The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 1

1j Credit Coupoa CUT THIS OCT, MRCH O. FOUR O'CLOCK. NEW YORK CITY. TUESDAY. MARCH 9.

1909. VOL. 70. XO. 07.

PAGES, INCLUDING PICTURE SECTION. THREE CENTS. THE POPE IS MUCH BETTER. McADOO BROKE BROOKLYN FIGHTS CHARTER SCHEME Pit OH IHIMTIKS Rain aHd NliKhtlr irnrmer to-night WrdnrHdNji IncrenNlnsr easterly irlndit, becoming; aonther-ly. The following special has bcn rceiv.d by the.

Eagl WeaiVr Bureau from Washington: Southwest storm warnings ordered displayed 'at A.M. along the coast from Jacksonville to New York. Southeast storm warnings I ordered displayed at 12. noon, along the New England coast. Storm over eastern SlissouA will move eastward.

High south to east winds will shift Wednesday to westerly. Main Features of the Proposed New City Charter. Centralization of authority and a reduction of the powers of borough governments. A Board of Estimate and Apportionment of eight members, with largely increased powers and complete control of city finances. It will be the business executive committee of the city.

The borough presidents will be members, but they will be shorn of all administrative functions in their boroughs. Seven bureaus subordinate to the Board of Estimate, as follows: Public Improvements and Engineering, Supplies, Real Estate, Claim3, Publicity and Statistics, Salaries and Franchises. A Council of thirty-nine members, in place of the present Board of Aldermen, its members to serve without pay. It will have large powers in making city ordinances, but will have no control of administrative matters and no control over franchises. It may amend the administrative code which will be a part of the charter.

Apportionment as follows: Manhattan, 14; Brooklyn, 11; Bronx, Queens, Richmond, 3. A mayor with a salary of $25,000 a year. He has large powers and responsibility for administrative departments is centered in him. Five boards of local improvement, one for each borough, to consist of members of the Council from that borough. Sinking Fund Commission to be merged into the Board of Estimate.

A Board of Education subordinate to the Board of Estimate and consisting of fifteen members. A local school board in each Council district. Department of Buildings reconstructed and placed under a single commissioner appointed by the mayor. A Department of Street Control, which takes over the present Street Cleaning Department, and which will also have complete control of sewers. A uniformed superintendent of police, appointed by the commissioner and subject to removal by him.

Coroners abolished, autopsies to be held by Health Department and inquests by magistrates. Aqueduct Commission to be abolished. A method of calculating the debt limit prescribed. A uniform system of accounting. A Bureau of Licenses, in the City Treasury Department.

A uniform procedure in condemnation proceedings. Two more justices of special sessions. All commissioners to have full power to make rules and regulations for their departments. LOEB TAKES NEW OFFICE, COLLECTOR OF THE PORT Roosevelt's Former Secretary Now in Charge of the Customs House. Resumed His Audiences in His Pii-vate Apartments.

Rome. March The Tope, who has been suffering from a cold, is much belter to-day. The beautiful, springlike weather has had a good effect on the pa- He has no: yet been allowed to come-down to the state apartments, bu: as be insists upon resuming his audiences ESLJS: PS bishop of Turin, and Mgr. Trobec. bishop of St.

Cloud, who cfltne lo Rome for the purpose. Hoth visitors expressed the 1 opinion that the Pope looked compara- lively well and vigrous considering the I fact. that, he has been confined his room for more than one Week. The pontiff expressed the desire to descend soon to flic throne room to receive Cardinal Mender, archbishop of Mchlin, who in here with five Belgian bishops and a Belgian pilgrimage. STANDARD OIL LOSES Missouri Supreme Court Expels It From the State.

Waters-Pierce Company Is Restored and Allowed to Carry on Business. Jefferson City, March 9 The motions by the Standard Oil Company of Indiana and the Republic Oil Company of Ohio for a rehearing of the ouster suit recently decided against them, and for a modification of the Judgment, were overruled by the Missouri Supreme Court to day. The position of the Walers-Plerce 0:1 Company was upheld, the motion of the attorney grenral for an absolute ouster I of the Missouri company being dented, the compliance with the court, order recently filed by the company approved and the Judgment of ouster against them being suspended. The effect of these decisions is to expel the Indiana and Ohio companies from Missouri and to restore the Waters-Pierce Company 60 per of whose stock is held by the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, the right to do business within the state. No formal opinion in the premises was read.

