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FRED RUNS II 5jjfc,"\A. fjj|jble State Of Affa of The . Czar' HEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN SHOT "The Revolt of the Striking Workmen in the Russian Capital Culminates in ^ a Deadly Conflict With the Troops?j * ? One Detachment of the Infantry Re-J fuses to Fire on the Strikers, Throwing Down Its Arms. St. Petersburg, By Cable.?The revolt of striking workmen culminated j Sunday in a bloody conflict with the ; troops. At 9:30 o'clock p. m., it was j believed that 1.500 people had been killed cr wounded, but all estimatee for the present must be accepted with caution. Popular rumor says that manv thousands have fallen. The city at 3;30 was quiet. Troops are bivou-j acked around camp flres here and j there in the streets. One detachment : of infantry refused to fire on the peo-! pie and laid down their arms, but Uh-! lans and Cossacks attacked those the. infantry would not. Finn; continues j on the Vassiliostroy. It is rumored j that the workmen there have seized a aynamite factory and also that 30,000 or 40.000 armed strikers from Kolpino, I OS miles distant, are marching on St.1 Petersburg. MiDLLE CLASSES FAVOR WORK- ! MEN. Barricades erected on the island of | Yassili Ostrov late Sunday night were ! destroyed by troops almost immediate- j ly, with the loss of 30 workmen killed.; - - " 1 tJJt. -t- u ^ me sympauay or me miuuie cuu?a ?? , with the workmen. * If Father Gopon, the master mind of the movement, aimed at open revolution, be managed the affair like a genius to break the faith of the people in the "Little Father," who. they were' convinced, and whom Father Gopon j had taught them, would right- their, wrongs and redress their grievances. Gorky, the Russian novelist, expressed the opinion that Sunday's work will break this faith cf the people in the Emperor. He said: MEANS REVOLUTION. "This day inaugurated revolution in Russia. The Emperor's prestige will be irrevocably shattered by the shedding of innocent blood. He has alienated himself forever from his people. Gopon taught the workmen to believe that an appeal direct to the "Little Father" would be heeded. They have been undeceived. Gopon Is now convinced that peaceful means have failed and that the only remedy is force. The first blood has been shed, but more will follow. It is now the people against the oppressors, and the battle will be fought to the bitter end." DESPERATE STREET FIGHTING. The military authorities had a firm grip on every artery in the city. At daybreak, guards, regiments, cavalry held every bridgo across the frozen Neva, the network of canals which interlaces the .city, and the gates leading from ' the industrial sec- j tion; while in the palace square, ! at the storm center, were J marched dragoons, infantry, and Cossacks of the guard. Barred from the bridges and gates, men. women and children crossed the frozen river ' *ftd canals on the ice by twos and threes, hurrying to the palace square, where they were sure the Emperor would be to hoar them. The street approaches to the square were cleared by volleys and Cossack charges. Men and women, infuriated to frenzy by the < loss of loved ones, cursed the soldiers while they retreated. Men harrangued the crowds, telling them that the Emperor had foiled them and that the time had come to act. Men began to build barricades in the Nevsky pros pect and at other points, using any material that came to hand and even chopping down telegraph poles. ^ . Mr. Croker Killed. Ormond. Fla., Special?Frank Croker cf New York, son of Richard Choker, the former Tammany chief, was seriously injured on the beach shortly before 4 o'clock Saturday afternoon. Mr.! Croker was in his racer, an 80-horse j power machine, with his mechanician, ! Raoui. and was going a 40-second a mile a clip. His machine turned over ; and he was thrown to the ground, sus-: taining injuries from which he died Sunday. / Live Items of News. It will be several weeks before the new rules and reflations for the steamboat inspection service will go into effect. The Board of Supervising Inspectors will meet in Washington to<Iay. Thcmas K. Kiedringhaus was elect- j -ed I'nited States Senator by the Missouri Legislature, and many other Sen- j ators were chosen, including Hale. In ; Maine: Aldrich. in Rhode Island; \ Bulkely, in Connecticut; Depew, in! New York: Knox in Pennsylvania; ; Eeveridge and Hemenway, in Indiana; | - Burkett. in Nebraska; Clapp in Minne-, sola and others. Gov. Preston Lea, of Delaware, was inaugurated at Dover, Del. E. C. Stokes was inaugurated Governor of