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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (March 28, 1903)
THE OMAHA DAILY JEE: SATURDAY, MAHCII 28, 1903. 0 Tiie Omaha Daily Bee. E, ROdE WATER, EDITOR. PUBLISHED EVERT MORNING. TERMS OF BUBSCRIPTION. Daily Km (without Bunday), One Yar..f.0) Jslly Itoo ami Bumlay, Una ter ;. llluHtrarpd H-e. One ar J 9" tiundnv Hee,. One Year ' Saturday Bee, One. Tear : Twentieth Century termer, One Tear., l.tw DELIVERED BT CAIlRtEX Dally Pea (without Sunday), per copy.... Jo Illy He, (without Sunday), per week...J2n Daily Bee (Including Sunday), per week..l;C Biinnay Hee, per copy J Kvenlng Bee (without Sunday), per week c Evening ilea (Including Sunday), per week le Complaints of Irregularities In delivery should be addressed to City Circulation De partment. . OFFICES. Omaha The Bee Building. South Omaha City Hall Building, Twenty-fifth and M Htreeta. Council Bluffs-iO Pearl Street Chicago 1640 Unity Building. New fork 2328 Bark Row Building. Waahlngton-4ni Fourteenth Street. CORRESPONDENCE. Communications relating to news and edi torial matter ahould be addreseed: Omaha Bee, Editorial Department. REMITTANCES. Remit by draft, express or postal order, payable to The Bee Publishing Company. Only 2-cent stamps accepted In payment of mail accounts. Personal check. ecept on Omaha or eaetern exchange, not accepted. THE BEE PUBLISHING COMPANY. ' STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION, flt.t nf Mhr.V nnuslaa County. SI.! Oeorge B Taachuck, secretary of The Bee Publishing- Company, blng duly sworn, uvi that th actual number of full and mmnbia rnniu nf The Daily. Morning, Evening and Sunday Be printed during the monu or February, ms, waa u 1 , X,180 la 3 80.K30 S .l,630 4. .80,64)0 I R0.40O 30.STO ?..........,..80,S30 jr,0 80,610 10 80.BOO II ,.30,003 11 30,640 M 80,040 M 8O.6T0 11 O 1 fl'Ml 17.... 1.... 81,540 1 81,454) x si.eio tl 81,070 a ,....2o,a5 13 si.oao 14 Sl.HOO 36 81,000 Zt si.ozo 27 , 31,000 tt 81,780 Total Less unsold and returned copies. 833,433 B.U04 Net total sales 844.008 Net average sales 80,140 OEOBOB B. TZ8CHUCK. Subscribed In my presence and sworn to before ma Lhia 28tn day of February, a. u. UOi. aL B. HUNOATB, l&sai.) , . Notary Public Prospects are poor for the fence crop on the government lands this season. Have you been Initiated . Into the Oopber KlanT If not, now is your time. Nebraska lawmakers have decided to pat In a few days without pay just to make full measure. ... i - - .. i us up 10 m ujn uiu i good the promise of better weather for those postponed primary elections. Broatch's ban on the twelve saloons In disfavor has been raised on condi tion that the saloon men stay on the reservation. This la reform with a blg"R. i '' San franclsco la now boasting the largest weather bureau In' the United States outside of the national capital, as If that gave it a monopoly on the best weather-.-... ' Wonder If Omaha la to be treated to another aerlea of cartoons and illumi- nated posters by John N. Baldwin's stalking horse who is going to run. for mayor Just to get even. The Mississippi la still rising. People did not appreciate before how much moisture bad been gathered in during the winter by the great basin drained bf the father of rivers. After its St Patrick's day effusion. the state senate ought not to be bashful about communicating its idea of the Irish land bill to King Edward over the official seal signatures of its officers. The new Chinese minister has arrived in this country carrying with him the name Chen Tung Liang Cheng. He will have to cut that short if be want to get Into the same class with his prede cessor, Minister Wu. . If you . have not already taken the solemn oath to keep Its workings and lrtnrltT a profound Secret and nledired yourself to be governed by the actions of the executive committee of tho Ta- triotlc Order of Gophers, you have not a minute to lose. . It Is Intimated that telephone rates may soon be lowered In Omaha by vol- than any other people, as they are thor untary action of the telephone com-loughly acclimated . and accustomed to pany. Not till the legislature Is ad- Jonrned will the company know how much of , Its slush fund tarn back to its patrons. It can safely The Irish land bill is held to be a step In advance by the leaders of the Irish nationalist party," but they "refuse to accept It as complete satisfaction of Ireland's demands. It would hardly do for tho British government to make con cession that would leave the leaders nothing still to fight for. . . There- la serious alarm In the Inner recesses, ot the Gopher Kluu that th-J bill for the destruction of prairie dog villages and thff i extermination of prairie dogs, which has passed both houses of the legislature, may be mis construed to also apply to political pralrlo dogs otherwise known as Gophers. . Bluhop Spalding Is bo' enthusiastic over tho results of his work on the recent eoal strike commission that he declares the day. of strikes is past We fear the bishop Is a trifle too