Nebraska Newspapers

    0 TnJ3 OMAHA DA1L.\T . JMSJJ3 ; "WEDNESDAY , DECEMBER 21 , 1808.
THE OMAHA DAILY BEE :
E. noSHWATUH , Editor.
PUBLISHED EVERY MOKN1NO.
TERMS OP SUBSCRIPTION .
Dally Hoc ( without Sunday ) , Ono Yenr..JS.WO
Dntly Dee und Sunday , Ono Year S.OO
Hlx Months 4.W
Three Months 201
Hundnv Hen , One Year , . . , , 2.00
Saturday Hoc , Ono Year. . . " 1-50
Weekly lice , Ono Year 63
OFFICES.
Omaha : The lloo llulldlng.
South Omaha : Singer lilock , Corner N
and Twenty-fourth Streets.
Council IJlulTs' 10 Pearl Street.
Chicago : Stock i\chango Bldg.
Now York : Temple Court.
Washington : Cui Fourteenth Strecti
CORRESPONDENCE : .
Communications relating to news nnd
editorial matter should bu addressed : To
the ICdltor.
BIIBINESS LETTERS.
Business letters nnd romlttnnrrs should
b6 addressed to The nee Publishing Com
pany , Omnlm. Drafts , checks , express
and postolllce money orders to bo , made
payable to the order of the company.
THE 11EU PUULISHINO COMPANY.
STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION.
Btate of Nebraska , Douglas County , ss. :
George U. Tzschuck , secretary of The Dee
Publishing company , being duly sworn ,
says that the actual number of full and
complete copies of The Dally ! Morning ,
Evening and Sunday Bee , printed during
the month of November 1S93 , was as fol
lows :
1 - -,01- ic . 1:1,1:1:4 : :
2 -IS7T 17 . U 1,1 15
3 J4,8U : 18 24,07(1
4 Jliai : 19
6 20 .
6 21 20,7:1:1 : :
7.
7.B.
B. 23
9. 21
10. ,8:11 , : : 23 24,010
, -127 26 2.-i2i : :
12 J 1,201) 27 U 1,855
13 2 1,825 23 2:1,881
14 , : ; ra 20 a 1,7:11 :
is Jitoo : 30 1:4,4:10 :
Total 717,1 l
Less unsold and returned copies. . . . 1RM :
Net total sales 7111,80(1 (
Net dally average a4l , ! a
GEORGE B. T2SCHUCK.
Sworn to before me and subscribed In my
presence this SOth day of November , 1S98.
N. P. FEIL ,
Notary Public.
Every cloud 1ms a silver llnliiff. The
shortest day of the year precedes the
gradual lengthening of the days.
If Hobtion had only made Omaha on
h4s route the superiority of the Oinakn
girl would have been practically demon
strated.
What with mandamuses , appeals for
re-trials uiul more than 200 applications
for druggists' permits nnd liquor licenses
the police board lias its hands full.
Our amiable popocratlc contemporary
enys It "desires to not be misunder
stood. " It certainly ought to be en
couraged In this praiseworthy ambition.
Perhaps the remainder of that exposi
tion Hill-plus can be tied Up so that what
is left of It may come in bandy about
the time New Years , 1000 , rolls around.
The yellow journals have put up an
other straw man In the rumored pro
posal to pay $100,000 for the services
of Peace Commissioner Day and they
should bo allowed to .enjoy themselves
knocking him down with a stuffed club.
Under the existing system of taxa-
tlon every block of ground acquired by
railroads within the city limits takes
just that much land out of the city tux
list nnd shiftrt the burden of maintain
ing city government upon other prop
erty.
General Blanco is back In Madrid and
the reports of Ins arrival say he ap
peared to bo greatly depressed. As he
had his salary warrant cashed before
leaving Havana he should have money
enough to keep him until he can procure
another job.
The purchase of a site for a freight
depot for the Illinois Central Is another
assurance that that road Is entering
Omaha for business. The coming year
promises to be even more notable than
the past year for improvements in rail
way facilities at Omaha.
It may bo put down as an established
fact that politics has caused more harm
to the public schools than liicompetency
among the teaching force. Abolish the
annual election of teachers and com
petency will bo cultivated rather than
the art of political wire-pulling.
Senator Hale has some old-fashioned
notions which do not comport- with mod
ern ideas. , Ho actually advances the
theory that senators can best servo the
public by staying In Washington and at
tending to business Instead of going to
Cuba , Porto UIco and elbcwhere on Junk
eting trips.
St. Louis clergymen have concluded
that the fear of footpndt * is the cause of
light attendance ujwu Sunday evening
services nnd have agreed to unite In tak
ing steps to overcome the dilllculty.
They might try to induce the knights
ofthe mask to adopt a six-night-lu-thc-
wcek schedule.
The prospect of a dellclt instead of a
surplus in the Cuban revenues Is likely
to liuvo a cooling effect upon the ardor
of local patriots to share in the responsi
bility for administering the affairs 'of
the Inland. Drafts drawn on the strong
box at Washington uro much more likely
to bo honored than those on the treas
urer of the Cuban republic.
