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>- - -r- f:* ; "-?. .'., - '". "" V' '; vf - " . v . ? ' .-. -' DAVIS IN THE RIGHT / Action of Rear Admiral in Jamaica is Approved, X L REPORT JUST RECEIVED President Roosevelt Wrftes a Special Letter of Commendation, Which is Sent in With the Report. la uaequivoc.il terms, President .Hoa-evelt Friday approved Admirai Davis' entire action in connection with, his visit to Kingston, Jamaica, to lender aid to the stricken city and in addition requested the secretary 01 the Jiavy to express to Admiral Davis his heartiest commendation of all that he did. The long expected report of Admiral Davis of the circumstances leading 10 the withdrawal of the fleet from Kingston leached the navy department ca Friday and was at once laid before tie president. Inasmuch as the president already has announced that the diplomatic phase of the case is a closed incident the report itself wiir not be made public. However, Secietary Metcalf gave out ihe letter to Admiral Evans, commander-in-chief o* the Atlantic fleet, warmly commending < / Admiral Davis for his conduct of a situation, "which was, to say the . least, somewhat embarrassing." The correspondence is supplemented by a strong letter of commendation of Admiral Davis by the president and by Secretary Metcall", who adds - ? his approval and commendation of Admiral Davis* "distinguished service to humanity." The letters are as follows: spates Flagship Maine, C'Uitvu w? ^ a Ouantanamo Bay, Cuba, January 23, 1907.?Respectfully for warded approv^ to the secretary of the navy, through bureau of navigation. The yv. report and its appendices made by I officers who were on the spot, and therefore best able to judge, appear to set forth the whole situation very 'clearly. "The-commander-in-chief .feels that he cannot too highly commend Rear Admiral Davis for the very dignilied , " .end masterly manner in which he conducted a situation, which was, to say the l^ast, somewhat embarrassing, and -* ? ffti-tnnato thilt Ji6 <;eems u uv.uia> ivi iuuuw ] there was at hand an officer such as ? lie to deal with the problems which arose. The commander-in-chief heartily approves the commendatory remarks relating to.the officers and men of the ship who accompanied Admiral > Davis, but they did no more than is expected of officers and men in the navy, and no more than would have been done by officers and men of the other sh.ps of the fleet, and, indeed, pit' the ships sent were not chosen above those of others of the fleet, for any other reason than they were more ' nearly ready for steaming when tho * " > needs of-the disaster was received. ' R. D. EVAN, sW"Rear Admiral United States Navy, * Commander-in-Chief United States ;v Atlantic Fleet." President to eMtcalf. "The White House, Washington, February 1, 1907.?To the Secretary ' ' of the Navy: I have read carefully the report of Admiral Davis, submitted by "v - you, together with the report of Admiral Evans, commending the actions - of Admiral Davis at Kingston. I re " ? ,S. - tarn them herewith, and desire that fyoii express to Admiral iDavis n^r t heartiest commendation of all that ho <Iid at Kingston. I approve of his -entire action. He upheld the best tradl v tions of our navy in thus rendering " distinguished service to humanity. "THEODORE ROOSEVELT." Secretary Metcalf's letter to Admiral Davis says; 'The department desires to add also its approval and commendation of your able service and those of the officers and men under your command." 'M V A WASTE OF GOOD MONEY. ' Investigation of Brownville Affair Will Cost $50,000. * The senate committee on military affairs is beginning to realize the difficulties in the way of securing wit * tiesses for the Brownsville inquiry. The discharged >oldiers are scattered from Maine to California. Most of th?. ni are without funds and the* government must advance the \ money for their fare to Washington to testify. One member of the committee predicted the investigation wouid cost more than $30,000. y . ; TRIBUTE3 PAID GORMAN. Senators Devote Day to Eulcsiuma of Late Maryland Statesman. Senators paid tribute Friday to the memory of the late Senator Arthur ?ue Gorman cf Maryland. Ail business lor the day was suspended at 2:30 o'clock, according to a special order, and eulogies were delhored addressed to resolutions expressing the .profound sorrow and regret of the senate at the death of the Maryland senator. y V * -V'; - .7 - "ALABAMA SENATE BALKS Over Resolution Endorsing President Roosevelt's Action in Discharging Colored