0
THE (XMAHA DAILY JM2E: SATfUDAY, FETlTtrAttY 2, 1001.
The Omaha Daily Bee.
K, IlOHKWATHIt, Editor.
I'tHUHIIKD KVKHV MOH.SMNO.
TI2HM8 OK SUHSCIIU'TION.
pally lice (without Sunday), One Year. JC 00
pally liee and Sunday. Ono Year 8
Illustrated lko. One Year J W
BundHV e, fJnj year
haturdsy lire, one Year
Twentieth Century Farmer. One enr.. l.JJ
Weekly lleo, One Yenr 25
OI"ICi:8.
Omaha: The lice Ilulldlng.
South Omaha: City Hall Uultdlne, Twcn-ty-flflh
mid .N Streets.
Council muffs: 10 I'rnrl Street.
Chicago, ion t'nlty Ilulldlng.
New York: Temple Court.
Washington. Ml Fourteenth Street.
COI'.HESI'ONDENCK.
Communications relating to news and edi
torial matter nhould he addressed: Omaha
lico, Editorial Department.
II CSt NESS I.ETTEtlP. . ,,,
fluslncss letters and remlttnnceii shpuiii
be mid rested Tho lite rubllBhtng Lorn
pany, Omaha
nn.MlTTANCES.
Hemlt by ilraft. express or postal order,
pnyablu to Tho Bee J'ubllshln? Company
uniy z-coni stnmos necontru in payment ...
mall accounts. Personal checks, except on
Omaha or Eastern exchanges, not accepted.
THE UEE I'CIII.ISHINO CQMl'AM-
STATEMENT OF rillCUI.ATION.
Blale of Nebraska. Douglas County, ss. .
George II. Tzschuck. secretary of The Hoe
'iiunsiiiiiK company.
says that thi' actual
number of full and
urn u uuu nc.i,
complete copies of The Dally, Morning
Evening and Sunday Hee printed during
the
month of January
V), was as follows;
1 '-'.-.,.".01
2 aii.s'jo
3 i'i,:i:io
uti.uio
r, no. no
;.,,,, ,(i,sr.o
7 I lit
17
IS
ID
20.
21
JII.M II)
..Mll.illlll
..Mil. HMD
..MIJ.7MI)
.Mll.ll.'.ll
..Mil, III!
. .MII.MMII
MII.IVI)
..Mil, III)
. .Mil, I Ml)
. MII.Hir,
..an, ino
...M,7TI)
. .MS.SIII
..mii, ino
2.1.
21
23
za
o
iii.uso
9 ail.UIII
10 -.l 10
il iill.SMO 27
12 Mil, ISO 28
13 Mil, TOO 29
14 Mil,. -r.il 30
15 Mll.l.-.ll 31
1G Mll,:tUI
Total
Itsh unsold and returned copies.
. .MO.OSJV
.. 111,1)17
Net total pales.
Miliums
MII.77II
Net dally average
HEO. It T.scitrcK.
Subscribed in my presence ami sworn to
before mo this 31st day of January. A. D.
1MI, M. H. Hl'NGATU,
(Seal.) Notary Public.
Inquisitive Homier Is Itiforntod that
there Is no I'onni'ctlon between lliiultl
nlr ami hot nlr.
Willi tnlk mo elienp down nt Lincoln
why sliottlil the legislators wnnt to re
dueo the telephone toll Mill further?
The senntorlnl Kiinie nt Lincoln hits
pot to a point where the dealer needs n
iiilwtlttite to enable liltn to take a rest.
The noiistn will bo the next to com
plain If the leKlhlatoi'ri at Lincoln per
sist In distributing so many free bo
ipietH. That legislative bill compelling street
railway companies to mn owl cars
through the night must hnve originated
with the Rounders' club.
It is unfortunate that the only honest
man in the United States senate is to
retire Mnrch 1. It must be to, how
ever, for I'ettlgrew himself has snltl It,
Kx-S'cnntor Townc prepared two
speeches for delivery during his short
term, but only delivered one of thorn,
lie made no discount on his salary for
that reason, however.
Hryan has declined an invitation to
make a speech on the plea that he was
too busy to talk. People who have ob
served his proclivities can form n good
Idea of Just how busy he Is,
Hryan objects to lengthening tho
presidential term to six years, presum
ably as It would be too long between
campaigns, and he does not get any
too much fun out of It as it Is.
The best way to settle the controversy
over the barbers bill would be to In
vite the members of the legislature to
offer themselves as subjects to tho
novice class In a so-called barbers' col
lege. It might not be out of order for the
fusion county olllclals who want to en
gage In llstle exhibitions to advertise
the event lu advance and give the pub
lie a chance to witness It from the
spectators' seals.
If Mrs. Nation should decide to go to
Washington the waiters will please re
move the "cold tea" from the senate
restaurant. The people of the country
would not like to see the beautiful capl
tol buWIng wrecked.
When (lovernor Dietrich stated that
he would not allow a prize light to be
pulled off lu this state he did not an
ticipate that democratic politicians
would spring one so suddenly with a
fat oil leu as the stakes.
The Wisconsin legislature Is consid
ering a bill to abolish the free lunch.
The members of the legislature should
not bo so particular. Their present
graft may not last forever and they
may live to regret hasty action In the
proposed direction.
