Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 December 1898 — TO RULE THE PACIFIC [ARTICLE]

TO RULE THE PACIFIC

PLANS TO PREVENT EUROPEAN ACCESSIONS. The United Ftatea Will Closely Guard Guam-Chain of Naval and Coaling Stations to Be Established—Magowans Acquitted of Child Stealing. Uncle Fam Intends to Control. The importance of American interests in the Pacific ocean, which has been so notably increased by Dewey’s victory at Manila, and the assumption by the United States of augmented responsibilities in consequence, has received significant recognition from the Navy Department in the issue of orders to carry oht plans which have been carefully matured in the last few weeks with a view to maintaining absolutely the political geography of that vast ocean as it exists at the present time and to prevent any further accessions of territory by European powers in the tracks of American commerce or along the lines of communication between the United States and its most distant possessions. Perhaps the official action of greatest importance related to the dispatch of the auxiliary cruiser Yosemite from Norfolk to the Ladrone Islands, by way of the Suez canal. Commander Geo. F. Ide of the Yosemite will shil under orders to hold his vessel at Guam as station ship, and while there to be constantly prepared to protect the island of Guam against any unfriendly incursion. Another important order-which has been issued provided for loading the collier Abarenda at Norfolk with the best quality bf Pocahontas coal and for the departure of that vessel for Samoa. The Abareiida will lie in the harbor of Pago-Pago, Which is owned by the United States, doing duty as a station ship, until the arrival there next spring of the contractors and material for the coaling establishment to be erected by this Government at a cost of SIOO,OOO. Another order bearing on the situation in the Pacific Iras been prepared to be sent to the special squadron when it arrives at Callao, directing the distilling ship Iris to proceed directly to Manila. NO.iTH DAKOTA RAILROADS WIN. Court Declares State Unable to Show Rates Are Excessive. After many months’ work and thousands of dollars expended in securing expert testimony, the famous North Dakota railroad rate casus were decided by United States Judge Amidon at Fargo, in favor of the railroads. The decision is concurred in by United States Judge Thayer. Pursuant to a law enacted by the last Legislature, the railroad commissioners made a slightly reduced freight traffic. The railroads obtained an injunction in the United States Cou.'t preventing’v!K tM f Xftaymerft sf the. ra/tes. Judge Amidoil inppoiiited Attorney Lovell of Casselton a special master to take testimony in the case, making it compulsory on the State to show that the commissioners’ rates were not too low and confiscated railroad property, as charged by the railroads. The decision is to the effect that capital has a right to proper remuneration, and North Dakota failed to show that the railroad rates do more than yield a proper income on the capital invested. All the roads in the State had joined in the contest. ARE DISCHARGED. No Crime for a Mother to Steal Her Own Child. Judge Dissette, in the criminal court at Cleveland, sustained the demurrer made to the indictment made against ex-Mayor F. E. Magowan, Mrs. Magowan and Mrs. Wynn, Mrs. Magowan’s sister, upon the charge of child stealing. The court ordered all of the defendants in the case discharged, saying that it was not a crime for a mother to steal her own child in the State of Ohio. The Magowans were not in court when the decision was rendered.

Report on Foreign Missions. The annual report of the American Board of Foreign Missions, made public at Boston, shows the following receipts: Donations, $252,488; legacies, $187,729; donations for school fund, $7,312; donations for Micronesian navy, $2,976; donations for young missionary fund, $3,017; donations for debt of Sept. 1. 1897. $25,902; donations for mission work for women, $186,000; income of funds, $6,293; total, $671,717. Goes to War, Lose* Pension. John W. Kelley of Chillicothe, Ohio, a veteran of the civil war, received notice from the pension bureau that his pension of sl2 per month, issued for general disability, had been stopped because he did service in the war with Spain. Kelley first offered to enter the service as a soldier, but was rejected on account of disability, and then secured a place as mule driver. Soldiers Are Frozen to Death. The Vienna correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph says; "Several hundred Montenegrin soldiers who were recently overtaken by a snowstorm in the Lara pass were frozen to death. The expedition sent to their rescue found the snowdrifts so heavy that it was impossible to save them,” Ghani Bey Murdered. At Constantinople, Ghani Bey, the Sultan's aid-de-camp, was murdered by Hafuz Pacha in a quarrel which took place at a pastry cook's shop. Ghani Bey became notorious owing to his lawless proceedings in Epirus. He also inspired terror by extorting money under threats of death. Thieves’ Den Raided. At St. Paul, Minn., an alleged plant of stolen property was seized by the jolice almost directly across the street from the central police station. The goods seized are valued at over SI,OOO. The police say the goods were stolen from stores. Most of the goods have been identified Five Men Badly Injured. Au explosion of dynamite occurred four miles west of Huron, Ore., in which five men were seriously injured, two of whom will die. A belated blast, that exploded under Inspection, caused the disaster. Fchlcy Receive* a Rword. At Philadelphia. Rear Admiral Schley feme made the recipient of a handsome and costly sword, scabbard and belt presented to him in behalf of the people of that city and other cities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.