Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, January 05, 1904, Page 6, Image 6

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    TTIE OMAITA DAILY DEE: TUESDAY, JANUARY , 1004.
fniE Omaiia Daily Bee.
E. ROSEWATER. EDITOR.
PUBLI8HED EVERT MORNING.
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.
?ally Bee (without Sunday ). One Year.. 14.
Dally Dm and Sunday, One Year '
illustrated Bee, One Year J
-Sunday Bw, One Year
Saturday Hee, One Year J-JJJ
Twentieth Century Farmer. One Year.. 1.U0
DELIVERED BY CARRIER.
nl!y Bee (without Sunday), per copy... 2c
Oally lies (without Sunday), per week...lje
ually Bee (Including Sunday), per week..lic
.unday Be, per copy
.venlng Bee (without Sunday), per week 6C
evening Bee (Including Sunday), Pr
week ,nc
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 Streets.
Council Bluffs 10 Pearl Street.
Chicago 1640 Unity Building.
New York 233i Park Row Building.
Washington 501 Fourteenth Street.
CORRESPONDENCE.
Communications relating to news and edl
orlal matter should be addressed: Omaha
Im, Editorial Department.
REMITTANCES.
Remit br draft, express or postal order
payable to The Bee Publishing Company.
Only J-cent stamps accepted In payment of
mall accounts. Personal checks, except on
Omaha or eastern exchanges, not accepted.
THE) BED PUBLISHING COMPANY.
STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION.
3tate of Nebraska, Douglas County, ss.t
George B. Taschuck. secretary of The Bee
Publishing Company, being duly sworn,
jays that the actual number of full and
complete copies of The Dally, Morning,
Evening and Sunday Bee printed during
the month of December, I&XJ, was as fol-
lowei
i.
j.
.w),2ao
17 80.BS0
IS 3O,870
19 31.020
ao aT,oao
21 31,270
23 30,770
23 80,fKM)
24 31,300
26 ai.r.oo
26 81JtlM
27 2000
28 30.7BO
29 BO .OiO
so rw.oio
81 33,400
f 90 eOfVft
ao .soo
. B(ft,tflO
1 30,340
( , SO.IHKI
( 81,110
10 SO,3BO
.1. ....... .30, 400
12 80,400
11 37,010
:i ao.ttoo
:i ...90,700
. 31.1UO
Total 947,3.
resa unsold and returned copies.... lo,42l
Vet total sales 0,-ui,u:i4
Wet average sales 30,220
GEORGE B. TZSC11UCK.
Subscribed In my presence and sworn to
before me this 8lst day of December, A. D.
W8. , M. B. HUNG ATE,
(Seal.) I Notary Public.
The Iowa state capitol was another
lire proof building.
I
Bear Admiral Glass persists In lils
determination to tell the truth, dry
though it bo.
Serious Indeed Is that hour when the
vntlre national guard of Uruguay Is
called to arms.
Mayor McClellan has been solaced
with the assurance that Mr. Cleveland
really wasn't a bit hungry.
Following . its time honored custom,
the lower bouse of congress convened,
pityed and adjourned for lack of a
lucrum.
With some surprise It Is noted Unit us
yet the Kansas correspondents have
contributed nothing to the current liter
ature of the war In the far east
- The Longhorns and the Shorthorns and
the cattle without horns will be the main
topic of discussion at the coming annual
meeting of the Nebraska Agricultural
association.
Don't grumble about the weather.
Boston and New York have been swept
Ly a blizzard while Omaha and Ne
braska have merely been gently pelted
by snow flurries.
The kaiser has decided to keep the
Royal Opera house at Berlin closed until
It is provided with better lire protection.
The whole civilized world Is learning
Cte lesson Chicago taught
Two hundred and' thirty-three of the
586 victims of tho Iroquois fire are being
buried outside Chicago, furnishing a
striking indication of the very great ex
tent of that city's floating population.
' The expelled democrats of 1800 are
Invited back Into the fold again, but
they are given distinctly to understand
that they must sit at the second table
and obey the maxim to be seen only and
no$ beard.
Governor Cummins worked with the
volunteers at yesterday's fire, wearing
hip boots and a rubber coat. Obviously,
be means to assail the propriety of one
certain Omahan's colored vests, later in
the running.
A good many people over all the land
would like to clasp hands with that Chi
cago minister who 'declared the theater
catastrophe was due not to the anger
Of Providence, but to the selfish Im
providence of man.
- Now that Omaha has entered upon its
Jubilee year it is to be hoped that greater
pains will be taken than heretofore to
Insure accuracy of commercial and in
dustrial statistics so tliHt future genera
tions may be able to measure correctly
the progress of this city.
