The Buffalo Commercial from Buffalo, New York • 13

a THE BUFFALO COMM ERCIAL, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 16, 1909. 13 11 I NEWS Power Marine Forwarding Company Reorganized, With Strong Men at Head. of lumber boats are not ln a Tush to get started. Rutland Line Captains. The Rutland line captains and engineers for the season of 1909 have been announced by Assistant Superintendent Clarence Kelly as follows: Bennington Captain Shay; engineer, Robert Ballanc.

Burlington Captain, W. H. Williams; engineer, E. L. Hyatt.

Rutland Captain, William Plumb; engineer, M. J. Reagan. Ogdensburg Captain, Thomas Hough; engineer, Hugh Goodbeart. Langdon Captain, Wm.

Smith; engineer, C. P. Mosier. Prince Captain, George Klnch; engineer, Samuel Fensom. Haskell Captain, Stanley McQueen; engineer, Frank F.

Rourke. Averill Captain, John Powers; engineer, R. Chestnut, Jr. HKIBlB 1 No. IS.

LOOKING AT TORONTO "Look at Toronto," has been the slogan of the Perpetual Protesters, "It is going to be supplied with power by the Hydro-Electric Commission at ten (or fifteen or eighteen) dollars a year. That's, what Buffalo should pay." So we shall look at Toronto. We looked the other day and discovered that at present that city pays from 50 to 100 per cent more for wholesale power than Buffalo does. And more important still, IT WILL CONTINUE TO PAY MORE, even should it ever actually purchase power from the Hydro-Electric Commission. A LITTLE HISTORY ELECTRICAL AND POLITICAL.

On May 10, 1906, the Government of the Province of Ontario created the Hydro-Eectrio Power Commission with most extraordinary powers. These included the right to expropriate any power plant or transmission line either in whole or part, to sell power to any municipality whose rate-payers should authorize a contract and to apportion the cost among the several municipalities. In addition, the Commission was to be INDEMNIFIED FOR INCORRECT ESTIMATES, ADDITIONAL COST AND ERRORS OF ANY KIND. The law creating this Commission was known as the First Beck Act The rate-payers of about thirty municipalities adopted by-laws permitting the local authorities to enter into contracts with the Commission, although these by-laws did not contain any estimate of cost or provisional contract as expressly required by the existing law. This slight oversight was rectified by the simple process of passing, in 1908, another Beck Act declaring the by-laws to be legal and valid.

This was known as the Third Beck Act, a Second Beck Act, slightly modifying the First Beck Act, having been passed the preceding year. On January 1, 1908, further by-laws were submitted to the municipalities in order to secure authority to raise money to cover the cost of the distributing plants and systems of the various cities. In Toronto the sum of $2,750,000, to be raised by loan was authorized. WHAT IS TWO AND A QUARTER MILLIONS BETWEEN FRIENDS? The ORIGINAL estimate of cost of a complete distributing system for the City of Toronto was $5,000,000, but the political friends of the Commission realized that the people would not authorize this large amount, so they lopped off the tidy sum of $2,250,000. The appropriation, therefore, was for an incomplete system.

The territory to be served was limited, the underground cable districts were contracted and the overhead-wire territory was extended. BUT THE PUBLIC VOTED IN IGNORANCE OF THESE FACTS. TOMORROW'S TALK WILL TELL YOU A LITTLE MORE ABOUT TORONTO AND THE HYDROELECTRIC COMMISSION. The Cataract Power and Conduit Company. rOUntS 111 Bock Island's passenger department already exercises enlarged supervision over the Eastern Illinois and Evansvtlle Terra Haute.

NEW KAILS FOB T.ATTF. SHORE. Order For 3,500 Ton. Given to Illinois Steel Company. The Lake Shore and Michigan Boat hern railroad has given an order for 3,500 tons of 100-lb.

steel rails to the Illinois Bteel Company. These are to be used on the main line. rpplaclng present eight-pound rails, which will be used for construction work on the Lake Erie Pittsburg, a new Vanderbllt outlet to the lakes. EXPECTS BIG TOURIST TRAVEL. Lehigh Valley Official Look For Heavy Traffic to Canada.

