M'OOOK TRIBUNE.
V. 61. KX.UaiKLL , , Publisher.
McCOOK , - : - : - NEBRASKA
NEBRASKA.
Wymore has a home hiinstrcl troups
that is giving creuiiauie entertain-
ments.
Mr. Chapman of Arlington , former
treasurer of Washington county , and
another man were at Washington to
see about building and opsiat'.rg a
separating branch cf the Arlington
creamery. They met with considerable
encouragement.
Senator S. T. Caldwcll of Edgar has
succeeded lin raising a company oC
forty men , has offered his services to
the secretary of war and received the
assurance that he will be called en to
report for duty in case of hostilities.
The city council of Tecurnseh passed
an ordinance at their regular meeting
placing an occupation tax of $5 per an
num on all fire insurance companies
doing business in that city. The tax
will be given to the Tekamah firs de
partment.
Wdlliam Church BIssell , the oldest
man u Humboldt , died last week. H3
has been in poor health for * a long
while. He was sitting in his chair and
some one of the family went to him to
wake him up , an they though he was
asleep , but found that he was dead.
The city council of Tecnmseh at its
regular meeting passed an ordinance
giving the salaries of city officials a
sweeping reduction. It is said that
some of the incomes officers will not
qualify , as they do not care to assume
the responsible } ' and labor their of
fices will require for the mere pittance
now offered in the salaries.
As B. & M. passenger train No. 2
pulled into Minden the other morning
from the west it collided with a man
named Chris Anderson , whose team
was running away , smashing the wag
on into kindling wood and killing the
man instantly , the team escaping un
harmed. The coroner's jury returned
a verdict cf unavoidable accident.
The officers at Fairbury now have a
clue to Miller , the cattle thief , who
broke jail in that place , which may
lead to his capture. Not being able to
get the Beatrice blood-hounds the next
day after 'his escape the sheriff got th.2
Lincoln dogs inthe evening , but they
would not carry the trail more than
two blocks , when they would become
dazed and give it up.
Max Sauer , a boy born and reared in
Columbus , but who for the past thre3
years has been in charge of the elec
tric light department in one of tha
large lake passenger steamers plying
between Duluth and Cleveland , has
written his parents that he has enlisted -
ed in the United States navy for two
years. He enlisted at Chicago and will
Ibe assigned for duty in the engineer
ing service of the next boat named for
tbe navy.
Samuel Smith , an old resident of
Auburn , committed suicide by hang
ing. Despondency from continued ill
health is supposed to be the cause. He
went to the stable , telling his wife
that he was going to hitch up the team ,
but instead of doing so took one of the
horses out of the stall and hitched it
to the fence outside. He then climbed
npon the manger , tied a small rope
around his neck , fastened it overhead
and swung himself off.
The Lincoln blood-hounds , says the
Journal , returned yesterday from Fair-
bury , where they went to track H. S.
Miller , the cattle thief- who broke jail.
The dogs had good success and traced
him to a railroad crossing , where he
must have taken a train. Since the ad
vent of the dogs in Lincoln criminal
business in which they can be used has
been scarce. The animals are well
trained and their work at Fairbuiy
shows that they have not forgotten
to smell.
George Ritterbusn , wno was sen
tenced a year ago to the penitentiary
for three year for assaulc , pardoned
and returned home to Valentine last
week , committed suicide at Crookston
by shooting himself. No cause is s-
signed , but it is supposed that the sui
cide was due to the fact that his cf-
fianced , over whom the altercation WES
had that sent him to the penitentiary ,
had married during his incarceration.
The cultivation of broom corn by a
number of the farmers in the vicinity
of Wymore wil be one of ths new fea
tures in the agricultural line duriag
the coming season. Thestaple produce
requires a great deal of care and at
tention in the raising , but more than
compensates the grower for his trou
ble , as it brings from $40 to $50 per
ton. The has been but a very small
acreage grown in Gage county , owng ;
to there being no near market , but the
recent establishment of gosd broom
factories at Beatrice anl Lincoln will
create a brisk demand with profitable
results.
The statement of the business of life ,
accident and miscellaneous insurance
companies transacting business in Ne
braska , for the year 1897 hasbeeu
printed by order of Auditor Cornell.
The report is compiled from the an
nual statements filed with the auditor.
Thirty-four life insurance conname-
report as follows : Polic'ewritten. .
$5,434,161 ; discontinued , $5 531,334 ; in
force December 31 , 1897 , $37,642,379 ;
losses incurred , $391,404 ; losses paid ,
$387,857 ; premiums received , $1,149.079.
