Nebraska Newspapers

    f\-\r A IT A Yl \ TT
THE OMAHA DAILY BEE
E. ROSEWATER , Editor.
PUBLISHED EVERY MOIININO.
TERMS OP SUBSCRIPTION ,
pally Jlee ( without Sunday ) , Ono Year.$6.W )
lally lice and Sunday , One Year 8.00
Blx Months 4.00
Thri > Month * 2.00
Bundny Hec.Onc Year 2.00
Saturday Hee , Ono Year 1.50
Weekly Bee. Ono Year 63
OFFICES.
Omaha : The Hen Building.
South Omaha : , Singer lilock , Corner N
ami Twrnty.fourtli Streets.
Council Bluffs : 10 1'earl Street.
Chicago : Stock Exchange Bldg.
New York : Temple Court.
Washington : 601 Fourteenth Street.
CORRESPONDENCE.
Communications relating to news and
editorial matter should bo addressed : To
the Editor.
BUSINESS LETTERS.
EuBlnoso letters and rcmlttanccfl should
be addressed to The Uce Publishing Com
pany , Omaha. Drafts , checks , express
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THE BEE PUBLISHING. COMPANY.
STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION.
State of Nebraska , Douglas County , ss. :
George B. Tzschuck , secretary of The Bee
Publishing company , being duly sworn ,
says that the actual number of full and
complete copies of The Dally , Morning ,
CvcnliiK and Sunday Bee , printed during
the month of November 1893 , was aa fol
lows :
l 2r , oin 16
2 21,877 1 ? 2-1,115
3. . , SM.H.'U 18 21,070
4 2tti : : 19
5 2IH < ! . - . 20 ,
6 25,285 21 sa.ruit
7 2II22 ! 22 21,281
8 24tll : 23 2.1,0US
9 : io,7io : 21 24,1)27
10 27,8:12 : 23 21.010
11 2I.-I27 28 2'it2i : :
12 2I,2 I > 27 24,853
13 24.825 23 2 : , S81
14 2imu : 29 2l,7il :
15 2ttlU : 30 \.21,420
Total 747.1M4
Leas unsold and returned copies. . . . 1S.U2H
Net total sales 7111,8W (
Net dally average 2tUU : {
GEORGE B. TZSCHUCK.
Sworn to before me and subscribed In my
presence this 30th day of November , 1893.
N. P. FEIL ,
Notary Public.
Tlio city charter Is much like nn
army recruit who never realizes how
many things nre wrong1 with his Bys-
tciu until the doctors get hold of him.
The outgoing soldiers to tlio Philip
pines might take along their Christmas
prcHcntH to swap for firecrackers with
the home-coming volunteers when the
ships pnss In the night.
There were lots of people who opposed
tlu TninsmlR.sl.sslppl Exposition up to
nnil even after the gates opened , but
they were nil converted to Its ardent
support before tlio exposition season was
half over.
Having been elected vice president of
the Interstate organization of the Na
tional Guard officers It Is fair'to pro- !
eiiinn that Adjutant General Barry has
cinched his reappolntment by the In
coming governor of Nebraska.
The charter revision committee has at
last got down to work. By persistent
and well-directed effort It. can finish
the formulation of all needed charter
amendments without dllflculty by the
opening week of the legislature.
Up to the present time no representa
tives of the big corporations have been
heard demanding a revision of the reve
nue laws. They are fairly well satis
fied with nn assessment skimmer that
lets them elide through the holes.
Nebraska In furnishing murder mys
teries enough to keep the morbidly In-
qulsltlro busy for omo tlmo to come.
When a man undertakes to commit mur
der he should be considerate enough of
the public to Involve the act In a copious
cloud of douse mystery.
Governor-elect Poynter Is being sub
jected to an enfilading nro from the
present holders of
appointive otllces on
one side and the
aspirants for places on
the other. If It grows much hotter the
Boone county statesman will be com
pelled to throw up earthworks and close
tlio entry to his retreat after him.
Chicago steel rail manufacturers have
been compelled to refuse a large order
from the Russian government because
the capacity of their plant was taxed to
the limit to supply d&mestlc contracts
already In sight. Nothing like this
ever happened before the fostering In
fluence of a protective tariff got In Its
work.
If the civil service reformers were to
have their way In the now possessions
of Uncle Sam the ardor of the otflce-
Becking expansionists would be consid '
erably cooled. If every one who ex
pects to draw a salary on the colonial
list had first to pass a civil service ex
amination , their ranks would bo mate
rially decimated.
General Wood has found It necessary
to take measures to protect the tree
under which the surrender of Santiago
was negotiated from the raids of relic
hunters. This is not expected , however ,
< o have any appreciable effect on the
number of pieces of the famous tree
which will soon bo exhibited throughout
the country In suftlclent quantity to
construct a model of ouo of California's
giant redwoods.
