davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-07-10
Freight Charges Are Unfair.

WASHINGTON, July 6.-Among the
petitions filed with the interstate
commerce commission today were
three from the city of Spokane against
the Oregon Railroad & Navig alton
company, the Northern Pacific rail.
way and the Great Northern railway,
setting out substantially the same
statement of facts.
IN the construction of its system Of
waterworks the city of Spokane used
au immense amount of steel And rivets
which had to be shipped from Pitts.
ourg, Pa, to Spokane. 1t is alleged
in the complaint that the different
railroads charged more for the ship.
ment of the material from Pitts burg
to Spokane than their tariff rates in.
dicated they would have charged on
shipments of the same material from
Pittsburg to Portland, Oregon, al.
though Spokane Is 300 miles nearer
to Pittsburg than is Portland.
The city demands repar alton from
the Oregon Railroad & Navig gatiou
company in the sum of $4,3l9, with
$3.50 attorneys fees; from the North
ern Pacific Railway company 90, 200
reparation and $500 attorneys fee:
and from the Great Northern Railway
company Sl2,SlS reparation and 81, 20(
attorneys fees.
The filing of this complaint is a re-
newal of tbs old fight between the
cities Of Spokane and Portland, which
recently was heard by the interstate
commerce commission in what il
known as the Spokane case.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-07-10
Help For Kansas Farmers.

Topeka, Kan, July Sin answer
to an appeal for harvest hands from
the farmers Of Kansas, General Man.
ager Hurley OF the Santa Fe issued an
order today which gives permission to
any of that company's trackmen to 60
to the harvest fields and work. Mr..
Hurley says the men are welcome to
90 if they choose and that they may
have their Jobs back as soon as they
are through with the harvest.
The business houses of Dodge City
are practically going to shut up shop
for the next two weeks. Merchants
have signed an agreement which al.
lows the clerks Of practically every
house in town to go to the assistance
of the farmers. who assert that unless
harvest hands can be secured at once
the wheat crop of Ford county will go
to waste.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-07-10
Fourth Of July Casualties.

CHICAGO, July 5.-Tne Tribune to-.
day says: Fortv.seven men, women
and children are dead and 2,l53
manned, lacerated or burned as a re-.
suit Of yesterdays excess OF patriot
ism in the United States. The mum.
Der Of dead does not include five
drowned during the day.
The roster of the dead is four more
than last years mortalities. A year
ago thirty.,hree persons were dead on
the morning after the Fourth of July,
not including five drowned.
Unfortunately, the death roll will
increase day by day, and even the
late days Of August will witness addi.
tions to it. Tetanus, that grim after
ma.h OF gunpowder wounds, claims
its victims by scores and even by hun.
dreds for weeks after the Fourth.
New York leads all the cities of the
United States in the number of killed
and injured. Ten persons are dead
in that city, while six more are so
seriously hurt that it is expected they
will die within few hours. At the
New York hospitals 423 injured per-
sons were treated. No record was
made OF the number of dispensary
cases cared for. The police doubtless
averted a greater casualty list by ar.
resting 42S men and boys for carry.
ing weapons. There were l16 fires in
Greater New York during the day.
These figures break all Fourth OF July
records for the big metropolis.
Pittsburg, Pa, ran New York q
close second in the grim race, nine.
teen persons yielding up their lives on
the altar of frenzied patriotism.
Chicago, although the second city,
added but two TO the nations total of
dead. Springfield, Ill.,, supplied three
victims, Chatham, Ill.,, two,. and Alb.
erdeen, S. D., two. No other town or
city in the country gave up more than
one OF its own to death.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-07-10
Millions For Fireworks.

New YORK, July At will cost be.
tween fifteen and twenty million dol.
lars for young America to show his
patriotism today. This for fireworks
alone, without the counting in the loss
by fires and the price of bandages
and arnica. The trade in fireworks
this year has been a record. breaker.
Representative fireworks dealers
along Park Place, who handle most of
the trade, said today that New York .
fireworks bill this year would come
close to $1,000, 900, while the remand
er of the country would bring the
total to nearly ten times that figure,
at q moderate estimate. While the
old.fashioned crackers still hold their
place of suprem scy in the heart of the
small boy, there have also been in.
vented in late years innumerable other
ways to burn up money.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-07-10
New Lands In South 0ako ota.

