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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 3, 1905)
W. "Wt ' iimw j. i) i ji iipyiynw rr -""- The Commoner. 6 Volume b, number MANY YEARS AGO Elihu Root, as a member of the New York Constitutional convention urged the adoption of an anti-corrupt practice amendment to tho stato constitution. Referring to this amendment a writer in the Chicago Record-Herald says that it went far beyond any statute since enacted. This writer adds: "It pro hibited the direct or indirect use by any corpora tion of its money or property In aid of any po litical organization or any candidal e for public office. The amendment was not adopted, solely because it was the consensus of opinion in the convention that the legislature already possessed tho necessary power to deal with the problem. The argument, however, which Mr. Root made on that occasion hascertalnly lost none of its force and impresslveness with tho flight of time." IN HIS ARGUMENT before Now York's Con stitutional convention Elihu Root, referring to his proposed amendment, said: "The idea is to prevent the great railroad companies, the great insurance companies, the great telephone companies, the great aggregations of wealth from using their corporate funds directly or in directly to send members of the, legislature to these halls in order to vote for the protection and advancement of their Interests as against those of the public. It strikes at a constantly growing evil which has done more to shake the confidence of the plain people of small means of this country in our political institutions than any other practice which has ever obtained since t,ho foundation of our government." REFERRING TO Mr. Root's remarks the Record-Herald says: "The inquiry into the political-contribution phase of the insurance in vestigation has not been concluded, but enough has been disclosed to demonstrate the imperative necessity of state and national corrupt practice legislation of the most genuine and effective de scription. Publicity for all contributions and transactions of political committees and candi dates is absolutely essential. Mr. Roosevelt will do well to read the remarks of his present secret tary of state, as made before New York's Con stitutional convention before the president con cludes the paagraph in his annual message to congress referring to campaign contributions by corporation- chiefs." ONE OP THE MOST radical changes in the civil service regulations in recent years was promulgated by President Roosevelt Octo ber 17. The text of the'order follows: "When the president or head of an executive department Is t satisfied that an officer or employe in the classified service is inefficient or incapable and that the public service will be materially improved by his removal, such removal will' be made with out hearing, but the cause of removal shall be stated in writing and filed. "When misconduct is committed in the view and presence of the presi dent or head of an executive department, removal may be made similarly and without notice." REFERRING TO Mr. RooseveK's latest civil service order, the Washington correspond ent for the St. Louis Globe Democrat says: "Al though two or three specific cases in the federal sorvice were the immediate cause of tho presi dent's order, it Is certain that the new rule will 1)0 rather broadly applied and the effect in sev eral branches of the government promises to be f a sweeping character. It will be possible under Oio amended regulations for the president or mem ber of his cabinet to remove a superannuated under-official or clerk at his pleasure, so long as the person concerned is, in the opinion of the executive officer inefficient in the performance of his duties. There will be no opportunity for the removed clerk or employe to matce a defense. Summary action may also be taken in a multitude of other cases, the broad term "inefficiency" only having to be shown to the satisfaction of the president or a member of his cabinet, who is at the head of the department in which the clerk .la employed. In cases of misconduct the remov ing office is not required even to file a. statement ,with the civil service commission. Tho new rule -. will .make it -a simple matter to get rid of clerks ...jrrho,, either from inefficiency or. misconduct, are deemed a detriment to the federal service. It is pretty well understood that Mr. Root, secretary of state, had a good deal to do with the promul gation of the amended rule, and it is expected that this is the first step toward tho reorganiza tion of the stato department service, both at home and abroad. It will be possible for Mr. Root, by means of this rule, to bring about a tnorough re organization of the, consular service, and it is probable that some changes in the personnel of the service will be made in the near future." UNITED STATES CONSUL LIEFELD, of Frei burg, Germany, has made an interesting report describing municipal ownership in a Ger man city. Freiburg has a population of 70,000. According to Consul Liefeld's report, the city railroads, the gas, electric light, water, theatre, slaughter house, pawnshop, savings bank, ceme tery, etc, even building lots, forests and vine yards, and a daily newspaper, are all controlled by the city. The garbage is disposed of by the city. The receipts in this department for 1004 amounted to $12,744. The expenses for manage ment were $9,400. There were other expenses for new purchases, repairs, extra horses and help, but this department turned over to the city treasury $517. The receipts for the poor amounted to $58,008, .including charity funds. The dis bursement amounted to $57,004, leaving a surplus of $964. The total receipts from electricity were $85,451; disbursements, $82,000; surplus. $3,478; For illuminating gas the total receipts were $302, 009 and the disbursements $298,428. The ceme tery is owned by the city. Funeral processions take place