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About Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 12, 1905)
Organization of Legislature Is ; Accomplished. ROUSE CHOSEN FOR SPEAKER S Placed in Nomination by Chief Opponent , Douglas. MUST MAKE GOOD RECORD Sentiment of Members Is that Good VTorJc Must , be Done and All Corrupting Influences Carefully Avoided. Lincoln : Not a hand was raised ngainst the agreement prepared the night before when the Twenty-ninth session of Nebraska legislature con vened at noon Tuesday. Rouse , the candidate for speaker , and Jennings , the caucus nominee for president pro tern of the senate , with the remainder of the chosen oilicers and employes , were inducted into oilico. ' "Tho people's slogan has triumphed" shouted a little group of members who had determined that the legislators and not the railroads would do the work this time of organizing the legislature. . Mr. Douglas , who made such a strong fight for the speakership and was only defeated at the lust by the indiscreet management of some of his supporters , instead of seeking to extend his inter ests into the councils of the house , was the man who placed in nomination for speaker George L. Rouse , whom the Rouse-Perry-Wilson caucus of fifty-two members had the night before nomin ated , and Perry seconded the nomina tion. Mr. Douglas was loudly cheered by his colleagues as he took his seat after performing this graceful work. ( Manifestly both house and senate are well pleased with the selection of their ( presiding officers and the remainder of ithe corps , and the feeling and dispo sition is that this session shall be an example of economy and business ad ministration. , Between the conditions attending the convening of this and the legislature of two years ago there is a noticeable difference. Two years ago it was ad- jrnittcd on every hand that the corpora tion lobby exercised a potent influence 5n the organizations , and it was a fact that the lobby was more in evidence K * t the convening of the session. This /time it is a significant fact that a most powerful lobby the Northwestern- Union Pacific met the worst defeat if could have sustained in the fight for organization , and few if any profession al lobbyists paraded themselves in cither house or senate when the two bodies came together. The machinery of neither house nor senate was ready for work Tuesday , the postoflices , committee rooms and other such departments being in dis order , but as they are not needed just yet it made no serious difference. The Twenty-ninth Nebraska legisla ture convened at noon Tuesday. Lieu tenant Governor McGilton called the senate to order at T2 o'clock and Secre tary of State Marsh , the house at 12o2. Rev. J. H. Presson , in the senate , and Dr. Jones of St. Paul's Methodist < -hurch of Lincoln , in tho house , deliv ered the respective invocations as soon sis the rolls were called. Practically the entire membership was present in * ach branch and in tho house the gal leries were liberally sprinkled with spectators and the lobbies and hallways were even better filled , but the senate - nlleriesvere vacant. On motion of Wilson of Pawnee. Wir.uhnm of Cass was chosen spraker j.ro tain of the house and was escoited to the chair by Douglas of Rock. Cas- ioll of Otoo and .luvcnut of Boone. On motion of McClay of Lancaster , John Wall was made temporary chief clerk. Warner of Lancaster , Douglas of Jtoek , Dornfl of Gai field , Howe of Ne- jnaha and Clarke of Douglas form the hou.