Nebraska Newspapers

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The Wealth Makers and Lincoln Independent Consolidated.
LINCOLN, NEB., THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 1896.
NO. 33
vol. m
0!
I.
J
DD EauEED
say will
The National Committee and Sooies of
Visiting Populist Assemble at
St- Louis
PEACE, IHAEMOHT AND HOPE
They fix the Date and Ratio of Repre
sentation for the Next National
Convention
The Oreateat Sleeting of the Popu
list Party
The Pops Assemble.
St. Louis. Mo., Jan. 17, 1896.-Special
Correspondence: Members of the Popu
list National committee began to arrive
last night, and this morning many more
came. Besides the members of the com
mittee large numbers of leading Popu
lists from all parts of the " country are
here. Mr. Taubeueck chairman, Mr. Tur
ner secretary and Mr. Rankin treasurer,
got in early yesterday. Mr. Taubeneck,
who has not been in good health for the
last two years, is looking better than for
a long time, over which fact his friends
rejoice.
From Nebraska there have so far arriv
ed J. A. Edgerton, Mr.Edmisten, Mr. Jay
Burrows, Mr. Daily, Mr. Tibbies, Paul
Vandervoort, and V. 0. Stric'kler.
Mr. Snyder, and alarge delegation from
Kansas are here.
Brown of Mass., came in yesterday.
There is a very large delegation from
Chicago. Mort Rankin from Indiana is
the only one your reporter has met from
that state. Henry Vincent, editor of
Coxey's paper is here. There are large
delegations from 'several southern states
present and altogether they make a big
jam in the spacious corridors of the Lin-
dell Hotel.
Ignatius Donnelly of Maine, and Robt.
Schilling of Wisconsin has just arrived.
What Senator Bntler Said.
St. Louis. Jan. 17, 1896. Specia1
Correspondent: The National Committee
was called to order at 10 a. m. by Chair
man Taubeneck. The room provided by
the hotel proved altogether too small to
hold the people present, and on motion
of Ignatius Donnelly, an adjournment
was taken to 11:15, when the hotel peO'
pie would furnish a much larger room.
Judge Bell, Populist member of Con
gress from Colorado, and Marion Butler,
Populist Senator from North Carolina,
were seen standing in the corridor. They
were soon surrounded by enthusiastic
pops who nearly shook their hands off.
Senator Butler said: "We held a little
conference in Washington and it wascon
cluded that only two of us had better
come. Things are pretty hot there and
need watching. We are after the two old
parties and have them on the defensive
now. They plan to gft up little contests
about insignificant details to make a
ahow of fighting each othe When they
get it all fixed, then we pop in an amend
ment which brings up the main question,
and they flock together instantly. We
began the fight the first day we got there
and have kept it up all the time.
"First we planned to show up the
hypocrisy of the silver men in the old
parties by offering to organize theSenate
on a silver basis. We caught them as
the fellow did the rat. We got their tail
in the end of a split stick and twisted it
until they squealed.
"The thing gets warmer every day.
Senator Allen wanted to come, but we
thought he had better stay on guard."
Judge Bell on the Press Monopoly.
Judge Bell laments over the fact that
there is no trained populist newspaper
man, with knowledge of how to get the
news and the facilities for sending it out
at Washington. He said:
"It is worse than ever ten times
worse. We can get nothing to the peo
ple at all. I see by your paper that even
you did not know how many populists
there were in the house. , It's no fault of
yours, however. How could you know?"
How many are there, Judge?
"There are seven Baker, Skinner,
Stroud, Shuford, Howard, Kem and my
self, and another is sure to be seated.
The fraud is so plain that even the re
publicans cannot stand it. Kirby of
Texas will be given the seat now occu
pied by Abbott. There are a great many
more contesting seatsand without doubt
some of them will be seated. But that
is not the worst of it by any means. If
the people could only know but they
can't. The money power holds every me
dium of communication. I have felt the
force of this so greatly that I have pre
pared a statement and will print enough
to send one to every populist paper, set
ting forth the existing state of affairs.
"Take this matter of the new rules of
the house. The people of the United
States have no representation there at all.
