f p- --zr4&g5w$r'-'
S- fc-Mt ''
r-'i
- f
t:;V ,j
' -
.'"
t
-
(p..
ft -
.-.
k"
j
r
Hv,
-
ST
;If'
I-
I "
a-
It'
;
8
r-
I:'
s
.:
5
& .
H.xi i
L '
THE NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE
A Synopsis of Proceedings in Both Branches
of the Twenty-Eighth General
Assembly.
SENATE.
The following "bills rere placed on sen-
.atorlal file on the 29th: II. R. CO, appro-
'yrtatlBC S4J80 to pay Incidental expenses
f the legislature. It was amended to
read S2M8& 8. F. 28. entitled guardians
. and wards. S. F. 117. in regard to the
Dietrich land leasing bill. The rules were
ended and the bill was placed at the
head of the list. The following bills were
reported back to the senate with the rec
esnsaendatlon that they be passed: 8. F.
25. giving villages the same right to is
sue beads for heating and lighting pur
poses as cities of the first and second
classes. To compel the placing of planks
bridges and culverts before crossing
with engines. Amended that one person
go MO yards ahead of engines on the road
to prevent accidents. Authorizing county
boards to appropriate money for county
fairs. To provide for the appointment of
an Insurance deputy. Fixing fees charged
Insurance company and others for filing
papers. To appropriate $1,800 for inci
dental expenses of the legislature was
mended to read S2S.O00. An act relating
to township organization was referred
back to the committee. Hasty of Furnas
Introduced a resolution to have a com
mittee of three appointed to Investigate
the reason of the difference in taxes paid
by Insurance companies in Nebraska and
In Iowa.
In the senate on the 30th Secretary
AUen to the governor announced that
Governor Mickey had signed S. F. 10.
to legalize issue of bond by cities of first
and second class. Lieutenant Governor
McGilton signed S. F. 23, reducing school
Investments to $50,000. to give school priv
ileges of normal schools. II. It. CT. com
pelling the city council of Omaha to pur
chase Omaha water works, was read a
third time and passed. S. F. 82. entitled
"An act to create a food commission."
nd 8. F. S3, providing penalties for adul
terating food, were recommended to be
placed on general file. Hastlng's resolu
tion to have a committee appointed to
Investigate insurance companies' taxes
was called up and adopted. Bills were
Introduced: To establish a military code
for the state of Nebraska and to provide
for the organization, government and
Compensation of the militia and to pro
vide for the enrollment of the unorgan
ized militia, to conform with an act of
the United States congress "to provide
the efficiency of the militia and for other
purposes." S. F. 126, by Hastings To pro
Biote the independence of voters at pub
lic elections, to enforce the secrecy of
the ballot, to provide for the selecting
and nominating of all candidates for elec
tive offices, except candidates to be chosen
at any special election, or township or
precinct offices or mcmlwrs of school
board? not members of the lxxinls of ed
ucation, by p-pular vote at primary elec
tions, and to provide for the manner of
so doing: to provide what qualifications
re necessary to entitle a person to vote
t such primary elections, to provide for
the placing of the names of candidates
for nomination upon the primary election
ballot of thilr political party and the
manner of so doing, and to provide for
the seelcting and appointment of judges
and clerks to serve at such primary elec
tion, to provide for the notification to
candidates at feuch primary elections of
their nomination, and to provide the man
ner of nominr ng candidates for offices
- to be filled at any-special election and for
township and pfecinct offices, and to pro
vide for the order of placing tickets of
political parties upon the ballot for pub
lic elections, and to provide for the print
ing and distribution of ballots to be used
t public elections and primary elections
for nominr..' -p candidates for office to
be voted on at public election at public
expenses: to regulate the formation of
new parties and prevent in public elections
or primary elections, and to provide for
the punishment for the vlolatioa of the
same.
Almost the entire morning was spent in
the senate on the 31st discussing the bill
for a joint resolution to memorialize con
gress to kill the land leasing bill of Sen
ator Dietrich. Howeil of Douglas moved
n amendment that the fences unlawfully
enclosing the public domain be removed.
