The Cordova Daily Times
_Only Afternoon Paper In Alaska With Associated Press News_ ___
VOLUME 111. NUMBER 135. CORDOVA, ALASKA, THURSDAY, M VY 10. 1917. PRICE TEN CENTS.
WAR TAX OF OVER ONE HI! I ION DOLLARS
DESPERATE BATTTE IS WAGING AT FRESNOY
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♦ WASHINGTON, May 10. A new war lax hill for ♦
♦ the raising of $1,000,800,000 during the next year has ♦
♦ been reported to the house, and its passage is expected in *
♦ a few days. Tin* measure is wide in its scope, and by ad *
♦ ministration leaders is considered one of the best and ♦
♦ fairest ways of raising part of the revenue needed dur- ♦
♦ ing the present crisis. ♦
♦ There will be an income tax of four per cent for in *
♦ dividnals, with an exemption on earnings of $2,000 a year ♦
♦ for married persons and $1,000 for the unmarried; gradu- *
♦ ated supertaxes on incomes over $5,000, and six per *
♦ cent on corporations; inheritance taxes are increased, ♦
♦ and all existing tariff and export taxes are increased ten *
♦ per cent. There is also added ten per cent duties on *
♦ articles now free. The taxes are effective from the first *
♦ of the new year. *
♦ The postal rates are to be increased, and letter mail *
♦ raised to three cents and postal cards two cents, with *
♦ newspapers under a new system. Liquor and tobacco *
♦ taxes are doubled, stamp taxes placed on telephone and ♦
♦ telegraph messages, theatres, club dues, moving picture *
♦ films and newspapers taxed five per cent of their adver- ♦
♦ tising. *
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WASHINGTON, May 10.—'Flu* war tax bill increases Pa
per capita tax on American people to $33, mainly through in
come profits and internal revenue taxes and customs duty, with
multiple minor assessments against the necessities or near lux
uries consumed by all but tin- poorer classes.
WASHINGTON, May 10.—The conferees of the army bill
have agreed upon a provision for a Theodore Roosevelt expedi
tion to France. The draft age was fixed at from 21 to 30 years.
The speedy passage and signature of President Wilson to tin
perfected bill is expected.
NEW YORK, May 10.—The stock market crumbled yes
terday afternoon as soon as the newspapers appeared on tin
streets with the publication of the government’s war tax policy.
WASHINGTON, May 10.—President Wilson is making a
personal effort to get a billion dollar appropriation for the con
struction and purchase of merchant ships.
WASHINGTON, May 10.—It became known yesterday
that the conferees on the army bill are deadlocked over the pro
vision to allow Theodore Roosevelt to raise a volunteer army
for France, which it refuses to accept. The senate passed tin
measure, but it was turned down in the house, and it is now
holding up the army bill in conference.
NEWPORT NEWS, May 10.—Victor Carlstrom, a famous
aVintor instructor in the United States army, fell three thou
sand feet from his machine, with Carey B. Ephes, a student,
and both were instantly killed.
WASHINGTt >N, May 10.—The navy department feels con
fident that several new devices now in its possession will check
the submarine ravages, according to results already obtained
from experiments made.
WASHINGTON, May 10.—The hundred and twenty-seven
Americans still held as prisoners by Germany, will probably be
captured by raiders operating in the south Atlantic ocean.
WASHINGTON, May 10.—President Wilson yesterday af
ternoon called thirty of the leaders of congress into a confer
ence at the White House, at which measures before both houses
were discussed.
NEW YORK, May 10.—M. Rene Viviani, member of the
French war commission, Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, Charles
Evans Hughes and Governor Whitman spoke at the Metropoli
tan opera house, in this city, last night, at a benefit given for
the French war orphans. There was an immense turnout of
people, and so great was the demand for admittance that a big
sum of money was raised. Boxes sold for $1,000, and single
seats as high as $250. ___
(By Associated Press)
CHRISTIANSBURG, W. Va„ May 10.
