M'COUK TRIBUNE , , V. AI. KIMHEIX , Publisher. McCOOK , NEBRASKA tr NEBRASKA. There Is an unusual amount of sick fiess prevalent in Beatrice. Thomas L. Whltehill presented the reorganized company C , at Nebraska City , with a fine largo silk flag. Sheriff Lancaster ot York county re turned from Graansburg , Pa. , where ho arrested and brought with him H B. Kemblc. who is charged with hav ing forged checks in York. Kerable is now In jail awaiting trial. An epidemic of measles Is raging a few miles southwest of Wilcox. Some schools have been closed but no deaths have resulted from the disease. Two cases of diphtheria are reported seven miles south of Wilcox. Joseph L. Esslg , aged 76 years , a prominent merchant of Sidney , died last week. Deceased has been a su - ferer from paralysis the past two years and recently contracted la grippe , which hastened his demise. His remains were sent to Canton , O. , his former home , for interment. The Methodist Episcopal church of Syracuse has just completed a new edifice , and dedicated the same recent ly with appropriate exercises , all the sister churches participating in the ceremonies. The building is 36 by r.O and was erected under the supervision of H. 0. Hall. It cost about $4,000- The elevator of W. II. Butterfield & Son at Crelghton , burned. Loss , $4- COO , with § 3,500 insurance. There was eighty-two hundred bushels of grain In the elevator which was destroyed. While trying to save the new depot , H. A. Cneney , cashier of the Security hank , received painful , but not serious injuries. Adjutant General Barry received a telegram from Congressman Stark announcing that the 200 Nebraska soldiers on the way home from Manila had been discharged in order to reduce the regiment to the minimum. It is believed that the soldiers -will be given transportation from San Francisco to Nebraska. The York Mutual Benefit associa tion of York has been authorized by the auditor to begin business in Ne braska. E. A. Gilbert , lieutenant governor-elect , is vice president of the new asociatlon. The other officer ? are : N. V. Harlan , president ; F. R. Clark , secretary ; G. S. Cook , treasur er ; Robert McConaushy , medical di. rector. The will of the late Hey. Father Eu gene Cusson , who died in Nebraska City recently , was admitted to probate last Wednesday , there being no con tests or objections. The court ap pointed Father Janette of Omaha and Thomas Heafey of Nebraska City , as administrators , with a $30,000 bond. The estate \vill be settled up as rapidly as possible. Frank Ward , who shot Sheriff Bon- awitz last summer in Clay county , Kansas , and was acquitted by the jury there at the last term of court , came back to Fairbury and was , ar rested on the charge of removing mortgaged property , the same offense which Bonawitz was attempting to ar rest him for when the shooting oc curred. Ho will be held until the district court meets. The business men of Chadron are inaugurating the first steps toward a pronounced business revival. A pro ject is on foot to secure the trade of the Pine Ridge Indian reservation for that city and a strong petition is being prepared asking that a mail route be established between Chadron and Pine Ridge. Chadron is said to be the nat ural location for the supply of the mercantile needs of Pine Ridge agency. Hereafter all revenue stamps on documentary matter must be marked not only with the day of the year , but with the month and day on which they were affixed. Previously Com missioner Scott ruled that it was only necessary that the year should be in scribed , but recently some extensive frauds have been discovered on the Board of Trade in New York. These included cases where $5 and § 10 stamps were used and after being used once they were removed and usel again on subsequent documents. The result was the new order which pre vents a second use of the stamp. The following promotions in the Third Nebraska have been made by. Governor Holcomb : Captain Harry S. Dungan , Company K , to the rank of major , to date from December 12 , 1898 , vice McClay , promoted ; First Lieutenant William J. Ohlheiser , Com pany K , captain Company K , vice Dungan , promoted ; First Lieutenant : William G. Doane , Company C , to rank of adjutant , to date from Octob er 20 , 1898 , vice Beck , resigned ; First Lieutenant Oscar H. Allen , Compary B , regimental quartermaster , to rank from December 20 , 1898 , vice Schwind , resigned ; Second Lieutenant Frank D. " Mills , Company H , first lieutenant , to rank from December 31 , 1898 , vice Ohlheiser , promoted ; Second Lieuten ant Henry M. Morrow , Company C , first lieutenant Company C , to rani : from December 31 , 1S98. A'ice Doane , promoted ; Carlos A. Rowes , second lieutenant Company B. first lieuten ant Company B , to rank from Decem ber 31 , 1898 , vice Allen , promoted ; First Sergenat George E. Hall , Com pany H , second lieutenant Company H , to rank from December 31 , 1893. vice Mills , 'promoted ; First Sergeant Thomas R. White , Company C , second lieutenant Company C. to rank from December 31. 1898. vice Morrow , pro moted. The resignation of Frank Israel as county judge of Dundy county was accepted by the commissioners and he left for Lincoln to perfect his contest for a seat in the legislature as repre. sentative , to which he believes he was elected. A stranger , supposed , from papers found on him. to be William C. Nor wood residence unknown , was killed in the railroad yards at South Omaha , beinj ? run over by a Rock Island freight train. He had attempted , to gether with others , to board .ae train - switching. He lost his -was while itwas footing , fell under the wheels and was literally ground to pieces. Lawmakers Convene and Both Houses Organize. CAUCUS AGREEMENTS CAttRIED OUT Two IiancaRtcr County DIcu'Gct the lion ore Fertnlnlns ; to the Chair A. It. Tal- hot Made President of the Semite 1'aul Clark Chosen Speaker of the House. The Nebraska Assembly. The Twenty-sixth session of the Ne braska legislature convened at the ap pointed hour on the 3rd. The organi zation of both houses was promptly effected along the lines'that had been agreed upon by the various caucuses. Paul Clark was made speaker and A. R. Talbot president of the senate , both of Lancaster county by a strict party vote. Semite. In the senate Lieutenant-Governor Harris presided. Senators Holbrook of Dodge , Steele of Jefferson , Van Dusen of Douglas , Canady of Kearney , and SchaaKof Sarpy were designated as the committee on credentials. There were no contests. Chief Justice Harrison risen of the suyreme court then ad ministered the oath of office. The rules of the session of 1893 were adopted temporarily until new- rules can be framed. Senator Noycs by resolution offered the list of officers chosen by the republican caucus , head ed by Senator A. R. Talbot of Lincoln for president pro tern and Alpha Mor gan of Broken Bow for secretary , to serve during the session , and moved their election. Senator Farrell of Merrick wanted a private secretary for the lieutenant governor , and thought the republicans had overlooked this. Officers were then elected by adopting the resolution of Senator Noyes. Senators Talbot of Lancaster. Alex ander ot Adams and Howard of Ham ilton were appointed a committee to wait on Secretary of State Porter and bring him to the -senate for the pur pose of swearing in the officers elect ed. Secretary Porter administered the oath. The committee an standing commit tees was tben selected as follows : Talbot of Lancaster , chairman ; Arends of Otoe. Barton of Johnson , Allen of Furnas , Crow of Douglas , Steele of Jefferson and Holbrook of Dodge. Senators Steele of Jefferson , Hanni bal of Howard and Currie of Custer were named to wait upon the house and notify it that the senate was or. ganized and ready for business. Sen ators Noyes of Douglas , Allen of Fur nas and Farrell of Merrick were also selected to confer witfi a like commit tee from the house and wait , upon Gov ernor Holcomb to advise him that the legislature was in session and ready to receive any communication he may have ; also to fix a time for receiving his message. The complete list of officers elected in the senate under the resolution of Senator Noyes is as follows : A. R. Talbot , Lincoln , president pro tern ; Alpha Morgan , Broken Bow , secre tary ; A. R. Keim , Falls City , assist ant secretary ; E. E. Thompson , Grand Island , second assistant secretary ; T. A. Boyd , Beaver City , bookkeeper ; A. A. Cressman , Crete , chaplain ; Clark Robinson , Fairmont , sergeant-at- arms ; H. J. Tate , Steele City , assist ant sergeant-at-arms ; A. C. Wright , E-lmwood , postmaster ; Mrs. Frank 3o- ius , Lincoln , assistant postmaster ; Gr P. Butts , Omaha , doorkeeper ; Martin Kerl , West Point , assistant doorkeep er ; John Howard , Hastings , doorkeep er of the gallery ; W. H. Pool , Wabash - bash , chief engrossing clerk ; N. E. Gardner , Norden , assistant enrolling clerk ; W. S. Bourne , Beatrice , clerk of the committee of the whole ; Eu gene Bush. Tecumseh. custodian of ; he senate ; Charles. Johnson , Omaha , mail carrier ; H. II. Winterstein , Fre mont ; and charles Cummings , Omaha , custodians of the cloak room ; B. E. Powell , Cozad , bill clerk ; George Me. Cullum , Nebraska City , assistant bill clerk. It was decided at a committee meet ing of senators that no requisition will be made for newspapers to be paid for by the state. However , it was decid ed that each senator shall be furnished with 20 cents worth of postage stamps per 'day. The report will recommend that en-- ployees shall be paid only while oa duty for the state ; at other times dur ing the session of the legislature their pay will stop. Five pages and one messenger will be employed. In the senate on the 4th Senator Noyes of Douglas sent to the secre tary's desk a resolution naming the following employes agreed on at last night's caucus. Pages , Manley Haughton , Walter Rodges , Charles Boercher and WJllie Stout ; messen ger , Arnold Huenning ; night watch , Ohester Franklin. The resolution was unanimously adopted. Senator Ahrens of Otoe presented a resolution providing that senators be furnished with no newspapers at the state's expense ; that each sena tor be allowed daily ten 2-cent stamps or their equivalent ; and requested the secretary to keep the time of all em ployes , to the end that they-be paid only for the time actually spent in the discharge of his duties. The resolution elution was unanimously adopted. Preliminary work of organization being now complete , Senator Talbot of Lancaster moved the appointment of a committee of three to act with , a like committee from the house in ar ranging for a joint session to can vass the votes cast for state officers at the last general election. The 2hair appointed as such a committee Senators Talbot , Steele and Canaday. Later the committee reported that they had conferred with the house committee , and had agreed on 11 a. m. as the time for a joint session , to be held in representative hall , for the purpose of canvassing the vote cast for state officers on November 8 last. < U 11 a. m. a recess was accordingly taken and the sergeant-at-arms , by lirection of the lieutenant governor , formed senators in proper line and narched them through the corridors ; o the hall of the house. Returning ! rom representative hall at 11:45 : the ; enate , on motion of Senator Hol- jrook , adjourned until Thursday norning. In'the senate on the 5th a communi cation from General Barry was read by the secretary Inviting members of the senate to attend the reception , to bo tendered Governor-elect Poynter in the senate chamber at night. Senate file No. 1 was introduced by Senator Prout og Gage , beinrdlululu to amend. Lieutenant Governor Harris held up a gavel , announcing that it had been presented by the wards of/the deaf and dumb institute at Omaha. On motion of Senator O'Neill of Holt , the sec- relary was instructed to write to the wavds of the institute a letter express ing the thanks of the senate. The senate then , on motion of Senator Steele of Jefferson , repaired to the house for joint convention. At 5:10 : senators having returned from the joint convention , the senate was called to order by Lieutenant Governor Harris. After roll call Sen ator Talbot moved the appointment of a committee of three to conduct the lieutenant governor , just installed , to the senate chamber. The motion be ing agreed to , Senators Talbot , Mor gan and Cauaday were named as such committee , and promptly returned with Lieutenant Governor E. A. Gil bert , who , on taking the chair , deliv ered a brief address. A telegram from Senator W. V. Allen was read , as follows : Washington. D. C. , Jan. 5. Hon. E. A. Gilbert , Senate : I congratulate the senate , and beg to express the hope that its sessions will be of profit to the state , and benefit to its members. WILLIAM V. ALLEN. Senator Barton moved the appoint ment of the folk-wing committee of rule to report Monday at 2 o'clock : Senators Talbot , Noyes , Crow , Steele and Holbrok. The senate adjourned until 2 p. m. Monday. House. The house of the twenty-sixth ses sion of the Nebraska legislature was called to order by Secretary of State Porter. Erie Johnson acted as clerk. The rol call showed all present except Wallring , who afterward came in. Price of Hall , when nominations for speaker were asked for , named Hugh A. Myer of Douglas , and L. L. Looiuis of Butler nominated J. R. Morrison of Thayer. The rol call showed fifty-two for Meyer , republican , and forty-four for Morrison , fusion. Wilcox of Lincoln moved that-a com mittee of five on crcdenitals be ap pointed. This motion prevailed , and the speaker pro tern , named on the committee. Detweiler of Douglas , Price of Hall , ansen of Douglas , Wil- cos of Lincoln and Weaver of Richard son. Weaver of Richardson offered a motion that each member deposit his certificate with the credentials com mittee , and it was adopted. On motion of Pollard of Cass the rules of the last session of the legis lature were adopted , subject to change by a majority vote. Chairman Detweiler of the commit tee on credentials reported that certif icates had been presented a'nd recom mending that those holding them be declared entitled to seats in the house. The report was adopted. On motion of Pollard of Cass , a committee of three was appointed to wait on the chief justice of the su preme court and request him to ad minister the oath of office to the mem bers. Chief Justice Harrison being an nounced , the members stood at their desks and the chief justice , from the cleric's stand , administered the oath , and afterward each member as his name was called went to the clerk's desk and signed the written oath. A committee from the senate an- nonced that body to be organized , and ready for business. On motion , the house proceeded to permanent organization. Pollard of Cass nominated for speaker Paul F. Clark of Lancaster , as the choice of the republicans , and Grosvenor of Hamilton nominated C. F. Wheeler of Furnas , the fusion caucus nominee. The roll was called , and Clark re ceived 52 votes and Wheeler 48 votes. Clark was declared elected. Speaker Clark , on taking the seat , thanked the members , and said he knew the responsibilities of the office were great ; that , while he would know no faction on the floor , he rejoiced that once more the legislature of Ne braska was in the hands of the repub lican party , and that the election of a United States senator in accord with the president was assured. He pledged his help to the members toward mak. ing the session an economical one. Weaver of Richardson offered a mo tion that the remainder of the list of officers of the house be selected bv acclamation , according to the list made out by the republican caucus , suspending the rules for that purpose. This was agreed to , and the following list was read by Detweiler of Douglas and elected by the house : Chief clerk. John Ware , Valley ; first assistant clerk , A. D. Gilmore , Nemaha ; second assistant clerk , J. O. Berkley , Brown ; third assistant clerk , R. H. Langofrd , Lincoln ; sergeant-at- arms , Frank Cramer , Cass ; doorkeep er , Charles Carpenter , Washington : assistant doorkeeper , F. L. Miller , JeC- ferson ; engrossing and enrolling clerk , William Wheeler , Wayne ; chap lain , J. W. Seabrook , Nuckolls ; post master , L. Cornell , Washington. Rouse , Jansen and Wheeler were ap pointed a committee to notify the sen ate that the house was ready for busi ness and fully organized. Pollard of Cass. Chittenden , Olm- stead of Douglas , Wilcox of Lincoln and Burns of Lancaster , republicans , were appointed a committee on em ployes to report for the guidance of the speaker. Grosvenor of Hamilton moved thr.t a committee to determine the quanti ty and character of stationery supplies for the house be appointed , arid the speaker appointed Burnam of Douglas , Nesbit of Burt and Grosvenor of Ham ilton. The house then adjourned. The house , on the : i , was called to order by Speaker Clark. A committee from the senate an nounced that it had been appointed to confer with a like committee from the house and arrange for a joint conven tion of the two houses to canvass the vote for stfite officers. On motion of Evans of Adams , a committee of three on conference on joint session was appointed. On this committee the