Senator Pcttlg,ruw lu realizing that
only u few weeks more remain In which
his remarks will be recorded lu the
Congressional Itecord and Is losing no
opportunity to have his memory em
.balmed in the pages of that monu
mental publication.
When Kniperor Wlllluni of Cermany
died memorial services were held lu this
country as a tribute to his great work
for the German nation, and there Is uo
good reason why any one should object
to memorial services now over the de
cease of Queen Victoria.
If ltepresenlatlve Lauham of Texas
really desired to accomplish anything
by Ids speech on the reorganization of
the democratic party, ho might have de
Itvered It beforo a body which contained
a larger number of democrats than thn
congress of the United States.
Ttk Douglas Comity Democracy has
elected new olllccrs for tho coming year
but failed to Include the pugilistic
county poof farm superintendent lu the
honor rosto1 Unless the club gives
proper recognition to Its combative
members how can It expect to hold Its
own against Its Jackauultm nutagoulsts?
TALK U? AX K XT It A SllSMOX.
An extra session of the I'lfty-seventh
congress appears probable. Although
both the president and the republican
leaders In congress an said to view
with much reluctance the prospect of
an extra session, running probably
Into midsummer, yet the conditions are
such at present as to warrant the be
lief that the convening of the next con
gress very soon after the expiration of
the present one will be Imperatively re
quired. rndoulitedly the appropriation bills
will get through, although, as happens
at every short session, some of them
may be hanging by the edge even on the
morning of adjournment. Of course
if any of these bills should fall of pas
sage an extra session would be unavoid
able, but there are other Important mat
ters which It now seems are not likely
to be acted upon at this session and
which the president may regard as of
such urgency us to make It his duty to
promptly convene the new congress.
Perhaps the matter of paramount Im
portance relates to Cuba. This was
considered by the cabinet a few days
ago and It is understood to be the
opinion of the administration that this
government should Insist upon certain
stipulations as to the relations hereafter
to exist between tho United States and
Cuba. It has been expected that the
Cuban constitution would be ready for
submission to this government by the
middle of the present month, but It ap
pears likely that the date of Its com
pletion will be later. In that event
the present congress will not be able to
give the constitution the careful scru
tiny that Is desirable and the president
Is said to be of the opinion that It would
be neither prudent nor creditable to de
fer this matter to the regular session of
the new congress next December. He
thinks tlie Cubans should not be com
pelled to wait another year before being
allowed to put a government In opera
tion. Legislation for the Philippines, nt
least to the extent recommended by the
Tuft commission, the administration
also evidently regards as of urgent Im
portance. It looks Improbable that
anything In this direction will be done
by the present congress, since the op
position to the Spoouer bill or any simi
lar measure could block action. It Is a
very serious question whether existing
conditions respecting the Philippines
should be allowed to continue for an
other year, when In the judgment of the
commission proposed legislation would
tend to paclllcatlon and Improvement,
and the failure to provide such legisla
tion would of Itself almost Justify an
extra session of the next congress. The
canal question Is another important mat
ter, though not of so great urgency.
The proposed currency legislation can
safely wait for the next congress,
though its enactment at the present ses
sion Is to be desired.
The really pressing mntters relate to
Cuba and the Philippines and If noth
ing Is done regarding them at this ses
sion the calling of the new congress in
extra sesslou Is to be expected.
T.1A" HKDUCTIOX Ulhl. IX DAXGElt.
The tax reduction bill may not pass
at the present session of congress. The
senate liuauce committee has not defi
nitely decided upon a program for the
consideration of that measure and the
hesitation shown In this particular Is
strengthening the suspicion that it U
not intended to seriously push the bill
to a passage at this session. Moreover,
the senate bill Is obnoxious to repub
lican leaders of tho house, who, It Is
said, are disposed to regard thenctlou
of the senate committee lu entirely re
casting the bill as an Infringement
upon the constitutional prerogative of
tho house to originate revenue meas
ures. The house Is tenacious of Its
rights in this particular and It is not
to be doubted that It would assert Its
prerogative if the bill should be re
turned to It.
rhe Indications are, however, that
there will be uo action on the meas
ure by the senate. The fact Is that a
number of republican senators believe
that the proposed reduction lu revenue,
amounting to nearly $10,000,000 as esti
mated, cannot safely be made ami lu
view of the Increasing expenditures
they have a strong argument on their
side. The public expectation lu this
particular Is therefore very likely to be
disappointed.
TIIK TAX HATK QUEST1UX
The city council Is once more con
fronted with tho question of tho tax
rate for the coining year, which must
bo decided at Its next meeting, when,
under the law, It must pass the anuual
tax levy ordinance.
Every time this question comes up a
conflict between contending forces Is
precipitated- on tho ono side the prop
erty owners clamoring for the lowest
possible tax rate, and on the other tin
demand for the necessary expenses for
running various departments of munlcl
pal government, coupled with tho out
standing obligations which must be
met If the credit of the city Is to bo
maintained uulmpuired. If the obllga
Hons of the city are not provided for
out of current funds, they must be car
ried along with a coustaut drain of In
terest cost.