—Charles A. Vawter, who killed Stock
ton Bets, a wealthy club man at the
Wawter home In March, has been ac
quitted of murder. Vawter accused
Bets of intimacy with his wife, and the
jury found that he was justified in
taking the life of the man who ruined
hiB home.
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WHEAT WORTH *3.11 A BUSHEL.
CHICAGO, May 10. — Wheat for
May delivery brought *3.11 on the
stock market yesterday.
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JUNEAU VETOES
ACT UF ITS
(By Associated Press)
JUNEAU, May 10, — Chief of Police
Hardings, whom Mayor Valentine
brought charges against, has been ex
onerated. Harding has been reap
pointed chief of police by the city
council over Valentine's veto.
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The Admiral Goodrich is due at Val
dez at midnight tonight, where she
will load a large shipment of on
at the Granby mine for delivery ai
Anyox, B. C. She will leave for Anyo>
direct from Valdez via the outside
passage. The Gexrdrtch is on her re
turn trip from llerendeen bay.
SHIED BLUE
ISSUE ~
(By Associated Press)
PARIS, May 9. — Baron Deyne
Cochin, under secretary of the foreign
office in charge of blockade questions,
In a talk with American correspon
dents on the entente blockade policy
against Germany, said:
"Dr. von Bethinann-Hollweg, the
German chancellor, and Dr. Alfred
Zimmerman, the German foreign sec
retary, in their recent declarations,
sought to throw upon the entente the
responsibility for a continuance of
bloodshed. They talked of a blockade
which, it was asserted, was causing
the death of women and children. The
entente is not at all responsible for
a situation which it did not create and
which grows out of the most unquali
fied aggression. The blockade, such
the Germans understand it, does not
resemble in any way that which we
have organized and which wre are pur
I suing.
I "M. Zimmerman complains of the
I inhuman extention Great Britain is
making in the North sea war zone,
that is to say the laying of mines to
bar the way of the submarines. But
who is it who started to lay mines?
It was not the allies, but Germany. !
England, before the war, notab)y in
1907 at The Hague, showed herself
hostile to the use of submarine mines.
Germany demanded the right to use
mines, in terms, furthermore, which
would hardly permit one to foresee
the use which she would make of
them. From the early days of the
war Germany spread mines in the
North sea and elsewhere around the
English coasts in order to intercept
the ...lib'll ■'*"
mfi'aTtles first announced the fact in
order to warn peaceful navigation and
then gave notice of retaliatory mea
sures which they regretfully an
nounced they would have to take. The
laying of mines in open sea assuredly
is destructive to the liberty of the
sea. It affects the innocent as much
“M. Zimmerman attributes to the'en
I tente the project of waging a war of
extermination, not only against the
armies of the central empires, but also
against women and children. The en
tente powers have never had such
black designs. They want to obtain
reparation for the past, guarantees for
the future. They desire to obtain them
with the least loss and suffering pos
sible. They asked only to maintain
peace; attacked, they were obliged to
struggle to conquer that peace. They
hope to accomplish it at the lowest
possible cost; they wish to compel
their adversaries to wield. They have
no desire to exterminate them. They
do not profess, as does the German
manual of instructions to officers, that
‘humanitarian considerations such as
those respecting the care of persons
and their property can only come into
question if the nature and aim of the
war permits of it and that the only
real humanity rests frequently in the
employment of severity.’
“France does not believe that she
is required to renounce the use of
j pressure and constraint, the legiti
macy of which has been admitted by
all states, and notably by Germany.
M. Zimmerman complains thut the wo
men and children suffer from the ob
stacles placed by the allies to the
feeding of Germany. Bismarck, did
he not refuse an armistice in 1870
(asked for by Jules Favre, because he
did not wish to allow Paris to be re
provisioned, which would prolong ‘the
time necessary to reduce the city by
I famine?’ And the city of Paris, was it
not compelled by famine only to ca
pitulate in 1871? Is not a blockade
which stops all communication by sea
recognized in procedure of war as
lawiui:
‘‘M. Zimmerman reproaches the en
tente for injuring indirectly women
and children, who suffer from the
dearth of food, who would not suffer
any more if Germany would resign it
self to yield as Paris did ih 1871. But
M. Zimmerman, has he ever re
proached Germany for having directly
injured women and children of France
and Belgium, massacred by German
troops at the beginning of the war, or
of having them put in front of the
armies to serve as shields? Has he
protested against the deportations
which have caused the revival of slav
ery in a country occupied by the Ger
man armies?
