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V. • ‘••vrio) V k*-fc* o xn M. C. QREENE, Editor and Proprietor. GOT A BIG SHARE Southern Ports Show Up Well as to Export Trade. FIGURESONBREADSTUFFS Value of Grain Shipped Out of Gulf and South Atlantic Ports Showed Increase of 66 Per Cent Over Last Year. That southern ports are increasing their importance as exporters of breadstuffs is shown in the latest is¬ sue of the Manufacturers’ Record (.Baltimore), which says: “During the twelve months of the past calenoar year, the value of breadstuff exports from this country increased over that of the preceding year from $92,311,812 to $146,110,962, or by $53,799,150, equal to 58 per cent. The increase at leading southern ports was from $30,015,517 in 1904, to $50,049,696 in 1905, or by $20,034,- 179, equal to 66 per cent. “Six southern ports — Baltimore, Newport News, Norfolk Portsmouth, Galveston, Mobile and New Orleans— exported more than a third of the total exports, and the increase in value of their exports was more than S7 per cent of the increase at all ports. “The trend of this traffic toward tho gulf ports Increasing now for a num¬ ber of years is destined to become stronger still. The twelve months late¬ ly ended has seen the completion of a now line of railroad down the val¬ ley of the Mississippi after several years of shrewd and diligent engi¬ neering. “Not far west of this another sys¬ tem is building the first section of a hundred miles or so of a road that Is eventually to reach the gulf. Still anothe.r route lias just been finished to make an easy connection from points on and near the lower Missouri river across country to the Mississippi valley, following an existing line of the same system to reach New Or¬ leans. “A fourth company is by piecemeal building a road that is soon destined to enter New Orleans, while the con¬ tract was lately awarded for a fifth enterprise which will build links to connect up several railroads for the purpose of making a New Orleans and Denver through line. A sixth plan is that of another large system to get into the Louisiana metropolis by means of a line which at present seems to be no more than a lumber railroad. “On the Atlantic side of the moun¬ tain ranges three new lines are now under construction to give coad routes to the coast. One of these is from fuel regions in West Virginia, another is from the Kentucky and Southwest- era Virginia fields, and the third is to extend out of the Birmingham dis- trict of Alabama. “Other roads are in prospect, and, beside, one important line in West Virginia has only lately been finished, a road which through its intimate con¬ nections '"ill reach tide at Baltimore. “There is another traffic movement which further efforts are being made to accommodate, It is that of road from Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia to the great lakes, and two or three plans for lines northward from nature’s great store houses of fuel in those three states will prob¬ ably be realized in a few years by actual construction of new coal roads.” A KICK FROM PORTO RICO. Islanders Dissatisfied Over Rule of American Officials. Broad charges as to the indlffer- ence of American officials in Porto Rico to the wishes of Porto Ricans were made by Mayor Robert Todd of Juan in a hearing Friday before the house committee on insular affairs on the proposed bill to reorganize the insular government. BRUTAL CASES OF HAZING. Champ Clark’s Appointee Haled Be¬ fore Investigating Board. Hazing of a brutal nature was re¬ vealed during the trial of Midship- man Cheste’r Bloebaum at Annapolis Thursday more plainly than in any of the previous proceedings. Three lourth-classmen testified that they had been hazed by Bloebaum until they were utterly exhausted. Bloebaum is n appointee of Congressman Champ Clark, who said recently on the fleer of the house of representa- lives that 1 be would arm a youth he sent to Annapolis with a "bowie knife and hatchet. SLAVS JAIL AN AMERICAN. Walling Arrested Under Charge of Syr *>athizing With Russian Reds. News of the arrest in St. Peter3- burg of William English Walling of Chi- tgo was received in New York Mr. Walling went to St. Pet to study the sccial situa- tion nd was arrested because of his alk 1 mpathy with and participa- tim with the revolutionary