Two causes stand at the bottom of the
apparent high tax rate In Omaha:
One Is our radically defective system
of assessing property values, by which
the listed valuations are far below
actual selling prices, while a great deal
of taxable property escapes tho assessor
altogether. Under our separate tax
commissioner the usesssmeiit has been
practically doubled In the aggregute, but
the Inequalities have not been com
pletely wiped out. And It Is unequal
taxation that Is unjust taxation.
On tho other side, tho lullatlou of
municipal expenditures dates back to
the boom era, whou the framework of
our city government was constructed on
tho basis of a population of 150,000 and
tho garments cut with a view to still
further growth. Compared with cities
placed on an equality with Omaha by
the census of l'.MK), our municipal gov
eminent appears to be top-heavy In
suite of cuustant efforts at retrench
nient, . It must be remembered, too,
that the same people are supporting a
dual government for city and county,
which could readily bo consolidated,
with great saving to the community,
were It not for the constitutional pro
visions requiring separate county or
ganization. The tax rate question will be with us
from year to year In much the same
form. To keep the levy within reason
able bounds would require work along
two distinct lines:. I'lrst. it more
equitable and comprehensive assessment
of property for the purpose of taxation,
and, second, a simplification of the city
government and eventual consolidation
of city and county olllces that dupli
cate one another's work.
IIAISIXO A XEW AlOIV,
The army reorganization bill having
passed congress will doubtless go Into
effect nt once, as there will be no delay
on the part of the president In signing
It. Under this measure the army may
bo recruited up to the maximum of
Hmj.OoO men and some doubt has been
expressed whether the number of men
required can be enlisted between now
and June when the term of enlist
ment of tho volunteers In the Philip
pines expires. Senator Hale. In n
speech on the bill, said the secretary of
war will have no easy task to bring re
cruiting up to the measure which the
act demands. He points out that the
best that has been done In the army In
tho way of enlisting during tho past
year has been at the rate of 1.000 a
month. In the live months between now
and .Inly 1 that rate would give only
S.MK) men. Adjutant Cieneral Corbln,
on the other hand, has expressed the
opinion that there will be no dllllculty
In recruiting the army up to the max
imum, though certainly the tlgures given
by himself do not Justify his confidence.
It is possible that with some slight
relaxation of the tests Impoved at the
recruiting stations enlistments can be
Increased, but there must be a great
spurt forward in recruiting In order to
secure the ".",000 men required In the
next the months, and it Is Indeed ex
tremely doubtful whether this will be
realized. It Is assumed that perhaps
lo.OOO soldiers now In the ranks will re-
enlist, a bounty being offered for re
enlistments, but the probability Is that
uo such number of the volunteers will
remain in the army, so general Is the
desire among them to return home.
liruut that number ot reenllsf
incuts, however, and there must still
bo recruited O't.OOO men and to secure
that number for service in the Philip
pines will plainly be no easy task.
As wo pointed out some tliqe ago con
ress should have provided a moderate
bounty for recruits and we note that
this Is the opinion of some military men
it Washington. Failure to ralso the
new army within the required time
would be most unfortunate, but It Is
clearly possible.
Lincoln's Commercial club proposes to
abolish the city council as a part of the
municipal government and substitute
for It a board of three commissioners.
This Is apparently on the plan of the
government of the city of Washington,
the only difference being that the com
missioners in the national capital are
appointed Instead of elected. Whether
the governing body is called city coun
cil or board of commissioners, the oper
ation would be the same and It would
be Just as hard to get good men to
serve as commissioners as it is to get
good men to serve as cotiucilmen.
l'he Cuban constitutional convention
has met Its first serious dllllculty In
the matter of tho presidency of the
country, A large element would like to
see the services of (ionic, to his
adopted couutry rewnrded by making
him the tlrst president, but Oomez Is
not a Cuban. There is no question
that on the broad principle It Is good
policy to limit tho eligibility to that of
lice to natives, but It seems hard that
tho ono who has done morn than
any other for Cuba and tho Cubans
should be denied the honor.
News from the Philippines Is to the
effect that the board of inquiry has
acquitted Captain McCalla of the
charges preferred against him. The
public will rejoice at this. The bluff
old captain redeemed himself from
former discredits during the war with
Spain and marked several scores up on
the other side. As the leader of tho
American forces In the first effort to
reach and relievo Pekln he earned still
further credits, and the country would
regret to see him disgraced or even
humiliated by a reprimand.
Tho burning of tiio Coates opera
house In Kansas City Is another cau
tion to the danger to which theaters are
always exposed. Had this lire occurred
while an audience was still lu tho
building It would doubtless have caused
a great loss of life. These periodical
contlagratlous lu opera houses and the
aters call for rigid enforcement of the
building regulations and the application
of other precautionary measures to pn
vent similar disasters lu every city In
tho country.
Heal estato auctions were ouce quite
common In Omaha nt the time additions
to the city were being platted and put
on the market, but auctions of Inside
property have never been had because
Investors can pick up bargains any day
Tho man who puts his money Into well
located Omaha property Is bine to reap
rich iu turns.
The uuuiber of men who can here
after Insert In their biographies tin
statement that they were at one tlnu
voted for for United States senator has
been largely Increased by the present
legislature. The rod which falls to
catch a little lightning when It Is Hying
around so promiscuously must be
poor one.
