davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-12-25
CAPITOL GRAFTERS
EACH GET TWO YEARS
sandefsop, Mathuss, Shumaker and
Snyder Also Fined $500.
STATE LEADERS FACING PRISON.
Contractor Sanderson, Former State
Auditor Snyder, Former State Treas
urer Mathuas and Ex-Superintendvnl
Of Buildings Shumaker Gets Two
Years in Penitsntiary.

Harrisburg Especially Two years
imprisonment and a fine of $500,
the maximum penalty, was the SEN
tence melted out by Judge Kunkel
in the Dauphin County Court to each
OF the four men who were convicted
OF defrauding the State in connec-
ton with the furnishing of the Cap
itol building in this city.
Immediately after sentence was
pronounced the defendants were re-
manded to the custody of the sheriff
and taken to a side room pending
application for supersedeas, which
was made in the Superior Court at
Philadelphia after notice of the sem
tence here was given. As soon as
1t is granted the defendants will Of
fer bail pending appeal to the SUI
perior Court.
The four defendants are John H.
Sanderson, Philadelphia, contractor
for the furniture; James M. Shuma-
ker, Johnstown, superintendent of the
Board of Public Grounds and Build
ings at the time the contract for
furniture was let; William p. Snyder,
Spring City, and William T.. Matthews,
Media, respectively, Auditor General
and State Treasurer during the oper-
alton Of the contract, and by virtue
of their positions members of the
Board of Public Grounds and Build
ings.
The men were convicted of de-
frauding the State out of $19,30S
in contract for wooden furniture.
Other charges involved large sums
in the aggregate. They were tried
last spring. and last week they were
refused new trial.
The men convicted were tried
second time and acquitted of charge
of defrauding the State in a metal
furniture contract.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-12-25
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.
Contrasting Features In Foreign
Trade OF United States.

Washington. D. C. Especially -
Lower prices for imports and higher
prices for exports were characteristic
of the foreign trade of the United
States at the end of the fiscal year
1903, according to a preliminary bull
letin of the Bureau of Statistics.
This deduction, it is said, applies
especially to manufacturers materi-
ais imported and foodstuffs exported.
In manufacturers materials, whether
raw or partly manufactured, the
average prices for the year were ma
terially lower than for the preceding
year and were also much lower at
the end of the fiscal year than at
the beginning of the year. To this
falling of in prices is due the de-
cline in the total value of imports,
though in many cases there was
shown to have been an actual decline
in quantity.
Regarding foodstuffs. the bulletin
says they do not, as a rule. share
in the decline in values. either as
to imports or exports. suffered by
manufacturers materials.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-12-25
THE PRESIDENTS SALARY.
Senator Bourne Fighting For His
Bill To Increase 1t.

+
Washington Especially. Senator
Bourne, of Oregon, author of q bill
to increase the salary of the president
of the United States to 100000 a
year and the salary of the vice presi-
dent to $4,000, is making vigor-
GUS campaign for his measure. He
said that he believed 1t would be
passed by both Houses of Congress
shortly after the holiday recess.
He is lining up figures and statis-
tics to fire at the opponents of the
measure when the bill comes up for
consideration.
Independent of all sentiment In
the NATTER declared the Senator,
the man who is big enough to be
chosen President of the United States
is certainly as big as a railroad
president and should be paid, as a
railroad president or as the position
indicates which would be fair COM
pehsation,"
Senator Bourne called attention
also to the fact that the President of
France receives $114,00 as a per-
sonal salary and a like amount for
executive expenses. He said the COM
parison does our country no credit
when 1t is remembered that our ma
tional wealth is estimated at $127,-
600, 100000. while that Of France is
estimated at only $4,000, 900, 900.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-12-25
P. c. KNOX, PREMIER.
Taft Announces Choice For Secretary
OF State.


