Nebraska Newspapers

    10 THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : SUNDAY , APRIL 21. 189JJ-TWENTY PAGES.
UNITED STATES SENATORS
Should They Bo Elected by the Direct "Voto
of the People ?
INTERESTING TALKS ON HIE QUESTION
Itosownter , Ilnlllunn , rlt7intrlrk |
nnd Ilnpowell Trrtcnt U In Its Vnrloni
Arguing tli * AltrlU
ofa I.I
The regular bi-monthly mcotijif of the
Llvo-Issuo club was held In the Llnlngor Art
gallery with William K Baxter , president of
thn club , in the chair. The subject discussed
was "Uesolved , That the United States
onotors bo elected by n direct vote of the
people. " Mr. Edward Uoiowntor , who
opened the discussion In the nfllrmntlvc ,
ipoVo substantially as follows !
"Tho primitive form of government for Iho
United States of America were the articles
of confederation , and the legislative power
for tbo first twelve years was vested in n
congress made up of delegates elected by the
respective legislatures of the various stales
that were members of the union. The llrst
congress then of the United States was not n
representative body of the people , but a body
( Jhosen Indlroptly through the legislatures
who hud been cbosen for the most part by
plantera lena holders nnd men who paid
taxcft. The < delegates , or rather members of
the first federal congress , were restricted to
three years of service , that Is , they could
only servo during a consccutlvo term of thrco
ycaisnndwcro burred from holding any
oflUo of profit or trust uudor the colonial or
state governments while serving ns member *
of congress , and they could bo recalled at the
pleasure ot their respective states.
"After the adoption of the constitution of
the United States , promulgated on March 4 ,
1789 , the legislative power of the national
government was vested in n congress com
posed of two separate bodies the house of
representatives elected directly by the poo-
ploand apportioned according to population ,
and the senate of the United btates elected
by the legislatures of the respective states
nnd apportioned in equal numbers to the
states that constitute thu union , each state
having two members or that august body.
"It Is.a matter of history that the framers
ot the national constitution , in adopting that
form of government , had In view the restric
tion of the people in their primitive capacity.
There was a profound distrust manifested in
tbo people , and an aristocratic disposition to
fence out tlio people { from the choic-o of rep
resentation in the upper house of the na
tional legislature. Whether that was wlso
or unwise experience alone could demon
strate.
"While tbo American union had only n
sparsely &ettied population and the settlers
of tho'vailous states were nearly all land
owner * and free from the inllucucos that
now surround the American voter , there is
no doubt that the senators chosen by the
legislatures wore in largo part the ablest und
the most trusted men that could have been
chosen in tbo respective states , but as the
country multiplied In population and wealth ,
there came a marked change and it. became
manifest that the senate was gradually being -
ing converted into a House of Lords ; that , it
no longer represented the real popular demo
cratic spirit , but that it represented unre-
publican tendencies and in fact had become
B source of corruption and menace to popu
lar solf-govcrninont.
Modnrn llosulU of the Syxtcin.
"Those of us who have been at senatorial
elections end are familiar wltu the practice
as well as tbo theory of government have
lound that the legislative branch of our gov
ernment deteriorates and becomes seriously
demoralized by reason of the&o periodic sena
torial elections. In theory , perhaps , tt would
bo all right to say that the mon who repre
sent Iho people , UDliDcrntlng coolly and con
scientiously upon the claims of the men who
aspired to scats in tbo senate , would bo actu
ated only by one motive , that is , ns far as
poislblo to ascertain who among tha aspir
ants was tha most worthy and the most
capable , who would best represent tbo state
nnd who would contribute most to the glory
and thn.ioputatlon of the state and of the re
public. But what is the practice ?
"Whenever it is known that the term of a
senator is about to expire and that a legisla
ture Is about to be chosen charged wUh tbo
duty of electing a senator of the United
States a class of.inei. push to the front for
places in the legislature who really ought to
bo always kept to the rear , They are a class
of men not merely ambitious to have it Bald
of them that they helped to make a senator ,
that they hnd contributed toward elevating
the standard of national law makers , but
they are a class of men venal and pliant and
pliable. They go to the legislature with the
dollbf rate design to bolter their own condi
tion through bribes received In various forms
or with pledges of appointment to federal
onicea that insure for them lucrative places
for which they have bartered their votos.
"The greatest scandals that hnvo ever
smirched the pages of the history of
Nebraska are to bo found iu tno legislative
proccoJIngs pending the election of United
States senator. I could cite several in
stances , hut will refrain. 1'artlos who were
not thought of as candidates , parties who
did not-present themselves before the people
for their suffrages , deliberately bought
whole blocks ot members , and by n combina
tion of tbo corrupt with thu ambitious , by
promises of federal appointments , by par
celing out the United Stales marsbalshlps ,
land oil ! ccs ana postmasu > rblps and
atturncyslups , were elected to scats
in the upper branch of congress.
H was this cenernl prevailing
ballot that our legislatures had boon debased -
based and corruptly manipulated at every
senatorial election that bega' . a sentiment
nmonirthe ncoplo regardless of party , In
favor of having the senators of the United
States aubjoctcd to the crucial test of an
election , and when the framers of tbo con
stitution uudor which wo now live convened
In 1B75 that sentiment was so powerful that
by an almost unanimous vote the convention
baa Inserted into our constitution a pro
vision that the people shall , at every
election when a senatorial contest h
pending , have the right to express their
choice for senator through the ballot
box and hnvo their votes counted and ro
corded. This is as far us any state can ic
under the present constitution of the United
Stntos. That Instrument must first be
amended before wo can hope for that reform
form which the great body of tha people ol
1 tha United States are now demanding on al
hands. It bcurcoly needs to ba poiuiud oui
' that while the various states formulatct
their constitutions on the model of the
United States constitution , not a single state
In this union has aver undertaken or over
attempted to plnco nn intermediate boaj
between tbo electors and the choici
of thu senato. Kvory suto senate I :
elected by iho direct vote of th <
people * and that fact ulone afford :
striking proof that tbo pcoplo tbomsolvn
since the formation of tbo constitution havi
reached thu conclusion that the aristocrat ! !
features copied from or modeled after tLi
English system of government , where the ;
have a House of Commons chosen by tin
people and a House of Lords perpetually
holding power , is an uurepubltcau part ot ou
political machinery which soouer or into
must be eliminated ,
Tlioro Are Uufortn In Our Hjrstem.
"It stands to reason that every attomp
that so fur has been made In iho Unitoi
Btates congress to submit to the pcoplo ni
amendment placing the election of senator
wlthlu the direct reach of thn people has uio
n 1th very little favor nt the hands of tin
body that U to bo abolished us a 'Houso o
Lords' ' aud come down to tha level of th
commons. It etauds to roasoi
because a very largo porccntng >
of the mon who for the last twonty-liv
years , 1 need not go further baoV , have heli
places in Ibo United States son n to would no
have been in their teats had their olootioi
boon submitted directly to the voters ot th
reapecUvo status ,
"It U no discredit to the American peopl
to point out the defects of thu government
Wo know that the United States senai
eve a at itbls tlmo and at all time
lias had within its body torn
of the greatest , ablest and purest stotostnoi
thl * country , or , perhaps , any other country
baa produced , but wo also know that qulto
percentage ot tha mo.nbcrs ot the United
btates senate' nro there simply because they
either were capable of manipulating the leg
islatures nil paying' for their scats or be
cause thhy bad boon sutnorvtont to largo
corporations with ( ? rcat wealth nnd com
manding influences in legislature ? , nnd that
their seats nro ro&lly sltnpljr filled by the decree -
croo ot ttioso corporations , and not by the
people.
