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THE MCHENRY PLAINOEALER IfeHENEY PLAINDGALS& Ca ' McHBWRT, - ILX.TWOT8. Jesus Rodriguez, of Victoria, Tex., attempted to drive a neighbor's horse from his field and was kicked in the stomach, dying in a short time. John D. Morton, charged with the murder of Marion Thomas, was ac­ quitted at Columbus, Kas. At Muncie, ind., after having waited ten years for her husband to return to her, Mrs. John Benjamin has filed suit for divorce. D. M. Strong, a prominent attorney of North Bend, Neb., died of injuries received by being struck by a train. Lusn Thomas, a negro, shot and killed another negro from Forrest City, Ark., near McNeil. Both men were working on the Cotton Belt extra gang. At Evansville, Tnd., the attorneys in the case of Wilbur S. Sherwell, the former policeman, charged with chok­ ing to death three women, have agreed to nave the case called in September and set down for trial. Sherwell has been In jail nine months. Lather Orr committed suicide at Greenfield, Tenn., because of disap­ pointment in a love affair. Dr. McPall of Mattoon, 111., htv9 deeded his farm of -v acres near that city for a Protestant hospital. Others have donated $20,000 in cash. The total endowment is $60,000. fight in Cabin Hollow, near Mld- dlesboro, Ky., between rival dive own­ ers resulted in the death of Henry and James Shackleford, brothers, and the fatal wounding of Smith Overton In a collision between a wagon and a street car at Houghton, Mich., Cyrille Boivin was fatally injured and An­ drew Gaffney severely injured. Boi­ vin died later at St. Joseph's hospital. He was 45 years old, married and has ten children. The authorities of the northern tier of Indiana counties are alarmed at the action of Berrien county, Mich., in ex­ pelling the berry-picking tramps on account of the mysterious murder of one of their number. Measures will be taken to prevent their crossing the Indiana state line. A total loss of $20,00o was caused by a flro at Lexington, Mass. Andrew Carnegie has offered $25,- 000 to Lawrence, Kas., for a library, on the usual terms. Fire at Hubbard, Tex., destroyed a brick block and five wooden buildings, causing a loss of $100,000. Mrs. Clarence Vawter of Indianapo­ lis, 18 years old, committed suicide at Russellvillc, 111., because of domestic trouble. Frank Jones and John Johnson, neg­ ro murders of Israel Badetsky, a Hebrew peddler, were hanged at El- licott City, Md. Democrats of the fifth congressional district of Ohio renominated John b. Snook of Paulding and indorsed tne Kansas City platform. The American Library Association closed its session at Magnolia, Mas*. Dr. James A. Hosmer of Minneapolis was elected president At Valley City, N. D.. Jennie Daley was shot and killed in a quarrel by William Bennett, her partner in a restaurant, who then committed sui­ cide. James Wharton, a traveling man cf Atchison, Kas., was accidently shot and kllied in a restaurant at Leon, la., by Lou Betrick, the proprietor. The London Board of Trade has awarded a handsome piece of plate to Captain Freeman of the British steamer Roddam in recognition of his gallantry at St. Pierre, Martinique, when that town was destroyed. Fire yesterday destroyed the busi­ ness portion of Rugby, N. D., with a loss of $40,000. The residence section was saved. D. M. Strong, an attorney of North Bend, Neb., died from injuries re­ ceived by being struck by a train near Fremont. Neb. While attempting to board a mov­ ing train D. M. Strong, an attorney and once Prohibition candidate for governor, of North Bend, Neb., was thrown under the wheels and fatally injured. The Republican convention of the fourth West Virginia district renomi­ nated James Anthony Hughes. A British cabinet meeting, at which Lord Salisbury presided, was held at his official residence in Arlington street for the convenience of the pre­ mier, who is recovering from a chill. The house committee on public lands favorably reported the bill es­ tablishing the Wind Cave National park in South Dakota. The locality is said to embrace extinct geysers, a subterranean cavern and other nat­ ural wonders. Jackson, Miss., police have arrested a man giving the name of John Thorpe and claiming to represent a Chicago lumber firm, whom they sus­ pect of being Charles Kratz, wanted at St. Louis in connection with bribery charges against Aldermen Kratz and Murrell of that city. Otto Steffen, a fireman on the Chi­ cago and Northwestern railroad, who was to have been married to Miss Car- ! rie Rick of Boscobel, Wis., in a few j,- days, was instantly killed by strik- ing