davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-18
JUSTICE TO THE CLERKS.
Rearrangement of Salaries Directed
bY the President.

Owing to the failure of Congress to act
in the matter. the President. by executive
order. has directed the heads of the sew
eral executive departments and independ-
ent government establishments to ar
range the present salaries in those de-
partmentS and establishments as to
conform. as nearly as mays be. to the
principles underlying the report of the
committee on grades and salaries. which
was formed by the executive departments
under an order of the President dated
June II. 1907. This committee. it appears.
prepared clear and concise tables of esti-
mates for positions and salaries in con-
formity with the schedule and recommen-
dations of the committee on department
methods of January 4. 1907.
The Presidents recent order announces
that owing to the fact that the annual
salaries attaching to adjacent grades
often differ by as much as 5000 1t will be
impossible to do more than approximate
the plan. and in many cases it will be
found impossible to make changes with
exact adaptation to individual efficiency:
but, 1t Is declared. the good of the service
urgently demands that similar salaries
be paid for similar grades of work. and
that each position shall be assigned to
the person best fitted for it. as shown Ly
the work already accomplished.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-18
WITH TRIP
Secretary Taft Back From the
Canal Zone.
FOUR YEARS OF DIGGING
Can't Estimate When the Waterway
Will Be Ready.
CONTROVERSY WITH COLOMBIA
Looks for Amicable Settlement of
Dispute-Will Select Successor
to Gen. Mackenzie.
CONTROVERSY WITH COLOMBIA

Immediately on returning from Panama
at 10 o'clock this morning Secretary Taft
went TO the White House, where he re-
mained half an hour with the President,
and where he could not get In or out or
the executive offices without shaking
hands with large number of visitors He
went to the War Department about IL 80
O'Clock and took up the large amount OF
work waiting for him.
Secretary Tat was delighted with the
general situation in the canal country.
The people there are contented. he said.
"and I heard no complaints. Health and
sanitary conditions We're never better.
Work on the canal is progressing In a
most satisfactory way"
How long before the canal will be
completed?'
Il would not like to venture a predic-
ton as to the time for completion. said
the Secretary 1T seems pretty sure
that the excavations will be completed
within three and a half or four years.
This can be approximately told by meas
uring the work already done and the work
to be done. We have no measure. though.
of how long it will take to build
the big dam and construct the locks 1t
is proposed to make the dam one of the
strongest ever known.
Avoids Political Topics.
Secretary Taft evaded questions of a
political nature. saying that he had heard
nothing of politics during his absence. His
next speech is scheduled for the I'D of
this month. At that time he will talk to
the Bar Association of Tennessee. hav-
ing accepted an invitation to do SO some
time ago
Replying to questions as to the boun-
Diary dispute between Columbia and Pana-
ma which is supposed to have taken him
to the isthmus. the Secretary said that
he had not talked it over with the Presi-
dent or had had the opportunity to see
Secretary Root. He ventured the belief,
however. that there was way out of the
controversy. He would see Secretary
Root today and would talk for a long
time with the President tonight on this
and other questions one of them the Sc
lection of a chief of the Engineer Corps
of the army in place of Gen. Mackenzie,
who is to retire.
The Probable Selection.
It is generally conceded that the selec-
ton of Gen. Mackenzies successor, which
is confined to officers of the Corps of En-
sineers. lies between Col. William L. Mar
shall. on duty at New York city; Col.
Thomas W. Symons. on duty with the
New York canal commission and Lieut.
Col Smith S. Leach, at present on duty
at the War Department as principal as
sistant TO Gen. Mackenzie.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-18
MERELY JOCOSE HYPERBOLE
MR.. LITTLEFIELD COMPLAINS
OF BEING misunderstood.
Denies That in Recent Speech He
Assaulted the Reputation of His
Associates in Congress.

