Nebraska Newspapers

    LEGISLATURE
__of NEBRASKA
A Synopsis of Proceedings of the Twenty ✓ Ninth Geny
eral Session.
SENATE—The senate on the 7th
recommended for passage S. F. 48, by
Giffin, known as the bulk sales law.
The bill had been amended by the
judiciary committee so that it required
a merchant contemplating selling his
Iras:ness t<r file such notice with the
County clerk five days before turning
Sfflt rr his stock to the purchaser. These
bills were placed on general file. S.
F. 129. by Epperson of Clay—Provid
f"' ing for a suspension of sentence in
base of wife abandonment. P. F. PS.
by GifSn of Dawson, providing that
■^Irrigation districts have the right to
S condemn private ditches and take
I' them over by paying appraisers’
|§ prices. S. F. 13. by Laverty, to prevent
I the illegal expenditure of public
funds. S. F. 117. by Williams of Otoe,
created some discussion, and finally
was recommitted to the committee on
1 insane hospitals. This bill provides
that the word “incurable” shail be
stricken from the title of the insane
hospital at Hastings. S. F. 13P. on mo
tion of Jones of Otoe* was recommit
ted to the committee on commerce
and manufactures. This bill compels
millers to print on sacks and bags
the number of pounds of flour or
cereal contained therein. These bills
were introduced and read a first time:
S. F. 166. by Harsh, to compel rail
roads to furnish equal facilities be
tween elevators for the shipment of
grains. S. F. 167, by Tucker of Rich
ardson. provides for the sale of school
lands to school districts or cemetery
associations and provides that any
person who prior to 1897 held educa
tional lands by contract or lease may
purchase the same within two years
from the date this bill becomes a law.
HOUSE—The house in committee of
the whole on the 7th. recommended
tor passage the McMullen bill, com
pelling the practitioners of Christian
Science to pass the same examination
before the State Board of Health
which medical physicians are required
to pass. Opponents of the bill pro
nounced the meastire a stroke at reli
gious liberty, while friends of the
measure declared it was legislation to
compel medical physicians and others
to possess certain qualifications before
practicing medicine or the cure hu
man disease. H. R. 65, by Jackson of
Antelope, providing for the parole of
first and second degree murderers
serving life sentences in the peniten
tiary after ten years, was recommend
ed for indefinite postponement. Bills
Introduced included: H. R. 236. by
Foster, Davis and Junkin—An act to
fix maximum charges for the trans
portation of freight on railroads, pen
alties for the violation thereof and to
repeal the present law. The bill de
creases the present rates on an aver
age of 10 per cent on about thirty
leading articles of commerce. H. R.
238, by Smith of Burt—An act to en
courage the improvement, breeding,
cultivation and to extend the use of
corn. H. R. 242. by Currie of Dawes—
An act to increase the power of coun
ty treasurers for the collection of per
sonal taxes of decedents.
SENATE—After a hard fight in the
senate on the 8th, Sheldon of Cass
succeeded in saving his bill, S. F. 7.
providing that a 2-mill levy be made
to pay off the state debt, from an early
grave, though it was amended to pro
vide for a 1-mill levy. The vote to
indefinitely postpone the bill was 15
to 15, and under a ruling by President
Jennings the bill will retain its place
at the head of the general file. S. F. 1,
by Thomas of Douglas, providing the
firemen of Omaha shall be divided
Into two shifts to work twelve hours
each, was passed. These bills were
introduced and read a first time: S.
F. 172, by Thomas of Douglas—To
provide for the use of ropes as fire
escapes in hotels. S. F. 173. by Dim- j
ery (upon request of H. M. Eaton,
land commissioner)—Allowing the
commissioner of public lands and
buildings to use his discretion about
selling Nebraska property used at the
St. Louis exposition.
HOUSE—Immediately upon conven
ing on the 8th, the house went into
committee of the whole and recom
mended for passage H. R. 49, by
Ernst, of Johnson, providing for the
establishment of a binder twine plant
at the state penitentiary. The commit
tee recommended for passage H. R.
101, by Kaley of Webster, after a
brisk fight. This bill appropriates
$15,000 for Nebraska's participation in
the Lewis and Clark exposition at
Portland. Ore. The bill also provides
for the appointment by the governor
of a commission to look after the
state's interest in this regard. This
money Is to include the balance from
the state's and the railroads’ appro
priation to the World's fair for Ne
braska, the railroads giving $25.t*00.