Charles S. Lee, general passenger agent of the Lehigh Valley, anticipates a fine summer traffic. As business Is picking up, he is confident people will be disposed to indulge In travel. Experience has shown, be that when times are good and they have money, the American people do not. hesitate to spend It.

He expects that many tourists will visit Canadian resorts because the people of the United States are finding them Ideal places to visit. As to the Indications of a return of better conditions, Mr. Lee says: "Manufacturers are starting up their establishments and from all sides come reports of renewed activities and of factories being put on full time. Where men have been on half time and smaller pay, we now get reports that full pay la the rule and forces being Increased. "Taking the sltaution as a whole.

It looks to me as though the coming season Is to be the best, American railways have had since the banner year of 1006. And this Is not only In handling general business and Immigration, bnt In taking care of a big exodus from the western states to Canada. There Is every Indication of an unusually large number of Americans emigrating to the Canadian west and settling there. Inquiries we have had from Washington, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and other points for Information as to summer trip, give every evidence of heavy tourist travej." TO REVENT TELESCOPING. Steel Platforms Designed to Deaden Force of Collisions.

Bartholomew Jnlien, master car builder of the Union Pacific at Omaha, and William Point, his assistant, have been granted a patent on a Joint invention on a steel platform for passenger cars and a steel frame for baggage and mall cars. The latter includes steel end construction connected with a rigid floor frame, roof and side traces so arranged as to take up and distribute the force of a blow in a eol-i llslon. Resistance to a pressure of 750.000 pounds Is claimed for the center of the passenger car platform, mis is equai io the Impact of a head-on collision of two trains when Tuning 30 miles an hour. Telescoping, It Is therefore claimed, will be practically Impossinie ana tne crimum oi -amntA This form of construction Is to be nsed In future on the Harrlman lines, and seven cars are now being so equipped. It is probable the Com-! monwealth bteel Company of St.

Louis wlli finance a comnany with a capital of 000 to manufacture the platforms and frames, the patentees to receive guaranteed stock and royalties. PARROTT SUCCEEDS FLAGLER. J. R. Parrott has succeeded H.

M. Flagler os president of the Florida East Coast, Mr. Flagler remaining chairman of the board. Mr. Parrott has been first vice-president with general charge and supervision of the Key West extension.

He retains the duties of general manager. J. P. Beckwlth, traffic manager. Is promoted to first vice-president and J.

E. Ingram Is given charge of land and Industries. MR. POLHEMUS PROMOTED. Announcement Is made that Seward J.

Polhemus has been appointed assistant superintendent of the Pullman Company at Buffnlo. He was formerly night agent at Exchange street. Mr. Polhemus Is succeeded by Edward Cox. RAILROAD AGENT DROPS DEAD.

Troy, April 16. Charles Wadsworth, agent for the Delaware Hudson rallooad at Blnghamton, dropped dead at the here yesterday. He had been visiting his brother in Troy, and was on his way home. Heart disease was the cause of death. POLICE COURT.

Will Undoubtedly Be Located at Pearl Street Station Again After First of May. After May 1st Buffalo's police court will undoubtedly be located for an indefinite period in the little reserve room in the Pearl street station. The extremely crowded couditious at the Pearl street station will now be doubled. On an average of 300 persons attend police court every day and, when they are crowded into the Pearl street station for five or six out of every twenty-four hours, work by other members of the department now stationed in the building will be almost impossible. The owners of the building at 19-21 Terrace have refused to allow the city to lease their building for use as a police court after it had been practically decided to lease it to the city and this necessitates the occupying of the Pearl street station again for this purpose, as tjhe police commissioners Jiave tried for weeks to find a building without any success.