Rising to question of privilege in the
House today. Mr. Littlefield (Maine) de-
MED that in the course of speech in
Brooklyn Saturday last before the Young
Mems Republican Club he had made an
assault on the reputation of members of
Congress. He declared that he had been
grossly misrepresented by the newspapers.
Representative Littlefield later made
statement to Star reporter with refer
ence to his Brooklyn address.
My attention. said Mr.. Littlefield.
has been called to the report OF the ad-
dress that l, delivered at Brooklyn last
Saturday evening. in which l am reported
as having made an unjustifiable assault
extemporaneous. but 1 am unable to see
how it could have been SO misunderstood.
Praised His Associates.
''1n alluding to some references which
had been made to political corruption l
said that during an experience of nine
years as a member I had seen no signs
or indications of political corruption on
the part of any member; that in my judg-
ment the membership represented the
flower of the communities from which
they came
Il referred to the fact that a member
hardly began to serve in the term for
which he was elected before he was
practically involved in contest for his
reelection. and that the action of mem
bers was necessarily largely affected by
considerations involved in their re-elec-
ton. l used this situation for the p,1r-
pose Of emphasizing the necessity for
standing by representatives and protect
ing them from the attacks of tbo.o -,h,
We're demanding. with threats improper
legislation.i II was an incident and by no
means the main topic of the address,
Mr. Littlefield was reported in the tele-
graphed account of his speech as ouotine
Speaker Cannon as saying that the onlv
thing more coWardly than d member of
Congress was two members of Congress-"
Jocose Hyperbole.
in illustrating the point l did use the
remark said to have been made by Mr.
Cannon Mr.. Littlefeld continued .1t
was received. AS | understood it, in the
spirit in which it was originally made
and as | intended it. as a piece of iocose
hyperbole, and 1t was not intended nv mo
nor was anything else tnat said intended
as d reflection upon the members of either
branch. and until l saw the report il
never entered my mind that any one
would so understand or construe 1t.
: Il have had frequent occasions. but
have seldom taken occasion to correct
newspaper reports. l feel justified in
doing SO in this instance because of tho
high regard that entertain for the mem
bership Of both branches and the uni
formly kind, conSiderdte and ar,reciatiye
treatment that have received at their
hands.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-18
PREACHERS MAD ACT |B0TH SIDES |NS|STENT
Clergyman in West Virginia Attempt to Settle Cleveland
Kills His Own Wife. Strike Fails Today.
DECL ARES HE IS INSANE ROAD PRESIDENTS VIEWS
Woman Pursued After Struggle Refuses Reinstatement of
and Throat Expense of the Loyal
SIMILAR TRAGEDY IN OHIO MORE DEEDS OF VIOLENCE
Man
ATTEMPTS Observation-Disclosures Seriously
Comm jured by Blow With Brick
DECLARES HE IS INSANE
Woman Pursued After a Struggle
and Throat Cut.
SIMILAR TRAGEDY IN OHIO
Man in Cleveland Kills His Help
mate and Then Attempts to
Commit Suicide.

FAIRMONT, ". Va. May 1s-Tempo-
rarily insane. according to his own state
ment the Rev. S. A. Coffman. aged fifty
years. prominent Methodist Episcopal
clergyman. killed his wife early to-
day by cutting her throat from ear to
ear. A moment after the crime. he says
he regained his senses and realized what
he had done. He Immediately surren-
dered himself anr was locked up.
Rev. Coffman resides at Rosstown.
about three miles from here. and is In
charge of two or three local churches.
His wife was a member of a prominent
local family and was thirty-three years
of age. During the past week or two
Rev. Coffman has been conducting a
series of revival services. and has been
adding to the membership OF the churches
under his care Yesterday he finished
his revival and appeared to be well pleas
and his wife were discussing the services
when he suddenly seized a poker and be-
gan striking her on the head.
Wife's Fight for Life.
There was a struggle. during which
Mrs. Coffman succeeded in escaping from
the house to a garden at the rear. She
was followed closely, however. by her
husband. and when he caught UP with her
another battle for her life took place.
when she was overpOwered.
Coffman had taken knife with him
when he followed his wife to the gar
den. and when he had her powerless In
his grasp he cut her throat from ear to
ear, causing instant death.
According to a statement made by the
Rev. Coffman when he looked on the life
less body OF his wife his sanity was i'm
mediately restored and he realized wha,
dered himself to the police Rev. CoffmaI
says 1t had been his intention to kill no
only his wife. but also his family ant
himself
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-18
TO HARM0N|zE FACTIONS
REPUBLICAN LEADERS WANT TO
ELIMINATE DIsCoRD.
Looking Forward to the Fight to Be
Made After the Ticket Has
Been Selected.