The finance, ways and means com
mitee having reported back without
recommendation H. R. 164, by McMul
len of Gage, appropriating $30,000 for
the Cobbey statutes, McMullen moved
that it be placed on general file. The \
motion prevailed. These bills were in
troduced in the house: H. R. 245, by
Jahnel, of Washington, to permit the !
use of seines, nets and other devices !
for fishing in the Missouri river. H. !
R. 246, bv Jahnel, to provide that the
game laws shall not apply to any I
boundary stream except so much as
shall be within 100 feet of the mouth
of any stream in Nebraska tributary i
thereto. H. R. 247, by Rouse of Hall,
to require livery stable keepers to'
have posted schedules of prices of
their rates and to provide penalties
for defrauding livery stable keepers.
H. R. 248, by Rouse, providing for the
payment of premium? on surety com
pany bonds when given by persons
acting in a fiduciary capacity. H. R.
249, by nnox of Buffalo, providing
that boards of directors of city and
town libraries shall be composed of
five members instead of nine.
SENATE!—1 nese bills were passed
in the senate on the 9th: S. F. 103, by
Saunders of Douglas, a joint resolu
tion proposing an amendment to the
constitution providing that nve-sixths
of a jury mav return a verdict in civil
cases and that the legislature may
provide that a jury may consist of
less than twelve men. S. F. 102.,, by
Saunders of Douglas, providing that
the legislature may fix the salaries of
executive officers. S. F. 46, by Shreck
of York, providing that rairoads must
furnish transportation to parties ship
ping stock. S. F. 48. by Giffin of Daw
son. the bulk sales law. S. F. G2, by
Meserve of Knox, providing a penalty
for anyone practicing law without first
having been admitted to the bar. S.
F. 6G, by Jones of Otoe, taking the
boundary streams from the jurisdic
tion of the game laws*of the state. S.
F. 70, by Giffin of Dawson, providing
that irrigation districts may publish
th? proceedings of meetings. S. F.
101. by Saunders of Douglas, provid
ing that the constitution be amended
to estabish courts of appeal inferior
to the supreme court was defeated.
S. F. 155. providing that the capital
stocks of banks shall be not less than
$10,000. was referred back to the com
mittee for amendments. Sheldon's bill
to make a 2-mill levy for the purpose
of paying off the state debt was re
commended for passage. New bills
introduced included: Regulating col
lection of poll taxes in cities of the
first class and allowing a levy of 25
mills for improvement of highways.
Fixing price of fish spawn to be
placed in private ponds. To permit
schools to draw their share of state
apportionment when closed by an epi
demic • or because building has been
destroyed.
HOUSE—The house passed these
bills on the 9th: H. R. 145. by Roberts
of Dodge, permitting towns along the
Platte valley to improve roads six
miles out and tax it, up to the muni
cipality. H. R. 117, by Hill of Hitch
cock. appropriating $5,000 for the
measurement of water used on irri
gated areas, and the making of other
beneficial experiments in determin
ing the best methods of irrigation. H.
R. 29, by Burns of l^ancaster, to ap
propriate 524^ to reimburse former
Attorney General Prout for premium
on his surety bond. H. R. 67, by Hill,
authorizing the printing and distribut
ing of the biennial report of the sec
retary of the State Irrigation board.
H. R. 146, by Hand of Cass, providing
for the registration of automobiles
and the regulation of their speed—
Vote 60 to 11. H. R. 165, by McMullen
of Gage, compelling practitioners of
Christian Science to submit to the
same examinations regulating medical
physicians and others who treat hu
man disease—Vote. 57 to 28. The
house refused to say that the game
of football shall never again be played
in Nebraska by voting for indefinite
postponement of the Cunningham bill,
after a persistent fight lasting a
couple of hours. These bills were in
troduced: H. R. 250. by Wilson of
Pawnee, the salary bill; total appro
priation $1,095,960. H. R. 251. by Cur
rie of Dawes, an act providing for the
inspection of horses about to be
driven or shipped out of the state. H.
R. 252 by Doran of Garfied. an act
to require railroad companies and
common carriers to erect and maintain
a side track or switch, extending a
reasonable length, the outer edge ot
which shall be at least within four
feet of the outer edge of the right-of
way, to any elevator or elevators
erected by any firm, corporation, as
sociation. person or persons for the i
purpose of buying, storing and ship- j
ping grain.