New Jersey at Trenton, and advocated improveing corporation laws there. Rev. I. N. W. Irvine filed a suit for slander in Philadelphia against Bishop Ethelbert Talbot, who was attending a meeting of the church committee on Sunday school instruction. The cruiser. Maryland will have Speed trials January 25. ? - / 'USSIAN RIOTl irs Existing in Capital : s Dominions Fighting meantime continued at various places, soldiers volleying and charging the mob. The whole city was in a state of panic. Women were running through the streets seeking j lost members of their families. Set- ( eral barricades were carried by the troops. Towards 8 o'clock in the evening the crowds, exhausted, began to disperse, leaving the ciilitary in posses- , sion. As they retreated up the Nev- , sky Prospect, the workmen put out , all the lights. The little chapel at the , Naiva gate was wrecked. WITTE MAY BE DICTATOR. On the Kaminostov all the lights v.ere extinguished and an officer was found and mobbed. A general was . killed on the Nicholas bridge and a . dozen officers were stripped of their ( epaulets and deprived of their sworus. , It is rumored that M. Witte will be ap- < pointed dictator, but the report is not I confirmed. The authorities, while they seem to realize the magniture of the crisis with which the dynasty and au- I tocracy are confronted on account of events, apparently are paralyed for a moment. MUST END THE WAR. An official statement was premised at midnight, at which nour it was announced that it had been postponed, intense indignation is bound to be i aroused all over Russia. The workmen and revolutionists expect news from Moscow and other big centers, where the troops are not of the same class as the guards regiments of St. Peters- ' burg. * i A member of the Emperor's house- ! hold is quoted as saying that this con- i flict will end the war with Japan, and ' that Russia will hare a constitution, or ! Emperor Nicholas will lose his head, i The Warsaw & Baltic Railroad Is reported to have been torn up for a i mile and a half, but the damage is said I to have been repaired. There are rumors of trouble in Finland and disaffection of the troops. WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT. With darkness it was feared the mob might try to loot and pillage and even burn, but beyond the breaking of a few windows in the Nevsky prospect and the pillaging of fruit shops, little disorder was reported. Most of the theatres were closed, but at the People's Palace, which was open. Liberate attempted to harange the audience, proposing, but at the close the audience testified to their sympathy with the workmen. In the meantime the strike leaders met and decided to continue the struggle with arms. No day was fixed for the demonstration. The strikers are so excited, however, that trouble is expected. At a big meeting the following message from M. Gorky, the novelist, was read: N GOKKY'S INCENDIAKY aiHiSHAUfi. | "Beloved ^associates: We have no Emperor. Innocent blood lies between him and the people. Now begins the people's struggle for freedom. May it prosper. My blessing upon you all. Would I might be with you; but I have much to do." A workman who was introduced to speak in Father Gopon's name made a fiery speech. He appealed to Liberals to furnish arms. The meeting adopted a letter denouncing the officers and regiments that fired on the workmen and another letter extolling the Moscow regiment, which refused to fire. Revolt in Circassia. Victoria. British Columbia, By Cable. ?Capt. Orlan Cullen, representative of the- Imperial Marine Association of Tckio, received a cablegram from Constantinople to the effect that 1,500 Circassians had revolted and killed the Rv.ssian guard, numbering 200. at SicviDi, in the Caucasus, and that Russians and Turks in large numbers were crossing the frontier into the Caucasus. Valuable Laces in Chadwiek Home. Cleveland, 0., Special.?United States Customs Collector Leach has found valuable laces belonging to Mrs. Cassie L. Chadwick in the Chadwick home on Euclid avenue. Mr/ Leach is going to learn whether duty has been paid on the articles, all of which have be?n imported. They are said to be worth at least 110.000, and a charge of smuggling will^e preferred if duty has not been paid. Steamer Sinks a Stoop. Elizabeth City, N. C., Special.?The Old Dominion steamer Ocracoke sunk the sloop Bay, which had aboard a pleasure party, including several women. The Ocracoke was bound here from Newbern. Mr. Lem Champan, a member of the pleasure party, was knocked overboard, but was picked up by the crew of the steamer, which brought all on the sloop to this city in safety. Telegraphic Briefs. Russia, it is reported, has threatened to invade China unless alleged discrimination in favor of the Japanese ceases. The verdict in the case of Deputy Gabriel Syveton. who was found dead in Paris, was that he met death by suicide. The cultivation of the olive is increasing constantly, though slowly, in Spain. The area devoted to olives increased from 2,673,666 acres in 1901 to 2.683,550 acres in 1902 and 2,690.963 acres in 1903. The oil yield per acre last year was 32 gallons, or 13.S gallons more than the yield of 1902-1903, 3 gallons more than the yield of 1901-1902 and 2 gallons more than the average.