WELL KNOWN POUGHKEEPSIE -PUBLISHER PASSES AWAY. Poughkeepsie, April 16. James B. Piatt, one of the publishers of the Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle from 18U9 until the time of his retirement in 1907, died at his home in this city last night, death being caused by apoplexy. He was a brother of the late John I.

Piatt, who was editor of the Eagle until 1907. B. Piatt was born August 11, 1S41. and was always a resident of Poughkeepsie. He was for many years a member of the Associated Press and was a director of the old New York State Associated Press.

He is survived by a wife and two daughters. PRMAN BANKING FAILURE. Luebeck, Germany, April 16. A local sensation was caused here today by the suspension of the banking house of Luck-monn Soltau. Pending the clearing up of-the situation the creditors Tf the firm have refrained from asking for the appointment of a receiver.

HEAVY STOCKS OF COAL Serious Break in the Bideau Canal A Cargo of Ice Rutland Line Captains and Engineers. Marine Forwarding Co. At a meeting of the directors of the Marine Forwarding held yesterday afternoon, the following officers were chosen: President. T. J.

O'Brien; vice-president, R. B. Pratt; secretary and treasurer, G. H. Webb.

The ofllcers of the company are In the Chamber of Commerce Building, rooms 833 and S35. Mr. O'Brien, who has had charge of) the Marine Forwarding Company for the past five years, will continue as active manager of the reorganized concern. The character of the officers their ability are too well known to need Iurther mention. Heavy Stocks of Coal.

Begardlng the situation at the head of Lake Superior, G. A. Thomllnson of Du-luth. In a letter, says: "A southwest wind yesterday blew the Ice down the lake and the Duluth and Superior entries are both open. In the harbor, clear water extends to the lntor-state bridge and It Is only a question of a few days before all the slips will be free.

"It Is conservatively estimated that tons of coal are on the docks ut the present time. Some of the largest coal receivers here advise me they do not expect to receive any soft coal for two months. At a dock where four boats wintered with coal cargoes aboard the steamer next to the hoists began dlschnrglng to-day. "Tonnage Is freely offered here at 1V4 cents on wheat to Buffalo. At the present time there Is little or no chartering going on, shippers complaining of a very slack eastern demand on account of the wheat confer." The followins table shows the stock's of grain In store at Duluth and Superior April 10,1909, compered with a similar date, 1908: April 10.

ltKW. Wheat 9,819,000 Corn Oats Rye 24,000 Barley Flax 1,170,000 Total April 11. 1908. Wheat Oats 1,021,000 Rve 32,000 Barley 527,000 Flax 4,325,000 Total 15.701.0X0 Receipts ofl grain are very light, averaging from thirty to forty cars a day. Passed Detroit.

A Detroit dispatch of last night says. The steamer Delaware of the Anchor line passed up at 1.15 p. bound for Chicago. The Muncy Is expected soon. Straits of Mackinaw.

One year to an hour after the Ice moved out or the Straits of Mackinaw In 1008, the straits were pronounced free of Ice Wednesday. This is the first time In hlstbry since the government record was established thatthe Ice has moved out of the straits on the same date In two consecutive years. The earliest that the straits were free from Ice was In 1903, when navigation opened at Mackinaw on March 23. The latest opening of) the straits was on May 28, 1865. Houghton Harbor Open.

Navigation opened on Portage lake Thursday when the tug Valerie commenced breaking Ice. The first boat from outside Is expected from Duluth Saturday or Sunday. Tug Line Sold. Albert Ceal, manager of the Independent Tug Line, at Duluth, has sold the tugs A. A.

Carpenter and J. B. Murrell, belonging to that line, to J. Martin, who will operate them in general work, but at what place he has not announced. Mr.

Ceal has but one tug left, the Dowllng, which he expects to dispose of and will retire from the business. He said Inst night that he expected to locate at Milwaukee, where he will engage In another Hue of business. Serious Canal Break. Material Is being rushed to Black Baplds about ten miles from Ottawa, where a serious break has occurred in the canal embankment nnd is likely to retard the opening of navigation on the Kldeau canal. The work cannot be commenced until the water reaches almost Its normal level.

