VOL. V.
Congressman! Earn Spitki on the Light
Question.
PRACTICAL POPULIST PEIHOIPLES
A Very Able Discussion of ths Subject .of
Monopoly and a Particular Applica
tion of tbs Needful Remedy.
A Matter of General Interest.
Tbe House being in Committee of tbe whole
onaiderauoD D" u- MS1' m"n
approprtatljns for the expense of the govern
ment of the DUtrlct of Columbia for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1895, and for other purpo-
Mr. Kern said:
Mr. Chairman: There are many tea
tures of this bill that I would change if
I bad tbe power to do so. I heartily
zree with the remarks which the
gentleman from Missouri Mr, DeAr
inond made yesterday with reference
to District taxes, and shall support his
amendment. But In tbe limited time
at my command I will confine my re
marks to that part of the bill which re
lates to Hfhtiog the public buildings
and grounds and the streets of the city.
I believe in the principle, Mr. Chair
man, and hare advocated it before my
people, that it is the duty of govern
ment to see, so far as it is possible, that
no corporation or combination of men
shall control any of the necessities of
tbe people; for it is evident that, when
such oondUloos exist, the party or the
oower bavin? control of such necessi
ties will also .have the power to extort
for those necessities more than the peo
pie ought to pay as a-matter of justice
and equity.
Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I believe
each municipality should control thei e
necessities, such as local transportation
of freight, humanity or intelligence,
water systems, and Jllghtlng plants, by
its own municipal government. I be
lleve in forming a monopoly of all the
people for the sole benefit of all the
: people of each municipality. And in
al, affecting the interests of the whole
people, I believe it is the duty of the
National Government to take control of
them in the interest of all the people.
A municipal or national monopoly for
the purpose of controlling any . of tbe
' necessities of the people, in which all
the people are partners and alike reap
the benefit', is always right; but a
nj-Mtv1w 9 -. nnlt nfliuDaltii Viw Q faV
private individuals for private gain Is
always wrong, and should cease. Con
gress should never again grant a char
ter, franchise, or subsidy to any lndlvl
dual or corporation through which
public necessities may be controlled.
This i the principle i bciievo In. it
Is the principle I have advocated before
my people. It is the principle they sent
me her to advocate, and In behalf of
remark. In direct opposition to this
principle, we find by referring to Senate
Document No. ill that Coagress In 1848
chartered what ie known a the Wash
ington Gaslight Clropany, and by that
(jharter gave a private corporation con
trol of one of the necessities of the poo-l-lo.
As a result of that action, the tax
payer have aid million el dollar w
tta stockholder that they ought not to
have paid.
In the pending bill reported by the
cmumltw I see they have reported
rti reform along tht line, and have
, slightly reduced tbe eost of thl neces
sity, tor Ihi they are tobe commend
1, but la my opinion. Mr. Chairman,
the oaly soluUvO of tbi question U fur
the government, teal of graatlug
three charter and spatial rM.ege t
at Irate ?rporeWuo f ad tbershy taabt
tag thvm to fUoti the people, to pur
chao or erect It own lighting plant
and supply lu own Ameuu,
Thiijer have not caly bnea
pajtag more far Illumination than thry
ought U ! paid, tut they have Ink
paying (ir a veri poor quality of light
T further Uicstrat) an preve the
MONOPOLY
DISCUSSED
extortion of this corporation, and that
it baa been looting tbe Treasury. I again
refer to the fact that this company was
organized in 1488 I quote from Senate
Executive Document No. 1460, first ses
sion Forty-ninth Congress, dated July
20, 1886 with a capital of $50,000. and
that in 1886, when the report of Senator
Spooner's committee whleh Investigat
ed it was made, the corporation had a
capital of 12,000.000, which uodoubtt dly
by this time has increased to half a
million. Io addition to this we find,
according to the same document, that
the officers of the company acknowledg
ed to the committee that the enormous
sum of $6,201,811, had been divided
among the stockholders in the form of
profits, of which sum of 15,699,000 was
pald.durlng the nineteen years from 1860
to 1885, an average of 8286,000 per year.
Dr. T. A. Bland, of this city, in a very
able review of the report of this com
mlttee found In Senate Miscellaneous
Document, No. 91, in reference to the
enormous increase of capital stock from
50,000 to 12,000,000, makes the follow
ing startling statement based upon the
report of Senator Kpooner'i committee
"The increase was made at different
periods. 1 n 1842, $300,000; 1855, $50,000;
1866, 1500,000. It was now tl,0u0,000.