" 1 know , for Instance , that the great state
of Pennsylvania has boon represented in the
senate for a number of years , for moro than
n generation by ono lamlly , The head of
that family hold that scat by sheer force of
character and nblllly nnd by prominence in
the councils of the republican party ; the son
holds It not bccaus'-t of any ability , but be
cause of tno vast wealth nt hU command and
the corporations that are behind him ,
I could stale numbers of other oases ,
but I will refrain , nlmplv pointing out
the fact tl.nt according to my belief
the interest of the people ot Iho Unilcd
blntcs demands n radical reform in the na
tional legislature. I believe that ere long tbo
sentiment will bo overwhelmingly In favor of
remodeling the senate nnd making it re
sponsive to the popular pulso. It may bo
said nnd I presume it will bo suld that this
is a body for which wo should have rever
ence ; that this part of the constitution has
remained intact for moro than 10(1 ( yonrs : that
wo Unvo gene through many trying ordeals
under the present form nnd that n change
should never he attempted unless there is
Bomo very grave wrong or grnvo abuse. But
after nll'wo must remember that oven the
constitution of the United Stales was n
change. It was a change In the forms em
bodied In Iho articles of confederation nnd
the nitlclcsof confederation were a chang.0
from the form under which the colonial cov-
crnmont hnd existed. The declaration ot independence -
dependence points cut clearly that the forms
of government must necessarily change with
the changed conditions nud wants of
the people. Wo cannot hope to
continue in the straight Jacket
Into which wo were put before steam and
electricity were utilized , before the steam
boat nnd rallwny nnd telegraph brought the
most distant sections closov logothor. before
telephones nnd electric lighting , oven be-
foru the press , with its millions ot papers
kept our people Informed about every move
ment m the social , commercial and political
world. If wo nro to have any changes in our
condition none are , In my opinion , moro im
peratively needed than a reconstruction of
the senate upon the basis of self-government
by the people and for the people. " [ Loud
applauso.j
Mr. IIiilllRnn's Itrpljr.
Mr. C. P. Halllgan , who look the negative
side of the question , said : "Tho first propo
sition tlifit Mr. Uotowatcradvanced was that
the senate arose from a distrust , in too pcoplo.
Could they believe for a moment or could the
honorable gentleman bcllevo that the scuato
ot the United States arose from a distrust of
the pcoploi Not by any means. The men
who assembled in the colonial congress came
from the pcoplo ; they had the Interest of the
people nt heart. What , then , did it arise
from ! They were about to construct n
structure thafwns to extend ever the whole
people , and they wunled to do it in such n
manner as would subserve the inter
ests of the ceopio aud would perpot-
unto that structure to their posterity.
They consulted the paces of history to dis
cover what other governments had done and
they carao.to the conclusion that they must
have ono legislative body to act as a restraint
upon the other. They saia that the great
mass of the people should have a representa
tive body , but as the great mass of the people
nro influenced bv their passions , by zuul and
by questions that momentarily arise , we
must have something to check the action of
the purely representative body of the mass
of the poopto and they created the senate to
act as a chcclt upon the houso.of representa
tives.
"Then the question nroso how should this
sonata bo elected. If elected by the direct
vote of the pcoplo then it would partake of
the Bruno elements that the house of repre
sentatives is composed of. They said if wo
do that it will be just about tbosamo as if wo
divided up the house of representatives'and
they determined to make the senate ns inde
pendent from tbo house of representatives as
possible. They made the one to servo ai n
check upon the other. They also gave to the
sonata the power to reject bills passed by the
house of representatives and they gave to
tlio house of representatives power to reject
bills Introduced by the icnato. This served
as a balance wheel. They foresaw that and
they constituted the sonata because it did
serve as a balance wheel and not Decauso
they bad any distrust in the people.
' Tbo next proposition the gentleman ad
vanced was that tbo senate converted itself
gradually into a House ot Lords , Now , sup
posing the house has converted itself into a
House of Lords , what does that signify ?
Docs it moan that they would not convert
thomselvcs Into a House of Lords it they
were elected directly by the people ? Does it
certify that they would be any different from
the HoUse of Lords in England ! Did wo not
take our legislature from tho- English house )
Is it not n fact that the House of Lords has
been hampered and controlled In its action
from time immemorial by too house elected
by the people ? The House of Lords , or the
upper house in England , is an hereditary af-
fuir , which is worse than the senate of the
United States , and yet it has never controlled
the legislative acts of Encland lo the detri
ment of England , or perhaps it would bo bet
ter to say very seldom has it done so.
Nut the Fault of the System.
"Granting that tt is true , as Ibo gentleman
says , that tno representatives go there to
better their condition ; that Is all right , pro
viding they go there also to better tbo con
dition of tno people. But bo says that they
go there to better their condition by accept
ing bribes when there Is a senatorial elec
tion to take place In the legislature. Now ,
supposing they do , what does that provo 1
Does that detract from the senate ? Is
that an nrgumont that tno sonata of
tbo United States should bo elected by the
pcoplo ) Let us see. Grant that every sena
tor , in the United States sonata buys bis
.sent in tbo senate through the legislative
body , even in that case it is impossible for
that senuto sitting. 111 a body at Washington
to enact a law that is detrimental to tha in
terests of the people until it also bribes the
representatives of the people sitting in the
house , nud the sanction of the president of
the United States would also have to bo
secured. True , they may pass a law by the
aid of iho lower house without the presi
dent's signature , but bow do they do 111
They do it by the concurrence of two-thirds
of the members of both bouses ,
"How are the state legislatures elected ?
By n direct vote of the people. How is it
that wo can-elect men by a direct vote of clia
pcoplo who are so corrupt as to accept bribes !
what guarantee have wo that if wo elected
United Stntos senators by a direct vote of
the people that they would not bo equally
corrupt ! Wo have none ,
"Hu says the pooolo of tba stata do not
constitute an Intermediate body and that la
a reason for electing the senators of the
United States directly by tbo peoplo. What
is a state ! 'It is only a portion of our coun
try. At tlio present time the forty-fourth
part of Mn union. It Is a small body.
Would it bo advhablt ) to elect state senators
by an intermediate body ! The smullnoss ol
the states In comparison with the union
shows the difference- between this com
parison ,
"Tbo gentleman says ihe United States
senators becoino sunst-rrlont to corporate
power. Supposing they do. Would thov be
any Ios so It elected by the people ) Tba
uuostion Is not whether the senators become
subservient to corporate power , but whether
In their capacity ns senators they : an cmicl
laws detrimental to the Interests of tba pee
ple. Not how they mo elected , but whal
laws they give us.