Augusta, Ga. Especially .-Philan-
der c. Knox, formerly Attorney-Gen-
eral of the United States in the Cab
inets of William Mckinley and Theo-
dore Roosevelt. and present junior
Senator from Pennsylvania, will hold
the position of Secretary of State, and
sit at the head of the Cabinet of Will
liam H. Taft, when MIR. Taft assumes
the Presidency on March next.
Official announcement of this fact
signalized Mr.. Taft's arrival in Au-
gusta for period of rest prior to
his departure for Panama on Janu-
airy rs. The post was rendered Sena-
tor Knox in New York City, when,
by request, he met the President
elect at the home of Mr.. Taft's broth
err, Henry w. Taft. His telegram of
acceptance reached Mr.. Taft just as
Augusta had applied a wet towel to
It's throat to relieve the hparseness in
cident to the noisy reception accorded
the distinguished visitor.
That is the one. and the only
Cabinet appointment determined upon
at this time" asserted the President
elect, with emphasis. For some rea-
son he thus failed to confirm the fact
that Frank ii. Hitchcock's appoint
ment to the Postmaster-G eneralship
had been officially clinched.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-12-25
VENEZUELA 10 MAKE
WAR ON THE DUTCH
Head Of Government Meets iggres.
sion With Defiance.

Washington, d. G.. Especially -.
Venezuela has declared a state OF
war, according to advices received at
the State Department. This news is
contained in the dispatch from Sec
rotary Paxton Hibbin, secretary of the
American legation at Bogota, Colon
bia. He states that the Colombian
minister of foreign affairs has re-
ceived the following telegram from
Caracas:
In view of the blockade estab-
lished and the capture by the block
ade of Venezuelan vessel, the head
OF the government at Venezuela, af-
ter assuming extraordinary power for
the defense of the country, has de-
clared state of war
Officials of the State Department.
are somewhat in quandary as to
whether the dispatch means that
Venezuela has declared war against
Holland or has merely proclaimed
state of internal warfare. In view
OF the fact that specific reference
Is made to the capture of the Ven
ezuelan vessel and the blockade by
Holland they are inclined to believe
that it means declaration against
Holland
Conflicting Stories.
Willemstad, Curacao Especial -
conflicting stories were received from
Caracas regarding the uprising
against President Castro.
One report says that the declara-
ton of martial law has had the eff
feet of curbing the people. while later
reports say that the revolutionary
forces are actively, though quietly,
at work, and that the present calm
is but the forerunner to a demon
stration that will sweep Castro from
power.
The people of Curacao expect word
of the overthrow of the Venezuelan
government at any moment. 70 in
sure such result, they are urging
the Dutch demonstration against Ven
ezuela be increased in severity, as it
is the commercial stagnation that has
followed the demonstration that has
aroused the Venezuelans.
Caracas is badly crippled as the
result of the rioting that took place
the first half of the week. Scores
of citizens who were known to be
friends of Castro have fed to the
interior for safety.
Holland Rejoicing.
The Hague Especially. - All Hol-
land is rejoicing over the stories of
the uprising of the people of Vene-
zuela against Castro.
The members of the foreign office
say the present situation is just what
they expected and to bring about
when they started the campaign OF
reprisals against Venezuela.
The foreign Office believes Castro's
power has been broken and that the
people will force his abdication be-
fore long.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-12-25
A GIANT BRIDCE
OVER HELL GATE
Daring Engineering Pan 81 the
Pennsylvania.
BRIDGE WILL HAVE FOUR TRACKS.
New York City to Have Another Link
With Long Island Bridge Will Be
Of Steel. Three Miles Long, Will
Weigh 5000 Tons The Biggest
Ships Will Be Alb o to Pass Under.

New York Especially After the
Pennsylvania Railroad has advanced
farther with its terminal station and
other improvements in this city work
will be started on bridge from
Port Morris, a suburb of New York,
to Queens County, Long Island.
The bridge as planned in many
respects is to be one Of the most
daring and remarkable engineering
structures ever proposed. With the
approaches it will be three miles long
and span the He'll Gate ship channel
with an enormous arch 1000 feet
In the clear.
The entire bridge, except the piers
for the arch, will be of steel, having
an estimated weight of $4,000 tons.
The novel feature of the plans is
that the train floor of the bridge in
stead of resting on the crown of the
arch, is hung from it. The crown
is 800 feet above the water and the
floor lao feet, enabling the largest
steamers to pass under with ease.
The bridge will have four tracks,
two for passenger trains and two
for freight, and is designed for live
loads on each of the tracks of two
19O-ton locomotives, followed by q
uniform load of 5000 pounds per
linear foot.
The main arch Is to be fianked by
piers from which will rise double
towers 200 feet high. The towers
will begof massive proportions, with
the lower portion OF granite and the
upper of concrete.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-12-25
BOY PLAYS BUTCHER
KILLS HIS SISTER
Five Year-0ld Copies Scene at Fail
Hog Killing.

