OUR AMERICAN LETTER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13693, 8 September 1906, Page 13

OUR AMERICAN LETTER.

y,iox CITY. vTr.au Our Own Coiii:espon'dent.) NHW YORK, July 28.' The legal contest bet ween John Alexander Dowie and Wilbur G. A'oliva over tho control of Zion City,, has been decided by the United States District Court at Chicago. Tho court held that Zion City and its industries do not, belong to Dowie, but were hold by him 'in trust. The court refusal to appoint, Alexander Granger receiver, for tho reason that Granger had made a vow recognising Dowie as "a. mc-.sengci' of tho covenant, the prophet foretold by Mo?cs and Elijah, the restorer," to which vow "all family ties and obligations, anil all relations io human governments, shell be held subordinate," Tho court ordered an flection lo ho held jn September to select a general overseer under the election law* of the State, each mainland female resident, of Zion to have one vote. J, C. Hately was appointed receiver of '/ion. The court said that somo financial provision would bo made for Dowie. Tim opinion, which wa-s carefully written, discusses at length Dowie'.? history and the manner in whieh be acquired the property—(hat is, by gifls from persons in all parts of Iho world.' The court showed iho State to bo a. trust under liio law, ami said: "It- would be difficult lo conceive of anything more inherently inoonsjftoufc than Howie's claim of private ownership, and his admission of trust obligation for the spiritual welfare of gcuorations unborn. He says it is his own property, and yet: he considers that, liecauso of the way lie got it, lio is absolutely bound to turn it, over lo his .successor in perpetuity for the Church. Now, if ho is to have a successor, that necessarily implies h" own representative capacity, for the individual man can have ]io successor. And it he is to pass it on lo his successor.how can ho be at liberty to disposo of it otherwise in his lifetime'/ If during his lifcljmo ho eame io divide ifc up anions I his followers, or part Tvibh ifc to some other yse, as ho jnay. if it were his private fortune, his admitted obligation to futuro generations would, bv his own act, he thus ma-do impossible of fulfilment," Deacon John A. Lewis, tho accredited spokesman of Dowie, is quoted as saving of tho decision: ''If the decree of Judge Land is stands the Christian Catholio Apostolio Church of Zion is uprooted. Tho Church js founded on tho theory of a theocracy. How, then, can an election under the i v ?i 9 00 ] 1 ' Coun, r< proclaim who Khali bp leader of tho hosts? I maintain that God Almighf alone can desicnate | *'»? ™ll lw the First Apostle. I firmly

behove that the Lord hns designated John Alexander Dmvjo to lead tho hosts to Iho paths of Jight. Therefore, when a special e'cctioi) is called, tho whole fabric of 'lio Unircli is destroyed. If God designates tlie leader, bow can man choose him? As far as property rights are concerned, thev matter little io_ us. The great, question s that of spiritual control. Upon that, "io very foundation of tho Chureh.depends. L?? sure Doctor Dowie will never be satisfied with the decision as' rendered." THE PANAMA CANAL. i 10 J w| H'd of the Panama Canal bonds has olought to light one of the most astounding ensos of successful st-raw-liidclinfr on record, Samuel Byerley, a \'otuur express clerk, was awarded 5,f100,000d0] of the new bonds on a and he has 6uccecded in disposing of his option at a considerable profit. _ It appears that Bycrley was not lucky in tho sense of naming a olianco