optimistic. He should wait at least until the 1st of May, when the strike orders "are usually given. The trustees of the -Iowa State Agri cultural college are having difficulty in electing a new president, but the diffl culty arises from choosing between surfeit of eligible candidates. Nothing could demonstrate better the progress made by western educational institu tions la recent years than the readiness of educators of high rank to identify UtemselTes with them. DthlBKRATlXQ lit THt tLKMS VAW. Eastern papers state tnat me truo . f..iL m-.tchw, vlth nil? rnuiuuu ui'ivium r a reat dtal of Interest the operation and effect of the Elklns anti-rebate law. If Is stated that..whlle the pew- lnw will necessitate no radical clian'fc-ps In the policy and methods whU'h eastern roads have ' fceretofore- pursued ' and Which- It Is claimed ear generally been In conformity with the requirements of the Interstate commerce law, there la a desire to see how the new law Is going to better railroad conditions generally rather than to any changes which their own l nes win nave'io raane. a iu same time It Is said that western rail road men do not view the Elklns law with any such degree of equanimity. "They appear to be pretty much at sea," it is said, "as to what the new law will or will not require "of them." It Is pointed out that numerous conferences have been held, resulting In the con clusion that until something definite ns to how the riew law will affect the west ern roads has been' determined the executive officials of each should con tinue to operate their . lines according to their own Interpretation of the statute. ''- From what ha transpired since; the Elklns law went Into effect . lt would seem Uiat tne western rauroaa man agers quite as well understand the re quirements of the act as do the man agers of the eastern lines and are no loss desirous of conforming to them. The fact Is that whatever .opposition has thus ' far been manifested to the new law has come from the eastern railroads. It is from that source that has been heard the determination to test the constitutionality of the law, while western railway managers have quite generally shown a disposition to conform to its provisions. . As we have heretofore said, It Is desirable that the law shall be given a test In the courts In order to determine lt9 constitutional ity, so that no reasonable objection can be made to any move In this direction. If railroad managers are uncertain re- gardlng the constitutionality of the act they should take steps to have the ques tion decided, as it Is said some of them propose to do. Meanwhile the Interstate Commerce commission has given an Interpretation of the Elklns law which will stand pending a judicial construction. That interpretation requires that the rail- I rnflria ahall mnfco nn rllacrlmlnB tlnna nt I - - - ' , . v. . rriw, nnkii.h any nature. The published rates must be absolutely adhered to as to all ship pers If there are any' concessions they must be granted alike to all. The small shipper and the large shipper must be treated precisely alike, and this applies not only to freight rates, but to trans portation given on account of a shipper's business, which In the opinion of the commission Is the same thing as a rebate concession or discrimination. This posi tion Is undoubtedly sound and appears to be generally so recognized by the railroads... The purpose! ot the Elklns law; Is tp .place all shippers on an equal ity and there seems to be very good promise that it will accomplish this laboh oa ths canal One of the problems to be considered in connection with the construction of the Panama canal is that of labor. Ac the present time the .French company Is stated to have about 1,000 or 1,500 men emoloved. but that number will be but a corporal's guard in comparison with the laborers that will be put to work when the United States takes charge of the enterprise. 'Where the' army of workmen Is to come from is the ques ' tion. It Is said that already men in tho West Indies are figuring on furnishing laborers at so much per head and Ad miral Walker has been .offered. a large number of negroes . for, work, on the canal ...whenever this government gets ready to relieve the Frenchmen now at Panama. These blacks would come from Jamaica and neighboring islands. It is the opinion of Admiral Walker, who has given moat careful and thor ough attention to the matter,, that nlne- tenths of the labor for the 'canal will have to be imported. Tie thinks that the most .of it, will e,orue from China, Japan and the West Indies. - The negroes of the West Indies are probaoly better I suited for labor along the' canal route hard work of this sort If 20,000 of I them were to be engaged, it would mean that the colony would amount to some thing like 40,000, for" the West Indian blacks, being great family, men, will not work contentedly at any place un less accompanied by their wives and children. It Is also, the opinion.' of Ad miral Walker that some of the negroes in our southern states could be