Events and Comments

EVENTS AND COMMENTS. BY EDWARD H. ANDERSON. The Church is Out of Debt.—On Thursday, January 10, the Latter-day Saints University celebrated Domestic Arts Day. In the evening a reception was held in the Lion House, one hundred sixty invitations having been sent out to people connected with the school more than two years, also to the General Board, the First Presidency, and the apostles. About one hundred thirty were present, and the evening was spent in lisLening to a first-class program, and in partaking of a banquet prepared by the students of the Domestic Arts department, under Miss Lydia Holmgren. There are sixty students this year in the Domestic Arts class. One of the features of the program was an address by President Joseph F. Smith, in which he stated that the demands of the Church schools on the authori- ties had grown from $60,000 a year to upwards of $225,000 this year. Speaking of the need of a gymnasium, President Smith gave encouragement to the young people by stating that he would very much like to see a suitable gymnasium build- ing for the University. He made the important announcement that the Church is now entirely out of debt which means a saving of from $30,000 to $60,000 per year in interest, and that he would like to see a part of this means expended for the building of a gymnasium for the University. He regretted also that the Church had not purchased the Union Square for the establishment of the school, as the present quarters are very crowded. The Lion House has been turned over to the Latter-day Saints University as a woman's building, for the teaching of Domestic Science and Arts, and it has recently been renovated and remodeled for this pur- purpose. The celebration was in commemoration of the completion of this work. The Seventh Utah Legislature. —This body met at noon in the City and County building. Salt Lake City, Monday, January 14, 1907. The members of the senate were sworn at 12:30 o'clock by Chief Justice McCarty, and the house members by Supreme Court Justice D. N. Straup; and the officers of both houses, as agreed upon in caucus of the Republican party on Saturday evening, ex- cept as to Chaplain, were elected as follows: Officers in the Senate:—President—Stephen H. Love, Salt Lake countyf Secretary—Robert S. Campbell, Salt Lake county; Minute Clerk—Mrs. Dennis C. Eichnor, Salt Lake county; Docket Clerk—Benjamin Backman, Utah county; Engrossing Clerk—Joseph A. Smith, Cache county; Chaplain—Rev. P. A. Simp- kin, Salt Lake county, instead of Anton Nielsen of Emery county who was agreed upon in caucus; Committee Clerks—William Johnson, Piute county; John R. Edge- hill, Juab county; Mrs. Alice R. Hamilton. Salt Lake county; Mailing Clerk—Wil- liam Asher, Utah county; Sergeant-at-Arms—Miah Day, Millard county; Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms—E. M. Allison, Sr., Weber county; Messengers—C. W. Per- kins, Sanpete county; W. G. Rasband, Wasatch county; Stenographer—PhyIlia

EVENTS AND COMMENTS. 317 Lynch, Salt Lake county ; Doorkeepers—Samuel Miles, Jr., Washington county; T. S. Wadsworth, Morgan county ; Watchmen—Parley Bryan, Tooele county; Clar" •nee Ernest, Weber county. In the House. —Speaker—Harry S. Joseph, Salt Lake county; Chief Clerk — Alexander Buchanan, Salt Lake county; Minute Clerk—Elijah D. Hawkin.'», Utak county. Engrossing Clerk—E. Orth, Weber county; Docket Clerk—A. L. Toone, Weber county ; Sergeant-at- Arms— William R. Thompson, Millard county; Assistant Sergeant-at- Arms— Thomas C. Rowberr}', Tooele county; Watchman—Alexander Speiice, Summit county; Messengers —William Archibald, Summit county; Peter Mortensen, Sanpete county; Chaplain—David Hess, Davis county; Doorkeepers — Thomas Calder, Rich county; William L. White, Box Elder county; Committe* Clerks—June Pack, Uintah county; Sadie Cassidy, Utah county; Florence Hull, Salt Lake county; Janitor— Robert Houston, Salt Lake county. Baby no Longer.—It was just about eleven years, January 6, 1907, that Utah had enjoyed the privilege of being the baby of the United States. Oklahoma is now born, and her star will soon be the 46th on the flag of the Union. Utah has passed her babyhood in good health, and is to-day a hearty youngster, with the remarkable record of only one political boil—the "American" party—and that is fast heading to heal. Politically, educationally, sociallj', morally, and religiously, —and in commerce, manufacture, mining, and agriculture, Utah is a hearty, healthy child. Here's to her continued growth and prosperity! Judging by her Bons and daughters to-day, Utah should be the brightest gem of the West in an- other decade. Here's to their advancement and glory! And to the health, pros- perity, and growth of her baby sister, Oklahoma! Business Prosperity.