nv ntiom "What Is the actual coat of the na tional convention of one of the great political parties ? This question Is more easily asked than answered , as I have found In endeavoring to secure an ac curate answer to It. Party leaders , convention managers , convention offi cials either do not know or will not tell the details of the expenditures on this account. They seem to be part of the body of secrets which one national committee hands down to-another , and which all national committees en deavor to keep from the public. The national conventions are largely under the management of the national com mittees. National committees select the time and the place , make the ar rangements with the cities which en tertain the convention , manage every thing but the actual proceedings , and wind up the business affairs after wards. The actual work of arranging for the convention's convenience and comfort and the convenience and comfort of the newspaper men and other specta tors is delegated by the national com mittee to a subcommittee , and the offi cers of the national committee , as a rule , control the expenditures. Pre sumably , the accounts are submitted to the national committee and duly audited , and , presumably , vouchers are produced for the expenditure of the money. But , if so , very little seems to be known about the accounting , and some of the political leaders say that it is not always either rigid or ex act. The fact Is that the fund for the en tertainment of the convention is now adays made large enough by the city PROHIBITION HxltCHICAG.Q whose invitation is accepted to leave a large surplus over and above all nec essary expenses for the use of the na tional committee in the campaign fol lowing , and this makes the party man agers unwilling to say definitely what actual convention expenditures were , and , perhaps , prevents the adoption of strict requirements as to the account ing for those expendituies. Of course , all the convention man agers say that there can be no fixed schedule of convention expenses , be cause every convention is different from every other convetion. Altera tions in the hall might make the bill of expenses differ by $5,000 or $10- 000 from the convention of the other party in the same year or from a con vention before or after. In a rough way it is possible to make a pretty good estimate * of expenses for what might be called an average convention by comparing such fragments of in formation as the party managers are willing to give on the subject. Certain things aie expected by every national committee of the city which has t he honor to entertain the con vention. It must , of course , provide the hall and whatever alterations are necessary , and the seats and other fur niture , and the decorations and a num ber of incidentals , such as stationery. It must pay the expenses of engrav ing the tickets and providing the bands of music for the convention proceedings. It must provide for the entertain ment of the national committee as a body , with a large suite of the best hotel rooms as "headquarters , " and the rule is to provide for the entertain ment of the individual members of the committee as well. The ordinary del egates must pay their own expenses or have them paid by their state or ganization. All they get are a few tickets of admission each for their friends , which in some cases have been sold to meet personal expenses. The proceedings of the convention are always reported by stenographers and published afterward in full , and this is done at the expense of * he host city. Carriages and other conveni ences , luncheons and other eatables and drinkables are among the other items which may be in the convention expenses. As a rule the national com mittee is asked the highest prices and does not hesitate to pay them for whatever it thinks necessary. If the nail has to be rented the ren tal may vary from $2,000 to § 5,000. If alterations have to be made , as is al most always the case , they may cost as much more , and the bill for the dec orations may be equally large. The entertainment of the national com mittee as a body and as individuals may cost several thousand dollars. Music in the convention may take from $100 to $300 a day. The stenographic work at the Chicago cage convention of 1896 cost about § 600 , and the edition of several thou sand copies of the printed report of the proceedings cost several thousand dollars more. The tickets of admis sion are always very carefully design ed .and engravedtj and are guarded as jealously as the most precious jewels to prevent them from being counter feited. They are kept in a safe depos it vault from the time they are deliv ered by the engraving company until the time they are issued , just belore the meeting of the convention. It Is claimed that convention tickets have never been counterfeited. As a com plete set of them