In 1896 thirty-six companies cf the
same class wrote insurance amounting
to 4,678,225 , or nearly $1,005,000 Te-s "
than in 18D7. There was discon'inuo"
in 1896 , § 8.195,336 : in fores December
31 , 1S9G , $39,757.522 ; losses incurred ,
§ 273,076 ; lo = sas paid , $258,545 ; p em-
iuns received , $1,124,808.
W. W. Kemp's paddler wagon
broken into at Fairmont and about
worth of goods taken , consisting
ladies' underwear , shoes , calicos ard
canned goods.
Charles Horn , an employe of the
Robertson elevator , Kearney , was fa
tally injured by being caught in a beH.
Just how the accident occurred w 11
never be known , as he was alone r-t
the time , but it is supposed ha1 'e
slipped and fell on the belt while do
ing some repairing. His flesh was torn
in a frightful manner , many b nes
'
were broken and he had etve' a
hard blow near t-ie bass cf te br in.
widow and four small
He leaves a
children.
The President Will Recommend to
Congress that a Formal
Resolution Pass.
WILL SEOD A SPECIAL M SSAGL
This Action is Desmed Necessary
as a Matter of Sslf.
Protection.
WASHINGTON , April 25. A reso
lution formallly declaring war against
Spain will be introduced in the con
gress of the United States today. The
decision to do so has been reached af
ter due deliberation , after safeguarding
the interests of the United States.
Questions pro and con were discussed
this morning by President McKinley ,
Attorney General Griggs , Assistant
Secretary Day and Senators Davis and
Hale , and OH the conference oreaking
up , announcement wa made that con-
press tomorrow would be ask < 1 to de
clare what it is held alreadv exists.
This was the most important Washing
ton development on" the first v.av Sun-
da v.
The president will send a message to
congress to be delivered immediately
after Its convening setting forth the
facts in the case and asking : congress
to formally declare war in order that
there may be no misunderstanding on
on the part of other nations.
The most important point of the
message , from a news point of view ,
will be the announcement thai Spain
has made formal reply to our ultima
tum. This reply has not been given to
the public , and it was supposed none
had been received. The document is a
formal acknowledgment by Spain ,
and also an acceptance by that country
of the ultimatum as a virtual declara
tion of war. Congress will therefore be
asked to recognize this condition of af
fairs and to declare it to the world , us
ing Spain's concession as a reason for
it.
The war resolution has been prepar
ed , and it is understood that the two
committees having in charge the for
eign aifairs of the two housese of con
gress will be prepared to report upon
it very speedily probably immediately
after the reading of the message.
An effort will then be made to have
the resolution taken up and passed
forthwith and it is not now believed
that there will be any formidable op
position to this course in either house.
Otherwise the news of the day here
related almost entirely to the execution
of plans hitherto announced.
Secretary Alger came with his daugh
ter to the department early , and the
latter , with the president , attended
divine services at the Metropolitan
Methodist churcn. Secretary and Mrs.
Gage also drove to the \/hile Hous-j
and accompanied the president and
Mill Alger to the Metropolitan. Mrs.
McKinley has not yet returned from
her trip to New York City.
General Corbin and Secretary Alger
confered in the afternoon respecting
the arrangements for calling on the
governors of the states and territories
for the quota of troops they are to
furnish under the president's proc'a-
mation asking for 125,000 men. The
number of men in each branch of the
service infantry , cavalry and avii'lery
remain to be settled , besides many
other matters of detail.
In the State , War and Navy depart
ments many of the officers were at
their desks directing the execution of
-Sg *
policies heretofore determined upon.
Neither Secretary Algor nor Secretary
Long were on Imnd , but Assistant S.c-
retary Mleklojohn and Secretary
Roosevelt were on duty for several
hours. Mr. MIeklejohn has already re
ceived a large iiurnbe * o ; applications
from newspapers to permit their rep
resentatives to accompany the army ,
but , as stated in the clrctfar issued
yesterday , the number IT be accorded
the privilege will be limited.
The assistant eecrrtary is busily en
gaged In supervising the general pre
parations for the transportation of
the troops overland , and also to Cuba ,
for which a large number cf vess > s
will be chartered.
In the quartermaster's office nearly
the whole clerical force was on hand.
The details are far from ccmp ete , but
Quartermaster General Ludiugton be
lieves everything will be in readiness
by the time the troops are ready to
move.