Now that the council has decided to
turn over to the school fund the money
paid by druggists for penults to sell
liquor , It becomes a question to what
fund money derived from the issue of
other permits under various ordinances
is to be credited. It will also bo u mat
ter of some concern to the school board
to sco that all druggists shall take out
permits as required by law.
Kansas City announces with consdera- |
bio exultation that more girls from the
banks of the Ka > v have kissed Lleuteu-
tint Ilobsou than were granted the | > rlv-
liege in Chicago. If the ratio keeps up
by the time the popular Idol reaches his
destination he will easily be the cham
pion of the world and the man who
would attempt to break the record must
to possessed of auiplo nerve.
A.
When the United States senate , after
March ! next , , Is In complete control of
thua-tipubllcnn party , there will nut only
ho nn entire reorganization of that body ,
but It Irf.to be .hoped .that some needed
reforms will bo made In the rules. The
New Xork Mail nnd Kjiprws suggests
that the large republican majority ought
to bo milllclent tp overcome that exag
gerated "courtesy" nnd impotency which
have enabled the free silver contingent
year after year to extort concepslons
from the republican party that should
never have "been granted. "Under the
ridiculous rules of the senate , " says that
paper , "which enable nny one iseuator
to hold up legislation so long as his wind
and the dictionary hold out , the popu
lists and sllvcrltcs have really con
trolled legislation In the senate for the
last six years. " Unfortunately some of
the republicans are likely to be found
as ardent sticklers for the retention of
the ridiculous rules as the members of
the minority. This has been the case In
the past nnd Is pretty certain to be no
In the future. Efforts that have been
'made In recent years to Change the rules
have come from republicans , but they
hnvc not found much support from their
party associates. Possibly there will
bo 4n the senate after March 4 more
republicans favorable to a reform In the
rules than there have been In the past ,
but It is to be feared there will not be
enough of then ! to make the desired
changes.
That all senators understand that
there Is a practically unanimous popular
demand for reform In this direction can
not bo doubted. The people have little
respect for so-called senatorial courtesy ,
which Is responsible for much that Is
not at all creditable to the senate , while
the people regard the privilege of un
restricted debate , which penults sena
tors not only to talk ns long nnd as
often as they please on nny question ,
but to embrace in their talk matters
having no relation whatever to the sub
ject under discussion , ns a positive
abuse. And so it unquestionably Is. It
fchould not be in the power of a few
senators to obstruct or defeat by end
less talk legislation tUat is desired
by the. majority. Such power Is not
consistent with the cardinal principle
of popular government. The house of
representatives for a considerable time
after the organization of the government
allowed unrestricted debate , but It long
ago abandoned the practice and there Is
no good reason why the senate should
not also abandon It and adopt a rule
which , while allowing all necessary de
bate and treating the minority fairly In
the discussion of questions , would en
able the majority to close debate when
ever It was being carried beyond a rea
sonable limit.
The senate should follow the example
of the house , which under republican
control Is the most thoroughly business
legislative body In. the world. Of
course there Is complaint on the
part of the minority , from time to
time , that Is not allowed suf
ficient opportunity for discussion , but as
a inatter of fact It Very rarely happens
that there Is any good grouncj for such
complaint , though undoubtedly the plan
of limiting debate does often Interfere
with the desire of some members to air
their opinions. The house rule , how
ever , has the valuable virtues of expedit
ing business and of enabling the major
ity to carry out Its will la legislation
without needless obstruction. It Is a
good rule for the house and would be
equally so for the senate.
LOUKIXO FOltn'AUD TO STATEHOOD.
The convention of representatives of
the towns of Porto Rico , assembled to
express the popular will In regard to the
future of the island , declared for a terri
torial organization with a view to state
hood at an early date. Immediately after
the American occupation of Porto lllco
some of the prominent citizens of the
Island made known their desire to be
accorded all the political privileges of
American citizens and there can be no
doubt that this Is the expectation of the
better class of the people of Porto Hlco.
They do not wish to be kept In a colonial
relation to this government , but desire
opportunity to govern themselves , with a
view to ultimately being represented In
the United States senate and voting for
president.
What response will Wjc make to this
aspiration ? A considerable number of
the people of Porto lllco are undoubt
edly capable of self-government. Shall
we say to them that they must not have
It , but will have to be satisfied with gov
ernment from Washington ? And If we
say this , will they be satlstled ? Can we
expect to have the unqualified loyalty
of these people If we deny them the
political status they desire and hold
them in practically n state of vussalugo ?
Of course we shall treat alike the people
of all the new possessions. If Hawaii
and the Philippines are not to bo ac
corded a political status from which
statehood might ultimately come Porto
Hlco cannot be given such status. But
wo cannot reasonably expect under such
circumstances a satisfied and contented
people. It will not be promotlve of loy
alty to the new sovereign or love of the
flag that brings them no political eleva
tion.
RUSSIA H'ASIS AMEltlCAN MONEY.
The report that Hussia Is endeavor
ing to negotiate a loan In the United
States appears to bo well founded.