his head on a bridge over the Wis- consin river at Merrimac. Edward Kamradt, a young farmer residing rear Sadorus, 111., was struck by a west-bound Wabash freight train r and died from bis injuries. The old mansion at Eufala occupied and owned by the family of (.Tovernor v Jelks of Alabama was totally de- .j stroyed by fire. The national convention of the Din­ ing Car Conductors' Association is in .I saasion at St. Paul, V Word has been received of the * drowning at Seoul, Korea, of the Rev. H. G. Appenzeller of I>ancaster, Pa., ft welf-knowu Methodist missionary. John Wilburn, living near Collins- rille, Tex., was shot and killed by James Dial, a neighbor, with whom ie had a quarrel over a lence. Brycie Thompson, who was badly burned by a powder explosion while taking part in a spectacular show at Houston, Tex., died of his injuries. The tank steamer Pinna left Port Arthur with a cargo of 25,000 barrels of refined Texas petroleum for Ply­ mouth, England. This is the first shipment of kerosene from the GufTey refinery. Daily prayers for rain are now being offered in a dozen towns in Texas, but so far no rain has fallen in any of the vicinity where the meetings are held. Joe Crenshaw, of Alvord, Tex., was hit in the head with a scale weight and probably seriously injured by Pearl Reynolds, who is under arrest. A large barn in Henderson county, h.y„ belonging to Thomas Mann, was destroyed by fire, causing a loss of $5,000. James P. Wharton, traveling repre­ sentative and yart owner of the Mc­ Clelland Cigar company of Atchison, Kas., was accidentally shot and killed at Leon, la., by L. P. Detrick, pro­ prietor of a restaurant at that place. They were friends. Wharton was 36 years old and leaves a widow and one child. Rev. Joseph Loving, a pioneer Bap­ tist preacher of Texas, is dead at his home near Bartonsville, aged 93 years. Mrs. Anna Spence Woffe, one of the most notable pioneers of Carthage, 111., died aged 80 years, bhe had been a resident of Carthage for fifty years. Jennie Moore Vaughters committed suicide at her home north of Vln- cennes, Ind. She was a wayward girl, whose parents had closed their doors upon her, and she became desperate and took morphine. Emory Alexander was sentenced to ten yearB in the penitentiary at Hiawatha, Kas., for the robbery of T. C. Horr, a traveling man of Frankfort, Kas. Walter Graham, a wealthy stockman near Kokomo, Ind., fell from a tree and was killed. The silver Jubilee of Auxiliary Bishop P. J. O'Reilly was celebrated at St. Patrick's school, Peoria, with a program arranged by the pupils. F. O. Hewes was arrested at War­ ren, Ohio, charged with sending ob­ scene matter through the mails at Springfield, 111., where he worked for a patent medicine company. Charles D. Warner, aged 24, son of Major William Warner, United States district attorney, was found dead in a Kansas City rooming house. He is supposed to have committed suicide by taking morphine. He had been drinking. Dr. n Jacob F. Meyer was shot through the heart and mysteriously killed at Buffalo. His wife, who has told disconnected stories regarding a scuffle with tne doctor, is held by the police, though no charge has been en­ tered against her. It is announced in London that Sir Christopher Furniss, ^he well known shipowner, has bought the Gulf Line of Greenock. The line consists of si-t vessels, aggregating 19,502 tons. H. H. Rand of Wisconsin has been appointed assistant superintendent of the salarv and allowance bureau of the postpfflce department at Washing- ten. The Royer Wheel works at Aurora, Ind., were partly burned, ca ising a loss of $75,000. Over 3i)0 hands are temporarily thrown out of employ- inert. II. L. Frank of Butte, Mont., has sold a three-fourths Interest in hi* coal mines at Frank, B. C., to a French syndicate for $1,300,000. A payment of $85,000 has been made to bind the sale. The Frank mines are in the Crow's Nest region. Tne French senate began the dis­ cussion of M. Rolland's bill providing for the reduction of the term of mili­ tary service to two years, which, as the premier, M. Combes, announced in the ministerial declaration, the government will support. Albert G. Smith, one of the most prominent young men of Lafayette, Ind., committed suicide by taking morphine. The deed Is attributed to despondency over the deaths of his wife and daughter within the last year. The borough council of Poplar, Lon- lon, England, has accepted an offer from Andrew Carnegie of £15,000 for the establishment of free libraries in the borough. The International Printing Press­ men and Assistants' Union at Balti­ more appointed