OMAHA DAILY
' ' 13. RCWEWATBU , Editor.
l'UDM8HiU EVKUY MOUN1NO.
TKH.M8 OK 8U1IBC1UPTION.
ually lite ( without Sunday ) . Ono Ycar..M.W
Ually lice aid Hund.iy , Otia Year 8.00
Daily , Sunday .and Illustrated , Ono lear 8.2s
ouTiiiay find illustrated , one Yenr z.-
Illustrated Bee , One Year * >
Sunday lice , Ono Yenr * -J
Saturday Uoe , Ono Year 1-J2
\\cekly IJco , Otio Year to
OFPICK8.
Omaha : Tlio Htc Dulldlne , . , _ . .
. South Omaha : City Hall Bulldlns ,
Twenty-fifth and N streets.
. Council HlufTfr : 10 I'curl street.
Chicago : 1CIO Unity DUlldlng.
Now York : Temple court.
Washington : 501 Fourteenth Street.
COIWBSI'ONDENCE.
Communications relating to news nnd edi
torial matter should bo nddre sed : Omaha
Hoc , Editorial Department.
BUSINESS LETTERS.
Bunln a lotttrs nnd remittances should
ho addressed : Tlio Uoo Publishing Com
pany , Omaha.
REMITTANCES.
Rnmlt by draft , express or postal order , .
payable 'to The Dee Publishing Company.
accepted In payment or
Only 2-ccnt stamps
mall accounts. Personal checks , except on
Omahn or Eaiturn exchange , not accopteu.
TI1K UEK PUHUSIHNG COMPANY.
STATUMBNT OP ClIlCUIjATIOX.
Stiito of Nebraska. Douglas County , ss. :
George IJ. Tzsehuck , secretary ot The Heo
Publishing Company , being duly sworn ,
rays that the actual number of full and
complete copies of The Daily , Morning ,
Evening nnd Sunday Hue. printed during
the month of December , ISW , wa as fol
lows !
Loss unsold and returned copies. .
Net total sales
. Subscribed'imurfsworn before mo tms im
day of January , A. D.f \ ilUNGATE ,
Public- .
( Seal. ) Notary
HHiiervlHorsUl" seems to
That co.nsus
bo u hootloo.
Senator Chirk of Montium should Imvc
hud the Oinnliii school bonrrt to deal
with mul lie would have comu out
cheaper. . .
Thu Implement dealers' convention Is
evidently here for luminous rather than
for pleasure ! . As : i business slithering
. It Is making n record.
The Nebraska State Horticultural
society has Just been discussing the' '
question , "Where Should Plum Orchards
lie PlantedV" In the state house yard ,
of course.
Hememher tliub bribe-taker Hess was
one of the fixtures at the last leglsla- '
'ture In the capacity of confidential man
of Hugh - A.Myers ; president ofCadet
' Taylor's" ' uu-I'atribtlc' club. '
It Is In the eternal fitness of thlnss
for the president of thu un-1'atrlotlc
league to rush to the rescue of his crony
Hess to save him from the penalties of
his brlbe-taUiiiK propensities * .
Several more shining lights of Web
ster's ' great league of patriots have
fallen into . trouble. Here Is another
.chance for the volunteer defender of re-
'publican impi-at-hables to comu to the
front :
The Hessians of history were notori
ously to bc.bo'ught , providing only they
got their price , but they would iloubt-
less disown the Omaha branch of the
family If they knew how low they were
cutting rates' .
An eminent attorney , we are told , Is
to be called to the assistance of the
prosecution in the school board bribery
cases. What a confession of Ignorance j
and Incompqteney on the part of the
county attorney.
If the war In South Africa continues
for any considerable length of tlmo ICng-
land will become a very extensive buyer
of American flour and provisions seized
by Its war ships under pretext of their
being contraband of war.
War correspondents In South Africa
make much sport of the fact that many
rich Hogrs are said to drive to the battle-
fluid In carriages. It Is far better , how
ever , to ride to the battlefield In n |
carriage than to leave It In a hoarse ,
Ui lh-oiul oflk-Ials pretend to ho worried
over the Null brought against the Union
Pat-Hie Involving the elituiKi ) In live stocl ;
rates. lut ) It Is pretenseonly. . In view
of favors at. flection time they are en
titled to expeet considerate treatment
and they Uiunv thu .suit Is pure
buncombe.
Hereafter Montana legislators will
b-ave trouble and time by filing a
schedule of their liabilities previous to
the session when a senator Is to be
elected. If the value of a man's vote In
gauged by the uiuutint of his liabilities
would-be senators can then easily de
termine Just how much the place will
cost them.
Popocrats now have another chance to
flml fault with the administration. He
cause of no sno\v up In thu plnu ( Imber
country the mills along the Mississippi !
rlvev are confronted with a shortage of
logs and there Is not the least doubt In
the world but the republican weather
bureau Is responsible for the failure of
the snow-to.fall
Omaha peoph ) liavo a lesson before
them of the disastrous results of placing
lu Important ayd rosponslhlo positions
Irresponsible adventurers- have no
pcrsoiinl "or 'property Interests In the
cfmimiiulty In jwhlch they live. Thq
tfeniptatlotl to Kuch men vested with Im-
pflrtant-'powurrtr Is always greater than
It"Is to men thoroughly Identltled with
the t-ltv nud bound to It , by Interests far
"IJQY9 JL .l JS lnS i > ecinlary | Advantage. ,
\
TIIKwm.sii AXSWKH.
