Sioux City Journal from Sioux City, Iowa • 1

SIOUX CITY, IOWA, MONDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 20, 1900. FIVE CENTS PER COPY. 1 1 POSITION HOPELESS I I WA111JKK UKJtCAai. Washington, Feb. 25.

Iowa: Snow flurries and warmer Monday; Tuesday partly cloudy: fresh northwestern winds. South Dakota: 'Warmer- and partly cloudy Monday; Tuesday fair; variable winds. Nebraska: Partly cloudy Monday, with warmer in eastern portion; probably fair Tuesday; variable winds. November 30, there will soon be no quail to protect: Protection of Song Birds. "If the fashion of decorating bonnets and hats with the stuffed skins of song birds could be abandoned." says Mr.

Delavan, "the lives of thousands of Iowa's bright plumaged, birds would be saved. Several species of these beautiful birds have become nearly extinct on account of the quite general slaughter of them for that purpose." The recommendations to extend the jurisdiction of the fish and game warden to the middle of the channels of the rivers bordering on the state and to require nonresident hunters to pay a license are being favorably acted upon by the legislature. The hunters' license bill has passed the 'house and is a special order in the senate for rifext Tuesday. Compliment to Iowa. The president of the Canadian Agricultural college at; Ontario has asked the Iowa Agricultural college for a hundred copies of Its new catalogue to present to the members of parliament in Canada to assist the Canadian institution in obtaining desired appropriations.

This is a fine compliment to the Iowa institution, showing the rank it already enjoys among the Institutions of its class on this continent. Change to Original Plan. The Penrose bill to allow voters to mark, in the circle on the Australian ballot for a straight ticket, and then to go ever into the opposition ticket and mark in the squares to indicate exceptions to the straight ticket, has been favorably reported by the senate committee on elec-. tions. This was the original plan of marking the ballot.

It was changed several years ago, requiring a voter desiring to vote a mixed ticket to mark in the square In front of the name of every candidate for whom he desired to vote. Bills have been introduced at the present session to dispense with the circle altogether and I il to. take care of yon and we will. Minneapolis Journal. il killed, three wounded; men, four killed, seveniy-eignt wounded.

officers' casualties had previously been reported." Additional Advice-. Ldon, Feb. 25, 3:55 p. m. Lord Rob-ertsias sent the following additional advices to the war office; "Paardeberg, Feb.

24, Saturday- afternoon. Methuen reports that Barkley West was occupied by our troops on February 22. The loyal inhabitants displayed great enthusiasm. 'The country west of the railway from Cape Town to Kimberley is gradually settling down. A detachment has started from De Aar for Britstown, and Douglas and Prieska will shortly be visited by our troops.

i "Methuen's account of the" admirable manner in which the Kimberley hospital is managed made one desire to send some of our sick and wounded there." A MIRACULOUS ESCAPK. Two British Regiments Get Lost and Narrowly Avert Disaster. Paardeberg, Orange Free State, Feb. 22. The fourth day of Gen.

Cronje's fine defense opened in startling fashion. Soon after dawn Wednesday a most terrific rattle of rifle fire broke out. It was the heaviest fire during the war and all awaited with foreboding the news of its effect. 1 It soon developed that the Glouctsters and Essexes had lost their wav and bivouacked in error close to the Boer laager on the north side of the river. As soon as they were perceived by the enemy the later fusilladed.

Wonderful to tell, the British casualties were practically none. There was desultory firing all day long on both the north and south banks, Gen. Knox's brigade holding-, and pushing forward the line south of the river, while Gen. Smith-Dorrlen, on the north side, worked toward the laager. Meanwhile.

Gen. French 'advanced in a far easterly cirecuon, near a kopje held by a stronjr force of Cronje's men, reinforced' by a Ladysmith contingent. At' the same time Broadwood's brigade, with a battery or horse artillery, took up positions to me left and rear of the same kopje. -An Important Capture. The front of the hill was thoroughly searched by a raking fire.