SENATE—The senate was In ses
sion until noon on the loth and then
adjourned until Monday. The receipt
of a telegram from Congressman Bur
kett announcing the appointment of
Senator E. A. Tucker of Richardson I
county to he a federal judge in Ari
zona occasioned pleasant surprise to |
the members, when the fact became !
kuown. During a lull in the proceed- j
ings Senator Epperson introduced a
resolution endorsing the appointment
and congratulating the gentleman
from Richardson and the people of j
Arizona. S. F. 59, providing for the ;
consolidation of the Home of the
Friendless with the Milford Industrial j
School was passed by a vote of 21 to !
8. With Fries of Valley in the chair, j
the committee of the whole recom
mended for passage H. R. 77. provid
ing for the creation of a registrar of
vital statistics, and S. F. 21, compell
ing drivers of threshing machines to
lay planks across bridges and culverts
before crossing and to detach the en
gine from the separator. The penalty
was decreased to a fine of not to ex
ceed ?25. These bills were placed on
general file by the standing commit
tees. S. F. 83, by Cady of Howard,
providing a penalty for impersonating
a lodge officer. S. F. 136. by Epperson
of Clay, providing for the appoint
ment of referees in civil actions. S.
F. 150, by Thomas of Douglas, defin
ing house-breaking and providing pen
alty. S. F. 142, by Bresee of Sheridan,
provides no divorce shall be granted
unless parties have resided in Ne
braska at least one year before appli
cation is made. S. F. 133. by Wall of
Sherman, allows appeals to district
court from decision of county boards
of equalization. S. F. 95. by Wall of
Sherman, providing after judgment
shall have been dormant for five years
no execution shall be issued upon the
same.
HOUSE—The house on the 10th
listened to the reading of the report
of the committee on public lands and
buildings. The report was adopted.
Pursuant to this report the house, in
committee of the whole, adopted a
finance, ways and means committee
amendment to H. R. 20. by Hogrefe of
Richardson, cutting down the appro
priation for the improvement of the
Norfolk Insane asylum from $60,000 to
$35,000. The appropriation is to repair
the wing of the building which was
destroyed by fire. The house passed
these bills: H. R., by Burns, a cura*
tire measure, to place two relative
sections of the statutes under one
head. H. R. 106, by Bartoo of Valley,
permitting the consolidation of rein
surance of risks in fraternal benefi
ciary societies without new medical
examinations. These bills were intro
duced: H. R. 251. by Lee of Douglas,
an act providing that no goods made
or manufactured in a penitentiary,
prison or reformatory, or other insti
tution in which convict labor is em
ployed. shall be sold or exposed for
sale in inis srate knowingly, without
labeling them as “convict made.” II.
R. 255, by Jahnel of Washington, the
bridge bill. H. R. 2"6, by Casebeer of
Gage, an act to establish a hospital
for crippled, ruptured and deformed
children and those suffering from dis
| eas»s from which they are likely to he
j come deformed, to provide for their
! education and for the location and
! government of said hospital, substi
tute for H. R. 46.
Freinht Rate B II.
Folowing is a text of the freight
i rate bill introduced in the house on
the 7th by Foster, Davis and Jun
kin:
Paction 1— Tt s ;»1. be *hc duty of every
railroad company > p- ru’ !i.g and aoing
business in the state of Nebraska, within
ten days aft-r ihis act spies in^o effect,
to ■‘file witt tli. secretary >; st . e «_,*• the
state of Nebraska a true statement,
under oath, of the rates in force or
charged by said company between sta
tions in Nebraska for the transporta
tion of every article of freight on Janu
ary 1, 3SHK>.
Sec. 2— It shall be unlawful for any rail
road company to charge or receive for
the transportation of the following arti
cles between stations in the state of Ne
braska a higher rale than 30 jem cent
less than the rate in force or charged by
said company fur the same or like service
on the 1st day of January, Cattle,
horses, mules sheep, hogs, poultry, corn,
wheat, oats, barley, rye. meal. bran.
ground peas, becis potatoes, turnip*,
onions, hay of all kinds, fresh fruit of
all kinds, lumber, coal, flour, brick, stone
and cemer.t.
