr. Johnson
Bald In explanation of the course he had"
taken:
"I have been an<2 asa still loth to be
lieve that Mr. Gris^-o'.d has Intentional
ly been guilty of any malfeasance in
office, but the testimony here shows that
his management of affairs in regard to
tax refundments has been such that 1
would not feel justified In retaining him
longer in the position which he has^held.'
At this juncture the pubic examiner
Interposed a question as to the other
point embraced. In his original inquiry,
lie said:
"My Idea Is that when the substance
of my report to the governor waa sub
mitted to the auditor and the county
commissioners, the auditor was inclined
to question the truth of some of . the
Glatomoiits ami allegations which were
presojitcsl. I would like to inquire again
If any of my statements are still in conu
trovcrty."
In response to that Mr. Johnson re
plied: ? -. -
"1 havo a very decided opinion as to
the truth of some of the statements in
the report, but, as I understand It, my
opinion is not what is asked for here."
In response to Mr. Johnson, Gov. Van
Bant said:
"II la not my purpose to ask your opl:i
-- ion on that point, but later 1 may have
'occasion to ask you to do something.
jJThen the governor stated that he would
**>c I '.a*l to have the attorneys cum up
"thy case, as iit> would Uk« to have t&«
i. ' ■'■--.- r
THE ST. PAUL GLOBE
various points of contention on both sldea
presented to him in compact form.
MR. ZOLLMAN'B STATEMENT.
Mr. tollman stated that as far as he
could see the action of Mr. Johnson had
obviated tho necessity of argument to a
great extent. His knowledge of Mr Gris
wold, he said, was such that he, like Mr
Jonnson, could not believe him guilty of
any criminal dereliction. However he
could not in all things, defend tho course
which Mr. Griswold had evidently fol
lowed. He did not believe that Mr Gris
wold had intentionally done anything
that would permit fraud or optn the door
to criminal conspiracy, but that there
had been carelessness he would not deny
Mr. Zollman referred to Mr. Griswold's
long experience in the office of the stif*
auditor and the county auditor under
Mr. Johnson's predecessor, and continu
ing said:
'It is not possible for Mr. Johnson to
personally attend to all of the details of
his office, and in this case it has been
shown that he had employed to look
after the work in question, a man whom
he considered in every way efficient and
competent and whom he had every right
to so consider. The proof of a state of
facts which might make fraud possible
does not necessarily show fraud. The
testimony of the witnesses brought here
by the state public examiner shows that
tliis money in question was not used to
speculate in tax certificates. Mr. Light
ner haa not appealed here to say that
he was defrauded in any way. It is not
charged that any of the other persons
concerned have been defrauded in any
way. There is nothing in the testimony
to show that any fraud has been perpe
trated or that there has been any crim
inal conspiracy between Burns end Gris
wold. There is nothing to show that
Ramsey county ha 3 lost a dollar or couid
lose a dollar through the transactions
which have been described here. As far
as Mr. Johnson is concerned, there is
nothing here on which to predicate a
charge of malfeasance or even misfeas
ance in office."
GROSS NEGLIGENCE ADMITTED."
Mr. Somerby, assistant attorney gen
eral, in summing up the other side of
the case spoke somewhat as follows:
"The question to be decided here is
whether your excellency will summon a
commission to determine Mr. Johnson's
right and fitness to retain his office. The
existence of irregularities is practically
conceded. The charges that warrants
have been dawn in favor of certain per
sons without the surrender of the cer
tificates which constitute the county's
vouchers for the money paid; that cer
tificates have been surrendered and not
properly cancelled and that certificates
received, or said to have been received,
have not been properly filed, have been, I
think, pretty well established. The al
legations that James H. Burns has re
ceived special privileges and has been
using the funds of Ramsey county to
.speculate in tax certificates has been, it
seems to me, pToven. Whether there has
been damage done thereby we have no
evidence and we do not so claim. If the
light persons have received the money
it is not because of care on the part of
Mr. Johnson's force of clerks. There is
no room for argument as to the existence
of gross negligence in that office. Mr.
Johnson practically admits that when he
discharges Mr. Griswold. It is true that
an official whose department does as
much business, as that of Mr. Johnson
must dci.end to a great evtcnt upon his
deputies or subordinates. There is noth
ing to show dishonesty on the part of
Mr. Johnson or upon the part of Mr.
Griswold either, for that matter. Noth
ing fuither than gross negligence has
been shown. There is then some Ques
tion as to how tar an officer is justified in
trusting to his subordinates.