utilized in work on the ranal, though- he doubts whether they could :be Induced to go to Panama In large numbers. There Is a general indisposition among the col red people of the south to leave their homes, but it would seem that there should not be any . great difficulty In our government securing all f them that may be needed In the construction of the canal, and It is not to be doubted ihat they would be found much m efficient laborers than the negroes of the West Indies. As to Importing labor from China and Japan, there would be pretty strong oppositlon: to doing this, largely for .the reason that there would be danger of some of these people find ing their way Into this country after the enterprise had been completed. Besides It will be felt that our government can not consistently employ these people, particularly1 the' Chinese, on a national work, in view of our policy of exclu sion respecting them. . It Js not to be apprehended, however, that the labor question in connection -with the canal will be found a very difficult one. If sufficient cannot be secured from tie abundant supply of ntgro labor In the south, with such Inducements as our government will offer, there Is no doubt k that enough can. ta drawn from the Wpt Indies to supply tho dpmand. In- deed It Is not Improbable that there will be more from that oirce eeeking em- ployment than will be wanted. CftASTlSIXQ SUVTH OMAHA. The Douglas delegation In the legisla ture Is not yet through try Id g to "get even." They have a rod In pickle for South Omaha for sending an anil Mercer delegation to the republican convention last fall, notwithstanding the Invaluable service Our Dave had rendered In projecting a pipe-dream bridge between Lake Manawa and the South Omaha brewery. For that piece of base Ingratitude South Omaha was spanked In the convention and left without any representation on the re publican legislative ticket. This dose of Mercer medicine Is now to be followed up by charter amend ments that will place that obstreperous community Into . a corporation strait- Jacket and the South Omahog Is to be scalded with Van Dusen vitriol and purged with Aiercerlte The prescrip- tion for th3 "get even" treatment was Injected Into the new South Omaha charter under the plea that the time has come for purifying the South Omaha atmosphere of porkollflc smells by sum marily dislocating the mayor of that town from all connection with and rela tion to the police and flre departments and placing the town under Puritanic rule. , According to Representative Gilbert, who figures conspicuously on the pay roll of one of the big franchlsed cor porations of Omaha, a large majority of the people of South Omaha democrats and republicans are clamoring for a governor-appointed police commission to hold down the lawless and vicious elements. If Mr. Gilbert had taken the trouble to investigate, he would proba bly have discovered by this time that the men most conspicuous In clamoring for a governor-appointed police com mission In South Omaha do not want to hold down the lawless elements, but they want to hold them up. If. however. It were true that a ma jority of the citizens of South Omaha demand this proposed change, why not trust the citizens of that town with the selection and election of their own po- lice commission? Can It be noeslble rhnf o h e , Omaha would allow themselves to be bought up or persuaded by the lawless and vicious minority Into electing blnck- I i , .. uiucii auu uwuiciif nur hiiuuhi iiih i . c mayors of South Omaha, who are by cnarter expressly designated as con servators of the peace and held respon sible for the maintenance of law and oraer, De barred from all connection with the police department, and' left utterly powerless to enforce law and order? vvhy not make the dangerous and lawless classes harmless by empower lng the governor to appoint the mayors as well as the police boards for South ubihuu, aau, ior inai matter every other town i and village In Nebraska? Surely there are some ' lawless v and s ... . a .. . vicious people In every community. Ac cording to tho special representative of the street railway and gas companies, the wny to hold the outlaw clashes down is to deprive the communities in which they live of the right of self government This is an entirely new doctrine and one that will bear fruit in the no distant future. r ,n Michigan the railroads propose lo couu'Bl ino new Tuorem tax law oa tne rouna of unconstitutionality be- i .i. . . . . . . . tnuo lue BBSfOBuieui ana lax levy is XO be made by the state, board Instead of by the local authorities. To prepare the way they have paid In under pro test the amount of taxes that would have been due under the old gross earn ings law, refusing to pay the excess called for under the new law. In Ne braska the railroads are satisfied with an ad valorem tax, but Insist on having it assessed by a state board, which in Michigan they pay is unconstitutional. Could anything be plainer than that the railroads are not objecting so much to the manner in