Selinsgrove. Pa. Especially Play
ing at "butchering" and that he was
the butcher, five-year-old Harold
Brouse. the son of Pernival N.
Brouse, farmer in Penn Township.
Snyder County, shot and killed his
two-year-old sister Catherine.
1t was fine fun the children were
having. They had gone to the barn
where the father and other men were
engaged in the fall hog killing. The
women folk were there, too, helping,
and when Harold and Catherine
strayed away toward the house, hand
in hand, no attention was paid to
them
Once back in the kitchen, the lit
tie chap had an idea.
z Now, let's play you are piggie
and am papa" he said, and Cath
crime assented to the plan.
First, Harold looked around for a
big knife, but all the heavy cutlery
was in use at the barn. Then he spied
his fathers rife. That was used to
kill things with, he knew, for his
father and showed him how it work.
ed. He took it from its corner and
then they were ready to play.
Shouting gleefully, Harold chased
his sister around the room. The
little girl, on her hands and knees,
enjoyed the fun, and nimbly evaded
him each time he pointed the gun at
her. Finally, tired and breathless,
she threw herself on the floor and
crawled under table, whence she
glanced laughingly out at her broth
err.
But Harold was not to be out
witted. Dropping fiat. he, too,
crawled under the table. Pointing
the weapon at the head of his sister,
with shout of triumph, he pulled
the trigger. The bullet entered the
child's temple and plowed downward
through the neck. Screaming pa
pa" she fell, and was quiet.
Harold looked at her minute,
frightened. she was SO still. Then
he went out to the barn trembling.
Catherine won't play piggie any
mcre," he told his mother, as he
chored and began to sob.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-12-25
BLAZING SCHOOL BUILDING.
Six Hundred Children Escape Injury
Money Loss, 100000.

NAVnCy A1OSSs PAVVsVVVs
Altoona, Pa. (Special). A fire
witch threatened the destruction of
Altoona High School building; erect
ed at cost of $780, 900 a few years
ago, started at 10 o'clock A. M,
while 500 pupils were busy with their
studies.
AS soon as it was discovered the
bell for fire drill was sounded, and
the pupils, thinking it was merely
another drill. calmly formed in line
and marched out of the building.
The school was cleared practically
before the arrival of the first fire
company, which came from only two
blocks away
Within FIVE minutes the building
was filled with dense smoke, and
had the children remained that long.
many, it is believed, would have
been suffocated. The fire started in
the lumber room underneath the au-
ditorium, probably from the heat
ing pipes, and worked it's way be-
tween the partitions to the third
floor.
The loss is estimated at 500, 900.
Several valuable paintings were de-
stroyed.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-12-25
IN TIE WORLD OF FINANCE

Copper metal was reduced an
eighth CO cent pound.
Arizona Copper's output last
month was 2,852,000 pounds:
This country is exporting about
$4,000 tons OF copper monthly.
The Reading declared its regular
semi-annual dividend of per cent.
on the common stock.
The Boston & Maine will issue
$11,700,000 of twenty-year or Az
per cent. bonds for refunding pur-
poses.
For the first week of December
twelve out of fifteen roads reporting
their gross earnings weekly show in
creases over year ago.
A stock market rumor, but not
confirmed, was that the Hill roads
have captured the Missouri, Kansas
& Texas.
According to the Director of the
United States Mint the world lant
year produced gold worth $41O.555,-
600 and silver worth 1900, 600.
President Knox, of the Montana
Tonopah Company. says the situation
in the Tonopah district is better
than it has been for a long while.
His own mill is busy, and the ores
are returning quite good values.
Cheap money" said John w.
Sparks. combined with the fact that
a good many traders have made
some money in the past few months,
will encourage the buying Of stocks
more than anything else would do. :"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-12-25
oreign