Suddenly the ijoers DOitea irpm every, side toward Gen. French, who headed toward the drift, 6helllng vigorously. A great number escaped, but many were killed by shrapnel and about forty were captured, As soon as the kopje was evacuated this correspondent visited The position was found to be wonderfully strong naturally and to form the real key to the posi tion in the case of defense against Boer reinforcements advancing from the east. Our first contact with the Ladysmith tsoers was singularly unfortunate for them. A great deal or forage, provisions and equipment was captured, and the kopJe was frequently dotted with blood, showing that many wounded had been removed.

The Boer method of removing their dead Is to tie a couple of reins to the body, which is thus dragged oft by two horsemen at full gallop. There were several pourparlers yesterday on the subject of a short armistice. It seems that Gen. Cronje is willing to but that "the young Transvaalers refuse. The other-4eleaguered Boer -ard" anxious to give up.

A British doctor, who visited the Boer lines to see the wounded, found 'the trenches along the river full of wounded and saw many dead. Bombardment Wu Appalling. A deserter who came into camp says that Tuesday's bombardment was appalling in its effects, and especially in the case of the howitzer batteries enfilading tne i x- The position today is practically the same. The Boers are strengthening their Intrenchments around the laager, but the case is hopeless. The capture of the kopje has given the British a splendid position and will prevent a Boer relieving force reaching Cronje.

Kverybody admires the splendid stand of the burghers, jbut from a humanitarian point of view it Is considered that further resistance on the part of Gen. Cronje will be criminal. Every shrapnel shell finds a victim, and unless a miracle occurs his force must be wiped out or captured. The former result is terrible to contemplate; but, although it would require a few days, 'it would be easy to accomplish. Yesterday Lord Roberts sent Gen.

Cronje an offer of a safe conduct for the women: and children, together with a free-pass to any point for them, and also an offer of doctors and medicine. Cronje's reply was a curt refusal, and desultory shelling was resumed. Artillery shelling continued during the early part of Wednesday night. As soon as the last gun was fired, the Shropshires, who had been occupying the river bed since; Sunday, rushed forward, seized an additional 200 yards of near ground and intrenched a fresh position before daybreak; At dawn Thursday Gen. Cronje outad himself docked that amount of space.

The Shropshires had done excellent work under a galling fire since Sunday, and they were relieved by the Gordons today. The exchanero of positions had its amus- Ine features, in spite of the danger. The Gordons crawled on their stomachs to the trenches and the Shropshires crept out of these by actually reaching over the Gor dons. Thoroughly Snrronnded. The scene of the last five days fight ing is one of the prettiest spots in South Africa.

The river, at the points where Gen. Cronje is ensconced and fighting for life, resembles some parts of the Hudson river, the ground all around sloping toward the stream. All the highlands are covered by British artillery. Cronje is faced in the front and rear from both banks by the British, while French's horse, far away on the flanks, prevents a sudden inrush of Boers. During the artillery fire last evening the mules of the Eighty-second, battery, which had remained hitched to the carriages, suddenly stampeded and galloped, off en masse, but today the wagons, with one exception, were recovered.

Gen. French has sent in "seventy-five prisoners. A British patrol, eight miles to the west, discovered thirty Boers wan dering away and corralled them. Already this force has captured 460 of the enemy, while many dead Boers have been seen. The Boer prisoners are all depressed at the present course of the they comment bitterly upon Gen.

Cronje's persistence, which they call "murder." Today a German ambulance attached to the Boer forces was allowed to traverse the British lines in front of Jacobsdal. Quantities of cattle, sheep and trek oxen have been captured while wandering from the Boer laager. Gradually Closing? In. Paardeberg, Feb. 23.

The British are gradually closing in upon Gen. Cronje from all sides and making his position more impossible than ever. During the course of last night the British artillery poured in several rounds. There was a terrible rain and thunderstorm early in the evening. The Canadians were heavily engaged in Sunday's fight, behaving most gallantly.