-fi committee 'on credentials , and Bohtold of Lancaster , Sauiulors , of Douglas and Jackson of Gnge the senate committee. The for- mniily of declaring the members duly seated was done on report of the com mittees. Wilson of Pawnee. Jack on of Antelope and Gerdes of Richardson were : ippmnlcd by tho speaker pro tem to wail on Chief Justice Holcomb and Associate Justice Barnes and Sedg- ivick of Che supremo court and escort them to Ihe hou > for the administra tion of the oath of oilrS which func tion was performed by Chief Justice Holcomb. Tho members then signed the oath. Wall of Sherman , Thomas of Doug- Ins and Jones of Otoe were appointed in the senate to escort the supreme court justices to the chamber , where the administration and signing of oath were gone through with as in the house. In the permanent organization of the housf , Douglas of Rock , nominated RouseoC Hall and Perry of Furims , ( Seconded this nomination. Gerdes of Richardson nominated Hunker of Com ing as tho fusion candidate , and the vote was on party lines , 91 to 9 , ex cept Ilupker nnd Rouse exchanged TOtos. 6n Elunker's motion , Rouse's election was made unauimons. JeODiog ? Of Thayer was unanimously .elected p esdient of the senate , and then tlie perujasmnt organization * of both were formally carried oat. Lieutenant Governor McGilton called the senate together without the use of a gavel , but this wiil be furnished him later. On motion of Jennings of Thayer the secretary of state was instructed to secure a gavel and also to furnish all supplies necessary for the senators upon request of the secretary. A resolution was adopted that tho chief clerk of the engrossing and enrolling committee be paid ! ? ! a day. Tho nine fusion members of tho house presented the names of F. W. Phillips of Platte county , L. A. Belcher of Polk and N. Harmon of Butler for chief clerk , Korgoant-at-arms and chaplain respec tively. This presentation was made by Gcrdos of Richardson as an amendment to Wilson's motion for the election of those previously agreed on. By a for mal vote the amendment was lost. The officers and employees then were sworn in by the chief justice. Burgess of Lancaster , Caseheer of Gage and Perry of Furnas escorted Speaker Rouse to the chair and the iicw speaker was received with cheers. Acknowledging the honor conferred on him , assuring the house he was its ser vant , he said : "It is the function of the speaker , and my purpose to serve you as I have tried to serve my con stituency. Let us endeavor throughout the session to serve the people who sent us here. Let us so conduct this busi ness for the state , that when we go homo and let us go home at the end of sixty days we shall receive the commendation of our constituents. " A committee from tho senate brought a message that the body was permanently organized and ready for business. The senate was similarly advised of the house's permanent organization. Windham of Cass , Anderson of Doug las and Burns of Lancaster , of the house and Sheldon of Cass , Ilaller of Washing ton and Schreck of York , of the senate , were named to inform the governor that tho legislatme had convened and was ready for any communication from him. Junkin , Perry , Casohecr , Gordcs and Dietrick wore appointed by the house as supply committee. The senate adjourned till 11 a. m. Wednesday and the house at 1:30 took recess till 3 p. m. The joint committee appointed in the forenoon to wait upon the governor and announce the convening of the legisla ture and its readiness to receive any communication from him reported that the governor informed it he would have a message to communicate to the legis lature in joint session in the hall of repre sentatives at 2 p. m Thursday. This is the time set then for the inaugural cciemouies. The speaken then appointed as n com mittee to confer with a like committee from the senate on the arrangement for the joint inaugural session Wilson of Pawnee , Barnes of Douglas and Jack son of Antelope. The house then , at 4.15 adjourned un til 10 a. m. Wednesday. ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANTS. Growth of Municipal Ownership in the Last Ten Years. Municipal ownership of electric light plants is increasing in the United States , says the Electric Rewiew. Sta tistics , so far as they are available , indicate that thegreat majority of these plants have been acquired with in the last decade. The complete statistics for a single state Massachusetts as recorded IK the annual reports of its gas and elec tric light commissioners , show tiit compared with a single municipal , electric light plant on June 30 , 1892. there were seventeen such plants on the like date of 1902. At the earlier of these two dr es the investment in the single municipal electric plant was $15,000 , and on June 30 , 1902 , the total investment in the seven teen municipal plants , three ol" ; which included both gas and electric equipment was $1,828,708. In tho ; three combined gas and electric plants ; the investment was107,711 on the \ date last named. Late in 1902 the city of Holyoke. Mass. . acquired both gas and electric light plants at a cost ol' more than $70U. < JOO. < Chicago. 1888 ; Little Rock. 1SSS ; To- : poka , 18SS ; St. J-jseph. 1SS9 ; Allegheny , ; 1890 ; Wheeling. 1S92 ; Taeoma , 189:5 : ; ' Galveston , 1894 ; Dnroit , JS ! r > : Tuunton , : 1MJ7 ; Columbus. 1898 ; Grand Rapids , 1SU9 : Spriugiield , 111. , 1000. This list of cities , with over 30,000 , population each , that have municipal electric plants , gives no adequate idea of the growth In the number of such plants , because this growth has been I mainly confined to smaller cities and : towns. Massachusetts offers an ex ample of this fact , for of the eighteen municipal electric plants in that siate. only three , those at Taunton , Ghicopee and Ilolyoke , are in the cities , the other Qfteen plants being owned by towns. The extent of municipal activity in electric light plants throughout the en tire United State * is brought out for the first time by the recent bulletin of the United States census ofBeres. on the electric light and power industry. Ac cording to this bulletin , of the 3,019 central electric light stations in the entire country , not counting electric railway stations that do some lighting. 815 were operated as municipal plants on June 30. 1902. The number of municipal plants was thus 22. . " ) per cent of the total , and the investment in Ihoso municipal plants was $22,020- . (73 , or 4.3 per cent of tho entire in.- \estment for all the lighting system. Monarchs. The kings manifested grent cordiality as they mot , the Kaiser kissing Mr. Morgan on both chcekg , and Mr. Mor gan letting him. Mr. Morgan wore the uniform of German admiral , and the Kaiser the ftecr- Bucker ult of n captain of industry. At parting the Kaiser ordered a salute of fifty guns to be fired by the fleet , while Mr. Morgan directed that all re- curities on the Berlin Bonne be balled one point. Life. Legislative. j ; HOUSE. The house convened at 10 o'clock Wed nesday morning. The committee on sup plies submitted its report iccommending this list of supplies for the session : One gross scratch tablets No. 4028. 110 in wells , one-half dozen quart bottles of mucilage , four dozen wood rulers , 100 pocket bill holders , one dozen ribbons each for Remington and Smith-Premier typewriters , twenty roams onion skin pa per , three gross assorted pens , ten dozen letter head writing tablets for members of house , 3,000 No. O'/j envelopes , 2,000 No. 11 envelopes. The report was accepted. Speaker Rouse then addressed tho house on the matter of hiring employes and the appointment of committeeincn and , cou'inittoe chairmen. At 11:40 the members of the senate entered the house and the two bodies wont into joint session to canvass the vote cast in the state at tho last general election. Tho reading of the vote in de tail was dispensed with. The official ballots wore delivered to Speaker Rouse by Secretary Marsh , opened by the speaker and announced by First Assistant Secretary of the Senate Groovy. Senator Cady. of Howard , moved , and tho motion was carried , that when the joint session adjourn it he until 2 p. m. Thursday , and on motion of Senator Roghtol , of Lancaster , the joint session at 11:50 was dissolved. The house then resumed its delibera tions. Some opposition developed in the viva voce vote taken on a resolution intro duced by Roberts , of Dodge , and second ed by Perry , of Furnas. to supply the representatives of the