Nebraska Newspapers

    THE OMAITA DAILY BEE; WEDNESDAY.
i 1 - - - 'i' ' "
FEDRUARY 1, 1005.
( Tire Omaiia Daily Bee.
E. ROSETWATER, EDITOR.
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, I THE BEE PUBLISHING COMPANY,
STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION.
ttttta nf NahrukL TKlllvlaa County. SS
t Oeorge B. Tzschuek. secretary of The Bea
publishing company, oeina; umy "wum,
ays that the actual number of full and
WimnlMa pnniea of The Dally. Morning,
Svenlng and Sunday Be printed during the
month of January, imjd, was mm iuuo.
j .1. sot 17 T,T1W
.1 W,MO 1 ST.B20
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' I............S0.140
1 8T.T0O
10 .11720
' ..... XT.HOO
11 T,WO
IS 2T.S40
3T.880
37,80
30,OeM
so.ono
3a,i(M
24 ...2,TO
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M SH.1ISO
:T 2S.OTO
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Total 8ajwo
Lets unsold copies v,BlB
Net tout sales '. 8H2.T72
Dallv averse 28,476
OEO. B. TZSCHUCK.
Subscribed In my presence and sworn to
before me this 31st day of January, 1906.
(Seal) M. B. HUNQATE.
k Notary Public
r. t f. 1 I 1.aaaa anArna t rt
j 1 1 C TH I VOIUII1B inrvwu d....-
bo working overtime in the Philippines.
If labor troubles cannot be given a
political tinge at Warsaw, Polish pa
triots have Indeed died in vain.
In his decision t support the regi
cides King Peter shows his recognition
of the axiom that the creature cannot
be greater than the creator.
A revolution is said to be brewing in
Guatemala, Some American investors
must be wanting the United States to
make their concessions worth what they
cost
The supreme court has decided against
the packers in the famous suit against
the Beef trust, but the packing houses
at Boutn pmaha are sun aoing Dusiness
at the old stand.
"" ' . i j
The charges ot Senator Bard with
reference to Indian schools may give
California an opportunity to succeed
Utah for -while In the limelight of
senatorial publicity. .-:
Ladrones in the Philippines should re
member that every man cannot be a
Baisoull nor every captive a Perdlcaris.
Above all, they should realize that the
fnlted States is not Morocco.
Colorado is talking of installing voting
machines. This would at least relieve
legislatures and courts from listening to
testimony of handwriting experts who
are always more positive than certain.
- If "Jim" Hill's lawyers are as shrewd
as they are lielleved to be they will have
another plan to distribute Northern Se
curities holdhiKS by the time the su
preme court Anally decides the Harrl
tuau case. ' ..
' In Indicating his intention to invoke
the criminal section of the Sherman law
gainst packers who may violate the
"Beef trust" injunction, President Roose
velt ehofe-s that he did not spend several
years on a western cattle ranch for
nothing.
Japanese are taking unholy delight lu
telling Iluwilan soldiers of the disorders
in European Russia, but this may have
the effect of making the Russians as
willing to die In Manchuria as to return
borne to the tender mercies of the bu
reaucrats. There seems to be such a discrepancy
between the different figures given of
fraternal insurance society membership
In Nebraska that it might not be a bad
idea when the state census is taken
to include a question as to what societies
each inhabitant belongs to.
The siege of the court bouse came
close to taking the battlements by storm
at the last meeting of the county board,
but at the critical moment the besieging
force was again repulsed. Another
sortie is due before the week is ended, a a
soon as the board reconvenes.
No, there has not been another revo
lution over in St. Petersburg ouly a
speech on postal savings banks by the
outgoing democratic member of congress
from Nebraska. The large type on the
front page of the local popocratic organ
is responsible for such a natural mistake.
Captain Clado swears that lie saw
two torpedo boats when the warships of
Admiral Rojestvensky fired upon the
trawlers In the North sea, but this lacks
considerable of proving that they were
there, as Russian o (fleers on that famous
cruise must have beeu able to see al
most anything.
As a result of its refusal to pay city
taxes a receiver has beeu appointed for
the street railway system at Llneoln. If
it were only possible to imiHme a sim
ilar penalty upon all the railroads that
shirk their city taxes in Nebraska every
railroad In the- state would be in the
bands of a receiver.