Amlmsmulor f'honte hns Informed thp
Ktntc clcimrttnent Hint the Hiltlxli
answer to the reuroHuntiitlons of this
government In rofnrd ( o this sclzitri1 < if
Aiiirrlf-nn im-rrhnmllso la highly sntls-
fiidory. IIo says Unit the position < > t
tin ; ItrlUflh povcrnnicnt IH that food
stuffs In transit to a hostile destination
can lie regarded as t-ontrnhnnil of war
only when they nro stinnlle.s for the
enemy's forces. "It Is not Hiillk'lent Unit
they arc capable of foelnj : nsi'd for the
benefit of the enemy ; It must bo HIOWII !
that they are so In fnct tlirotipli thelf
destination at the time of the sel/.nre. "
That Is to nay , there must bo Indubita
ble evidence that they are Intended for
the enemy.
In this the Hrltlsh government Is con
sistent with the position It assumed llf-
teen years ago wliL'u ' , during the
Tominln war between Franco and China ,
it protested against the decision of the
French government to treat shipment *
of rice for Chinese ports north of Canton -
ton as contraband of war. Tlio French
government alleged , as n special
clreumstauce justifying Its action , the |
ImiHJrtance of rice in the feeding of the
Chinese'population as well as of the j
Chinese armies , thus Implledly claiming j ]
that articles of food might be treated as
contraband In order to put stress upon
the non-combatant population. In the j
Urltish protest Lord Granvllle notified
the French government that Great' ' '
Hrltnln wnild not consider herself bound
by the decision of any prize court that
should give effect to this doctrine. He ,
said that her majesty's government '
could not admit that consistently with
the law and practice of nations and with
the rights of neutrals provisions in gen-1 |
oral can be treated as contraband ot
war. They might acquire that character
under particular clrcuniHtanc.es , as , for |
Instance , if they should-be consigned
direct to tlio fleet of a belligerent , or tea
a port where such lleot may be lying ,
and facts should exist raising the pre
sumption that they were about to be
employed In victualling the fleet of the i '
enemy. lu such a case the belligerent
would be entitled to seize the provisions
as contraband of war , on the ground
that they would enable warlike prepara
tions to be carried on. ' 'In the view of
her majesty's.government , " said Granville -
ville , "the test appears to be whether
there are circumstances relative1'to any
particular cargo , or Its destination , to
displace the presumption that articles of
this kind are intended for the. ordinary
use of life and to show , prltmi facie , at
all events , that they arc destined for
military use. " If this principle had
been observed in the present Instance
there would have been no seizures , for
the test required by the British govern
ment fifteen years ago would have failed
to show that the American flour was
destined for military use.
It is stated that the British answer Is
satisfactory to the State department ns
far as it goes , but It does not decide
broadly whether or not foodstuffs are
to be regarded as contraband. Of course
the .British government cannot reason :
ably be expected to go beyond thp Im
mediate question and perhaps Its defini
tion of the circumstances under which
provisions may be considered ccnt.ab.ind
should be regarded sis fiufllclent. Our
own government has held that provisions
are contraband when destined for an
enemy's ship or ships or for a place that
Is besieged and this Is practically the
British position. If that Is strictly |
adhered to there will be no danger to
American trade with Delag a bay.
T1IK SUMMl * HKK.
The Bee .Sunday will appeal to all
classes of newspaper readers who wish
the latest nyws and up-to-date modern
literary features. Comparison of news
columns with competitors readily ,
proves The Bee's superiority in every |
respect , more particularly its foreign cable - j
ble letters and Its special telegraphic
and local service .
The Illustrated Bee Sunday empha
sizes the recent meeting of the Nebraska
State Historical society at Lincoln b.y
u large portrait of president .7. Sterling
Morton , better known , perhaps , as the
former secretary of agriculture nndei1
1'resldcnt Cleveland and as the founder
of Arbor day. Explanatory of the portrait
trait is a sketch of Mr. Morton , written
by one of Ills lifelong and closest
friends , pointing out his strong char'
actcrlstlcs. A picture of Arbor Lodge.
Mr. Morton's home near Nebraska City , ;
accompanies the article.
Another article bearing on the work
of the State Historical society Is Illus
trated with pictures of the society's
museum at Lincoln and the sec
retary's olllce , the author of
which Is J , Amos Barrett , the secre
tary of the organization , who recites its
history , purposes and achievements.
Tills week's Installment In the public
school Kcrics deals with the question of
discipline in the school room , it is il
lustrated by three must Intqrcstlng pho
tographs of actual school work In Ne
braska towns. The classes represented
are the first grade In Speer work at
Beatrice , first grade In numbers at Norfolk -
folk and the junior class In geometry
at Nebraska City.
A local contribution of uncommon In
terest tells the story of an Omaha man
who won a government medal of honor
by his courage and daring in rescuing
union prisoners at the risk of his II/o
during the civil war , with portraits of
the two heroes of this expedition.
Kvery one likes to watch the fire light
ers when called out to save property
from the fire fiend. The latest utensils
which have been devised to assist the
firemen are described and pictured In
Sunday's Illustrated Bee and the dlllVr- ;
ence between modern and olden time ;
lint lighting shown by contrast with
a view of the crack hose learn of one of
Nebraska's progresslvo towns.
This number also presents several
timely portraits. Among them the late
Nathan S. Harwood of Lincoln and the
late Charles .1. Karlmeh of Omaha , two
pioneers of the , state ; President J. I.
