THE JEWELLED TflLISMflN
PDRITAB AHDWAVAIIEE !
mm l mm
CIIA PTEIl XV. ( Continued. )
lie walked so rapidly thatshe bad
some dillk-ulty in keeping up with him ,
tlie more as he frequently turned from
one street into another. They had gone
a much greater distance than she imag
ined it would be , when he htopped ab
ruptly in front of a somewhat spacious
building. It did riot in the least resem
ble what she had pictured to herself as
the dwelling of a Puritan lady , yet ,
though she had some misgivings , she re
mained sil-nt.
"This is the house , " said her conductor ;
and ascending the steps , he rapped at the
door.
It was speedily opened by a man whose
dress accorded as little with the style of
that worn by the Puritans , as the slov
enly appearance of the building and the
gaudily furnished apartment seen
through an open door , were in unison
with their daily habits ,
"la it you , Corkle V" said the man. "I
didn't expect "
Here his words were cut short by a sig
nificant look from him to whom they were
addressed.
"I called , " said Corkle , "to inquire if
thewidow Elliston Ls at home. Go and
tell some one to let her know that some
body is here who wishes to see her very
particularly. "
The man vanished , and Corkie turned
to Aseneth.
"Come in and rest yourself , " said he ,
"till the lady is ready to see you. "
He entered an adjoining apartment ,
and she neither saw him nor any other
person , though she could hear voices for
a number of minutes. lie then made his
appearance.
'Tve seen the lady's waiting maid , "
aaid he , "and her mistress sends word
that she shall not leave her room under
an hour from now , and requests you to
Eend her the letter vou are the bearer
Of. "
"Can I see the lady's hand maid ? " she
asked.
"Certainly ; " and opening a door
through which was seen a staircase , he
called , "Cicily Cicily ! "
A girl came down stairs and stood in
the doorway.
"Hand the billet to her , and she will
fcive it to her mistress. "
The Jewess lose , advanced a few steps ,
and then stopped irresolute. Everything
appeared so different from what she had
supposed that her mind misgave her.
"Perhaps , " said Gorkle , "you would
prefer to wait an hour or two , till the
lady leaves her room ; although , " added
he , "she is so unwell I shouldn't wonder
If she didn't leave it for the day. "
"I don't think sue will be able to , "
Baid Cicily. "I will give her the letter ,
which , I suppose , will be the same as if
you gave it to her yourself. "
"Take it , " said Aseueth , handing it to
her , "and may yon find a serpent's sting
in it , if you have possessed yourself of
it wrongfully. "
It was already late in the morning , and
with this thought , interwoven with a
vague apprehension of impending evil ,
Bhe left the house , with the arduous task
before her of finding her way back ,
through what appeared to her the per
fect maze of streets and dark alleys ,
where , guided by Corkle , she had recent
ly passed.
Now and then she looked wistfully
round on every side for such landmarks
as she had the foresight to set down in
her mind while following her perfidious
conductor , but she could see nothing
\rhich looked familiar. She avoided in
quiring the way , for she shrank from
again encountering scoffs and jeers. Now ,
however , fearing that instead of ap
proaching , she was wandering further
from home , she concluded to seek the
desired information of the first person
whose appearance pleased her.
Not long after she came to this con
clusion she aw a young man coming
towards her , whose air and dress showed
that his rank was that of a gentleman.
She felt certain that he was one of those
whose goodness of heart and true nobility
made him above treating with eouLume-
ly even one of her despised race.
"Can you , " said she , "tell me the way
to the shop of Jeduthun , the Jew ? "
"You are so great a distance from it , "
he replied , "that it will be difficult to
direct you. "
Her heart sank within her when he
told her this , for she was faint and
weary.
"What can I do ? " said she.
"You won't be afraid to trust me for
a guide ? "
She looked at him as if she doubted
whether she heard him aright.
"Will you permit me to guide you ? "
"said he , noticing her look of bewilder
ment.
"You surely cannot mean to show me
the way yourself ? "
"Why not ? "
"It would be stooping too low. "
"Not a whit. I had it in my mind ,
before I met you , to call at the Jew's
shop you mentioned , and , perhaps , some
of those belonging to others who live
near by , between this and night. 1 may
as well go now as later in the day. Keep
near by , or you may lose sight of me. "
At last , when they entered the street
where she lived , though lined on either
side with buildings that were old and
uusightlj * . she could scarcely suppress a
cry of joy. Her conductor almost won
dered at the delight depicted in her coun
tenance on reaching a place where all
around wore an air of so muchwretched
ness and gloom. When they reached the
door of the shop , Aseneth. stood without
till her conductor had entered.