Toole KlKbty i-risoner. Paardeberg, Feb. The British took eighty prisoners as the result of yesterday's engagement. A balloon ascended and discovered sev- Continued on Page Two. BATTLE OF SANTIAGO BAY Spanish Official Account of Destruction of Cervera's Tleet, 1 s- VEBSI0N OF CAFT.

VIOTOB 00N0AS He Says the Channel Was So Narrow and Tortuous that the Entire American Fleet Was Opposed to the Spanish Vessels! Singly. Washington, Feb. 25. The bureau of naval intelligence has Issued a fresh volume of Its war note series, and probably the last of them which will bear on the battle of Santiago harbor. The present publication is a translation from the -Spanish of Capt.

Victor M. Concas Talau, for-im-rly commander of the cruiser Infanta Marie Teresa and chief of staff to Admiral Cervera in the battle of July 3. The bat-tie section of the narrative begins with the exodus" of the squadron from Santiago harbor. Capt. Concas says in accordance with, previous instructions the Teresa was headed toward the Brooklyn, hoping to ram her.

This was frustrated by the Brooklyn's frequently discussed "loop" to starboard, which Concas says brought the Texas and the Iowa between her and the Teresa. A foot note inserted in the narrative at this point reads: The torn was made to starboard, though it would seem, reasonable for it to have been mad? to port." There-is nothing in the bureau's publi-ontlon to indicate whether this foot note is by Capt. Concas or not. Capt. Concas dwells strongly on a point which he declares all other critics havo overlooked, namely, that owing to the narrow and' tortnous channel past the Morro, the Spanish: vessels had to come out so far apart thar they were ea-u attacked by the combined force of the American squadron and destroyed in detail, making it practically series of combats, each time a single ship against a squad-ron.

He calls attention also to the probability that the American estimate of 3 per cent, of hits out of the shots aimed at. Cervera's fleet is too low. says the most horrible mortality In every case was in the upper works, where the shots left no marks except those wiped out by lire. He says 6 per rent, of hits probably w6uld not be too high. Credits Them to the Iowa.

Capt. Concas credits the Iowa with landing the two 12 or 13-inch shells which burst the Teresa's main, steampipe and put her out of action when her commander thought she had a fair; chance to escape. These shots, he have been claimed both by the Oregon and the Indiana, but he adduces, considerable evidence that they came from -the Iowa. Another peculiar Incident brought out "in the narrative and a striliTng example of Yankee luck, was that the Oregon, In her pursuit of the Colon, remained'unconscions-ly dead angle" between the only gusSflon the Colon powerful enough to rearther. The Colon, it will be remembered, did not have her big 30-ton guns, and in the long chase the Oregon happened always to just in the spot where the upper work guns conld not train on her and the Colon could net fire without-heaving to and losing valuable time.

The author indignantly denies that the -Colon-was wrecked by her crew after she had surrendered. He says she was run ashore and her sea valves opened before her flag was hauled down. Regarding this incident the writer seys: "The Cristobal Co'on was less unfortunate than any of the others, for, although going at aspeed of thirteen knot, she ran ashore on sand; and if Admiral Sampson, with a more seamanlike spirit, had ordered the divers to close the valves, he could most certainly have saved the cruiser, but with feverish impatience he towed her off with hla own flagship, the New York. Hardly had the ship been floated when she began to list, at which moment, with great dexterity, he pushed the Colon back again with the ram of his ship on the sandy shoals, but it was -top late, and turning over that ill fated cruiser went to the bottom of the sea forever. "The few Americans and Spanish who were still on board hastily saved --i Terrible Mortality.

Speaking of the nature of the wounds inflicted by modern naval shell fire. Capt. t'ancas declares them more horrible than fan be described. The Jboatswain of the Teresa had fonrteen wounds. None of the men injured at al' escaped with less than two.

Many, he said, were blown Into unrecognizable fragments. Capt. Larzaza. of the Oquendo, was killed, his executive oTfieer. Lola, ia- two with a shell, the third officer, and the three lieutenants next InLrank all killed, beside 121 men of the crew.

