.THE OMAHA DAILY 1JJ3E : SATrKDAY. DKCJ3M111317 2l. ! 1800.
E OMAHA DAILY BEE ,
13. UOSKWATEK , Kdltor.
I'UULISllIiD KVEKY MOHNING.
' TEHMS OK SUUSCllirTlON.
Dally Hce ( without Sunday ) . One Ycar.VS.W
Dully llco and Sunday , One Year . S.W
Dally , Sunday and Illustrated , One Year 8.2
Humliiy ami Illustrated. Ono Year. . . . . . . 2.
IlhifttraUd Heo , One Year . 2.O.
Hunday Utc. Ono Year . 2.W
Saturday Hco , Ono Year
Weekly Dec. Ono Year
OFFICES.
Omaha : Tha Ilco HuildliiB.
South Omaha : City Hall Hulldlnj
Twenty-fifth and N BtreMs.
Council Hlurfs : 10 1'carl Street.
Chicago : 1010 L'nlty Hulldlng.
Now York : Temple Court.
Washington : 601 fourteenth Street.
Communications .elating to news ana edi
torial matter should bo addressed : Omana
Uee. Kdltorlal Department.
HUSINESS LKTTEHS.
Huslnof-s letters and remittances should
lo ) addressed : The Bco Publishing Lorn-
pany , Omaha ,
KBMITTANCE9.
Remit by draft , express or postal order , .
payable to The Hco Publishing Company.
Only 2-ccnt stamps accepted In payment 01
mall account * . Personal rheeks. except on
Omaha or Eastern exchango. not necopteu.
TUB HBB PUUUSHINQ COMPANY.
State of Nebraska. Douglas County , ss. :
George H. Tzsrnuck , secretary of Tb Boa
Publishing company , being duly sworn.
Jays that the actual number of full anil
complete copies of The Dally , Morning ,
livening nnd Sunday Hoe. printed during
the month of November , 1W. was ns fol-
ows :
Not total sales .7llH ) ) ! )
Net daily * i
Subscribed and sworn before mo tnls 1st
lay of December. A. D. .
.nuNaATEi
( Scat. ) ' Notcry Public.
Clvnii. ArtlM < lo ninl I.ii
Publishers' Guide , New York.
The Illustrated Thanksgiving
edition of The Omaha Bee does
great credit to the management. It
IB clean , artistic and entertaining.
The question is , Will the ilomocrnts
risk carrying their nominating conven
tion Into the enemy's country ?
Only one more ilay of Christmas short-
ping. Tliono who fail to come early
will be unable to avoid the rush.
A Nebraska man is to be in charge of
the failed Olobe National bank of HOK-
ton as temporary receiver. Tills Is a
case where the west will give the east
tips on llnance.
Lincoln deserves congratulation on the
line Christmas present it is to receive
from Andrew Carnegie. A city which
is made the recipient of such benetlcence
is fortunate indeed.
Senator .Tones , chairman of the
democratic national committee , is re
ported to lo full of hope for the com
ing campaign. His inllation 'is not
likely to last longer than next Novem
ber.
The Hoard of Education is not the
only body which has a special disregard
of the rights of the lowest bidder , but
its conduct in a recent case gives rise
to the. suspicion that there is an Kthio-
plan in the woodpile.
With the death of Dwlght U Moody
there lias been removed a man whose
labors for humanity are beyond com
putation. The world is brighter and
better that lie has lived and distinctly
poorer that he is dead.
Senator .Tones , chairman of the na
tional democratic committee , most em
phatically denies that he has dis
charged his campaign fund solicitors.
The denial was entirely uncalled for.
Nobody takes Mr. Jones for u fool.
Members of the Commercial club evi
dently did not know It was loaded
when they commenced the agitation
for the payment of delinquent personal
taxes. When people begin to xthrow
stones in the air they should take In
their glass roofs.
An indignant citl/.en protests against
an order of the park board preventing
skating on the upper lal e. The point
Is not well taken , That lake Is very
deep and Is therefore a dangerous place
for sport In any season of the year.
Children should be forbidden to skate
there.
The , recklessness of the school board
as Illustrated by the blackboard contract
given to the higher bidder Is only one
example of extravagance In that quar
ter. The new board can earn public
gratitude by returning to business meth
ods and sticking to them.
Another forefathers' day has bet-n cel
ebrated with feast of food and reason.
If some of the undent Puritans had
only known what nn excuse they went
giving their successors to revel at the
banquet board they might have turned
hack without landing on that historic
December day.
The silver republicans are out with
a call for their state committee to meet
to ll.x the date of their state conven
tion to select delegates to the national
convention. How much longer Is the
farce to be kept up after ( lie silver re
publicans , If there ever were any , have
ceased to exist as a distinct organiza
tion ?
Cuban affairs are a source of con
stant surprises to people In this coun
try. The latest is the consolidation of
all HID street car lines In the city with
out any. Increase In the capital stoi'k of
the new company over that of its con
stituent parts. The Job was accom
plished by foreign capital , for i.j Amer
ican would overlook such u chance to
ruko a ; > roilt.
oM.vnsr.i.vo.ir. .