This occasioned much debate, until the
senator changed his amendment so that
the fences must come down by June 1.
MM. This was carried unanimously. Sen
ator Howell introduced the following:
"Whereas. Congress has prudently
taken steps to strengthen the army of
the United States by an increase in the
proposed appropriations for this branch
ef the service, therefore be it
Resolved. That in view of the menacing
attitude of foreign powers, the interna
tlcnal situation justifies the general gov
ernment in making further preparations
to seeuse a lasting peace by being pre
pared for war: therefore be It
Resolved. That the State of Nebraska.
by Its legislature, in session assembled,
respectfully requests its representatives
la congress to support an appropriation
tor a larger navy."
HOUSE.
H. R. IS. by Douglas of Rock, to entitle
county treasurers to maintain official
seals that would enable them to validate
tax titles occasioned a heated and pro
tracted debate in the house on the 29th.
The bill was placed on general file. H.
R 103. by Jones of Otoe, providing for the
election of county commissioners by an
entire vote of the county in counties not
under township organization, was vigor
ously assailed as a political measure.
Reuse of Hall insisted that it was an at
tempt on the part of cities of the class
f Nebraska City to obtain control of
the county board. Kennedy of Douglas
said that from observation he was con
vinced that regardless of the purpose, the
practical effect of this sort of bill is poli
tical, as suggested by Rouse. The com
mittee on boundaries, county seats and
township organization brought in an ad
Terse report on the bill, which was voted
down, allowing the bill to go on general
file. H. R. 32. by Koetter of Douglas,
compelling Omaha school board to buy
Its own books and H. R. 42. fixing salaries
of secretary of. school boards were
passed. Bills introduced for f.rst time
were: To estnblish-a military code for
the state of Nebraska, and to provide for
the organization, government and com
pensation of the militia, and to provide
for the enrollment of the unorganized
militia. -to conform with an act -of the
United States congress "To promote the
efficiency of the militia and for other
purposes." To punish the stealing of do
mestic fowls -and to -punish pcrons re
ceiving or buying stolen domestic fows.
making the offense felony.
In the house on the 30th Speaker Mock
ett signed H. R. 67. by Gilbert of Doug
las, the Omaha waterworks bill, which
bad passed both house and senate. The
senate at this time sent in a communica
tion that it had voted to adjourn to next
Tbvrsday. the house concurring. The
voted to refuse to concur In the
ite's action. These resolutions were
Introduced by Christy of Nemaha:
We, the undersigned residents, voters.
eJtlseas. taxpayers and merchants resid
taff and doing business In Otoe county.
reaHatasT that our present laws regard
fas; exemptions are unjust and detri
saeatal to .tmvsaerehants' interests and
te the hast interests of society, aiding
abetting dishonest debts, forcing
merchants, into bankruptcy and causing
hardship to the people by an increase of
cost In their supplies, petition your hon
orable body to amend, modify or repeal
our exemtptlon laws to such an extent
at least that the merchants may have
equal protection under the laws to any
other class of citizens.
Whereas. We have heard continued re
ports of extortionate telephone charges,
and as the senate has appointed a com
mittee to investigate such charges and
complaints.
Therefore, I move you that the speaker
of the house appoint a committee of three
to investigate and report on such charges
to this house.
Fifty-two members, barely a quorum,
answered the roll call in the house on
the 31st. A large number had been ex
cused the day before, others had gone
heme during the night or were otherwise
detained without excuse. A few members
came in after roll call. A resolution by
Thompson of Merrick was adopted plac
ing all house employes under charge of
the cheif clerk during the period of ad
journment next week and providing for
the employment and remuneration of
only as many employes as are actually
reeded. After the reading of committee
reports and bills on second reading the
house at 10:45 adjourned on motion of
Morsman of Douglas until Monday, Feb
ruary 9. at 2 p. m. Among new bills in
troduced were the following: To provide
for the incorporation of school districts
in cities of the first class having less
than 40.000 and more than 25.000 Inhabit
ants (South Omaha), and regulating the
duties, powers and government of said
school districts: to provide for boards of
education in said school districts, fixing
the terms, salaries, bonds and ciualifica
lions of the members of the same and
regulating and defining the powers and
duties of said boards of education; also
to provide for a treasurer, secretary and
attorney for said districts and for the
control of the property, money and funds
of said district: also defining the duties
and powers of the Board of Education
in regard to taxation for school purposes,
the issuance of bonds and all matters
pertalnig to the revenue and finances of
raid school districts: and for the repeal
oT all acts or parts of acts in conflict
therewith. This provides for a board of
five members at the annual city election
of 1901. no election of school board mem
lers for 1M3. term of office to be three
ears; provides for t.ecretary at $720 per
annum, members to draw an annual sal
ary of $300 and give surety bond of $3,000.