"Tho great trouble with the American people
plo is that they have a great anxiety U
enact new lawn. Every legislature wants tc
modify , change , repeal or amend soinolhliig ,
nnd our statute books nro full ot the amend
ments of such errors. Now. tha sonata acts
ns a check upon that tendency , and that is
whntritii for. Wo can find in tbo pages ol
history uxninploa of governments similar tc
ours , but witnout our salutary system ol
chocks , In ancient Athens and Florence , bui
these governments wont down , just as ovorj
ono must go doviu that does not provide
uhociis ; that does not prorido balanct
wheels for tha government. ] t is an oas )
thing to say that wo should have our lawi
changed aud modified nnd now modes pro
vided , but nt the sumo tlmo wo should no
overlook the evils that these changes oftef
bring about. " ( Loud applauso. ]
Vorjr IMulitly lluimucil ,
Prof. Frank A. Fltipatrick made a few remarks
marks and among other thlucs aaidt "I d <
not thluk there can bo very much quoatloi
in the minds of anyone who lias listened ti
Mr , Uosowator in his ppcaoutatiou of thi
subject matter of his talk to us this evening
but that all bo has. . said bus proceeded fron
a perfect conviction on his part produce <
from a moro perfect knowledge of tbo bid
dou wheels that move legislatures than an ;
ot us possess , and I coula not help but think
while listening to my able friend on. the loft
that perhaps ho has niU been unfortunate
enough to oo vcrv much on the Insldo In the
workings of our legislative bodies , The
diagnosis that Mr. Kosowator manes
seems plain , that is , the cor
porations control the senators or the
upper bodv because they can work by dovl-
ous ways. It Is a well known fact that leg
islators will resort to all sorts of devices to
delay legislation , In order to effect their
pnrposo they will mnko a motion to recommit
a bill to n committee or to adjourn nnd nvall
themselves of a thousand parliamentary tac
tics to delay action upon n Dili , well knowing
that if It comes to a final vote they will hnvo
to vote for it. Undoubtedly wo would bo to
n largo extent saved from thosa klad of leg
islator * If the senators were oloctyd by n di
rect vote of the people. I think wo need n
chock , but I fall lo sea how the chock system
would be uny loss than it ts now If Iho sena
tors were elected directly by the people. In
my opinion It would remain just Ihu snmo.
"It Is also a mnttor of hUtory , I think , that
nt. the tlmo of the training of thu constitution
there wns what might bo termed a Hamilton
parly nnd a Jefferson party. Mr. .Jefferson
who had Just returned from Prance , wav
filled with the doctrlnoi ot fraternity
and equality nnd ho desired that
the people should have the fullest sway
ia selt-govornincnt. Mr. Hamilton repre
senting the other slda had no conlldonco in
tha pooplo. Ha had no conlldonco In the
ability of the mass of tlio people to decldo
Wisely on questions of vital importance lethe
the country. These ihlngi were foughl out
backwards nud forwards.
"As a country grows It changes Its condi
tions nnd so we have made numerous amend
ments to our constitution from tlmo to tlmo.
1 imaglno if wo trace the history of the sen-
nlo nnd inquire into the calibro of senators
wo shall find that wo got the best senatorial
limber in these states whcro Iho strength of
the parties is pietty evenly divided , became
In order to succeed the best men of both par
ties must bo put forward. In states which
nrc mostly democratic or mostly republican
it Is notorious that men who have compara
tively no Illness for the ofllcn uro elected to
the 'United Stale * senate , nnd thuy nro
elected by all kinds of peculiar niothods.
I think tno remedy proposed Is n
good ono. I bellovo that only
mon of character and standing In
the party should bo nominated as candidates
for the important oftlco of United Stutos seu-
alors nnd the battle should bo fought out In
the conventions and it this were dcno I think
it would result in our having a much hotter
grade ot men In the senate where now wo
have men whom everybody knows nrooo-
Jectlonubln. "
The meeting was also briefly addressed by
J. L. Woolson , Frank L. . . Weaver , John Wll
son Battin and Dr. A. F. Jonas.
rixlnp ; tinIlo ioii5llilllty.
.fudge Molvln U. HnpowolL roio In rj-
spouse to calls and said : "I will not under
take to make n speecb on 111 is question , but
L may state a thought or two which the re
marks that have bcon tundo hnvo called to
my mind. I was very much interested in
the opening remarks and the speech of Mr.
Kosewater. Ho has stated very succinctly
and clearly the history and the mamier In
Which the election of our senators came
about , nnd his principal reajon foi1 desiring
a change in the method ot electing-senators
is tbo idea that now our senators nro oleclod
by Improper Influenced , by bribes. Now , 1
&m unwilling to concede that the majority of
our mombcrs ot our stale legislatures uro
men who are susceptible to thodo corrupt in
fluences. I am nut willing to say that thn
"
majority , or a largo proportion of"tfio mem
bers of an ordinary legislature , would bo
controlled by such , influences. If , however ,
it were true who is responsible for It ? If
corrupt mon are sent tq the legislature tha
people who nominate and elect thorn are di
rectly responsible. But how would the ovll
bo remedied by electing the United States
senators directly by tbo people. If this sys
tem was adoptai it seems to mo that instead
of doing away with those improper methods
it would simply relocate them from the legis
lature to Iho nominating conventions.
' 'When wo look bncic over the history of
our country wo see , I think , thi t some of the
greatest minds of our country have been
in the senate of the Untied btates. Wo all
acroo to that. Such men as Clay , buraner ,
Webster and many others that we readily
cell to mind , have been the very
ablest mon that our country has
produced , and they havo'boon elected
by the legislatures as provided by our con
stitution , and after naving worked so well so
far where is there a good reason for making
the change now unless 'thoro ivonla bo
greater freedom from those improper meth
ods that have been suggested ! Now there
Is a difference between 'the senate of the
United States and the house of representa
tives , und it Is well that it is seAs a mat
ter of fact , one is a dignified , deliberative
body , the other is not so much so at least ,
'and quite tbo reverse in many instances.
In Favor or the llllnUiisrSyHtfiin.
"Now , it sooras to mo that the only nrgu
mont is a supposition or a fear , for "which ,
perhaps , there are good reasons , that some
senators have obtained their scats in thosa
questionable ways ; yet , ns a matter of fact ,
it wo bring it down to pure politics 'and have
thu benUoi-3 ; nominated by our political con
ventions and elected directly by the people I
fail to sco how It wonld bo better.
"Tnero are political questions that must bo
met and dealt with aud it ia very , difficult to
say what is the best way to deal with them.
Take nn example. Wo have from this
state two senators and thrco representa
tives. Are the representatives from this
state so much superior in ability and wisdom
to our senators that they couldao offered ns an
argument ) As It has bcou suggested by ono
speaker tbo very fact that the senate seems
to occupy an exalted position , to bo different ,
to bo in ere deliberative , more in _ tbe nature
of a House of Lords than tbo house of repre
sentatives , and that the position of senator
is looked upon as much moro honorable ,
makes it n matter of strife among our politi
cal parties to put forward before the legisla
ture their very best mon. As has boon said ,
men of marked ability who bavu'flrst cone to
inn Plato legislatures , and have shown them
selves capable nud worthy ot tlio confidence
of their'respective parties , nro tno mon
usually that are put forward oy-thoir pirtlos
in Iho'legislaturos for senatorial pp-iitlons.
"I think tbo history of our country shows
that thu elections made by the legislatures
have in the main been from the very bust
men in the stales. Instead of conducing to the
election of abler rccn and less' corrupt
mon it seems to mo that tha tendency would
bo ralher Iho reverse and that an cldction ' by
the pcoplo would gradually bHng 'tho two
bodies moro on an equalitymoro upon a par
at least in the minds of the people than they
are now or than they will bo so long as the
present method of electing senators i.i con
tinued , because if the influences which nro
brought to Dear in tlio primaries , in the
county conventions , in the distrlcA conven
tions nnd state conventions fpr the nomina
tion of congressmen , which are open to criti
cism of my friendMr. Uoiowator , and which
receive thorn , are not the nomination of sen
ators equally open , to the same criticism !