Not a bill can be called up, not a reso
lution offered, not an amendment made,
except at the will of one man. As far as
legislation is concerned the members of
the house might as well remain at home.
"The Speaker will not recognize a man
to make a motion to change the rules.
All legislation is confided to one man
the Speaker. Even the republicans are
protesting against this tyranny, bat
those who would revolt against it are
just as helpless as the populists. The
Speaker will not recognize them for such
a purpose either.
One day, Hepburn of Iowa, had the
floor on another subject and slipped in a
motion to amend the rules before the
Speaker knew what was up. Then he
proceeded to make a speech on the sub
ject for home consumption. I got some
time ana snowed the tyranny oi -eucn a
proceedure as we have.' The republican
leaders found that there was going to
be a great majority in favor of changing
the rules; and they got alter Hepburn
and forced him to withdraw his resolu
tion It was reported that Hepburn
went to need and made an bumble apol
ogy. I, myself, saw him go up to the
Speaker's desk and talk to him while
this thing was under consideration. Of
course I could not hear what he said.
"You know how the people were de
ceived by the press reports when you
were there. It is ten times worse now.
Soma Woeful Xgnoianca. -.
St. Louis, Jan. 17, '96. Special Cor
respondence. It is strange what an
amount of incorrect information has been
spread abroad among populists. It can
be mostly charged to the control of all
the avenues of information by the money
power, but a good deal of it is owing to
the extreme credulity of some populists.
They seem to be willing to believe any
thing, however ridiculous it may be,
especially if it reflects upon thecharacter
or motives of a man who has in any way
become prominent in the party.
One populist editor told us today that
J. H Turner, the secretary of the na
tional committee, was in favor of the re
tirement of the greenbacks and that he
had published a paper in Washington
advocating that policy, and the editor
surely believed that it was the truth.
To anv one who knows Mr. Turner,
such a statement would only cause a
laugh. For Turner is a thorough be
liever in the scientific money.
Another editor of a prominent popu
list paper declared that Senator Stewart
also wanted the greenbacks retired and
was only interested in the free coinage of
silver, because all his property was in
silver mines. It really seems that such
stupendous ignorance is hardly to be ex
cused in a populist editor of a state
Daner.
Senator Stewart made a speech during
the extra session of the fifty-third con
gress, over a milliou of which have
been distributed among the people, in
which he took the strongest ground ever
taken bv anv man for scientifie money,
The title of the speech is "Silver and the
Science of Money, ' and yet this editor
insisted that Senator Stewart had never
stated that he was opposed to the retire
ment of the greenbacks. JNot ten days
ago the senator delivered a terrific speech
airainst the retirement of the greenbacks,
and in favor of Senator Butler's bill to
forever stop the issue of bonds by the
executive departments tnegovernment.
Now, if populist editors are no better
informed than that, what must be the
condition of the mass of the people in the
old parties? As Judge Bell says, this
press monopoly is an awiui inmg.
Senator Stewart has not one cent in
vested in silver mines and has not had
for over twelve years. He is a student
and economist. He saw years ago, as
did Senator Jones, that the money power
would demonetize silver and they sold all
their silver mines As regards banks of
issue, the congressional records is loaded
down with Stewart's denunciations of
them. He has made more speeches and
written more articles against banks than
any man living or dead. He is a grand
old man and a populist from the crown
oi his head to the soles of bis feet.
Airing- Dirty linen.
St. Louis. Jan. 17, 1896. Special
Correspondence: An open meeting was
held by the committee at 10 a. m. The
roll was called, the proxies handed in and
the list made up. Then some one made a
motion, which carried, that those present
and who were not members of the com
mittee and who had no p-oxies should be
allowed to express their views in five
minute speeches. A good many took
advautageof this to get up, and not only
air their views but their political dirty
linen also.
This sort of thing has occurred two or
three times since the Populist party was
organized, and it is to be hoped that it
win never be allowed again, it does no
good and often a great deal of harm.
The reporters are present and hear all
kinds oi wild talk by irresponsible men
men, some of them, who could not be
elected as a delegate to any convention,
whose views are often not Populist doc
trine at all, and they are spread abroad
in the dailies as the ideas oi the Populist
party. The conference that met at St.