speaker appointed Evans , Lane and Tanner. The motion of Thompson of Mer- rick , providing for the commute to inform the governor that the house was ready.to consider any communi cation Jie might wish to present , hav ing prevailed , the speaker appointed Thompson of Merrick. Haller and Grosvenor on that committee. The joint session to canvass the vote announced the following result : for governor , Hayward , 92,982 ; Poyn ter , 95,703 ; Muir , 1,724 ; Aley , 248. , For lieutenant governor : Murphy , 92,150 ; Gilbert , 94,850 ; Loomis , 1,778 ; Kerrigan , 254. For secretary of state : Duras , 92- 395 ; Porter , 94,408 ; Lawson , 1,749 ; fcil- worth , 144 ; Bernine , 229. For auditor of public accounts : Matthews , 91,539 ; Cornell , 94,674 ; Cro- well , 1,710 ; Johnson , 1G6 ; Conway , 240. 240.For For state treasurer : Mortensen , 91- 623 ; Meserve. 95,040 ; Burch. 1,699 ; Luth. 138 ; Kissel. 239. For - superintendent of public in struction : Taylor , 91,791 ; Jackson , 94,595 ; Upton , 1,615. For attorney general : Jackson , 91- 694 ; Smyth , 91,295 ; Wolfenbarser , 1- , 805 ; Odell , 146 ; Baker , 249. For commissioner of public lands and buildings : Williams , 91,471 ; Wolfe , 94,503 ; Blum , 1,651 ; Kelly , 143 ; Herman. 275. For congressman , First district : Burkett , 16,960 ; Manahan , 14,466 ; Her man , 50. Second district : Mercer , 11- 951 ; Hitchcock , 11,023. Third district : Norris , 17,333 ; Robinson , 18,722. Fourth district , Hinshaw , 18,377 ; Stark , 18- 904. Fifth district : Adams. 15,487 ; Sutherland , 16,354 ; Armstrong. 27. Sixth district : Brown , 13,401 ; Greene , 15,415. For judges of district court to fill vacancy. Sixth district : Hollenbeck , 5,922 ; McAllister , 5,203 ; Third district , Tuttle , 4,501 ; Frost , 5,518. The committee appointed to wait on the governor reported that his excel lency had declared his readiness to submit his annual message at any time , but that he preferred to do so just prior to the clqse of his term and just before his successor was inaug urated. Prince of Hall ( rep. ) , moved that a committee on deficiencies be added to the regular standing committee of the house. In explaining his motion , he said the object was to separate the claims for deficiencies in appropria tions for institutions and state offices from other claims that were likely to come before the house. After consid- rable discussion , the motion was dropped. Adjournment followed. In the house on the 5th Thompson of Clay , fasionist , offered a resolution providing for the appointment of a ! committee of three to inquire into the number , character , sufficiency and amount of all claims against the state now on file aud those during the two years ending November 30 , 1898 , anl to report to this house. It was laid on the table. The speaker announced the follow ing appointments of employes. Fourth assistant clerk and time-keeper , H , Glasgow ; custodian , G. W. Davenport ; stenographer and typewriter to chief clerk Mrs. Hattie Fletcher ; custodian of cloak room , J. Y. Colper ; assistant custodian of cloak room , Theodore Smith ; janitors , F. P. Culling , Frank Johnson ; assistant doer keeper , Jerry Wilhelming ; assistant postmaster , S. J. Harris ; private secretary to the speaker , G. AV. Marsh ; night watch men , John Licklider and F. W. Koet- : er ; bill clerk.Ed. Morris ; assistant , S. S. Skinner ; custodian of suonlies , G. P. Porter. Speaker Clark announced the com mittee on rules as follows : Speaker , Pollard , Prince , Thompson of Merrick , Detweiler , Wheeler and Weaver. The resolution by Beverly of Doug las , providing that there be at once a sufficient number of employes of the j " house appointed to transact" the busi ness of the body , was adopted. The motion of Jansen that , when the house adjourn it be to meet Mon. day at 2 p. m. , was agreed to. The senate was announced and the members , preceded by the lieutenant governor aud President Pro Tern , Talbot , came in and were seated with the members of the house , the lieuten ant governor being given the gavel by the speaker. The roll of each house was called and on resolution presented by Sena tor Noyes , a committee of five was ap pointed to wait upon the governor and i inform him that the joint convention was in session and ready to receive any communication he desired to lay before it. The committee