daily papers in the house with copies of the statutes , but tho resolution carried. The house then adjourned at noon un til 2 p. m. Thursday. Following out the policy of reform and retrenchment enunciated by Speaker Rouse in his address to tho house upon taking his position Wodnesdav , the house upon taking his position Wednes day , tho house Thursday voted down a resolution by McClay. of Lancaster , to provide for mimeograph copies of the daily minutes of the session for each member during tho term. Rouse took occasion before putting tho resolution to a vote , to state that two years ago this had cost the house 5 a day and said it was merely a matter of whether or not the mimeographs were worth that much to the members. McClay took the ground that the cost could be reduced , but the house voted down the resolution. Perry , of Furnas , made the motion that when tho house adjourn it be until 11 a. m. Tuesday. This was prior to tho convening of the joint session for inau guration and the motion carried. The house had gone into session at 2:10 , nd- journing within ten minutes for the joint session. As a matter of fact , no material business was transacted. Tho following appointments of em ployes of Ihe house of representatives were announced by Speaker Rouse Thursday , to take effect at once : Hugh Glasgow , book and time keeper. Gage County. John F. Smith , janitor , Sherman. Elmer Stetson , assistant postmaster and mail carrier. Saline. Grace Bullard , stenographer , Washing ton. ton.J. J. McKelvey. watchman , Adams. A. Crawford , custodian cloak room , Nomaha. Benjamin Campbell , custodian jmli- I'inry , York. Fred Van XPSS , custodian. Hall. S. L. Cannon , chief clerk , bill room. Custer. Jerry Bailey , assistant doorkeeper. Johnson. Paul Gettinger. janitor. Otoe. Luther S. Baker , janitor , Jefferson. SENATE. Lieut. Gov. McGiltou called the senate to , order at 10:30 Wednesday and the blessing was invoked by Chaplain Flock. Senator Hart was the only member ab sent. Adjt. Gen. Culver during the night had presented to Lieut. Gov. Mc Gilton a gavel that had been captured in the Philippines during the time tho general was there , and this was used to the satisfaction of the knuckles of the presiding oflicer. A committee , composed of Brgthol of Lancaster , Fries of Valley , and Klirock of York , was appointed to confer with a house committee to set a time for : i joint session to canvass the vote on ex ecutive oilicers nnd fixed the time at 11:30. The hoard of secretaries of the state board of health sent in a communication requesting the favorable action of the senate in the matter of pioviding a home for the epileptics. An invitation was read and placed on file from the National Live Stock Association. On motion of Sheldon , of Cass , Jen nings of Thayer. C'ady of Howard , and Fries of Valley , were appointed to rustle around and secure supplies for tho use of tho members of tho senate. Mockett , of Lancaster , moved a reso lution , that was unanimously carried , to furnish representatives of the newspa pers in tho senate copies of the Cobbey statutes for use during the session. Tho committee on employes made n partial report allowing each senator to make one appointment and will make a further report. The committee was in structed to report on tho number of days the employes are to he paid , whether during the time the senate is actually in session or by the week. Tho names re ported and accepted were : George O. Barnes , clerk ; Maud Ord. stenographer : George II. Barber , clerk : Rev. J. II. Presson , proofreader ; Claud Parrott , clerk ; James McMullen , bill olerk ; Blanche Adams , stenographer : A. Flannagan , doorkeeper ; E. A. Min -lerk : F. Curtis , custodian of cloak room ; John J. Murphy , clerk : William Cook , clerk : Rev. Perry , copyist ; Je rome Easley , janitor : Oscar Johnson , mail carrier ; A. II. Donecken , bill clerk , R. L. White , gallery doorkeeper. Tins list was indorsed by the senate and most of them were sworn in. The first thing