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.DMIRAL DAVIS IIS COMMENDED Actioa Taken in Endeavor to Aid Stricken Jamaicans. PORT IS JUST RECEIVED hly Complimentary Letter is Writ ten By President—Metcalf Also Adds Words of Praise. a unequivocal terms, President Jsevelt Friday approved Admiral |vis’ entire action in connection with visit to Kingston, Jamaica, to ren aid to the stricken city and in ad on requested the secretary of the /y to express to Admiral Davis his irtiest eommendatiou of all that be .'he long expected report of Admiral vis of the eircumstances leading to withdrawal of the fleet from King n leached the navy department on day and was at once laid before ; president. Inasmuch as the presi lt already has announced that the .lomatic phase of the case is a sed incident the report Itself wilt : be made public. However, Secie y Metcalf gave out the letter to miral Evans, commander-in-chief of i Atlantic fleet, warmly commending miral Davis for his conduct of a ualion, “which was, to say the .et, somewhat embarrassing.” The correspondence is supplemented a strong letter of commendation Admiral Davis by tho president and by Secretary Metcalf, who adds i approval and commendation ol Ad ral Davis’ ’’distinguished service to ViUianity.” The lettei-3 are as follows: "United Stateß Flagship Maine, lantunamo Bay, Cuba, January 23, 1)7. —Respectfully forwarded approv l to the secretary of the navy, rough bureau of navigation. The ipoit and its appendices made by flcerß who were on the spot, and erel’ore best able to judge, appear set forth the whole situation very early. "The ccmmander-in-chlef feels that 3 cannot too highly commend Rear dmiral Davis for the very dignilied 3d masterly manner in which ho con acted a situation, which was, to say re least, somewhat embarrassing, and e deems it particularly fortunate that re re was at hand an ofllcer such as e to deal with the problems which rose. The couunauder-in-chief heart y approves tne commendatory re larks relating to the officers and men f the ship who accompanied Admiral )avts, ..but they did uo more than is xpected of officers and men in the ,avy, and no moro than would havo •eeu done by officers and men of the direr ships ot the fleet, and, Indeed, ho ships sent were not chosen above .hose of others of tire fleet, for any jtber reason than they were moro leurly ready for steaming when tue reeds of the disaster was received. ••R. D. 10VAN, 'Rear Admiral United Rtates Navy, Commander-in-chief United States A'lantic Fleet." President to eMtcalf. “The White House, Washington, February 1, 1907.—T0 the Secretary of the Navy: I have read carefully the report of Admiral Davis, submitted by you, together with the report of Ad miral Evans, commending the actions of Admiral Davis at Kingston. I re turn them herewith, and desire that gyou express to Admiral Davis my heartiest commendation of all that he 4id at Kingston. 1 approve of his en tire action, lie upheld the best tradl tions of our navy in thus rendering distinguished service to humauity. “THEODORE ROOSEVELT.” Secretary Metcalf's letter to Admi ral Davis says: “The department desires to add also its approval and commendation of your •ble service and those of the officers And men under your command.” MANY MILLIONS IN COIION UXFS Unlawfully Collected from South bv Nation * '>v*roaeat n urie -h ■ “ - Representative Heflin, of Alabama, has introduced a bill in the house for the disposition of the proceeds of the cotton taxes of 1562, 1864 and 1866, collected, as nlleged, in violation cf the constitution of the United States, from thirty states, and amounting in round numbers to $68,000,000. The bill provides that any person •who mle taxes on cotton under tne acts referred to shall have the right Lo establish his claim, proof of which Is to be made in the court of claims. ACKERLY ON THE LIST. Vice President of Southern Slated to Aid Oliver in Case He is Awarded Canal Contract. William J. Oliver, of Knoxville, Tenu., the lowest bidder tor the con struction work on the Panama ca nal, held a conference In New York Sunday night with ten other contrac tors who will, it is understood, he as sociated with Mr. Oliver in the event that his bid is accepted. The pur pose of the conference, it was said, was to discuss the formation of a corporation which would be prepared to undertake the work on the isth mus. Those present in addition to Mr. Oliver were: John H. McDonaid anu John Pierce, of Maine; P. T. Walsh, of the Walsh Contracting Company. Davenport, Iowa; P. M. Brennan, of the Brennan Construction Company, of Washington, D. C ; Robert Russeil, of New York, who has been asso ciated with Mr. Oliver in many enter prises; W. H. Sayre, of the Interna llonal Contracting Company, of New York; Charles H. Ackert, vice presi dent and general manager ot the Southern Railroad Company; R. A. Chester, first vice president of the Commercial National Bank, Washing ton, D. C.. and R. A. C. Smith, of New York City. Mr. Oliver declined