The selection Of Senator Burrows to be
temporary chairman and John Malloy
temporary secretary of the republican ma
tional convention is construed by some
politicians as notice served by the ma
tional committee upon the administration
that efforts must be made to harmonic
the factions that have grown up in the
party as result Of the Presidents cam
paign for the nomination of Secretary
Taft The big men in the party are
looking forward to the problems of cleo
ton day, and it is declared with en-
phasis that from this time on some at
tention must be paid to the task of elect
ing the candidate whose nomination is
practically conceded.
To Eliminate Discord.
This means, it is said that the differ
ent elements in the party must be rec
ognized: the men who have differed with
the President are still in the party, it is
declared, and they must be taken into
account. 1t is stated emphatically that
the action of the subcommittee is not hos
tile to Secretary Taft. but. on the con-
trary. helpful in the highest degree. since
the purpose is to make more sure his
election
1t is also said to be the evident pur-
pose of the national committee in the
preIlnllndTy OTsdIILdtloH VI lIiC 1oiNCH
ton to deal with the contests in the same
spirit of consideration for the opposing
factions. The statement is made that
the leading men in the party organiza-
ton are determined, If the thing can be
done, to have the convention adjourn
without having disrupted any considerable
faction of the party.
Fair Play for All.
There will be fair play for the 'blacks
and tans." it Is said. well as for the
lily whites. There will be no slaughter
ing of any group of republicans. 1t is
stated The men who are directing the
party policies want votes in November
for Secretary Taft. conceding him to be
the prospective nominee. and they in
tend to do everything possible to pro-
vide for them and at least not to allow
them to be willfully alienated from the
party.
Politicians at the Capitol are not dis
posed to view the selection of the tenn
porary officers as a distinct slap at the
President intended as such. But some OF
them do think that 1t was an intimation
to the President that the administration
back of the Taft boom must take some
cognizance of the existence of faction of
the republican party that does not agree
with all of the administration ideas. but
that is not dto be ignored for all that.
Get together" is the watchword of the
big republicans In Congress. They de-
sire. it is said. to conserve their energies
to be used later against the democrats
and not all expended in preliminary scraps
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-18
PASSED 1O5TH MILESTONE.
Oldest Woman in Philadelphia Ex-
poets to Live 1875 Years.

PHILADELPHIA. May 1S.-Healthv
and happy Mrs. Elizabeth Wonderly, an
inmate of the Methodist Home for the
Aged, celebrated yesterday her 11ath
birthday. In the course of the day she
entertained many relatives and friends
to whom she showed with particular pride
her work in embroidery.
Mrs. Wonderly is the Oldest woman in
Philadelphia. with the exception of 'Aunt
Mahala." an inmate of the Home for
Aged and Infirm Negroes. who claims to
he los years of age. She was born in
Smyrna. Del, and was married in this
city. where her husband died in 1850
Mrs Wonderly spends most of her time
sewing making little pincushions with
silk birds worked upon them. She ex-
poets to live To he l2J years old
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-18
RUSSELL REACHES new YORK
VENEZUELAN MINISTER TALKS
OF SITUATION THERE.
Exaggerated Reports About the
Venezuelan President-Is in
Absolute Control of Affairs.

NEW YORK, May 1S.-w. w Russell.
American minister to Venezuela. arrived
here today on the steamer Caracas. Mr..
Russell was accompanied by his fam
lily. He is home on a leave of absence
and will go to Washington tomorrow.
Mr.. Russell said little information was
obtainable at Caracas regarding condi-
tions at La Guaira, which is under close
quarantine as result of an outbreak
of bubonic plague.
The reports Of serious differences be-
tween President Castro OF Venezuela and
Minister Russell were denied by Mr.. Rus
SELL The minister said that while II was
true that he and President Castro were
not in perfect accord on all subjects, there
had been nothing in the nature of serl-
Gus trouble in their relations. MIR. Rus
sell said reports of President Castro's Ill
health have been considerably exagserat-
ed that the president appears to be in
excellent physical condition, and rides out
every day.
Mr. Russell said there apparently is
no doubt of Castro's hold upon his power.
The rank and file of the army is loyal
to him, he said. and the officers are his
friends. THE people of Venezuela must
be in sympathy with their president. too. :"
said the minister. "else they would not
submit to his direction OF governments
affairs.
WILLENSTAD. Curacao, May 1S.-The
American steamer Merida of the Red
line arrived here yesterday from Mara
caibo. Venezuela. The captain declares
tha. the custom house authorities at Mara
caibo. after giving him clearance for
Curacao demanded that he return the
clearance on account of the decree issued
May IA by President Castro forblddlng
any goods for Venezuelan ports to be
| transshpped here. The officials wanted
to have the Merida go direct to Porto
Cabello.
1t is declared here that three Dutch
schooners which transshipped cargo at
Curacao for Porto Cabello have been de-
taired by the authorities at Porto Ca
bello.
PORTO CABELLO, Venezuela. satur-
day. May 16. via Wllemstad. curacao.
| May ls.-H is believed that the bubonlc
plague. which has been prevalent at La
Guaira has broken out here. although the
exact nature of the disease which started
here has not yet been determined.
There have been three new cases OF
| malarial fever and one has resulted 1atai-
ly. Some persons declare that TINS case
had all the symptoms of yellow fever.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-18
Tribesmen Fell Before French