Th total mortality in the fleet reached the awful figure of 23 per of the men engaged. Inclosing the account of the battle, the anthor, says: 4 "We could never Complete this chapter if we were to relate the innumerable acts of courage, but I cannot do less, than to mention one which I stw with rhy own eyes. The Maria Teresa had already been abandoned, flames mounting up to the height of the funnels, and projectiles exploding on all sideH--and when everybody thought that no Jiving soul was left on the ship, suddenly a man appeared there, call-lag for help. Instantly Jose Casado cried: 'I will not let that man and threw hniKeif into th He climbed up the bloodstained sides-of the ship, seized the' man. -carried him down on his shoul- ders, and, swimming with him to the shore.

-laid his burden on the beach. It- waa hardly possible to believe that that shapeless form was a man with fourteen wound, who must have been left aboard as dead." A SOLDIER OF FORTUNE. Remarkable Career of Man "Who Died In a Philadelphia- Hospital. Philadelphia, Feb. 25.

A man who registered at the Pennsylvania hospital as Hamilton H. Greyson died in that institution today from hiccoughs, from letters found among his effects is supposed to have had a remarkable career and a wide experience in various parts of the world. 1 i Letters to him" from Cecil Rhodes, Gen. Eaden-Powell, Gen. Miles, Wheeler, the late Gen.

Lawton and Assistant Postmaster General Allen were found. The Allen letter was dated at Washington. April, 1899, and showed that' Greyson had been appointed postmaster at Manila. Another letter shows that he resigned that office in September, 1899, on account of HI health. The Baden-Powell letter was dated: "In the Field, Mombara, Africa, July 12,.

1896." In this letter he was known as Henry Herbert Greyson, and it recommended him for the Victoria cross for good work done as a hospital surgeon. At his boarding house very little was known of him. He never spoke of his family, but is believed to have had a son in the railroad business in Washington. D. C.

Greyson could speak five languages, was engaged in building a railroad for an English corporation and aided in building a railroad to the top of the Andes mountains in the same country, he having been a civil and a mechanical engineer. He was also engaged In mining in the wst- ern part of this country. A Terribly Rough Trip. Vancouver, B. Feb.

25. The steamer Cutch arrived this from Skag-way after the roughest trip it ever experienced. There were five feet of Ice on its decks on Friday morning. Mountainous seas rolled over its bows and swept nearly from end to end of the "steamer. Ice was even over its pilcV house and' the pipes which run half way up he funnel were shrouded in The weather was frightfully cold and for two days passageways across the deck had to be cut with axes.

Eeport that Oronje Himself Is Quite Will' ins to Surrender. OVEEBOEtfE EY YOUNGER BOEES British fire Is Said to Hays Been Very Deadly. JUTILE ATTACK UPON OUTPOSTS Doers Driven Off with Mnny Killed and Wounded, Lonlng lOO Men Cap- tared- Mrtunen UlTfi cneerlut Ac count from the Vicinity of Kim- berley Barkley Went Occupied. London, Feb. 26.

Perhaps never before la the course of the present i campaign have, such cFowds visited the war office ar went there yesterday. As the Times remarks today: "The dearth of news is 'somewhat trying at a time when a con silerable success was generally regarded as imminent." No diminution of confidence In Lord Roberts is felt, however, and the public ready to believe that he has good reasons for not mentioning Gen. Cronje in tbc official Probably be is in no hurry to end a situatidn which Is daily bringing small parties of Boers in a vain endeaor to reinforce Gen. These he can deal with in detail. Lord Roberts has already-captured over .500 Boers and at this rate he will soon have quite a respectable array of prisoners to hold as hostages for the 3,000 British already in Pretoria.

Gen. Cronje's refusal to accept the offer of Lord Roberts regarding the women and children indicates either that his position is less desperate than has been supposed or that he has been able to dig an absolutely safe place for them. Everything goes to show that Gen. Butler's advance is most stubbornly contested and most cautiously carried OUt. 4 It Is hoped that he will soon be in a position where Gen.

