10
TIIE OMAHA DAILY BEE: SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1905.
The Omaha Daily Bee
E ROSE WATER. EDITOR.
PUBLISHED EVERT MORNINO.
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Daily Bee (without Sunday), one year. ..MM
DHlly Bee and Sunday, ona year
Illustrated lice, ona year
Sunday Bee, ona year ?Y
Saturday Bee. one year 'r!
Twentieth Century Farmer, ona year... l.w
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Dally Bee (without Sunday), per copy.. 2c
Dally Bee (without Sunday), per week...lJc
Dally Bee (including Sunday), per weK..liC
Evening Bee (without 8unu.:y). per week 7c
Evening Bea (Including Sjnday). Pr
week 1?
Sunday Bee, per copy "2
Complalnte of Irregularities In delivery
should b addreased to City Circulation De
partment. OFFICES.
Omaha The Bee Building.
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fifth and M etreeta.
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Chicago IMu Unity hulldlng.
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CORRESPONDENCE.
Communications relating to news and edi
torial matter should be addressed: Omaha
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THE BEE PUBLISHING COMPANY.
STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION.
State of Nebraska. Douglas County, as.!
Oeorge B. Tzschjck secretary of The Be
ruhllxlilng Cotnpnny, being duly sworn,
says that the actual number of full and
complete conies of The Dally. Morning,
Evening nni Sunday Bee printed during the
mnnin or m ,rcn, vjHo. waa aa ioiiows:
1 .. .27.(120
2 2T.B70
I 2,OftO
4 KO.TOO
t ao.nso
as mo
T 27.ino
8 20.SO4)
S 27..SOO
ID 20,S(
11 80.S1O
12 31,'JOO
13 87.KBO
14
16 217,060
16 U7,tMO 1
Total SWB.OSO
Lesa unsold copies 0,843
17 28.8B0
18 30,700
19 30,000
20 27,880
21 2A.100
72 27.0BO
23 27,3?
14 28,530
13 81,000
26 81.010
27 27.SO0
28 2H.0O0
28 28,020
W 28,100
ill 28,550
Net total sales MMB,235
Dally average 28.SSU
GEO. B. TZSCHUCK.
Subscribed in my presence and sworn to
before me tlila gist uay of March, ID.
(Seal) M. B. HUNGAT3,
Notary Public.
There Is room for suspicion that Jack
Frost Las filtered Into a conspiracy to
raise the price of fruit on next fall's
market
Now that tho Lm.se ball season has
really opened there will have to be real
things doing In the orient to attract the
attention of America.
That snow storm In Colorado may be
Intended to give President Koosevelt an
opportunity to show how a real sports
man rises above adversity.
The Russian press committee having
decided to permit the newspapers to
print cartoons, the yellow Journals may
prepare for the "campaign of education."
Employing printers of Omaha know
the value of advertising and are going
In for It early In anticipation of a Joust
with the typographical union, scheduled
for next fall.
The average Russian soldier will prob
ably agree with Tennyson's lines. "Bet
ter fifty years of Europe than a cycle of
Cathay" that Is, after he has learned
that they were written.
Colonel Bryan is hot for municipal
ownership In Chicago. But all the Bry
anltes were dead against municipal
ownership in Omaha when the issue was
up squarely at our last election.
Russia might save money by post
poning the Stoessel court-martial until
It can join as defendants all officers
who have been guilty of vacating posi
tions at the urgent request of Japan.
The report of nn unusually mild win
ter In Alaska may be explained on the
theory that old Boreas ran out of ma
terial before returning home after his
trip through the United States In January.
General Dragoinlroff wants the czar
to continue the war until he can place a
force in Manchuria superior to thut of
the Japanese. Needless to say General
Dragomiroff does not expect to be or
dered to the front.
Ay OBSTACLE TO TRADE. Jnltely under American rule are steadily
Susan B. Anthony declares divorce to
be a refuge for married women as Can
ada wag a refuge for slaves before the
war. But slavery was involuntary,
while marriage Is almost without ex
ception self-imposed.
The award of a contract for steel
cell work In the reconstruction of Fort
Omaha preparatory to the Installation
of the signal service corps would indi
cate that somo of the signal flyers are
expected occasionally to lly high them-selves.
According to the statement of the dip
lomatic representatives of several of the
South and Central American countries
having ports on the Pacific ocean, which
was a few days ago presented to Secre
tary Taft, a serious obstacle to trade be
tween the United States and the coun
tries to the south Is the monopoly en
Joyed by the Panama Railroad company.
