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REFORM NEEDET In the Matter of Weighing the Mail on Raihwa) s. TO PREVENT GRAFT. The Railroads Have Had A Good Thing of it. But Honest Bus iness Methods Are Hereaf ter to Be Adopted-Mst ter Up in Congress. The Columbia Becord's Washing ton correspondent says it is reasonably certain that congress, at the p:egemla session, will pro.vide by definite lg!s lation for readi aatment o' the matli ods of weighing the mails carried by the raljrways of the cuntry. That the mettod of ascertaining the weight of the mails now is not only obhsoleze, but inequitable is the convictionl 3r' rived at by imparial investigtors. The average daily weig t Of m carried by a given railroad Is fcund by weighing the mail for ninety succes sive "working" d;ays. As a matter of fact, the mail is weighed for 105 sue cessive days, inc!uding Sundays, but instead of reaching Nhe .verage by di viding the total weight by 105, it is reached by dividing.the total welglt by 90, the number of what the law terms "working" days. Nawura-, such a division increasd the a-ersge daily weight, oa whloh the paynOats by the government are basd. The suqj 3C has Oeen considered by every postmauter ge.:eral for a quar ter of a century. and opinions have been obtained from several attorneys general of the United States as to the '~ legality of the methods pursued by the postofflee department. In every instance, the present method has been sustained by these opinions. Congress never has seen fit to change the law and, consequently, every postmaster general has followed the methods of his predecessors in the mail weighing and payments. Rcently, Representative Murdock, of JKansas, a member of the post office and postroads coxmittee, deliv a spech in the house in which he as serted that the gcvernment annually was paying more money to the rail roads for carrying the mails than they were entitled to: In fact. he said that In the past terenty years $40,000,000 in excess of righ tful charge had been paid to the railroads. The sutj t has been discussed pretty fully since the delivery cf Mr. Murdock's speech, both among mem bers of congress and in the newspap ers. In congress a tentativa, al though informal decision has been reached to change the wording of the present lawso that after the act be comes effective, the railroads will be paid, not for an average daily weight of mail struck in any sense at randdm, but~for an exact avar.ge found by di viding the total weight for a period of six mort, for instance, by the to tal number of days including Sundays, on which the mall is weighed. This, it is contended will be fair alike to the railroads and to the government. Of course it will reduce the~ railway mall pay of some of the re.iiroads, but it is maintained they cannot com plain reasonably tecusse they will receive full piy for the service they render. The agitation of the question of railway mail pay has inducad the post office department to take up the sub ject again. In fact, It had been under ecnsideration by Postmaster General Cortelycu before Mr. Murdock deli vered his speech. He called for a re port on the question from Second As sistant Postmaster General Stallen berger some time ago and now haa it under conssderallion. It has been dlsvovered by Inquiries that a few of the big railroad systems, like the Pennsylvania and the New York Central, are carrying the great bulk of the mall west of New York and east of Chicago, while other Im portant lines apparently have been discriminated against. Why this dis arimination has been shown will be made a subject of inquiry by the de partment and, very likely, by congress It is intimated that~some Interesting facts may be developed. Ehuropeanl Buzzard. The continuing snow fall In Eng land has created practically an unpre cedented situation, the worst known in 30 years. The conditions existing there are apparently general through out Europe. From all parts of Great Britain come stories of trains burled in snow drifts. The train bound from Dundee to Edingburgh Is still Imbed ded in a mnowdrifb. Rescue tramns sent toits assistance are alco stuck in the drift. This morning small quantities of provisions were conveyed to the starving passengers, and crew. Forty to fifty women had narrow escapes from death owing to the collapse of a snow laden roof of Convent Garden warehouse, most of them were rescued from the wreckage with only slight Injuries. There was no loss of lie. lEine persons have been found frozen to death In the roads In England alone during the past 24 hours. The list doubtless will be much lengthen ed ~when communication with the lo calities now snowbound is restored. Handsorne Present. The Columbla Record says Mr. W. 0. Tatum, the state liquor commis stoner, has been the recipient of many pleasant attentions this Christmas and has been called upon to respond in thanks to presents from many un expected sources, but he Is prouder of nothing he has received than of the handsome gold watch presented the other day with the compliments of the clerical force at the State dispen sary. The watch was piesented by Mr. W. A. Nicholls, who made a sim ple but heartv and whole-souled little speech in tendering it. Mr. Tatum's repos was impromptu and natur ally brif, but showed quite satisfac torily how much touched he was br this spontaneous demonstration of the affection and esteem In which he is held by the people with whom his work brings him in daily contact. Well Paid Cook. Mrs. Bosa Lewis, chief culinary artist of the Cavendish hotel, London, Is belelved to draw a larger salary then any other female cok known. She is paid $15,000 a yearT f'-r her services and so widespread Is her fame that graduates from her kitchens are MAKING CORN. PROF. NEW MAN, ENDORSES THE WILLLAM SON PL.1LN. He Urges Farmers to ?xp;riment With It Next Year, as it Yakes Corn. Prof. C. L. Newman, of Clemson College, who recently visited Darling ten County and the Pee Dee sec tion for the purpose of investigating the pl.n cf growing corn originated by Mr. McIver Wil'iamson, has c.