"Now, as to the question of whether
your excellency may think it proper or
necessary to appoint a commission to In
ciuire into the- official character of Mr.
Johnson. Mr. Johnson has stated here
that he discharged Mr. Bourne. Mr. Gris
wold's predecessor, for irregularities In
paying premiums on taxes. Bourne was
also a trusted employe and now comes
the case of Griswold. The question is,
has Mr. Johnson reposed toe much con
i Rdenoe in ills deputies."
The public examiner briefly stated his
| position relating to the steps he had
'■ taken in tho matter. He laid considei
j aide stress upon the fact that at tho
' time of the alleged irregularities Mr.
Johnson was absent from the city, but
was not on public service.
The governor read the statement given
above and the irvcident was declared to
be closed.
JOHXSOK'S NEW DEPUTY. -
County Auditor Intimates THn.t
Drnnimond Slay Succeed. Griatvold.
County Auditor Johnson was asked last
night as to whom he would appoint to
fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Gnswold's
resignation. He said:
"If James Drummond, my other deputy,
was well; I should not appoint a chief
deputy, as he is deputy now and would
succeed to the position. •,.
"Mr. Drummond's sickness and Mr.
Griswold's resignation leaves me at the
present time without a deputy, and In
case Mr. Drummond's condition becomes
such that it compels me to appoint one,
I shall do so. However, In case this be
comes necessary, I do not know just
whom I will appoint, as I have not yet
had any time to consider the matter.
"What have you to say In regard to
t\*i governor's decision, Mnt Johnson?"
"There: is no question In my mind but
that Gov. Van Sant banished all ]*r
soß!,-il feelings or prejudice in investigat
ing this matter and arrived at his con
clusions from a thoroughly, impartial
standpoint,; just as ho has seen it from
the evidence introduced. I am glad that
the investigation is over, as it has giver,
me a great deal of annoyance and I will
now be able to devote my time to the
i duties of my offloe," „
SATURDAY MORNING, JUNE 1, 1901.
BULLETIN OF
IMPORTANT NEWS OF THE DAY
Weather Forecast for St. Paul:
Occasional Showers.
I—Public Examiner Pope Sustained.
Cuban Action Unsatisfactory.
Four Huge Railroad Combines.
:: '. ' .•• - ■ ■ .-' - . .
Red Lake Most; Settle.
St Paul's* Street Lamps.
Worrit on Dam Stopped.
Weakened at Last.
S —News of the Northwest.
Case of I>r. Herron. ...
Weekly Trade Review.
Strike of Machinists.
4—Editorial Page.
6—Sporting: Xews.
Results of' Ball GameN.
Yankee Locomotive* Bent.
* 6—NenH of the Railroad*.
Life in Samoan Island*.
Wilhelmina at Berlin.
Wants of the People.
7—Markets of the World.
July Wheat, 74 1-2 to 74 6-80.
Bar Silver, GO G-So.
Stocks Active; Higher.
8-sWater Board in Earnest.
In Favor of Canteen Law.
Get Down to Hard Work.
WEATHER FOR TODAY.
Minnesota—Cloudy Saturday and Sun
day, with occasional showers and lower
temperature; fresh northeasterly winds.
Wisconsin—Cloudy Saturday and Sun
day, with occasional showers; fresn north
to- northwest winds.
lowa—Fair in Western, probably show
ers in eastern portion Saturday; Sunday
showers; variable winds.
North Dakota—Thunderstorms Satur
day, with cooler in southern and eastern
portions; warmer in extreme northwest
portion; Sunday fair with higher temper
ature; variable winds, mostly southerly.
South Dakota—Fair Saturday and prob
ably Sunday; warmer in western portion
Saturday; westerly winds.
Montna^—Fair and warmer Saturday;
Sunday fair; southwesterly winds.
St. Paul — Yesterday's observations,
taken by the United States weather bu
reau, St. Paul, P. F. Lyons, observer, for
the twenty-four hours ended at 7 o'clock
last night—Barometer corrected for tem
perature and elevation: Highest temper
ature, 78; lowest temperature, 50; average
temperature, 64; daily range, 28; barome
ter, 29.90; humidity, 52; precipitation,
trace; 7 p. m., temperature, 73; 7 p. m.,
wind, northwest; weather, partly cloudy.