Aggregate school tax not to exceed 13
mills. Bonds may be issued for not to
exceed thirty jears. drawing not more
than 5 per cent interest if authorized at
.-jK-clal or regular election. With the
emergency clause.
ADJOURNMENT TO FEBRUARY 9th.
After an all-day light in house and sen
ate the legislature on the 30th decided
that when it adjourned it be until Mon
day. February 9. for the purpose of giv
ing the joint revenue committee time in
which to complete its work of framing a
revenue bill.
Not since it convened. January 6, has
anything stirred the animus of the legis
lature as did the debate on this question.
Those favoring and those opposing ad
journment pressed their contentions with
relentless vigor.
In the house Sears of Burt, Douglas of
Rock. Thompson of Merrick. Sweezy of
Adams, Wilson of Pawnee and Loomis of
Dodge, all members of the committee to
frame the revenue bill, with Rouse of
Hall. Kennedy of Douglas, Spurlock of
Cass and others, led in the fight for ad
journment, while Ten Eyck of Douglas,
with many others, championed the oppo
site side. In the senate Harrison of Hall
and Brown of Keya Paha were the lead
ers for adjournment and Howel of Doug
las. O'Nell of Lancaster were the op
posing leaders.
The senate and house each refused
twice to concur in fixing a time for ad
journing and It looked as if the deadlock
was to last indefinitely, until Sears of
Burt, in the house brought the matter to
a close by introducing a resolution pro
viding that from such time as the house
adjourned until February 9 all regular or
der of business under the various head
ings observed dally, be dispensed with and
all members filing applications with the
clerk be excused from attendance. This
naturally would have had the effect of
bringing matters to a standstill in the
house. News of the resolution was im
mediately transmitted to the senate and
before the house had time to vote on the
matter It was advised that the senate
would concur in adjourning until Febru
ary 9. which question was put to the
house and carried and concurred In by the
upper body.
WOULD LET THE PUBLIC IN.
Lieutenant Governor McGilton has orig
inated a plan with reference to the con
sideration of bills before the legislative
committees which he thinks ought to be
incorporated in the rules of the senate
oer which body he presides. The plan
provides a method whereby all parties in
terested directly or indirectly in any
measure may appear before the com
mittee having the bill in charge and be
heard in the discussion of it.
Lieutenant Governor McGilton has
framed his idea in this manner:
Ail standing committees shall keep a
calendar of bills In the order in which
they are referred and consider the same
in such order, except where passed by
the vote of a majority of all members
of said committee. In which case the bill
thus passed shall not lose its place on
the committee calendar. Each standing
committee shall give notice to this body,
through its chairman, at least one day
in advance of the time and place of meet
ing and of the bills to be considered by
it. so that all persons interested may ap
pear and request a hearing, subject to
such limitations as the committee may
impose.
The lieutenant governor further outlin
ing his plan, says:
"The time to be heard on any bill Is
while it is before the committee. The re
pert of the committee, while not necessa
rily or inevitably final as to its disposi
tion, always has a great influence on the
action of the senate or house, to which
ever body it is made. It loo frequently
happens that a bill gets past the com
mittee in the senate or house, before the
committee of the whole and is placed on
its final passage before outsiders who
have a legitimate Interest In the measure
get the opportunity of being heard on It.