which their taxes are fixed as they are to the amount of taxes imposed? If the ad valorem system in Michigan reduced the railroad taxes there would be no attempt on their part to overturn the law. and If the ad valorem system in Nebraska made them put up more than they were willing thly would be demanding its repeal and the substitution of a gross earnings tax In Its place. The death of William Edwards Annln takes away a man whose brilliant work on The Bee as associate editor is well remembered by Its older readers. Mr, Annln possessed journalistic abilities of a high degree which were brought to their full measurement by his service on this paper. He had the faculty of making firm friends . of those with whom he came in contact both here In Omaha and later in he broader Wash ington field, In which he quickly took rank with the noted correspondents of the foremost papers. Ills physical In firmities cut short at Its height a ca rcer .full of promise and his last years were spent warding off the ravages of aisease wuoso ratal result ne anew could only be postponed. His host of friends and admirers in Omaha, which ne always reguraea as ms Dome, will pay silent tribute to his memory. Although the Missouri legislature ad journed last Saturday, several members of that body have been politely sum moned to return to Jefferson City to appear before the grand Jury to telj. hat they know about the promiscuous distribution of boodle by the corpora tion lobby. The range of the Investiga tion Includes offenses by persons In public office affecilug public trust and public rights, the offering or accepting of bribes, the Illegal use of money In procuring legislation or Influencing pub lic officers for or against a measure, or the giving and tiiklus of m "- passes during the recent session. If similar proceedings were Instituted at Lincoln a scattering of blackbirds aud yellow birds In tho lobby would ensue that would knock a bole Into the re ceipts of the Lincoln hotels and make some people feel awfully uncomfortable. During the entire campaign not'a sin gle candidate on the republican Ieglsla tlve ticket declared his opposition to the doctrine of municipal home rule. while on the contrary several of them committed themselves to Its support Yet here we have members of the Doug las delegation proclaiming that they were elected on that Issue as a repudia tion of the principle of home rule. If they were so anxious to go up or down with the home rule Issue, why did they not define their position In answer to the demands made upon them during the compalgnT Had they declared themselves before election as they have now, how many of them would be on the floor of the house to vote away their constituents' rights of local self-gov- eminent? If the legislature adjourns April 7, according to the program now agreed upon, the laws enacted without an emergency clause" will go Into effect July 7. But as most of the bills have had an emergency provision tacked on the three months given by the constitu tion to enable the people to familiarize themselves with new legislation will not cut much figure. And now the East Omaha Bridge company wants to get out of paying city taxes In Council Bluffs on the same ground that the Union Pacific bridge I was pulled out from under by the aid of a friendly United States court. The railroads Insist on playing the tax eva sion game to the limit, but there is such a thing as overdoing It. So Thinks the Dealer. Indianapolis Journal. Two trays of diamonds were stolen from one place in Omaha yesterday. Something wrong with that dock. Eminently Fitting;. Chicago Post. It is not a good omen that the movement to induce Grover Cleveland to become once more the democratic) standard bearer began ,n PotUv,,le- Tn8 name u 80 strongly UKKestivs of soup. Bnalness Methods Boose. Springfield Republican. It used to cost the government of the United States over 5 per cent of all col- . . . taxes: now the exoense has fallen to 1.1 lecuons to collect the internal revenue per cent. The cost of collecting customs revenue Is much higher, and has remslned without material change In over thirty years being 8.18 per cent In 1871, and 3.13 per cent last year. Cnt Rates for Soldiers. Ban Francisco Chronicle. By the terms of a contract recently made by the Southern Pacific and Union Paclflo companies : 'With the government. marines will be carried between Chicago and San FraBoisco-a dlstanco of z.SOO miles, for 85 a head for parties between 89 ami 100 and 83.12 foratoavtle of 100 or more. The rate -Is only oe-s!ith what the gov ernment was required to pay last year. Prosperity and Revenue. . Indianapolis Journal. wnen tne war tevenue taxes were re pealed experts of the treasury and In con- gress estimated that it .would reduce the annual revenues by at least 875,000,000. Now, eight months after the repeal, it la found the revenues have not fallen off 828,000,000 as compared with the corre sponding period of last year. General pros perity has disappointed the predictions of reduced revenue. Cnfllnar