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VOLUME XII. y CAMDKN, S. C., KRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1909. . NO, I. PALMETTO HAPPENINGS TOLD IN BRIEFS f H i " ' Occurrcnote of Interot 0!?ui?d From All S?ettou? g f tk? B\i?y PaJautto Siato LAURENS TRAGEDY. Stone *nd Burglar '? ratal . Fight. Iih ?nU^n*'. 8pwial.? Fovr tragedies , 0 fc?. "hocktfd the people of the ::r:;,n':rw rJt. 9 ? l^holniHM m iiKM y between IW w".bMd)u?? 6tone ??d W. lui Wi ,u uu unknown burg hat !! outilt Qt tools indicates I now n \.l ft packer. The urv h ! >( gm*" hr <le'd Bt ?he city died a Stone Kioi v of /'? Thursday afternoon. The Mi' w-.iJ Uii 1<,H,'?ied from 1 1, " 1 Mr- 8 tone is that in Uieir nightly round, the ,J ,nct the through e g ht from Spartanburg, which ar toni* r?r? at 2: V-' UK is their cus ? l pnn reaching the depot Mr. tiain? of" d?W" ?ne sido of the ' " 1 cars and Mr. Walker down ' ?H er Seeing a stranger with a o ''e meal sack in hi? ha'nd, Mr. ? oiw accosted him and /inquired *\li at ho was doing. "T am a trainman," replied tho to the oV,lcre 'H your lantern T" '' ? Mr- ,S,?"0' "'rain hands don't m, ttl'wu,id here in the dark." hereupon Mr.- Stone advanced - in _reac|i thn man and laid- hi* -hand Liui" '?H.hrn01'' i . ul L " * 1 , J,?, arreKt tive to loa fci'H a t t he depot. As soon !'s S,t?.nc * hand touched the stranger he whipped out IiiK pistol, a .45 call ? ? . n.nsrazine, from inside his vest and began firing:, emptying the eharra Oer, Jive of the shots taking effect in the l:ody <,f Stone, one. in the lowels, t li t co in the fleshy part of to |(i; r.iid one in the lower lip. ' o close was the range that Stone 1,1 ,1()t have an opportunity to draw clinched his antagonist and to gether they fell to tho ground. were so lying when Pclice "iii" Walker crawled under from the other side of the tr^in, tho stranger * (niggling to loosevhimself. He was almost 1 roe from the weakening hold o Mono and was reloading* his pis tol .when Walker came upon him. "Don't shcot." cried the stanger, i am a i ready siioi to pieces," which Of course was a bluff to gain time, lor Stone had never drawn his pis ?ol. "I will surrender," said he. ' 'pvc n'o your pistol then," said \Y alker. Pretending to hand the pis tol to the policeman, the stranger II red at \\ alker, who quickly drew nna sot the man to his doath, four or five shots taking effect... In tho sack which he h4ld in his h?id was a com pleto i veggnian's outfit with nitro glycerine. dynamite, keys, wrenches, ctc, lie had $110. CO about him. An Educated Pig. Mr. J. B. Henderson, of Branch vllle, has a very fine milk cow that pives a great quantity of milk, and, rf which he is very, proud,* says the Andetvon Intelligencer. -For the past few weeks this cow lias not been giv ing the usual amount of milk, even when the feed was increased and the best of attention given she still fail- 1 cd to give any more milk. Suspicion { was aroused by this and thinking that | eomeone" was visiting his barn yard In the peaceful and still hours of the; time when men should fleep, and ap propriating tho milk t d their use a! watch was mado to And* out the par ties. The one that was getting tho milk from this fine stock was found,! and who do yc? suppose it was? Ono ef thoso Berkshire pigs In the same lot had learned that tliig milk was the best of food for himself and he was peacefully making a meal on the milk that should have gone into the pail, ? ' * Southern Fire Insolvent. Columbia, Special. ? The only in formation that Commissioner . Mc Master has been able to securo from the insurance department of Louisi ana in regard to the Southern Fire of New Orleans is that " Owing to tho insolvency of the company the same has been placed in the hands of a receiver." ' Insurance Commis sioner McGivney now in New Orleans examining affairs of Southern Fire. South Carolinr. News Notes. A snake nt Mullins, S. C., swallow ed half-dozen china eggs that had been placed in a ben's- nest. ... J, W. ^IcCowen has been elected State Senator from Florence county to succeed the late Senator Nathan Gibson. Deputy Sheriff Bruce, of Abevillo, county, shot Harrison Smith, colorr>l, because the negro attacked him with an axe. Tho annual convention *of the Tri Stftto Mcdical Association will be field in Charleston February 16-17. The association is composed of the Carolinaa" rad-Vifginia. News Items of General Interest. The business men of-Marion, N. C., have OTganited a joint stock company to build an up-to-date hotel. President-elect Taft was entertain ed Saturday and Sunday at Charles ton, where jie wen* aboard the North Carolina bound for Panama* * -?