Nebraska Newspapers

    ( NEBRASKA CONGEES ?
{ 'DAILY REPORT OF WHAT IS BE
ING DONE.
QMcamircs of Mow * or Less Import
ncc Arc Boin Introduced Jit tlr
PrcKcut Session of the
Girt of tic .Business.
Tuesday , .Tan. ttl.
Tw < : ifth ballot for senator .stood :
M I I t I * * * * * * '
Ha y.vard . ' . >
'WeK-ler . 1
Scattering . 2
' The .Judiciary Committee this morninj
reported II. Ii. 88. 114. 4 , 57. 93 , 90 , GO , 7
and 5.r > , for passage , and indefinitely post
jioned II. K. 72 and 27. The Committee 01
] foa ! and Bridges reported II. R. JJ8 fo
andflinite postponement. A 11 these report
\ venadopted. . McGinlcy of Otoe offered ;
: re.-.oiulion on the maximum freight rat
law with instructions to the State Moard o
Transportation , and moved its adoption
Aft-r .some debate the motion to refer to ;
j > p'-c- : l committee was defeated , a :
also v/as one to refer to the Railroac
Committee. and the roll was called on tin
.adaption , the vote resulting in 45 yeas am
f0 nays. Another resolution toascertaii
-whj the .Stale Board of Transportation ha
'
mot'done its duty by enforcing the law ;
: up < . : ; the statutes in relation to regulatioi
of fr.-iyht rates. " was adopted. II. I * . 171
the university revenue bill , vas taken uj
on r-rd : reading and passed. After spend
jng v.me time in committee of the wholi
.adjournment was taken.
\Vfien the senate convened Tuesda :
innt tiing the Committee on Highways am
JJriuses reported S. F. 155 , by Miller of Buf
falo. for passage , with a slight amendment
is. ! " 43 , also introduced by .Senator Miller
\va * similarly recommended by the sann
committee. Bills on first and second read
intr , including several house bills , passet
"by ' . he latter body , occupied considerabli
1 hue. .S. F. 38. by Talbot of Lancaster , wa :
> lae-fl upon its third reading and passage
it oneof the Wheeler curative acts. Tin
bill was passed. The Judiciary Commute *
yr 'i Tied upon several bills. S. F. 58 wa :
rec'i'.nriiended to pass. S. F. U7 was rccom
ir.ended for indefinite postponement. It i ,
he bill of O'Xeill of Holt for payment o
05-I < by the county for misdemeanor case ;
before justices and inferior courts. S. F. 4i
-\va- returned without recommendation
IThe committee's report \\as adopted ii
rtlseM'ases. . The Judiciary Committee als <
reer-ir.mended S. F. 40 , bj Millerof Buffalo
for indefinite postponement. The bill pro
vidcs for annually letting out the defense fo ;
3iulg"iit persons charged with crime to th <
.lawyer ] ) iitting in the lowest bid. This re
.port was adopted also. After recess tin
. ; isi < h--iary Committee reported S. F. 57 foi
indefinite postponement , S. F. 62 to pass
. I' 70 to pas.s with an amendment. S. F
SO : ; ) pass. .S. F. < $ for indefinite postpone-
aw : ' . .S. F. 8i > without recommendation , S
-T. h > pass , S. F. So to pass. .S. F. 1)1 ) foi
und iiniie postponement. S. F. Pr > to pass
JK i.'port was adopted. The Committee
< m Municipal Affairs recommended S. F
Ui'.i lor passage. .S. F. 107 for mdeiinit <
} > o > ! j ) jnenient. S. F. 20 reporting a subiti-
lut" . The report was adopted.
- Wednesday , Feb. t.
If-
T .rteenth ballot for senator stood :
> > * , "
Ml . - > "ii
t/t
* * * * * * *
Jl : ward . - 8i
Thompson . <
JSca riering . 11
IT : ihe absence of anything exciting in
ihe Senate Wednesday morning , Schaal o !