^ tm WAS SENSATIONAL FIND Box Containing Two Headless Bodies ' Found Near Spartanburg. Spartanburg. Special.?Quite a sensation was created Saturday afternoon 1 by the finding of two human bodies, j beadless. in a wooden box. in a dense < woodland about four miles from the < city beyond Drayton mills and a mile ' from the public road. The sheriff and J coroner were summoned and these \ | ' officials, with about 50 or 100 residents j of the city, went to ttie spot, mere was a large gathering of the country j people, and in the forest by the light | of lanterns the strange, uncanny spec- ] racle of two dissected bodies securely ' placed in a box. wrapped in oil cloth. J was brought to view. These objects were cadavers used for dissecting at i the annual meeting of the State Under- i Lakers' Association in Spartanburg, ! about three years ago. Physicians in ' the crowd surrounding the box at once ( saw with the eyes of experts that the < bodies had been under the knives of 1 professionals and that there was no | foul play, murder or anything tragic J about the affair. The incident was gro- ] tesque in the extreme, smacking of the Pickwickian order of affairs. The , sheriff, coroner, newspaper man and others left the spot somewhat cha- 1 grined at the denouement. ( To Develop Coast Country. Georgetown, Special.?It is now practically assured that within a short time a wtekly newspaper will be in operation here, the purpose of which < will bo to advertise to the outside world the great natural advantages of j lower South Carolina, embracing the whole coast country and the adjacent Pee D?e section. A stock company is j now in process of formation. The capital is to be fixed at $10,000 divided into 400 shares of $25 per share. Hon. '.Valter Hazard has been elected temporary chairman and Messrs E. L. Lloyd of the Atlantic Coast Lumber corporation. Jos Srhenk of the Ka ' rt ?TJ n minsKl Hardware uuuijjuu.i ?mu u. | Springs a committeee to solicit subscriptions to the capital stock. As soon as .13,000 is subscribed locally, permanent organization will take place and steps taken to begin publication at the earliest possible time. The town's individual citizens throughout the territory to be covered are expected to contribute as liberally as possible toward the support of the enterprise, which it is thought will result In untold good for this section and be the means of bringing in a desirable class of settlers to fill lip the , waste places, making this section, j blessed so abundantly by nature, a j garden spot of agriculture and commercial prosperity. The services of Mr. James Henry Rice. Jr.. formerly the brilliant and versatile editor of The Field, will be secured for the conduct of the editorial department. Mr. Rice realizing fully the immense possibilities to Ik? wrought out. is deeply concerned in the movement and sanguine to enthusiasm as to ultimate success The time has come when the great coast country of South Carolina must seek and command recognition for the priceless wealth that lies here uncovered to the hand of him who seeks it with wisdom and industry. New Berry School Bill Newberry, Special.?A meeting of the citizens of Newberry was held Friday afternoon to consider the school bill offered by the representatives of this county. The bill, which is in substance to change the number oi trusteees of the graded school of Newberry from llto 5 and to have them elected in the general election, has passed the house and is now being held up in the senate by Senator Blease pending a hearing from the people o! this town. A resolution was passed to request Newberrry's representatives tc make no change in the present arrangement which provides ofr 11 trustees, seven for life and four elected by the people. An amendment provided that in case there was a change to have the trustees elected at the annual school meeetlng and not at the general election and that each ward