prico that hit tho mark. He had studied for two months the movement of t.t>e old 2 per cent, bonds of 1930 and looked carefully into the question of market conditions for the Panama issue as effected by the demand for new hunk note circulation, and jhe active bidding of out-of-town. banks for bonds to securo public' deposits. In this way be got in touch with the bond market mild- decided that the bonds would bo cheap a fraction below 104. Outside of this mvestigalion his investment, amounted to cents for a Postage stamp. His opporiumly arose from fl'e fact that tho Treasury 17spurlment did not demand a cash deposit from bidders, fearing that to do eo would result in withdrawals of cash in a, volume that would disturb the market, Ahout Iho only condition imposed, therefore. was that the purchase price should be forthcoming on August 1, When the young express clerk learned of iho award ho opened negotiations with tho firm of ,T. S. Bacho and Co. and other conocrns, and disposed of life option lo the formtr company, which in turn sold it to Fiske and Robinson, which firm had itself been awarded 35.000 OOOdol of (lie Itotids, or one-half of tho total offered. It. is estimated that tlib profit, on the option may have been 25,000d01, of which Byerlcy would get perhaps one-half. It was reported that Byerley's employers, upon learning that thov had in their employ n n)(ln of such astuteness, promised to "givo him a responsible _ position. The transaction is, however, viewed from another standpoint. One banker is quoted as saying: "Tf Mr Byerley's bid was made at tho risk of nothing more than a postage stamp, who would have paid for the loss to the Government, had the issue been less successful? Wall street has assumed that Mr Bycrloy had no capital ro back his bid, and lie lias said nothing to tho contrary. If for some reason the bonds had failed to meet a great demand and the ricrhts did not jonimnnd a premium what, would have been tho Trea-

fury Department's redress? Upon Mr Byerlcv's failure to take up his bid the Government would have boon ohliaed to offer bis allotment, to now bidders, and mk'bt have bad to sell at much lw than was originally offered by the responsible bidders next in lino below the iranress cleric." It was pointed out that should a responsible liou=e fail to take up bonds on a. bid they would be expelled from tho Stock Exchange. THE PRESIDENCY. Tho speeches which William 'Jennings Tirynn is making in London are being foillowed very closely in this country, for I hero is no question that he is Generally considered as a very probable candidate for tho Presidency on' the Democratic ticket next election. His frank adinisson that tho silver issuo is 110 longer a live matter is believed by many Republicans to make

bun a dangerous opponent, although his declaration tha.fc bis opinions on this and ohber matters arc as radical as ever indiwlo that ho is not really the leader that the Conservative olement would choose to represent a "rafo and sane" democracy. A good many arguments are being put forward to show why President Roorcvelt owes it to the country to run again on the Republican ticket. With Koo;evelt to head tho ticket,'tho problem would seem easy

to tlio Republicans, but without him, and with no obviously proper man in his place, the growing popularity of Bryan is regarded with some anxiety by Tiennblieans. President Roosevelt has repeatedly declared that ho will not bo a candidate for re-election iioxt time. A NEW DEPARTURE. William Pi. 11. Jfariin, a New York hotclkeejwr. will establish on August 1 the 1 rowmarfc Lin, a hotel for business women. ■It. will be operated to meet a social need and without profit to the ownor. The hotei will offer accommodation to working women who earn less than 15doi a week and who aro under 35 years of age. For sdol'u wok if «. gJrl lives alone, or for 4.50t101. it she chums with another, she will lip.vo

a bright, dean, airy bedroom. and breakfast and dinner. Public silting rooms, a piano, library, etc., will bo frco lo all. It is expected that ilio rates ihanjed will just moot- |ho expense?. A number of rooms will be reserved for transients. Mi- Jlurtin explained his plan as follows:—"I think that women of 35 can look after -themselves. The need of a hotel for them is not en ?reat, and I shall discriminate- in favour of tho younger ones. I do not think, that the jiirl who is working: needs ajiy particular looking after, and there will be no rules as to their conduct. (If course, if any ,<>F lliein want advice we shall Ijo glad tc "give if, but to fon-o it. upon them would Into defeat our purpose. The guests will have a perfect right to receive their men friends on tho ground floor. There are sittin" rooms provided for that purpo-e." liefer", eaees will ho asked of all permanent guests, but none will ho required of'transients.

THEATRICAL. Charles Irohmaii, who lias just relumed r ,l gives, an interesting survev «t the corning theatrical season. "First of nil. said Mr l'rohinan, " I shall bring MiV s islleii lerrv over in January for a farewell American tour of four months, I liave never known any actrcss so eager lo come hero as Miss Terry is, and it is chiefly for sentimental reasons. She will anpear in Ueorge Bernard Shaw's 'Captain Brass-

