MSSM UK 81 AMERICIIN NOTE ENCOURAGING REPORTS ARC BE ING RECEIVED FROM LONDON AND BERLIN. GERMANY REPORTS WILLING K s ' ?. -1 - Dilferenc* of Opinion In England, Soma Favoring, Othoro Wanting Further Restriction#. Waahlngtoa.?Encouraging reports from both Ambassador Pago at Lon don and Ambassador Qorard at Ber lin wore received concerning the atti tude of Great Britain and Germany to ward the latest American proposals far the aafeguarding of neutral com merce and the unrestricted shipment of foodstuffs to the civilian population of hetUserent countries The United States does not expect oourpiate re plies for several days. Germany's willingness to -make con c ess ions and negotiate for an under standing on the submarine food and mtas question already has bean made known Informally and the United States expects a formal acquiescence la a day or two. All eyes now art turned on London, where opinion la understood to be divided on the merits of the suggestions Some leading British Cabinet members are said to favor In principle the American pro posals as a means of solving the prob lem with as llttla inconvenience to neutral countries aa possible. Another element, however, la said to he Im pressed by the military value of fur ther restricting supplies to Germany. The exact nature of the American proposals la still unknown because of the rigid reticence of officials here and abroad, bat asch day odds Informa tion on the subJeccL Briefly this much of the contents of the American aoggeattons now fata been confirmed. The United States has asked that the previous rules of international favw with raspaet to shipment by neutrals of conditional contraband destined to the civilKn population, and not the belligerent forces of an The removal of all floating mlnea by Germany and Great Britain, is pro posed except mines used for protec tion of coast defenses and harbors, pilots to be furnished to guide neutral ships through fields that remain. MANY BIG SUPPLY BILLS PASSED. Congress Speeding Up to Be Ready Por Adjournment Washington. ? Congress worked steadily oil its task of cleaning up sup ply kills which mast be out of the way before adjournment on March 4. The Senate passed the naval Mil. tlM.M0.000, the ?fortification bill, $?, 000.000, and the diplomatic bill. $4. 200,000 while the House spent the day debating the general dlflclency meas ure, with interruptions now and then to dispose of conference reports. The 8enate added about $$.000,000 te the naval bill as It passed die House, providing the two-bat (lee hip construction, program, for five sea going submarines instead of one. tor 10 instead of 11 coast defense subma rines, for a gunboat and a hospital ship, and adding $1,000,000 for an ar mor plate and $$00,000, for a projec tile factory. Senator Smoot vainly sought to have authorised the construction of 60 sea going and 1$ ooast defense submar ines. declaring that "no man can tell when the European disturbance will involve this country In difficulties." This prectplated a general discussion Speaker Weoten's Condition Serious. Raleigh.?Speaker Emmett R. Woot en of the house of representatives has been sinking steadily at Rex Hospital when he had a chill and other alarm ing symptoms appeared. Doctor Par rott of Kinston, his family physician, arrived and Is In consultation with Dr. H. A. Royster, with a probability that as a last chance to save the life of the speaker the wound will be re opened. There is considered at this hour the very slightest sort of chance tor the patient to rally. Bill Effects Common Carriers. Washington.?Senator Newlands In troduced a bill in the senate to em-, power the Interstate commerce "com mission to examine all papers Of a carrier. Including correspondence, II would amend the law to meet the su preme court's decision that the com mission did not have power to inspect the correspondence of the Louisville & Nashville Railway. Mr. Newlands ?ubmitted communications from Act ing Chairman Clementa of the com mission and Attorney General Greg, ory. urging that the bill be passed. Special Tax on Foreigners Revoked. Mexico City.?The French minis ter wu advised officially that the por tion of the special tax of 20,000.000 pesos levied by general Obregon which aplies to all foreigners, will be revok ed. General Obregon's decree stated that money was to be used for the relief of the pool. Americans In Mexi co City at a meeting contributed a con siderable amount of money for the assistance of the poor. Foreign banks hare signified their intention or re-opening. 