Sec. It shall be unlawful for nnv rail
road company to charge i r receive for
the transportation of anv a-ticle of
freight between stations in Nebraska, not
mentioned in section 2 of this act. a
righer rate than the rate in force or
charged by such company fur the same or
like service on the 1st day of January,
1«*J6
Sec. 4—Tt shall be unlawful for any rail
road company operating and doing busi
ness in the state of Nebraska to charge
or receive for the transportation of
freight for any specific distance within
said state a greater sum than it charges
or receives for a greater distance.
Sec. 7—.Any person who shall make oath
or affirmation to any false information
in :my statement required by section 1
of this act shall be guilty of perjury,
and upon c onviction thereof shall be pun
ished accordingly.
Sec. 6_The secretary of state shall keep
on hie in his office all statements re
quired by section 1 of this act. Upon re
quest of any ore paying the 'egal fees
the secretary of state, under his official
seal, shall certify to any information
the information thus authenticated shall
be admitted in evidence in any court of
competent r.irisdicuon in the state of Ne
braska: hut the facts may a'«o be proven
by any other competent evidence.
Sec. 7—Any railroad company or officer
or agent thereof who violates or evades
any of the provisions of this act shall be
liable to the person Injured for all dam
ages sustained by reason of such viola
tion.
Sec. «—Any i-ailroad company or officer
or agent thereof who violates any provi
sion of this act shall, upon conviction
thereof, be fined for each offense in any
sum not exceeding JlOo nor less tr.an J50.
Amending Liquor Laws.
S. F. 3S2, introduced by Gibson of
Douglas county on the 10th. amending
the laws relating to the granting of
liquor licenses, has for its object the
divorce of the liquor business and the
social evil. The amendment provides
this:
That on and aft*>r January 1. 1906,
no license shall be granted to any ap
plicant for the selling or giving away
of any intoxicating, malt, spirituous,
■vinous, mixed or fermented liquors
whose premises are occupied or used
in whole or in part for any unlawful
or immoral purpose. Provided fruther,
that on and after January 1. 1906. no
license shall be granted to any appli
cant for the selling or giving away of
any intoxicating, malt, spirituous,
vinous, mixed or fermented liquors
tv hose premises are located in any
byiiiding. any part of which is occu
pied or used for unlawful or immoral
purposes, or whose premises or build
ing is located within 500 feet of a house
of ill-repute, ill-fame or prostitution.
Provided further, that on and after
January 1, 1906. it shall be the duty or
the authorities having power to grant
licenses for the selling or giving away
any intoxicating, malt, spirituous, vin
ous. mixed or fermented liquors to
immediately revoke any such license
theretofore granted, upon receiving in
formation or proof that the premises
where such licensed business is located
are used in whole or in part for un
lawful or immoral purposes, or are
within j'X) feet of a house of ill-repute,
ill-fame or prostitution.
As to School Funds.
S. F. 1S3. introduced on the 10th by
Hughes of Platte county, having for
its object the prevention of misappro
priation of school funds, is the same
bill practically as that introduced two
years ago by Senator W. H. Harrison
and defeated in the house, it being the
general belief that should the bill be
come a law it would greatly reduce
the amount of school taxes paid by
tne railroads to the great detriment of
the school districts in the western
portions of the state.
The section the legislators were
afraid of and the section they will
have to pass on in the Hughes bill
provides for an Itemized estimate of
expenses for which a levy is to be
made to run the schools for the ensu
ing year. The form of the estimate as
outlined in the bill is this:
For teachers’ fund. $.
For buildinp. purchase or lease
of school house fund. $.
For fuel fund. $.
For repairs fund. j.
For text books and pupils’ sup
plies fund . $.
For . $.
For . $.
Total . J.
Less amount in hands of dis
trict treasurer and in hands of
county treasurer to credit of
treasurer .$.
Amount reo.uired to be levied.. S.
This estimate must be made at
anual meeting.
Finnish Bridal Costume.
In rural Finland a bride wears to
church a curious combination of wed
ding veil and wedding bonnet. It is
a great cap with ribbon streamers be
hind and in front a fall of lace which
shadows the face. Over her dark
cashmere dress she ties a handsomely
embroidered white apron.
Splendid Granite Pillsir.
In Oakwood cemetery at Troy, .X.
Y„ there is a granite monument erect
ed to Gen. John E. Wool on the style
of an obelisk. The needle is one
solid piece and is one and a half feet
longer than the obelisk In Central
park. New York. It was cut in this
country, ia the state of Maine.