There U nothing surprising In the fact
when It Is stated that money Is cheaper
lu this country than in Europe. There
Is no financial center lu the world where
money can be obtained at present on
good security at as low a rate of Interest
as In New York , while the supply is
abundant and steadily Increasing , lu
the course of n speech lu the house a
few days ago , Representative Broslus of
Pennsylvania said : "financial empire
Is coming our way , Wo are advancing
rapidly toward the position of a creditor
nation. Power nnd dominion In the
financial world follow the track of commerce -
merco and manufactures. The scepter
IB passing from the old to" the now
world and New York will supplant Lon
don In tup near future.1 This correctly
describes the condition.
The United States occupies a position
In the financial world It ha never held
before and It la a position which there
in every reason to believe will grow
steadily Mtronger. It Is estimated that not
low thiui $70,000,000 , of American money
Is now loaned In Europe and It Is the
Judgment of sagacious financiers that
.wo are very near the point where wo
can hold the reins of financial power
on two continents. Notwithstanding
the fact that Interest rates lu Kuropo
are higher tlian here , wo command gold
of Europe , thus reversing nil known
rules governing the movement of gold.
It Is a very remarkable condition of
things nnd seems to fully warrant the
most optimistic views regarding the
financial future of this country.
Knssla wants American money be
cause It Is the cheapest In the world.
Thin fact Is commended to the thought
ful consideration of the free sliver people
ple and nil others who urge that there
Is not enough money here to do the legit
imate business of the country , for of
course If that were the case the Interest
rate would nt least be ns high here us
in Europe nnd Instead of loaning money
abroad It would all find employment at
home. Not only Is the financial condi
tion of thp United States at present
most satisfactory , but there Is every
reason to regard It as marking the be
ginning of our financial ascendancy nnd
Independence.
NEBRASKA'S Ol'POKTUNITT.
There was never a time In the history
of Nebraska more opportune for ven
tures In manufacturing enterprises than
the present. Capital Is abundant In the
money centers of the country and con
fidence In the west has been fully re
stored. The demand for factory and mill
products is steadily growing and the
field for marketing the output la extend
ing.
ing.The
The conversion of wheat , corn nnd oats
into cerenl products is no longer an ex
periment. Neither Is the growing of
sugar beets and their profitable conver
sion into sugar.
While the meat packing industry has
already assumed Immense proportions ,
much more of the raw material could be
utilized as the basis for manufacturing
various articles for which there Is n
steady demand.
Minneapolis will In all probability
continue to bo the greatest flour manu
facturing center , but there Is every In
centive for the establishment of great
flouring mills not only at Omaha , but nt
other points in Nebraska.
The enormous demand for canned
vegetables and fruits naturally suggests
profitable Investment In canning plants
at places where the finest vegetables and
fruits nro raised.
All these Industrial projects , organized
upon modern lines and operated with
the latest machinery and processes ,
would receive encouragement from local
consumers and wholesale dealers who
handle and distribute such wares and
commodities.
A general revival of public spirit and
organized efforts to Induce idle capital
to engage In promising enterprises will
go far toward accomplishing desired re
sults. Experience has shown that the
meet' ' effective Inducement tp forplgn
Investors Js the assurance that local
capitalists presumed to be familiar with
conditions will join with them and share
whatever risk there may bo In the ven
ture. Nearly nil our great Industrial
enterprises that have survived business
depression have bad their origin In
small beginnings , backed by local busi
ness men whoso confidence In eventual
success was attested by the investment
of their own money.
Court dockets In the southwest , those
of the supreme court nnd court of
claims at Washington and the files of
the Congressional Record are remind
ers of the annoyances nnd troublesome
questions which come to us through the
taking over of Spanish possessions.
Win-rover Spanish rule has extended
there Is an entanglement of public
grants and concessions to corporations
and individuals , vast In their scope and
Indefinite In their terms , which two gen
erations of litigation have not been able
to settle In the territory now within the
borders of the United States. One court
has been created for no other purpose
and having no other jurisdiction than
adjudication of these claims In the
southwest and the work Is by no means
completed. Spanish methods of trans
acting public business are destined to
leave Uncle Sam a large legacy of litiga
tion.
The reports filed by the superintend
ents of the various state institutions
and the recommendations for appropria
tions for the forthcoming biennial period
show that the amount now considered
necessary Is $1,500,000 , In excess of the
appropriations made by the last legisla
ture. In this amount is included about
$200,000 of deficiencies. It would seem
that a small increase over the amount
actually expended In the last two years to
allow for added burdens should be ample
to conduct these institutions. This , with
the money to pay deficiencies , would
amount to an Increased appropriation of
no more than $500,000. As n matter of
fact , however , It Is by no mean's certain
that with economic management the ap
propriations made two years ago should
not have been ample for the purpose.
Omaha Is not particular- who draws
the plans for the proposed new viaducts.
Omaha , however , is vitally Interested
that the plans shall be such as will
provide permanent and 'safe structures ,
adequate in every way to meet all the
demands made upon them. If the roads ,
in an effort to save money In construc
tion , wish to foist structures upon the
community which will bo periodically
closed for repairs or of Insufficient ca
pacity , such plans will be vigorously
combated. Omaha has bad enough ex
perience of this kind to satisfy one gen
eration.
It develops that the school board has
Issued over ? 100,000 of warrants lu an-
ticlpation of the revenue from licenses
for 1800. There is no authority of law
for tills method of doing business. The
practice should be stopped or the law
changed to meet existing conditions.