party. PLACES F0R“HASBEENS” Secretary Root Expresses In Satirical Vein the Chief Evil of American Consulate Service. A Washington special says: Secre¬ tary Root, while appearing before the house appropriations committee in re¬ lation to the expenses of tho state de¬ partment, spoke frankly concerning the shortcomings of the American con sular service. The statements of Mr. Root, which have just been made public, show that in response to questions by Rep¬ resentative Livingston, the secretary said: “There are a great many consulates that have been in that condition and there are some that are still in that condition, and the fact arises from several causes. One cause is that consulates are used and regarded here not as places in which active and ef¬ ficient work is to be done, but are used as places in which to shelve es¬ timable and elderly gents whose friends find it necessary to take care of them in some way. “Now, I have got old enough to bo able to say that sort of thing without anybody being offended. I don’t think that when a man has lived out tho activity of his life and passed be¬ yond his ambition and his energy and jus desire to make a career for him¬ self, I do not think that then is the time to start him out in a now' place where he has got to learn a new business and push the commerce of the country.” The following statements w’ere then made by Mr. Root in reply to ques¬ tions of members of the committee: Mr. Brundlge: “I quite agree with you, Mr. Secretary, as to that, but on w'hom rests the blame for that con¬ dition?” Secretary Root: "It rests on a long standing custom, whereby the execu tlve is expected to appoint to import¬ ant consulates important men from the different states.” Mr. Graff: “But you have a system of examination?” “Yes, so far as the young fellows go. You can put the screws on them and make them come up for examina¬ tion, but when an eminent citizen—” Mr. Livingston: “An eminent ex¬ senator or member of congress?” Secretary Root (continuing): “Yes; w'hen an eminent citizen comes around you cannot examine him in geography and arithmetic. He resents it and there is the dickens to pay all along. (Laughter.) It is a custom that ha? grown up—just like this deficiency When you step in to change custom you cannot change it. by you have to jar something.” LUKE WRIGHT AMBASSADOR. Governor General of Philippines is Given New Post In Japan. Luke E. Wright, governor of the Philippines, has been named by the president as the first American am¬ bassador to Japan. In accepting the new appointment Governor Wright sacrifices $3,000 a year in compensation. It is believed that congress will accept the recom¬ mendation of Secretary Root that in connection with the elevation of the American legation at Tokio to the rank of an embassy, the compensa¬ tion of the incumbent be raised from $12,000 to $17,500, but as Governor Wright’s present salary is $20,500, he will still be suffering a considerable financial loss. THREE DIE IN COLLISION. Freight and Switch Engines Crash To. gether Near Atlanta. A head-on collision occurred be¬ tween a through freight train and a switch engine on the Seaboard Air Line railroad at Mina, seven miles from Atlanta, Friday evening at 5:3 3 o’clock, an dthree men were killed and two injured. An engineer and fireman saved their lives by jumping. The dead are: Walter S. Taylor, en¬ gineer of switch engine; leaves wife and two children. E. B. Rock, tele¬ graph operator; leaves wife and five children. Thonias J. Eden, fireman on the switch engine. BIGELOW ON WITNESS STAND. Magazine Writer Proves Obdurate Be fore Senate Committee. Poultney Bigelow, the magazine wri¬ ter, whose arraignment of the admin¬ istration and management of isthmi¬ an canal affairs, was denounced by Secretary Taft, proved to be a con¬ tumacious witness before the senate comrrittee on interoceanic canals on Thursday, and involved ihe commit tee in a controversy which continued through two executive sessions with¬ out satisfactory settlement. CHARLOTTE INVITES CHINKS. Manufacturers’ Club Wants Visit from Imperial Commission. -pjj e southern Manufacturers’ Club Q( ujj ar i 0 tte, jj. c., has invited a eommittee of g ve 0 f the Chinese im- p erial commission now en route to th j g coun t r y t 0 visit the city, partic j ])a j e j n a luncheon and see a njim- ber oI the cotton m j]] 3 j n and about tJie looaUty . GRAY. JONES CO.. GA.. THURSDAY. JANUARY 25. 