davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1919-06-06
CRITICIZED CONDUCT OF
 POSTAL TELEGRAPH co,

Washington, June 5.-The conduct of the Postal Telegraph company in handling government business at Washington in the trying period of war was enough to justify the taking over of telegraph mad telephone sys- tens, Assistant Postmaster General Keons told the house interstate com- merce committee today at a hearing which closed just before issuance of orders by the postmaster general re- linquishing operation of the wire prop critics. MT. Rooms made TO mention of the intention of the postmaster general to turn back the wires for private operation.
 MT. Rooms declared that if other wire companies had adopted the same
 policy as the Postal. it would have strangled the government in the con-
 duct of the war.
 He charged that the Postal avoided government business, made no specia, effort to expedite it, and transferred l to the Western Union large numbers of government messages filed with il | for deliveries in cities at which i maintained offices. Information upor i which the charges were based, he said i was obtained by inspectors from th' i records of the company. There was nt l evidence, however. to show intentiona i delay by the Postal. he said.
Norwich bulletin., 1919-06-06
REPLY TO TER-PRoPOSALS
 READY FOR DELIVERY MONDAY

Paris, June ) (By the A. P.).-Such progress was made by the council of four today. it is hoped that by work ing through Sunday the reply to the German counter proposals may be ready for delivery Monday.
 The council has decided to refuse Germanys request that a fixed sum for reparations be indicated in the treaty.
 It was said in authoritative circles tonight that the outlook for an agree ment on the reply was more encour- aging as a result of today's meeting
 of the big four. It was considered cer-
 tain that comparatively few changes would be made in the text of the treaty.
 The reply will consist first of short letter answering Count Won Brockdorff- Rantzau's introduction, and then a ] long memorandum taking up all of the counter proposals.
 l Considerable difference of opinion prevails as to the prospect of present. ing the reply at an early date. IT l American circles the hope is enter 1 tained that the work will be finished i so that the reply may be finally acted upon by the big four not later thar Monday. French peace conference cir | cles are less optimistic, the belief pre- vailing that the reply will not be ready for presentation before Thursday.
Norwich bulletin., 1919-06-06
125, GOO WAR RISK INSURANCE
 CERTIFICATES RETURNED

Washington, June 5.-Dependents of men in the military service. who have moved without notifying the Var Risk Bureau of their new addresses have caused the return of 125.000 insurance certificates. A total of 337.742 checks has been returned, including 15,0s0 drawn to dependents in other countries which are unclaimed. As fast as pos sible, the bureau is locating the per sons to whom they belong, being as sisted by the Red Cross and local agencies throughout ths country. A trend from the country to the cities has been noticed in the change of ad dresses sent to the bureau. New York leads the country for centralization, but all cities, especially those near can tonments have received large number of soldiers who formerly lived in the country.
Norwich bulletin., 1919-06-06
A PLAN TO ELIMINATE $
 STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS

Atlantic City, N. J. June "A plan to permanently eliminate strikes lock outs and other labor troubles was pre- scented at today's session of the building trades department of the American Federation of Labor The proposal has the endorsement of Sam uet Gotnpers and the support Of the executive council of the building trades department.
 The plan provides for the creation of national board for jurisdictional awards in the building industry, to be comprised of eight members. three to be international officers of the build ing trades department, and one repre- sentative each for the American In- stitute of Architects, the engineering council, the Associated General Con- tractors of America, the National As sociation of Builders. Exchanges and the National Building Trades Employ CTS Association. The national board for jurisdictional awards is to have power to investigate all disputes and to ma'-n awards in accordance with the findings,
 Two resolutions presented and re- ferred to committee for action caused a stir among the delegates One ask | ed an explanation from Secretary o1 War Baker regarding the activity ot | troops at Toledo, Ohio. and the other demanded the abrogation of the agreement between Samuel Gompers representing labor. and the war de. partmept for cooperation during tht 1 war.
 At the convention of the Meta Trades Department Council of the federation, Secretary A. J, Barres pre-. dicted that shipyard strikes would bt general on the Atlantic coast unless agreements are soon reached betWeel | employers and men. Mr Barres is members of the Macy board. who's
 wage awards expired March i. Notwithstanding opposition it wa reported that agreements for the ad justment of all demands and tn
 continuance of the Macy board award
 until October 1 had been reached wit
 the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corpora
 tion, the American Shipbuilding Com pany, the Globe Shipbu11ding and tn
 Emergency Fleet Corporation for it
 yards at Hog Island and Hartman
 Pa This agreement provides for tn
 recognition of the union and the ad
 justment of all demands after Octobe
 by board chosen by the employer
 and workers. each to be represente
 by five men.
 James O'Connell president of tn
 council, said he hoped before the con vention adjourned that an agreemer
 would be ready for announcement be
 tween ali the eastern yards and the , men,
Norwich bulletin., 1919-06-06
DETERRENTS TO BUILDING
 ACTIVITIES IN NEW YORK