>m pleted t's report . . the subject. In Part it is as follows: The peculiar or essential William soi, plan features are: 1. Deep and thorough rreparation of seed oed. The soil is not only brok en to fully twlce the depth to which it is usually broken, but is broken mucli more thoroughly than is the custon. -. Deep planting of the seed. The seed are placed four to six inches b ow t1e soil level, and almost or qaite in contat with the subsoil, but cov e:-%d tot"S usual depth. This aids in "sturting" or retarding the growth cf the young corn and of grase-s and v-eeds as mll, si.z3 very nearly all the soil proper has been ploughed away from the corn row and into the 'niddles, and no feril;zzr has been ap plied. 3, Infrequent and partial -ultiva tion in early stages of growth. This 's c.tn.ry t popular belief and prac tice, and Mr. Williamson styles it e most diff:ult point in the whole prxess," n quiring experience . and jav2gnent I'eo know just how much ;he stalk sbuld b3 stunted, and plen : cF ner-e is required to hold back J7ur corn when ) ouz neighbors, who fertt'izj at plantir g time and cultivat e rapidly, have corn twice the siza of yours." 4. An Increase of 200 per cent or more in the number of stalks par acre. With rows 6x1 feet the Williamson plan has a little more than 7,300 stalks per acre against a little more than 2,900 if plantirg is done 5x3 feet, in accrdance with the ordinary practice. Theoretically, this would give 73 and 29 bushels per acre, re spectively, and it seems, from evi dence at hand, that it is born out in practice, assuming that each stalk will produos an ear, and one hundred ears will shell a bushel of grain. 5. k'ostponding application of for tilizers until corn Is given its second cultivation. In ordinary practice this would be about the time corn should be worked the third time. The stalk has been checked or "stunted" as de sired, and the fertilizer is applied when the plant needs it for the devel opment of t-e ear. 6. Intentional retardation of early growth of the stalk until its size is reduced one-half or one-fourth its nor mal development. 0. Augminted development of the ear (fol'o wing retardation In stalk de velopment,) by cultivation and heavy applications of fertilizars made at ap propriate interveals Since the Williamson plan corn is planted 4 to 6 inches below the level, and Is laid by 4 to 6 inches above the level, there is 8 to 12 inches of* the stack below the soil surface. The stalk roots or brace roots are below the sur face when the crop Is laid by, and probably perform their nutritive func tions better than would be if a part of them were expostd to the air. Mr. Williamson recommends the folowing amounts of fertil:zars ap plied to an acre: For 50 buabels of corn per acre: T wo hundred pounds 'of cottcn seed meal, 200 pounds of acid phosphate, 400 pounds of kainit, 126 pounds of ni trate of soda, 925 pounds, costing about $9. For 100 bushels of corn per acre: Four pounds of cotton seed meal, 400 pounds of acid phosphate, 800 pounds of kalnit. 300 pounds of nitrate of soda, 1,900 pounds, costing about 319. The total cost of fertilizers, cultiv ation, etc.. producing 50 bushels on one acre would vary from $15 to $20: and for producing 100 bushels on cne acre from $25 to $30. These valua-. tions are based on the market price of the fertilizers (assuming the acid phosphate to be 14 per cent goods) and the average prise of labor. The 'cost of labor varies In different parts of the State and even on adjacent farms. If the cow pea crop grow with the corn produces one ton of hay, this crop, If left on and in the ground, would add to it about $12 worth of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash. If the cow pea crop would produce two tons of hay, this crop lefton and in the ground would add $24 worth of these fertilizer ingredients. How ever, the value of the Cow pea for feeding purposes Is double its value for fertilizing purposes. If judicious ly fed to animals this hay will have a feeding value of about $24 per ton, and if all the exoreta is saved and re turned to the soil bet ween 80 and 90. per cent ($10 20 per ton) of the fertil izing value of the cow pea hay will be given back to the land. An ordinary crop of cow peas may be made to pay the cost of cultivating the corn, or probatly the cost of the fertilizar. A good crop should pay for both. Considerable 6ffart has been made to gather as much comparative data as possible so as to have Williamson plan corn yields that might justly be compared with yields from the ordi nary method, it is highly desirable that as far as possible, and without prejudicing ether, the two crops for comparison be grown on the same character of land and planted at the same time, and that the treatment and surroundings of each differ in no way except as to the peculiar or es sential features of difference existing between the two plans or methods. Reports of some three dozen farmers who have this year given the William son plan a test have been brought to the notice of the writer. Some of these were not considered definite enough for consideration, but twenty. eight reported either a comparison of yields from crops grown this year by both plans or gave yields secured from the ordinary plan In the past on the same lani. The two lowest yields re ported