: ■
4
5 Nebraska News
The Union Pacific is .planning for
moving its freight yards at Grand Is
I land.
A day of fasting and prayer has
j been called ior by the pastors of
Osceola. * ’ ’
The Southeastern Nebraska Teach
ers’ association will meet in Beatrice
during the week of March 27.
At B"oken Bow. Felix Lonergan was
held up while on his way home and
I relieved of a small amount of change
and a pen kniie.
W. H. Wakefield, a traveling man
who lives in Beatrice, slipped on the
sidewalk at St. Joseph the other day
, ai d broke his leg in two places.
Fire in the second story of the old
court house at Wahoo threatened for
a time to destroy valuable records,
but the hre department soon got the
upper hand of the blaze.
Father Joseph Bartek. who has been
the Catholic priest at the Bohemian
church in Plattsmouth for four years,
is to be succeeded by Father Novatna
the first of next month.
Charles Ford, a saloon keeper at
Decatur, in Burt county, was* arrested
for selling liquor to minors. He was
tried in the county cour: and fined for
giving i.fluor to minors.
On account of the prevalence of the
grip among the members of the Fill
more county bar. Judge L. G. Hurd
ten', an order to adjourn district court
from February ♦* to April 3.
Louis Zwick of “D precinct, Sew
j ard county, had his ba*‘k broken while
i hauling a heavy load of ice under a
hridge. He was on the load and was
! crushed between the ice and the
1 hridge.
An Epidemic of diphtheria is pre
j valent in Ihe I nion creek valley, six
miles east of Madison, in Scranton
; county. A little girl of .1, It. Crites
died. Another girl js down with the
disease and is in a critical condition.
Mrs l^ena A. Gallant, widow of the
late Philander Gallant of Nebraska
City, has brought suit against the
Tribe of Ben Hur to collect $1,400, the
amount of a j>olicy held by her hus
band.
'' hue engaged in shelling corn at
■ the farm of William Harrison, in
1 Cuming county. Arthur Gardells had
! his left hand drawn into the gearing
of the machine in some manner and
the four fingers of the hand were torn
completely off.
Manley & Co. of Lyons, made a reo
• ord breaking sale on Duroc-Jersey
j hogs, forty-six head of brew sows sell
ing at an average of $72.50 per head.
The top price of the sale was $412,
paid by S. P. Alsin of Boone, la., for
Kruger Main.
The sheriff of Seward county ar
rived in McCook after Perry L. Sar
gent of Seward, who is wanted in that
town for embezzlement. Sargent i3
charged with selling $100 worth of
grain belonging to his employer and
leaving the team at the point of ship
ment
R. E. Stewart of Omaha has been re
appointed superintendent of the InstN
tute for the I>eaf and Dumb at Omaha
by Governor Mickev. Mr. Stewart has
given splendid satisfaction as the
head of this institution and his ad
ministration of affairs has been com
plimented by the governor.
At Cozad the jury in the coroner's
inquest over the remains of J. P.
Xeilsen decided that the deceased died
by his own hand. Several years ago
Xeilsen was held up by robbers and
beaten severely on the bead. Since
then he had been partially deranged,
but w as never violent.
Meadow Grove is to have a new
bank known as the Meadow Grove
Farmers' and Merchants’ bank, with
a capital stock of $10,000. The incor
porators are W. H. Stocker. J. R. Sax
ton. A. J Dunlevy and J. W. Warrick.
The Tarnov State bank of Tarnov
has filed its articles of incorporation
with the banking board.
A dispatch from Chicago * an
nounces the tragic death of Frank
Jennings and a companion, who were
burned to death in that city as the
result of a powder explosion in a fac
tory in which they were employed,
'ioune Jennings was only 14 years of
age, and with his parents resided in
Plattsmouth until recently.
The weather has been cold and
stormy all week, says a Kimball dis
patch. Snow has fallen eight or nine
iuohes deep. It has not drifted any
yet. The stockmen have had to do
tjieir first real feeding during the win
ter. Most of them are provided with
an abundance of feed and plenty of
shelter and no fears are entertained
in regard to losing stock.
Farmers say that thousands of quail
are starving to death in Otoe county.
