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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 29, 1898)
G THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : THURSDAY , DECEMBER 130 , 1808. THE OMAHA DAILY DEE. n. K6suwATi4n , ndilor. PUBLISHED 12V1511Y MOUNINO , pally tiee ( without Sunday ) , One Yenr..W.Oi Dally Hoe and Sunday , Ono Year 8 ( X fclx Months . , 4.U Thrco Month 20 Sunday Bed , One Ytar. . . , 2.W Saturday Hoe , One Yean. , U Weekly Bee. One Year . , . . . , . . / K OFFICES. Omaha : The Bee Building. South Omnha : Singer Block , Corner I1 ! and Twenty-fourth Hti-cst * . Council Bluffs : 10 Pearl Street. Chicago : stock Exchange Bldg. Zsew York : Temple Court. Washington i Ml Fourteenth Street. connnsi'ONDENCE. Communications relating to news and fdltorlal matter should bo addressed : Te the Editor. Editor.BUSINESS BUSINESS LETTERS. EUHlnpsi It-ttera nnd remittances should be addressed to The Bee Publishing Company - pany , Omaha. Drafts , checks , expresi ana nostofllce money orders to bo madi pa , ? , , ejt9tne order of the company. TUB DEB 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 , Evening and Sunday Bee , printed during the month of November 1833 , wa * as fol lows : 1 ,25,015 18 24,4t2 : 2 24.87T 17 31,110 S , . .24,8111 13 24,070 19 B ! ! ! I8U5 ' 20 6 2.1,285 21 25.7UU 7 24 , : < 22 22 " . .24,281 8 2tUUl 23 23.UU2 9 'lO.THO 21 24.U27 10 27,8.t2 23 T..21.O1U .11 24,427 26 25i2i : : 12 21,21)0 27 . -.2-1,855 13 24,825 23 2tHSl : 14 2lt.-,2 : 29 24,7:11 : IE iU.UUO 30 iC4,42U Total , T47.1U4 Less unsold and returned cople 1R.U2H Net total sales . . .7:11,8(10 Net dally average SC4ilKl GEORGE B. TZSCHUCK. Sworn to before me and subscribed In my presence this 30th day of November , 1S98. ' N. P , PEIL , Notary Public. When Ibo die Is cast It will be found that no btiHlness man lu Oinalm can af ford to stand out against Omaha. Omnha bricklayers arc making a stand for weekly Instead of bi-weekly pay days. H 1ms not been so long ago that pay days were much further apart than that. The teachers have temporarily over shadowed the politicians rot Lincoln , but the lat'tcr may be depended upon to come up smiling after the inundation has subsided. Popocrnts who were troubled during the late campaign as to where Colonel ItoosevcM'e residence was will have no trouble locating him at Albany after the current week. ' When policemen go to court they have- to abide by the rules nnd procedure enforced by the judpe. When the judge goes 'to ' jail he should expect to observe jail regulations. If the coming legislature passes all the laws pressed upon its attention by various Interests or cren gives the meas ures consideration It wilt not'bo able to adjourn before rtext July. Admiral Dovypy has annexed 'ihreo ( Spanish ships to the United States navy and now desires men to put them in service. Dewey must have a claim to the title of original anncxatlonist Governor Uolcomb's legacy will be embalmed In a farewell address of 25- 000 words. The legislature will have to take a day off to listen to it , but legis lative time at $5 a day cuts no ice. The upper house of the national legis lature has one distinguishing peculiarity In this , that when the father of the eon- ate passes away the senate is Immedi ately provided wl'th ' another father. Commodore Philips' home for sailors where there will be a bar for the sale of temperance drinks only Is likely to prove very popular among the proposed beneficiaries only .in case "shore leaves" are to bo had for the asking. The outlook for the Iron and steel In dustry must be n promising one when one of the largest , concerns In the coun try hesitates about accepting a million- dollar order because the output of Its Immense plant Is already contracted for months ahead. Colonel Bryan realizes that a prophet Is seldom appreciated in his own coun try. That is doubtless the reason why he gave the cold shoulder to the Omaha Jacksonlans to accept the hospitality of the worshippers of Old Hickory at Chicago cage and Cincinnati. Havana rioters should by this time realize that llriug on a detachment of American regulars as an Invitation for a return volley is no dross parade affair. When they gat thrpugh caring for the dead and wounded they will probably have made up their minds to go out or the rioting business. If the numerous duels growing out of the heated debates In "the " Austrian Parliament were conducted on the Texas style that country would bare to raise a new crop of statesmen every year or those now on duty would be forced to bo more circumspect in the language used by them in public. A Soutb Omaha patrolman has been laid off for celebrating Curlatnws with too great enthusiasm. In the Interval , however , the South Omaha chief of po lice stands bound over to the criminal court for aiding and abetting a prize fight , but the mayor of South Omaha has not the backbone to lay him off. The difficulties involved In the use of a depreciated currency are by no means tl e least : 'among those which the ad ministration Is forced to meet la former Spanish possessions temporarily or per manently under American control. 