The experiment of vesting Indepenil
cut taxing power In three or four local
bodies has not proved a glittering sue
cess. Each addltlou to the tnxlng an
thorlty means another addition to the
tax levy, if all our local taxes could
be Imposed by one responsible author
ity the results would be more reassuring.
The supreme court of Iowa has set
tled the controversy regarding the con
stltutloual amendment and the people of
that state will not be denied the privi
lege of having an election every year.
Iowa has about as hard a time getting
Its constitution amended as Nebraska.
Imprott-il lloiul of S iiipnlli) .
Chicago Chronicle.
nothor bond of sympathy between Eng
land and Germany may be found In the
fact that tho duke of York has the German
measles.
riitroltt (iitisc to (he Stuff.
New York Sun.
Whatever may bo the differences as to
tho limitations of the constitution, there Is
no question that the promoter and the
carpet-bagger "follow the flag" wherever
there Is a scent of spoils.
A Sliiuiiril. In Prospect.
Washington Post.
The Philippine commission announces
that all rebels who remain hostile after
March 1 will be Ineligible to hold otllce.
It there are any Ohio-born Filipinos In tho
hunch this will be sure to cause them to
lay down their arms.
Popular Election of Sriinturn.
Philadelphia Itecord.
The senatorial deadlock In Delaware, to
gether with the similar Impasso In the
Nebraska legislature, because two groat
railway companies whose lines traverse the
state cannot agree upon a candidate, point
alike to the natural conclusion that con
tests for federal seuatorshlps should be
waged In the. broad field of nubile selection.
and not behind the swinging doors of legis
lative halls. Under existing political con
ditions In the United States opposition to
the election of senators by the people means
recreancy to popular government and free
Institutions.
I'u I r DciiIIiik it Kit Culin,
Philadelphia Itecord.
Whatever may be the defects of the con
stitution ndoftted tor Cuba by the Havana
convention, it embodies unquestionably the
will of a majority of the Cuban people. Un
der the terms of the order constituting
the convention Its work must be accepted
by congress, and this duty should be by no
means delayed until next winter, when the
regular session of the federal legislature
will begin. To postpone until December the
acceptance of an instrument submitted in
the preceding January would bo to invite
suspicion and distrust In Cuba and to otfer
practically a premium to disorder and open
rebellion throughout the Island.
Ilollun (.'out l.'olinlilrrillile. ,
Minneapolis Tribune.
It is estimated that the support of tramps
in the United States costs over 25.000,000
annually, which Is contributed by benevo
lent pcoplo or by people from whom thn
vicious tramps pilfer. If the tramps could
be sot to work, there would be some quid
pro quo for this expenditure, and the
tramps on the whole would be much hap
pier, for the majority of them lead a truly
miserable existence. The energy which they
expend and the hardship which they en-
dure in dodging dogs, brakesmen, officers
of the law and Irate farmers and house
keepers would, if properly applied, support
them all in comparative comfort.
lucri-aii'il Cost if ; t-rnniriit.
Philadelphia Itecord.
Unless some very vigorous pruning shall
be done, of which there Is no sign, the ap
propriations for tho second session of tho
Fifty-sixth cwuress will reach $800,000,000.
Tho appropriations for the first session
were $710,150,862.88. The total appropria
tions will be greater than they ever were
beforo and will Include, approximately,
$77,000,000 'or the navy. $113,0000.000 for the
army, $60,000,000 for river and harbor Im
provements, $110,000,000 for pensions and
other tremendous sums. What the Fifty-
sixth congress, now drawing near Its end,
will do cannot yet be told with exactness,
but Its appropriations will bo greater than
those of any previous congress.
I't Mbii.iirc.vr or kidvapeiis.
I.ilnn Priivldliii; Aili-iiuntr PennlHex n
iitloiuil oed.
San Francisco Call. ,
Regularly with the assembling of the leg
islatures of the eastern states there comes
a revival of the question of the advisability
of establishing the whipping post as a
means of punishment for certain crimes
nhlch In the estimation of some pcoplo
aro Inadequately dealt with by cither fine
or imprisonment. That discussion Is now
going on nt a lively rate In the east owing
to tho fact that in Delaware, where the
pillory nnd tho whipping post arc used as
punishment, there Is agitation to abolish
them; while In Connecticut, where they do
not exist, there Is a movement to establish
the whipping post, if not tho pillory.
Tho question has had a new Interest
added to it this timo by the suggestion
that whipping be used as a pnrt of the
punishment provided for kidnaping. As
was pointed out by Tho (.'all immediately
after tho Cudahy kidnaping case In Omaha,
thn existing laws do not adequately pro
vide for the punishment of that offense.
In nearly ever stato efforts will be made
during the present session of the legisla
ture to remedy the defect, and consequently
in thn cast that issue has naturally be
come Involved In tho whipping post dis
cussion. Judgo Baldwin of Connecticut has strongly
advocated tho adoption by that state of
tho whipping post as a punishment for
kidnapers who carry off children with the
Intent to extort ransom, and in de
fending his proposition Is reported to
have said: "What nrn tho objection
to such n penalty' That It would bo In
human? There Is nothing Inhuman in using
reasonable severity to punish physical out
rages. It Is society striking back at the
man that gave the first blow. It is tho
natural lrapulsi of every man to meet force
by force. That it would bo unchristian?
