davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1906-12-23
H.P. NICHOLS TOO HARSH
So the Board of Estimate Is Likely
to Reduce Him in Rank.

Harry p Nichols chief engineer OF the bureau
Of franchises connected with the Finance Depart
ment. is to bs reduced in rank. and will become
assistant OF Nelson P. Lewis chief engineer
OF the Board OF Estimate. Controller Metz an
nounced yesterday that the franchise bureau is TO
be reorganIzed Apparently Il is to be reorganized
for the purpose Of making Mr. Nichols less poten-
tial than he IS at present
Mr. Nichols on Friday sent a letter to the Board
OF Estimate and Apportionment asking for an in
crease OF 5000 in salary and n change in his title
70 'chef OF the bureau Of franchises'' Controller
Meta and President McGowan Of the Board of
Estimate. were appointed a committee to consider
the application Instead OF being raised Il looks
now. already stated. as If Mr.. Nichols will be
lowered a peg
feeling OF hostility Mr.. Nichols has been
growing in the Board Of Estimate for long time.
He is regarded as a very sharp man, and there
is no questioning his all-around severity toward
companies asking for franchises. Controller Metz
thinks that Ar. Nicholss attitude has been detri-
mental to the citys real Interests. in that he has
prevented many franchises from being granted
that should have been granted long ago.
1t has been the custom for franchise application
to be turned over TO Mr.. Nicholss bureau with in
structions to report on terms. The terms. as re-
ported by Mr.. Nichols. in almost every instance
have been rigorous The terms he suggested for
the New York Connecting Railways franchise
practically sidetracked that grant for two years.
He has bitterly opposed grants TO the Brooklyn
RaI3d Transit thus mourning all the opposition
that that corporation can inspire. There is no
but rather feeling that he has dominated the
franchise situation ana that less radical man
should make up the initial report on terms for
franchises
Doubtless Mr.. Nichols will report hereafter TO
Nelson p Lewis, chief engineer OF the Board of
Estimate and Apportionment.
MIR. Metz asked about the impending change
last night Mr. Nichols is fine engineer and
has done some good work in his bureau" said the
Controller, but il is question whether his
vices as skilful is required in his position.
His course has operated In some instances,
certain in hinderlng the working out Of entirety
legitimate projects. What is needed is fair treat
ment those who want franchises and willing
10 pay fair price for them The franchise bureau
viii be reorganized."
New-York tribune., 1906-12-23
RACE ISSUE IN CUBA.
Negroes Demand Many Offices
Strike at CGmaguey.

Havana, Dec. 22-GeneraI Estenoz. an infusn-
tial Negro leader. has issued a manifesto in
which he says that Negroes constituted 30 per
cent of the insurgent army in the last revolt.
and that 73 per cent OF the revolutionists were
Liberals The Negro voters now demand. ac-
cOrding to the manifesto. three Senators. forty
Representatives, one provincial Governor and
propoFtionate representation in all the govern
ment departments. including the armed forces
The Negroes refuse longer to act the part OF
catspaws. and insist upon full proportion OF
the honors and Offices won by their valor, else
they win not continue to support the Liberals.
Governor MagOon has signed decree which
will become operative en- January 10 permit
ting the Commercial Gable Company OF Cuba TO
land cables from Key West This permission
is given for indefinite period, but II IS noe
TO be construed as the granting OF monopctS,
The Cuban government reserves the righl 70
suspend the permission or TO take possession o.
the installation whenever il may deem suSH
action necessary for the protection or puo"S
interests.
Another decree exemptIng the salaries OF an
public officials from attachment also has oesh
signed by the Governor. -.
Governor MagOOn was Informed to-day ov tho
Cuban Railway OF a serious strike in It's shops
at CamagUey. the company at the same time u
questing military protection. The Governor uSs
referred the matter 20 General Rodriguez tNS
commander OF the rural guard
New-York tribune., 1906-12-23
W. S. JACKSON At WORK.
Nese attorney General Makes T5co
AppOintments-Fails to See Hearst.