80 far as the custom house is concerned the matter Is to be Battled by accepting Spanish coin at Its exchange value In American money , It U doubtful , how ever , whether this will adjust com mercial transactions to b ame bails. t tHKf : ISA OUA.IIA AXI ) Tllfi STATE. Whenever any Important project It launched by Omaha or 'any movement Ip set on foot calculated to promote .he growth ntid prosperity of Nebraska' ! tretropolls an outbreak of local jealousy nnd hostility Is manifested in the state press n If Omaha were la the cnctny'a country. While it is true some enterprises which would benefit Omaha may Hot be bene ficial to every other town In the state , it cannot bo truthfully gainsaid that every town nnd village and every farmer and worklnguian In Nebraska Is benefited by the growth of Omaha. The cities of Omaha and South Omaha , which practically constitute Douglas county , contribute one-eighth of the taxes that flow into the state treasury. In other words , Omaha contributes one- eighth of all the expenses of all the state Institutions from the penitentiary to the university and one-eighth of the salaries of all the state officers from governor down to court stenographer. Double the wealth and population of Omaha and Omaha would boar from one-sixth to one-fourth of the burdens - dens of state taxation and to that ex tent reduce the tax burden of all other Nebraska communities. Doubling the population of Omaha would 'not only reduce 'the taxes on every acre of land , but Increase the value of every acre in Nebraska from CO cents to $100 , depend ing on its remoteness from the great market which Omaha would furnish for Its prpducts. Double the population of Omaha and every village and town within a radius of fifty miles would Increase their pop ulation from 23 to 200 per cent. Double the population of Omaha and a system of electric tramways connecting all the suburban towns , Including Plattsmouth , Fremont , Ashland , Wnhoo , Blair nnd Intermediate points , would Inevitably follow and thousands of working people nnd business and professional men em ployed In Omaha would avail themselves - , selves of cheaper homes and cheaper rents in suburban towns. More than 20,000 people come into Plttsburg by electric and steam cars every morning from itowns within a radius of fifty miles , going back In the evening. The same Is true of Cincinnati , Buffalo , De- trolt and other cities ranging from 230- 000 population upward. If Omaha had. actually reached Its maximum of wealth and population its continued prosperity would still be of , vital concern to the remainder of the state. The sta'te of Iowa with 2,500,000 inhabitants would have to consolidate Its four largest towns to make a city equal to Omaha In population-and com merce. With a population of 1,500,000 the state of Kansas has no town half as large as Omaha. Although Kansas markets nearly all Us products , In Kan sas City and constitutes the principal Bourco of its commercial prosperity , Kansas City pays tribute solely to Mis- sourl nnd does not contribute In any shape or form toward the maintenance of state government In Kansas. Yet nobody In Kansas decries the enterprise of Kansas City or seeks to obstruct its growth. On "the " contrary the people of Kansas realize , that the building up of a.great cattle and grain market'at Kan- SUB City at their very door has been In valuable as u factor In the development and prosperity of Kansas. I't ' Is passing strange , too , that many "towns " lu Nebraska which are so fearful of Omaha's growth are ready to help with their-trade the upbuilding of Kan sas City and other Missouri trade cen ters , and the country papers BO anxious to aim missiles at Omaha do not com prehend that Omaha i an Integral part of Nebraska upon whoso future growth depends largely the position nnd rank which Nebraska will occupy among the progressive states of the Transmlssls- elppi country. TUB SHIPPING SUBSIDY HILL , Senator Hanua is reported as being confident that the bill relating to the merchant marine , which has been intro duced In both the senate and house , will be passed by the present congress. He says a majority of senators teel favor ably toward the measure. The bill takes a long stop in the direction of stimulating the building of vessels In. American shipyards by offering a bounty for the mileage navigated. This ls regarded by "those " who are not unfriendly to the subsidy policy as the most effective way of promoting the construction of American vessels , be cause It renders their operation profit able after ithey are bulH. The measure also provides for the admission of for eign-built vessels to American registry and this provision is a liberal one while It lasts , but applies only to foreign-built vessels now owned by Americans or under contract for construction. This amounts In effect to giving the privilege of rthe American flag to vessels now owned by Amer icans If they give certain orders to American shipyards , but does not en courage future purchases of foreign-built vessels by Americans. The bill requires - quires 'the ' construction of 50 per cent in American tonnage of the amount of foreign tonnage which Is admitted to registry , so that a 'tea ' thousand-ton ves sel built abroad would be enabled to obtain an American registry If the own ers construct a vessel of half that ton nage In the United States , or two ves sels of live thouand tons built abroad may obtain entry for one such vessel built in this country. The measure has commanded the earnest attention of the interests most immediately concerned and has met with very general approval from