In 1883 the secretary of the' company,
actlug under the orders of the board of
directors, destroyed tbe records of the
company from 1848 to 1806. The offic
ers of the company were, therefore, un
able to tell tne committee bow the
capital stock was increased. The in.
ference is that it was increased by
water or surplus profits, and that the
original capital of 150,000 baa grown to
$1,100,000 in eighteen years, wnile pay
ing an average of over 50 per ceat
annual dividends to the stockholders.
"From 1866 to 1883 the capital wa in
creased to $2,000 000. Of this increase
$200,000 was added in 1873, and tbe
other $800,000 In curiously irregular
amounts I quote from Senate report.
thus $29 666; $39,142; $56,316; $275,158;
$408; $5,650; $123,080; $2,215; $123,158;
$1,400.
"The officers of tbe company could not
or would not tell the committee where
thli Increase of capital came from, and
again the Inference is quite clear that
it was surplus profits."
The fact that the records of the com
pany had been destroyed by order of
thedlrestors wasevldence of glaring
fraud, and ought to have forfeited its
charter; and if this body does its duty
now it will cut short the reign of this
legal robber.
At various times vigorous protests
and investigations have been made, but
with little apparent effect. Can it be
true, &i Mr. logalls said, that the stock
holders are too much for Coagreib? Let
this be as it may, be was undoubtedly
right when he declared, as I have de
clared today, that the only remedy is
for the government to purchase tbe
lighting plants or build new ones.
In tbe Fifty -second Congress I Intro
duced practically the same bill, provid
ing for the purchase of the old or erec
tion of new plants, and in the succeed
ing campaign my Republican opponent
and the Republican press of my district
attacked that bill bitterly, They gar
bled it and misrepresented its meaning.
They arraigned me severely as one who
pretend d to be working for the inter
ests of the people h't In faot was aiding
corporations.
Mr. Chairman, I believed that bill
right then, ami Jttr additional con
sideration of the subject, I am more
convinced than rver that I was right
and 1 right now. Ia my opinion the
thing this government ought to do, the
thing thl Congress ought to do, is to
pais such a bill as that and tke from
thl corporation, which I robbing the
taxpayer of thlsaouot-y of millions of
dollar, the power to do so any longer,
ilr.Chalrn.40, I led that this que
tloa Is arousing a great dual of Interest
al the preeeat time, and that t ana not the
only una that indorse the views I have
i pressed. looklog pv 8o; Ml
celUneou Document Dl, of February 14
tu, I find that the Kl Wahtagun
CltUett' AtswIaUoa lnir a ankl
et control and give ait any valuable
facU la uppHt of It, From that report
I clip the fu'.uiwlRg pertinent fact r
UUv to eleutrUi tight:
electric uunm
The prlo patj tor the ere light oa
our street I 8t eaU jr algal, or
IMJ '4 per aeaues. Thl it taarw thaa
il paid tayhrw la the Unit I Dlaiee,
upt at Hut Fraaotiw tad ea pitf
ti MuaUatv
LINCOLN, NEB., THURSDAY. MARCH 29, 1894.
According to Capt. Lusk's report,
taking 24 cities of not less than 100,000
Inhabitants each, the average price for
2,000 candle-power light is $140.00 whllo
we pay about M nor cent. more.
Taking 146 cities, the average Is still
less, $121 79, or two-thirds of what we
pay. Taking a still larger list of cities
he found the average to be $124.85, or,
a he says, considering tbe difference in
lights, we pay 60 per cent. more.
According to the official report of the
State board of Massachusetts in 18
cities, including Boston, where the
wires are under ground, In part atleast,
and "which Is the highest of the nine
teen, the average is $122.28 per annum,
and all 2,000 candle-power lights, while
we pay 50 per cent more.
In 52 smaller cities and villages in
Massachusetts, the average for 1,200 to
1,600 candle-power is but $85.64, con
siderably less than one fourth what we
par.
Finally, taking 13 cities east and west
which own their plants, the average
cost is but $57.74 considerably less than
ont -third of what we pay, and all 2,000
candlo-power lamps.
So, too, in the 52 cities and villages in
Massachusetts, quite a number of them
owa and run their plants, and If all did,
the average in them would be still less.
Alexandria, Va.. owns its electric
plant, vfhtch cost, all told, $14 500, fur
nishes 02 arc lights at a cost of 16 cents
per night, or lees than one-third of what
we pay.
The Advance Club, of Providence, R.
I., publishes two lists of cities supplied
with electric arc lights of 2,000 candle-
power. J he first contalns)131 cities In
which the lights are furnished by con
tract, and tbe average cost is ,$121.84
per light per annum. The second is a
Ut ot 30 cities which'owa and run their
electric-light plants, furnishing arc
lights of 2,000 candle-power which burn
all night, and in them the average cost
is but $4S.08r per light per annum.
