The Omaha Bee]
MORW1N G—E V E N I N G—S VNDAY
THE BEE PUBLISHING CO.. Publisher
N. B. UPDIKE, resident
BALLARD DUNN. JOY M. HACKLER.
Editor in Chief _Business Mnnuror
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and Tho Omaha Bce’a circulation is regularly audited by
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Entered as second-class msttcr May 28, 1908. at
Omaha poatofficc, under act of March 3, 1879.
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OnwhdVtefe freestdt ^ Bes(
TAX FREE SALARY CHECKS.
The commissioner of internal revenue is reported
to have worked out a ruling that will require certain
public employes to pay income tax. The group af
fected is limited to those in service of publicly
owned utility plants. And a very pretty little argu
ment will be started at once.
When the income tax was levied public servant*,
from the president down were exempted. The theory
_>n which this rests is that in all cases the money
>aid for salaries or wages comes from the public
'unds, and in most the amount is fixed by law. To
ay a tax on this would have the effect of reducing
he pay of the official or employe. To increase his
pay to a sum equivalent to the tax he would merely
set up a bookkeeping transaction between the gov
ernment and the employe, with no advantage to
either.
• • w
Commissioner Blair’s ruling will require elucida
tion before it can be discussed in detail. “Regula
tions No. 65, relating to the Income Tax Under the
levenue Act of 1024,” issued from the Internal Rev
enue bureau, contain* these provisions;
“Art. 87. Income of states. Income derived
from any public utility or from the exercise of *ny
essential governmental function and accruing to any
siate or territory of the United States, to any po
litical subdivision thereof, or to the District of Co
lumbia, or income accruing to the government of
nnv possession of the United State*, or any political
subdivision thereof, la exempt from tax. . . .
“Art. S8. Compensation of etate officer* and
employes. Compensation paid its officers and em
ployes by a state or political subdivision thereof.
. . . is not taxable.’’
The Metropolitan Utilities District, as is pointed
cut by Senator Howell, is a political subdivision of
the State of Nebraska. An entity created by law,
r.s individual and distinct as the school district, or
the City of Omaha. These facts simply serve to ob
scure the little knowledge we have of the commis
sioner's ruling. If he is inclined to differentiate be
tween the employes of the city who are engaged in
carrying on its ordinary functions, and those who
manage and operate the public utilities owned by
the public, it is possible to discern a basis for hi* de
cision.
* * *
However, it seems to be going far afield to read
into the announcement an expression of enmity or
opposition to public ownership of such utilities. The
question of revenue to the government from taxa
lion has always been presented, though never fully
considered, in connection with any public ownership
enterprise. It is a factor only, and not of such im
portance that it should operate to stop the applica
tion of the general principle. Something far deeper
is involved. Concerning the principle there is an
almost irreconcilable difference between two schools
of economic thought, no part of which rests entirely
on the question of taxation. That is a factor, but
incidental only.
When the new ruling is received in textual form,
it may be studied more thoroughly. At present, a*
Senator Howell also states, there is little need to
worry as to increased rates in service. Salaries
may have to be advanced, but the principal effect
of that will be to prolong the period over which the
bonds ar* to be paid off.
SCANDAL IN THE POSTOFFICE.
Wisely or unwisely, the law and the postal regu
lations throw certain restrictions around the conduct
of employes in the mail service. Among other for
bidden things is undue activity in the matter of se
curing increases in pay. Postal clerks can not take
advantage of political influence, and so ovaraw# the
timid, retiring member of congress into voting for
higher pay, aofter conditions, or in soma other man
ner favoring the greatest group of government em
ployes. Postal clerks, being human beings, and feel
ing they are not as well paid as they should be, and
having other grievances, are continually on the alert
for an approach to congress.
Under Burleson matters came sharply to an
issue, and for tome time service was deranged be
cause of the difference in opinion hetween the head
of the department and the men who do the work.