The country roads are lined with
quail searching for something to eat
and in many cases the little fellows
flv into barns and granaries in search
of grain. The thawing and freezing of
the snow of the last thirty days has
formed coatings of ice over the ground
through which the quail cannot
scratch to secure food.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gillam of
Chadron. awakening the other morn
ing found their 14-month-old boy baby
dead in his crib. He had not been
very well for a few days, but seem
ed all right when the parents fixed
him for the night, and no sound was
heard.
For the first time in several years,
the river has been frozen over at Ne
braska City, in a manner that it is
considered safe for loaded teams to
cross on the ice. Iowa farmers are
taking advantage of the free bridge
and coming to the city daily in large
numbers.
At Fremont Fred Spaulding was
bound over to the district court on
the charge of stealing S45 in cash and
an overcoat from his uncle. L. I*
Greeno. while the latter was in jail.
He could not give bonds and went to
jail to await trial.
The Koyal Highlanders of Grand
Island have adopted a resolution de
claring That Dunnottar castle in
dorses house rolls Nos. 85 and 86. in
troduced by Hons. Ferrar and Kyd.
feeling assured that said bills are
just, equitable and for the best in
terests of the government of fraternal
beneficiary societies.”
■l
AMERICAN WARSHIPS TO ENFORCE NEUTRALITY
; ON ALL NATIONS IN PHILIPPINE WATERS
f
- ■ •
CRUISERS AND DESTROYERS IN PHILIPPINE WATERS.
I
While no reports have been recelv
; ed from Rear Admiral Stirling, com
mander-in-chief of the Asiatic fleet,
that he has dispatched a portion of
his commend to the southern Philip
pine?, for the purpose of preserving
American neutrality, not the slightest
doubt is exp: ess: d at the navy depart
ment that active steps have been
taken.
Rear Admiral Stirling is doirir this
undoubtedly in obedience to the reita
tion of instructions already twice sent
to the Asiatic squadron to apply
President Roosevelt's proclamation
of neutrality to the waters of the Phil
ippines just as they would be applied
to the coasts of the United States. His
last instructions were sert on Jan.
-5. These were caused by the report
ed presence of Japanese scouts and
cruisers in the waters between Sulu
and Borneo. The department in its
cable to Admiral Stirling spoke of the
reports of fleet, activity” in those
waters. While the Japanese naval
plans, now as throughout the war, are
kept secret, no ono in the navy de
partment doubts that Japan ha.- made
the most elaborate arrangements for
detecting and giving battle to tbe
Russian Baltic fleet just as soon a- t
appears in Oceanha. It in belie ved
that Japan, at every passage which
would let the Russians through on the
way to the far east from the straits
of Malacca to the west end of the
Dutch possessions in New Guinea, has
its scouts and cruisers watching day
and night. The naval experts who are
awaiting news of Admiral Sti ling's
movements with great intere- are
convinced that Jaian does not for a
moment assume that the Russian fle^t
is turning back.
Rear Admiral Stirling has twenty
one warships, all. with the exception
of the small gunboats, being assem
bled at Cavite ia readiness for the t-n
forcerr.ent of neutrality should it be
necessary.
DYNASTY OF THE ROMANOFFS.
First of the Czars Was Chosen by a
Representative Assembly.
The Romanoff dynasty of Czars, of
which the present emperor of Russia
is a member, has ruled the empire
since 1613, when Michael Feodoro
viich Romanoff was elected czar by
an assembly of representatives, fol
lowing a national uprising, says the
New York Tribune. The previous
rulers, the descendants of Ivan III.,
who threw off the yoke of the Mon
gols in 1462, became extinct about
1592. and the country had been torn
by wars among the nobles, and by
popular risings against them. It was
as the champion of the last of these
risings that the Romanoff dynasty
came into power.
The steady growth of the Russian
empire began about that time. Michael
purchased peace from the Poles and
devoted himself to strengthening the
empire, but under his son the terri
tory given the Poles was recovered,
and his grandson conquered the Cos
sacks and fought the first successful
war with the Turks. Another grand
son of Michael. Peter the Great, is
considered in many respects the real
founder of the empire as a modern
power. It was he who introduced
into the semi-Oriental customs of the
Russians of his day the Occidental
customs which have been so fruitful a
source of trouble ever since. Under
Peter the empire wrested territory
from the Turks, Poland and Sweden,
and the internal administration of the
government, as well as its foreign pol
icy, was placed practically on the
footing it now occupies.