—Business conditions in Utah were never better than in 1906. The crops were abundant, mining was at its height. There were between $33,000,000 and $34,000,000 produced from the mines with dividends of orer five millions. The fruit and manufacturing interests made immense strides onward. The bank clearings in Salt Lake showed close onto a million a day. For the whole year it was ?288, 175,012 88 as against $211,597,739.59 for 1905; and the other cities of the state held their own in proportion. What is said of Utah may be truly aid, in a general way, of surrounding states. Brigham Young College Bequest.—Hon. Charles W. Nibley has given $10,000 to the Brigham Young College at Logan, and as a consequence a new administration building will be erected, during the early part of the year, to fit into the present system of buildings. The building will be 65 by 105 feet, two stories, with a seating capacity of from 1,200 lo 1,400 people, and it will be used for general students' assemblies, devotional exercises, lectures, amusements, and sociables. Third Term League. —In the early part of December a Roosevelt Third Term National League was organized in Chicago; Edward A. Harner, a former resident of Colorado, is the president of the Leapue, and, in an address recently promulgated, declares that President Roosevelt is the people's choice irrespective of party, for president, and demands his nomination in 1908. Mr. Harner ha'

318 IMPROVEMENT ERA. later declared that "this is a people's movement, not a politician's movement. It is true the president has said he will not run again, but we take the position, that if the people need him, and insist that he serve another term, he cannot refuse." To counteract this movement, and as a protest to some of the late steps of Presi- dent Roosevelt, Harper's Weekly has begun to criticise his administration, with intimation of more severe strictures yet to come. Church Building Burned.—Early on Saturday morning, January 5, the principal building of the Reorganized church, commonly known as the "Josephites," situated at Lamoni, Iowa, burned. The total loss is estimated by the Saints, Herald, at $40,000, $10,000 of which is covered by insurance. Their church library, papers of the church historian, and his labor for many years, many old historical documents and papers in the secretary's office, and the entire plant of the Saints Herald, and Autumn Leaves, a publication of the young people, were destroyed. Elbert A. Smith, associate editor of the Herald, announces in a diminutive issue of the Herald, January 9, that the building will be rebuilt, $13,045.50 having already at that time been secured by subscriptions ranging from 50 cents to $1,000. The Nobel Prizes.—When Dr. Alfred Nobel died in Norway in 1895, he left ten million dollars for five prizes to be annually awarded for the most import- ant discoveries in physics, chemistry, and physiology or medicine ; for the most remarkable idealistic literary work, and for the greatest service rendered to the cause of peace during the year. These prizes amount to about $40,000 each, and for 1906 were awarded as follows: The peace prize, the awarding of which rests with the Norwegian parliament, to President Theodore Roosevelt for his services in ending the Russo-Japanese war. Researches in physics, to Prof. J. J. Thompson, University of Cambridge, England. Department of chemistry, to Monsieur Moissan, Prof, of chemistry at the Sorbonne, Paris; that in medicine was divided between Profs. Cajal and Golgi of Paris for their researches into the anatomy of the nervous system; and that for distinguished work in literature was given to Giosue Carducci, professor of literature at the University of Bologna. Famine in China and Russia.—In a district in China covering more than 40 000 square miles, and which supports a population of 15,000,000, heavy floods have caused a large part of the land to be flooded, and people have had to wade through water in many places knee deep, and even waist deep. The devastation has caused famine in the province of Kiangsu; about 300,000 refugees were recently encamped near Yangchow and 30,000 near Nankin. President Roose- velt, in a proclamation published just before Christmas, appealed for help for the sufferers, and during January the papers of this country ger.erally, including the Deseret News of this state, have been receiving contributions for the aid of the sufferers. It is expected that the President will ask Congress for authority to use American transpoits to carry flour and other food to the stricken region. Among the peasants of the Volga provinces, Russia, famine is acute and is increasing in severity. Many have died from hunger, and the fearful barter of •hildren for food by needy parents is reported in some districts.