from the ordinary method were seven and ten bushels per acre. The two highest yields reported from the same method were forty-five and fifty bushels per acre. The two lowest yields reported from the Williamson plan were twenty-seven and thirty bushels per acre. The two highest yields reported from the same plan were one hundred and one hundred and twenty bushels per acre. The yields from twenty-eight reporting both the ordinary and the Williamson plan comfared gives an average of 23.25 bushels per acre for the former ter. These twenty eight s2w a re markable average difference of 33.17 more bushels per acre in favor of the WilliamsCn plan, an increase of 142 per cent. It cannot, however, in justics tO either method, be said that these comparisons indicate the actual diff erence between the Williamson plan and the ordinary method. Many of the reports give the number of bush els per acre in round numbers, indi cating that the yields were estimated rather than actually determined. In a number of cases the yield in 1906 from the Williamson pian was com pared with the yield secured from the same land when it was last in corn. the compared crops not having been grown the same year. There may be other sources of error. Oa the other hand, a large m- j Irity of farmers who I have tried the Williamson plan now enthusiastically accept it and it is the I sensation in the communities where the plan has been colisistently follow. ed. It is hoped that every farmer in ths State will give it a fair and im 'partial trial in 1907. IXEIBIIS FOR JAMESTOWN. Assistance of All Parties Asked to Get Them. There is opportunity cff3red for a concerted action of patriotic South Carolinians In aiding the -commission chargsd with making an exhibit of South Carolina's agricultural and in dustrial resources at the Jamestown exposition. Capt. William E GoLza iss, chairman of the South Carolina commission, said last week that he heartily endorsed the call contained in card from Mr. Moore that is print ed below. Since ascertaining that the exbibit collected here was deficnt in many particulars, the csmmission has had an agent on the road, but the respon ses have been slow. A general call is now made, and something of the best In each branch named by Mr. Moore is wanted. If any persons with some thing to contribute will write to Mr. Moore, he will give directions for shipment. To the Editor of The State: Owing to the shortness of time at our disposal and owing also to the magnitude of the undertaking I wish, throughi the medium of your columns, to reach the loyal sons of Carolina, who can, and, I trust, will lend a hand in making South Caro lina's exhibit second to none at the coming Jamestown expositicn. No State in the Union can surpass us in the diversity of our resources. Let the world know about this. This Sate will occupy 3,500 square feet in one of the most desirable por tions of the general States' exhibit building. We will show: (1) The me chanical, agricultural and textile de partments of Clemson college; (2) ag riculturE; (3) forestry; (4) minerals; (5) an extensive exhibit of the cotton mill industry; (6) mineral waters; (7) undeveloped water powere; (8) gener al manufacturerr; (9) historical. In addition to this there will be an educational exhibit in a different building, occupying 700 square feet. It is desired that all persons inter ested in any cf the above heads, or having on hand any desirable mater ial, communicate at once with the manager of this exhibit. Good agricultural specimens are es pecially desired. Under the head of minerals we pr'o pose to stress those things of some economic importance, e. g., kaolin clays, phot~phates, tines monozites, structural stones etc. Polished bcards or panels of hard woods, cypress, pines, etc., can be used to advantage. E special attention of owners of un developed water powers Is called to the great opportunity to reach capi tal. A hand book is now being pre pared giving statistical information. We especially desire a large picture of every such power. If possible show everal views. All communications .should be ad dressed to PAUL V. Mooax, Manager, Dec. 24, 1906. Calumbia, S. C. XILLING NER SPRINGFIELD. During the Inquest an impertinent Mulatto Wa.s Beaten. Christmas morning about 10 o'clock Tiney Chavis, a white man. went to the house of Stephney Clemens, a ne-I gro tenant on the. place of Henry Cooper, about four miles from Spring field, and asked him for a 2mall sum of money due him by the negro, Clem ens told him he did not have the mon ey, and Chavis, It Is alleged, began cursing him. Clemens shoved Chavis out of the door and picked up his gun, and fol lowed him out into the yard and shot him dead. Chavis was not armed. The negro aas captured abcut the house of Mr. Cooper, and after much diff culty gotten to Springfield and deliv ered to Mag~strate A. B. Corbett, who sent him over to Barnwell to prevent the friends of Chavis lynching him. Considerable excitement was mani fested at the Inquest, and it was at times as much as the magistrate could do to keep the friends of Chavis from taing the law In their own hands. To add to the seriousness of the simuation a very Impertinent mulatto by the name of Livingston, who has been staying in New York city for the last year or two made himself very Impor tant In asking g aestions, with the re sut that he is nursing a broken head and anointing a well tanned skin to Tiney Chavis was known as a "moonshine" stiller and had figured in a good many diimoulties. Only a day or two ago Chavis and Jim Glea ton, another alleged "moonshiner" had fallen out, and had each other eoss indicted. Clemens was brought to Orangeburg on Wednesday after noon, and Is