New York, June 5.-Testifying today before the General Welfare Committee of the board of aldermen, Samuel Un- termeyer declared the two great de- terrents to building activities in New York city are inability to borrow money and ''the eactions of criminal combination among dealers in build ing supplies" He asserted that the brick and cement industries, among others, are operating under some se- cret price agreement and he advocat- ed investigation of every association in the building trades.
 MT. Undermeyer said the plan of getting the federal government to loan money to build houses was impractic- able because whatever appropriation was made would have to be decided throughout the country. He suggested that if the great life insurance com panies could be induced to make real estate loans, however, twelve of them Could furnish $10O,0OO,G00 for this city at once He made the charge that officers of the life insurance com panies seemed to prefer to use the money of their policy holders to gamble in Wall Street securities rather than invest it in improved real estate.
Norwich bulletin., 1919-06-06

Washington, June 5.-Telegraph and telephone companies whose lines have been controlled and operated by the government since last August 1, were ordered tonight to resume immediate
 ly operations for their own account by
 Postmaster General Burleson The
 postoffice department. however, under
 terms of MT. Burlesons order, retains
 a measure of control of the service,
 pending final legislative action by con-
 gross.
 Regulations prohibiting discrimina-
 tion against wire employees because of union affiliations. maintaining exist ing rates and charges and instructing companies to keep special accounts to facilitate cost settlements between themselves and the government are retained in effect under the order is- sued by the postmaster general MT. Burleson accompanied the order | with statement giving the reasons which impelled him to take the action l He asserted that the president having recommended the return of the prop | critics, the senate interstate commerce
 committee having indicated that i'm | mediate return was advisable and the
 house committee having through hear
Norwich bulletin., 1919-06-06
LUSlTANlA MEDAL ISSUED
 BY GERMAN GOVERNMENT

Coblenz Wednesday. June 4.-(By The A. PD The Lusitania medal which was issued, it is said, with the consent of the German government, just after the sinking of the Lusita- mia. Is in the hands Of Americans and can be brought out of the unoccupied sections of Germany by American of ficers.
 Ofhcial photographs of the medal are 10 be sent 10 Washington.
 The Lusitania medal. which has been variously described. is of bronze, about two and a half inches in diam eter. On one side in relief is depicted the sinking of the ship, with the fol- lowing inscription in German: 'Lu- sitania, sunk by German U-boat, May :, 1915"
 On the reverse side is depicted a people at a booking office. the figure within the ticket window being a skeleton, handing out steamship trans portation to those awaiting their turn The German inscription is translated here as Anything for money"
Norwich bulletin., 1919-06-06
Photographers Strike Iin Iin1OSouthernStates
In Support of Telegraph and Telephone Operators Now On Strike in Atlanta, Ga.