COXTROL or 1XTCRSTATE COMMERCE
The speech of President Roosevelt at
the bsnqnet of the Union leagne of Phil
adelphia urged the necessity of national
control of interstate commerce in all
its branches and aspects, the president
declaring that beyond question this was
the Intention of the founders of our
government. He euld that supervision
by the government over business enter
prises, required by the development of
industrialism, should not take the form
of violent and ill-advised IntcrfcreinH",
but there is danger lest It take such
form "if the business leaders of the
business community con flue themselves
to trying to thwart the effort at regula
tion instead of guiding It aright."
Mr. Roosevelt counseled cnutlon and
moderation. "We must grow by evolu
tion, not by revolution. There must be
no hurry, but there must also be no halt,
and those who are anxious thnt there
should be no sudden and violent changes
must remember that precisely these
sudden and violent changes will be
rendered likely If we refuse to make
the needed changes in cautious and
moderate manner." Iu this conserva
tive spirit the president argues for
national supervision of corporations
engaged in commerce among the. states,
as in the interest of both the pul
llc and the corporations. Referring
particularly to railway regulation, the
president said that there must be lodged
in some tribunal the power over rates,
and especially over rebates "which will
protect alike the railroad and the ship
per and put the big shipper and the lit
tle shipper on an equal footing." What
Is needed is that there shall be lodged,
in effective shape, in some such body as
the Interstate commission, the power to
see that every shipper who uses the rail
roads and every man who owns or man
ages a railroad shall on the one hand be
given justice and on the other hand be
required to do Justice. The great high
ways of commerce must be open to all
alike on reasonable and equitable terms.
The appeal made by the president to
the men who direct the great business
interests of the country to work not in
antagonism but in harmony for the at
tainment of a proper and necessary na
tional control of corporations engaged in
interstate commerce should not go un
heeded.
Mr. Roosevelt's speech will undoubt
edly make a good impression. While it
shows that there is no abatement of the
Interest of the administration In the
subject which the president discussed, It
also shows that he occupies a conserv
ative position and is opposed to any ac
tion that might prove revolutionary in
its effect upon the business of the coun
try. Indeed, it is recognir.ed by those
who are able to take nn unprejudiced
view of the president's position regard
ing the corporations, that he is perhaps
the most conservative force In the na
tion today, standing between those finan
cial interests that are opposed to any
change and that radical element which
demands the most sweeping changes.
Convincing evidence of this will be
found in Mr. Roosevelt's Philadelphia
speech.
. BRITISH RESENTMENT.
There is no doubt that the attack on
the British consul and vice consul at
Warsaw, by Russian soldiers, justifies
the strong feeling of resentment in Eng
land over the circumstance, but it is not
at all likely that there will be any seri
ous trouble between the two countries.
There Is a good deal of antl-Brltish feel
ing in Russia, but it will probably be
found when the facta are fully 'Investi
gated that this had nothing to do with
the Cossack assault on the British con
sular officials. It has been alleged that
the soldiers were drunk a not unuttuul
condition for them to be In and having
been ordered to clear the streets of riot
ous strikers they did not attempt to dis
criminate as to who they were riding
down. It Is not difficult to understand
that under such circumstances the Cos
sack cavalry would pay no attention to
Individuals so unfortunate as to be in
their way.
Should it be found, however, that the
attack was wanton the British govern
ment will undoubtedly demand adequute
redress and it Is safo to say that this
will be readily accorded by Russia.
That country cannot afford at this time
to Incur more of British ill will than Is
already felt toward it and while it is
proverbially reluctant In making con
cessions it will hardly engage in any
serious controversy with Great Britain
over this incident. Some reparation will
certainly be necessary and any reason
able demand the British government
shall make will duubtless be acceded to.
; Mr NOTE VNSATISFACTURT.
It was not to be expected that the note
of Secretary Hay, restating the position
of the United States in regard to the In
tegrity of Chinese territory, and which
has received the approval of other neu
tral powers, would be satisfactory to
Russia., A newspaper of Pt Petersburg
doubtless expresses the general feeling
in declaring that the attitude of this
country is not favorable to Russian plans
and expectations In regard to China. It
certainly was not mended to be, al
though the Russian paper thinks it can
be Interpreted lu different ways.