Cargo of Ice. The steamer Russell Sage left Ogdens-bnrg Wednesday with 1.200 tons of St. Lawrence river ice for Cleveland. The steamer Hecla and barge Sherman of the Hall fleet left Ogdensburg Thursday for Charlotte. Death of a Pilot.

Captain Henry Webber, of Clayton, died at his home Tuesday morning. He had lived in Clayton for 60 years. In his younger days be sailed the Great Lakes. For the past twenty years he had been a river, pilot taking steamers from the foot of Lake Ontario to Ogdensburg. Activity at Port Huron.

The B. F. Berry, which la the only ore-carrying steamer that Is fitting out at Port Huron, got np steam Wednesday and went to anchor below he city. All the Canadian steamers In the bay at that port are being ntted out, and will be ready to leave for Fort William Just as soon as the Ice ic the 800 Tiver will permit them to get through. Walker Loaded With Grain.

The steamer Walker, which has been In winter quarters at Dnluth. was towed to the Omaha elevator and loaded with grain. She wll leave for down the lakes as sooon as the Soo river is clear of Ice. Will Take Over Denmark. The new steamer Denmark, being built by the Toledo Shipbuilding Company, for Rufus P.

Ranney and others, of Cleveland, will be managed by one of the Cleveland vessel companies. C. B. Calder. general manager of the Toledo Shipbuilding Company, has practlco'ly closed the deal with the Cleveland concern to take over the Denmark.

Work on the other Ranney boat, which is being built at the Globe yard In Cleveland. Is going along rapidly. First Lumber Charters. Lumber tonnage for early loading la ln fair demand and some chartering has been done from ports at the head oB Lake Superior at $2.25. A few boats have been placed for a number of trlpa at that figure.

Shippers from the Georgian bay district are ln the market for tonnage and are bidding $1.62 to Lake Erie ports. Xo tonnage has beei secured, bnt for that trade could probahly be tied up at $1.75. Small coal cargoes pot very plputif.il and. owners N. Y.

Central Agrees to Provide Engines Will Not Cause Forest Fires. Albany, April 10. Notification that it Will comply with it order for the operation of oil-burning locomotives in the 'Adirondack at a certain period of the year has been sent to the mibllc service commission, second district, by the New York Central Hudson Kiver Railroad Company. The proceedings were originally instituted by the state forest, fish and game commission, in an effort to provide better safeguards against forest fires. The company advises it will, between June 1 and November 1, 1901J, and between- April 15, and November 15, in each year thereafter, use only such coal-burning locomotives as shall have been inspected bf the commission.

It will operate two locomotives on the Mohawk and Malone railroad with oil-burning apparatus and place them not Inter than July 15 and maintain them in service until November 1st nt leant. It will make a report to the commission weekly' to November 1st, 1000, of all fires set by locomotives operated by it. TRAFFIC ON LAKE SHORE. Inproved Schedule From East Stimulates Freight Movement. Chicago, April 18.

Lake Shore traffic has received a genuine Impetus from the Improved schedule ofl fast freight service from the east. High-class merchandise from New York. Boston and Philadelphia now reaches Chicago regularly the third morning. A similar schedule eastbound is also maintained. Formerly the average of such shipments was four days.

A third morning delivery was regarded as an achievement. Conservation of freight revenue is accomplished by Increasing the throngh loading movement and minimizing local switching costs, which In the case of a road like Lake Shore absorb a large port of the ton-mile rate. HURRY ALTON TERMINALS. Chicago Improvements and Double Tracking to Cost $2,000,000. Chicago, April 16.

Work on the Alton's new terminals will be rushed to completion. Other Improvements this year Include double tracking between Bloomlngton and Atlanta and between Bloomlngton and Olrard. The cost of undertakings will be a boot $2,000,000. The Alton Is double tracked between Chicago and Bloomlngton and between Springfield and Atlanta. Coal shipments will be facilitated when the double track extends from Chicago to Glrard, 210 miles.