' iirpy tried to resurrect his motion favor-
, iig the election of senators by a direct vote
yf the people , his motion having been laid
km tiie table for future consideration
a few days ago. The Senate majority
evinced no lightning desire to take
Jii.- motion from the table where it was re-
* ] losing in graceful silence , so theiSarpy
Senator shot a new resolution into Ihe hop-
jlier expressing the same sentiment con
veyed by bis tabled motion. He then moved
.a suspension of the rules in order that the
Senate might act upon the resolution forth
with. A number of Republican members
.favored the immediate disposition of the
resolution , but thirteen senators did not ,
Jieiec : it was laid over. Five new bills
were introduced.
In the House there was a busy time all
'day. The lack of votes to pass the bill au-
: thori7ing the appointment of supreme court
commissioners , with the emergency clause ,
eaused a call of the House and made a lively
Ir.jstle for votes. Finally the necessary
nur.iber voted for the bill and the call was
raised. Late in the afternoon an attempt
was made to discredit the Omaha Exposi
tion by a resolution directed to the Nebraska
delegation in Congress. Jtwas evident that
ji nnjority of the members then in the hall
were in favor of the resolution. Action
was delayed by the Douglas County mem-
iTjers explaining that no appropriation was
. 'asked from Congress and that it was only
recognition that was asked. They moved
: that the matter be made a special order for
February 2 , and the motion carried. A
motion inviting W. J. Bryan to address the
-House on the mode of election of United
-States senators was laid on the table by a
narrow margin. Sixteen new bills were in-
. ii rod need.
Thursday , Feb. 2.
Fourteenth ballot for senator :
_ A lien . 57
Jlay ward . 35
"Webster . 10
"Thompson . 9
.Scattering . 15
The resolution offered by Swan of Ne-
inah ; : aimed at the Omaha exposition , came
-up in the House the first thing and on
Tiiotion of Olmsted of Douglas the resoltt-
lion was indefinitely postponed without
opposition. The forenoon was spent in re
ceiving committee reports and in listening
to the reading of nine new bills. After
recess the Sergeant-at-anns brought
-.ludgc Skipton of Fill more County before
the bar of the House to answer the con
tempt charge. Skipton announced that he
3iad brought in the ballots wanted by the
cleM ions' committee and had turned them
over to that committee. On motion of
Tisier ! of Dawes the prisoner was declared
] urtied of the charge of contempt and was
release : ! . The House then went into com
mittee of the whole , with Evans of Adams
in the chair , and was still in committee at
adjournment.
The Senate did not convene until 10:30
o'clock. The Clerk of the House announced
Ihe passage of the following bills by that
"body : II. R. 114 , 93 , 90' 24 , 75 and 40. Bills
on first and second reading were numerous.
Canaday of Kearney called for the reading
- of the resolution introduced by Schaal of
.Sarpy , which endorsed the election of
United States senators by direct vote of
the people. A motion to make it a special
order for February 6 was adopted. The
afternoon session began at 3:30 : o'clock.
The Judiciary Committee reported tin
usual batch of reports. S. F. 140 was rec-
ommenped to pass ; also S. F. 142,144,18-
and 129. The Banking Committee recom
mended S. F. 47 for indefinite postponement
It provides theamountof fees to be paid tlu
State by state banks and was introduces
by Canaday of Kearney. The committee
on highways recommended II. R. 18 and II
II. 77 to pass. All committee reports wen
adopted. The Senate went into committee
of the whole to consider bills on genera !
file. Van Dusen of Douglas was called tc
the chair. Eight bills were recommended
for passage and two indefinitely postponed ,
Friday , Feb. . ' 5.
"Fifteenth ballot for senator stood :
V11C II . . . * * * * ji.
Hayward 31
Webster 1 (
Thompson 1 (
Scattering 14
The proceedings in the House were en
livened by a little debate on two national
questions. Mr. Evans introduced a reso
lution requesting Senators Allen and
Thurston to vote for the ratification of the
treaty of peace between the United States
and Spain. The fusionists generally op-
possed the resolution , on the plea that the
Senators were on the ground and were
familiar with the details of the treaty ,
while members of the Nebraska House
were not cognizant of its scope. A motion
to table secured thirty votes , while
fifty voted against tabling. A reso
lution requesting the Representatives
in Congress of this Slate to do their
best to have an amendment to the federal
constitution submitted providing for the
election of United States senators by a di
rect vote of the people was adopted by a
large affirmative vote. The project bien
nially brought forward to further the
scheme of building a north and south rail
road was killed , ilr. Jansen introduced a
bill to create a food commission that is to
actively watch over all that we eat and
drink , to prevent the sale of any adulter
ated goods , adulterated meaning anything
that is mixed in that will lower the strength
or injuriously effect the quality of an
article. Provision is made also for the
stamping and licensing of imitation butter
and cheese.
