davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-22
AMERICANS WERE
 KILLED IN MEXICO
Details of the Crime Are Sent By the Wife of One of the
 Victims.

Fl Paso, Tex, December 21-Details of the murder of two Americans and the wounding of two others near Diaz, Chi huahua. arrived today In a letter from Mrs. Rutherland, wife of one of the victims.
 She says the murder occurred at the home of l.. N. Minstad, a former Los Angeles man, and that robbers followed the Americans there the first report that they were attacked on the road proving incorrect. The pSbbers surrounded the Finstsd house aid knocked at the door while the occupants were at supper. Fin stad opened the door and was struck with a rifle. He ran and hid in hay stack. Rutherford was shot through the heart, Murray through the head and a cow- puncher known as Shorty was wounded in the head.
 The robbers stayed around until o'clock in the riorning trying to open the safe or find Finstad in order 10 have him open it. Consequently they got no effects. Two dead bodies and the wounded man were taken to Santa Roslia. The bodies are being embalmed and will probably reach here tomorrow. Governor Greet has sent a detachment of rurals to pursue the robbers. Shorty says he recognized the leader. Finstad Is rich Klondil<e miner and lives in Los Angeles. He bought a large ranch in Mexico about two years ago and stocked 1t with cattle and horses. Murray was his brother-in-law and man ager. Rutherland was neighboring ranchman and was spending the night with Finstad.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-22
FIRST FORMAL DINNER.
Roosevelts Entertain Cabinet Members
 and Few Invited Guests.

Washington, December H.-The Presi- dent and Mrs. Roosevelt gave their first formal dinner to the members of the cabinet and their wives and a few invited guests at 8 o'clock this evening. The din- ner was In the state dining room. Fol lowing were the guests
 The Vice President and Mrs. Fairbanks, the Secretary of State and Mrs. Root, the Secretary of the Treasury and Mrs. Shaw. the Secretary of War and Mrs. Tart. Attorney General Moody, the Post master General and Mrs. Cortelyou, the Secretary of the Navy and Mrs. Bona parte. Secretary of Agriculture Wilson. the Secretary of Commerce and Labor and Mrs Metcalf. Secretary Loeb, Colonel and Mrs Cromwell Senator and Mrs, Spooner. Senator and Mrs. Alger, Sen ator and Mrs. Knox. Representative and Mrs. Sibley, Representative Longworth. former Secretary and Mrs. Paul Nor ton. former Postmaster General and Mrs. Robert J. Wynne, Mrs. Longwortn. Mrs. Hilson, Mrs Slater, Miss Roosevelt. Eliot Gregory and Lieutenant Sheridan
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-22
FORMER GOVERNOR
William R. Taylor of Wisconsin Occu-
 pied Chair During Stormy Days.

Madison, Wis, December 21.-Today. in lonely old age. William R. Taylor. gover- nor of Wisconsin from 1874 to 1876. went to live hereafter at the Old People g home. established by John A. Johnson, near this city.
 MT. Taylors administration was a stormy one during the grange movement when laws for railway regulation much like those enacted during Governor La Follette's administration were placed on the statute books. but were repealed by the next legislature. In notable fight before the supreme court. Governor Fay Tor established the right of the state to regulate corporations. Since leaving the governorship he has lived quietly on . farm ten miles from Madison.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-22
PHILIPPINES ARE
 GREATLY ABUSED Cannot be Both American and
 Foreign MINORITY GIVES VIEWS Absolute Free Trade Is Favored, But Partial Free Trade Is Better Than the Pre5enr
 5tatus.