The Santa Fe, Rock Island and Alton have track elevation project in Jollet. BRAKE MEN RESENT SHIFT. t-ehlgh Valley Men Threaten Trouble Owing to a Change. Anril 1 Dissatisfaction that Js likely to have far-reaching effects growing among the brakemen employed oo the Lehigh Valley rnllroad hereabouts, due to the inauguration of a new system of freight handling. About a week ago 10 local freight brakemen employed on the Lehigh and -New Jersey division were dls- missed and their swltchkeys taken up.

The dismissal. It was claimed by the company, wns due to the business depression. The meen claimed they knew, better, and were about to present their grievances, when they were notified that they would be re-eiuployed, providing they would take positions as freight handlers Instead of i brakemen, which they refused to do. Via man hflVO AntprAfl nlOtet this plan, and will take the matter before the grievance committee unless the company agrees to reinstate them as brakemen and thftm their old scale of waffes. S2.30 a day.

Instead of $1.60 a day as laborers. NEW POLICY ADOPTED. Southern1 Pacific Will Make Public Investigation of Accidents. A new era In the attitude of railroads toward Investigations of accidents was Inaugurated at New Orleans Tuesday when the Southern Pacific put Into effect the policy of giving full publicity to such Investigations. The killing of a flagman was the occasion of the Inquiry.

Under the new rule a board of Inquiry to Investigate all accidents Is to be composed of three employes or officials of the road, and one who Is not In any way connected with the company. Newspaper men will not only be permitted to attend the Investigation, but will be notified of the sittings of the board. COURT UPHOLDS NEW HAVEN. I Decidea Question of Guaranteeing; Subsidiary Company Shares. New Haven, April 16.

No error bas been found by the supreme court of errors In the case against the New York, New Haven Hartford railroad in the action brought by holders of preferred stock of the" New England Investment and Security Comupany to require the railroad company to place upon the certificates of the and security company the guarantee of the New Haven company, in accord with Its agreement. The railroad company pleaded the Massachusetts law in bar of the action. The court below sustained a demurrer to this defense, and the nnvr hnlris prror." On- the face of the decision the court "holds that the New York, New Haven Hartford has the right to exercise Its corporate powers granted by the general as Bembly of Connecticut. In spite of the circumstance that under the Massachusetts law such action would be ultra vlrs. The practical effect of snch decision appears to be that the highest court of Connecticut Is in antagonism on the -question of law to the tribunals of Massachusetts.

The decision is written, by Chief Justice Baldwin. TRUESDALE IN BUFFALO. WUUam. president of the Lackawanna, accompanied by Vlee-Presl- dent Loomls, Chief Engineer Ray and Dt-j vision Engineer White, were in Buffalo Thursday Inspecting local terminals. 4 JURISDICTION EXTEND" Chicago, April 18.

B. L. WlncVl 'a ilsdlctlon as vice-chairman of the Fris-o will extend over the Eastern Illinois and the Evansvllle Terre -Haute. 7 The official forces of the Bock Island Frisco will be untried In various de-1 partroenf because economy and efE-clency can oe scbserved by concentrat'on. The unification will occur gradually.

The I i I i 1 Vessels Cleared. The following steamers cleared from the Buffalo custom house during the past 24 hours: Prop. Xyanza, Montgomery, Chicago, light. Prop. Northern Light, Hay, Superior, mdse.

Prop. Wm. Castle Rhodes, Robinson, Gladstone, mdse. Prop. Huron, McClinton, Gladstone, mdse.

Prop. North Wind, Stevenson, Superior, mdse. Prop. Northern Wave, Anderson, Duluth, mdse. Minneapolis, Patterson.

Gladstone, mdse. Prop. Owego, Moore, Chicago, 9,000 sugar and mdse. Prop. Chemung, Gebhard, Chicago, 5,500 sugar and mdse.