these. It is really the product of a very thorough expression of the views of the various interests affected by it , to all of which It is the purpose of the bill to glvo fair consideration. The difficult problem presented In framing such a measure was to provide proper assist- once not only to ocean steamship lines , but also to coastwise lines and lines from the United. States to the West In dies and other nearby ports , while at ( he eamo Klmo not leaving out of con sideration the great Balling-ship Inter ests. It was also necessary to have re gard for the shipbuilding Interest of the country. The advocates of the bill be lieve that It meets every just cequlrei ment ami. ( they propose making an e r nest effort to pass It at the present BCS slou. This they may bo able to do It the house , but It Is hardly probable dm1 It can be done lu the senate , though U Is' thought possible that some democratic votes may be secured for it In that body At all events , the introduction of the bill and such consideration ns It shall receive will be a step In the direction of legislation for building up a mcr chant marine , the necessity for which lu the interest of commercial expansion , Is more generally recognized than ever before. Of course the bill will encounter opposition from those who are hostile to any form of subsidy nnd also from those who advocate a free ship policy , rcg/irdlcBs / of its effect upon our shipbuilding Interest. Such opposl- tlon simply means that conditions shall remain as they are , a't ' least for a humbci of years , while there Is nn urgent de mand for early action if this country Is to secure the commercial advantages which new nnd larger opportunltlen promise. The existing situation is a humiliating ns well as a losing one. The free ship policy would lui-olve great Injury , perhaps disaster , to the America shipbuilding Interest. There remains the plan , provided for in the bill bcforo congress , of promoting the creation of nn American merchant ma rine by n moderate system of bounties or subsidies and there seems to be no doubt that ithls plan will be adopted by a republican congress. THE LAIR SKNATUIl AIURKILL. Justin S. Morrlll will not bo ranked among the great American statesmen of the lost half of the closing century. Any one familiar with the distinguished public men of the last forty years can readily call to mind a score at lenst who surpassed Mr. Morrlll in the higher qualities of statesmanship. But his long career in congress as a representa tive and senator from Vermont was marked by such usefulness to his state nnd to the country , by such fidelity to duty nnd by so elevated a patriotism as to entitle him to a conspicuous place in the history of this period. The fame of the dead senator is chiefly associated with the war tariff which bore his name , the principles embodied in which he always earnestly and ably defended. He was one of the strong est champions of the policy of protec tion and his best speeches In congress were n > ado In defense of that policy. Mr. Morrlll was not an orator , but he never failed to command the respect ful attention of the senate whenever he addressed that body a tribute both to his ability and sincerity. Mr. Morrlll was most faithful in the discharge of his public duties , which during moat of the time of his .service in congress were arduous. He was a flr.m believer In the policy of keeping aloof from foreign en tanglements and complications and was therefore one of the most outspoken and earnest opponents of territorial expan sion , regarding it as a menace to the perpetuity of the republic. The public career of Justin S. Merrill was without a blemish. During bis forty-three years In congress his integ rity was never called In question , i His record of service In the national .legis lature not only exceeds in length of time that of any other , but there is none more honorable in Its fidelity to duty and its devotion to the public welfare. PHILIPPINE INSVltaENTS ACTIVE , As had. been apprehended , the Insur gents have captured the'clty of Hello , an ticipating the American force which had been sent there by General Otis under Instructions from Washington. It ap pears that Otis promptly obeyed the or der ofthe War department , but it Is a journey of about four days from Manila to Hello and when the force sent by him arrived at its destination it found the Insurgent flag floating over the city. There Is saldito be no little anxiety felt in Washington over this situation and there Is undoubtedly good reason for it Referring a few days ago to the instruc tions sent to Otis , we said ( hat in the event of the insurgents being in posses sion of Hello when our troops arrived , their course would indicate the intention of Agulnaldo and his followers gen erally whether "they " are prepared to quietly submit to the United States or re sist This , It appears , IB the view enter tained at Washington. Of course the American commander at Manila cannot now stop at any halfway measures. The circumstances require that he demand the surrender of Hello nnd if this Is re fused that he at once take steps to cap ture the place. Any parleying with the Insurgents would manifestly be danger ous , since it would be very likely to be regarded by them as a confession of weakness or fear. It Is necessary thttt In such a case "they " be made to under stand that they