They have no way of knowing when the
committee is to consider the bill and
consequently no opportunity of giving
expression to their views. The adoption
of this proposed rule, which could be
used in the house as well as the senate,
would obviate all this. and. I think, be
a very good thing for many other rea
sons." TO GET INTO PRINT.
"I see that some adverse comment is
attempted." said Attorney Baldwin, "be
cause the railroad companies utilize the
newspapers to present their side in the
tax controversy, and because they ex
press a willingness to pay the expense of
printing. Why should tbey not. The ar
guments presented are unanswerable.
The outside counties of the state are vl
UII7 Interested. The Omaha papers gtv?
only one side of the question. The ost
side newspapers are entitled to receive
information exposing the selfishness o
the Omaha real estate boomers. And thi
railroads have a perfect right to pay foi
the expense of printing this information
"The railroads have no newspaper o
their own to present the case, and then
Is no one newspaper of wide circulatior
standing up for the rights of the countrj
a against the encroachments of the largi
city. The defense of the country mus
come from the country papers. We can
not demand that they use their spac
without recompense, although many o:
them, recognizing their own local Inter
est in the controversy, decline compensa
tion and freely open their columns tc
forcibly express their opinions of th
Omaha scheme. The criticism from th
Omaha boomers is ridiculous. It sound.
like the plaint of a failing and hopeless
cause."
CRUSADE ON PRAIRIE DOGS.
"No bill of more importance to west
ern Nebraska has been introduced in
either house of this legislature than that
contemplating a method for exterminat
ing prairie dogs," said Representative
Frank Currie of Dawes county.
Mr. Currie. the author of this bill, if
an extensive rancher in western Nc
Nebraska. He has a very large constit
uency, from which comes a very earnest
demand for the promotion of this piece
of legislation. In his possession were
several letters from men in various line
of business in his district, urging him t
push this bill, insisting that it was of
extreme necessity.
Mr. Currie's bill provides that all farm
ers within the territory most affected by
these pests shall take proper means and
these means arc described in the bill
for exterminating prairie dogs at the
proper season and imposes a penalty
upon all who fail to observe this law.
In the penal provision it Is ordered that
the road overseer shall be paid $3 a day
or hire someone at that price, to dis
tribute the prairie dog killer for the
farmer and assess the cost to the latter.
LABOR UNIONS DRAFT BILL.
The labor unions of the state have
drafted a measure, which will be sub
mitted to the legislature soon after it
meets again, providing for double train
crews on all trains pulled by two engines.
The argument in favor of the measure
will be that a double-header at present
takes away the employment of one crew
and overworks the crew doing duty on
the train. The same unions will intro
duce legislation fixing the number of
hours a man may be worked without
rest
BILL FOR GREATER OMAHA.
Senator Howell of Douglas in the sen
ate laid the first stone in paving a way
for greater Omaha. S. F. 130. introduced
by Senator Howell, provides for a bill for
a joint resolution to amend article x ot
the constitution. The amendment offereo
by the Douglas senator is as follows:
"That where more than one-half of the
inhabitants of any county shall reside
within the corporate limits of some or
ganized city the legislature may by law
provide for the creation of such territory
as may be designated within said count)
into one political organization to be
known as the city and county of
and to be governed by one set of officers
and the outlying territory, if any there
be, of such county may by legislative act
be attached to the adjacent county 01
counties without the vote of the inhabit
ants, and to such new municipal organiz
ation the right to make Its own charter
by a vote of the people within such city
may be granted and regulated by law.
Upon the division of any county undet
this provision the sections so separated
shall each pay its just proportion of the
general indebtedness, to be ascertained
and provided for, as may by law be de
tci mined.
OPPOSE COUNTY OFFICERS' BILL.
The bill introduced in the senate at the
request of the County Officers' associa
tion is hung up In the committee, and
when it comes forth there will likely be
absent from it "that we recommend that
it be passed." though the bill will be re
ported favorably. It Is not the fact that
the committee docs not favor a four-year
tenure of office, for a majority of the
committee does. But the committee docs
no intend to recommend that a county
officer hold office for a time longer than
the time for which he was elected. An
other objection Is that the committee
does not favor having every county elec
tion held on presidential year or even
year, as provided by the bill. Said one
of the committee:
"We are In favor of cornty officers
holding office for four years, but I for
one do not want to tell a community
that the man it has chosen for two years
should serve three. It is the right of the
people to do that and not the legislature,
in my opinion. And If we make county
elections come on even years or on presi
dential years it will not. in my opinion,
serve the best interests of the people.
