Current Topics j
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Uhe World's /National Debts.
A comparative study of the debts of
all nations, contributed to the August
North American Review by 0. P. Aus
tin, shows that the national debts of
the world now aggregate $31,800,000,
000. or ten times the sum owed by the
nations a century ago. The major
part of this startling increase has been
incurred in the last half century. Wars
and the maintenance of great armies
and navies have been chiefly responsi
ble tt>r this increase, but in some eases
the debts represent investments in
railways and other public utilities.
Germany owns most of its railways
Two-thirds of the railways of Russia
O. P. AUSTIN*.
are owned by the government. The
debt of Australia represents only pub
lic utilities. Great Britain's debts
which is $5.06 per capita represents
war and speculations in other coun
tries. Our debt represents war alone
France has the greatest national
debt in the world, amounting to more
than $5,800,000,000. Every man. wom
an. and child in France pays $6.28
every year for interest on this debt.
Australasia, with its annua! per capita
interest payment of $10.14, is the only
country that surpasses France on this
score. In thy United States the per
capita cost of the national debt is only
44 cents annually.
We could purchase all the railroads
in the country and run them through
the national government and still have
less per capita debt than France or
Great Britain.
Though the debts of the nations arc
ten times as great as they were a cen
tury ago. the increase rests on a fairly
solid basis. The century has expanded
the wealth of the nations fully tenfold,
while the great increase in instru
ments of exchange probably has pro
duced a corresponding expansion in
the circulating medium. The lower in
terest rates of today also are an im
portant element. Most of the national
debts now draw only from 2 to 3Vg
per cent, while a hundred years ago
the rates were double those figures.
In 1865 the United States was paying
7.3 per cent, where it now pays 2 per
cent, the lowest rate on any national
dent in the world. If all the nations
showed as strong a determination to
pay their obligations as does the
United States there would be no need
of the world's national indebtedness.
Mr*. "Ruffin X/ncertain.
Mrs. Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, the
Boston colored wgmau who was re
MRS. RUFFIN. "
fused a seat at the biennial conven
tion of the National Federation of
Women's Clubs in Milwaukee last year,
has not yet decided whether she will
try again at California next year. The
Northeastern Federation of Colored
Women's Clubs at the closing session
of its convention in Springfield last
week, voted to send Mrs. Rutfln again.
She herself, however, did not know
of this action until yesterday.
"The matter will require a great deal
of thought.” said she when asked
about It. "I have other organizations
to consult before taking any action.
f The convention is a whole year off.
and there is plenty of time in which to
decide.”
Anti-American ^febujpapere.
A bombshell will be thrown into the
office of several metropolitan newspa
pers In December when a certain sen
ator of the United States introduces a
resolution asking for an inquiry into
the ownership of certain newspapers
that are advocating anti-American
Ideas In this country. It will be
charged that fifteen of the leading pa
pers are owned abroad and a remedy
will be sought. It is quite likely that
no further remedy than a thorough ex
posure of the black sheep will be ne
cessary.—Journalist.
I News and views
A. Wife'* Privilege.
In New York city* recently a hus
band had his wife arrested on the
charge of going through his pockets
while he slept and taking from them
$57 and a lot of valdable papers. The
magistrate before whom the case was
trie.! held that the wife was guilty of
theft, and, although he dealt leniently
with her. he permitted it to be under
stood that she could have been indict
ed, tried, and found guilty of larceny.
For the defense, as was quite natural,
it was held that a wife could not pos
sibly pick her husband’s pockets, be
cause, man and wife being one. his
pockets were to all intents and pur
poses her pockets, and their contends
to all intents and purposes were as
much her property as his. One can
not rob one's self, and how, therefore,
could this woman be found guilty of
theft for taking what belonged to her
husband- that is to say. what belonged
to herself? For the prosecution it was
held that the husband and wife are
one in theory only, not in fact. The
law recognizes tills, it was contended,
when it deals w ith husbands and wives
as individuals. The law treats the
wife as a separate person, it was held,
when it grants her certain distinctive
rights and protects her in the enjoy
ment of them, when she is permitted
to hold property in her own name, and
when she is privileged to do many
things which her husband cannot le
gally prevent her from doing. The
magistrate was influenced by the argu
ments for the prosecution to hold that,
whatever a wife's privileges may be.