The poporrats of Nebraska have been
treated to another iliw of gall and
vermifuge froih the defuncto candidate
for the Tutted States senate In the
shape of a double-shotted piMiiuncla-
mento to the State Hoard of Tnlnspnr-
liitlon commanding It to get a move
on Itself and take In hand the lele-
graph , telephone , express and railroad
companies.
The text for this extraordinary edict
Is said to he embodied In the recent
decision of the supreme court on the
Weaver Insurance bill , which Is Inter
preted by the defuncto candidate foi
the I' . S. S. as a patent of
mobility for the three eminent salary
grafters that hold a soft snap In the
state house under the meaningless title
of State Hoard of Transportation.
According to this profound exinunder
of constitutional law , the decision on
the insurance bill aillrms beyond a
question the validity of Joe Kdgerton ,
Jim Dahlman and Cllbert L. Laws. As
a mutter .if fact , the authority vested
by the legislature In the railroad com
mission was alllrmed by Maxwell ,
Hi-i-so and Cobb , acting as judges of
the supreme court years ago. and there
has never been anything In the way of
the bogus commissioners except their
natural sense of gratitude to their cor
porate godfathers.
The defuncto candidate knows full
well that the present popocratlc reform
board stood pledged to protect the pro
ducers against unjust discrimination
and extortion , hut had absolutely failed
to redeem a single pledge. He' knows
that these men were chosen from
among other aspirants because they
were satisfactory to the corporations as
well as to himself and the Jacksonlan
machine.
What possesses him so suddenly to
flap his friends In the face and heap In
sult upon the state house machine we
are not able to divine. The popocratlc
farmers may be fooled by this grand
stand play and high-sounding demand
for action , but people who have been
under the tent and know the perform
ers'cannot be fooled. The do-nothing
board was purposely picked to do the
bidding of the corporation managers.
They are satislied with their jobs and
don't propose to resign or die just be
cause the defuncto candidate for 17. S.
S. has the tantrums and feels pleasure
in harpooning them.
MUltK JslUIlT A'KKDCl ) .
The Commercial club Is to have a
discussion of municipal ownership. It
is to bo hoped It Is not designed to
manufacture political capital for any
party or candidate. The question o"
municipal ownership Is In no sense a
political Issue and should not be de
cided upon political lines.
There Is practically no division of
opinion among our citizens as to the de
sirability of the city owning and oper
ating the water works , gas and electric
lighting plants as soon as conditions
will permit. The mere voting of bonds
In the sum of ? , " ,000,000 or any other
amount for the purchase''ot'the water
works or the construction of a rival
water system will not solve the prob
lem with which Omaha is confronted.
Nor will the popular demand for mu
nicipal ownership be satisfied with the
acquisition of the water works alone.
The people want cheaper light , heat
and power as well as cheaper water.
It may as well be understood from the
outset , also , that the taxpayers of
Omaha are not ready to embark in the
experiment without full knowledge of
what It will Involve , not only in the
way of original cost , but In the way of
needed enlargements , extensions and
operating expenses.
In dealing with the water works
problem It becomes a question not
merely of acquiring the plant at a rea
sonable price , but also of acquiring it
without paying a largo bonus for the
uuexplred contract and franchise. That
brings iii ] primarily the disputed ques
tion of t'.iu date when the city may
take possession on an appraisement
omitting the value of the franchise. So
long as that question remains open no
accurate estimate of the amount of
bonds required can be made.
In any event it Is well for the Com
mercial club to get as much light on the
subject as It can and let the people of
Omaha have the benefit of the infer
mation.
xo n.ixaKit ro
The professed apprehension of this
opponents of the house currency bill
that the provision relating to the re-
ili-mptl'.n ' of the I'nltcd States legal ten
der notes would eventually result In
destroying the greenbacks Is not well
founded. This provision requires that
the legal tender notes redeemed In gold
shall be retained In the treasury until
exchanged for gold. In a transaction
of this kind there would be neither con
traction nor necessarily the permanent
retirement of the notes. The place of
the paper withdrawn from circulation
would be tilled by gold , so that the
amount of currency in the hands of the
people would remain unchanged. The
redeemed notes would bo retained In
the treasury to bo exchanged for gold
whenever the iiubllc should call for
such exchange. They would not he
canceled or destroyed , but would con
tinue to constitute a part of the linaii-
clal resources of the treasury as the
representative of gold withdrawn and
In circulation.
It Is conceivable that In the event of
an extraordinary foreign demand for
gold a large amount of legal tender
note's might be presented for redemp
tion and remain In the treasury until
the gold sent abroad returned , but thin
Is HO remote a possibility as hardly to
merit serious consideration. I'nder
normal conditions it has been conclu
sively shown ( hat there Is little dis
position to exchange legal tender notes
for gold , the popular preference being
for the paper currency for general use.