a committee to con­ sider a proposition of the feeders to withdraw from the union and form an independent organisation. Application has been made in tne supreme court by the Colorado Bar as­ sociation to have disbarred from prac­ ticing law Sidney H. Dent, a referee »n bankruptcy. Mr. Dent is a rela­ tive of Mrs. U. S. Grant The French minister of the interior has accepted the proposal of the di­ rector of the hot baths establishment cf Aix-les-Bains that henceforth French and foreign doctors' children under age and women will be allowed to partake of the waters gratuitously at any time of the year. Owing to the rapid spread of ty­ phoid fever the schools of Monroe, Wis., have been clo. ed by order of the board of health. Churches, Sunday schools and the public library have been closed and public gatherings of all kinds nrohibited. C. A. Sykes of New York was elec­ ted president by the National Dental Trades association, which closed its convention in Detroit. R. Bruce Mason of Helena was nominated for congressman on the 986th ballot by the Democratic con­ vention of the first Arkansas district. Reed Green has retired from the race as the Democratic candidate for congress In the Cairo (111.) district. Joseph Haggatt, in ja" at Salem, Ind., charged with the murder of an infant child, hanged himself with a bed sheet. Mrs. Albert Otto, living five miles west of Davenport, Iowa, was killed at a railroad crossing near her home. Union Pacific boiler-makers at Oms- ha have struck becausc their demand for an increase in wages was refused. A general tie-up of the shops of ths 4>Mtem is looked for. Business Transacted by the House and Senate in the National Capital. SENATE PASSES PANAMA BILL By a Vote of 42 to 34 the Upper House Shatters the Life Work of Senator Morgan, Who Fights for Nicaragua to the Last. Tuesday, aune 17. Mr. Quay gave notice in .the senate at the conclusion of the voting on the isthmian canal question he will move to discharge the committee on terri­ tories from further consideration of the bill providing for the admission as states of the territories of Oklahoma, Arizona and New Mexico. Bills ^ere passed to regulate the commutation of United States prisoners for good Con­ duct; to amend the act providing fpr it permanent census office, so as to in­ clude "unskilled laborers" in the list el those employed not Included In the civil service; to provide for refunding taxes paid on legacies and bequests fri uses of religious, charitaNe or ed- u< ational cha-acter; for th^ encour- tsement cf art, etc. Tne rest of the day was devoted to debate upon the canal bill. The house agreed to the conference asked for by the senate on the i,nti- arnrchy bill. Passed bills to a*nend tne bankruptcy law; providing for the punishment of United States prison­ ers for crimes committeed while con­ fined in state institutions; to increase the fees of jurors in United States courts from $2 to $3 per day; to allow appeals from final rulings of the gen­ eral land office to the supreme court of the District of Columbia; to incor­ porate the Society of the Army of Santiago de Cuba, and to ratify the agreements negotiated by the Dawes commission with the Creek, Kansas or Kaw Indians of Oklahoma. The bill to ratify tee agreement with the Choc­ taw and Chickasaw Indians was un­ der consideration when the house ad­ journed at 10:30, o'clock, a night ses­ sion being held. A house bill to pro­ vide for the opening to settlement of 480,000 acres of land in the Kiowa, Comanche and Apache Indian reser­ vations in Oklahoma was defeated. Wednesday, June 18. The senate took up the house reso­ lution providing that the conference committee on the sundry civil ap­ propriation bill be authorized to con­ sider and recommend the inclusion of necessary appropriations to carry out omnibus public building bill, and it was agreed to. A bill to restore to the active list of the navy Surgeon John Walton Rose as medical director was passed. The nomination of Cap­ tain Charles E. Clark uf the navy to the grade of Rear Admiral was con­ firmed. The District of Columbia ap­ propriation bill was sent to conference. The general deficiency appropriation bill, the last of the supply bills, was passed by the house. In the course of some remarks early in the session Mr. Cannon declared that if he could have his way Congress would adjourn sine die before July 4. A night session was held at which the house consid­ ered bills reported from the commit­ tee oil Indian affnirs. Thursday, June 19. The senate passed the canal bill with the bpooner Panama amendment by a vote of 42 to 34. There