to make public the outcome of Sunday night’s meet ing, but said that something might be made public in a few days. A representative of Mr. Oliver sub sequently announced some plans that have been agreed upon in addition to these already made knowu. Mr. McDonald will, if the corpora tion to be formed is awarded the ca nal contract, have general supervis ion of the machinery used. R. A. C. Smith and Mr. Chester will have charge of the financial end of the corporation. Mr. Smith is a di rector of the Metropolitan Street Railway Company, and is also a direc tor and officer in many other banks Mr. Ackert will have charge of all canal transportation. OPiNION UN RIDICULOUS ORDER. Unde Sam’s Soldiers Cannot Be Compelled tn Attend < hurcll ’•erv ees The text of the opinion of Judge Advocate General Davis, of the army, in commotion with a sergeant’s re fusal to obey orders at Columbus, 0., barracks, to attend Roman Catholic service, for which refusal the war department ordered the sergeant’s re duction and transfer 10 another post, shows the following question submit ted to the secretary of war by the commanding officer of the recruiling depot at Columbus barracks: “Is an order directing a soldier of a command by the commanding of ficer thereof to attend divine worship in a church in which he was brought up, and who has no conscientious scruples against attending such ser vices so manifestly illegal as to war rent such soldier in deliberately violat ing the same?” In his opinion, Judge Advocate Gen eral Davis called attention to the fact that congress is forbidden by the first amendment to the constitution to make any law "respecting an estab lishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.’’ He says that officers and enlisted men of the army have never been required to attend religious services. “I mast, therefore, conclude that," General Davis says, “while a post commander may lawfully issue such orders as he may deem recessary to secure a uroper observance of the Sabbath, it is not competent for nin to require officers and enlisted men to attend divine service*, or to pro mulgate instructions in respect to the observance of the day, which are in excess of or contrary to the requite n.ents of the 52nd article of war.” NATIVr t.LDKDs 8 S* toK cIJBA. Orders Issued irom Wash nqton ffirectinq • h' '"rr' Asa result of a recent conference at the White House between the pres ident, Secretary Taft and General Bell, chief of staff, an order has been issued directing an Increase of me rural guard of Cuba from 6.0C0 to 10,000 men. The purpose is to avoid increasing the number of American Iroons, the native guards being more acceptable te the people 0 ifSSA J WS IN PANIC. Revolutionists in Russian City Threaten --*v -Aass^cr. The elements of the population of Odessa. Russia, who are opposed to the Jews are renewing their efforts to organize an anti-Jewish attack, and as a result, the people of Odessa, of whom about one-third are Jews, are In a state bordering on panie. Georgia Culliags Curtailed Items of Interest Gathered at Random. Two Postmasters Arrested. Postoffice Inspector Williams at Nashville, Tenu., has received notice of the arrest of John A. Thompson, postmaster at Covena, Ga., and Aa Bistant Postmaster A. Thomas of Nu nez, Ga., charged with embezzlement of money order funds. * * V Leaves Army of Descendants. William J. Fowler, one of the oldest citizens of Canon, has pased away. He was S9 years of age, was the fath er of firteen children, had fifty-two grandchildren, and fifty-three great grandchildren, making a total of one hundred and twenty. His wife died last year, aged 79 years. He lived a type of temperance and industry. * * New Railroad Chartered. A charter has been granted by Sec retary of State Cook to the Tliomas ville and Northwestern Railroad Com pany, which will operate a road from Thomasvillo in a northwesterly direc tion through the counties of Thomas, Brooks, Colquitt and Berrien, to a point on the Nashville and Sparks railroad. The length of the road will be 50 miles. The company is incor porated wdth a capitalization of $75,000. Loan Company Goes to Wall. A bill in equity was filed a few days ago in the superior court at At lanta against the Georgia Redemption and Loan Company, alleging insolven cy of company and mis-management of assets, and praying the appoint ment of a receiver. Judge Pendleton named Eugene R. Black receiver. The Georgia Dedemption and Loan Company, with offices In the Pruden tial building, In Atlanta, has been do ing a large investment security busi ness in the South for the last ten years. M. T. LaHatte, former coun cilman and alderman, is president of the concern, and M. M. Turner sec retary. * * * State Sunday School Association. The executive committee of the Georgia Sunday School Association met in Macon the past week. Mem bers of the committee frem Augusta, Atlanta. Macon and Fairfax were present and expressed gratification at the progress of the work during the present year. The