DR.. A. E. Shipley, an English
scientist, says the behavior of the
suffragettes indicates a revival of that
peculiar mental disorder known in
the Middle Ages as tarantism.
In view of the approaching general
tariff revision in France, the French
protectionists are manifesting great
hostility to the Franco-Canadian
Commercial Treaty.
AS the result of an attempt to es-
cape from the prison at Stamboul.
turkey, one prisoner was killed, three
wounded and seven of the guards
badly injured.
Because of the illness of George
Westinghouse. Jr., his marriage to
Miss Violet Brocklebank in London
has been postponed to January 8,
1909.
The Standard Oil Company has
begun the erection of two Office build
ings In the aristocratic West End of
London, at st. James Park.
Sir Max Wachter, who is touring
European capitals advocating the
abolition of emperors and kings and
the formation of the United States of
Europe. was received by M. Pichon,
French minister of foreign affairs.
Three Japanese plumage hunters,
marooned on Lee Hermes Islands, in
the Pacific, for three months, were
rescued in a starving condition by
the Commercial Pacific Cable Conn
pany's schooner Flaurence Ward.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-12-25
'LYNCHED BY MOB
FOR KILLING GIRL
White Man Taken From Tall and
Hanged When He Confessed.

Monticello, KY. Especially Elmer
Hill, white man, charged with as
saulting and numbering 1S-year-old
Mamie Womack, near Russell Spring,
was taken from local jail by an
armed mob, and after confessing the
crime, was hanged to tree.
A we'll organized mob of 26 Rus
sell County men came quietly into
town on foot about midnight and
went at once to the Jail. Jailer
Ramsey awoke to find himself COW
cred by six revolvers. The leader
told him they did not want to make
any disturbance, but came after Hill,
and were going to have him. Ram
sey surrendered his prisoner to them
Hill at first denied his guilt. The
leader of the mob said:
How came that blood on your
cap and hands when you were cap
tured?"
Hill made no reply.
The leader continued. Elmer
Hill, we have got you; you know
you killed the girl, and your life will
pay the penalty; you deny killing
the girl; 1t matters not to us wheth-
err you confess or not, but IL you
don't you will die with lie in your
throat. and you only have 10 min
utes to live. Did you kill her?''
Eyes, boys. / did kill her." re-
piled Hill.
How did you kill herr"
II met her on the road coming
from school, tied bandanna around
her neck and strangled her, then
took her out in the woods and killed
her.
Shouts of Hang him! Hang
him!" arose from the mob, and one
man placed gun at the trembling
murderer's head, but was prevented
from shooting him.
Hill was told to pray, but said he
could not. They told him he could
say ooh Lord, have mercy on me, a
murderer" But he dropped his head
and uttered no word. He was then
placed behind man on mule and
all proceeded in the direction OF Rus
sell County.
His body was found hanging to q
tree about two miles out of James
town, 20 miles from Monticello.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-12-25
New Philippine Judge

Washington. D. C. Especially -
President Roosevelt announced the.
appointment of Sherman Moreland,
of Elmira, N. Y, as associate justice
of the Supreme Court of the Phil
ippines, vice James F. Tracey, of
Albany. N. T., resigned. Judge
Tracey's retirement is due to his de-
sire to return to the practice of law,
in Albany The President cabled a.
commendatory letter to Manila on
Judge Tracey's work.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-12-25
LIFE-GUARDs SAVED MILLIoNs.
United States Had 1904 Vessel Dis
asters The Past Year.

Washington. D. G. Especially -
There were 1904 vessel disasters in
the United States in the past fiscal
year, resulting in property loss of
$1.S6S,790 and the loss of 90 lives,
according to the report of General
Superintendent Kimball, of the Life
saving Service. There were 70S cas-
ualties to sailboats, launches and
rowboats.
Because of the assistance of the
life-savers of $13.O00,000 worth Of
property involved in. disasters more
than Sill. 100000 worth of property
was saved. The life-saving estab-
lishment now comprises ESQ sta
lions.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-12-25
DolNGs AT the NATIONS CAPITAL