A hang-over from this has risan to vex tha postal
aervice once more. The clerks put over a bill in
creasing their pay, despite the efforts of the post
master general, who did not look with much favor on
the plan. Now, just as a vote is about to bs taken
in an endeavor to override the president'! veto of
the measure, the postmaster general dismisses from
the service six men of high grade. They are accused
of wrongfully using money to further their ends.
Specifically, it ia charged they paid clerks of the
committees ef house and senate for providing in
formation on which to base propaganda. It is not
alleged that any attempt was made to corrupt a con
gressman, although an indirect Implication to that
effect might be sustained by the facts. The accused
Insist they have not violated the law, nor disregarded
eny regulation.
What will impress th: public most is the rigid
•ontroi held over tha activities of government em
ployes, in matters that affect their relations lo the
eeeviee In which they era engaged. Sympathy has
been generally expressed for the postal clerks in
their efforts to obtain higher pay. No sympathy,
however, will go for any move on their part that
smacks of an attempt to get around restrictions de
signed to maintain the Integrity of the department.
Postmaster General New undoubtedly feels justified
in his act, or he would not have moved as he did.
It seems to be a final effort to restore the excellent
discipline that was so sadly shattered by the Burle
son experiments.
WYOMING AND MADAME GOVERNOR.
1 *
Nothing could be more appropriately in keeping
with the eternal fitness of things than that Wyoming
should be the first state to inaugurate a woman as
governor. Wyoming was the first political subdi
vision of the United States to grant to women the
privilege of voting. The territory was organized in
3 869, and that same year woman was given the suf
frage. To be sure, it was limited, but only as was
man’s. Residents of territories under the federal law
bad the privilege of electing their local administra
tive officers only. When Wyoming came to bo a
state, thirty-four years ago, however, the enlarged
voting privileges included the women. They took
part in the election of all the officers, including the
congressmen and the legislators who chose the
United States senators.
Nellie Taylor Ross enjoys a notable distinction.
Although she was elected on the same day as Miriam
Ferguson in Texas, the exigencies of state law give
her first place in the record as governor of a sov
ereign state. The progress of establishing full po
litical equality between the sexes thus moves ahead
another step. Woman is surely coming to a place
where she will divide with man, directly, as she has
indirectly from the beginning, the responsibilities
and cares of government. Whether or not it is her
natural sphere, it is conceded to be her natural right,
and she will enjoy it.
Mrs. Ross, in her inaugural address, says she does
not intend to advance a new policy, but expects to
carry on the work her husband begun. She feels, as
did President Coolidge, that she has taken over the
unfinished work of her predecessor and in duty
bound to carry on. Wyoming had elected her hus
band on a definite platform, and she will work to
its fulfillment.
Governor Ross will be watched very closely by
all who are in any way concerned with government.
Her success will be a success for her cause; her fail
ure, which we hope is not registered, will not be
charged against the principle of woman’s suffrage,
but will be only a step in the process of experimenta
tion that eventually will bring the result.
TRY THIS ON YOUR COAL PILE.
Remember the old nursery rhyme about the man
who "took his pipe and played a tune, and bade the
cow consider”? Just now we get a reaction to that.
Looking out of the window at the snow in the street,
slowly receding before the bright sun of early Jan
uary, we get very favorable reaction to the word
that comes from Washington. Scientists in session
down there got into a discussion as to the size of
’he universe. They might have settled this point,
but somebody injected the Einstein theory, and the
relativity of ideas showed that thought can be de
flected, just as the Einsteiners Insist light rays are
bent coming hither from the sun.
And that naturally brought up the sun, so giv
ing Dr. C. G. Abbott of the Smithsonian Institution
an opportunity to plaster a poultice of consolatory
words on the whole world. The sun, it appears, has
its ups and downs just like the rest of us. Some days
it feels bad, and some days worse. Just now it is
coming out of one of those spells. During the last
two years Old Sol has been undergoing the morning
after feeling, and has not been so active in the mat
ter of emitting heat. Happily, that is past, and we
may look for more co-operation on hit part in the
way of heating the house and other purposes for
which sunlight is customarily used.