Soldiers at Brownsville. A special from Montgomery, Ala., says: The Rattray resolution commending President Roosevelt for discharging the negro soldiers for the Brownsville incident, after being handballecl from the house to the senate for over a week, was pocketed Thursday by the senate, when it was referred the third time to the committee on rules, with the understanding that it will stay there. Before its reference, Senator Mooj? _ _?s 1 l Vll',1 ! ? j Qy, a. UJIlKCi liL 1 uo^aiuus.1, .IX v-t..a member 01' the senate, made a sharp reply, criticizing the president for his alleged overthrow of the constitution on many occasions. He assailed the president sharply for his "unconstitutional aid to the Panama government," intimating that Washington supported a revolution, and declared there was grave doubt, if the president had authority to discharge soldiers from the army. "We go too lar in endorsing the acts of such an official," said Senator Moody. -.Besides the passing of resolutions is beyond the scope of the senate's authority." Representative Rattray of Cherokee, author of the resolution, was a colonel of the fifty-seventh Illinois regiment, in the war between the states. He is a lifelong democrat, and, a cit'zen of Alabama forty years. CHARACTERIZED AS A "PIKER." Atlanta Real Estate Agent Charged With Defrauding New York Woman. Characterizing W. E. Wimpy, a real estate man of Atlanta, Georgia as a ''piker," or a man otherwise known as one with small means wlio gives the impression that he is operating cn large capital, Mrs.. Lucy J. Wade of New York city Thursday brought action against him in the Fulton superior court to recover $80,000 worth of Atlanta real estate, j Wimpy is the man who persisted in renting a house in a white neighborhood of Atlanta recently to negroes, and for this reason came into considerable notoriety. Mrs. Wade alleges in eilect that she was prevailed on by Wimpy, who "poisoned her mind" against R. J. Griffin, her former agent, to give- him $80,000 of property without so much "as a scratch of fhe pen" to show his obligation, not even his note. She declares that he has ever failed to give bond in the sum of $10,000 to iDsure certain improvements on the property he agreed to make. Not only does the bill allege that "Wimpy is a "piker," but it declared he wen,t to New York with the express purpose of getting hold of the Atlanta property from its owner by fraud. .The property in question Is a triangular block on Peachtree street opposite the Candler building and just north of the Piedmont hotel. It is claimed that although this*property is worths $10C;00Ct at the present time, Wimpy secured it from Mrs. Wade by agreeing' to pay $80,000 for it at the end of thirty years, and in the meantime pay her interest quarterly at the rate of 4 per cent. Mrs. Wade says in her suit that she had not been in Atlanta in sixteen years and was not acquainted with the value of real estate. Neither was she acquainted with business methods or law. in fact the petition alleges she knew nothing about such matters. RECEIVER FOR NEWSPAPER. Creditors of Atlanta News Publishing Company File Petition. Late Thursday afternoon four creditors ?f The Atlanta News Publishing company filed a petition asking that it be adjudged a bankrupt, and as a result of said petition Referee in<( Bankruptcy Percy Adams appointed John K. Ottley receiver of the plant. - The creditors of the newspaper allege that The Atlanta News is insolvent, owing debts which it is ur.able to pay, and which it has acknowledged its inability to pay. ncr&TM FORESTALLED A DIVORCE . . W - Millionaire Seeking Sepaartion from Wife Dies in South Dakota. Ceorge II. Meyers, a multi-millionaire of New Orleans, died in Yankton, South Dakota, Friday. On his person was found Standard Oil stocks valued at $1,000,000. Meyers arrived in Yankton nearly six months ago'-jvith the intention of o sifvnrra from his wife. Ke OCVUi 1U5 w u* . w. __ _ still lacked one week before be woulc have become a citizen of the 'state, when his divorce petition would have been filed. WILL DRAW COLOR LINE. 1 ___? White Citizens of Cincinnati Opposed to Colored Surveyor. According to a dispatch in the Washington Star, Ralph W. Tyler, col1 ored; declares he will accept the posi1 tion of surveyor of customs at Cincinnati if offered. White citizens of Cincinnati are indignant and it is rumored that every white man in office will, resign the moment Tyler is appointed. j , . "" - ; i DISHONEST DIVISOR7 I Used in Weighing Up Mails | Carried by Railroads. J