The passage of the annual pension bill
without debute by the lower house of
congress Is one of the most striking evl-
dcucca of the change of Ecutlnicut be
tween the sections of the country
brought about by the late war. It
eecms a pity Unit the great soldier
statesman who sleeps In Ulverslde park
beside the Hudson could not have lived
to BOO the present realization of his
wish , "Let us have peace. "
The law Is plain In Ita provisions re
lating to druggists' permits to sell spir
ituous liquors for medicinal purpose.
No druggist can lawfully sell medicines
of any kind containing euch ingredients
without taking out the requisite permit.
To wink at the law violation of the
druggists who refuse to take out per
mits Is unjust discrimination ngulnst
the great majority of druggists who
obey the law , which ehould be enforced
Impartially upon all. J.
THE PtiESWEXT ON EXPAXSION.
Tlio speech of President McKlnley nt
Atlanta on Thursday Is n distinct plcn
In justification of tlio policy of expan-
Hloti. The flag , lie declared , "has been
planted In two hemispheres and thcro
it remain ! ) , the symbol of liberty nud
law , of peace and progress , " and he
asked : "Who will withdraw from the
people over whom It floats Its protect
ing folds ? Who will haul It downV"
Those who arc opposed to the policy
of expansion have not proposed and do
not propose that the flag shall be any
where withdrawn. What they urge Is
that It shall not be carried further and
forced upon people who have not nsked
for I In protection and according to the
best Information do not desire the sov
ereignty It represents. Everybody rec
ognizes the fact that the Hag must con
tinue to float over the Islands of the
West Indies ceded to the United .States
by Spain. It Is generally admitted that
we Bhould retain a foothold In the Phil-
Ipplucs and therefore that the flag
should remain at Manila and BO much
contiguous territory aa may bo neces
sary to the security of a naval station
there. This would give the United
States all the Influence and power
which It can possibly require for the
protection of its Interests In the far cast.
This would Involve no grave responsi
bilities , no dllllcultles or embarrass-
icents and no serious dangers. There
would be needed at Manila no larger
naval force that wo now have there
and Instead of maintaining an army In
the Philippines of from 25,000 to fiO.OOO
men a garrison of a few thousand
would be But Helen t. We should thus
avoid the trouble and the expense of
governing millions of alien and mixed
races that wo caunot reasonably hope to
bring Into sympathy with our system
and methods for many years , if ever.
But the expansionists say and Mr.
McKluley endorses the view , that the
United States must accept the responsi
bilities Involved In their policy as a
duty to humanity. Admitting the sin
cerity of those who urge this , it yet
seems to us to bo utterly specious. It Is
well known that many of the expansionIsts -
Ists arc Influenced by no such considera
tion , but regard the matter wholly from
a commercial standpoint. It is not the
welfare of the Philippine people that
most of the expansionists are concerned
about , but the trade advantages which
nro expected to come from acquiring the
islands. Eliminate this and expansion
would have comparatively few advo
cates. The simple truth Is that not only
Is the United States under no obligation
to care for the people of the Philippines ,
but they do not desire our care. They
resent the Implication that tliey nre In
capable of caring for themselves and
demand that they bo permitted to en
joy independence and self-government.
There was no thought of these people
when we went to war. Our solo purpose
waa to liberate Cuba and with'that ac
complished our obligation was at an
end. To assume a further obligation ,
which may Involve the necessity of
forcibly subjecting to our will and au
thority millions of people and possibly
of holding tliem practically In a condi
tion of vassalage , cannot bo justified on
the plea of duty to humanity.
Wo have as much confidence ns any
body In American capacity to meet new
responsibilities. The "genius of Ameri
can civilization , " to quote from Mr. Mc
Klnley , will undoubtedly bo found equal
to any demands that may bo made upon
it. But wo can see no reason and the
president does not furnish any , why it
should be put to the test In a direction
which requires the abandonment of prin
ciples upon which the republic l.s
founded , the faithful adherence to which
has made us a great and powerful pee
ple.
THE PENSION ACCOVHT.
Ono hundred and forty-five millions of
dollars , In round numbers , Is the amount
which the government will pay on ac
count of pensions In the next fiscal year.
It Is a great sum , largely exceeding the
annual cost of Great Britain's army and
navy and more than Is paid out by any
nation of continental Europe for the
yearly support of Its military establish
ment. It Is munificent testimony to the
liberality of the American people and
to their patriotic regard for the nation's
defenders. It Is a noteworthy fact that
the bill carrying this great appropria
tion passed the house without discus
sion , the whole time it was before that
body being less'than twenty minute * .
The American people will supply the
money to pay this account without com
plaint , but there is n reasonable- hope
that the maximum has been reached
and that hereafter there will bo a steady
decline In the annual pension payments ,
'It would certainly seem that this should
be the case , In view of the fact that it
Is nearly thirty-four years since the
close of the civil war. Ono thing that
will materially help In this direction Is
greater care In passing private pension
bills and there Is favorable promise of
reform la this respect.
KO RADICAL CHAKQE DEMANDED.
Among the first things luct by the
charter committee Is the customary sug
gestion that the system of defraying the
expenses of street Improvement * by
special assessments upon benefited prop
erty owners should bo done uway with
and nil future paving , curbing , gutterIng -
Ing , parking and so forth done at the
cost of the whole city.