The next period of rapid develop
meet in Kussta came uncer v.ainerine
II. (17»>2-96), who ascended the throne
afrer causing the murder of her hus
band. Peter III. She furthered the
spread of Western civilization in the
empire, enacted laws favorable to the
development of commerce and indus
try, and introduced administrative
changes. She was the guiding spirit
in the spoliation of Poland, and fought
the Turks in two successful wars. Her
son. Paul I.. carried on a constant fight
with his aristocracy, and established
the censorship of the press and the
secret police system. He was prepar
ing to make war on Ergland when
he was assassinated by conspirators.
Alexander I.. wbo assumed power in
3801, was a lover of peace, and abol
. ished serfdom in the Baltic provinces.
It was he who fought Napoleon, and
led him into the disastrous invasion
of Russia. The latter years of his
reign were less liberal, and his son
carried on a reactionary policy. His
grandson. Alexander II., however,
proved the most liberal of Russia's
rulers, and. while prosecuting the ex
pansion of the empire in all directions,
instituted many internal reforms. He j
abolished the secret police, and was
said to be about to propose marked j
changes in the form of government i
when he was assassinated in 1881.
His son. Alexander III., took as ad
visers the extreme reactionaries and
autocrats. He was succeeded in 3894
by Nicholas II.. the chief feature of
whose reign has been the develop
ment of Asiatic Russia.
Ship-Building in Great Britain.
•'Lloyd’s Register of British and
Foreign Shipping" for 1904 shows in
striking derail the supremacy of the
United Kingdom in shipbuilding.
That country during the year built
nearly twice as large a tonnage as all
other countries put together. Includ
ing sailing ships, three-fifths of the
tonnage added to the world s mercan
tile marine was launched in Brit'sh
shipyards. Including war vessels, the
totat British output. 749 vessels of
1,332.337 tons, considerably exceeded
the total foreign output. Among for
eign countries the three leading
places are held by the United States,
239.00 tons: Germany. 202,00. and
France, 81,000.—Philadelphia Ledger.
His Fame Unknown to Gardener.
In a book just published Rider Hag
gard gives one more illustration of the
oft-made statements that an author's
genius is generally an unknown quan
tity among his servants. One of his
gardeners, an old SufTolk man. d'd
not w ish his employer's orchids to be
sent to a flower show. Like many
gardeners he distrusted the impartial
ity of the judges. Yielding at last, he
said: "Well. I dare say, like other
gentlemen, yew would like to see your
name in print for once.” He had
never heard of "King Solomon's
Mines."
SEES NEED OF GLOSSARY.
Champ Clark Thinks One Should Ac
company Agricultural Reports.
Champ Clark looked over a publica
tion recently issued by the agricul
tural department entitled “Soil Inocu
lation for Legumes." He found this
simple sentence : "The primary ob
ject in undertaking an investigation
of the fixation of nitrogen by the
root nodules of legumes «as to devise
| if possible some method of bringing
I about the artificial introduction of the
| necessary organisms into a soil which
was naturally devoid of them, and at
the same time to attempt as fax as
possible to correlate and reconcile the
vast amount of conflicting evidence
| that has been accumulated by various
investigators in regard to the exact
nature of the organism, where the
nitrogen is fixed, the effect upon the
host, and similar problems" After
wading through the wonderful com
position the Missourian exclaimed:
"Fire, splendid. And now we ought to
print a glossary to go with every copy
I of The report."
Peace Now Steyn’s Only Wish.
Having recovered his farm in he
; Orange Fre« State ex-Prffiden? Ste>n
has returned to South Africa and says
he hopes to "finish bis Lf0 as quietly
as did Napoleon in St. Helena."
HISTORY OF THE FIRST YEAR OF THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.
Feb. 8 was tbe first anniversary of the Russo-Japanese -war. ae- *
tual hostilities daring from the first Japanese attack upon Port Arthur
although Russia did not formally declare W3r until two days and Japan ’
until three days later. The losses, cost and principal events in tfc:s
first year are:
Losses in Men. (
Killed. Wounded. Total.
Russians .60,000 155.000 215.000
Japanese ..65,000 110,000 175,000
Naval Losses.
By Russia—Seven battleships, thirteen crirsers and fourteen gun
boats, torpedo boats and destroyers. Total, 34 ships.
By Japan—One battleship, three cruisers, three transports and six
teen torpedo boats and destroyers. Total. 23 ships.