Chief Justice Valliant simply announcing tho gist of the eourt'B decision. Justices I.flnim and Woodson dissented. The Standard Oil interests aro expected to appeal from the decision and carry their case to the Supreme Court of the United Slates. The decision is considered a great victory for the Wai era-Pierce Company and incidentally for the minority Interest, of that concern, who claim to have been making unavailing efforts to free the company from control by the New Jersey corporation. PLUNGED DOWN FIVE STORIES.

Suicide of Walter H. Merriam, a Law. yer, Who Had Long Been a Victim of Nervous Prostration. Following a struggle in a fifth story window of the Raymore apartment house. 1 West Sixty-eighth street, Manhattan, with hlB nurse al 6:30 o'clock this fng, Walter.

HV Mer'tam, (a lawyer, years plunged from the window and crushed his skull on a rock in a vacant lot below. His nude body was wedged between the rock and a 12-foot fence, and was found there a few minutes later by two strangers, who were attracted by th-i screams of the lawyer's wife nnd tho nurse. Merriam had law offices at 3.1. Nassau street, Mnnhattan. For several years he was' associated in the practice of law with his father.

James H. Merriam, and the two did a big business in corporation law. About two years ago the son became victim of nervous prostration, due lo overwork. Two physicians and two nurses were In almost constant attendance upon him. Mr.

Merriam started to climb out of the window during the temporary absence of one of these nurses, and. return ing, she caught hold of his night clothes, but he slipped away from her grasp. Mrs. Merriam said that, her husband had had no financial troubles or domestic troubles of any kind. The suicide, she thought, was due to temporary mental derangement, brought on by his illness.

FIRST CABINET MEETING HELD All Members Present but Secretary of War Dickinson President Taboos Talking- by Members. Wdshingto'n, March President Taft's first cabinet meeting convened at 11 o'clock to-day. All the members of (he new Cabinet except Mr, Dickinson, who is to be secretary of war, were present. President. Taft has determined not to i I I a TRAGEDY IN A FEW HOURS Busch, Hat Store Clerk, Wounded; His Assailant Killed Himself.

NEITHER KNEW THE OTHER. It Appears That the Grudge of the Visitor Was Against Owner of Store, Not Against Clerk. Before the eyes of a half dozen hoppers and clerks this morning an unidentified man fired two revolver shois at Norman Busch, 23 years old, in a hat store here the latter was employed at (190 Broadway, one of which took effect, and then turned the revolver on himself and fired two bullets into his brain, dying instantly. Busch dropped behind the counter to the rear of the store, where he had been standing when the man entered, partly conscious. The would-be murderer immediately placed the revolver to his temple and fell to the floor but a few feet from his victim.

For a few minutes the proprietor of the store and his clerks were too horrified to act. But wiiun the smoke clean up and they saw the two bodies, Al Wiener, the proprietor, telephoned to police headquarters for an ambulance. The police communicated with the Williamsburg Hospital and Dr. Welton responded. He hurriedly examined the strangT, and observing that he was beyond aid, turned his attention to Busch.

The young man had a bullet lodged in the right side of his chest. The other shot had gone wild. For a while there was the greatest mystery about the shooting. Clerks in tho si ore told the police, that Busch had spoken about, a dream he had had of being shot, and had appeared greatly worried, presumably because of his peculiar premonition. As soon as Dr.

Welton bad extracted the piece of which was found embedded In the flesh about four inches to the right of the point of entrance, having been diverted by the breast bone, the police questioned Busch. He declared that he did not know the suicide and had never seen him before. Later when the body of the dead man was searched In the Leo avenue station a note was found in the breast pocket of his jacket, carefully folded and refolded. The note gave some clew to the man's Identity and gave the apparent cause of the shooting, and also led the police to believe the suicide to have been demented. The note Wiener is fakir, sticking me on a hat.

that was in vogue some twenty years ago and then slipping me a 'plug' sliver dollar In change of a good live. "Charles Locfller, Newark, N. As soon -as the note was discovered the local police communicated the police of Newark and "Charles Loefner" is being looked up in that. city. Apparently the dead man had a fancied griev ance ngainst Wiener and mistook Busch, the clerk, for the proprietor.