Washington June 5.-Employes of the Western Union Telegraph com pany in Florida, Alabama. Georgia. south and North Carolina, West Vir- glnla, Kentucky. Tennessee, Mississip- p1 and New Orleans, La, who are members of the Commercial Telegra- phers' union, were ordered to go on strike immediately tonight by S. J. konenkamp, president of that organ i1ation
 President Konenkamp said the strike ordof was issued in support of Atlanta telegraph and telephone operators who wen tout several days ago. and assert ed that it would unquestionabiy be followed by nationwide strike with in few days
 T took the step immediately upon learning that Postmaster General Bur- lesGn had ordered wires returned to tte companies Mir. Konenkamp as serted Authority for it was extended 'E 4 strike vote taken some time ago W3lch has been held up to see if we could not negotiate a peaceable settle ment. It is very likely that the strike will also involve the Postal company but that cannot be determined yet"
Norwich bulletin., 1919-06-06
BRIDGEPORT JlTNEUR
 HELD UP BY MEN IN UNIFORM

Milford, Conn.,, June 5..- David Lloyd, a public service automobile driver of Bridgeport. was held up and robbed of his new automobile and his money by two men in army uniforms late today on the shore road west of WCodmont One of the men pointed
 two revolvers at the driver from the rear seat of the machine and forced
 him to get out. Lloyd walked to Mil
 ford and while on the street saw his
 automobile speed by with the two men
 in it. He notified the police and the
 chase was taken up with automobiles.
 The last report of the stolen machine
 was that it was seen going toward Derby.
 According to Lloyd, the two men in
 uniform approached him in Bridgeport and hired him to take them to New Haven After reaching New Haven and riding about for short time, they asked Lloyd to drive them back toward Bridgeport and after travelling several miles the holdup took place. Lloyd told the police that one of the holdup n:cn said they needed the automobile for a $50.O00 job that they intended to carry out tonight.
Norwich bulletin., 1919-06-06
PROCEEDINGS OF CONN.
 BRANCH OF A. F. OF L.

Meriden, Conn, June 5-A prolonged debate on the resolutions which would have the Federation of Labor support a new political labor party vii lextend the session for another day. in the opinion of many delegates. The va rious resolutions were called up in convention this afternoon and those advocates of a political party to aid organized labor were prepared to fight to a finish for a declaration by the convention. Then will follow debate on a resolution to support the league of nations covenant.
 It was voted to present Cornelius J Danaher with $500 in recognietion of the legal services he has rendered the Federation during the year. Presi- dent O'Meara said that MT. Danaher | was the only lawyer in the state who | has come to the aid of labor. Rep. w. Rogers Of Manchester | spoke for w6SYnan's suffrage and ask ed the delegates to support it. He also urged assistance for the $100000 fund which the suffragists are planning tc i raise in drive. MT Rogers said the legislators lacked interest in labor matters, and the republican machine was against most labor bills and Wo- mans suffrage He also said tha | Tn ms oplnlon- the ldDDy ag21nSt. laDol bills was greater in the last sessio1 than ever before.
 Miss Theresa Sullivan spoke in be !half of the telephone operators O New England and the movement t' organize that craft.
 A committee to interview the trus tees of the Boys school to learn tn reason for report that boys were t be sent out to aid in building house was named with John Madden O Stamford, R. Beadle of New Have1 and James J. Golden of Meriden on ii
 The pay of members of the eXecu
 tive committee was raised from t
 $750 a day.
Norwich bulletin., 1919-06-06
Heated Debate in
 Senate on Treaty
Charges of Partisanship and Politics Made From Both Sides of the Chamber.