AVyer , newly elected head of the Ne
braska State Llln-ary as < o latuu | ; .lohn
U , Uohblns , a young Plattsmonth man
recently appointed shipwright In ( he
United States , navy , and a bright little
r
nanipsnkp of The Bee living at Fair-
field. Neb.
Two foot ball groups are likewise
given : one of a team at Reward , Neb. .
and the other of the t'nlverslty of South
Dakota. The fashion pictures , as usual ,
give timely hints for stylish women ,
j Tlio Bee Is keeping up Us reputation ,
I producing the best newspaper and a
i high-class literary nnd pictorial journal.
I Don't fall to road It.
HKSrtHtK I'nitMJJiKJiT TRXL'llK IIUI.K.
The Board of Kducatlon has made a
good start In Instituting an Investigation
Into some of the corrupt practices In
school management. We doubt , how
ever , whether the action of the new
board In nullifying the tenure-of-Herv-
lee rules will commend Itself to the pa
trons of the schools.
Civil service tenure has become a vital
principle In the educational system of
many of the leading cities. 11 was
adopted by Omaha after a full and free
discussion and no valid reason has been
given for Its abandonment ,
ruder the permanent tenure rule all
teachers who have taught for live years
In our public schools and had been re-
elected on three successive occasions
were enrolled on the permanent list and
relieved from the necessity of annual
. Thus their
log-rolling for re-election.
places were made secure and removals
were prohibited except for cause. This
Is In strict accord with civil service prin
ciples , which endeavor to eliminate fa
voritism and paternalism from the
school system , just as It has been gradually -
ually eliminated from the postal serv
ice , the custom house and the police and
lire departments of cities.
While we believe In centralized re
sponsibility in the government of public
schools , we do not regard it as essential
to good discipline or advantageous to tbe
public service that the appointing and
removal power should be unabridged.
The fact that u teacher has been steadily
employed during live years and passed
the ordeal of re-election for three sue-
cessive years affords prlma facie proof
of competency and fidelity. No good
reason exists why such tfaehors should
not be exempt from the periodic eating
of humble pie at the footstool of power
which has been the passport for reelection
tion In 'many Instances.
The superintendent Is clothed with
ample power to cause the removal of
any teacher who has deteriorated In ca
pacity or failed to come up to the requi
site standard , but such removal should
not be made without specific charges
preferred and sustained before the
board. Any other course will In the end
prove disastrous to the whole system.
Superintendent Pcarse has been at the
head of the school system of Omaha for
the last live years. He has had ample
opportunity for weeding out incdmpo-
teuts and insubordinates. 'If ' be has not
done so it Is his fault and not the fault
of the system.
It Is to be hoped that the board will
retrace Its steps and reinstate the per-
jnaueait.tenure.rule * v.hich.lt has dropped
at th e beginning of the year. There , Is
nothing to be gained by keeping tried
and faithful teachers on the firing line.
A TlltfLK 1'EllSONAL.
It comes to The Bee that -the report
Is again being assiduously circulated by
malicious gossip-mongers that this
paper has been sold to outside parties
and they point In proof to the recent
filing of amended articles of Incorpora
tion by The Bee Publishing company.
The facts with reference to the filing of
these amended articles of Incorporation
are as follows :
The Bee Publishing company was or
ganized as a corporation under the laws
of Nebraska on January 1.1 , 1S7S. The j
term of the incorporation was to expire '
January in , 1000. The capital stock was
limited to $100,000. Under these articles - .
cles of Incorporation , therefore , The Bee j
Publishing company would have ceased
to exist , as a corporate body , next week ,
and the amendment of Its articles , fix
ing the term of the corporation at Janu
ary 1. , 1950 , is simply to continue the
existence of the corporate body.
As to the Increased limit of capital '
stock , that Is a necessary result of the
growth ot" Omaha and the expansion of
The Bee. No one , In 1S7S , when the
original corporation was formed , had
any Idea that the paper would grow In
twenty years to Its prest-nt proportions ,
nor can anybody now foresee what the
growth of Omaha and Its news-papers
will be during the next fifty years. '
In tills connection it Is not out of place
to state that no stock of The Bee Pub
lishing company has been sold In the
last ten years , that none of it Is , so fat-
as we know , In the market for sale , and
that no sale either of now stock or old
stock , to parties not already stockhold
ers , Is at present contemplated.
The local popocratlc organ is out with
a demand for a democratic national con
vention in advance of ilio republican
convention which Is to be called for Juno
10. Whether tills Is an inspiration from
Colonel Bryan Is not disclosed. Four
years ago the Bryanites were In no such
haste to anticipate republicans and this
year In all probability the haste Is not
to anticipate republican nominations ,
which are practically known to a cer
tainty , but to get In ahead of the popn-
lists and work the lever for fusion. Tlio
populists would do well to keep ( iielr
eyes < .pcn If they do not wish to bo film-
flammed. ,
The report of oil Inspector ( ! allln In
dicates that his predecessor was either
not dllllgent In Inspecting oil and col
lecting the fees due the state or ex
tremely lax In covering them Into the
state treasury. If a legal match were
touched to the old reports tnero might
bo a popullstlc explosion.