The Senate devoted itself largely to the
introduction of new bills.
NEW QUADRUPED DISCOVERED.
Touch-Skinned Animal Resembling : an
Ant-Eater Found in Patagonia.
Ill these latter days , when people are
constantly hearing of the threatened
2Xtiuction of various tribes of animals ,
the news of the discovery of an entirely
new species of quadruped is startling.
The fact of the existence of a hitherto
unknown animal has been brought to
light by Dr. Florentine Ameghino , vho
for some time past has had reports of a
mysterious creature of nocturnal habits
brought to him by several Indians , and
a few years ago the late Ramon Lista.
while hunting in the interior of Santa
Cruz , was startled by the appearance
of a strange animal , which he described
to Dr. Ameghino "as a pangolin without
scales' , and covered with reddish hair. "
Lista shot at the creature , but it was
apparently bullet proof , for 51 disap
peared into the brushwood , and al
though iustaut search was made no
trace of the animal was to be found.
As no further evidence was to be
found , Dr. Ameghino was inclined to
thiuk that the naturalist had been de
ceived ; but he has just received a skin
from South Patagonia which proves
that Lista was conect in his statement.
On examination the ossicles which were
embedded in the skin , "like paving
stones in a street , " ' proved that the ani
mal evidently belonged to the pango
lins or scaled ant-eaters , familiar to
naturalists , but instead of being scaly
it is covered with coarse , reddish gray
hair , while the skin itself , which is two
centimeters thick , is so remarkably
tough that it can only be cut with ai
hatchet. This explains why the bullet
had no effect upon it. London Mail.
Value of the Maple Tree.
There are more than sentimental
reasons why the maple tree should be
held in regard by Canadians. As a
source o'f commercial profit the value
of this tree is not sufficiently appre
ciated. According to the census of
1891 , tbe annual production of maple
sugar in Ontario amounts to oiG3,70l5
pounds , which means , at average mar
ket prices , almost ? 500,000. This indus
try is capable of greater developments ,
and the merchants of the country
should be interested in encouraging
farmers to lake it up more extensively.
The sugar bush at the Michigan Agri
cultural College yields an annual re
turn of 12 per ceat. , valuing the wood
land at $50 an-acre. A Simcoe County
farmer estimates that the yield of ten
acres of maple trees , when the sap is
converted into sirup and sugar , gives
a net return of about $1U per acre. In
addition , there is to be considered the
annual growth of wood suitable for
fuel and farm uses , which would
amount to five cords each year. In
what industry can the farmer obtain
greater returns with the expenditure
of an equal amount of labor and capi
tal ? The bulk of the maple sugar pro
duced in Canada is consumed here. We
have not mentioned the usefulness of
the wood of this tree for cabinetmaking
ing purposes or for interior decoration.
But people in other countries admire
it and value it , if we do not. Perhaps
we are so far familiar with it that we
have ceased to consider its worth in
this aspect. Still , this is another of
the directions in which , the maple is
of value. Toronto Monetary Times.
Odorless Flowers.
Most people will be surprised to
learn that the majority of flowers have
no perfume whatever. An Austrian
chemist , who has been making re
searches into the subject , declared that
out of 4,110 varieties known and culti
vated in Europe , scarcely 400 have anj *
odor ; and of these nearly fifty have an
odor which is , if anything , disagreea
ble.
An Unrortunate Unery.
"I always like to write with a soft
lead pencil , " remarked the young man.
"Have you ever given any study , " in
quired the cruelly thoughtless girl , "to
the manner in which a person's charac
ter will manifest itself in his handwrit
ing : ? Washincton Star.
