THE M'COOK TRIBUNE.
F. Iff. FublUhcr.
McUOOK , NEB.
STATE NEW&
NEBRASKA MISCELLANEOUS MATTFR3.
Auburn is making war on a horde
of tin horn gamblers.
Father E. J. O'Sullivan , of Omaha ,
died last week , aged 32.
Some of the farmers of Otoe coun
ty have suffered severely from hog
thieves.
thieves.Mr.
Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Hayes of Nor
folk last week celebrated their golden
wedding.
It is claimed that coal has been
discovered in paying quantities near
Palisade.
Traveling men making Fremont
headquarters have organized a club in
that city.
- -John H. Kellom. who was a citizen
of Omaha in the ' 50's , died in Cali
fornia last week.
Over six hundred cars of ice have
been shipped from Crete over the Mis
souri Pacific road.
Spontaneous combustion was the
cause of a $500 fire at the residence of
Dr. O. Parran , in Beatrice.
Henry Glessman , a farmer of
Douglas county , committed suicide the
other day , by shooting himself through
wie head.
The Southeast Nebraska Teach
ers' association will meet at Peru ,
April 2 and 3. Important subjects will
be discussed.
The body of a male child about
four days old , wrapped in an old pants
leg , was found on the prairie near
Davenport , Thayer county , a few days
The Knights of Labor held a mass
meeting at the court house in Hebron ,
the object of which was to discuss and
advertise the principles of the organi
zation.
zation.W.
W. Freman , a B. & M. brakeman ,
was knocked down while making a
coupling at David City , and had his
left leg pretty badly mashed by the
wheel of a car.
James Caldwell was shot through
the left arm while attempting to lift a
shot-gun out of a wagon. The arm is
so badly shattered that it is feared it
will have to be amputated.
The Niobrara Pioneer says that a
"spliced team'5 was well represented
on Niobrara's streets , consisting of'a
mule , a pony , an ox and a sow , driven
by a white man and an Indian.
" Henry Mast , a German farmer
about fifty-five years of age , living two
miles west of Tobias , committed sui
cide by shooting himself in the head
with a revolver while lying in bed.
Phillip von Windheim , who died in
Omaha last week , left directions that
his body be cremated. Accordingly
the remains were taken to the St.
Louis creamatory for that purpose.
Hon. John M. Thurston , declines
a re-election as president of the Re
publican league of the United States.
He saj's his time is too much occupied
with business of a private character
The Burlington & Missouri rail
way paid its taxes on the bridge at Ne
braska City under protest. The com
pany claims that a portion of the last
span of the bridge is not in Nebraska.
Rumor has it that the Ogalalla
power and irrigation company has suc
ceeded in placing a loan of $50,000 on
their canal in that Bounty and .will ex
tend the same down the river to Pax-
ton.
The citizens of Nebraska City met
in conjunction with the board of trade
and appointed a committee to work
with Mr. Black of Red Willow county ,
in securing aid for the farmers in his
locality.
Hon. John W. Love of Fremont ,
recently appointed consul to San Sal-
xador. expects to leave for his post of
uuty on the 13th of April , going via
San Francisco , and the trip will take
him about two weeks.
The Bond hotel , Lincoln , said to
be worth $95,000 , was recently sold at
sheriff's sale for $1 , to satisfy a judg
ment of § 900. Isabel Bond pleads ig
norance of her rights and has filed a
petition asking that the sheriff's deed
be set aside.
At the council meeting in Nebraska
city the other night an ordinance was
read for the first time increasing the
saloon license to $1,000. The retail
liquor dealers must also pay an occu
pation lax of $100 , making $1,100 in
all. Heretofore the license fee has
been $500 and the occupation tax $200.
The trial at Beatrice of the Eaton
brothers , Frank and Edward , for high
way robbery on the night of December
15 , resulted in the conviction of the
boys. The victim was a half witted
old fellow named G. Kemp , who was a
stranger in the city. The boys drew
knives on their victim and finally com
pelled him to deliver up all his wealth.
Mrs. H. A. Morrow , wife of Gen
eral Morrow , who died recently at
Fort Sidney , has presented twenty-
nine books from her late husband's li
brary to the state library of Nebraska.
The volumes are very valuable and re
late in the main to explorations and
surveys west of the Mississippi river.
The set also includes works on west
ern geology and ornithology.