The ICngllnh government has conceded
that fo. dstuffs are not contraband of
war. Typewriters , Nebraska honorary
colonels and other deadly wimponp , how
ever , can never hope to escape ihu
vigilance of the British patrol cruisers , i
There must be a traitor In camp SJIHO- j
where when the Douglas county democ
racy Ignores the claims of that timeworn -
worn patriot , J. B , Kitchen , Jis u candl-
, date for mayor nnd takes up a democrat
who professes ( hat he does not want to
run , and this , too , after the great Met-
eaICo has Joined the comity democracy
, and brought with him the sacred eult
, of the hotel man's dinners. Is It pos
sible that the sting of Ingratitude has
Invaded the precincts of this slmon pure
orgaiifzatlon ?
Olllclnls of Jhe'western railroads will
have -meeting i eon to discuss freight
rates. They will not agree to advance
rates' , each road "in exactly the same
amount , for that might be a violation of
( tlio anti-trust law , but after the meet- j
! Ing adjolirns'the rates will be advanced
and the fact that each road has arrived
at the same conclusion will be due solely
to unconscious cerebration.
That no one can question the ab elute
neutrality of Germany In the war between -
| tween England and the Transvaal , the
Krupps have been forbidden to sell war
material to either party. As the Boer
line of communication with the Krupp
factory Is somewhat Impaired the order
will not work any great hardship on
the South Africans.
Sound HCIIMOMM , Too.
Philadelphia Tlmus.
England may eearch other ships , but
tlicro nro 1811 : reasons why she would prob
ably hesltnto at searching ours.
Cun't I.iinc Your Uncle.
Chlcaco 1'ost.
Undo Sum Is juat about the worst person
In tlio world for n man to have after him.
Ho never gets tired or discouraged. It
has taken him thirty-live years to get a
Judgment against a former army quarter
master , but ho never gave up trying nnd
he has been micceasful nt Inst.
.Vadiiinil .Mf unanimity.
Philadelphia Ledger.
It now appears that It ID going to cost
at least $2,225,000 to return to Spain the
Spanish feoldicrs and their families taken
from the Klllplnds. It seems like a largo
BUUI for the purpose , but It is tlio olllclai
estimate and doubtless Is correct. This la
la addition to the $20,000,000 paid to Spain
for its good will In the Philippines , which
we might have taken as a spoil of war nnd
which was worthless , anyway. What a
magnanimous nation we arc !
iltAIMVAV I'OS'i'AI , CI.12UICS.
Measure Clii NK > IIIKT the Service niicl
KeNloftiiK Former Pay.
Philadelphia Press.
Ever slnco tbc railway clerks had their
pay reduced more than twenty years ago
they have been asking In vain for an in
crease. The reduction at that time was
forced by a temporary emergency and was
not Intended to bo permanent. The ap
propriation for . the railway mall service
proving Inadequate during President's
Hayes' administration , Postmaster General
Key reduced the pay of the railway postal
clerks from $1,200 and $1,400 to $1,150 and
$1,300 per annum. The postal revenues
Increased with the growth and prosperity
of the country'but ' the former pay of thd
railway postal clerks was not restored.
By the act of July 31 , 1882 , the railway
postal clerks were divided into flve classes ,
with salaries ranging from $800 to $1,400
per annum. The Pcstolllco department has
on several occasions urged upon congress
the necessity b a.now classification , and an
earnest attemnj/wtll be made to secure this
change In thgeifcaent congress. A , bill
'introduced bs gRsp'resentatlvo Tawney voj.
, Minnesota enibodlos tbe Ideas" and tleslifos !
of the rallwa&posjjalclerks. This bill'la
now before thrf'commlttte oh postolflccs and
postroads. It divides the railway postal
clerks into ten classes , -with salaries ad
vancing with 'each class from $800 a year 'lu
the first class to $1,800 In the tenth.
The bill deals In detail with the duties
of each class and the order'of promotion.
Strict civil service principles control the
service throughout under this bill and the
postal railway clerks earnestly desire Its
adoption. They are a class apart , doing this
public a great service unaeon and compara
tively unknown by It. Domestic life Is
made almost Impossible by their duties ,
and the danger to life and limb , the inci
dent of all railway service , Is ever before
them. Their duties are Important , respon
sible , arduous and exacting. The pay of
$800 far beginners Is llttlo enough nud
should Increase gradually , us the bill pro-
vldes , aa years and experience give In
creased eftlclency. The Tawney bill appears
to bo a well considered measure through
out and should find favor with congress
men.
DISPOSING OF THIS SUIU'LUS.
HerloitK I'roblcmx CoiifroiiHnu Iteiinli-
llvim I'nrfy Iieiiilcr * .
Buffalo Exnress ( rep. )
The largo excess of treasury receipts over
expenditures during December and the prob-
a1)lllty that the surplus will continue to
mount higher during the remainder of the
flsca ! year have raised the question whether ' tHeme
Homo reduction In the revenue Is not do- E
Blrable at this session of congrpss. It would |
bo to of the situation
easy dispose by making E
appropriations that would wipe out the sur- j [
plus , but such an Increase In expenditures i
'
would bo fatal to the Interests of the party \
'
rusponsiblu for It. Even the unavoidable <
Increase Is unpopular and the country will t
Insist that the same effort at economy bi > \
mcde while the excess of receipts over ex- t
pendlturca Is more than $7,000,000 a month |
as when expenditures exceeded receipts.