For an Individual to right his own wrongs
in such a way perhaps might be, but the
duty of tho stato to punish criminal wrong-
doors with tho heavy hand is nowhere pro
ciairoen moro oxpiicity man in tho new
testament. That It would degrade the kid
naper? Degrade- him from what? What Is
his station now? Who Is lower, baser,
meaner, than tho tcnundrol who steals nway
a child to extort mapey for his ransom?
That It is going back to tho dark ages?
! or somo things wo may well go there and
get light."
A sidelight upon tho question Is thrown
by reports that the whipping post In Dvlu
ware causes all t,bo criminals of that state
who, if convicted, would bo subject to It, to
leave Delaware and livn In Maryland. The
report has stirred up the Marylandcrs and
they aro now asking ono another whether It
would bo better to old the movement for
suppressing the whipping post In Delaware
or to establish ono In Maryland, and so
drive the criminals oer tho border Into
Pennsylvania.
Whether tho whipping pott bo established
or not. It Is certain something should l.e
dono for thn punishment of kidnapurs. It
Is iiot likely tho Cudahy affair will stand
long as an Isoluled rase. Tho success of tho
criminals In obtaining a lurge ransom and
getting away will bu sure to uncourage
others to lmltato tho example, and as
consequeuce some fitting punishment for
tho crime should be provided this winter
In every statu where the legislature Is in
session,
hmii: op oi u not ions.
Siiniplr InMimeri tit "l.i-iirnril ,11rn"
PiikIiiu iik l'.iirrl.
Philadelphia Itecord.
The overplus of doctors of medicine has
been subject of comment for many yrurs,
and young men have been urged to srek
seme pursuit which would offer better
rewards and a more certain living to con
scientious workers. The phrase "There is
alnays room at the top," however, has
upheld thousands of bright young men
whose natural bent Is for the practice of
medicine or surgery. That there Is, in truth,
room for thoroughly educated physicians and
surgeons Is suggested by the revelations of
Ignorance on the part of some of our doc
tors who have succeeded In making a liv
ing by private practice or In the public
service. For a great many years tho lead
ing medical colleges of the country, par
ticularly those In the eastern states, have
required or have seemed to require a high
degree of preparatory knowledge of those
who have applied for entrance, nnd the
examinations required for graduation have
been regarded as exacting. In spite of
this college elevation of tho standard of
medical education, It Is undeniable that
some of the business which should go .o
the efficient has fallen Into the hands of
blockheads.
In the Sncll will case, now before the
court In Chicago, "a physician of promi
nence" wns placed, on the witness stand
as an expert on Insanity. He expressed
such obviously nbsurd opinions that tho
attorney for the other side exclaimed to
the Judge: "Why. this man doesn't know
what Insanity Is! Doctor," hp shouted,
turning to the witness, "do you know what
nn adverb Is?" The witness admitted th.tt
he did not. "Well, then," Justly observed
tho lawyer, "what can this expert know
about medical terms If he doesn't know
an adverb from a noun?" The nttoriiey
then mentioned the best known works of
the leading writers on Insanity and nervous
disorders works which are used In the
medical schools as text books and asked
tho expert If he had read any of them,
Again the witness answered in the negative.
Only the sudden adjournment of the session
saved the expert from the astounding con
fession, In reply to a question, that he had
never read any work on insanity.
This display of Ignorance had lis parallel
in the results of Judge (loft's examination
of a New York police surgeon. Finding
the medical official Ignorant of the simplest
facts In relation to his profession the law
yer asked him If he had read the works
of Esculaplus. "Not all of them," wns
the modest reply. "Of course," said the
lawyer, "you know that Esculaplus Is a
German and tho highest authority on nerv
ous diseases?" "Oh, yes." replied the
police suregop; "but I read a translation
of some of his 'looks." It should bo said
that the medical profession In New York
has had nothing to do with the choice of
police surgcous. This particular shining
light admitted that he owed his appoint
ment to politics.
A Vl iqi lTV or VICES.
Sunn' Vrrj- Old (imfts Hint Thrift- In
lllllll-l'll iilliex.
Chicago Tribune.
The letters nnd Inscriptions of Ham
murabi, a king of the tlabylonlan dynasty.
dating back to 2300 n. C. which have
recently been translated, throw most In
teresting light not only upon the antiquity
of vices of a financial kind, but also upon
the manner In which they were punished
in those faraway days. In one of these
letters Hammurabi notifies his cor
lespondent that a case of bribery has been
reported to him, nnd that the man who
offered the bribe, the man who took the
brlbo nnd a witness to the transaction aro
lu Dabylon. The officer Is further notified
to apprehend nil these men, as well ns to
set n seal upon the money or upon whatso
ever was offered as the bribe, nnd cause
It" and all tho parties to be brought beforo
him for summary punishment. The out
come of the case Is not reported, but as
Hammurabi, the Amraphel of Genesis, was
absolute In power. It Is not unlikely that
two Babylonians lost their heads ns a
salutary warning to others.
The second letter bears upon the question
of mouey-lendlng In those ancient days.