There Is uo call for the abolition of
the Hysteui of special assessments. That
system with various modifications Is In
force lu nearly every largo city In the
country and It has given more satisfac
tory results than any other plan , in
theory It la based upon equity and Jus-
tlce , the foundation principle being that
where special benefits accrue to private
property through a particular street 1m- J
provcmcnt the cost should be charged
against the property In the ratio of the
benefits and to the extent of the bene
fits. In practice , It Is true , abuses some
times creep In and hardships result , but
the fairness of the scheme honestly carc
rlcd out Is not to be questioned. '
A radical change at the present time
from the special assessment system to (
the plan of general taxation It ! not only
uncalled for , but unwise. It would re
sult In unequal taxation worse than any
thing now experienced by relieving ouo a
set of uroncrty owner * of burdens that t
I properly belong on them and Imposing
, them upon others who have already
borne t their shares of the cost of public
Improvements. If the special assessB
racnt system was all right for Omaha
when It was In the constructive period
It should bo all right now , when the
principal street Improvements arc In the
shape of renewals and reconstruction
far less expensive than the original
work.
Remedying defects that may have
come to light by revising the special
assessment law Is entirely proper , but
the abolition of the system would be
a grave mistake.
A IlEASSUUtXO HEPORT.
The report from Manila that the Filipinos
pines arc manifesting a better disposi
tion and that there is improvement In
Americans , Is reassuring. This Is espe
cially BO from the fact that Admiral
Dcwey Is of the opinion that those people
ple , If properly treated , will not bo
found very troublesome. He appears to
have confidence In their friendly Inten
tions , but It is to be noted that he ad
vises some concessions to them. One
thing ho suggests and It Is very Impor-
tant Is that there should bo liberal meas
ures In the direction of local autonomy.
In providing a government for the Phil
ippines It will undoubtedly be expedi
ent to give the people as large a measure
of self-government ns Is practicable ,
both for the educational effect and for
the purpose of placating that element
which Is demanding Independence. It
may bo true , as stated , that this element
does not realize wlmt Independence
means and yet it may be. capable of
making R great deal of trouble.
Other suggestions of Admiral Dewey
are that the Insurgents deserve acknowl
edgment and that It would be good pol
icy for the United States to pay the In
surgents their arrears of wages. There
certainly appears to bo no good reason
why whatever service was rendered the
American array by the Insurgents should
not be acknowledged by this govern
ment The Filipinos nre manifestly
somewhat sensitive In regard to this.
They claim that the services the.y rendered -
dered wereimportant nud valuable and
they feel that they have not been duly
recognized. If acknowledgment of them
would tend to Improve friendly rela
tions our government has everything to
gain and nothing to lose by making It.
It would seem to be the opinion of Ad
miral Dewey that we shall avoid dlfli-
cultles by dealing generously nud Justly
with the Filipinos.
The police board Is giving tangible
evidence that discipline In the police
force means more than a set of formal
rules to be broken or Ignored at will
with impunity. No police force , how
ever numerous , can be efficient In which
the members nre not held strictly to
their duty by the certainty of penalty
to lit the offense .whenever they fall to
perform that duty conscientiously and
to the best of their ability. To insure
the best service , not only this , but pro
motions must go solely by merit and
experience. The maintenance of disci
pline requires not only the rigid en
forcement of police discipline , but also
complete exclusion of both politics and
personal favoritism from police govern
ment.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
One of the best proofs of the growth
of Nebraska in the estimation of the
flnanclal world is to be found in the
statement , compiled In the auditor's
office , of the bonded Indebtedness of the
counties of the etate. The earlier Issues
of the various counties , only a small
amount of which nro now extant , bore
10 per cent Interest. Today there is not
n county in the state which would think
of floating a bond drawing greater than
0 per cent , and in most cases those
paying 4' per cent wduld be eagerly
snapped up at a premium by Investors.
Were there any question about the
state's credit bonds could not be sold
at such rates of Interest even if it were
possible to dispose of them at all.
The announcement is made that
thirty-nine tlnplate plants arc to bo In
cluded in the newly formed tlnplate
trust. " A few years ago when a duty
was placed on tin for the purpose of
building up the industry in this coun
try the opponents of the protective policy
laughed at the Idea of American manu- *
facturcrs ever being able to gain a foot
hold against the Welsh product. Yet
today thirty-nine firms arc actually en
gaged in Us manufacture and many mil
lions of capital involved in the plan to
buy them up for the purpose of con- '
solldation.
There Is no good reason why parties
who donated their exposition contrlbu-
tlons and refused to become stockhold
ers for fear they might thereby become
liable for a possible deficit should share
In the distribution of the exposition sur
plus. The exposition surplus belongs to
the stockholders and none but stock
subscribers have any right to It
The departure of the troops now sta
tioned at Fort Crook about to be sent to
Manila should not be allowed to leave
that post empty for any length of time.