Yesterday's temperatures—
*8 pmHigh *8 pmHigh
Battleford ....70 72 Cleveland ....62 62
Bismarck 80 80 Davenport ....74 76
Calgary 66 66 Detroit 56 66
Duluth 60 76 Grand Haven. 52 66
Edmonton 66 70 Green Bay ..68 68
Havre t» 63 Jacksonville .64 72
Helena 54 64 Kansas City..74 76
Huron 76 78 Marquette ."...52 60
Med. Hat 66 70 Montgomery .66 68
Minnedosa ...76 801 Montreal 68 62
Pr. Albert ....70 76|Nashville ....64 70
Qu'Appelle ...74 80jNew Orleans. 74 88
S. Current ...70 72 New York ....60 66
Williston 5& 80 Norfolk 66 74
Winnipeg 74 80 North Platte.72 7b
Alpena 64 64 Omaha 74 74
Buffalo 54 66! Philadelphia. 60 68
Boston 58 70| S. Francisco .74 82
Calgary 66 66] St. Louis ....70 72
Cheyenne 54 68! Salt Lake ....66 6S
Chicago 56 70 Ste. Marie ...48 66
Cincinnati ....64 66 Washington „60 70
•Washington time (7 p. m. St. Paul.)
River Bulletin-
Danger Gauge Change In
Stations. Line. Reading. 24 Hours.
St. Paul 14 6.1 —0.1
Davenport 15 4.2
La Crosse 10 5.3 —0.2
St. Louis 30 9.7
—Fail.
River forecast till 8 p. m. Saturday:
The Mississippi will continue falling
slowly in the vicinity of St. Paul.
OCEAN LINERS.
New York—Arrived: Fuerst Bismarck,
Hamburg; Britannia, Naples; Germanic,
Liverpool; Patricia, Hamburg.
Bremen—Arrived, Lahn, New York.
Hamburg—Arrived: Pennsylvania, New
York.
Havre — Arrived: L'Aqultaine, New
York.
Liverpool—Arrived: Rhynland, Phila
delphia. Sailed: Georgic, New York.
Southampton — Sailed: Deutschland
(from Hamburg), New York via Cher
bourg. •
Boston—Arrived: Commonweath, Liv
erpool; Sylvania, Liverpool. Sailed: Iver
nia, Liverpool.
Yokohama—Arrived: Queen Adelaide,
Tacoma, for Ylaa'ivostock, etc. Sailed:
Tacoma (from Hongkong, etc.), Tacoma.
Rotterdam — Sailed: Maasdam, New
York.
Moville—Sailed: Furnessia, New York;
Corinthian. Montreal (both from Glas
gow).
AT NEW YORK HOTELS.
NEW YORK, May 31.-(Speclal.)—The
following are Northwesterners arriving
at New York hotels today:
St. Paul—C. Anderson, Broadway Cen
tral; E. H. Dearth, T. C. Field, Manhat
tan* J. A. Stevenson, St. Denis; A. Ka
pold, Grand Union.
Minneapolis—S. M. Hawley, J. J. Elli
ott, George Dellover, Broadway Central;
Thomas McGlahan, W. W. Coleman,
Herald Square; Miss Ariel Burton, Marl
borough; J. S. Montgomery, M. W. Stav
age and wife, St. Denis; T. M. Roberts
and wife, Holland.
Duluth—G. M. Brush, St. Denis; C. A.
Towne, Victoria,
TRIUMPH OF IMPERIALISM.
What London Spectator Has to Say
of Insular Decisions.
LONDON, May 31.—The Spectator, dis
cussing the supreme court decisions, ■will
say tomorrow: "The decision is In ac
cordance ■with common sense, and all
the facts of the situation. If American
commerce Is to be world-wide, America
must become a world power."
After alluding to "the great effect on
American expansion, or if you like it
better, on American power," the Spexjta
tor will say further: "The conquering
of feebler states was done In the belief
that such states, whenever annexed,
must be included within the Union."
The Spectator will further say: "We
believe the fate of American dependen
cies Will be a good one, but we cannot
deny that the supreme court, in removing
the great danger attending annexation,
has made annexation easier. If we
were Spanish-Americans we should fc#l
a new sensation of alarm if, for any
reason in the future, near or distant, the
statesmen of the Union should desire to
rule a Spanish-American state; we do
not see what would prevent. Suppose
they buy or conquer Nicaragua and so
terminate all complications as to the
control of the canal by cutting it through
territory absolutely their own, what, ex
cept force, which would hardly be ap
plied, is to prevent them? Or, suppose,
which is quite possible, that under a
new and less wise president than Presi
dent Diaz, a furious quarrel arise with
Mexico, -what is to prevent the Union
from annexing it entire? Formerly they
were restrained by the dread of includ
ing so many oolored voters, and of an
archy arising from so many new half
clvilissed states. But under the decision
of Monday tliey oan hold Mexico as we
hold Intfla."