President Roosevelt has no hesitation
whatever in taking the public as well
as congress into his confidence in every
thing that has transpired between this
country and the republics of Colombia
and Panama. This frankness will be
admired even by those who disagree
with bim.
We have it on good authority that
Supreme Court Clerk llerdmaii is In no
hurry to have the Judges agree upou bis
successor, but Is as willing to continue
to serve under a court of which a ma
jority are republicans as he would have
been had the outgoing democratic Judge
been re-elected.
The war correspondents and the news
photographers are already hurrying
across land and water to get over to the
scene of probable war between Jupun
and Ituvsla. As oou us they get tlu-lr
cameras located and their icrpevtlve
measured they will give the liml for
the fixbtlng te begin.
wmrntsiDtifrs pah ah a missaqm.
President Roosevelt's message, giving
to congress full Information as to his
action regarding Panama. Is a fctate
paper of the highest Importance, which
will not fall to command careful atten
tion at borne and abroad. It supplies
an answer, which we think will be re
garded by all fair-minded persons as
complete and adequate, to all the criti
cisms which have been made upon the
action of the administration and an en
tirely satisfactory Justification of the
course pursued.
The president points out that our gov
ernment most earnestly desired to deal
Justly and generously with Colombia, as
clearly shown In the terms of the treaty
which that country rejected. He notes
that the only criticisms of the treaty
were for Its having granted too much.
"Neither In the congress nor In the pub
lic press," says the message, "at the
time that this treaty was formulated,
was there complaint that It did not In
the fullest and amplest manner guar
antee to Colombia everything that she
could by any color of title demand."
The president very conclusively shows
that the demands of Colombia were such
as to make the construction of the
Panama canal by our government Im
practicable. In regard to the revolution In Panama,
the president cites the familiar fact that
It had been threatened weeks before the
uprising occurred and that it was upon
Information received from our naval
olBcers that war ships were sent to the
Isthmus with Instructions to keep 'ianslt
open. Tills was done in accordance
with the treaty rights and obligations of
the United States and the government
would have been Inexcusably derelict
hnd It failed to take such precautionary
steps. Colombian troops had landed on
the Isthmus and hostilities would have
been inevitable but for the presence of
American ships. Nothing could more
conclusively show that there was no
complicity or collusion on the part of
our government with the revolutionary
movement than the statement of PresI
dent Roosevelt that at ranama, when
the revolution broke out, there was no
American mnn-of-war and no American
troops or sailors there, while at Colon
the American naval officer acted with
entire Impartiality toward both sides,
preventing any movement by either
which would tend to produce bloodshed,
The message says of the insinuations of
complicity that "they are as destitute of
foundation as of propriety."
In regard to the recognition of the
Panama Republic the president de
clares that It was Justified by the
highest considerations of our na
tional Interests and safety. "In all the
range of our International relations,'
he says, "I do not hesitate to affirm that
there Is nothing of greater or more
pressing Importance than the construe
tlon of an lnteroceanlc canal. Long
acknowledged to be essential to our
commercial development. It has become,
as the result of a recent extension of our
territorial dominion, more than ever es
sentlal to our national self-defense." lie
urges that In the light of our present
situation the establishment of easy and
speedy communication by sea between
the Atlantic and the Pacific presents
Itself not simply as something to be de
sired, but as an object to be positively
and promptly attained. "Reasons of
convenience have been superseded by
reasons of vital necessity, which do not
admit of indefinite delays." In conclu
slon the president urges that the ques
tion before this government Is not that
of the recognition of Pnnnma as an In
dependent state, which Is an aecom
plished fact, but whether or not we
shall build an isthmian canal.
MVKICIPAL TaXATIOK.
Among tho problems with which the
taxpayers of every city In America have
to grapple Is the question of uniform
and equitable taxation. Public-spirited
property owners will always cheerfully
pay taxes, provided they are assured
that the money is properly spent and
that each Is paying no more than his Just
share of the total. In Omaha, at in all
the principal cities of the country, mu
niclpal taxes constitute the heaviest bur
den, but a comparison with other cities
develops tho fact that municipal taxa
tlon is no higher In Omaha than it Is in
other cities of equal or larger population.
The taxation tables complied for the
national municipal league show that the
average city tax rate of twenty of the
principal cities of the United States,
based on an assessment of full valuation,
Is 1.1515 per cent, or 13 mills. In San
Francisco, where they have n combined
city and county government, the ta
rate for city and county together on the
general levy is limited to $1, but Sa
Francisco cannot be taken as n fair ex
ample for the reason that It has no
bombxl debt, consequently no Interest
and sinking fund taxes. 1
Through all the years when other
American cities were borrowing money
to construct pavements, sewers, school
houses and public buildings, San Fran
cis resolutely refused to vote bonds
because the affairs of the corporation
were not managed on business Hues.