are not dealing with Spaniards. It will bo a very happy cir cumstance if they yield without being compelled to , but It Is moru than proba ble 'that they will offer some resistance and It Is to be feared that this may be more serious than the authorities at Washington seem ito anticipate. In that event the plain Inference will be that the United States Is not to bo allowed to ussumo sovereignty over the Philippines without a struggle. ' Railroads in the "territory entered by the Baltimore & Ohio arc falling over themselves announcing their determina tion to maintain tariff rates to all shippers. This sudden spasm of virtue bus been brought about by the appeal of the Baltimore & Ohio , which is In the hands of a receiver , to the courts and the Interstate Commerce commis sion to protect it from secret rates and rebates made by other roads. The counts and the commission have indi cated that they would comply with the request The question naturally arises , If these bodies , on the petition of a rail road , can stop the giving of secret rates and rebates , why have they been un able heretofore to accomplish the re sult In response to complaints of mis treated shippers ? The forcible collision between the po lice and "the " police judge forcibly brings to public attention , the necessity of some action on the part of the mayor and council to bring about more effective administration of justice in the police court The sympathetic leaning of Judge Gordon to the vagrants , pettj thieves prdfcsslohal \ crooks who In fest the city makes It Impossible for the police to rid the town of that class ot criminals. So long ns Irresponsible shyster lawyers are allowed to go ou straw bonds for birds of prey whose booty they share Omaha will remain n desirable field for them to operate In , While full protection should be given to every man or woman charged wltli crime , no leniency should be shown to parties who live by Crime. lustcad of being n harbor of refuge for profes sional criminals the police court should co-operate with the police In repressing crime. By itho time the "treaty " of peace IB con firmed by the senate there will be some difficulty , at the present rate of progress in the Philippines , in finding n spot on the Islands over which the Spanish can relinquishsovereignty. The last place of Importance in the Islands has fallen Into the bands of the insurgents. The best title which Spain Is able to give is n quit claim deed. As usual the people most concerned * in proposed new legislation affecting particular Interests Hud when they try tc agree upon a measure that they arc far apart In their Ideas of what the law should be. As nil legislation Is largely secured by compromise , the only way open Is to get together on points on which agreement can bo reached. Improved \if ItcTlilon , So'mervllle Journal. Som6 men Would rather be right than be president , but the correct thing la to be right and president , too. The Porto Illcnn Budget. Philadelphia Recor l. General QUy V. Henry , military governor of Porto Rico , baa reduced the budget for the coming year to 1,700,000 pesos from 4,000,000 pcaos , as under the Spanish regime. The difference probably represents the amount formerly appropriated to the pay ol the tag-rag ot supernumeraries , ulnecures and spies , who crowded the courts of the Spanish captains general and every petty deputy governor In Spain's colonies. GrcatncN * Tlirait Upon Us. New York Tribune. The eloquent Bulzer Is to untold hlmiett and epread hla mighty mind at the Jackson banquet in Chicago January 7 , and later at Omaha , playing , an the case may be , first or second fiddle to Bryan on both occasions. It they are to be running mateo In the next campaign , as some political wiseacres now surmise , Sulzor's pneumatic' contribution to the partnership will-not be lacking either in pressure to the square Inch or volume. Pension * ( or Ex-Confederate * . Boston Herald. The itra&ge proposal made by Senator Butler ot North Carolina to pension the ex- confederate soldiers has , of course , no pros pect of adoption. It may be sent up as a trial balloon , but it has not the ellghteat chance to flnd a favoring wind. The time IB hardly yet ripe for a successful attack upon the treasury In behalf of the men who fought to break up the 'union , and , besides , It sins against the spirit , If not the letter , ot the fourteenth amendment to the consti tution. ' , ' Great Promoter ol"l > mpernnce. Kansas CttV Bur * ' The national cpmmU lemer. of labor ha * lately compiled come atajjs lci which stoould cause the , Intending or'poMlblo drunkard to pause. Inquiries addressed ; by thp commissioner ' sioner to 7,000 'establishments resulted In the Information that 5,363 employers were In the habit of considering whether a person was in the habit of drinking before giving him any sort ot a place and these employers gave sufficient reasons for this practice. They said .that they were , afraid ot the un reliability of drinking men ; that they were obliged to guard against accidents. Trial of Government Ownership. Chicago Chronicle. The advocates ot a government ownership of telegraphs and telephone lines will watoh with interest the working of that system in Porto Rico , where the Spanish government has turned over to the United States au thorities all the lines In the Island. If the government can operate- the Porto