davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-18
SIXTY VILLAGES
 ARE DESTROYED

Teheran, Persia, February H-News was received here today showing that 60 villages in Lursitan province, Persia, were wholly or partially destroyed in the earth quake of January 23, and the resultant loss of life is placed between 5000 and 6oco The quake was recorded on almost every seismograph in the world.
 This information was conveyed in be- lated reports to the government. The districts of Burujurd and Selahor in Luri- stan province were the center of the greatest shocks. Several villages are re- ported to have been completely engulfed. The destitute survivors are Hooking into the town of Burujurd, whence appeals for assistance are now reaching the govern ment The peasantry lost practically all their herds and it is estimated that from 10000 to 12000 head of cattle perished.
 This is the first accurate location of the violent earthquake shock of January 23 it having been supposed up to today that the disturbance had centered in Western Asia in Asiatic Russia, or even in the waters of the Indian ocean The records showed that the tremors were practically of the same force as those which, on December 28 converted the coast regions of Sicily and Calabria into e scene of desolation and ruin.
 The province of Luristan Is very noun tainous and sparsely settled. It is about 400 miles southwest of Teheran and the only communication with the Persian capital is by courier. The inhabitants are chiefly Bakhtiaris, an offshoot of the Iranian people.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-18

was elected president and pr. Owen secre- tary, permanently.
 A memorial to Congress was decided upon, urging the passage of the Hefiin bill, to make the grounds a national park and to mark the places of commands and do such other things along this line as are useful in parks of this character.
 These committees were named: To sur veying and mapping the grounds, Strother. Bulger and Overton; on history, Dr. Owen, Judge Brewer and MT. Smith.
 The act was read and studied that each member might get an adequate idea of what he has to do. It was found that every power is given to carry out the work and make the movement a great success. The governor and the others are enthusiastic in their efforts to work out the situation to the best interests of the history and patriotic service.
 The commission may be called at any time by the governor or three members. Messrs. Bulger, Strother and Smith are the committee on the picnic.
 The battlefield is 12 miles from Dadeville on the Tallapoosa river.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-18
SENSATIONS DEVELOP IN
 w. F. TUCKER HEARING

green plumes, entered the boards room and confronted her husband for the first time since 1905. At her entrance Colonel Tucker stood up but said nothing. What Mrs. Fuckers testimony consisted of was not disclosed as the session was secret, but she had not been long on the stand when 1t was whispered in. the corridors that she had tainted. This was confirmed by the rushing of several persons to get water. Mrs. Tucker, who was in the room not more than 20 minutes, was fol- lowed by her mother and her son.
 Colonel Tncker. when the board an- 'nounced thht the hearing was ended ap- peared in the hallway. This ordeal is terrible" he said. Just to think of my own son with whom, when was on half-pay, I shared the little I had, stand ing up against me. This is the first time I have seen my wife since October 1905, when I left for the Philippines. It was when I boarded the train to leave for San Francisco I do not know what I shall do now except that I shall probably remain in Chicago until after the case Is finally settled.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-18
KNOX SALARY STILL
 LIVE PROPOSITION

Washington. February 17.-while the House was discussing the conference on the legislative, executive and judicial appropriation bill today, Gen eral Kiefer of Ohio discovered that notwithsta nding the action of both houses of Congress in passing a bill repeating the law fixing the salary of the Secretary of State at $12,OOO a year, the appropriation bill proves salary of 1000 for that official for the next fiscal year.
 The announcement created a mild sensation. It was at once suggested that the bill should be sent back to conference and long debate as to the proper course to be taken.
 There was no dispute between the two houses over the s12,OOO salary as 1t appeared in the bill, parliamentarians claimed that neither house nor the con ference can amend the provision and the reduction may have to be effected by another joint resolution.
 Further consideration of the confer ence report on the appropriation bill was finally postponed until tomorrow by a vote of 139 to III.
 MT. Tawney introduced a resolution auth orizing the conference on the bill to treat the item appropriating the s12,- 900 as the salary of the Secretary of State for the next fiscal year as If the conference report had not been made, and the item was still in disagreement The programme is to have the com mittee on rules report the resolution tomorrow, It is believed 1t will be passed. thus clearing the way for further amendment of the bill in con ference so as to reduce the salary to $S000, which change would bring the appropriation into conformity with the bill repeating the law which increased the salary to $12,000
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-18
PICNIC WILL BE HELD ON
 FAMOUS BATTLE GROUND