* ? Governor Patterson, of Tennessee, in his inaugural, expresses a sting fron> critics by inviting prosecution L-ient* Forest Preservation. Columbia, fcpeoial.? ^Tbe following preamble and resolutions have been adopted by the Senate and sent to the House: "Whereas, an effort in being made by quite a number of the States to secure some legislation looking to the preservation of our natural forest* and the protection of our water sheds and navigable streams; "And, whereas, there is now pending in the congress of the United Stales a measure to enable the United States government to cooperate with the States in this important matter, now therefore "Be it resolved by the senate of tbo State of South Carolina, tbo house of representatives concurring? "Scetionl. That wo heartily indorse the effort now being mode by our members of tbo congress to secure this much needed and important le^ islation and urge them to use all hon orable means to obtain the favorable action of congress on same as soon as possible, ? "Sec. 2. That a copy of this reso lution be forwarded by the of the senate and to the members of congress from South Carolim^-!.' Medal For Greenwood Man. Greenwood, Special. ? Greenwood county lias probably the distinction of being the first county in the State to havo one of its citizens receive recognition at the hands of the Car negie hero fund commission. Through the efforts of Mr. W. H. Nicholson, now a member of tbv Legislature from this county, and a prominent young attorney here, the attention of the commission was directed to the heroism of Mr. James B. (loldman, in- saving the life of a 4i?#rro, Warrsn Finlay, at Waterloo, on June '29, 1007. The award of the commission is that Mr. Goldman is to get a silver medal and the sum of a thousand dollars to bo applied towards the purchase of a farm or other such worthy pur pose as may be approved bv the ex ecutive committee. Mr. Goldman is a young white farmer, living near Capt. J. H. Brooks' place at Cam bridge. He has a wife and several small children, and the money that ho is to get will go a long way to ward setting him up in life. Local Freight Passengers. Colurirbin, Special, ? A bill intro duced in the Senate Thursday by Senator Black provides for the re quiring of railroad companies to ac cept passengers upon local freight trains. Tho bill provides: "Section 1. That on. and after tho approval of this act every rail road company engaged in* this State as a common carrier of passengers for hire shall bo required to acccpt in. its local freight trains passengers having only hand bagage and paying fare to points at which said local freight train is scheduled to stop." Blacksburg News Notes. Blacksburg, Special. ? The Carolina Amusement company has pitched its tents here and promises a week o 1 jfun and amusement in the form of a i street fair and carnival. Tho never I failing merry-go-round will bo one of j the principal attractions of the show. At a recent meeting of city council the mayor was authorised to issue $15,000 municipal bonds in denomi nations of $500 each, bearing inter est not exceeding 6 per cent, annu ally and for a period of 20 years. Another Teacher Added. Branehville, Special-. ? Prof. W. H. Hand, high school inspector, visited the local school on the 21st inst. He recommended an increase in the teaoh ing <orce and another teacher will be added to the present faculty at onco. The contraetors have begun work on the new addition to the present aohool building and