Rlcan telegraphs and telephones at a moderate cost L'here ' will be good ground to assume that the same thing can be done In this country. The' British system 1airly satisfactory and there la no reason why It should not succeed with us , though the greater extent of territory in the United States renders the conditions markedly different. The Porto Rlcan experiment , however , will be an American ono and its success or failure will have an Important bearing upon the question of government ownership. PnOSPEHITY OF THE HAILROADS. Harked Improvement In the Proper- tie * ana in Iltmlueiii Handled. Kansas City Star. For many weeks the railroads of the United States have had air the business they could handle with their present equipment , ana In nearly all parta of the country tbero las been constant complaint of scarcity ot care. At all the great market centers the raosportatlon of grain has been Impeded by .ho lack of cars , and there has been more or 'tea ' complaint of a similar character among wholesale merchants. The railroads have every available car and engine In use and the factories are turning out more as fast aa they can bo made. They never before experienced such a condition , except for a short period during the after-harvest rush of a great grain crop to market. It Is on- Ircly without precedent at this season of .he year. This means , of course , constant ncrcaacs la earnings. Some companies which have not paid dividends for many years are now able to distribute profits to stockholders. Most of the rallroada which went Into the hands of receivers during and iftcr the panic of 1S93 have been reorgan- zod. Many companies have substituted new lands bearing reduced rates of Interest for heir old obligations. Nearly all have made special efforts In the last few years to Im prove their properties by laying heavier rails , straightening their tracks , building lew bridges , extending their terminal facili ties and In other way * , ao that It may bo said that the railroads of the United Statea , taking them air together , are In better con dition physically and financially at the pres ent time than they over were before. The market value of their securities IB higher In consequence than for many yearn past. There U less speculative manipulation by officials and a more gcueraf practice of man aging railroads on conservative business principles than at any preceding time. The railroads constitute about 15 per cent ot the aggregate wealth ot the country and , there fore , It U Important that they should bo irosperoui , ond.lt Is fortunate for the coun- ry that their prosperity ! not ot a tpecula- Ivo character , but rather of the kind that naurea steady , moderate returns on the cap- tal Inveited in them. They are hauling 'rolght ' and passenger * at lower ratea now than ever before and every efficient railroad manager , roiogqlzlng that the declining ten dency of rate * must continue , Is bending hla * efforts toward reducing the cost of transpor tation and Increasing profit * In that way , rather than by weklng to increase the chargti for triniport&tlon. KII.'TV-HIXTII fillATE. Polltloal Complexion of the Nex < Upper llounc. Philadelphia. Press. The different state leglitaturcfl will meet early lu January , and the work of filling the Botmtorshl ; * stilt vacant In the roll of the Bonato of the Flfty-clxtb congress will be gin teen after. The t rmt of thirty senators , or just one-third of the senate , expire with the present congress , Six of these scats have been filled already , leaving twenty-four elections to bo held. Senator * Money of Mississippi , Hanna of Ohio , Aldrlch of Ithodo Island , Proctor of Vermont , and Daniel of Virginia , have been re-elected and McComaB haa been chosen In Maryland to succeed Senator Gorman , The other twenty- four elections should all be completed In ' January , unless' there are prolonged con tests , except In the case of Florida , whoso legislature docs not meet until April 6. In the event ot an extra session called before that date one of Florida's seats would bo vacant for a time. Premising that republican legislatures will el ct republican senators and democratic legislatures democratic senators , the political complexion of the Fifty-sixth senate can bo outlined. It will bo a republican twnate by eighteen majority over a com bined democratic and populist opposition. The membership of the different states will stand as follows : Dern. | com. States. nep.Ponp. States- ncp.Popl Alabama. 2 Nebraska 2 . . Arkansas 2 Nevada 2 California 2 . . New Hampshire 2 . . Colorado 1 1 New Jersey . . . 2 . . Connecticut . . . 2 . . New York 2 . . Delaware 1 1 North Carolina 1 1 'orida ' 2 North Dakota . 2 . . Georgia 2 Ohio .7. 2 Idaho i loreuon 2 . . Illinois 2 . . Pennsylvavnla 2 . . Indiana 2 . . Rhode Island . 2 . . Jowa 2 . . South Carolina . . 2 Kansas 1 1 South Dakota . . . 2 Kentucky i ] Tennessee 2 Louisiana 2 Texas 2 Milne 2 . Utah 2 Maryland . . . . . 2 . Vermont 2 . . Massachusetts 2 . Virginia 2 Michigan 2 . Washington . 1 i Minnesota 2 . Went Vlrclnln 2 Mississippi awSconVlnL" . 2 ! ! Missouri 2 Wyoming . . . . 