It is pointed out that the high rates for
transportation charged by that company
constitute a far more formidable ob
stacle to the exchange of products be
tween the east conBt of this country and
the west coast of Central and South
America than the physical obstacle.
It appears from the statement that It
costs from 23 to 30 per cent more to ship
goods to our Atlantic ports from Chile
or Peru by the Isthmian route than to
send them to Hamburg and thence to
New York. This Is a condition that goes
far to explain why American merchants
nnd manufacturers have boon unablo to
compete successfully with those of En
rope In some of the southern markets,
especially those on the Pacific, and it Is
to be presumed that the obstacle will be
removed as soon as the government is
In a position to do so. The Tanama rail
road furnishes the only means of trans
portation across the Isthmus and Is nec
essarily a monopoly, but not satisfied
with this the company has extended the
monopoly to the ocean transportation on
both sides. It owns a line of steamers
running between Coloii and New York
and It had a contract with the Pacific
Mail Steamship company which estab
lished an exclusive right to tho use of
through bills of lading and a common
rate from San Francisco to New York.
Thus the two companies had a virtual
monopoly of transit across the Isthmus
originating In or destined to distant
ports, for they controlled substantially
all available port facilities on the two
sides of the Isthmus and shippers by
other lines were charged the high local
rates for crossing by the railroad. Prac
tically all competition was shut out
Within a short time the United States
will come Into possession of the Panama
railroad and then it will be In a position
to open the door between the oceans at
the Isthmus. That this will be done Is
not to be doubted and there is every
reason to believe that It will be followed
by a material increase In trade between
the United States and the southern coun
tries on the Pacific.
A PROMISE (IF STATEHOOD-
In one of his speeches while in Okla
homa President Roosevelt predicted its
early admission with Indian Territory
as a state. It is understood that Senator
Beveridge, chairman of the committee
on territories, has a plan for getting
through a bill early next winter making
those two territories a state, but It Is
not altogether certain that he will be
able to carry out the plan, though un
questionably It is entirely lp accord with
public sentiment and perhaps also with
the view of a majority In congress. Of
course there is no question that Okla
homa and Indian Territory have both
the population and resources necessary
to entitle them to statehood and very
likely their admission as a state would
already have "been accomplished but for
the efforts In behalf of New Mexico and
Arizona.
As the Philadelphia Press remarks, if
there Is a political division ripe . for
statehood In the concurring opinion of
all that applicant should be admitted on
its own merits, and other territories left
to stand and fall on their merits, If they
hove any. That paper urges that it was
a gross injustice to Oklahoma and In
dian Territory to couple their fate with
the southwestern arid territories and ex
presses the hope that they are to be en
tirely Hlvorced hereafter and that Okla
homa's prospects will no longer be
blighted by an unnatural union. The
admission of Oklahoma and Indian Ter
ritory by the next congress Is very prob
able, but It appears likely that the other
territories will have to stay out for some
time longer. It Is safe to say, however,
that the advocates of statehood for the
latter will make a strenuous effort for
their admission and it Is possible that
they may be able to prevent the entrance
Into the union of Oklahoma.
J. Plerpont Morgan is surprised to
find an Italian court seekiug to learn
where he secured the copo which he re
turned to that country. The American
financier Is accustomed to meeting men
who are willing to recognize possession
as nine point of the law without In
quiring as to how It Is acquired.
The makers of Omaha's new ' city
directory, using their compilation as the
basis, have figured It all out that
Omaha's population at the present time
la 127,200 an Increase of almost 2,500
over figures similarly arrived at for the
preceding year. Directory population
ts, doubtless, an index to the actual
number of resident inhabitants, but It
Is hardly safe to rely on us Infallible.
Dcg Moines had an unpleasant experi
ence a few months ago in taking a state
census which fell many thousands be
low the directory man's figures, with
corresponding humiliation ami grief to
those who had been bragging pes
Moines up to the top notch. Omaha's
ISiH) census experience has also taught
us that in tho matter of population It
is far better to err on the side of con
servatism and not to boast until we are
Improving. The creation of a railroad
system there will Insure their rapid de
velopment in all directions.
THE TEST MUST COME-
It is now announced that because the
biennial election bills passed by the late
legislature carry no emergency clauses
with them the laws will not go Into effect
until July next and cannot therefore,
be made the subject matter of a test
case In court to determine their consti
tutionality until after that time.
The Inference apparently Intended to
be conveyed Is that inability to com
mence the necessary suit previous to
July would throw the matter over so
late that it would not be worth while
to make the test at all. It Is well known
that the usual custom of the supreme
court has been to adjourn Its sittings
in June and not to meet again until
after the middle of September, and If
this course were followed a suit to test
the validity of the biennial election laws,
going through the ordinary course of
trial and advisement with the time reg
ularly allowed for rehearing before the
mandate is Issued, would bring us right
up to November, when the election ought
to be held.