This should be welcome news to the ice man, if
to no one else. Dr. Abbott reminds us that since
1922 w# have sustained subnormal temperature, but
now that all is well with the sun once more, the good
cld-fashioned sizzling days and steamy nighta may
be looked for. Some of us, who luxuriated under
blankets during the greater part of last summer, may
wish that the doctor acquires a hang nail or some
thing like that, but we are booked for hotter days,
just the same.
In order to quiet apprehension any may have felt,
the doctor informs us that the sun is good for 15,
000,000,000 years at its present rate. Therefore,
we do not need to worry at the moment over what
we are going to do for daylight when the sun finally
goes out. Time is thus afforded to work out the
cross-word puzzle before taking up the invention of
e. serviceable substitute for sunlight and solar heat.
A very Interesting tale 1* that of the young sailor
whose beautiful voice conquered the Metropolitan
audience. Also of his wife, whose hands were stained
with soapsuds. It will be far more interesting,
though, to read in a few years that they have es
caped the divorce court.
On* thing the democrats need not worry about.
When Adam McMullen does shake the plum tree, he
will do the shaking.
One mistake of that imaginative hoy over at
Council Bluffs was in telling too good a story.
The French note on the debt is not like th« ones
you put In a bank. No promise to pay.
Making of rouge becomes an art, says Paris.
Using of ft is still merely an artifice.
City employes are regarded as citizens. They will
b* required to pay income tax hereafter.
Nebraskans still go to Iowa to get married, but
soma day they will learn to patronize home industry.
f
• Homespun Verse
—By Omaha’s Own Poal—
Robert Worthington Davie
K_
THE TIMES ARE DAI).
1 purchase tires for my hue (o do their honest bit,
] spend my rath for gasoline and make the moat of It.
1 hand out ahecklea fnr repairs end overhauling due*,—
But what * an auto for, I ask. unless it Is to use?
T Iska my friend* to dine with me t need lo he In style!
I patronize the vaudeville my sorrows to tvegulle,
T take a part In everything ihat Vogue Includes today.
1 get the full extent of Joy—I'm not afraid lo pay.
T rant and r*v# bemuse I'm poor; the roof that's e'er
my head
I* not my own. I'm aeeklng more; the future day* I
dread.
My obligation* dally grow. T wonder what to do—
I can't, to aave tno, aee a way to wiggle aafely through.
But I am not. alone, methlnka, aa I aqutp my bu*.—
The asm* affliction now affeute the greater part of us
Perhaps someday I’ll meet o man with ahecklea by the
raft.
And he assured that tie got rich through some Infernal
graft.
"Jimmy” Feed wonts to punish those who slmider
Heed presidents. Of rourse. he will reserve (h«> im
munity enjoyed by aenator*.
— " »
The Giant and the Lilliputians 1
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t-'
Letters From Our Readers
All letters must be sifned, but name will be withheld upon request. Communi
cations of 200 words and less, will be fiven preference.
I---A
Wealth Awaits Energy.
Ainsworth. Neb.—To the Editor of
The Omaha Bee: About giving to the
poor, and the charge of selfishness
and covetousness, so wall polnttd out
by L. H. Monroe In The Bee. The
time will come, soon, when men will
he praised for giving to the poor. Not
In doles aa to baggers, hut In oppor
tunity giving willing hands a chance
to work.
There Is, as Brisbane points out,
unlimited possibilities to create
wealth. And we mean real wealth.
Not the kind derived from new furni
ture, factories, bonds, mortgages,
taxes, interest, rents.
But the ones Ood mav b!e«e and
all men will honor snd praise, will
he the one* who keep their money
invested In wealth production; real
betterments, such as water power end
Irrigation, electricity on every farm,
automatically driven machinery. And
It can tit done at a profit.
We have found that a pipe laid on
the bottom for one half mil# in the
Niobrara haa got wonderful power.