OMAHA, July 3.-The passenger de-
partment of the Chicago & Northwest.
ern railroad was today advised that
the government reclamatio expects
to turn water into the irrig alton works
at Belle Fourche, s. D., in the Black
Hills, July 4. Townsites have been
selected by the government represeu-
tatives and the Belle Fourche valley
expects great developments under the
service which the irrig alton project
now being completed will provide.
The drst passenger train over the
new extension Of the Northwestern line
into the Rosebud country reached
Gregory a few days ago. The new
town is very active and settlers are
coming into the new country and TAX
ing up homesteads in large mem bers.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-07-10
ROCKEFELLER IN COURT,
President Of Standard Oil Company
Was An Unsatisfactory Witness.

CHICAGO, July 6.-John D. Rookie
TELLER, president Of the Standard Oil
company Of New Jersey, occupied the
witness stand In the United States dis.
trict court today while Judge Landis
piled him with questions regarding the
financial strength and the business
methods Of the corpor alton of which
he is the head. Mr.. Rockefeller was
. very willing, and an equally unsst.
isfactory, witness. He was ready to
tell all that he knew, but he said that
he knew PRACTICAL nothing. The net
result of his examin alton was that he
believed that, during the years 1908,
1904 and 1905, the period covered by
the indictments on which the Satada ard
Oil company of Indiana was recently
convicted, the net profits of the Stand
ard Oil company Of Indiana were ap.
proxim ately 40 per cent on an out.
standing capitaliz alton OF sl00, 900, 900,
The investig alton held today by
Judge Lands was instituted by him
for the express purpose of determining
whether or not the Standard Oil COM
pany of Indiana, which was convicted
of violation of the law, was really
owned by the New Jersey; whether the
Union Tank Line, whose cars were
used for the shipments made in viola.
tiou OF the law, was similarly owned;
and also to obtain an idea of the
financial resources OF the convicted
corporation, in order to intlict fine
proportionate to the offense aud the
assets Of the convicted company.
1t was stated by officers of the
Stand ard Oil company of New Jersey
that 1t owned the greater part Of the
stocks of both the Union Tank Line
and Standard Oil company OF indiana.
Specific figures ss to the earnings of
the parent corporation were given by
Charles NJ. Pratt, its secretary, and
they were close to the estimate given
by MIR. Rockefeller.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-07-10
Death List Is Increased.

CHICAGO, July 6.-With the grim
returns still coming in, the numb OF
Fourth of July casu alties for 1907 has
eclipsed all records made by The Tri.
bune in the last nine years. The total
number of dead is SO.
The total number OF injured at mid
night is 3,SO7.
This total eclipses all records in the
nine years.
As usual, fireworks claimed the
largest number Of victims, l, ,724. The
victims Of cannon, gunpowder, fire.
arms and toy pistols are in relative
proportion.
The death roll promises to mount
higher as the days go by. Already
tetanus is beginning its deadly work,
the death of one victim from lockia
being reported.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-07-10
OIL MACNATES SUMMONED.
Court Wants Information Regarding
Finances Of Their Companies.