The annual encampment of the
Southeastern Nebraska G. A. R. dis
trict met in Beatrice last week with
representatives present from counties
of the district comprising Gage , Paw
nee , Richardson , Johnson. Jefferson
and'Saline. . Commander Fuller of
Pawnee county presided. The session
was simply an executive meeting and
for the election of officers for the en
suing year. The next annual encamp
ment was fixed for March 16 , 1892 , at
Pawnee City.
STATE LEGISLATION.
VKOCEKDIXGB J.V JtOTII HOUSES OF
OCI1K XEliltASKA ASSKMKLY.
The Two-Cent Passenger Unto Iltll
Indefinitely Postponed In tlic Senate
An "Intermediate Hcforiiiatory"
for Criminal * Appropriation for the
IVorld'fc Fair Exhibit Fixing Kate *
for Telegraph Charge * Other Slat
tern in Itotli ISraiiche * of the Lctjlf-
latnrc.
THE NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE.
A. KECOHD OF PROCEEDINGS IN 15OTII
BKANCIIES.
SENATE. In the senate on the 16th
the following bills were read a third
time and passed. Enabling- county
commissioners and county superintend
ents in certain oases to compel railroad
companies to construct proper cross
ings over public roads. Authorizing
cities and villages to make appropria
tions to defray the expenses of the
proper observance of Memorial day.
Senator Switzler of Douglas voted
against the measure because , while not
opposed to its spirit , he felt it would
not enable the money to be appro
priated as desired. Making it a mis
demeanor to give firearms and ammu
nition to Indians who are not citizens
of the United States. Organizing san
itary districts. This bill contemplates
principally the straightening of Salt
creek and draining a certain part of
the city of Lincoln , adjacent to that
stream. Providing fo the handling
by county judges , of cases the sum in
volved in which exceeds the jurisdic
tion of justices of the peace. Requir
ing railroads to issue through billing
at the request of shippers. The com
mittee on labor recommended the pass
age of house roll No. 90 prohibiting
employers from exacting pledges from
employes to not join labor organiza
tions. The committee on claims re
commended the passage of house roll
No. 125. as amended , appropriating
"
73500 for the relief of Geo"rge W.
Davis.
In the senate on the 17th the judi
ciary committee recommended the in
definite postponement of senate file No.
270. amending sections 290 and 291 ,
code of civil procedure , compiled
statutes 1887 ; adopted. Also No. 258
providing ser the relief of drouth suff
erers in Polk county. The same com
mittee recommended the passage of
house roll No. 22 , requiring county
clerks to enter all fees received in then-
fee books. The committee 911 agricul
ture recommended the passage of sen
ate file No. 213 , providing for the
establishment of an agricultural expe
rimental station at Ogailala and rec
ommending the appropriation of $5 , 000
for the purpose. The committee on
high roads and bridges recommending
the passage of house roil No. 135 , pro
viding for the payment of road over
seers. The committee on railroad
recommending the indefinite postpone
ment of house roll No. 152. limiting
passenger fare per mile to i ! cents : atso
house roil No. 264. requiring railroads
to establish a depot in every village
through which they run : also house roll
No. 54 , requiring the keeping of cattle
guards in good repair. The same
committee recommended the passage
of house roll No. 103. requiring rail.
road companies to give their stations
the same name as that of the town in
which they are located. House roil No.
6 , a joint resolution providing for the
payment of all lines into the
county treasury for school purposes ,
was read the iirst time. In the after-
LilG CUUlbLG tktJUb 1J1LU
of the whole , Senator Poynter in trie
chair , to consider bills on the general
file. Senate file 146 , providing for the
reporting to the auditor of the state
by railroad's , and No. 204. regarding
the listing of property , were recom
mended for passage. On motion of
Koontz the committee rose , reported
and the report was adopted. He then
asked for permission to present a re
port from the committee on judiciary
upon house roil 284. This bill author
izes county boards to issue bonds to
purchase seed for farmers and food for
teams. The request was granted , and
the report was made and adopted.
The bill went to general file. Senate
file No. 132 , providing for the ineligibility -
bility of county officers for two con
secutive terms was indefinitely post
poned. as was also No. 113 , regarding
the garnishment of clerks and mechan
ics who are heads of families.