Situation Affects Wheat.
CHICAGO , April 25. Wheat has
been nervous during the last week ,
but at the close Friday July option
showed an advance of 3 % cents , while
May gained 5 % cents. War prospects
which culminated on Friday , largely
controlled values. Speculators held
widely diverging opinions as to the
ultimate effect of war upon grain val
ues in the United States. Liverpool
quotations advanced steadily , and en
ormous ( iuantitics were sold for di
rect export , cable offerings being ac
cepted with avidity. But when ocean
freight rates took a sudden jump on
Friday , the bears flooded the pits with
offerings. Their theory is that with
advancing ocean rates and higher
prices at Liverpool prices on this side
must seek , a lower level at > the present
time , or at leatt until the question
of privateering has been settled. July ,
which sold a week ago at 84-4 cents ,
touched 90 cents at the opening on Fri
day ; but after a short period of stead
iness dropped to 88A cents and clos
ed one-eighth of 1 cent from the bet
tom. Favorable crop news and sea
sonable weather generally had consid
erable influence on distant options.
May wheat did not feel the effects
of these considerations , and closd the
weak at an advance of 5 % cents. High
er prices at the northwest and steady
.acceptance of all the cash wheat of
fered abroad influenced the near month
entirely.
Two More Captures.
KEY WEST , Fla. , April 25. The
United States gunboat Helena cap
tured the Spanish ship Miguel Jover
yesterday morning. The Jover's cargo
is composed of cotton and staves. The
prize is estimated to value $400,000 , its
cargo alone being worth $150,000. It
belonged 1o the Pinillo line , Barcelona.
The Helena did not sail with the
fleet on Friday morning , but remained
her until yesterday , when it steamed
out to sea. It was cruising about 150
miles in a southwesterly direction ,
when the Jover , steering a southeast
erly course , hove in sight early this
morning. The Helena fired a blank
shot and the Spaniard instantly hove
to. The gunboat then put a crize crew
of twelve marines , and engineer and
sixteen blue jackets on board the Jov
er , under command of Ensign McClel-
Ian , who had with him Ensigns Davis
and McP'arland. The gunboat con
voyed the prize in port. The Jover
was bound from New Orleans for Bar
celona by way ofHavana. .
The Stillwater , Minn. , Mirror has
suspended publication after a prosper
ous career of a dozen years. It was
published in the state penitentiary , and
the suspension was unavoidable be
cause there are no printers stopping
there at present.
THE BLOCKADE iS LEGITIMATE.
It Is So Recognized by the Greut
Powers.
WASHINGTON , April 25. Members
of the diplomatic corps say that nu.
question can bo raised as to the right
of the United States to declare a block
ade. This beins conceded , foreign
powers will accept It as binding. In
jipoaking of the blockade , the military
attache of one of the leadiuc foreign
establishments here said :
"The right of blockade is clearly
recognized , and this blockade of Cuba
will La universally respected by for
eign powers. The limited extent of the
blockade of Cuba is doubtless due to
the necessity ot making the blockade
effective. Unless effective a blockade
is not binding , and with the extended
seacoast surrounding Cuba it would
be very difficult , if not impossible , to
maintain an effective blockade of the
entire island. The blockade will have
the effect of stopping all commerce
even in neutral ships to and from the
ports covered by the president's proc
lamation. But at the same time it
should be understood that a neutral
ship may take its own chances of run
ning the blockade. In that case it acts
at its peril and can under no circum
stances expect indemnity from either
of the belligerent powers. "
This military aide , who is recognized
authority on war strategy , also point
ed out the two strategic moves open
to the Spanish navy , one or the other
of which , he believed , would be adopt
ed. He said : "The first , and pro
bably the best strategic naval move
by Spain would be to concentrate and
hold its fleet at the Cape Verde is
lands and the Canaries , and wait until
the American fleet came to them. They I
would then have the advantage of po
sition , base of supplies and ample coal.
It would be a waiting game , but it
would promise much better results
than seeking a decisive naval engage
ment far away from the base of sup
plies and from coal. The only serious
difficulty would be that it would ne
cessitate the abandonment of Cuba
and Porto Rico.
"Whether the Spaniards are willing
to make so great a sacrifice as a strate
gic move for ultimate naval success ,
remains to be seen. If not , then the
Spanish navy must choose the other
strategic move of making a dash to
this side and risking everything on
the chance of a decisive victory at the
outset. It would be a desperate move ,
but if successfully executed it would
prove of inestimable value , not only
in its material results , including the
defense of Cuba and Porto Rico , but
also the sentimental infltiencns cf en
couragement inspiring enthusiasm.