1906. tears of Tillman Flowed in Defense, of Woman Ejected from White House. DENOUNCES PRESIDENT Sensational Speech Delivered by South Carolinian on Floor of Senate. Protests Made by Senators Hale and Daniel. A Washington special says; Scath¬ ing in its bitterness of invective to a degree that called forth the open charge that ho was airing a personal grievance against and venting his personal spleen upon the chief execu five of the nation, the speech in the senate of Senator Tillman was the sensation of the day at Washington, Wednesday. Beginning with the discussion of President Roosevelt's Santo Domingo policy, Senator Tillman led up to the brutal ejection of Mrs. Minor Morris from the white house, and so extreme were some of his references to the president for his Inaction with regard to the Mrs. Morris affair that not only Senator Hale, but Senator Daniel felt called upon to interrupt that he might enter protest against such a discus¬ sion in the senate. The South Carolina senator wielded, his pitchfork with old time vigor. He was bitter without transcending the hounds of legislative propriety, scath¬ ing without resorting to unparliamen¬ tary language, dramatic in his man¬ ner of utterance, logical in his method of leading from one phase of his sub¬ ject to another unti-l lie reached a climax in the Mrs. Morris case, and he kept his temper throughout in the face of interruptions, that earlier in his congressional career would have provoked angry outbursts of pas- With tho exception of an outburst of laughter over some of the South Carolinian’s terms, there was no demonstration. Senators followed him intently. The interruption of Sena¬ tors Hale and Daniel did not break tile trend ot his argument. During much of the time republi can senators sat with smiles on faces as if enjoying it all. When concluded everybody expected republican senator to rise In the ident's defense, but not a voice heard. The tension was relieved Senator Hale, who cleared the leries with a motion to go into live session. The speech abounded in Mr. .Till¬ man's peculiar expressions, and characterized by many severe and ceptionally personal thrusts at the president. At times he wept over what he regarded as the indignities to Mrr. Morris, and his eyes were full of tears when he declared in the face of protests from his fellow senators that he would demand an investiga¬ tion of the white house incident. He declared that the president had been derelict in falling to punish his subordinates for their course, and quoted statements from persons said to have been witnesses to show that tho proceeding had been inhuman. Ho said that ne would formally present a resolution for an investigation of the entire incident. The Introduction of this resolution called out a protest from Mr. Daniel, while Mr. Hale objected to the pre¬ sentation of the matter at all, except upon proof. Mr. Tillman declared bin determination not to be guided by their advice and closed with the re iteration of his determination to bring in the resolution. WRECKED BY OPEN SWITCH. Brakeman Killed and Engineer Se¬ verely Injured. In a freight wreck on the South¬ ern road Wednesday morning at Cookeville, Tenn., George Worrell, a brakeman, was killed, and Engineer Fisher and Fireman Green were so- vorely injured. An open switch was the cause of the accident. THREE MIDDIES ARE FIRED. Foster, Coffin and Marzoni Lose Out for Hazing. At Annapolis Wednesday, when tho full brigade of midshipmen was pa¬ raded for the regular formation, Mid¬ shipmen Pettersen Barto Marzoni of Florida and W. W. Foster of Indiana of tjie first class and Trenmor Bof¬ fin, Jr., of the third class were public ly dismissed from the United States naval academy for hazing plebs. The order of tho secretary of the navy was a short one. and in each case addressed personally to the mid¬ shipman concerned. FRENCH CHARGE BARRED OUT. Went Aboard Vessel and is Prohibited from Landing Again. M. Taigny, the former French charge d'affaires, having gone n board the French line steamer Martin ique at La Guira, Venezuela, without legal permission, the Venezuelan au¬ thorities have prohibited his landing again in Venezuela and ho must go on to Colon, NEW FRENCH PRESIDENT. Clement