In presidential years, as a rule, county
and local affairs are lost sight of almost
completely, and persons who are entirely
unfitted for office could easily be run in
and elected."
Hasty of Furnas. Hastings of Butler
and Coffey of Boyd were appointed a
committee to investigate the difference
In taxes paid by insurance companies in
Nebraska and Iowa, as stated in the
Hasty resolution passed yesterday. Bills
on first reading Included the following:
To amend article ii. chapter xciiia. Com
piled Statutes, entitled "Water Rights Ir
rigation." by adding section C9. providing
for official seal for the office of the State
Board of Irrigation: and section 70. pro
viding that fees be collected by the sec
retary of said board for filing, examin
ing, issuing and making copies of water
right Instruments: and section 71. provid
ing for the disposition of all such moneys
by him so collected. S. F. 110. by Wall
of Sherman (by request) To amend ssc
tion So. article 1. chapter Ixxvii. Com
piled Statutes, entitled "Revenue," to
strengthen present law regarding assess
ment of railroad property by state board.
To amend section US. chapter xiia. en
titled "Cities of the Metropolitan Class;"
and section S3, article i. chapter Ixxvii,
entitled "Revenue," Complied Statutes,
taxing everything at par cash value and
eliminating railroad taxation, as pre
scribed by this statute. Providing for the
appointment of a state surveyor and
draughtsman in the office of the commis
sioner of public lands and buildings.
SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.
Governor Mickey signed house roll 67,
the Gilbert or Howell bill on Monday.
The Gilbert bill is identical in ail its pro
visions with the Howell bill. It requires
the city of Omaha to acquire and operate
its own water plant, and to this end pro
vides that, within thirty days, the gov
ernor shall appoint a water board. This
water board, in a general way. shall have
charge of the acquiring of the plant, to
gether with the council, and shall have
control of the plant after it becomes the
property of the city. The water works
bill has the emergency clause and it
therefore becomes a law as soon as the
governor gave his approval.
STUDENTS OPPOSE THE BILL.
Students of the medical colleges of the
state do not want the bill passed to com
pel them io appear before the State
Board of .Health after graduating from
the college and stand an examination be
fore being allowed to practice medicine.
A majority of the students entered school
believing that after securing a diploma,
they would be allowed to practice with
out mere ado. The bill, however, pro
vides that they shall tread the wine press
before the State Board of Health, and
that for the privilege they shall each pay
into the hands of the said board $25. The
students believe that $1) would do" "
0BBBBSBM5aV
aaaliOfiaaV bbbbbbW sbbb9Hbbv-1H
WkBLaBBBBBBBBBiBBBBBBBBBBBBBV aBHBfSBav
The Soldier's Tear.
Upon the hill he turned
To .take a last fond look
Of the valley and the village church.
And the cottage by the brook.
He listened to the sounds
So familiar to his ear:
And the soldier leaned up'on his sword
And wiped away a tear.
'Beside -that cottage porch
A girl was knelt in prayer:
She held aloft a snowy scarf.
Which fluttered in the air;
She breathed a prayer for him.
A prayer he could not bear;
But he paused to bluster as she knelt.
And wiped away a tear.
He turned and left the spot.
O, do not call him weak.
For dauntless was the soldier's heart
Though tears were on his cheek;
Go watch the foremost ranks
In danger's dark career,
Be sure the hand most daring there
Has wiped away a tear.
From Private to Brigadier-General.
Of all the enlisted men who went
tc the front from the state of Maine
there was bnt one who entered the
lists as a private and laid down bis
gun when peace was declared a full
fledged brigadier-general. That man
was Frank S. Nlckerson, whose vali
ant fighting through the many battles
of the war was but characteristic of a
Pine Tree Stater, and who still lives
to tell of the ferocity with whicb the
Northern and Southern armies fought
at the Battle of Bull Run, Siege of
New Orleans, Battle of Baton Rouge
and other battles which hold equally
as prominent places in the history of
the United States.
