Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-05
WICHITA CASE COMMENCES
Plea that Railroads Discriminate Presented
to Commerce Commission.
SHAW PROMOTES DLS MONIES MAN
Number of Bills introduced During
Last Session Beats All Records,
Though Number Reported and
Passed is Not So Large.

Missouri Pacific and numerous other roads
were heard by the interstate commerce
commission today. The case involves the
rates ON grain and grain products, lumber,
etc, between Wichita and other points.
Counsel for Wichita alleged that railroad |
rates on grain for export are higher for the |
shorter distance from Wichita to Calves
ton and New Orleans than for the longer |
distance from Kansas City In some in
stances shipments from Kansas City to |
Galveston and New Orleans are made via
Wichita, and the rates are alleged to be !
unjust and dlscriminative in favor Of Kan |
sas City.
The railroads. while admitting some
points in the allegations contend that IL
there is an advantage given to Kansas City
by the tariffs complained Of, that city is
entitled to 1t because 1t is a point OF Wig
orous competition, and the conditions com
planned OF have been recognized for years
by the interstate commerce commission and
by law.
Joint Commission Will Meet.
The action in striking out in conference
an item approprlating $4,000 to defray the
expenses Of the high joint commission will
not be allowed to prevent the reassem-
bling Of the commission next summer. The
adoption of a more economical program in
future VIII make it possible for the COM
mission to reassemble.
Des MOiDes Man Promoted.
Robert A. Armstrong, who has been pri-
vate secretary to Secretary Shaw during
| the last year, today took the oath of Office
as assistant secretary of the treasury to
succeed General o. l.. SOaulding.
Robert Burns Armstrong was born August
| 49, 1873, near Des Moines. He completed
his education at the Iowa State college at
/ Ames In 1896 he became political writer
| for the Chicago Record, and in August
1898, was sent by that paper to New York
to take charge of all eastern editorial work
On the sale of the Chicago Record to the
Times Herald, in March, 1901, he went
abroad. Returning later in the same year,
he Joined the New York Herald. In April,
1902, he became private secretary to Sec
retary Shaw.
Cuban Treaty May BE First.
There is a probability that the Cuban
reciprocity treaty will be taken up at the
extra session of the senate before the Pan
anna canal treaty, but the order OF business
will not be determined for a day or two.
When the senate goes into executive ses-
sion tomorrow the treaties will be referred
| to the committee on foreign relations,
proceeding which is made necessary by the
expiration OF the old congress and the
opening of tho new session.
| 1t is the intention of Senator Cullom to
dispose OF as many as possible OF the pend
| ing treaties. These include not only the
Panama and Cuban treaties, but extradi-
ton treaties with Mexico and Guatemala,
| reciprocity treaties and also some others
| of minor Importance.
1t is generally believed that the called
! session will continue for two or three
weeks.
Many Bills Introduced.
The number Of bills introduced during
the Fifty seventh congress aggregated H.
| 500, of which 1913 we're reported and more
than 1000 passed. The house calendar is
clearer at the close Of this congress than
it ever has been before, only seventy-eight
bills remaining undisposed Of.
In the Fifty-hfth congress 2.214 bills were
reported and lab passed; in the Firty-
sixth, 2,7S7 were reported and 2,204 passed.
The nearest approach to the number Of bills
introduced in the Fifty-seventh was in the
Fifty congress, when 1889 were
brought in, and the greatest number re-
ported was In the Forty-ninth congress,
the aggregate being 4,181.
The number of private bills passed by
this congress has been exceedingly large.
Fifteen members of the house died during
the congress Just closed, an unusually large
number.
No Hope for Mrs. Maybrick.
The Associated Press is authorized by the
British embassy at Washington to state
that there is no foundation for the reports
that Mrs. Maybrick's release is contem-
plated by the British authorities; that
there has been no recent correspondence on
the subject between Washington and Lon
don.
President COnEratulates Congress.
President Roosevelt this afternoon sent
a letter OF congratulation to Mr.. Hender-
son, late speaker CT the house.
The letter follows:
My Dear Mr.. Speaker-As I did not see
you today at the capitol l wish to write
line to congratulate you on the work ac-
, ! closed There were certain measures of
Importance, the failure to act upon which
true that, taken as whole, no other con-
; gress of recent years has TO its credit a
record of more substantial achievement for
| the public good than this, over the lower
: branch OF which you presided. / congratI- :
late you and It; and 1 wish you we'll wher-
ever your future may lead you.
; THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
J Colleagues Give Mason Tea Service.
AIIer the adjournment OF the senate TO-
day the committee on postofices presented
an elegant tea service to Senator Mason.
the retiring chairman OF the committee.
The presentation speech was made by
. Senator Dolliver and was filled with ex-
pressions OF good will. Senator Mason re-
sponded in a happy and appropriate vein.
, Mrs. Mason and a number OF lady friends
were present.
q Grow Retires from Congress.
5 Among the distinguished men who retired
5 from public life at the close of the Fifty
g seventh congress. none is held in higher
= esteem by his colleagues than Hon Galushs
A. Grow. representative at large from
Pennsylvania.
AS a token OF regard the members OF the
i Pennsylvania congressional delegation
. adopted unanimously a preamble setting
a forth in aulogistic terms the unusual char.
= acter and duration of Representative
,. Crows services to his state and to his
n country, Snd a resolution expressive OF the
g regret felt by all on account Of his retire
ment from congress.
The preamble recited that his service,