Montgomery, February 17-(Special. .)-At a meeting of the Horse Shoe Bend battle field commission, held in the office of Gov. B. B. Conner this afternoon, it was decided to hold a picnic or gathering on the battle-ground next summer, at which time the commission will be in session and Gov B. B. Conner will preside. as well as take part in the festivities of the occasion. While the decision to take this action was that it should be informal, it is hoped that it will result in arousing enthusiasm in the interest of the move
 ment to make this great national park
 The commission met in the office of Gov
 ernor Conner in the afternoon with the following present: Governor Conner, pr. Thomas M. Owen, director of the depart ment of archives and history J. w. Strother of Dadeville T. l.. Bulger of Dadeville and Felix Smith of Rockford. 8. L. Brewer of Tuskegee and John w. Overton of Wedowee also of the commits sion, were not present Governor Conner
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-18

Chicago, III, February 17.-Dramatlc incidents followed in rapid succession in the hearing before the army retiring board today of the case of Col. William F. Tucker, formerly paymaster of the department of the lakes, who seeks to be honorably retired on the usual re- tirement pay. As climax of the day when the board had concluded the hear ing and begun to formulate it's report Mrs Mary Logan Tucker, wife of the colonel. filed in court a suit for zepara te maintenance on the grounds of intem- perance.
 Colonel Tucker, stepping buoyantly, went before the board with an air of confidence. Closeted in an adjoining room were those arrayed against him who seek to have him retired without com pensation. These included his wife, Mrs John A. Logan, his wifes mother, and Capt. John Logan Tucker, his only son.
 The first incident occurred when Mrs Tucker, wearing a black cloak and a large black hat, trimmed with sweeping
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-18
PARKER BOYS ARE
 HELD FOR MURDER

Cullman, February H.-(Special)-T preliminary trial of Luther Parker and Eddie Parker before Probate Judge R. I. Burke for the murder of John John son on December 9, resulted in the ac- cused being bound over to the grand jury without bail The cause of the murder is said to be an old feud
 J. B. Brown assisted County Solicitor S. J. Griffin in the prosecution. Attorneys Parker and St. John were employed by the defense
 An exciting incident of the trial was the swooning on the witness stand of Mrs Genie Wood, an important witness, who has inherited some heart trouble, and was some time in recovering conscious ness.
 The state High school board is closing contracts for the building of ths State High school
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-18
MESSENGER FROM THE FLEET ARRIVES

Fort Monroe Va, February H.-A mes senger from the homecoming battleship fleet the yacht light tender Yankton, put in here today and began to take on full supply of coal preparatory to proceeding at the earliest practicable moment to Washington, in response to a wireless summons picked up as the trim little craft was passing in the Virginia Capes. The Yankton will return to Hampton Roads in time to greet the fleet, and then will journey back again to the cap ital being used to convey some one of the score or more of official parties that are to be present during the entrance and review of the fleet next Monday.
 The coaling of the cruisers Montana and North Carolina was seriously inter fered with yesterday by the high winds prevailing In the roadstead. and they were not able to leave today to join the incom- ing fleet. They will get away some time tomorrow, however, and by a fast run will meet the battleships about 300 miles off the coast The third squadron of the Atlantic fleet, consisting of the Maine the Mississippi, the New Hampshire and the Idaho, joined the fleet today about 1000 miles east of Capes Henry and Charles. The scout cruiser Chester is hurrying from New York to rendezvous with the fleet while her sister ships. tine Birming- ham and Salem are steaning eastward respectively from New Orleans and Charleston.
 The supply ship Culgoa, which accom- panied the fleet around the world. slipped into Hampton Roads tonight The Gull loft -abr npn Ha ahead of the fleet, and stopped for coal at Funchal. Madeira. The Culgoa en- countered yesterday and Monday the same storm that pounded the Yankton so hard, and at times had a 50 degree roll.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-18
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS

Page i. Convention wants tariff commission. Startling testimony is developed in Cooper-Sharp trial. Sensational developments in w. F. Tucker hearing Naval bill will probably pass. Bench warrants are issued for arrest of newspaper men.
 Page 2. Officers elected at county Masonic con- ference at Bessemer. Governor Conner quoted on extra ses- sion.
 Page ,. Mines close down at Carbon Hill Moore escapes from Anniston jail. Many educators to come in April. Commissioners to buld pesthouse.
 Page @ Editorial.
 Page 5. Immense crowds hear thrilling words of laymen's conference speakers. Shriners had big turnout last night. President Pepper of Methodist laymen arrives for meeting tomorrow. Last nights council meeting postponed until this morning. Alabama Dairymen's association formed.
 Page 6. New Ensley aldermen to be seated. American Bolt Works sold to Pittsburg concern.
 Page '. Society. Dolly Dalrymple.
 Page g. Stock market is without feature. Wheat market grows very dull. Cotton market is irregular.
 Page 10. Sports to have big inning. Unknown woman killed by auto. Odd Fellows to meet in Selma.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-18
To EuIooize Wiley.
CANNON VOTES ON
 TEMPERANCE SIDE

Washington, February f.-Liquor legis- lation ~as the subject of consideration in the House late today.
 When the penal code bill was taken up Representative Humphreys offered an amendment agreed upon by House leaderf to regulate interstate shipment of in- toxicating liquors.
 The amendment which is the Knox bill that passed the Senate, forbids the transportation of liquors in interstate commerce unless it is consigned to bona fide consignees and unless the package is labelled plainly with the name of the consignee and the exact character of the contents is shown. The amendment pro- hibits shipment of liquor c. o. d.
 The amendment was adopted, 129 to 4O
 Speaker Cannon took his place on the floor and voted every time with the "tem- perance' forces.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-18
NAVAL BILL WILL
 PROBABLY PASS Passage In Senate Throws Ii
 In Conference THE APPROPRIATION BILLS While Predictions Are Rife As To Wholesale Failure Nothing of Kind Is Expected To Happen-Mat-
 ter Unimportant This Year.
THE APPROPRIATION BILLS

Washington February 17.-(Special)- The passage of the naval bill in the Senate today throws it in conference and it Is not improbable that the insurgents, headed by Senator LaFollette, will renew their criticisms on the report which will be forthcoming next week. It is be- lieved that the bill will become law.
 While predictions are rife as to the wholesale failure of the regular appro- priation bills nothing of the kind is expected to happen. By noon March the Senate and House will have passed all that they are really anxious to enact into law. The subject of the failure of the regular appropriation bills is a com paratively ,unimportant one this year.
 None of them is effective until July 1. and in view of the incoming Presidents announcement today that there would be an extra session on March 15. Congress would have over three months to make provision for the annual expenditures. It is this fact alone that forms the basis of reports of failure of the big supply measures.
 Even in this case 1t would not be ldluTe III llt plopCl icSiS'deiHc iiCohiiS of the term, as the extra session would take up the work and pass the hills before the beginning of the fiscal year.
 The Hundley Case.
 Senator Bacon of Georgia said today that in view of the fact that only two weeks of the session remained he regard ed it as doubtful that there would be any report from the judiciary commit tee on the Hundey case.
 Senator Dillingham;, the chairman of the committee, while very busy with the statehood bill, owing to the absence of Senator Beveridge, believes the Judiciary committee will yet have time to make a report with reference to Judge Hund- ley.
 To EuIoeize Wiley.
 Washington, February T.-(Special) J. The late Representative Wiley of Ala bama will be eulogized in the T.ouse next Sunday Nearly all the Alabama mem bers will make brief addresses.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-18
For Public Highways.