It was just about 11:30 o'rlcUt this morning when the man entered the store. Busch was to the rear of the place, nilinst no hat boxes on a counter. The stranger did not stop to address any of tho other clerks, but stepped rapidly to tho counter where Busch stood. Busch saw the man approaching and turned to him with: "Well, sir?" Without a word the man drew a revolver from his pocket and fired two shots at the clerk and then two into his own head. Patrolmen Griffin and Cook of the Leo avenue station, who heard the shots.

rushed to the scene, followed by a large crowd. The crowd gathered before the door of the hat store and gradually grew to such numbers that they blocked all Broadway traffic, and the patrolmen were compelled to send for the reserves of the Lee avenue slat Ion to hold them in check. Even their the police had trouble In keeping the crowd orderly. When Dr. Welton arrived he worked over Busch for some little time, and when the bullet had been finally located end extracted gave him stimulants so he would be.

able to talk to the police. While the young man lay on the floor, before the arrival of the ambulance surgeon, he murmured several times: "I knew it. was gong to happen When questioned oy the police, however. Bufch said: "There was absolutely no reason, so far as I know, why the man should have shot me. I never saw him before nnd never heard of him.

There Is no reason In my mind why anyone should want to shoot me. I have not been in any scrapes." Al Wiener told a reporter that Buscil told him this morning that he had had an odd dream. "He told me," said Mr. Wiener, "that he hod dreamed he was going to bo shot. He said that after the dream he could not.

again go to sleep, but lay awake the greater part of the night, once in a while falling into doze, in which the dream repeated itself. Ho looked worried when he came In here, and we questioned him and that, was what he told us. It's a strange case. "He has worked for me for two years, and 1 have always found him a hard worker and very clean and moral in all of his wayn. His reputation, so far as I know, is excellent.

All of the clerks here can 1 ell you the same thing. We all like! him very well." As soon as the police bad completed a hnqlv evnminnt.ion. Busch was removed TRACTION PACT And Shonts Retaliated With Interborough Offer of for Subways. "GENTLEMEN'S Provided, It Is Said, for Non-ln vasion of Territory and Non-Competitive Development. INTERBOROUGH MEN ANGRY.

Hudson Tunnel Company Desired to Secure a More Profitable Portion of the Traffic. Notwithstanding many official denials, some of them not altogether unequivocal, it may be stated on excellent authority that in announcing to the Public Service Commission that it was prepared to build elaborate extensions to the present subway system, at a cost of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company was actuated by a wish to retaliate for the alleged breaking on the part of the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad Company of a so-called "gentlemen's greement" as well as by the announced desire to serve the public. When Theodore P. Shonts. president the liiierb.irough Rapid Transit Company, astonished both the Public Service Commission and the general public yesterday afternoon, by the statement, that thu company, of which he is the official hca4, was ready to spend out of own treasury in the construction of neiy subway lines, he was voicing the answer of the Interborough people to the.

allege! breach of faith by the 'MuAddo tunnel people In seeking the permission the commission t'o extend its Sixth, avenue subway. In Manhattan, to the Grand Cen-' tral station. What the ''Gentlemen's Agreement" Was. I he "gentlemen agreement; It wal jCRrlle( entered Into between Jihe Interborough Rapid Transit Com. pany n-nd the- Hudson whicH built (he tunnel under the North River now operated by the Hudson and Man hattnn Railroad Company, at tho tima the bills creating the Public Commission were passed at Albany, a little less than two years ago.

By tho terms of this agreement the companies and the liHcrborough Rapid Transit Company bound themselves not to Invade each territory. Also I hey pledged themselves, so far as future extensions and developments were concerned, to work in tlie economic Interests of the two companies. There were other details involved In the agreement, but they were of minor nature pendent on (he tv.o main and all defeatures. Specificelly, the Interborough people bound themselves by the tncit understanding to kce-i out of "New Jersey, while tho McAdoo Interests agreed to invade Manhattan no fartlier than the plans already adopted for a subway up Sixth avenue to Thirty-third street, and terminus at Cortlandt street for tho lower of their North River lubes. Any building of subways In Manhattan by the McAdoo people, if farther building there should be.

was to- con-tinotl an un Icrgtound t-inncl connct-ing the UDper and lower tubes, and it wits distinctly stipulated that such a tunnel, if at all. nns; he built, in such a manner as not to interfere with future plans of the Intcrbor- Rapid Transit Company and the Hudson agreement. As tne successor or Bel- Recently the management of the Hud- 80,1 company has decided that it wouM be greatly to the interest of the corn- jmny should it. be able to develop greater traffic and increase Its net earnings. After considering the situation from every angle, tho company's expert.) were forced to the conclusion, according to tlie Fagle's informant, that the only solution lav in extending the Sixth avenue subway north and east to tho Gran Central -'e'lm, thus establishing direct connection between every steam railroad having its terminus In Manhattan ami the big trunk lines running out from Jersey, Quietly, but persistently, the McAdoo experts worked along this line.