"I was afraid that some evil had be
fallen you , " said the Jew , as , on raising
his eyes , he saw her standing near the
threshold.
"That there lias not , thanks are due to
this stranger , " she replied. And passing
through the shop , she opened a door aid
entered an adjoining apartment.
"I have called , " said the young man ,
as soon as she had closed the door be
hind her , "to request the favor of exam
ining a gem which 1' have been told is in
your possession. "
"I am not a dealer in gems , as you will
readily perceive if you look round you , "
said the Jew , evasively , and , in spite of
himself , manifesting some alarm.
"Yet you purchased an opel the other
evening. "
The Jew remained silent.
"You needn't be afraid that I shall
make use of my knowledge of this trans
action to injure you. I merely wish to
satisfy myself that it is the same which
I once was the owner of. "
"You , then , are the one who found it ,
when it was lost by Abi , my granddaugh
ter ? "
"The one I refer to I first saw at Lin-
gard's , the goldsmith. I subsequently
purchased it of him at a high price. All
I wish to ascertain is , if the opal seat
here for sale by Gilbert Falkland be the
same , or only one that resembles it. I
wish you to understand , however , that
in either case , it is not my intention to
deprive you of it. If it shouldn't prove
to be that I' had of Lingard , I have no
right to it , while if I find it to be the
same , I would sooner grind it beneath my
feet than retain what would ever be hate
ful to my sight. "
"I would willingly grant your request
were it in ray power ; but only a few
minutes before you came , it was discov
ered that the setting had sustained some
injury , and it was sent to one of our
people to be repaired. When it is re
turned , you can see it. "
"When will that be ? "
"Some time during the day. At what
hour , I am unable to tell. "
"Then I will defer coming till evening. "
He turned to go , when the Jew again
accosted him.
"Pardon me , " said he , "but I would
fain know the name of one who disdained
not , if I rightly understood the meaning
of her words , to screen her , my faithful
servant , from the rudeness of those who
seem to forget that our despised people
are within the pale of humanity. "
"My name is Clarence llarleigh. "
"One that I sha'n't forget. Favors
sink deep into the hearts of those who
are little used to them. "
"Showing your servant the way thither ,
as I wished to come myself , scarcely de
serves the name of a favor , " replied Har-
leigh , as he turned to leave.
As the day wore away , Alice began to
think it was somewhat singular that she
heard nothing from Mrs. Elliston. As
eneth , meanwhile , was ill at ease. When
the joy of finding herself safe at home
had time to subside , the misgivings she
had felt as to whether the note she had
been entrusted with had fallen into the
right hands , revived with redoubled force.
The hours slipped away , till night set in.
Alice , by this time , began to be so seri
ously uneasy that when Aseneth entered ,
bearing their evening meal , Abi inquired
if she gave the billet into Mrs. Bllistou's
own hand.
"I did not , " she replied ; and she then
gave a true account of all tuat happened
to her , and expressed her fears that she
had been deceived by the man who with
so much apparent kindness offered to con
duct her to the place where slie desired
to go.
"There can be no doubt that he de
ceived you , " said Alice , "as is shown by
the description you give of the house ,
and the people you saw there. "
Her anxiety was now excited on a dif
ferent account. The contents of the note
addressed to Mrs. Elliston showed where
she had found refuge , and if , as she fear
ed , it had fallen into the hands of one of
the men who had been employed by Falk
land , it would be likely to bring trouble
and danger to those who had so kindly
befriended her , as well as to hersefl.
CHAPTER XVI.
After supper , the Jew returned to the
shop , where his boy , Mizar , had remained
during his absence. When he recalled
to mind that Clarence Harleigh had
proulised to call in the course of the even
ing to look at the opal , he remembered
that it had not yet been returned. He ,
therefore , sent Mizar to procure it.
It was 8 o'clock when the boy returned
with it , yet Harleigh had not made his
appearance. The Jew was impatient at
his delay , for he had concluded in his
own mind that he Avould make a confi
dant of him relative to what had befall
en Alice the preceding evening , and that
there was reason to fear a note that she
had sent early in the morning to her
friends had fallen into unfriendly hands
and would prove the means of betraying
to Falkland her place of refuge.