a Democrat to Patriot. Chicago Chronicle (rep). That glorious ' old democratic wheel- horse, Henry M.' Teller of Colorado, who never supported a straight-out democrat In his life, ssys there Is no use of talking febout nominating anybody for president who did not support the popullstlc plat' forms of 1896 and 1900. Mr. Teller named the so-called democratic candidates In the yesrs mentioned snd perhaps he expects to do the same thing in 1904. ttrssi Southern Incident New York Evening Post. Charleston dlspatchea report that 100 white men have applied for appointment under the new negro collector, Dr. Crum. Office Is the great leveler, after all. It bids fair to break down even race prejudice that Is, prejudice against ths race that has clerkships to bestow. Senator Money Informed the senate that the south haa a violent and invincible dislike to "sharing I the responsibilities of government with an Inferior race." That, however, was before ons of the Inferior race nad appointments to dispense. As soon as he had them, whits men came forward a hundred strong per fectly willing to share the responsibilities of government with him. A Dangerous Precedent. St. Paul Globe. Let there be assembled at once a grand mass meeting of the United and Tenacious Society of Holders of Snaps. There is trea- aon in the ranks, ine principal oi an Iowa school has resigned, giving as a rea son that he has not the audacity to ac cept 370 a month for teaching nine pupils In the high school. He is satisfied with the position, the pupils snd patrons sre satisfied, but he hasn't the conscience n draw the money and not return a quid pro quo. Now, wouldn't tnat scandalize ine great body of -snap holders in the land What ara public Jobs for if not to provldn snaps? And If once the microbe of con science gets to work among the thousands holding snaps who can tell ths outcomsT Aro Les-lalatarrs Deteriorating,' Kansaa City Journal The decline of the legislature has been one of the most pronounced ieaturea oi American publlo life ever since the founds I Hon of the national government. Many of the colonial and early state legislatures were quite respectable bodies and con talned much of the best talent of the coun try. It has been thought by some reform ers that modern legislatures might be ele vated to the standard of the old ones by raising the pay of their members, but the correctness of this view Is very doubtful. Probably toe principal cause of the de generacy of legislatures is the lack of In terest which the public generally takes In their proceedings. They have been over shadowed by congress, just as stats issues have been overshadowed by national Issues. Since tbey do not receive much popular at tention, it becomes constantly more difficult to get able men who are ambitious to ac quire a reputation and make a career In publlo life to accept election to them. In consequence their sests srs commonly filled by men of limited ability and experience In public affairs and by goods-box polltl clans and "grafters. POLITICAL. DRIFT. Henry Wsttorson's admiration for Cleve land la equalled by Dare Hill's warm affec tion for Bryan. Secretary Root will be the principal speaker st the dinner of tbs Hams market club In Boston, April t. This hss been a profitable session for New York legislators. One of them dropped $20,000 In games of chance recently and didn't murmur little bit. Congressman De Armond ' of Missouri thinks the democrats could be harmonised If they had the offices. In other words, a full stomach induces contentment. A suggestion that the neit republican na tional convention be held In Ban Francises has been received rapturously by the re publicans, the business men, and especially the hotel men, of that city. ' Heavy registration In Chicago indicates that much Interest ,ls being taken In the municipal election to be held April 7. Both parties claim an advantage In the Increased number of voters qualifying. The Washington correspondent of the At lanta Constitution asserts In a dispatch to that paper that Mr. Bryan Is planning to become chairman of the democratic national committee In the next presidential cam paign. The esteemed mayor . of . Indianapolis, Charley Bookwalter, Is having a warm time to secure renomlnatlon from the republic ans. Some of the party kickers want to beat him with Harry S. New, son of the late John C. New. But "Bookie, old boy," Is "smooth people" In political games and Is not the kind that takes fright at pre liminary hot air. District of Columbia assessors threatened to sssess the personal property of congress men and senators In accordance with the law passed at the last session. Dlstsnt rumblings of an approaching roar were heard, causing assessors to pause and think a line or two. 'Tls well. Congress holds the purse strings of the district. Any move which would disturb congressional good will might close the purse Indefinitely. Hence the hesitation. The people of Wisconsin are to vote at their judicial election in April upon a pro posed constitutional amendment increasing the number of supreme court Justices of the state from five to seven. Should they ratify the amendment one of the additional Justices will be elected In April. 