OLD GRAFT IS CUT OUT !' i Congress Orders Postal Department j to Correct Matter and Railroads Will Lose Enormous Sum of Twelve Millions. A Washington special says: n 13 j estimated thai $12,000,030 will be cut ] from the annual mail pay of the railroads by the action of the postofiice ( committee Saturday. Seven millions 1 of this is saved by the reduced rat.cs 1 of mail on account of the new method of computation which reckons Sunday as a working day. Formerly the ' mail was weighed only six days in 1 the week, and computation made ca J this basis. Representative Victor Mm*dock, of Kansas, started the agitation, against this system last December, de- ( daring it has cost the government $30,000,000 in te'n years. Representative Murdcck said that Llie department was using a false "divisor" in -that it weighed mail for i, seven days and divided the amount I ! by 'six to ascertain the amount on 1 ' which to base tbe compensation of j' roads, ino provision agrscu. upuu us- \ quires that weighing shall be done for ! seven days and the amount divided j by seven. Railroads which have a contract j with the government for carrying the j mails will bo required to make th2 ! schedule time of their mail tiains re.g- J liiarly, or nav a heavy penalty pro- \ vided the bill decided upon today in vided'the bill decided upon is enacted into law. The postoffice department now irr- j' poses a small penalty for delays in the time of their mail "by railroads, but the congressional* committee proposes to give them wider authority In order to force compliance with contracts in keeping advertised sched- j ules. It was also decided to reduce tbc , present mail pay 5 per cent where j the average each day per mile is from j 5,000 lo 48,000 ' pounds. Where the j average is under 5,000 pounds no re- ! duction is contemplated. The bill will carry a total of $200,- 1 180,561. This is the largest amount j ever carried for the expenditures of j the postal service. The total recommended in the bill is more than $3,* 000,000 in excess of the amount estimated for the department and is nil increase of $17,509,562 over the current appropriation. ? The salaries of postal clerks and of both city and rural carriers are increased to a total of $7,000,000. A provision is inserted in the bill for the classification of postal clerks, and the positions of clerks and carriers are j made interchangeable. There are various provisions in the bill intended to reduce the pay of railroads for carrying the mails. The bill cuts off all pay to roads for hauling empty mail sacks, which is estimated will save between $3,000,000 and $4,000,000 a year. j Postmaster General Cortelyou Satur- | day reported to congress the record j from Ju'y 7 to December 31, 1906, of till second class mail matter recelv- ! ed for f'*ee distribution at the one- ; cent-pound rate, in compliance with J a provision in the current appropriation act. It was found that more than 90 per cent of all second class matter originated in 429 cities. The total weight of this class of mail for the period was 370.008,913 pounds. The weight of the daily newspapers was 141,123,856 pounds, an 01 wnicn was carried an average of 255 miles; weekly and other than daily newspapers carried weighed 77,730,648, hauled 440 miles. ? Inspect All Your Twenties. Chief Wilkie, of the secret service, ! has announced the appearance of a ! new counterfeit $20 national bank j note, on the Marietta National Bank, j Marietta, Indian Territoiy. DISREGARDS CONSTITUTION. Maryland Senator Criticizes President for Alleged Usurpation. Disclaiming any intent:cn of assailing President Roosevelt and professing for him profound personal esteem, Senator Rayner, of Maryland, Thursday addressed the senate at considerable length in critical review of what he terms the presidents usurpation of governmental functions not conferred upon him by the constitution. He-first alluded to the recent speech of Sena* In ? )>!/><, n/oo tho I IUI ftUUl, lit n?