Blovrlnir Oar WraUh Abroad.
Philadelphia Ledger.
Senator Hale figures out that our new
possession ! will cost ua $200,000,000 a year ,
and statesmen will cheerfully TOU that
sum who would consider It a wicked watte
to expend half ns much on permanent Im
provements at home.
of the Ntitlonnl flntnc.
Washington Post.
An Omaha judge has decided that poker
Is not it gambling game. Ho has evidently
been participating In n sure-thing sitting.
Anil Urlii ntul llrnr II.
Philadelphia , Times.
Selecting nnd carrying homo a Christ
mas tree U quite a responsibility , and It's
Interesting always to see meu shoulderIng -
Ing ft.
Slwii of the Tlmei.
New York World.
In ordering five regiments of the regular
Infantry to Manila , with an Intimation to the
officers that ft would be wise to prepare for
an absence of two or throe years , the War
department glvee the idea that "expansion
lias expanded. "
A I'IIHH at the l'n .
Mtnhcauolls Times.
The Nebraska State Board of Transporta
tion has recommended the passage ot a law
making the giving of a pass to a state
official or legislator , or the acceptance ot
a pass by any such' official or legislator , a
felony. Let the ball be kept rolling. Pass
bribery Is the most dangerous form ot cor
ruption.
An Absurd Proposition.
Springfield Republican.
The Lodge immigration blir has been again
thrown under the tablet In the house. Email
wonder. It IB about the last of that measure.
The absurdity of restricting European Immi
gration -while annexing vast bodies ot sav
ages and semi-savages in the Orient must
strike the mind of the dullest congress
man.
Ne1irnnkn > Genuine Soldier.
Savannah Letter to Chicago Record.
Next , to Cofonol Campbell the most sol
dierly figure on the field was Colonel Victor
Vlfqualn , who succeeds ox-Colonel William
Jennings Dryan as commander ot the Third
Nebraska. He rooks like a splendid soldier ,
and everybody says ho fs one , . The president
congratulated him heartily upon the appear
ance ot his men , and asked If ho had received
his commission as colonel to succeed Dryan ,
which was signed before the party lett
Washington.
A Joint Uecorntlon Dnjr.
Philadelphia Record.
When the president declared to the south
ern people that the time had come "when
In the spirit ot traternlty wo should share
with you In the care of the graves of con
federate soldiers" he uttered an ennobling
sentiment which touched the country nnd
won the commendation of the civilized
world ; and the sentiment Is not to perish
with the blossoms of Atlanta's floral
parade. It Is found that the present sys
tem of national cemeteries can be so ex
tended as to embrace the care ot the con
federate graves with little added cost ; and
that would be a species of expansion which
would command the almost unanimous ap
proval ot congress. A dispatch trom
Washington adds that the probable result
will be "a joint Decoration day through
out the United States on May 30. " May
the forecast prove prophetic ! But let It
bo Decoration day simply and unqualifiedly
and let us drop the "joint" suggestion
hereafter. , .
ECHOES OF TUB AVAR.
*
4
It Is said that when Allyn K. Cupron was
killed at Quaslmas , his father , the late
captain of artillery , lifted the hat that cov
ered the dead man's " ' _ face , looked for a
moment and ald , "Well done , my boy1' ! '
He then replaced the hat' ' ; turned on his heel
and resumed his"millarVdutl'ps. ( ' .
Writing of the dt-ath-6 ' ! Hamilton Fish ,
Colonel Roosevelt ) says' : "Pish and myself
stood by the same flro drying our clothes
atter a heavy tropic 'rainstorm ' the night
before he was killed , and I remember then
as we talked over the morrow's fight 1
said , 'Well , Fish , we .have all got to die
some time ; and , after all , we cannot die
In a better way , ' and ho nodded and said ,
"That IB Just how -.feel , Colonel , and it
is one of the reasons that made me come. ' "
A correspondent of the Chicago Record re
lates that General Garcia had an eged
colored servant who was born a slave upon
his father's plantation and was brought up
with him from childhood. The old negro
had followed him In nil his wars , and had
shared his prison cells , and sat beside his
bed when 'tho general breathed hta last.
Every time his master groaned ho would
groan also , and the death which came to
one will not let the other linger much
longer. The faithful servant does not care
to live now. His interest In life la gone ,
and no one would be surprised If be died ot
grlet within a short time.
The oscillatory performance of Osborne
Detgnan of Merrlmao fame at Stuart has
been classed as an unapproachable record.
Compared with the sustained effort of Hobson -
son at Chicago it IB not to be mentioned on
the same day. The lieutenant made a rec
ord ot 163 women kissed , giving two smacks
to several blooming buds. Accounts agree
that Hobson did not dispense his osculatory
favors promiscuously. He showed consid
erable discrimination .and was materially
aided by a guard of marines , which rigor
ously excluded from the line a class of the
fair sex known as "battleaxes. " The
designation Is a. . mystery beyond Chicago.