The note states nothing new respect-
lug the position of the United States
toward the Chinese empire. Several
years before Japan found it necessary to
go to war against the aggression of Rus
sia lu Manchuria our government had
clearly defined its policy with reference
to the preservation of the territorial In
tegrity of Chins.- This was done when
the powers were sendiug military forces
to Peking and there seemed to be a very
strong probability that some of them
would demand or seize territory as in
demnity. The government of the United
States, in a memorable note to the pow
ers, urged that the territorial Integrity
ami administrative entity of tin Chinese
empire Im respected and the appeal was
acceded to. it also announced Itself as
a aleadfust advocate of the open door, a
policy which the other powers accepted,
though some of them reluctantly.
The position of the United States as
then defined is still adhered to and what
ever influence our government may
hereafter be able to exert In behalf of
the preservation of China's territorial In
tegrity will undoubtedly be used. No one
can foresee the outcome of the conflict
In the far east, but whether Russia or
Japan Is victorious It can be very confi
dently predicted thnt the voice of the
T'nlted States will be raised against dis
memberment of the Chinese e np're.
There should be no doubt about the
meaning of the recent note of Secret! ry
Hay to the powers. It Is nn entirely
plain and consistent reassertlon of a
policy first announced as far back as
18!!!!.
. . -r
THK MKAT OF THE CUOJASVT.
The park board Just now is leing over
run with deputations from various Im
provement clubs endeavoring to Influ
ence the Ixiard's decision as to the pro
posed extension of the central boulevard
northward. It Is natural that residents
of different sections of the city should
be eager to have the boulevard brought
as near as possible to their particular
localities. But the meat of the cocoa nut
in this competition is to be found in the
law which takes streets and thorough
fares labeled as boulevard's out of the
common category and provides the cost
of construction and expenses of main
tenance out of the park fund instead of
by assessment upon the property owners
Immediately benefited. As a result we
have the owners of property abutting on
one street called upon to pay for the
puvlng, curbing and guttering and other
street Improvements, while those In the
next block abutting on a boulevard,
which constitutes a more valuable Im
provement to their property, are alto
gether exempt.
It is difficult to comprehend how
changing the name of a thoroughfare
from street or avenue to lioulevard
changes Its entire character for the pur
pose of public Improvement. Granting
that the boulevard Is part of a park
system, In the enjoyment of which
the people of the entire city participate,
still that is no valid reason why the
property owners directly benefited
should not contribute part of the ex
penses, and at least ss much as they
would be compelled to pay for the con
struction of the street had no boulevard
been established. The competition for
boulevard location, therefore, is not
nlone for 1he benefits conferred by the
extension of the driveway, but for the
exemptions carried from tax burdens
otherwise Imposed.
The total exemption of property abut
ting on boulevards from special Improve
ment assessments practically entails a
double tax upon thor.e who are not so
exempted. The owner of a lot on an
ordinary street must pay his own paving
tax for himself and then pay again into
the park fund to pay for improving the
Btreet in front of his neighbor.
While the charter revisionists are do
ing their work tbey should look Into this
subject thoroughly and see if they can
not devise some plan by which a reason
able share of the cost of boulevard con
struction and maintenance can be as
sessed back upon those who reap the
tangible benefits.
The suggestion has been made by City
Treasurer Hennlngs that the prompt
payment of taxes on real estate could
be easily enforced by the enactment of
a law similar to that which prevails In
several other states, requiring a certlfl
cate that no unpaid taxes are outstand
ing against any property before a valid
deed for its transfer can be recorded.
Real estate dealers, however, enter the
objection that such a law would Im
pede the free transfer of real estate be
cause property Is frequently bought sub
ject to taxes on a speculation In the
expectation that the taxes can be
evaded by compromise or by contesting
their legality. Whether it Is wise to
encourage transactions speculative on
tax evasion Is a question that our law
makers might consider in connection
with the suggestion of such a law.
The park board is uncompromisingly
opposed to the work of the charter com
mittee, recommending the abolition of
$.".0,000 minimum for the park fund levy,
notwithstanding the fact that it leaves
the maximum of $40,000 untouched.
The minimum levy practically gives the
park board a fixed tax Income equal to
the previous maximum. The real ques
tion Is. Why should the park fund be
selected for this advtange, which is en
joyed by no other branch of municipal
government? If the principle of fixed
minimum levies is correct, then the
other funds should have it aa well. If
it is incorrect, the minimum stipulation
should be abolished altogether.
John Sharp Williams intimates that
the attempt to reduce the pay of retired
army officers above the rank of colonel
who may be given assignments, is pun
ishment of General Miles because he
placed shackles on Jefferson Davis, and
the democratic house leader says such
punishment is too late. There Is a sus
picion that If the gentleman from Mis
sissippi meant what he said lie would
not have said it.