Very recently, however, Ssn Francisco
has authorized an Issue of $10,0110,000 of
bonds the proceeds of which are to be
devoted to public Improvements, Includ
ing pavements, parks, sewers and school
buildings. Although this bonded debt
will Increase the annual taxes of San
Francisco by more than $600,000, the
revenues of the city from various
sources. Including licenses, market dues,
etc., are expected to more than counter
balance the interest charge, so the tax
rate will not have to be increased.
The complaint lu all cities is not so
much aliout the rate of taxation as
about the luck of uniformity in the as
sessment, and especially the favoritism
exhibited in the ossessment of the prop
erty of the railroads and other public
and quuai-public corporations. In many
cities there Is also Just complaint about
wastefulness in the purchase of supplies.
the employment of supernumeraries and
a lack of. a proper system of check and
balances in the auditing department
While there is room for considerable Im
provement in Omaha with regard to the
former, little Is to be desired with re
gard to the auditing department. Costly
xperlence with defaulting treasurers In
our city and state and the substitution
of the guaranty bond for the individual
bond has caused a very material im
provement In the accounting system.
That makes defalcation or materlnl loss
by negligence and slovenly liookkeeplng
Imost an impossibility.
UKtSRAL LvyOSTHKKT.
General James Longstreet who died
Saturday, was the last of the great mili
tary leaders of the Southern confeder
acy. Graduating from West Point in
1S42, he saw service in the Mexican and
Indian wars, and was a paymaster in
the army when the civil war broke out
Commissioned a brigadier general In the
confederate service, he distinguished
himself In hi first engagement, which
was Bull Run, July 21, 1SU. He was
n many of the battles in Virginia, al
ways showing conspicuous ability and
bravery. There has been some criticism
of his action at Gettysburg, notably in
book on the civil war by General Gor
don, recently published, but It is unques
tionable that he was a great soldier,
easily Lee's ablest lieutenant and his
most trusted military friend, not ex
cepting Jackson, who was seldom very
useful save when he fought under the
direct eye and orders of Lee. Indeed it
was the opinion of Longstreet as ex
pressed in his book on the war, that
Jackson was a much overrated general
a view, however, which the southern
people generally do not accept and
which probably the union soldiers who
encountered Stonewall Jackson would
be disposed to question.
Longstreet accepted unreservedly the
result of the war and Identified himself
with the republican party. He held
several public offices, among them
United States commissioner of Pacific
railroads. In all of them making a cred
ltable record. General Longstreet was
a native of South Carolina, but had re
sided in Georgln since the civil war.
MA TOR M'CLBLLAIi'S FltOMlSK.
In assuming the duties of chief exec
utive of Greater New York, Mayor
McClellan made a brief speech in which
among other things he promised that no
step backward wlll be taken in any
department, but that progress will be
made. ' The youthful executive of the
American metropolis can make his po
litical future secure if he shall show the
ability and firmness to fulfill this prom
ise. It is a great opportunity for him
and doubtless he sincerely Intends to
improve It He enters upon his duties
with conditions in the great city much
better than they were two years ago.
The Low administration remedied some
of the most crying evils and abuses,
Reform was Introduced in all depart
ments. Not all was done that it was
hoped to accomplish, but a great change
has been effected. If Mayor McClellan
will take up the unfinished work and
carry it out New York will become one
of the best governed cities In the world
Tammany, however, is the power
which the new mayor has to reckon
with and he will find no little difficulty
In controlling the rapacious and un
scrupulous politicians of that organlza
tlon.
It is not reassuring to find that he is
already carefully catering to this ele
ment The New York Evening Tost re
marks that his completed list of appoint
ments reads, in general, like the Tarn
many directory it is. "An obvious mix
ture," says that paper, "of the passable
and the very bad, the unknown and the
all too well known, there is small prom
Ise In It of disinterested service of the
city. With so long a list of Tammany
district leaders In office, the pressure
for loot will be fearful." Of course
Mayor McClellan recognizes his obliga
tlon to Tammany, but If he Intends to
allow that organization to control his
administration It is inevitable that there
will be a step backward and the promise
he has given will be discredited.
William Jennings Bryan, who Is ex
pected to return from his European tour
tomorrow or next day, will proceed to
Washington to confer with the demo
cratic board of strategy to map out a
program of congressional obstruction
for want of a paramount issue. Colonel
Bryan has not been a howling success
as a political strategist When he re
turned from his bloodless campaign in
Cuba, for example, he urged the demo
cratic and populist senators to ratify
the treaty of Paris that provided for the
annexation of the Philippines and a pay
ment of $-JO.0on,0i0 to the Spaniards, and
then he tore his nether garments over
the policy of Imperialism to which Me-
Kinley and the republican party had
committed the country by the war of
subjugation in the Philippine islands.