The battleaxes were sufficiently numerous ,
however , to give the marines a hot job ,
which they performed with distinguished
success. "When 'Hobson reached the cen
tury mark , " reports the Chronicle , "a beau
tiful young girl , accompanied by her father ,
came along In the line. She may have been
17. She was 'tall , willowy , fair and shy.
Her father woresidewhiskers with bear
grease in them.
"This Is my daughter , who wants to kiss
you , " said the father.
"Why certainly , " Bald Hobson , as he put
the strangle hold 'on the girl.
"She was wiry as well as willowy , and she
broke his hold. Thcn'he tried tlio half-Nel
son hold on her. It looked as If she would
lose the bout and the jack tars yelled to her
to keep up her courage.
" 'Ain't she putting up a dead game
fight ? ' " cried one enthusiastic tar.
" 'Two to one she wins , ' cried another , as
she threw her right elbow under Hobson's
chin and got free from 'his halt-Nelson hold.
" 'Time , ' cried another sailor boy.
"For a moment the girl and the kisser
stood facing each other and both w'cre spar
ring for wind. Hobcon led for a waist
hold. She threw out her right elbow and
caught him on his wide , white shirt front.
At the same time she ducked , but Hobson
was too quick and tils reach too long. He
got a waist hold on her with his left , tried
first the strangle hold and then a half-Ncl-
fen and failed. Then ho trlod a hammer
lock ; she tipped over to the right and quick ,
n smack and the contest was ended In his
favor.
" 'Well. ' she Bald , tartly , as she read
justed her hat and sailed away , as If she
was anxious to hide her flushed face.
"Durlne rush minutes he kissed as high
as ten pairs of lips , making up for the
arller minutes when modesty held him
back from making a demonstration of hi a
abilities. In the last ten minutes ho le
vied tribute , allowing no girl or woman 10
pass free. In Eome Instances It was like a
confiscation ot sweeti.
"The lieutenant , however , would not be
vanquished , and when lips were not prof
fered 'bo ' searched for them. Throwing his
arms around waist and shoulders be held
the apparently' defiant victims until he
could lay his ( ace against their cheeks and
find their lips wjth his mustache. His ac
tions caused blushes In plenty , but Dover
an outcry , "
OMAHA AS AN K.TAMI'I.K.
Baltimore American : Last summer nnd
fall Omaha hold a Transmlsslsstppl Exposi
tion. In spite of the war It was a success
and the climax was reached when President
McKlnley paid It a visit. The attendance
on that occasion was enormous , and the
exposition closed with Its finances In good
shape , nnd with everyone delighted at the
results of the enterprise. Having had this
pleasant experience , Omaha now wants , and
means to have , another exposition , one that
shall bo of a permanent character and
give It a chance to display to all who come
Its products , its resources , the factors that
have contributed to its development and
prosperity.
Buffalo Express : Omaha is rather doing
the pig act when It decides to hold another
exposition In 189D. Ot course It has the
buildings and It has the experience , both ot
which count for a great deal , but just the
same there Is no need ot trying to corral at
once nil the good things in the world. But
Omaha's eagerness in this respect should be
a hint for Buffalo. It Is vigorous enough to
bo almost a kick. First It goes to show that
a city not of the metropolitan class can glve >
an exposition that Is worth while , providing
It bo advantageously located and has the
necessary vim , energy , push and liberality.
Buffalo has the locality and it has made a
good start to prove that It possesses the
other necessary qualities. The second hint
conveyed by Omaha's desire to hold an ex
position next year is that an exposition Is
a good thing for a city. As an advertise
ment it Is splendid. It brings strangers , it
brings business , it brings money , it brings
pleasure and enjoyment , and It should prove
the power of unified effort.
NO FllEailUM FOR LIAUS.
A Few Pertinent Ilcmnrks on the
Itcvennc LttTTn \c-lirnnkii. .
J. Sterling Morton's Conservative.
The present revenue laws ot Nebraska are
merely a protective tariff to encourage the
pernicious industry ot manufacturing lies.
The present system ot tax levying and tax
collecting In this state ought to be abolished.
Under Ita Inspiration mendacity has become -
come epidemic. The biggest liar It re
warded with the least taxation.
Under this system of swindles , precinct
assessors , In the open daylight , assemble at
the court house and deliberately agree to the
lies they will officially relate under their
oaths of office. They arrange to put horses
at $10 , cows at $5 , and hogs at $2.00 a header
or at some other absurdly ridiculous valua
tion.
tion.They
They likewise determine to call a dollar
25 cents for the purpose of assessment.
This compact for telling lies Is made every
year In every county In Nebraska. The law ,
however , declares that all property ahall be
assessed at Us selling or exchangeable value.
But In Otoo county the precinct assessors
declare that It this provision be adhered to
and rigidly observed , In assessing and col
lecting revenues , we shall be obliged to pay
more than our share ot state taxes because
Ncmaha on the south ot Otoo and Cass on
the north of Otoe never comply with this
provision of the law. In fact everybody
knows that nobody obeys the law.
The whole present system should bo erased
from our statute books. The actual value
of all property , real and personal , should be.
given In by all owners. The truth should
be told.
There should bo only one assessor for each
county. That assessor should have power
to appoint deputies and authority to revise
their returns. One man , one mind , should
bring about juit and uniform valuations for
each county.