1904, to take his seat the first Monday of the fol lowing January, and the second will be chosen In April, 1906, to take his seat In January, 1907. The bill provides that the term of the Justices shall be ten years, and that not more than ons shall be elected during any one year. MISSOURI AND TUB BEEF THVST. npreme Court Condemns and Penal ises Firms In the Combine. Chicago Record-Herald. The decision of the supreme court of Missouri declaring five beef packing com panies guilty of combining to fix snd con trol prices of meats, In violation of the anti-trust law of that state, adds an Inter estlng chapter to the history of stats legls taiion ana litigation against combines or "agreements" of this character. It Is at least significant of a determination on the part of Missouri to vigorously enforce Its statute against the formation of pools or combinations to fix prices of commodities The proceeding against the packers was Instituted last May by an order of the court commanding the packers to show cause why they should not be cited to ap pear and answer the charge of violating the anti-trust laws of the state. This led to the appointment of a commissioner to take testimony under suit filed by the at torney general of. the state. Hearings were had in St Louis, Kansas City, St. Joseph and Jefferson City. The evidence adduced was embodied In a report made by the commissioner last October, and upon this evidence the court found the packing com panles guilty of combining to fix prices and fined them 85,000 each. The fact that the court unanimously con curred In the opinion written by Justice Marshall Is significant of the convincing nature of the testimony, which, it appears. was given by butchers, city meet Inspec tors and former msnagers of the peckers coolers In four cities. The court holds that the evidence obtained at the hearings ahows that there was a combination of the packers to maintain prices on beef In Mis sourl; that the representatives of the pack era met on certain days to fix the prices for that week; that they circumvented the "agreement" by paying relates; that the same prices prevailed at all the coolers at the same time, and that no competitor could enter the field against the packers because the combine would undersell the newcomer, forcing him out of business. If ths United States supreme court ahould confirm the power of the state In the premises business enthusiasm for trust arrangements would probably diminish very perceptibly. GOOD MEN AND GOOD POLITICS. Governor Cnmmlaa as a. Rsaslag Mate for Mr. Roosevelt. Detroit Free Press (dem.) To the extent that reliable Judgment can be formed from the present situation. th republican party would make no mistake in selecting Governor Cummins of Iowa as rresiaeni nooseveics running mate In 1904. I In some Important respects Governor Cum mins Is very like President Roosevelt The Iowa executive will not tolerate a gag or permit his thinking to be done by political machinery. He Is in touch with the people of the west, and has responded to their demand for a revision of the tariff, regard less of what may be wanted by those who find it a good Investment to pay the bulk of the campaign expenses In protection schedules. The governor is a strong man as well as an able one, and he would add materially to the strength of the ticket In that part of the nation which will de clde the next national conflict. This old question of import' duties Is bound to be to the fore In the approach ing campaign. The former financial Issus Is out of the discussion, because it was determined In 1896 and the verdict affirmed when a new trial was had In 1900. All se rlous questions growing immediately out of the Spanish war have been settled, or ars so far along In the process of settle ment as to be unavailable for campaign purposes to the minority, unless for such purposes of adverse criticism as counts for little when the country must accept what has been done, Both parties will rend and tear ths trust on the stump, the republicans having suf flciently fortified themselves with the Elklns bill and the Nelson bill to refute the charge of fostering these combines, and to claim that they will tolerate none but ths "good trusts. " The tariff Issue will regain its old-time prominence, and the country seems ready for revision. Governor Cum mins favors it, the president has con vinced the people that what they want he wants. It would be excellent politics to have two such men at the head of ths ticket. COUGHS, Brorichitl; Hoarn$f, 8ort Throat, Effectively Relieved. ox. OTHER LANDS THAN OIRS. Oerrnany is said to be ready to tnaks a 'generous" offer to Frsnce to ths effect that Francs annex Belgium while Ger many takes Holland. The threatened rail road strike In the Netherlands Is said to be he ground of this action. But there Is probably no truth In the story, though It-Is