And there are other at reams and larg
sr pipes and longer distances. And
we have power and Irrigation at
cheap price. And It will ha a blessing
to the men with capital, snd ths
man with brains, and the man with
muscle. And when all can work,
crime reduces snd so do the poor.
Then we can carry the overhead tax
cheerfully.
President Cooltdga know# this, and
will do all he can to help build a
new wealth-producing era. Any cap
ital Invested In wealth-production and
the profit reinvested carries a blee«
Ing to all men. But this profit of
Interest on bonds without reinvest
ment should cause the owners to
think of the end. and change their
way. A. K7.EKIF.T, SEXTON.
The Child l^bnr Cross-Word Puazle
Omaha, dan 1.—To the Editor of
The Bee: While the people of s
democracy have the privilege of mak
Ing t>ad laws, it would he belter, of
course, if they mad# good laws.
l.avva are not right because they
sr" put Into the constitution, but.
tather, they should be put there ha
r-atixe thev ara right. A law may l>e
good, had, or partly good and partly
bad, A good law la known by Its re
suits. It abolishes Injustice without
committing Injustice.
The proposed child labor emend
ment to the federal constitution
would conserve some of the people’s
rights, but would transgress the
rights of some others, although, like
many laws, It might be excused on
the ground of the greatest good to
the greatest number.
Is met the real remedy In tills case
a removal of the cause of the wrong
without transgresalng the contract or
other fundamental right# of the state
or of Individuals? Hove may the op
presslon of working children or of
any other workers, for that nuUter
f
be removed without transgressing the
rights of fair employers? Would not
Just such public competition leave ail
fair employers all the lights they now
have, and at the same time provide
the unfair employer an incentive to
be fair? How can a government ex
pect equity until It does equity?1
Wishing everybody the happiest
New ■ Tear possible until the cross
word pu7.xle Is worked
WILLIS HUDSPETH, i
Mon's Inhumanity to Man.
Wayne. Neb.—To the Editor of
The Omaha Bee: I have lived many
years, but this is the first time I
ever heard people criticized for
sympathlr.ing with the unfortunate
In this instance. Jay Grahsm.
Let the good work go on. The
people's sympathies ha\• lain dor
mant, or all been used on self so
long, no wonder It hsa called forth
criticism. But I have never heen
where any of hla sympathisers have
ever Intimated ha should not have
been punished. The flood Book says
a mam shall be punished according
to Ills deed. I think we would do
well to emulate those words hsre on
earth.
"No, It doesn't matter.”
That philosophy has come down
through the ages, to be heeded bv
many, to the detriment of mankind.
It fa ease to say that while you can j
sit snug and complacent by your fire j
side, surrounded by respect and com
fort. But for the grace of God, he
might have been your bey or my
boy. Or mayhap you or I. V. e are
all the same clay.
It It time to feel superior to our
fellow being lit a jnoral respect onh
when the shadow of the grim, gaunt
reaper hovers over ue. But what of
a fugitive from justice? It doee
matter to this boy, a social outcast,
with every man's hand against him.
Always awaiting the Inevitable. Do
you not think any first offender, st
least, whether he he a .Tsv Graham
or s man In the prime of life, who
in one mad moment has let tempta
tion overcome him and abaconded
with thousands, In his saner mif
men's would not gladly go back, if
he could, to the life he left and s
• hance to look his fellow man and
himself In the face with respect?
The judge should not be blamed,
but the lawmakers, if such be the
law. He is only a servant of the
law and must abide by It. Let peo
pie pour out their pity on the fallen
ones of earth. We need it.
It may soften this hardened old
world Into a semblance of what God
Intended It should be
AN INTERESTED READER.
The soviet Is concerned to get its
bread end meat, but not its deserts.—
Wall Street Journal.
>
All Animals Barred.
Preipectlva Tenant—If I par the
rent j cftt are asking, I'm afraid 1
won't be able to Keep the wolf from
the door.