CHICAGO, July 5.-Accompanied by
his brother. William Rockefeller,
John D. Rockefeller, president OF the
Stand ard Oil company of New York,
will appear before Judge K. NJ. Lam
dis in the United States district court
at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning. 1t
is supposed that H. Il. Rogers also
will be in court. The addition of
William Rockefeller and the possible
addition OF H. n. Rogers to the list
OF representatives. Of the Stand ard Oil
company that will be questioned as to
the supposed secrets Of the corpora
tion became known to District Attor-
ney Sims and the other local agents
OF the department Of justice tonight.
A telegram announcing that William
Rockefeller was on his way to Chicago
and that II. Il. Rogers had returned
from Europe aud had been notified
that he was wanted in Judge Landis'
court, was received by the district at.
torney from United States Marshal
Henkle or New Ork.
WASHINGTON, July ST John D.
Rockefeller opens his mouth to talk
of the Standard Oil company before
Judge Lands in the federal court in
Chicago he will bathe himself in an
immunity bath and ever after he will
be immune from any crim;na! prose.
cution which the department of justice
may desire to bring against him for
violations of the law committed by the
big trust.
This Is the statement made by a aman
10 the department of justice. 1t is
stated that Attorney General Bona
parte had even hoped that the search
for Rockefeller would be fruitless.
The department. realized that before
Judge Lands could impose any part
of the possible $40, 900, 900 fine against
the company for its $4,000 rebates he
must find out the holdings and prop.
erty of the company. 1t is for this
purpose that Rockefeller has been
summoned.
If be testifes be will be in the same
position as the packers who told Of
their business and its conditions and
we're granted immunity from punish
ment for violations of the antitrust
laws. While the department of jus.
tice and the trust busters were not in
sympathy with the chase for Rookie
feller they could do nothing, as it was
impossible to dictate to Judge Lands.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-07-10
Menaced BY Missouri River.

KANSAS CITY, July 5. - Elwood
Kan, opposite st. Joseph, a town OF
about 1000 inha abitants. is in danger
OF being destroyed. The homes OF
nearly 100 persons have been moved
back from the waters edge and many
acres OF ground have been swep,
away.
Every man, woman and child in Ell.
wood became house mover recently
and the supply did not equal the de-
mand. Aid was summoned from ST
Joseph and half the houses in Elw~oc
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-07-10
Shippers Want Damages.

PORTLAND, July 6.-From present
indications large part of the next
term of the circuit court of Multnomah
county will be taken up with the hear.
ing of suits against the Oregon Rail
road & Navigation Warehouse com.
pauv brought suit to recover about
$50, 900 because of the failure of this
railroad to haul the wheat crop OF
1904. Later a great damage suit was
filed by Kerr, Clifford & Co. The
company asks damages aggreg ating
500, 900 from the Oregon Railroad &
Navigation company for half a dozeu
reasons.
The prayer for an award states thai
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-07-10
FIVE YEARS FOR SCHMITZ.
Mayor Of San Francisco Gets Heavy
Sentence For Grating.

SAN FRANCISCO, July 6.-Superior
Judge Dunno at 10 o'clock this morn
ing sentenced Mayor Eugene E.
Schmitz to Eve years Imprisonment iu
San Quentin penitentiary for the
crime Of extorting 1,l75 from French
restaurant keepers of San Francisco,
Of which crime he was convicted by .
jury June l3. AS the last words of
the sentence fell from the judges lips
the great crowd that had stood
throughout the dram attic scene sent up
q thunderous cheer.
"Good for you,'' shouted man 10
the back part OF the court room. His
ejaculation was echoed and re.echoed
by one after another OF the spectators.
Several threw their hats into the air.
Others scrambled upon chairs to look
over the shoulders Of the crowd. The
greatest confusion prev allied.
In speaking of Schmitz's case Judge
Dunno commented upon the fact that
the prisoner had been Iraised to the
highest Office within the gift of the
people of the city.
Schmitz interrupted him saying: II
am not here to be humiliated." He
was trembling with rage and intense
hatred flashed from his eyes a. he
continued: ~ am an American citi-
zen, not out here beggingi leniency
from your honor or any other man.
am here merely to secure my sen.
tence.' Judge Dunno attempted to
proceed, but had not gone far when
Schmith broke in again.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-07-10

were upon improvised rollers, headed
toward the railroad right of way on
the opposite side Of town. Most of
the families left their property in their
houses and continued to live in them
as they were rolled along. However,
some we're given such lively chase by
the encro aching current that their be.
longings we're taken to places Of safety
while they we're laboring to save their
buildings.
The work Of rescue did not stop at
night or for rain. Some residents
worked without sleep for nights. Or.
chards, gardens, trees, fences and
outhouses have tumbled into the
stream, but there has been no loss Of
life
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-07-10
Two Millions In Postofice.