Prop. Chicago, Murphy, Chicago, 7,100 sugar and mdse. MOVEMENT OF STEAMSHIPS. New York Campania, Genoa; Floride, Havre; President Grant, Hamburg. Boston Saxonia, Liverpool; Columbia, London.

Liverpool, 14th Ivernia, Boston. Southampton Majestic, New York. Bremen Brondeberg, New York. Havre La Lorraine, New York. Naples Ligurin, New York; Carpathia, New York.

Genoa, lltli Lazio, New York. Reported by Wireless Telegraph. Sable Island, N. April 16. Steamer New York, Southampton and Cherbourg for New York, was 730 miles east of Sandy Hook at 7 a.

m. Dock about 7 a. m. Saturday. Siasconset, April 10.

Steamer La Savoie, Havre for New York, was 323 miles east of Snndy Hook at 11 a. m. Dock about 8 a. m. Saturday.

OPENING OF CANAL NAVIGATION, MAY 15. Albany. April 16. Superintendent Stevens announced today that the Erie, Cham-plain and Cayuga and Seneca canals will be opened to navigation at noon on May 15th and will close at midnight on November 15th. The date for the opening of the Oswego nnd Black River canals hag not yet been determined.

WHEN A MINISTER IS NOT EXEMPT. Property May Be Taxed When Owner Preaches and Resides Outside the State. A clergyman owning property in Buffalo but residing in another country Is not entitled to exemption from taxation, according to an opinion handed down by Corporation Counsel Desbecker this morning to the assessors. The assessors recently asked Mr. Desbecker for an expression on this point, putting the question this way: "Is a minister who is preaching outside of this country and not a citizen of the state, but who owns property here, exempt from taxation?" Mr.

Desbecker holds that he is not, because it is the evident intention of the exemption law to apply only to clergymen performing their duties in the tax district in which the property is located. OLD MASON DEAD. Albert W. Durkey Passed Away After an Illness of Three Years To Hold Templar Funeral. Tomorrow night at 8 o'clock Hugh de Paynes Comandery.

knights Templar, will hold a Templar funeral over the remnlns of Albert W. Durkey. 70 years old, who for 35 years was member of Queen City Lodge, F. A. M.

Mr. Durkey died at his home, 371 Pennsylvania street, on WeJnesday. He had betn ill for three years. For 40 years he was in the employ of the C. Kltnk Packing Company in a managerial capacity.

There will be services at the house at 7 o'clock, and at 8 o'clock the Templar funeral will be in the asylum of Hugh de Pnyens Commandery in the Masonic Temple. Joel H. Prescott, who was a close personal friend of Mr. Durkey. made arrangements for the funeral services.

SENT TO PRISON. Barney Prentiss Got Four Months in County Penitentiary For Attempted Robbery. Barney Prentiss, who was convicted a few days ago by a jury in criminal term of supreme court of attempted highway robbery, was sent to the penitentiary' for four mouths this afternoon by Justice Wheeler. Prentiss and another boy held up Roger Casey, a messenger boy. INTERESTING EXHIBITION.

Invitations have been sent out by the Buffalo Association for the Blind to inspect the new rooms to be opened for the women's classes at 4S9 Eilicott street tomorrow from 9 a. m. to p. m. There will be an exhibition of broom-making and a sale of the handiwork of the blind.

It is hoped that' many" will visit the plantof the association tomorrow and see for themselves what a big work is being accomplished in behalf of people who are glad to become self-supporting when they are helped a little on. the way. LEG WAS FRACTURED. While repairing a boat at the Buffalo Drydock Company's plant, corner Ganson and Michigan streets, early this afternoon, one of the stayg of the boat fell end as a Te'sult Nicholas Valvo. a laliorer 32 years old.

sustained a compound fracture of his right leg. He was taken to the Columbus Hospital. Valvo lives at 162 Court street. CORNISH APPOINTED. Supt.