Every step was taken in secret, it is said, evek lo the drawing of the plans for the proposed extension to the Grand Central Station. So successfully was the alleged secret kept that, though the Interborough interests were represented on the board of the Hudson Companies by Cornelius Vanderbllt. Gardiner M. Lane and Andrew Freedman. not an inkling of whet that McAdoo people proposed to do reached, the ears of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company until the plans for the pro posed extension were filed with the Pub lie Service Commission about a niontK ago.

Filing of Plans Exploded a Bomb. The filing of these plans exploded a bomb in the Interborough camp. Meetings were hastily called; it was declared that. In attempting to' extend its subw beyond the terminus as laid out, the H'ud- 'sou al ilaobtiaa Compiuif nA Dream of Paranoiacs," Is the Opinion of William 0. DeWitt.

PARTY LEADERS OPPOSE Opposition Unites in a Demand That Borough Autonomy Must Be Preserved. METZ FAVORS THE CHARTER. Manhattan. Members of the Revision Commission Criticise the Brooklyn Members. The proposed new charter for New York City has aroused a storm of ad verse criticism, the center of which is in Brooklyn.

The keynote of the opposition is a demand that the autonomy of the boroughs shall be preserved. The Democratic and Republican politi cal leaders of Brooklyn are almost unanimously against the new charter. So are most, If not all, of the members of the Legislature from this borough. Members of former charter commissions ere against it. William C.

DeWitt, who was a member of two charter commissions, says It Is "a dream of paranoiacs." Those borough presidents who have thus far expressed themselves are against It- Men who hare had actual experience in administering public affairs in Brooklyn are against it. All of these men declare that Brooklyn will suffer an invasion of her rights under the proposed legislation and some of them go Ro as to declare that Brooklyn would be virtually wiped off the map under its provisions. On. the other hand, Controller Metz is in favor of it. So is Mr.

McGowan, president, of the Board of Aldermen. Msyor1 McCIellan declines to express an opinion, Manhattan members of the revision flcnimissioo are: criticising Brooklyn members, declaring i that they did not know their business and Were simply obstructionists, "A Dream of ParnoJ.cs," Declares William O. Be Witt. 'It is a dream of paranoiacs." Thus William C. DeWitt expressed himself to-day when he was asked to give his opinion of the proposed new charter.

Mr. DeWitt was one of the commissioners on the original charter, under which the city government was run after consolidation. He drew up most of the document himself and Is looked upon as an expert on municipal affairs. He was also a member of the first revision commission. "It Is a dream of paranoiacs which could not take on actual form and light, even if enacted Into law," said Mi-.

De-iWltt. "The borough system by which I mean the twenty-five districts for home rule and local improvement, and the five great, departments for administrative purposesis but an extension of the system of town, village, school district, county and community government which has been the cradle and foster mother of Saxon liberty and civilization. "These divisions of power are just as Indispensable in a great city as in a great country. And they have the universal approbation of all styles and character of statesmen. "If, in a moment of thoughtlessness and folly, the borough system were abandoned, it would be but a short time before it would be reinstated by versal acclaim.

It is like Wordworth's rock it may sometimes tremble, but it never pass away. "The propose in this revised charter to wipe away the principle of eminent domain, and if they Insist on carrying out such a policy the city might as well go out of business." JL Step Sackward, Declares Swan. strom. "From the brief observation I have made," said Mr. Swanstrom, "It Is a step backward.

It is bound to Injure Brook lyn. You remember the first charter undc the Van Wyck administration This charter will bring us back to those conditions. Mr. Grout complained at that time that he was drawing a salary for doing nothing. Then you remember the charter was amended and I became the Borough President.