it is hoped that it will be ready for ocoupancy within the next tw6 months. . Tennessee'! Gold Water Campaign. Nashville, Tenn., Special. ? In the upper house of the J^egislaturo a bill was introduced to Require sheriffs to sociire frona the eFderal revenue of flcals a list of all persons to whom Federal liquor licenses have been is* sued. Another bill was .introduced providing for a commission to assess tho value ? o,f all property, the use of whieh, /it'is alleged, will be dam aged by the State-wide prohibition bills. ' In the Hoyse a bill Was intro duced making it' unlawful to adver tise in any form intoxicants fa this 8tate. Elevator Dfope Ten Stories Injuring New York, Special.? Three persons were injured, two probably fatally, by the fall of a passenger elevator car in the Heeler-Jon es-Je well Mill ing Company's plant im.this city Fri^j dey* night. . Kate Conroy, 16, and Moses Levy, 19, received serious in temal injuries end snay die. ?mtn* Sweeney, 88, was kss s*rioosly hurt, WITH S. C. LAWMAKERS Doings of Palmetto Lawmakers Told in Brief, Tuesday was a busy day in the Senate, Balloting for U. W. Senator Was part of (lie order. Tho follow ing were among t ho new bills offered; Mr. Hough ? To amend the law with reference to component ion and salaries of county officer*. Mr. Sullivan ? To regulate the salo of painta and proscribe penalties. Mr. Hardin- ? To empower the grand juries to employ expert ac countant* and to provide for tlu'ir compensation. Mr. Lido? To provide for an elec tion to determine the State'** policy witli regard to ^egulatpig the Bale of alcohol. Mr. Rogers? --To prescribe attor neys' fees in foreclosure eases and to declare all contracts, mortgages and agreements in violation of the terms of this act null and void and to fur ther provide for attorneys' fees in certain cases. Mr. Clifton ? To provide for the ex pens'e of conducting certain primary elections. Mr. Clifton-? To allow the circuit judges of this State traveling ex penses. Mr. Clifton- ? To allow certain wid ows above 4T> -years of npp- to jhh1 "ttcipafe i?i the pensions fund. Mr. Crosson ? To establish the office of State bjghwa'y engineer, to define his duties, 'to fix his salary and to appropriate money to carry out t lie provisions of this act. The House also cask its vote for E. 1). Smith for U. S. Senator. Withorft any debate the house pass ed to third reading Mr. Browning'* bill prohibiting the fradulent use of tho credit of corporations by the officers. The House had some extended de bate on Mr. Aycr's education com mission to si ml i fy and harmonize the laws of the State. The bill provided for a commission of seven lo report^ hack to the next general assembly. Without a word of dissent or dis cussion the House killed tiic Senate bill providing for a raise. in salaries for State officials. Tho Senate bill providing for an amendment to the constitution relat ing to municipal indebtedness was passed to third reading, it being nec essary to call the roll on this . The amendment now becomes a- law, Mr. McMahan's bill ameuding the railroad incorporation law passed without debate. Mr. Berg's marriage license bill 'was killed, although the author de fended it vigorously. In tlio Senate three unsuccessful votes were- taken for Associate .Jus tice of Supreme Court on Wednesday. Messrs. Thos. P. Cot h ran, of (Ireen vill.e ; I). E. Hydriek, of' Spartanburg Geo. W. Gage:, of Chester; John Ci Shcppard, of Edgefield; R. C. Watts, of Cheraw, arc candidates and a deadlock 1b not improbable. The fol lowing are sorao of the new bills offered : Mr. Mauldin ? To prevent frauds by giving worthless checks, drafts and orders. Mr. Mauldin ? To empower the county boards of education and the several boards of trustee* to estab 11th kndergartens. Mr. Sinkler ? To provide for sub mitting to an election the manner in which spirituous liquors and other beverages shall be sold or whether or not they shrill be sold in any county. Mr. Sinkler ? To grant to the city council of Charleston all the right, title, interest and estate of the State of