>vu nuo uv.vvi?r.u grandual enlargement' of federal pow- i ers at the expense cf the stated, j NO WORD FROM ROOSEVELT As to "Jim Crow" Question Submitted by People of Oklahoma. President Roosevelt has received the resolutions passed by the constitutional convention of Oklahoma asking him if lie would approve the constitution if it should contain a pro vision on the jim cro\v car question. No answer has yet been made by ihe president to the resolution. - ' ' ' \ ALL COTTON EXCHANGES Now included in Congressional Resolution Calling for Investigation of Their Business Methods. The resolution of Representatives Livingston and Burleson, unanimously adopted Friday by the committee an interstate and foreign commerce, was altered in the committee, so that it will apply to all cotton exchanges. It directs the secretary of commerce - - ^ i- -t. - 1. and laoor, mrougu. me i'iirea.i ui tui[lorations, tc investigate as to whether the causes of fluctuations in the cotton market are due to the character cf contracts and deliveries thereon made on the cotton exchanges dealing in futures, or is the result of any combinations or conspiracy which interferes or hinders commerce among the several states and territories or with foreign countries." President Karvie Jordan of the Southern Cotton Association was in Washington Friday consulting with Representatives Livingston and Burle. r.on in regard to the prosecution of the fight to force the New York cotton exchange to amend its methods of operation in conforming with its charter, or to suspend as a cotton gambling den. President Jordan commented upon the fact that Secretary Childs of the New York cotton exchange and Superintendent King of that exchange were present at the hearing before the cemmitfpp of the house, and delivered themselves of the opinion that the exchange courier such an investigation as was proposed. "We will give them all rhe opportunity they want to disprove the charges which have been made against them, if they can. We are entered in this fight and will net givefup until the operations that have resulted in depressing the price of the south's staple are discontinued or conducted along straight and honest lines." Additional evidence will ue lodged by Representatives .Liviugsto.-i and Burleson, with Commissioner Garfield, of the bureau of corporations. These geptlemen will not divulge the nature of the exhibits, but it will consist of the report of the committee on agriculture and forestry submitted to the fifty-third congress, and in which the dealing in "futures" was severely arraigned. Further evidence, showing the venal character of exchange contracts, will also be placed before the commissioner. Walter C. Hubbard, president of the New York cotton exchange, when informed that the house committee on interstate and foreign commerce had voted to make a favorable leport on the resolution for an investigation of the cotton exchange, said: "If the investigation is starred, the exchange will aid in every possible way those In charge cf the investigation. We will throw open our books and records, knowing that v;e have been doing notmng mat neea ue tuncealed." COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HURT. Head of the G. A. R. Shaken Up in a Railroad Collision. A Cincinnati dispatch says: R. B. Brown, commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, one ether passenger and the engineer of tiie Baltimore and Ohio southwestern train No. 104, eastbouud, wore injured in a collision between the passenger train and a switch engine near Seccna avenue. General Brown, who was on his vay from Cincinnati to Zanesville, his home, received a sprained ankle. The other two injured were not serioutfiy hurt. CARWORKERS OUT ON STRIKE. Demanded Increase of Salaries and a Recognition of the Union. miL-inir certain demands upon . rtllW U4V?1???0 V?M the railroads, "including recognition of the Carworkere' Union, and an in ciease of salaries, three hundred and thirty-five men, composing the recently organized Augusta, Ga., Carworxers' Unien, went out on a strike Friday. SHOT WIFE AND BABE. Drunken Man Runs Amuck With Shot Gun at Waycross. At Y?a;.cross, Ga., Wednesday night, H. EL Lilies, while beastly drunk, shot and Killed his wife and probably fatally wounded their four-nionths-bld babe. There was no eye-witness to the killing, but the evidence before- the coroner's jury i.s to the effect that Lilies placed a double-barreled shotgun to the left side of his wife's face and pulled the trigger. Mrs. Lilies had her babe in her arms at the time, unu as sne icii, ine uaoe was aropiieu. ! PUBLLIC DEBT DECREASED. January Statement Shows Big Increase in Treasury ^ash. Monthly statement of the public debt shows that at the close of business anuary 31, 190V, the total debt less cash in the treasury amounted to $927,441,206, which is u decrease for the month of $7,629,571. Vhis decrease is largely due to the increase cf cash during the montn. MATTER VET OPEN Not Certain That Canal Contract Will Be Let. RESTS WITH PRESIDENT A Possibility That All Bids May Be Rejected and Task of Digging Ditch Put