elect one of the five trustees provided by the bill "Oh, Just For Fun." Charlotte. X. 0., Special.?Mas1 Mowrv, a well-to-do farmer of Coddle J Creek, Cabarrus ccunty, cut his throat with a pocket kn'f? near his home Sat urday afternoon and died a few hour? later. He had on hand two crops of cotton, and the decline in price is sai 1 to have caused his act. When found Mowry was conscious and tn reply tc a question as to the cause, said: "Oh i just for fun." Scotchmen in Anderson. A^'^son. Special.?Four young im migrants fronj. Scotland arrived iD the citv Friday to aqcept employment ; here. One of them will be engagec in the city and the other three will gc to work on the large plantation of Mr W. Q. Hammond near the city. Some ' time ago two Scotchmen came here tc acept employment under the direetior of the State bureau of emmigration ' and they are well pleased with theii new hemes. The young men thai reached here yesterday are Samue Thomas. Edward King. George Hasti( and Andrew Sinclair. All come froir the vicinity of Glasgow. South Carolina Items. Within ten days two workmen hav< lost their lives in the construction o the Southern railway's new bridg< 1 on the Catawba river, near Fort Mill ( On the 8th instant Frank Ayers. t ; white man of Columbia, was killed On Friday Alexander Campbell, col ored, was drowned by the capsizing 1 of a boat in which he and anothe negro man were removing temporary 1 beams from the biidge. V LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS ~ tl: What is Being Done By the Palmet* a? to Lawmakers. I" The House finished all business on j1( the calendar and adjourned until noon c? Friday, a recess being taken in lienor 5? the birthday of Gen. Robert E. Lee. tii The greater pari of the day's session te ft as occupied in presenting new bills, a? i>C in number, and in receiving comn ittee reports, 14 being favorable and ja E> unfavorable. This shows that the commit lees are joing something. ft? Mr. Beamguard introduced a concur* to rent resolution to provide for the ap pointment cf the tegular committee 8C to make quarterly examination of the pi books of the State treasurer, comptrol- Co ler general, secretary of state and or the sinking fund commission. The res- of olution was passed and sent to the Senate. co The following resolution, introduced to by Mr. J. B. Watson, was agveed to md sent to the Senate: "Be it resolved. etc., That the Senators and rep- . resentatives of this State in the Congress of the United States be request- re :d to procure by Federal legislation or ^ otherwise the prompt transmission by mail to each cotton ginner in this State a comrlelo copy of all ginners' reports in this S'ate to the agricultural department of the general govern- Ul ment as soon as the same is received a 1 by said department." etc. fl The House agreed to Mr. Haskell's resolution to extend to the Daughters 31 the Confederacy and certain otlie# ladles the use of the hall of the HouA of Representatives Thursday at nooi^^ for the purpose of presenting a por- % trait of General Micah Jenkins. t" Second Reading Bills. The following bills were given sec- W) Dnd reading: tri Mr. Colcock's bill to dispose of finally all moneys in the Stale treasury o' known as the "Direct Tax Funa." The bill provides in part: "That all claims to on the funds in .the State Treasury wj known as 'Direct Tax Funds,' for pen- la ally ar.d interest collected from citizens of the former parishes of St. He- er lena and S. Lukes, now a part of lei Beaufort county, on account of direct pa tax by the United States, must be piesented for payment before the first of day of March, anno domini 1905, or be forever barred.'* e> Mr. Stoll's bill to amend the charter Pi of the town of Kingstree. Mr. Prince's bill relative to the elec- pa tion of professors at the Citadel by pc the board of visitors. re Mr. Sinkler's bill "granting to the United States the title of this State to. or and the jurisdiction of the State over, in certain lands on Sullivan's Island, in to Charleson county, for military purposes." bt Bill to amend the law fixing travel- of ing expenses of county superintendents of education in Abbeville, Marlboro and York counties. tj Third Reading Bills. Mr. Whaley's to permit the construetion of a permanent dam across Goose cc Creek. Ti Mr. McColl'a to permit the town of iClio to issue SIO.OOO in bonds for the fi< erection of another school house. di Newberry delegation's bill to change the school law for the city of Newberry GI so that there will be five trustees in- ? stead of 11, and that they shall be ct elected for a definite term