may be worth from $15 to $30 , there Is obvious reason for taking every precaution to keep them from being counterfeited. In all this nothing lias been said about the payment of money for the services of the scores of subordinate officials and assistants of various kinds. It is well known , of course , that the officers of a convention re ceive no pecuniary compensation. They serve for the honor and glory of it , although allowances 'are usually made to the sergeant-at-arms and similar officers for their personal ex penses. It does not seem to be so generally known that it has been customary for very many of their subordinates the doorkeepers and messengers and depu ties of various sorts , including clerks to serve without pay. Many of these men come with the state delegations , and are very glad to have the oppor tunity of attending all the sessions of the convention , and at the same time privilege of a little authority , even if it is brief , and a chance to wear a big badge , to say nothing of the pos sibility of future reward In the shape of a salaried office somewhere. As a rule , I am told , the employes of the convention staff receive no wages , but serve for love and glory. Some of them may receive money for their ex- DCMOCRM-1C CONVENTION MALL KANSAS CITf penses , or what might be called gra tuities in some other shape , but this seems to be considered exceptional. It is obvious that no one can say what a given convention will cost. It seems to be considered that $20,000 is a reasonable minimum , and $40,000 a reasonable maximum of cost , and that anything above or below is pure vel vet for somebody. But whether the expense is more or less will never be known to the public. Indeed , it will never be known to the city that entertains the convention. The city makes its invitation attract ive with an offer of a lump sum of money and then turns it over without asking any questions. LAFAYETTE STATUE AT PARIS , The Lafayette statute by Paul Bait- lett , which will be unveil 3d at Paris July 4 , is an imposing testimonial of the friendship of the United States for her sister republic. It is a gift from the school children of the United States to the French government. The base is 26 feet 6 inches high , 24 feet wide and 18 feet 9 inches in depth. Kochs' Researches on Malaria. In the report just published on his study of malaria in Italy Prof. Koch says the infection of malaria is es pecially maintained and propagated by the relapsing cases which continue all the year round and form the link be tween one fever season and the next , so that the mosquitoes in the beginning of the summer always find germs. If no rejapse occurred in any of the cases of malaria in any given district the mosquitoes would find no germs in the beginning of summer , and malaria would become extinct there. The pro fessor ascertained that the so-called aestivo-autumnal fevers were identical with tropicrl malaria Have Come Into Prominence As a Result of Boxers Kevolt. The city of Tientsin , which has come Into sudden prominence as a result of the outbreak of the Boxers , is located upon the Pei-Ho river , about thirty- three miles above Its mouth by land , and almost twice that distance by wa ter. It is the second-largest city of northern China , having an estimated population of about 1,000,000 , and is the port of Pekin , the capital of China. The meaning of Tientsin is "The Heavenly Ferry. " The town Is an im portant center of trade , and is the terminus of the imperial canal and of a railroad , Tung-Chau , which was opened a dozen years ago. It is ex ceedingly dirty , as are all Chinese cities. Its streets are unpaved , ana are always covered with garbage , CITIES known , it is the seat of the Imperial Tung-Chau , ninety miles distant by water and sixty by land. There the passengers land and the freight Is taken off. Pekin Is eleven miles distant from Tung-Chau , and is connected with It government , and has been such for about 500 years. Here the foreign min isters are stationed. Minister Conger , for the United States , Sir Claude MacDonald , England , and M. De Giers , Russia. The population is estimated to be about 1,500,000 , which .may be wrong by several hundred thousand , as no census has ever been taken. The citizens of both Tientsin and Pekin are very hostile toward foreign ers , and the travelers for pleasure who visit either are not many. Their at mosphere is so foul , owing to their dirtiness , that a foreigner , accustomed to clean streets , can hardly breathe it. which seems to be never carried away. The dwelling houses are con structed of sun- remit , cr n dried-- brick and are very poor , but the business buildings are more pretentious. The United States con sulate is one of the best examples of Chinese architecture in its highest form to be found In the city. Tientsin has a public garden , which receives very