only at the cemetery. Receipts, $33, 849, of which $13,440 was turned over to the city treasury in 1904. CI ONSUL LIEFELD reports that Freiburg's J receipts from city invalid insurance are mainly derived from the tax of $11.52 per year for every servant in a family. This amounted for the year in Freiburg alone to $14,932. The tax is collected by imperial law in the whole Ger man empire. In case of sickness the help are attended free; in case of necessity they are treated free at the hospitals. THE CONSUL FURTHER SHOWS that re ceipts of the, municipal pawnshop were $30,516; expenditures, $30,295; surplus, $221. Buildings owned by the city are rented by the military administration. The payment into the city treasury . from these buildings amounted to $65,892. The city orchestra plays at operas and plays four or five times each week for seven months of the year. From May to September concerts are given at the city park. At the opera house the regular price of admission varies from 9 cents to 83 cents, with a reduction for season tickets. At the summer concerts admis sion varies from 7 to 14 cents (Sunday after noon free.) The orchestra in winter gives six symphonic concerts. The surplus amounted to $288, the expenditures having been $23,480 (sal ary for first conductor, $1,190; second conductor, $714; one concert master, $500; one harpist, $452; and forty other musicians, $15,227, etc.) THE PENSION FUND for Freiburg officials, teachers, widows and orphans showed re ceipts and expenditures each amounting to $11, 552, but the city contributed $2,288. The sew age of Freiburg Is conducted to "Rieselfelder," a few miles away, which are under cultivation. Among the receipts were $12,666 from ai?ricul tural products; milk, $11,829; manure, $1,973; sale of cattle, $11,300, etc. Among the expendi tures were; Fodder, $15,084; purchase of cattle, $12,518; wages, $5,469. The value of these fields was estimated on December 31, 1904, at $214,432. According to law all larger animals can be slaughtered only at the slaughter house and spe ? ofoSLare collected wnch in 1904 amounted loo' m ' The total rece,Pts amounted to $44, 798. The net receipts were: To the city treas-' ury, $4,211; to the reserve fund, $2,550. The total receipts of the theatre amounted to $89,837, of which the treasury paid $32,606. The theatre is not made self-supporting, but is .considered . a necessary element for oducating the -people. The city would as soon think of managing its school at a profit as to manage a theatre at a profit FREIBURG COLLECTS duties on food articles The net amount from the "Octroi" in 1904 being $71,000. The consul further shows that there is a "Volkskueche," or people's kitchen, tho receipts of which during 1904 amounted to $27 816. A large share of the amount was for little things, viz.: Buns, at .007 cent each; soup, at 1.4 cents a bowl; coffee, at 1.7 cents per cup; sup. per, at 4.8 and 5.9 cents; dinner, at 5.9 and 7.1 cents. The water department paid to the env ployes $5,366 and into the city treasury $71,315. The schools of Freiburg are not wholly free, but the moneys paid by the pupils are not sufficient to pay expenses. The- city savings bank had in the year 1890 13,802 deositors, with deposits amounting at the close of that year to $2,838,022; at the close of 1900 there were 19,781 depositors and deposits amounting to $4,546,473. On Decem ber 31, 1904, there were 23,826 depositors, with deposits amounting to $6,319,851. COMMONER'S SPECIAL OFFER Subscriptions have been sent to The Com moner by those who have taken advantage of tho special subscription offer in number as follows: Isaac P. Calhoun, Kent, Wash., 9; Tom Allen, Yorktown, Ind., 6; Judge H. D. Miller, Camden Point, Mo., 6; W. M. Acker, -Fayette, Ohio, 7; Frank W. Abbott, M. D., Sterling, Mich., C; B A. Fletcher, Caldwell, Kans., 6; Dan Van Lone, Gloversville, N. Y., 7; Samuel Bortell, Forest City, 111., .6; D. P. Castor, Maple Falls, Wash., 6; James P. Slocum, Jobs Corners, Pa., 6; W. M. Lee, Hollidays Cove, W. Va., 7; D. Roach, Find lay, Ohio, 6; Adolph Schug, Geneva, Ind., G. The following subscribers have each sent five yearly subscribtions: W. W. McLaurin, Cedar Hill, Texas; J. R. Churchill, Lima, Ohio; P. O. French, Sumner, 111.; C. C. Homer, Bucks port, Me.; B. F. Disney, Madison, Kans.; I. Barnes. Gage, Texas; Thomas McKinnon, Ante lope, Calif.1; Wm. B. Sayre, Red Creek, N. Y.; J. W. Walker, Atchison, Kans.; J. E. Hutto, Texola, Okla.; S. F. Waterfleld, Felicity, Ohio; G. W. Merritt, N. Baltimore, OL'o; Geo. Lamont, Rock iBland, 111.; Thomas Rinear, Vernon, Ind. Everyone who approves of the work Tho Commoner is doing is invited to co-operate along the lines of this special subscription offer. , Ac cording to the ternis of this offer cards each good for one year's subscription to The Com moner, will be furnished in lots of five, at the rate of $3 per lot. This places the yearly subscription rate at 60 cents. Any one ordering these cards may sell them for $1 each, thus earning a commission of $2 on each lot sold, or he may sell them at the cost price and find compensation in the fact that he has contributed to the educational campaign. These cards may bo paidor when ordered, or they may be ordered and remittance made after they have been sold. A coupon is printed below for the convenience of those who desire to par ticipate in this effort to increase The Commoner s circulation: THE COMMONER'S SPECIAL OFFER Application (or Subscription Cards Publisher Commoner: I am Interested in in creasinir Tho Commoner's circulation.; and it Psire you to stnd me a supply of subscription cards. 1 apree to use my utmost endeavor iu sell the cards, and will remit for them at ww rate of 60 cents each, when sold. Name. Box, oa Street No P. O.i State -. , wanted by indicate tno nuroDor oi uluo ';:;,, nrint markinjr X opposite one of the numbers pnu ed on end of this umnit. 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