A serf had Informed the king that Anl-
ellati, a notorious usurer, had laid claim to
certain lands which belonged to him ond
had appropriated his crops. Tho king, after
looking into tho matter, found that the
usurer held n mortgage upon only a small
part of the serf's acres, and ordered that his
pledge should bo returned to him and that
the usurer should bo brought to him for
punishment, the registry of title being held
sufficient to defeat a usurious claim a
feature of land laws which, curiously
enough. Is now advocated in England.
These two letters, over 4,000 years old,
show not only tho antiquity of thn vices of
greed, but also Iho excellent manner lu
which Justice wns administered sometimes
in the early days of the race. In tho
bribery caso tho briber was hold ns
equally guilty with the bribed. In tho
usury caso the llabylonlan shylock lost
not only his interest, but his principal, and
was punished besides. In the bribery mat
ter tho king was determined not to touch
the hush money, 400 ounces of gold, so
ho ordered his officials to return It to tho
briber, after deducting 3H8 ounces for legal
expenses and i ounces for fees to tbo
scrvnnts, which shows that Hammurabi was
crafty as well as Just. Justice, after all,
has not made much advance in the last
forty-one- centuries; on tho other hand, Its
administrators today might learn a useful
lesson from tho study of tho Hammurabi
tablets.
PCIt.SO.VAl, .VOTES.
The Danish legislator who has started
a newspaper to opposo tho sale of the
Islands to tbc United States is in danger
of infringing on Editor Iiryun's patent.
Frank Rockefeller's cattlo ranch In Texas
Is about eight miles long and varies fron
two to four miles in width. Hero Mr.
Rockefeller snends nearly all his leisuro
time, and he Is then to all appearances, g
typlcnl cowboy.
Sir Charles Oavan Duffy, K. C, M. O., has
presented to tho Royal Irish academy his
valuable collection of books, manuscripts
and curios relating to Ireland. His "Ilnllad
Poetry of Ireland," which was Issued In 184t,
has pasHed no fewer than fifty editions.
Grover Cleveland has accepted honorary
membership in the Mercer County (N.
J.) Foxhunting association, which num
bers about seventy-flvo sport-loving Trcn
tonlans. Mr. Cleveland, In his letter to the
secretary of tho club, hopes that his ac
ceptance will not Involve danger to "the
life or limb of an old man."
The horrors of the outrages, massacres
nnd looting In China by Christian soldiers
leads a correspondent of tho New York
Evening Post to observe that "tho Chris
tian warrior of today Is on tho samo plane
as his ancestor who lived In the period
of the cave bear nnd the mastodon, ex
cept that today ho uses moro deadly
weapons."
After thirty-five years of continuous serv
Iro Chief Justice Dcpuo has resigned from
tho New Jersey supreme bench. That his
Intellectual power is unimpaired may be
eathered from a remark ho made on an
nounclng his Intention to resign. "I much
prefer." snld he. "to withdraw when thi
public may wonder why I do so than to wait
until the public shall wonder wny I ao not
Queen Victoria was u grandmother at to
and a great-grandmother at M). .Her nrst
grandchild Is emperor of Germany, and her
llret great-grandchild is tho daughter of
the emperor's oldest sister. It was a mem
ber of a famous iloston military company
visiting in London who. In toasting Vic
torla, upoko of "the queenllness of the
woman and the womanliness ot l tie queen.
OTIIEIt I, AMIS THAN Ol IIS,
la ronsrqueiice nf Iho growth of Germnn
Iridii and commerce In nil purls of the
world the Gorman emperor has decided to
I'slnblldi an Institute for the study nf
iiceniinlogy in llerlln In connection with a
naval museum lloth are to bo part of the
llerlln tioU rrnlty and will servo as nn
academy fur naval Instruction on the mnt
modern system and In the widest sense rf
tlm word One of Iho main objects is the
Instruction, not only of students In th
subjects dealt with, but of all prrsons In
terested In i hem. Including ships' cnptslnf.
ship owners, met chants, etc. The museum,
will be formed on a very large scale, the
emperor having ordered that nil tho nai .d j
collections nt WllhoImi.hi.veli, Dantrle. Kiel
nnd Hamburg shall bo brought to llerlln. rs
well ns nil special collections In other mil-1
suums, nnd the greater part of the Germnn
naval section exhibited la Paris last year
Tho emperor has allotted 250,000 marks for '
this purpose and the Prussian Landtag has 1
also made nr. impropriation. Though the
Institutions are still lu course of formation
n series of free public lectures on
ocennolngy, eic. by several of tho leading
German professors will be stnrted at once.
Tho first census la Russia was taken In
1721 and showed a population of 14,000,000.
On tho accession of Cutherfnc II. In 1702,
tho population of the empire was 19.000.0001
at tho time of her death, in 17f!i, 3i.000.000,
In 1S16. under Alexander l, 45.000,000; under
Nicholas 1, In 1S35, t'.O.OOO.OOO; under Alex
ander II, In 1S5S, 71,000.000, under Alex
ander III. JS93, 127.000.000. nnd today. I.1.