she has no business to ransack her
husband's pockets or to take anything
from them without his consent. There
is little danger that the New York
case will establish a precedent, or that
husbands in general will have their
wives arrested for going through their
pockets. When the average man of
good sense, good behavior, and small
means considers how often and how
painfully bis wife Is disappointed as
she goes through his pockets he will
not think of depriving her of the priv
ilege.
Healed b y a Pardon.
Some time ago Judson Arkell who
had been convicted of embezzling
Jl’DSON ARKELL.
funds from a national bank in Rut
land, Vt., was let out of the peniten
tiary by a pardon. It was granted
because it was represented that the
cashier was fatally ill and could not
live btit a few days. The petitioners
for his release said it would be an act
of mercy to let him out so that he
might not die in a prison cell. Last
week this moribund cashier set off, in
perfect health, for a long hunting trip
in the Adirondacks. It is admitted
now that he never was sick at ail and
that he was "Shamming Abraham" all
the time he was in the prison hospital.
He got a pardon under false pretenses,
but it is an irrevocable pardon. De
ception pays sometimes, even when de
tected. This cashier is not the first
man who has been let out of prison to
die and has recovered his health at
once, nor will he be the last, so long
as prison doctors are gullible and
presidents and governors are men%ul.
Therefore it may not be inexpedient
to substitute for the unconditional par
dons which it has been customary to
give to those who are about to die a
release from imprisonment for that
purpose only, the convict to be taken
back to prison the day that he shows
any symptoms of recovery.
Goes to Education
Mary Carroll of Boston, whose fath
er, who when he died, left the income
of the estate, valued at about $100,000,
to her for life and then to the Cni
MARY CARROLL.
versify of Virginia, has arranged that
the income of the entire estate, less
$5,000 reserved for herself, shall be
transferred to the University of Vir
ginia after April 1, 1902.
Was True to Lost Cause•
Judge William Cecil Price, Cnited
States treasurer under President Bu
chanan. died in Chicago last week at
the age of 8fi years. Judge Price had
lived with his daughter for the last
three years, going to Chicago from
Springfield, Mo., where he had prac
ticed law after the war. Before the
war Judge Price was prominent in na
tional affairs. He refused to continue
in office when President Lincoln was
WILLIAM CECIL PRICE,
elected because of his sympathy with
the southern cause. He was born in
Russell county. Virginia. April 1. 1S1t>,
and was graduated from Knox college
at Nashville in 1835. A year later he
moved to Springfield. Mo., and prac
ticed law. In 1845 he was appointed
United States deputy surveyor of lands
under General Conway. Two years
later he was elected probate judge of
Green county. Missouri. His election
to the state senate followed in 1854
and three years later he resigned from
the senate to accept the position of
judge of the circuit court of Missouri.
In 1859 he was made commissioner of
western lands and a year later, when
Judge Casey, United States treasurer,
died he was appointed by President
Buchanan to fill the unexpired term.
When Buchanan was succeeded by
Lincoln the latter proffered the same
place to Judge Price. The judge went
to Jefferson Davis and offered his serv
ices and the confederate president of
fered him a place in his cabinet. This
Price refused, wishing a more active
field. He was appointed major of
cavalry and joined the army led by
his cousin. General Sterling Price, and
fought against the union troops. At
the battle of Pea Ridge. Ark., he was
captured. For eight months he was
held prisoner at Alton. 111. When his
exchange occurred he rejoined the
army and fought until the conclusion
of the war. At the end of the war he
went to St. Louis and thence to his old
home at Springfield, Mo.
Constitution's Shipper.