2 . . Montana 11 _ 11 I Totals M 36 The democratic-populist combination U made up of twenty-six democrats and ten populist and silver senators. Among the fcopultsts la counted Kyle of South Dakota , but recent expressions from him make It probable that ho will be found voting with the republicans oftener than with the oppo sition. With his vote the republican ma- Jorlty In the next senate will bo twenty. In this statement the West Virginia legis lature Is calculated upon to elect a repub lican to succeed Senator Faulkner. There does not appear to be much doubt OB to this , although the democrats may delay the elec tion by some attempts at revolutionary tac tics. In the other states ct down aa ex pected to elect republican , senators there can be no doubt as to the result. The republican - publican majorities In legislatures are large enough to remove all uncertainty. In no probability can the republican majority fall below sixteen , and It may rise to twenty. One of the remarkable features of the next senate will be the large republican gain. Since 1S93 the republicans will have gained eighteen seats , ten of which gain will be over their strength in the present senate. So great a gain haa not come to the party In thirty and It insures years , long-con tinued republican supremacy In the upper branch of congress. Another remarkable feature will be the lack of democratic senators - ators from the northern states. From the Atlantic to the Pacific not a single straight democratic senator will represent a state In the north. One senator from Montana and one from Utah may be classed as demo crats , but they will be elected by fusion legislatures , and are aa much populist a * democrat. This situation will probably be unparalleled in the history of the country . Another fact is , that In addition to their great strength from the north the repub licans have broken Into the democratic stronghold and will have eight senators from the south. MILITARISM AND THE MILITIA. Serlonn Objection * to a Reiralar Army of 1OOOOO Men. Springfield ( Mass. ) Republican. The scheme to fasten upon the country a permanent standing army of 100,000 men Is vicious from every standpoint. An army ot 50,000 , double what we bad before the Span ish war , would be sufficient. If more sol diers are needed to suppress the Filipinos the Idea of a temporary army ot occupation , enlisted for a definite period , 1 * entirely feasible. If a regular army ot 100,000 can be raised , It Is certain that one of 60,000 and a temporary force of 60,000 more can bo raised. The tremendous cost of a permanent stand ing army of 100,000 men bos been fully ex posed. The program of American militarism In actual figures means the most expensive and burdensome annual war budget known to the world. Meanwhile , what is to become of the national guard , the system of volun teer soldiery which Is far more In harmony with republican Institutions than a great standing army ? Was not the mllltla sys tem to be reorganized and strengthened t The minority of the house committee on military affairs claim that the passage ot the Hull bills mean * "the practical destruc tion of the national guard and the volunteer troops ot the states. " An extreme statement - ment , perhaps ; yet what IB to be the future of the militia under the now militarism ot the time ? It may be the purpose of the military party , now dominated by professional sol diers , to spend more money from the na tional treasury upon the national guard after the standing army of 100,000 has been cre ated. If BO , where Is the end of the tax burdens they propose to load upon the com mon people of the United Statea ? One hun dred and fifty million dollars a year for the regular army ; $50,000.000 for navy ; 145- | 000,000 for war pensions ; total $345,000,000 a ( tar now much more can the American tax payer stand and how much more will ho itand ? If , however , the military party , hav ing created the large standing army , neglect the national guard , will It be at all strange ? , The professional soldier Is not particularly [ friendly to the volunteer service and the probability Is that having secured a regular army of 100,000 men the military party , per haps on the ground of "economy , " will take a rest and let the mllltla system shift for itself. The state militias could be Immensely Im proved If a small part of the money It Is proposed to spend on the regular army were used for their benefit. If the stand ing army were Increased only to 60,000 , think of the millions saved from which an appropriation for the strengthening of the citizen soldiery could be made. At the present time congress aids the state militias to the extent of but $400,000 a year. That sum Is hardly enough to pay for target practice. The result was seen in the mis erable condition of the mllUla In all but two or three eastern states when war with Spain broke out last spring. Many states bad substantially no xnlllUa at all , Otber states could not equip their men. An ( throughout tbo union serious confusion at tended the transfer of the atato rcglmonti to the national control for service abroad In tbo early weeks of the war the presi was full of suggestions as to the reortcanl zatlou and Improvement of the nntloim guard and the placing of It lu closer toucl with the national government. The militarist scheme to burden the coun try with a standing , professional army a least twlco as largo ns wo need , Is a serl ous menace to the national guard as well a an audacious threat against the republic "We have outgrown the constitution , " nay a leading professional soldier , General Mcr rltt. Let the people