The complete chnnge of our whole sys
tem of government for the special
benefit of an army of office holders, who
want to retain their positions a year
longer than they were elected for, pre
sents features altogether too serious to
be settled by technicalities and legal de
lays. The people of Nebraska, who are
most vitally affected, will not be sat
isfied to have such a radical Innova
tion forced upon them by a mere trick
of Judicial procedure. If they are to
have their constitution uprooted and
destroyed by legislative enactment they
will insist on having a square-toed de
cision by the supreme court to the effect
either that the lawmakers are subject
to the constitution, or that they are
above and apart from the organic law.
There is nothing to prevent the su
preme court from holding a special ses
sion In July, Immediately after the bi
ennial elections laws are supposed to
become effective, to give an opportunity
to Institute proceedings to test their
constitutionality, nor from expediting
the hearing and decision, so that, should
the Inviolability of the constitution be
vindicated, ample time will be given to
hold the usual primaries and conven
tions and nominate candidates from
whom the people may choose, without
coercion, whom they wish to serve them
as public officials.
The illness of a member of the Jury
seems to have had considerable to do
with rendering nugatory a long and ex
pensive trial in a damage suit, which
has just resulted in mistrial. Illness in
the Jury box has frequently Interrupted
local litigation on previous occasions.
Men called for jury duty are examined
as to their fitness from various points
of view, Including previous Jury ser
vice, legal residence and Ignorance of
the subject In hand and of subjects In
general, but their fitness physically to
undergo the strain of Jury confinement
is never Inquired Into. ' While It might
not be practical to put the entire jury
panel through a medical examination,
there Is no good reason why the judge
should not excuse men drawn to serve
as Jurors who are plainly unequal to
such an exhaustive task. The main diffi
culty would be the loophole offered for
pretenders -who might conjure' up all
sorts of aches and pains in order to es
cape jury duty, but abuses of this kind
could be minimized and at all events
would scarcely exceed evils that attend
the present practice.
RAILROADS IN IHILlIri3 ES-
There is favorable promise that one
of the great needs of the Philippine
IhIhihI.i, railroads, will be supplied in the
not remote future. It is reported that
a, number of American capitalists are
considering the question of building
railroads in the archipelago and have
proceeded so far In the matter as to
have engaged a person formerly promi
nent in railway circles to draw up plans
for the construction of the 700 or 800
miles of railroad which will be the nu
cleus of the proposed system. It ap
pears that Secretary Morton has been
largely instrumental li .Interesting tho
capitalists in the matter and in this has
had the assistance of Secretary Taft,
who has been zealous In urging that the
construction of railroads In the Philip
pines would prove in a brief time a very
profitable Investment
The earlier efforts of Judge Taft did
not command serious atteutlon from
those to whom he addressed them. Sec
retary Morton, being a practical railroad
man, has been able to gain considers
tlon from men who could not be lm
pressed by the views of the former gov
ernor of the Philippines, and Mr. Morton
appears to have become an earnest ad
vocate of railroads for the Islands.
There can be no question, of course, that
the construction of railroads would pow
erfully promote the Industrial and com
menial development of the archipelago
and the government can well afford to
offer liberal Inducements to capital to
Invest there in lines of transportation.
Besides the material benefits that would
result, the civilizing effect would be very
great aiid nocespaiily this would coutrlU
ute to the maintenance of peace and or
der. How great an Influence the rail
road Is In these respects It Is needless to
point out. Conditions In our far Insular
possessions which are to remain ludefl
In olden days, known as the Darts
Ages, persons accused of crime were
wont to appeal to the wager of battle.
With their accuser, confident that the
Almighty would not let wickedness tri
umph over innocence in a clash at arms.
The wager of battle idea, however, has
long since been discarded, so that the
bootleggers who are trying to disprove
their guilt by pummellng Father Schell
for bringing them to answer before the
law are not likely to carry conviction
by their fistic exploits, tin the con
trary, the very fact that these despera
does are attempting to do physical vio
lence to the priestly reformer will be
taken as proof positive that he has
touched them In the vital part. If the
authorities do not make a vigorous effort
to call the assailants of Father Schell
to account they will themselves rest un
der a cloud of conniving with all the
reservation purlawry.
j
As May day comes twelve days later
In Russia than In western Europe, there
more time to get ready for a real up
rising and Indications are that the Rus
sian workman is fully alive to the possi
bilities of the situation.