well known that Germany la anxious to absorb Holland, and probably will In time find the way to do It. France might be ' pacified by obtaining Belgium, but neither that country nor Holland would be benefited by such changes. It Germsny and France once agreed on the cheme It Is doubtful If other powers would Intervene. Russia might absorb Constan tinople, Austria a part of ths sultan's Eu ropean territory and Italy might also get a lice. England could then regard hereelt as the owner of Egypt and appoint her own governor. Bpaln might get something In Africa so as to mske It an even grab. Por tugal and Swltserlsnd would then have to he prepared for absorption. Ths trust idea is not confined to Indus trial enterprises. Russia has been tor a long time, .proceeding on trust lines In en larging her empire and shs hss not yet got through with that business. There is not large power ID Europe that Is not look ing for mors land, ready to grab whenever opportunity offers. The fatal Obstacle to Australian progress Is Isck of water. In years of drouth ths harvests fsll so miserably and ths sheep and cattle perish In such vsst numbers that the effects are felt for a long time, so keenly that the gains of halt a decade hard ly Offset the havoc of six months. The latest wheat crop In the fertile snd com paratively well watered province of Vic toria averaged about a bushel and a quarter for every acre sown to that grain. The harvest did not return the seed used. In greet areas in various parts of Australia, and meanwhile the livestock of the country was perishing by millions. In Immense re gions the ruin wrought was nearly total. No country which is mainly pastoral and agricultural can stand such disasters, re peated, on a greater or less scale, every few yesrs, without losing too much ground to keep a good place In tho progress of the world. That Is why, notwithstanding all that the Australians have accomplished, neither ths present condition of their coun try nor Its prospscts can be called satis factory, even to moderate expectations. A few years before tho czar's recent proclamation there was a remarkable din ner In St. Petersburg to celebrate the forty- second anniversary of the emancipation of the serfs. Many literary men. Journalists and teachers were present, together with few soldiers. One of the chief speakers was Prof. Semevsky, who was deprived of his professorship a doiea years ago on ac count of his liberal opinions. Hs gavs an account of the abortive constitution drawn up by Lorls Mellkoff, and spoke of the causes which had prevented its adoption. He passed briefly over the thirty years of reaction which had followed, and conclnded by saying .that the agitation had broken out afresh and with renewed force. The government bad tried their best to sup press It, had exiled and Imprisoned by the thousand men from all classes of society, but their efforts had been In vain, the agi tation was spreading throughout the length and breadth of the country, and he was convinced that the time was not far dis tant when great and sweeping reforms would have to be granted. M. Hessen, a lecturer at the St. Petersburg university and editor of a legal Journal, described the surprise of an enthusiast of the early six ties suddenly transported Into the Russia of today. .He would find the country s ill demanding what It demanded In his day the liberation of the peasantry liberation not from the serf owner, but from the arbi trary rule of the bureaucracy,0 from' ifie crushing burden of taxation, and from ths countless restrictions and injustices to which they were still subject. . London' has a new commissioner of po lice; this important functionary being ap pointed by the king, upon the recommenda tion of the home secretary- It my be In teresting to note the type of man selected. The retiring commissioner. Sir Edward Bradford, began life as a subaltern In ths Indian army, and saw much active service. In which he distinguished himself greatly, becoming a full colonel In-1883. He had much experience In .the suppression both of thugs and Dacotts, and held a variety of his administrative . positions. On his re turn to England he became secretary to the Political and Secret department of the In dia office. Ho was made chief of the Lon don police in 1890, and always bandied the fores with great ability, as was proven suf ficiently at the time of the late queen's Jubilee and King Edward's coronation,. His successor is the former assistant commis sioner, who, like Sir Edward Bradford, has had long train mg in India..