was some debate over the trouble into which the senate has got with the house over amendments to the army appropriation bill, and a conference with the house was finally asked, ig­ noring the "offensive" message which caused the trouble. The conference report on the bill to prevent the false branding or labeling of food or dairy products was agreed to. A bill was passed to set apart certain lands in South Dakota as a public park, to be known as the Wind Cave National Park. The senate then went into executive session and soon afterward adjourned. Debate upon the Philippine bill oc­ cupied most of the day in the house. a bill was passed to amend an act for the relief and civilization of the Chippewa Indian? of Minnesota. Friday, June 21. At the opening of the session of the Berate a partial conference report on the sundry civil bill was presented by Mr. Allison and agreed to. The sen­ ate insisted on its amendments still in disagreement and Messrs. Allison, Hale and Cockrell were named as con­ ferees. A bill appropriating $25,000 for a monument at Fredericksburg, Va., to Gen. Hugh Mercer, a proposi­ tion authorized by congress in April, 1777, was discussed. The bill went over on objection of Mr. Warren (Vvyo.). The senate agreed to the conference report on the military academy appropriation bill, thus final­ ly disposing of the measure. Debate on the Philippine civil gov­ ernment bill continued In the house Loses Husband and Money. St. Paul, Minn., special: After less than two months of married life with her second husband, whom she be­ lieved to be a German count, Mrs. Otto Kern, formerly Mrs. Gustave Nagel, is minus her husband and $3,000. from 11 a. m. to 5 p. m., and at a session held at night. Mr. Jones (Va.), ranking minority member of the insular affairs committee, con­ ch ided his speech begun Thursday. The other speakers were Messrs. Hamilton (Mich.) and Kahn ( Cal.) for the bill and Mr. Patterson (Tenn.) against it A bill was parsed to recognize the military service of the officers and enlisted men of the First regiment of Ohio light artillery. This regiment served three months at the opening of the civil war, but was never formally mustered into the United States service. The uouse de­ clined to concur in the canal bill passed by the senate Thursday, and three conferees were named. Saturday, June 21. In the house Mr. Hull (Iowa), chair­ man of the committee on military af­ fairs, called up the conference report on the military academy appropria­ tion bill. Mr. Hay (Va.), Mr. Clay­ ton (Ala.) and Mr. Mann (111.) criti­ cised the action of the house confer­ ees in agreeing to the number of ca­ dets at West Point proposed by the senate. Mr. Mann said that recently the number of cadets had been in­ creased 100. The increased member- ship of the house would further in­ crease the cadets thirty and now it was proposed to increase that number still further. He did not believe in legislation in the direction of a great increase in the standing army. Mr. Hull and Mr. Parker (N. J.) defended the conference report, arguing that the increase was necessary in order properly to officer the army. Finally the conference report was adopted, 88 to 59. Mr. Cannon (111.) then called up the conference report upon the sun­ dry civil bill. He explained that the agreement was only partial, items car­ rying $1,283,000 being still in contro­ versy. Mr. Grosvenor (Ohio) moved that the house concur in the senate amendment for a memorial bridge across the Potomac to cost not to ex­ ceed $2,500,000 and appropriating $100,000 for the preparation of plans. This was voted down without division and the bill was sent back to confer­ ence, after which the debate on the Philippine bill was resumed. The senate was not in session. COST OF THE PHILIPPINE WAR Total to Date, Including Outstanding Obligations, Is $170,326,586. Washington dispatch: The total cost of the Philippine war, including outstanding obligations, up to the pres­ ent date is $170,326,586. Secretary Root gave out this information in re­ sponse to the senate resolution of April 17 asking for this information. He explained that $50,000 was ad­ vanced for the expenses of the Philip­ pine commission originally from the United States treasury, but thip amount was afterward made good t the Philippine treasury. For railroat transportation of troops and supplies to and from the Philippines since the peace treaty was ratified the cost has been $4,803,448. Secretary Root says that large quantities of valuable prop­ erty, such as ships, lighters, etc., horses and mules, wagons and har­ ness, clothing, equipage