The enlargement of the army will neces
sitate the formation of a large number
of new regiments whose recruits could
find DO better place for preliminary iitl
training and discipline. tln
They Court the Danger. *
Chlcaco News. la
Henry Wattereon says the great danger to o
our national life Is money. There are alder- l'
men In Chicago who B
are ready to face danger
any hour of the day.
A Dramatic Climax.
New York Mall and Express.
Last scene of all In this strange , pathetic
romance of empire and decay the transfer
of the bones ot Columbus from Havana to
Spain. No tragedy ever had a more dramatic
climax.
la
I'roii T Thing to Do.
Buffalo Express. s
Congress could not ehow Us appreciation
of the work of the navy In the recent war
better than by passing the navy personnel
bin , which , among other reforms , gives naval
s
officers the aatue pay as corresponding grades
In the army.
t
Dl l They lilt Itf
Minneapolis Times.
These Spanish women who threw etoncs at B
statue of Columbus by way of showing that h
they knew who wu resuonalbla ( or their I' | ' '
country's misfortune * were Just about as
, accurate In locating the blame aa they wcro
In ' directing their mlrallre If they threw so
etralghtcr than-their Yankee cousins do ,
A Hcnl ton * FHt Want.
Baltimore American.
There ought , to be a reciprocity of favorg
between the stroct car companies and the
public. The public does much for the com
panies that It is only fair the companies
should do something for the public. The
best service ought to be secured the people
without the necessity of forced concessions.
Mirthful Piny of Thought.
St. Louis Republic.
The British public seems to have gone
Into ecstasies over the benevolent utter
ances of Herr Buclow in the Reichstag.
Ills reference to Kaiser William's Inno
cence of all desire for offensive aggran
dizement made a great hit In London.
The kaiser has not yet expressed his
opinion of the baron's pronouncement ,
and U Is qulto probable that the war lord
may b Impelled to announce that ne
"Wants but llttlo Hcrr Buclow , nor wants
that llttlo" .to do his talking for him.
Strcntcth of Oriinnlicd Labor.
Kansas City Star.
A Jabor authority says that a round mil
lion at men are organized Into unions In tno
United States. 'Of these 60 per cent are
In ! the American Federation of Labor , more
than 10 per cent In the railway brotner-
hoods. about 10 per cent In the building
trades organizations and the remaining 20
per cent comprises bodies not federated end
the Knights of Labor. It Is estimated by
the same authority that the number It Is
possible > to Include In the army of organized
labor Is two and a half millions. The rela
tion of the American
Federation of Lat > or
to all Is thus seen to be as 6 to 25 , and the
whole force of all organizations to alt labor
as 10 < io 25.
COLONIAL OIIJECT LBSSOX
Uncle Sam' * Ornnit of Colnitlnl GOT-
eminent Applied to Alaska.
Philadelphia Ledger.
The , United States has burned Washing-
ton's farewell address , or at least all that
part of It which warned this nation of the
dangers of foreign complications ; it has
flung-the Monroe doctrine to the four winds ;
It hag entered upon a new , strange and
perilous career of "Imperialism , " and It hat
sent a challenge to the old world to beware
of this country as a great and aggressive
colonial power In the east.
The United States has acquired the Philip ,
pine and Sulu-Islands , 1,200 or l.COO of them ,
and with them millions of barbarous , semi-
barbarous , semt-clvlltzed and civilized
people. It has also acquired Porto Rico
and Guam absolutely. Cuba It has taken
over with reserve , and has bought , or meant
to buy , ono or more of the Carolinegroup. .
U has also annexed Hawaii.
These are the country's new posesslcms ,
and President McKinley has stated In a
publlo address that they represent the
"manifest destiny" of the republic. What el e
they will represent la a new experiment la
government colonial government.
Wo UEO tho" words "a new experiment"
advisedly , as wo have already given
practical trial to colonial government in
Alaska. It has not been an experiment upon
a largo scale , but It will serve as well aa i
larger one as "an object lesson , " says David
Starr Jordan , In the November Atlantic ,
"Illustrating methods to be avoided In the
rule of our future colonies. " Alaska ha
been a United States possession for thirty
years. We found It rich In native resource *
furs , flsh , lumber , gold having a popula
tion ot about 20,000 half-clylllzecl people and
a couple of thousand half-breedq. There
were leas than 25.000 of them all. Thejr
supported themselves by bunting the valUX
ble fur animals and fishing. Many ot the
hunters became relatively wealthy by taking
the ica otters , whose skins were worth from
$300 to $1,000 each ; they lived in villages ,
which were abodes of comparative plenty
and comfort. A little village of 165 souls
presented to their Greek church a com
munion service of solid gold , and an altar
piece costing $250. They built their huntIng -
Ing ' and fishing beaus of the skins ot aea
lions. The sea lions have become , under the
colonial and "manifest destiny" policy of
the United States , almost extinct ; so have
the sea otters. Those 165 souls , who , before
this country set up Ita "manifest destiny"
policy In Alaska , made costly presents to
their church , were In 1897 starving to
death not one , but all of them. In the same
year the Alaska Commercial company
abandoned the trading posts of Akutan ,
Sannok , Morjovl , Wosnessenskl , Bel-
kofski , Chcruofskl , Kashega , Makushln and
BJarka. Thcro woa no longer any trade to
support them. Mr. Jordan states that "at
Port Etchca the native population was al-
ready huddled together in the single cellar
of an abandoned warehouse and that othsr
villages to the eastward were scarcely better
housed. However , " he adds , "this may be ,
starvation la Inevitable along the whole line
of the southwestern coast. From Prlnco
William's found to Attu , a distance of
nearly 1,800 miles , there la not a village
where the people hayo any sure means of
support. 'Re.concentra.do , ' between Arctic
cold and San Francisco greed these people
have no outlook save extermination. For
permitting them to face uch a doom we
have ? not even the excuse we have htd for
destroying the Indians , " aa we do not want
their lands.