Another competitor among the asphalt
paving contractors Is promised for
Omaha by the time the bids are to be
let for the next season's work. If addi
tional competition has the same effect
as the measure of competition we have
bad the last year or two, the prospects
for getting any new pavementa laid will
be poor Indeed.
u J-
Too Chess).
Chicago Reoord-Uerald.
An Omaha paper says walking Is good,
healthful exercise. But on doesn't have to
pay Initiation fa or duea for walking.
Washington Post.
A Princeton dispatch Bays: "Mr. Cleve
land Is doing a lot of thinking about the
dnmucracy'a future, but refuses to talk poll
tics tor publication." Mr. Cleveland's
ample Is commended to certain other demo
cratic leaders who talk for publication
without thinking.
Worst Traat All.
Washington Post.
Attorneys for the government are arguing
la the court of claims that a Porto RL-an Is
not an American citisen nor a subject of a
friendly power. The government seems to
hnve a notion that a Torto Rican cuts no
more flgura than a democrat.
VVaat Too Marh Cake.
Boston Transcript.
Our outlying poescsslons appear to be
piling up a heap of anxiety for the Con
necticut tobacco growers. They have not
yet been ruined by Cuban reciprocity. In
spite of dire predictions, but they expect tf
be If the tariff on Philippine products Is
further reduced, as proposed by Secretary
Taft. The economic theory of these people
seems to be that they sre entitled to cat
their cake fend have It, too.
l.ln'i Delay la Railroad Case.
Philadelphia Press.
The Interstate Commerce commission, or
rather the shippers who complained to It
about the alleged overcharges of the rail
road companies for the transportation of
hay, have at last obtained a decision from
the courts. Judae Wing, In Cleveland, hns
decided In favor of the railroads and
against the finding of the commission. It
was years ago that the complaint was
made, and the delay In reaching a decision
shows the Inadequacy of tho existing sys
tem of dealing with such matters.
Oeoked Work of Bank Officer.
Philadelphia Press.
The failure of the German bank In Buf
falo" was generally believed to be due to
Illegitimate work by the bank officers, and
the arrest of several of them seems to show
that opinion to be welt founded. If the laws
In regard to such transactions are fully en
forced bank failures will be few. The comp
troller of the currency says that In nearly
every case loans have been made In viola
tion of law or some other Illegal" act done
to cause the failure. The Oberlln bank
would not have failed had not the president
and the cashier loaned Illegally all of its
funds to Mrs. Chndwlck. If the proper
means are taken to punish all such de
Hnqueneles bank failures will be few.
I IT OX THF. SQXAHKf
Features of the Hepbarn Rill that
Aronse Suspicion.
Minneapolis Journal (rep.).
Esteemed contemporaries along the line
are shaking the big. stick at the Hepburn
bill. The Boston Transcript, which inclines
toward moderation In nil things, views it
as a "compromise." The New York Press,
with a gift for explosive language, entitles
It "Hepburn's bill to perpetuate railroad
extortion." It declares that the bill is
loaded with opportunities for hatr-spllttlng,
and alludes to "the satanlc cunning which
plans to wear down the complaining ship
per by delays until he Is driven out of
business or tiles of old age." This lg, of
course, hyperbole, for the shipper, without
any law at all, has done neither the one nor
the other.
The Journal has heretofore said that the
section which abolishes the Interstate com
mission and immediately re-establishes It.
has a queer look, and that the absence of
any provision for tho control of private
car lines was a mistake, unless It was In
tended to cover the subject by the Stevens
bill or In some other way.
It is difficult to believe that Mr. Hepburn,
after numerous White House conferences,
has brought In a plan which purposely
breaks the word of promise to the presi
dent's hopes. The bill probably Is a com
promise, but not necessarily a sell-out, as
the Press Infers. Its course In the house
will certainly develop Its true character.
If It dees not meet the real demands of
the country It will most likely be dropped
and the president will present the subject
to a new congress, better educated on the
needs of business. RAther a year's delay
than a compromise on a law that does not
clearly and unequivocally declare the gov
ernment's right and determination to mak
reasonable rates where the common carrier
will not.
THE FREIGHT RATH SITl'ATIOX.
Practical Illustration of the ntfflril.
Ilea of the Problem.
Wall Street Journal.