and ordnance, medical, signal and engineer supplies, the cost of which is included in the foregoing statement, still remain on hand in the Philippine Islands for use. SQUATTERS OUSTED BY COURT Steel Company Wins Its Suit Against Residents of Jones Island. Madison, Wis., special: The Illi­ nois Steel company wins out in its suit against the Jones island squat­ ters, the supreme court reversing the decision of the Milwaukee circuit court In favor of the latter. The de­ cision holds that the steel company, at the time of the commencement of the action was the owner of the prem­ ises in dispute by title under govern­ ment patent, and that the motion of appellant for judgment in accordance therewith should have been granted. CHURCH FOR UNION LABOR MEN Workers of Marlon. Ind., Plan Unde­ nominational Organization. Indianapolis dispatch: A church for organized labor In which denom­ ination will not be considered is to be established at Marion, Ind. Any person who worships God can become a member. Already much has done toward the promotion of a con­ gregation and the central 'rades coun cil will be asked to take charge of the matter within the next ten days and see that the church is established. It will be called the People's church. Four Americans Missing. Manila cablegram: Grave fears are entertained tor the safety of four American school teachers of Cebu. They left their homes June 1 and have not been heard from since. Indicates Smith's Acquittal. Washington dispatch: Gen. J. K. Smith, who recently was court-mar­ tialed in Manila, has been Instructed to proceed to San Francisco and there await further orders. Although not officially admitted, the fact that he has been called home is accepted in military circles generally as practical confirmation of the press dispatches from Manila that he was acquitted. "A Bas Loubetl" Costs 1,000f. Paris cablegram: A Rouen trades­ man named Foucault has been fined 1,000 francs for crying "A bas Lou- bet!" while the president was on his way to the Paris culinary exhibition. Castellane's Corsets. New York dispatch: A pair of dainty lace-trimmed corsets--ad­ dressed to the Count de Castellane-- were sold among the unclaimed goods at the appraiser's store. They were appraised at $6.75, but brought only $3. Fear a Famine. Bombay cable: The meteorolog­ ical department predicts a deficiency <ft rain almost everywhere in the Bom­ bay presidency, particularly at Gujer- at, and warns the government to pre­ pare for a severe famine. ' Famous Resort Disappears. London cable: Simpson's tavern and divan, a long famous restaurant in the Strstnd, has been taken over by the council for the widentag and im- irovement of the Strand. Bride Is Worth $1,000,000. Nlles, Mich., dispatch: Miss Anne Lewis Beeson, daughter of William Beeson, deceased, was married to Thomas Lyon Purdy of New York city. The bride is worth $1,000,000. Marries Booth Tarkington. Indianapolis, Ind., dispatch: Booth Tarkington and Miss Laurel Louisa Fletcher, second daughter of Stough- ton J. Fletcher, *ere married at the Fletcher home. Only members of the two families were present ^ro 8panish General Dies. Madrid cablegram: Captain General Molio died as the result of injuries re­ ceived by being unhorsed during the military review incident to King Al­ fonso's coronation. fllETJEFEAT Illinois Supreme Court De­ clares That Warehouse. Law Is Void. NOT IN INTEREST OF PUBLIC Owners and Lessees of Public Houses Prohibted from Storing Their Own Grain and Mixing It With That Carried for^Siistomers. By a decision of the supreme court of Illinois, elevator men are prohibi­ ted from traffic in their own grain in public elevators. The court declared unconstitutional an act of the legisla­ ture which made It lawful for own­ ers and lessees of public warehouses to store their own grain and mix it with the grain of others. This marks the end of a fight be- tween elevator men and brokers which has been carried through the courts and through the legislature. While both representatives of the elevator and brokerage interests declared that the conditions under which the fight began had changed, and that the law had become a dead letter," the bro­ kers were rejoicing in their victory over the elevator men. In giving the decision the supreme court declared that the act of the leg­ islature which made it lawful for the public warehouse owners to store their grain in the elevators was "man­ ifestly not for the protection of pro­ ducers and shippers of grain, but against their interests." Purpose of the Law. 