The House on Saturday continued tlu
consideration of thp army rcorganizatioi
bill until 2 o'clock , when the members
paid their tributes to the memory of th
late Representative Simpkius of Massa
chusetts. Very little progress was madi
with the army bill. The time before tlu
eulogies began was chiefly devoted to a
continuation of the debate on the advisa
bility of retaining the Philippines. A
spirited debate was precipitated in the
Senate while the diplomatic and consulat
appropriation bill was under considera
tion. The Appropriations Committee was
sharply criticised for not providing ade
quate salaries for some of the consulat
officers and secretaries of legations of this
Government in foreign countries , and the
parsimony of the nation in this respect
was denounced as a disgrace. The bill ,
which appropriates $1,710,533 , was finally
passed. A bill amending the law relating
to the apportionment and election of rep
resentatives in Congress so as to permit
the use of voting machines was passed.
The House put in a hard day's work on
the army bill Monday , and when it ad
journed thirteen of the twenty pages had
been completed. Much of the time was
occupied in short speeches on the general
proposition to increase the army and an
nex the Philippines , and there were sev
eral lively personal controversies. At the
opening of the session of the House Mr.
Hopkins ( Rep. , 111. ) reported the census
bill and gave notice that hewould call it
up the next Monday. An effort on the
part of Mr. Allison to obtain considera
tion in the Senate for the Indian appro
priation bill precipitated a running debate ,
which occupied all the time until' the Sen
ate , at 2 o'clock' , went into executive ses
sion on the peace treaty. The President
sent to the Senate correspondence on file
in the State Department bearing upon the
peace treaty , and it was read in the ex
ecutive session.
The bill to reorganize and increase the
standing army to about 100,000 men , but
giving the President authority to reduce
the size of infantry companies and cav
alry troops to sixty men each , thus fixing
a minimum of about 50,000 enlisted men ,
passed the House on Tuesday by a vote
of 1GS to 125. Mr. Burton ( Hep. , O. ) ,
chairman of the River and Harbor Com
mittee , called up the river and harbor bill.
The House went through the form of go
ing into committee in order to put the
river and harbor bill under consideration.
The committee then rose and the House
at 4:35 p. m. adjourned. During almost
the entire morning hour the Senate had
under discussion the policy of this coun
try to be pursued in the Philippine Isl
ands. Mr. Berry ( Ark. ) , in a speech upon
the resolution offered by Mr. Vest , dis
cussed the policy of expansion. An at
tempt by Mr. Bacon ( Ga. ) to secure a
vote upon his resolution which , in brief ,
declares that the United Stales Govern
ment will not make war upon a people
seeking for their freedom , precipitated a
lively debate , which was participated in
by Mr. Platt ( Conn. ) and Mr. Teller
( Colo. ) . Xo action on the resolutions was
taken. A bill was passed at the opening
of the Senate session granting extra pay
to the officers and men of the temporary
force of the navy two months' extra pay
to those who served beyond the limits of
the United States and one month's pay
to those who served within the United
States.
The House entered upon the considera
tion of the river and harbor bill on Wed
nesday , and made rapid progress. Fifty
of the eighty-eight pages of the bill had
been completed Avlien the House adjourn-
ed. The bill appropriates directly about
512,500,000 and authorizes contracts to
the extent of $18,000,000 additional. The
general debate was unusually brief. Its
feature was a speech in opposition to the
bill by Mr. Hepburn of Iowa. Practically
the only amendment adopted was one
striking out an appropriation of $250,000
for a channel from Galvestou to Texas
City , Texas. Mr. Rawlins ( Utah ) ad
dressed the Senate upon the Test anti-
expansion resolution. Mr. Lindsay ( Ky. )
offered a resolution declaring that terri
tory not a part of the continent of North
America shall not he admitted into the
Federal Union as a State or States. Dur
ing Mr. Rawlins' speech a message was
received from the House transmitting the
army reorganization bill. It was referred
to the Committee on Military Affairs. At
the conclusion of Mr. Rawlins' speech the
Bacon resolution was laid before the Sen
ate. Mr. Sullivan ( Miss. ) then offered his
awn resolution as a substitute for the
Bacon resolution. Senators Teller and
Hoar were the speakers in the executive
session of the Senate. Mr. Teller made a
set speech in support of the treaty , and
Mr. Hoar replied.