1 Vienna "Statement. " Vienna, via London.?The official communication Issued by the Austrian war office follows: "Violent artillery engagements lire proceeding In the sect tons Bast of Prrsedbori In Russian Poland. Aloqg tba rest of the front north of the Vistula and in East Gait ' da. comparative calm prevails. The enemy's- attaraa in ins Carpathians on onr positions north of the Vetove ridge and in the Ondava Valley were unsuccessful, in atorgdag heights during battles in southeast Galioia, 1,24# Russians ware captured." j' i COL WILLIAM H. CROOK Col. William H. Crook, dliburalng jfllcor of tho Whit* Moum, celebrated recently tho completion of hi* flftloth year a* an omployoo In th* office* of proaldonta. . TRADE GO?S ON AS USUAL THE AMERICAN VESSEL, CARES, COTTON LADEN, DOES DOWN IN NORTH SEA. Warring Nation* Ara Not Affected Much ly Now War Zones.?All Crowa Aro Savod. London.?Another American *tearn er, the Onrtb, baa been destroyed by a mine off the German coast, while a third Norwegian, the Begin, ha* been torpedoed or deetroyed by a mine off Dorer. All tho Regln'a crew wore, tared and although not (tated In the diapatchea from Berlin, It la beHerod the crow of the Carib also escaped. Thus neutral atatea continue to bo tho great eat sufferers from the mine and submarine warfare. It la con sidered possible, however, that one or two British steamers have suffered a similar fate, on^ being overdue and another being reported Mown up off Rye. As e result of the activity of German submarines the British ad miralty has announced that the Irish and North Channels have been re stricted for navigation. In the caae of a few Scandinavian, Dutch and British steamers the crews have refused to sail where the voyages were to Include the war xone, but In each Instance substitutes were found. The crew of the British steamer Dar leydale which hss grain for the Bel gium Relief Commission refused to accompany the ship from Falmouth to Rotterdam but men were found to take their placea. Otherwise the trade of the country is going on much an usual, and shipmasters continue to express confidence that the Gernuta submarines cannot Interfere seriously with commerce. In fact the threat ened blockade which has had much a j small effect thus far, Is beginning to give way In the public Interest In military operations to the bombard ment of the Dardanelles torts by the Allied fleet. ..... ?=*?>. > ? THREE BURN TO DEATH. Big Fir* In Birmingham Causes $200, 000 Damao* And 3 Lives. Birmingham, Ala?Three unidentifi ed perrons, probably more were burn ed to death, and eight others were injured, In a $200,000 fire which swept the business section of Birmingham, destroying several commercial build ings and the Wlnsor hotel, a small old structure. The ruins of the hotel are being searched. Four of the in jured were firemen. The fire started at 4:30 In a hard ware store on 20th street. OHs and paints stored there alded in its rapid spread. It was tfo't brought under con trol for nearly four boars. The exact number of guests In the Wlnsor when it caught is not known. Several of those hurt weye injured Jumping from upper windows. The Wlnsor hotel was a small one In the heart of the city occupying one of the oldest buildings In Birmingham. Fire wrecked the structure almost completely and It is prqbable that other bodies are In the debris which Is piled high In the shell of the build ing. H is not known how many peo ple were In the building when the fire began but police' are trying to get a check on those known to have been In the hotel. Carib Owned In Sevannah. New York.?'The Carib, Which was sunk by a mine in the North Sea form erly was owned by the Clyde Line and was recently sold by them to Walker. Armstrong A Co., of Savannah. Oa. She was of 2,230 tons burden and left Charleston January 27 for Bremen with a cargo of cotton 30,000 Killed And Woumtod. Suwalkl. Poland via Berlin and Lon don?The German forcea under Field Marshall son Hindenburg. by hard fighting and extraordinary marches. Inflicted such a striking defeat on tbe Russians opposed to tbem in the re cent battle of the Masurian lakes country, that the Russian remnants are a negligible quantity In the oper ations now In progress. Tbe Russian killed and