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THE WEATHER For St. Paul and Vicinity—Fair. For Minnesota—Partly cloudy Thurs day, rain In west, warmer In southeast portions; Friday rain, colder In south portion, fresh north to northeast winds. VOL. XXVIII.—NO. 89 RUMOR MAKES CZAR WOULD BE SUICIDE HIS LIFE IS SAVED BY DOWAGER EMPRESS In Attempting to Kill Him self (Nicholas Merely Wounds One of His Hands — Chinese Cut Railway and Prevent Arrival of Russian Re inforcements — Another Duel Between the Big Armies Seems Immi nent —Japanese Column Reported Moving in the Direction of Kirin PARIS, March 30.—An unconfirmed rumor from St. Petersburg is published this morning that Emperor Nicholas made an attempt to commit suicide and wounded himself in the hand. The rumor further says that the emperor's design was frustrated by the interven tion of his mother, the empress dow ager. Special Cable to The Globe LONDON, March 30.—The Tele graph's St. Petersburg correspondent *:tys there Is no truth in- the rumor that the <:zar attempted suicide. The rumor Is said to have been circulated by the revolutionary element. "I Cannot Remain Czar" Special Cable to The Globe ST. PETERSBURG, March 30.—The emperor is still the keenest advocate of the reasons'which render necessary the continuation of the war. He has, how ever, contemplated the possibility of having to sign a treaty of peace, ex pressing himself as follows: "If I have to sign a peace treaty I cannot remain czar." More Fighting Probable ST. PETERSBURG, March 30.—An other duel between the two opposing CHECKS REACHED § BEAVERS' VICINITY Ball Says Attempts Were Made to Fix Him to Judge Hooker's Undoing ALBANY, N. V.. March 29.—That at tempts were made to influence Frank P. Ball, a Dunkirk ticket broker, al leged to have been placed in the Fre donia postofflce by the influence of Justice Warren B. Hooker, to disclose certain facts said to be In his posses sion, was the substance of the testi jnony of Ball before the assembly ju diciary committee today in the resump-< tion of the investigation into the charges against Justice Hooker. Ball testified that although he had done no work at the Fredonia post office he had received $2,532 All of this, he said, was used to repay the •wife of Judge Hooker, who had in dorsed a note for him. Later he re turned every cent of the amount he had received to the Kredonia postmas ter, who had been ordered to refund it to the government. Ball testified that he was notified by Postmaster Taylor that he had re reived an order from the department to repay to the government all the money that had been paid to Ball as salary and that in the same month he (Ball) gave a note to Mr. Taylor for $2,500 and a check for the remainder of the money. It was developed by the evidence that three men, one a newspaper man of New York city and two others hos tile to Justice Hooker, had attempted to corrupt the testimony of Ball by as suring him that he would not have to pay the $2,500 note and that they would furnish a lawyer at their expense to defend any suits that might be brought as the result of the nonpayment of the note, if he would disclose evidence which they believed he possessed in re lation to Judge Hooker. Ball said that in 1894, T. T. Tiffany and W. P. Colborn of Fredonia and W. F. Hudson of Brooklyn, formerly sec retary of the state railroad commission, tame to his residence, where Tiffany Raid that if Ball would give up some thing that would injure Judge Hooker he would furnish a bond, he would furnish the best lawyer in Chautauqua county and that Ball would not have to pay the note. Ball told Toffany that he ■would not do anything to injure Judge Hooker. Through the introduction of a report by W. E. Cochran, chief postoffk-e in spector, it was learned that "Minerva Jeffrey" is not a myth as has been ciaimed. Evidence was introduced at the early hearings that Minerva Jef frey was appointed to the postofflce on Jan. 17, 1888, together -with several other persons, without the knowledge or request of the postmaster, who tes tified that he had never seen the wom an and that her pay checks were sent to George Beavers in Washington. The portion of the report admitted says: "Minerva Jeffrey is the daughter of Mrs. Kate Blackmar of Washington, D. C, at whose residence Mr. Beavers bad a room." THE ONLY DEMOCRAT C DAILY NEWSPAPER Of GENERAL CIRCULATION IN THE NORTHWEST THE ST. PAUL GLOBE CZAR NICHOLAS ♦ armies in Majichuriu may be on the programme for the coming week. The Russians, according to a Harbin corre spondent, are now strongly fortifying their positions at Sipinghai. against which the Japanese are reported to be gathering in force. The reported Rus sian retirement from Siplnghni to Cha oumiaodzi was incorrect. The Japa nese followed to some/- extent, but a border of twenty miles of debatable ground still remains between the two armies, over which the Japanese will probably not advance until they are ready to attack. Equally important news is that a column of Japanese is moving against Kirin, perhaps with the intention of turning the position eastward and striking: at the Vladivostok line of com munication, with the double purpose of Isolating the fortress ami separating Gen. LJnevitch's army from a valuable base of supplies, the I'suri district. Cut Chinese Railway PARIS. March SO. — The Shanghai correspondent of the Pettt Journal says that Chinese bandits have cut the Chinese Eastern railway at several places, preventing the arrival of Rus sian reinforcements. Continued on Third Page ICE IS BLOWN AFAR Navigation Is In Sight on Lake Superior Special to The Globe SUPERIOR, Wis., March 29.