'It had for its purpose," continued the decision, "the exemption of pub­ lic warehouses from the discharge of public duties imposed on them for the protection of producers and ship­ pers, the performance of which is clearly necessary for the protection of such interests." The act was passed by the legisla­ ture in 1897, and was for the purpose of defeating an injunction issued by the Cook county circuit court to pre­ vent the elevator men from storing grain In the public warehouses. Nu­ merous charges were made against the legislature when the act was passed. The attorney general had se­ cured Injunctions restraining the firm of Carrington,Hannah & Co. and eight other companies, from Btoring their own grain In public warehouses. A fine of $100 had been imposed for violation of this injunction by one of the elevator owners, and the case had been appealed. While it was being heard the legislature passed the act making the injunction lawful and per­ mitting the storing of grain. Legislature Powerless. After the cause came to the su­ preme court Hannah died, but the Northern Trust company, as his exec­ utor, was substituted as appellant, and the judgment given runs against the estate. In rendering the decision Justice Boggs, who .wrcrte the opinion, quotes at length the constitutional limitations on public warehouses and calls at­ tention to the importance attached to this matter by the framers of the con­ stitution. It declares that a public warehouseman of class A could not, under the provisions of the constitu­ tion of 1870 and the act of 1871, store his own grain in his own warehouse, grade the same, and mix it with the grain stored there by his customers, and adds: "We entertain no doubt that it was beyond the power of the general assembly to confer on such warehouseman the right and power to do so by the amendatory act of 1897." RIFLE RANGE DATES ARE FIXED Program for National Guard Practice at Camp Logan. Springfield. 111., special: .The dates when the various organizations will go to the Camp Logan rifle range, for a tour of practice duty, instead of com­ ing into camp here to participate in the annual encampment of the Illinois National Guard, have been agreed upon. They are as follows: Artillery battalion, July 7 to July 12; First In­ fantry, July 13 to July 21; Second In­ fantry, July 22 to July 30; Seventh Infantry, July 31 to Aug. 8; Eighth Battalion, Aug. 9 to Aug. 12; First Cav­ alry, Aug. 13 to Aug. 20. Freed of Suspicion. St. Louis special: Mrs. Annie Mul- lering and her 14-year-old daughter Emma, who have been mysteriously m i s s i n g s i n c e t h e m o r n i n g o f M a y i , appeared at tne police station, where Hermann Mullerlng, the husband and father, had been held prisoner, sus pecteu of double murder. Killed by a Negro. Little Rock, Ark., special: James Cross was shot and killed by a negro named Martin Nash near Pendleton. i\ash was wounded by shots fired by Captain Cross, father of the dead man, and another son, but escaped. Eleven Pilgrims Wounded. Madrid cable: As a result of a serious conflict among the pilgrims at a religious fete which was being held at Avilla, in the province of Asturias, eleven of the pilgrims were seriously wounded by bullets. Want Control of French Schools. " Paris cable: A new conflict ie threatening between France and Tur­ key owing to the demand of the Porte that it be given control of the curricu­ lum of the schools of the French Con gregatlonallstB in Turkey. Rock Island Team Wins. Aledo, 111., special: Aledo was in gala attire, entertaining the Mercer County Picnic association of the Mod­ ern Woodmen of America. The Rock Island drill team captured the prize in oompetition drill. Smallpox Closes Schools. Cambridge, Mass., dispatch: school committee has decided to close every school m the city for an indefin­ ite time owing to the epidemic of smallpox which prevails. MING POWER President Mitchell States That Workers Make $1.42 Per Day. ARE FORCED TO ASK F0R MORE SUPPLY OF com .910 M SHOUT Secretary Wilson Asserts There Is Not Enough to Last Three Months. Cost of Living Has Increased to the Point Where More Wages Must Be Forthcoming--Compared to Pauper Labor of Europe. A dark picture of the condition of the anthracite miners of the Pennsyl­ vania districts is painted by Presi­ dent Mitchell of the United Mine Workers of America in his address to the pubac, just issued. Mr. Mitchell in his address showB that the earning power of the miners is less than $300 a year--$1.42 a day for fewer than 200 days of the year, to be exact.