committee were also much pleased .vith the prospects, indicating greater succe j - . in the year to follow than ever'before in the association’s history. An Invitation was received from the churches of Marietta asking the association to hold its thirty-third annual convention in that beautiful little city. This invi tation was unanimously accepted, an l the dates were fixed for March 12, 13 and 14. Ai this convention special attention will be given to department work. • * * An Extensive Land Deal. One of the largest deeds ever re corded in Bartow county was filed for record at Cartersville a few days ago. The instrument conveys 49,76 ( J acres of land from the Georgia Iron and Coal Company to the Georgia Sued Company. The property concerned in the above deed is known as the Joel Hurt properties, and includes some of the finest mineral lanls in North Geor gia and parts of Alabama. It was sold through Joel Hurt,, of Atlanta, a few months ago, for a consideration of nioie than $2,000,000. Of the lands described in the deed there are 12.769 acres in Eariov county, 25.679 in Dade, 2.920 in Cnero kee, 2,205 in Catoosa, 100 in Walker and 3,(.36 in Jackson county, Alabama. * * * Brunswick ’Longshoremen Strike. Six hundred negro longshoremen, members of the Brunswick union of the International Longshoremen and Dock Laborers, went out on a strike Saturday evening. The local union requested an in crease in wages averaging 25 to 33 1-2 per cent, which was refused. The employers have issued a state ment, giving their reasons for re sisting the demand. Stevedores who work in the holds, now paid 25 cents per hour, demand 30 cents; pullers, or men on the ship, now paid 20 cents, demand 25 cents; and porters, ti e men who are outside laborers handling the cargoes to tne vessel, now paid 15 cents, demand 20 cents. • • • Kick on Railroad Commissary. Has a state railroad the right to cperale a commissary train and do a general grocery business along i.s line? lliis rather unique point has been brought before the railroad comnns- Bion by N. H. Bass, a merchant of Lav endar, Floyd county. Mr. Bass com plained that the Central railroad was operating a commissary train, selling supplies to its employees, deducting the amount from their salaries on pay days. The complaint says that this is in juring the merchauts of Lavendar and otner points along the road in two ways—one by taking from them legiti mate business and the other by load ing bay debts on them when they credit some emplovees of the Central The commission neld that it was not a matter with which it could deal, and that Mr. Bass’ proper recourse would be the courts. It is the first time this point has ever been raised. * * * Drove Negroes from County. Governor Terrell has received twe petitions from citizens of Banks and Habersham county asking for re wards for the apprehension of the par ties guilty of forcing three negroes, Frank Grant, Henry Seism and Mar shall Davenport, to leave their homes in fear of bodilt harm. It is charged that the parties who terrorized the negroes went to their homes and fired into them. The negroes, who were said to be honest, and law-abiding, fled from their homes. The petition is presented >y Ordinary M. Franklin, and other offi cials of Habersham county, seconded by Mayor George W. Grant and the city council of Alto. The governor has written for full particulars. School Fund Apporticned. The apportionment of the 1907 state school fmid has been completed oy State School Commissioaei W. B. Mer ritt for the various counties of Geor gia, with the exception of a few coun ties which have failed to send in their reports. The basis of this year’s ap portionment is twelve cents more per pupil and the largest apportionment ever made. The apportionment is $2.53 per pupil of school age. The apportionment as issued by the counties does not refer to the local school systems. Fulton county, for in stance, will receive $18,317.56, but all of this amount goes to the schools out side of Atlanta. The local schools draw $57,704.24 from the apportion ment made by the city of Atlanta. Following the announcement of the apportionment Commissioner W. B. Merritt announced the apportionments to the local school systems, most of which are in the cities and towns of the state and under local jurisdiction. * * * Filling Up With Negroes. Fear is expressed for the future of the state reformatory at Milledge villle, on account of the large num ber of negro boys now being sent there by judges in various parts of the state. Out of thirteen boys now in the rc formartory, eight are negroes, and the proportion bids fair to increase. Four of these negro boys were sent to the reformatory from the superior court of Muscogee county, and two more, it is said, are waiting at Columbus to be sent there. This has been done in some in stances. despite the fact that the law under which the reformatory was es tablished, gives, the judges discretion to send the boys where they think best. Acting under this discretion, Judge George T. Cann, of Savannah, has sent four 12-year-old negro boys to the state prison farm, since the opening of the reformatory. It is generally believed that discretion was given under the law in order that the reformatory would not be filled up with negro boys to the exclusion of whites. GATLING GUN CRUSMtd IliM. John 0. Rockefeller, Actor, Meets Trag c !