The alternative of making larger appro
priations Is the distribution of treasury funds |
to depository banks , In order to avoid the :
locking up of monuy and the consequent ,
tlHhtjiess of the market. But even when t
the monetary difficulty Is avoided In tlio f
manner followed by Secretary Gage , the fact
remains that the revenue of the country at :
present Is greater than necessities require , c
This condition comes about , not through c
the selling ot war bonds to the amount of T
$200,000,000 , although It has turned out that - \
so largo an Issue was not needed , but t :
through the extraordinary business activity t
which has increased receipts from every ob- f
Ji'Ot of taxation. This growth of revenue >
could not bo foreseen and It Is In pleasing
contrast to the treasury deficits that ob
tained under the Cleveland .administration ,
but It Is now urged by sonib republicans In
Washington that the wise course Is to remit' '
certain taxes as soon as possible' . Iteproc
scntatlve Moody of Massachuuetts Is credIted - $
Ited with a proposition to cut off some ot c
the more annoying stamp taxes , such as i
tbosu on tulcgraph messages and exprefti e
packages. As the people , Instead of thn c
companies , are compelled to pay these taxes , 1
their abolition would bo a relief. c
But there are objections to hasty action of 1
this nature. It would be unfortunate to have >
the revenue question brought before congress ( ,
at this aeaslon , because It would bo liniwsr
slblo to say where the debate and the
changes might end. It Is not yet apparent ,
moreover , that the surplus will continue
after some new legislation has been enacted , i
It Is proposed to admit I'uerlo Hlco to the < !
tariff system of thu United Statca. That i f
would Imply a loss of revenue. So , too , the t
reciprocity treaties with the \Veet Inillc-n ,
France and Argentina will , If ratified , make
for Boraewhat smaller receipts. For thojo | f
icasocs , while the committee on ways and J
mean ? may be expcctcil to study the quea- i I
lion early In the tension. U undoubtedly will {
be well to moke revenue legislation watt n
upon the disposal of the reciprocity treaties I
nnd the fixing of the tariff policy for the , "
dcpeudeuclea. j t
POLITICAL DRIFT ,
It Jn definitely announced that Senator
Vest of Missouri will retire from public llfo
nt the close of hla term In 1903.
The admirers of Uoldcn Htile Jonre of
Ohio propose to run him for the senate
against Senator Kornkcr In 1302.
The Items In the 1900 budget for gas and
electric lighting for the four divisions of
Greater New York foot up $2.167.000.
According to the computation of the Phila
delphia Prefa the prlco of votes In sena
torial contests ranges frrcu $5,000 In H'cun-
aylvnnla to JlO.nflO In Montana.
What Is n little roll of $30.000 to a'would -
be senator with nn Income of $10,000,000 a
year ? Montana politicians rarely comlder
the price when success Is nt stake.
Grapevine advices from Anaconda and
Buttc , Mont. , furnish seasonable nt'Stir.incps
that one Marcus Daly Is not thrilled with
grief over the dilemma of his esteemed
friend , W. A. Clark.
Six members of the Massachusetts legis
lature are natives of England , six ot Ire
land , four of Canada , two of Scotland and
ono each of Nova Scotia , Germany and
Hufflln. There ro three clergymen la the
lower house of the legislature.
Governor LI ml of Mlnnccota Is the only
populist In the state house. He Is PO lonesome -
some In the society ot republicans that ho
has decided to quit when the year Is out.
There Is a string to the determination ,
however. Ho can bo induced to run again
provided' the voters agree to elect a few
nioro party associates.
Senator Hoar provoked several staid sen
ators to smiles by some of his remarks In
reply to Senator Bovcrldge. The latter , In
denying the capacity ot the Filipinos for
sclf-govcrumcnt , mid the bulk of them
blindly followed their leaders. Senator Hoar
tartly replied that Senator Phut of New-
York and Senator Hanna of Ohio led much
larger parties In the United States and their
wishes were obeyed with equal zeal.
Speaking about political grips , that pos-
sesscd by President Diaz of Mexico Is the
j
mcst effective nnd Immovable now In sight.
Ho has been nominated for re-election for
the sixth term of four year by a popular
vote of the people. This Is the most ex
tensive application of the primary election
principle known , for the plebiscite was noth
ing else but n primary election. The con
vention that Is to nominate a candidate for
president will not meet till February 11 , but
the result of the plebiscite assures the re-
noralnatlon of General Diaz.
In his recent report Governor Brady of
Alaska calls for statehood for that terri
tory , for the construction of cable and tele
graph lines , for the branding of fur seals
and the cessation of killing them for at
least ten years. An appropriation of $110-
000 Is asked for n penitentiary and suitable
public buildings at Sltka. The Governor
sayn that to preserve the fur seals the
United States should Insist on a property
right In the seals and brand the letters |
"U. S. " four Inches long on thu back of
every female seal , thus epoiling them for
furriers' uses.
MEETING TIME OF CO.VGHESS.
Dcdlrnlde Reform 1'roiioscd In I
Chicago Chronicle.
A western member of congress has In
troduced a bill in the house to change the
time for congress to meet. The constitu
tion ordains that congress shall meet the
first Monday In December unless a differ
ent day shall bo fixed by law. The present
law provides that the term of members j
of congress elected biennially in November |
shall begin on the 4th of March following. '
The congress to which they are chosen ]
does not meefunti .the next December , a
year find a month after the election. It is
n preposterous arrangement for a system
of popular representation.
See how the plan works in practice.