was also directed to invite the governor-elect and state officers-elect to attend the convention. The supreme court of the state of Nebraska was announced by Sergeant- at-Arms McLeod and immediately after announced the governor and state officers. Governor Holcomb and Governor- ? lect Poynter were conducted to places on the clerk's stand and the members of the supreme court seated beside .hem. Lieutenant Governor Harris introduced Governor Holcomb , wheat at once proceeded to read his annual message. - , ' The mcsage was a lengthy one , con- Laining seventy-six typewritten pages , [ t gave a review of the past year , the ivar with Spain and Nebraska's part in it ; the exposition ; the prosperity Df the state and taking up of aband- aned farms ; the state finances ; sus pended banks and defalcations of state facials ; investment of trust funds , as shov/n by the treasurer's report ; con- lition of state institutions ; operation Df the parole lav/ ; management of state prison and benefits of the agri cultural experimental station. Governor Holcomb made the follow- ng recommendations : A reduction rate of interest on state warrants to 4 per cent. The calling of a constitutional con tention for revision of the constitu- , Ion. Ion.Revision Revision or aiuendmen t of state evenue laws. Passage of lav/ for collection of an nheritance tax. Amendment of tax lav/ which at n-esent allows much property to go mtaxed while the poor man pays a ligh rate in proportion to the rich nan , owing to the system of the low aluation. The transfer of certain funds to the jciieral fund as recommended by the itate treasurer. ° Stricter laws with regard to insur- inco ; foreign companies to file power > f attorney ; resident agency law to bo inacted. The message called atten- ion to the fact that Nebraska re- : eived far less money from Insurance companies than other states did , and | he asked the passage of a law to rem. edy It. Appropriation for current expenses of state institutions. Enlargement of insane asylums a ) Lincoln and Hastings and a special building tax to provide for it. The owning by the state of the homo for the friendless at Lincoln. A larger appropriation for the state university. That contract labor be restricted to manufacture of those articles need ed in state institutions , especially shoes. The sale of penitentiary lands. Continuance of the bureau of labor statistics , but a better method of gath ering crop statistics , which would re quire provisions for at least one sal aried office. A law against indiscriminate voting of Irrigation bonds. Amendment of live stock laws , es pecially with reference to contagious diseases. A supreme court commission to try cases until amendment of constitution increases number of judges. _ Careful investigation and consider ation of railroad rates and passes ; moderation of maximum" freight laws ; an elective railroad commission. Speedy determination of litigation in South Omaha stock yards cases. The reorganization of the Nebraska national guard. An appropriation of $50,000 for pros ecution of cases wherein the state is a party , especially cases for recovery of money due the state by defaulting ofucers or failing banks. Direct vote for senator. Erection of an executive mansion. When Governor Holcomb closed Chief Justice Harrison administered the oath to Governor-elect Poynter and the latter read his message. The oath was then administered to the other state officers by the chief justice and the joint convention ad journed. Extra Pay for Volunteers. At the opening of the session of the house on the 6th inst Mr. Marsh , re publican of Illinois , asked unanimous consent for the consideration of a bill to grant to officers and men of the volunteer army upon their musler-out two months' extra pay if they have served beyond the limits of the United States and one month's extra pay if they have only served within the lim its , this extra pay to be in lieu cf fur loughs or leaves of absence. It has been the practice to grant these fur loughs or leaves of absence , so that in reality the bill only sought to do directly what 'has heretofore been done indirectly. After this explana tion of it Mr. Bailey announced that ho had no objection to the measure. The bill was passed. Dinglcy Very I.o\v. The condition of Renresentative Dingley of Maine , who has been 511 for almost