South Carolina in and to certain lands in the harbor of Charleston. Mr. Otts ? To ratify the amend ment to section 7, article 8, of the conatiutiou, relating to municipal bonded indebtedness. Mr. Dick ? To provide for the in vestigation of the State Hospital for the Insane. Mr. Hall ? To provide on additional *emedy in homestead proceedings.. In the Houso the following bills were introduced : Mr. Dixon ? To require railroad companies in this State to file with the railroad commission a list of passes' issued by them. Mr. Williams ? Prescribing a pen alty for any person practicing law without having 'been admitted and sworn as an attorney. Mr. Sinkler ? To devolve the duties with reference to the analysis and inspection of commercial fertilisers jointly upon the boards of trustees of Winthrop Normal and Industrial and Clemson fcollcgfs. Mr. Todd? To make disordely con duct on passenger trains a misde meanor. The following third reading bills were ordered sent to 'the Senate : Mr. Browning ? To prohibit the fradslenft use of credit of corpora tions. Mr. Scarborough? To amend en aet entitled "An act to prescribe the punishment for assault with intent to ravish." w* ?ri bill to amend an ect entitled 44 An act limit the hours of labor in cotton and wooleri mills." The following bill* were iritroduc '-r- :iS* - if ' cd iii t hu Senate Thursday : Mr. Kelloy ? To provide for the re lief of sureties upon the bonds of person* acting in a fiduciary capacity. Mr, Harvey- To authorir.* the gov ernor to parol* prisoner* on condi tions. , Mr. Ifurvoy? To require tin* pro ponents of now counties lo pay the expenses of surveys, elections, e|e, Mr. Mlaek To require railroad companies to .accept passengers on local freight t ruins. Mr, Sinklef-? To protect, the own ers of bottles, boxes, syphons, tins or Regs used in (be sale of soda waters, porter ale, beer, eider, gingerale, milk, small beer, 'larger beer, Weiss beer, white beer or other beverages or med icines, medicinal preparations, per fumery, oils, compounds or mixtures. Mil Waller? To amend law eon fee ring the power to condemn land.*, 8 tp arris and water sheds and for sew c m if t?. ? Mr. Mauldin ?To amend the State insurance law by providing for part iusurajiee ill old line companies and regulat ing settlement of losses. Mr. McKcithan ? Proposing to amend section 7, article 8, of the con stitution relating to municipal bond ed indebtedness. Mr. Johnston ? To fix the time for holding courts in the ICigbth judicial circuit. Mr, Weston ? To enlarge the pow ers and duties of the commissioner of agriculture and immigration, to prescribe the duties of persons, firms and corporations subject to his super vision, to prescribe penalties for failures -to perform the" same. The Senate adjourned to Tuesday evening. ? - Tin; following Mils were offered in the llouse: Mr. Vender Horst (by request )-? To require the drainage of phosphate mining excavations so as to better provide for the public health. Mr. Brice ? To prescribe the condi tions upon which legal reseve life insuranco companies may write in tlie.ir policies and certificates that their .legal rscrve is secured by a deposit in the. State in which they are chartered. Mr. Mars'? To amend section 1214 of code of 'lows of South Cnrolitui JL902, volume I (criminal code) by prohibiting the transfer of children to another without the consent of the board of trustees of receiving school. Mr. K. 1'. Smith? To fix the salary, of the n\a\or or intendant of any city or. town heretofore, or hereafter in corporated under the general laws of the State. Mr. arey ? To provide for hearing in the court of common pleas of eases in which the State has an interest. Mr. Carey ? To regulate the prac tice ami procedure in appeals in cases in which the State is interested. Charleston delegation ? To submit question of dispensary or no dispen sary to qualified eletors in any coun ty in the State. Mr. Cosgroyo (by request) ? To au thorize cities having. a population of ">0.000 or rc ore and -located upon nav igable streams to' condemn private property