It will be difficult for the people over
In Iowa to decide whether the flro in
their state capitol building is more to
be deplored because of the pecuniary
loss Inflicted or because of the postpone
ment It has necessitated of the impend
ing legislative session. It is a safe
guess, however, that they, would prefer
to have secured relief from the legisla
ture In a less expensive way.
The Monte Cristo smelter, recently
purchased by the American Smelting
and Refining company from John I)
Kocueieuer, nas ciosea aown and a
large amount of British Columbia-Idaho
ores that were bandied at Everett.
ashlngton state, will now come to
Omaha for treatment Monte Cristo wag
manifestly in this case uot a name to
conjure with.
It is now said that New York wants
to put In a bid for the democratic na
ttonal convention with the idea the
attractions it can offer will counterlal
ance all objections on account of the
long distance the delegates from the
central and far west would hate to
travel. If Tammany kept open bouse
for the visitors they could count on a
hot time and red Are all around. But
whether such a send-off would help the
ticket Is an entirely different matter.
The death of General Longstreet cre
ates a vacancy in the office of United
States commissioner of railroads. Here
Is an opportunity for another ex-confed
willing to accept a lucrative sinecure.
General Joe Johnston, Wade Hampton
and Longstreet succeeded each other as
railroad commissioners, not because of
any special claim they bad on the gov
ernment they had so valiantly tried to
destroy, but rather as striking examples
of its magnanimity.
The latest Information from Rome is
to the effect that no additional cardinal
will be created for the United Suites as
forecasted In repeated rumors from the
Vatican. The United States Is certainly
entitled to greater representation in the
church organization measured by the
number and importance of its Catholic
population. If the additional cardinal
Is refused now it will still be only a
question of time until the decision Is
reversed.
The theaters are not the only places
that need thorough inspection and over
hauling with reference to the prevention
of fire and panic. The owners of every
building in which large numbers of
people are boused for any considerable
portion of the time should be compelled
to equip it with aty the precautionary
devices experience has shown to be
necessary for the protection of life and
limb.
The committee which has been honr
ng testimony on the nomination of Gen
eral Wood for promotion has brought in
report for confirmation. Just as was
expected, democrats as well as.republl
cans Joining in the verdict. That will
not however, prevent the democrats
from trying to make all the political
capital they can out of the Wood case
wherever they think they can gain more
by rehashing it than they lose.
The supreme court has decided that
rorto Rienns are not aliens according to
the legal definition by which Lnlted
States citizenship is established. It is
entirely possible under our constitution
for a Torto RIcan to become president
of this greatrepubllc, but the proba
bilities of such an event are decidedly
remote.
During the past year the Burlington
has spent more than $1,000,000 in sup
plying new equipment and motive power
on Its lines west of the Missouri river,
Whether the Burlington will voluntarily
suggest an increase of a million dollars
In tho assessment of its rolling stock
this year has not yet been divulged.
Our democratle"frlendg- who appear
distressed as to whom Nebraska will be
for in the republican national conven
tion are not bothered with any per
plexities as to whom Nebraska will be
for in the democratic national conven-
tlon. It is keeping them busy chalking
off men whom they are against.
-
The Toklo correspondent to one of the
London papers says, 'Don't look for n
declaration of war." War sometimes
insists upon breaking out without a
declaration and other nations are not
tied down like the United States by con
stitutlonal prescriptions as to Just how
war may bo declared.
Hopes of Saddened Hearts.
Chicago Record-Herald. '
In response to the many expressions of
sympathy that have come from other cities
Chicago can only reply with the hope that
It may never be Its duty to respond In
kind.
Vanity Finds m Vent.
Baltimore American.
As !f the catastrophes which have over
taken the public are not enough for a time,
the British poet laureate has broken out In
a new year war ode, full of lurid allitera
tion, the burden of the song being that
Great Britain Is "It."
I'nchanared and I nehangeable.
Philadelphia Press.
Just as he was starting for home Colonel
Bryan announced that his views on silver
are unchanged. Tills la quite gratifying.
If he had changed It would add one more
to the curiosities In the democratic party,
where there are too many already.
Why People I.Ike Roosevelt.
York .Republican.
The president says things as well
as does things. You like such a man
If you are a ' man yourself. You
know where to find him. Darn a dough
faced milksop of a "diplomatist," who be
lieves, as Talleyrand, that'langungo was In
vented to conceal the thoughts and who
would be broken-hearted If compelled to
tell the truth or make a square statement
and stay with It.