Louis in connection with the National
committee last winter was nothing but a
howling mob, so disgraceful that many
respectable Populists left - the room and
refused to return. The men selected by
the National convention are the only
ones who are responsible. If they want the
advice of anybody, let them ask it pri
vately and then meet by themselves, do
the business and take the responsibility
like men,
Some of the speeches made this morn
ing were good, and did crecit to the men
who made them and the party to which
they belonged, and some were of another
sort altogether. .
Th Basis of Representation.
SiT. Louis, Jan. 18, 1896. Special
correspondence. The basis of repre
sentation for delegates in the next na
tional convention was considered very
carefully by the national committee and
there was some warm discussion over it,
but the decision finally taken was
adopted without a dissenting vote.
There were three propositions to con
eider. First, a representation based pa
population as it was in the Omaha cont
vention, so many delegates for each
number of congress. Second, delegate
based on the populist vote, and third, a
compromise between the two. $
The old way would have given New
York, with a few thousand votes, more
delegates than Kansas or Nebraska,
with their many thousnads and perfect
organization. 4
To have based the representation on
the populist vote alone would have
given a majority of delegates, and con
sequently the control of the convention,
into the hands of five states, viz.: Ne
braska, Kansas, Texas, Colorado, and
North Carolina.
The proposition finally adopted was
presented by Chairman Edgerton, of
Nebraska, in a neat little speech which
received many compliments. It is one
delegate for each senator and member
of congress and one for each two thou
sand votes or major fraction thereof.
That will make the convention consist of
1,303 delegates, of which Nebraska will
have fifty-three.
The Offlolal Action,
St. Louis, Jan. 18, 1,896. Special
Correspondence: The will of the com
mittee was so clearly expressed in its
formal resolutions that no words need
to be added to explain to the people
what the committee wanted orwbattbey
intended to do. There is no prevarica
tion about Populists. No one has to
inquire what they mean when tbey say
anything either by word of mouth or in
a formal resolution. I
The next thing after the basis of rep
resentation was fixed was to give an ex
pression of what the policy of the party
would in the future be, toward other re
form organizations. k
The following resolutions prepared and
introduced by Ignatius Donnelly were
carefully considered and then unani
mously adopted:
Resolved; That this committee shall
now proceed to perform the duty dele
gated to it, to fix the time and place of
holding the second National convention
of the People's party of the United States,
to place in nomination candidates for
president and vice-president upon a pat-
iorra to De aaoprea oy ine sam couven
tion.
Whereas; This committee has no right
nor does it desire to change in any par
ticular the principles of the People's
party of the United States; but it believes
that in the midst ot the dreadful condi
tions which now oppress the people of
this nation: crushing industry, bank
rupting commerce, impoverishing agri
culture and concentrating the lands and
homes of the people in the hands of a
few, it is the duty of all honest men,
without regard to past party affiliations
to unite and rescue civilization from the
greatest danger that has ever threaten
ed it.
And whereas, it is unquestionably true
that a large majority of the voters of
this nation, while suffering for these con
ditions, are aware that they have been
Brought upon them by a betrayal of
trust on the part of the two old parties
And whereas it is perfectly clear that if
these voters can be brought together
and organized that that they can and
will reverse the present infamous policy
of robbers, and give to the people a re
turn of good government based on the
principles of true democracy as repre
sented by Thomas Jefferson and of true
republicanism as represented by Abraham
j-iincoin.
Therefore, we instruct the Executive
Committee of this Committee to urge
upon all men and organizations desiring
financial reform, but who are not yet
ready to become members of our organi
zation, to hold a separate convention in
the same city, and at the same time that
we shall fix upon, so that an honorable
effort may be made by conference and
consultation, without any sacrifice of
principle to unite all friends of .financial
reform in support of the samecandidates
for president and vice-president.
Resolved, That in so great a work of
unifying the, whole people against their
oppressor, no small or petty considera
tions should stand in the way; and we
therefore hereby express our feelings
that if either the time fixed by us for
the holding of thesaid convention, or the
place in which it is to be held, shall con
stitute an impediment to perfect co
operation of all honest citizens at the
ballot box, that our Executive Commit
tee shall have power to change the said
date and place; provided that the date
shall be nof prior to July 7, 1896, and
not later than July" 22, 1896, and that
the place of meeting shall be such as to
be not inconvenient to the body of our
constituents. Any such change if made,
shall be announced within ten days from
this date.