for the purpose of extend ing, improving; or proteoting their water fronts. Tho following bills passed their third reading; in the Senate Friday: Mr. Weston ? To declare the wulful or wanton burnin? of any building which is insured a felony, and to pro vide punishment therefor. With amrndemnts. Mr. Bates ? To amend seat ion 2040 of the code, relating to the empanel ing of jurors. With amendments. Mr. Earlo ? Relating to the r>ollufc tion of water courses. Mr. Clifton? -To further ',deflno and extend the liability of telegraph com panies in, cases of mental anguish or suffering. Mr. Walker ? To amend the law to provide for the issuing of bonds in public school districts in South Car olina. Mr. Mauldin offered a bill to make it unlawful to pay dividends on stock in any corporation unless the same aro actually earned on the capital stock of such company, and for any officer of such company to make any false statement in regard to such company. Mr. Muckenfuss ? To amend the lien law so as to require persons mak ing advances to furnish itemized statements. Mr. Mauldin ? Relating to pensions. Senator Mauldin 's bill as to stock companies provides that in the cases cited above there shall be "unishment by n fine of not less than $100 or im prisonment for not less than 30 days. Mr. Muekon Hiss' lien law bill pro vides this addition: "That it shall be the duty of the person making such advances to make out and deliver to the person for whom the advances are made at the tim? the advances* ?re made a true and correct itemized statement, and showing, if money, the amount of principal and interest charged, and if snnpliea the amount, kind and prices charged for such supplies. " Mr. Mauldin 's pension bill provides that all Confederate soldiers and sail ors, bein^ 04 years of age, who par ticipated m tho War Between the Sec tions for period of 12 months, or honorably discharged therefrom, on account of wounds received or in firmity, shall be entitled ti> participate in . the pension fund provided by the State for Confederate soldiers sailors. ~ The Senate then adjourned until Monday. Among hills of lesser importance the House passed the Rfeterd*' bill Cor repeal of the lien law by vote of S") to ;i.Y It met at ni){ht to p.tss uncontested bills to third reading, ? 1 Adjourned until Tuesday, Among tlu> new hills offered (luring l he day w? re t hi* re ; Mr. Knit/, To amend an a?' relating to pensions. Mi>*rs. I'tsey an?l Haw?iue? "To pro vide for the taxation of timber. Mr. Dixon?- To on force the liability of express .or t ransfer companies in li.is State for damages arising from / ai ( IcKsne^s or neglect Tn transporta t:?n and d?rtive?\?\|)f goods in their (barge. ' Mr. K. I*. Smith? Prohibiting tin sale of cigarettes or cigarette paper in th <K State. Mr. Todd? To protect the owner* of bottles, boxes, siphons, tins or kegs, used in the sale of soda wateis, mineral or aerated water, porter, ale, beer, cider, gingerulo, milk, c.rcum, small beer lager, Wales beer, whito beer, or other beverages or medicines, medicinal preparations, perfumery, oil;-, cempcnnds or mixture:*. The House then adjourned till 1'uesday. INCOME TAXES FOR PAST YEAR Have Never Had Resident With In come of Over 92,600 Aome Fig ures Givou. i' Columbia, Special. ? Comptroller General Jones hns issued his annual report on thtf_ income tax*?? --r??eetxil for J 90S. The report shows the total amount received by the State since ?the lau went into effect in 18t>8. The law provides a graduated scale for all incomes over $2, 500 per annum and some of the coulnics show largo and some very small incomes. For in staiue, the county of Barnwell has not a single person with an income )ver $2, 500 annually. Barnwell h.'