Captain Urias Rhodes, who com
mands the yacht Constitution, the new
cup defender, comes from a long line
of sailing masters. He is a son of that
famous south shore of Ixrng Island
w'hieh has been the cradle of most of
the captains of the cup defenders. His
father, a white old veteran of 73, was
a famous sailor man in his day and
he gave the present Captain his first
lessons in sailing a racing boat. Since
he was 13 years old 'Rias Rhodes has
CAPT. RHODES.
practically lived on the water. He first
! commanded an oyster schooner. That
was when he was but 16 years old.
. Hater he was the skipper of an excur
| sion yacht, in which capacity his skill
! attracted the attention of a member of
' the New York Yacht club, who gave
Captain Rhodes his first command of
a racing boat. He piloted the famous
Hasca to many victories and took it
I Europe in 1K94, making the trip
i across the Atlantic in fifteen and one
half days. Captain Rhodes is 49 years
old. In the prime of Ills strength and
I skill.
Crotudcd tuith Work.
It is said by a good authority that
; the American shipyards, where steel
vessels are built, liave orders which
i will keep all of them busy for the next
twelvemonth, and some of them for a
longer time. This applies to the yards
! on the great lakes as well as to those
on the seaboard. Some of the vessels
under construction are battleships or
cruisers for the American navy, oth
ers are to be used in the coasting
trade. A few are to be employed in
oversea commerce under the American
Hag. Six large freight boats are being
built for the Atlantic transport line.
Two steamers of about the same di
mensions as the immense Celtic of the
White Star line are being built to ply
on the Pacific In connection with the
Great Northern railway. Two large
vessels for the Pacific Mail Steamship
company are nearly finished.
SHOUSE SUES BURLINGTON.
Man Charged With Ticket Stealing Aakt
for ill0,000 Oamatei.
HASTINGS, Neb., Aug. 12.—Oliver
Shouse, who was arrested at Bladen,
Neb., June 29 at the instance of the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy rail
road for supposed complicity in the
theft of about $2,000 worth of tickets
from the David City depot, but who
soon afterward proved his innocence,
now through his attorneys. Batty &
Dungan, filed a suit against the rail
road company for $10,000 damages.
Superintendent Bignell with a detec
tive and Sheriff Hen of Butler county
went to Bladen on a special train to
arrest Shouse. A Denver ticket brok
er was with them to identify Shouse.
He claimed Shouse was the man who
had disposed of one of the stolen tick
ets to him. I,ater developments prov
ed to a certainty that he was sadly
M istaken. Messrs. Batty & Dungan
soon convinced Superintendent Bignell
that they could prove their client had
never been to Denver in his life. The
railroad man was soon convinced of
the serious mistake in the way of
mistaken identity and hastened to re
lease Shouse.
Mr. Shouse has sued for false im
prisonment and for injury to his good
name.
STUDYING 1IIMBLR CULTURE.
United Staten Forestry Commission In
Scott* lilufTs Countv.
BRIDGEPORT. Neb.. Aug. 12.—The
United States forestry party has been
in camp here some time and is mak
ing good progress in its study of Ne
braska tree growth. During the past
week the old military timber reserve
on Lawrence fork of Pumpkin Seed
creek was visited and an examination
made of the yellow pine which occurs
abundantly in that region. Although
the best and nearly all the large spec
imens have been cut, there yet remain
thousands of trees that with proper
treatment would produce much valua
ble timber in the future. Residents
use it extensively for fence posts and
say that if well seasoned it is very
durable.
This week the territory between
Snake and Pumpkin Seed creeks as
far west as Seotts Bluffs will be cov
ered. E. A. Boostrom. teacher of bot
any in the Lincoln High school, join
ed the party here and will collect for
the State university until abopt Sep
tember 15.
Small (iriln Yield.
WAUSA, Neb., Aug. 12.—Threshing
is in full force in this community and
small grain falls considerably short of
expectations. Wheat runs between
tpn and fifteen bushels; oats from
twenty-five to forty; barley from
twenty to thirty-five. The farmers
now begin to realize that corn, espe
cially the early planted, was damaged
much more than was at first, thought.
Hay will be the best for years and
pastures have been much benefitted
by recent rains.