• s!qp John D. Rockefeller, an actor, was kiled on the stage of a theater In Chi cago Wednesday, when a Gatling gun, which was used during a matinee per formance, fell on him and fractured his skull. Rockefeller was assisting : n removing the gun from a tempo 'vy platform. His home is in New York city. LIILOGtIJMb PAID M.NAIOK GORMAN. jay in senate Devoted to Tributes to Late Maryland Statesman. Senators paid tribute Friday to the memory of the late Senator Arthur Pue Gorman of Maryland. All business tor the day was suspended at 2:30 o’clock, according to a special order, and eulogies were delivered address ed to resolutions expressing the pro found sorrow and regret of the senate at the death of the Maryland senator. Somebody figures that in a lew years half our population will be in the cities, such is the migration from the rural districts. STOP AT THIS Zettlee House, The best SI.OO a day house in the city. 253 Fourth Street, MACON, Q-A Mag. A. L. Zettler. Proprietreee " buy the MACHINE Do not be deceived by those who ad vertise a SGO.OO Sewing Machine for $20.00. This kind of a machine car be bought from us or any of our dealers from §15.00 to SIB.OO. WE MAKE A VARIETY. THE NEW HOME IS THE BEST.. The Feed determines the strength or weakness of Sowing Machines. The Double Feed combined with other strong points makes the ]Vew Home the best Sewing Machine to buy. Write for CIRCULARS IHSS we manufacture and prices before purchasing THE NEW HOME SEY/ING MACHINE GO. ORANGE, MASS. 28 Union Sq. N. Y., Chicago, 111., Atlanta, Ga., Yt. Louis,Mo., Dallas,Tex., San Francisco, o*l FOR sale by LASU Uoio bY iill. lv.tPS. K White Man and Two Negroes Alleged to Ke he rV c m- Information comes from the Met calfe neighborhood, which is near Thomasville, Ga., to the effect ihat whitecappers got in some bloody work with the lash in that section recent ly. Men of integrity, who stand high in the community, say that Eli Futch, a prominent white man, was taken out at night and given more than a hundred lashes. So severe was the whipping that Mr Futch has hard ly been able to either sit or lie down comfortably. It is understood that a negro wo man and her husband were visited the same night by the same crowd of whitecappers and given severe beat ings. Those who claim to know all the circumstances are reticent in the mat ter, giving no reason for this action, but they assert, in most emphatic language, that those who perpettated the deed knew what they were do ing and they would even go further and say that they were perfectly jus tified in their action. Eli Futch recently married a wo man from Oklahoma, in answer to a marriage advertisement. The woman drove all the way from the west to Fitzgerald, where she sold her team, later meeting Mr. Futch in Monticello, Fla., where they were married. Mr. Futch Is related to the other Futch family near Thomasville, upon whose lives several attempts have been made recently. JVI'AN LoOKI-vO tOii \ SKtUP. Adminislration OfiiCic.S ami keld-*- ■< •- - A Washington dispatch says: Des pite the most vigilant precautions of. the president and his advisers in keeping the information to themselves, the fact has leaked out that the re lations between the United States and Japan have reached a most critical stage. According to one of the presi dent’s advisers, the two countries seem to be drifting rapidly toward war, and deft and vigorous diplomacy must be exercise if certain new evelopmenta are to be disposed without an explo sion. Bluntly stated the administration is in possession of information that forc es it to assume that the Japanese gov ernment. is attempting to withstand tremendous pressure tending toward a rupture of friendly relations with the ‘United States. This ominous situation in Japan is made doubly critical by the altitude of the Pacific coast, which refuses to budge an inch in its hostility toward the Japanese. The San Francisco school authori ties have not only prepared to make a fight against the federal government in the courts, but the California sen ate a few days ago adopted a resolu tion strenuously protesting against the “unwarranted Interference” by the government with the “constitu tional rights of a sovereign state,” and requesting the governor and attorney general to take all steps necessary to the state and save its rights. SILLY SCHEME TO lALk ASSASSINS. if You Moot This Huso General Two Your Back and Hold lip Your Hands Governor General Devidoff, of Feo dosia, Russia, in the fear of assassi nation, has issued orders that all men who meet him must turn back and hold up their hands until he has passed cut cf sight