For fourteen years after the resump
tion of spoclo payments the gold reserve -
servo was never seriously depleted
through redemption of greenbacks and
since the present administration came
In the treasury IMS experienced no
trouble In this direction. On the con
trary. millions of gold withdrawn from ,
the treasury In cxchnuup fr legal ten |
der notes under the preredlnt : utlinlnls-
| t rut Ion went bark to the treasury for
! greenbacks. It Is estimated that lust
j year Wri.ooiUMMi of gold was tendered \
j the treasury for paper which could not
be supplied anil as was aid by one
of the supporters of the currency bill ,
"the appearance of greenbacks at the
counter of the treasury demanding gold
Is as rare as bluebirds in winter. "
The Ingenuity of the democratic mind
has been freely exerted In the endeavor
to show how destruction of the green
backs would be effected under the oper
ation of the house currency bill , but
none of the assumptions will stand the
test of Intelligent examination. Then-
Is no danger to tin- greenbacks In the
house measure. It is nut hostile to
that portion of the currency , but on
the contrary protects It by taking it out
of the power of speculators or others
to use the greenbacks as an Instrument
for harassing and embarrassing the
national treasury. The provision re
lating to the redemption of legal ten
der notes was first suggested , we be
lieve , by a former democratic secretary
of the treasury. Mr. Falrchlld. It was
subsequently recommended by Presi
dent McKlnley and it has been ap
proved by the best ilnunelnl opinion In
the country. It Is practical and It Is
just alike to the government and the
people.
nit ; xiAvn.ir HKH.
Patrons of The Hee Sunday will be
reminded of the holiday season by re
ceiving a special double Christmas num
ber of The Illustrated Nee.
This number Is so tilled with Instruct
ive and entertaining literary and pic
torial features that it woulil be fruit
less to attempt to enumerate them.
It has the Christmas llavor from
llrst to last. It is encased in a hand
some colored cover , printed In three
colors characteristic of the season , and
Includes twenty pages of crisp reading
matter , set off with clear half-tone cuts.
'It ' Is a number which every person
will want to read through and preserve
for future reference and should be sent
to friends In other cities as a most suit
able souvenir of Christmas In Omaha.
Watch for The Sunday Heo and In
sist , upon having it. Christmas will not
lie complete without it. The usual price.
TllK Tire CUHIIKMT H//LS.
The currency bill framed by the sen
ate llnance committee will be presented
as a substitute for the measure passed
by the house. There Is no doubt that
at present the weight of public opinion
is in favor of the latter and the more
carefully the two measures are consid
ered the stronger this opinion is likely
to become. This should exert an in
fluence upon the senate , though that
body usually gives little attention to
public opinion.
AVe have already referred to some of
the differences between the two meas
ures and particularly lo the refunding
provision of the senate bill , which is
perhaps its most vulnerable feature. In
reference to thlte the Philadelphia In
quirer remarks that there is much room
for doubt both as to its feasibility and
wisdom. "We question very much , "
says that paper , "whether the United
States can borrow the vast amount in
volved at so low a rate as 2 per cent
anil we are not at all convinced as to
the expediency of trying to do so. For
the first time in many years Kngland is
likely soon to be a borrower in the
market and this will further complicate
the situation. " Not only is it practically
certain that the government could not
now carry out the proposed refunding
plan , but It Is very doubtful if the pro
posal to thus extend the public debt
will receive public approval. It is a
departure from the past policy of the-
government for Avhieh there appinrs to
bo no good and sutliclent reason. The
senate finance committc" would do well
to abandon this provision , for the suc
cess of which the financial conditions
are obviously not auspicious.
Missouri congressmen are said to have
Invaded the War department In a vain
effort to secure the removal of military
headquarters from Omaha to Kansas
City or St. Louis. The Incentive for
this wild goose chase is doubtless to be
traced directly to the splenetic rattle
the Omaha World-Herald has made con
cerning the removal of army headquar
ters from one building to another. The
Washington correspondent of the
Omaha Fakery is also correspondent for
the Kansas City Journal and his dis
patches to the Kansas City paper con
cerning the probable relocation of the
army quarters at Omaha were the nat
ural reflex of the work he has bi-i-n or
dered to do from this end to stir up
the department. In reality there has
never been any chance for Kansas City
or St. I.ouls taking away the depart
ment quartern from Omaha , not because
the government Is the owner of valua
ble public buildings In this city , but
beciiuse Omaha Is regarded by the war
olllcc as the most strategic point and'
best distribution center west of the Mis
sissippi river. It goes without saying
that the Missouri congressmen would
never have thought of the posslblo
change had It not been for the malicious
as well as stupid canards gotten up by
the W.-II.
The Class Tableware trust has is
sued an olllciul circular from which It
appears that the combined value of all
the property of the trust , including
plants and goods on hand , Is $ ,0 < HMM ) ( ) ,
bonded for half that amount. In ad
dition stock outstanding equals the
value of all the property the trust owns.
As the trust controls practically all the
plants In the country It proposes to
make the public pay dividends on this
enormous overcapitalization and during
the past year seems to have sumu'diMl
in doing so. Still the trust managers
contend that this Institution Is per
fectly legitimate.
The railroads have been granted
seven mouths more In which to com
ply with the safety appliance law. This
will save the companies a little money ,
but how about the lives of the em
ployes ? The railroads are certainly
lining well enough nmv that 11-1 fur
ther ox ten-don on the ground of cxres
j slve cost will be tctiabh- . Hut the Ne
bra ska law stands and can not be sus
pi-ndcd by any Interstate coiumi-rci-
commission.