.s never hqd a person with an income jver this amount, according to the of ficial returns. The satne applies to Ccflk'tort and Fdgeflcld, -Hampton, Lee, Pickens and Saluda. It is ru mored, however, that there are resi dents of the above named counties that earn more than $2,500 per year M)d members of the general assembly <nid the other day they believed the* ould name several who were liable. , The report also shows that the "?ounties t'f Abbeville, Anderson, Bamberg, Harnwell. Dorchester, Fair ield, Florence, ( JeorgetoAvn, Hampton, (Horry, Kershaw, Laurens, J /ex in art on, Marion, Oconee, Union and Williams burg paid no taxes from 1898 to 190f5. Charleston paid for- three years and then quit until 11)0(5. Statement by Countios. The total amount of taxes paid on incomes for 1908 and the total amount of taxes received since the taw went into effect are given below: Counties. 1908 Totals. Abbeville .. 47.00 $ 3^0.21 Aiken 110.45 1,008.04 Anderson .. .. 10.20 510.89 Bamberg 45.00 Barnwell A Beaufort . . ... 9,'}. 50 Berkley '..... Charleston . . . n,577.41 2T.773.75 Cherokee .. .. 101.13 1,015.47 Chesterfield. .. 00.24 Clarendon , . 320.70 Colleton Darlington Dorchester Edgefield .. 247247.55 513.40 Fairfield 41.00 113.00 Florence., ,, 57.0 Georgetown. , , 230.03 1,053.30 Greenville , , . , 21.05 1,080.34 Greenwood , 132.84 Hampton.. . Horry 85.32 Kershaw .. .. 114.85 340.17 Lancaster . r . . 6S.27 395 38 Laurens 177.50 Lee T/exington.. . . 57.50 180.00 Marion 30.25 217.25 Marlboro .. .. 35.00 481.81 Newberry . . . . 205.91 419.11 Oconee .. ,, 11.50 44.51 Orangeburg. , . 124.33 411.30 .... ...a... ....... Richland; .. .. 1,191.49 0,181.32 Saluda Spartanburg. . . 1,401.04 8,311.47 Sumter 323 03 1,771.27 Union 825.50 020.28 Williamsburg . . 18.00 York 211.20 1,307.73 Totals $8, 554.88 $49,029.10 . In the preliminary remarks the comptroller general says: "The income tax law, which makes <*11 incomes over $2,500 liable to taxa tion, has been held constitutional in a decision on the circuit by Judge R. C. Wotts. ' TJiis law has never been generally enforced. A determined ef fort was made by this office through instructions to county auditors ~ in 1900 ? that being the reassessment, vear for real estate ? to exert great diligence in enforcing it, but the re sults have been far from satisfactory. As Rtatofd in ray report of 1907, it is evident that only a small class of con scientious people are paying this tax and others who are liable, and in all probability . bettor iblo to pay, are 4soapm? and wading its payment. 1 DonHf? IM HriwHaHilte tSv&vrr Altogether too muoh time has been wasted. We hare -been buildisf rail roads and neflectlnc the -waterways and American shipping Now we can and should turn oar atteaUoa to these .other tremendous problems that are of such vast importance to the entire country. ?? __ " r ~ ^ TAFf PLEASED W TH PROGRESS After a Thorough Examination of the Plana For tho Gatun Lock and Dam the Export Engineers Pronounce Them Satisfactory. Culehrn, Panama, By Cable. Wil liam II. Taft and I ho engineer* ac companying him readied here fiom Panama Monday. in a special train im?l math* a detailed examination '1 tho 14 in ilea of the Cubhra cut. The fact that tho ? existing plans for the look ii nil dam ry Ontun arc t?a!it<fae< tpry to tho visiting engineers has created a local feeling of optimism ami tho fears of clrlny in tho (om pletion of tho woik hr.ve boon re lieved, Mr. Taft exported 'that the views of the engineers regal ding the *itu ation at (ialnn would !??? favorahje, and their llndiugs consequently did not romr an a xtn prise to lii'ni. Mr. Tuft ami th.e engineers are very much gratified at the extent of the work accomplished at Culebra. Tho OommiHSRry Mattor. Mr. Tnft < ailed upon ox President Amador, who is ill. Kx-I'residcut Amador and President Ahaldia have not been on friendly terms Tor a long time because ot' political differences. Mr. Taft wishes to make it plain dial his cordiality is toward Panama as a whole and not toward one ?r another political fiiefTon, and lie has endeav ored during his stay here to treat all men ami till parties in the same cor-" dinf TnattlierT . Both sides of I lie controversy which has ajison through the com missary system will he given a hear ing, but he will make tin reeommcn la tion with regard "fo the treatv, which refers the question to arbitration. Without doubt the eo aaiissary will continue, although