Stndylnc Half-Itrecd €■»»«.
PENDER. Neb., Aug. 12.—John I*
Webster, special counsel for the Uni
ted States on behalf of the Omaha In
dians in what are known as the half
breed cases and of which there are
twenty-three or twenty-four suits now
pending in the United States court at
Omaha, lias been here for the purpose
of getting facts necessary in the hear
ing of the cases, which will like oc
cur in November.
Fatally Kicked bv a Horne.
ATLANTIC', la., Aug. 12.—William
H. Disbrow, a prominent citizen of
the county, who lived four miles
northeast of town, was kicked by a
vicious horse and was so seriously
injured that he died as a result of the
injury In a short time.
-1 J " " i" ■ - -"■ . »
|
Young: Man Drowned In Blue.
BLUB SPRINGS, Neb., Aug. 12 —
Ed Craig. 19 years old. was drowned
in the Blue river while bathing with
two companions. C. A. Liedy, one of
his companions, nearly drowned while
attempting his rescue.
Mormon* Seeking: Convert*.
SUPERIOR. Neb., Aug. 12.—Two
Mormon missionaries are making a
house to house visit here in the inter
est of the Church of the Latter Day
Saints. They canvass principally
among the women.
Deputy Sheriff Bobbed.
NIOBRARA. Net)., Aug. 12.—Deputy
Sheriff John Conway lost by theft his
watch, chain, and $1 in cash. Retir
ing in the evening he left his room
door open and awoke to find that he
had been robbed.
Capt. Wiley Ite.lgna.
NEBRASKA CITY. Neb., Aug. 12.—
Captain Wiley of company C, Second
regiment. Nebraska National guard,
has sent his resignation to the adju
tant general, to take effect at once.
>«it>raaka City Man Disappear*.
NEBRASKA CITY. Neb., Aug. 12 —
H. C. Sylvester, residing a mile and
a half west of this city, has myste
riously disappeared and hts family is
at a loss to locate him.
DEMOCRATS AND POPHISTS.
They Will Hold Tlielr State Conveatloaa
September 17.
LINCOLN, Aug. 10.—The demo
cratic and populist state committees
in session here both agreed to hold
their state conventions in Lincoln
September 17. The hour for assem
bling was left to the chairman.
The basis of representation in the
democratic convention was fixed at
one delegate for each 100 votes or ma
jor fraction thereof cast for Hon. W.
D. Oldham for attorney general last
fall. This will mean from 800 to 1,000
delegates in that convention.
There will be over 1,200 in the pop
ulist convention, representation being
based on one delegate for each 100
votes or major fraction thereof cast
for Hon. W. A. Poynter for governor
last fall.
State Vegetation Improves.
LINCOLN, Aug. 10—Secretary Ad
na Dodson of the state board of irri
gation returned from a tour through
the North Platte river valley. He
says the recent tains have materially
increased the flow of water in all
strehms in that section of the state.
“Vegetation in the North Platte val
ley is in excellent condition," said Mr.
Dodson. "Corn is doing exceptionally
well and alfalfa is now being cut for
the second crop. In Cheyenne and
Deuel counties hay is making a good
crop. In those counties they grow
what is called wheat grass. It is a
superior grass and sells at $8 a ton
when alfalfa brings about $3.”
School Money Invented.
LINCOLN, Aug. 10.—Records of the
state treasurer's office show that there
is $4,582,977.47 of permanent school
money invested in interest-bearing
bonds. The revenue on this invest
ment averages 3 Lj per cent, and all
money so derived is credited to the
temporary school fund, which is ap
portioned twice each year among the
schools of the state. The amount of
school money invested Is $108,478
greater than at any time prior to Mr.
Stuefer's incumbency.
Want Single Women a* Tcaclicr*.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb., Aug. 10.—
At the meeting of the board of educa
tion a resolution was introduced by
Member McAllister to the effect that
hereafter should any woman teacher
marry, her contract as teacher be ter
minated at once. The resolution was
discussed and it was the general be
lief that married women should not be
employed as teachers. On motion the
resolution was laid on the table for
one month.