EVENTS AND COMMENTS. 319 New British Ambassador.—The Right Hon. James Bryce, a distinguished historian and statesman, author of The Holy Roman Empire, for twenty-three years regius professor of civil law at Oriel college, Oxford, and author of the recognized authf rity The American Commonwealth, has been appointed British ambassador to the United States, to succeed Sir Henry Martimer Durand, who haa acted in that capacity since 1903. Mr. Bryce is in liia sixty-ninth year, and has been in parliament since 1880. He leaves the post of Chief Secretary for Ireland, in the British cabinet, to accept this his first appointment to a diplomatic posi- tion. Fur a long time he has been an advoate of home rule for Ireland, havinjt helped to draft the second home rule bill. Austria Adopts Universal Suffrage.—A new bill was passed by the Upper House of the Austrian Reichsrath on December 21, 1906, which had pre- viously passed the Lower House, providing that every male above 24 years of age, in possession of civil rights, shall be entitled to registration as a voter. The new bill abolishes plural voting and provides for a secret ballot. The measure will effect a radical change in the Austrian electorate. The 425 members of the present Reichsrath were elected in 1900-01 as follows : 85 were elected by 5.431 landowners, 21 by 556 chambers of commerce, 118 by 493,804 urban voters pay- ing direct taxes,, 129 by rural voters paying direct taxes, and only 72 by a gen- eral electorate of moi'e than 5,000,000. The five million will have their chance in the next election. Baroness Burdett-Coutts Dead.—This life-long phl!anthropist,and one of the best beloved women in England, died on December 30, 1906, in her 93rd year. She made it the business of her life to relieve human needs. She inherited im- mense wealth, estimated at ten million dollars, from her grandfather, Thomas Coutts, the banker, and made use of it very liberally in public and private chari- ties. She received a peerage in 1«71 from Queen Victoria, and in 1881 married a Mr. Ashmead Bartlett, an American,37 years her junior, who assumed the name of Burdett-Coutts. "Bravery—Saving Lives."—For rescuing a child that fell into the Weber river last August, Thoms A. Harris, a 17-year old son of Joseph Harris, an Ogden, Utah, barber, was awarded a silver medal and $2,000 for educational purposes, by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, at Pittsburg, Pa., January 16. This is the third life young Harris has saved, he having rescued two adults previous to the child for whose life he has been awarded the ' 'Carnegie Hero Medal." Died.—St. David, Ariz., November 17, 1906, Patriarch George, T. Wilson, 80 years of age. He was a pioneer settler of Mesa, Ariz.—In Richfield, Tuesday, 27, Andrew Heppler. born Germany, November 15, 1838, came to Utah in 1872. — In North Ogden, Friday, November 30, Lorenzo Waldram, Sr., was buried. He died in Pleasant Grove, Utah, was born in England 81 years ago, and came to Utah in 1869, settling in Harrisville.—In Vernal, Utah, 26th, Ellen Wiikeshire Karren, born England, April 2, 1844, came to Utah in 1853--In Salt Lake City, December 1, 1906, Elizabeth Brewerton Emery, born England, March 13. 1828.