After many and varied sessions with the follow
of the Independence League and Democratic
banners. W s. Jackson. Attorney General-eect. an
nounced two appointments he had made. one OF
them being that OF his chief assistant in this city
All day j. lg the coming Attorney General made
strong efforts 20 get into communication with w.
r. Hearst At midnight, however. he still
telephonng 10 Mr. Hearst with hopes Of seeing
him to-day.
The local Office OF the Attorney General after
Sew Years viii be in charge Of James A. Donnelly.
ar. Donnelly is associated with Mr.. Hearst's dear
friend ". Bourke Cochran. His other appoint
Inent, also for the local Office, Joseph D. Edel-
son. the East Side lawyer and politician.
lr DOnnellys friendship with Bourke Cochran
stood him in good stead once before. Thanks to
Mr. COckran's favor. he the Tammany repre-
sentative from the 4th District IN 1895 But when
he supported the gold standard. while Tammany
came out for silver he thought have
Snitted political suicide. But Mr. Cochran still
stood his friend and took him into his office. He
was there only a few months when he was ap-
pointed chief stenographer OF the Surrogate's
Court 20 MI the vacancy made by the death Of
Edward F. Donnely, who had held that Office for
nearly thirty years. After holding this office for
come time be went back 10 the law and Mr..
Coclrans Office
New-York tribune., 1906-12-23
BROOKLYN CARS CRASH.
Conductor Running One from Rear
Platform-Many Hurt.

Two trolley cars ran into each other at Greene
and Vanderbilt avenues. Brooklyn. at o'clock
last night. injuring man seriously and hurt
ing eleven other persons less severely. Solomon
MeyerOwitz. the conductor of Putnam avenue
car. which being run from the rear plat
form because of an accident to the front con-
troler box. was crushed between the cars. and
was taken TO St. Johns Hospital in an uncou
scious condition. The other injured persons
were attended by ambulance surgeons from the
Cumberland Street and St. Johns hospitals. and
then went home. Priests from the Roman
Catholic Cathedral across the street. assisted
the ambulance surgeons in caring for the in
juTed.
Car s474 of the Putnam avenue line was
being run south through Vanderbilt avenue with
about twenty passengers on board Through
some misunderstanding of the signals from the
conductor. who stood on the front platform. the
car was started across the tracks in front of a
Greene avenue car, which was crowded with
Christmas shoppers. The front platform OF the
Putnam avenue car was demolished and the
car was thrown from the tracks
New-York tribune., 1906-12-23
HOME AND NlLY LOST
Wife and T7go Children Die in
MYSTERIOUS Fire.

Paterson. N J.. Dec. % (SpeciaD.-A fire IN
which three lives we're lost this morning at
Riverdale about ten miles from here. Is be-
neved to have been set to cover up murder. rob
berry or some other heinous crime. The fire de-
stroyed the home of Louis Macwithey and killed
his wife and two children The dead;
MACwIIHEY, Mrs. E L. thirty years old
MACwITHEY. Elizabeth. four years old
MACwITHEY. Helen. six years old
Mr.. Macwithey is president of the International
Silver Plating Company. of Maiden Lane. New
York. He was detained in the city last night
by the rush of the holiday trade and Mrs. Mac
withey was left alone with her two children
The Macwithey home was one of the handsomest
and most costly In the village.
Mrs. Marcus Smith. neighbor. discovered the
fire at a. m. Looking out Of her bedroom win
dow she flames coming from the window Of
the bedroom on the second floor, occupied by
Mrs. Macwithey and the children. She out
of the house in her night robe and alarmed the
neighbors. They few and far between. but
the Butler volunteer fire department was finally
summoned.
Meanwhile, efforts were made to reach Mrs
Macwithey's bedroom. but the rescuers were
driven back by the flames. which soon enveloped
the entire building. The fremen met with no
better success. They were endeavoring to reach
the bedroom by means OF ladder when the
roof caved in crashing through the two floors
into the cellar. Several hours later the bodies
of the mother and children were found.
Mr. Macwithey was summoned from New
York. When he found that his family and home
had been wiped out he became almost crazed
with grief. Neighbors led him from the scene
OF the tragedy and summoned physician.
Across the street from the burned house lives
Mr.. Macwithey's father. He is eighty years old
and he was the first physician in the village
Too feeble to leave his home, he was compelled
to gaze the destruction of his sons property
without being able to render aid.
The fact that the fire seemed to have started
on the second floor arOuses suspicion. There
was fire in the house except the water heat
ing system in the cellar. Mrs. Macwithey and
fore the fire started as she was accustomed TO
retire early when she did not expect her hus-
band home
County Physician Mcbride has ordered an in
quest,
New-York tribune., 1906-12-23
RAILROAD THREATENS AMITYvILLE.
New Line Will Go Round Village if It Does
Not Get Free Franchise