—The ice field at the head of the lakes, con sisting of hundreds of square miles of ice, was driven from this end of Lake Superior by a stiff westerly wind to day and before night was far out of sight in Lake Superior. As the ice was in bad condition the field will not be able to withstand th% pounding which it will receive at the hands of the wind and waves during the next few days, and even if the wind should change to the east it is improbable that anything but a small part of the original field will be brought back. The passing of the ice means that it is now possible for navigation to open at the head of the lakes. The rivers at the "Soo" are still Icebound, however, and it would be useless for the boats wintering here to leave before the ice leaves the lower end. Reports from the "Soo" indicate that it will be two weeks before a boat can get through there. MAYOR OF KANSAS CITY KEEPS OUT OF THE WAY Dodges a Vote on the Question of Clos ing Saloons Sunday KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 29.— The police board today issued an order, effective April 2. for the closing of all saloons on Sun-days hereafter. Many small grocers and butchers have ex pressed a willingness to close Sunday also if it will help keep the saloons closed. Mayor Neff remained away from the board meeting, announcing that he wished to avoid voting on the proposition. THE NEWS INDEXED * PAGE I Czar Attempts Suicide Judicial and Postal Scandal Senate to Override Governor's Veto Mississippi River Traffic Threatened PAGE II Homeless Lad Held as Fugitive PAGE 111 Minneapolis Matters News of the Northwest PAGE IV Editorial Comment News of the Railroads PAGE V In the World of Sport Beef Trust Inquisition PAGE VI Business Men to Start Boom PAGE VII Of Interest to Women Rockefeller Gift Accepted PAGE VIII Financial and Commercial PAGE IX Paying Wants PAGE X Legislature Oil Lobbyist Is Rebuked House Passes Drainage Bill THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH 30, 1905—TEN PAGES REPUBLICAN SENATE USES HORTON. BILL VETO TO REPAIR PARTY FENCES Combine in Control of Upper House of Legislature Forces Forty-six Senators to Accept Unit Rule in Treating Veto Message of Gov. Johnson —Committee Is Appointed at Caucus to Throw Explanation Sop to Party Leaders and Newspapers Protesting Petty Politics Pursued by Lawmakers (Duluth News-Tribune. Rep.) The Republican statesmen at St. Paul who have endeavored to take a little patronage out of the hands of* the governor, who was elected as a Democrat by Repub lican votes, have no right to com plain of his veto of the capito! control bill. The bill was framed solely for the discomfiture of the governor. Its purpose was to take from the chief executive the appointment of employes in the new building. It savored of "peanut politics" and smacked of spite. The petty mstive actuating this whole move is so apparent that whatever intrinsic merit there may be in it is overlooked. If Minnesota Republicans dis like to see a Democratic govern or and his private secretary dis tributing patronage and enjoying tile emoluments of office, they should have elected a Republican governor last fall. It comes with a bad grace for men who have cut the throat of their candidate for governor, or consented to the operation, to seek revenge upon his successful opponent, and it is scarcely more creditable in those who were loyal. The Republican senators, in spite of the protest of Republican newspapers and party leaders, have frankly agreed to stand by the Horton bill to take the capitol patronage and control of the building out of the hands of Gov. John son. Forty-six Republican senators yes terday agreed to abide by the unit rule in treating the veto message of Gov. Jolm A. Johnson in refusing to sign the Horton bill. The bill gives control of the new state capitol for the next two years to a capitol commission which has prac tically outlived the purposes for which it was appointed. The effect of the agreement will be to pass the Horton bill over the gov ernor's veto. It is not expected that the bill will be considered in the house until Friday. An effort to secure a caucus of Republican members In the house Is being made. The agreement was reached yester day during the noon recess of the sen ate. A call had been sent out signed CRUISER NEWARK WILL BE SENT TO HAITI American Interests in the Black Re public Reported in Jeopardy WASHINGTON, March 29.