Began has detailed Patrolman Malcom 8. Cornish of the Niagara street station act as special detective to fill the vacancy caused by the reduction of Special John T. Williamson of the Austin street station to patrol duty. the Chamber of Commerce, on learning that Senator Hill would not be back in Buffalo before tomorrow mornjnjr, fcent a telegram to the senator which, no I doubt, will give him another fit of 111-' ncss. The telegram was as follows: "You are quoted in this morning' paper as saying that you cannot get terminal commission bill reported out' ofl committee unless it is amended to in-: elude referendum to common council.

1 At conference held April 3d. Senator' Dnvis stated that vou could iret hill nnt I of committee nt any time you chose. you accept uavis state-' ment as correct? If not, please give Chamber of Commerce an unequivocal' statement as to your position. You are quoted as saying bill is unconstitutional without referendum. Desbecker saya it is constitutional.

Please be explicit on' thi nnd on all other points." Motives of Politicians. Xo one knows or professes to know why Mr. Greiner is against the terminal bill, but it is guessed generally that the cause of his opposition lies in the possibility that the present democratic ad-' ministration in city affairs may get some political thunder out of the bill if it is passed. A municipal election will be held in Buffalo this fall nnd, as some of the Joint Terminal Committee members, view the situation, Mr. Greiner doesn't want the democrats to get credit for any- thing that is likely to prove beneficial to their political welfare.

ILL SUB Beautiful Place at East Aurora Purchased By John H. Baker of This City. H.irry T. Kamsdell, cashier of the: Manufacturers' Traders' National' Bank, lias sold his beautiful summer home at East Aurora to John H. the stock and bond broker.

The house-is surrounded by about acres of farm land in a high state of cultivation, fronting on the Big Tree road a short distance east of the village of East It is not far from the Gibson T. Wll-lianis property, which was purchased a few weeks ago by E. H. McBrier Of S. H.

Knox Co. The consideration is not made public, but it is something; less than the value placed upon It by Mr. Itamsdell. who said that it waa easily worth $25,000. Mr.

Itamsdell bought the property upwards of 15 years ago, principally on account of his children, who have since grown np. It has thus served its pnr-pose so far as Mr. Kamsdell Is concerned. It is understood that Mr. Baker bought the place for the same reason that induced Mr.

Kamsdell to take it years ago that his young children might have the benefit of the pore conn-try nir and outdoor summer life. CONFERENCE HELD. Mayor, Attorney-General and Corporation Counsel Discuss Fran- chise Tax Matters. Mayor Adam, Attorney-GeneaI O'Mal-ley and Corporation Counsel Desbecker 1 held a conference today in the mayor's office on the question of fran- chise taxes. Mr.

O'Malley recently spoke in this city in favor, of a reform in the franchise tax laws. Messrs. Greiner and Daniels were against the terminal bill. The situation was gone over, thoroughly and, in accordance with a request made the previous evening for a conference of Joint Terminal Committee members and Messrs. Daniels and Greiner, it was agreed that some of the members of the committee should meet at Mr.

Daniels's store and "talk things over" with Messrs. Daniels and Greiner. Accordingly, at the close of the Joint Terminal Committee's meeting at the Chamber of Commerce, Messrs. Elliott C. McDougal.

Thomas Stoddart, Frank S. Sidway and Frank A. Beyer went to Mr. Daniels's office and there met not only Mr. Daniels and Mr.

Greiner but also Senator Hill. who already was rapidly becoming oh, so nervous. The talk that followed lasted for about oue hour. Messrs. Greiner.

Daniels and Hill ajfain urged that the bill be modified so as to provide for a reference to the common council. It is said that Mr. Beyer, who is president of the Manufacturers' Club, gave symptoms of wavering. Another man present intimated that the Joint Terminal Committee would be likely to do what wns recommended by those of its members who attended the conference. In this way, it is said, the politicians and the politicians' subject, to wit, Senator Hill, gained the impression that the Joint Terminal Committee was wavering and would be likely to sanction amending the bill so as to provide for a reference, although nothing of this kind was admitted.