Tha bunting and fishing privilege * ot the
natives were transferred to the San Fran
cisco commercial companies , who at once
entered on a general campaign of extinction ,
Including " fish as well as fur-bearing ani
mals. We have not only taken from these
people , during our brief colonial rule , their
means of living , their comparative wealth ,
their comfortable homed and reduced them
to a condition of starvation , but we hive In
troduced whisky to them. We ship it to
them aa "Florida Water" and "Jamaica Gin
ger. " "Whleky , " says Mr. Jordan , "Is the
greatest curse of tha people of Alaska-
American , Russian end native. " It Is one
of the deadly fruits of our colonial policy.
Mr. Jordan's article concludes as follows :
"Under the present conditions , when the
sea otters are destroyed , the fur seal herd
exterminated , the native trlbea starved to
death , the salmon rivers depopulated , the
timber cut , and the placer gold fields
worked out. Alaska Is to be thrown away
like a sucked orange. There Is no other
possible end , If we continue as we have be
gun.
gun."We
"We should count the cost before accept
ing 'colonies. ' It Is too late to do so when
they once have been annexed. If we can
not afford to watch them , to care for them ,
' give them paternal rule when no other is
possible , -wo do wrong to hoist our flag
over them. Government by the people Is
the Ideal to be reached In all our posses
sions , but there are races of men now living
under our flag as yet Incapable of receiving
the town meeting Idea. A race of children
must be treated as children , a race of bri
gands as brigands , and whatever authority
controls either must have behind U the
force of arms.
"Alaska has made Individuals rich , though
the government has yet to get Its money
back. But whether colonies pay or not , U
essential to the Integrity of the United
States itself that our control over them
should not bo a source of corruption and
waste. It may be that the final JOBS of her
colonies , mismanaged for two centuries , will
mark the civil and moral awakening of
Spain. Let us hope that the same event
will not mark a civil and moral lapse In
the nation which receives Spain's bankrupt
assets. "
With our experience of colonial govern
ment In Alaska what cause have we to
hope for better results In the more dlitaat ,
leis civilized Philippine
I'OMTICAL DIUFT.
The cost of porting the vote of Indiana at
the last election averaged 37 cents each.
It la asserted that the market price ot
Chicago aldermen lias gone up to $20,000 ,
TheoJoro Roosevelt 1s the youngc \ re
publican governor ever elected In New York
state , being just turned 40. Governor
Black was 43 at the tlmo ot his Inaugura-
tlon. John A. Dlx was 73 and Lovl r.
Morton 70.
Senator Platt of New York Is ono of the
best dropstxl men In the senate , and sprightly
despite the 65 years that have given him a
slight stoop. Ho wears ft closely buttoned
and unwrlnkled long frock coat with a pink
carnation In the buttonhole. His neckties
are quiet , but of the latest shapes.
Senator Gorman of Maryland chews gum
incessantly. Sitting In bis place In the
second row , ho works his Jaws with the per
sistence and power of a cotton compress.
Ho always wears a turn-down collar and
old-fashioned tic , the latter held In place
with a small gold band set with valuable
stones.
In accordance with a pro-erection promise
Thomas Herrold , democratic representative-
elect of Westvllle , Ind. , rented the largest
hall In the place , hired a capital orchestra
and gave hla followers a dance , footing atl
bills himself. Mr. Herrold , who was elected
after an exciting campaign , Is credited with
aspiring to congress In 1900.
It la generally conceded that your Undo
Dick Croker scored a point in republican
politics in Now York recently. A Judge of
the supreme court announced his Intention
to resign on the first of the year. Governor-
elect Roosevelt announced that ho would ap
point Judge. Daly to the vacancy. Daly Is
the Judge turned down by Croker and nomi
nated by the republicans , but defeated.
Croker saw Platt and Platt saw the retir
ing Judge. The outcome of these confabs
was that the resignation was pigeon-holed.
The commission In charge of the erection
of 'the ' now Pennsylvania state house at
Harrlsburg bos laid the foundation for a
large Job. The legislature limited the cost
to J500.000. The commission refused to
consider a $500,000 state house , and accord
ingly made plans 'to ' suit Itself. One wing
of the proposed building will swallow the
$500,000 appropriated. Now the commission
asks for f3,000,000 more. As the Philadel
phia city hall cost $22,000,000 , the presumption -
sumption la that the new state house wlH
equal.lt
There Is every prospect of a hot fight In
the New York legislature this winter for a
reduction of telephone rates In the state.