HOUSE. In the house on the 17th
the committee on finance , ways and
means reported , with the recommenda
tion that it do pas ; , house roil 507 , ap
propriating $11. WOO to pay the steno
graphers and notaries who took the
depositions in the contest cases for the
governor and other executive officers.
The same committee reported in favor
of the bill introduced by Speaker Elder ,
appropriating the sum of $40. 000 for
the support of the Nebraska national
guards. The committee on apportion
ment reported the Olson bill , to redistrict -
trict the state into congressional dis
tricts for passage. A minority report
favored the Faxon bill , but the major
ity report wis adopted. House roll
455. by Sternsdorff , extending the term
of county treasurer and sheriff from
two to four years was indefinitely post
poned. The house took up on final
reading and passed house roll 230 by
Gillilan , providing for drawing grand
and petit jurors in counties having
over 70. 000 population. The bill pro
vides that jurors shall be drawn once
in two years , and that the reg
ular panel shall serve only two
weeks and be discharged and cannot
he drawn again till a new list has
been made. It is designed to dispense
with the services of professional jur
ors. The house went into committee
of the whole , considered the following
bills anu recommended them back for
passage. Senate file 210 by Randall ,
authorizing boards of county superris-
ors to draw their warrants on the gen
eral fund of the county to purchase
food , fuel and seed grain and to sell
the same to needy people engaged in
agriculture ; senate file 175 by Randall ,
authorizing the mortgaging of crops
for the purpose of buying seed before
the crop is planted ; house roll 463 by
Nichols , authorizing the transfer of
$37.781 from the capital tax building
fund to the general fund of the state ;
house roll 453 , by Nichols , authoriz
ing the transfer of $11.050 from the
Saline land stockyard to the general
fund ; house roll 7 , by Howe , providing
for a change in the constitution , au
thorizing investment of permanent
school funds , in school district bonds
was amended by adding "loans on real
estate security" and recommended for
passage.
SENATE. In the senate on the 19th
the 2-cent passenger rate bill was in
definitely postponed. The following
were recommended for passage : No.
60 regal-ding the value and uses of
city , county and state warrants ; No.
248 , providing for the election of a
state assessor ; No. 247 , changing coun
ty seats by a three-fifths vote of lax-
payers ; No. 250 , relating to the hold
ing of commissioner's meetings ; No.
251 , relating to the levying of taxes by
county commissioners ; No. 252. pro
viding for the amount of taxation to
be levied for school purposes ; No. 253.
determining the rate of taxation for
town purposes : No. 254 , authorizing
counties and cities to issue bonus for
internal improvements : No. 255 , of the
same nature ; house roll 71 , relating to
the purchase of text books and senate
file No. 272 on the same subject. The
Newberry maximum rate bill was con
sidered without definite action.
HOUSE. In the houe the bill to es
tablish an "intermediate reformatory'1
for criminals between the ages of six
teen and twenty-one , at Louisville , Cass
county , was lost. House roll 83 , by
Gillilan , the judicial district bill was
taken up , and amended by taking
Hamilton county of the Seventh and
placing it in the fifth , and Sherman
county was transferred from the
Eleventh to the Twelfth , and the bill
recommended for passage. House roll
461 , by Shrader , appropriating another
$100.000 for the relie'f of the drouth
sufferers was called up. White moved
to strike out the enacting clause. Lost
38 to 41. The bill was recom
mended for passage , but White
amended the motion that it be indefi
nitely postponed. This was lost , yeas
23 , nays 61 , and the bill ordered en
grossed for a final reading. Senate
file 175 , by Randall , authorizing chat
tel mortgages on crops before being
planted , when given to secure a. loan
to be used in purchasing seed , failed
to pass with the emergency clause
yeas , 54 ; nays. 31 not the necessary
two-thirds , and the bill was finally
defeated.
SENATE. In the senate on the 19th
senate file No. 145 , providing for rapid
transfer at stations where there are
more than one railroad , was passed.
Senate file No. 161. relating to the or
ganization of school district ; , was
passed. Senate file 89 , by Mr. Col
lins , relating to justices of the peace
and supervisors in counties under town
ship organisation , was passed. Senate
file No. 116. establishing a state board
of health , was passed. House roil No.
52 was read a third time and passed.