Wmild tbo results bo any better if the sena
tors were elected by precisely .tho' " sarao
people who elect the members of 'tho state
loglslatuntsf I think you will find ibis
bribery nnd corruption is conllaed- > princi
pally to a very few persons.
"Most of the men who co to the sonata of
Ibo United Stains are supposed > to bo tbo
best men of the state , mau who have .reputa
tions nt stake , but by cnanco there are a few
who go there for mercenary-purposes. They ,
of course , do all they can to keep that from
being known. It is almost impossible to prevent -
'
vent omq undue Influences from 'buiug ox-
crtcd , yet ns 1 liavu said I have faith enough
in my followmun to boliavo that thpso mat
ters nro largely exaggerated. Afnny rate
the actual facts naver grow less by being car
ried from mouth to mouth and coming to tha
'oars of Iho public through tbo medium of the
newspapers they da not always got the cxaot
facts. They always jjot them largo onougl
and : is they circulate Ihoy spread and grow. "
j Applauso.e ]
Mr. Koioiviitrr'H Ili-Jotuilur.
Mr. Uosowator being requested to reply to
the objections raised Uv these iyho hud op
posed tbo'btcction of United Spates'senators
by a direct vote of thu people , uid :
"After a hundred years of government we
havo' passed from Ihu speculative and ex
perimental era to the era of nxporienco. The
men who framed the con&titution.wero simply
grappling with n theory 'ana they
did what they thought bust foi
perpetuating free government for.tHoniselvoa
und their posterity , but after u hundred years
wo certainly ought to act for ourselves and
, the posterity that comes after us aud provide
the puockg aud safeguards which experience
suggests are absolutely necessary. As lo the
denial that the framnrs of tha constitution
did not Intend to put a barru-r batwoon the
people and the choice of senators from dis
trust of the people , it is historiotbat not onlj
was there a manifest distrust of the ppople
but a contempt for the people by many ol
those who took part in framing thu couitllu-
ion , and not a-fcwof them were believers in
a sort of doml-nnlslocr.icy rather lhan n pure
republican foriU } < lf government. Now Just
ook nt the Ufnted states senate of todnv
nnd the United States sonnto in wnloh Web
ster , Clay , Calbotm , Bcnton , Douglas and
Sumner had scats , It was composed of mon
who will bo iltimAous for all tlmo. What
have you got tBern today ?
"When wo had a population of someihtng
ilio 15,000,000 or-SO , uo,000 and still had rep
resentatives that , cnmo from the people ,
although , parQUjU , through the filtration
process of n legislature , wo did got the
iblostand bnst men. What do wa get now !
The filter is otfv , { iiffcront kind , Now Ihoy
are Illtorcd throuch tbo murky waters of
corruption nnd Instead of being able to count
our great stat is'myrf" by the gcoro wo have cot
inly half n dozen on both sides of the houso.
Look nt the sennto today. What hnvo you
; ot outstdo ol John Sherman , General Hawley -
ley , William E. Chandler and three or four
republicans , nnd possibly Mills nnd Carlisle
on the democratic side ] You have got a lot
of money bugs , coal baron ? , lumber barons ,
silver kinus and representatives of all thu
concentrated wealth of the country , but the
common people have no representatives or
very few , and \vhou n man does dare to
stand up and tell the truth as regards the
motnods used In throttling the legislation the
pcopto demand then hu is treated anin out
cast nnd ostraclsod ; ho does not belong to
that charmed circle. If you were in Wash
ington as often 11 % I have boon , and I was
thura In ISO'J for the llrst time , you would bo
very much surprised nt the marked change
In' the niiikd up of the sennto. You
talk to mo about sending back men who
have made n record. Here wns this man
Payne , nn oil baron , sent from Ohio instead
of Pcmlloton. Look nt Bryce nnd look at
other senators that have bean sent there bj
Americu's plutocracy ,
Not fur the 1'coplo.
"A gentleman has stated It makes no dif
ference how n senator gets his election , ho Is
exalted and purlllcd ns soon us hu grU into
the senate. Wo niu told that he is ' .hero us
n check. Yes , ho Is there as a chock upon
legislation which is wholesome ; ncheck upon
every kind of legislation that is demanded
by the common people , but when it comes to
the ' { Islntlon that the corporate Interests
doma . llion ho Is no check. I for mvsolf
fool tin. ' the time has como to mnkon change.
I feel It because 1 nm convinced that wo are
on the ovu of a crisis. If wo nro to retain our
form of government wo must restore and in-
fusu confidence In thn minds of the people
that It Is a republican form ot government
and that it Is going to stay that way , and not
nn aristocratic government , modeled attor
the pattern of England , in which wealth
nlonu coutrols anil brains nnd ability go for
nothing.
"Ono thing this reform would do ; it
would save nn immense amount of time that
is now wasted by the Icaislaturos of the
various states wrcbtllncovor senatorial con
tests. Look at the stale of Illinois. The
whole session fritted awny botoro tno sena
tor wns elected. They fight and pull and tug
nnd odor bribes and make promises of posi
tions nnd there have been occasions when
legislatures have adjourned without electing
a senator at all.
"It is true that sonic bad mon are elected
10 Iho legislatures by the peoplo. 'This is
duo largely to the fact that they nro chosen
from little districts nnd very sparsely set
tled districts. Tnev como because they nro
not Icnown nnd Just as soon ns the public has
got acquainted with them they do not como
any moro. fLnURttVer.J But that , does not
nrguo that the pcoplo should be deprived of
their right to voi $ for United States senators
for tno checks \VilI remain just the sauu
as if they were 'elected by legislatures.
A man to bo a suriator must bo thirty yuarj
of ago and huvo < been a full citizen of the
Uniled Stales nine roars ; a member of the
'
house needs to bij'on'ly twontv-llvo years old ,
so wo have provided for ago nnd some expe
rience. It is not { rap that mon graduate from
the house to thoivsonato. You will find , ns
has been staled hero tonight , that the sudden
acquisition of wealth or subserviency to
some big corporntlttn sends a man leaping
ever the heads of others right into the sen
ato. Ho lands tlioru und asiuincs' tlio dignity
of ono of the lords. ' The House of Lords Is
preferable. 1 have-seen it in session nnd
their appearance afut decorum indicated a
good deal more intelligence on the average
than our lords , arid this must bo said that
being , . burn. to tho. places .npd reared
and educated to rule ith'oy ore
betlep , fUloalo da BO.Our men
are seldom educatad to lill iho places. They
may have won a capital pnzo in the Louisi
ana lottery , or struck a bonanza , or struck
011 or anything else that makes men suddenly
rich and lands them iu the snnatn to niako
laws or obstruct legislation .tho people
want.
"I have been asked whether the hope it a
sanatoria ! position.is not an incentive for
keeping close to the people. Oh , yes , it is
nn incentive. Senator Stanford wants
raonoy lent out at 2 percent to everybody
who has land to mortgage. He has moro
land than anybody in California , Wo have
been told that these diniiied gentlemen
never support any measure that has not
boon well weigieil , nnd yet we have seen
snvoral schemes matured nnd weighed in the
senate which finally did not materialize just
because the checks came at the other onti of
Iho capitol.