The affairs of Santo romingo aro
now being referred to tho Insular bu
reau of the United States government.
This must be Secretary Taft's gentle
manner of showing his opinion of the
United States senate.
A Traak Line Tragedy,
Baltimore American.
Concerning the kenaational seizure of sup
nosed evidence -in the Beef truat investl
gation, it may be said that the Jlnes on
which that Inquiry is now proceeding ara
on the order of trunk lines.
the prices of meat ever lce they were
begun. If the, government does not wlah
to transform ua Into a vegetarian people,
Ilka the Japanese, It would better drop the
matter. The last rise In prices Is the last
straw that breaks the camel's back.
Worked to a. Finish.
Pittsburg Dispatch.
Mr. Dodd avers that the Standard Oil
company did not Invent the system of re
bates. No; but It took the original Inven
tion and added the Improvement of work
ing It on the biggest scale known up to
that time.
. Stringing Araond 'the Circle.
Clncinatl Enquirer.
The president seems happy arsons the
plain people, and. they reciprocate, as near
aa Ynay be. In his kind. Perhaps this fa
miliarity promotes the spirit of the re
public To whom Is the popular applause
not welcome? Four years In a final service
In the presidency would be a dull season, in
deed, without an occasional handshaking
with the multitude, which is to aay, the
bosses, or otherwise the persons to whom
all politicians and statemen confess their
servitude.
Gigantic Merger In Prospect.
Minneapolis Journal. (
The latest railroad dream Is a combination
of the New York Central, the Northwestern
and the Unloa Pacific, with 80,431 miles of
track. The Central covers pretty thor
oughly the territory between New York
and Chicago. The Northwestern lines draw
from all parts of the country between
Omaha and Chicago. The Union Pacific
reaches from Omaha to the Pacific. A road
like this would be in a position to make
some transcontinental rates that would
make competing lines smoke.
Another Feeleae State.
Springfield Republican.
It Is not too late to take note of the fact
that the recent Maine legislature abolished
the fee system root and branch, and estab
lished salaries for all state offices wherein
the fee system had prevailed wholly or In
part. The change was also extended to
the various county offices and definite sala
ries fixed for them. This reform has long
been needed. It is also to be noted that
proper allotments were made for traveling
expenses, where necessary, and so the ex
cuse for using free passes was done away
with. It Is estimated that the extinction
of the fee system will save. the taxpayers
about $40,000 a year. Wlh the Incoming of
the year 1907, by the way, the governor of
Maine Is to be paid $3,000 a year.
RAILROAD DEATH ROLL.
Record of Dead and Maimed Appall
ing; to Contemplate.
New York Tribune.
The Interstate Commerce commission re
ports that In the last quarter of last year
there were fewer casualties from railroad
accidents than In the preceding quarter.
Yet In those three months no fewer than
931 persons were killed and 14,027 Injured.
That la an appalling record. It becomes
the more appalling when we expand it so
as to take In a whole year. Thus In 1903
there were 355 passengers, $.606 employes
and 6,879 others killed, and. 8,231 passengers,
60,481 employes and 7,841 others Injured.
Most appalling and most discreditable of
all does 'It appear when we contrast It
with tho statistics for the United Kingdom.
There in the same year 148 passengers, 47
employes and 362 others were killed, and
2,681 passengers. 6.782 emnlove and 171
others Injured, a total of 976 killed and
,637 Injured. Thus there were In thin
country more than ten times as many per
sons killed and nearly eight times as many
Injured as in Great Britain and Ireland.
That contrast Is not creditable to Amer
ica.
The more the contrast is aniiviwt tha
more discreditable It seems to the United
States. It ought to be suggestive and in-
itructlve as well. The armalllnir rnntrast
between the respective numbers of "others"
not passengers or emDloves killed nnd
injured, for example only 626 In the United
Kingdom to 13,720 In the United States
should emphasise In the most convincing
manner the desirability of doing awav with
grade crossings as rapidly as possible, and
or requiring railroads, near cities, towns
and1 villages, to. be so fenced in that no
body can get upon the tracks save by
deliberate effort and then of making it a
misdemeanor thus to trespass upon the
tracks. Cost a great deal, would it? v
but what Is the lack of it costing In a
yearly slaughter roll of thousands? So,
too, the contrast between the numbers of
employes killed and Injured 7,258 there
against 64,078 here should suggest a dili
gent and practical Inquiry Into the ques
tion whether our appliances for th
working of trains are as up-to-date and as
emcieni as tnoso or the Islands across the
sea. We may have in this country the
biggest railroad system In the world- r,
It Is by no means so certain that it is In
all respects the best especially In that
supremely important respect, the safety
of human life and limb.