Into Hands of Chief Engineer Stevens. * n.'nrV<ln(r^nn cr<<a/?iol covs* Tt Is A aouiu^uu kj^^. still possible that the administration may determine to dig the Panama canal, placing the work in the hands of Chief Engineer Stevens instead of having it done under contract. The final decision will rest with the president and the secretary of war, and will depend on their opinion "as to whether the administration is justified in accepted the bid to do it by contract. " It was pointed out Wednesday on high authority that the government has not promised to accept the bids of W. J. Oliver, who has been given an opportunity to associate himself with two other contractors to do the work at his bid of 6 3-4 Per cent. The president and Secretary Taft feel that the question of cost is not the one thing alon<> to be considered, and that they would be justified in declining to enter into a contract to dig the canal if they felt that the government interests would be best subserved by j not doing so. ; The following statement was made public at the white house Wednesday by Secretary Loeb: "Reports in the papers seem to indicate a belief that the canal contract has been conditionally awarded to Mr. Oliver. This is not so. No decision has been made even that the contract will he awarded to any of the bidders. Mr. Oliver's bid was so hopelessly defective that it could not be oven consid* ered, and time was given him to complete it m a shape that will enable it to receive consideration. If it is put into shape it will be considered, together with the bid already made by the Gillespie-McArthur combination, which may itself be altered, and then whichever bid, after the most careful examination, seems inest advantageous -may bo taken, or both bids rejected and the canal be constructed under the direct supervision of the government. In such case, the government would, wherever it chose, use contractors simply as agents. The real object in contracting the work is to have assembled a large number of the best specialists In each class of work, and the prime consideration win oe tne ability and fitness shown in a variety of directions by the men making the bid. The president and the commission would not even consider a bid of merely one or two men.- The work is akeady going well. Over a half million cubic yards were taken oift of the Cnlebra cut in January, and the amount being taken out is steadily increasing." ANOTHER DISPENSARY WEDGE. State Institution in South Carolina Seems Near Doom. From present indications the South Carolina state dispensary, on which was based the initial prominence of South Carolina's senior United States oonttf.tw TOill ho shnHehoH hv th<? een. oguawi , ?? 414 wv mrj ??w o eral assembly. At Wednesday's session the Carey-Cothran local option bill passed by a vote of 74 to 4S. The dis;>ensary forces, realizing their defeat, offered as a substitute for the local option measure, a prohibition bill, hoping to gain the support of that element and defeat the anti-dispensary folks. The substitute was rejected by a vote of 68 to 55.' The fight Is given up in the house and every conceivable influence is being used to secure the defeat of the local option bill in the senate, which is closely divided. It is the opinion of all factions, however, that, whatever follows, the state dispensary will be abolished. MRS. SAGE OPENS PURSE. Gives Million to Establish College Department in Honor of Husband. At the annual meeting of T.ke Alumni Association of the Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute at New York Friday niglu, announcement was made of the gift of Mrs. Russell Sago of $1 >000,000 to that institution. It is understood that the fund will be applied to the establishment of a new department to be called the "Russell Sage Scnooi of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering." KILLED BY GATLING GUN. John D. Rockefeller, Actor, Meets His Death on the Stage. John D. Rockefeller, an actor, was kiled on the stage of a theater in Chicago Wednesday, when a Gatling gun, which was used during a matinee performance, fell cn him and fractured his skull. Rockefeller was assisting in removing the gun from a temporary platform. His home is x in New York city. V - V OFFICIAL OF SOUTHERN ;J Joined With Oliver to Help Handle ||w Canal Contract?Will Manage -^^3 All Transportation. William J. Oliver, of Knoxvillti^ Tenu., the lowest bidder tor the con- ^ etruction >vork on the Panama nal, held a conference in New York Sunday night with ten other contrae- ||| lor? who will, it