Attempts wcro made In that direction In
former legislatures , Ijut failed. With Gov
ernor Roosevelt's influence this tlmo better
results are expected. The New York Hrald
has opened the campaign against the tele
phone companies by a remarkable showing
6t the profits of the companies. The present
rental Is $240 In New York City , as com
pared with t8 to $175 in Chicago , $120 to
$160 In Philadelphia anad $37 to $180 in Bos
ton. The measure proposed would restrict
the New York Telephone to
company an an-
nuar rental fee of $60 , with nn extra charge
of C cents for each message In excess of
1,000 per subscriber , on penalty of $100 fine
for each overcharge.
MENACE TO LAHOlt.
Dancer * of Expansion to the WorkIngmen -
Ingmen of the Country.
Denver Post.
There is evidently no great love In the
American Federation of Labor for the lately
developed expansion policy and there Is no
reason why there should be any. Labor has
but llttlo to expect from the late acquisi
tion of new territory , n all reports coming
from there one will look in vain for any
mention of a demand for labor. All the In
formation goesfto show that there * U no
such demand. In Hawaii the Chinese labor
system prevails to the exclusion of white
labor. The same la true of the Philippine
islands , only to a far greater extent , while
in Porto Rico one finds that the Island is
more densely populated than any part of
our country and nowhere Is there any de
mand for American labor. Aa to Cuba
there may In time spring up a limited de
mand to be supplied from the United States
provided ono cares to face the dangers in
cidental to a tropical climate and its various
forms of fever.
There Is a still more patent reason why
American labor is not in love with the ex
j pansion policy. The drain on the resources
ot ' the nation on account of that policy is
now and will be for an Indefinite time on
enormous one end labor has to meet the
bulk of It. Under the national system of
taxation , labor tha producing massca of the
country ( has to provide the government with
the means to carry out the expansion policy.
Labor furnishes the man behind the gun ;
labor pays the bulk of the Internal revenue
and labor suffers most under the financial
policy of the national administration , the
protective tariff system and the gold stand
ard. These are certainly sufficient reasons
why labor should not favor a policy for the
aggrandizement of the power of the classes
where tbo masses have to provide the means
to accomplish the object , and where there
Is nothing in view to In any way recom
pense them for the outlay.
Labor cannot be reconciled to thla policy
of expansion when it la told that It will :
be necessary to maintain the war taxes in
time of peace In order to further the ob- *
Jecta of tbo expansion sollcr ; that the *
army may be Increased for the same purpose -
pose ; that at the end of the fiscal year in *
all probability there will be a shortage of
about $112,000,000 caused by It which will
have to be covered either by additional taxa- s
tlon or the issue of Interest-bearing bonds. n a
By the annexation of Hawaii thla country -
try has taken In much cheap Chinese labor
and more will follow by the annexation of
the Philippines. That Is of no benefit to
American labor , no more than the Importa
tion of "Huns" by the coal barons ot Penn
sylvania for the purpose of supplanting
American labor. The territorial expansion
Is made for the benefit of the classes at the
expense of the masses and Is so looked upon
by the American Federation of Labor , This
policy of expansion as the president of the
federation has it , is declaration that tha
dollar Is of more consequence than the man
and plutocracy and militarism nobler than
humanity. While the expansion policy Is
now used to divert attention from the crying
evils at homo it will In the end cause these
evils to be felt the more. The laboring
masses can , under these circumstances , hav
no love for an expansion policy , which , In
stead of bringing them the much-sought foe
relief , Increases their burdens and diminishes
their earning capacity. They have no reason In
to feel thankful for being brought In compe
tition with the cheap Asiatic labor and that
what expansion does for them.
A Pertinent Inquiry. to
St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Surgeon General Stemberg has made up
his mind " that female nurres for army hospi
tals "are "an expensive luxury. " Female
nurses In any place are expensive from one
point of view , but If there is any class of
people that should have luxuries , even If
the rest of us go without comfort , It Is tbo
wounded soldiers. la an army hospital a be
platy ? of correction ?
OTIIKH IAMS THAN OIJI19.
That events are moving slowly to the ills-
ruptlon of the compact which binds Norway
and Sweden together under one king no ono
can doubt. The crisis of 1895 and the recent
decision of Norway to wipe out the emblem
of the union from Its flag are straws that
point the way. How eoon the break will
come Is another question , Unaided , Norway
couM not possibly withdraw from the union.