The rates on grain from Omaha nnd
Kansas City to the gulf have afforded, this
last week, a very forceful and practical
illustration of the difficulties that rate re
vision will present.
Briefly, the episode n.ay be outlined as
follows: Missouri Pacific made a contract
with Hall, Decker & Co. of Kansas City
to haul l.noo.OOO bushels of corn from
Omaha to New Orleans at 15 cents per 100
pounds, a cut of 6 cento. The rate was
filed with the Interstate Commerce com
mission Just three days before the ship
ment, as the law requires. The contract,
of course, did not expressly state that the
road received only 15 cents, but the rate
quoted was from Omaha to Liverpool, eto.,
and since the steamship rates are known,
the rate Omaha-New Orleans Is easily fig
ured out.
Competitive lines protested vigorously,
and so did tho Atlantic coast lines. Mis
souri Pacific was very sorry about It, and
seems to have mads a half promise to
behave. As soon as the conference was
over It made another contract for another
1,000,000 bushels at the same rate.
Rock Island, Burlington and Illinois Cen
tral then went after the business In ear
nest. They did not file any new tariff.
Tlvjy merely made rates, Including "eleva
tor charges," at New Orleans, which may
be anything at ail that Is necessary to
bring the actual cost to the shipper down
to a figure equal to the Missouri Paclfio
rates.
Right here are two forms of rebates
amply Illustrated. They are recommended
to the attention of President Roosevelt,
congress and the Interstate Commerce
commission.
The consequences seem to have been
about as follows, the figures being the
com tonnage handled on the new ratea to
tho gulf by the roads named:
Missouri Paclfia I.6K0.(ion bushels
Rock Island &0O,00O bushels
Burlington (per I. C.) 1.260.0U0 bushels
Illinois Central 600,000 bushels
This was a state of affairs peculiarly re
pugnant to Chicago and to the trunk lines.
Chicago considers Itself entitled to handle
Nebraska corn, and the trunk lines need
the business. There was an Indignation
meeting In Chicago. It ended Friday.
Right here the question arises which con
grass will have to meet, sooner or later.
How long are the Chicago shippers and
the trunk lines going to make water run
up hfll by the maintenance of a purely
artificial rat schedule? Theee are four
or five railroads from the Missouri river
to the gulf, and every one of them can
lay corn down In Liverpool cheaper, so
far aa actual unlta of transportation cost
are concerned, than can any on of th
trunk lines cheaper, perhaps, than even
th tramp steamers on the lakes. How
long is it going to be before these rail
roads claim the advantage nature has
given them? Seventy-five per cent ot th
grain of Nehrsska Is properly tributary
to the gulf ports, and. before long, "5 per
cant of th grain of Nebraska will rtmch
gulf ports.
If government rat control will help this
fundamental law of nature against th
artificial law of Chicago and th trunk
lines, th sooner government control ar
rives the better it will be for both til
menttin couutry aud the wttra railroads.
AHOTHF.lt I.F.M01 1 TRtSTS.
Kmpr Combine Too Marh Roar
and atraaales It.elf.
Springfield (Mass) Republican.
The receivership for the Standard Rope
and Twine company conclude the third
chapter In the story of the attempt to com
bine the cordage manufacturing business
of the country Into a monopolistic trust
First, there wss the National Cordage
company, which was among the enrlles
of the trusts, organized In 1SS7. That wss
reorganised Into the I'nlted States Cordage
company, which went Into the hands o
receivers In the'spring of 1?93. and csused
ft seml-panlc In Wsll street, th Immediate
precursor of the great panic which fol
lowed In June and July of that year. Out
of the ruins of the I'nited States Cordage
company was constructed the present
trust, which secured control of eight mills
additional to the thirteen combined In the
original rompany.
The larger combination hss proved no
more successful than Its predecessors
I.Ike them and like the other trusts, 1
was generously capitalized. F"ull credit was
given to those great economies In produc
tl"n and distribution which are always the
expectation and so srldom the resllzstlon
In the trust movement. The capital stock
Issued amounted to tl2.ouu.000. all appar
ently based on these expectations ss to
"economies." etc.. and on nothing else.
bonded dM of about lio.flon.onr) has been
additionally acquired. But profits for flrtl
tlousj capital have failed to come In and
the concern has hod difficulty In meeting
the Interest on Its bonds, a difficulty which
has now overcome It altogether. The re
celvershlp discloses the fact that against
a floating debt of tl.AQW and a bonded
debt of lio.ooii. ono, the company lias com
paratlvely little property, its assets con
slstlng chiefly of the mills In active opera
tlon, which are valued at 12.500.000. It ha
followed the usual trust policy of closing
many of the mills acquired and concentred
Ing operations In a few.