Itlg Ylelil of Wlifit at Genoa.
GENOA, Neb.. Aug. 10.—The biggest
yield of wheat reported in this section
thus far is that of S. T. Rattles, who
lives one mile east of Genoa. Battles
had 200 acres of winter wheat and
fifty acres of spring wheat. He finish
ed threshing his winter wheat Friday
and found that he had 8.000 bushels.
He has not threshed his spring wheat,
but estimates that it will yield twen
ty-five bushels per acre.
Paul Hunger Pan.*** Away.
LINCOLN, Aug. 10.—Paul Hunger,
one of the youngest members of the
bar of this county, died at St. Eliza
beth’s hospital from an operation for
internal abscess. Mr. Hunger, who
was but 23 years of age and had been
ill about ten days, had a wide circle
of friends in this city, belonging to
many fraternal orders and was presi
dent of the Young Men’s Republican
club.
Burned to Death.
STELLA, Aug. 10— Mrs. Ed Knapp
of Nemaha was so terribly burned in
a gasoline explosion that she died. She
broke a jug of gasoline in a cave and
the ground was soaked with oil. Later
in the day she has occasion to go into
the cave and. as it was dark, struck a
match, which ignited the gas. She
ran out in the air, but did not extin
guish the flames until fatally burned.
-- - .
Two Boys Sent to Penitentiary.
SIDNEY, Neb., Aug. 10.—Judge
Grimes sentenced Harry Ickes, aged
19, and Fred Pierson, aged 20. to the
penitentiary for one year each. Ickes
and Pierson both pleaded guilty, the
former to the charge of forgery and,
the latter to stealing a check and
pocketing the proceeds.
Condition of (li«* Treasury.
WASHINGTON, I). C\. Aug. 10.—To
day’s statement of the treasury bal
ance in the general fund, exclusive
of $150,000,000 gold, shows: Available
cash balance, $170,207,117; gold, $102,
430,748.
Towuley Uenle. Wrong Intent.
LINCOLN, Aug. 10.—In his sworn
testimony before the Manila court
martial on May 29, Lieutenant Town
ley said he was led into the commis
sary scandal by an impulsive desire
to be of assistance in what at that
time he believed to be a worthy cause,
but he denied any intention of wrong
doing. A copy of the Manila Ameri
can. published the day following the
trial, contains a detailed report of the
proceedings In the court martial.
THE LIVE STOCK MARKET.
Latest Quotations from South Omaha
nud Kansas City.
SOUTH OMAHA.
Cattle—There was a fair run of rattle
and a good proportion of the receipts
was made up ,of western cattle. 'the
demand for the lietter grades of beef was
In good shape and just about steady
prices were paid.
Packers started in In good season and
bid just about yesterdays prices for
the more desirable grades of corn ted
cattle. The common and light weight
stuff, particularly that which has been
fed only a short time, was slow sale and
In a good many cases sales were made
that looked a little lower than Ihe same
kinds brought yesterday. The western
range beef cattle that were offered were
of pretty fair quality and as high as
*4.40 was [mid. There was a good de
mand for the better grades of cows and
heifers and Just about steady prices were
paid. The common stuff, sfjch as can
nets. also sold for practically the same
prices they did yesterday, but the medi
um grades were neglected and In a good
many cases sold about a dime lower.
Sellers found that class of stock hard
to dispose of. as buyers did not seem
particularly anxious for it. Hulls, calves
and stags all sold In about the same
notches they did yesterday.
Hogs—There was not a heavy run of
hogs, but still there were a good many
carried over from vesterday, which made
the supply on sale of quite liberal pro
portions. Packers started bidding just
about steady to strong prices as com
pared with yesterday’s general market.
It was noticeable, however, that they'
were picking out the better grades and
leaving the common and light weight
stuff. For the general run of mixed hogs ^
they paid right around $5.65. while the
heavier grades sold largely at $5.67l'i
and $5.70, with some of the prime loads
going as high ns $3.80.