Armand Fallleres is Chosen to Succeed Loubet as Head of French Republic. A Paris special says: M, Fallleres \jjas electod president of France by the national assembly at Versailles Wednesday on the first ballot. Tho vote was: M. .Fallieres, 449; M. Dou mer, 371. The voting proceeded steadily. Cheers were raised whenever a pop¬ ular legislator or statesman deposit¬ ed his ballot in the urn, each group applauding its lenders and hooting the leaders of opposing groups. Several aged senators, Including MM. Ratio, Coujon and Sarraut, who were ob¬ viously ill, leceived the assistance of tho ushers when mounting tho trib¬ une. Finally silence proclaimed the en 1 tf the balloting and ail present ea¬ gerly awaited the announcement of the result. Then when tho first fig- lies, M. Fallleres, 446, and M. Dou- mer, 371, were given out, there was an outburst of enthusiasm, which was renewed after the corrected flg- arcs, giving M. Fallieres 449. Tho final figures were: M. Fallleres, 449; M. Uoumer, 371; scattered, 28. One voter abstained from deposlt- ing bis ballot. 51. Fnlli ires returned to Paris from Versailles, escorted by a military guard of honor. He will take over bis new duties, February 18. Alter spending a brief period at the official residence, which lie occu pics as president of the senate, M. Fallieres went to the Elysee palace, to visit President Loubet, who warm¬ ly congratulated the president-elect. The new president of Franco Is tho son of a magistrate’s clerk and is the grandson of a blacksmith. M. Clement Armand Fallieres was born November 6, 1841, at Mezin, et Geronne. He studied law and was called to the bar at Merac, of which town he became mayor, retaining that office until 1875. In tile following year ho was elect¬ ed to the chamber ot deputies as republican and affiliated himself with tho republican left group in the chamber. He distinguished himself as an orator and was reelected 1877 and in 1878. In 1880, M. Fallieres was named under secretary to the minister ol the interior and he was again ed to the assembly in 1881. He tired from the ministry at the time the Jules Ferry cabinet, but to (lower the following year and made president of the council and interim minister of foreign affairs. Subsequently M. Fallleres was sue cessively minister of public. Instruc¬ tion, minister of the interior and min¬ ister of justice. He was elected sen¬ ator in 1890, a position which ho lias hold since that time, and was elected to tho presidency of the senate in 1899. lie was re-elected in 1900, and was again re-elected January 11 of the present year. M. Fallleres took an active part in the religious question, opposing at first the proposition for the separa¬ tion of church and slate, but. later energetically advocated the repression of the clergy. FOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS. Senate Committee Favors Passage of Several Measures. Senator Clay secured a unanimous report from tho senate committee on public buildings and grounds Wednes¬ day in favor of the passage of Ilia hill appropriating $1,000,000 for a now public building at Atlanta. The committee also ordered favora¬ ble reports on bills making approprl ations for new federal buildings, a? follows; At Bluefield, W. Va., $100,000; Fort Worth, Texas, $325,000; Anderson, K. C., $75,000. A favorable report was ordered on a Mil authorizing the erection of a building at Raima, Ala. RAISE THE COLOMBIAN FLAG. San Bias Indians Rebel Against 8over- eignty of Panama. Irranaquina, grand chief of the San Bias Indians on the lower Atlant'o coast of Panama, announces secession from Panama and the renewal of al legiance to Colombia of himself and followers. There are about 30,000 of these In dians along 110 miles of the most fei- tile part of the coast of Panama and in all the villages the Colombian flag is being displayed. This revolt again ;t Panama’s rule is said to be fomented by the Colombians. KANSAS OUT SIXTY THOUSAND. State Treasury Found to Be Short In That Amount. • A Topeka dispatch says; A report of an examination of the Kansas state treasury by expert accountants, giv¬ en out by Goyernor j$. W; Hcch Tubs c’ay afternoon, shows a shortage <n elo :e to $30,000. The report covered the terms of K. E. Grimes and the present treasurer, T. T. Kelley. VARDAMAN’S BREAK Convict Given a