The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-05
SPARKS FROM THE WIRES

Washington.-A plea for a $2.500,000 ap- propriation in the river and harbor bill 1 for the purchase of the Chesapeake and Delaware canal, was made today before the Senate commerce committee by Sena- tor Salisbury.
 1 Vancouver, B. C.-The steamship Elm press of Asia which arrived last night, made new transpacific record from Yokohama to Victoria of nine days and three hours, beating the record held by the steamship Empress of Russia by two hours.
 Hamilton. Ont.-William Gibson sena- tor and capitalist, died at his home in Beamsville today, aged 65. He was presi- dent of the Hamilton Jockey club. Duluth, Minn.-A 50 per cent cut, back to the 1912 basis in crude Lake Superior iron ore. was announced here today fol- 1 lowing word received from the east that the manufacturing interests here made that rate.
 Herkimer. N. Y.-Jean Gianini was placed on trial here today for the mur- der of Miss Lydia Beecher his school teacher. The 16-year-old defendant sat in court with his father, a retired manu- facturer, and took only languid interest in the proceedings
 Madrid.-Miss Belle Willard daughter of the American ambassador to Spain, Joseph B. Willard, has received a telegram from Kermit Roosevelt, to whom she is en- gagged to be married, saying he will ar rive in Lisbon May 20
 High Point. N. C.-Herbert Austin. cashier of the Wachovia bank here shot and killed himself today at the home of his grandmother, Mrs. Noah Townsend,
 
 incident, which is responsible for the presence of American troops at Vera Cruz, indicated not only that the three envoys had given up hope of interesting the con stitutionalist leaders actively in the first stage of. the negotiations but also had determined to postpone consideration of any general settlement of the questions at issue between Huerta and the Amer ican government until this delicate point was adjusted. By this procedure the mediators would avoid the problems of a quasi-recognition of Huerta or of the elimination of the Mexican dictator as conditions precedent to mediation which diplomatic skeptcs were earlier sure would wreck the negotiations in the very outset. ~
 A simpler problem, that of the degree and nature of the amep.ds to be offered by Huerta for the conduct of his generals and subordinatesg at Tampico and Vera Cruz, would pfe left for the medators tc solve anda Success in this preliminary eff fort Would contribute greatly to the chances of working out a general settle ment of the Mexican imbroglio.
 Three Long Sessions | The mediators held three long sessions | during the day and reported that they were moving ahead steadily They ex- pressed satisfaction with the class of mer | chosen by Huerta as his delegates tc 1 confer with them. The appointment o1 | Rabasa brings a big man into the pro- ceedngs. He is about 50 years old, a lawyer and one of the foremost authori- | ties on international law in Mexico. He | Is one of the closest advisers of General l Huerta and it has been said in Mexico l that he was in the combination with Huerta and Felix Diaz which disposed oi the Madero government. The other Huerta l IutlCSdtcc, 'tiiOi ddiDd, IS h youn6 ldW ci secretary to the vice president undel Porfrio Diaz.
 The mediators will continue in complete charge of the plans of settlement ant will not take the delegates from the diff ferent parties into any general counci with them. The delegates will be merel,
 advisors, while the three South American envoys will constitute the internationa | tribunal trying to work out the problem Secretary Bryan expressed satisfaction today at the general condition of the me | diation proceedings. He went to tn White House for a conference with Pres ident Wilson. during which the status O
 mediation and the Mexico situation gen orally was gone over.
 Query From Carranza
 The only word from Carranza durins the day was an inquiry from him to thu mediators as to just what functions tn, delegate, which they had asked Carranzs to name, would have. He desired t' know before naming such a delegate jus
 what powers he would exercise, and tha they should not be extended to dealing
 between Huerta and Carranza which, ao
 cording to the consttutionalist leader. position are entirely outside the scop, of the mediator's work.
 During the day it was announced tha
 which is bringing back the bodies of tn, ly0 On MOHudy anu meet tHt MOHtdHd
 which Is bringing bac kthe bodies of th' American marines killed at Vera Crui
 and deliver an address, Should publi, business require the continued presenc, of President Wilson at Washington, Sec II retary Daniels will speak in the name O. the President
 There have been some amusing fea
 lures to tighten the serious aspects o
 the mediation proceedings. The mediator Aheep racaiyipP nlmhpr letters approving their course and offer ing advice. One letter urged that Theo dore Roosevelt was the man to set up provisional government in Mexico
 backed by North. South and Centra
 Americas. and that the Spanish republics
 should induce him to undertake the pro
 visonal direction of affairs at Mexic, | City. Another contribution has been il the form of Mexican sombrerors of vas | dimensions. for the mediators. Tn donor attached card stating that tn sombreros were to the 'illustrous me