Pay of Scientific Feeding;.
Philadelphia Ledger.
The search ' for the fountain of youth
has not been abandoned, as the numerous
dietary experiments abundantly attest.
Science Is the modern Ponce de Leon. The
era of strictly gclentlflo living for the
most of us has not dawned, and Is afar
off, but may we not hope that the time
la' coming when the most casual caller
at the lunch counter will order as many
grams of protein, fat, carbohydrates and
the rest as his physical or Intellectual
necessities seem to rwqulreT The man who
is about to produce an epic will see to it
that his bill of fare contains the requisite
amount of nitrogen and phosphorus and
that he secures a sufficient number of
calorics of heat value dally.
Overworked Railroad Men
Kansas City Star.
Big headlines In the newspapers told of
the killing of eight persons and the Injury
of more than a score of others in the fear
ful 'Frisco train wreck near Fort Scott, Kan.,
last Monday. The blame for the catas
trophe was charged against a brakeman of
a freight train, who. It was alleged, had
failed to flag the passenger train. The
brakeman had been on continuous duty
for twenty-two hours, according to his
statement. If that was the case, who
will say the brakeman was at fault and
not the management of the railroad which
had kept him at his post beyond the
period of physical endurance? It is a crim
inal practice, almost Inconceivable, that
railroads will endanger the lives of hun
dreds of paasengers by trusting their safety
to employes whom they have worked to
the pulat, oc exhaustion,
BITS OF WASHIXGTOS LIFE.
Minor Scenes and Incidents Sketched
on the Spot.
There are twenty-five men who began
their first service In the house of repre
sentatives in the Fifty-third congress and
who have served continuously since and
are now entering upon their sixth terms.
For ten years they hava been associated
with each other, and this fact has started t
movement to form a club for mutual ad
miration and feasting purposes. Those who
are eligible to membership are Adams of
Pennsylvania, Babcock of Wisconsin, Har-
tholdt of Missouri, Cooper of Wisconsin,
Cooper of Texas, Cousins of Iowa, Curtis
of Kansas, Dtnsmore of Arkansas, Dovener
of West Virginia, Gardner of New Jersey,
Glllet of New York. Glllett of Massa
chusetts, Little of Arkansas, Loudenslager
of New Jersey, McCall of Massachusetts,
McCleary of Minnesota. Maddox of Georgia,
Mahon of Pennsylvania, Parker of New
Jersey, Swanson of Virginia, Tate of
Georgia, Tawney of Minnesota, wnVoorhls
of Ohio, Wanger of Pennsylvania and Wil
liams of Mississippi.
There are a number of doubles in the na
tional house of representatives and many
amusing mistakes arise as a consequence.
Here are some of the Dromlos: Croft of
South Carolina and Badger of Ohio, Thayer
of Massachusetts and Butler of Pennsyl
vania, Robertson of Arkansas and Watson
of Indiana, Smith of Texas and Hopkins Of
Kentucky, Lewis of Georgia and Miller of
Kentucky. Payne of New York, who has
shaved off his whiskers, Is often taken for
former Speaker Henderson, although the
latter has not been in Washington since the
Fifty-seventh congress adjourned.
While the art and practice of snuff taking
are obsolete In the United States senate,
the tradition is still cherished and the
official snuffboxes are maintained and kept
carefully filled with fresh material for
producing sneeses.
These boxes are two In number, little
lacquer affairs about four Inches long, two
and a half Inches wide and an Inch deep
and are fastened by screws to the top of
the projecting ledge, one on each side of
the vice president's dlas.
The snuff is purchased by the sergeant-at-arms
of the senate in four or eight
pound Jars at a cost of 75 cents a pound.
and It takes an average of about n e
pounds a year to replenish the boxes twice
a week during the sessions. The work of
refilling the boxes was for years one of
the duties ceremoniously performed by the
late Captain Bassett, the venerable assist
ant doorkeeper of the renate, an Inveterate
user of the powdi J weed; but since his
death, five years ago, the task has fallen
to the lot of one of the pages, who, natur
ally, does not bestow upon It the loving
care of his aged predecessor.
Captain Bassett had when he died com
pleted nearly sixty years of continuous
service In the senate and was almost the
sole relic of the days when the use of snuff
was general In that body. For many years
before his death hlB dignified, almost cere
monious, manner of indulging in the habit
excited the wonder and awe of the modern
page.
The negro boy who attends the door at
the apostolic legation In Washington Is a
linguistic wonder. He has had practically
no schooling, yet he speaks French and
Italian fluently and has a broad knowledge
of Latin and Greek. He is only 22 years
of age and has picked up all that he knows
about the languages without the aid of a
teacher. The boy Is sized up by nine out of
ten visitors at the legation as a Jamaica
negro or a native of one of tho other Is
lands of the West Indies. He has a pe
culiar shiny, ebony skin,' lils hair is woolly
and long and his features are cast In any
thing but an Intellectual mold. The boy
was born In Maryland of American par
ents, however, and has never been ten miles
away from Washington.