Members of congress elected In November ,
1898 , did not tnko their seats until the
opening of congress the first Monday In
December , 1899. Their successors will bo
elected In November , 1900 , and will bo full-
fledged members after the 4th of March ,
1901. But the old members will constitute
the house which meets In December , 1900 , !
and adjourns March 4 , 1901. Many of Its
members may have been refused n rc-elec- >
tlon. Their successors will have been
chosen. But they sit In congress and par- ,
tlclpate in legislation for a. full session
after they have been voted out of office
and their responsibilities to their constit
uencies have ceased. Senators occupy
scats until March 4 , although their suc
cessors may have been elected in January. '
This system , with the house and senate'
constituted for one term largely of members
whcso terms are about expiring , who have j
been rejected by the people , who bavo no i
political future before them , provides an |
Imsponslblo element In each house which
may bo susceptible to every corrupt nnd
corrupting influence. A man of loose con
science , If he still has a constituency behind
him , supporting him by their votes ana
watchful of his course , may remain honest
nnrt faithful to his public trust. Hut If hi
constituents reject him and If he has a
remnant of his term to serve there is no
security that ho will be bound by any re
straints of honesty. The temptation Is strong
foi him to make all for himself that Is pos.
alble before ho leaves the scene of his powch
and his opportunities.
Members of congress should enter upon
their terms soon after their election. Every
t
candidate knows within a few days after j
election whether ho has been successful or
unsuccessful at the polls. U Is far different' ' ,
now from what It was a century ago or even (
llfty years ago , when weeks or months |
were required to determine the result ot j
sloao elections. Under present laws In alt ,
the states the congressional votes are can' ,
massed and the returns are declared within
x month or six weeks after the election. If
the terms of members should commence ,
in the 1st of January following the election ,
ind If congress were to meet a few days or ,
\ few weeks afterward the members would ,
: ome fresh from the people , with a full scnso (
jf Individual responsibility and bound lo t
Tiako a record as a claim for re-election. (
When they become candidates for a Bocodfl j
orm their whole career would bo before <
ho voters. If rejected they would not have s
itlll a full seesion during which they might ,
get cvrn" with their former constituencies \
ind with the world.
I.inn ) llooin In ( ilium.
Nov.- York Tribune. ' j (
A land boom has followed the flag to
luam , suddenly boosting real estate from {
acre , with the market still
> 15 to $100 an B
idvancInKIt la thus thnt the stars of our f
janner rain on our now Island possessions , .
iweet Influences as of the Pleiades , giving j
in Impetus to business nnd making every „
jody speculative , rich nnd happy. As soon t
is Agulnaldo Is put down there will quite c
Ikcly be a land boom In the Philippine * , „ >
vitalizing Junnlo property Inert since the a
and the pioneer Jesuit
lays of Magellan T
nlfslonarlea. | f
( in- .lull n ( n Time. ,
Bt. I ou'ls Globe-Democrat.
Senator Allen repeats with emphasis the
k'clnrutlrn that ho will not be a candidate
qr the presidency. Senator Allen Is about
lie smartest man In Nebraska.
! ' ) \liiw THi'lilxiiK * II n lex ,
CMJVKI.AND , Jan. 12. Hrpreticntntlven ,
) f the non-Hell telephone IntereMM of Ohio. J ?
Indiana , Michigan nnd part v ( Illinois , who ,
uvvu been In t.exlun hero for several days f
last arranging for Iniig-dlstnnec IwnlnfHH
- the various local
letwet-n companies liuvu e
idjourned , It Ix probable tlmi u ci-ncral t t
mule rate of one-half cent a mile will bo r
idopted for distances greater than forty i
ntleH , und an arbitrary scale for less dinc
< ' ( ;
- = ! = .
OTIIKH I.AM1S TII.V.V OtIIX.
Ill the psl seven year * the railway mile-
agp of Ja.oan has doubled. When the lines 1
row under construction or chartered shall
have been completed the present syntcm will
bo Increased no less than 70 per cent. This
| I * a very remarkable rate of progress. U
I does not yet Imply very large totals , for
I the JfiiiRth of Japaneselallrorul.i already
' open l only about 3,420 miles , but It must
I bo remembered that Japan Is a country of
' Mhmls. Thp const line la enormous. In
proportion to the area of the empire. Good
harbors abound and the fo of boats for com
mercial purposes Is very common. The pop
ulous districts bordering on the famous
Inland * ea have llttlo IISP for land transpor
tation. The water Is their sheltered and ever
open and convenient highway. It IR clear ,
none the less , that Japan will soon have a
< railway system of no mean proportions. Its
i lines will traverse a densely populated nml
wideawake country and for that reason they
are pretty euro to pay well. Japan Is filled
with the spirit of progress and that means
success for railroads.
'
The attacks of the French press upon
Queen Victoria , and the fnct that
when personages of her rank arc
so attacked redress Is rarely sought
through the embassies the case of
the sultan of Turkey being a notable excep
tion have caused certain deputies to ponder
on the question of tbe restriction of the
press by law , even an to Its attacks upon
citizens of tbo republic. Others consider
that the surest way to put a stop to llbelotis
utterances Is for the offended party to at
once begin prosecution , not merely to secure -
cure personal exoneration , but to push the
matter to the full extent of the criminal
code. This latter course was recently
adopted by Maltre I/iborl In bin suit against
La Llbro Parole , which , on his being Hhot
at Ilennes , alleged that the affair was con
cocted In order to create a sentiment In fa
vor of Captain Dreyfus.