—An American man of war will be sent to Port au Prince to protect American in terests. This determination was ar rived at today when the state depart ment received a cablegram from Min ister Powell saying that serious trou ble is impending in Haiti, and it Is doubtful whether the authorities can maintain peace and order on March 31 and April 1. The stute department im mediately requested the navy depart ment to dispatch a war vessel to Port au Prince. The navy department. It is said, probably will send the cruiser Newark, Admiral Sigsbee's flagship, now at Guantanamo, to Port au Prince. » . - i (Dulutb Herald. Ind. Dem.) ' | The governor has declined to ', | give his approval to the so-called <, Horton bill that would turn the . i control of the new capitol over " to the capitol commission for the 'I next two years. The passage of ] ( this bill, which was accomplish t ed by a narrow margin of rotes !in the legislatare. was viewed with surprise by the public—or at least that portion of it which , was acquainted with the motives which actuated those who fram -4 ed the measure and pushed it <> through the house and senate. It ° was a piece of cheap politics, and V Gov. Johnson has done well to ], administer a strong rebuke to i the peanut politicians who en ♦ deavored to deprive the execu -4 tive of the small amount of pa (< tronage that would be his if the " capitol were placed under his J | charge. Because Gov. Johnson is a <• Democrat, cheap politicians <' among the majority in the legis lature sought to take away the I \ patronage connected with the (l new capitol and induced enough n members of the legislature to <i vote for their bill. Whatever the (' outcome, Gov. Johnson deserves ) | credit for courageously exerris ,, ing his veto and drawing the at < i tention of the whole state to the <> cheap political same that is be |' ing played. by one senator from each congres sional district. A call of the senate was had that the announcement of the caucus might be made before the full senate. Senator Horton took no chances that independent Republican senators would take advantage of the situation and absent themselves from the caucus. The senate adjourned while the call was in effect, and the caucus followed immediately. In spite of all precautions five senators were absent when the roll was called in the caucus. The greatest secrecy was ob served, and even Secretary S. A. Lingum was excluded from the senate chamber when the caucus went into session. Will Try tc Explain After agreeing to act as a unit in overriding the governor's message, the caucus appointed a special committee to frame a statement of the reasons impelling the decision. In the face of JOHN D. IS HIT AGAIN Missouri Tries to Oust the Standard Oil Company JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.. March 29.— Atty. Gen. Haley today filed In the supreme court an application for a writ of quo warranto for the purpose of depriving the Standard Oil com pany, the Republic Oil company and the Waters-Pierce Oil company of their franchises in Missouri. The su preme court issued the writ and made it returnable to the court la bane on April 11. The application charges the company with being in criminal con trol of prices and the supply of oil in the state. LISTEN A MINUTE Seems to Be Near Qu'tting T me - (St. Cloud Journal-Press, Rep.) Gov. Johnson has vetoed the Horton vill, which continued the capitol commission in office for' the next two years with full con trol of the state house. The gov ernor contends that the chief ex ecutive is the custodian of all public property under the law, and there is no reason for delay ing the completion of the capitol for two years when it can be done In a few months. The cap itol commission should be given reasonable time to finish the building, and then it should quit. There never has beer* a governor of the state who did not have as much ability as any member of the commission, and the govern or is the proper officer to have charge of the state house. Gov. Johnson's suggestion that the employes requiring technical skill be put under civil service to prevent their removal for polit ical purposes by changing ad ministrations is wise. The veto of the governor will meet the ap proval of all who believe in fair play and no unnecessary expense in public- affairs. strong protests from the Republican press all over the state, it was decided to make this concession to public sen timent. The personnel of the committee shows more plainly than anything else the politics in the senate's action. Two men prominently considered as candi dates for the Republican nomination for governor are on the committee and a third is a former Republican gov ernor. Publicly the senators participating in the caucus protest that the caucus ac tion Is no reflection on Gov. Johnson and that the senate is not trying to take any of the governor's prerogatives from him. Privately, it is admitted that the senators have determined that the governors action Js ill advised, and they are determined to press the ad vantage and raise a partisan issue for the benefit of Rome one of their num ber, from whom it Is expected that the candidate of the Republican party for yovernor two years hence is to come. Samuel Lord of Dodge, referred to yesterday on the floor of the senate as "Gov." Lord," heads the committee. R. B. Brower of Steams, whose friends Continued on Fifth Page FISHERMEN ON ICE FLOE ARE RESCUED Wife of One Joint in Cries for Help Not Heard for Many Hours BAT OITY. Mich., March 29.