a week with pneumonia , lias undergone a marked change for the worse and his physicians hold out lit tle if any hope for recovery. Although the lung has improved considerably and the cough lessened the effect of the pneumonia has so weakened the system as to decrease the vitality alarmingly. The poison from the sickness has permeated the whole sys tem which leaves it less able to ntap ( the strain. Today the patient appeared ba utterinc : extracts from speeches he had made on the tariff cueslion He was conscious only when aroused The physicians say there must be a radical change one way or the othei very soon. State Rights In Germany. The decision of the Bundersrath that it is competent to deal with th Lippe-Metniold succession dispute is based on the professional opinion cf Prof. Kekule von Stardonitz. which differs from the minority. The whole matter will form the subject of a resolution elution in the reichstas and the freis- ining party will force the government to define how far the Bundesrath or federal council may interfere with sovereign rights of each state of tha German empire. "Will Abolish .Jjijiancie I > nlor. The legislative assembly cf Victor ia. B. C. , opened on the 6th. Thomas Forster , member for the Delta. New Westminster district , was chosen speaker. The government had a ma- iority of four. The government policy , indicated by the speech from tlie throne , includes the abolition of the ? mployment of Japanese in coal mines i d legislation to prevent the acquir ing of mining claims by aliens. Trade Uoomiiisr in Manila. Advices received at the San Franc.:3- 30 customs house from officials in the customs house at Manila report that trade in the city has received an im petus since American occupation. The receipts at the Manila custom house luring November averaged S20.COO a lay in gold and the report states that shipping is on the increase and that : he possibilities of commerce are un- ; imited. Ilcirinsr Uonmlnry Dsj ! > uto. Senor Andrade , the Venezuelan min ster , has returned to Washington 'rom a vacation in his own country. la expects to go to Paris to attend the neeting of the Venezuelan boundary : ommission January 25. It is under stood , however , that this meeting will > e purely formal for purposes of or ganization and in order to receive the ) riefs of the counsel on both sides. TIio Omnibus Bill. Congressman Stark , whose omni- r.s bill appropriating $100,000 for pub ic buildings in ten of the leading cit es of the Fourth congressional dis- rict , has been adversely reported upon > y Acting Secretary of the Treasury > paulding , is after both Spaulding and Chairman Mercer of the public build- ngs and grounds committee , with z harp stick. Retirements In the Army. Several important retirements in the rmy will occur during the current ear. Brigadier General Stanton , pay- laster general , will retire on the 30th ast. ; Brigadier General Flngler , chief f ordnance , June 24 ; Brigadier Gen- rat Suniner in August next and Brig- dier General Shafcor , October 16. Don't think hard work kills as many eople as worry does j { Mr , Cornell Gives Figures in Connection With His Work , THE STATE'S FINANCES SET FOKTII , ll Officials Have- Worked In Unison Recommendations that are Made En * forcemeat of the Reciprocal Auditor Cornell , in his biennial re port , says : "The heads of the various depart- mets of the state have worked in uni son of limiting expenditures to the actual needs of the unimpaired govern ment , this they "have been able to liq uidate 738,750.59 of the state debt with out increasing the burdens of taxa tion. " Fees from the insurance companies for the next two years that will be paid into the auditor's office are esti mated at ? 25,000 per year. The audi tor's office is placed in the list of of fices that are more than self-sustain ing. ing.The The report continues : "My prede cessors estimated the evpeasas Tor the present biennium at $2,6o4,373.S7. The appropriations to cover the expenses or this period were ? 2,366S43.40 , or 5687,530.17 less than the amount asked for. The total available receipts for the two years just ended were 2,292- 9l > 0.70. The estimates for appropria tions made by the heads of the vari ous departments and institutions , are for the biennium commencing April 1 , 1898 , § 2,823,239.44. This includes ? 210OGO for new buildings. ? 