Washington, June 5.-In more than five hours of heated debate today the senate ran the whole scale of issues involved in the peace treaty fight.
 Starting with the controversy over publica tion of the treaty, the discus sion drifted to principles of the treaty itself and of the League of Nations, and before it was finished involved sharp charges of partisanship and pol- itics from both sides of the chamber.
 Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska. sen for democrat of the foreign relations committee, charged that Chairman Lodge and Senator Borah of Idaho had made an attack "of a most scan dalous nature" on the president in their statements telling of copies of the unpublished treaty in New York. A searching investigation was de- manded by the Nebraska senator.
 Senator Lodge replied that there was nothing to conceal, and that he would welcome investigation. which should include also the q acratic state department. Senate Borah made a similar statement and then charged that there was "a conduit between those backing the League to President Taft, and those who possess informa ton as to what is in the trea- ty.
 Tonight Acting Secretary Polk ot the state department took hand 1T | the controversy through issuance of statement denying a declaration ot Senator Lodge during the debate tha1 the state department had told newspa- per men financial sections of the treaty were in the hands of financia | interests in New York.
 AS far as 1 know" said MT. Polk, 1T the first formal expression on th' | subject that has come from the de partment. the copies of financial ant reparation sections are not in th' | hands of unauthorized persons" | Meantime it became known tha | Senator Hitchcock. in asking for al investigation of the channels througl which copies of the treaty reached
 New York, was acting with the back
 ing of the White House. His resolu tion directing the foreign relation
 committee to investigate was intro 1 duced yesterday, it was said author | itatively, after he had been requeste' ! to do so at a White House conference
 No vote was reached during the da I on either the Hitchcock resolution 0 | that introduced by Senator Johnson republican, of California, asking tn
 state department for the treaty text.
Norwich bulletin., 1919-06-06

Wilkesbarre. Pa. June 5.-Eighty- three men dead and fifty others burn cd and maimed many of whom will die is the toll of a terrible disatser in the Baltimore tunnel of the Delaware and Hudson Coal Company in the East End section of this city early to- day.
 The disatser was caused by the ex- plosion of seven kegs of black pow der. three hundred pounds in all, and the dead and the maimed were liter ally roasted by the superhested gas flames following the explosion. The tragedy occurred while the men were on their way 10 work this morning. owing to their working places being two miles from the mouth of the tun- mel the men were making the trip in a train of fourteen mine cars drawn by an electric motor. the powder be- ing carried in two cars in the middle of the train. The train had penetrated the tunnel about 200 feet when Aug ust Ruddick. one of the survivors. states the overhead trolley wire sag ged and touching a steel powder keg, formed a short circuit. In an instant there was d shower Of sparks and then the powder gave way with a terrific blast and a great sheet of flame
  the helpless men who were huddled closely together in the cars with no possible chance to escape Owing to the ventilating system the smoke and flame was drawn inward and the first fntimation Of the disaster Go those on the surface was the shrieks Of anguish Of the injured. Rescue corps were at once formed and the dead and in- jured were rapidly brought Co the sur face where the living were given first aid treatment by physicians and then rushed to the City and Mercy Hospi- tais in ambulances and vehicles of al sorts. even the fire apparatus being used tn the emergency.
 When the rescue1s first entered the tunnel they found the dead and dyins piled up in heaps in the cars an( along tho tunnel Bodies of the deaC were burned to crisp and cooked flesh came off in strips from the limb! of the living. Of the dead sixty nine were found dead in the tunnel anC fourteen others succumbed to thei1 injuries at the hospitals. But forty nine of the dead have so far beer identified.
 Among the men killed outright by the deadly blast was James J. McClos- key. a former baseball pitcher. .a one time a member of the Philadelphia >ational League club.
 Assistant General Manager Bucha nan cf the Delaware and Hudson Goa Company after investigation at tn scene of the disaster gave it as hi opinion that the explosion was no
Norwich bulletin., 1919-06-06
BOMB SCARE IN A BOSTON
 APARTMENT HOUSE

Boston, June 5.-Occupants of m apartment house at 187 mad 1S9 Hunt- ington avenue fl the Back Bay dis trict had bomb scare early today when the janitor's wife reported that she had overhead conversation of two men in an alleyway near the building. She said she heard one of the men say Tt will go off about o'clock" The police made an inspection of the prem ises with the aid of searchlights put found nothing to confirm the suspicion that bomb had been placed there. Their activities aroused everyone in the building many of whom sought re- fuge for the rest of the night in near by hotels or at the homes of friends The police said there was 10 reason for any demonstration by bomhecs at that building as far GS was known.
Norwich bulletin., 1919-06-06