It enables not less than twenty people
residing in one count } * , who shall own
not leb than $20.000 worth of proper
ty , to form an incorporated company
for the purpose of mutual insurance
against loss by lire , lightning , hail or
tornado. House roll No. 284 was read
a third time and passed. It author
izes counties to draw warrants on the
i general fund not to exceed 10 per cent
of the assessment , to purchase seed
grain for settlers and provide for their
immediate wants of food , fuel and
clothing. House roll No. 271 , by Mr.
Fee. was passed. It establishes the
county of Boyd.
HOUSE. In the house the following
were passed : House roll 206 , by
Rohan , appropriating $50,000 for the
Nebraska exhibit at the world's fair
under direction of a commissioner gen
eral and six commissioners to be ap
pointed by the governor. The salary
of the general commissioner is fixed at
$2,500 per year and of the others at $5
per day. The bill provides that only
$5,000 of the fund shall be available
before January 1 , 1892. Yeas. 6tf ;
nays. 29. House roll 7 , providing for
submission of a constitutional amend
ment , authorizing the investment of
permanent school fund in "school dis
trict bonds" and on real estate security.
House roll 384. to punish illegal voting
ing at village elections , by a fine of
from $50 to $500 and imprisonment in
county jail not to exceed six months.
House roll 83 , the judicial district bill ,
with emergency clause taking effect at
once. House roll 82. fixing the rate
for teiegraph charges. House roll 174.
by Soderman. repealing the law au
thorizing cities and counties to vote
bonds to aid in building railroads. A
large number of petitions in favor of a
bounty on sugar were presented and
referred to the committee on miscel
laneous subjects.
SENATE. In the senate on the 27th
the following bills were read the third
time und passed : Senate file No. 178 ,
by Senator Mattes , incorporating cities
of the first class with fewer than 25 , -
000 inhabitants and more than 8,000.
Senate file No. 217 , by Senator Coul
ter , providing for the government reg
ulation and winding up of the affairs
of building associations. The com
mittee on public lands and buildings
recommended the passage of senate file
No. 242. by Senator Woods , correcting
the field notes of the original survey
of Pawnee City town site. The com
mittee on medical legislation recom-
mendcd the passage of senate file No.
J66. appointing a state veterinarian ,
and the indefinite .postponement .of
senate file No. 261 , for preventing the
spread of contagious diseases among
domestic animals.
HOUSE. In the house the following
senate files were reported for passage :
Senate file 17 , by Randall , providing
that the lessee of school land may have
the same appraised for the purpose of
purchasing the same ; senate file 48 , by
Keiper , in relation to the estates of in
sane and support of insane persons ;
senate file 20 . by Dysart , authorizing
farmers to form corporations , lo issue
bonds and borrow money for the ben
efit of the members ; senate file 12 , by
Beck , authorizing a tax not to exceed
1 mill for removing obstructions in
ditches located in two or more coun
ties ; house roll 461 , by Shrader , ap
propriating an additional $100.000 for
the relief of the western sufferers , was
called up for final passage. The bill
.contained the emergency clause , by
which the amount voted would be im
mediately available , but as it required
a two-thirds vote the bill was not
passed , the yeas being 58 ; nays , 38.
The question then being "shall the
bill pass without the emergency
clause , " the yeas were 56 ; nays , 37 ; so
the bill passed ; house roll 88 , by Ste
vens of Platte , appropriating $34,000
for the expenses of the Nebraska mili
tia during the late Indian campaign
was recommended for passage ; house
roll 351 , by Oakley , placing express
companies under the control of the
board of transportation , was reported
for passage ; house roll 302 , by Dunn ,
forfeiting the right of way of all rail
roads , acquired by gift or condemna
tion , when the line is not completed
within four years , was also reported
for passage.
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.
The report of the railroad commit
tee on the Moan 2-cent passenger rate
on railroads favored its indefinite post
ponement in the senate. It was read
a second time.
Heath's bill , providing that all of
the laws passed by the legislature shall
be printed in two papers in each coun
ty of opposite political faith , was re
commended by the committee to be
passed.
In explaining his vote against the
bill allowing a farmer to mortgage his
crop before it was pianted , Mr. Gale
said there were too many mortgages
on western farms now , and he could
not vote to increase the burden.