He has worked for eight years at the
apostolic legation in this city, and acquired
his knowledge of French, Italian, Greek and
Latin through study. He Is not partlcu
larly blight on other subjects, but Is one
of those individuals who are able to master
the languages as easily as some people pick
up the art of fancy needlework.
W. I. Bhallcnbergcr, second assistant
postmaster general, In his report urges
that there Bhall be a pension system for the
railway mall clerks, which he says is
service second only In danger to that in the
army, navy and life saving service. Self-
sacrificing services and heroic devoUon to
duty are required and freely given by the
railway mail clerks, and there should be a
recognition of this. The figures he gives as
to the casualties lust year would certainly
support his recommendation. In all there
were 373 accidents to mall cars last year,
which Injured their inmatos, of whom
eighteen clerks and three mall weighers
were killed, seventy-eight clerks severely
injured and 398 slightly so. This is a loss
of life and limb equal to that in many
small wars.
Another question of strongly pressing na
ture is that of the construction of mall cars
so as to give the greatest possible protec
tion to the men inside. There are earnest
advocates of cars made wholly of steel and
equally earnest advocates of wooden cars
on different models. A number of experi
ments have been made and expert opinions
collected which seem to point to enrs con
structed of both wood and steel. What the
ideal car Is has not yet been decided upon
The government has scores of portrait
galleries, but, save the paintings of a long
line of presidents, which adorn White
House walls, there Is none finer than that
in the rear lobby of the house, where the
likenesses of speakers look down upon
thousands of dally passersby. Some are
In oil and some In crayon. All since the
last congress adjourned have been refur
bished and put in identic gilt frames.
There Is one break In the line of speak
ers, relates the Washington Post, which
probably will never be repaired In this Im
posing gallery. The portrait of Theodore
M. Pomeroy will not be hung at the cap
ltol, although he was In fact as much
speaker of the house as any of his prede
cessors or successors. He was elected to
the high office for about twenty minutes,
March 8, 18. Just as the Fortieth congres
was expiring. This, as Is generally known
was to enable Speaker Schuyler Colfax to
abdicate and go to the other end of th
capitol to be sworn In as vice president and
presiding officer of the senate. The official
record bears ample evidence to future
generations of Pomeroy's appearance in
the chair. The house had nothing serlou
to do In the interval, and the new speaker
was ps'teJ with complimentary resolutions,
expressing deep appreciation of his eminent
qualities and of his acumen with the gavel.
Pomeroy's federal career terminated with
his brief but exceedingly spectacular serv
ice as speaker.
"Uncle Joe" Csnnon usually wears spec
tacles, but recently he put on eyeglasses.
They bothered him and he laid them on the
speaker's desk. Then he promptly forgot
where they were snd banged them with his
gavel, smashing them to small pieces.
"That was a fine thing to do," said
Speaker Cannon to Asher Hinds, the par
llmentary expert.
"Out of sight." Hinds replied, without
batting an eye.
There's th Hb.
Chicago Chronicle.
How ran Russia carry on war without ths
help of wealthy Jews, and what Jew to-
I day is In the mood of helplna; Russia Out of
iiu oimguiu-ii
ETEDI Til 15 1.AH HAXD.
Beatrice Democrat: The Jacksonlan
club of Omaha has issued an order restor-
ng to membership the men who were ex
pelled a few years ago for refusing to em
brace populism. Kven a political club in
Omaha gets right once In a while. i
Jiutler iTess (clem.): Tho Jarksonian
club of Omaha has reinstated all the bolt
ers who Joined the McKlnley army. Having
made treason honorable will be equal to a
declaration of freedom hereafter to those
who do not care to follow the leadership of 1
some of these old trust hirelings who used ,
the democratic party for twenty years to i
save the old republican machine when I
hard pressed by anti-monopolists. A short
memory may be a blessing and the Jack
sonlan club ought to know Its own busi
ness. York Democrat: Dr. George I... Miller of
Omaha, a nice old gentleman who Uvea in
the past, says: "This action means that
those democrats represented by the Jack
sonlan club are now, willing to accept the
eastern Idea of democracy, etc." Now
what Is this eastern Idea of democracy?
We have heard this generalization before.
It Is a favorite theme of the ex-stuffed
prophet, but we have never yet been able
to discover that eastern democrats have
ny Idea. There Is not one of them that
has ever been guilty of an idea. Blind sub
serviency to the money Interest may be an
Instinct of eastern democracy, but Is Is not
an Idea. They abhor an Idea.