now In the county jail, where he will remain uutil bis trial. He claims that he acted in self defence and says he is glad to get away from Springfield as some folks up there wanted to hang him at once. When asked If he had killen a white man. he replied that he passed for white, but ha did not so consider him. Osi entering the jail Clemens said he was mighty glad to get In so ccmfortable a place, which shows that jailer Dukes makes it as pleasant as possible f or his boarders. Negro Teacher shot. , S. McTeer, a colored school teacher, was shot and seriously wound ed near Branchville Friday by his brother-in-law, Malcoln Durant. On stabe Byrd went to the scene of the| shooting Immediately &f her the same was reported, bat Durant had made 1 good his eseape. It appears that the trouble was caused by McTeer and SEROUJSCRHARiES. MUkDR.H PILLAGE. RAPE REIGN 1N THE CONGO STATE. "flagrant Inhumanity" Is Unbridled Say Prominent Authorities In Letter to Secretary Xlihu Root. A letter signed by J. Pierpont Morgan, Dr.. Lvman Abbott and other .prominent citizens of New York, was addressed to Secretary of State Elihu Root, directing his atten tion to conditions in the Congo Free State, where it is asserted "flagrant inhumanity exists." And urging him, on behalf of the American peo ple, "to use the moral support of the United States government to correct the abuses the Congo natives are l.-eged to be sufferingfrom." The communication follows: "Over a year has passed since the report of the commissioners chosen by the chief executive and virtual owner of the Congo to investgate conditions in that state was publish ed. In spite of their natural desire to give all possible credit to their sovereign, the commissioners felt con strained to report the existence of measure; and practices of flagrant in humanity. Among these measures and practices are the following: "First, The exaction of a labor tax so oppressive that many laborers on whom it falls have little, if any, free dom. "Second, Appropriation of land to such an extent that the. natives are practically prisoners within their own territory. "Third, The employment under the authority of the government as sentries of e-mel, brutish blacku, chosen from hostile tribes, wha mur der, pillage and rape the people for whose protection the government is avowedly established, "Fourth, The abuse of the natives by white representatives of officially recognized companies. "Fifth, The binding of little chil dren to years of labor at uncertain wages by contracts they do not un derstand and even more serious mal treatment of children supposedly under the immediate care of the government. "Sixth, Great iDjustice in the ad ministration of the courts, so that the natives dread the place of Boma, the place where the judicial system is centralIzed. "Seventh, The sending out of puni tive expeditions, not for the nurpose of establishing peace and order, but for the purpose of terrifying the na tives into paying a tax which, as ad ministered, even the. commisuionerm regs r3 as inhuman. "It is to be remembered that these are not charges brought against the Congo gcvarnment, but findings of the commission appointed by the chief executive of the government tc investigate and report on the facts. "Acting upon these findings, a second commission, also appointed by the king, has recommended measurel of reform. No steps have been.taker to adopt them. There Is no evideice that the Congo government is under' taking seriously to remedy these evils. The powers whinh created the Con4c government have clearly a right tc call that government to occouint. "Inasmucy as the United Statei gave its moral support to the estab lishment of the congo government, so It is justified In giving Its moral support to any undertaking to secure conditions in the Congo that will not disgrace. We wish to assure you that for any measure you may adopt in or der to give the powers such moral support of the United States, you will have our hearty an' urgent ap proval." The letter Is signed by the Rev. Messrs. Lyman Abbott, Henry Moi1 tot, Wilford L. Robbins, George Wil. 1am Knox, Charles H. Parkhurst, John P, Peters, Win. Elchards, An son P. Hatberbury, Percy S. Grani and Messrs Win. Jay Schieffelin. Win. H. Douglass, Charles A. Schie fen, Spencer Trask, George Haver Putnam, Everett P. Wheeler, Robert C. Og den, J. Plerpont Morgan, D. Wllls James, R. Fulton Cutting, J. Cleveland Cady and W. 3. Havemeyer. The letter of J. Pierpont Morgan, Dr. Lyman Abboti and others, ad dressed to Secretary Root, urging him to use the moral support of the United States In the direction of correcting abuses said to exist in tne Congo re gion, It wa satated at the department to-day, would be taken intio considera tion along with other similar oommu nications on the subject. Secretary Root, in speaking of the matter and of the recent statement In the Belgian parliament that the purpose of Bel gium in annexing the Congo Free State was In order to enable that country to deal with the subjects In a more effective way, and that all this contry could do was to politely urge Belgium to greater activity. urrage oy Negro Soldiers, At El Reno, Okla., a negro soldier assaulted Mrs. T, S- Clifford, wife of a prominent physician of that place. Mrs. Clifford and sister, Mrs, S. H. Clark, were attempting to pass a De gro soldier of the Twenty-fifth Infan try when he viciously grabbed Mrs. Cliford around the waist and threw her into the street, exclaiming that the sidewalk belonged to him. Mrs. Clark screamed and the assailant fled. News of the attack spread rapidly, the entire police department rein forced by several hundred men and boys searched the town and surround ing