Among the bills now pending in the
house is a measure introduced by Her
man , known as house roll 388. which
provides for the appointment by the
commissioner of labor of "labor agents
in the various cities and counties of
the state , whose duty it shall be to as
sist employers to procure laborers ,
clerks , servants and artisans. ' ' There
is a provision in the bill which re
quires each employer to pay to the
agent the sum of 50 cents when mak
ing application for assistance , and this
is all the compensation the agent will
get so that if the bill becomes a law
it will not add anything to the bur
dens now borne by the taxpayers.
The expense of the last session of
the legislature footed up to $190,000 ,
and from present appearances this leg
islature will not fail very far behind.
The house has already appropriated j
$75,000 for salary of members and em
ployes , and the same amount for in
cidental expenses , " ' and an additional
appropriation of $25,000 for members'
and employes' wages is pending in the
house. This brings the total to within
$15.000 of the expenses incurred two
years ago. and this may yet be covered
by items that have been omitted and
will Vr fnnmimnno - thn
appropriations.
Houe roll 82 , by Moan , fixing rates
for telegraph messages , as passed by
the house , reads as follows : Section
1. That the maximum rate charged by
any telegraph company for the trans
mission of dispatches from any point
in this state shall not be more than 25
cents for the first ten words , and 2
cents for each word thereafter. Sec.
2. No charge shail be made for the
name and address in a message , or for
the delivery thereof within the limits
of any city or village in this state
within a radius of one mile of the tele
graph office. Sec. 3. Any telegraph
company failing to comply with the
provisions of this act shall be guilty
of a misdemeanor , and on conviction
thereof shall be fined in a sum not less
than $100 nor more than $500.
Mr. Watson introduced the follow
ing : "Whereas. It is reliably reported
that an honored member of this house
has been especially blessed by Provi
dence in the birth of a fifteen-pound
son. and Whereas. It is further re
ported that the capilary adornment of
that son is of that brilliant Titian hue
so much admired by his doting father ,
and stamps the offspring asa chip off
the old block , " therefore be it Re
solved , That the congratulations of
this house are tendered , over the
auspicious event , to the Hon. George
J. Sternsdorff and his estimable wife ,
and that a copy hereof be forwarded
to the said urchin , James E. Boyd
Sternsdorff. to be placed under his
bib. " The resolution was agreed to.
DEPOSITING PUBLIC MONEYS.
2A bill to provide for depositing pub
lic moneys and to collect interest
thereon is almost certain to pass the
house. H. R. No. 443 , by Gunnett of
York , has been selected from a num
ber of others on the same subject and
in committee of the whole was recom
mended to pass , after having been
pretty freely discussed. The bill in
full is as follows :
Whenever any bank shall receive
any money as herein provided , they j
shall pay for the use tnereof not less ' \
than 4 per cent per annum , and the
interest thereon shall be estimated
unon the balance remaining in the
hands of the bank at the close of each
day's business ; provided that nothing
in this act shall be construed to re-
Jease the treasurer or his sureties
from liability on his official bond.
Section 1. Ail public funds in the
hands of the treasurer of the state , or
the treasurer of any county or munici
pality , shall be deposited by said
treasurer as hereinafter in this act
provided , and all sums of money re
ceived as interst or premiums for the
use of the money so deposited shall bo
paid into the general fund of the stale ,
county or muicipality to which th-
same belong. * .
Sec. 2. Every treasurer mentioned
in section one of this act shall deposit
all public funds entrusted to his care ,
in a bank or banks , company , corpor
ation or individual within the state of
Nebraska , which banks are to be se
lected by the treasurer ; provided , that
before any public funds are deposited
in any bank under the provisions of
this act , such bank shall execute a
bond for an amount equal to the high
est sum deposited , with good and
sufficient securities to be approved by
the treasurer , which bond shall bo
made payable to the treasurer , and is
to indemnify him and the sureties on
his official bond against loss or defalca
tion from the bank with whom the
money is deposited ; and whenever the
bank shall faithfully and truly account
to the treasurer for the money so re
ceived , and shall pay the same , the
bond shall be cancelled and returned
to the bank.
Sec. 3. Every treasurer mentioned
in section 1 of this act , who shall loan
any public money for his own benefit ,
or who shall receive any money or
other thing of value , either directly or
indirectly , from any person or corpo
ration for the use of such public mon
eys , and shall not pay the same into
the general fund of the state , county
or municipality to which the principal
sum belongs , shall , upon conviction
thereof , forfeit his office , be subject tea
a fine of not more than $1,000 , and be
required to pay back to the state , coun
ty , or municipality , the amount so re
ceived , together with costs.