White will' be able to assist him j- uwf v.xa moat interesting phase. In abont a fortnight the congress of the Afrikander bund will meet, and it is rumored that Mr. Hofmeyr will then propose peace terms on the basis of the republics retaining absolute independence, but offering to disarm. If these terms are rejected it Is understood that a manifesto will be boldly issued to the Dutch throughout South Africa, calling upon them to throw off their allegiance to Great Britain. Probably these rumors are exaggerated, but there is no doubt that the greatest anxiety prevails in Cape Town regarding coming events.

Germany, through the semi-official Berliner Post, reiterates that all reports of German intervention are quite without foundation. Capt. Raymond Harvey de Montmorency, ho was killed in Gen. lGatacre's recon-nolssance Saturday, was the heir of Viscount Frankfort de Montmorency, and was the fourth heir to a peerage who has fallen in the course of a campaign. BRITISH FIRE oer Deserter Say Cronje Himself I Willing to Surrender.

Faardeberg, Orange Free State, Feb. 23. Gen. Cronje's position is hopeless than ever. Our guns dominate the sloping ascents from the river, on all sides and by the rush o't the Shrppshires on Wednesday night up the river bed the Boers lost 200 yarda of space in their cover.

Deserters say the British fire has been Very deadly, and nfflrm that- ion rwro. huuself i3 willing to surrender," but is overborne tby the young Boers from the Transvaal. There are and children with the Boer force. Gen. Roberts Proposed to let them pass out of danger, but this suggestion, as well as the proffer of medical aid, has been rejected.

The kopje captured by the British last ednesday, when fifty prisoners were tak- en. Important strategical posi-tlon. Ita possession should enable us to any uoer reinforcements from the eastward. "patch from Roberta. London.

Feb. 25. 3:55 'p. m. The war office published the following dispatch from Lord Roberts: "Paarberg Feb.

24. 12:20 p. m. Par-. es of Boelp recently arrived from Natal i i 1 1 1 nnrnnor.

in jobi a gooa many killed ana wounded and nearly 1001 prisoners, includes a commandant and three field cornets. Ur casualties were four officers wounded, nine men killed, twenty-three men wound-' etand two men missing. "0n the. 21st and 22d one officer and thirteen men were wounded. nl 'Dlen wer wounded yesterday hy ollow-noaed Mauser bullets.

The nickel se is slit with slits, making the Projectile of the most expansive and ex-Plosive nature possible. A wounded Boer brought to our hospital yesterday had ty of these bullets in his pockets. "During the advance to and, at Kim-Iey tfle casualties were: Officers, two requiring every voter to mark in the squares. This Is as being In the interest and for the promotion of scratched tickets. The upshot of it all is likely to be that no change will be made.

A Matter of Convenience. Harrison county was transferred from the Fourth judicial district to the Fifteenth for the convenience of the lawyers and their clients in that county. It is very difficult at present for the lawyers in Harrison county to reach a judge in vacation, as they are all located in the extreme northern part of the district or at Sioux City, and Harrison is in the extreme south- ern corner of the district. In the Fifteenth district they will be much better -accommodated, for they can reach Council Bluffs easier than Sioux City, and will thus be able to get orders in vacation, without the trouble they have heretofore experienced. Probably Will Get One Building.

-The state normal school is sure to get something" for- a building" to take care of the great increase in students. The trustees asked flor for buildings. The senate committee has made them a conditional allowance of $50,000 and agreed to hear what, they have to say about this. This is for, one building, and that is about what they will get. May Be Partially Completed.