on the program Thurs day afternoon in the senate after Assist ant Secretary Greevy had called the roll nnd Chaplain Flock had invoked the blessing , was a motion by Cady , of How ard , to name a committee of three to confer with a house committee on fixing a date for adjournment. Giffen , of Dawson , moved that Wall ol Sherman. Laverty of Suunders , and l.Jould of Grecloy , be appointed a con .Tili/fe t ° represent the members of tin. si'iau s't the meeting of the Nation.il Live : Stt.r'k Association at Denver. Tin- matter of expense will be referred to th committee oti charities. The commit ! * . " ° employes reported these names to thv senate and thy wen sworn in and placed ° the pay roll : Miss Olive I'tt. werV 'y ' to lieutenant governor : Charles E. Fn. " > .v , cop/ist : F. J. Bern-diet , custodian of frx ' senate : Ed gar McCrea , custodian of fx f1 gallery Mrs. E. S. Cameron , copy t ; Ton Wiight. elerk ; J. A. Pollard , me\'s < 'nger Jerry Wilhehn , night watchman ; H. A IJober , janitor. Upon reconvening after the joint sep sion Jennings , of Thayer , reported tin standing committees as follows : Accounts and Expenditures Geo. W. Shreck , chairman ; W. II. Jennings. I. C. Gibson , Geo. L. Sheldon. Albert Wil eey. Agriculture .7. E. Petersen , chairman : T. A. Yore , M. If. Whal-y , Alex Laver ty , Hugh Huirhes , Charles H. Epperson. Geo. L. Sheldon. Apportionment F. C. Nielson , chair man : W. I ) . Giinn. 10. A. Tucker , C. L. k-aundcrs C. P. Bresco. Banks and Currency C. P. Bresf-e , chairman : W. II. Jennings , E. E. Good , A. E. Cady. A. F. Ilaish. Committee on Claims A. E. Cady | chairman ; R. W. V Jones. Geo. W. I Shreck , Hugh Huglus. L. C. Gibson. j Constitutional Amendments and Fcdrr ) al Relations E. A. ruchechairman , ' A. E. Cady. Aaron Wall. C. II. Epper- M > II. J. J. Williams , B. F. Thomas , W. A. Meserve. County and County Boundaries A. F. Harsh , chairman ; T. A. Yore. Geo. L. Sheldon : P. F. Beghtol. J. P. Gilligan. Deaf , Dumb and Blind Asylum R. W. W. Jones , chairman : R. F. Thomas , W. D. Haller , J. P. Gilligan , J. J. Williams , Education W. A. Ale.serve , chairman. R. W. W. Jones. B. F. Thomas. M. IJ. Whaley. J. I' . ( Jillicau. Enrolled and Engrossed lulls P. I' . Begthol , chairman ; R. W. W. Jones F. C. Noilson. C. H. Epperson , M. II. Whn- ley. E. D. Gould. L. C. Gibson. Kn j loycs E. A. Tucker chairman , B. F. Thomas , Hugh Hughes. A. L. Lt.ver- ty , A. F. Haish , W. D. Ginln. j Finance. Ways and ' Means E. E. ' Good , chairman : A. E. Cady. J. J. V il- ! | iains , P. F. Regthol. A. F. Harsh , M. W. ' Dimery , C. L. Saunders , M. L. Fries.1 George W. Shreck. Fish and Game Alex Laverty , chsiir man : M. W. Mimery. W. D. Gitl'in , E. E.I Good. W. A. Mcserve. i Highways , Bridges and Ferries T. A. { Yore , chairman ; E. D. Gould , Alex Lev- erty. E. A. Tucker , M. II. Whaley. ' Internal Improvements Hugh Hughes , i ' chairman : C. F. Br < > soe , J. E. Peterson , M. L. Fries. II. W. L. Jackson. } Insane Hospitals J. J. Williams , , chairman ; J. II. Mockett , Jr. . J. P. Gilii4 gan , Hugh Hughes. C. H. Epperson. i Insurance II. W. L. Jackson , chair- ; man : J. II. Mockett , Jr. , M. L. Fries , L. ' C. Gibson. Geo. W. Shreck. Irrigation W. D. Gillin , chairman ; Al bert Wilsey. Aaron Wall. C. P. Bresee , A. F. Harsh. M. L. Fries , J. I' . Gilligan. Judiciary C. H. Epperson , chairman : E. A. Tucker. W. D. Gifiin. AY. A. Mes- rvo , Aaron Wall. B. F. Thomas , C. L. Saunders. M. W. Dimery. Labor Hugh Hughes , chairman : Geo. L. Sheldon. T. A. Yore , A. F. Harsh , W. D. Haller. Library W. II. * Jennings , chairman ; J. Mockett , Jr. , R. W. W. Jones , AHrt Wilsey , IT. W. L. Jackson. Live Stock and Grazing A. F. Harsh , chairman ; Alex Laverty. F. C. Xielsou , W. D. ( Jiffln. M. L. Fries. Manufacture and Commerce1 R. W. W. Jones , chairman ; Hugh Hughes.Geo. W. Shreck , C. L. Saundors , J. E. Peter son. r.IeeM'-al Societies W. D. JJnller. chairman : P. F. Begthoi. J. J. William.