Look over my administration and see the miles of cob blestone pavements that were changed and paved decently. The adoption of this charter destroys borough autonomy and will put Brooklyn twenty-five years oenina. Grout Not Wholly in Favor of Centralization Features. Former Controller Grout said that he did not agree wholly with tho centralization of the powers proposed by the new charter. He said he was always in favor of having- the Board of Estimate the principal governing body in the city, but he intimated that the proposed charter conferred too many powers upon it.

Mayor McCIellan declined to make any comment, because if the new charter is adopted it will have to come before him for his approval. McGowan and Metz Think It Is the Best Ever. President McGowan of the Board of Aldermen, who was one of the members of the commission, when asked his opinion to-day, said: "It Is the best charter that has ever fceen presented to the Legislature." Controller Mets concurred in this Statement. But other prominent men seem to differ from these opinions. The comment of former Borough President J.

Edward Swanstrom is interesting. A Return to the Evils of the Original Charter, Says Isaac M. Kapper, Isaac M. Kapper, who was one of the commission appointed by Governor MRS. MACKAY SEES HUGHES.

Pleads With Governor in Behalf of Ballot for Women, Albany, March 9 Mrs. Clarence Mae-kay of Roslyn called on Governor Hughes to-day and mado a personal plea for the cause of woman suffrage. She has been interested for some lime in the fight of the women for the use of the ballot. R00SEVELTS GOING ABROAD. Will Be in Europe While the Ex-President Is in Africa, It Is Understood.

(Special to the Eagle.) Oyster Bay, L. March According to the present plans of ex-l'realdctit Roosevelt, his entire family, with the exception of Mrs. Longworth and Theodore, will spend most of the time in while Mr. Roosevelt is away. They will be the guests of Mrs.

Roosevelt's sister. Miss Carew, at her villa near Rome. Mrs. Roosevelt will remain at Sagamore Hill only about, three months after her husband and son Kermlt sail for Africa. Miss Ethel will remain with her mother at home.

The youngest son, Quentin, now attending the Episcopal high school at. Alexandria. will finish his term there, and the other son, Archibald, will complete his academic year at Groton School iu Massachusetts early in June, and then they will return here. By that time preparations will have been completed by Mrs. Roosevelt for the transatlantic trip.

She and her three children will leave by a Mediterranean steamer for Naples some time the latter part of June or the first of July. They will be met at Naples by Miss Carew. who will take them lo her villa near Rome. During the nine months intervening until the arrival of Mr. Roosevelt at Kartoum Mrs.

Rooscveli and her children will visit various parts of Italy and Europe. It has been planned to have Mrs. Roosevelt leave Italy early in March, 1910, and Journey across the Mediterranean to Alexandria and thence by boat and rail up tho Nile to Kartoum. Here Mr. Roosevelt with his expedition will arrive about April 1 and will be met by Mrs.

Roosevelt. They will make visits to points of interest in Egypt on the way down the Nile and will then proceed to Europe, where Mr. Roosevelt lias made several engagements for the early summer. It Is probable the former President and his family will afterward spend some time traveling through Europe, JOHN MORRISEY'S ESTATE He Died Without a Will; Daughter Brings Partition Suit. Widow Claims, jh Still Owns Prop- erty in Equity Contractor's Debts Still Unpaid.

Practically all ef to-day's session of the Special Term for Trials of the Su preme Court, In which Justice Thomas is sitting, was -taken up with the hearing of the partition suit brought by the daughter of the late John J. Morrlsey, the wealthy contractor and politician of Bensonhurst, who died without making a will, on April 22, 1907. The partition suit was brought by Margaret E. Murphy, the daughter, who was appointed administratrix of her father's estate by the surrogate about a month sfter her father's death. The estate is valued at $.100,000.

A long list of parcels of real estate In various parts of Kings County, principally in the neighborhood of the Eastern parkway, is given in the application for an order in the partition suit. She alleges that her father owned all of these nineteen parcels of land at the time of his death. Mrs. Sarah E. Morrisey, the widow of the dead contractor, admits that Bhe owned four of the pieces of property listed by the daughter, but claims that she owns by right all of the rest.

She states that her husband died Insolvent, and that his debts are still She claims that In 1S93, she drew up certain conveyances of property to her husband, but that these were not filed until after his death, fourteen years later. She sayg that these conveyances 'were not valid, as no consideration was given for them, and she still owns the property in equity. She alleges that th-se conveyances were purloined by someone unknown to her and filed In the register's office after the death of her husband. During the examination of witnesses this morning Jacob Hendrlckson, Mr. Morrissey's manager, stated that he had given the administratrix the key to her father's office after his death and she had been free to take out whatever papers she chose.