Tlrtpnpncratle organs angrcatlj
worried because Secretary (5am- ( has
tala-u steps t. > relieve the It-inputar\
monetary strln-'eiicy. Nothing wotili
suit the purposes of the popocratlc poli
ticians so much as a iluaucial panic
which would obliterate the present pr s
perlly. It matters little to them whui
distress might follow In IN wake si
they be enabled to ride Into olllce on
a wave of calamity.
The Douglas county democracy Is tube
bo established the llrst of the year In
permanent headquarters , but whether
it can outdo the .lacksonlau club In tin
magnlllcpuce of Its sideboard wliroiil.v
be determined after due examination
and test by a commission of experts
selected by lot from the membership ot
the two orgiinlxatlons.
We are pleased to read among thr
local brevities of our amiable contem
porary that "Prince Hohenlohe will
spend the Christmas holidays with hit-
son. " AVe were not aware that Omaha
had the distinguished honor of counting
a sou of Prince IIohenl- > In Its popu
lation , but the prince will be welcome
just the same.
It will require something stronger
than double column editorials to
awaken the State Hoard of Transporta
tion from Its siitmbers. Kvi-n if tern-
porarlly rousi-d the board soon re
lapses Into a comatose state. Kvcry
expert Who has ever diagnosed the
case 1ms pronounced It practically
hopeless.
It is reported the Filipinos tire buy
ing artillery in Kurope. It Is to be
hoped the guns are modern and up to
dale. The t'nlted States needs a few
more such weapons in its business , and
if the Filipinos will -pay for them the
soldiers over in Luxon will look after
their transfer to the Tnlted States.
The coming of the new year will | vo
several people hereabouts an opportu
nity to discover how
it feels after a
long time to be separated from the pub
lic pay roll. They can console them
selves , however , with the knowledge
that others have gone through the same
experience and survived.
.Mcrlliiu Xrw Conditions :
Baltimore American.
Agulnaldo has changed his style of
manifesto into that of a running com
ment.
Doping n Hlnc-k Ke. .
Chicago Tribune.
The democratic party in Nebraska is still
applying raw beef and profanity to the black
eye It won in its recent victory.
\o v. for. n TiiHnlc.
Washington Post.
The octopus Is' engaged hi foreclosing
mortgages on the prpperty of Hon. John
Peter Altgeld. This ought to produce fcome
fierce screaming , i
Olio ( Inoil ItPHnlt.
Buffalo Express.
One retult of the slump in stocks un
doubtedly will be'thc suspension for a time
of the formation of new Industrial consoli
dations. This will be regretted by no one ,
for the public already has more of such
books than it is able to digest.
lloir AVe Crow.
New York Mall and Express.
Forty-ono new towns have been estab
lished in the states of Minnesota and Ne
braska within the last year , owing to the
necessity for more receiving and distributing
points for business. The prosperity boom
in that part of the country evidently has an
unusually high voltage.
-MllCllllIC AHUlllHl .11 II f III II f.
Philadelphia Itocnrd.
There is no contrivance of which the
political machinists are moro afraid than
the voting machine. These contrivances
liavo now been so perfected as to Insure
accuracy. They preserve the secrecy of the
ballot effectively. Tlio voter cannot put In
inoro votes for any single candidate than lie
Is entitled to east. The machine gives the
result as soon as the voting is ended , and
the voting Is done with greater rapidity than
under the present system of balloting.
MV-M "Mnlilrn Kflr < ir < . "
AVashlnston Post.
Senator Depew nroso nervously. He twirled
his eyo-glauscs , adjusted his frock coat and
glanced around fhe senate. He was a picture
of manly beauty.
"Mr. President , " ho said , In his soft ,
musical voice , like tlin tinkling of a crystal
rivulet over the pebbles.
The senators heard the voice and sal en
tranced. Perhaps , after all , the flood of
oratory was to be loosened.
' I pMHont a bill for reference to the
eorrailtlro on pensions , " said Mr. Depow.
Then sllcnco fell again upon the senatj
chamber. The junior Benntor from New
York h'ad made his maiden senatorial
speech.
.AHUM Too Much.
Chicago Chronicle.
Admiral Uewey may plead for the admis
sion Into this country of the Chinese who
served under him at Manila , but It will bo n
somewhat dellcato matter for congress to
grant tlio desired permission. It is true
that'a man who Is good enough to servo on
a nation's war ship ought to bo good
enough to step ashore at the end of a tri
umphant cruise , but congress can hardly
concede to Dewey's Chinese , who are not
cltlznns , rights which are denied to the
Filipinos , who nro under the benign and
sheltering folds of the Old Flag. In other
words , It would bo somewhat Inconsistent
to admit the Chinese while tlio collector at
the port of San Francisco continues to grab
by the nnpo of the neck and the seat of the
trouaeru every Filipino In sight , to be
pitched on board the first strainer bound
for our Philippine "possessions. "