The minutes , one after the other , crept
slowly away , without bringing him the
Jew most desired to see. Another half
hour had passed , and it was 0 o'clock ,
the time lie was accustomed to pass an
hour with Abi , who ventured to play the
harp and sing to him some of those stir
ring and sublime songs recorded in" the
Old Testament. Now , after bolting and
barring the door , he remained a few min
utes , hoping that Harleigh might yet
come.
"Mizar , " said the Jew , "remain here
half an hour longer. If any one knock
at the door , inquire who is there. If the
answer should be Clarence Harleigh , ad
mit him , and then call me. "
"And if it shouldn't be the gentleman
by that name ? "
"Let the door remain fastened , and call
me. "
Only a few minutes after he was gone
some one knocked at the door. Mizar rose
and went towards it to inquire who was
there. Before he had time to do so , the
knock was repeated louder than at first ,
and was immediately succeeded by a vio
lent struggle. Soon came a wild and
piercing cry. Then there was a sound
of voices , low though earliest , and at the
same time a dull noise , such as might be
made by dragging a heavy weight. The
boy stood almost stupefied with terror , till
the sounds were heard no more.
Nothing of all this had readied the se
cluded apartment , where the Jew and
Alice sat listening to Abi , who was play
ing on the harp a few low , stweet strains.
When , therefore , the massive door was
suddenly swung back , and Mizar burst
into the room , pale and trembling , their
first thought was that Falkland had dis
covered the retreat of Alice , and expect
ed that the ruffians in his employ were
pressing closely on the boy's footsteps.
"O , my master , " exclaimed Mizar
"come quickly and see what has happen
ed. "
"They haven't come for her , then ? '
said Abi , pointing to Alice.
"No , no , " replied Mizar ; "but Tm
afraid that the gentleman is murdered. '
"What gentleman ? " inquired Abi. But
Mizar did not hear her question , for , as
she spoke , he closed the door , and fol
lowed his master to the shop.
They now listened at the door , ant
finding that all without was silent , the
Jew cautiously opened it. A thick , heavy
mist was falling , and the eye could not
penetrate the gloom.
"Bring a light , Mizar , " said the Jew
"that we may see if any o'le dead or
wounded is lying near. "
Seeing that the boy hesitatid , Aseneth
took up a lamp and stepping out at the
door , held it in such a manner as to ren
der visible whatever object might chance
to be near. The insinuating mist had ren
dered the ground soft and yielding , and
footprints of different sizes , grouped to
gether in a confused , irregular manner ,
were the only vestige of what might have
been a mortal struggle.
As she was about to enter , she thought
she heard voices at no great distance.
Listening , she found that they were rap
idly drawing nearer. In her haste to en
ter , her feet slipped , and she fell across
the threshold. By the time she had risen
those she had heard coming were close
at hand. She had entered and succeeded
in closing the door , when it was forcibly
thrust open and three men rushed into
the room. One of them Aseneth at once
recognized as her treacherous guide.
"Ah , my delicate lily-face , you have
found your way home ! " said he , address
ing her. "The young Puritan , I suspect ,
hasn't been here yet to let the bird out
of the cage. If not , we will save him
the trouble. "
"If , " said the Jew , "as I judge by your
words , you are he who conducted my ser
vant to a different place from where she
wished to go , I advise you to be content
with the mischief you have done , and not
to seek further to annoy her or others. "
"When your advice is wanted I
seek for it , " replied Corkle. "Don't you
say so , Skelluin ? "
"Ay , ay , " was the answer , "and if the
old extortioner wouldn't have his crazy
old house pulled down about his ears , he
had better lose no time iu showing us
where lie has hid the little Puritan of
the russet cloak. Be quick , and take
your choice , " said he , turning to the Jew.
"I shall not aid you in compassing your
iniquitous purpose. "
The next moment an exclamation of joy
burst from the lips of Aseneth , for close
behind a stranger she beheld Clarence
Harleigh.