The Speaker and the Saturday Review
consider that the supreme court has up
held imperialism.
PI 111
MUST BE ACCEPTED
MEETING OF M'KIKLEY'S CABINET
DISCUSSED THE QUESTION
THOROUGHLY
NO RESERVATIONS WILL GO
CUBA'S OOJiVESTIOJT WILL BE TOLD
TO CUT OUT SUPERFLUOUS
ADDENDA
MATTER NOW UP TO CUBANS
WASHINGTON, May 31.-The admin
istration has decited that the action of
the Cuban constitutional convention in
accepting the terms of the Platt ai:i(n.!
ment with modification and interpreta
tions of their own was not "substantial"
compliance with our terms within the
meaning of the amendment, and Secre
tary Root will convey this intelligence
to the convention. The decision was
reached at the cabinet meeting today.
The meeting lasted over an hour and a
half, and had been precefled by an hour's
conference between the president and
BenatOTS Platt, of Connecticut, and
Lodge, of Massachusetts. The president
decided to learn the views of Sena.or
Piatt, as the author of the amendment,
and also those of Senator Lodge, who is
one of the influential members of the
committee on foreign re'ations.
At the cabinet meeting Secretary Root
took the position that the interpretation
of the Platt amendment contained in tha
constitution adopted by the convention,
and the whereases appended to it, w«nt
outside of a fair interpretation of Its
meaning, and was unacceptable. In this
view the cabinet concurred. Whm ask
ed as to what would be the next step or
the government after the Cuban con
vention had been notified of the rejection
of its action > one of the members of the
cabinet said that the government couia
do nothing further until the convention
again acted; that as long as the condi
tions of the Platt amendment were on
the statute books compliance with them
must precede our relinciuishment of oon
trol over the Island.
FLAT REJECTION.
The ca/binet held that the amendments
and interpretations, and the wealth or
whereases placed by the Cuban conven
tion upon the Cuban amendment,
amounted to practical modification Qf the
Platt amendment such as was beyond
the power of this government to accept.
The message of rejection sent to Gen.
Wood advises the Cubans in unqualified
language that there is no power resting
In the United States government to
change the terms of t"he Platt ameM
ment, and that this government ins;»ts
on the acceptance of the Platt amend
ment without amendlment or qualinca
tion. The Cuban convention Is still in
session, and the message of rejection
will be delivered to it immediately. The
administration Is confident that the
Cubans will understand the exact atti
tude of this government and make a
satisfactory acceptance within a reason
able period.
The three main points in which the ac
tion of the Cuban constitutional conven
tion is regarded as unsatisfactory relate,
it is said, to coaling staMons, sanitation
and intervention. The Cuban conven
tion took from tine coaling: stations para
graph of the Platt amendment its obl'g
atory character and merely authorized
the Cuban government, In Its judgment,
to allow the United States to possess
coaling or naval stations. The United
States will Insist on an absolute agree
ment to grant us these coaling stations.
With respect to sanitation the Cubans
do not agree to carry out plans already
devised, and in accepting the Platt
amendment modify its provisions so as
to change them considerably. In the
matter of intervention our objection is
that the Cubans have so changed this
vitally important part of the Platt
amendment as to make our right to in
tervene an am'biguojs and doubtful mat
ter, whereas we Insist on a straight,
unequivocal acknowledgement of our
right to Intervene when !n our judgment
intervention is necessao to assure Cu
ban Independence and a stable govern
ment. «
INSULAR DECISIONS.
The cajblnet also discussed the dec slona
of the supreme court in the insular cases,
especially their bearing upon the fortn
coming decision of the court in the ±*Ml
-ippine cases. It was the general opinion
that in some phases the De Lima de
cision might be applicable to the Philip
pines, but that in other ways it mignt
be held entirely Inapplicable.
No definite conclusion, however, was
reached at today's meeting.
The cabinet was unable to reach any
conclusions as to the Philippine tariff
situation, as affected by the recent in
sular decisions of the supreme court. At
torney General Knox will make a careful
examination of the language of the de
cisions at once and ascertain their exact
bearing on the tariff between this coun
try and the Philippines. He then will
state to the president and his advisers
the powers now vested in the government
in dealing with this subject. There was
little discussion of this matter owing to
the general lack of clear understanding
as to the real effect of the decisions.