\Vlillt Would Io C.lined. .
"As a matlor of fact there is a radical
difference between the House of Lords and our
sonata. The House of Lords cannot onginato
u single bill ; not a dollar can they vote out of
the exchequer of Great Britain ; whereas In
the house of lords of America joa can get
all sorts of schemes introduced and attached
ns riders to appropriation bills.
"I consider that some ot the objections are
well founded. To a certain extent you would
transfer the struggle of senatorial selection
to the floor of the convention , but the floor of
the convention is an open Moor npd usually
the time given is about a day , end the liltlo
corridors ana closet * and "side places in
which legislators nro soon and in which ar
rangements are mndojiight after night ; In
which men hot money and lose it purpose- ! ,
ull ttioso things nro absent. Again , suppose
after ah it wns discovered that a man
was. nominated by fraud , could
tlm party dare stand up with-
him ) It It did there Is a free press
ready to expose corruption. There would bo
no chance , in my opinion , or not ono in a
hundred , of buying tbo majority of the delo-
gatoi of a convention , and then tbo buyer
would have to got u majority of the votes at
the ballot box. It is true thai Mr. Hill wns
elected and re-elected In Now York as gov
ernor , but Mr. Hill probably was elected be
cause ho was about as good a man ns the
democrats had lo present for Iho ofllco of
governor. It Is simply a struggle for the Ill-
test or the "llghtlest , " and the man who has"
ability nnd n clean record would como to the
front. Now It tal in * subtle , ingenious
schemer that gets lo the front or some soulless -
loss corporation that 1ms no front or roar
[ Laughter ] that gets in its work against any
man thai is not friendly to IU interest ) .
Our sonata ii gradually and surely being
filled with that , cluss of 'mon wro represent
only wealth , nnd ugttUo mlddlo and bettor
class of tbo pcoplo. Wo must
remove the charted for temptation
which now surrtrotads our law makers
Legislators woulil.upt bo bribed if there was
no incentive for n'nbJiry. If you romovcthat
temptation you wqul < ( .top a great deal of
Jobbery which cnudldntos for tha sonata and
frioiids of the candidates countenance and
support In tvmirill/with bogus claimants
and Jobbers. You1yould have a boiler class
of men in your legljiiuros who would legis
late for the public-KQpd.
"In my judgmauilthcro Is no noea for reverence -
oronco for tlio constitution on account of ngo.
The constitution 'IIa ? ' boon changed boforo.
Almost every mad in9tho constitutional con
vention from GoqrgQ Vasblugton down was
a slave holder. , lutiwo have chanced thn
constitution , and abolished slavery. I would
rather trust the iH-oxt mass of the peopla
than n lew peopler * jTho safety of our yov-
ornmontis in laraft giynbers , The best gov
erned states aro'the Now England states
where they have town rcprosentalion. The
Massachusetts legislature has moro than TOO
members , It Is pretty difficult to manipulate
sucn u largo -body , In this state wo only
have 133 members and slxty-eight votes
make a boaator. Twenty years ago wu only
had flfty-iwo member * and iwcnty-savon
votes was a majority and they were not very
dlftlcult to corral , But our most numerous
legislatures uro moro easily manipulated ami
corrupted than tbo people of a whole stale. "
Whatacrazo for'circus entertainments I
In Now York at present throe first class
theaters have productions with a circus leaning
ingviz. . : "A Night at the Circus" nt the
Bijou , "The Lion Tamer" nt the Broadwaj
and "Tho Country Circus" another nttiao-
tion with the flavor ot the sawdust ring , wil
outer the list of motropalltan amusements.
And all this lluia liaruum'sclrcm U rampanl
Madison with "Columbus "
at Squuru garden ,
a gigantic spectacle of no circus pretentious ,
as its chief exhibit.
SUMMER OPERA FOR OMAHA
The Season to Begin Hay 22 and to Run
Twolva Wooka.
TWENTY-FIVE OPERAS WILL BE GIVEN
Contribution * tut ( toil for tlio Actors' Fund
Fair StiigoCuroor fn Ulinrmlng -
l Coining Attractions
llicntrlciit Chut ,
A season of light opera has como to bo a
'outuro of summer entertainment in Now
York and Chicago , and Omahu Is about to
assume this modern air of motropolltauism.
tt Is n rather venturesome undertaking , because -
cause it has boon trlod hero before nnd
proved a failure , but Manager Burgess of the
b'nrnnm .Street theater Is confident that , pro-
Hint ; by the oxporlonco of others , ho can
begin the enterprise with prospects and ad
vantages never before enjoyed by an Omaha
theater. Ha has a popular house and back
of him is tno Crawford circuit , 11 by no
moans undotlrnblo ally nt times. To secure
n company on terms that will permit popular
prices , which must provall to make summer
opera go , It Is necessary to guarantee an on-
gngomontof four months. Manager Burgess
will not have to dopoud solely upon Omaha
in this venture , for if interest lag * hero ho
will Jill out the season on the Crawford cir
cuit.
cuit.Ho
Ho returned from Chicago the other day ,
nnd now nnnouucos the closing of a contract
for a season of comic opera Beginning May
2,3. Tlio company will bo furnished uy
Henry VV. Dodd , who , besides mnuaslng con
cert companies In England , has boon
connected with the following or
ganizations ns n comedian and
stugo carpontcr : The Carl Kosa ,
Hoyal English , Clara Loulso Kellogg ,
Duff , Carleton , Morrlssoy aud Gustnv liln-
rich opera companies. Ho is now organizing
two companies , ono for Chicago und the other
for this city. The choruses and some of the
principals nro already at work in Chicago ,
and the companies will bo filled out with
sinners who nro now on the road with opera
companies and ave fitted to stop into their
places on short nolle J.
Manager Buiguss Is assured that the com
pany will have good people because there are
plenty of singers anxious for summer engage
ments , nnd Us members will bo thoroughly
drilled before appearing In Omaha. The com
pany wll | begin Its season May 9 , appearing
in St. .loo. It will then make u tour of two
and perhaps thrco wcoks before opening in
this city , The Omaha season will continue
twelve weens or longer if the patronage will ,
warrant it , and then the company will go on
tour. The munnger of the Kansas City thea
ter * is anxious fora four weeks' engagement ,
and the rest of the season will be put iu on
the Crawford circuit.
For thoOmnlm season the repertory will
include from twenty-five to tlilny Hunt
operas , nnd tho.bill will oo chnncoi twice a
wcoU , which ivill giro an nbunda'nco of vari
ety. The list will include such standard
works as "Bohemian Girl , " "Nanou , " "Fra
Dluvolo , " "Pinafore , " "Three Black Clonks. "
"Girollc-Girolla1' nnd "Trebizon. " To popu
larize the onterprbo and give evorv induce
ment for a liberal patronage iho prices of the
Fiirnnni will bo reduced. They will ranso
from 50 cents for the host seats down to the
iuhlgnillcantsutaof 10 cents for the gallery.
A correspondent ot i'HE Bun writes that
the contributions to the Actors' Fund fair in
Now York , including cash and goods , amount
to about iuO.O'JO. The uctors of America
tiavo given bpneflts lor other charities that
have needed many hundred * of thousands of
dollar ? , and now their appeal for help is re
ceiving a generous response.