"May the God of our fathers be prais
ed ! " said the Jew , fervently ; "who has
sent us deliverance when we were well
nigh ready to despair. "
"Don't be too certain of that , " said
Corkle. "The iron-handled broadsword
may have as much virtue in it as the
jewel-hilted rapier. "
"If you will tell me the meaning of
what I see , " said the stranger , addressing
Corkle , "perhaps the matter may be set
tled without having recourse to either of
the weapons you have named. "
"If you will make it appear by what
right you catechise me , " he answered , "I
may possibly satisfy your curiosity. "
"I cannot say that I have any right ,
except what belongs to common human
ity. "
"A virtue I shouldn't object to prac
ticing , if it were not almost always sure
to empty the purse instead of filling it. "
"If golden arguments are what are
needed to persuade you , here are a hand
ful of them ; " and taking some broad gold
pieces from his pocket , he held them in
such a manner that their amount could
be readily estimated.
Suddenly a shriek was heard from the
adjoining apartment , and almost at a
single bound Harleigh reached the door.
He was in season to obtain a glimpse of
a young girl , pursued by the ruffianly Mat
at the moment she entered the passage
lead to the closet.
( To be continued. )
He Didu't Ride Down the Hill.
At the top of a very steep hill in
Yorkshire a cyclist dismounted the oth
er day and addressed an old fellow who
was breaking stones by the roadside.
"Can you tell me where John X.
lives ? "
"John X. , " repeated the old fellow.
"Don't know him. "
"Dou't you ? " was the rejoinder.
"Why , I thought everybody round here
would know John. He's a young fel
low about my own age , and lives in this
district somewhere. He's a cyclist , and
a clever one , too. Why , he's ridden
dowu this hill scores of times. "
"Oh , 'e hev , hev'e , " returned the old
man. "Iu that case you might find 'iin
at the bottom o' tlie hill there. "
"What ? Are there some houses there ,
then ? "
" " the . "No
"No , was grim response.
'ouses. Nobbut a cemetery. "
Then the cyclist understood and he
decided to walk down that hill.
Worth the Difference.
In S. L. Powers' story at the Middle
sex Bar Association dinner the lawyer
tried the case for the complainant.
She sued a middle-aged gentleman for
breach of promise. He married another
girl. The jury retired , and the defend
ant also went his way. The jury re
turned , the defendant did not. The
jury found for the plaintiff in ? 800
damages.
The lawyer met the middle-aged gen
tleman a few minutes later in the
lobby of an adjacent hotel.
"Squire , " said the latter , "how did
the jury decide ? "
"Against you , " was the answer.
"I didn't think they would do that , "
said the middle-aged gentleman mus
ingly. "What's the damages ? "
' "That ain't so bad ! " he exolaimed ,
on being told. "Squire , there's that
much difference between the two
womea ! " Boston Record.
Nebraska Politics.
Bxccrpts From The Nebraska Independent , Lincoln , Nebraska , Made by
Direction of the Populist State Central Committee
F.OSEWATER'S OPINION
Comments oil Supreme Court Uccinlou
"Bailroad Taxation a , Campaign
Ibsue , " He Says
It is but natural that Edward Rose-
water should feel disappointed over
the supreme court's decision. He had
his heart set on winning and in his
disappointment because the court
would not grant the writ of mandamus
bj says : "To men not versed in le-
sal hair-splitting the conclusions of
the court are unintelligible and in
explicable. But men unversed in legal
technicalities nave common sense
enough to understand primarily that
the court is not an assessing body , and
that the writ of mandamus is not in
tended to correct errors , but to compel
action The Omaha board of equaliza
tion captiously and arbitrarily refused
to hear certain complaints lodged with
it The law gave it power to equalize
assessments by raising and lowering
valuations. The state board has no
such power. It must equalize by vary
ing the rate of taxation. Sitting as a
board for the assessment of railroads
it is an assessing body , not an equal
izing body. It heard the complaints of
Mr. Rosewater and of Mr. Simeral
not respectfully , perhaps , but never
theless it heard them.
Tne cases are not parallel , although
having some similarities. The Omaha
board refused to act and the court
granted the writ. The state board did
act , even though mistakenly or secret
ly biased in favor of the railroads
and the court could not grant the writ.
"Having relegated the whole ques
tion of railroad taxation to the people ,
the issue must be met squarely at the
ballot box , " says the Bee , "not on
party lines , but on broad lines of jus
tice and equity. " The sentiment can
not be questioned , but unfortunately
there is no way of meeting the issue
squarely at the ballot box without in
volving party lines. Candidates for
governor , auditor , and treasurer have
been nominated by several different
parties. Three men out of twelve now
in the field will be elected to fill the
three offices named ; only six of the
twelve are now considered possibilities.