"As to this German submarine cam
paign, it is quite wrongfully that one
claims to give it the name of a block
ade. The expression is based on an
ambiguity. There is nothing in com
mon between a blockade regulated by
international law and the measures
taken by Germany. Germany destroys
systematically the vessels and their
cargoes without regard for the lives
of the passengers and crews. In case
of error the crime is irreparable. The
entente operates quite the contrary.
She limits herself to confiscating or
stopping merchandise coming from or
going to Germany. There is in all
cases the guarantee of the jurisdic
tion of the prize court.
“Germany defends the principle of
the liberty of the sea in sending to
the bottom of the seas neutral as well
as enemy merchant ships The en
tente tries amid difficulties to pre
vent the provisioning of the enemy and
t<^ maintain respect for inoffensive
navigation. However rigorous may ap
pear its solutions at times, those rig
ors have in view ableast none but ma
terial objects; they stop before per
sons and incline before the exigen
cies of humanity.
“If we accept the notion of the old
blockade, that which the allies' block
ade approaches the most, can it not
be admitted that It is nearly effective?
There is not one ship in fifty that
succeeds in avoiding the vigilan; e of
our cruisers.
“As to the pretended German block
ade by submarines, it doesn't stop one
ship in a hundred; the statistics of
entries into our ports and the ports
of our allies have proved that elo
quently. The effect most evident of
the so-called blockade which Germany
has pretended to establish has been
to show, once again, the radical dif
ference of the principles of the two
groups of belligerents. It is this which
cannot fail Immediately to strike the
neutrals.
“No one hus been surprised to see
President Wilson pledge himself to
the resolute policy of which you are
aware. This policy was one which
could be expected on the part of the
eminent jurist, who knew so well how
to characterize and stigmatize the doc
trine* and principles of our enemies."
Mrs. Cornelia Templeton Hatcher,
president of the Alaska W. C. T. U.,
who spent six weeks In Washington,
H. C\, when the prohibition law for
Alasku was before congress, w ill speak
at the Presbyterian church tomorrow
evening, in connection with the con
gregational meeting already an
nounced. Mrs. Hatcher will tell of
the various hearings at which the
bill was discussed, and of the opin
ions expressed which resulted in a
"bone dry" law.
Returning from the east, Mrs. Hat
cher spent five weeks in Juneau, oc
cupyihg a seat at the press table in
the house. Her comments upon the
work of the Alaska legislature, and her j
report on the bills passed and those
defeated, in which the moral forces
of the territory are interested, are
graphic and pointed. Every voter
should hear Mrs. Hatcher discuss the
problems and methods of legislation
The Congregational business meet
ing is called for 7:4T. o'clock, and Mrs
Hatcher will speak at 8:.'10. Refresh
ments will be served at the close of
the program. Everyone is cordially
invited.
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YOUR OPPORTUNITY.
The relief fund for the destitute
undernourished and sick children of
Belgium is short over a million dol
lars each month. Our governor has
made a special appeal to the people of
Alaska to contribute their mite to
ward this most worthy charity. Each
dollar contributed will feed a hungry
child for more than a week. Have
you 1 h.. ^.11.Lm:
miw« rp’ mtin worthy
cause?
W. H. CHASE, Mayor.
Mrs. W. W. Council,
Chairman of Belgium Com.
PEOPLE TO BE SOLE JUDGES.
(By Associated Press)
ALBANY, N. Y., May 10. — The
state legislature passed a bill to per
mit cities to determine for themselves
the question of licensing saloons.
ISLANDS TO BE!