000.000, Including the grand duchy of Fin
land. As the population now Increases nt
the rate of nearly 2,000.000 n vear In n
quarter of a century Rus.Ma will number
200.000.000 Inhabitants. The average ratio
of Inhabitants in tile empire Is but six per
square kilometer, whereas In Ilelglum, the
most densely populated country In the
world, it Is upward of 200. The population
of Russia Is, however, lery unequally dis
tributed. In the province of Vistula It
averages 75 Inhnbltauts per fu.ua ro kilo
meter, which figure is superior to the aver
age in France 71 per square kilometer.
Tho region of tho southwest (Klew) has 55
Inhabitants per kilometer, the proiluce of
Moscow 43 Inhabitants. Lithuania 40. the
liable provinces 25, southern New Russia
24, the Volga basin 17. Finland has but
7 Inhabitants per kilometer and Archangel
but 1 Inhabitant per kilometer. In tho
regions of the Amur the proportion of in
habitants is but 4 per 100 kilometers.
The population of Russia, which was for
centuries almost exclusively rural, teuds
more and more to become "urban." Thu",
In 1724, the urban element was but 3 per
cent of tho entire population, while today
It forms 13 per cent of the whole. In 1721
the total population of tho Russian cities
was hardly more than 300.000. Today it !.i
nearly 17,000,000. Thirty years ago Russia
contnined only four cities the population of
which wns upward of 100.000. Today there
aro twenty-two cities ot this kind. Si.
Petersburg and Moscow each have over
1.000.000 Inhabitants nnd Odessa, which wai
founded only 105 years ago. already hns a
population of 420,000. LodJ, which had 32,
000 tnhnbltnnts thirty years ago, now hus a
population of 325,000; Baku has, In the
samo space of time. Increased from 13,000
to 115.000. and Klew from fis.OOO to 225,000.
Thirty years ago Russia had exactly sixteen
cities with a population of 50,000 and over.
Today there are sixty cities of the kind.
That Russia may Invade Sweden sonic
day is certainly moro than an Idle suppo
sition, and Is well within the range or
probability. It has long been known that
tho War department has n carefully
drawn-up plan of campaign for the Inva
sion of Sweden and Norwav. The officers
of tho Russian general staff are of the
opinion that an nrmy of 120.000 men would
bo sufficient to compel Sweden and Norway
to accept the conqueror'B terms. It Is. like
wise, well known that numerous Russian
spies have recently been sent to Scandina
via, and that the Swedish language Is now
studied by mrny Russian officers. The ap
prehensions of the Swedes are, therefore,
well grounded, particularly as tho Rus.i nns
have made no secret of tho fact that they
want an outlet on the open sen; and vhero
could they find better ports than on tho
Norwegian roast, where the sea never
freezes, even in the coldest winters? Hut
to rench the Norwegian coast the Rus
sians must pass through Sweden; in other
words, they must conquer n great portion
of the Scandinavian peninsula to attain their
purpose. Hence, the great Importance at
tached to the proposed leorganlzatlon of
the Swedish army. In all probability the
Rldsdag will adopt the government's pro
posal, nnd will grant the necessary sum,
which Is a considerable one, for its realiza
tion. From the beginning of tho new year
France will have a purely colonial nrmy;
an army which will bo under the minister
of war. instead of, ns formerly, under the
minister of marine. Part of the colonial
nrmy will remain In Franco, while the other
part will be ubrood. Tho period of service
abroad has been fixed at from three to five
years according to the climate and tho
colonial nrmy will be perfect In every
department i.nd ready to undertakn any
llttlo colonial war. without calling either
upon tho territorial army or tho navy for
assistance.
It may be mentioned that the personnel
of the artillery passed from tho navy to
the colonial army, consists of one general
of division, three generals of brigade, nino
colonels, ten lieutenant colonels, nineteen
chefs d'escadron, elgthy-thrco captains,
olfjhty-threo officers for administrative pur
poses, oixiy-iwo military employes and six
companies of workmen and skilled artisans.
Tho total effective strength of the new
colonial army has been fixed at thirty-five
co'oncls. forty-seven lieutenant colonels, 186
chefs de battalion, 146 doctors. 756 captains,
1,192 lieutenants and second lieutenants,
From now
Until March 1st -
The advantages that we offer to our eiiHtoiners of low
prices on line units for men and bovs, re for those only who
come in time.
On March 1st we announce our Spring Opening, and up
to that time suits and overcoats that are worth every cent we
asked for them can be had now, in most oases, at reduced prices.
This is simply a business method of reducing our stock
of winter garments to reasonable limits, so as to better prepare
for the Spring arrivals.
Don't overlook our Furnishing and Hat departments; you
will find the best of seasonable goods in both and with a sav
ing of money too.
(He sure and read our Sunday ad.)