Washington, February 17.-With the view of having Congress and the different state legislatures take action toward building highways from Maineto, Fla from New York through the middle west to Seattle. and from Seattle down the coast to Los Angeles, a national high way association has been organized and incorporated under the laws of Florida, with John A. Stewart of New York pres idant
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-18
Postal Appointments.

Washington, February TL-(Special .)- Postmasters appointed: Dewdrop. Tusca- loosa county, James O. Winter; Isney, Choctaw county, William NJ. Watkins {; Marion Junction, Dallas county, James Alexander. Patents issued: W. E. Ben son, Benson coupling or connector; D.. C. Wimbrough. Mobile. rail joint.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-18
Furniture Factory Burns.

Norfolk, Va, February T-The Air Line Manufacturing company's Port Norfolk furniture factory was destroyed by fire early today with loss estimated at be- tween s6o,0OO and $75,o0o, partially in- sured.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-18
Congress Demanded.

Over the use of the word demand in the first line of the resolutions a wordy battle was waged. The speech of Congressman Fowler on the pre- ceding day, when he admonished the convention that the House and Senate would not willingly yield an atom of their power, evidently had aroused a fighting spirit in the delegates. who refused to substitute the word re quest as suggested by several.
 It was Beveridge day in the conven- tion, and the speech of the senator stirred the delegates to many outbursts of applause. Four of the speakers listed for the day were unable to be present, by reason of illness or busi- ness pressure, while one, Congressman elect Cullop of Indiana, needed the intimation of the convention that his views were unsatisfactory, and he re- trained from appearing.
 Herman A. Metz, comptroller of the currency of New York asserted that if an official tariff commission is not established the business men of this country should finance the establish ment of an unofficial body of experts whose findings at later date when public sentiment had enforced scientific tariff revision, would be invaluable.
 It is probable that the convention will adjourn at noon tomorrow, aband- oning the planned afternoon session.
 Resolutions Submitted.
 The resolutions ubmitted at the close of the session demanded that Congress immediately create permanent tariff commission for the collection and study of facts bearing upon the tariff. K In the interim before the fist re- port of the commission it Is asked that Congress proceed with the making of a tariff law that will deal justly with all interests until the more modern method of framing a tariff can be ob tained
 John M. Stahl, president of the Farm CTS National congress, urged the neces sity for a tariff commission, and Con gressmen-e elect CoXe and Sharpe of Ohio, elected as democrats in republic an districts, joined in the demand.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-18
New York World and 'ndian- apOIis News Mater
 Comes to Head
ROOSEVELT AND TAFT
 NAMED AS AGGRIEVED
William Nelson Cromwell Says AL legged LbeIous Publications Are Continuation of Previous At
 tempt to Blackmail Him.