PORTLAND, July GA specia to the
Oregoniau from Seattle says that s2,.
100000 in gold from Fairbanks to
Seattle is lying in the postoftice at
Skagway because the Alaska Steam.
ship company's Dolphin aud the
Pacific Coast company's line City Of
Seattle refused to accept it a. regis.
tered mail. Both boats sailed away
and left the gold in the keeping of the
postmaster, who is frantically endea-
voring to find some way of getting rid
of his responsibility for the dust.
There are two big truckloads of pack.
ages of gold in the Skagway post.
Office.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-07-10

the Oregon Railroad & Navigation
company in 1904 and 1905 solicited
grain shipments and promised to have
abund ant facilities on hand to trans
port grain to the east and elsewhere.
Relying on these promises, the plain
tiffs state they sold large shipments 70
eastern brokers, packers and elev atov
men and millers aud then found it im-
possible to obtain cars for the deliv-
cry Of shipments - promised. It is
also alleged the price Of wheat de-
cltned before the Oregon and Wash
inRton crop could be marketed and
1t was deteriora ated by delays.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-07-10
Stolen Mail Sacks Recovered.

LANDER, Wyo., July 3.-Two mail
sacks stolen in a stage holdup near
Myersville in February, 1906, have
been recovered by postoftice inspectors
and letters, of which there were sew.
eral hundred, have been sent on to
their destin alton. The pouches were
taken by robbers who held up the reg.
ular stage. The registered letters were
hidden in q cave. Inspectors have
worked upon the case ever since the
robbery. The outlaws are still at
large
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-07-10
new LAWS IN EFFECT.
Some Of Them Promise Great 6ene.
fit II Properly Enforced.

WASHINGTON, July 4.-Numerous
acts passed by the Legislatures Of the
various states during the past winter
and spring went into effect the frst Of
this month. A number of them are of
q more or less radical char acter, and
many of them are directed against the
opera alton OF trusts and bucketshops,
while others provide for the regula-
tion of railways and insurance com.
psnies. Still others are decidedly Of
the freak order.
In q half q dozen states the two.cent
passenger rate and maximum freight
rate laws come into operation today.
In Iowa an anti-pass law goes into
force.
The new local option law of Illi-
nois, which goes into force today, is
expected to close hundreds of saloons,
especially in the rural districts.
In South Carolina, q new ten.hour
labor law affecting cotton mills goes
into oper alton. For the present the
mills will be permitted to maintain a
schedule of 81 hours a week, but on
January l. the 6O-hour schedule will
go into effect.
The measures enacted by the last
session of the Texas legislature are
not to come into force until July IL.
The most important of the new laws
IN tho ono Ctor otato mn tho ono ~
most general interest, is that which
requires the life insurance companies
doing business in the state to invest
IS per cent. of the reserve on Texas
business in Texas securities and de.
posit them with the state treasurer. A
number of the big insurance com.
panies have decided to withdraw from
Texas rather than comply with the
new law.
Another measure passed by the last
Texas legislature entities a traveller
to have top sheet Of minimum
length" of nine feet, and any innholder,
lodging house keeper, or sleeping car
proprietor who fails to comply with
the law is liable to q fine.
The so-called public utilities bill,
which becomes law in New York to-.
day, is one of the most far-reaching
reform measures ever passed by an
American Legislature. 1t puts under
direct state control every public SER
vice corporation, great or small, with
the exception of the telephone and tele.
graph. Under the new law four OF the
most important state commissions
pass out of existence.
The same law prohibits the giving
OF free passes except in few limited
instances. It provides also that no
franchise shall be capitalized in excess
of the amount actually paid to the
state as considerati for the grant OF
the franchise.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-07-10
Colony Is Breaking.

TACOMA, July 5.--Home colony, es.
tablished by anarchists on Henderson
bay. about ten years ago, is reaking
up Members are reported to be quiet
ly leaving since Emma Goldman visit
ed the colony few weeks ago. The
co.only owns 2l9 acres, divided into
two acre tracts, but all Of them have
never been occupied. There has been
trouble several times, resulting in
members departing, but they later re-
turued.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-07-10
Bank Funds Are Missing.