The great problem with the appropriations committee, and one of the chief financial questions of the entire general assembly! has been what to do-wth the Cherokee' hospital. It has now been decided that the institution must at least be partly completed. There is a balance of $100,000 in the treasury to the credit of the institution. In addition to this, is asked wherawith to complete it. The board of control advises thsX.

it will not be economy to do the work piecemeal, but that1 it should all be done at once in order to get the best prices. It is thought, however, and John Cownie, of the board of control, indorsed that view, that it will be practical to complete the entire main building, put up the administration build- lngs and outbuildings and finish and furnish the entire plant with the exception of one wing, thus saving about $100,000. Tne chances are that this will be done, and that will ease, up on $100,000 of the surplusage of appropriations asked for more than thet committee can find money to It will make room for something oVer 600 patients and will take care of nearly all who are now. suffering In" poor To Finish Historical Building. The final allowance has been made for the finishing and furnishing of the new state historical building.

The work will be dope in accordance with the estimates of the- state architect, and it will be finished in first class condition, in keeping with the rest of the. building. This will cost $21,000. Building and Loan Matters, Some legislation is bound to come out of the agitation over building and loan af' fairs. Some of the borrowers who claim to have been getting the worst of it from building and loan associations are stating their cases in writing to members of the legislature, and the showing is not a creditable one to the associations these people have been dealing with.

Numerous bills intended to cure these evils are now in course of preparation. BRIDGE CONTRACTED FOR. Plymouth County Commissioners Arrange -for New Strnctnre. Akron, Io.i Feb. 25'.

Special: The board of commisisoners of Plymouth county has closed a contract with theiCanton Bridge company for the construction of a 158-foot span, steel bridge, with caisson piers, across the Big Sioux river! at this place. Work is to be rushed to completion. The cost of the bridge is to be $4,000, of which amount the business men of Akron donate $720; the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad! the freight on material, amount ing to $250; Union county, South Dakotar ana riyiOUULU couutj icuiamuci after -deducting the proceeds of the old bridge i GREAT BRITAIN HUMILIATED. 1 Grave Mistakes Made la the Seizure Vessels.

London, Feb. 26. The Standard, referring editorially to the cabled extracts from a speech of Capt. Mahan on sea power, says: "Sea power, however, requires to be em ployed with, caution and forbearance. We have not been altogetner nappy in our attempts to avail ourselveB of the right to search.

Lord Salisbury has closed the ibine incident by a. frank expression of regret to Mr. Choate, and with a promise that more caution will be displayed in-stopping American vessels jlni the the affair of the Bnndesrath Is repeated. It is not particularly agreeable to have had to confess to two great powers In the course of a few: weeks that we have put ourselves in the wrong and must make reparation. Grave responsibility at taches to those dlplomatiq and consular gents who have so grievously misled the foreign office and placed the country in a humiliating and undignified situation." TRUE TO THEIR WORD.

kid) when we adopted yon we agrreed on it the later part of the week. Senator Chandler probably will speak for Quay Monday and Senator Turley in opposition. Later in the week Senators Hoar and -Penrose will talk for Quay and Senator in opposition. I After these only-short speeches will be heard, Senator Penrose counts a vote.late in the week and says hg expects than was -tcast Qutj's favor in taking the resolution up. When -the Hawaiian bill is voted lupon the Porto Rican bill will be taken up.

Senator Depew, on Tuesday, will speak on the problems connected with the Philippine islands. PORTO RICAN Vote to Be Taken in the House on Tuesday. Washington, Feb. 25. The event of the week in the house will be the taking of the vote on the Porto Rican tariff 1 bill.

This has been set for 3 o'clock Tuesday, although the differences which have arisen on the bill may compel a rearrangement of the programme. The general debatje on the measure will close on Monday, and on Tuesday up to the hour ot voting! the debate will proceed under the -5-minute Extraordinary interest; attache's to the outcome of this struggle owing the differences which have arisen; on thei republican side of the chamber. It had been arranged that the debate should proceed Monday night, but this must give way to the republican conference in? the hall of the house at 8 p. when a (final effort will be made to reconcile differences and agree upon a compromise bill. For the rest cf thef week no exact procedure has been arranged, except that the Alabama contested efection case of Aid-rich vs.