Here we see the contraot system cost
the public over two and a half times as
much as the municipal system. Here
in Washington it is three and three
fourth times as much.
On the other hand it is argued that
the companies pay taxes, while tbe
municipalities do not. This is tbo best
answered by the report of tho electric
commssslon appointed by authority ot
Congress In 1891, wherein they say,
"Hie United States Electric Lighting
Company pays $225, or a trifle over the
receipts upon one and one-half arc
light," and at tbe same time there was
appropriated from the District revenues
for the benefit of this eame company the
sum of $39,500!"
Thus we see in every 0 instance that
the contract or corporate system costs
much more than the municipal, and in
Washington it costs three and three-
fourths times more than it does in some
other cities.
I particularly desire to call attention
to that part of the report referring to
the amount of taxes paid by this vleo
trio lighting company, as a sample of
tho manner in which these corporations
o.capo taxation- I It any wonder these
follows want to hokl their job? Is It
any wonder the people are complaining?
Have they not a right to protest
against the continuance of thl thing?
These corporation not oJy teoftve
enormous rates for their llgbt. which
are voor and dangerous, but they fall to
pay their Jut proportion ot taxes In
support ot the government which gave
them exigence and from which they
reetlv all their benefit.
I find also In the Cwngrestlonal 1U
card ot the prewnt month a furthe. la.
dorsoment of these view to the shape
of a resolution. It was tutratuoed la
the Senate by Mr. Msudsrson, a Sena
tor from my own Slate, and upon It ho
mdo sow remarks, which I will ak
the elerk to read.
The clerk it ad a follow.
kiiHTMiC j'laxr ix WAeiuvurox.
M Ma!ret, I submit a ruUilua.
'rt,rau.ry to tuirinWeg U I desire,
by the umsalutou oobmuI ot the baM
to say a tew words.
Ik romwUUHi n ru'et ha had It
atuatloa railed Vtiba ooedlt'ueot wet
ter cwa4Hmd with the i'etiittti build
lg d the pubitjarHuadisurrxtttaaieg
It TheiLvtrH eiaai to I'tffclUi
Ibis bull Jtrg U aouwtmtsly latRU-tl
and h ay nortaKuutag. Mettled
elt'UUlu even go the eifcal i f
lajUf that It Ul daigereu thing la
In the Capitol la its existing condition.
Very shortly the great new building for
tbe Congressional Library will have to
be lighted. The committee has made
exploration with a view to seeing what It
would cost to puts proper electric plant
to light the Capitol, the Maltby annex,
the public buildings and greunds, and
the Library building. We find that at
least $200,000 would have to be expend
ed for that purpose.
We have very sear the olty oi Wash
ington a water power that its almost un
excelled a to force by any in the
country. It la somewhat amazing that
capitalist and men of enterprise have
cot made uee of tbe Great Falls of the
Potomac for some useful purpose. Be
yond peradventure, that is the place to
erect an economical and effective plant.
There ia undoubtedly power enough
there to light not only all the public
buildings of the city of Wsshingtion,
but tbe streets as well. Perhaps the
Little Falls of the Potomac, as suggest
ed by the Senator from Connecticut
Mr. Piatt, that are nearer to the city,
might well be used for this purpose.
With a view to an exploration of the
matter, I submit a resolution and ak
that It bo now considered In the Senate.
The resolution was read ss follows:
Resolved, That tho Secretary of war
be dirocted to investigate and report to
tbe benate tbe feasibility of using tbe
water power of the Great Falls of tbo
Potomac for tbe purpose of lifirhtlng by
electricity the public bulldisg. ground
and streets or tbe District of Columbia.
Said report shall suggest the mi-1 hod by
wblcti the right to use said water can
acquired, and what steps should be
taken b legislation or otherwise to ac
quire said water power and the land
needed adjacent thereto; also a general
plan of the electric plant needed at said
falls, and of the wires needed between
said plant and tbe different parts of said
District, and an estimate of coat;
also whether said power will p obably
be sufficient to furnish light to private
consumers within said District and sug
gestion or tbe terms and regulations
under which it shall be furnished."
Mr. Chairman, I desire to call atten
tion to the above resolution, particular
ly the attention of my Republican
friends. I would also invoke the
prayerful attention of the Republican
press of Nebraska, which so bitterly
attacked me for advocating practically
the tamo thing. I must Insist that they
either give me credit for being right,
or assail Senator Manderson for being
wrong.