1 C'liirfill C'iiliiiK-1.
J. Sterling Morton's C'onfcTvatlve.
The hilarity and exuberance of Colonel
Edgar Howard over the nomination of Silas
Holcomh to the supreme court lias been
duplicated by that gumo and gallant dls-
clplo. of populism In his rejoicings because
of the appointment of Allen to the senate by
death and ( Jovernor Poynter. Death pri
marily , and Poynter secondly , have ren
dered Howard the happiest of all the hypo
crites now pretending to trutt In the visions
and vagarlea of fusion , Illusion , delusion
and confusion ns represented by u leader
ship which in Nebraska at all times has
sacrificed principle , friends and party for
peiBomil promotion.Vo congratulate
Colonel Howard uK | > n Imvlng said "amen"
to Oovernor Pointer's senator-making and
also upon his having avoided the utterance
of tbe terrible- profanity which his volcanic
heart threw up to his lips on tin" tempestu
ous occasion to which as a "benevolently as
similated" democrat lie so pathciu-all)1 re
fers.
lTiit ! : I. VM > S Til \ \ ( Hit *
Therenro rumors In London that th
Hrltlsh government Intends to negotlnt
n loan to meet the cct of the war In Soutl
Africa. The addition of J100.000.000 or s
to the public debt of Orent HrlUInvoul
bo the least serious of the consequence
of the conlllrtllh the llocrs. The per
mnneiit funded debt of Ureat llrltaln. 01
March SI , ISflS ( the latest date for whlcl
exact ftt.itlstlcs nro nv.illable ) . was r < Si ,
TS7.624 , or nearly three billions of dollars
The high-water mark of the Hrlllsh publl
ilebt wiu reached In 1S10 , when It cxceeJo. .
COOO.OOO.OOO , or four ami one-hnlf billion
of dnll.lM. All of this mini tins been cxpemlo
' In foreign wars , beginning with the Amcrl
'can ' revolution and ending with the cinlllc
which brought about the downfall of Nn
polcon. During the past fifteen years tin
funded debt of Great llrltaln , which as lali
us 18S3 was 713,000.000. has been rapldl ;
reduced , and H had been expected to cu
It do\ui within the ensuing twenty yean
by at least 200,000.000. Several weeks agi
the outlay for the Iloer war was estimate !
at n little over 2,000,000 a month. The re
Inforcements of the army will nearly donbli
this um and , even If the war nhouM con
tlnue a twelvemonth , as seems probable
the total cost would not exceed the amoun
of the permanent dfbt redeemable by tin
British treasury at the current rate In tw (
and one-half years.
Japanese Influence Is snld to bo so Straus
In Peking that the Husslan represeuntlve : !
In the Chinese capital are unable to tnki
advantage of Kngland's troubles In Afrlcn
to obtain fresh concessions in the Chlnesi
empire. The hold which the Japanese have
gained upon the empress dowager and tin
strongest of her arsoclatcs In the Clilncsi
government seenm to be growing more am
more secure. Tlip feeling spreads In Clilmi
that the best friends of the nations of Aslu
which are still in.lcpcndent will bo foil nil
In the same continent , not In Kurope ot
America. This Is a very natural sentiment ,
and It may havp a great influence upon
the development of China. It the Japanese
can wake their big neighbor to anything
like the life which Japan enjojs all projects
for the partitioning of the Chinese empire
between the ever-hungry land-grabblnj !
powers of Kurope will have to be abandoned.
Then Asia would be more likely to ton ruloil
and led by. Asiatics , permanently , than It
has seemed posslblo It should be at any
time since the war between Japan and
China.
* 0 *
The French budget committee- has re
jected M. de Lanessan's proposal to con
struct two Immense ironclads of 11,800 tons
each and his amended scheme ot construct
ing two Ironclad cruisers. It lias decided
that the money available for next year must
bo devoted to hastening the completion ol
vessels already on the stocks. The con
struction of these gigantic vessels , each
costing 35,000,000 francs , Is thought , how
ever , to have been simply postponed , not
definitely abandoned , and a prominent naval
olllcer , an admiral , who has been inter
viewed by the Paris Figaro , maintains that
they are absolutely necessary , as combin
ing all tlio requisite qualities , offensive and
defensive. It is better , he holds , to expend
o3,000,000 francs OH a single vessel than to
spend 23,000.000 or 26,000,000 franc on one
which might be shattered by a shell. Had
the unanimous decision of the admiralty
council in 1SS9 been carried out the French
fleet , ho remarks , would have ships to vie
with the Majestic and Magnificent , of which
Kngland is so proud , and be proceeds to
point out that all the countries , while com
plaining of the cost and risk of loss , are
increasing the size of their ships.
* * *
From tlmo to thno rumors of the exist
ence of gold In the Italian colony of Ery-
thrca have raised liopes that the territory
might prove less burdensome to the Italian
exchequer in the future than It lias been In
the past.Vlthln the last few months these
rumors have acquired consistency sufflclent
to warrant the employment of two mining
experts , ono from New Zealand and the
other from Alaska , in order to investigate
the nature and extent of the gold-bearing
reefs. Replying to questions on the subject
in the Italian Chamber the other day Signor
Fuslnato , under secretary of state for for
eign affairs , confirmed the existence of de
posits and added , that the results of expert
investigation were of a nature to Justify
hopes , though further examination would
bo necessary to decide whether operations
on a considerable scale would be profitable.
iMeanwhiie the Italian government would
treat all applications for concessions with
the utmost favor and do everything possible
to encourage private enterprise.