bound's Conversion,' in which flic was scon as Lady Cecily AYaynflete in Loudon. Miss Terry will bo seen, too. r in ' iViuoo Ohliie!<V ami "l'ho .Hood Hope.' John Drew will open l'i3 sermon at the Empir# Theatre on September 3 iii Pinero's pluv, 'His House in Order.' This play is going to run through the summer in London. Thn Hudson Thoitro will-open on August 3 with Henry Arthur Jones's new four-net- play, 'The Hypocrite;,' and' this will be its first production on any stage. The author is now on his way 'heije "for the rehearsals. Mr Jones is ako writing a- play for Francis Wilson, to he produced after that actor finishes in 'The Mountain Climber.' In tho winter Sir Charles AYynrihain and Miss Mary. Mcore will bring their London company to Xe{v York, Besides their repertoire they will present ' fhtituiii Drew on Leavo.' At Iho..'.Savoy, some dav in the last week of August William H. Crane will he seen in a four-net play called 'The Price Money." by Alfred Sut-ro, who wrota ' Tho. Walls of Jericho.' Lorrimer and l'otier arc also at- work on a. new play, 'Old Cordon' (Irahain. 1 ; for Jlr Crane. I will open Wallaek's Theatre on September 1 with 'The Judge, and the Jury.' Ida Conquest, has been engaged to play tho part, of Murquitii. The scene of tho play is laid in l)os Bravos, N.M. If William Collieigels back from Australia in timo I shall open the Harriet Th«atr<> with a now play by hint and (.Iraut Stuart, Positive announcement of this opening will bo made this week. J Itavo obtained tho next comedy by J. iM. Bin-ric. August Thomas will liave a new comedy for me in September, and (leurgo- Ade is lo' let. me have his next. play. Tho next play of Captain I'obeH, Marshall, author of 'Tho Second in Command,' comes to -me. Alfred Sirtro is wiiting a new comedy for. me. I will also present, Fair Davis 'in 'The House of Mirth;' by 'Olydn Fiteli ami Mrs Edith Wharlon. Mr Fitch has finished a new four-act comedy to bo produced in Cleveland in (X-tohcr, with Clara Bloodgood ill the leading role. (Hlier plays which I will produce are 'The Ilarleipiin King,' 1 Marjorio Strode,'; ami 'Dr Wake's Patient,' and one by the Do Millo. brothers. Kyrlio Bellew, under tho joint. management of Mr Dillingham and myself.' will appear in Brigadier Gerard,' which I have obtained from Conaii ■ Doyle. While in Paris T arranged to produce ' Sherlock Holmes' in French at tho Ambigu Theatre there. L bought the comedy 'Triplcp'atU l ,' wiiicli hits iweli running'2oG nights at the Athenee Theatre. Other plays 1 got in Franco aro a. comedy called 'Lea.Plumes ihi Goal,' 'Qui Porcl Uagne,' bv Alfred Capus, and Ilenry Bernstein's new play, 'Los Fames.' Madame Lo Bargy will create the woman's vole in this last. lam arranging with Madame Yvette (iililberi to nlay in English in both -England and America. Sho will have a dramatised version \of Heorgo Moore's 'Ester Waters,' and a play by Paul Lundau. In September Madame Guilbert will produeo " L'Eau Trouble' in Brussels. Miss Maude Adams will return lo New York in 'Peter rail.' Miss Ethel I'arryniorc will lour the country in ' Alice-Sit-hy-thoFire,' ami will then come to New York in a new play by 11. V. Esmond. William Gil lotto will appear hero in 'Clarice.' Otis Skiiinor, after touring' in 'Tho Duol,' will come to .New Yovk in- a .iow play. I ani to have new plays by Henri Lavedon, author of ' The Duel'; Pierre Barton, Pierro Wolfe, Frederic do Croiset, an<l Anthony Mars. ' I have also the play called ' Crainqueville,' jvliioh is produced this evening at the (jarrick Theatre in London under tho naino.'of 'Down Our Alley.' I am to liiivo a now musical play for Sun Bornarcl; also 'The Beauty of Biilh.' whieh is now at my Aldwvch Theatre, in London. Charles M'Lcl'an, author of ' I,call Klciclma,' has agreed to write mo a musical comedy for Now York and London, cfdled 'Nellio Neil,' ihe music to be sap* plied by Ivan Caryll. Other attraction** that I have obtained arc a new musical piny by Tristan Bernard and Cosmi Hamilton, culled ' The Hoyden.'; a new musical play by Seymour Hicks, a musical eomedy called the ' Dairymaids,' now running at tho Apollo Theatre, London; a now musical Paul Potter , and 1-Mgar Smith, called' Oitr Girl'; the Chinese musical play called ' The Third Moon'; and a itcw_ musical_ play by Harry B. Smith, tho music of. wlueli will be by Ludwig Ivrlanger. Edna May will stay in London another season, and then she will eomo to New J', J OT m - v o, "' on attractions I havo the following stars:—John Hare, Cyril Maude, Seymour Ilicks, • Marie Tempest, I'.llabuo Tnrriss, Irene A'atibrngh. and Huntley U right, 'The London theatres in winch I am interested aro (lie Duko of York p, the Aldwveb, the Vaudeville, tho Comedy, and tho new theatre which is being built after the design of tho Empiro Ihoalre in New York. This new house will be ready by Christmas, and I am going to Loudon for tho.opening night, I have 15 companies engaged to tour through Eng. land next season."