take heed. VMCLU SAMBWAKE : . Milwaukee Wisconsin : Wakes Island ' 2,000 miles from the ! Hawaiian Islands , which the United States Intends to occupy as t cable station , has no fresh water and U therefore well named. Whoever secures the lonely government cable position will have | ' to 'stay wide awake at the condenser In order to got a drink. I St. Louis Republic : It Is big enough for cable to be landed on It , however , and by the time a fort , a condenser for making | fresh water , stores ot provisions and fl supply of petroleum to keep the tklal \ > a > e : from playing hldo and seek over the Island , : which Is only eight feet above sea level , have been placed on lt.oug'ht ' to be a use ful and ornamental addition to the public domain. Buffalo Express : Soon after the formal annexation of Hawaii a story was starlet In Washington that the United States woul take Wake Island , which Is about mldwa betweeji Hawaii and Guam , In order to com plete Ito chain of Islands across the Pacific The report Is now revived. If the Unltci States Is to have even a series of nava stations in the Pacific U will need to con nect them by cable , and then , In the even ot war , It will need to keep a fleet at eac station to prevent the cable from being ' cut. Philadelphia Ledger : Heretofore It ha been , virtually , nobody's land , for nobod thought enough of It to claim possession nor would It be worth anything now , bcln a mere coral reef raised a few feet nbov the sea and Utterly barren , were It no that it , happens to bo favorably sltuatet for a cable station on a line across th Pacific. The act of our government 1 taking possession of It , therefore , mean that It looks forward to the laying of a 'American ' cable In the'not distant future. Minneapolis Tribune : , If there are an other islands In the Pacific ocean whlc we happen to need in the development o our now policy as a Pacific power , steps wll no doubt bo taken to acquire them , elthe by seizure or purchase from their legltlmat owners , If they have any. The United Statea cannot do things by halves. Havln put our hand to the plow , wo must not lee ! back. Wo must adopt all the modern de vices for consolidating our vast emplr through the most rapid means of coramunt cation known to science and practical me chanlcs. PERSONAL AND OTHERWISE ] . Cornelius Vanderbllt drinks no Intoxl eating liquor except a little claret with hi dinner. In the opinion of bis modern Interpreters Thomas Jefferson did not understand him self at all. Spain seems to have availed Itself ot the opportunity presented by the recent war to getting rid of a lot of obsolete artillery. Prof. Alexander Graham Bell , the Invento ot the telephone , arrived In Japan on DC comber 5 , and Is receiving many attentions from the Japanese. General Wheeler has consented to be present at the Utlca , N. V. , soldiers' ban quct to bet , given January 25. He will respond spend tothe , toast , "The Nation's Wei come. " Senator Turplo of Indiana says he never carries a watch because people used to bother him so much by asking the time "I thought I'd try my turn at bothering somebody else , " says the senator. Prince Malik Mansur Mlrza , the seconc son of the shah of Persia , has just arrived In Brussels. He Is an Intelligent-looking young man , about 18 years old , who has received a thorough European education. Brigadier General Harrison G. Otis , now serving In the Philippines , enlisted in the civil war with President McKlnley 4n the Twenty-third Ohio. Private McKlnley rose to be a brevet major and Private Otis a colonel. When the late Calvin S. Brlce failed in hi * earliest ventures he was about to give up entirely had it not been for the eucour- agemnt and aid given him by Mr. Foster who was afterward secretary of the treasury under President Harrison. Dr. Dvorak , the composer , has just re ceived from the Austro-Hungarlan emperor , on the occasion of 'the ' Royal jubilee , the decoration , "For Arts and Sciences. " This order , it seems , Is very rarely bestowed , the laat musician who received It being Brahms himself. In one of his early speeches President MoKlnley used the words "biped" and "quadruped. " When he had concluded a rustic hearer asked him the difference between ths tv\o words. "Tho difference between biped and quadruped ? " replied Mr. McKlnley. "Why , two legs. " Dlspeniary constables seized the fine stock of wines Intended for tbo banquet ot the New England society at Charleston , S. C. , Wednesday , but It was finally rcplevlned and In consequence there was no occasion to quote the famous remark of the governor of North Carolina to the governor of South Carolina. The young Chinese emperor , having out- llved the reports that he had committed sulcfde or been assassinated , 1s now , de scribed by Dr. Dethcre , a Frenchman , "who Is ono of his physicians , as merely a suf ferer from fits of depression and lassitude , his real ailment , so far as there Is any , being abnormal melancholia. While on the bench Associate Justice Me- Kenna of the United Statea supreme court 1 * the personification of dignity , In private he Is too rnojt democratic member of "tho highest tribunal in the land. " In pleasant weather ho always walks to the court , stop ping frequently to cfoat a moment with a friend or gaze with Interest at tbo shop windows. Ship Il iunlle Not Needed. New York Times. The