Mr. Knox i»ay report his conclusions on
the subject at the next cabinet meeting,
and probaibly also will :discuss the re
sults of his examination of the opinions
of the court with the president indi
vidually. Meanwhile discussion of the
need of an extra session is deferred, as
consideration of the question of an extra
session was regarded as premature at
this time. Members of 'the cabinet indi
vidually refrained from even expressing
their personal opinion as to the possi
bility of congress being convened in ex
traordinary session. >
The only other ftnpertant matter
brought up at the ses^sfin was a state
ment by -Secretary Gr.ige as to tne
finances of the government. The presi
dent and cabinet had been away from
the city for some we^ks, and Secretary
Gage took the opportunity to point out
that the surplus in the^ treasury is stead
ily mounting upward, ■and that national
financial conditions in- general are very
gratifying.
SAID SHE WOTJXD SOON DIE.
Testfmony Against Dr. Toger In
Defenltoch JMttrder Case.
'CHICAGO, May Sl.-^Frank H. Smiley,
•who has confess,^ to^oftfiplrins with "Dr.
A. M. linger and F. "WY Brown and Miss
Marie Defenbach in effort to swindle
various life insurance" companies,, whien
held policies on Miss- Dfenfoieh's 'life,
was the chief witness^at(tlie trial of Dr.
Unger and Brown today. £miley told how
he was hired to pose as Miss DefeHbach's
promised husband. He sal 1 he was to toa
paid $1,000, and that •* Miss Defenbach
urged from the start that^she:would die
soon of heart disease. She said sl:e want
ed her insurance to go to her friend," Dr.
Uns<*»-
MRS. M'KINLEY IN YE RY
SERIOUS CONDITION
HOPED FOR IMPROVEMENT HAS
NOT MANIFESTED ITSELF
TO AXY EXTENT. ,
WASHINGTON, May 31.-The physi
cians who are in attendance upon" Mrs:
McKinley, after a consultation this fore
noon, Issued the following statement of
her condition:
> t& MCKnley * ie recovering from the
£noh c.£ f the trl& .The illness from
wnich she was suffering in San Fran
cisco still continues, though in less In
tense form. She is still feeble and can
not be considered out of danger "Her
progress will no doubt be slow, but lm
provement is looked for.
—"P. M. Rixey, M. D."
—"George M. Sternberg, M. D "
—"W. W. Johnston, M. D."
Mrs. McKinley failed to show any Im
provement during the day, and tonight
her condition Is reported as unchanged
from the status given in the bulletin is
sued during the morning. One of ~th"e
grave features of the case Is the fact
that she continues extremely weak and
fails to gain strength. She is seriously
ill, but has had severe attacks of illness
heretofore, and this gives rise for hope
that she will yet show Improvement. No
bulletin was Issued tonight, and none
will be until after the consultation of the
physicians tomorrow. Both Drs. Stern
berg and Rixey called during the even
ing at separate times, the latter remain
ing with tne patient some little while.
BRITISH AND BOERS
IN FIERCE BATTIE
LORD KITCHENER REPORTS LOSS
TO HIS TROOPS 174 KILLED
AXD WOrSDBD,
LONDON, May 31.—0n the anniversary
of Lord Roberts' entry into Johannes
burg the country has been startled by
the receipt of news of desperate fighting
and heavy British losses within forty
miles of the Gold Reef city. The battle
at Vladfontein, on the Durban-Johannes
burg railroad, reported by IxrnJ Kitche
ner today, is the most serious engage
ment since Gen. Clements' reverse at
Magliesburg. It shows Gen. Delarey is
in no way daunted by the capture of
eleven of his guns by Gen. Bablngton
six weeks ago. The garrison at Vladfon
tein, apparently largely composed of yeo
manry, had 174 men put out of action.
That their assailants came to close quar
ters and suffered heavily is shown by the
number of dead left on the field.
The dispatch from Lord Kitchener, dat
ed Pretoria, May 30, is as follows:
I "pJetPrla> May 30-~ aen- Dixon's force
at Vladfontein was attacked yesterday
by Delarey's forces and there was se
vere fighting. The enemy was eventually
driven off with heavy loss, leaving 35
dead. I regret that our casualties also
were severe. The killed and wounded
numbered 174. Four officers were killed."