"Did you give her the combination of the safe?" he was asked. "No, sir." "Then how did she take papers out of the safe unless you were there?" "Thp safe was never locked," replied Mr. Hendrick-on. Henry M. Cutnmings and John J.

Mc-Ginniss are the attorneys for the plaintiff, and Alvan K. Johnson and Colonel A. E. Lamb appear for Mrs. Morrissey.

FRENCH PAIR IN THE LEAD. Many Changes Made in International Go-as-You-Please Race. Twelve of the twenty-seven teams that. started in the six day go-as-you-please contest at the Madison Square Garden at midnight Sunday were still pulgglng around the track at 2 o'clock this afternoon. Clbot and Orphee, tho French pair, continuo to increase their lead and are seven miles and seven laps ahead of Dlneen and Prouty, the Boston representatives.

Many changes have been made in the teams since the first lap was run. Several of the contestants have dropped out and others have found new partners. Mike Spring gave It up this morning and Peter Golden, the veteran "ped," was also ono of those who had had enough. Navez, who Is now running with Keller, has already been paired with three men. Semeran and Wolledge are Inst.

The scores at 2 o'clock follow: Teatn. Cibot-Urphpp rjinoen. I'leilty M.tvlR-Metkus f-'ecan-t'ili-tts 'oi'py-l leeolman Shettun-Kra7Pi Va. Qua ek'Mibush-N'tc hols Miles, tjips. Ct! 17.1 17.1.

17-r. 168 I 1 COUNT ZEPPELIN ASCENDS. Aeronaut Goes Up in His New Airship for First Time. Friedrichshafen, Germany, March 9 Count Zeppelin made an ascension here to-day in his new airship, the first time this year. The crew of the airship was composed entirely of men from the balloon battalion of the army.

Paris, March 9 The Wright brothers, the American aeroplanists, are arranging to go to Rome next month to make a series of flights. Hart O. Berg, their European business manager, has left for Italy to select a field for the exhibitions. 800 STONE MASONS OUT Demands of the Union, Not Acceded to, Were (Pretty Radical It Is Said. Employers Can't See Their Way Clear to Surrendering the Eight of Discharging Idlers.

Because of a disagreement with their the provisions of a private they hal endeavored to forcevhrough, vilone jnasons of Brooklyn anil in the Borough of ueeht; are on a strike. The men have been off work since March 1, and as a result there is a general tie up in building in the boroughs. Since beginning of March not a stone has been laid on a contract1 by a member 1 of the Stone Masons Union No. 66, with which the trouble has arisen. There has been in force for a number of years an agreement between the employers and Stone Masons Union of Brooklyn and Queens and Stone Maeons Union No.

66. This agreement has always provided for an adjustment of dif ficulties, hours of labor, overtime work, pay and other incidental features. By the provisions of the agreement it was promised by the employers not to en gage any man for work not a member of Union No. 66. This season, just as the last year agreement was about to expire, the masons declared to the employers that they must have several new clauses inserted in the agreement.

The first of these clauses was to provide for the employment of masons out of work. The scheme was to have all masons work toi two weeks, when a new shift would take their place, all being members of the union, of course. The second clause was that the em ployers could under no circumstances discharge a union worker without hav ing submitted a charge and reasons tor dismissal to three members of the union. If this committee found the man competent in their opinion he must be kept on the work, despite the protests of the employer. A third provision was to the effect that the employer could not discharge a man during the two weeks of his employment on the work, without submitting his charge in writing to the union.

The fourth clause the union wished to force through was that no matter how little work a given mason might do he could not be discharged by the employer, since the union takes it for granted that the small amount of work performed by one man will be made up by the large amount done by others: The employers union objected strenu ously to every provision of the proposed change. The masons were firm in their determination to force through the new provisions, and as a result of the failure to reach on agreement the strike was called on March 1. The men on strike are mostly Italians. At the present time there is a deadlock in the situation, and there appears to be no possibility of an immediate settlement. Building operations requiring masonry work are, as a result, tied up completely.