Thrashing by Mississippi Governor. IMPUDENCE IS RESENTED Incident Creates Big Sensaion and Much Talk and Will Be Subject for an Official Investigation. jackson, Miss., special says: Gov¬ ernor Vardanian’s self-confessed whip¬ ping of a negro convict, employed . s a trusty around the executive man sion, and which is to he given a thor¬ ough probing by the penitentiary in¬ vestigating committee, according to assurances from members of that body, has aroused tho liveliest sen¬ sation of recent years, and Is now tho most absorbing topic of discus¬ sion among the members of tho legis- latino. The governor does not attempt to deny any phase of the story, but very candidly admits in answer to ques¬ tions that he soundly thrashed the prisoner, ind further declares that he would do so again under similar cir eumstances. The negro was at first knocked down by the governor, a good kick administered, and then a broomstick was used in the chastise¬ ment, the weapon being broken to pieces over the prisoner’s body. So far as known, he sustained no seri- ous injuries from the encounter with the chief executive, although he was exceedingly sore for several days, and is now in I he negro ward of the con vict hospital at Oakley suffering from rheumatism, having been ordered to that Institution several days ago by tile Board of control. The offense that provoked the chas¬ tisement of the convict was his ar¬ rest by Officer Pridgen of the local police force, who found him prowling around in the fourth ward one night, ami carried him lo jail, The local authorities ore allowed a reward of $ui lor arrests of this character The governor sent his private secretary to the city jail on I ho following morn¬ ing for the prisoner, anil the whipping occurred shortly after his return to the executive mansion. Surprise over the Incident ts ren¬ dered more profound on account of the governor’s employment loss than (i year ago of a special attorney to prosecute David Puckett, sergeant of the Rankin convict farm, for tho al leged cruel and Inhuman treatment of a convict, Puckett being afterwards indicted by the grand jury. The trial resulted in a hung jury. In Ills bien¬ nial message to the legislature the governor dwelt with especial force on the humane treatment of the states The rules of tho Mississippi peni¬ tentiary prohibit corporal punishment for convicts. Although it ha? been an established precedent, for many years tho governor, in reality, has no legal authority to use convict labor around tho executive mansion. Tho governor has stirred up con¬ siderable surprise in the house of representatives by sending in a mes- sago recommending that trusty con¬ victs Instead of hired laborers he used as porters around the capital. The recommendation has already aroused violent opposition, The governor wants tho convict porters “uniform¬ ed in gray, or some other agreeable color.” ILLEGALLY APPROPRIATED. Department of Archives and History in Alabama Knocked Out. By decision of the Alabama su¬ preme court a very Important depart¬ ment of the state service Is crippled. It has been ruled that the "department of archives and history has been using $700 a year maintenance to which it is not entitled by law. The case was made out by Jesse D. Beale, a tax- payer of Montgomery, who brought suit to restrain further use of tho money. CROOKED DEAL CHARGED. Graves Avers That Railroads Have Secured Control of His Paper. Charging that Charles Daniel, back¬ ed by the Southern and Central of Georgia railroads, is seeking to gain absolute control of the Atlanta News in violation of law and contracts are made by John Temple Graves, editor in-chlof of that paper, In a bill In equity filled in ^Atlanta Thursday. I he allegations of the hill are sen- rational. The defendants In the suit are Mr. Daniel, James W. English, Jr., Mills B. Lane of Savannah and tho two railroads above mentioned. TO GATHER IN BUFFALO. National Travelers’ Protective Asso¬ ciation Arranges for Meeting. \V. It. Johnson of Knoxville, Tenn., president of the National Travelers’ Protective Association, announced on Tuesday that the annual convention of the order will be held In Buffalo, N. Y., during tho week- beginning June 11 . VOL. XII. NO. 11. CHAUNCEY IS ROASTED. 