so called luxuries will he eliminated. Mr. Taft has ex pressed full <oufldenoc in the judg ment of Secretary Root in this matter. Prior to the visit of Mr. .Taft and tho board of engineers to the Culo bra cut Monday, till dynamite was re mover from the workiugs so that pos sibility /if accident to the President elect might be avoided. Although not speaking for publication, the en gineers do not conceal their satis, faction at the feasibility of the (Sal tin dam. Chief of engineers, l,ient, ( ol. (loot hals, and the army engineers engaged in the construction work, are much gratified at thv results of the investigation of the special engineers. Colonel floclhalH . said that naval vessels would- sail through the lock canal by January 1st, , 11)13. WAR ON OPIUM International Opium Commission in Session at Shanghai. Shanghai, Cliinn, By Cable. ? With influential delegates* from several na tions in atendance, the meeting of the International Opium Commission was opened Monday. The object of the conference is to stamp out the opium traffic in China and eventually throughout the world. F or years a determined crusade against npium has been carried on by "the Chinese, and with tho co-opsratlon of England and tho United States it is believed that it can bo rendered effective and the people of the empire rescued from the greatest curse that hos ever nfll icted the countrv. One of the most serious difficulties that confronts tho anti-opium cru saders Is the fact that the British government of India derives a largo part of its revenue from the sale of opium as a State monopoly. About' $25,000,000 a year is the amount ro | ceived by the Crown from tho de gradation of the Chineso tlwough their addiction to tho product of tho "slumberous poppy.',' For years British reformers have demonded that tho production and sale of opium be prohibited in India. The British commissioners to the eon fercr*-? opened Monday are empow ered to ptomlse that if China can give satisfactory ossurance that the cultivation and salo of cpium will be prohibited in China, India will follow suit. According to the statement of Chinese commissioner*, euch an ar rangement is likely to be made, and the traffic which has been called "the shame of Great Britain" and '.'the curse of China" is likely to bo abol ished. North American Conservation Confer ence on February 18th. Washington, Special. ? Now that the Canadian and Mexican govern ments Jiave both formally nccepted President Roosevelt's invitation to send delegates to a North American conservation conference hero the final arrangements arc boin* rapidly put | into. shape. The conference will bp' held probably in the Slate Depart ment and will begin on the morning of Thursday, February 18th. From present indications, the sessions will continue about three da> s. Dof Fight Causes a Bloody Battle. Huntsvills^ AUM Special. ? Steve Bridges and Alex 'Locke, brothers-in law, and well-known farmers, engag ed in. a bloody fight near Jeff, Ala., Monday. Locke was chopped in tho baek with an axe and will die before night. Bridges telephoned- that be would come in and surrender. The difficulty arose over a dog fight, CUBAN REPUBLIC STARTED AGAIN Major-General Gomez Inaugu* ratod as the Mew President. U. S. GOVERNOR MAGOON LEAVES At Havana, /",nii<l (ircnt Knthnjinsm (!nd Willi Simple Ceremony, ? Cuban . Jmlt'pt'ndcnec W'M 1)C? <iam). Havana, Cubs, ? * Major-General , J 030 Miguel Gomez was inaugurated President of IJie restored Cub:jLn Re public, and within sin hour :if ter lit) htul taken the solemn oath- of onice, Administered by tho Chief Justice of thy Supreme Court, tho American officials who lied bitn in control of affairs nines tho autumn of J 'JOG had departed from tho inland. Tho American Provisional Gov ernor, Charles W. Magoon, who escort* ed General Hiome/. to the palace and there turned over lo Lira the reina of government, sailed on tho battle ship Maine. Tho Maine was followed out ?f the harbor by the battleship M issi bbI pp I 11 nil tho army transport McClellan, An immense crowd gath ered ftling