PUHSOXAL NOTKS.
The king of England, who Is eatablish-
ng the most friendly relations with the
Irish people, will make another visit to Ire
land. Only six people out of 32,000.000 traveling
in Pullman cars have been killed In the
last three years. Now you know why you
are asked to pay $3: not for luxury, but for
safety.
Sir William Allen, M. P., the well-known
engineer, shipping merchant and author,
died In London on Monday. Sir William
wrote of himself: "The world has been
my chief educator and men my books."
The grand mnstcr of a Masonic order was
nvlted to lay the corner stone of the new
court house at Flint, Mich., but the union
demanded that before he could handle the
t-c-wel he should take out a union card.
Ambrose Swascy, a distinguished sci
entist of Cleveland, O., has been elected
president of the American Society of Me
chanical Engineers, who have been meet
ing at Exeter. N. H. Mr. Swasey Is known
n the United States and In Europe ns the
most eminent authority on the telescope
and sidereal astronomy.
The Park avenue tunnel disaster has cost
the New York Central & Hudson River
Railroad company $1,500,000 In damages
paid to wreck victims, their relatives and
lawyers. The suits have all been disposed
of, the Inst one resulting In a settlement for
$17,000 of the claim of Miss Margaret Lamb
den of New Rochelle for $100,000.
Charles Dana Gibson, who originated a
girl and married her sister, draws the
largest salary ever paid to an Illustrator of
periodicals. The two publications for which
he works give him $20,000 a year. A well
known cartoonist In New York makes $12,000
a year from a single paper. Another was
under contract at $13,000 and spent every
cent of It.
LESSO9 OF THK HOI.OCAt ST.
New York Tribune: The moral of the
Chicago horror seems to be the old one.
that the human factor Is, after all, the
dominant one. Fireproof theaters are a
mockery, a delusion and a snare unless
they are properly mnnaged by the men who
have charge pf them. " 1 '
Chicago Chronicle: One of the most ob
vious lessons of the Iroquois disaster is em
bodied in a new ordinance recently Intro
duced In the St. IajuIb city council, which
requires that In tho roof over every theater
stage there shall be a metal fire vent equil
In area to one-tenth of the area of Vie
stage and so constructed as to open auto
matically In case of a fire. The people of
St. Louis have evidently made a sngaolouit
study of tho recent holocaust.
Philadelphia Press: An asbestos curtain
will lelp, but It must be In constant use or
It will stick. Skylights will aid, but these
must be large and open easily and in
stantly. These are IndlspenFable, but noth
ing will insure complete safety but abun
dant fireproof exits from the galleries,
widening as they desoen'l, enough to empty
in five minutes. Nowhere are these exits
required, and until they are theater fires
will repeat the ghastly lesson of the Iro
quois.
Kansas City Star: How long will the
lesson taught by the Chicago horror be
efficacious? Two weeks? Or six months?
Or will the American people overcome their
shabby indifference to the publlo weal and
insist that municipal offices shall be con
ducted on a higher plane than mere par
tisan grafting that fitness and competence
shall be the standard for selection, rather
than political pull that the laws shal be
enforced and oaths of offlae regardd"at all
times without the stimulus of tremendous
calamities?
Minneapolis Journal: Theater fires orig
inate almost Invariably upon me stag
among the highly Inflammable material
which is stored there, and If theater-goers
can be assured that a nre-proof wall and
an asbestos or Iron screen stands between
them and the flro, minimising the Imme
diate danger, panic Is not likely to result.
Certainly where so simple a precaution Is
calculated to render so great a service, no
playhouse can afford to deny the publlo the
assurance which such pre action gives. Ths
theater can make no bet . investment,
viewing the matter wholly from the stand
point of a business proposition.
Philadelphia Ledger: Under the best
conditions the liability of an audience to
panlo can never be averted and therefore
the first and essential requirement Is to In
spire confidence and prevent an occaalun of
alarm. The assurance that competent fire
men are always on the watch Is one ground
6f confidence. If to this can be added as
l T-"? SOT.
POROUS PLASTERS
A universal remedy for pains in the back (so frequent in the case of
women). They give instantaneous relief.
Wherever there is
a pain a Plaster
should be applied.
Rheumatism,
Coldi, Coughs,
Waak Chest,
Weak Back,
Lumbago,
Sciatica,
&C, &C.
Allcock's Plasters
are superior to all
others.
For
nr twit,. In the rtos nf Uv,
.III, UC fX
M I
' p.-r-.
I
Mrs. Hughson, of Chicago,1
whose letter follows, Is another
woman In high position who owes
her health to the use of Lydia2.