PARIS. May 1s.-A telegram received
here from Gen. D'Amade. the French
commander in Morocco. says that with
three brigades he made a forced night
march. and at daylight of May 1G. with
a front deployed over distance of five
miles. he surprised the Mdakea tribesmen,
driving them to refuge in the mountains
The tribesmen abandoned their cattle
and munitions of war in their headlong
flight. The French lost three men killed
and TWENTY-FIVE wounded
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-18
CALLS 1T LAND GRAB.
Hepburn Threatens to Talk Confer
ence Report to Death.

Senator Hepburn of Idaho today sent
out an alarm that he would talk to the
end of the session rather than permit the
adoption of a conference report on the
bill Ito provide an enlarged homestead
The bill as passed by the Senate limited
the increased homestead of $40 acres to
non-irrigabe arid and semi-arld land
and the House struck out 'arid and SEMI
arid land" Mr.. Hepburn charged that
the bill was a and-grabbing measure.
Mr. Hepburn remarked that he had al
ways supposed the views OF senator
fecting his state.
Senator Nawlands interposed to say he
understood that the two Idaho senator's
were divided on this, subject. out MI
Borah said he was opposed to the Dill as
amended
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-18
VICTIM OF THE. BLACK HAND.
Italian Shot Down and Fatally
Wounded on Way Home.
ecial Dispatch to The Sta

SpPtIHI STAT.
W1LKESBARRE. Pa. May. 1s-William
Caperona of Hillsdale near here whose
life has been threatened by the Black
Hand Society. was shot down and fatally
wounded at midnight while on his way
home. His death is momentarily ex-
pected.
State troopers are now securing the dis
trict for the men suspected Of shooting
Caperona. They are believed to be in
hiding. Threats against Caperona's life
have been made several times lately. and
letters sent to him stated that if he did
no, do as the society desired his death
would follow
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-18
FOUND FLOATING IN CANAL.
Body Of Miss Vanderbilt Explains
Princeton Death Mystery.

PRINCETON. N. j., May 1S.-The body
Of Miss Bertha Vanderbilt. assistant in
the Princeton University library. was
found floating in the Raritan canal about
half a mile from the Carnegie lake aque-
duct this morning.
Bertha Vanderbilt. the young librarian.
disappeared last week. Mrs. William
Robinson has told the police Of Princeton
that on the night Miss Vanderbilt dis
appeared she saw her In an automobile
with another young woman and man.
The man is said to have been Prince
ton graduate who was a suitor of Miss
Vanderbilt while in college. He came to
Princeton last Wednesday to attend the
base ball game.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-18
MEMORIAL FOR BISHOPS.
Today's Feature of the General NJ
E. Conference at Baltimore.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BALTIMORE. May 1s.-Memorial serv-
ices in honor of the bishops and omcers
of the general conference Of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church who have died
during the past auadrennium occupied
the greater portion of todays sitting OF
the general conference. These were Bis
hons Isaac w Joyce, Charles McCabe.
James n Fitzgerald, Edward q. An
drews. Samuel NJ Merrill and Charles n.
Fowler an drew DR.. James NJ King. sec
re,arv of the board of home missions and
church extension.
Bishop D. A. Goodsell of Boston pre-
sided during the ceremonies. which con-
sisted of prayer the singing OF hymns
and eulogistic addresses.
Before the memorial services began a
report from the committee on the state
of the church on International peace was
read and adopted unanimously. 1t re-
viewed briefly the things accomplished by
the two international conferences held at
The Hague and pointed out ways IN
which the church could advance the
cause of peace.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-18
FINAL NOTICE SERVED.
Republican Leaders Will Have No
Tariff Revision.