good care. In 1858 a treaty was concluded be tween China , Russia , England , France and the United States at Tientsin , and at the convention of Pekin in 1860 the port was made an open one. In reaching Pekin from Tientsin the boats ascend the tortuous river to by a broad stone road and by a canal , either of which may be used by the travelers or by merchants in trans porting their goods. Pekin is better known than any of the other Chinese cities whose names have crept into print since the out break of the Boxers. As is commonly AT TIPS HOI. BUM cm f The "Themple ol Heaven" is in Pe kin. The Pei-Ho river empties into the Gulf of Pe-Chi-Lo. As a rule boats drawing more than eleven feet cannot enter it , and the Nawark , Admiral Kempff's flagship , cannot get nearer than seven miles to its mouth. At its entrance are the Taku forts , and across the gulf are the fortifications of Port Arthur. Boats drawing more than ton f < et touch the muddy bottom of the stream almost all the way to Tientsin unless they travel only during high tide and rest when the water is low. The high est tide is ten feet and the neap tide seven and a half feet. As a , bar ob structs the entrance to the river all but very light draft boats must wait until high tide to get in. At Tientsin the river is about 200 feet wide. Only boats that draw from two to three feet can go on to Tung- Chau , as the stream is formed by the confluence of the Pekin and the Yuen Ling rivers just above Tientsin. ORIGIN OF THE BOXERS The Bdxers are still a mystery to the Chinese minister , who says they were never heard of in China up to the time of his departure from the country , three years ago. But a Chinese-Amer ican named Sun Yow Pang ventures an explanation of their origin. Ac cording to this authority tha present troubles may be related back to the disputes between the progressive par ty , which had the emperor for its figurehead , and the conservative party of the empress dowager. It will be remembered that the emperor blos somed out as a reformer and issued several edicts which made th ? repre sentatives of old China shudder with aversion and dismay. Competent crit ics said at the time that his methods were so crude and arbitrary as to be utterly impractical , though they were inspired by correct motives. Events justified their predictions. Supersti tions , long-established customs and abuses could not be overcome at a word , and the reform movement played right into the hands of the em press. Like most of her countrymen , she hated the foreigners. The re formers were the foreigners' friends. Hence China for the Chineae was the import of a counter-revolution3 and such of the reform leader. ? who did not have their heads cut oft. were glad to escape to distant lands. After the empress was restored to power the Yee Ho Chuan ( righteousness , har mony and fists , hence "Boxers" ) or ganized thsir secret society to assist in the work of discouraging those re formers who were not discouraged enough already , and to help check the foreign devils , among whom , in spile of the contradiction in terms , were the missionaries. As time passed check ing became murdering , and the wick ed old woman either abetted or winked at the crime. This is why the Impe rial troops have made no headway against the so-called rebellion and why the powers have united in self- protection. Apparently China's greacest need is TRIAL OF A BOXER. THE PRISONER IS KNEELING BEFORE THE JUDGE. THE MAN AT THE RIGHT , WITH A BELL-SHAPED HAT , IS THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY. the deportation of the. baleful Gno La She. The San Juan Prison Kevolt. The outbreak in the San Juan peni tentiary of 500 inmates who mutinied because they said the ? * breakfast was not fit to eat is proof that the manage ment of the institution does not un derstand modern ideas of penology. There is not a prison in the United States where some effort is not made to give the prisoners satisfactory food. At a recent meeting of the National Conference of Charities and Correc tions it was said by one of the speak ers that the question of food had been responsible for more trouble at the prisons than anything else. The day of bread and water diet and of food not fit for animals has gone out of fashion with the offensive pens in which prisoners were confined less than a century ago. George Neitharamer Perishes While Try- ng to Ford the Stream. PROBABLY SANK IN QUICKSAND Mr * . Nelthauimer Clung ? to the Home's Harness und Wus Dragged Safely to Shore Where She Fell In a Fuliit to Dlicover Later That Her Husband Had Drowned. GRAND ISLAND , Neb. , June 18. While crossing a ford In the Platte riv er Saturday morning the horse driven by Mr. and Mrs. George Niethammer got off the ford and Into a deep pool. Mr. and Mrs. Niethammer were thrown from the wagon by the box floating away from the gearing. Mrs. Nie