* * #
The French minister of war , the Marquis
do Ralliffet , bns just Issued a significant
circular to the generals commanding the
different army corps. Ho begins by paying
that it Is well understood that the best
interests of the public service require that
there should be mutual understanding and
consent between the civil and the military
authorities and ho then proceeds to remark
Unit the establishment and maintenance of
these friendly and co-operative relations de
pend mainly upon the manner in which the
representatives of the two authorities behave -
have to each other. It is especially to the
Intiii'fst of the army , he maintains , that
thcso relations should be of the most cor
dial character. Ho concludes with the as
sertion that the order Is one to which ho
attaches especial Importance and with a ic-
qucet that commanding generals will direct
all their subordinates to pay particular at
tention to it.
I-IOItSO.VAl , A.M ) O'I'll'll\VISi : .
Nets are now to be tried as a means of
lessening the motion and force of sea waves.
They arc floated on the surface of the water
by an Invention of Baron d'Alesandro and
are said to be moro nfllcaeloiis than oil wlleu
used for the same purpose ,
During the week there were 250,000 Christ
mas trees plied up along the water front In
New York , varying from six to thirty fp < ! l
In height. The latter , according to thu
Times , "aro for churches and for the outside
of saloons. " Thu da extremes meet in a
common Interest , at Christmas.
Hook lovers In London and oven on 11)13
side are already greatly Interested in the
probability of the tulo at public auction of
the collection of Uernard Quarltch , the
famous and eccentric bibliophile of London ,
who has just died. Seine single volumes of
hi cost $5,000 and he aneo spent as much as
$200,000 $ at a sale.
Tim orders of decoration worn by the Oor-
mn ; ( emperor , according to a Ilorlln news
paper , nro worth about 1,000,000 marks , or a
llttlo moro than $230.000. The kulscr'n prin
cipal and most valuable decorations are the
Insignia of thelllack Kaglo , tlio Order of St.
John , tbo Order of the Carter and the Order
of the Tolson d'Or. In all ho has over 200
crorecs , .stars , badges and other Insignia.
Whether the question as to which Jiall
have precedence In olllelal functions , Dewey
or Miles , Is nettled or not and no ono
seems to know the controversy has resulted
In a new rule that no unmarried woman shall
precede a marrlc < l woman. Thus when a
cabinet matron sends her daughter to repre-
H9nt her nt a state affair the daughter must
take IUT place below iho whea of all
cabinet olilcors.
Chief of Police Divdcr of St. Joseph , Mo ,
evidently believes that the way to curb high
way robbery is to kill the footpads. With
th In end In view lie has pouted a notic-o at
headquarters offering a reward of $100 to
every ofllrer who kills a footpad. "Mind
you. " ho says , "tho footpads must bc dead.
I must have the coroner's certificate before
the reward will bo paid. It's the footpad a
bide that I iU pay for nui u live r-ibbcru
We liavo too many of that kind now.
f m\Tii or IM-II : . i\\vrov.
Minneapolis Journal : I.swton'R htrol
I death will fill the army In Luzon with fri-sl
j determination to make complete nnd thor
oiiRh the dispersion and supprofalou of In
mlpguldcd men who d.ircd In the hour o
a new birth for their country to strike n
I the ( Ing which curries freedom niul llgh
wherever It goes.
Knmtu City Star : There Is no other mat
In tlio American army who can exactly 111
Oeneral Lawton's plnco. In the days of tin
crusades he would have been found for ahcai
i of the column , necking adM'titure with hi
1 sword. He lived n soldier's llfo and met i
i soldier's death. His memory will be hon
I ored for all time by the nation which hi
served with single niul brave intrpcso.
Indianapolis Press : Happy lt > the hon
that dies la battle , fpoii the shining rccon
of this innn Is no single blot of folly It
peaceful llfo , such as has made so man !
military heroes mirror In tin- history of tin
. world. There Is not oven so much ns , '
I mistake of Judgment to dim Its luster. Tin
page of history can record no cleaner llfo
no more honorable mlml , no braver spirit
' than that of Lawton.
I Chicago llocord : Ills memory wilt endure -
duro In the annals of the army as thru of nt
I absolute ami foarlc < ? a and tireless soldier , in
! Indomitable fighter and a military loader elI
I genius. Ho had no superior among tin
generals In service at Iho time of hlf
j death , nnd , In HOIIIO respects , no equal. Tilt
I rare _ combination of pluck and Judgment
! which ho possessed marked him ns of tin
I best typo of American soldier.
Detroit Journal : The country will particu
larly regret his iliMth nt this tlmo , when all
the conditions of the campaign favor the
probability that ho would soon have bud tlu
rort he had fo completely earned nml pr
fully deserved. That the war in Luron
promise's ' an early ending Is perhaps duo at
much to Lawton us to any other ono man
and It Is a cruel blow that lake. him away
j In the hour of almost completed triumph.