A notable speech was made in the Sen-
fite on Thursday by Mr. Spooner of Wis
consin. He took for his text the anti-ex
pansion resolution offered by Mr. Vest ,
but did not confine himself closely to that
proposed declaration of policy. The ex
ecutive session of the Senate was merely
a continuation of the legal argument
ivlrich started with Senator Spooner's
speech , in the open Senate. The river
; md harbor bill , carrying slightly more
Lhnn $20.000,000 , passed the House by a
rote of 1(50 to 7. A bill was passed to pay
ihe heirs of John Smith $1,000 in satis
faction of a judgment against Gen. John
R. Brooke for trespass and false impris
onment while lie was lieutenant colonel
: > the Third infantry in 1800. '
Cnnunbialitics.
A Kansas City couple gave as an ex
cuse for marrying suddenly that both had
[ he "blues. "
Baron Rolf Zederstrom , who is to mar
ry Madame Patti , is only 28 years old.
The diva is 55.
The "marrying squire" of Jeffersonville ,
fiul. , is dead and his books show that he
liad performed 9,000 marriage ceremonies.
Miss Annie Fowler , one of the most
prominent of the volunteer Red Cross
nurses , is engaged to be married to Al
bert Aran Schelle of the Belgian Red
Dross , whom she met for the first time
iml worked with in the hospitals at San
tiago.
Jesse Lewissohn , who is reputed to be
willing and under contract to marry Lil
lian Russell-Braham-Solomon-Perugirii as
soon as she is sufficiently disentangled
from the bearer of the last name , is a
New York merchant well known in the
copper trade as a busy , prosperous ,
shrewd man of affairs.
jl THE STATE LEGISLATURES.
Friday.
In Arkansas a measure was introdncei
appropriating money to fight smallpox.
In Indiana the House of Representa
lives killed Gov. Mount's anti-lyuchiu {
bill.
- In Colorado a resolution was introduc
ed opposing the ratification of the peace
treaty.
Charges were openly made at Olympin
Wash. , that opponents of Senator Wilsoi :
were trying to buy votes.
In Delaware , Nebraska , Utah , Mon
tana , Washington and California ballots
were taken without breaking the dead
lock.
In Wisconsin the Republican caucus
took its nineteenth ballot'without chosinj
a senatorial candidate. In the Senate ac
anti-pass bill was introduced.
In Michigan the Assembly adjourned tc
Feb. 7. A bill was introduced providing
three intermediate courts of final juris
diction. Notice was given of a bill to
punish failure of electors to vote at elec
tions.
Saturday.
In Montana W. A. Clark of Butle was
elected to the United States Semite.
In Wisconsin the week closed without
material change in the senatorial situa
tion.
In Nebraska charges looking to the im
peachment of Judge C. R. Scoit were
tiled.
In Utah , Delaware and Washington the
Legislatures voted without breaking the
deadlocks.
In Idaho the adoption of a memorial
advocating the seating of B. II. Roberts
of Utah was indefinitely postponed.
In Arkansas the Legislature is seeking
a way to prevent Colorado using all the
water in the Arkansas river for irriga
tion.
In Pennsylvania the Quay opposition ,
fearing a plot , remained away from the
session , so that only thirty-two ballots
were cast when the vote was taken.
Monday.
In Kansas a bill was introduced to regu
late undertakers.
In Indiana a new bill to punish lynch-
ers was introduced by Representative
Xoel of Indianapolis.
In New York the Assembly unanimously
adopted resolutions urging the Senate to
ratify the peace treat } * .
In Nebraska , Utah , Delaware , AVash-
ington and California the senatorial situa
tion remains unchanged.
In Pennsylvania there were only thirty-
nine votes cast when a ballot for United
States Senator was taken.
In Wisco'nsiii the Republican caucus
unanimously nominated Joseph Ar.
Quarles of Milwaukee for United States
Senator.
Tuesday.
In Minnesota two new bills regulating
insurance companies were introduced.
In Wisconsin Joseph A'cry Qtiarles was
formally elected United States Senator.
In Missouri resolutions were adopted ad
vocating election of Senators by direct
vote.