wounded In tbe four days' fighting were estimated at 30.000 men. Over <0.000 Russians are. prisoners In German hands. Enlist Federal Aid. Washington.?Federal co-operation by the enactment of legislation to prohibit the use of the malls to Intro duce Into prohibition territory adver tisements of intoxicating liquors or the solicitation of orders for liquors. Is being sought by a ronffnlistoa of Alabama legislators sent here by the state legislature. Commissioner Sam uel D. Weakley. Fred M. Jackson and Walter L. Sessions, three of Ave ap pointed by the governor, reached Washington and conferred with Ala AGRICULTURAL BILL FUSSED BY SEMITE ONI MORE BILL CARRYING AP PROXIMATELY $23,000,000 PUT THROUGH. DEBATE NAVAL BILL NEXT Seven of the Fourteen Appropriation ?Ilia Have Been Paaead^-Con . , tinue Free Bead a. WasMngton.?1The senate added the agricultural bill, carrying approxi mately $23,000,MO. to the rapidly growing list of auply measures paaaed and debate cm the naval bill began. Seven of the appropriation bills have been disposed of, and seven are atlU awaiting notion. After considerable argument the senate decilhed to aupport the action of the agricultural committee In strik ing out ap appropriation of $335,000 for the free distribution of seeds. One ot the principal new pro visions In the blU le the $3,600 appropriation for combating the food and mouth die ease among cattle. Debate on the naval bill centers upon committee amendments adding several missions to the house Mil In cluding provisions for Ave sea-going submarines Instead of one and 16 coast defense submarines Instead of It The house began work on the list of the supply measures for considera tion in that body. tjje general defici ency Mil. It also adopted the confer ence report on the seamen's bill. The senate now must not on It Confer ences on other measures which have passed both houses are progressing favorably. That there Is some hope of passing the Mil providing Philippine self-gov ernment and ultimate Independence at this session became apparent Presi dent Wilson told several administra tion leaders he wished the measure could have the right-of-way over any other general legislation and be pass ed In tbe midst of appropriation legis lation If necessary. i Senator Simmons conferred with Chairman Hitchcock of the Philippine committee and later Mr. Hitchcock said he believed the hill would pass. FOOD EXPORTS INCREASE. Vast Increase of Food Stuffs Whlls Cotton Has Incrsased. Washington?What mat Increases hare been made in the export of food stuffs since the European war began Pas disclosed by the department of commerce In a detailed statement Foodstuffs exports for the seven months ending with January totalled 1X77,400.000, an Increase of $188,000, 000 over the same month of the last fiscal rear. One hundred million bushels more wheat were exported than last year; S8.000.000 bushels more oats; 10,000. 000 bushels more corn; 40.000.000 pounds more fresh beef; 34,500,000 pounds more canned beef; 1.500,000 barrels more flour; 1,000,000 pounds more pickled beef; 22,000.000 gallons more gasoline, naphtha, etc., and 11, 000.000 gallons more residuum, fuel oil. etc.. were sent abroad. At the same time there was a great decrease In the export of cot ton. because of the war. the total for the seven months being 4,106,526 bales or 2,500,000 bales less than last year. WAN NEWS IN BRIER. London?One sailor lost bis life when the smell British ste&mer Dept ford, 230 feet long and 1,208 tons, was sent to the bottom in 20 minntes either by a German torpedo from a sub marine or by coming In contact with a mine In the North sea at a point off Scarborough. The IS other mem bers of the steamer's brew were saved and were landed at South Shields. Turks Report Victory. Berlin, by via London?Reports from Constantinople say that a Rus sian attack In the territory east of Artsln. Trans-Caucasia, has been beat en off by the Turks with heavy losses to the enemy. V . -? The Western Coast Goes Down. London?The small roasting steam er Western Coast had been sunk by a mine or torpedo lit the English Channel at a point oflf Beachy Head. The crew were landed at Portsmouth. The Royperana Goea Down. East Bourne, England?The steam er Royperana was sunk off this port It Is believed that she was torpedoed. The crew of 31 men was saved. , Also the Harpallon. Newhaven, via London?The British steamer Harpallon, from London for Newport News, without cargo, has been torpedoed off Beachy Head. - Senate May Have Extra Seaelon. Washington?Possibilities of an ex tra session of tbe senate alone after March 4t]L for consideration of treat ies and nominations were being dis cussed among administration leaders. White house officials refused to talk on the subject but it was known Pres ident Wilson was giving it consider ation.Treaties with Columbia to pay $25,000,000 for the partition of Pana ma, and with Nicaragua to pay $3. 