Sheep—Following are quotations —
Choice yearlings. $3.25*83.50; fair to good
yearlings, $3.15*83-25; choice wethers.
$3.20*83.40; fair to good wethers, good
ewes. $2.00*82.60; choice spring lambs,
$4.63*83.00; fair to good spring lambs.
$4.25*84.65; feeder wethers, $2.5(883.00; feed
er lambs, $3.00*83.50.
KANSAS CITY.
Cattle—Native and Texas beef steers,
steady; cows ami heifers. 10415c lower;
Stockers and feeders, steady at Wednes
day's decline; choice export and dressed
beef steers, $5.404 5.85; fair to good, $4,854
5.35; Stockers and feeders, $2 804 4.00;
western fed steers, $4.404 5.50; western
range steers. $3.2544.25; Texas grass
steers, $2,904 4.10; Texas cows. $2.5043.00;
native cows. $2 504 4.00; heifers, $3.0045.00;
canners, $1.5042.40; bulls, $2.5044.50;
calves. $5.0045.25.
Hogs—Market Sc higher: top, $6.02%:
hulk of sales, $5.654 5.90; heavy, $5,954$
$0,02%; mixed packers, $5.604$.5.90; light,
$5.2545.75: pigs. $:!.5045.30.
Sheep anyl I.ambs—l.ambs, 10c lower;
steep steady: lambs. $40045.25; wethers.
$3.2543.60; ew-s, $2.7543.25: western range
wethers, $3,254(3.40; western range ewes,
$3.0043.15; stock ewes, $2.0042.50.
COLOMBIANS AGAIN ACTIVE.
Report* Kay Tliclr Fomm Have Cro#«eil
Border* of Venezuela Again.
WILLMSTAD, Island of Curaroa,
Attg. 10.—The Venezuelan govern
ment announces that a new Colombian
invasion occurred yesterday morning
near Colon.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 10.—Neither
the ivtate or Navy departments were
able to throw any light upon the press y
dispatch from Willemstad stating that
the Venezuelan government announc
ed that a new Colombia invasion oc
curred yesterday near Colon.
No further official reports have come
regarding the situation on the isth
must and the officials appear content
to rest with what has been done with
preparing to protect American inter
ests. They do not regard the situa
tion as serious, but desire to be ready
should it become serious. The bat
tleship Wisconsin had not reported its
departure to the Navy department
during the early part of the day. hut
it is expected that it will he cm its
way south very soon.
As San Francisco is over 3,000
miles from Panama, the battleship
probably will proceed further down
the coast, probably to San Diego, Cal.,
and there await developments on the
isthmus. The Navy department has
not decided whether Commander Na
than Sargent will take the Mathias
all the way to the isthmus or he suc
ceeded by some other officer.
. , i . i
CHIEf Of BOURBONS DEAD.
Prince Henry or Orleans Passes Away
In Fregcli Cochin China. '
SAIGON. French Cochin China.
Aug. 10.—Prince Henry of Orleans
(lied at 6:30 p. m. today.
Prince Henry of Orleans is the old
est son of the duke of Chartreus and
a cousin of the duke of Orleans. He
was born in 1867 and was not married.
The prince had been dangerously ill
for some time past. He was on his
way to the United States by way of
San Francisco and was to have passed
some time at Newport this fall. His
name has been mentioned as a suitor
for the hand of a well known Ameri
can heiress and at one time he figured
for the hand of the eldest sister of
the young king of Spain, the Infanta
De Ua Mercedes, who was married in
February of the present year to Prince
Charles of Bourbon,
Want a New (lame I,»w.
YANKTON, S. IX, Aug. 10.—Much
dissatisfaction Is felt among city
sportsmen at the state game laws re
ferring to prairie chickens. Under
the present law the season opens Sep
tember 1, and before that time city
hunters claim farmers have shot or
scattered them so there is no shooting
left. The farmers take advantage of ^
the law and while the city man is
walttng for the expiration of It the
i chickens are cleaned out.