New YORK, July 3. - Detectives
throughout the United States are
searching today for Chester B.
Runya an, paying teller of the Windsor
Trust company who, the directors al.
lege. is missing with 800, 415 in cash.
The case is being handled by private
detectives. George Young, a director
OF the trust company, confirms the re-
ports of the defalcation which the de.
tectives say is one Of the most remark.
able ever reported. j.
Runyan is accused of having placed
500, lis in currency in suitcase last
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-07-10
Defy Nebraska Law.

LINCOLN, July 5.-Nebraska express
companies agents today we're notified
by New York headquarters to disobey
the new rate law taking effect today
reducing rates 25 per cent. The notice
means legal battle.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-07-10

LIVINGSTON, July s.-Jesse Davis,
laborer, who was trying to beat his
way out OF the yards in this city this
afternoon, was instantly killed by be.
ing caugh. between two cars of ium-
Der. Three companions had a q arrow
escape from death.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-07-10

Saturda az aud departed after haking
hands with his associates. Ruuyan,
1t is said, did not even go to his apart.
ment to bid goodbye to his wife. to
whom he had been married for five
years. Runyan was man of exem.
plary habits so far as known.
The independent., 1907-03-07
AN Ia HUME TRUST.

1t was but few days since that
the kilograms from Chicago announced
the arrest in that city of the chair
man of the association of manufacture
ers of school and church furniture at
the instance of special agent of the
department of justice to answer to a
charge that he is the head of an illegal
combination to control prices.
Which leads to the hope that the
government has started out to look
after the welfare of the public schools
and that it may in time get around to
one of the most monstrous and de-
spicable trusts Of them all, the school
book trust. This is combination that
has waxed fat at the expense OF the
educational interests of the nation for
tions of which government has thus far
offered but incipient protest. 1t has
been one of the most profligate inves-
tors in the achievements of the legis-
lative lobby. and it has lent it's sup
port to every lobby-supported measure
in history.
Millions annually have been gath
cred as tribute from the children of
the nation, and thousands expended in
corrupting legislators, school officials
and educators. Now and then protest
has been made against its exactions,
but it is history that the man whose
audatity permitted him to make such
an attack has been short-lived as a
public servant and that the book trust
sooner or later erected a political
headstone for him to notify the world
at large that the man who had dared
TO oppose IL was no more.
The exactions of this concern are
still being levied and It's nefarious
work is going on from day to day. II
would be safe to wager that 1t now
has its paid representative right here
I'm Lincoln watching the provisions OF
every bill introduced during the aes-
sion. and that It's care Is being excrted
10 500 that no bin Is suffered to pass
that will interfere with It's clnch.
1t viii be day of rejoicing when
the announcement viii come that In
addition TO going after the school fur
niturc trust. the government has also
determined Ia put an end 20 the cxar-
tions OF the school book trust. the most
heartless of the many that have dis
graccd this country during the past
| twenty or thirty ycarA
The independent., 1907-03-07
GET TOGETHER.

When railroad presidents appeal to
the people it is good sign. 1t is
sign that conditions are no longer such
that said president can give or issue
orders concerning public matters and it
is done. President Elliott of the North
ern Pacific road is the author of
booklet called '"The People and the
Railroads." in which he tries to get
the railroads and the people ON COM
mon ground. He gives his version Of
the car shortage, explains the financial
sympathy and support while the roads
try to make their facilities equal the
demands upon them. "The big task"
he says, can be performed only by the
laying aside of old differences the cele-
bration of a new compact of anity, the
hearty pull together Of the two part
ners and allies, the people themselves
and the railroads"
This is good, and but one thing re-
mains to be done before the compact
can be made. The roads must first lay
down their arms, that is to say their
free passes and their political ma
chinery. Then they must adopt a
policy Of frankness, taking the public
into their confidence, so that people
may judge for themselves whether they
are being fairly treated This done
peace is possible, and there is no dan
ger that the public will be less fair
with the roads than it wants the roads
to be with the public.