The following resolution passed by the
committee was not merely acompliment.
They meant every word of it, for imme
diately afterward, without a dissenting
voice, they turned over to the executive
committee not only the power to fix a
date, but to fix the place of holding the
next national convention by adopting
the following:
Resolved, In line with the action of
our friends at state meetings lately held
by the people's party in North Dakota,
Illinois, and Indiana, the members of the
national committee, in executive session
at St. Louis, January 17, desire to ex
press their entire confidence in the wis
dom, judgment and integrity of our
chairman, Hon. H. E. Taubeueck; our
secretary, Hon. J. II. Turner; our treas
urer, Hon. M. C. Rankin, and each of the
(Continued on 6th pagt.)
IS BEEMER A THIEF
It so Appears From the Opinion of At
torney General Ohurohill
FRAUDULENT VOUCHEES FOUND
Let the Citizens of Nebraska read the
Records and Decide if He and the
Men who Aided Him Should
not be Imprisoned
Tbey Drive Decent Men from the
State
The following official documents and
correspondence tell an exceedingly sad
and disgraceful story for the state which
we all love so well, and whose interest
we would defend, if necessary, with our
lives: ' .
Lincoln, Neb., Oct. 24, 1895.
Hon. A. S. Churchill, Attorney General,
Lincoln, Neb. :
Dear Sin I would beg to request of
your department an opinion as to the
fees and expenses allowed by law to the
warden of the state prison for returning
escaped convicts to the penitentiary.
Second, for returning paroled convicts
whose parole has been cancelled by the
governor and the warden directed to
take them into his custody to be re
turned to the peuitentiary to serve the
remainder of their sentence.
Third, for conveying to the place of
trial parties confined in the peuiteutiary
who have been granted a new trial by
the supreme court.
Yours very truly,
Silas A. Holcomb,
y Governor.
In answer to this letter the Attorney
General, after quoting the law replied
under date of Oct. 29, 1895.
Out of the appropriations we think it
would be proper for the warden to be
paid his legitimate expenses in the return
of an escaped convict In our opinion
therefore, compensation for the warden's
services rendered to the state is limited
to the amount of his salary, whether the
service be attending to the penitentiary,
or in performance of other duty connected
with his office."
"It follows therefore that such services
rendered by the warden as contemplated
by your second and third inquiries, that
he Bhould receive no additional cowpen
B&tion, but should be reimbursed for
actual and necessary expenditures made
therein. ,
I remain yours very truly,
A. S. Churchill, Atty. General.
VOUCHEtt no. 84002.
The St At ot Nebraska:
To A. D. B earner, Dr.
Jan. 18, 1894. conducting remanded prisoner
George 8. Arnold, No. 1622 to Scott's
BluB county; Nebr.
Conveyance from penitentiary to depot... .$ 2 00
Fare tor prisoner from Lincoln to Alliance 10 85
Carriage hire from Alliance 6 60
Board for prisoner 4 76
Mileane 78 00
Attendance, self and gnard three days 18 00
$114 10
; A. D. Beemeb, Warden.,
In the above voucher according to the
opinion of Attorney General Churchill as
given to Governor Holcomb and quoted
above are the following overcharges:
Overcharge.
Conveyance from penitetlary to depot $ 1 RS
Board for prisoner............ 1 00
mileage 7a 00
Attendance, self and guard 18 00
Total overcharge In voucher No. 84002...$ 03 86
' VOUCHER NO. 817C5,
Tie State ot Nebraska.
To A. I). Reamer. Dr.
Eipenees, conducting remanded prisoner
Kamuel Barnes, No. 236 to Tekamah,
Nebraska.
Mileage.. $ 10 00
K. K. fare for prisoner 2
Bue hire ....... 2 00
Two days attendance....... ..... 6 00
$ i o oo
A. D. Beemeb, Warden.
Overcharge aa above..... ...$ 17 85
? VOUCHER NO. 84003
The State of Nebraska:
To A.D. Beemer, Dr.