CRITICISE THE JUSTICES
FRENCH PRESS COMMENT ON SU
PREME COURT'S INSULAR DE
CISIONS.
PARIS, May 31.—The French papers
only today discuss the decision of the
United States supreme court in the In
sular-cases. Le Temps says: "If rumors
are true the judges have not succeeded in
maintaining . themselves pure nor true to
austere principles, Gut have become ac
cessible to the arguments and sophisms
of politicians. Their decision Is an act
of the highest gravity and tantamount to
a triumph for the McKinley school or
manifest destiny, for the jingoes s?re 'd
eaglism and the partisans of a per
manent army. On the other hand, citi
zens favoring 1 progress and economic re
forms, who are faithful to the ideals of
"Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln, are
filled with anxiety and sadness."
The Journal dcs Debats considers that
the decision implies that the annexed ter
.rltorles cannot Invoke the benefits of,
the United States constitution, and that
congress can impose on them any regime !
it likes, saying: j
"In short the American dependencies
resemble the English crown colonies. We
do not think the American idea of r>ro
tr-ctlng the countries they save from so
called European tyranny is encouraging
to the Latin states of America, who call
ed the pan-American congress, and we
tetter understand why the movement of
South America is towards Spain rather
than the United States."
MEN WITHOUT A COUNTRY
RIGHT TO A PASSPORT DOES SOT
FOLLOW THE FJjAG.
LONDON, May 31.—Two men represent
ing themselves to be Filipinos called at
the United States embassy today and
made application to Mr. Choate for pas?-'
ports. These the ambassador declined to
Issue, giving as a reason that they fur
nished him with no evidence that they
were American citizens.
The applicants persisted, and Mr.
Choate then assured them that It was
quite impossible for him to comply with
their request unless evidence was sub
mitted that they were entitled 10 the
privileges of American citizenship.
Finally the applicants departed, after
Intimating that they would carry the
question to "Washington. They were not
accompanied by legal counsel.
PAY OF WORKERS IN IRON.
Amalgamated Association at Mll-
waukee Stroffgflea With Scale.
MILWAUKEE, Wls., May 31.—The pud
dling, busheling and scrapping clauses of
the iron scale were considered at the
first session of the Amalgamated Asso
ciation of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers'
convention today. It Is understood thl3
part of the wage committee's report was
adopted, and that the figures wl'l be
•baaed on a puddling base of $5 and a
1-cent card rate.
Consideration of the finishing scale or
the Iron section took up the entire after,
noon. The convention will wck but hair
a diay tomorrow. The slieet, steel and tin
scales will be taken up after the lion
schedule is disposed of. It will probably
be Tuesday before the wage committee's
report is disposed of. A most Im.potamt
matter to be ratified is the recommenda
tion of the wage committee for a con
tinuous scale. It is expected this part of
the report will be a-pproved without much
opposition, as It Is known that the plan
la favored by the largest Iron and steel
concerns in the country. The convention
will probably require two days to piss
upon the reports of the other c mrait
tees. There will probably be no change
In officers, but a lively contest Is ex
pected when the time comes for choosing
the city for the next annual convention.
Wheeling, Cleveland, Columbua and
Birmingham are active candidates, tho
chances seeming to Tavor th« W«st Vir
ginia olty. , .
PRICE TWO CENTS^ "VvKTirvVs
4'
MIGHTY COMBINE OF
RAILROAD RULERS
Big Trunk Lines of the Country tq
Be Merged in Four Great
Systems.
Directing Hand of J. Pierpont Morgan;
in Amicable Settlement Among
Vast Interests.
NEW YORK, May 31.—(Special.)—The
ground plan for the reconstruction of the
railroad map of the United States has
been virtually agreed upon at a series
of conferences which have been going
on for the last three days, the finaa ses
sion having been held this afternoon at
the office of J. P. Morgan & Co.
These conferences were attended by
James J. Hill, E. H. Haarrtanan, Jacob
Schiff, George J. Gould and representa
tives of W. K. VandtrbiU. J. P. Morgan
.& Co., and the Pennsylvania interests.
The controlling powers of all tht; gre.it
trunk lines and Western systems were
represented and the conclusions reached
have the moral for^e ur" contr;!. ts.
The plan, as tentatively agreed upon,
was cabled to J. Plerpont Morgan Thurs
day night anl received his cordial ap
proval and indorsement In a cab!, gram
received today.
IN FOUR GROUPS.