THE USURY LAW.
The following is the usury bill in
full as it finally passed the house :
Section 1. It shall be unlawful for
any person , corporation or association ,
to charge , contract for , or receive ,
either directly or indirectly , whether
in person or by agent , any greater rate
of interest than $10 per year upon
$100 upon any loan , or forbearance of
money , goods or things in action ; or ,
if any person , firm , corporation or
association , for the purpose of evad
ing the provisions of this act shall dis
count any notes , or other negotiable
paper , for the purpose of securing a
greater rate of interest than hereinbe
fore provided for. all such transactions
shall be , and they are hereby declared
unlawful and in violation of the pro
visions of this act , but the note shall
not be declared void. Every person ,
firm , corporation , or association violating
lating any of the provisions of this
act shail be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor
meaner , and upon conviction thereof
shall be lined in any sum not less than
$100 and not more than $1,000.
Sec. 2. Every person , firm , corpor
ation or association , that charges , con
tracts for , or receives a greater rate oi
interest than $10 per year upon $100.
shall be liable to the borrower or party
aggrieved , in civil action , commenced
at any time within live years after the
payment of such interest , for five times
the amount of the whole interest ,
charged , contracted for , or received ,
and the costs of suit.
Sec. 3. That said section 5 and all
other acts or parts of acts in conflict
with the provisions of this act are
hereby repealed.
AS TO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
The judiciary committee reported
Capek's bill to abolish capital punish
ment back with the recommendation
that it be postponed. Attached to the
report was a minority report by Mr.
Capek , as follows :
"Your committee on judiciary beg
leave to make the following minority
report on house rolls 407 and 406. and
asic that the report of the majority be
not concurred in and the bills be placed
on general file. Believing that the j-ov-
erning principle of the idea of punish
ment ought to be that of improvement ,
we deny the state the right of attack
ing the transcendent life of man and
destroying that principle of improve
ment. A man commits theft or rob
bery , or murder because his nature is
depraved , and the transgression of the
law is the natural result of his cor
ruptness : and considerations of future
punishment have very little weisrht.
except in the earlier stages of vice and
crime. And , accordingly , the true
remedy for crime is to be found , not
in substitution of one form ot punish
ment for another , but in the education
and enlightenment of the people.
Crimes are not lessened by the severi
ty of punishments , but by the moral
and social relation ? , the education and
the prosperity of society.
In conclusion , the committee desires
to refer to the most potent argument
against capital punishment that of
destroying the life of an innocent hu
man ooing. In such cases , which are
not infrequent , the state commits an
irreparable wrong. The argument that
the maintenance of a criminal in the
penitentiary for life would entail a
great expense on the stale is untena
ble , since it was a well-known fact that
the expenses of an execution are some
times larger than those in the first in
stance.
Land Decisions.
WASHINGTON. March 19. The as
sistant secretary of the interior de
partment has reversed the decision of
the commissioner of the general land
office , holding for cancellation the pre
emption cash entry of David Shank
for the southwest one-fourth of section
34 , township 115 north , range 52 west ,
Watertown , S. D. He affirmed the
decision in favor of the contestant in
the case of Milan W. Quick vs. John
F. Kyle , involving a homestead entry
made by the latter for the northeast
quarter of section 32 , township 6 ,
range 29 , McCook district of Nebraska.
. and I'arnw > I -
Co.t of Kallroad.
Jcrry Simpson , the newly elected
Kansas congressman , is not without ,
traits of cunning or ability to argue
plausibly. He has stated with consid
erable force the case of the uHianco-
against the railroads. He says that
the alliance does not want to confiscate - , /
railroad property nor even to so reduce
rates that the railroads will be unable
to run at a profit. Ho says that their
plan is to make rates so that the rail
roads can earn 6 or even 8 per cent on A.
their original cost * or , as ho expresses
it , on their actual stock without the
water it contains.
A moment's consideration shows the
fallacy of this proposition. A rahroact It
is as much entitled to make a profit on
its present value , without regard to its
original value , as a farmer has to make
a profit on his farm according to its
present value without regard to its
original value. As a rule the Kansas
farmer bought his land of the govern i [
ment at a price never exceeding 32.50 I
an acre. But few of their number paid '
over $1.25 and the great majqrity got
their land under the homestead , timber
culture and other acts of congress.