The republican leaders in the House
through a majority of the committee on
ways and means today served final notice
of mo tariff revision at this session. :
Representative Champ Clark of Missouri
moved in the committee favorable om-
nibus report on eighty odd tariff reduc-
tions and tariff removal bills. mostly In
troduced during the session by democratic
members The motion was defeated by a
solid vote of all the republican members
of the committee.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-18
TRACED BY BLooDHoUNDs.
Would-Be Murderer Captured Two
Miles From Town.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
GREENVILLE. Pa. May 1s-Jealous
because Violet Carmen was receiving at
tentions from another man. Louis Thomas.
a shoemaker. this morning attempted to
kill the girl and Fred Donaldson. her
The girl intended taking
train for Buffalo. and with Donaldson was
on her way to the station when Thomas
appeared, and. after speaking a few
words. is alleged to have drawn a shotgun
from concealment and fired at the couple.
Many shots lodged in their bodies. but at
the hospital 1t is said both will recover.
The police used bloodhounds and traced
Thomas to a farmers home, two miles
from town. where ne was arrested.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-18
A. M. E. Conference Elects Officers.


NOFOLk, Va. May is Today s
session OF the general conference
oe the A. NJ T. t'n:s "p:'
was spent in electing officers. Bishop l..
j. Coppin presided Rev. J. c. Caldwell.
DID. of ST. Joseph. Mo-. was elected sec
retary of the Allen Christian Endeavor
League. The other officers elected were
R-v. John fturSI of ! sl,i''b.
secretary, TO succeed DIR. f. w. Lamp
ton, who was elected bishop: B. F. Wat
son of Philadelphia, secretary of the
church extension society.
Ira T. Bryant employe in the govern
ment printing office. Washington. d. c.,
was elected secretary of the A. NJ. E Sun
day School Union, Washington. d. c.
Dr w ID. Chappell caused stir by
comparing Bishop Gaines with Cataline
This was resented by the Rev. DR.. r G.
Ransom of New York. Bishops elected
will he consecrated Wednesday. Confer
ence will close Thursday or Friday.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-18
TRAGEDY AT CLEVELAND.
Man Shoots and Kills His Wife,
Then Attempts Suicide.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
CLEVELAND. Ohio. May 1s.-John
Bower. aged forty-five. shot and killed
his wife this morning at the home of a
friend where she was staying. Mrs.
Bower had been to the probate court with
her two small children. for what purpose
is not yet known. and was followed by
her husband from the courthouse. When
she reached the home of her friend. Mrs.
Hapner, on Nursery street. she was fired
upon. Three shots took effect. the last
one entering her heart.
Bower was pursued by policeman for
a considerable distance. when. seeing he
was likely to be captured. he placed the
pistol to his ear and fired. He fell fatally
wounded and was removed to st. Alexis
Hospital.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-18
Narrowly Escaped Death at Sea.

NEW YORK. May 1a-Six seamen who
with twenty-five others had narrow
escape from death when the British
steamer Cacique blew up and sank OF
the Peruvian coast last month arrived
here today on the steamer Finance from
Cristobal. The other members of the
crew, all of whom escaped. remained In
Peru. The Cacique was bound for San
Francisco with a cargo OF naphtha when
40 miles OF Santa Elena, Peru. she
caught fire. the naphtha exploded and
the thirtyeone men on board rushed for
the boats. They reached the Peruvian
coast three days later
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-18
Emperor Francis Joseph Indisposed

VIENNA. May 1S-Emperor Francis
Joseph is again slightly indisposed and
this has made necessary the postponement
of the audiences arranged for TODAY
Court officials say there is no reason for
anxiety, but after the tiring duties con-
nected with the recent visit to Vienna
of Emperor William and the German
PRINCES. together with some slight symp-
toms of catarrh, it is necessary for his
majesty to be careful.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-18
Hurdley Nomination Not Confirmed.

The announcement of tie Confirmation
of the nomination of United States Judge
Hundley to1 the northern district of Ala
hama made Saturday las was an error of
the executive cierk OF the Senate Judge
Hundley ; nomination has not been CON
tirmed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-18
Care of Gifts to Vessels.

BY the provisions of bill passed oy
the House today the Secretary or the
Navy Is authorized to accept ana care
for gifts. such as silver service sets. pre-
sented to vessels of the navy Inc ques-
ZION of ownership of such gifts is not now
by law.