country, but this evening the chase was given un. The negro was In uniform and must return to the post or become a deserter. Word was sent to Fort Reno and all absentees were noted. Both Mrs. Clifford and her sister are positive they can Iden tify the man and wil' go to Fort Reno Thursday and attempt to find him among the soldiers who were out of the post Wednesday when the assault occurred. Uplanal Long staple Cotton. Mr. W. W. Watson of Bateaburg, who has been doing some experimen tal farming, '2as receIved 22 cents a pound for a shipment of upland long staple cotton sold to Whaley k Rivers of Charleston, $220.44 for two bales of cotton. Mr. Watson is so much pleased with the yield and sale of this variety of cotton he expects to plant probably 40 acres In this long staple cotton next year. Compared with the yield of ordinary short staple this year the proportion of lint was just as good or better. He thinks every farmer should plant not less than half of his crop in an improved varie y of long staple cotton, This would insure better and more uniform prices of both long and short staples. Mr. Bonaparte became attorney general and several other cabinet uebers changed their titles, Mr. au. bocinn a member. DEBERVID COMPLIMMET. Ex-Governor Chamberlain Writes Governor Heyward a Letter. Governor Heyward to-day received a letter from former Governor D. H. Chamberlain. congratulating him up on the success f his administration. Writing from University Station, Charlottesville, Va., Mr. Chamberlain says: "My Dear Governor Heyward: "I am going to take the liberty of sending you my congratulations on the success of your adm!nistration, which is now so near its close. I think It quite likely that you are congratulat ing yourself, though others are not, on the nearness of the conclusion of your offcial labors. Such, I think, is apt to be the feeling of the faithful official, who has borne offloial respoD sibilities for four years. Permit me to add that I regard your success as governor as the more remarkable as well as oreditab'e from the fact that you had no previous ex perience in official life. "I am extremely glad that you have allowed yourself to be made president of the recently organized immigration society. In that capacity I am sure you can do large service for the pub lic. I congratulate you also on the success of your commissioner of Immi gration, Mr. Watson. He has cer tainly done what no one before him has been able to do, namely, start a tide of immigration directly to South Carolina ~and the 3outh-an event, I hope and trust, of large Inluence for good to the whole South. "Whenever you can conveniently do so, please give Mr. Watson my oCn gratulations. though I have no per sonal acquaintance with him. My in terest in all things in your state is al. ways keen and particularly so in this matter of immigration. "With great respect and admira tion, dear Governor Heyward, I re main Faithfully yours, "D. H. CHAMBERLAIN." FABRMR' INSTITUTES. Many of Them Will be Held in Lower Counties. Prof. J. N. Harper, director of the agricultural department, has given out the following schedule of farmers' institutes for the low country coun tries, to be held during January and February: Leesville, January 4. Ridge Springs, January 5. Johnston, January 7. Graniteville, January 8. Montomorenci, January 9. Williston, January 10. Blackville, January 11. Springfield, January 12. Barnwell. January 14. Allendale, January 15. Hampton, January 17. Beaufort, January 18. Meggett's, January 19. Young's Island, January 21. Summerville, January 24. St. George, January 25. Branchville, January 25. Orangeburg, January 26. St. Matthew's, January 29. Sumter, January 30. MannIng, January 31. Foreston, February 1. Georgetown, Febrxlary 2. ~Kingstree, February 4. Lake CIty, February 5. .Florence, February 6. MarIon, February 7. Wannamaker, February 8. Homewood, February 9, Uonway, February 11. Darlington, February 12. Hartsville, February 13. Chiraw, February 14. Chesterfield, ffebruary 15. As heretofore, the exhibit cars will go from one Institute to another, showing specimens of farm produce, varieties of corn, cotton and other craips suitable to South Carolina, be. sides erxbibits from other departments of the College, showing what Clemson boys are taught to do, etc. Two Commit Suicide. At Ehnira, N. Y., although a guard was standing close beside him Wednesday, Frank Delaney, a rail. road man, succeeded In a bold at tempt to end his life and the life of a woman who occupied a cell in the woman's domitory of the Elmira jail. The guird stood close by the man and woman were conferring together, when suddenly Delaney drew from his pocket a bottle of carbolic acid and passed It through the bars. The woman seized It and swallowed Its contents. Sudd anly Delaney pressed a bottle to his own lips. A guard sprang upon him, but the man fought him fiercely for a moment and then collapsed. He died before a physician could be called. When the door of the cell was unbolted t :e woman lay dying on the floor. _________ Car Load of Booza. The Greenville News says on Wed nesday before Christmas a solid car load of bcoze arrived In that city for Its people. The News says the whis key shipments have been large during the past few days, but the shipment received Saturday was a record break er for this season. The express com panies always make arrangements early In Decembsr to handle the In evitable whiskey ' shipments for Christmas. From now on extra ex press cars will be pressed Into service to handle the l'quor shipments and also handle the Increased business in other lines of shipments. Very Sad Case. At Greenville, Pa., because neigh bors murmured that he would