At llrat Mi Laborl claimed only a frano
damages , but later claimed 20,000 francs.
The plolntft Introduced thirteen witnesses
from Knnncs , among whom were the civil
and military physicians , who deposed nn to
the serious nature of tbe wound. The clothes
worn by M. I.aborl nt the time were p ; $ _
duccd In court. The counsel for the de
fense did not cross-examine the witnesses ,
and the tribunal fined the defendant 2,001)
francs and ordered him to pay 1 franc dam
ages and the cost of advertising the Judg
ment In 40 Parisian and 200 provincial news
papers.
The Judgment states that the defamatory
nature of the articles needed no demon
stration , for they attributed to the com
plainant nn odious offense and Impugned
his honor , whereas the gravity of the at
tack on him was a matter of public
notoriety.
The Australian colony of New South
Wales reports an increase In its gold prod
uct for 1899 of no less than $3,000,000 or
about 50 per cent , as compared with the
yield of the preceding year. New South
Wales Is not one of the leading colonies
in gold mining. It produces about one-
tenth of the Australian gold. The great
increase In the yield of the island continent
during the past few years has come chiefly
from Western Australia and Queensland ,
especially the former. Both of these col
onies , like Victoria , formerly the foremost
of them all , dwarf New South Wales in
gold mining.
It is safe to Infer from the returns al
ready made of mining in New South Wales
that the entire product of the Australian
mines In 1899 will beat any former year In
the history of the country by not less than
$15,000,000. The rote of Increase will not
be great In Victoria or New Zealand , but
there must have been a very big gain in
Western Australia and a largo , expansion
in Queensland. At the close of the past
year the Indications were that this in
crease would continue indefinitely. All the
conditions seemed favorable to further and
rapid progress In all of the great mining
regions of Australia.
* * *
The very latest statistics on London pau
perism are not particularly encouraging. A
review of the last twelve months shows
that although for four successive years the
British metropolis has experienced gcod
trade and open winters there was no great
diminution la the numbers seeking relief
under the poor law. On the other band ,
for the first four months the mass of pau
perism .was. greater than It was for the
amo period ot 1898 and stood at a higher
figure than In more than half of the pre
vious forty-two years during which a record
has been kept. In April It was higher
than in thirty-two of these forty-two years ,
and In March there was even an increase
in the proportion of pauperism to popula
tion compared with the corresponding
period ot the two previous years. Things
then took a turn for the better nnd , while
there were fluctuations during the remainder
of the year , the figures kept below those
for 1898. The division of the total amount
of pauperism Into outdoor and Indoor poor
shows generally that , while there has been
a decrease in the out-relief Hat , the In
crease In the numbers entering the work
houses has- continued , although there was a
slight check to the rise in the latter half
of the year. Tho7 rush Into the work
houses and infirmaries is a matter of seri
ous concern , for even In these good times
there Is a very narrow margin of spare
accommodation , and It Is the opinion of Mr.
Lockwood , the local government board Inspector
specter , that "whenever next the labor mar
ket Is 'adversely affected for any time by
weather , strikes , or other cause , these in
stitutions will , with few exceptions , be seri
ously overcrowded and , though several
boards of guardians are busy with schemes
and plans for providing increased accommo
dation , it seems Impoaslblo to keep level
with the unabatlng demand on space. "
The respectable press of Italy Is now
more than ever Anglophile and Italians
nro constantly warned that at the close
of the war ! n South Africa Great Britain
tvlll administer a deserved rebuke to Franco ;
ror thu present It is the duty of all Italians
to remember thu debt of gratitude that
they owe the English and hold aloof from
the madmen on the other elde of the Alps.
\ reciwit debate In the Italian Chamber U
significant of the growing Indifference with
ivhlch Italy regards Its status In the Drei.
uund and of the increasing desire for close *
relations with Great Britain. Slgnor do
Martlno , brother of the ox-mlnUter In
I'ekln , criticised the rnnrmgemcnt of thi
talo-Chlneso negotiations and uxpresseJ the
loubt nt to the value of the trlplo ulllanco
for Italy If it wore powerless to prevent
surprl es like that of the Anglo-French
agreement In regard to the hinterland of
rrlpoll. Thereupon the Marquis Cutlo dt
lludlnl , ron of the ex-premier , arose and ,
tftor questioning the value of thu Orel-
jinid , made some strictures upon tbo policy
jf Isolation pursued by Italy and strongly
nd eloquently urged the necessity of closer
issoclatlon with Great Britain. Slgnor Nael ,
nlnlster of posts and telegraphs In the
Irst I'flloux cabinet , continued In the same
itraln and added that those who nuked
vhy Great Britain damaged Italian Interests
n the Trlpolltan hinterland should know
hat there exists a note of an Italian mln >
stcr to the British embassy In Homo utat-
THERE IS A CLASS OF PEOPLE
Who are Injured by the use of coffee. Ho-
ently thererme been placed In all thu
grocery Ktordu a new preparation called
3HAIN-O , made nf pure eralni ) , that tukM
the place at coffee. The. most dellcato
itomach rec lven It without dUtrexi. and
> ut few can tell It from coffee. It doei
not coet ovir U much. Children may
Irlnk It with treat benefit , Hcu. and 25
. ' . , & ' Pacha6 * . Try It. A k for
jUAIN-O. .
i ln thnt Italy hfld nn stslip In the North
African . nucMlui ) . Thin ilcolarntlon , It Is
paid , procured considerable petiMtlon und
U In expected that a full explanation ol
, the matter nil ) shortly bo dcmnndcd.