thammer grabbed a piece of the horse's harness and was dragged by the horse to the shore. This being some little distance and she having to struggle in keeping above water exhausted her and she -fell in a faint just after the horse reached the shore. The last she saw of her husband he was standing about in midrlvor. When she recovered consciousness she could find no trace of him. She was on the island shore of the stream and no one else lives on the Island. She shouted as long as she could in the di rection of the nearest neighbor on the mainland and after some time attract ed the attention of Miss Faildorf , who gave the alarm. As quite a few hours had passed before efforts could be set afoot to find the remains it is doubtful if they will be recovered. Mrs. Niethammer believes that her husband attempted to walk to the shore and ventured on quicKsand. or stepped into one of the numerous holes. He could not swim. Niethammer is 64 years of age and leaves a second wife and six children from his former mar riage , three in Germany and three in New York. New Ncbrank * Lawyers LINCOLN , Neb. , June 18. The su preme court examining commission has reported favorably on the following candidates for admission to the bar : Charles > E. Adams , Jr. , Superior ; H. D. Landis , Milford ; Charles L. Fritscner , Omaha ; Sidney H. Davis , Beatrice ; John D. Wear , Omaha ; Alvln H. Jokn- son , Walter M. Crow , Fremont ; Joseph D. Morse , Milford ; George F. Rose , Fullerton ; George C. DeTemple , Blair ; Herbert L. Standeven , Omaha ; George A. Ahem , Lincoln ; Frank A. Berry , Carroll ; Thomas E. Munson , Hastings ; Nathan O. Talbot , Omaha ; Iheodore F. Vandorn , Omaha ; Isaac H. Seabury , Plainview ; Arthur G. "Wray , York ; Harry C. Maynard , Fremont ; Henry Mencke , Blair ; Ray J. AbDott , Crete ; J. Edgar Jones , Hastings. Bernard P. Duffy of Columbus was admitted from the bar of Illinois. Arthur G. Wray of York , not being of age , will not be admitted until next year. Strange Insect in Grain. BRADSHAW , Neb. , June 18. A very strange little green insect has made its appearance in the wheat fields in this vicinity. It seems to have bred or hatched in the heads of the grain and is generally found just at the base of the berry or close in between the berry and stem. While these little insects are very numerous , they do not appear to be doing any harm at present , but many of the farmers are somewhat ap prehensive in regard to the damage they may do when once developed. They are total strangers to the far mers. Raise Tax Assessment. WEST POINT , Neb. , June 18. The County Board of Equalization met and raised the assessment on personal prop erty in West Point precinct 24 per cent , at the same time lowering Wisner 10 per cent and Bancroft 20 per cent. Thii action was deemed necessary from the fact that West Point's most wealthy citizens are believed by the board to be confirmed tax shirkers. While this action will doubtless force tills class to pay their proper proportion of taxes , it will be hard on those merchants who have returned a fair assessment. Elevator lireaks an Arm. UTICA , Neb. , June 18. About 2 o'clock Friday afternoon E. L. Hurlbut had the misfortune to catch his left arm in the elevator shaft , breaking it in two places and pushing it out of its socket at the shoulder and bruising his whole side. The pres ence of mind of Marion Nelson , who happened to be in the elevator at the time , in turning off the engin'j saved his life. The accident is quite a severe one owing to the bruises be ing so close to his heart. Lightning Destroys Residence. OSCEOLA , Neb. , June 18. The resi dence of J. N. Hurd , about eight miles from town , was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. The build ing was insured in the Polk county Mutual for ? 500 and the loss will Le a. thousand. Decide in Saloon's Favor. GENEVA , Neb. , June 18. A special session of the district court convened last week. The case of remonstrance against the saloon in Grafton was de cided in favor of the saloon. Honor Memory of Harsha , TECUMSEH , Neb. , June 18. Serv ices in honor of the memory of Rev. Dr. W. W. Harsha , who was pastor of the Tecumseh Presbyterian church for several years , were held at that churcli yesterday morning. His contemporar ies during his ministerial work here have been invited to be present and assist in the services and will probably respond. Dr. J. J. Lampe of the Omaha Theological seminary , who has been so closely associated with the deceased reverend gentleman , has agreed to make a few remarks. SMALLPOX AT 'SOLDIERS' HOME. City Authorities of tiruuil iJliujtl OU- cover thu n\ \ ORAND ISLAND , Nob. , Juno 10. Dr. KIrby was sent to the Soldiers' homo on the authority of Mayor I'latt to investigate ruinorB of u Hmttllpox case there. Dr. Swlgart , the homo surgeon , was at first inclined to resist the