—Joseph Denny and wife and six other fisher men who had venturesomely remained too long at their fish shanties far out on Saginaw bay, were rescued today In an exhausted condition. Starting for shore yesterday they had walked all night, only to find themselves sur rounded on every side by open water. When the shouts of the party were heard late today and responded to by men in a boat, Mrs. Denny had col lapsed. Her male companions were hauling her on a sled as they labori ously tramped back and forth on the Isolated l>e field waiting and praying for their cries to be aJiswered. PRICE TWO CENTS S&SSfera STATE TAKES HAND IN INSURANCE DEAL OFFICERS OF MINNEAPOLIS COMPANY DEPOSED Commissioner Thomas D. O'Brien Takes Charge of Affairs of North western National Life Company That Built Big Auditorium—Res ignations Are Demanded and Committee of Mill City Citizens Is Named in Attempt to Protect In terests of Policy Holders Thomas D. O'Brien, state insurance commissioner, yesterday took charge of the affairs of the Northwestern Na tional Life insurance company of Min neapolis, the company that built the Auditorium in Minneapolis on a prom ise from the citizens that they would raise J2.000.000 business for them. Yesterday afternoon the insurance commissioner, after a conference with Gov. Johnson. Atty. Gen. Young. State Auditor B. F. Carroll of lowa and the company's board of directors, ordered the members of the executive commit tee of the board of directors to resign as officers and directors. This order called for the resignations of W. F. Bechtel, president: A. F. Timme. first vice president, and Fred J. Sackett, secretary and treasurer. Securing these resignations. Com missioner O'Brien Wien named a com mittee of Minneapolis citizens, con sist! ng of Mayor David P. Jones, for mer Gov. John I,lnd, Lucien Swift, B. F. Nelson and F. A. <'arle. This com mittee will meet this morning and suggest to the remaining directors suitable men to fill the vacancies. The insurance commissioner also demands that the acts of this committee be rat ified by a meeting or the policy holders of the company, called at a future time for that purpose. Time for Action Arrives After a sweeping Investigation of the affairs of the Northwestern Na tional Life insurance company by the insurance commissioner, the belief prevailed that under the present man agement the stockholders would lose heavily; that the affairs were in a bad financial condition, and the committee of prominent Minneapolis citizens was appointed to save what it could from the impending wreck. The action In appointing this safety committee came yesterday afternoon, after an all day conference between Gov. Johnson. I'ommissloner O'Brien, Atty. Gen. Young. State Auditor Car roll of lowa, the officers and directors OFF GO THEIR HEADS President Removes All Canal Commissioners WASHINGTON. March 29.—The first practical step having in view the reor ganization of the Panama canal com mission «TM taken today when, in com pliant with instructions from Presi dent Roosevelt, Secretary Taft request ed the members of the commission to resign. This request was promptly complied with by those members now in Washington, and th«ir resignations will be in the hands of the president tomorrow. The purport of Secretary Taft's letter was kbl to Maj. (Jen. George W. Davis, retired, of the army, governor of the canal zone, and also one of the members of the canal com mission. A prompt answer is expected. As Indicated in the letter of Secretary Taft, the resignations are requested in order that the president may have a free lyind in reorganizing the commis sion. The appointments will probably be announced by the president during his southern trip. The members of the present commission, in addition to Gen. Davis, are Rear Admiral John Q. Walk er of the navy, retired, chairman; Will iam Barclay Parsons, William H. Burr, Benjamin M. Harrod and C. Ewald Grunsky. SUE FOR AN ESTATE Four Chicago Women Want Guardian Removed Special to The Globe DI'LUTH, Minn.. March 29.—Alleg ing that the heirs of Charles George, who died in Duluth April 4. 