The failure further enforces the lesson
that the economic advantages of Industrial
consolidation are of limited extent In the
best of cases, and can never be realized
through the common practice of combining
widely scattered plants of varying degrees
of worth or worthlessness, and all capi
talized as efficient going concerns. It be
comes a sprawling, clumsy construction
lending Itself but poorly to close and er
flclent management; the expected econ
omles fade away, and the attempt to make
good a capitalization ridiculously inflated
to correspond to these saving anticipations,
only serve to draw new competing capital
Into the field and finally to bring on bank
fciptey. We shall have had brought home
to the country a good many such prac
tical lessons before the crazy trust move
ment of the past few years hss fully com
pleted Its course.
RAILROADS CA BF. COSVWEU.
Vetr 1 nlforni BUI of Lading Believed
to Hare Been Propped.
Chicago "Tribune.
The railroads are said to have abandoned
their Intention to adopt the ne- uniform
bill of lading recently proposed. They have
reached this decision after listening for
two months to the loud and voluminous
protests of tho shippers.
The shippers protested against the pro
posed uniform bill of lading because the
railroads asked them to pay for a service
which previously had been done at no
extra charge. The laws of the different
states impose certain obligations upon
common carriers. These obligations give
the shipper a guaranty that when he
hands over his property, to a common car
rler the latter will use reasonable caution
In handling It. He must make a reason
able effort to keep it from being stolen, or
burned up, or lost In the rush of business.
Other agencies for the transportation ot
merchandise are obliged to assume these
liabilities and the railroads have been will
Ing to do o until recently.
The railroads did not Intend to abandon
this fundamental duty to the shipper en
tirely. They were willing to assume It If
paid a 20 per cent advance on the old
rates. Inasmuch as but few shippers can
afford to forward merchandise without hav
ing the protection which the common law
affords them the proponed bill was vlr
tnaliy an advance of 20 per cent In freight
rates.
The protest was widespread and earnest
The railroads have abandoned their original
plan. They are Inclined to be fair to ship
pers when convinced that there is a general
determination that they should be.
There should be a uniform bill of lading
It should not be prepared by the rail
roads, which have shown their unfitness
for the task, but by the Interstate Com
merce commission. It lias the authority
and the capacity. It can frame one which
will be fair to both shippers and railroads,
Agreements of that Important nature
should not be drafted by either of the
parties interested, but by an Impartial and
competent neutral.
PF.nsOAI. MOTK.
if in renorted that Admiral Rojestven-
skv'a noet has been seriously damaged In a
hurricane. Lucky dog, that man Rojest-
ensky. He might have met the japs,
nnr old friend. Wu Ting Fang, Is said to
be a fugitive In Kngland. Wu always pro
fessed to like us the best, btit when na nas
my fugltlving to do he gives the Engnsn
landlady the call.
Samuel N. Plies, who has been elected
i'nlted States senator from .Washington,
rn liorn In Kentucky, and was admitted
tr. the bar of that state before he was Zt
years of age. He went to Washington In
William J. Tyndall. congressman-elect
from the Fourteenth Missouri district. Is re
ported to have Jaken his first ride in an
elevator after reaching Washington to look
over the city where h Is to work for the
next two years.
Andrew D. White, who has spent many
years In Kurope as a diplomatic representa
tive of the Vnlted States, says thr ar
three things with which h would deslr to
supplement the civilization of this country:
From Oreat Britain he would bring Its ad
ministration of criminal Justice, from Ger
many Its theater and from any or every
European country, sav Russia, Spain and
Turkey, the government of cities.
A novelty In street railway rates in this
country Is undergoing a test In Cleveland,
where Tom Johnson's Ideas are taking root.
In response to years of persistent agitation
for reduced fares the street railway com
pany decided to test tho sons rate system
In vogu In Germany. A J-cent rat Is es
tablished for a distance of two miles In
every direction from th business district
and the old rate of 6 cents to points beyond
the son limit. Th experiment laats two
wtoks and Is being closely watchtd by th
company and Its patrons.
Among th atandard annual publications
of this country th Chicago Nems Almanac
and Year Book deservedly holds high rsp.lt.