If Nebraska could achieve a just and
equitable revenue law at the coming ses
sion of the legislature' the good name' , high
credit and financial solidity of the Citizens
Individually and the commonwealth as a
concrete , and composite also , would amaze
the world. In the clear light of plain
truth , as to Ita property , real and personal ,
Nebraska will demonstrate Its wealth to be
five to ten times greater than it seems when
lighted up by liars competing with each
other to ECO who shall pay the smallest
sum Into the public treasury.
NONSENSE ABOUT VOLUNTEE11S.
Uncnlled-For Lamentation * Abont
GnrrlHon Duty.
Chicago Chronicle ( dem. ) .
In common with a. good many other esti
mable people Colonel Winiam J. Bryan Is
considerably exercised over the retention of
the volunteers in the service now that the
war is ended. He wants them all mustered
out , which Is clearly Impossible pending an
Increase of the regular army to a strength
sufficient to garrison our new possessions.
Colonel Bryan Is quite consistent in bis atti
tude , however. When he felt that the volun
teers should be mustered out he mustered
himself out with an alacrity which was a
disappointment to his friends and well-wish
ers. It Is creditable to his sense ot justice
that he should now eeok to secure the re
lease of those who cannot leave the army BO
readily as himself. Nevertheless wo are in
clined to beHeve that he exaggerates the
anxiety of the volunteers to leave the serv
ice.
There has been little evidence ot such a
feeling. It is altogether probable that many
perhaps most of the citizen eoMlers would
be glad to return to their peaceful occupa-
tlone. Many of them are making great per
sonal and pecuniary sacrifices by remaining
In the army. Yet the percentage ot officers
who , like Colonel Bryan , have tendered their
resignations is small , and among the enlisted
men there Is a manifest willingness to "stick
It out" as long as their services are required.
Moat ot the petitions for the mustering out
of this , that or the other regiment come not
from the regiments themselves , but from the
friends of the soldiers or the authorities of
the states to which they are accredited.
The volunteers may not c-njoy garrison duty ,
but they are making no complaint about It.
As a matter of fact they are debarred from
doing so.
They enlisted for a period of throe years
If the government should need their serv
ices for that length of time. There was no
stipulation that they shoulM bo discharged
the moment the war was over , and such a
stipulation would have been manifestly un
wise and Inadvisable. The term of enlist
ment was fixed to meet the exact contin
gency which has arisen the Insufficiency
of regular troops to meet the exigencies of
the "reconstruction period" In Cuba and the
Philippines. Every man who was sworn Into
the service know exactly the obligations ho
was assuming , and it Is not at an compli
mentary to the volunteers to s umo that
they are now striving to "beg off" from tliolr
contract. As a matter of fact they are not
doing anything of the kind. It Is their Ill-
advised friends who are placing them In a
false position.
The volunteers will stand by their con
tract , not only because they must do so
perforce , but because they don't care to
bo considered as ruing a bargain which
they knowingly entered Into. And the
ordeal will not be a long one. Neither
congress nor the president will risk un
popularity by the adoption of any measures
tending to keep the volunteers In the wrv-
Ice a day longer than necessary. The res-
ui'ar army will be strengthened at once un
less there Is foolish and useless opposition
from the "last ditch" anti-expansionists
and the volunteers will be relieved at the
earliest possible moment. Until that time
It will be useless for Colonel Bryan or any
one CM ! > to talk about mustering out the
volunteers and leaving Cuba , Porto Jllco
and the Philippines without proper mili
tary defense.
The volunteers are not pleading the I
"baby act" and It IB no part of true friend
ship to represent them a * occupying that
attitud * . -
YOUNG ARRAIGNS MOfiMONISM
Doctrines of tlio Church 001111011111111
hy the ( Irunilnoii ot ltd
l"o miller.
NEW YORK , Dec. 20. There were about
200 persons present nt the meeting of the
Women's Board of Homo Missions for the
Presbyterian church In this city taday. The
object of the meeting was to Inaugurate an
aggressive campaign to prevent the seating
of Brlgham H. Roberts , an nvowcd polyga-
mlst , OB representative from Utah in the
Fifty-sixth congress.
Rev. William R. Campbell of Salt Lnka
City Introduced Eugene Young , a grandson
ot Brlglmm Young , and Mrs. Fannlr Stcn-
house. Mr. Young said among other things :
"Thero seems to bo n disposition In the
east , particularly among the politicians , but
u\cti among the churches , to treat the re
vival of the Mormon Issue as a minor mat
ter. There is an Inclination to view the
election to congress ot B. H. Roberts a
three or four-ply polygnmtst , still living In
polygamy , as an unavoidable outcome of
that condition In Utah and a niero question
of personal morality. Sonic day they will
sue , as thcso who know Mormon ambitions
see now , that Mr. Roberts Is a mere Instru
ment a representative of mighty forces.
They will hear that through his election a
people 300,000 strong have turned from
American liberty and American morality and
have taken the Initial step toward the es
tablishment of a hierarchy foreign to our
Institutions and our social laws , in the
midst of our republic. If , In dragging polyg
amy into the house of representatives , Mr.
