Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (April 17, 1903)
"'- Commoner. r" m J&.PRIL 17j 1903. - - - to hold a broom and,' how to sweep. They are taught, with the use of a doll's house and toy furniture in it, how artistically to arrange the furniture in a r6om and how to hang pictures. The more advanced pupils; are unexpectedly given a room in the Union Bethel some afternoon and are requested to scs that it is properly madcclean and neat The knowledge wliidh they have been given with the doll's .furniture' then, comes into -play. They know how"to make up big beds from learning how to make up small dolls? beds. In two weeks' time the kitchen gardening class has become one of the most popular of the Union Bethel. The children like to learn because the dolls' fiTrnlture interests them and the mothers say that a child who is learning in the class is of the greatest assistance about the house, since interest in housekeeping is aroused." THE BRONZE STATUE CALLED ' HERMES after lying at the bottom of the Ionian sea for nearly , two thousand years, was brought-, to the surface by divers two years ago and has now been, restored by a French artist The Athens correspondent of the Chicago inter-Ocean, referr ing to this statue, says: "Apart from its great beauty, the statue is practically unique, and is, consequently, of priceless wortn, for it is an un doubted work of one of the great masters of the fourth century B. C. The question of its origin, its author, and its motive (i. o., whom it repre sents) are still being hotly discussed by the arch eologists. One thing is tolerably certain that al though it is commonly known as the Hermes of Anticythera, it does not represent that god. The statue is now on view in the Athens national mu seum, where a special room is being prepared fpr it." THE COMPTROLLER OF THE CURRENCY has recently Issued an interesting statement showing the organization of the national banks since the passage, of the act of March 14, 1900. In this statement it is shown that on March 31, 1903, th law in relation to the organization of banks with a minimum capital of $25,000 has been in operation three years and seventeen days. Dur ing that period there have been added to the na tional banking system 1,422 associations, with an aggregate capital stock of $86,135,000. The ad ditions to the system by conversions of state banks and reorganizations of state or private banks were 179 and 443, respectively, the capital of the converted banks amounting to $12,226,000, and of the reorganized associations $20,740,000. The banks organized during the period in ques tion deposited as surety for circulation bonds to the amount of only ,u,o,500, or a fraction less than 24 per cent of the capital. During the month Uuarch) fifty-six national banks were organized, with a capital stock of $2,170,000 and bond de posit of $642,550. On March 31, 1903, the number of national banks was 4,869 and their authorized capital stock was $739,178,695. The amount of bonds on deposit as security for circulation has increased since March 14, 1900, from $244,611,570 to $342,160,770, or $97,549,200, and national bank circulation shows an- increase during this period tof $128,116,528. . & tf" A STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE SECRETARY of the treasury shows that on March 31 the total national debt 'less cash in the treasury amounted to $939,603,919. ,This represented an in crease, during themonth of March amounting to $1,631,021. In this statement the national debt is recapitulated as follows: Interest-bearing debt, $914,451,870; debt on which interest has ceased since maturity, $1,230,100; debt bearing no in terest, $396,754,437; total, $1,312,515,907. This amount, however, does not include $890,007,069 in certificates and treasury notes outstanding, which are offset-by an equal amount of coin on hand, held for their redemption.. TIiq cash in the treas ury is classified as follows: Reserve fund, $150, 000,000; trust funds, $890,007,069; general fund, $165,217,767; in national bank depositories, $160, 150,488; total, $1,355,375,325; against which there are demand liabilities outstanding amounting to $982,453,336, leaving a cash balance on hand of $372,921,988. The comparative statement of the government receipts and expenditures show that for the month of March, 1903, the total receipts were $45,435,434, and the disbursements $44,987, 587, leaving a surplus for the month of $447,874. The receipts from the several sources of revenue are given as follows: Customs $23,709,968, in crease $2,000,000; internal