instead of holding a life tenure. Mr. Morgan's bill relative to appointment of foreman of petit jury. Bills From the Senate. t) The following came over from the Senate and were read the first time: j8 Senator Mauldin's bill to authorize t( the Governor to appoint a commission to examine into the financial condition ^ of Greenville county. Y The resolution providing for an investigation of the dispensary. Senator Raysor's bill to authorize school district No. 52 in Orangeburg county to issue bonds. c o In the Senate. t< Nothing was done in the senate Wed- 0 nesday further than the introduction of t] bills. The body adjourned until noon Thursday. it ^ Senator Earle introduced two bills b affecting railroads, one to require rail- P roads practically to abolish grade w crossings by the use of undercuts and P bridges, the other limiting the time of v work of employes operating trains, d This latter bill allows employes to 11 v.ork only 12 hours at a time, and then ir r.ot to work again until after eight b hours of rest except in cases when b trains are prevented by casualty from reaching the destination on schedule tl time. Senator E. S. Blease introduced a " bill to prohibit employment in the leg- 0 ielature or engrossing department of 01 any persons related to any member or r< officer of the legislature or any State e' officer. tl Senator Butler introduced a bill P which is practically "anti-graft" in 'r substance. It is intended to punish the ci corrupt giving, offering, promising and ti receiving gifts and gratuities and r provides that whoever corruptly gives. o: offers or promises to an agent any sl gift or gratuity whatever, with intent el to Influence his action in relation to his principal's, employer's or master's business, or any agent, employe or servant who corruptly requests or accepts a a gift or promise to make a gift be .e- s< ficial to himself; or any agent, employe or servant who. being authorized to tt procure materials, supplies or other ar- s' tides by purchase or contract for his principal, receives directly or indire *iy b< for himself or another, a commisi tl d:scounV^/"?nus from the person ti makes sucn* or contract, shal punished by a V ^ not more t i It r>00. or by such tin. * imprisonnr t tl for not more than one ^ THIRD READL. J The following bills were g. n reading: J! Senator R/vsnr?Joint resoluta " lating to adiornment of the gent assembly. Senator Rafcor?Joint resolution relating to fllli\g vacancies in the su preme court ay inferior tribunals. t0 Senator Ho%h?To fix the salaries es1 of the sheriffsja this State. ] Senator McChvan?To amend the the charter ofthe \resbyterian College of jnt South Carolinal the SEC9H READING. of The followin?,iij3 were given sec- 1 ond reading: T ( cus Senator Blal:ejr0 authorize Patrick gat Calhoun. Augute T. Smythe and ami Granville Beal I construct a dam the ross the SavamuSinvw^^^^^^^B Senator W. E. Johnson?To amenV ie code relating to general elections ? to apply the provision thereof to imary elections in thL otate. Senator Warren?To provide for the Dlding of the summer term of court common pleas for Hampton county. Senator Brice?To amend an act entled "An act to provide for the char, fees for domestic building and loan isociations." Senator Hay?To amend the code reting to change of venue. Senator Blvins?To amend the code cing the time for holding the courts r Dorchester. Senator Raysor?To define and preribe the manner of "showing comiance with the requirements of the nstitution" to governor prior to the aering an eiecnon as to tne creation a new county. Senator McLeod? Including Lee unty in certain provisions relating supervisor's powers. NEW BILLS. The following new bills were invoiced: Senator Jivens?To amend the law iating to magistrates and constaes. Senator Hood?To abolish days of ace on notes and other papers. Senator Wells?To make the act regaling relief departments of railways general law for all corporations. i Senator Mclver?To have ChesterId and Marlboro purchase the Chew bridge across the Great Pee Dee rer. Senator Hood?Relating to jury fees. Senator Butler?To punish corrupt ving. etc. Senator Earle?To require railroads abolish grade crossings. Senator Earle?To limit the hours of ark of railway employes operating ains. Senator Brice?Relating to transfer persons from school districts. Senator Mauldin?Giving authority corporations intending to furnish ater and light power to condemn nds. Senator E. S. Blease?To prevent the nployment of certain persons in the gislature, or in the engrossing deirtment. Senator Earle?Relating to survival actions. Senator