Now, Mr. Chairman, I recite these
facts to prove the statement that we
have been paying extortionate prices
for lighting the public buildings and
grounds and the streets in this city,
and to thow that this extortion ought
to cease. Why should this company be
permitted to use one of the necessities
of the people as a means of robbing
them? I take the ground that these
necessities should come to the people at
cost, and that no private individual
should be permitted to reap enormous
profits from them. Is it any wonu r
that the wealth of the country is being
accumulated and aggregated la the
hands ot a comparative few? I it any
wonder that thoro is unlvemt com
plaint gotug up from the four corners
of the ear'h tnday)bt'caMse tbe many are
needy, whtle the tow are reveling In
opulence? The matter which I am now
dUcusIog Illustrates
oneot the reasons
why this Is so. We have here simply
an illustration of a principle which pre
vails throughout the length and breadth
of our country today,
Ia every avenue of trade and buslne
through these soulless oorporatioae,
that which I created by tne uiaoy Is
gathered la by the tew, who rt-tura
thrrefor no just equivalent It serins
to m there is eo btitUsr place on earth
thaa at the seat of the govttainnt n
Insert an teUrlrg wedge and hrgle
tht work of rtifjrra It must be not oaly
begun, but consummated throughout
thi length aad brejdla of our land, it
the mMc of our l-vpl are to get the
relief to whlth (hey ae entitled, a4 If
lhlr blithrUht, guaranteed t them
under lbs) Constitution, Is to b pre
served and perpetrated.
Th AlLUtra liirkMir hs
eeaefvd It boding al a lie asm
aad bm a pretlW bvadlsg thaa tie
uie one. It I an haoen a "Tub
WiUTll Man ItH "Tbe Injei.
I'll hi County Al'.lauort fcVJ aa vpea
etU at Ailva Maruh Slit,
it
What Exchangee Say of It
TUB ALLIANOK-lRDKrKXDENT, of
Lincoln, came to us last week with a
ew head, Tub Wealth Makibb.
which is calculated to cover all classes
of wealth producer! and secure to the
paper a bearing without stirring up
any rrao's prejudice as to his political
name. The name of Itself la suggestive
of the ends sought, that of uniting all
producers in one unbroken army for
self protection aad securing the rights
given by the All Wise to them who eat
bread by th sweat of their brow,
Brother Gibson and Company have
done honor to tbe cause they uphold,
and may unprecedented success be
theirs. New Era.
Tub Aluancb-Indbpbnobht has got
a new beading and Is now called Tbb
Wealth Makers. It is a very neat
and attractive paper, well edited.
sound exponent of the people's rights
and under Us roennstaacted manage
ment Is one of the permanent fixtures
of Lincoln and the state of Nebraska
worthy of the moral and financial sup
port or every patrlotio citizen of the
state. Oeta sample copy If you are
not now a subscriber. The Populist.
The Alliance Independent came
to us last week with a new name. It is
now called Toe Wealth Makers
The paper Is a powerful exponent of the
principles which affect the wealth pro
duonrs of our country, and the new name
is a very original and appropriate one.
Here' success to The Wealth Mak
ers, and may It continue the fight un
til tbe great armyfor ' which It labor!
shall have equal rights and justice.
Hay Springs Leader.
The Alliance Independent, pub
He bed in Lincoln, appears this week
under a new name, The Wealth Mak
ers (of the World). On either side the
picture of a globe are the words "lathe
sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread"
and "If any man will not work neither
let him eat." A startling heading and
one worthy of thought. The article on
first page "All This In America" is
worth the price of the paper. Inde
pendent Press.
Our state paper, The Alliance-Independent,
reached us In a bran new
dress and rcchristoned with the appro
priate name, "Tub Wealth Makers
of the World." This state paper is fast
gaining a firm hold, not only in Ne
braska, but all over the United States
for its advanced ideas. It ought not
only to bo read by every Populist, but
by every progressive citizen. Arapa
hoe Pioneer.
A few days ago we recoived a copy
of the consolidated "Alliance-Inde
pendent" which now sails under the
comprehensive and suggestive tltlo of
"Tub Wealth Makers." It is a fear
less advocate of the honest toiler and
wealth producer. It costs, only a dollar
per year, and should be read by every
laboring man, every merchant, farmer
and mechanlo of Nebraska. Gretna
Reporter.
Iiib Aluanck-Inuipendent has at
lat found Its bead too cumbersome for
it body and bas traded It off for Til a
Wsaltu Makkrs. Under this new
sign It will try to keep In the middle of
the road and thus prevent the people
from r-ouring the reforms sought and
tRucfl's to bo derived from needed
change In th law. Saoh paper do
mure harm than good. Crete Demu.
erst.