caused by the sagging of the over head wire. He is of ,ne opinion that perhaps a steel bar or drill carried by one of the men came in contact with the wire forming the short circuit which caused the powder to give may. According to the company's figures, 143 men and boys were being carried by the train and but seventeen es- capped injury.
 John Common, who was on the motor when the accident occurred, said: The trip forms at the mouth of the tunnel each morning. The trip today formed at 6.25 o'clock John Me Groarity was the motorman and Jim my kehoe the brakeman. I was riding on the head end of the trip and the cars were filled with men. In the last car were several kegs of powder I do not know whether any men were in this car. The last car was just in- side the mouth of the tunnel when Me Groarity noticed the wire hanging low He stopped the trip and started ahead d few hundred feet to ascertain the cause of the low wire. He had travel ed ahead a few feet when he again stopped and told me to go out and tell another motor car runner on the out side to pull the trip out again Mo Groarity also shouted to the men on the cars that they had better get out and walk. l saw some night shift men going out and l told them to notify the runner to pull the trip of cars out. They said they would.
 The men in the cars were in the act of climbing out and the night shift men had just left when there was a 1 binding flash. There was not much concussion and the flame was gone in little while. Every man in the tun- nel was affected by smoke. We men who were on the front were affected, 1 but We escaped the force of the flames | Then we started to help the injured
 and take out the bodies of the dead -I am not sure how the accident
 happened. The wire was hanging low.
 It might have touched the metal of
 the car Some of the men I am sure
 were drowned. as they piled on top of
 each other in the Sulphur creek which
 runs along the side of the tunnel" Seward Button, chief of the state
 bureau of mines, informed The Asso-
 ciated Press tonight that the state
 code contained regulations governing
 the storage of explosives in magazines
 and working places, but was silent on
 the transportation of the same. Mir I Button declared this-sWas- sa- ,grie Eelss
 omission in the law and that acting | on his own responsibility he would is- l sue regulations tomorrow morning which would check the present care-
 less methods and insist that they bt
 obeyed until the same can be enacted into law.
Norwich bulletin., 1919-06-06
CONDENSED REVIEW OF
 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
(By The Associated Press.)

NDy ne kASSOCIdteO PreSS.)
 The council of four in Paris is still engaged in efforts to reach a satisfac- tory conclusion with regard, to the counter proposals made by the Ger man peace delegates. It also is work ing on the clauses of the Austria n peace convention which had not been completed when part of the treaty was handed to the Austrians at St. Ger main
 Reports in Paris are to the effect that the council will be unable to re- ply to the Germans before the end of next week. This probably is due to the complicated nature of the questions under advisement- It is understood t1ai the financial clause of the Aus tran treaty has been arranged. but that no sum has been fixed for Aus fld to pay. This matter, it is said, is to be left to a commission which will dete'ndne the amount and the method O. payment after an examination into the resources of Austria
 Premier Paderewski of Poland has entered a protest to the peace confer eGce against any change being made in ths peace terms regarding Silesia, le has been reported that the council 0. four was considering an alteration Of the original demands.
 Ine Austrian cabinet, 1t is asserted is undecided whether to accept or re- Ject the peace terms offered Austria The newspapers continue to declare that the terms are unacceptable, and report coming by way of Copen- hagen says black flags are to be flown throughout Austria Friday as an ex- | pression of the feeling of the popula | ton against the terms.
 A delegation of South Africans has | called on Premier Lloyd George il | Paris and requested that independence 1 b egiven to the Union of South Africa Bolsheviki advices reaching Copen- l hagen say that the Bolsheviki have inflicted a severe defeat on the troops
 of Admiral Kolchak of the Omsk gov. 1 ernment. Prisoners to the number O
 40,000 and 100 guns and much wal material are declared to have beer | taken by the Bolsheviki. Reports iron
 Esthonian sources declare that tn,
 despatches announcing the capture O | Petrograd by the Esthonians wer, | premature.
 There is no limitation of armamen for the small states which have sprun, up in former Austro Hungaria terri tory. The council of four has decided
 to eliminate the limitation provision fixed by the council in the Austrian
 treaty for these small states. The ac tion of the council was taken on tn
 protest of the Jugoslavs, who contend
 ed that it was unfair to leave Ital
 well armed while they were limited
 and because the Poles also demande
 the elimination of the provisions.