1893. have never received any formal notice of the petition of William E. George to be appointed guardian, also that they have n«ver received any money from the sale of property believed to be valued at $25,000, possession of which it is claimed was gained by undue methods. Alice M. Bremken. formerly Alice M. George, Nellie E. George and Ellen M. George, all of Chicago, filed v petition in the probate court today. They ask that the order appointing William E. George guardtau and all further pro ceedings had therein be revoked.' Wai ter J. George of St. Paul is also one of the heirs to the estate. READ THE GLOBE THE ONLY LIVE NEWSPAPER IN ST. PAUL of the company and members of the committee. One of the very first moves was to demand the resignations of the officers of the company, which were tendered, and the committee will have full con trol. A meeting will be held in Min neapolis today to take up the work of reorganization. The committee selected by Commis sioner O'Brien includes Mayor David P. Jones, former Gov. Lind. Lucien Swift and B. F. Nelson. F. A. Carle was chosen to act on the committee, but declined to serve. The officers who resigned were- W F. Bechtel, president: A. F. Timme. first vice president; Fred J. Sackett, secretary and treasurer. The report of the insurance com missioner was made to Gov. Johnson yesterday afternoon. The probe has been swinging over the insurance com pany for some time, and rumors of an unsatisfactory condition of affairs had reached the public. The report of the commissioner follows: Commissioner O'Brien's Report Hon. John A. Johnson. Governor: For the purpose of advising those Interested, I desire at this time to make a report to you as to the steps this department has taken with reference to the affairs of the Northwestern National Life insurance company of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Toti are aware that for some months past eertaus charges have been made against the management of that company and that its solvency has been seriously questioned; so grave was the situation. I determined that In spite of the fact that an examination had been made of this company last June by S. H. Wolfe, a well known actuary of New York—acting un der the direction of my predecessor—that It was my duty to Institute another ex aminatlon immediately following the fllinpf of the annual report of the company March 1. 1905. Considering that this ex amination could be more speedily made by Mr. Wolfe than by a person less fa miliar with the company, and having sat isfied myself as to Mr. Wolfe's ability and integrity. 1 directed him to make such examination, requesting him at the same time to direct his efforts with the es pecial view of answering two questions which I desired to solve: First—ls the financial condition or the company such that It could survive un* der proper and economical management? Second—ls the present management capable of placing the company upon a sound financial basis and of retaining the Continued on Sixth Page. WK RULES KILL RIVER TRAFFIC Unless Modified the Upper Mississippi Will Not Be Navigated Special to The Globe DUBUQUE. la., March 29.—Imprac tlcable rules formulated by the federal steamboat inspection service an<l ap plied to boats on the Mississippi and its branches, resulting from the Slocum horror in New York, are proving the . death blow to river traffic. Unless mod ifications of these regulations can be secured—and steps are being taken to that end—the Mississippi will practical ly cease to be a navigated stream from St. Louis north, and the Ohio will lose most of its business. This is the state ment made by owners and masters of the river steamers. The season is here for opening of river trade, but there is no trade as yet. It is doubtful whether there wiU be any. The in spectors have had a bad scare since the indictment of some of their number following the Slocum affair, and are literal in enforcing regulations. The - regulations, unfortunately, were made for ocean ■ going craft. or those navigating the great lakes, and are ut terly unfitted to river vessels. For in stance, a number of boats are tied up because it is imperatively required that they have whistles; and these boats, being operated by gasoline, have no means of blowing whistles. Many oth ers must be largely built over. Re quirements concerning the carriage of lifeboats on all passenger steamers are strict, and can be literally complied with by few river boats. It happens that practically all river boats carry some passengers, and earn considerable revenue from . parties taking pleasure trips on the river. This course of rev enue is necessary to them. • - Capt. Walter Blair of Davenport, a river veteran, is quoted as saying that .the new regulations if enforced as a whole would increase . the * dangers on river craft; but they will not be. en forced because that would make navi gation Impossible. "There must be an adjustment of the rules to river condi tions, or else the vessels must go out of business. Efforts to secure the in terest of political powers in beha"lf of the needed changes in the.'. rules ar« said to have met with rebuffs tn a num ber of caae*. :■■ :■' ■~~ ■ -~ : - :r^ -.;-•