investigation , but flimlly consented. Dr. Klrby found Wellington Watklna in the post house in a state of dlsqua- matlon , when contagion in said to bo most likely. Watkins , who had nursed the first case , had previously been vac cinated , but was affected with a mild attack of the disease. Dr. Kirby reported back to the city officials that at the present stages of the disease it might spread , but ap parently every precaution natf been taken at the home. Food has been passed over what soldiers term the "dead line" for the past eight days and as far as the inmates arc- con cerned quarantine regulations appear to have been upheld since the death of the former victim. The city's Board of Health , however , are not tak ing kindly to the Idea of withholding. the Information of the disease from the official body , not to say the public. Watkins has had a nurse , but as far ao reported no medical attention. Y. M. O. A. Jloyn on a Tramp. FREMONT , Neb. , June 1C. Fifteen boys from the Junior Y. M. C. A. of Omaha , under the direction of Physi cal Director J. B. Barnes , are in Fre mont. These lads formed what they chose to dub the "hiking club. " They went by rail from Omaha Monday to Schuyler and started out to walk the distance back to Omaha , hoping to reach there today. While- here th boys were entertained at the Y. M. C. A. and yesterday afternoon played a game of basCoa.i with the local Y. M. C. A. , team meeting uefeat to the tune of 14 to 1. The boys were In good spirits and have been enjoying their tramp hugely. Fremont will be the only town made. At other stops they will rough it In hay mows or straw stacks. Dliaatl ncd With Aflfcsiincut. MADISON , Neo. , June 16 The coun ty board of equalizers has been be sieged during the two days of Its ses sion by a large number of persons from NorfolK , who are dissatisfied with their valuation. Norfolk is handi capped at present by her low assess ment valuation and will get but little benefit from the assessment just made for there Is very little difference la. the total valuation. Deatli of Child niotliL-r. ALLEN , Ne-fc. , June Hi. Pearl Whit- ford , the 12-year-old daughter of Amir1 Whitfonl , is dead. At the last term of district court Obe Williams wa- > cleared of the charge of statutory ab- sault upon her. Recently she gave birth to a nine and a half-pound boy , the child dying soon after birth ami the child mother soon followed. Th- community is much worked up over the affair. Danish Lutherans Coi.-clmlc. BLAIR , Neb. , June ! < ; . The annual convention of the United Danish Evan gelical Lutheran church of America closed after a ten days' session. About five hunderd delegates from all parts of the union were in attendance , and were well pleased with the doings of the body. Many questions of interest to the church were brought up and thoroughly discussed by the delegates. Knd of u Long Saloon Fight. LONG PINE , Neb. . June 16. After a. session lasting three days the village board granted a saloon license to F. S. Cook. The town has been dry for some time and this has been one of the most bitterly contested cases for years. An appeal will be taken to the district court and the case fought tea a finish. Two Fatal Accident * . NELIGH , Neb. , June 1C. Two deaths have occurred this week as thf results of accidents. Frank Belmer was badly injured in the brick yar-l some time ago , which resulted in paralysis and later in death. A son of C. E. Spaulding had the misfortune to fall from a platform and hurt his skull so that he died. Partridge Case. GRAND ISLAND , Neb. , June 1C. W. A. Partridge , the man brought up from Kansas City on the charge of stealing a horse and buggy from George Brantham of this county , has been dismissed on preliminary hear ing , the evidence being insufficient to bind over. Partridge was brought to this city on requisition papers some days ago. Funeral Director * I'inish. LINCOLN , Neb. , June 1C. The Ne braska funeral directors closed their convention with the election of officer . P. F. Bell of Norfolk was chosen pres ident , Harry B. Davis of Omaha secre tary and George Brown of Superior treasurer. The next convention will be held in Beatricp. Rattle Creek Store Kolibcd. MADISON , Neb. , June 1C. The gen eral store of George Zimmerman at Battle Creek was burglarized this week , and $150 worth of shoes taken The store was entered oy a skeleton key. As far as known nothing taken from the hardware stock. Death from Hr.ken Heart. NEBRASKA CITY , June 16. Mar- rett Anderson , colored , aged -12 , died here of what the physicians pronounce a broken heart. Anderson's wife , to whom he was devotedly attached , die I December 31 last and since that time he has brooded constantly over her loss. Physicians were consulted and stated that medicine would do him no good. He formerly resided at Platts- mouth , where he accumulated consid erable property.