000.000 for inter-oceanic canal rights an naval bases, undoubtedly wltl (all of ratification at this session. ?pedal Rates to British Porte. Washington.?Ail ports in the Brit ish Isles were made "special ports" requiring special ratai of Insurance from the Government War Risk Bu reau by an order Issued by Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo. The only dom under former orders were those "special ports" in the United Ring ed the North Boa, North o? luuuua. The order also extends the special pert rone on the continent to include Bordeaux. Tbe previous limit was PRINCESS MARIE JOSE Prince** Marl* Jo**, th* pretty H* tl* daughter of th* king and qua*ft of Balgium, la with h?r two brothar* In England. !? a . . MR. TAFT FORSEES CRISIS GRAVE DANGER TO THE UNITED STATES IN NEW ISSUES OP EUROPEAN SITUATION. * J Fully Sustain* President Wilson In Ml* Cours* H* Ha* Taksn In I ntamo tional Situations. Morriatown. N. J. ? The United States is threatened by a serious In vasion of its rights as a neutral by the warring (actions of Europe aad In pro tecting its commerce wttb those Na tions Is (ace to (ace with a crisis. In the opinion of former President Wil liam Howard Taft. In the solution of that crisis should R arise, no jlngc spirit must l?e allow ed to prevail, Mr. Taft advised; neith er pride nor momentary passion should Influence judgment. "And when the President shall act." Mr. Taft declared, "we most stand by him to the end. In this determina tion we may be sure that all will join, no matter what their European origin. All will forget their differences in self sacrificing loyalty to our common flag and our oommon country." Mr. Taft's reference to the situa tion confronting the United States was made at the conclusion of ah address before the Washington Association of New Jersey. Quoting a reservation in the treaty of Algeclras, proclaimed In 1907, and entered into by the United .States and 11 European Nations, Mr. Taft said: "Our Interest in the present war. under the'conditions that exist, should be limited aa set forth in this reserva tion, to wit. 'To preserving and increasing the commerce of the United States with the belligerents; to the protection as to life, liberty and property of our citizens residing or traveling in thstr countries, and to the aiding by our friendly offices aad efforts in bringing those countries to peace.' "Our efforts (or peace," he continu ed. "have been made a* complete as possible. "In preserving the commerce of the United States with the belligerents, however, we are (ace to face with n crisis. The planting of mines in the open sea and the use of submarines to send neutral vessels to the bottom without Inquiry aa to their neutrality when found in a so-called war sons of the open sea, are all of them a variation from the rules of Interna tional law governing the action of bel ligerents towards neutral trade. "When their violation results In the destruction of the Uvea of American citizens or of American property, n grave issue will arise as to what the duty of this Government is. The re sponsibility of the President end Con gress in meeting the critical issue thus presented in maintaining our Nation al rights and our National honor on the one hand, with due regard to the awful consequences to our 90,000,000 of people of engaging hi this horrible world war, on the other, will be very great. It involves on their part a judgment in Its consequences that we should earnestly pray that tffe neces sity for It may be averted. "If, however,'the occasion arises we can be confident that those In authority will be actuated by the high est patriotic -motives and by the deep est concern for our National welfare. We must not allow our pride or mo mentary passion to Influence our judg ment. We must exercise the delibera tion that the fateful consequences In the loss of our bast blood and