go mad as a result of blood poisoning tha t set in after a vicious horse had bitten his thumb off. Samuel Miller. a prosper ous farmer, Is a raving maniac. He attempted to kill his wife to-day and then make way with himself, but was prevented from accomplishing his plan. He Indlicted serious injuries on his wife and self before he was over powered. Gave His All. George Evans a Bohemian glass worker was so impreesed by a lecture in the First Methodist Episcopal church at Millvlle, N. J., Sunday night that he drew $1,200 from the Millville National Bank the next day and donated It to a mission In Rho desia, Africa. The money was his savings of many years. Cut Of Graft. Heretofore It has been the custom of large shippers along the Pennsly vanla railroad lines to make Christmas presents ranging from boxes of cigars to checks for sums as high as $1.000 to employes Influential In the allotment of cus. This year the company will not permit such gifts to he received, which is quite HE EOBBU MN After Putting Them to Sleep With Doped Whiskey, The meanest kind of a theif haa been arrested at Augusta, Ga. The Chronicle says."in the person of Joe Cloud, a young white man, the police believe they have a most important capture. He is charged with having drugged and robbed several men, and there is enough circumstantial evi dance to bind him over upon the first hearing. Thursday afternoon, shortly after 3 o'clock Policeman Matthews and Wil helm brought Cloud and an elderly white man named J. A. Alexander, to the barracks. Alexander was very drunk and, the arresting officer said, had lust recovered from a stupor, in duced, it is believed, by drinking 'dopod whiskey. The old man said he was from Elbert county, and com plained that he had lost ten dollars "The circumstances of the case are thEse: Cloud and the old man were seen to enter a shanty In the rear of the old Deventy-Hood store, Alexan der being apparently sober at the time. A short while af terwards he was found in the place in an uncon scious conditioh, and Clcud was miss Ing. So was the old man's ten dollars, which he claims to have had on his person. Fortunately, Cloud was lo cated and brought to the barracks at the same time with the Elbert coun ty farmer. Both were incarcerated and will be tried by the recorder. In the meantime cficers are at work on the case, and It is believed that they will secure strong evidence against the young man. "It is charged that Cloud has en ticed several men to this shanty, ob viously for the purpose of taking a drink on the "quiet," and there ad ministered his drugge- liquor. When his victim succumbed to the "dopa" and lost full possession of their men tal faculties, they usually lost some money. Cloud has been observed to enter the place several times in comp any with elderly men, and later these men were found in a peculiar state, with some or all of their money miss ing. Mr. Tom Bresnahan, a clerk in the employ of the Evans Hardware Co., is one of the chief witnesses against Cloud, who is well known to the police." Waylaid and Robbed. The little town of Williston has another sensation. On last Wednes day night, Mr. Sam Trotti was way laid and sandbagged while on his way from hi z store to his home. The dis tance between the two is not more than a quarter of a mile, and when he reached that part of the street which is shaded by the evergreens In front of the home of Col. R. M. Mix. son he received a terrifie blow on the back of his bead, which felled him in unconsciousness. A piece of two-ineh iron pipe bearing blood stains wa found at the spot. The motive seems to have been robbery, as the thiel succeded in r 3ig 'his pockets of all the money he had with him with the exception of $10, which was in an in ner pocket. Russia Faces Famine. While the final results of the croj of 1906 in Russia will not be deter mined for some time, enough Is known to make it clear to Gavernment ex parts in Washington that the Russia peasant is facing one of the worst famines Russia has known during the last 20 years. According to the preliminary report of the central sta tistical committee, the entire crop of winter wheat equals 238. 000,000 bushels and of spring wheat 299,000, 000. The rye crop is 633,000,00: bushels. This makes the wheat crop 100,000,000 bushels short of 1904. The wheat erop of 1906 is the smazl lest Russia has had since 1901. Fell Down shart. Elias Lshtenan and Joseph Bar dessono were instantly killed In the Colby iron Iron mine at Bessemer, Mich., Wednesday, by falling 500 feet to the bo'.tom of the shaft when a "ship" on which they were riding t0 the surface was dumped by striking on a pr<-jecting beam. Two other miners riding in the skip saved their lives by catching bold of the rope and clinging to it. One of these, Mike Scavardant, was seriously injured be fore his plight was disccvared by the other one, who came out of the ex perience unharmed. Mingn Space Paf. 'The Japanese lo net like to spare the square feet a fence would take up. If a border around a field is ne cessary it is made of mulberry trees, the leaves of which are good for silk worms. It is said that 19,000 acres, that would otherwise be taken up with fences are used in this manner. The largest and costliest building thus far undertaken in New York, the city of immense structures, is the magnificent $10,000,000 Episco pal cathedral of St. John the Divine, now being erected on Morningside Heights. This will be the greatest sacred edifice in America, and the fourth in importance in the world. Varities of Mcsqu.toes. About 800 species of mosquitoes have been described, and it is esti mated that 200 more exist. Giles recognizes only 36 species in the whole of North America, but Florida alone claims 22 species. With Sign Language. A deaf and dumb person who is fairly expert at finger language can speak about forty-three words a minute. In the same space of time a person in possession of his speech will probably speak 150 words. Banks in Switzerland. Fifty years ago, in Switzerland. 