Strange Freak ol Trade,
Boston Transcript.
We are not sending coals to Newcastle
vet. but we are doing the next thing to It
exporting tobacco to Cuba. Last year the
Cubans bought about $M),0iiO worth of man
ufactured tobacco of the United States.
Modulus Mole Outclassed.
Philadelphia Kecord.
Now the public eye will be regaled with
the Impossible pictures of battleships en
gaged In imaginary conflict In the China
sea, with appropriate detail furnished by
supposed Hong Kong and bnanghal liars,
The Last Straw.
Chicago Chronicle.
It Is certainly discouraging fact that
the Beef trust Investigation and prosecu
tion, which were to save the community
from exorbitant prices, have bees raising.
ILLINOIS RAILROAD RATES.
Advantages of Rate Regulation that
Regalntee.
The local freight traffic of the Chimin
A Northwestern road from Clinton, la.
to Bartram In that state, a distance of
seventy-two miles, is 22 cents for first
class and 18.7 cents for second class. The
tarirr or the same road from Fulton, 111.,
to Malta, 111., a distance of seventy-two
miles, is 33.84 cents for the first class and
28.20 cents for second class. Why there
snouia pe such a difference the Illinois
shippers do not understand.
They would not care if It were an excep
tional Instance, but unfortunately It ex
emplifies a general practice. There are
several railroads whose lines extend from
iinnois into lowa. The local rates of all of
thera are higher In this state than in the
other. The president of one of the roads
said recently that "railway rates are not
made by college professors, and cannot
be measured off with a rule." That Is
true, but why should the local rate on the
Rock Island road from Des Moines to Iowa
points be so much lower than those on the
same road from Rock Island to Illinois
points?
The same railroad president said: "Com
petition settles everything. If It is not
competition between railroads It Is competi
tion between localities which settles what
Is charged." Illinois manufacturers would
like to know what the keen competition is
that has made the local rates In Indiana or
Iowa so much lower than those In Illinois.
This Is a more populous state than its
eastern or western neighbor. A greater
volume of freight Is handled here. "College
professors" and business men cannot see
why It should cost more to haul freight
here than It does In Iowa or Indiana.
Illinois roads do not discriminate against
Illinois shippers and merchants In favor of
those of Iowa because they have a special
dislike for those or a peculiar fondness for
these. They are not governed by their
emotions or feelings. Why then do they
charge higher rates In Illinois than in
Iowa?
Is It because the state of Iowa, solicitous
for tho welfare of Its shippers, has com
pelled the railroads to lower their rates to
a point where they are reasonable? If so,
why does not Illinois do likewise? The
authorities have been appealed to often to
redress a manifest wrong, but they have
failed to act. Until they do Illinois ship
pers will remain the victims of a dlsorlml
nation which the "college professors"
would abolish If they had the power and
which the railroad men who have made
the rate aaaaot defeaa.
OTHER LANDS THAI OIRS.
A correspondent of an English pap",
writing from Stockholm, says that the
contrast In the trend of opinion In Sweden
and Norway with regard to the question
at Issue between the two countries Is be
coming more and more marked. The Nor
wegian press now lay stress on Norway's
claim to perfect equality within the union,
and more on Its aspirations towards abso
lute Independence, admitting more or less
openly that the consular question Is a
means to this end. On the other hand. In
the Swedish press nnd the public meetings
which have been held all over the country
emphasis is laid on the necessity of main
taining the union In the Interest of both
countries, and .It Is urged that every con
cession should be made to Norway which
Is compatible with a common, dynasty and
unity In fnrelgn policy. The dangers of a
rupture are more keenly felt In Sweden,
and are minimized In Norway, where the
warning" of the foreign press ore attrib
uted to a misconception of Norwegian as
pirations. He goes on to remark that the
long letter which Dr. Nansen sent recently
to English. French a.nd Oorman Journals
exactly explained the Norwegian view, but
failed to bring out the main point In
Sweden's position that It has offered to
revise the present conditions of union so
as to give complete equality In tho matter
of the management of foreign affairs, on
which Norway's chief grievance Is founded.
It Is possible for the traveler In soach
of comfort and excitement to visit nearly
every part of Central Africa with ease. He
can now reach the Congo country In a
short time. A railway connects the lower
reaches of the river with the plateau, and
thenca be can take steamers to any part
of the system, going thousands of miles
amidst the most astonishing scenery In the
world. Or he may go up the Nile by rail
way to Khartoum and thence to Dake
Victoria Nyanza by boat. He can go down
the east coast and take a .railway to the
same place from the region of Zanzibar,
can go further south and go by the Portu
guese line to Victoria falls or reach them
by the various lines from the Cape. All this
ha been accomplished within twenty
years, most of It within ten. Men now
mlddleaged used to study a map of Af
rica on which there was nothing of Im
portance except around the edges. Now
the modern'- transportation line from the
Cape to Cairo is more than half com
pleted. In a short time It will be a mere
winter excursion to make the trip and a
few side runs Into the Congo country.