Their cases in this respect are exactly '
parallel to those of the railroad I'l
companies which obtained their
roads at the bare cost of hying the
rails across the prairie and building a
few shanties for stations , or which , by
a system of subsidies , built the roads
at little or no individual cost. It wouldj 'i ' *
be as fair to say that the farms should' '
be operated by selling the products at
) I'.l
such prices as would pay 6 or 8 per
cent on the original investments , as to
say that the railroads should be oper
ated at such a rate for fares and freight |
as would pay 6 or 8 per cent on tho'
original investment.
In the case of the farmer , his land , ,
in the first place , cost him but little.
He used a little money in constructing
buildings and fences and in purchas
ing stock and seed for his fields ; or.
perhaps , he had no money and borrowed - '
rowed what he needed for his improve
ments ; or , he lived in a squalid way I !
until he harvested his first cops and'
made his improvements without incur
ring debt. Then followed years of la
bor ; seed time and harvest came and
went , and crop succeeded crop , ihe
proceeds of which were used in further
improvements in building houses , |
barns and fine fences ; in increasing his
flocks and herds , in the purchase of
expensive farming implements , and
probably in adding more land to his
original acres. In this way the quar- '
ter-section. which originally cost him
$200 , or which he entered as a home
stead , has become worth from $30 to
foO an acre , or from $5,000 to $3,000
in cash.
Take the case of the railroad com
pany. It cost but , a few thousand dollars Hi
lars a mile to lay the track and the- i
equipment was cheaply bought or. per
haps , rented. Perhaps the entire out i !
lay was repaid to the projectors in
local subsidies or in the proceeds of /
land grants. The road ran through a
sparsely settled , or entirely unsettled
country , and its revenues , even at this
enormous rates charged in early times' ,
aid not pay its expenses. It became
Vii
bankrupt and was sold out under mort
gages and judgments. Possibly the *
ii
Driginal builders had become rich by' '
crooked practices , while the company ,
had become bankrupt. Perhaps the
new owners of the road obtained it for
a song. But , like the farmer who
commenced the improvement of his
farm which mm cost him but little ,
they began to improve the road. They
aid steel rails in place of the old iron
rails which had become little mom
than streaks of rust ; they bunt costly
stations and erected great warehouses
at terminal points : they put on great
locomotives to haul the trains across
the continent : they supplied passenger
cars that were marvels of comfort : they ' I
built extensions into new territory ,
and , at the cost of millions and mil
lions of dollars , transformed the frag
mentary lines which at first existed'
into vast and complex railroad sys
tems , covering belts of territory thou
sands of miles in extent.
The doctrine that this railroad , which
lias thus increased in value from * 10.-
000 a mile to $50,000 a mile , shall bo
entitled to make only such charges as
xvill pay dividends on its original cost
is erroneous. It , is true that railroad
improvements have been built out. of
earnings' . It is also true that the cost
of the farmer's improvements has been
dug out of the soil which originally
cost him but little or wiiich he took as
a homestead from the Government.
The unthinking or unreasonable : nan
calls the difference between the origi
nal and present value of the railroad
watered stock , on which no dividends
should be paid. He might in honesty
call the difference between the orig
inal and present value of his farm wa
tered property not entitled to earn a
profit for its owner. Chicago Journal.
. ! i
IrlsU-Americaiis Want
no Panseil or
McCarthy Envoy * .
CINCINNATI , O. , March 19. Reso
lutions were introduced at two meet
ings of Irishmen held at Greenwood
and music hall condemnatory of the
arrival of the Irish parliamentary en
voys as seeking to transfer their inter
necine strife to the United States. The
meetings pledged themselves to work
unitedly against representatives of
Parneil and McCarthy who may arrive I
here , and advises the delegation now
here to return to Ireland , resign their-
seats , go to the country , have a simultaneous
A
ultaneous election held in all the con < i
stituencies , free from all influences , i <
governmental or clerical and then
they will decide on supporting the ma
jority members elected.
James Chaney. jr. . a prominent cit
izen of Coshocton , O. . cut his throat
with a razor and then tried to kill hK
wife by cutting her throat. Both are-
in a critics.1 condition. Domestic
trou
bles.