180000 depositors possessed $12. 000,000 ia. 167 savings banks. There are now 1,400,000 depositors pos sessing $160,000,000 in more than 00 savigs bns Asia Cotton Cr!op. A dispatch from St. Petersburg, Russia says the cotton harvest in entral Asia is extremely good, 17 000 arloads instead of the usual 12,o00 being available for export. R silroads will require special facilities to trans port the cotton. The new battleship Connecticut is in the Chescpeake Bay. A discrepancy of $930,000 is alleged o exist in the accounts of the Farm srs and Drovers' National Bank of1 Waynesbnrn. Pa. DISPENSER BRODIE MAKES STATE3ENT AS TO THE SPRINGFIELD DISPENSARY In Reply to Charges About a Recent Fire Which restroyed Building and Contents Having published an article respect Ing the destruction of the Springflele dispensary recently by fire in justice to Dispenser Brodie we publish the article below: Springfield, S. C., Dac. 26, 1906 Elitur Times and Damcrat: I beg that you will give me space In your v.iluabie paper to state the plain unvarnished facts as they are in re gard to the folloa ing communication which appearad in your columns a few weeks age headed "The Burning of Dispensary." That communication stated that a serious -condition pre vails in Springfield on accoant of the warring factions into which the town has been drawn on account of the dis pensary. When in fact and in truth the factions have existel for five ox six years on account of personal and political differings, in which the dele gation which went to Columbia to ser 4he governor 'and which delegation gave the bureau Its information al. ways got the worst of it, as the record, aill full) show, and chafing under iis, they have seizid this opportu nity to destroy me and the dispensary and the friends of the same. There were a number of ies In Springfield and a number of buildings were destroyed, among them thl building in which the dispensary was kept, and insinuations that the dis pensary people knew or had anything. to do with it has never been made ex cept by these enemies of mine. The feeling has been so high against'me on accouat of the reasons given above that I have regularly hired a man to sleep in the dispensary at night for its protecti*%. AS to any threats of shoot'ng any one by the diapensary paople, su -1 Ptstemeut is entirely un foundeO,' but on tie ccntrary the brothr and grandson of the intendent have been on de streets on the Sab bath night with their shot guns. In regard to the statement that ihe mayor and t e better elemant wil have a clash with the dispenser and his !riends, i :esire to say that there is an element of g"d piople In ani arourid Spr'n.field. but that they are hands off, rtgardbng the matter as a personal o-e. That trere was a delegation headrd by the m-70r is an error, I% was in fact headed by a man who has not been admitted to the bar, but as sumes to pettifeg la a-d around Sp-ingfieU, and if the good people de Eire to knr'r anything about his prat ties the.? mAy ask the Norris-Cnmer Co-npany, cl O::-umbia, and numerous others, wbo hiTm had dealirgs with him. In zegaid to tie dippensary liquor-that was sold a. "tiger" liquor, there was a car load of liquor shippsd to the dispenser, and stored in the de pot. 'and the negro porter and others stole $45.25 worth of it, and some of the delegation who went to the governor purchased some of the 11 quor from the negro for the purpose zf drinking It, when they knew full well It was stolen, and the negro is now in the county jail at Orangeburg awaiting trial for the same, and oth era going free. Some of the crowd against the dispensary went into the depot, opened the cases and filled their pockets with the dispensary vs hiskey. This same delegation which went to the governor or part of It, inform ed Chief State Constable Hamm.tt, and had my premises searched by five constables, the result of which the public can get from these gentlemen, The purpose was to retsct, on me, but they did me a favor. The county board of control through one of Its members demanded of the Intendant that they prefer charges against me .and appear before the county board at Orangeburg and they refused to appear. The county board, which is an excellent one, desired the iznvastigation, saying they would know no one in the discharge of a public duty, but strfil they refused and go to the governor and Into the news papers to attempt to blacken my char acter. rather than meet the issus squarely, when they knew that no tribunal would for a moment conuid er their slanderous charges. They have appealed to Caesar, by Ceasar I am willing to be judged, but I[feel It jat to say that there were two high ly respected gentlemen from Spring field who went to Columbia the same day, but I am Informed that they went on other business, business con nected with bank. I have never had any experience with newspapers In my life and but for the unjust flings at me from my enEmies I would not hate appeared at this time and'enly that the public may have the facts as they are. I have been dispenser for ten .ears and have been regularly check ed up and have always passed "mus ter." With malice toward none, with charity for all, with flrmnaess in the rjgh, as God gives me to see the right, I shall do my duty as a public official. Very respectfully, Jos. A. B~oDIE, Dispenser, The Biggest Drug Store. The greatest drug store in tha