320 IMPRO VEMENT ERA. joined the Church in 1844, came to Utah in 1852, having stopped one year in Kanesville. —In Geneva, Idaho, 3rd, Henry Teuscher, 58 years of age, a native of Switzerland, came to Utah in 1883. --In Lehi, Utah, 3rd, John Worlton, bom England, September 14, 1846, came to Utah in 1855. He was a member of the Black Hawk war veterans.—In Salt Lake City, December 5, James White, volun- teer fireman and Indian fighter, born England, June 25, 1833, came to America in 1854, and from St. Louis to Utah in 1862.—In Springville, 6th, Joseph W. Bis. sell, born Boston, January 1, 1830, baptized in Iowa in 1850, and came to Utah in 1852.—In frovo, 7th, Ann Bullock, born England 79 years ago, and came to Utah 52 years ago, locating in Prove. —In Goshen, Utah, 8th, Bishop Peter Okel- berry, born Sweden, September 2, 1845, came to Utah in 1863. He Vi^as an ener- getic Church worker. —In Lehi, 9th, Lucinda Sadelia Bushman, a passenger in the ship Brooklyn, born Connecticut, April 4, 1843, came from California to Utah in 1857.—In Salt Lake City, Sunday, 9th, in the Eleventh ward meetinghouse the funeral services were held over Eunice Fitzgerald McRae. She was born in Kentucky, Feb. 7, 1818, and died December 3, 1906.—In Spring City, Utah, of which city she was a pioneer, Monday, 18th, Isabella Blair, born England, January 31, 1817, joined the Church in 1841, and came to Utah in 1863, a widow with a family of ten children.—In Washington,Wednesday, 13th, from the effects of a gunshot wound from a pistol fired by Anna M. Bradley, Arthur Brown, lawyer and first senator from the State of Utah, born Michigan, March 8, 1843.—In Salt Lake, 12th, Isadore Morris was buried. He died, Sunday, 9th, was born in Russian Poland, March, 1844, and came from California with Col. Connor's soldiers to Utah in 1862. He was a warm friend of the Latter-day Saints, an active Mason, and an orthodox Jew.—In American Fork, 14th, James Pulley, born Eng- land, May 17, 1823, came to Nauvoo in early days, and was with the remnant driven from there in 1846, came to Utah in 1856.—In Manilla, Utah, 14th, James Warley, born England, November 15, 1822, came to Utah from Australia in 1854. —In Douglas, Ariz., 17th, Hon. Joseph K. Rogers, first bishop of Pima, and mem- ber of two legislatures, born Indiana, December 20, 1844, came to Utah in 1850, and to Arizona as a pioneer in 1879. —In Alpine, 19th, Frederick Beck, born Denmark, February 19, 1831, a veteran of the Danish-German war of 1864, who came to Utah in 1866.—In Salt Lake, Saturday, 22d, Harriett Flowers Ball, born England, November 25, 1834, and came to Utah in 1853.—In Circleville, Piuce county, 23rd, Jane Browning Stewart, born Illinois, August 14, 1837, came to Utah in 1853. —Near Mona, Juab county, same day, James Mendenhall, born Pennsylvania 70 years ago.—In Ogden, 27th, Josiah Read, born England, 81 years ago, and came to Utah in 1881.—In Mt. Pleasant, Sunday, 23rd, Mrs.Hyrum Winters, born Wales, May 2, 1833, joined the Church in 1842, and came to America in 1843 and to Utah in 1852. —In Salt Lake City Monday, 24th, Patriarch Jesse West, bom England, March 30, 1827, came to Utah with ox team in 1850,—In Riverdale, Weber cornty, 31st, Edna Stimpson, born England March 24, 1829, joined the Church in 1844, and came to Utah in 1854. —In Ogden, 31st, Dudley W. Stone, counselor to the bishop of Mound Fort, from the result of injuries received December 24, by falling from the new Weber Stake Academy.