Briefly stated, the plan provides for a
division of the railroads of the countiy
into four groups, which, when finally
completed and rounded out, will be as
follows:
The Union Pacific wIM surrender the
Southern Pacific to the control of George
J. Gould, John D, Rockefeller and their
associates in control of the Missouri Pa
cific. The Missouri Pacific system will
be conceded an outlet to the Atlantic
6eat>oar<3.
The understanding la that control of
Delaware, Lackawanna &. Western hns
been guaranteed to the Gould-Rockefeller
combination, which will extend the 0.1
--aware, Lackawanna & Western to Pitts
burg, there to connect with the line being
built Into that city from the West. The
Gould party Is said to have paid or agreed
to pay 800 for control of Delaware,
Lackawanna & Western, the bid having
been raised from 250 to that figure.
The Harrlman-Vauderoilt combination
will retain Central Pacific as the West
ern continuation of Union Pacific, and it
will take under its control St. Paul and
North-Western.
The Hill-Morgan party will have the
Great Northern, Northern Pacific, Bur
lington and Erie.
The Pennsylvania combination wl 1 ta-ke
over Atchlson and Rock Island.
The status of the Southwe.-te: n ra lway
systems was not fully determined upon,
but It is not likely fhere will be any In
terruption to the Pennsylvania );lan of
absorption of several lines in the cotton
belt east of the Mississippi.The anthracite
situation will not be disturbed in any
important manner, conditions tliere b> i::g
satisfactory to the ruling powers. The
introduction of the Gould arvd Rocxerei--
ler party Into the Eastern trunk line
field. Is not exacted to nvak* any dis
turbance among the coalers. A year or
more, may be required to work out tins
magnificent scheme for the rec-on iri -
tlon of the railroad may of the Western
hemisphere, but with the outlines of plan
agreed upon the rest will follow.
SCOPE OF THE DEAX..'
Each of the grand subdivisions is to rep-
fIVe MeN lyNcHep •
|3Y CALIFOI^^iA Mop.
BIBBEK, Cal., May 31.— Details have
been received here of the lynching of
five m«n at Lookout, Modoc county, early
thdd morning. The lynched were Cal
vin Hall, seventy-two yeara of age; his
three halfbreed sons. Frank, James and
Martin, aged respectively twenty-six,
nineteen and sixteen, and B. D. Tantls,
aged twenty-seven.
As reported here, the men lynched had
been suspected of petty thieving for some
time. Last Saturday they were arrested {
for stealing barb wire, pieces of harness i
and some hay forks. A search warrant
was issued and the hay forks found in
the house of trail an,l Yantis, who were
taken into custody and brought to Look
oat, where they w>re being heitl awaiting
examination and trial. Sunday, and sev
eral days following, other searches were
instituted, and halters, dishes and tabie ;
linen, which had been taken from clothes
lines,' were found hidden on the premise*
of the suspects.
The charge against thp elder Hall was
petty larceny for stealing the forks,
hence he was released on hlls own recog
nizance. His trial was to have taken |
place this morning. The charges agai.ist
the others was burglrtry, and their ex
aminations had been set for Jun« 3.
MINISTER looMls Wot
TO RETURN TO CARACAS
- WASHINGTON, May 81.—It Is of
ficially admitted that Minister Loomis
will not return to Venezuela, There
are two reasons for this decision. In
the first place Mr.' I>oomls has suffered
in health at his uncongenial post, and
In the second place, the president is not
disposed to expose ' him again to tha
merciSeßS attacks .he has suffered In
Venezuela as a result of the execution
of the orders of the state department.
Mr. Loomis, who Is now In Europe seek
ing to recuperate, will be given another
diplomatic position as soon as a editable
place can be found. Meanwhile, Mr.
Russell - will remain in charge of th«
United States legation at Caracas for a
period of time not yet.determined upon,
but likely to be fixed by the a.ttUuda of
OFFICIAL PAPER
—OF THE— ~
GiITT OF ST. PAUL.
