The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1919-05-17

Inc governor Slgueu tHe hC4Nodiuo
soldier vote bill Friday and presented
to Senator McNealus the fountain pen
with which he signed it. Before sign
ing the bill the governor added at the
bottom the fact that the attorney gen
eral of Texas had given it as his opin-
ion that the law is within the constr
tutional limitations.
Freight and mail for Central Mexl-
can points are being rerouted through
Eagle Pass, Texas, and Pledras Ne
gras, Coahuila, because Villa rebels
have destroyed rail communication
south of Chihuahua City.
When communication was complete
ly restored throughout the lower Rlo
Grande Valley of Texas Friday; verl-
fication of earlier reports from the
section swept by Wednesday nights
storm had reduced the list of dead to
H. Damage to corn and truck gardens
is generally heavy. The property loss
is estimated at half a million dollars.
The Gulf Production Company's No.
II Stateland at Goose Greek, Texas,
was completed Friday at $500 feet
with an initial flow of 1900 barrels
of OIL
The Texas railroad commission Fri
day ordered the restoration OF several
passenger trains which had been dis
continued during the war under au-
thority from the commission. Not near
all of the prewar trains are ordered re-
instated, but the commission holds the
entire matter in allegiance so that it
can make orders in the future for the
return of additional trains If it so de-
sires. This is done in every instance
and obviates the necessity OF holding
public hearing should the commits
sion desire the lines to put on more
trains.
The Columbian Refining Company,
organized by business men of Hous-
ton and New York, will build refin-
cry on the ship channel near Houston,
Texas, at an early date. The first
unit of the new plant will have ca
pacity of 100000 barrels.
Edward LOOMS of San Antonio was
elected commander Of the Grand Army
of the Republic, department OF Tex
as, at the meeting in Houston, Texas.
of the G.. A. r. convention Friday.
Continued rains in the Beaumont
(Texas) district have greatly retard-
ed the rice crop and unless clear
weather intervenes soon it is esti-
mated that no more than so per cent
of the crop in Jefferson County has
been planted and farmers are getting
anxious.
The first called session of the Thir-
| ty-Sixth Texas Legislature completed
it's labors Thursday and adjourned Fri
| day at noon. 1t finished the work as
signed by the governor.
Alarmed at Francisco Villas recent
show of strength in Northern Mexico,
President Carranza has ordered Gen.
eral Jesus Agustin Castro, subsecre-
| tary of war, in command of the north
eastern zone to begin his campaign
| against Villas forces Immediately, ac-
cording to reports brought to the Tex
as border Wednesday by passengers
| from Chihuahua City
Paul Frederick Volfand, wealthy
head Of the art publishing company
| which bears his name, was shot and
instantly killed in his office at Chica-
go, H., by a woman said to be de-
| mented.
Thomas Embry, a negro, is dead and
IS persons suffering from pistol and
| shotgun wounds, none Of which is re-
| garded as serious, as result of bat
tie lasting about three hours between
| the negro and a posse Of citizens at
| Plano, Texas, Tuesday, headed by Of
ficers. The negro was shot down in
| the door of house where he defied
the efforts OF the posse to capture him
| after having shot his wife and wound
! ed several others.