Washington, December 21.-The views of minority members of the ways and means committee on the Philippine tariff bill were filed in the House today by Representative John Sharp Williams of Mississippi. the democratic floor leader. The democrats offered a substitute declar- ing for absolute free trade between the Philippines and the United States, in- cluding Hawaii and Porto Rico, but add that if their substitute Is voted down they will support the republican bill as 1t is a Hong step in the logical and right direction
 The report says:
 "The members of the minority of the that the anomalous and preposterous status of the Philippine islands. by which they are treated as American territory for certain purposes and as foreign, or semi-foreign territory for certain other purposes cannot long be maintained, and should be immediately terminated.
 "At present, according to the whinl of Congress or the executive, they are considered as American or as foreign and both as American and foreign, then neither American or foreign.
 Tn justice to both the Philippines and ourselves they should be considered as altogether American. or altogether for eign.
 "So long as we retain them, we favor the establishment and maintenance of free trade between them and the United States.
 "The party which we represent desires to get rid of them at the earliest prac- ticable moment, and we view with dis satisfaction the hitherto legislatively fa- vored classes, growing out of the com- petition of the products of the Philip pine labor with our products In our own market, as a possible moving cause for governmental divorce between the gov ernment of the Philippine archipelago and the balance of the United States"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-22
Merchant Charged With Larceny.

Maplesville, December 21.-(Special)-W B. Smith a merchant at Dixie, was ar ried to jail at Clanton Smith is charged with grand larceny. Goods taken from cars on the Southern railroad last sum mer. it Is said, were found in his posses sion. and he made his escape. negro pleaded guilty to delivering the goods to Smith. before the last grand jury. Smith thought there was no bill found against him. came home and was caught this morning.
 A special deputy has been employed to keep order here during the holidays This place Is not incorporated. and the big saw mill crowds here make rough house at times.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-22
THROWS HIMSELF UNDER TRAIN.
Dennis B. Taft Says He Is a Convert of
 the Osler Theory.

Sherman. Texas. December 21.-Dennis B. Taft, aged 70 years a stranger. ended his life by casting himself under the wheels of north-bound Fort " orth and Rio Grande express train No. 10 at S:30 clock this evening. The wheels passed over the body and death was instantane- ous.
 Taft came to Sherman last Friday and registered at local hotel as Dennis B. Taft, but gave no place of former resi- dence In letter found addressed to the coroner, he stated he was con- vert of Professor Osler of Chicago. The letter closed:
 "To the coroner of Grayson county, or whom 1t may concern:
 .The subscriber was wrecked near the union depot. It was no fault of the rail- road company, but was my own effort.
 DENNIS B. TAFT"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-22
LONG ON RATES. Kansas Senator Says Railroads Can Be Controlled By Law.

Kansas City. Kan. December 2l.-Ches- ter I. Long. United States senator from Kansas, was the principal speaker to- night at dinner given by the Knife and Fork club of this city. Senator Long dis cussed the subject Proposed Rate Legis- lation," and gave his views respecting all the plans submitted thus far for the solu- ton of the question. Senator Long spoke in part as follows:
 Railroads are private property in the sense that individuals own their stocks and bonds, but they are public property in the sense that they have a duty to perform in relation to the public. They can be regulated and controlled by law.
 ''Discriminations between individuals should cease. Determinations between To- calities must only be those that are due to natural advantages which one city has over another and to competition that may exist at one place and not at another"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-22
Delegates to Levee Congress.

Rosedale, Miss, December 21.-Cash Scott, president of the Mississippi River Improvement and Levee association, has appointed the following delegates to at- tend the forthcoming National Rivers and Harbors congress in Washington;
 New York. Stuyvesant Fish, Charles s. Fairchild.
 Iowa, Hon. Bailey Finch.
 Pennsylvania, w. B. Scaife.
 Ohio, J. l.. Vance.
 Indiana, Allen Gray.
 Illinois. Judge J. M. Dickinson, ". E.. Proutman. Charles J. Melliken.
 Missouri J. E. Smith Marcus Bern heimer, Col. Green Clay
 Kentucky-Col. J. s. Brannin. c, l.. Rob ertson, R. w. Knott.
 Tennessee-W. A. Percy. S. A. Caldwell, Capt H. M. Pharr, Col. w. H. stovall. Arkansas-W. B. Miller, Greenfield Quares Patrick Henry F. M. Rogers. Mississppi-E. J. Bowers, J. M Allen, w. s. Berry. T. c. Catchings, Dr. J. P. Atterbury.
 Alabama. Col. F.. l.. Russell.
 Louisiana. John A. McIlhenny, J. M. Parker, J. P. Mcclellan, F. l.. Max well.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-22
President Butler Acts Promptly.