1
resent a bond and share capita 11 nation of i
about $1,500,000. This js a loose estimate. '
The rough lesson which the Northern
Pacific corner taught had a wonderful
effect upon the magnates. It mast notice
ably subdued them.- An Inkling of the
conferences and their result btxam©
known in Wai! street In the afternoon, j
and led to the urgent buying of securi
ties by strong Interests, which were al- '
lied or in close connection with the leadar
in the big deal now approaching consum
mation. The important railway .-t oka
advanced sharply, and quotations were
at the outside range when the market
closed. The probable effect on the pud-]
lie mind of the formation Of the lailr^afll
systems of the country into etu-rvenclouaj
groups was discussed at the confer* I
It was conceded that the public mlffHtj
take alarm at the outset, but t v -*> con»|
elision reached was that apprehensions]
would be stilled by a demonstration &i i
the fact that no oppression, Is content- J
plated, and that the arrangement w • n
completed will be of vast general ben©- I
fit instead of injury. It was con ended ]
that in the end the pub 1- will »njoy ,
cheaiper freight and passenger tariff, and !
that the service In both classes or 11 ans- '
portatton will be wonderfully Im'provetf. !
The opinion was voiced that this mil- |
lennial condition can bo effected within ■
a period of twelve months, or at least
sufficient progress made to quiet I o u'ar |
alarm and direct settlement into rl< ndiy, i
channels.
COMMUNITY OF INTEREST. |
(By Associated Press.)
1 NEW YORK, May B.—The conflicting
Interests In the Northern Pacific rallroai:
have reached a final amicable agreement |
upon ail matters of disagreement ami '
their, future relations to th« property. j
There has been no announcement of tho ,
terms of th« new pact, \\>h ' h ends tho j
most remarkable financial bottle In tho '
record- of Wall street, an 1 none of the ;
details have been male public. Late this <
afternoon the following statement went '
j out on the ticker:
| "It Is tally announced that .in un- |
I derstaading has been reached between |
Northern Pacific and Union Pacific in
terests under which the composition of i
the Northern Pacific board will be left
in the hands of J. P. Morgan, certain !
names having 'already been suggested, '
which will especially be reco^n'zed as
representative of the common interests.
It is asserted that complete and perma
nent-harmony will result under the plan
adopted "between all interests lnvo.ved."
REPORT CONFIRMED.
When the statement was shown to
Louis A. Ileinsheimer, otf Kuhn, Lo<;b &
Co., he said:
"That statement Is authentic. Wo
cannot go into particulars «* to the
settlement or give you any details at
this time. All that wo can say la that
there has been a settlement of the dif
ferences that existed and the matter is
at an end."
Jacob H. Schiff declined to add any
thing to the official statement beyond
confirming the truth of it. All J. J. Hill
would say was that a satisfactory settle
ment appeared to have been concluded.
One of the stories heard today after
the announcement that peace had be*n
declared was that at least two Northern
Pacific directors would enter the Union
Pacific board and that equal representa
tion would be given to the latter road in
the directory of the first named.
They were held in custody, as they were
unable to furnish bail. Pending their
examination they were being firuard<.-d
in the Lo>ko:t hotel by Constable Car
penter, assisted by B. Nichols, J. \V.
Brown and B. Goyette. The two former
stood guard till midnight a 6 the two
latter took their places after midnight.
Calvin Hall was stopping at the hotel, so
as to be near his sons.
This morning about 2 o'clock a mob,
estimated at from thirty to fifty people-,
suddenly appeared at the not- 1. and
pointing their guns "at the two ofllcers
on guard, commanded them to remain el
lent while they secured the five prison
ers, placed ropes around their neck; and
dragged them towards the bridge which
crosses Pitt river. They comix-Urd tho
two guards to accompany them. rank
Hall, It la r<vort- A. made si oil strong
resistance that the mob hanged bin be
fore it got to the main br dgf, under a
small bridge crossing a deep Slough. The
others were taken t<; the main bridge,
and Calvin Hall, the father, "was hanged
on the north side and Ya.nlls aha the
other Hall boys were hanged on the
south aide of the brldjre. As soon as
the lynching was discovered, word «a«
telegraphed to the district attorney and
Sheriff at Alturaa.
the Venezuelan government. It la not
the present intention of the government
to take official notice, of the crit'.clsnw
passed by President Castro, of Veneztie:a,
upon Minister Loomie. as contained in
a newspaper Interview. The o'Uc'.als
cannot bring themselves to believe th.it
the president of Venezuela would will
ingly reflect upon the personal charac
ter of the minister of another >-rr\
jr.ent, who, according to offlca: state
ment* mndo by this government, acted
by «pitcit direction of his own govern
ment|n tflie matters which formed the
eubjoot of th« crlUci«m. Th«r. for It is
probaibio that our government • 11 be
•aUsued Cor the' moment, and, In the
ftbaenc* of further " u:vto-»ard develop->
| menU, with official disclosures.