Minneapolis Times : 111 the minds of the
American people the names of III Caiicy
and San Inldro will always bo associated
with that of Lawton. In the hearts of bin
countrymen his mime will dwell as that
of a man without guile , a soldier of undimmed -
dimmed brilliancy nnd a public servant of
quality the highest nnd aspirations the
purest. To his ashop , peace ! To his mem
ory , laurel ! To bis comrades , high example !
Kaisaa ) City Journal : Ucncrul Lawton's
part In the b.ittlo of Santiago was Instru
mental in giving him a particularly strong
hold upon the affections of the people. His
fearless exposure In leading tbo charge at
El Cancy and the miccess that attended both
the plan and the action of that charge onca
moro demonstrated the hiipcrior stuff of
which great soldiers arc made and vindicated
the judgment that governed his selection
for such a great responsibility.
LAW OF l.IFH AMI TIIADI3.
Illinois Sunn-mo Court llulrx on lr-
linrliiii-nt Slorc llcuriilntlon.
Chicago Chronicle.
The supreme court of Illinois has decided
that the ordinances of the city council ol
Chicago regulating the business of depart
ment stores arc not constitutional and arc
void. One of the ordinances prohibited the
sulo of meats , butter , lard , vegetables nnd
other provisions in the same building where
dry goods , clothing , jewelry ami other
articles were sold. The other ordinance pro
hibited the sale of spirituous and malt
liquors in store where dry goods were sold.
The cases against several proprietors of de-
liquors In stores whore dry goods were sold ,
of the peace , from whoso judgment an ap
peal was taken to tbe criminal court. From
the judgment In that court an appeal was
taken to the supreme court. The highest
tribunal holds that the multifarious busi
ness of department stores Is legitimate and
is entitled lo the protection of law.
The decision Is based on first principles.
A man has a natural right and a right un
der tbo constitution to enjoy his property
and to dispcsc of it' in his discretion. This
right is subject to police regulations for the
protection of the public. A man cannot use
his property nor dispose of It In a way to
injure tbe general health , the morals ot the
community or the safety of individuals. The
pollco power of the city anil the stateis
confined in its exercise to tbo protection of
the public health , morals and safety. He-
yond this line all Interference with Individ
uals nnd individual rlghta violates the con
stitution , which was ordained for all. The
public are not injured if meat , vegetables ,
liquor and dry goods arc sold in the same
store.
A long line of decisions by the supreme
court of Ibis state aillrm the rights of own
ership and the right of contract by individ
uals. When those rights are violated 1 > y any
ordinance or law not necessary to the pro
tection of tbo public safety , health and
morals the ordinance or the law lias been
declared Invalid. Paternalism in govern
ment manifested In statuten and municipal
regulations which take a man's business
out of his own hands , which tell him how
lie shall buy and bow he shall sell , which
destroy Individualism and establish govern
ment regulations for personal conduct or for
the use of private property Is incompatible )
with the enjoyment of natural rights and
violates both the federal and state consti
tutions , which surround life , liberty ami
property with their protection.
As a practical matter , the department
storcH exist because they sell goods for less
than the pamo articles cost In stores wh'ch
1'avo ' but one line of trade. They advertise
extensively nnd offer every class of mer
chandise at prices with which dealers In but
ono class of merchandise cannot C'inp tc.
Wlillo all sympathize with the small dcjlcr
who Is being driven out of business because
Ms customers leavu him and tUx'k to the
big stores where prlceft are lower , no
numerous class stay by him and pay the
higher prlers which ho Is compelled lo
charge In order to rcali/.e the amount of liU
rent and other expenses , saying nothing
about profits. The public wish well to thn
small retail dealer on the far north side or
west sldo or In the southern wards , hut
limy pay a nickel each for a rldo to tbo
busy center of trade , where all kinds of
goods are cheaper. Sympathy Is good , but
It counts 'for nothing against the attractlonn
of a bargain counter.
And this Is the law of lifo and trade. U
would seem that tbo only way for tha re
tail dealers In slnghi lines of goods to pro
tect themselves from extinction In by unit
ing their amounts of capital or rro > 1lt and
organizing department stores In their ro-
spoctlvo neighborhoods , lly making Inrgn
purchases they could buy cheaper and ould
icduco prices In customers. lly advertising
extensively they could attract purchasers.
Thorn am Instances of largo dcpartm-nt
storm at a dlstani' from the downtown
center. Hy giving publicity to their fa
cilities for supplying the local 'rado ' they
would Increase their emlcs.
COMPANY'S ' EXTRACT
SAVES DOCTORS' BILLS
SPOTS ) ! ' TIII : iioMu innn. .
Philadelphia Ledger : Knglnud has no
bettor debtors tlinn the Irish In her arml.\s
nnd no fiercer foes than the Irish at homo.
It's queer.
Springfield Hepnbllonn : Now Is the time
for the apologists for war a a blrslnK in
nations to show what good tills South Afii. an
horror Is doing any one In particular. \ \ iio
or what Is being benefited ?
j Philadelphia Prcns : It Is strange tin'
no ono has suggested that the monoilo ti.r.v ,
of Si-crctnry Joe Chnmberlnln may bo n > -
sponslble for the misdirected view ho is
charged with taking of South African (
fairs.