tho sou walla to wltncsa tho spectacle, and a Bwartifr of yavbtK, Uig? and f iumII boats nf!eojnpi\ni','rtno ships tn the optn tea. The departure of Governor Magoon and the military officers, who served as advisers durliliTITTe" period oTTnter vention, leaves about 300.0 American troops Ktiil on tlu> island, under com? maud of Major-General Thomas L. Barry. These will be returned to the . United Stater. Cuba begins her new period of in dependence undar conditions which, seem propitious. It is believed that tho people will rcD.ll/.3 their oppor tunity and endeavor fro make their second attempt at self-government a lasting Kucc,ioS. Tho island is pros perous and the revenues aro increas ing steadily. ; Inauguration day wan brilliant with sunshine! and intensely warh). Crowds l;:?gan gathering i'i frotit of the palaco in the early forenoon. Alt tho ships in the harbor, including tho American lattlcships, put on gala at tire of llx^s and pennants and bits of' sluna) bunting. The day marked tho anniversary of the birth of Josa Murii, cftiteil "the apostle of Cuban, liberty," and th*? ceremonies began at It o'clock in the morning with tho placing of a yreath on tho memorial tablet on tha boa::y where ho was born. At 1 1 o'clock Alftvuo Zayas wa3 in ducted Into olllee as Vice-President of the Republic in the Senate chamber, this ceremony being brief and simple. It was .lust after noon wo.eu Gen eral Gomez stopped out on the palace balcony on tho second floo/, accom panied by Governor Magoon and tho Supreme Court Justices. The crowd cheered heartily, and then there waa Bilenca r.B the Chief Justice read the oath of office, and General Gomez in -? a voice hardly audible to the' throng below pledged himself faithfully to ?hold and defend tho laws and the , constitution, The new President made a speech of a few words from tho balcony, and then, us the crowd cheered again, re* turned into tho palace, whera Gov* ernor Maroon read his final official address and th? commission front Washington, D. G\. authorising him tQ turn over tho island affairs to PraiU dent Gomez and the new Congress, General Coraes read hl3 reply in Spanish. ? ' Governor Magoon's speech was in the form of a letter addressed to tha President and Congress of the Repub* lio of Cuba. After stating that by i direction of tho President of. the 1 United Stivtes he relinqnished tOFrejf* * ident Gomez the power and authority! which had been held and exercised' by him, Governor Magoon declared1 the provisional administration at Att end. ? In closing Governor MaRoon^oBUe# half of President Roosevelt,- the Gov* eminent, and the people of the United* States and himself, as retiring Pro visional Governor, extended heartiest felicitations and good wishes for the success of the new administration. President Gomez, in accepting the letter from Governor Magoon, said in part: "We receivo from you the govern* ment ofCuba which you turn over ta us in compliance with tho Instructions* of the President of the United States, The constitution shall be upheld in all its Integrity, because our chief con* cern will be to preserve it inviolate. We shall faithfully ndhero to t~e treaty between the United States and Cuba." Telegrams pf congratulation from President Roosevelt; 1 Presldcnt-elect; Taft and Secretary Wright were read In Spanish to the throng, and whUe congratulations were being extended to President Gomez, Governor Ma goon hurried away. nooo cats aju: sent to japan, Hal Extermination Plannci1 Co Figlit the Plague, Washington, D. C. ? Five thousand cats, whoso solo mission 4u lite. t>i\ rather in their nine lives, henceforth is to serve as rat destroyers in /air Japan, have been shipped from Chi cago. The purpose of this euiious feline invasion is to aid in flghtfna the plague, which is spread by rodents. - Implement* and Sprd? Active. Preparations for sprlre are etidi In improved demand West and Soi for fertilisers, seeds, agricultural j plements and kindred Mnes. ^ Less Butler Stc ? The Ajuount of but New York Ctly is lei on hAnd at the sam* 1 ? '? i ?? Adr* The wool