New York December 2l.-Coumbia Uni ition of all intercollegiate sports was acted upon promptly today by Presi- dent Nicholas Murray Butler He ap- pointed two committees to devise plans by which the recommendations made by the university council may be speedily accomplished One committee consisted of faculty members. and the other of alumni President Butler said this ac- ton did not aim to abolish college ath- letics at Columbia altogether, but to only abolish them in their present form. in order to put athletics on basis in which every student can participate.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-22
u. D. c. Bazar Closes.

Gadsden, December 2-(Special) 1.-The u- D. C. bazaar which has been in progress here several days for the pur- pose of raising funds for the construction of monument to perpetuate the heroism of Emma Sansom, was decided success in every particular. The merchants were very liberal indeed in their donations. and the people patronized the bazaar most gen. erously. Dinner and supper were both served, and the many booths were well patronized. The net receipts were s23o. which gives the chapter a total of $1027 .5o for the fund.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-22
Serious Disorders Reported.

st Petersburg December 2l.-t4;20 D. m-) The single telephone wire working 10 Moscow this evening brought grave re- norts of serious disorders and collisions between the troops and the populace. The Narshadney. formerly the Syn Ontechestva. and other secretly published papers which are being distributed py thousands to the workmen. are filled with inc most infammatory appeals, melting inc neople to an armed rebellion. Many Inf the articles are especially directed to inc army. which is implored not 10 shed the blood of the nation. One writer ad- dressing the soldiers said:
 Join us Rise with us. No power can stand against the people and army united"
 Demands Are Numerous.
 The strike call, in addition to making the regular demands for a constituent as- sembly. universal suffrage, the abolition of martial law. immunity of the prison and other features of the proletariat pro gramme. insists on the release of the inn prisoned members of the worlmen's coun- ell. the discharge of all political suits. acauieseence with the petitions of the army and navy, and of the railroad and postal telegraph employees for an increase of pay; the transfer of the land to the people, an eight-hour day and the aboli-
 
 (Continued on Second PaQel
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-22
New York Negroes Object.

New York negroes are up in arms against the proposed production of the "Ciansman" by Thomas Dixon, Jr., which is billed to appear In the metropolis short 1y. The negroes are sending out notices to every negro minister in the city ask ing them to preach next Sunday against morals, misrepresented and villifying the negro"
 They are preparing big mass meeting, to which Mayor Mcclellan and other lead ing citizens will be invited. The colored citizens protective league claims the mayor has the power to stop the per formance and cites the case of 'Sappho" as analogous.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-22
Canal Commissioners Will Prob
 ably D; Confirmed Later
EXECUTIVE SESSION QUIET
Nominations of General Davis and Gen eraI crozier to Succeed Themselves
 Were Postponed Until
 After the Holidays.

washington. December 21-especial)- It is taken here as a matter of course that the opposition to the confirmation Of Canal Commissioners Shonts. Magoon and Bishop will not result in their defeat. Be- fore they are confirmed, however, the pub lie will likely know d great deal more about canal matters than they now do. It will probably be close to the 1st of February before the Senate is ready to vote on the cases. As a majority confirms, it is assumed the administration can sum- mon that many members. The executive session today was comparatively quiet, though several senators added their pro- tests to the irregular methods pursued by Senator Willard in reporting the canal commissioners from the inter-oceanic canal committee.
 Combinations Are Postponed.
 Nominations of BrigadierGeneral Davis to be judge advocate general. and Brig Gen. William Crozier to be chief of ord nance of the army, both to succeed them- selves, were considered in executive ses- sion of the Senate today, but action was postponed until after the holidays.
 Senator w arfen, cndlrndn or the colii- mittee on military affairs, presented a let ter from Secretary of War Taft explain ing what had been termed a legal tech nica1ity against these officers succeeding themselves in the detail named in nomina- tons" At a recent meeting of the com mittee on military affairs, it was stated by several members that the law seemed to prohibit officers from accepting sec ond four-year detail of this character until they had again served in the line for three years A dispute in the committee pre- vented confirmation, and Chairman War ren called on Secretary Taft for his views, which, from the letter read today, ap- pears to justify the appointments. Sena- tor Pettus asked that the nominations go over until he had had an opportunity to examine the Secretary's statement.
 Taft Answers Question.
 In the letter of Senator Warren. Secre- tary Taft answers affirmatively the ques- tion as to whether these officers com missions should date from 1901, the date in each case when the officers were ori- ginally appointed chiefs of the judge ad- vocate's department, and the ordnance department. As to General Davis, the Secretary holds the rank of an appointee relates back to the date of the vacancy in the office to which the nomination is made. In each case, however. the Sec retary says 1t is clear the intent of the army reorganization act of 1901 that only officers below the rank of colonel shall be ineligible to reappointment for con tinuous staff service, and .lat in case of heads of bureaus. there Is no prohibi- tion whatever as to reappointment.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-22
To Improve Telephone systems.