Three of these men , John H. Mickey ,
Charles Weston , and Peter Mortensen ,
stand upon a platform which says :
"We realize that the condition of the
state's finances urgently requires meas
ures to increase state revenues and to
reduce the state debt , which exceeds
the constitutional limit. With this
object in view , a more strict enforce
ment of the laws relating to assess
ment and taxation is imperative. The
franchises as well as the tangible prop
erty of all corporations should be as
sessed so as to bear their just and
due shares of the cost of government ,
state , county , and municipal , the same
as other taxable property , as contem
plated by the constitution. "
According to Mr. Rosewater's Idea
of proper Interpretation of that plank
would mean that the railroads "should
by rights be assessed at more than
$50,000,000" instead of 26 % millions as
they actually were this year. But Mr.
Rosewater is not a candidate for gov
ernor , auditor , or treasurer. His in
terpretation of the quoted plank is not
the interpretation of John H. Mickey ,
Charles Weston , and Peter Mortensen.
What do they say about It ? Not a
word. How can the question be met
squarely at the ballot box when the
people do not know what these men
will do ? We know how Charles Wes
ton will Interpret the plank. His was
the master mind which controlled in
the assessment this year , of which Mr.
Rosewater complains. But John H.
Mickeyand Peter Mortensen ought to
tell where they stand.
The populist plank on railroad taxa
tion is short and to the point :
"Based on present assessed valvf-
tions of all property we will Increase
the assessed valuation of the railroad
property of this state from 26 millions
to 40 millions of dollaws. "
If elected , William H. Thompson ,
Charles Q. De France , and John N.
Lyman , must carry out this plank or
sinK in political oblivion. There can
be no escape on questions of Interpre
tation. The dullest mind knows what
the plank means. Three of these six
men will be elected on tke 4th day of
November. It is up to the people to
say which three.
The Hastings Asylum
TUG State Journal has unmasked its
mud batteries on Dr. J. T. Steele , su
perintendent of the Hastings asylum
under Governor Poynter's administra
tion , rehashes an old story about large
purchases of butter and clothing late
in December , 1900 , and attempts to
hold the present fusion candidates re
sponsible because Tnompson was dem
ocratic national committeeman. Gil
bert lieutenant governor , Powers ad
jutant at the Grand Island soldiers'
home , De France bookkeeper at the
state treasury , Brennan steward at
the Geneva school , and so on. These
gentlemen have no desire to dodge any
responsibility ; but if they bought the
butter and clothing , then they should
have credit for whatever record the In
stitution made.
Suppose , for the sake of argument ,
we admit that Dr. Steele bought more
butter and clothing than conditions
justified who got the use of these
things ? His republican successor. The
clothing was not perishable , and the
present superintendent has made use
Cedar County
( Issued under authority of those who
are opposed to corporation domination
in Nebraska. )
In some of the conntles it is about
impossible to get the collections ac
curately and in such cases it is neces
sary in discussing tax matter to take
the assessment
The assessment for the year 1893 on
property other than railroad property
in Cedar county was. f 88,752.41.
The amount of railroad taxes . .levied
in that year by Joseph S. Bartley and
Engene Moore , then comprising a ma-
of it ; and that saved his appropria
tion. Let us compare his record with
the one made by Dr. Steel e. Figures
count Results count If the present
superintendent is such an economical
cuss and Dr. Steele such a spend
thrift as the State Journal would have
us believe , the records ought to dis
close such facts.
Let us take the auditor's records
showing the warrants issued under Dr.
Steele's superintendency from April 1 ,
1899 , to August 31 , 1900 , and make
comparison with the warrants issued
under tne republican superintendent
from April 1 , 1901 , to August 31 , 1902.
That ought to tell the story tolerably
well.
well.Here
Here are the items for Dr. Steele :
Salary superintendent $ 2,500.00
Salary ass't phys 1,875.00
Salary ass't phys 1.200.0U
Employes' wages 30,388.12
Board and clothing 52,146.77
Telephone , etc 156.56
Total $88,266.45
And here are the items for the
"economical" republican superinten
dent for identically the same length of
time :
Salary superintendent ? 3,125.00
Salary ass't phys 1,875.00
Salary ass't phys 1,500.00
Employes' wages 31.682.98
Board , clothing , etc 87,982.59
Total ? 126,165.57
Now , the records in the governor's
office show that on May 31 , 1900 , there
were 677 inmates in this asylum. On
May 31 , 1902 , there were 784 , an in
crease of 107.