enor mous waste of treasure would neces sarily Impose upon us. We must al low no jingo spirt to prevail. We must abide the judgment of those in whom we have entrusted the author ity and whan the* President shall act, we must stand by him to the end." Both Houmo of Congress Buoy. Washington.?Appropriations for na tional defense occupied the attention of both housee of congress. The sen ate discussed until late at night the army approproprlation bill carrying approximately 1193,000.000, while the house debated the fortifications bill. While progress was being made on both these measures, the senate com mittee on naval affairs practically completed consideration of the naval appropriations measure and the sen ate paused for four minutea to paaa the pension bill carrying fldt.OdO.OM. Increases for submarines and avia tion over provision^ of the bouse bHt were reoom if ended by the senate com mittee |n a bill which will total ap proximately 1150,000,000. The com mittee urges 11,000.000 for aviation Instead of $300,000, as authorised' In the house bill and also recommends the construction of ? sea-rotas subma rines instead of one and 10 Instead of 11 of the smeller type submarines, .the former to cost not mors than 1? too.uoo each and Urn latter not to ex ceed $650,000 each. n NOTE IS I BEING cue BASIC FOB FURTHER NEQOTIA [ TIONS IS PRESENTED, IT HAS f MCN-kEAANSD. ^ BRITAIN IS VERY RETICENT But Still Point* Out That Food Ha* Not Boon Declared Abaolut* Con traband of War. LeSnT? Lon? American identical note on marine warfare, aent to Great Britain and Germany. It |;- g? ? . *nm, n .m nn.n.iutii I J" Alabama Prohibitionists Oat Hearing. Washington.?Alabama's plan to ; prevent liquor advertisement? and ! solicitation of liqnor orders from be ing sent through the malls to prohbl ' toln territory was Incorporated In a bill Introduced In the national house of representatives by Representative Abercromble. The bill was drafted by a delegation sent here by the Ala bama legislature to confer with Pres ident Wilson. Postmaster General Hurl son and mmbers of the Alabama congressional delegation. Underwood Leaves House Committee Washington.?Representative Oscar W. Uhderwood bade farewell to the house ways and means committee, of which he is chairman, as he will rep resent Alabama as Its Junior senator after March 4. He presided over the committee at Its final session of this congress and was presented with a resolution 0 00 2000 North Central North Carolina. Battloboro TV 4t-46c >2.00 2000 Greensboro... 2.56c 11.00 PlttdtSro.;..? ~ ? ?M0 Ralelah 3%-S 1-1(1 45c 10.00 2000 SmitUMldt... tc 40c 00.00 Wlleon 71to 42c 12.00 South Central North Carolina Charlotte..,.. tc lie *2.1)0 2000 Cleveland 20c 22.00 2000 Oeetonla 4014-42 20,00 2000 Kln?a Mtn... tc 1I-40C 30 00 2000 Monoe I -IUc 14-45c 30.00 1300 MooroauiUa .. 8c 35-40c 10.00 1200 Nowton 7%-2 e 40-45c 20.00 1200 Norwood..... So 40c 12.00 1500 Salisbury 7%-tUc tOOO Htateavllle.... 3c 40c tl.00 1160 Norfolk, Va... 7.22-2o RETAIL PRICES OP CORN FOR THE FAST WEEK. No, 2 No. i Town White Tallow or Mixed Charlotte ........ .20- .25 IS- .25 Colerain .20 .85 hUmore 1.00 OroenaMro 1.10 .25 Hickory 1.10 Lbdubuig 1.02 Hasten 1.00 (?*?, , Now Born 100 Nowton L0# Ralelah .26 .24 Scotland Nock. .. .25-1*2 .20 SmltkfteU 1.00 Wlleon ,... LOO TAR HEEL BREVITIES. Durham will vote on the city man ecer plan of government March 16. Duplin county will hare a county school commencement March 4 and I. Henderson and Vance counties now have whole time health officers. C. D. Mtnom of Wake county made ISO buehels of corn. 6 tone mil | let and peavlna hay and vegetables IBS?h for hla family on 5 acres of around, paying out only 14.20 for help.. I He also attended every baseball fame j play to ^ .1 coi CLUB BOIS SET PAGE FOR FATHERS ?7? CLUB MANAQER RETURNS FROM TRIP TO SAND HlLL SECTION ur OVER 500 NEW MEMBERS ? . Greet Orowth In Interest Shewn.? Number of Prises Offered Per Largest Yields This Year. West RaMsfc-^Xfcat the work of the Bom' Cora Clubs has served as a neucleus (or the grown-ups In the ag ricultural progress of this 8tate Is demonstrated by the statement which was made by T. E. Browne, in charge of Corn Clubs In the State, who re turned from a trip to Cumberland County and paints In the sandhill sec tion of the SUto. Mr. Browoe toid of the different atmosphere which le present la the rally meetings (or the