Agent—The janitor will attend to
that, »ir. No animate of any kind are
allowed In this building. — Boston
Transcript.
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^SUNNY SIDE UP
Hake Comfort.nor forget -r
tJhat Satirise ne\/erfailed
_j
V-.
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Ol’ Bill While Is erupting again. Going down east he is
interviewed as usual, and proceeds to tell 'em What he tell*
>m is always Interesting, which is tho main thing i he trot i
isn't what they want, anyhow. Ol’ Bill says he wants his son,
Bill, Jr., to marry the society editor, and wants his daughter
to marry one of his reporters. That all sounds very good and
democratic, but Ol’ Bill doesn't want anything of the kind to
happen. He Isn't any different from the average American
father, one of whom we are which. What he wants Is for his
son, Bill, Jr., to marry the daughter of the local magnate, and
his daughter to marry some rising young man who is making
his mark In the marts of trade and commerce.
Then Ol' Bill proceeds \o emit his usual bushwa about
American women. That Is always a good line to pull. He
tries to make us believe that he dons an apron regularly and
helps his wife with the dishes. Well bet a coonskin that all
the dishes Ol’ Bill has wiped since the first year of his marriage
wouldn’t set the dinner table for a party of eight. That dish
washing stuff Is all in Ol’ Bill s eye. We ll wager a couple of
twodollar cats apalnst a four-dollar dog that when Ol 1111 a
wife goes away and the servant girl gets a vacation at. the
same time, Ol’ Bill either eats at his favorite restaurants or
piles up a mduntain of dirty dishes for the servant girl or
the Missus to wash when either or both get back.
Ol' Bill can’t fool u* with that line of dope. We've been
married as long as he has. We've wiped as many dishes as he
has, and all the dishes we've wiped since our courting days
don't amount to much. Of course we wiped quite a few during
the pre-nuptial days, but that was the usual courtship day
bluff. It dwindles away rapidly after the officiating minister
says something about not putting asunder what God hath Joined.
The biennial Joke about a short legislative session is with
us once again. They go down to Lincoln all primed up to do
business with a whoop, but the pump valve sticks, and the
first thing thev know the session is dragging out to intermin
able lengths. ’Right now they are talking about finishing up .
before March 15. and they honestly think they will. The fact
is they won't get a really good start before March 1, and if
they get through before the latter part of April they will be
lucky. It takes 60 daya for them to become thoroughly In
fatuated with the Job of lawmaking, log rolling and wire-pulling.
Judge Peter J. Barron of Scottsbluff was in Omaha during
the recent meeting of the State Bar association and presided as
toastmaster at the annual banquet. The next time we hear
some retreatlng-Jawed young fellow bemoaning what he ' alls
lack of opportunity for a young fellow, we are going to back him
up In a corner and tell him about "Pete’’ Barron. Physically
handicapped from early boyhood. Judge Barron cultivated his
brains. A country newspaper man, he studied shorthand and
qualified himself to be a court reporter, and he made a good
one. While reporting he studied law, aod In due time was
admitted to practice. He made good as a lawyer. Just as he
had made good as editor and reporter. He was appointed to
fhe district bench, and made good, being elected by a handsome
majority at the recent election. ‘'Pete" might have been sell
ing shoestrings If he had not determined to be a real man. Any
young fellow In Scott* Bluff county who whines about his luck
or lack of opportunity should be led up to Judge Barron’s office
snd told to fake a look. Then he should be carefully escorted to
some secluded spot and soundly kicked.
Dwight Griswold of the Gordon Journal, A. R. Wood of
the Gering Courier and Emerspn Purcell of Broken Bow are the
three editor-senators. Griswold and Wood are republicans,
while Purcell is a democrat who gets the votes of republicans
as well as those of democrats Purcell has had a lot of legis
lative experience, but this will he the first for the other two
We have hopes that the Reform Legislation we have In mind
will be supported bv this trio, and we are arranging to have
them Introduce all our Bills for I^aw« to he Passed.