The village board of Amityville. Long Island.
and the Long Island Railroad are at loggerheads
over a franchise for the proposed cross-island
trolley line to pass through the village. Owing
TO the expense of constructing trolley through
many miles of country where It will collect no
fares for years to come. the Long Island Rail-
road which is to build the cross-sland trolley
between Huntington and Babylon in the spring.
has asked for free franchises. All save Amity-
vile have given the franchises gladly.
Amltyville is willing to give a franchise for
definite number Of years. but after that time
the road must pay to the treasury of the village
percentage Of its gross receipts. Without
breaking off its chickering's with Amityville. the
railroad has quietly secured a right Of way
north of the village, and now threatens to go
round If the franchise is not forthcoming 1t
is said that majority Of Amityville people sup
port the railroad.
New-York tribune., 1906-12-23

sntenoent's once that he win not ''get on" to
their dolnSs.
Conners has told Murphy that with control OF
She canal board he can make New York a
Democratic state IN two years and badly
cripple the Republican organization that IL will
not return 20 power in a decade The pair DO
not hope 10 work" Colonel Syrnonds further
than 10 get him busy with engineering prob
lens that he will not notice it when the states
snokehouse IS rsided and the hams are stolen.
Another feature OF the case is that no matter
what happens in the canal board. the Demo-
Gratis win be ready 20 charge responsibility for
rnisoeeds 70 Governor Hughes. II thevery and
grating should be carried on. and a Democratic
contractor should be caught with the goods" :"
the Murphy-Conners men win be ready 10 shout
that Governor Hughes is responsible. not the
canal board.
Meanwhile Governor-elect Hughes Is smiling
~ what is developing The apparent attempt
OF ''Fingy' Conners 10 work" him has its semi
humorous aspects. and Mr Hughes knows joke
when ne sees t.
Henry B. Hebert was seen last night and
asked about skene and Colonel symonds.
"T doubt" said Mr.. Hebert. 'ff Colonel sy-
monds would take the state superintendency II
~ were offered him. II is true that and others
have recommended him TO Governor-elect
Eaghes."
''What about Skene?" Mr. Hebert was asked.
did he come 10 you with suggestion concern
ing the sort OF that should be appointed?'
''Why," said Mr.. Hebert. "Skene is Demo-
crat. Isn't IL absurd to assume that Democrat
would take a hand in appointment TO be
made by a Republican GOVERNOR
did Mr.. Skene see you?"
Yes" said Mr.. Hebert, Il saw him and we
discussed the canal situation. but do not think
ba 70 f11a
proposition 20 appoint Colonel symonds. So far
as ] know he is a Republican. / think the
canal advisory board, of which he is a MEM
Der. contains three Republicans and two Demo-
Gratis. I surprised that anything should
be known OF our visit TO Mr.. Hughes in behalf
Sf Colonel symonds. I think he is a high class
man. but ] think it would require special legis-
lsfion for him TO be detached from the govern
caent service and transferred to this state"
New-York tribune., 1906-12-23
COMPARES PRESIDENTS.
DR.. McBee Says Washington and
Roosevelt Are Mach Alike.

Orange N J., Dec % CsneciaI).-In celebration of
Forefathers' Day the New England Society of Or
ange held fits annual dinner tonight In the wom-
ans Clubhouse. Wilson Farrand. president of the
society. presided. and the blessing asked by
the Rev. Charles T. WaIkley rector OF Grace
Church. The speakers were the Rev. DR.. William
NJ. Lawrence, OF the North Orange Baptist Church.
who spoke on THE Spirit Of New England in Our
National LIFE: Congressman Charles n. Fowler,
whose topic Currency Reform: Homer
Davenport, who talked about "a Pilgrim in the Far
East and Far West; Franklin Spencer Edmonds.
of Philadelphia. whose toas: 1.-THE Pilgrims in
the Land of William Penn" and DR.. Slas McBee.
editor of THE Churchman. whose toast THE
President of the United States"
DR.. McBee compared George Washington and
Theodore Roosevelt declaring that both Presidents
had shown a creative genius in dealing with new
conditions that both had accepted the Constitution
as a living instrument and not dead letter. and
that to a degree unequaled they had been loyal to
the American people, although he said 1t was not
his purpose to compare persons but rather TO en-
phasize conditions existing in the time of Washing
ton and now and to call attention TO certain ilIu
minating parallels between the two times. He
said
It is as impossible for Roosevelt it for
Washington to conceive of the preservation of lib
erty the permanency OF our government upon
AMY ohr han dean PoSg By ha
sistent and profound appeals tor an army ana
ceed in preserving neutrality, was but the neces.
sary and logical carrying out of his conception Of
President Roosevelt is fighting In his against
the abuses of public franchises granted in the
public interests and administered as a private mo-
nopoly were recognized even In the earlier years
of our history by Washington. He said that the
defeat of principles would endanger the unity
of the nation and the liberty Of the people.
Chief Justice Marshall6 description of the abuse
heaped upon Washington for his exercise of the
treaty1naklng power sounds If it were intended
TO sum UP the criticism directed against President
Roosevelt for a presumed abuseof his prerogattves
1t is in the great controlling principles of their
lives that the likeness between the two men is
most striking. When the essential unity Of the
government Is under disCussiOn-that unity which
makes US TO be one people-both seem to speak to
us with the same convincing earnestness.
New-York tribune., 1906-12-23
BRUCATO BOY FOUND.
Kidnapped Child Picked Up in
BrOOkIgn.