In Washington the Republican caucus
nominated A. G. Foster for United States
Senator.
In Utah , Delaware , California and Ne
braska the senatorial deadlock remained
unbroken.
In New York amendments to the Sun-
lay laws making them more liberal were
introduced.
( ! ov. Savers of Texas has sent a spc-
c-ial message to the Legislature indorsing
neasure to punish freight discrimination
by railroads.
The Arkansas House of Representatives
efused to appropriate $5,000 to check the
spread of smallpox , not wanting to ac
knowledge it existed in the State.
\ \ eclnesilay.
In Kansas the Assembly was Hooded
with protests against amendment of pro-
libition laws.
In Pennsylvania the Senate adopted
imendments to the jury laws favorable
.o Senator Quay.
In Montana Republicans explained their
easons for voting for Clark for United
States Senator.
In California , Utah , Nebraska and Del-
iware the Legislatures voted for Sena-
or without a choice.
In Washington Addison G. Foster \VJIN
luly elected United States Senator by the
Legislature in joint session.
In North Dakota the bill making a
ear's residence in the State necessary tc
secure a divorce was passed.
In Pennsylvania a resolution was intro
lucetl providing for investigation of rail-
oads violating State revenue laws.
In Wisconsin a memorial to Congress
vas adopted in the Senate urging election
> f United States Senators by popular
-ote.
Thursday.
In Idaho a bill was passed prohibiting
ill gambling in the Slate.
In Kansas a bill was introduced provid-
ng punishment for dishonest practices
lesignated as "grafting. "
In Pennsylvania , Utah , Nebraska , Dela-
varo and California ballots were taken
'or United States Senator without a"
hoice.
In New York a new income tax bill was
ntroduced. Gov. Roosevelt declared he
vould sign no bill allowing privileges to
roluntecrs not granted to regular soldiers.
Told in a Few Lines.
Mr. Choate is the fifth citizen of New
Cork to be honored with the English mis
sion.
AVilliam It. Cox , secretary of the Sen-
ite. is said to be one of the swiftest writ
ers of ' 'long hand" in the country.
J. J. Lowery. who owns an orchard of
5,000-peach trees in Pettis County , Mo. ,
reports that the buds are all killed.
The public school at Finch , Mo. , has
jeen ordered closed for three weeks be-
rause of the prevalence of measles.
Yee Deu. said to be the only Chinese
professional burglar in New York , has
jeen sentenced to one year in t'ie peni-
: enliary.
The big freight steamer building at
Cleveland , Ohio , for the Cleveland Steam
ship Company , will be named ' 'Senator M.
; V. Ilanna. "
Henry Havemeyer , the sugar magnate ,
s-a man of regular hours. He rises every
norning at 7:30 and goes to bed at 10:30
jvery night.
LEGAL EXAMINATION.
How One Lawyer "Was Admitted t
the Bar.
"Counsellor Bill Brieii tells the foi
lowing story of how ho passed his ex
aminatiou as counselor at law and ol
tained his license :
"I had my papers tilled out and walk
ed over to Judge Joe C. Gill to pass m ;
examination and have my papers sign
ed. It was in the afternoon , and Judg
Gill , as everybody who know wa
aware , was an ardent and successfu
turfman. At that time he had Orphai
Girl in training for the Maxwell Hote
Stakes , to be run at Nashville , am
Brakeman , who was thought to have !
pretty good chance of winning the MCL
chants' Stakes at St. Louis , both race ;
being set down for the same day.
"I walked into his ollice with in :
papers in my hand , and looking u ]
pleasantlj- Judge greeted me as foi
lows :
" 'Good-morning , William. I tinder
stand you want to pass your examina
tion and be a lawyer ? '
" 'Yes , sir ; that's what I'm here foi
this morning. '
" 'AA'ere you out on the track thii
morning to see the horses' workV
" 'Yes , sir. '
" 'Did you see that Kentucky crack
Lelox. and my mare , Orphan Girl
work ? '
" 'Yes , sir , they both went a mile , am
you know this track was a bit slow
Orphan Girl finished up strong am
swinging all through the last furlong ii
0:47 , and Lelox was all out-and had tin
boy kicking him in 0:47 : . '
" 'I reckon my mare has a pretty goo (
chance for the Maxwell.