- He was orig inally a member of the Indian civil ser vice, and was soon marked ror promotion. From 1891 to 189 he was Inspsctor-general of police In Bengal. .In this office he dis played great ability, devising a system oi Identification by finger prints which was tried with excellent ' results, not only in Bengal, but in other provinces. Later on, at the request of ths colonial office, he went to South Africa to organise the po lice for Johannesburg and Pretoria, and then to prepare estimates for ths police force of the Transvaal. Recently ho has been in charge of the criminal investiga tion department at Scotland yard. Something new haa been discovered In the field ot politics. It Is an outcome of the bitterness which exists betweej the Cxechs and Germans of Bohemia. The principal savings bank of Bohemia Is ths Bohemian Savings Bsnk of Prague, which despite its name is a German Institution. The Young Csech perty, helped by their press, started a crusade against the bank with the result that a run was begun which In a few days took S3, 400,000 out of the bank. There has never been any ques tion of the bank's solidity, for it Is not only a very wealthy Institution, but hss t bscklng of the grestest Unsocial pone of Germany and Austris. A careful' -planned campaign of calumny was carried on by ths Csech press, with the result that the peasant depositors became thoroughly In the Genuine South American Panama Eats. Our first shipment has arrived, and though early, we want to toll you about them and show you what exceptional qualities they are and how remarkably low the price for such good values $10.00. Here's a window full now for inspection. ao cwTiiiya fits like ovns. Fif Yesrs tho Standard MSBBi Awardid K!ghst Honors World's Ftlr Klghist lists U.S. Qov't Chimlsts eaioc BtAKiMa eowota oa. OHIOAOO alarmed. Ths only reason for this movs Is that all the officers of the bank ars Ger mans, and It was' thought that It the bank could be broken the disaster would react oa the German party. FLASHRS OF PCK. Weary What wus Haggles sayln' about bulldogs? Willie He said he had a stranre attrac tion for them, an' they took such a hold on 'lm. Detroit Free' Tress, Miss Pae (coy) Now, do you think I look my age? Captain Candor I don't know what your age la. MIrs Pase (ooyerl Twenty-seven. Captain Candor No you certainly don't look It. Boston Globe. Hasslt It's strong you're so hard up. old man. I thought you owned hair or Bwnmnhuret and had lots to sell? Haddlt I have; but what I want Is lots to eat. Town and Country. "Beg . pardon, madam," ssld the clerk, "but what did you say your name was?" "I didn't say," snspped the Chlcsgo woman, who had Junt completed tier sev enth matrimonial venture, "an you need to knew is what my name is." Philadel phia Press. "Why do you pall that railway you have been selling stock for, the. Meridian road?" "Beofluse." nnnwered the elusive financier. "It is an imaginary fine." Washington Star, "My dear!" said a frightened husband In the middle of the night shaking his wife, "where did you put that bottle of strych nine?" - "On the shelf, next to the peppermint." "Oh. Lord!" he groaned. "I've swallowed It!" "Well, for goodness sake." whispered nls wife, "kern Quiet or you'll wake the baby." Philadelphia Ledger. The physicians were holding a consults tlon beside the cot of the man supposed to have appendicitis concealed about his per son. "I believe," snld one of the surgeons, "that we should wait and let him get stronger before cutting Into him." Before the other prospective operators could reply, the patient turned his head and remarked feebly: "What do you take me for a cheese T' Baltimore American. THE MAX AT TUB .HELM., There's a hand at the helm that's strong snd steady, . -Whllu the ship at state meets threatening waves; There's a heart true and ' brave and a will' that's ready, And iiurmltF we ride where, the storm demon raves. E'en though the. night be starless and wild, Xhe X' niair.ttn: efa,nds jcalflt, at, JU jonely pott. In his God he trusts with the faith of a child. And fearless . beholds the waters high tossed. A strong man of good sense, who knows how to serve, Such to the highest office we raise. No glittering crown, no week, flabby nerve. No barbarous -pride ot royal displays. The rich, red blood of an honest man. Of the best all climes commingled here, i Th hlghent composite of heart and brain, 'Tls such we honor and deem most dear. Not after he dies, but while he lives, His praise rings clearest throughout the land, The praUe that a great, free nation gives. To uphold and strengthen heart and hand. The line that began with Washington, Our country's father, great and wise. Shall not run low as the years roll on; His pplrlt aye looks through the school boy's eyes. Welcome, warm welcome springs every where. The mountains Invite yOu-, the plains love your tread; t And when In the pathless forest you fare ' The deep woods delight to safeguard your bed.. - .. . ., . . . . - ; ; ,' Theodore, gift of God, yours to command. Are the hosts of a mighty, peace-loving power; Youre to preside o'er the happiest land. Where freedom, deep-rooted, unfolds Its bright Powers. ? Omaha. BERlAH V. COCHRAN. THE NAME B CVOtYTIHML'. Esterbrook ca t pea kflU aa absolute its excellence No. 130. Is exactly Easy Writer, what Ita name lm plies. Try it Over 150 varieties of to fixxit other styles every puruU-Zpose. .All stationers Accept no have them. 'substitute. The Esterbrook steel Pen Ca Wert Caw. J. M Jias ISsaVW. X. Rough m. a. wurnm. Mm 'V V