STOCKED WITH
The legislature passed the following
bill to provide for the procuring and
transportation of deer to the islands
of i’rince William Sound for the pur
poses of propagation, and making an
appropriation for Hindi purwp-e
Sec. 1. The governor of Alaska is
hereby authorized.' and it shall he his
duty to cause deer to l>« procured from
the islands of southeastern Alaska,
which shall lie transported, to the is
lands of I’rince William Sound for the
purposes of propogation and food sup
ply.
Sec. 2. The stun of four thousand
dollars ($4,0004 is hereby appropriated
out of the monies in the territorial
treasury not otherwise appropriated,
for the purpose of carrying Into effect
the provisions of this act during the
period ending June 1, 1919.
Sec. The deer transported or pro
pagated under the provisions of this
ict shall be the property of the terri
tory of Alaska, and it shall be unlaw
ful for any person to kill or molest the
same at any time within five years
liter the passage of tills act. .
Any person violating any of the pro
visions of this section shall be pun
ished by a fine of not less than one
hundred dollars ($400.00) tiO'r more
than five hundred dollars ($5AO.oo), or
by imprisonment in_ the federal jail
or a term of not less than three
months nor more than one year.
Sec. 4. This act shall talre"effect
ind he in force from and after its
passage and approval.
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Owing to the, fact that,, the Alaska j
road appropriation was cut out of the
mny bill at the last session of eon
gress because the question was raised
about it being properly an army mea
sure, there has been no provision
made for financing the road work in
the territory this year. I'pon earnest
solicitation from all parts of Alaska,
various commercial bodies throughout
the states have petitioned congress to
make an appropriation for this pur
pose in order that the development of
Alaska's resources may not be handi
capped.
The executive committee of the
Alaska bureau of the Seattle Chnmbbr
of Commerce, In the interests of
Alaska roads, passed the following re
solution and forwarded it tA congress
“Whereas, the development < f
Alaska's rich resources of mineral and
food products is a national need and
is dependent upon construction of
both railroads and wagon roads, as
recognized by congress in the authori
zation of the government railroad now
being constructed in Alaska and in
repeated appropriations since liter, for
the maintenance and construction of
wagon roads:
“Therefore, The Alaska bureau of
the Seattle Chamber of Commerce and
Commercial Club respectfully urges
on congress the necessity of appropri
ating such funds as will provide for
a comprehensive plan of wagon road
construction that will supply th ■ ne
cessary feeders for the government
railroad and will open to settlement
other vast areas of Alaska, rich in min
eral and food resources, and of appro
priating such funds as will provide for
the proper maintenance of the wagon
roads constructed by the government
and which have tended greatly to the
development of Alaska.
"Adopted by the executive commit
tee of the Alaska bureau, Seattle
Chamber of Commerce and Commer
cial Club, April 18, 1917.”
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NOTICE TO CORDOVA
TELEPHONE SUBSCRIBERS.
The Daily Times is preparing to
print a new telephone directory for
the Cordova Powor Company, and any
corrections or errors of names or ini
tials can be remedied by phoning to
the Times office.
Eagle dance Saturday night.
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I XI)ATKI), May 10.—A battle for the puss* s»>ion *
of Fresnov is now raging furiously. Thousands of lives *
are being sacrificed for mastery and heaps of ruins take *
the place ol villages, while blasted stumps dot what was *
once a lorest. Fresnov is of immense importance, be- *
cause ot its forming the last important defense of the *
northern end of the J)rocourt-Queant line, and also cov- *
eis the only remaining railroad to Lens, connecting that *
city with the main German line to the south. Lens must ♦
fall if Fresnp.y is taken. - - ♦
I here is an enormous concentration of German divi- ♦
* sions on the British front, w hich will end in a marked *
* increase in the gun power of the belligerents, and gives ♦
* a decided significance to the reports that liindcnhurg i> ♦
* withdrawing his men and artillery from the eastern end. *
The disorganization of the Russian army had a seri ♦
* oils effect on the whole allied situation and materially ♦
* increased the burdens imposed upon the British and *
** French. The news from Russia is discouraging, and the ♦
v provisional government is apparently in a precarious ♦
* condition.
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PARIS, May 10.—The war office has given out tin* infor
mation that the French troops captured a fortified position on
lie Svanclerc plateau.