Jan. 18, 1894, conducting remanded prisoner
Green 8. Ursvely, No. 2K to Lincoln,
Nebraska.
Self and guard one day $ 6 00
Mileage 0
Conveyance 2 00
' ' $ 7 00
A. D. Beemer, Warden.
Overcharge as above , ....$ 7 45
. VOUCHER NO. 84004.
The State of Nebraska:
To A. D. Beemer, Dr.
Jan 10: 1894, conducting remanded prisoner
.lames P. I'alln, No. 2216 to Lincoln.
Nebraska.
Sell and gnard one day ,...., 6 00
'Mileage . 00
Conveyance....... ..,., 2 00
$ 7 60
A. D. Beemer, Warden.
Overcharge as above.... $ 7 46
VOUCHER NO. 94958.
The State ot Nebraska:
To A. D. Beemer, Dr.
April 20, 1894. Expense conducting re
manded prisoner, Albert Bartell, No.
2411, to Harlan county, Nebraska:
Mileage, 16 mile, at 10c... ........,..........$ 19 70
Railroad tare for prisoner 6 65
Hoard for prisoner 1 00
Bus hire , 2 00
Two days' attendance t 00
$34 25
A. D. Beemer, Warden.
Overcharge as above v ....$ 27 65
VOUCHER NO. 77399.
The State of Nebraska:
To A. D. Beemer, Dr.
$9 76. Paid Jane 14, 1893. Received ot A, 11.
Beemer, warden Nebraska State Penitentiary,
the body of Martin J. O'tirady, a convict ot eaid
pen. In accordance with a mandate of the an
prenie court reversing the decision ot the lower
court and remanding the prisoner for new trial.
Signed, O. C. ZetaVkrh, Sheriff.
Mileage, f 0 miles at 10c ......$ 6 00
Bus fare.... , , 2 60
Railway fare. ,. 1 50
Hotel 76
$ 75
Overcharge aa above $ 7 85
VOUCHER NO. 83109
The State of Nebraska; '
To A. D. Burner, Dr,
Jan. 1. 1894.condnctlRremnnded prteoner
Zoeth Warner. No. tm to York, Nebr.
MIIat(M mile biiU return)..,. ........... 6 40
Two day guard ....... 00,
Transportation tor prleoner ............... ...... 1 68
$13 l
A. D. Beemeb, Warden. :
Overcharge a abort 11 40
VOUCHEB NO 81766.
The State of Sebraska:
To A. D, Beemer, Dr.
Expense, conduction prisoner Edward
Dean no. iiiutl (remanded lor new trial)
to Tecumaeii, Jounnon county, Nebraska,
ae follow:
Mileage $ 6 20
Carfare for prlioner...,. 1 60
iiu nire..... , ........ w
AtteuUaut. ........... a.............. ......... .... 6 00
$ 11 75
A. D. Beemrr, Warden.
Overcharge as above $ 10 06
VOUCHER NO. 95277.
The State of Nebraska:
On June 15. 1893. voucher for $9.75. and on
January 18, 194, voucher for $13.05, were drawn
by A, U. Beerner on appropriation tar delivering
convict on court orders, of which no ooplea ap
pear on ine records. Total amount oi voucner
drawn, $286.16.
In the above eight vouchers the over
charges amount to $183.85, of which
the taxpayers of this state were deliber
ately robbed by this unprincipled outfit.
There are a great mauy other vouchers
that we have not been able to get hold
of. so many that it is impossible for us
at this time to estimate the total
amount of overcharges. In cases ex
actly similar to those of vouchers No's.
84003 and 84004, Warden Leideigh has
received for the same services only fifteen
cents each, where Beemer's charges were
$ 7.80, in each case, vouchers and figures
do not lie.
It will be seen that by the official opin
ion of the Attorney General himself.
given in the above letter, that the man
whom be wanted to appoint as superin
tendent of the penitentiary was a public
thief, and now after having so laid down
the law, and the proof being presented
to him in the above documents, that A.
D. Beemer was engaged in perpetrating
constant thefts for years, Attorney Gen
eral A. S. Churchill, pays to thesaid thief
more money through the action of the
Board of Public Lands and Buildings.