The strike docs not affect the bricklayers. SAYS WIFE WAS STOLEN. Fondacesso Wants Her Back-He Can't Get Her Unless He Pays $50. -Says Lorenzo Testa, aged 60 years, of 1066 Sixtieth street, was held this morning by Magistrate Dooley, sitting in the Adams street court, for further hearing on a charge of disorderly conduct. Detectives Pucciano and Stabile, who made the arrest last night, had Francisco Fondacesso of 1327 Sixtieth street in court this morning to make a complaint.

The latter says that Lorenzo had enticed his wife, Cruciflsa Fondecessa, away from him and their five children, and is still harboring her. He says, too, that the man offered to return tho wife on the payment of $50. FORMER CONSUL'S SUICIDE. Washington. March 9 Heartbroken be cause his dream of h.u-ing an intercontinental railroad open to commerce tho fertile valleys of Centnl and South America had never materialized.

Hinton Rowan Helper, former United States consul general at Buenos Ayres, committed suicide to-day. His wife and children live in Chicago. SWORN IN BY JUDGE HOLT. Loeb Tells Heads Departments He Will Have Regard Only for Merit and Keep "Open House." William Loeb, former secretary to ex-President Roosevelt, took the oath of office as collector of atistoms of the Port of New York, to-day, before Judge Holt, in the United States District Court, in Manhattan. From the Government Building, Loeb went direct to the new Customs House In Bowling Green, where he immediately assumed the duties of his new office.

Colonel Edward S. Fowler, the retiring collector of the port, greeted -his successor at- the Customs House most After interchange of compliments, Colonel Fowler, taking Mr. Loeb by the arm, escorted him Into his private office, ftoere they conferred for several minutes. Coming out from the private office to the large main office of the collector, Colonel Fowler, standing before some forty or fifty deputy collectors, chief clerks and acting deputy collectors, who were gathered there, to meet the incoming collector, said: "Gentlemen of the Customs Service We have reached another stage in the administration of the customs service at this port. The collector is to be changed, but the work of good administration, it is confidently believed, will go on.

In retiring from the office of collector, I thank you for the efficient, loyal and faithful support which you have so cheerfully given me. The new collector is a man of large experience, and, like many of you, he has worked his way up from the bottom of the ladder. I wish him success. Give him the same loyal support that you have given me and make the administration of his office a sue-. cess." Collector of Customs Loeb in a brief address to the heads of (ho various departments of the customs service said: "I feel most grateful for the reception tendered me.

1 expect to carry on the very efficient administration which this office has renederd under the direction of Collector Fowler. I cannot, however, succeed without loyal co-operation fro.n you. It is my intention to treat every man exactly on his merits. I shall keep an open house here and will be glad at all times to see and confer with any one connected with the service," As Mr. Loeb concluded there was a ripple of applause from some of the de partment her.ds gathered In the collector's office.

Colonel Fowler, the retiring collector, aided by Henry C. Sturt, special deputy collector, and Special Deputy Collector Baker introduced to Collector Loeb the heads of the local customs service. Colonel Fowler, In many instances, took occasion as he introduced some of the old and more important department heads, to say something complimentary of each one of them. A large basket of flowers adorned the desk of Collector Loeb this morning, but the name of the sender did not. appear on the card.

Shortly after Mr. Loeb had formally taken charge of the offlcP. a large box of flowers arrived, accompanied by a note. It was said that this box of flowers was presented to Mr. Loeb by Mr.

Roosevelt, but Mr. Loeb declined to give the name of the donor in each instance. Colonel Fowler declined to make any comment to-day upon the action of President Taft in appointing a successor to him. He did not lose any time after Mr. Loeb had been introduced to the department heads In leaving the building.

It Is said that Colonel Fowler will take a rest for several weeks. He declined to say Just what his future plans would bo. Colonel Fowler did not resign from the collectorship, neither was he formally re moved. FLORIDA BRINGS $175,000. Big Price for Vessel Which Collided With Republic.

The steamship Florida, which was damaged in the collision with the Republic some' time ago, was bought by C. T. Bowing Compay in the auction held to-day by United States Marshal Alexander at the foot of Forty-second street. South Brooklyn. The price paid was $175,000.

There were several other bidders representing steamship companies, but they refused to tell for whom they were bidding. MISS WHITE ENGAGED. Paris, March The engagement wa3 announced to-day of Muriel Whits, daughter of Henry the Anieri Ambassador, to Count Herman Scherr Those, an offcer of the Royal Prussian Cuirassiers. permit the members of his Cabinet to ottgii Rapid Trnnsif Company. diBcuss the business -transacted.