" 'It looks like a certainty. Lelox is
all she has to beat , and he's as good as
done already. '
" 'What kind of a plan would it be It
send Alcock to St. Louis with Brake
man .or the Merchants' Stakes ? '
" 'The horse is good now , and he has
nothing to beat over there. Laud hiir
in St. Louis.all right , and it's as good as
a walkover. '
" 'I think I'll send him. Let me see-
all ! I thought I Avas forgetting some
thing ; we forgot all about the examina
tion ; hand mo your papers , AYilliam
and see me sign them. ' "
"Counselor Bill" Avalkcd out Avith hit
duly attested license , and a short tinu
later Judge Gill Avon the MaxAvel
House Stakes and the Merchants
Stakes Avith Orphan Girl and Brake
mail. New Orleans Times-Democrat.
The Guns of the Future.
AYe have become familiar with
smokeless gunpoAA'der , in idea at least ,
and AVC are aAvare that it makes not
nearly so much noise as the old-fash
ioned sort. But silent cannon , which
emit scarcely a flash , are still a noA-clty
not a Avelcome one either to soldiers.
Colonel Humbert of the French army
has invented this boon and patented
it. The experiments carried out by the
Hotchkiss company are said to be most
promising. In some wonderful man
ner he contrives that the mouth of the
gun shall shut automatically the in
stant its missile has emerged. Thus
the flame and the report are bottled up.
The anuouucefnent may probably be
true one does not venture to doubt any
marvel of the ingenuity alleged HOAV-
adays. This also Avould make for the
extinction of Avar. It is remarkable
that the latest improvements tend ,
upon the whole , to a'ssist a defending
force , rather than the assailants. Re
peating rifles and smokeless powder ,
machine guns and balloons , all
strengthen the hands of those AVIO have
ro repel an attack , themselves more or
iess under coA'er. But if the art of
n-ar , in its highest flights , be intuiriA-e ,
what very exceptional men the great
generals of the future must be I AA'ith-
> ut smoke or flash , or even sound to in-
licate the position of a battery Avhieh
lecimates his troops at a distance to be
. eckoned in miles , an ordinary mortal
ivould be distracted. Doubtless , if this
uvention proA'e to ansAver , it Avill be
ipplied to small arms also. The French
ire agitating now for the abolition of
traversal compulsory serA'ice. upon the
jround that Germany Avill never attack
hem. In a feAV years , apparently , no
mtion Avili dare to iuA'ade another.
London Standard.
The First Typewriter.
The first typewriter Avas a machine
ivith raised letters , invented by Henry
Mill of England , in 1714 , for the use of
: he blind ; but beyond marking the era
> f mechanical writing machines it was
> f no A'alue , and for nearly 140 years no
; tep forAvard Avas made. Nearly all the
mprovements. and certainly the credit
'or the general introduction ot the type
writer , belongs to America. To-day
: here is one firm in this country Avhieh
nauufactures more than fifty styles of
nachines. in all languages and oven in
msiuessciphers. . In these last the key-
joard is lettered as usual , but the char-
icters are printed in cipher.
A Russian Seot.
A new religious sect has been found
> d in Russia , in the province of Sara-
: ov , the main idea of the members of
, vhich is that Avhile the soul is immor
al the body is of the devil and should
herefore be neglected as far as possi-
> le. In Russia this possibility goes
Airther than anyAvhere else in the
, vorld. The leader of this sect is a fa-
latic of the name of Panjackko , and
leither he nor his followers Avill con-
; eut to wash , change their clothes or
: lean their houses. Indeed , their gos-
) e } is dirt.
Traveler from frontier district , strik
ng hotel Avhere advanced fashions
uive obtained , observes Avith an ex-
iression of pleased surprise the iinijer-
> OAV ! set before him at the close of his
neal. "AVhat's that for. waiter ? ' ' "To
vash your hands , ' sir. " "I wish I'd
L-knoAv'd it 'fore I began my dinner.-
3ood Americans.
The Avoman AVUO alvrars Avears a
faultlessly
GENERAL OTIS ,
COMMANDER AT MANILA.