farmers now and ^S years ago. "Ten years ago. when the speaker had finished and the meeting dismissed all made way home and manifested no more than passing Interest la what the spanker had. said. Now the farmers stay In the meeting place sad nek the agricultural speaker many lively, sensible ques tions regarding tffelr work. I attrib ute this fact to the Interest which has been aroused by the com clubers In the state, which Is the forerunner of the work among the boys. "Demonstration has played Its part In the awskeeniag of the farmers' In terest In hie work from a scientific standpoint. The Increased Intelligence of our rural districts Is accountable for a large part of this dew Interest." There are coming Into the offices at West Raleigh a large namhsr of let ters from boys throughout the State regarding the Cora Clab work?much larger than In former years. Over (00 boys have aask for enrollment who have hitherto hot boon members of the clabe. There are to bo offered this year a number of prtmee tor the hlgbeet yields. The boys ere being encouraged to work for corn yields ss a business, and not so much for win ning n prlss. Fighting Cheatnut ?light. ' Ashevllle.?Wei tarn North Carolina lumbermen, who, through the Western .Carolina Lumber and Timber Associa tion. recently Inaugurated a campaign to hare the Leeer amendment to the agricultural appropriations bill killed, are delighted with mesaagee received from Washington. Both Senator Sim mane and Senator Overman hare written that they will work again* the amendment and will seek to bare the government to make an appro prtation for the eootlansnce of the ef fort# agalnet "cheptnut blight" end similar letters have been received from a number of ~tbe members of the North Carolina delegation in Cong ran. Bryan Llkck North Carolina. Raleigh?Dr. Warroa Book sr. mo rotary of the Social Sonrtoo Confer oaoa of the state, baa received a lotto* from Secretary William Jennings Bry an In which be tells bow ho enjoy* his recent rlalt to the conference aad of hie constantly increasing Interest In North Carolina affairs. The follow ins ie an extract from the letter: "1 enjoyed the Social Berries meeting Immensely. The prospect of my few Ins a summer resident of North Cam Una causes mo to bo more and more Interested In the things that make for the Improvement of the state aad. 1 am sure your organisation will exert a large influence." Tar Haala Oppose Palmar Mil. Washington ? Manufacturer* and other* In North Carolina an making a determined light agatnit the Palmer child labor bill that paaaed the hoaee recently. Senator Overman baa re ceived many letter* protesting against the measure, and he has aesnred con stituents that he stand* Just when he did eight years ago and will not per mlt the bill to pass the Senate. If be can prevent It Wilmington Aa a Port. Wilmington?The Wilmington Cham bar of Commerce has started a cam paign to booat Wilmington aa a port and its importance to tha State. The drat atop In this direction has bean the mailing oat to all commercial bod las and the newspapers of the State a copy of a latter from Col. Walker Taylor, collector of the port in which the figures are given showing that there has been an incVeaae'of 29 per cent in foreign exports from Wilming ton during the past five years and an increase of 229 par cent in the imports. Making Hogsheads Klnston.?Klnston ta beoomlng a canter (or the manufacture of hogs heads. In 1?14 no leaa than S.OM were made here In a single plant for ne'e by the tobacco exporters Thla enter prise, at Manning and Pollock streets, la expected to greatly Increase Its out put thla year, since the ladjcatioas are for the Mggeat crop of bright leaf In history. Local tobacco housea took moat of last year's output, although some were shipped gmpty to other points In the baft. Klnsten-made hogs heads were sent all orer the world. Big Bridge Contract Let. WUmlngtoa.?The Atlantic Coast line engineering department has awarded the contract for the structure of the HtMon bridge draw and another for the superstructure the total coat about ItO.OOO And work to be com menced by Not. 1. Hilton bridge la used by A C. L. and Seaboard Air line In getting In and egt of Wllralag ton. ' ma aaw anw will i? placed wS the site of the fixed epan. which *?? ? wreck el by "being hit by a steamer, and will ha of the lift type, affording a clear opening, of PS (set.