PEKING, May 10.—The entire Chinese cabinet has urged
parliament to declare war on Germany.
PARIS, May 10.—The French troops repulsed the German
•onnter attack in the Rheims sector, and took the (ionium front
line trenches on a twelve hundred meter front northwest of
hevrreux, near Craonne.
I,< >XIX >X, May 10.—The reports of the British agricultural
>ut look are almost uniformly discouraging.
LONDON, May 10.—A British force of light cruisers and
lest rovers chased eleven (ierman destroyers, ciinmriiur tliou* in
i tomrTange Fight, but were unable to overtake them.
LONDON, May 10.—The British recaptured a large por
lion-of the Fresnoy front from the Germans, after a terrific bat
lie, m which the Germans sacrificed life recklessly.
LONDON, May 10.—The British war expenditures are
£>7,250,000 daily. • •
LONDON, May 10.— It is officially stated that the British
•asualties in the recent offensive on the Arras front were from
fifty to seventy five percent less than in the Somme battle.
BERLIN, May 10.—It is officially announced that despite
the desperate British attacks, Fresnoy has been firmly held by
lie Germans.
SOLDIER’S DUTY
(Itv Associated Press)
MADRID, May 10. — General Wey
ler, captain general of Cuba during
[he most "critical period of its transi
tion, is one of the few remaining fig
ures of the- Spanish-American war.
Practically all the others are gone—
Admiral Genera, who was first bot
tled up in Santiago harbor and then
made the dash against the fleets of
Sampson and Schley; General Linares,
whit fought the land fight at Sanitago
against Shatter, Leonard Wood, Roose
velt and the others; and General Blan
i-o, who was in command at Havana
until the evacuation.
General Weyler, as one of the cap
tain generals of Spain, continues to be
among the notable personalities of
public life. His high military rank
gives him a permanent place in the
senate, and his short, stocky figure is
seen often about the streets during the
sessions. It is his old rank, however,
and not his present part in irablic af
fairs, that gives him his prominence,
for a new generation has come on
since his time, and the memories ol
the war are almost entirely forgotten
The captain generals are received
in royal audience each year, and this
brought about a remarkable incident
in the case of General Weyler when
he made his lust call of ceremony
These calls are attended with great
formality, the king in full uniform
and the captain generals also in bril
Rant uniform, with a staff of attend
ants. General Weyler's audience had
concluded and he was about to with
draw. As he passed through the outei
court one of the sentinels of the royal
guards stood rigid at the gate. The
sentinel looked straight ahead, mo
tionless as the captain general passed,
paying no attention to his exalted mili
tary rank. Noting this. General VVev
ler turned sharply on the soldier, and
commanded:
"Present arms.” The sentry obeyed
the command, and came to a present,
while the captain general, feeling that
the dignity of his high command had
been suitably respected, passed on.
But this did not end the incident.
The sentary. being one of the royal
guard, promptly reported the occur
rence to the captain of the Royal
Guards, making the point that while
the king and royal family were in the
palace, the salute of the Royal Guard
was reserved exclusively for members
of the royal family, and that any sa
luting of persons outside the royal
circle was degradation of the dignity
due them. s ' 't
The captain of the guard sustained * ' *
the sentry, but as a captain general I
was at issue, the case was referred to
the minister of war. This head of the
military establishment duly considered
the case, heard the view of the cap
tain general and of the plain soldier,
and finally gave his decision uphold »
ing the soldier. It is one of the few
cases on record between the highest
and the lowest rank in the armv. in
f
which a soldier's view has been upheld
against a captain general.
R. F. McClellan, one of the original
stakers of the famous Bonanza mine
at Kennecott, w hose home is near l.os
Angeles, is now one of the county su
pervisors of that district. McClellan
is well known in Alaska, having spent
much of the last nineteen years in
the north. He says that breaking into
politics and allowing the boys to put
him In as supervisor was a mistake,
but he refuses to allow the burdens or
office to “get his goat."
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The Cordova fire department meets
tonight and plans on giving a smoker
■ in the near future.