6enator Brackett in New York Legis- ture Tells Why “Joker’’ Should Resign from U. S. Senate. The Now York state senate Ttios- tluy by a vote of 34 to 1 rejected the resolution of Senator Edward U. Brackett of Saratoga demanding the resignation of Chauncoy M. Depew from the United States sonato. After a debate lasting more than throe hours, and criticized on the one hand by Senator Brackett's unsparing de¬ nunciation of Senator Depew and tho Insurance companies on the other by almost equally harsh criticism of I lie judgment and the motives of the in¬ troducer of the resolution, tho roll call showed Senator Brackett’s own vote to bo tho only one in favor of tho resolution. Every other republican senator voted against it, with the ex¬ ception of Senator Armstrong, who was absent. The fourteen democratic senators were excused from voting on the reu- olutlon, though tho motion to exxcuse thorn was opposed by Senator Brack¬ et), wno expressed Ills desire to “put every senator on record on Ibis moral issue." Senator Grady, tho democrat Jc leader, said tho democrats regard¬ ed the Depew issue as purely a. re¬ publican affair; they fell like the man, who looking on while his wife fought with a bear, cried: “Go it, old wo¬ man; go it, hear.” The more severe the consequences to both the "old woman” and the “bear" In this In¬ stance, tho bettor the minority would like it. DUKE HEADS THE CONFERENCE. Explains Objects of Moroccan Meeting in Welcoming Speech. The Moroccan conference was open¬ ed at Algeclras, Spain, by the duke of Almodovar, tho Spanish foreign minister, who delivered tho speech of welcome. Herr Von Radowltz, chief of tho German mission, proposed (he duke of Almodovar as president of the conference and the other coun¬ tries represented, including the United States, seconded the proposal, with the result that the duke was unani¬ mously elected president. Daring the course of Ills address, tho duke of Alniodavar said; “The (lowers havo clearly shown their desire that order, peace and pros¬ perity shall reign through Morocco The sultan, as well as tho foreign governments, desires this end, which is obtainable by introducing reforms upon the triple principle of the sov ereignty of the sultan, the Integrity of his territory and. equal commercial treatment, namely, the open door. Mu¬ tual respect for our reciprocal inler- ests an<l a sincere desire to conciliate them must be, according to my view, our rule of conduct at tills confer¬ ence. Our own sentiment ns well as the attitude of tho entire world dic¬ tates such a solution.” MARSHALL FIELD GOES HENCE. Noted Chicago Multi-Millionaire Vic tim of Pneumonia. Marshal Field, tho millionaire Chi¬ cago merchant, died at the Holland house In New York Tuesday after noon, after an eight, days’ illness of pneumonia. Death came peaceruily while members of tho family, who had been in almost constant, attend¬ ance for several days, were gathered around tho deathbed. They, as well as the dying mer¬ chant himself, were prepared for the end. Marshal Field was without, question the greatest and most successful mer¬ chant of Ills generation, and he was one of tho world's richest men, his wealth being estimated at anywhere from $100,000,000 to $ 200 , 000 , 000 . lie was a native of Conway, Mass..where he was born in 1835. His father was a farmer, and Mr. Field obtained his education in the public schools of Conway. At. tho age of seventeen tie became a clerk in a general country store In Pittsfield, where ho remained for four years. Ilo went to Chicago in 1866, and began his career there as a clerk. STRIKING CIGAR MEN DEPORTED. Citizens’ Committee in Key West Send Malcontents Back to Cuba. The crisis came to the clgarmakcrs’ strike at Key West Wednesday when a second committee of ihe Torcc- Union, the only one remaining out, refused to consider any proposi¬ tion to settle the strike. On a signal the citizens' committee, heavily armed, surrounded the Torcedores hall, captured the committee of twen¬ ty-five arid took them to the steamer Mascotte, which sailed at once for Havana. ROOSEVELT OUSTS CAPERS. South Carolina Natioral Committee man Fails to (land. The appointment by President Roosevelt Thursd iv of Ernest F Cochran of Anderson to be district attorney of South Carolina lias creat¬ ed a sensation la South Carolina cir¬ cles. He takes the place of John G. <’:i|i8rs. national committeeman for South