revenue $18,823,751, de crease $3,000,000; miscellaneous $2,901,715, in crease $4,000. The expenditures on account of the war department were $12,278,918, increase $2,000, 000; .jiavy $7,374,844 increase $1,200,000. For the last nine months the receipts exceeded the ex penditures by $33,829,225. AMONG THE NEW POSTAGE STAMPS IS A thirteen-cent stdmp bearing tlio portrait of the late Benjamin Harrison. This stamp was in tended to cover single postage to foreign coun .tries with the fee for registering tho letter. This is the second issuo of a stamp of odd denomina tion, tho first being in 1870 when a 7-cent stamp was issued bearing tho portrait of Secretary of War Stanton. DESCRIBING THE NEW ISSUE OF UNITED States postage stamps, a writer in tho Chi cago Tribune says: "The series of 1902 will in clude fifteen stamps, only seven of which havo yet been issued, including tho 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 13-cent stamps. There will also be stamps of 6, 10, 15, and 50 cents, $1, $2, and $5, and a special delivery stamp of new pattern. The colors and portraits selected for this series are as follows: 1-cent, green, Benjamin Franklin; 2-cent, red, George Washington; 3-cent, purple, Andrew Jack son; 4-cent, dark.brown, U. S. Grant; 5-cent, blue, Abraham Lincoln; 6-cent, magenta, James A. Garfield; 8-cent, dark lilac, Martha Washington; ,10-ceht, light brown, Daniel Webster; 13-cent, slate, Benjamin Harrison; 15-cent, olive, Henry Clay; 50-cent, orange, Thomas Jefferson; $1, black, D. G. Farragut; $2, sapphire blue, James Madison; $5,- dark green, John Marshall; special delivery, light blue, boy on bicycle. Every stamp gives the name of the person whose portrait adorns it and the years of their birth and death. Frames in cluding the portraits are different for every de nomination." THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT HAS ADVER tised for bids for the removal of the wreck of the battleship Maine in Havana harbor and the wrecks of two Spanish warships sunk off Santiago and Manzanillo. It is stipulated that everything found in the wrecks will become tho property of the contractors. It is further ex pressly stated that explosives are not to be used in the removal of the Maine wreck. FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE CENSUS, W. R. Mcrriam, writing in tho April Century, . says: "Tho differences between tho cost of se curing the returns from the six simple questions asked in 1790, and that of the extended Inquiry made a century later, is illustrated by tho per capita cost, which in 1790 was 1.13 cents, and 1900 15.5 cents. In 1790 Virginia was the most populous state in the union, having 747,610 in habitants. Tho records of the treasury depart ment show that at the first census tho cost of making the enumeration in that state was $7, 553.90. Moreover, at that enumeration the un derpaid assistant marsnals supplied their own blanks, an item which was of considerable import ance in the days when all paper was made labor iously by hand. In 1900 tho population of Maine about 700,000 most nearly approximated that of Virginia in 1790. At the twelfth census the cost of actuarenumeration in Maine, including the pay ' of supervisors, was $34,560.90, or more than three fcurths of the amount expended for the enumera tion of the entire United States in 1790, though the pay of an enumerator in 1900 did not exceed the wages of an intelligent day laborer." jo a? A CONTINUOUS CITY FROM LYNN, MASS., to Washington, D. C, is. predicted by Dr. Franklin H. Giddings of Columbia university. Speaking to tho Now York correspondent of the Chicago Chronicle, Dr. Giddings said: "Tho twelfth census shows a succession of large cities, each with an elaborate system of suburban vil lages or offshoots, stretching along the belt I have indicated. Between Lynn and Boston are several large towns and villages and between Boston and Fall River and Providence are a ser ies of large towns, the suburbs of one running into those of the other. The same is true of the country between Providence, New London, Ston ington, New Haven, Hartford, Bridgeport, New York, Jersey City, Newark, Elizabeth, Trenton, Philadelphia, Chester, Wilmington, Baltimore and Washington. The distances between these cities are so small that practically all the villages that lie between them are suburban points of one city or the other, and now tho trolley companies are connecting these points in suoh fashion that we shall soon be able to ride by trolley from Lynn to Washington." . IT IS NOT GENERALLY' KNOWN THAT NINE different cities