125OOD bounty on sugar beets , § 50,000 bounty on wild animals , which have accum ulated to the amount nf S50.0CO or $60- 000. 000."The "The depository law so far as the state is concerned has proven very sat isfactory during the past two years. The accretions to the revenue under the law for said period have beea ? 2S- 999.07. I would recommend , however , that the law be so amended as to re quire the depository to report to the auditor at the end of each month , hewing the amount of money held by it during the month , also the several daily balances , the amount of inter ests accrued , and tovhat funds cred ited. " The auditor recommends that telephone - phone property be included in the property which the state board ot equalization is required to value and assess. He recommends an amendment to : he present lav/ raising the limit of taxation levied by the state board of equalization for the general fund 'rom 5 to 7 mills , thus enabling the joard to raise sufficient revenue to cover appropriations. With a con stantly decreasing valuation of prop erty as fixed by assessors the state joard cannot raise enough by taxa tion to cover the state's expenses. The auditor states that he has en- leavored to enforce the reciprocal aw in relation to insurance compan ies of other states. All the companies doing business in this state paid" an aggregate of $43,730 in fees during the past two years. A law for the encour agement of home surety companies is recommended. Attention i.calied to an unfairness in the reciprocal law. It applies only to comi-anieri of other states and not to comTiunies of foreign countries. Th3 law brings in from § 15,000 to S'0,000 a year. A change in the lav ' reducing sher iff's fees is noted by the auditor. For tue two years ending November 183G. $29,217.06 was paid out under the old lav. ' . Under the new law $15,054.99 vas paid out for similar services. This law relates to fees of offices for caring for and delivering criminals and _ juve nile offenders. STATE FINANCES. At the close of business November 30 , 1SGS , the liabilities of the state were as follows : State funding bonds $ 150,267.3.3 General fund warrants . . . 1,571 , ( 4.0L Floating , non-interest-bear- debt 2,43S.2S Total ? l,727,3S.Gi The assets were as follows : Cash in treasury ? 624,523.4" ? TJncollected taxes 3,483,073.7 Suspended account 605,240.47 Permanent educational fund investments 3,550.030.21 Total SS.352.SG7.1L Speaker of the House. Paul F. Clark , the new speaker , \vas born near Green Laake , in. Green Lake county , "Wisconsin , thirty-seven years ago. He came from good New York stock. His father vas a man of education and culture and his mother was a neice of the famous nov elist , J. Fennimore Cooper. His youth was spent in hard labor on ; i small rocky farm in the Wisconsin woods. His father died early and until he was nineteen the cares of life rest ed rather heavily upon him. His op portunities for education were meagre , but he read all of the books to be bcr- ; owed in the neighborhood. His teistes went to history and ro'itics , aud the people of the township wore sure that they would hear from him later in pub lic work. In 1SSO his mother sold the old homestead and joined a colony bound for Platte county , Nebraska. Phe thoroughness with whichth-i your.s nan was transplanted to the new state may be judged from a declaration nade last summer when he wis vis iting the old home that it was a most : ortimate change. The free , rich soil af Nebraska was a revelation to the lew settlers. As for the certainty ot 'arming in the two states , he declared ; e had seen more croiis "dried out" ii Wisconsin than ia Nebraska in the , ame number of seasons.- In 1SS2 Air. Clark entered the unl- : ersity of Nebraska , graduating in SS7. During his college course he Kirtially supported himself , but had ime to make a good record and at the : ame time be a leader in alt student Movements. Ho studied law in Lin- ; oln , was admitted in 1SSS. and has ; ince been a member of the firm of Mark and Allen. He was married in SS9 to Miss May Roberts , daughter of . famous Nebraska pioneer Methodist ireacher , a young woman of many IH- ellectual accomplishments. Her lit- rary work appears frequently In 'ouths' Companion and other high lass jornals. Mr. Clark's legislative xncrience began two years ajje " " " *