WILL M MAUPI.V.
L______t
When in Omaha
Hotel Conant —
250 Room*—250 B*ih»— Rites $; tc 53
Abe Martin II
''Money hain't rver’thlnK," s«i«l
Ike Soles, t'day, hut »« had no
idea he wu: 'way past fifty. Mrs.
Tipton Hud took down sink tryin’
t' find a t'hristmus present fer an
ole fn. Iiioned pit I
(Copyright, list )
AIM I H.TIHJ.M > M
Chronic cough* and persistent colds
lead to serious lung trouble. You can
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emulsified neosote that ia pleasant to
tike. Creoinulsion it a new medical
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end heals the inflamed membranes and
kills the germ.
Of all known drugs, creosote la rec
cruized by the medical fraternity as the
greatest healing agency for the treat- t
ment of rhronic coughs end colds and
other forma of throat and lung troubles,
(-reomulsion contains, in addition to
creosote, olbrr healing elrmeuta which
soothe and heal the inflamed mem
branes and stop the irritation and in
flammation, whde the creosote goes on
to the stomach, ia absorbed into the
blood, attacks the seat of the trouble
and destroys the germs thit Iced to
consumption.
Creomulsinn ia guaranteed satisfac
tory in the treatment of chronic coughs
and colds, bronchial asthma, catarrhal
bronchitia and other forms of throat
and lung diseases, and ia aicellent for
building up the system after rolda or
the flu. Money refunded if any rough
or cold, no mattar of how long stand
ing, it not relieved ifter liking accord
ing to directions. Aik your druggist.
Crcomulsion Co., Atlsnta, Ga. ( Adv.)
NET AVERAGE
PAID CIRCULATION
for (ho SIX MONTHS
Ending Sap!. 30, 1924
THE OMAHA BEE
Daily .73,790
Sunday .75,631
Dom not fnrlnda ratmnt. toft
ovai a, Ktmplii m paptu ipuilad to
printing and imlmi.-a no apavtal
•alaa ar fiaa clnulatlnn of any kind
V. A. BRIDGE, Cir. Mgr.
5uhtr t Ihad and twain to tiafaia in a
thia 4th day of Ortnhar, 1924
W. II QUIVI.V.
Noiaty rtihlu
A New Year's Pledge of—
Funeral Service Without Charge
for the Deserving Who Need Aid
Death visits every family sooner or later. Always it
leaves heavy hearts sorrowing for the loss of a loved
one. Ofttimes sorrow is mingled with despair: for the
expense of a long illness drains many a slender purse
of its last penny. Death then comes as a calamity as
well as a bereavement. Christian burial may be im
possible without the humiliation of an appeal to charity.
For more than twenty years we have tried to sene
humanity in time of greatest need by giving real as
sistance and kindly cbmfort to those who arc bereft.
Success has come to us. because, we hope, it was de
served. We have tried truly to serve. We wish to be of
still greater sen-ice. And so, at the beginning of the
New Year we repeat the pledge made one year ago to _ >
the people of Omaha, as follows:
Any deserving family in Creater Omaha (includ
ing South Omaha, Florence and Benson), rendered
destitute at the time of a death, is urged to come to
us without hesitation or embarrassment. We shall
consider it a real privilege to provide a refined, re
spectable burial, without any charge whatsoever for
our funeral ser\'ice or funeral supplies.
A written statement of the facts, made by any
clergyman of Greater Omaha is all that is needed
to command this service, no matter whether members
of the family belong to any church or noL
We ask all citizens to assist us in giving this service, b\
notifying their clergymen of any cases of this kind
which may come to their attention, and thus enable ns
to lend a helping hand to those who need our assistance
in their hour of affliction.
» _
To torro humanity
hottor In timo of
■rratait naoJ.
Hoffmann-Crosby Funeral Home
Twenty-fourth ^ , xt 1 Bt Telephone
at Dodge St. Umana, xseo. ¥ JA ckeon S901
r«0jright, |§S4