is understood, be as- ;\%j$ sociated with 11 r. Oliver in the evc.nt, ^pa that Ilia bid is accepted. The ptxr-J1^ 'i pose of the conference, it was said, /j?a,, was to discuss the formation of a-V^af corporation which would be prepare^^S to undertake trie work on ine jsaa Those present in addition to Mr. Oliver were: John II. McDonaid ana. John Pierce, of Maine; P. T. Walsh, j | of the Walsh Contracting Company^ Davenport, Jowa: P. M. Brennan, oC ? the Erennan Construction Compaajr^J! of Washington, D. C ; Robert RusseiyJ^B of New York, who has been asso?:;?j| :A ciated with Mr. Oliver in many entci^.t^p prises; W. H. Say re, of the interna^yjm tionai Contracting Company, of Ne?r.:?jg York; Charles H. Ackert, vice president and general manager of Southern Railroad Company; It. Chester, first vice president of Commercial National Bank, Washing-^ ton, D. C., and R. A. C. Smith, of Netf$| .S Mr. Oliver declined to make piibltev^j^ the outcome of Sunday night's ing, hut said that something be made public in a few days. A representative of Mr. Oliver sequently announced some plans that^R/i Lave been agreed upon in addition to tnese^al ready made known. ;Ji| Mr. McDonald will, if the coriKJfJ^j lion to oe lormea is awaraea uie m nal contract, have general supervtiB^|^ ion of the machinery used. R. A. C. Smith and Mr. Chester^ .|| will have charge of the financial of the corporation. Mr. Smith is a . rector of the Metropolitan StreefoijjgB Railway Company, and is also a Jsj lor and officer in many other bartSs^H . Mr. Ackert will have charge of aU':?i? canal transportation. yjpBBjj OPINION ON SILLY ORDERS J| Troops of Uncle Sam Cannot Be pelled to Attend Church, i : The text of the opinion of Jadfi||3H Advocate General Davis, of the in connection with a sergeant's re^atf|| fusal to obey orders at Columbus, OJyfjjB barracks, to attend Roman GdtheW^^ service, for which refusal the department ordered the sergeant's n&fjaH duction and transfer to another shows the following question subn$|jK|| led to the secretary of war by commanding officer of the recrul^j^ ^ depot at Columbus barracks: "Is an order directing a soldler.%||| of a command by the commandlsiaB^^ ficcr thereof to attend divine worships!' in a church in which he was brough#'^j^ up, and who has no conscientious >ivS 1 scruples against attending such 8exst*'j?| vices so manifestly illegal as to \vaiv|j h| rent such soldier in deliberately violates! ;|a mg the same?" % . In his opinion. Judge Advocate 1 iinoio solloh otfonhrtn tn -J VJi dl L/av to fact that congress is forbidden by t$^|?H first amendment to the constitution 3 make any law "reacting an estati|||jS jishment of religion or prohibiting the^.;"| free exercise thereof." He says that officers and enlisted ^^9 men of the army have never beenr|^H required to attend religions services. : v - | ?t wlist, therefore, conclude that.-=jgra^ General Davis says, "**%- ? pc^ SI commander may lawfully orders as be may deem m'cess&^ la^ secure a droper observance Sabbath, it is not competent for ''nifcyB to require officers and enlisted aSp h to attend divine services, or to pro* r' mulga*e instructions in aspect to the observance of the day, which are ia excess of or contrary to the requite-, t mcnts of the 52nd article of war." ; RURAL GUARDS FOR CUBA. J Order Issued Directing an increase of the Native Force. As a result of a recent conference Jfl at the White House between the president, Secretary Taft and General-** P.ell, chief of staff, an order has be^a'?^ [i issued directing an increase of tAeV^g - 1 ? rtf P-iha from fi.OCO tB JUi di ^vaiu \iJ? v -- -? 10,000 then. The purpose is to avoid ' increasing: the number of American y troons, the native guards bciag more ,;3 acceptable tc the -people. DEATH DECREED JEWS. 1 Revolutionists in Odessa Preparing Another Onslaught. The elements of the population of -^jlg Odessa. Russia, who are opposed to. 4^ the Jews are renewing their efforts to organize an anti-Jewish attack, and a*. ^ a result, the people* of Odessa, of whom about one-third are Jews, art ^J|| in a stats bordering on panic. .v-/JhB I . MAJOR PENROSE ARRAIGNED.' '$j|Sj Answers Before Courtmartial for-AI^;|?| leged Neglect of Duty in Texas. The courtmartiai for the trial Major C. J. Penrose, twenty-fifth ltr:' pS fantry, charged with neglect of duty'V^r^ in connection with the Brownsville, >3 Texas, riots, opened at Fort Sam Hons- I ton. Monday, with Colonel Glenn, 23nl, ' infantry, representing Major Pectr/i^a rose. Captain Charles Kay is judgo advocate.; ' - '<