world will be fouznd in one cf the most back ward countries of the world. It exists in Moscow, and is 203 years old. Its title is the Old Nibolska Pharmtoy, and since 1833 it has been In the fam i1y of the present proprietor. It Is a building of imposing dimensions, with many departments, including one of professional education for the staff, which numbers '700 persons. They make up about 2,00 prescriptIons a day, and so perfect, is the organizi tion that an error Is seldom recorded Kinling at Ferguson. E. S. Tillery was shot and killed at Ferguson by W. S. B. Tate. It seems that Tillery had borrowed a gun from Tate, about which the men quarreled. No blcws were passed until Tate started home, when, it Is alleged, Tillery ran after and cut a gash under Tate's chin. Tate then shot and kill. ed Tillery with his own pistol. The ger eral impression is that Tate was j':stifita in defending himself when iallery attacked him with a knife as he did A Good Order. The Brotherhood of LocomotIve Engineers has 55,000 members. In the past twenty months 394 engl Qeers have been killed at their post f duty, and in two years the orgini uition has paid 1,129 death and dis tbility claims. At the present time she brotherhood is carrying e85,000,- c inn insancen on Its meam .a COmPANIONS Ir MISERY. Ctader Circumstances It Made - So Difference to. Her. A well- known New Yorker tells a -_ story amusingly llustrative ot the horrors of mal de mer. This gentle man, according to his own account, was coming from Southampton on one of the big liners. Although the sky was clear and the weather warm. a somewhat tempestuous -sea had oe :asioned more than the.sual amount of seasickness among -the r passengers. As the New.' Yoi-ke paced the deck one afternoon he observed a lady reclining. in a steam er chair, and the unearthly pallo her face and the hopeless languor of her manner indicated 'that she.'had" reached that state of collapse mark ing th4 extreme limit of seasickness. Touched by this piteous spectacle, the New Yorker approached the-poor - creature and in his most conpassion-, ate tone asked: "Madam, can I beo any service to you?" She moved her head feebly And answered: "No, I thank you-noth ing at all." "But your husband, madam," said the New Yorker, indicating a gentle man lying with his head in the lIaly's lap, "shall I not bring something to revive him?" The -lady again - moved her head feebly, gave a glance of utter indif ference in the direction of the man at her feet, and then murmured faintly: "Thank you, sir, but he is not my husband. -I don't know who he Is." in aLaw Court - "The late Judge J. I. Clarke Hare," said a lawyer of. Philadel phia, "was one day relating to me some of his odd experiences on bench. "He said that a certain man was about to be tried in the common pleas, and 'showed a great disposZ ion to challenge the jurymen. "Evidently the prisoner -knew a about the right to challenge,. and evidently he felt that the morechal lenging he and his- lawyer- did, the better his case would goforhim. "Finally. though - his came to an-end. He announced the -jury now satisfied him. -'Your challengingis all over! can now go on?' said, with a a the attorney for the prosecution. "'The jury 'is all right;' said - prisoner, hurriedly and. anxiou 'hut I want *to challenge- the jud I've been convicted under him eral times before, and it's more than likely he's prejudiced against me.' Dear ILittle SouL There was company to dinne-, an little Edith was seated at table 'n. all the glory of her best dress and -_ 3 pinafore. - Dinner was proceeding amicably enough, but there 'were -one or.two awful pauses, and in the silent depths : of one .of these the sweet treble If little Edith was raised. "Oh, mamma,'' she cried, "what Is this?" "This " was a very obi6us, hazir, , but mamma, although red with con fusion, had suffcient presence of mind left tao say.. "Hush, dear; you can see-what It is-it Is a crack!" Silence for a momenf, and-then: "Oh, I say, mamma, sm't it. fun ny? I can move this crack abont. .Chicago Tribune. The Educational Question. "Well, I really think the higlierd education a woman has the more powerful she becomes. "Nonsense, my dear lady: a worn an who wields more power than any one I know can. neither read nor ~ write." "Who is she?" "Our cook."--Judy.. An .Interruption. As the young man was takng leave for the night his voice, as he - stood at the door, rose passionately on the still night air. "Just one," he pleaded--"just one" Then the young girl's mother jn- - terrupted, caling from her bedroom window:.* "Just one?" she cried. -"No, It ain't quite that yet; but it's close en N to twelve, and so I think yon'd be ter be .goin' just the same."-An swers.4 Emily's Ruse. -"Well, Emily, did you have a good time at the masked ball?" "Oh! I had a splendid time. I p made my husband dress up as a knight In heavy armor, and he wasn't able to budge from one spot all night.-Glasgow Times. . Legislative investigation of ,lhS orthwestern coal famine and stePS o -revent any recurrence are being urged. __ The funeral of William ii. .Bywa bers, the victim of the Culpeper, Va., ~ragedy, was attended by a large - srowd. _ _ _ Bev. A. Gaertin was recomende !or appointment as bishop of Man ~hester, N. H. The trial of Col. William dwAltoni Mann on the charge of perjury was begun in New York. A bill giving an Aaglo-Frenoca *om pany authority to tunnel the English ~hannel has been deposited in parIa aen . The estate of Eldward W. James ofI Trgna, of which was left to the Un versity of Virginia was apprised at 235,000. The draft of a proposed new tar law a presented to the commissioners - fthe District of Columbia and will be umtinantsd tonc--gr