News comes that the railway bridge over
the Znmbesl falls has been completed. This
gorge is one of the greatest in "the world
and the sheer depth Is over 450 feet. The
bridge Is built on the cantilever plan and Is
not an extremely Important structure from
an engineering point of view, but Its loca
tion is of Interest. Probably the gorge Is
the greatest natural wonder of Us kind in
the world, and that It will attract visitors
of coming generations In large numbers Is
entirely probable. The present Interest In
the subject is sentimental. It Is now almost
fifty years since Dr. Livingstone published
his remarkable work concerning Central
Africa. Of all the wonders he had to tell
In that volume none made such an Impres
sion as his description of the "Smoky
falls" of the Zambesi, which he witnessed
first of all white men, so far as there Is any
record. He drew a picture In pen and gave
a sketch of the scene which has been the
Inspiration of many hundreds of thousands
of people, which has caused many hundreds
of thousands of dollars to go Into the mis
sionary boxes of the English speaking na
tions. He wrote as of a natural curiosity
unattainable for the most part and one
which he never expected to be connected
with civilization.
In London, Liverpool, Manchester and
other English cities It Is now recognized
that It Is unreasonable to expect hungry
children to study to any purpose. There Is
no longer opposition to the policy of feeding
poor children at school, and the only ques
tion Is one of methods. In Belgium most
of the Industrial cities have adopted a sys
tem, which combines private and public
feeding. A public body attends to the
meals, which are paid for by private sub
scriptions. In Brussels the commune found
that 26 per cent of the school children have
no breakfast at home, and that It would
require $80,000 a year to feed them. In.
Switzerland both the government and the
cantons voted aid for school meals. In
Zurich the school authorities take full
charge of .the feeding, and the funds are
from the city. In Paris meals are given to
children who pay a small charge, but
parents who are destitute may get meal
tickets for their children. In England It Is
considered necessary that public money
only should be used, as private funds are
sure to decline.
King Alfonso's ultimate decision as to the
woman who Is to be his queen Is discussed
by European papers as a matter of mighty
moment, and perhaps they are right. Ger
many and France, It Is represented, are
very directly concerned, the former be
cause of Its desire to have a firm friend
on the Mediterranean shore, and France
from a similar motive with regard to the
development of Its North African posses
sions. English journals discussing the sub
ject hint that King Alfonso will find It
for his interest to choose a British princess,
since that would mean that he could com
mand the moral influence of the guns of
Gibraltar. Plainly, an International con
ference is the proper assemblage to nomi
nate the queen consort of Spain, thus re
lieving Alfonso of a grave responsibility
and much perplexity. Jesting aside, a
Spanish marriage has more than once pre
cipitated perplexities upon Europe, and
within little more than sixty years the am
bition of France to control Spain by an
"appropriate matrimonial alliance" came
very near occasioning war.
To medical observers the most surprising
revelation of the war is the endurance of
the Japanese. Apart from his immunity
from disease, the reports of which are In
credible, the Japanese, with a gun upon
his shoulder, has accomplished feats never
thought by physiologists to be possible.
"In the orient," observes a medical man,
"there Is a new art of war depending upon
the new style of physique of a race which
has never before been put to this work."
The Japanese soldier is short, stocky and
blessed with muscles big enough for a
much taller man, and. consequently, "he
la able to do more work than a European
or American of equal weight." The rural
letter carriers of Japan think little of a
distance for which we demand horses, and
the rickshaw man has been known to trot
forty miles a day, dragging his passenger
behind him. "America," says a medical
periodical, "opened this land to western
civilization, and placed modern weapons In
the hands of to.oou.ooo such bodies." and so
set up new problems.
Dodging t'lrlc Duties.
Philadelphia Ledger.
The American people are the most In
genious In the world In discovering patent
method and mechanical devices which will
permit them to 'shirk their duty as citizens,
while they all know that only the expendi
ture of time and trouble will bring the results.
Putting; It on I lie Consumer.
New York Tribune.
As was predicted and expected, money
lenders are already declaring that In case
the mortgage tax bill becomes, a law they
will "tack It on to the rents. " Thus In the
end It will be the poorer class that will pay
the Us. It gent-rally works that way.