President Harrison bus contributed a num
ber of rare ola medals once owned by his
grandfather. With them are autograph let
ters to provo their genuineness.
Edwin Booth has plven $1,500 , and Joseph
.lotferdou a painting by liimsBlf. Mrs. W. J.
Florence has presented a copv of "The
Rlvuls , " illustrated by her husband , the
dead comedian , who worked upon It for sev
eral yaars. The expense of decorating Mad-
hon Square garden , which will cost many
thousand dollars , will be borne by the theat
rical managers of America.
These Indicate the character of the con
tributions of members of the profession. The
nubile has beou invited to join in
the goad wonc by the donation either
of cash or of rare or quaint articles to be
placed on s le. The dry goods men of Now
York have slsiued checks for $5,001) ) , and the
brokers have done likewise. Now York
women have donated costly laces , curios nnd
corns. Painters have given canvases , and
other friends of the causa have donated
curious pieces Fathered in far countrios.
The actors' fund is caned for the purpose
of relieving sicl ; and disabled actors , and for
the cnro ot the orphaned children of actors.
Money has been raised horotofo o by benefit
norformances at theaters , and the coming
fair is the first general call upon the public
for donations. Contributions , however
small , will bo gratefully received by the
woman's exccutivo committee , 29 West
Thirtieth street , Nexv York.
Miss Olive May , the lovely girl who plays
the part of Bertie's sweetheart in "Tho Hen
rietta , " is a Nebraska girl. Her parents
moved from their homo in Uoatnco to
Chicago , so that the daughter , who had boon
highly complimented and much encouraged
by Mmo. Modjoska , might have proper trainIng -
Ing nud advantages.
She entered the Chicago Conservatory und
in the dramatic department worked and
studtod persistently. Her manner und np-
poaranco were so much improved that she
bad the satisfaction of knowing after a short
time that she was not only tno beauty of the
conservatory , but i > most promising pupil.
Three tlmoi did stunrt Uomori olfer her n
pl-aco in hi ? company before slio accepted ,
far like most , young and inoxpjrlonccd
artists she had visions of roactiing thn
heights at once nnd would bo a Lady Muc-
botli or nothing.
Ono nftornbou , however , after a matinee
nt the Chicago opera uouie , where snc created
the rdlo of Lois in Jerome K. Jerome's little
play of "Sunset , " und made n hit , Mr.
Uobson made his last offer. Mlsi May
realised by that tima that blio wns not formed
"
by nature" for a trngodionno.andafter a sum
mer with the "Two Sisters" company , she
Joined Mr. UobaonM corapanv two soa-
tions ago. It Is said that she will lonvo the
company nt , the close of the proaont season ,
the relations betwuon her nnd Mr. Kobsoti's
wifp , Miss May \Valdron \ , not being entirely
congenial. Miss Muy has youth , beauty ,
ability nnd tbo proulco of a charming part
In oun of the most successful comedies of the
day , so there will bo little difliculty In her
bccurlug another dcsirublo engagement.
Till }
At Boyd's ' now theater this evening Carroll -
roll Johnt > on , the Irish singing comedian , will
begin a thrco nights engagement in his
matolile.ii scenic production of Iho romantic
Irish play , ' 'I'lio GossoonI1 Mr. Johnson ,
who was originally a famous mliutrol , slnco
ha made bis debut in white face in "Tho
Fairies Well" thrco year * ago has gradually
forced hli way to the front until now ho
stands without n rival in his particular line
of work. Ho is a born Irishman , being n
nutlvu of CarJIugford , County Lodth , and by
vcrv nature of his manner is particularly
sultod aud relined with comedy work. The
play , "Tho Goisoon , " deals with the darker
and lighter sides of Ufa in the Green Isle.
The scones are all laid in that paradise of
scenic beauty Killarney. The play is hand-
so.iioly staged and ha-t a s-jonlu mounting
HL-laom been { n an Irish play ,
The Farham Street tnoator comes to the
front again this week with a nu'.v company
In a play unknown to this city opening with
the usual imulnee this afternoon. Tlio
"Devil's Mine" company has boon bcou in
every city of any note , east of Omaha , at
least oneo every year for the past three sea
sons and the business it invariably dcoi ,
tolls the tain of popularity , which speaks the
merits of a dramatic attraction. It Is on the
molo-dmmu order. The story is ono of west
ern llfo , not as it Is supposed to bo , but a * it
la. For in the hills of Montana sro found
ladies and gentlemen , who can teach some of
the inhabitants of eastern cities , what nat
ural honor is. An old miner who having
found a rich claim , endeavored to protect it
from tbo human sharks , to bo found in all
mining settlements. His ondcnvors In this
direction are aided by a Denver gambler.
Of course the Rd ventures of the three sro
thrilling. The romantlo vein of the play nro
furnished by the gambler and the old mlnor'i
daughter , n character ot the M'Llss typo. In
the whole play , there-is dot ono thing to
which nn exception could bo taken. Thu
company promUod la a strong ono nnd Is the
original cast of this piay ns produced In
Philadelphia three years
Of Uhon , who will bo at Boyd's ' theater on
Monday night. May 2. Iho Critic savs :
"Uhoa has made the hit of her ilfo ns Cnlhn-
rlno I. in 'Lu C/nrlnn , Emprosj of Ktmin'
( her now play this season ) . The o of her
admirers who nave soon her as Adrlonno Lo-
couvrotir nnd .losonhtno will forcot her beau
tiful rendition of these character * when they
witness her masterly acting in this ono. "
"Uluo .loans" Is the pfav to see now tiy nil
means. Improve the ohnnco when it comes
to uoyd's theater the last three evening * of
next week. It U strong , original nnd deeply
Interesting. The play is unquestionably
American , the most genuine so of any drama
on iho stage. Thora is nothing traditional
in It , The characters are altogether now to
the stnco. and they have the merit , moreover
ever , of being vigorous , picturesque nnd com
mnndlntr. There Is the typical , Ignorant ,
blatant , yet withal general politician who Is
ono of the forces in the machine , who has no
notion of the use of politics nsldo from the
spoils of ofllco , nnd Is already to mnuo n
speech or to coerce refractory voter * . There
Is the Hooslcr himself In tha pot-sou of lion
Hoonc , big , awkward , comlcnl , yet withal
capable of furious passion. There Is the old
settler , Impersonated In .lacob Tutcrwollor ,
shoemaker , philosopher nnd politician In n
mild way. The women , too , nro extraordi
nary in their Interest. There Is June , n girl
from the poorhouse , perhaps ns original n
tvpo of American womanhood as the stugo
has ever soon. Another Is Sue Eudaly , n
wnlf from the Bouth , beautiful but with n
llondiih disposition , loving nnd hating with
equal ardor. These are the principal charac
ters In the play.
Among the many attractions nt Wonder
land this week may bo found lilnman , the
Couoy Island Llfo Saver , the savor of fortv-
ulno lives. Ho will give n lecture on the
subject. Uuth. the Dancing Quakeress. The
little lady will dance the Mantoloto dance ,
the dance of the Spanish. Dr. A A. Wane
nnd Master Hnrry In their spiritual mani
festations. Tiernoy , the Irish comedian ,
formerly of Tlornoy & Cronin. Lane &
Voronn , acrobats nnd skaters. Scott , the
Frog Alan , in contortions. Waxworks , | pan-
oramlc views and many other attractions.