The Senate Committee on Census
reported fayorably the House bill
which provides for non-competitive
examinations in the Census Bureau,
and gives the appointments to mem
bers of Congress.
The Standard Oil Company filed it's
brief in the Supreme Court in the
$29, 600 fine case, denying the
governments right to appeal after a
decision had been rendered against
it.
Vice President Fairbanks announc-
ed Senators Knox, Lodge and Bacon
as a committee to represent the Sem
ate in arranging for the inaugural
ceremonies of Taft and Sherman.
The Senate. in order to show its
resentment toward the President,
refused to suspend the reading of the
journal to receive message brought
by his secretary.
The White House authorized the
announcement that Secretary Root
would resign when elected senator,
and that Assistant Secretary Bacon
would succeed him.
The acceptance of the resignation
of representative C. N. Brumm, of
Pennsylvania, from the Sixtieth Con-
gress by the Governor of Pennsyl-
vania was read in the House of Rep
resentatives.
President Roosevelt has begun pre-
pairing for submission to Congress
mass of evidence upon which he
based the statements in his annual
message regarding the Secret Serv-
ice.
The President will soon send to the
Senate the nomination of Sherman
Moreland. of Elmira. N Y, to be
associate justice of the Supreme
Court of the Philippine Islands.
! James F. Tracey. of Albany, N. Y,
an associate justice of the Supreme
Court of the Philippines, has resign
ed and the resignation has been ac-
cepted by the President.
During. the 81 years the German
federal government has existed. 27.-
707,676 natives of Germany have
emigrated, nearly five-sixths of them
to the United States.
A bill to authorize the Lackawan-
ma Railroad to build bridge across
the Delaware River was favorbly re-
POI tCu ny tASs I1OuSS .NOulAu1tLSe Ou
Commerce
BY unanimous vote the House
adopted a resolution calling on the
President for proof of his charge that
members were fearful OF an investi-
cation by the Secret Service agents.
Senator Bourne (Oregon) intro
duced a bill providing that the salary
of the President be increased to
500, 600 year, and that of the Vice
President to $4,000 a year.
The President sent a message to
Congress in which he submitted his
recommendations in regard to i'm
proving the form of government for
the District of Columbia.
Senator Rayner introduced reso-
luton providing for an investigation
of the Presidents order directing the
removal of the marines from the war
ships.
Germany's fiscal policy that allows
liberal bounties upon the export of
grain products as q corollary to high
duties on imports Is proving bene-
fetal to the agricultural and milling
interests of the empire.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-12-25
HilI's Control To The Gull.

New York (Spe Frank
Trumbull. president of the Colorado
and Southern Railway Company, an
nounced that the control of the
property had passed to the Chicago,
Burlington and Quincy Railroad,
which, being controlled by the j. j.
Hill interests, gives Mr.. Hills roads,
the Great Northern and the Northern
Pacific, free sweep to the Gulf of
Mexico. and in this way enables him
to compete for business up and down
the Mississippi Valley with the Illi-
nois Central Road. which is control
led by the Hartman interests.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-12-25
Shot By Youth.

Boston Especially. - Miss Maud
Hartley. the beautiful 17-year-old
daughter of Dr. R. Agnes Hartley,
was shot and almost instantly killed
as she was about to board car at
Highland Avenue and Cherry Street
in Somerville by James Hammond. the
son of a police sergeant of that city.
The rejection of the young mans
advances is said to have been the
motive fer the crime.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-12-25
Standard Refuses.

Minneapolis, MINI. (SpeciaH.-
Rebate" has such a terror-striking
sound to Standard Oil officials that
they actually refuse to take money
when it is thrust upon them w. e.
McEwen. state oil inspector, has been
trying to refund $3.50 in fees which
was an over payment from the
Minneapolis branch Of their com
pany, but the check has been re-
turned to him.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-12-25
Order $500 Tons OF RaIIs

: Philadelphia peciaD .-The.
Pennsylvania Company's steel rail
order for 1909 delivery. which calls
for 135,500 tons OF rails, was an
nounced. The order has been dis
tributed as follows:
Illionis Steel Company. 62.5O0
tons: Cambria Steel Company, 25,-
600 tons; Pennsylvania Steel Com
pany, $4,000 tons: Lackawanna
S.eel Company. $4,000 tons; Beth
lehem Steel Company. 10000 tons.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-12-25
INDIA Raising Less Cotton.

Washington. D. c. Especial, -
Decrease in the area devoted in In
dia to cotton culture is shown by
the fact that there are at present
1T,313,000 acres under cotton. as
compared with 17.7I0.000 acres a
year, ago and 19.7S2,000 acres the
year before that. The most notice
able decrease is in Bombay. where
1t amounts to IA per cent.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-12-25
Forged Notes In Wooden Leg.

Ventura, Cal. Especially. - Upon
searching of. A. B. Smith. who is
Under $4,000 bonds for trial on three
charges of forgery. it was found that
he had convenient cavity in his
wooden leg in which was found Sc
creted three other alleged forged
notes for sums totaling nearly ST.
500.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-12-25

The First National Bank of SOM
ellsworth, N. H., closed its doors and
Cashier Frederick A. Varney was
arrested following the discovery OF
a shortage of $3.50