The cost for maintaining each in-
niate under Dr. Steele's "extravagance"
for the period named was $130.39 ; un
der republican "economy , " for exactly
the srme length of time it was $160.92.
That is to say , republican "economy"
cost $30.53 a head more than fusion
"extravagance. "
But this Is not all : There was , un
der republican rule , an increase of 107
inmates in the institution. The in
creased cost was $37,899.12. Hence , for
each additional inmate the cost was
$354.19. Great is republican economy ,
and jojohnson is its prophet
In the face of this showing , which
can be verified by anyone caring to do
so , the only objection the taxpayers
can have to Dr. Steele's administra
tion is that he didn't buy more cloth
ing and more butter. His "extrava
gance" saved the taxpayers over $30
an inmate nearly $38,000 as com
pared to the "economy" of his republi
can successor.
CHARLES Q. DE FRANCE.
A Mistaken Idea
A number of well-meaning populists
have formed erroneous ideas regarding
certain phases of the railroad tax
question. Tney have learned from re
publican papers and believe that a
populist board of equalization cut down
the railroad valuations , and that the
populist board continued to reduce
railroad valuations.
This is a mistake. During the early
' 90's railroad valuations per mile were
steadily cut down by the republican
board. For example the valuations per
mile were :
Valuation
Year. No. miles , per mile.
1889 5,031 $5,879.10
1890 5,157 5,788.42
1891 5,418 5,401.47
1892 5,465 5,365.74
18 * 5,535 5,162.39
1804 5,542 5,040.88
1895 5,542 4,587.26
1896 5,542 4,587.32
It will be observed that the mileage
kept increasing up to 1893 which , of
course , would have a tendency to low
er the value per mile , inasmuch as
the valuations placed on the new mile
age were lower than the average ; but
the board in 1895 , consisting of Gov
ernor Holcomb , Auditor Moore and
Treasurer Bartley , made the reduction
of $453.62 per mile over 9 per cent
and this was done by the republican
majority of the board , it being two to
one republican.
In 1897 , when the board consisted of
Governor Holcomb , Treasurer Meserve
and Auditor Cornell , the railroad as
sessment was raised $24.91 per mile ;
and ir 1898 another raise of $98.47 was
made by the same board. No change
from the 1898 figures was made in 1899.
These are the facts , and they can be
verified by consulting the records.
It is doubtless true , in the light of
our present knowledge on this sub
ject , that the fusion board did not
place the railroad assessment as high
as we believe it ought to have been.
But the matter was not then so well
understood. No convention had stated
a minimum amount which would be
considered proper and just The taxa
tion of franchises was not talked of
then and but little understood. The
board considered that property was
being assessed at about one-seventh of
actual value , and its valuation of the
railroad property would be on the
basis of about § 33,000 a mile for the
tangible property certainly a high
enough figure. Another thing must
also be considered : At that time the
Union Pacific was under , and just
emerging from receivership ; other
roads were not then making the great
earnings they are now. The recent
western classification had not been
made , whereby freight rates were ma
terially advanced.
There Is not a particle of doubt that
jority of the state board , were $9,794.08.
The amount of taxes assessed in 1901
in Cedar county against property other
than railroad property , was $116-
1&4.59. while the railroad taxes for
1901 assessed by the present state ad
ministration were only $8,991.29.
Tho taxes of the plain citizen in
Cedar county were increased nearly
$28,000 , while the railroad taxes were
decreased by the present administra
tion more than $800.
The taxes of the people were in
creased last year more than 30 per
cent above the taxes levied in 1893 and
thjj railroad taxes ought to have been
.
the fusion board did what it consid
ered Just in the matter. Conditions
then Justified a much lower assess
but of course the
ment than today ;
board did not then consider the valua
ble franchises. If the question had
then been agitated as thoroughly as it
was this year , and as well understood ,
the increase would have been in three
figures at least per mile. It had no
mandamus suit to defend ; no "sec
ond answer" to file after being drafted Ifl
by a coterie of railroad attorneys.