--and he claims their con­ dition is really but little above that of the pauper laborers of the old world. The address begins with the state­ ment that the leaders of the miners have done everything in their power to have the questions in dispute set­ tled by arbitration, laughs to scorn the statement of the operators that they are unable to pay higher wages to their men, and gives figures to prove the point. Killed in the Mines. It is pointed out that more men are killed and injured in the anthracite mines of Pennsylvania annually than were killed or wounded during the Spanish-American war; and the claim is made that the miners, instead of being paid for all the coal they mine, are really forced to dig from 2,740 to 3,190 pounds before the operators will call it a ton. The claim is made that the cost of living has increased to a point where the miner is compelled to ask for higher wages, denies the allegations of the operators that the productive capacity of the mine workers has fall­ en ofT, and quotes official figures to substantiate the contention that the employers can pay higher wages with­ out increasing the cost of coal to the consumer; asserts that the coal-car­ rying railroads, which control about 85 per cent of the mines, absorb the profits of the coal companies by charging exorbitant freight rates. The direct statement is made in closing that In case the present union of miners is crushed, which, it is added, is not likely, a new organiza­ tion that will be greater and stronger will arise from the ruins. STRIKE MAY NOT BE GENERAL Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, llliaoia and Indiana Delegates to the Con­ vention Expected to Stand by Thetr Contracts with Operators. APPORTIONMENT LAW 18 VALID Proper Exercise of Legislative Power by General Assembly. The Illinois supreme court made short shrift of the Democratic state committee's suit to set aside the ap­ portionment of the last legislatuie. It had the case under consideration just two hours, and, without a dis­ senting vote and without the formality of a written opinion, it dismissed the proceeding. Justice Boggs was authorized to an­ nounce the opinion, which he confined to a perfunctory statement that, on the showing of the relator, the court held that the apportionment act was a proper exercise of legislative power by the general assembly. He gave po indication of the line of reasoning fol­ lowed by the court, nor did he intimate what the written opinion would con­ tain. It is expected that It will follow the decision given on the act of 1893. The suit was in the nature of a petition for a writ of mandamus to re­ quire the county clerk of McLean county to certify to the nomination of J. F. HefTernan as a Democratic can­ didate for the legislature in the old McLean county district. The com­ mittee had decided that because of the inequalities of the apportionment there was a serious question as to its legality. BUILDINGS ARE ELECTRIFIED One Man Is Killed at Kankakee by Grasping Awning Support. Kankakee, 111., special: One person was killed and six Bhocked by com­ ing in. contact with steel fronts of oulldings charged with electricity here. As a result of defective wiring for In­ candescent lighting, wet awnings, and the rain, the steel fronts of four build­ ings became charged with electricity. John Lehnus grasped the metal sup­ port of an awning and was instantly killed. Henry Rehberg, George La- flamm, Maggie Lafiamm, S. E. Gar­ rett, Paul Meyers and Fred Sticker sustained shocks. Heirs to Millions. New York special: Stephen Ujhely, a shoemaker of Williamsburg, and his sister, Mrs. Beer, have become heirs to $2,000,000 through the death of an uncle, who made a fortune sinking oil wells in western Pennsylvania. Woman Kills Neighbor. Toledo, O., special: As a result of a fight with Mrs. Edward Llghtner, Rosa Wheeler was killed and her mother, Mrs. William Wheeler, was fatally injured. The fight was the outgrowth of a neighbor's quarrel. May Visit St. Louis. Washington dispatch: William F. Saunders, secretary of the Business Men's league of St. Louis, invited the president to that city and secured-a promise that if it can be arranged be will be there September 30. ^ /. ./ ""----~""" . College Policeman Dea4^ * Princeton, N. J., dispatch: John Degnan, Princeton's well-known col­ lege policeman, died suddenly, aged 80 years. He was the univecslty po­ liceman for twenty years and a grett favoritil among the students. Reduces Maize Ta* / London cablegram: In th« commons the chancellor of ilie ex­ chequer, Sir Michael Hick&Betch, re­ plying to John Redmond, the Irish leader, announced that the tax OC maize would be i educed by one half. 1 -i-su.,,' Secretary-Treasurer