New York, December 2l-Stockholders of the American Telephone and Telegraph company today authorized the directors of the company to issue s15o.0o0,0o0 in con- vertible bonds. The money Is to be used in extensions and betterments of the sys- tenn maintained by the company in the United States. The directors are to issue the bonds from time to time as they shall decide, but not below par
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-22
Can Not Confirm Reports.

New York December H.-Mr. Mendoza Colombian minister to this country, who is in New York said tonight that he had received a communication from his government which did not confirm the dis patch to Washington. The minister re- fused to make public his communication.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-22
Expect Fever to Disappear.

Havana. December 21.--A report issued by the health department today shows that the number of cases of yellow fever under treatment has been reduced to five The department expects the fever to dis onpear entirely at an early data
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-22
CONGRESS RESTS
 UNTIL JANUARY 4
Senator Gearin of Oregon Is Sworn In as Successor to Senator
 Mitchell.

Washington, December 2l.-There was but a ten-minute session of the House today. when the holiday adjournment un- til January 1 was taken.
 Two speeches. one attacking and the other defending the cotton crop estimates of the government. were to have been made, but permission was grantd to print these speeches in the Record.
 Mr. Payne announced:
 "Our oratory seems to have been ex- hausted" and without extending further invitation to any member for speech, the adjournment was declared by the speaker.
 Washington, December 21.-After a ses- sion of little more than an hours dura- : ton the Senate today adjourned until January 1.
 Only half of the session was legislative in character. and the greater .>.,t of that time was devoted to discussion of the reg ularity of the credentials of MT. Gearin. who succeeds MT. Mitchell as Senator from Oregon. The credentials were ac- cepted and Mir. Gearin was sworn In.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-22
PLOT IS FORMED ID
 GET RID OF REYES
More Trouble is Reported from Bogota
PROMINENT MEN ARRESTED
Colombian Legation Expresses Surprise and Believes That Any lnsurrec. tonary Movement Will
 Not Be Successful.

Washington, December 21.-Ihe state de- partment has received information by ca- ble that an attempt was made in Bogota yesterday to dispose of President Reyes as an incident to a plot of overturning the government In consequence there were many arrests of prominent men, who were to be tried by courtmartial to- day. Among them was a foreign minister of the cabinet and five leaders on the opposition. No details are given of the reason for the attempt on General Reyes.
 The officials at the Colombian legation tonight expressed surprise at the news from Bogota, as they state 1t is the first intimation they have had that there Is any feeling against President Reyes. MT Torriana. secretary of the legation, who Minister Mendoza, who is in New York. said tonight:
 Reported Plot Causes Surprise.
 ''l am at loss to understand the req sons for any plot against President Reyes. He is extremely popular and during his administration as President has made every effort to appease the members of
  is practically only one party in Colombia now, though of course there will always develop elements of opposition in all gov ernments. The constitutional convention held some time ago made provision where by General Reyes was to hold the office of President for period of ten years, after which time 1t was to be filled by the incumbent for a period of four years, as in the United States. Any revolutionary movement against General Reyes has no prospect of success. Of this l am confi- dent. The President is popular with the army. and although the soldiers are en- gagged in work on the public roads, they are always within available distance, so that they can be called on in any emerg- ency.
 There was nothing In dispatches re- gently received to indicate dissatisfaction with the government, or with the forma- ton of any plot to overthrow it."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-22
insurance Examiners HavcNaught
 To Do With Methods
HENDRICKS ON THE STAND
Extravagant Management and Nepot- ism Do Not Come Within Juris- diction of the New York
 Commission.