Though it has of recent yearn added to Its
military strength , It Is still far Inferior to
Sweden. Its regular army consists of 25,000
men and , together with the Lnmleturm , or
homo guards , which number 18,000 men ,
gives It an effective force of 43,000 soldiers ,
Sweden's army Is 103,000 men. Norway haa
sixteen squadrons of cavalry , eight of which
are unmounted , whllo Sweden haa forty
squadrons. In artillery the proportions are
nearly the same , Norway having eighteen
batteries to Sweden's thirty-six. In ma-
tcrlal and discipline Sweden's forces outrank
those of its partner. In the matter of navies
the sanio disparity exists , tlio forces being
divided aa follows : Norway , battleships ,
two ; largo monitors , four ; gunboats , first-
clara , tliret' second class , eight ; one
cruiser ; ono torpedo cruiser ; torpedo boats ,
twenty-one ; total , fifty vessels. Sweden ,
battleships , six ; monitors , large and smart ,
thirteen ; gunboats , first-class , nine ; accent !
clasa , six ; cruisers , four ; torpedo cruisers ,
three ; torpedo boata , twenty-eight ; total ,
atxty-nlno vessels. From this It will bo
seen that on eea and land the Swedes would
outclass the Norwegians , and it wouM bo
madness for tbo latter to force matters to
an Issue unless they expect aid from the
outside.
*
According to latest reports the race con
fllct In Austria Is beginning now to reveal
Itself in the ranks of the clergy. Hitherto
tlio discipline among them hns been so per
fect that in the case of Gorman priests na
tional feeling has been entirely subordinated
to the Interests of the church. Their Slav
colleagues were not exposed to any such con
flict between their national sentiments and
the political attitude Imposed upon * them by
their ecclesiastical superiors. Pan-Germanic
Journals now declare that a strong tendency
is manifest among a section ot the German
priesthood In Bohemia to renounce the antl
German policy of the episcopacy and of the
large majority of their colleagues. Refer
cnco Is made to a protest by the German
priests of Relchenberg against the co-opera
J tlon of the Catholic people's party with the
young Czechs. They contend that this pol
icy is mistaken and can lead to no good ,
and announce their determination to sup
port loyally their own oppressed nationality
and to defend its rights. This declaration
Is cordially welcomed by the organ of the
German opposition In the Relchsrath. It
alleges that the young Czech , members who
are so profuse In their professions of friend
ship to the representatives of the German
Catholic Alpine provinces are in reality as
anti-Catholic aa they are anti-German , In
triguing against the church In their own
constituencies in Bohemia , where they do
their utmost to imbue the population with
Husslto principles.
A new conference will presently be held
to discuss the liquor trade of West Africa ,
existing regulations being found entirely In
effectual. The head of > the Congo Free State ,
Ktng-'Lcopold of Belgium , will tako'tho In
itiative , as before , and has Invited the Eu
ropean nations most directly Interested to
the conference , England , Franco and Ger
many having already accepted. Ho will pro
pose an Increased duty on alcohol , which
was fixed by the Brussels conference of 1890
at 13 cents a gallon , though In ports under
British control it is already much higher.
At Sierra Leone It la 75 cents a gallon , but
even at 'that rate 'tho native manages to got
enough bf it to worft bla speedy destruction.
All merchants interested In tbo commerce
of the west coast and all who possess any
knowledge of the liquor .traffic there know
that It simply spells death to the negro and
that It la without one excusable feature. If
It were possible the traffic would be abolished
ished by gcneial consent , but the bush negro
will not work for any other Inducement , and
Us abolition , therefore , would mean practi
cally the suspension of all trade with the
region. Up to a recent tlmo the black has
been dependent on outside sources tor his
supply of strong drinks , but has lately
mastered 'tho secrets of the moonshine still ,
and readily converts bananas Into a very
fair Imitation of applejack. Tbo Sierra
Lcono police are kept busy bunting them
Btllls , but tbo negro and banana producing
region Is boundless , and the Illicit practice
Is quite likely to survive all present efforts
for its suppression. The coming convention
will discuss the subject in all its aspects
and try to find some means of correcting
ItH worst features and ameliorating Its worst
effects.
A good deal of sore feeling has been
caused In Poland by the elaborate nature of
ttho ceremonies at the recent unveiling of
the statue of Muravleff at Wllna. These
are thought to be very much at variance
with the friendly professions toward the
Polish nation of the present czar. It Is true
that the plan and subscription for the erec
tion of this monument were sanctioned by
the late Czar Alexander II , but It was
scarcely necessary to remind the Poles so
forcibly , ' at the opening ceremony of the
deeds and qualities ot a man whom they
and his Russian enemies called the "hang
man" and "cannibal. " These epithets are
referred to again now in the principal Rus
sian Journals , which argue that they convey
false and exaggerated Idea of the char
acter of the great "pacificator" of Polish
Lithuania , who la represented as having
been grossly maligned , not only by the
Poles , but olio by those ot his own coun
trymen who were affected by what Is called
the false liberalism ot the time. In order
that there might bo no mistake as to the
official nature of the celebration , several
ministers were in attendance. Including two
Muravleffs , both belonging to the family of
the dead governor general , the minister of
foreign affairs , and the minister of Justice.
The Poles say they are connections of the
Muravleff who banged others , not ot the
Muravleff who had the misfortune to be
hanged himself.
t *
A group of deputies , says a Paris paper ,
had decided to refuse the 200,000,000 francs
the French government desires for the ex
tension of railways from Tonquln Into China.