Washington. February 17-Bench war rants were issued late today for the ar rest of Joseph Pulitzer, proprietor, and Caleb M Van Hamm and Robert H. Lyman, editors of the New York World and for Delevan Smith and Charles h. Williams owners of the lndiahapolls News, for criminal libel, in connection with the publication, in those newspapers, of charges of irregularities in the pur- chase by the United States government of the Panama canal property from the French owners.
 The indictments, on which the warrants were based, were returned today by the United States grand jury sitting in this city. and the warrants were issued later by the clerk of criminal court number one. The warrants are directed against all five of the natural defendants of the two newspapers. The summons requires the corporate defendants CThe Press Publish ing company of New YorlO so appear In court forthwith to answer the indictment.
 District Attorney Baker probably will not send the copies of the bench war rants and the certified copies of the ln- dictments to New York or to Indianapolis for a day or two. They were placed late today in the hands of the United States marshal here and he will proceed with then in accordance with the directions of MT. Baker
 Theodore Roosevelt, William Il. Ia1t, Elihu Root, J. Plerpont Morgan, Charles F. Taft, Douglas Robinson and William Nelson Cromwell are named in the ln- dfctments as the persons alleged to have been %fffTmssAHssv ths,ssteyies appearing Ill the two newspapers.
 Copies of the summons and or the lh- dictment were served this evening on the oress Publishing company by service on Otto Carmichael it's agent in this Juris- diction. The certified copies will be hled with Tinted States Commissioner John h. Shields in New York, who will issue war rants.9for the arrest of the natural ae- 'fendants of the New York Woriu' WHO will he brought before him to show cause why they should not be eXtfaoiteu 'o-Ani9 Jurisdiction for trial
 E,iIure of an attempt to blackmail hin, acording to William Nelson Crom- well was the reason for the puollcatioh of the stories, which he declared today "were exceptional and premedltated' ana made with free knowledge of thelr m famous source. and after speclhc warning by me of their falsity
 "The stories" he added, were con cocted more than two and a half years ago. by interruptions parties in New York. some of whom have criminal rec ords. in an attempt to blackma1l me He said that he was asked to pay $25,OOO to have the stories suppressed.
 q do not believe the World was party to these attempts, but it was deal ing with the same gang. The lndict- ment of the New York World and the Indianapolis News is not an indictment CAafA of the press of the United states as thevs,would like to make it appear to obtain the support of the general press of the country. I am in favor of free and unmuzzled press"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-18
Its Purposes.


 '1. The collecting and intelligent, thor ough and unprejudiced study of tariff facts.
 70 The development and enlargement of our foreign trade.
 ''3. The accomplishment of this by recip- rocal trade agreement, based on maximum and minimum schedules.
 A. The adjustment of the tariff sched- ules so that they shall affect all interests equitably
 ''5. The fixing of the rates of duty to be paid on the imports from any foreign country within the limits of the maximum and minimum rates established by Con- gress, under reciprocal trade agreements negotiated by or under the direction of the President in order thereby to develop and protect our foreign trade by the means favored by President Mckinley and authorized by sections 8 and of the Dingley law.
 We urge that prior to the passing of a bill creating such a commission Congress during its special session about to be called shall prepare and. adopt, with the assistance of the best information presently available, a re- ViSed tariff, as completely and ac- curately adjusted to present conditions and therefore as stable as is possible at this time."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-18
Worlds Statement.

\ In A statement issued tonight the World says in part:>~
 "This persecution, if it succeeds, will place every newspaper in the country which circulates in Washfngton-and there are few of importance which do not circulate there-completely at the mercy of an autocratic,. vainglorious President who is willing to prostitute his authority for the qualification of his personal mal- ice. Few newspapers make large prohts Most of them could be ruined financially by the legal expense of defending them selves hundreds of miles from the place or publication and against the tremendous resources of the United States govern ment.
 Under this procedure there Is hardly an American newspaper proprietor who would not be liable to criminal 1ndict- ment in Washington if his newspaper printed something offensive to the Presi- dent even though the proprietor might have been thousands of miles from his or flee at the time of such publication and knew nothing whatever about it.
 MT. Roosevelt is now abusing his great power as President to exploit his poll.ical malice. The libel proceedings have no to use the machinery of the United States government to satisfy his personal desire for revenge.
 we say this reluctantly, but we say it without qualification, because it is true
 MT. Roosevelt is an episode
 'The World is an institution"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-18
No Official Notification.

New York, February 1L-Federal offi- gers in this city stated today that they had as yet received no official notification of the indictments found against the pubusher and editors of the New York World. Upon receipt of such notice, said one of the officials, the accused men could be taken into custody only after complaints had been made to a United States commissioner in this city, and he had issued instructions to that effect
 Counsel for the Press Publishing com pany said that after the accused were notified to appear to answer to the in- dictments they would be entitled to a hearing in this city unless they waived examination and decided to go to Wash Ington to appear before the court there