Prnkham's Vegetable Compound.
"Dear Mrs. I'iskham: I suffered
for several years with general weakness
and bearing-down pains, caused by
womb trouble. My appetite was poor,
and 1 would He awake for hours, and
could not sleep, nntll I seemed more
weary in the morning than when I re
tired. After reading one of your adver
tisements I decided to try the merits
of JLydia E. Pink ham's Vegetable
Compound, and 1 am so glad I did.
No one can describe the good it did me.
I took three bottles faithfully, and be
sides building up my general health.
It drove all disease aad poison out of
my body, and made me feel as spry and
active as a young girl. Mrs. Pinkbam's
medicines are certainly all they are
claimed to be." M ns. M. K. Ilvonsow,
847 East Ohio St., Chicago, 111. tBOOO
forfeit If original of asoM Ittttr proving grmilnt.
nu cannot ot srerfveetf-
More than a million women have re
gained health by the use of Lydla 1',
Plnkham'sVofretableCnmpouml.
If the slightest trouble appears
which you do not understand
write to Mrs. Pinkham, at Lynn,
Mass., for her ad vice, and a few
timely words from her will show
you the right thing to do. This
advice costs von nothing, but it
may mean life or happiness or
both.
surance that an accidental fire on the stage A,
can be certainly confined there, the causevS;
for fright will be minimised. That the
Ohlrago horror will for some tlme exert a
disquieting effect on play-goers Is to be ex
pected, yet In the incentive It must give to
Increased vigilance and care it is alto
gether likely to make cur theaters really
safer than before. .
St. Louis Olobo-Democrat: if theater
fires endangered tho lives of the owners of
the theaters as much as they do thoso who
sit In them they would bo mado rafe. Hut
after the fire the owners may s'? unharmed
In their homes and offices and lift lamenta
tions high, unavailing enough then. They
are full of grief, but If they ware full of
burns it would be a stricter 'ustice. Re
sponsibility Is nver fait so keenly as when
It is accompanied by the lash for its neg
lect. Who cares for tears of remorse after
the fact when corpses are stacked six doep
on the sidewalk and a view up the alley
shows no ladders on tho fire escapes, for
which neglect some department of the mu
nicipality Is as much at fault as others
who are more directly connected with the
building?
SMILING IJWKS.
Stella Pon't you wish we could Bee our
selves as othors see us?
Bella No; I'd much rather others saw us
the way we see ourselves New York Sun.
"They are well matched, aren't they?"
"Yes. Her delightfully soft voloe goes
well with his detestably soft head." Cleve
land Plain Iealer.
Magistrate (sternly) Didn't I tell you thn
Inst time you were here I never wanted
you to come before me again?
Prisoner Yes. sir, but I couldn't mnko
the policeman believe It New Yorker.
"I.et's go out and see what's burnln',"'
said Pat to Mike at the theater.
"What d'ye mean?"
"Those two men behind us said they were
goln' to the foyer." Detroit Free l'ress.
Ted What makes you think old Rorksey
doesn't Intend to let you marry his daugh
ter? Ned The tip he gave me on the stek
market was a loser. Town Topics.
Mrs. Youngcook You are sad. Does tin
chicken I gave you recall soma of tle
tender reminiscences Of your life?
Tearful Tooley No, Indy; It romlnds
uv many uv de tough propositions I've 1 1 1
up ag Inst. Judge.
"Experience may ba a good teacher," sni 1
Uncle Lben, "but by de way you hyuh ;
some people tellln' 'bout delrse'fa you
wouldn t guess dat experience was as K1'' . JL
ful 'bout de fscks as a teacher ought t " eS-
TUB BACIIKLOK'S LAMENT,
New York Times.
bachelor, I cast about to And
A wife with wealth and some experience
No maiden coy, but one with ripened
mind
And common sense.
What class, I wondered, might hold her I
sought
To bless the lot of me, lone, haplosn
wight?
The maidens? No. The widows? Yes, 1
thought
The widow's might.
Ah, well! she came at last, a witching
thing;
We plighted troth, and all my world
itemed bright.
Besides her money would have graced u
king
The widow's mite!
A mite! Ha! Ha! A hundred "thou"
per year!
A royal sum! My hopes were all a-llght.
Alas for me! I srmn had ramie to fear
The widow's might.
And now, when up tho silent stairs I
steal
On tiptoe, softly. In the dead Of night
She's always waiting up. and then 1 feel
The wlduw smite.
I7, S
r-T ts.mat
In llivtitaMTa, H ittMWi or ir-
wlMtta. or fur ftBrls, miar.
, tTL, ftrwi IW AnlUatf t
art, PtaaUi ruusl beut hm j
V.
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