POLITICAL DRIFT.
Mayor Harrison of Chicago retired from
office with eight loving mugs handed to
him by admiring friends.
The Pennsylvania legislature adjourned
this week. As a tribute to Its memory It
Is piopOfed to transfer Thanksgiving day
from November to April.
As the retiring Mfcyor Harrison was
boarding a train bound for the west
thoughtful friends passed up three copious
baskets laden with the necessaries of life
In the alkali division of the journey.
A newspaper which circulates among the
proud and noble Buckeyes requests Iowa
politicians to note the fact that aa Ohio
man has declined a federal appointment
All passing wonders ara regularly regis
tered In lowa.
A sample of the reform methods In China
Is the spectacle of that staunch reformer,
Choi Ik Yen, sitting outside the palace gate
waiting for the reforms to come to him.
At last accounts he was still sitting and
sitting still, without a can attachment.
A notable feature of the fickleness of
political comment Is the florid and friendly
bouquets which Philadelphia papers are
piling on Governor l'cnnypacker. They'll
smother the old man with kindness if he
will veto the Philadelphia ripper bill. For
the present the libel law Is forgotten.
Greater New York Is mighty sore and
snorting loudly about the mortgage tax
bill and the tax on stock transfers. The
Idea entertained at Albany, where the gov
ernment of the big city has its being, Is
that the metropolis is a huge money chest,
which may be tapped for all kinds of
money and nlleve the rest of the state
from direct tax burdens. A like Idea pre
vails In the circles which rule tha consoli
dated city. The budget this year amounts
to $106,000,000. of which $2!,600,000 is for edu
cation. On top of this comes the mortgage
and stock tax, which bend the camel's back
to the breaking point.
PHILIPPINES DO SOT DRAW.
Inslgrnlflcant Number of Americana
Attracted to the Islands.
Chicago Chronicle.
The recent census of the Philippines
shows that out of a population of more
than 7.000,000 there are less than 60,000 for
eigners nnd that of the latter only 8,000 are
Americans.
It Is almost seven years since Admiral
Dewey destroyed tho Spanish fleet In Ma
nila bay and took posxesslon of the archi
pelago In the name of the United States.
Since May 1, 1898, many a town on this con
tinent has grown from a mere camp to a
city of more than 8,000 people.
If there ever was any reason for the an
nexation of the Philippines It was to be
found in the fact that there was a pros
pect that Americans would enter It and
possess the land. If there Is any curiosity
to know why this has not been done It can
be explained by the statement that the, way
has not been prepared for them.
So far as American citizenship Is con
cerned there Is no more reason why citizens
of the United States should risk their lives,
their liberties and their fortunes there
today than there was ten or twenty years
ago. For all practical purposes the Islands
are as foreign nnd as hostile now as they
were when they were under the rule of the
Spanish monarchy.
American expansion can be Justified on
one ground only, and that is the advantage
that may accrue to the American people
themselves. If new countries opened up by
the expenditure of our blood and treasure
are not prepared for the occupancy of
Americans they are taken and "liberated"
In vain.
There will be no emigration to the Philip
pines until they are given a republican form
of government. No freeman will risk his
life and fortune In a land which Is subject
to a despotism. If that despotism chances
to be sustained under the flag of the repub
lic It will be regarded with all the more
suspicion.
If the Philippines are to be for the Amer
icans there should be a government there
which Americans will understand. If they
are not to bo for the Americans It Is time
to put an end to the fine talk of which we
hear so much at Washington about once a
year.
AM INTERESTING DEPARTURE.
Broadening; the Scope of tue Vice
President's Duty.
Chicago News.
President Roosevelt's action in designat
ing Vice President Fairbanks to act as the
official representative of the administra
tion on certain formal occasions Is an in
teresting departure from past traditions.
That the vice president should have so
little apparent part In the concerns of the
administration has long been one of the
recognized anomalies of the federal gov
erning system. History has impressed it
imnn the American rjeoDle with tragic em
phasis that the man selected for this posi
tion must be one nttea in every way to
assume the higher office In case of emer
gency, rroperly, ho should be In close
touch with tho administration at all times
and a factor of Influence In It. Yet the
vice president figures In the public mind
far less than many of the members of
congress.
It would seem that anything which would
tend to broaden the office, Identifying it
more closely with the administration and
securing for It a larger measure of public
recognition, would be of benefit. There
or nccKHlnna when convenience or expedi
ency requires that the executive branch of
the government be representee; Dy some
one other than the chief magistrate. Evi
dently President Roosevelt has taken the
reasonable view that this duty rightfully
devolves upon the official who under the
constitution stands next to him In the line
of succession.
fifty Years the Standard
mm '
Hade from pure cream of
tartar derived from grapes.