C. L. Blease?Ratifying and itending the charter and power of the ?rr Shoals Power company. Senator Mhnning?Relating to the lyment of annual license fees by cor>rations. (This bill corrects an err.) Senator Marshall?To prevent euyte except the State electrician from terfering with the new heating sysm of the State house. Senator Blake?Incorporating the ?ard of trustees of the A. R. P. synod the South. ELECTIONS. A concurrent resolution introduced r Senator Warn * was adopted to hold ,e following ele iions on Thursday, inuary 26: Two circuit jujdges, to auc ed Judges Ernest Gary antl D. A. >wnsend; a superintendent of the pencntlary, to succeed Capt. D. J. Grif:h; three members of the board of rectors of the penitentiary, to suc:ed John G. Mobley, A. K. Sanders id M. 0. Rowland; one trustee of the ilored college at Orangeburg, to suced Cole L. Blease, resigned. The Dispensary. The dispensary law seems to be the hief subject of interest in the Senate. 'ot content with the other two bills lat have been introduced. Senator rice has put in still another. This i nnt on Invpsflcntine hill, hut seeks > change the law, and is along the line C the celebrated "Brice" local option 111 introduced by the Senator from ork in 1904. It substitutes for the present seeon 7, the following: "Sec. 7. There may be one or more ounty dispensers appointed for each ounty, the place of business of each > be designated by the county beard t control, but the Stat? bo*rd of conrol must give consent before more lan one dispenser can be appointed i any county, and where the county card designates a location for a disensary, 20 days* public notice of 'hich shall be given, it shall be cometent for a majority of the qualified oters of the township in which the ispensary is to be located to prevent s location in such township by signig a petition or petitions to the county oard requesting that no dispensary e established in the township. Any icorporated city or town may secure le establishment of a dispensary or Ispensaries within its limits in the Mowing manner: .Upon the petition f one-fourth of the qualified voters f such town or city, as shown by the ?.gistration books of the same, an lection, either upon the question of le establishment or removal of disensaries therein being filed with the itendant or mayor of such town or Ity, he shall order an election submitng the question of 'dispensary' or 10 dispensary' to the qualified voters f such town or city, which election ball be conducted as other special lections, by managers appointed by le town or city council, and if a ma;rity of the ballots cast be found and eclared to be for a dispensary, then dispensary may be established in aid town or city, but if a majority or le ballots be found to be agaiqst le dispensary, tnen no dispensary ball be established therein, and any ispensary already established shall e closed. Elections under this seeon cannot be held oftener than every >ur years. "No dispensary shall be established i anv county, town or city wherein le sale of alGoholic liquors was pro- j ibited prior to July 1st, 1893,- except 3 herein permitted. Provided, That here dispensaries have been estabshed in such county, town or city, ie.y shall remain established until reloved or closed as permitted in this t. Provided, a dispensary shall not stablished in any town or municiwithout a majority vote of such municipality in favor of such tab. ,t" 'ntroduction of new bills, Sarri. deep or lasting >re w& -eedings of either e^est in te Tuesday, both House or . -?o which held ? 41s. ne Senate oecup*. ^rfy invest!sing the Blease disp ssed It with ion resolution ana 1 he scope of endments extending licaliy every Investigation to pra. meet as often as it sees St, al jraoff^H required to report until the next Meet ing of the Legislature. Among the new House bills this morning was one by Mr. Boyd, making ordinary promissory notes tnvaliA if presented for discount at any other bank than that on which ther are drawn. Mr. Fish burn introduced a bin requiring marriage licenses. The coupla is to get a certificate from the clerk of the court, giving their names, ages, and places of residence and setting forth that there is no impediment. This they are to present *to the person performing the ceremony, who is to return the paper to the clerk witht the endorsement that the ceremony has been performed. Marriages contracted in any other way are not to be recognized as marriages. Mr. Kershaw had a bill to amend the law as to cock-fighting so as to prohibit engaging in or attending a. fight anywhere. The law now forbids this within two