- , J. P. Giliigan , M. II. Whaley. Military Affairs Geo. L. Sheldon , chairman : W. A. Meserve , W. H. Jen nings , Albert Wilsey. M. W. Dimery. Miscellaneous Subjects E. D. Gould , chairman ; E. A. Tucker , F. C. Nielson , J. E. Peterson. Alex Laverty. Miscellaneous Corporations L. C. Gib son , chairman ; J. H. Mockett , jr. . W. A. Meserve. II. W. L. Jackson , Albert Wil- -ey. C. P. Biesee. B. F. Thomas. Municipal Affairs Charirs L. Saun ders. chairman : H. W. L. Jackson. J. II. Mockett , Jr. . Hugh Hughes. L. C. Crib- son. Privileges anil Election * - B. F. Thom as , chairman : J. J. Williams. P. F. Beg thol. F. C. Xielson. C. L. Saunder.s. A. E. Cady. (1. ( W. Shreck. Public Chnritie.Alex Laverty , chair man : R. W. W. .Lines. I ] . D. Gould , An drew Yore , W. D. Mailer. Public Lands and Buildings M. W. Dimeiy. chairman ; A. E. Tucker. F. C. Nielson , B. F. Thomas. W. D. Giilin , A. F. Harsh , E. D. Gould. J. E. Petei > on , W. D. H.-iller. Public Priiitinir M W. Whaley. chair- man : E. E. Good. Aaron Wall. M. W. Dimery. C. I' . Br-see. Railroad Committee Aaron Wall , chairman : E. D. Gould , P. F. Besithol. . M. L. Pries Alex Laverty. C . L. Shel don. E. E. Good , Albert Wilsey , C. H. ' Epperson. Reform Schools. Aslyum for Feeble Minded and Homo for the Friendless J. P. Gi'.ligan. ' chairman ; P. F. Begthol , II. W. L. Jackson , E. A. Tucker. Aaron Wall. : Revenue Geo. L. Sheldon , chairman ; i G. W. Shreck. C. L. Saunders. M. L. Pries. AY. H. Whaley. J. E. Peterson. It. W.Y. . .Ione s. Rules W. II. Jennings , chairman : A. E. Cady. Aaion Wall. School Lands and Fund' ; M. L. Fries , chairrnanJ. ; H. Mockett. Jr. . J. E. Peter- sen. J. J. AYilliams. AA * . D. Gitlin. Soldiers' Home Albert Ailsey. . chair man : A. E. Cady. AY. IT. Jennings , M. AA' . DiiiK-ry. H. AY. L. Jackson. State Prison P. F. Begthol. chairman : J. II. Mockett. Jr. , F. C. Xielson. AY. D. aller. E. D. Gould. I'niveisity and Normal Schools J. II. Mockett , Jr. , chairman ; E. E. Good. Aaron AYall. W. II. Jennings. C. P. Bre see , II. W. L. Jackson. L. C. Gibson. On Standing Committees AA' . II. Jen nings , chairman ; E. E. Good A. E. Cady. C. L. Saunders. M. AY. Dimery. W. A. Meserve , C' . II. Epperson. AVherein They Differ. The Villain The angels of the other world are always pictured with wings at tached. The Soubrette Yes. and the "angels" of the theatrical world are attached to the wing * . ; | ' \ There is a popular impression that i the United States Senate is largely composed of men wuo have been In that body a very long time , if not run ning back a generation. This idea is dispelled by the facts which show that there are but 17 Senators who were in service prior to 1803. There are only 9 Senators who have served over 20 years. During the last few years a good many of the men who ligured in national affairs during war times and in the 10-3'ear period of reconstruction aicer the war have dropped out of pub lic view from one reason or another , j Senator Allison is the nestor of the | Senate , having begun bis service in I 1ST3. Next in length of service comes j Senator Cockrell , with two years less j to bis credit , and third , Senator Mor gan , who began his senatorial work in 1S77 , and his present term will not end until 1007 , with bis re-election prac tically assured. Then comes Senator Platt. of Connecticut , 1871) ) : Hale. Haw- ley , Frye and Aldrich , 1SS1 ; Cullom , 1SS3 ; Toller and Berry , 1SS5 ; Bate , Daniel and Stewart , 1SS7 ; Gallinger , Hansborougb and Proctor. 