Duncan Clark and his Female Mluistrols
will give thrir second and closing perform
ance nt the People's theater this < Suudny )
evening. Since their appearance here last
season the compauy has undergone many
changes and a first class bill will bo pre
sented.
Dan Htco , the old circus manager , has un-
dortnkon to teach Nclilo McHonry to ride
barobat-k , nnd in the near future Miss Mc
Henry will end her now play , "A Night nt
the Circu , " by dancing on the back of her
pretty white horse while ho gallops around
The wife of J. II. btoddard , the character
notor of A. M. Palmer's company , dlod re
cently. Mr. Stoddard remained out of the
cast In "Tho BroKen Seal , " and his part was
pl.iyod by James H. Hackott , a young nmn-
tour , who acquilled himself so well that ho
was permanently engaged by Mr. Palmer.
Moro than a half million dollars for a year
nnd a half's ' presentations of a play presented
by but two companies nro astounding tlgures
to bo given out as the profits of a stngo pro
duction , but thosa figures represent a claim
which Managers Kovjnqucst and Arthur of
fer to substantiate by nn exhibition of their
books lo auyono curious enough lo mvosUgato
" .Mine Joans' " profits.
Judge Gnrborof California , has refused the
application of Mrs. McICeo Uankiii for ali
mony in her suit for divorce , on the ground
that she seems to bo iu a position to support
herself. Mr. Hankin , in his answer to his
wife's petition , denies that his income is
large , and cites the fact that , In order to pro-
euro the necessaries of life , ho is playing at a
low-priced theater in San Francisco ou a low
salaiy.
Mmo. Bcrnhardt gayo several perform
ances at the Metropolitan opera house In
Now York last week , which mark ? n now
departure for Managers Abbey and Grau.
They will attomnt to put all their companies
nt various times Into the Metropolitan until
the co nplotlon of their now theater , nearly
two years hence. Tbo firm now nas a theater
tor of its own in Boston nnd is in negotia
tion for the purchase of McVIcker's iu Chi
cago. Their theater in New York is to oc
cupy half the block extending from the
Casino to Thirty-eighth street , nnd It is their
purpose in the future to present their at
tractions mainly in their own theaters in the
three principal cilies.
"Polly Middles , " Annlo Plxlov's new
comic opera , was written by A. C. Gunter ,
the author of "Mr. Barnes of Now York , "
eight years ago. Its production came about
in u curious way , Mr. Gunter had written a
play for Miss Pixloy , the principal character
of which was a niannish sort of woman ,
whom Miss Pixley did nni care to imperson
ate. After conslderablo discussion of the
matter Air. Gunter agreed to take the play
back if Miss Pixloy would undertake to act
in a comic opera which ho would deliver to
hor. Mr. Gunter then lurned Iho play into a
boon entitled "A Florida Enchantment. "
The most expensive prize over offered for
Iho purpose of finding out the name of the
most popular woman in the country will bo
on vlow at the Actor. * ' Fund fair. This will
bo a diamond wticli is ot the actual vnluo of
$3,000. It bsars the name of the Cleveland
diamond , and Is known by every prominent
Jeweler in the world. It Is tabulated nnd
listed among the great diamonds of civlll/.a-
tlon. The word "gift1" U used here In Its
usual significance in connection with charity
fairs ; that is , it will bo "given away" uflor
the owners hnvo received $8.000 for it.
Everybody can vote by paying $1 a vote for
it and the woman who receives the greatest
nutnoor of votes will have the diamond , pro
viding 8.000 votes have baen received.
Tea management of the Madison Square
garden , Now York , has arranged with
Abbuv , Schoeffol & Grau foru Paid musical
nnd oporalic festival on May 10. 1" and 11.
Mine. Adnlinn Patti will bo assisted by her
own opera company , together with n chorus
of 1,000 voices , and an orchestra of 100 musi
cians. Signer Ardltl will bo tha conductor
for Mine. Paul , and William It. Chapman
will bring touotbor nn immense volume of
male and female voices. The Metropolitan
Musical society , the Kubonstoin nnd the
Meloplu of Plamlleld , the Kingston Philhar
monic , the ilublnstcm of PouirhUeepslo , and
ether musical societies are numbered among
tnoo who will bo heard tit the fouivul.
Crane seems to have niadu another hit In
Now York in his now play. "Tho American-
Minister. " Most of the personages of the
play are Americans , but the scones are for
eign. Mr. Crane at the outset appears nt
the American embassy in Homo , where ho
represents Iho United Stales as minister
inudo up to look very much ns Houry Ward
Boechor did at 50. The story told Is that
upon his arrival a cipher dispatch from
Washington concerning the threat of war
over the New Orleans massacre has been re
ceived by his predecessor In ofllco , a man
whom the stress of debt and embezzlement
has induced to steal the message and so delay
it 03 to make It a ( Toot the stocK murkut. Thu
now minister has , however , a HOD , sure to bu
convicted on circumstantial evidence should
thu mutter become public , and so the father ,
In order to discover the dispatch , participates
In the carnival , flirts with countesses , attends
a ntate ball , nnd Indnlgos In oilier foolery
nnd considerably American buncombe.
A writer in The Theater asks : Havoy ou
over noticed the ( Jain poutl U U thu cutest
thing out , nnd , likoull good thing * of life it
is worm u lltilo oxlra exertion for the privi
lege of enjoying it. When thlnirs go wrong
aboul Iho stage , or when there U u hitch In
tha workings of the mechanical accessories
of the drama , Miss Gala does not Jlaro mi
nnd got mad all over , froth at Ihu mouth , or
maku the atmosphere around her blua by tha
use of vindictive adjectives , but she merely
displays her dlsploaiurq by pronuclng ono of
the cutest and bweotoit htilo pouls that over
graced the feminine features , I caught on
lo it some time aL'O during ono of lha per
formance of "Tho Hunchback. " Something
happened lo mar the effect of the bcono , and
at lha end of the net Miss Ualo walked off
the stage with her face ornamented with ono
of the prettiest pouti that mortal man ever
witnessed , Slnoo that lima 1 have studied
every conceivable schcmo to bring that pout
into existence. I have caught the stage man
ager at an Unguarded moment und ciusod
him to prematurely ring down tlio curtain ; I
have started the noble army of "supers" on
tbo stage at Die wrong cue ; I have caused the
lime-llcht to spurt and dlooutat Inauspicious
moments , and I have persuaded tha gas man
to suddenly transform th ? brilliancy of Iho
sunshine In pitchy darkness. It Is Impossible
to rcnumorato the dovillih devices 1 have
ritudtcd and practiced solely for tha pleasure
ot gazing ou that bewitching lulls pout.
SO TRICK TO ROB A BANK
Omaha Banks That Have Suffered Losses at
Their Employes' ' Hands.
ROBBERIES THAT ARE NOT MADE PUBLIC
Story of n . .TnnltorVI fniinil Flro Tlinu *
nutl on the SUlo but Unit to lj- |
C < ii-jo UrmlnUcviieo *
of u Cnililor.
They were seated vls-n-vls , and between
thorn spread the expanse ot n brand tablo.