miles of an incorporated institution of learning. INCENDIARY FIIE REPORT Comptroller General Hat Made Hit Annua! Statement of This Matter t? the General Assembly. Folldting is the part of the report of t\m comptroller general which rsl&teSto the operations of the Manldim law of 1904 which requires investigation of incendiary fires?and incides-* :auy to let the Southeastern Tariff association come back into the State: "Under the act approved 24th February, 'An act to provide for the investigation of incendiary fires,' tha duties of the enforcement -were devolYed on the comptroller general. Expenses necessary for the enforcement of its provisions were to be defrayed by the fire insurance companies doing business of the State, and a tax of one-tenth of one per cent on the gross receipts of all fire insurance companies was authorized to be levied for that purpose, and a separate account re- . quired to be kept by the comptroller general of such receipts and disbursements. The law has been in operation for about eight months. We bars done our best to put it into practical effect. It is with some regret that I undertake to present for your consideration a report which is necessarily incomplete in statistics and deficient in detail. Necessary blanks were immediately furnished chiefs of fire departments, chiefs of police of cities and towns, having no fire departments, and sheriffs, with a copy of the law and with ample instructions to report all fires occurring. The act does not make it compulsory upon the officers to investigate and report fires, hot they are simply 'authorized to inves tigate the cause and origin and circumstances of any fire occurring, etc.* "The record of this office shows that there were reported from the first oC March, 1904, to the first of December. 1901. 274 fires, the value of the property involved amounting to $416,806.04. The record shows the cause or origin of the fires to be as follows: "Nine were reported as incendlarr. 11 suspected incendiary, 9 from lamp explosions, 21 carelessness, 12 rats and matches. 35 defective flues, 3 defection electric wires. 3 from lightnning, 5 accidental. -2 from gas jets, 10 sparks from engines, 154 unknown. "Fourteen fires were investigated hir this office, 6 arrests made, of whiek 4 are out on bond, one nol prossed, one released, evidence insufficient "Receipts and disbursements on account of enforcing this law were as follows: Receipts to Dec. 1, 1904 .. . .$852J9Disb. for same period 592J2 Cash balance in bank Dec 1, 1904 259.9T An examination of this itemised account will show that this fund han been used exclusively for printing blanks, postage, investigations and expenses incident to such investigation of suspicious fires reported.' "Nothing was paid for extra work entailed upon this department, although the auditing clerk's time la now entirely taken up with this work and that of ihe insurance department proper. He has rendered heretofore great assistance in helping with the clerical work of the tax department. I would probably have been justified in paying for extra help out of thfc* fund to supplement the work heretofore done by the auditing clerk, but convictions are deeply grounded npoa. the principle that the state should enforce its laws through its regular channels, and should discover and punish the perpetrators of the crime of incendiarism in the same way that it seems its duty to prosecute murder. ataQllnor ewlnHllna qn/I nthpr nrimoi Is it wise to allow corporations to practically usurp the power of tha government, when the duties of sheriffs. magistrates and other officers charged with the execution of tha criminal and civil law are transferred to other offices to be compensated ofpaid by the corporations? Where is this tendency to end? Is not this concentration of indirect corporate influence dangerous to the people, especially when a large number of public employes and officers of the State are paid by the corporations? In my opinion, it is far better for the State to pay by direct appropriation for tha enforcement of its laws, for after all. the people pay the tax whether it is * directly or indirectly imposed." ! Depositors Hopeful. ! Abilene, Texas, Special.?All efforts to secure a statement of the Americas National Bank failure proved fruitless other than that of J. G. Lowden, president, who says that all depositors will be paid in full, and that tho bank will open again within tes days. The failure has not effected any o? the other Abilene banks. Depositors are very sanguine, and n? -.r.oney has been withdrawn from either of the remaining banks. 1