But it would be a most hazardous
move , as the Spanish ships would have
the Atlantic between them and the
home ports , with little or no chance of
replenishing their coal supplies. What
course the Spanish strategists will now
adopt I do not know , but all things
considered it seems to me likely they
will adopt a waiting game and a retire
ment of their naval forces until the
United States fleet , eager for a con
test , goes in quest of them. "
The representatives are beginning
to feel much uneasiness over the sit
uation of foreign subjects residing at
Havana and other points covered by
the blockade. So long as the blockade
is peaceful the foreigti residents are
not likely to suffer. But in cafse of a
bombardement the foreign element
might be put in jeopardy , along with
the native population , unless ample
time were given to foreigners to with
draw. For that reason earnest inqui
ries are being made at the emissaries
and legations as to what notice the
United States will give for foreigners
at Havana and elsewhere of the bom-
bnnlmcnt , 'I here Is no doubt this
government would give ample time for
foreigners to withdraw , and In case
of non-combatants , It IB usual to give
at least twenty-four hours' notice ot
a bombardment , but there m'glit he
serious difficulty In the way of such
notice , In case the Spanish forts open
fire on American shlpii , ns it Is hard
ly to bo expected that the ships would
remain under lire for twenty-four
hours without returning the fire. Un
der the existing circumstances , mem
bers of the diplomatic corps are look
ing for a notification giving ample
time for the withdrawal of all for
eign colonies.
Tile CALL IS IVOW OUT.
The President Asks for 125.000
Volunteers.
WASHINGTON , April 25. The pres
ident has Issued a proclamation callIng -
Ing for 125,000 volunteers to serve two
years , If not sooner discharged. Fol
lowing Is the full text of the procla
mation :
Whereas , By an act of. congress , < jn-
titled "An act to provide for the In
creasing of the military establishment
of the United States In time of war
and for other purposes , " appro ed
April 22 , 1898 , the president was au
thorized In order to arise a volunteer
army , to issue his proclamation callIng -
Ing for volunteeers to serve In the ar
my of the United States.
Now , Therefore , I , William McKin
ley , president of the United States ,
by virtue of power vested In me by
th < j constitution and laws , and deeem-
ing sufficient occasion to exist , have
thought fit to call for and hereby do !
call for volunteers to the aggregate
number of 125,000 , in ord.er to carry [
into effect the purpose of the said law , ,
the same to be apportioned as far as
practicable among the several states
and territories and the District of Columbia - ;
lumbia , according to population , and
to f.erve for two years , unless sooner
discharged. The details for this ob
ject will be immediately authorized
through the war department.
In witness whereof , I have hereunto
set my hand and caused the seal of the
United States to be affixed.
Done at Washington , this 23d day
of April , 1S9S , and of the independence
of the United States the one hundred
and twenty-second.
( Seal. ) WILLIAM M'KINLEY.
By tee President :
JOHN SHERMAN ,
Secretary of Sta"te.
Gladstone Sinking Fast ,
LONDON , April 25. The news
papers say Mr. Gladstone is sinking
fast. A change for the worse was ob
served last night and' Dr. Habershon
and Sir laomas Smith , surgeon ex
traordinary to the queen , were hastily
summoned to Hawarden and spent the
night there. It is considered signifi
cant that no bulletin was issued today
from Hawarden and that Mr. Glad
stone's family has been summoned.
Morro Fires on the Fleet.
ON BOARD THE FLAGSHIP NEW
York , off Havana , , April 25. Morro
Castle opened fire on the squadron of
the United States at 11 o'clock last
night. About ten shots were sent "a
the direction of our ships , but not one
of them took effect and no shots were
fired in return.
The state auditor of North Carolina
finds that nearly $12,000 was pa > d to the
employes of the last state senate , this
being larger than the amount paid sen
ators.
The flame of devotion is kindled at
the altar of prayer. Ram's Horn.