San Francisco Call : The glee with whi. . n .
French , Herman nnd Austrian newspaper * \-A \
'
welcome HrltUh reverses in South Afrim
Is something more than a mild Indication
| of why the czar's peace conference wan a
fiost.
Boston Transcript : Lord Koborts was
born In Ireland. Lord Kitchener comes
from the Ktuorald Isle ; so does Wolsoley.
The duke of Wellington was also n native
of Ireland. Somehow It KOCIUS as If none
but Irish need apply for high commnnds In
the Hrltlsh army.
! New York Tribune : It can scarcely bo
j disputed that Knglnnd , neglectful alike of
sacred and Kccular admonitions alto
i , wii ! >
gether too boastful while putting on her
I armor. It looks as If slio would have.
! abundant opportunity to regret the Ilidls-
j crotloti before she Is permitted to take her
armor on * .
Kansas City Star : A Husslan newspaper
which Is called Svjot says In regard to
Ocneral lUillor's defeat that "Ood Is pun
ishing an arrogant and rapacious people who
have oppressed and persecuted other races
in order to enrich themselves. " This curious
Item will bo read with mingled emotions ,
of amusement and surprise In Poland. Fin
land , the Caucasus and other sections which
liavo been Incorporated Into the Husslau
empire within a century or BO.
Chicago Heeord : "What's the difference
between a plebeian ami a patrician ? "
"A iilebelnn has to pay cash , but u
patrlelan gets It charged. "
New York Journal : .Mllllgan Did ycz
convince Casey tbot be wor In the wrong ?
.Mulligan Ol dlnnaw If Ol convinced him ,
but Ol mod htm own up to it. fl
Cleveland Plain Dealer : "I notice that
Hobert 'label- bus secured the inaniigomon
of a London theater. "
"That's business. Now he can control thu
billboards ! "
Chicago NOWP : Young Wife Tom pre
sented mo with n lovely pair of diamond
earrings this morning.
Her Mother Indeed ! 1 wonder what bo's
been u-i to now ?
"Wiiehlngton Star : ' 'Can that prlma donna
reneh a high nnti1 ? " asked the. man who
didn't know much about music.
"A high note ! " exclaimed the enthusiastic
manager. " 1 should say so. A flOO bill Is
cany for her. "
Indianapolis Journal : "Do you bollcvo
that Presbyterians are an unemotional
people ? "
"Nmv ; I know a Presbyterian girl whose
attentions scared a young .Methodist clergy
man clear out of thu state. "
Somcrvlllo Journal : Illgglety Why do
you say that Watson In extravagant ?
Plgglety Hecauso ho has three silk hats.
Cleveland Plain Dealer : "My wife asked
me yesterday what 1 wanted for Christ
mas. "
"Yes T
"I told her a rug for her Bowing room ,
a pair of chenille curtnlns , or n new set
of silver toilet accessories for the guest
chamber. "
Indianapolis Journal : "If the Hocrs keep
on taking prisoners and adding tc | ' .iioli-
culinary responsibilities they'll biive t
lighting and go back to farming. " I
"Tlmt'a rlgnt. If they don't , llrst 1 ,
you know we'll bo hearing that the | r J
Hrltlsh captives-.are reduced * Uivono
a day. "
SISASOXAJll.K IUIV.MI2S.
e of the. ClirlMliiuiH IlrlKiule.
Chicago Times-Herald.
Half 11 foot , half a foot.
Half u. foot onward !
Down on the Christmas toys
Swooped the six hundred.
Grabbing for drum and horn-
Many a skirt was torn ,
Many a too was crushed
Uy the six hundred !
Clerks to the right of them ,
Clerks to the loft of them ,
Clerks massed In front of them
Fumbled nnd blundered !
Things ripped to pieces there.
Arms reaching through the air ,
Mad women jamming and
Grabbing tilings everywhere
Frightful six hundred.
Somcrvlllo. Journal.
I wish that 1 was Santa Clans ,
With loads of things to give away.
I'd give mumma n. new silk dress ,
And to papa a horse and sleigh.
I'd give a wati'h to IJrotlicr Ned ,
A bicycle to Sister Nell ,
A pair of dandy skates to Jack ,
A diamond phi to Coiiuln Belie.
1 d give nice gifts to every one ,
Then what was left upon the sb-'lf
I'd label plain : "For a good boy , "
And seoop In the wliQlo lot myself.
Gee ! What a lead-plpn cinch I'd have ,
And what a merry C'lirlslmas day ,
it I were only Santa Clans
With all those tilings to give nwny !
"Fire in the
would hardly cause more
comment than they do
now. Loaded as they are
with such choice offering
for Christmas day. Have
you seen them ? If you are
in doubt about what to get
for a present it will be well
worth your time to walk
around and look at them.
You will see what you
want. But if not there ,
you will surely find it on
the inside.
We close all day
Monday
So do your trading Satur
day. < i * & ' < & < & & < &
llelliilili ! nnd ICioliinlvo l > 'uriil licr >
Open Evenings.