George Brucato. the four-year-old boy who
was kidnipped sixteen days ago when his
way home to No. Sc Stanton street from school.
was found yesterday morning by Patrolman
Redmond at Rockaway and ST. Marks avenues.
Brooklyn, and taken to the Children's Society
In Schermerhorn street. Mrs. Howe. the ma
tron. identified the boy and telephoned to the
Eldridge street station that he had been found.
His father, Alphonse. rushed over to Brooklyn
George, George," he cried "these bad Scil-
tans, they steal my boy, curse them. Wish
there was a he'll big enough to burn all of themI
Let the little fellow sleep to morning." urged
Mrs. Howe but the father said the mothers
heart was breaking and insisted taking him
home. He wore the same clothes he had on the
day he was kidnapped. and also heavy shawl
around his shoulders
The remarkable feature of the case is the little
fellows refusal to speak, especially as he has
always been very talkative. The only thing he
DR.. Buffa, of No. 206 Chrystie street, said that
In his opinion the boy had been drugged and
that something had been done that paralyzed
MS vocal chords to q certain extent. Although
ne shows no signs of having been i'll treated.
Sergeant PetroSino of the italian bureau, says
there Is another side to the story.
Every effort his parents made to find out from
MN whom he had been with and where he was
met with no response except burst of tears.
Detectives at the Italian bureau believed that
the boy would be returned. and did not think
there was any danger of the execution Of the
threats 10 kill him unless certain amount of
money was paid for his release.
The theory of the police is that the boy
whose parents are poor, was stolen by one of
the gangs of blackmailers who have murdered
several wealthy Italians the East Side re-
Gently, with the hope that their efforts to col
lect money would be made easier If they could
show how easy II was to perpetrate a crime of
this kind and detection
New-York tribune., 1906-12-23
GET 12 MEN IN RAID.
Police Sag They Broke Up Old
Racing Game.

Twelve men. several Of whom have their pict-
ures In the rogues' gallery. according to the
police. were arrested in house IN West 55th
street, near Eighth atenue. last night, and
locked up in Police Headquarters as suspicious
persons The police say the twelve had made all
arrangements TO work off, the old racing game
on a man named Martin Winter OF No. 80 North
William street. It on Winters complaint
that the arrests were made. The police say
they found in the rooms occupied by the prison.
ers racing sheets. cards and blackboards. on
which were written alluring odds.
Some of the figures. it Is said. were "Fabet,
500 to L.; Cereal, 100000 to $4,000 etc.
Winter told the police he saw an advertisement
in a German paper which declared that by in
vesting small sum of money any person could
get $500 for every 81 invested. He answered
the advertisement. he says. and got letter
from a person who signed himself, Friedman.
No. 112 West S5th street" The letter was
written on Astor House stationary, Winter de-
clared Winter met Friedman last Thursday, he
said and in company with him went to a sup
posed poolroom in 5Oth street. near Eighth ave-
nue.. where he bet $50. When they left there
Friedman said he would take him to bigger
game. where "miIlionaires'' played. mentioning
several we'll known fnanciers.
All of this information Winter confided to IN
spector Mclaughlin. and the inspector did the
rest Yesterday afternoon Winter met Fried
man, who took him along 55th street, near
Eighth avenue, where they ran into who
afterward said he was Frank Parker. of No. 2O6
West 41st street. Parker is said to have invited
the two into a saloon, and while there TO have
passed Friedman a slip Of paper. When the
three came out detectives arrested them and
took them to the fifth street police station.
On Friedman. they say. they found the slip
of papersand on it was written 90. K, 312 West
55th street" This address they found to be a
boarding house kept by Mrs. d. Honigan. The
woman said that man giving his name as DR..
Gardiner had rented front room and rear par
lor. and that he had numerous callers whom sra
supposed to be patients.
The detectives raped on the door, but were
able to get no response. Griffith then went TO
the adjoining house. while Dunn and Larkiu
watched the front and Of No. 312. BY
climbing over a fence GTif1th gained entrance
to the rooms, in which were ten men. He let
the other detectives In, and all OF the men were
arrested. On table telephone instrument.
with no wires attached to II, found, they
say, well as numerous racing sheets. with
the names of unheard of horses The black
board. it is alleged, was one Of the walls.
New-York tribune., 1906-12-23
BIG COPPER DEALS REPORTED.
for Consolidation Of Superior
Properties Under Way.
[By relegraph 70 rhe rribuns. !