1801 ; Lodge and Perkins , 1893. All the balance' came in 1893 , or since that date. About hfiif the members of the Senate have been sworn in during the past four' 3'ears , and on the 4th of March the pro- ' portion of old Senators will be still smaller , as Senators Cockrell and Haw- ley will both be out of the Senate then. _ * * j After being in the courts for 12 years or more , the Fayerweather will case seems at last to have been settled by the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States that the action of the executors and trustees in dividing the residuary estate among the 20 col lege ? named in Mr. Fayerweather'3 will was legal. Mr. Fayerweather was a New York leather merchant , who , to the surprise of the people of the city , left an estate valued at $0.000,000. It had not been supposed that he was aa unusually rich man millionaires hide easily in New York. The amount in volved in the suits was $3uOO,000. Many of the most prominent lawyers in the country were employed in tho several cases , as counsel for the col leges or the heirs at law. The State Department has informed . Florence Maybrick's attorney that ! the British government has strong ob jections to his client going about the country on a lecture tour to ' "expose" tbe British penal system. The depart ment made it clear to Mrs. Maybrick'e lal.vyer that the scheme must be aban- dojned , an 3 all her dates have there fore been canceled. Mrs. Maybricl haif , planned a comprehensive tour. Sheihad made a lucrative contract with a theatrical agent , and intended to de vote her lectures to a discussion of th ? abuses of British prisons. TJipless something now unforeseen prevents , Secretary Hay's remaining in otiiee to tie end of President Roose velt's' ' coming term , he will have serves } ! in that position nearly eleven years ! the longest period in the his tory e t that office , for only three per sons pave served for eight years , ind no on p longer than that. Yet there is no otfyer in our whole system of gov- ernmpj'nt ' in which continuity of plans and o policy is more important Di plomat' cannot be hurried. The aver- ago tefrm of Secretaries of State be fore Mir. Hay has been about thre < years , i l vote for President at the last ele Ion , according to the canvass of the AI W York Times , based on oifi- cial stat returns , and on county "e- turns wl ere the state canvass was in- complete was 13,533,019 , which was about ifhUOOD less than the vote cast in 1900President Roosevelt received 7,040,300 aViainst 5.003.801 fc > r Mr. Par ker , a plurality of 2,5-10,009. The vote for other candidates was as follows : Debs , Socialist , 302,857 ; Swallow. Pro hibition , 24S | 111 ; Watson , People's par ty. 124,381. J\nd \ Corregan , Socialist La bor , 33,519. j 1 : - - : - The deadlCjttcr ofiico of the United States receiv * 6,000.000 letters , wrlt- ten by almost as many different people and failing toj react their intended des- tinarions owi1 g to mperfect direction , or lack of stc nips , "te. If you get no reply to letter i you nay know the rea- sou. The saf way is to have printed letter heads , ith state and postoffice printed retur . as many forget to giv postoffice unt State. According o the Interstate Com- merce Commi sion's f nnunl report tha railways in L e TJnittd States during the past threfj years ave killed 1.044 ; passengers an wounded 21.139. Dur- ' Ing the same period they have killed 5,883 employe ; and injured 76.977. This makes a total of G.927 killed and 93- 11G injured ; 1C\,043 \ victims in all. " " " " " " " \ Rural free d \ Ivory of the mails has been so ex tend * U that th service no\r costs about 5lAX)0.uOO ( ) anually , end approximately l'AX'0-000 ' people receivi the benefit of its acillties Up to Oct. 1st , 27438 ruralontes \ lad been es tablished , and ril re wer < then 8.S59 petitions for nerout's \ pending These Increased ffcIMties \ contribute to the general Increail in the receipts of the Postoffice DepA-'tnient by promot ing a larger nse of \ .ie malls. THEG ORE THOMAS DEAD. Noted Conductor of the Chicago Or * Theodore Thomas , tho noted orchestra leader , died of pneumonia in. his resi dence in Chicago early Wednesday. He was 70 years old. Death came to tho world-famous director almost at the hour of ncliieving his ambition of years , tho establishment of the Chicago orchestra 5a a mairnifireHt permanent home. Mr. Thomas lived to lead his < jHiestra in but lour concerts in the great ut-.v hall built by popular snf cription. Theodore Tnomns , who wns the son of an export violinisi , was liorn nt Estus , Hanover , Germany , Oct. 11 , I8.55. In 18-15 his parents brought him t < the Unit ed States , settling in Now Yvrk City. Even at this earlyKgo tho boy had cre ated art impression xs a violiuist. A concert trip through tho Southern cities in LS51 proved such a surce.