Is it any wonder that decent men are
refusing to live under such a government
and are leaving the state?
ANOTHER FAILURE
That Great Wave Reaches iilnooln
Once More
The Lincoln Savings Bank and Safe
Deposit, Company was closed today
(Wednesday). John E. Hill, ex-state
treasurer, of Capital National bank fame,
and member of the old state house ring
has been appointed receiver. It is gen
erally believed that the bank is in very
bad condition.
. . State silver League.
The executive committee of the Ne
braska Silver League has appointed the
following committees with power to or
ganize branches of the league:
Sarpy County J. E. Curti, Papillion;
A. E. Langdon, Papillion: E. L. Hile
man. Gretna; E. J. Smith, Springfield.
Jefferson County Captain Tait, Endi
cott; Robert Williams, Fairbury; W, M.
Greene, Fairbury; Geo. H. Bailey, Fair
bury. Cass County Wm. Murray, Maynard;
B. F. Allen, Wabash; F. J. Morgan,
Plattamouth.
Platte County J. B. Jones, Platte Cen
ter; Warwick Saunders, Columbus; J. A.
Kelioe, Platte Center; Allen Gerrard,
Monroe.
Lancaster Countv E. E. Brown. T.in.
I coin; J. Burrows, Lincoln; J. H. Broady,
I I ;.. i.. . t n nrit i T! .
uiiiuvjui, i, vj. n uiifuuiirner, iincoiu.
Wayne County Wm. Wright, Wayne;
James Britton. Wayne; J. M. Pyie,
Wayne; Dr. H. G. Leisevring, Wayne.
Adams County Dr. J. N. Lyman,
Hastings; Dr. J. T. Steele, Hastings;
Harry Dungan, Hastiugs; C. L. Jones,
Hastings.
Merrick County Chas. Wooster, Silver
Creek; A. Ewing, Central City; Samuel F.
Kennedy, Central City: J. W. Sparks,
Central City.
Colfax County E. A. Bobbins, Schuy
ler; Alfred Pont, Howells; James Hughes,
Schuyler; John Anderson, Schuyler.
Pawnee County J. H. Barnard, Lew
iston; Charles Mayberry, Mayberry; R.
W. Story, PawneeCity; J. L. Clark, Taw
nee City.
Hall County P. R. Staith, Grand Is
land; J. L. Johnson, Grand Island; W.
H. Thompson, Grand Island.
Seward County Geo. A. Merrian, Bee;
D. D. Remington, SeAvard; Alex H.Vance,
Milford; George H. Leewilliger, Seward.
The following is the list of delegates
appointed by Governor Holcomb to at
tend the second annual convention of the
Nebraska Beet Sugar Association to be
at Fremont, Neb., Feb. 5 and 6. 1896.
W. G. Whetmore, Valley; H. H. Nichol
son, Lincoln; J. S. Gable, Lincoln; I. A.
Fort, North Platte; Theodore Loescher,
Norfolk, W. A. Poynter, Albion; Henry
E. O'Neill, Omaha; John T. Mallalieu,
Kearney, Fred Heddo, Grand Island;
John Dern, Fremont; A, E. Sheldon,
Chadron; Charles Mann, Chadron; Ed. J.
Hall, Grand Wand; John L. Johnson,
Abbott; M. K. Turner, Columbus; Charles
Wooster, Silver Creek; W. II. Lanning,
Hastings; E. D. Johnson, Lexington; L.
Morse, Benkleman; John H. Powers,
Lincoln. '
When the Fitzgerald Dry Goods Co.
placed the Nissley stock of dry goods on
sale Monday morning, there were great
crowds of people in the street and on the
sidewalk waiting their turn to get into'
the store. When Fitzgerald advertises
that he will sell something cheap, the
people have learned to believe him.
mm
They 8 teal $2,000 of the People! Money
and Give It to Beemer
THEY DEFY THE 8UPEEME 00UBT
The State Disgraced, the People Robbed,
end Anarchy introduced Dy tne
Churchill-Russell Osnj
The Opinions of Honest Repnblloene
That the Churchill-Russell gang are .
thieves and nothing else, is slowly dawn
ing upon the better class of republicans
in the state. They belong, and ought to
be classed with the men who blow open
sates and hold up and rob on the public
highway. That they are officers of the
law does not in the least palliate theie
thefts. The following article which ap
peared in the Omaha Bee of January 19.
ehows what they did last week. Is not
this government becoming as foul aa
that, of Rome just before she was en
gulfed in her in her own rottenness?