It Is a handy and comprehanslv book of
reference for busy people. Between Its
covers Is a vast amount of Information
about commerc. Industry, politics, history,
duration and many other subjects, with a
copious Index to facilitate the Inquirer's
search. tn of the many admlrahl 1m
,,r.. t th Year Book Is the liberal spar
given toplrs of partlculsr Interest to th
great west, yet no part of th country is
slighted. The leeu for liu Is an Improve
ment on each of th preceding iwenty vol
ume. To tlo familiar with this annual
storehoiis of kuuwledg further commen
dation Is superfluous.
4 HOtI AROtT SEW lORK.
Ripple nn the Cnrrent of l ife In the
Metropolis.
Blizzard stories sre as tliitk as tlc snow
piles In New York and vicinity. Favored
people living In the Canada belt of the Mis
souri valley are unable by experience to ap
preciate the hardships which the real thlnK
In bllzsnrds lavishes upon the big ton and
Its neighbors. The article which tradition
tells us bad Its habltal In some undetlned
section of the west, but which moved esst
ward to grow up with the country, was a
mellow summer breeze lompatrd with New
York's blizzard grown to robust maturity.
Eighteen Inches of snow fell durlns the
storm. Fifteen thousand men and .v'mi)
teams were employed raising the snow
blockade on the streets of New Yoik and
Brooklyn, a job that cost ISiO.Oin). Moor
men on the surface cars, having no shelter
ing vestibules, were so mutfled up thst they
could not hear th conductor's bell slgmils
and many of them, benumbed by the cold,
had to be lifted from the cars at the end of
the run. On the day of the storm KW.nc)
passengers were carried on the elevated
roads and 411. ono on the subway line.
A correspondent of the Philadelphia
Iedger puts the cost of the storm up into
the millions. The heaviest loss full upon
the local railroads and the trunk lines
from the stoppage of their Immense sub
urban traffic. The big department stores
did not suffer as badly as the railroad
companies In proportion, since their trade
Is of such a chsracter that people who
did not go to the stores during the lat
three days will make up for it when the
weather moderatf, but still the loss of a
day's business must amount to considera
ble. This Is true of general business,
which was completely paralyzed on
Wednesday. The gas and electric light
companies, the telegraph and telephone
companies, the hotels, which accommo
dated 1S.000 extra guests at the lowest cal
culation, and contractors who rent their
horse and carts to the city at exorbitant
prices to carry away the snow were gain
ers from the storm, but the amount on
the credit side of the ledger Is compara
tively small. Experts have determined
that a serious London fog costs some
$3,000,000. A fog In I,ondon Is costly, but
It does not tie tip traffic more completely
than It was tied up In New York by the
storm. As the blizzard covered a much
larger area, and Its hindrances are con
tinued, and as positive damage to ma
chinery Is done by the storms. It Is safe
to say that the P.ono.nm estimate fulls
within the actual loss on account of the
blizzard of 1905.
While the wind was playing pranks with
women's skirts along One Hundred and
Twenty-fifth street, tho clerks lu most of
the stores amused themselves by taking
observations from the front windows. Fin
ally, from a shoe store which harbored a
dozen observers, a man ran out and
planted this sign, printed In red paint, in
the highest snow bank:
"We do all the rubbering in this neigh
borhood." To provide milk for his 1-year-old sou
George A. Ilourgois, one of the best known
attorneya In New Jersey, paid t'JtO for two
quart bottles ot milk and the same amount
of cream, or at the rate of tin) a quart
bottle. Mr. Bourgols lives In Ventnnr,
which was completely cut off from Atlantic
City. On calling up a milk depot the
lawyer found that It would be Impossible to
deliver the milk. He then hired Archie
Burrell to get the milk.
8now drifts ten feet high In places
blocked Burr-ell's horse and carriage. At
times he was obliged to drive to tho beach,
and his Journey, ordinarily three miles,
proved to be thre times that distance and
occupied more than four hours. But he
reached th dapot and delivered the milk.
Mr. Bourgols has been married about
eighteen months. His wife was Miss
Blanche Mllllette, his stenographer. The
first wife, of Mr. Bourgols obtained a di
vorce from him, after which he married
Miss Mllllette. Mr. Bourgols gave Burrell
check for $200.