Senator Hill's Woes. It was on the following Monday that the Joint Terminal Committee held the meeting at the Chamber of Commerce nt which it was voted unanimously to stand by the bill originally drawn excepting that such amendments wonld be sanctioned as would make the bill conform to Corporation Counsel Desbecker' ideas as to its constitutionality. Since Monday. Senator Hill has had his troubles, and not the least of them have been messages from memlers of the Joint Terminal Committee. On Thursday Thomas Stoddart was cruel enough to send a telegram to Senator Hill urging immediate action tending towards the passage of the bill.

In reply to this telegram Mr. Stoddart received the following dispatch from Sen-tor Hill: "Terminal bill must be amended to make it constitutional by requiring approval of common council." Mr. Stoddart immediately wired back as follows: "L'pon whose adthority is the terminal bill unconstitutional? Desbecker holds it constitutional." Masterhand at Dodging. In due time Mr. Stoddart received a letter from Senator Hill, which letter, by the way, is a masterpiece in the art of ducking responsibility and avoiding being pinned down to any proposition.

The letter was as follows: "I have a copy of Desbecker's opinion, in addition to his statement to me, to the effect that in his judgment the terminal bill in its present form is unconstitutional. I suggest that you see his opinion. I have submitted the matter to several eminent lawyers and they also declare the bill unconstitutional. "I have proposed amendments, which will, in my opinion, obviate its unconstitutionality. The senate committee would not likely knowingly report a city bill which had been declared by the corporation counsel unconstitutional.

"I suggest that yon have the bill amended to obviate its unconstitutionality and preserve, if possible, the personnel of the commission and other features of the bill. "I have sent a copy to Mr. Houpt." Hot One From McDougal. This morning President McDougal of 1 DHL BILL Messrs. Greiner and Daniels Are Against the Measure.

IN PRESENT FORM. At Two Different Conferences With Joint Terminal Committeee Members They Suggested That the Bill Be Amended to Provide For Reference to the Common Council Senator Henry Wobbly Hill Was Present at Each Conference and is Reported to Be El Because of the Fault Being Found Over His Spineless Conduct in the Matter. There no longer is any mystery as to why progress of the. terminal commission bill now pending in Albany is blocked. Politics is being played with the bill and Fred Greiner and Republican State Committeeman William H.

Daniels are pulling the wires which prevent progress. In the meantime Henry Wobbly Hill, who might better be called Henry Wallaby Hill because of his kangaroo-like propensity for jumping from side to side on every public queation, is having such a hard time of it that press dispatches report he is ill in Albany. The fact that Messrs. Greiner and Daniels had arrayed themselves against the bill became known fully a week ago, and since then the actions of their legislative slave. Senator Hill, have confirmed it.

Since Friday of last week, there have been at least two conferences held at the instigation of Messrs. Greiner and Daniels for the purpose, if possible, of getting the Joint Terminal Committee to take a back track. As yet, the committee has failed to do this and the fluttering of Wallaby Hill's heart is almost audible. He knows he must obey the fbehests of Messrs. Greiner and Daniels, his masters, and he knows they know it, yet the business interests of Buffalo are persisting in trying to get him to do something for those interests, and take it all in all, the wobbly wavering one's plight is piteous.

It first became manifest on Friday of last week that Messrs. Daniels and Greiner were taking a hand in shaping this bit i legislation. On that night Mr. Daniels telephoned io Elliott C. Mc-Doiigal.

one of the proposed -terminal commissioners, and asked Mr. McDou-gal if he wouldn't call at the Daniels home to talk things over. Mr. McDou-gal said he was twilling and he called on Mr. Daniels at his home.

A little later Senator Hill and Mr. Greiner also appeared at Mr. Daniels's residence. Efforts to find out what was said at this conference were not very productive. It is known, however, that it was suggested, to Mr.

McDougal that the terminal commission bill be amended so as to provide for a reference to the common council of all acts of the terminal commission. On the following day, that is to say-Saturday of last week, the Joint Terminal Committee held a conference at the Chamber of Commerce, and it was made plain at this conference that.