Everybody knows Gen. Otis , for hi *
name stands at the head of brigadier
generals on the army list , and the more ht
is known the greater he grows. ( Jen. Otis
succeeded Gen. Wesley Merritt in tin ?
management of the army of the Philip
pines , and has the universal reputation
of being an excellent soldier. In super
intending the affairs of the army , with
Dewey looking out for the navy , he has
"shown unusual administrative talent , and
his knowledge of civil government , tariffs
and economics is as great as that of any
officer in the service.
By birth Gen. Otis is a Marylander. He
is now entering upon his sixty-first year ,
but is exceedingly young in spirit and
physique. He graduated from Rochester
University in 1858 and was admitted to
the bar in the following year.
AVhen the war broke out he went to the
front as captain of infantry , becoming
colonel of the regiment and brigadier gen
eral of volunteers in 18G4. In all the
principal baltles of the Army of the Po
tomac he took part , and in tlie desperate
fighting around Petersburg he was
wounded. For fourteen years he served
on the frontier in various Indian cam
paigns. When war was declared against
Spain he was in command of the depart
ment of the Colorado , and it seems fitting-
that most of the enlisted men in his corps
nre from that State and the Pacific slope.
Gen. Otis' work in Manila , however , bids
fair to be the grandest monument that a
man ir. his or any other position could
erect for himself.
Trouble in Samon.
Incidentally , this clash of interests may
well give pause to those who argue that
a joint protectorate is the best way out
of the difficulties in the Philippines.
Boston Journal.
The revolutionary condition of affairs in
Samoa indicates too clearly to be misun
derstood the impossibility of maintaining
a protectorate over a semi-barbarous people
ple when exercised by more than one gov
ernment. Boston Herald.
The new Sarnoan crisis discloses a num
ber of curious changes in the last dozen
years. In fact , the only thing that re
mains as it used to be is the insolent high
handedness of the German officials. That
never changes. New York Journal.
Perhaps our policy regarding Samoa
should be changed. But before that mat
ter is considered , the bold attempt of am
bitious Germans to override a treatj
which their government has agreed tc
maintain claims attention. Boston Globa
By our own proximity to the islands
through our neighboring possessions in-
Hawaii and the Philippines , our interests
are superior to those of Germany. The
administration will take care that Ameri
can rights in Samoa are carefully guard
ed. St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
If the friendly spirit evinced in this in
cident prevails and the German Govern
ment adheres to an impartial interpreta
tion of the treaty of Berlin , it should be
easy to arrange this unfortunate Samoan
incident without straining our friendly-
relations. New York Herald.
Nicaragua Canal Bill.
Paradoxical as it may seem , the Nicara
gua canal bill provides against watering
Boston Herald.
A canal between the oceans has always
been an urgent need , but never before was
its urgency so clearly recognized as now.
Troy Times.
Uncle Sam's canal company is tobe a
limited affair. He doesn't want any part
ners , and if he can't control the Nicara
gua ditch he will dig somewhere else.
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The immense majority which the Mor
gan Nicaragua canal bill had in the Sen
ate proves that the scheme for an inter-
oceanic waterway will soon be in practi
cal shape. St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
The bill will pass the House even more
easily than the Senate , for that body the
more closely represents the people , and
the people have long been in favor of the
construction of this canal or some canal
connecting the two oceans. Watertowo
Times.
Joseph H. Choate.
His welcome abroad appears to be as
will assured as is the public satisfaction
of his countrymen in the honor done him ,
Philadelphia Record.
Mr. Choate is well worthy of the line
age which has been established by the
long succession of distinguished men whc
have preceded him in his new post. SL
Louis Globe-Democrat.
Every Democrat who desires to see our
country worthily represented abroad , on
the basis of merit and capacity alone , wili
be grateful for the selection of Mr. Choato
for the court of St. James. New York
World.
The nation could not afford to lower the
standard of character of its representa
tion at what is to us the most important
foreign capital in the world. It has not
been lowered in the anointment of Mr.
Choate. It is high praise to say that he
is the peer in distinction of any of hia
predecessors , but it. is n.Qt to.0.
York Tribun'
HI
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