Robbins be considere4 as; soon as the Porto Rican bill is out oil the way. I President Schnrman on the Bill. Detroit, Feb. 25. President Jacob" Schurman, of the first Philippine'-comsnjs-sion, in an interview hereT'said ofj the proposed Porto Rican tariff: 1 "I thick it is both generous and politic te assimilate our tariff with that of Porto Rico.

do not, however, think that we are constitu-. tionally bound to do this. It is justice and policy that we assimilates our tariff with that of the island. Should the present congress adopt a tariff for Porto Rico against the recommendations of! the commissioners and of the president and against every man's sense of justice and generosity the orators of the democracy, can say with truth during the next paign that the trusts went down to Washington and grappled the republican party by the throat and made it choke to. their advantage." TO EXPIATE HIS CRIME.

Everything in Reudiness for Execn-tion of Antonio Ferraro. New York, Feb. 25. Everything is in readiness for the execution of AnCbnio Ferraro in the electric chair at Sing Sing prison, and it is almost certain that itlwill take place before noon Monday. The last details have been attended to and the usual tests have been made.

Ferraro, contrary to expectation, has resigned himself to his fate. He is now alm and says he will go to. the chair without trouble. He has lost the sullen and vicious manner which marked his conduct all through his long imprisonment. On April 4.

1898, in a fight with a fellow countryman, Luciano in Brooklyn, Ferraro cut his opponent's throat with a razor, killing him instantly. Good Time at a Danee. Louisville, Feb. 25. A special to the Commercial from Whitesberg tells of a free fight at a dance at Bill Mullin's home near Pound's in which pistols and knives were used.

John Newberry was shot dead and Ed Jsewberry, his brother, was fatally wounded. Luella Mullins, aged 18, was stabbed three times and cannot recover. Mrs. Mullins was. severely bruised, and a man named Keller was shot; in the knee.

Mullins has been arrested' and taken to Clintwood to prevent a lynching. Declare for Union of Silverites. Blackfoot, Idaho, Feb. 25. The democrat, silrer republicans and populist com mittees met at laano i-ans jesieruaj auu declared for a union of air silver forces in the state.

and "Mac" Don't yon worry, FAIL TO REACH AGREEMENT After Prolonged Conferences, Bepnblicans Bemain Par Apart. POETO EIOAN BILL IN STATU QUO Testerday's Conference Did IVot End Until After Midnight-May Be Others Today Opinion of an Advocate of the Measure. Washington, Feb. 25. The efforts to unite the republicans of the house on a Porto Rican bill have failed, and at midnight, after prolonged conferences, it was stated that matters were substantially where they were yesterday.

Other efforts at harmony may. be made tomorrow. A long conference was held tonight at the residence of Representative McCall, of Massachusetts, between the committee appointed at the republican conference last night representing the republicans in favor of tho pending Porto Rican bill and a committee agreed upon today by those republicans who are opposed to the measure. The latter committee' was made up of Messrs. Powers, of Crumpacker, of Indiana; Lorimer, of Illinois; McCall, of Massachusetts, and Uttlefield, of Maine.

Preliminary to this meeting the opponents of the bill to the number of about ten had assembled at Mr? McCall's house during the afternoon and determined upon the stand they would take and upon their five representatives. Mr. Weeks, of Michigan, was among those at the afternoon, session, and he remained with the committee of five to participate in tonight's meeting. Propositions pro and con were made by both sides, but: noue of those made on behalf of the advocates of the pending bill amounted -to an abandonment of the principle of the issue, The right of the United States to levy a tax on imports from Porto Rico, and as Its ooDonents consider this the fundamen tal objection to the measure no agreement- could be reached. It was stated that arter the conference by niembers opposed to the, bill that both sides were practically in tha same position as they had been before the meeting; that substantially no progress had been made and that there wras no probability of another gathering before the conference of republicans called for tomorrow, night.