-v that when Mr. Thomas returned to New Yorlc THEODOUS THCMAS. he became one of the Grst violins in con- con aud operatic performances during- the cntrairomonts in America , of Jonny Lind , Sont.ig , GrisI ami other great opera fingers. The real beginning in Mr. Thomas' musical career was through a series of' chamber concerts at New York during tho years interveningbetween 1S55 and' 1872. Since 18G1. when he founded his first orchestra in Now York , Theodore Thom as has been a commanding figure in the musical world. In Now York , in Cin cinnati and iu Chicago he has conducted great orchestras and cultivated public taste. He has carried good music to ev ery largo city iu the country. Ho brought the Wagnerian soloists to America iu ISSi and inspired Americans with an un derstanding of "tho music of the future. " His death , just as the groat music hall tor which he had Driven in Chicago was completed , shows the uncertainty of lui- raaii life. His name will occupy a high niche in the temple of American art. THOUSANDS AT WHITE HOUSE. New Year's Ivcccption by President and Mra. Itooscvclt. It took President Roosevelt three hours and twenty-six minutes Monday to greet 7,718 persons at the New Year's White House reception. President and Mrs. Roosevelt , preced ed by the President's aids and followed by the members of the cabinet and their wives , went immediately 11 their place * in the blue room upon entering at 11 a. in. Almost before they had taken their places the diplomatic corps , head ed by tho dean , Count Cassiui , the Rus sian ambassador , and Countess Cussini , were admitted. A large number of diplo mats were presented for the first time , having been appointed since last New Year's reception , and ail of the seven ambassadors were pro.-ented except Baron Speck von Stornburg , the Gorman ambassador , who hus gone to visit hi * father in Saxony. Miss Roosevelt dispensed the hospital ities of the blue room ' 'behind the line. " greeting and entertainirig the guests while the diplomats were being received , turning it into a rceepti-in for the corps- as they re-entered tho blurroom by an other door after having been presented to- the Prc.sidont and Mr. $ . Roosevelt. With M ; s Roosevelt were her two elder brothers. Theodore Roosevelt. Jr. , and Kermit Roosevelt , who , with the four Groton students who are their guests , were prcs > ciucd to all the foreign ers. Marquis Ito of Japan holds a Yale degree. Dr. Edward Everett Hale is one of the Trask lecturers at Yale this year. Stuart Culin has sent a carload of In dian relics from Znni , N. M. , to tho Brooklyn institute. Alfred Beit's offer to found a profes sorship of colonial history at Oxford has been accepted. Boza Kleniowska , a. Polish countess , is a student at the Iowa State college and is taking a course in agronomy. The son of Gov. Ahumada of Jalisco , one of the most important Suites of Mex ico , has entered Harvard as a student. The death of Dr. Thomas M. Drown , president of Lehigh university , removes one of the ablest educators the Middle States have produced. Dr. Albrccht Penck. professor of phy sical geography at the University of Vienna , advocates the construction of a uniform map of the globe. The Imperial Academy of Sciences of Yieuna has voted 4.000 to Prof. Julius Weisner , who will stu.ly tho light rela tions of the flora in Yellowstone Park. Alfred Beit , the South African Croe sus , promises nil amount of money for educational purposes that threatens to rival the sums given away by Andrew Carnegie. The Rev. Albion W. Knight , the new ly chosen bishop of Culm , is well fitted for this important post. Ho was born in Florida in 1S59 , nnd Ls a graduate of the University of the South , at Sewa- nee , Tenn , ;