The This "gentlemen's agreement." it may meeting to-day broke up at 12:45, when I he added, was a verbal be-Secretary Knox announced Mr. Taft's lwPen the then heads of he Interborough ruling. the policy of his predecessors 'do ompanies-August Belmont and Walter his own talking," said Secretary Knox. r'- Oakman. Mr.

Shonts. who was shortly Secretviries Wright. Meyer. Xagel and I afterward elected president of the Inter-Wllson confirmed this statement. i borough company, was not a nariy to thfl Previous to the meeting.

Secret" Knox had a conference with Mr. Ti' i and the President. had tinfie to receive tie was naturally inter-the following callers: Governor Ide of csted in seeing thnt tho McAdoo pooplo the Philippine Islands. Senators Bradley lived up Jnielr end of the understand-of Kentucky. Dixon, Scott of West Vir- (ng.

Gamble of South fiakota and Car- ter and Clarke of Montagu. Representa- rr tlves Martin of South Dakota. Dwight of Hudson Company Move Due to Fin-New York, former Senator Fulton of Ore- I ancial Considerations. to the Williamsburg Hospital, where the Ine Supreme Court of the United States physicians stated that the wound is dan- formally paid their respects to the Presi-gerotts, but that the young man has ft dent at the White House to-day. The gon.

former Representative Richardson of the executive committee of the Na-j tional Republican Committee. I Chief Justice tiller end members of justices were received in the blue parlor. OLIVER TO SUCCEED KNOX. Harrisburg. March 9 George T.

Oliver of Pittsburg was to-day named as the Republican candidate for United States Senator to succeed P. C. Knox, by the Joint caucus of the Senate and House. QUAKES IN PORTUGAL. Lisbon, Portugal, March 9 A number of light earth shocks, accompanied by i subterranean rumblings are reported from the province of Minho.

TWO-CENT TARE BILL KILLED. Topeka, March 9 The Senate today adopted the report of the railroad committee which recommended that the two-Cent fare bill be not passed. This ends the two-cent fare legislation in the Kausas Legislature at this session. MANY SPITTERS PINED. Magistrate Breen, in the Tombs Court, in Manhattan, to-day, imposed fines of $1 and $2 on men who had been arrested for spitting on the platforms on Brooklyn Bridge and In the subway station at the bridge.

In all, the police attached to the Department of Health arrested twenty-eight men, twenty-two of them being caught on the bridge and the. remainder la the subwi nation. chance for recovery. The body or the nulelde and would-be murderer was taken to the Lee avenue sla'lon. where a careful examination of all of his olothine was made, but the only thing found lead to an identification and to givo motive for the attempted murder was'the note quoted in the foregoing.

The dead man was very tall, 6 feet at the least, ond apparently a foreigner, possibly a Polak. He was clean-shaven, wore his hair pompadour fashion and wore a' black suit with a slight check of white. His shirt was black and of the 130ft variety often worn by worklngmen. His btA a derby and one of thoso sold by, Wiener, with that name on tht Inside. The shirt had small white buttons.

He wore no overcoat. The first examination made of the dead man in the hat store produced nothing, as it was htvsty and made under stress of excitement. The note was not discovered until the search was repeated in the station house. As soon as it was found, the police sent word to police headquarters In Newark to locate a Charles LoeffiVr. The police had at first been inclined to believe Busch had some cause to expect such an assault, because of his murmurinRS while 'partly conscious and bc'BMio of his peculiar story of the dream.

With the finding of the note, however. It seemed plain enough that the suicide had been demented. Young Busch persistently 'denied that he had any cauo save the dream to ex pect an attempt on his life or that he had ever seen the stranger before. He was rloscly questioned with a view to a "woman In the case," wlihout result. Busch lives at 1086 DeKalb avenue.

AnanxlH. Charleston, Snnimr-rvlllr and Sooth, A.M., 2:10 P.M. and P. M. Unexcelled service via'lfnn and Atlantic I Coast Line, Broadway, cor.

30th at, N. Y. Adv. (' Dewey's Port Wine With Olive Oil. Nothing raori -ena-thening.

We sell both. H. T. Dewey 3tn 138 Fulton N. Y.

Aav,.