Two groups of dishes littered with ronmnnti
of food were grateful witnesses to an elab
orate monl , and the character of the rostnur-
nntaisiirod a good round charge. The young
men had done the nropor thing by the luuoi
man , nnd they were also filled with that sat
isfaction which conies to a man conscious
that his follows know ho has spent hu
money lavishly nnd with apparent luiooti-
corn.
corn.They had dispatched the meal nud glvoi
IhciiHolvos up to the comforlnblo languoi
which falls upon n man who can oat n relish-
able midnight lunch In the knowledge that ha
need not bo at the ollloo baforo U. There
is no other pleasurable Bonsatlot
qullo ns soothing to the aspor-
tllos of llfo , and if n loisurly smoke followi
the dainty morsels the nemo of mnsculliK
enjoyment Is reached.
These two young mon were well nlong wllli
Ihoir cigars nnd had evidently reached tha
meditative stage. The fushionnblo cut ol
their coals sitcgosled the bank clerk , nn Imj
prcsslon which proved correct ,
Uiuior ihojc conditions men generally dis
cuss their conquests ( real or Imaginary )
among the falr&ox , become.reminiscent "ol
larks not entirely blameless , or talk shop.
1 ho two diners , as I ecamo their IIRO and oc-
cupatlon , dwelt upon the harmless toplo ol
business.
The older hnd Iho confident air born of sti.
porior knowledge nnd oxporlonco , und his
manner toward his companion had the lingo
of a potty condescension. The younger man
was a uovlco In his calllne , with the Inquisl-
tlvenoas of a boglnnor Intoresied in bis work
nnd anxious to lonrn It nil In n week. Ho had
the popular notion that the machinery of a
bank Is so perfect thai theft bv employes U
next to impossible , nt least without immedi
ate deloclion. His companion know bolter ,
Ho may have hold the exalted position of an
assistant lollershlp , which brought with it
some confidences from his superiors , nnj
ho could not resist the temptation to improu
the novlco with his Imaginary importance.
The conversation which followed rovoaloJ
n unmoor of thefts and losses among Omaha
bank : , that have not hitherto t-eon made pub
lic. It Indicated that the robbery of n banli
by its employes is not only nn easy mallei
bat actually occurs oftener than is suspected
bv outsiders. It is not necessary here to
give fie queries of the novice.
"Why , it's ono of the easiest things In tin
world , " said Iho young man of the superior
air , "for the mon employed in a bank to rob
It. Of course you know nil about how Paul
Tail got awav with a So.OOO sack of gold
from the Merchants' National , because it
was published In the papers , but the banks
hnvo n great many losses that don't got out.
It's galling ' .o n banker to own up to suoh
thin/is / , because they are reflections upon his
stability.
"Now there was a case at the Nebraska
Nnllonal not so very long ago. When the
cash was counted up ono day It came out
$5,000 short. A careful examination of the
books showed that it was not nn error In the
accounts. The money had actually disap
peared and there wns no Iraca ol
how it had boon spirited away ,
for everybody pleaded Ignoriinca
Detectives were engaged and Uve
employes were shadowed night nnd dnv.
Nothing came of it and attention , was turned
to the janitor. Tbo evidence against that
individual bocama strong enough to haul him
up. Ho disgorged nil ho had left and the
matter was hushed up. It seems that lha
teller ovorlookcd a sack of gold ono night
when putting the cash into the vault. Tha
janitor discovered it when ho came to clean
up the bank , and ho simply carried It away.
Now thai loss was a mailer of accident , bill
you can see how easily two men might de
sign and carry out such a robbery. Fur that
matter a teller can do It alone uudcr favoring
ciicumstancos.
"A case up at the Commercial National
shows another scheme. The clerk who kepi
the record of depositors' balances had n confederate -
federate on tha cmtsldo. Tha confederate
opened un account at the bank. Ho made
deposits aud drew checks as though engaged
in business. Of course the paying teller do-
points on the balance cleric if ho has any
doubt about there being lunili on hand to
meet a chocic , and a balance clerk can easily
lot a depositor overdraw nis uo _
count by reporting a large nud fnls"
ninount to his credit. Ordinarily it is notovon
necessary to tamper with the booksbut m Ihis
case Iho balance clerk bad the nerve to talcj
n vacation , and ho changed the figures on
his book to prevent discovery by his substl-
tulo during his absence. In some manner
Iho bank discovered Iho swindle , but not
until it had been robbed of ever fWJ. The
clerk had kept this scuomo in operation for
about two years , so you can Imagine the
chances of doteclion Ibat ho ran.
"Ono of tbo other banks had an expansive
experience with nn express company , " ha
continued , and tlio abicnuo of names and details -
tails may bq accounted for ou the supposition
that his own bank was concerned.
"An express company mojsougdr delivered
n number of sacks of money to the bank , and
wont away with a receipt for live sacki
signed by the teller. vVho'n the money eama
to bo counted lalur at the haul- ,
only four micks ( could bo found.
There may or may not havu
been n firth sack. That is the mystery ol
iho thing , The express company insists on
thu amount named in the receipt , and tha
bank declares there wns n mistake. TUoynru
still quarreling about it
"Tho oIllcoM of Homo of the hanks have
adopted a rule that the president or Jho
cashier , nnd not the teller , shall receive and
receipt for monuy delivered In bulk. Some
of the olllcors have a habit of turning over
such monuy to a toiler without having him
count it or'receipt for it. bupposu ho should
hold out n package and muko wav with It.
Thu teller could deny that ho und received
the inissliiu monoy. What proof of theft
could the bank produce !
"Jn ono of lha banks n while ago there
was n shortage In the cash to tha
ninount of g'J.W. 'iho toiler scratched
Ills head nnd scratched numerous
llguriiig tablets until ho concluded Hint
sack of silvnr dollars had disappeared , The
shortage continued several days , when thu
mUslng sack was found In the vault but
partly concealed. It wns evident thai someone
. The only explanation
one had placed it under cover.
planation wns that ono of the clerks , improv
ing n chance opportunity , had tried 10 con
ceal the Hack with thu Intention of HneakltiK
itoutoftho bank at some onpoituuo tuna
lalor. " , ,
Then Urn vounz man of iho superior nlr
wandered off Inlo n narration of cases in
Which Omaha banks hud bfcon bled by out
siders by fraudulent warehouse receipts und
other devious schemes , And as tlm ptkir urosi
to go the voung man with the Importance ol
un nssistu'nt teller again assured his compan
ion with confidential earnestness that It was
not a difficult : eat lo rob or cheat an Omaha
hank.
Spectacles , Ur , Cullunoro , Ba o building.
AiliiUorittoil .11 M | > li ) Sugar.
It is Bald , according to tlio Now York
Tribune , that people in tlio wool are BO
accustomed to adulterated mtiplo Biijiir
that they will rojuct tlio guriuino urticlo
with disdain If llioy happen to como
across it. A western linn that iiianu-
facturca an imitation article ) endeavors to
eivo it something of the conuino llavor
bv boiling a pleco of maple wood in it.
Some bclontiBts , however , Buy Unit tlio > <
peculiar llnvor of maple Bucar is duo to
the presence o ( Impurities iu thoaap.and
that if tlioso impurities could bo elimin
ated the sugar would taato exactly like
pnro loaf sugar , Tliua irradually is Bol-
otico taking all tlio old tlmo lluvor out
of life. I'retly soon It will bo giving in
unimproved buckwneat llo.ii1 , with no
moro laalo limn u pleco of chalk