TAXES TO CARRY ON TKE WAR. *
' Patent Medicines
Bear , Cigars , 'fottacco ,
icines , etc , , to He T xe'J ,
WASHINGTON , April 25 , By the
war revenue bill Introduced Jn ti e
house it la animated that it wHi IKO >
duce about HOOovv.oOO in rr * t , Tfc
tax on beer ami fermented JUtW J
increased from 91 to $2 a barrtl , bet
no rebate for unused b r * * i
destroyed tamp J allowed , 'fll IS *
on tobacco snuff In Jiw rot * d to 12
cents a pound , upon. cliwr *
1,000 weighing mor < * than thre
per thousand , and % 1 ou cigar *
Ing less than tht-eg pouuds p r
? ! ou cigarettes wcigMug mcr *
three pound per thouz&ad , a
on cigarettes wtJghinjf les * than
pounds , A compensating tax ot feftif
that amount , which JH Me awouat 0
the Increase on the atock ot cJiomi
and clfjarctt''K on band. Th foJUMrtax
licenses are placed on tobe o < l * l
ers : Dealer in teaf tabc < x >
sales do not cxce i ? 10,000
? 24 license ; those whose ttiks *
110,000 , ? < 18 ; dealers in tobacco whoa *
sales do not exceed ? 10,000 , 54.80 ; in
exce K of that amount. $12.
The provlElonjj of the stajap act Ja-
clude proprietary medicine and atnH
Jar preparations , a tax of I cent 03 21
packetH , box'-s bottles , etc. . v/afcfh re
tail at 25 cents or less ; 2 cent * blweeti
25 and 50 cents. 3 cents between 50 iJitl
75 cents. 4 cents L-eUvcen 75 ceaU and
SI , and for each f 0 cents or fraction.
thereof abe < i that scount an a-WI-
tlonal 2 centj. The same schedule ap
plies to perfumery and
Chewing um is to pay \ cent
package eod ! at " < * nt and 2 cecci re
packages exoe im 5 cents. Ginger ate
and mineral waters aie to pay 1 est
per pint and wines 2 cents ! > ? r pfer
Bonds , debenture or o-.Jior c rt3-
cates of irdebt'i-Iup-vs ? Her Juac 1. te-
sued by any association , corpcratScr.
etc. , are to pay 5 cjats cfl eaek 5J9
or fraction thereof issued , and 02 ail
transfers ot shares or cSrtffusaiej
stocks 2 cen'3 on ea.ih ? 1CO rl Saer.
On bank checks and -irafta rrxceedij ;
? 20 2 cents. Hilli ! -ic .a = lirafU1
t't sis ! t , "sr p. vn ; " . 'v r.r--- fr cir
culation , not exceeding $100 , 5 eem * ;
between ? K'0 and ? 2x , 10 cet ; be
tween $200 and $330 , 13 cents ; beiwsea
? 350 and . ' 500 , 20 cents ; between < 3&9
and $750 , 30 cents ; between S750 and
? 1.COO , 40 cents : $1.000 and $ ? , > 03 , * 1 :
$2,500 and $5,000 , 51.50 , and fcr gsgfr
$2,500 in cxcecs of 55,000 , 11. For ia
bills of ezchs ge , letters of crrdit , ! -
cluding express money orders. 10 pay
the same rate as bills of eie2aa = re
or promissory notes c-zcept wiiea they
are drawn in sets of three or more.
when each biil of eca set -srber ifee
sum payable does not exceed $150 , 3
cents. Above that there is a zr&AosA
scale running from Si to $7.500 asd 39
cents for each $2.560 additional. 3is ]
of lading , receipts for goods , raer-
chandise. etc. , for export. 10 eeaza
each ; express packages. 1 cent upon
all such as pay not to exceed 20 eeats ;
between 25 cents and $1 , 2 cents : in ex
cess of $1. 5 cents. Incezmifvinir
bonds , 50 cents ; all other bonds re
quired in legal proceedings. 25 cents ;
certificates of damase or otiservise-
isssued by a port warden , 25 cents.
Proclaim Neutrality.
WASHINGTON , April 25. Tee state
department today received informa
tion that the governor cf Hong Ko-ncr
had issued a neutrality proclanatioa
as to the United States and Spain. It
is similar in terms to those alreacv
proclaimed by Jamaica and
Fcundland.
In Moscow physicians are paid frct
? 1.50 to $2.50 for ordinary visits.
THE UNITED STATES NAVY AS IT IS TODAY.
( From the Xew York Ledger. ) I
' s f- " A
sS ? * "iit f5t5l S - * - ' " * * " - * -
Mil W -
k i
iSrl I
ancis'-o 33. Cononcns. . omance. ; . . onerey. . . , . .
. 41 47. New York : 43."Manhattan. 4D. Philadelphia. 50. Lchlsli. And Torpedo Boats.
. Charleston.
44. Boston. 45.