have enjoyed the distinction of being capitals of the United States since indc-- m f pendonce was. declared. Referring to this jfolnt, a Writer in tho Chlnnen flhrnnlnlo nva "TM0rt cities aro Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis, in Maryland r Tronton and Princeton, in New Jer sey; Philadelphia, Lancaster and York, in Penn sylvania; and New York city. Tho first session of tho continental congress was hold in Carpen ter s hall, Philadelphia, September 5, 1774. There after the American congress was for a long time something like tho Philippine congress while tho latter was dodging American troops and for mtich tho samo reason.' Fearing to remain in Philadel phia after tho defeat on Long Island, congress, W(mt to Baltimoro and voted George Washington dictatorial power for six months. Congress re turned .to Philadelphia two months later, February 27, 1777. Lancaster and York got their sessions after the defeat at Brandywine, congress again re treating. Nino montbs tho lawmakers remained in York; the news of Burgoyno's surrendor was received there. Then six months In New York and another term in Philadelphia. Menaced by unpaid troops, congress wont over to New Jor sey. Sessions wero held in Princeton collogo li brary. Annapolis next, where General Washing ton resigned his commission. Trenton had a trial then, with Henry Leo as presldont. Hero La fayette took leave of his American allies." THE SEARCH FOR THE CORNER STONE OF tho old United States mint at Philadelphia was recently rewarded by tho discovery of that historic, block of marble on tho Juniper street side of tho structure, about forty feet north of Chestnut street The Philadelphia Public Ledger says: "Tho stone, which weighs 300 pounds, was found to conceal an old-fashioned candy jar, whoso cork had become as hard as stone. In tho jar were found three coins and two newspapers, tho former consisting of a dimo of 1829, a half cent dated 1828, and a largo copper cent of 1829. Tho newspapers aro Tho Aurora and Pennsyl vania Gazette, dated July 4, 1829, and Tho Demo cratic Press, dated Friday evoning, July 3, 1829." AGAR LOAD OF GREEN BAY AND BOX trees which will be used In decorating tho White house arrived In Washington April 2. Re ferring to those purchases, the Washington cor respondent of tho New York World says: "There are four green bay trees imported from Holland which will be placed in tho north portico. They cost nearly $300 each. They aro about twelve feet high. Two hundred box trees, from five to twelve feet high, will decorate the east and west colon nades, giving them tho appearance of summer gar dens. Another carload of box trees Is on the way. They come from Now Jersey. Tho arrival of tho trees' caused surprise, as It was not generally known that the White house improvements in cluded the purchase of shrubbery." THOSE WHO REMEMBER THAT-' YOUNG Rockefeller said that tho best thing to give a man who asked for alms is a kind word will bo interested in reading a dispatch to the Chicago Record-Herald under date of Oaxaca, Mex., March 31. This dispatch is as follows: "The peons of southern Mexico are singing tho praises of John D. Rockefeller, jr., and wife, because of tho prodigality with which they have scattered bal& eagles, eagles and double eagles among them. Wherever they go they leave a trail of gold be hind. When they crossed the Rio Grande they brought with them several sacks of silver, dollars, which soon found their way Into the hands of the peons. When tho City of Mexico was reached, impressed with the suffering that existed among the poor, they obtained from the banks sacks of gold coin and en route to this city at every place at which the train stopped distributed $5, $10 and $20' gold pieces among supplicants for alms. Nev er before in the history of Mexico has there been so much gold in circulation in this part . of tho republic." SOME STUDENTS OF AMERICAN HISTORY will bo interested in the statement positive ly made by Edmund Gosse before tho Royal Geographical society at London recently. This authority declared: "Walter Raleigh never set foot in North America, yet so pertinacious is the legend connecting him with Virginia that I doubt if any one, even in this learned assembly, is not ' 4 satisfied that ho did. But in spirit he was there, through good and evil estate. His was the brain that planned, the persistence that carried out, the courage that would never relinquish the design, and .the promised land Virginia is in history, al though he only gazed at it from the fringes of the cloud." - f 7 1 121 i I mfuimm lamin