Populists have nothing to gain to
day by attacking the fusion boards of
equalization during 1897 to 1900. Our
present knowledge of the subject
teaches us that they ought to have
considered railroad franchises and
they would certainly have done so
under such conditions as prevailed this
year. That is Just the difference be
tween them and a republican board :
the latter persists In pressing down
railroad valuations in the face of all
arguments , in spite of mandamus suits ,
and with full knowledge of the vast
increase in the value of railroad prop
erty and franchises. v , ,
Valley County
( Issued under authority of those
who are opposed to corporation domi
nation in Nebraska. )
The county of Valley is the home of
the republican candidate for treas
urer , Peter Mortensen. Mr. Morten-
sen was put on the ticket because the
Union Pacific knew its man , and he
was also eminently satisfactory to the
Burlington. But Mr. Mortensen has
troubles of his own which will take all
tue skill and manipulation of the tax
bureau to settle for him. It would be -f
hard to find a county where a hazy ,
misty , foggy condition would help the
railroads out more , and we advise the
editors to hurry out to Valley county
and to take with them a machine that
will manufacture not only fog , but
smoke also , and if it will make smoke
of the pitch pine variety , it would be
better. It will take something pretty
dark to keep the people from seeing
it. Conditions in that county have re
quired an increased amount of money
for public purposes.
Tne amount of railroad tax levied by
the fusion administration in 1897 was
$6,100.51. in 1901 this amount was in
creased to $6,598.15.
But the private taxpayers of that
county paid only $22,808.69 in 1897.
while they were compelled to pay $34-
257.87 in 1901.
The railroad taxes were increased
nearly $500 , but the taxes of the people
were increased nearly twelve thou
sand dollars.
The railroad taxes were increased 8
per cent ; the people's taxes were in
creased 50 per cent The taxes of the
people were increased six times as
much as th railroad taxes.
Yet , in the face of this abominable
outrage , Mr. Mortensen refuses to
promise any increase in railroad tax
ation. He is dodging it like Mr. Mick
ey ; and every sensible man knows
that the man who Is dodging Is with
the railroads. What the corporations
want is a dodger , and in that respect
Peter Mortensen Is an ideal candidate.
Investigator , in Omaha World-Her
ald.
Knox County
( Issued under the authority of thoa
who are opposed to corporation domi
nation in Nebraska. )
When the mist makers of the rail
road tax bureau get o > er their tired
feeling they might take their fog ma
chine up to Knox county and try to
make things look hazy.
The light has been shining up there
and people have been investigating
and already the leading republican ,
paper in the county has bolted th
state ticket nominated by the rail
road tax dodgers.
The Niobrara Pioneer is republican
In national politics , and its editor ,
Mr. Fry , is a brilliant and vigorous
writer. He sees plainly enough that
unless the railroads are driven out of
the control of the republican party
that the state will be lost not only
this year , but in the national election.
There are other republican papers in
Knox county that are willing to see
the people victimized by the railroads ,
but the great injustice being done to
his neighbors was too much for Mr.
Fry.
Fry.The
The amount of taxes paid by private
citizens in 1893 under the state admin
istration of Joseph Bartley and Eu
gene Moore was $53,340.94 , while the
amount paid In 1901 was $86,512.12.
Taxes of the plain citizen were In
creased more than $33,000 in a year.
But how about the railroads ? Bart
ley and Moore taxed them in that
county $6,460.61. The present state
administration taxed them $5,600.85.
The railroad taxes in Knox county
were reduced more than eight hun
dred dollars below the figures of Bart
ley and Moore. The railroad taxes
were decreased more than 12 per cent ,
while the taxes of the people were In
creased more than 60 per cent
It is no wonder that the Pioneer
bolted. When it comes to helping the
railroads dodge their taxes Joe Bart
ley and Eugene Moore have to lift
their hats to the present administra
tion. The man who votes the repub
lican ticket this year In Nebraska
will surely have to grit his teeth
and hold his nose while doing so. In
vestigator , in Omaha World-Herald.
According to Secretary Shaw the
gold standard is a complete failure.
To prevent a crisis he Is sitting up
nights inventing schemes to get "more
money" in circulation. If there is gold
enough to do the business of the con-
try , what is he fretting about ?
increased at least that amount.
But instead of increasing the taxes
the state administration decreased
them more than 8 per cent These
things ought to be easily understood.
The people's taxes go up 30 per cent
and the railroad taxes go down 8 per
cent
The editors of the railroad tax bu
reau might put these figures in their f-fl
fog mill and see whether they can
make them look misty. Investigator ,
in Omaha World-Herald.
The republicans are trying to lorgei
about Mickey.