Roberts Is representing1 the defiant senti
ment of the whole Mormon people , the people
ple must not rest until congress has cast
him out as a warning to all covenant-break
ers and all polygaralsts. "
COMBINE OF LEAD COMPANIES
Overture * lleliiK Mntlc to liny Up tin *
I'roiiertle * of Severn ! Mis
souri Concern ! .
ST. LOUIS , Dee. 20. The Republic says
today :
Negotiations are reported to be in prog
ress for the consolidation of nil the Icaa
companies in Missouri , with the Intention
of organizing ono mammoth corporation. As
far as can bo learned the promoters of the
deal are capitalists interested in the Na
tional Lead company , controlling nearly every
white lead plcnt In the United States
about fifty < in number. The promoters hope
to be able to bring Into the consolidation
the St. Joseph Lead company , one ot the
largest lead and mining corporations In the
world. The National company a short time
ago bought what Is known as the Taylor
property In St. Francis county and already
has expended ftOO.OOO on it. Its departure
In this direction Is considered by lead ex
perts to be the entering wedge of the big
deal in contemplation , as the first over
tures were made to mining companies for
the purchase of their properties within a
tew weeks atter the Taylor tract was bought
In. With the St. Joe and National com
panies as a nucleus , the capitalists behind
the deal expect to bring In big corporations
doing business in the Missouri lead fields.
Senator Mark. Hanna nnd J. Wyman Jones
are lares holders behind the St. Joe Lead
company and they are backed by John Di
Rockefeller.
PERSONAL AND OTHERWISE ] ,
Joseph D. Bayers , newly elected governor
of Texas , would have completed on March 4
next fourteen continuous years in congress.
If General Ludlow can make- clean and
healthful city of Havana , the fame of the
late Mr. Hercules will be decidedly eclipsed.
*
It Is said fhAt when Cornelius Bliss woe
a small schoolboy his teacher asked him if
Jerusalem was a common or proper noun.
" " little "It Is
"Neither , replied the pupil.
an ejaculation. "
A New York burglar , on opening six bottles
labeled "old bourbon , " which he bad stolen
from a saloon , found they contained water.
He was BO mortified that ho gave hlmielf
up to fbo police.
General Wheeler was asked the other day
by a very young woman of Washington :
"How Is it you never wear any medals ?
You surely have some. " "No , " answered
the soldier , "I have not. I am no bicyclist
and I never made a century run In my lite. "
George West , a brother-in-law of the late
George M. Pullman , has just paid With his
life the penalty of eccentricity. Ho rarely
wore an overcoat even in the dead of winter ,
and It was while braving cold weather with
out that garment that he contracted a cold
which resulted In his death. Mr. West was
a widely known tailor.
Superintendent E. B. Andrews of the Chicago
cage School board writes thus to a friend
apropos ot the report that he bad resigned :
"Do not bav a funeral sermon until there
Is a corpse. The newspapers have been too
previous. I am etlll at the head of the Chicago
cage public schools , and hope to bo so for a
long time to come. It's a great and glorious
work ! "
George H. Balllle of Kansas City has had
a curious career. Ho Is a native of Spain ,
a graduate of the University of Heidelberg ,
and served this country as a soldier In the
Mexican war , tbo civil war , and In the
campaign against the Modocs In 1870 , He
has been a mechanic , a physician , a piano
tuner , a teacher of modern languages , and
a professor of German and chemistry In
the University of Kansas. But he Is now
In straitened circumstances , and depends
wholly on his pension of $30 a month.
EDUCATIONAL NOTES.
The attendance at the schools of Buffalo
Is 75,000.
Alumni and friends of the University of
Pennsylvania are making an effort to raise
a fund of $300,000 with which to construct
a building and establish therein pharmaco
logical , physiological and pathological labor
atories.
Cornell university's register for 1898-09
shows a large gain la students , the total to
date being 2,0.18 , as against 1,790 at this
time last year. The faculty also shows an
Increase. It consists of 2S1 professors , etc. ,
against 191 last year.
The Catholic winter school of America
opens at New Orleans February 16 under the
Immediate supervision of Archbishop Chap-
olle. Among the lecturers announced are
Henry Austin Adams , Bishop O'Gorman ,
Rev. Talbot Smith and other notables.
P. A. B. Wldencr of Philadelphia has
given to the free library of that city a val
uable library gathered by an English col
lector , containing many choice specimens of
Incunabula. Every book In the efrlleetlon ,
which numbers COO , was printed prior to the
year 1501.
Timothy B. Blackstone of Chicago , who
gave the Blackstnne Memorial library two
or throe- years ago to his native town of
Brandford , Conn. , has now added $109,000 to
Its endowment. It Is one of the flflgst public
libraries In the United Sttes and cost more
than $400,000. Mr. Blackstone's first endow
ment gift was $100.000 , so that the aggre
gate of his benefactions Is mure than $000-
000.
Frank Plerrepont Graves , LL. D. , who baa
just been Instituted president of the Uni
versity of Washington , lu Seattle , Is sail tel
l > e the youngest college president In Amer
ica. He was born lu Brooklyn In 1869 , was
graduated from Columbia university lu 1800 ,
became on instructor in Greek In bis alma
Tiater and later became professor of classical
phlUlogy in Tufts college , the chair having
3611 created for him. Ho remained there
Ive years , until the spring of 1893 , when he
iccepted the presidency of the University ot
Wyoming. Ho Is the author of tbr&e Greek
> ooks and haj contributed nuinerou * articles
.o educational journals. He WBI married In
11)95 ) to Miss Helen Hop Wadiwortn , a grad-
jate of Boston university In the clau ot
LI3L , _ .