Carolina, wh > was a candidate j for reappointment. THEPHILIPPINEBiLL Passed in House Through Help of the Democrats. SEVENTY-ONE VOTED NAY Measure Went Through Substantially as It Came from the Ways and Means Committee — Majority Vote Was 137. A Washington special says: Only through tho help of democratic votes did tho administration save its Phit- ipplues tariff hill from defeat in the house Tuesday. In view of tho pry-sent revolt on the part of republicans the Important fea¬ ture of the vote is that as many us fifty-nine republicans should have stood out against the bill to the end in the faeo of alt the pressure that could be brought not only by tho white houso, but by tho speaker and the house leaders. There Is every indication that the revolt against the administration dou¬ ble statehood bill is stronger tlian that against this bill, and as the dem¬ ocrats are practically a unit against linking Arizona and New Mexico, (hero Is a strong probability of tho Insurgents being on the winning side in that fight. The Philippines bill was passed by the house substantially as It came From the ways and means committee. The vote was 258 to 71. 'On the mo¬ tion of Mr. Pujo or Louisiana rice was made subject to the same tariff as sugar and tobacco—25 per cent, of the Dfngley rates; and one or two changes were made as to language. This result was attained after de¬ cidedly the most strenuous day of the present congress. Many amendments were launched and went to pieces In the storm of debate. Republican opposition to the 1)111 In (lie interest of American beet and cane sugar and tobacco tried out its strength early and gave up. This opposition refused to affiliate with democratic efforts. The strongest plea for “insurgent" support was made in behalf of Champ Clark’s amend nient. reducing the differential on re¬ fined sugar, which was ruled out of order by the chair. The minority sought to duplicate the house record made on the Cuban reciprocity act, but. not a republican opponent to tilts measure stood with them to overrule the decision of the chair. The democratic substitute pro¬ viding for free trade vflth the Phil¬ ippines met with only tho supprf^ of (he minority, and wont down un¬ der a vote of 231 to 106. An effort sustained by the demo¬ crats, hut opposed by all but three re¬ publicans, was initiated • by Mr. Mc¬ Call of Massachusetts to commit the United States to policy of granting in¬ dependence to tho Philippine Islands as soon as their inhnhitants can bo prepared for self-government. Mr. McCall offeted an amendment to this futed, which was ruled out of order by the chair, whose decision was sustain on appeal— 196 to 123. The hill admits goods the growth or product of the Philippine islands into the United States free ot duty except sugar, tobacco and rice, on which a tariff of 25 per cent of the Dlngley rates Is levied. It provides that after April II, 1909, there shall he absolute free trade each way be- twoon the United States and the Phil¬ ippines. It. also exempts Philippine goods coming to tho United , ‘alia from tho export trade of those Islam.:!. Merchandise from either country Is subjected to the internal revenue tax of the country in which such mer¬ chandise is withdrawn from consump- lion. Unexpectedly the senate at Tues¬ day’s session found itself considering tho railroad rate question, which was precipitated by Mr. Fulton taking the floor to make a brief speech in ex- planation of an amendment offered by him to tho Tolliver bill, giving to courts of justice authority to modify orders of the interstate commerce commission Imposing an unreasona¬ ble rate. He had not proceeded far when he was switched from a general explanation of the terms of the pro¬ vision to a defense of the principle which it seeks to establish, and a general discussion followed. Ohio Town Almost Obliterated. Convoy, Ohio, a town of 1,800 in¬ habitants, was almost wiped out by firely early Tuesday. The losses will aggregate $75,000. * PAYNTPR ELECTED TWICE. Ambiguity in Kentucky Statutes Mads It Necessary, At Frankfort, Ky., Tuesday noon, the Kentucky general assembly again v ent through the formality of elect¬ ing Judge T. H. Paynter to the Unt¬ ied States Senate to succeed Senator Blackburn. This was deemed neces¬ sary because of an ambiguity in the statutes of the state.