HEW rENMON FRAl'DS.
Men Who Never Entered tho Service
Placed on the Rolls.
Brooklyn Bugle.
Pension Commissioner Warner will ba
generally applauded for his prompt action
In regard to those members of his board of
review who allowed pensions to "veterans"
who were never In the service of tha
United States. The commissioner's Investi
gation shows that the Ulrgnl pensions were
distributed among the members of a Penn
sylvania regiment recruited In the vicinity
of Erie, but which was never mustered In
as part of the volunteer establishment. Ws
do not think any organization of veterans
In this country can condemn the action of
Commissioner Warner without Inviting con
clusions injurious to Itself. The laws un
der which pensions may now be obtained
are sufficiently liberal to meet all Just de
mands. They have even been stretched to
cover enses where the claim of the appli
cants upon consideration wns rather a
matter of sentiment than of necessity. But
occasionally a line must be drawn hard
and fast and when an effort Is made
filch from the national treasury' supp,
ror men whoso services were never ac
cepted by the country those who did serve
their country should be the first to sustain
the punishment of the wrong. The true
circumstances In this particular case could
have been ascertained so easily that It ts
difficult to see how tho responsible parties
In tho board of review hope to defend
themselves against the commissioner's
prosecution.
J
TART TRIFLES.
"Your husband." said the nhvslclan.
"must not let his system run down."
"Doctor," answered ynung Mrs. Torklns,
"he has been doing l.ls bi-st to keep It up.
But It never wins." Washington Star.
Mr. Cookley (to his wife) EstelK wo
haven't bet-n to church fur several weeks.
Let's go next Sunday."
Youngest of the Family Why, papa,
what are they going to give away next
Sunday ? Chicago Tribune.
"Do you," asked trie humorist, fairly
bubbling -over with mirth, "do you accept
contributions written on both sides of the
paper?"
"If," responded the editor, without look
ing up, "It's a check for your subscription
made payable to us. we do. I've been
caught on that old Joke once." Cliveian-i
Leader.
"Have you really no affection for any
other girl, dear?" she nsked of her flanc.
"No," replied the drug clerk, absent
mindedly. ' but I have something Just as
good." Philadelphia Ledger.
"Well." said the multi-millionaire, "I
have done a good day's work today."
"Made a whole lot mrre money?"
"No Better than that. Succeeded In
persuading a church organization to accept
some of it as a gift." Washington Star.
Instructor How far will the modern bul
let carry?
Shaggy Haired Pupil That depends on
the charge of the powder.
Instructor I mean how far will It carry
with sufficient force to kill a man?
Shaggy Haired Ptipll That depends on
the man behind the gun. Chicago Tribune.
" "Woman's Talk, " quoted Nsgget from
his Sunday rarer, 'that's a queer heading
for this department."
"What's so queer about It?" demanded
Mrs. Nagget.
"Why, there's only about half a column
of it." Philadelphia Press.
THE WOODEN INDIAN.
Milwaukee Sentinel.
Behold the wooden Indian,
Who stands outside the door.
And guar 4s with frown and hatchet.
The old tobacco store.
He never beat a grocery bill,
He never told a lie.
He never took a longing look
At bourbon, fizz or rye.
Behold the wooden Indian,
A ma kb of oak and paint;
He never made a crooked move,
In faith, he was a saint.
He never bought a stack of chips
And sat Into a game;
He never rushed a fiorus girl
Or flirted with a dame.
Behold the wooden Indian,
Who. on the other hand,
Was never known to help tho poor
That fill our glorious land;
Who never heard the piteous cry
Of him who starved alone
Who never gave a hungry dog
So much as one small bone.
Behold the wooden Indian,
(And clay Is much like wood).
Who nevw did a bit of harm,
Nor yet a bit of good,
HIh fnmlly Is not extinct
In fact, one often meets
A lot of wooden Indians
A-waiklng on the streets.
IT
"NT"
Browning, King & Co
CLOTDING. FURNISHINGS. AND HATS
It will take you only a minute
from your business to try on one of
our Spring Suits or Topcoats that
ts waiting ready for you here.
Our own make with our unequiv
ical guarantee as to goods and
making.
Style and fit, too.
$15 to $30
Oet the Easter Fixings Today.
"It it worth the buniimt wm'i while to be well
drcmed,'' said Jkau lirutnnul.
t I.
1
Fifteenth and
Douglas Sts.
Broadway at 2ad Street NEW
w
OMAHA
NEB.
YORK Factory, Cooper Square
3
J
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