Tonquln , it is urged , has already cost France
1,000,000,000 francs and does not pay. It
brings in no net revenue , whether directly ,
the form of tribute , or Indirectly , In tbo
form of increased commerce. Outlay on
colonies Is not a productive outlay , especially
when the colonies are tropical. Neither In
the present nor In the future are they likely
be profitable. Some governments can af
ford , perhaps , to throw away some million *
yearly without ruining their taxpayers. But
France la not In that position. It had to
yield to England In the Faiboda matter be
cause It could not afford to fight it out. The
critics argue accordingly that it is folly to
spend $50,000,000 In Chinese railways and
colonies which , in the event of war , must
lost. It Is better to make needed Invest
ments at home.
ROYAL POWDER BAKING
IBSOLUTEIY'PURE
Makes the food more delicious and wholesome
. ,
ItOttl M 'N8 ' * Dt CO. KiW TOUC
THOUGHTS THAT TICKI.H ,
, Urooklyn Life : llltum-l * it true thai
Smith ' , the Iceman , l.i ilcml7 .
Hoggs Yes , poor fellow. He cuts no It *
now.
riiltnclelDhla North American : Cor non-
Da ] you tlilnk trained nur.'eH should bl
prettv ?
lllllebrnml Not If they ur expected to
follow t their calling permanently.
Inillannpolls Journal : "It seems to ma.
doctor , thnt your prices arc rutlinr Htcep. "
"Well , you must bear In mind thnt It ft
not my own health for which 1 nin running
n i Hiumtorlum. "
Somervllle Journal : An editor Is
plnscd j when IIP can make tlio excuse to
poet | tlmt the poem that has been thrust
upon him Is too long to print.
Washington Star : "Tho successful states'-
iran. " snlil tlio Cornfield Philosopher , "musl
be I nblc to stand n ftrent rtcnl whlltv ho ll
runnliitf ' , not to mention the ability to lie
nt the same time. "
Cleveland Plnln Dsnler : "niogga Is a
. tender I hearted man , Isn't he ? "
| ! .J.hnl's lle Viccu ' ° IHR now ? "
\\liy. ho complained to the Humane
cocloty because signtiy left his thermometer
out ( doors all nlsht. "
1
Chicago Post : "She refused him when
no WIIH n civilian , you know , but when In
cnmo back from the war in a uniform she
was crnzy to get him. "
"Well ? "
"Well , ho did the best ho could for her.
Ho j married nnotliw clrl , but h- sent Ills
uniform to her with his compliments. 1I
said ho know what she prized. "
The Worm Turn * . " * '
Judge.
Ho wns waiting thuro in silence while the
critic rcnil his book ,
And his heart most sank within him na h
saw Urn nnccrliiK look
Of the critic , who nihlresscil him : "Sir ,
your book Is very old ;
Tls a faithful repetition of a story often
told. "
Then the author turned to leave him , and
his fnco with roue wns blue ,
"Good melons. Master Critic , do you think
your speech Is new ? "
WOUI.I ) AVK UKTIJHNf
Robert Burns Wilson.
Would wo return
If once the gates which close upon the
past
Weru open wide for us , anil If the dear
Remembered pathway stretched before us
clear
To lend UB bnck to youth's lost land at
last ,
Whuroon life's April shadows lightly cast
Recalled the old sweet days of childlHh fonr
With nil their faded hopes , and brought
nnenr
The far-off strenms In which our skies
were elnssod :
Did these soft dreams which wako the
soul's sad yearning
But Hv enc more and wnltcd our returnIng -
Ing ,
Would wo return ?
Would we return
If love's enchantment held the. heart no >
more
And wo had como to count the wild , sweet
pain ,
The fond distress , the lavish tears but
vain :
Had coolcil the heart's hot wounds
amidst the roar
Of mountain gales , or , on some alien anoro
Worn out the soul's long anguish and had
fOnln
At last the dragon of despair If then tha
train
Of vanished vears came back , and aa of
yore ,
The same volco called , and with soft eyca
beguiling.
Our lost love beckoned , through time's gray
veil smiling.
Would we return ?
Would wo return
Once we had crossed to death's unlovely
land
And trod the bloomlcss ways among th
dead
Lone and unhappy ; after years had flea
With twilight wlnga along that glimmer
ing strnnd ,
If then an ungol came with outstretched *
hand
To lead us back , and wo recalled In dread
How soon the tears that once for UB ar
shed
May flow for others-how like words In
sand
Our memory fades away how oft our
Might vex the living with the dead hcart'i
breaking ,
Would wo return-
Would we return ?
Practical
Holiday
Gifts
They arc here the
kind that please and
satisfy the kind that'
guarantee physical
comfort and tickle the
fancies of fashionable
minds. They are
here in bewildering
profusion. Everything
handsome , stylish and
useful that pertains to
men's and boys' attire
The next ten days
will be bristling , vigor
ous days at our store
and it seems to us that
the proper time to pre
pare is NOW.
See Our
Show Windows.
Then come in and
make your selections.
Don't wait to be jos
tled about in the
crowd.