Calumet, Mich, Dec. 22-There are many re-
ports that big deals are about TO be closed in
the Superior copper country. big tract of
OntonagOn County land has been drilled and an
option given to some Fasteners. The Union
Copper Land and Mining Company has sold 400
acres at $4,000 to this group which is not as
yet identified.
The group headed by T. r. Cole and ]. D.
Ryan is reported to be working on a consolida-
ton Of the Hancock Consolidated and Quincy
1t already owns the Keweenaw company and
the Keweenaw Railway. Negotiations for
consolidation OF the Caldwell, Tecumseh and
Lasale and adjoining properties are under way
The Calumet and Hecla is expected TO take
these properties
New-York tribune., 1906-12-23
DOG GREATLY ATTACHED TO HIM.
Burglar Finds spaniels Hold Too Strong and
Gives Up to Police.

small spaniel the cause OF landing Martin
Kofsky, of jamaica in a police station early yes
terday morning. after Kofsky had tried TO enter
the home of Martin Rein. of No. Monitor street
WILLIAMSBURG Rein was awakened soon after
o'clock by the dog barking. Upon investigation
he found that a burglar at work in the base
ment. and. calling his son. he went down He
found the burglar making nasty exit through
the front window. with the dog attached 10 the
OF him
Rein followed, AMI after a chase OF a dozen
blocks the burglar halted, crying with pain from
the wounds inflicted by the dog. The noise of the
chase attracted the attention of several policemen
who reached the scene the burglar begging
to nave the dog called off. He arrested and
after spending the night In a cell of the Herbert
street police station arraigned in the Man
haitian avenue court where he held In bail
for further examination
New-York tribune., 1906-12-23
GIRL BURGLAR PUZZLES POLICE.

girl burglar. about seventeen years old. has
the detectives in Queens Borough puzzled as to
her identity and her whereabouts. She has been
robbing houses systematically for several weeks,
Yesterday she entered a public school in that
borough and carried off gold watch belonging
to a Miss Clayton. teacher I'm the kindergarten.
Other schools throughout that section have been
robbed also. presumably by the same burglar.
New-York tribune., 1906-12-23
LAW LEFT OUT AT REVISION.
Missouri Legislature Failed to Re-enact Con-
tributOry Negligence Statutes.
LBy Telegraph to The Tribune ]

Jefferson City No. Dec. 22.-Judge Burgess
in an opinion handed down in the Supreme
Court to-day. held to be invalid three sections
Of the 1899 statutes pertaining to contributory
negligence on the part of railroad companies in
suits for damages brought by employees. The
opinion says the statutes in question were not
re-enacted when the statutes underwent re-
vision In 1899. and that, although they have
their place in the law books, they not. as
matter of fact Of official record in the office of
the Secretary of State, not having passed the
Legislature at the revising session.
New-York tribune., 1906-12-23
RUNNING FIGHT WITH NEGROES.
Townsmen Pursue Murderer and Friends
Threats of Lynching Made.
TBy Telegraph 20 The TrIbune

Mount Olive, Miss, Dec. pa race riot broke
out here tonight following the killing OF A. NJ.
Buchanan the town marshal, by Wheeling King,
q Negro, whom the officer endeavored to arrest
ior disorderly conduct King escaped and was
aided IN his flight by his father and two
brothers.
The four Negroes. pursued by a white mob.
engaged in a running battle with revolvers. The
elder King and the TWO boys who aided the muir
oeE6r Were captured, after their ammunition was
exhausted. The mob later visited every Negro
house IN town in the search for Wheeling King
tnd all suspicious characters were arrested
Threats are made 10 lynch the three Negroes in
sail Al