shipbuilders Insist upon some form of direct or Indirect checks on competition. They claim that they cannot do business without it. The claim hv absolutely un founded. We are sending locomotives to Japan and to England. Wo can .build ships at rates relatively as low as we can build locomotives. We actually do build war jhlps for Russia and Japan , against the competition ot the world. AH that our shipbuilders really need U the spur of open : ompetltlon. Since that would be of In estimable advantage to the whole nation ind no real harm to them congress should provide for it at the earliest moment. POWDER Makes the food more delicious and wholesome . . OVAl tAKIM MMfOCI CO. , MWVMK. Cleveland J'lnln DcHlrr : "To tell th truth 1 Increase rny helRht a llt'le by wear ing footiniln | In my shoes. " ' ' " 'Footpads ? "Yes hold . " , they tno up. Somtrvlllo Jotirnnl : When a youn woman han the Mornnchnrhc h * puts tier hand pathetically to her forelicftd and nays : "Oil , my jioor head I" Chicago necord : "Here , thin Isn't the ChrlMmns spirit-dunning mo for motioy on Christmas day. " i "Well , If you hnd the Christmas spirit you would pay me. " Boston Journal : "That younKO t boy of yourn dom not seem to lie u credit to you , " aald the white ninn to Uncle Moe , "No , sah , " tald Uncle. Mose. "Ho IB the wustt'st chllo I has. Ito Is mighty bad. He' * do white sheep of de family , sah. " New York Commercial : "Optimism , " said ths sorry fool , "is seeing the green sldo of a > 5 bill,1 "And what Is pcfulmlMn ? " askd hli friend. "Seeing neither side of a $5 bill. " Detroit Journal : "And that , " exclaimed the party of the ilrm purl , "Is the milk In the coccmmitl" "Yen , and It Isn't chalk and wntcr , oltherl" rejoined the party of the toeond part. "No , clmlk and water In the milk In tin chcatnut ! " Interposed the party of no parti , weakly. 1 Chicago Post : "Hctncmbor , " said th father of the youns man who wan Inclined to bo fast , "that the race la not always to the swift. " "And remember also , " said his sister , who was addicted to the. proprcsMve euchre habit , "that the booby prize Is sometime * of more real value than the other. " Washington Star : "Nobody , " said the man who nuts In his life thinking up thing * that people Bald long ago , "Is content with what he obtains easily and possesses In abundance. " "That's true , " answered his friend. "Look at tliu Standard Oil company. Hat mllllun ? of gallons of petroleum and ho * to go burning books. " TUB WANING YEAH. 8. E. KIser In Cleveland Leader. I. Slowly the shadows of the wanlnr year Stretch out across the earth's white plaint and bare ; Faintly the Jlrst Kray stars of night appear , And time , on ghostly wings , disturbs tb air ! A year that bulges with events Is near The peaceful end for which men's arm * were drawn , The war god's bloody ax and dripping spear Lie loosely crossed upon hate's mnflled bier , And destiny , appeased , is looking on. II. So dies the year a year with marvel ! fraught A year that gave to glory a new blrthl Another epoch from fate's hand Is caught And progress marks fresh pathways o'er the eurthl Lo ! where oppression's heavy hand wa * laid Sweet freedom bends to bid the stricken rise ; Where hatred's sword clashed with rebel lion's blade The llres of liberty leap up to the skte * Where old disorder's banner was displayed The orillame of order proudly niesl III. To us has come from God the glorious right To strike down evil and succor those Who , rendered prostrate by superior might. In vain asked mercy from their heart less foes I To us was given the opportunity To sot a high example for mankind ; Free sons of sires who fought to act men free , We , too. have given others liberty And all the wondering nations search to nnd The glories In their annals , finding none. To parallel the glory we have won ! IV. Slowly the shadows of the waning year Are creeping o'er the earth's bare field * and gray ; Out In the misty , future there appear New nations , clearing tangled wrecks away ! To God all glory for the. strength he gave Unto our matchless fleets upon the wave ? ; To God tli ? praise for righteous power to wield , Unvanqulshod arms upon the bloody field ! ' Thank God for victories the year' has brought And doubly thank him for our strength to show- When nil was won that jealous honor sought The sweets of mercy to the fallen feel Special Clothing Sale , FRIDAY AND SATIRDAY , We take inventory Monday , January 2nd , and we have some bro ken lines of suits , over coats and ulsters for men that we would like to sell before that time. We are going to give you a good chance to get some thing for almost nothing. And you will be foolish not to improve it if you ever use ready made clothing , and this kind is the very best made. There are 200 sack and frock suits. There are 20 over coats. coats.There There are 60 ulsters. AH sizes are repre sented in the entire lot- but not in any one line' . There are 34-in. in some , 36-in in another and so on up to 49 , and none of these suits or over coats sold for less than $15 and the majority of them sold for $16.50 , $ J8 , $20 and $25 and to close them out as near as possible we have placed them on two tables in the center of our store and will let you take your choice of any suit , overcoat or ulster on them for $12.50. Remember Friday or Saturday but come Fri day if you want first choice.