MISCELLANEOUS. The extent to which the automobile crazo possesses tho United States may bo appreciated from the fact that in New York City a six-store.v- automobilo garage, tho largest will soon be built at a cost of 650,000d01, It will be largo enough to hold mord than 1500 machines at once. Tho structure will havo .180,000 square feet of floor spacq, and [our largo elevators will carry tho cars from one floor to another. 1 10 building will bo absolutely fireproof. l'lie garago will -havo a frontage of 173 ft on Broadway and 110 ft on 6tth street. Tho stylo of architecture will be French Renaissance. The exterior finish will be of whito glazed brick and wliiio terra colia. J- ho victory of Harvard University crow over tho Yale crow at Now London last month has led to tho announcement that arrangements'have been practically concluded for p, v.'.cu on tho River Thames, London, between tho Harvard crew and tho Cambridge crmv, which beat, Oxford last April. The Cimbridgo inch have suggested September 0 or 14 as tho date. Several members of the Harvard eight aro now in Eliropc, and will join tho otfier members of tho crew, who will sail this week. The ratio oh the Thames will not be for the international championship. Harvard acknowledges the prominence of : Cornell, uud the rate wilt'be purely for sport's sake.

Three prontinernj, German engineers and buildora have been '.studying in San Francisco tho effocts of Iho recent earthquake and firo on behalf .of German scientific societies. Tho engineers aro Messrs Karl Eckormann, of Leipsio, and L. von Frego and Joseph Stulz, of Berlin. Mr Eeltermann is quoted as saying: "Wo have found that your structural steel frames, or class A building, successfully withstood tho shock, and meets all requirements from tho earthquake standpoint. A moro liberal use of reinforced concreto in buildings here is desirable."

I'la.ns for tlio first lofty concrete oftico building in New York wero recently filed with tho Building Department. The building has been designed by Professor William H. Bun I ,' of Columbia Uitiversity. It will bo 11 stories high, and occupy it plot with a frontage ci 126 ft and a depth of 98ft. Tho aiißles.'\vill' bo latticed lotjetlica*, and tlio girdcis, beams, and floor slabs will bo l'oinforccd with steel rods, 'l'lio building

will J)o constructed two storeys at a time'. The statement iras made in discussing Iho now .railroad rni<» Jaw in a recent letter that, tlie jurisdiction of thn Inlcr-SUito Cominoroo Commission would not',extend over pijio lino carriers nf oil. In the last, tiajs of the debate an agreement- was made lo omit, tins reference, but tlio law ns passed applies lo any corporation engaged in the transportation of oil or othor comjnodity, oxecjit water and except natural and artificial gas, by means of pipe lines or partly by pipe lines and partly by raijroad. The clause prohibit inp tlio giving of freo transportation o.irept to certain c!a. u becomes effective ou January 1 next, while the provision mailing it unlawful for any railroad company to transport." any product other than timber ami tlio manufactured products thereof, manufactured. mined, or produced by it. or itndor ih authority, or wkicii it may own in whole or in part, becomes eflfcot-ivo on May 1. 1908. Tito general act sow into elfcet, on August 28, 1906. MiI,TON B. Marks.