Wilson of the United Mine Workers estimates that' if a general mine strike is called fcbe supply of bituminous and anthracite coal above ground will not last throe months. According to his estimate, if the national convention in Indianapo­ lis on July 17 should vote for a gen­ eral suspension of work in support of the anthracite strike, the industrial machinery of the United States woatt be so handicapped for fuel that thou­ sands of factories would have to sus­ pend work. * Wilson has statistics showing there are 450,000 miners In the country, scattered through thirty states. The miners in twenty-four states woald be involved if there should be a aas- pension of operations. The Indiana operators have a short supply of coal on hand. Probably the largest supply of coal is in the bins at BufTalo, N. Y., and other cities along the great lakes. The supply is shorter than usual. May Prevent General Strike. At the coming convention the belief is that western Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois will take a hand against a general strike. These states have contracts they do not want to break. The combined vote of the competitive district with that of Iowa is expected to prove strong enough to prevent the success of the proposition for a general strike. There are a number of states whose agreements expire July 1, and U will depend largely on the outcome of the deliberations between their operators and miners as to where the balance of power will lie in the convention. May Get Coal from Wales. The coal strike in the anthracite regions is compelling many of the large New York dealers to look abroad for relief. Manager Herbert of the firm of Herbert & Co. said that he had communication with some of the anthracite mine owners in Car­ diff, Wales, for the importation of a supply of anthracite coal. The coal he desires, he says, is the broken an­ thracite suitable for use in locomo­ tives and furnaces. This class of coal, he said, previous to the strike, sold for about $4.50 a ton. He ex­ pected, if he made a deal with the Welsh mine owners, it would cost $S a ton in New York. R. N. RAMSAY'S ESTATE MUST PAY STATE BOND Shortage of the Late James D. Baker, Former Warden at Chester, Must Be Made Good. Carlyle, 111., dispatch: The supreme court of Illinois has decided that the state of Illinois is entitled to $17,539 from the estate of the late Rufus N. Ramsay, formerly state treasurer. During the administration of John P. Altgeld the office of warden of the penitentiary at Chester was held by James D. Baker, now dead. When he retired he was discovered to be short as warden and treasurer of the hospi­ tal for the criminal insane at Chester the above amount Ramsay was one of his bondsmen with Henry Seiter of Lebanon. A claim for the shortage was filed against the estate of Ramsay and allowed. The claim was contest­ ed by the administrators. The cir­ cuit, appellate and supreme courts lu turn affirmed the lower tribunal. FEAR GRAS8HOPPER PLAGUE Five Hundred Acres in Minnesota Are Covered with Eggs. SL Paul, Minn., special: Residents of Otter Tall county, northern Minne­ sota, are fearful of a grasshopper plague. Five hundred acres of land there are reported to be covered with grasshoppers' eggs. The matter has been referred to the state entomolo­ gist. State Auditor Dunn says there is $4,000 left from a legislative appro­ priation to fight grasshoppers. Valet Jtnes Gives BaiL New York dispatch: Charles F. Jones, the valet of Millionaire William M. Rice, who was chloroformed at hts residence in Madison avenue, and for whose murder Adolph T. Patrick, a lawyer, was convicted in general ses­ sions a few months ago. was admitted to bail by Recorder GofT in tie sum of |1,000. Many Tlmerf Married. Belleville, 111., special: Mrs. Mag­ nolia Harwood, aged 36, and Andrew J. Melvin, aged 80, both of O'Fallon, 111., wefe married nere. This is toe fourth matrimonial venture for the bride and the fifth for Mr. Melvia. f Arrest Macedonians. Athens cable: Many persons ac­ cused of being agents of the Mace­ donian committee nave been arreeted here. It is alleged that they are nere In an attempt to stir Macedonians in ^-Greece to revolution. Truesdale fort Congress. Anderson, Ind., dispatch: After a a brief but spirlteu contest the Demo­ crats of the eighth uistrict nominated Judge James & Truesdale of Alex­ andria for congress. The state plat­ form was indorsed. Powder Mill Blows Up. Seward, Pa., special: - The coining mill of the Cambria powder plant blew up, killing three men and injuring five others, one of whom died later. Two are fatally hurt - --