handed in his resignation as president of the Union Pacific railwayOn the 6th, Amassa Gleason and Thomas Brighton, motorman and conductor of a street car, were fatally shot, at 11:45 p.m., by a hold-up, who was afterward arrested, and later confessed to the foul deed. His name is ("Jack") John M. Shockley. Both his victims are dead.—A snow storm was general throughout Utah on the 11th.

NEW BOOK ON UTAH.-Hons. Geo. E. Blair and R. W. Sloan have in press The Mountain Empire-Utah, a book upon the resources of the State. It is to be a valuable compendium of information to be distributed at St. Louis during the Exposition.

DEATH OF BISHOP TINGEY.-On the 10th, in Salt Lake City, Bishop John Tingey died. He was a man who proved faithful in all his work to the end, and who passed through many hardships in early Utah, where he arrived with his wife, Phebe Stafford, in September, 1852. He was born in England, December 27, 1821, and joined the Church March 11, 1845. In 1857, he took part the Echo Canyon expedition, was a ward teacher for twenty years; ordained a Seventy February 16, 1853; a high Priest April 20, 1876; a Bishop November 6. 1880; a Patriarch September 13, 1896. He was the fifth bishop of the Seventeenth Ward, serving in that capacity for sixteen years. His surviving children are faithful members of the Church.

Domestic.- December, 1903.

ISLANDS IN GREAT NUMBER.-The Philippine Commission have recommended that the navigation laws be not applied to the islands until a sufficient number of American vessels ask for such action. Only very few such vessels are now employed either between the numerous islands, or the islands and the states. Speaking of the number of islands, it has been ascertained by the coast survey, in lively action during December that the archipelago contains 3000, 1700 of which bear names.

NATIONAL CONVENTION.-It is decided December 12, by the Republican National Committee to hold the National Convention in Chicago, beginning June 21, 1904.

THE PURCHASE OF FRIAR'S LANDS.-In the last days of December, the prolonged negotiations for the purchase of the lands of the religious orders, or friars, in the Philippines, were ended when an agreement was reached for the sale of the property to the island government. There are 403,000 acres, and the sum to be paid is $7,239,784. The Pope agreed

to the transaction, and said when he heard the news: "This is the best Christmas box I could have had." The sum will be spent mostly for the support of the Catholic Church in the islands. The lands will be sold to present tenants on easy terms. The Franciscan monks or friars will leave the islands; the Recollects will remain, about 100 in number; the Dominicans will be cared for by their university; and the Augustinians will again occupy their building in Iloilo, taken, and now occupied, by government troops. Bonds will be issued to pay for the lands, four per cents, due in thirty years, and will be as valid as regular government bonds, hence as valuable.

GOVERNOR TAFT.-Governor Taft sailed from Manila, December 24, and will visit the Emperor of Japan on his way home. His departure excited universal regret, and a procession of 15,000 soldiers, sailors, constables, and labor unions escorted him to the Luneta where he reviewed it. There has been great progress in the islands, and only time for education and raising crops is needed to cause great prosperity and prog

ress.

THE IROQUOIS THEATRE FIRE.-If the fire at the ring theatre in Vienna, in 1881, when 875 lives were lost, and the burning of Lehman's Theatre, in St. Petersburg, in which between six and seven hundred persons perished, are excepted, the fire and panic at the Iroquois Theatre, Chicago, December 30, at which 585 lives were lost, and 142 persons injured-are the most appaling in history. The fire was started by a defective electric-light wire. The Iroquois was considered one of the safest theatres in the world, it cost $500,000 and was opened November 23, 1903. The fire escapes were not in position, and the alleged fire-proof asbestos curtain was totally destroyed,-serious defects. The loss to the owners was $20,000. New Year's day was observed throughout Chicago as a day of mourning, and as a result of the fearful holocaust the theatres and their safety for the public have been looked into not only in Chicago, but in all the large cities of the nation, and even in Europe.

January, 1904.

PORTO RICANS NOT ALIENS.-The Supreme Court at Washington has decided by unanimous vote that citizens of Porto Rico are not aliens within the meaning of our emigration laws, because they owe no allegiance to a foreign power, but are governed by the Congress and executive officers of the United States. While the court declined to say whether they are citizens, it is only one step more to recognizing their citizenship, and from that to the fact that they may become

an organized territory. They are now entitled to admission into this country without obstruction.

DEATH OF JAMES LONGSTREET.-A veteran of the Mexican, Indian and Civil Wars, James Longstreet, died on January 2, aged 83 years. He held the rank of Lieutenant General in the Confederate service, was at one time minister to Turkey, and since 1897 has served as U. S. Commissioner of Pacific railroads.

Foreign.-December, 1903.

BIG MONEY.-On the 18th, Cardinal Gotti is reported to have given the Pope nine million dollars which had been bequeathed to the Cardinal in trust by Pope Leo; and two millions was found in a wall of the late Pope's room.

PRESIDENT DIAZ.-It is generally believed that President Diaz, of Mexico will lay down his office some time before the expiration of his term as president, December 1, 1904. His age and his desire to visit Europe lend belief to this. The only two successors named are J. V. Limantour, Minister of Finance, and General Reyes, a military hero of Indian descent.

AFFAIRS IN THE CONGO.-A steady stream of evidence keeps flowing in, charging that most unspeakable brutalities are still being practiced in the Congo Free State, and this, too, with the connivance of King Leopold. The latest testimony comes from Roger Casement, a British Consul in the Congo State. He has just made a 1,000 mile tour of investigation at the instigation of the British Government, and he fully confirms the worst reports of the slavery and barbarism perpetrated on the natives.

NEW RAILWAY.-A very interesting report has just been published by the Congo Free State Government concerning the railway now being built from the Upper Congo to the Great Central African Lakes. This railway will bring Stanleyville into communication with Ponthierville by winding about the great falls, and it will open up to traffic and civilization one of the richest tracts of land in the world. Stanleyville will then doubtless become the commercial center of the district. Added to this report is annexed an account giving information relative to big game shooting in the State. The elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo, hippotamus, leopard, giraffe, zebra and all sorts of deer still abound, especially about the station of Kiro, in Lados.