Lincoln, Jan. 18. (Special.) For sev
eral months the Board of Public Lands
and Buildings has been insisting on. ita.,
right to "manage" the affairs of "the
state penitentiary, A striking illustra
tion of its peculiar system of manage- '
ment has Just been developed. The board
refused to permit Warden Leidigb to
draw directly from the stateauditor any
of the appropriation, fl 02,200, for
penitentiary purposes. On the contrary,
it appointed A. D. Beemer "prison con
tractor," which appointment has been
knocked out by the supreme court as il
legal. But previous to the decision of
the court Beemer succeeded in drawing
2,000 from the state treasury. To a
representative of the Bee he said he had
expended f 1,647.66 of this sum, paying
up back salaries, for coal, electric lights,
etc., leaving a balance on hgnd of
f352.44. To another reporter for a Lin
coln paper he now says he expended but
1,500, leaving on hand 500. This
latter he retains as his salary. In other
words, the scheme of the Board of Pub
lic Lands and Buildings in its manage
ment" of penitentiary affairs include
the payment of 25 per cent of the state's
appropriation to a third party. De
spite the fact that the supreme court
has declared Beemer's contract with the ;
board illegal, the board has settled with
him and allowed each of the appraisers
of Dorgan's plant $500. Beemer got
$500 for "handling" $2,000.
Land Commissioner Russell, one of the
the members of the board of publie lands
and buildings, was seen by a representa
tive of the Bee and asked if it was true
that the board had settled with Beemer
and paid him $500 for services under the
contract declared illegal by the supreme
court. Mr. Russell said:
"The board has not officially notified
Beemer that he can retain $500 from the
$2,000 which he drew, but you can say in
your paper that that is what will be done
at our next meeting."
"But Mr. Beemer," it was suggested,
"says that he has expended $1,647.56
of the $2,000 for penitentiary purposes.
Will he be permitted to draw a warrant;
for the $147.56 still due him?"
"No." - .
"Then, from what source will he reim
burse himself for his labors in paying the
warden's bills.
"I don't know. All I know is that, he
is to have $500 far his services under tfie
contract. I have not looked over
Beemer's contracts, but my deputy, Mr,
Royse, has."
Governor Holcomb was asked for his
opinion regarding the exorbitant price
paid Beemer for his services under the
illegal contract. He said:
"The whole payment is illegal But if
the Board of Public Lands and Buildings
wishes to pay Beemer for time spent
laying around the state house waiting
on the indefinite prospects of getting
some official position, I suppose the
board will go ahead and do it. Beemer
did nothing at all for this $500 that
Warden Leideigh would have not done
for nothing. The whole deal is a fair
sample of what would have occurred on
a large scale had the supreme court de
clared his contract binding on the state."
THAT GREAT WAVE
Is Rapidly Overtaking Oar Banks
Since the first of January of this year
that great wave of prosperity has over
taken nine State banks all of which are
now in the hands of the banking under
takers. This is an average of three ban
failures every week, National banks not
included. The nine State banks closed
since January 1st are as follows:
Bank of Blue Springs, Brayton Com
mercial bank, Exchange bank of Greeley
Center, Bank of Ogalalla, Farmers and
Merchants bauk of Platte Center, Greeley
County bank at Scotia, Bank of Strat
ton, Bank of Wauneta, Bank of Com-,
merce at Grand Island.
Our bankers are beginning to realize
that when the money power has crushed
our business men and farmers, and rob
bed them of their savings for years by
compelling them to buy high priced
money to pay their obligations and thus
forcing thorn out of business, that there
is no longer any profit in business and
that the eastern men will turn
upon them as they have upon
other men. If we would live and prosper
we must all get togther under the Peo
ple's Banner.
' Browning, King & Co. are Lincoln's
leading clothiers. You will find them at
1019 0 street.
BOODL
riALS