From their statements it was evident that they intended to maintain the position they have held all along, that under the constitution the government has no right to tax the prod-; ucts of territory under the control of the. United States. One of the advocates of the measure, after the conference, expressed it to be his opinion that the bill finally would be come a law with a provision limiting tne time during it shall remain in force. THIS WEEK 'IN THE SENATE. Several Questions of More Than Usual Interest to Be Decided.

Washington, 25. The time of the senate during the present week will be divided between the questions of finance. the government's policy toward the insular possessions and the seating of Sena tor Quay upon the nomination of the governor of Pennsylvania. The Hawaiian bill remains the unfinished business, subject to removal at, any time l-iv the Quav resolution and also by conference report upon the currency bill. Senator Aldrich has given notice that he will make a reech in explanation of the hill acxement on Wednesday and that he will call it up the next day; (Thursday) and tnen ass nnai action upon it.

The matter may be before the senate for several days. There wlH be several speeches during the week- on- the Quay resolution and there is a probability of reaching a vote IOWA FISH AND GAME LAWS George E. Delaran, State Eecom- mends Several ALL IN INTEBEST OP PE0TE0T10N Snsrsrestiona as to the Prevention of Fraud During Closed Season Ruth less Slaughter of Song Birds Pro visions of Penrose Bill. Des Moines, Feb. 25.

Special: George E. Delavan, state fish and game warden, has issued his biennial report and it is a most valuable document to all who are interested in preserving the fish and game in the state. It contains, besides, a minute description of all the food, fishes of Iowa' with their habits and characteristics, and pictures of many of them. This latter 'was' prepared by Tarleton H. Bean, of the United States fish commission, and the Smithsonian institution.

Mr. Delavan shows that he has distributed in the lakes and rivers" of Iowa during the past two years more than 2,000,000 game fish, and is still unable to come anywhere near meeting the demands for the stocking of rivers, lakes and ponds. The supply is -taken; from the Mississippi bayous, and the best of them from the state retaining ponds near Sabula. The state has a very nice little fish plant at this place and the fish are taken in the state fish car and distributed over, the state. The fish are gathered from the.

bayous and deposited in the Sabula retaining ponds. The testimony of various persons throughout the state where fish have been deposited Is very satisfactory in showing the success of. Mr. Delavan's work. The lakes and rivers have been restocked and the fishing has been greatly improved, furnishing food and sport to thousands of pfeople.

The principal varieties of fish distributed are: Lake trout, black bass, croppies, silver bass, walleyed pike, rock bass, pickerel and perch. Changes Recommended. Several changes in the law are one of the most important being that' the state fish and game warden and his deputies should be given police power. As the law now: stands, they are unable to make arrests, because they have no more power than a private citizen and they are liable to prosecution if they carry concealed weapons. Several, embarrassing instances have arisen in this particular.

In Hamilton county a deputy, appointed under authority of section 2562, arrested a hard gang of lawbreakers and succeeded in convicting them. They retaliated afterward by securing the deputy's arrest for having a revolver in his possession. The justice before whom the case was tried regretted to impose a fine, but was obliged to under the law. After the deputy's conviction it was impossible for some time to secure another deputy in that county, as men did not care to endanger their lives without at least having an equal chance with, the desperate characters they are necessarily obliged to deal with when mak-tyg arrests of seiners and dynamiters. A bill is now pending which removes this obstacle to the enforcement of the fish and fame laws.

To Prevent Fraud. recommendation is that the law should prohibit the buying and selling within the state of both fish and game killed in another stae. During the closed seasons it is very convenient to say that fish and. game offered for sale were taken outside of the state, when, as a matter of fact, they were killed in Iowa. Mr.

Delavan Ahinks that it should be no defense, for any person to claim that fish and game found in illegal possession in Iowa were killed or'caught outside the state. The law was changed two years 'ago al-' lowing, quail to be killed up to December 31. Delavan thinks this was mistake, for as soon as the snow comes the birds can be easily tracked and killed in large numbers when they are hovered closely together. This Is the time that the market and pot hunters make their harvest. If the law Is not changed, making the open season from October 1 to.