Store open until 0 V. M. Saturday
Browning, King & Co.,
R. S. Wilcox, Manager.
Orunhu' Ouly Exclusive Clothiers lor Mca nnd Bey
61 adjutants. H.7 forporsls, 2$. 16 soldiers,
312 inuMclnns Then, the name part of
the colonial array Is to consist of u'ji scr
rennts. I jfl corporals an J H.068 native
solriirrs
t
Tho text of the new canal bill has been
communicated to tha Prussian Diet I' Is a
revision and extension of the scheme of
W, which proposed to connect the Rhine
with the Elbe by means of a ranal navi
gable for vessels of considerable tonnago
and in rannllze lUi Weser from Uremen
to .Mindn where the canal would cross it
Among the many objections which wero
braurht against this plan was the rhargf
thai f would benefit only the western half
of th monarchy- The poorer agricultural
prcvlnre to the oast of the Kibe would. It
was urged, a'tually suffer from tho creation
of a chesp means of transport which would
lesten the price of foreign agricultural
pridiice on the Hsrlln market. The gov
ernment now has expanded the original
till? Into a measure providing for the ex
tension of the canal system In all parts ot
the kingdom. This will, ot course, Involve
n much greater expenditure. It contains
seven different schemes, of which the
total cost to the state Is estimated at 3Si -010,700
marks, or nearly $100,000,000. Thes
Include the Rblne-Elbo canal, which, It is
calculated, will cost 26O.73t.7O0 marks, a
ship canal between llerlln and Stettin, to
cost tl.JOO.OOO marks; a waterway connect
ing the Oder nnd the Vistula, of which the
cost, together with that of a channel ren
dering the Warthe navigable for ships from
Posen to the Junction of the Netzo. Is esti
mated at 22,631,000 marks, and a canal con
necting the province ot Silesia with the
canal Joining the Oder to the Spree. The
bill further proposes that the state should
participate In the work of improving the
flow of water In the lower Oder and the
upper Havel to tho extent ot 40,9S9.00o
marks nnd D.670,000 marks respectively,
and should contribute the sum ot 9,336.000
murks towards tho canalization of 'be
Spree.
The recent elections iu Austria for a m vr
Rolchsrath have resulted In n sort of Wa
erloo for the antl-scmlte and clerical pel
Itlelahs. They have been beaten right and
left, much to their surprise, as they fancied
the flowing tide was with them. The prci
pects of Austria arc not, however, im
proved. Tho new members of the Reirhs
rath are not predominately farttonlsts of
the old sort, but their pan-Germanlr anl
pan-Czech Ideas are radical and will prob
ably continue to make parliamentary gov
ernment Impracticable. The agitators hae
at length fired racial and religious animos
Itles to such an extent that Francis Jo
seph's checkerboard empire seems redv
to tumble to pieces. Hungary Is not divided
to the same extent as Austria, but Hun
gnry, too, now shows signs of breaking' up
TICKLISH TALK.
Detroit Journal: A sucker Is born ev ry
minute, and marriage statistics Indica'e
tlm'. ho usually lives to grow up.
("htrngo Record: "You nlwas look
plcacd when yju meet Jlbbs."
"Yes: lie once tried to cheat me nn I
couldn't."
Pittsburg Clirjnlele: "I suppose ou re
very fond of Kitty and that she has perfect
trust In you. now that you're married
"Trust? Well, 1 Kile? that's rlsh'
She has a perfect monopoly ot me."
Detroit Free Pre..s: Husband Inn': i
nbout time Mrs. Ilorrore was returning ur
call .'
Wife Yes. but If she docs return it it
will lie more than she does with the other
things she gets from us.
I'hlcagn Tribune: Alkson What aro jou
doing for your grip?
Pnyne Nothing. My wife says It's prow
deiitial I've got It. Twice since I catglit
It my coughing nnd sneezing In the inlddlo
of the night hnve seared burglnrs away
from the houe
CIevel.mil PUJn .D.uilr4- "J've often felt
St rry for old Ananias."
Why so?"
"Hi cause he never had a clinnce to show
tli. full measure nf his ability. rillnW
how he would have reveled In iho loh If
be could have gone along with Todd
Rotiseielt."
Washington Star: They tell me that you
have been traveling abroad." snld the
young woman who tries to nuke convcrst
tloti And the man who hclzes tho slightest
prtlext to be disagreeable answered:
Terhnps you will be kind enough ti
explain how I "ould hnve gone abroad
wltl.cut traveling "
THE i HOI III, I'. IIOItllOWEII.
Washington Star.
The man who borrows trouble will he
kindly step this wny?
Wo read eo much about him In the paper.
day by day.
That we'd kind nf like to see him nnd to
greet him with n smile.
For we're truly fascinated by his philan
thropic style ,
He Is worried 'mot to death for fear tho
people up In Mors
Are mnklng vain endeavors to converso
beyond tho stars.
Anil he says the "yellow peril" mny de.
stroy our cultured plan
And put us nIK In serfdom to the callow
Chinaman. -
He's going 'round In sackcloth, for he sas
it hurts his pride
To hefir tho talk of n cannl that Isn t
fortified.
Ho weeps and says that Cnesar's ell03t is
stalklnsr through the town.
And presently the president will wear nn
emperor's crown.
And our tiiiieolnl system, ho declares with
dark dNmay,
Will land the population In the poor-hou.e
some lino day.
And woil get ii standing nrinyp that de
lights to terrorize,
And they'll massacre civilians Just for fun
and exercise.
Oh. this man who borrows trouble he Is
very, very kind.
To tnke so many mighty obligations on his
ir.lnd.
And leave un to enjoy the passing senson,
with Its cheer.
And revel in prosperity; so long ns It is
here.
Weil let him take these burdens he so
genially Invites;
Wc will give him what lie askH for every
time ho calls or writes.
Wo will lend him all our troubles, and his
store shall know no Inck,
And hoil bo unwelcome only when ho tries
to pay them back.
i