The encroachment of trade upon the resi
dence section of Fifth avenue below the
park Is proceeding with such rapid and Ir
resistible force that within five years there
probably will not be a home left In the
famous avenue south of the plaza. Start
ing at Washington square years ago. the
upward march of business has reached
Fifty-first street, where "society" Is making
Its last stand. There ar a few residences
left below this point, but apparently they
are doomed by the real estate boom that
Is sweeping along the avenue. Within the
last few weeks several purchases of Fifth
avenue property In the vicinity of the Wal
dorf-Astoria, at prices which show an
amazing advance In values, have been made
by merchant princes, who Intend to erect
Immense department stores on the sites.
The purchase last week for $1,100,000 for j
HAVE YOU
A SMALL BOY?
If you have one anywhere from
3 years, to 5 years
maybe you will be interested in a
BARGAIN
$3, $6, $7 and $8 reefers, a small
top coat for skating, coasting, etc.
are on sale this morning for
There are just 50 coats and they won't
last a great while. Come early and
get a coat for less than the price of
the sleeve linings.
R. S. WILCOX. Mgr.
Fifty Years iha Standard
1H1
Made from, pure ere an of
tartar derived from grapes.
the site of the New York club, at Fifth
avenue and Thirty-first street. Instances
the grent demand for Fifth avenue prop
erty. The building of the St. Regis hotel
at Fifth avenue nnd FIfty-flfth street was
(he entering wedge for the uprooting of
homes In the few blocks below the park
that had been preserved as a resident'
section. Tremendous efforts were mad to
prevent this Invasion, but they were futile.
A construction company has purchased a
site oppotite Slurry's and Delmonlco'a, at
Forty-fourth street and Fifth avenue, and
will erect a eky-s raper office building iher
with an all-night bank on the ground floor.
But what has startled more than any
thing else the society people who are re
sisting the advance is a report that a real
etnc Kvmlicato wllh millions behind It Is
seeking to buy the Vanderbilt twin man
sion at Fifth avenue and Fifty-first street
and erect on the she a twenty-story offlc
building Unit will be the largest structure
north of Wall stree. Whether or not this
proves true. It seems a certainty that
fashionable dweller on tills part of Fifth
avenue must soon seek homes elsewhere.
Police Magistrate t'rane sent this mes
snge from the Judicial bench to the chief
of detectives: 'Tell him for me thnt If he
wants to he can clean every thief out of
New Y'ork in forty-right hours."
The resixinse of the ihlef was to th
point: "Iocs he Includn nil the thieves
known as speculators, promoters and apos
tles of high finance?"
The magistrate Is pondering on an an
swer. M,; I.IMOS.
"Hang it:" growled the pessimist. "I'm
sure there's another snow storm coming
up."
"Well." replied the optimist, "so long h
It doesn't como down we can't kick."
Philadelphia. Ledger.
('holly When I saw how big a flsh I had
hooked. 1 tell yoik I raught my breath.
Miss Tart mi loll had soma halt for that
along, too, had you? Chicago Tribune.
"I heard you make use of the word 'Jack
ass,' sir; did you apply It to me?
No. sir. I didn't. You don't Imagine
you're the only Jackass In th world, liJ
you?" Cleveland Leader.
"When you does Some men a favor," as Id
I'lKie Klien. "dry gits scared an' sus
picious light away for fear you're gwine to
overtax delr gratitude." Washington Star.
Tess She's being treated by one of thos
complexion specialists. 1 woudn't let any
body like that experiment with my face.
Jens Why not? He couldn't possibly
make It any worse. Philadelphia. Press.
"You must get a good deal of old and
ragged money here." said the man who
wan paying his taxes.
"We do," responded the cashier In th
treasury department of the county building.
"Don't you dread to handle It?
"tin what account?"
"Microbes."
"My dear sir. thn atmosphero of this
building kills the microbe the moment
they are exposed to It." Chicago Trlbun.
A WKSTF.HN WIFE.
Nstlonal Magazine.
She walked behind the lagging mules.
That drew the breker thro' th soil:
Hers were the curly rising rules.
Hers were the eve of wifely toll.
The smitten prairie hlossom'd fair.
The soil home Inded from the seen;
Firm gables met the wflp'rlng atr.
Deep iHitvlu: lent repose serene.
But wlth'rlng brow and snowy tress
Hesiieak the early days of strife;
And there's the deeper wrought Imur
The untold pathos ot the wife.
O western mother! In thy praise
Nn artist paints nor poet sings,
But from thy rosary of days
God's angels shape Immortal wings!
N
W