SAM ) IN
Detroit Journal : Customer Those cab-
baR\ > look llk 80 criitn !
Ororcr Tiny are only 10 rents , mum' ,
Somenlllo Journal : \VliPii n man Is a
chrunlo xufferc r from Indignation , be nitKhi
never to out nny part of a doughnut but th <
whole In the mldd6 ! of It.
Hrnoklyn I.lfc : Sightseer ( In the ponat *
\llrry-So < ) Miese lire our national solons ,
nro they ?
Ouldo ( amazed nt such iKitornnco ) Nu\v ,
'them's ' the senator * .
_
' Chlcflco 1'ost ! "Yes , " said the old gcntlo-
man , "ho 1 n wonderfully capable , youns
man. " . .
"And yet you < ! l chnrRrd him ? "
"Truo. and thnt was why 1 dlHcliarKcil
him , too. IIo In HO capable thnt ho Insisted
upon trying to do my work to the sroat
nrfik-et of his own. Klthcr ho or I had to
, retire from Uio management of this con
cern nnd I IhoURht I'd hntiR on awlillo
| lonscr. " _
Unltlmoro American : UobbK I see that
n man has Invented u typewriter that you
sit down nnd tnlk to und It writes out
everything you pay.
Dobbit I Riietts I'll keep mine. Bbn doesn't
write cvcrytliltiK 1 nay. and I'm Kind of It.
ChleaRO Tribune : Keportcr Anil ho
laughed while you were tyliiK the rope
nbout hla neck ? He muni have been n
hnrdoniHl wretch.
Lender ot HeKUlnU > nt-Hnrdpncd ? Say.
when wo cut him down , nfter letllilR him
hniiR half nn hour , he Mnld It hadn't boon
even unoomfortiiblo. Ho'd been wcnrlim
those high stlft uollnrH for ten yt-nrsl
Philadelphia 1'fcKS : Mlo Swelltop-Slsler
Is so disappointed. She cnn't K < > to the
opera tonight.
Miss Hlupore IH aha HO III ns nil that' '
Miss Swelltop-Oh. no ! It's Junt n nervous
affection of the throat. Sbo'n not really 111.
Mlsn HtiiRoro Why cnn't s ho K" . then ?
Mlsa Swolltop Why , Rooilnoss gracious !
Sim can't spcnk nbovo a whisper.
Detroit Journal : In the fur west nn editor
wrote feverishly.
"Mtierty Is dead ! " were the burning
words his pencil traced.
Then ho thought deeply. After n long
wbllo be added :
"Now York nnd Washington papers
please copy. "
His duty , at lenst , wns dOnc.
TUB IMIMiBMBNT MAN.
Orlo IDobson In Knrm Implement News.
You may slnjr of the nrtlst , the actor or
"POO " ! ,
The statesman nnd politician , too , If you
enn :
Uut 1 tune my tlddlo nnd this plaintive ditty
1 KIIR | to the worth of the Implement man ,
The honest and' hard-worklnu Implement
man.
Oh , pad IB his lot ! ninny trials beset him.
Too oft he's Imposed on bythose ot his
clan :
They would not Tie mean to the butcher or
baker ,
Hut tnko It nil out on the Implement man ,
The lowly nnd downtrodden Implement
man
The farmer gets trusted for plows and for
harrowri ,
For seeder and self-binder , nil spick and
span ;
A threshing rig , too , when his harvest Is
ever . . . . , .
QctH nil these on tlmo ot the Implement
man ,
The trusting nnd Innocent Implement
man.
He threshes and hurries his crop to tha
market ;
To pay off the farm mortgage now Is his
iilan.
Ho does so ; next settles with help and the
grocer ,
And hna nothing left for the Implement
man.
The hungry and moneyless Implement
man.
The drummer comes 'round with his smlln
and his samples.
So cheerful , 'tin pleasant his features to
scan.
Ho HhowH up his goods , long lie .talks on
their merits ,
And sells a big bill to the Implement man ,
And thus overloads the poor Implement
man ,
He gives him "best terms , " "finest goods , "
"lowest prices , "
As nil drummers have since the world
first began.
Then sells the curb-dealer same 10 per cent
cheaper ,
And tells how ho cheated the Implement
man ,
The faithful and conlldlng implement
man ,
The young man , In spring , gives his not
for n buggy ,
And with this he captures the best wlfo
bo can.
With money that's given they buy them an
outfit
And pay cash to all save the Implement
man-
He renews his note to the Implement
man.
Thus dully bo lives upon cornmcal and
liver.
And dally Is kicked from Deersheba to
Dan ;
Hut when he Is dead nil the people who
knew him
Will hasten to mourn for the Implement
man.
Will weep nnd will wnll for the implement
man. i
Yes , when he Is dead nil his trials nro over ;
St. Peter Is waiting his record to scnn ;
Then opo's wide the portals to mansions
eternal
And gives the glad hand to the Implement
in nn ,
There's a "fair nlmko" nt last for the Im
plement man ,
The Proper
Way ,
is the straight one in
the matter of clothes
it isn't worth while
to go a roundabout
way looking for the
cheapest price tag.
Come to the most
trustworthy place you
know and if you are
well informed about
well made clothes at
the right price it will
bring you directly here.
There are some
broken lots that can
be had at an especially
low figure at present
and maybe your size
is there J to i dis
count on the broken
lots.