Financial Cost.
Official figures by Russia. $475,000.000
Estimates made by Japan. 260,000,000
Total cost to both countries. $835,000,000
f Principal Events.
Feb. 8-9. 1904— Yariag and Korietz destroyed in Chemulpo harbor
and Togo attacks Port Arthur fleet.
May 1—Japanese take Fengw angcheng.
May 5—Japanese land at Pitsewo and begin to invest Port Arthur
May 11—Russians evacuate Dalny, destroying tbe town.
May 26-27—Battles of Nanshan hill and Kinchow; loss 5.130.
June 14-15— Oku defeats Staekelberg at Vafangow; loss, 11,000.
June 17—Battle of Motien Pass; Russians driven back.
July 25—Russian forces driven out of Newchwang.
Aug. 10—Sortie from Port Arthur harbor; Russian fleet dispersed
and in part destroyed; Vice Admiral Withoft killed.
Aug. 14—Kamimura defeats Vladivostok squadron; Rurik sunk
Aug. 5o-Sept. 4—Japanese, under Oyarca, deieat Kuropatkln at l la
oyang; 365.000 engaged, loss 35.000.
Sept. 11 — Baltic fleet sails from Cronstadt under Rojestvensky
Oct. 8-18—Kuroki defeats Kuropatkin at Shakfce river. Total cas
ualties 61.679. with 23,000 killed.
Oct. 22—The “Doggerbank outrage/’ Two British fishermen killed
Nov. 30—Japanese take 203-Meter hill by storm, losing 12 000
Jan. 2—Stoessel surrenders Port Arthur to Nogi.
Jan. 26 to 31 Battle of the Hun river; Russians defeated with loss
of 15,000; Japanese loss 5,000. '
!
COLLEGE LIFE IS HELPFUL.
Advantages for Both the Rich and
Poor Students.
A big college is a microcosm, and
many men of many minds are seeking
various things there. There are some
other good things to be had there, as
the Oxford correspondent says, be
sides the intellectual training. These
other good things are much more like
ly to be added to the good scholars
than to the poor ones, but it would be
a pity if the good scholars monopoliz
ed them all. I don’t think they do. In
a big college like Harvard one con
siderable class of students are work
ing for their immediate bread and but
ter. If they do well enough in their
studies, they get scholarships while
they are in college and find good
chances to earn their livings as soon
as they get out. With this group,
already facing the serious work of life,
the motive for immediate exertion is
somewhat stronger than with the
other large group whose circum
stances are easier. If the poorer
vouths are apt to beat most of the
richer ones in marks it is because
they need to. and because they are
exposed to fewer and less alluring dis
tinctions. On the social side of col
lege life the richer youths have rather
thts better chance to acquire some
things are are valuable. I suppose it
really pays some Harvard undergradu
ates to divert time and strength from
scholastic duties to the Sisyphusian
task of gaining ground against Yale,
or trjing to provide—against experi
ence—that a Harvard boat shall be
more swiftly propelled down ~ the
Thames river than a similar boat from
New Haven. And the social oppor
tunities. the chance to'live the life of
the place, to like and be liked, to gos
sip, to discuss, to invite one's soul,
surely they are valuable, too.—Metro
politan Magazine.
Failed to Knock Out Christmas.
In the days cf the commonwealth
Christmas was threatened with extinc
tion. Parliament failed to put down
Christmas, but the boar’s head never
recovered its old supremacy at the
table.
HAS HAD ACTIVE LIFE.
Senator-Elect Nixon'* Career One of
Deserved Success.
Around Senator-Elect George S.
Nixon of Nevada centers many inci
dents of sentimental interest. He be
gan life, for instance, as a telegraph
operator. Twenty-six years ago he
was handling the key at a little rail
road office at Newcastle. Cal., and
likewise selling tickets and attending
to the other duties of a station agent
graduated into more desir
able activity as bookkeeper and ac
countant in a bank at Reno. Now he
owns rot only one bank, but several
banks in the battle-born state. In &
small way the senator-elect has been
a newspaper editor and owner. Al
though a native of California, he is
now heralded at 45, as a typical Ne
vadan. No other resident, it is claim
ed, has done so much in diversified in
terests to develop the state as this
interesting man during his twenty-six
years of progress from telegraph
operator to multimillionaire and
United States senator.