New York, December H.-Franeis Hem ricks. superintendent of insurance of New York state was the chief witness before the legislative committee of insurance investigation today, and testified that the examinations of the insurance com panies by his department were made to ascertain only the solvency of the com panles, and that no investigation is made into the extravaganza of the manage ment of a company. or into the salaries paid to officers, so long as the company is able to pay it's obligations. No load ing on the premiums, the advancing of loans to agents, or loans to directors. The employment of kinspeople of officers in high positions Is not inquired into. This has long been the custom of the department, MT. Hendricks said and he de- clared further that he personally knew little or nothing about the various OK aminations made, as they were entrusted to Isaac Vanderpoel, chief examiner of the department.
 him as to any legislation which he had suggested as a remedy to any defects fin the laws governing insurance compa- nles, he stated that no measure that he had ever presented had ever been passed In either house of the legislature. Neither had any bill been passed against his recommendation
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-22
Memory Falls Him.

MT. Henricks said that his department spent last year about s137,0oo and re- ceived in fees and payments s2s7726 which was paid into the state treasury To make examinations that would bring out such information as had been gathered by the legislative committee, the witness said would require ten more examiners and an additional appropriation of from s5O.ooO to s60000 He thought, however. he could get the appropriation if he asked for 1t.
 MT Hendricks knew nothing of the large legal expenses of New York insurance companies the Equitable and Mutual Life as they had never been called to his attention.
 He had never heard of the wash sales of securities nor the year-end loans of the Equitable to clerks of Kuhn, Loeb X Co., nor had these ever been brought to his attention.
 Mir Hughes asked:
 Do you require the companies tol pre- sent a detailed statement of their legal disbursements showing the names of law yers who had money and what they had it for-has the department ever required that?'
 ..No do not think so."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-22
Prussia Gets the Data.

Now we find information of that sort being furnished to Prussia and not to the New York state department. Here, for example, have the statement of tho legal expenses of the New York life for 1S9S giving in detail the amounts paid, aggregatng sl97.727.Ss, and the names of the recipients as furnished to the Prus- sian government.
 Now did the New York state depart ment ever have a statement like that?"
 No"
 "From the New York Life or any other company"
 'T think not"
 Well you have got total in the case of the New York Life and the point Is that 1t had not been the tradition of the department or the ordinary practice to require anything more than state ment of so much for legal expenses, and so long as they had enough left 10 meet their liabilities with such a margin, that in the ordinary expectations of life would not be exceeded. why you would not take up the question of the details of their disbursements"
 q don't know what report they make. Of course I am not accurate; 1t is pos sible they did not put them all in the legal expenses they reported"
 Vanderbilt Takes Stand.
 Isaac Yanderpoel. chief examiner of the insurance department. followed MT. Hem dricks and detailed what was done at an examination. He said that practi- caly 1t was a comparison of the com pany's sworn report with the books. He had never known of wash sales nor the year-end loans He had never known the salary of President McCurdy Of the Mutual nor had he ever inquired what the salaries were in one lump sum In this account, and he had never taken steps to find out if these money had been paid for that purpose. The large expendi- lures in the supply department had never excited curiosity, although the vouch- CTS had been looked at at random. These were stamped with the approval Of the ex- penditure committee and he had never questioned their legitimacy of purpose. The vouchers for the s25,00O payments to the chairman of the expenditure commit tee he had seen but never interested himself otherwise. MT. Vanderpoel said all examinations were conducted in this manner. that he never tried to go back of voucher or a book entry. This is a custom that has prevailed ever since he had been in the department,