Tub Allukck-Indepknuint, ft
Lincoln. 1 ao mure, but a ttrong
form paper, Tub Wb4LTU Makkrh,
appear ia Its pl"e. The new paper 1
biur Iq every way thaa the uld.-Ei.
(This way of putting It U a little
misleading. It I the sasne paper with
a acw aarue stiaply. We expect t gt
on making Impiovemeat, however.
lldltOf WBALTU MlKkMS )
1h Atxuxe InpKcENitiTatLta'
wl I &9 BAurt, but It soul gov
manning un " IjmI week the paper
ehangrd II awe t Tmb Wvtirtt
MAaxua, uodi r kk it will sail
la the future. The Jape watUr U
pmeut inRf(uBt t greatly liu
prvvvd, aad should ba given wide
circulation.-Custer County Indepea
dBt. TtlB ALUAN-lNtMsVMCNT hJ
4 ' St
f
2' S
NO. 41
dropped It hyphenated head and come
out under the new name of Wealth
Makers of the World. The name la
more than the average) newspaper man
can support, but advocating th cause It
does It sounds quite appropriate.
Messrs. Gibson, Griffin and Hyatt still
remain at Its head. Oaclaad Independ
ent. The Alluncb Indepbndmnt has
changed its name to "Thb Wealth
Makers" and ha one of tbe neatest
beads you ever aw, with the fallowing
Quotations In a prominent plaoe In tbe
scroll work: "In the sweat of thy face
shalt thou eat bread. If any will not
work neither let him eat. Hamilton
County Register.
The Aluancb Independent of
Lincoln, the state Populist paper, has
chaoged lta name to Thb Wealth
Makers. It Is a name we do not fanoy
but the paper Is just as 'good a ever,
and should be read by nil Populist.
No other paper in the state ill It
plaoe. Come In and subscribe. Loup
Valley Alliance.
The Alliance-Independent of
Lincoln is no more. In lu place ap
pears Thb Wealth Makers, bright
and true. It is better, if anything!
than The Alliancb Independent,
and that was the best paper in the state
We wish the paper, under the new
name, unbounded success. Alliance
Tribune.
"The Wealth Makers (of the
World,") with tbe motto: "In the sweat
of thy face shalt thou eat bread," "If any
will not work neither let him eat,"
with a fine display of head type, now
heads the People's party state paper,
hitherto known as "The Alliance-Independent."
Independent Citlsen.
nenry Stamm of Halgler, Dundy Co.,
living just over the Kansas line writes,
"Please send me your valuable paper.
I have the promise of four subscribers
as soon as they get the dollar. I can't
do without your paper. I read it
through tbe first night I get it, and
then wait for the next one."
The Alliance-Independent of
Lincoln has changed its name to The
Wealth Makers, with a fine, large
attractive head. It is the same old
paper with the same crew of editors
advocating the same Populist princi
ples as did The Allianob-Indkpend-
ENT. Verdon Vedette.
Tub Alliancb Independhnt has
doffed the old name, and in the '.uture
will be known by the name, "The
Wealth Makers." This is a very
appropriate name for a paper that is
doing an untold amount of good in oar
state. Tecumsoh Republic.
The Alliance Independent comes
out with a gorgeously gorgeous new
heading, The Wkalth Makers. We
are confidentially informed that it has
no referenco whatever to the proprie
tors of the paper. Lincoln livening
News.
A. Arthur Grilles ot Hastings, Neb.,
writ-: "You arc making a eplendid
paper. Your double leaded editorial
thl week I remarkably fine and p ao
tlcal. All we need now i to get the
paper Into the hand of the people. H
"Wbvlth MtKKRts" 1 the new name
for Tub alliance Independent,"
and add grvaily to the appearance of
that paer, totlde It I broader and
much more comprehensive In It sig
nificance. Shelby Sun.
Thb Aluanck-Inukpkxdent. ha
ba changed In name to "Tub
We At tii Maker," but In ability, use
fullness and sal it I tbe same as usual,
except that it Improve every Issue. -
People' IUnaer.
Tb aame jf Tun AILUhcb litv
rtNPKkT, published at Daoula, aa
bea changed and II U now Tmr
WiAtTH Makcnu. The management,
huwtuer remain uiehaaged. Gewl
!kourat.
Tua ALUANi w lKltfcPgNOKMt ao
eut!tku4r (.ear aas "ftst
WbaUA Mabis.m That paper I
doBg nvmn goal fvr th f re
torn Th Headlight,
J,W. lkrl4 04tLVua.l IlluSfs loeA,
writes. Ttt new aame ot th i'pvf U
th bst 4 alt sggtftt, Yvu ar
boned ta saevewi