LINKS TO A LAUGH.
Puck : She You forgot to take tht prlet- * ' < :
innrk off my Christmas tircucnt , Jnrk.
He-No ; I didn't , my dear ; 1 thought H
would cave you n trip down town ,
Brooklyn Life : Klrot Qooso Mrs. Farmer
paid today that I was getting nice nnd
fat.
Second Goose Don't lot Jirr Muff you.
Detroit Journal : Uude Molly You remind
1111 > of n ChrlstinaH tree.
DudeColly What kind of a one ?
"A tpruco evergreen. "
Washington Star ! "Don't ncbbtr com
plain tint somebody liab made ft fool o'
you , " wild Uncle Kbrn. "Mcbbee all ho
done was to expose yon tnio character. "
Indianapolis Journal : "And what Is
your definition of the womanly woman ? "
n ked the Inquirer.
"A womanly woman , " snld the pent from
tint lake shorr , " ! H n woman who dearly '
jovefl whatever husband she happens to
have. "
Chlcnpo Tribune : "Bplter stand n little
further back from that l n , Lobelia. Don't
you sec It snyx. 'Paint' ? ' '
. "It's qnlto ilry , lillllger. Don't you sea
It dosen't conic off ? "
"That's all rlRht. but you'll better stand
a llttlo further nwny , all the name. People
JJ [ ? .o ° 0hlnff nt thllt sls" nnj then looking
Detroit Free Press : "What have you
liiTc ? nsked the frrsh young man of the
waiter at a first class restaurant.
"Everything1 , sir. "
"Everythlnir ? " snecrltifily. "Have U
S rved nt once. "
"Hash for qne , " yelled the waiter.
Washington Star : "Do you think this
hero Phlllpivlne question ! In the way to
get straightened out ? " until Mrs. Corn-
tostol ,
"I dunno. " answered her luioband , "but
I'm afearcd not. I haven't heard of any
banquets beln' got up so's to Imvo after
dinner speeches on It. "
Indianapolis Journal : "That woman
showed wonderful presence of mind when
her horp < s ran away. "
"Is that what you call It ? She throw
down the reins iind yelled. "
"I know she did , nnd the liorno ran
straight down the street. If she had held
on to the reins she would have doubtless
steered him Into the fence. "
WILLIE'S LETTISH TO SANTA CLACS.
Roston Globe.
Dear Santa Glaus , mama told me ,
That I might write to you , XI > \
To ask you If you mean to come
Adown our chimney Hue.
For If you do , WP mtan to hang ,
Eight stockings on the wall :
And hope that you will not forget
To bring enough for all.
There's father's blue and mother's brown ,
And Mater's long nnd black ;
The striped one belongs to Lew ,
The red belongs to Jack.
And there Is Sue's nnd Uncle Joe's ,
You surely must not miss ,
But something put In every one ,
And make mlno look like this :
I want It stretched across
the top BO very , very wide ;
I want It big and broad and
thick , and bulging at the side.
I want a top , I want a ball , I
want a trumpet , too ; I want a
dandy jumplng-jack nil dressed
In red and blue ; I want n llttl.1
trotting horse that's made to go
on wheels ; I want a dog that
snaps and barks , I want u
pig that squeals ; I want a sle-d
with runners bright , the top nil
painted green , with stripes
of gold , and letters , too , the
neatest over ssen ; and then
I want n pair of skates , *
for skating has begun ,
and all the boys
and girls In
pchool are having -
ing lots of
fun. Mama
says I'm not
big enough ,
and that I'd
bump my
h o a d then
I' d h a v e to '
stay , | n ' doom , , , . > , , , . _ . . " -
like' Mrs. Tomp- . *
kins' Ned. So If
you do not bring
the skates , I guess I
Shall not care. But , O
I quite forgot to say. I
want a rocking chair ,
and nuts and candy by
the pound and popcorn
white ns snow ; I want
It filled Just brimming1
full from top and
heel to toe.
Simply
Overheard
A popular and dressy busi
ness man of this town was
overheard in the corridor of a
hotel the other evening to say
of our store windows that no
man of taste could pass them
without stopping to admire their
arrangement and the goods with
which they are decorated.
"Whoever buys neckwear
and furnishings from Brown
ing , King & Co. " , he said with
real enthusiasm "has
some , got
taste. " It's the only store in
town where one can get really
handsome neckwear and un
derwear and at reasonable prices
too.
A good opinion is worth
winning. We think we do
choose'with taste , and buying *
for fourteen stores at once gives
us a great advantage in the
matter of prices.
Look at the holiday goods
in our Furnishing Department
house coats , bath gowns ,
hosiery , handkerchiefs , fancy
shirts , tasteful neckwear , com
fortable underwear in fact ev
erything , but shoes , for men's
wear.
OPEN EVENINGS ,
v. .
J *