In the battle of Baton Rouge, under
Gen. Butler, Gen. Nickerson, then a
colonel, fought valiantly. He was tho
senior officer on the field, Gen. Wil
liams having been killed. Owing to
the fierceness of the combat he was
unable to take his position at the
head, but was in the position he gen
erally occupied as colonel. Gen. But-
Brigadier General Nickerson.
ler did not overlook his good work in
the battle, and mentioned him in his
general orders.
Shortly after this battle on Nov.
29, 1862, he was promoted to Brigadier-General.
He continued in the
service and was active at the siege of
Port Hudson. He participated in
many of the engagements of the De
partment of the Gulf. He returned to
the North about May 13, 1863.
Stephen Douglas' Great Speech.
"The boys of 1861 are going fast,"
said the Major. "Nearly every morn
ing there are names in the obituary
columns of tho newspapers whose own
ers were associated with events or in
cidents to which I held a personal,
even if humble, relationship. There
died la6t week a man who was, like
myself, only one of a million soldiers,
but I had reason to remember him, be
cause in the first weak of war he stood
beside me in front of the old Neil
house, in Columbus, Ohio, and heard
that wonderful speech of Stephen A.
Douglas, which was never reported,
and yet gave courage to thousands of
broken hearted and despairing men.
"It was about a week after Fort
Sumter had been fired on, and Douglas
was on his way to Chicago and
Springfield to confer with his friends
and supporters in Illinois. All men in
political life had been stunned and
outraged by the events of the last
week, and they as well as the people
who looked up to them as leaders
turned hungrily to Douglas, hoping
that he might say the right word, and
yet fearing that he might say the
wrong one. He came, half dressed, to
the window of his unlighted bedroom,
and, standing in the darkness, spoke
to the crowd below.
"His deep voice relied out from tho
darkness and fell like a benediction
on the crowd standing with upturned
faces in the street. Never had voice
so thrilled me; never had mere words
seemed so solemn and impressive as
those spoken by Douglas that night.
"He said at once that a great crisis
had come upon the country, and that
all party and other questions must be
pushed aside. He said slowly, as if
weighing every word, 'Th Union must
be preserved, and the insurrection
against the government must be
crushed. After the word crushed
came a pause that gave emphasis to
the phrase, and then, speaking as slow
ly as before, he pledged, his hearty
support to the Lincoln administration,
and declared there was no other
course open to the loyal citizen, who
must stand by the government until
national authority was everywhere
recognized. Then, declining a recep
tion, he closed his window and the,
crowd dispersed.
"There were in that crowd, standing
within ten feet of my perch, on the
fence, one man who was to become
President, four men who were to be
come major-generals in the Union
army, a score of men who' were, as
brigadiers, to hold important com
mands, four men who were to become
governors, three cabinet officers, and
several hundred who were within three
months to be carrying muskets in de
fense of the flag.
"Of all the most prominent men
present en that evening not one is liv
ing now. Douglas, then spoken of as a
possible lieutenant general, died with
in sis weeks. Dennison,- Garfield, Cox,
Tod. and others who lived to do great
work, all are deed. I can place only
one of the hundreds who heard Doug
las speak in the dark in April, 1861.
In the last year they have gone fast,
but if any are lett they should put on
record their. recollections of the inci
dents of that night" Chicago Inter"
Ocean.
At Chiekamauga.
Telling cf a recent visit to. the
battlefield of Chiekamauga, a writer
in an eastern newspaper says:
. "The Government boulevard marks
on the crown of the hill the battle's
lice for eight miles; to tne west an
Jt4Lrfe WfV
unprecedented view, to the east beao j
tiful Southern homes, whose many
colamned porches and frank hospital
ity prove the endurance of the old
regime. Laughing children play where
the battle stormed; earthworks have
given place to green lawns and smil
ing terraces.
"Monument after monument, tablet
after tablet marks the position of this
brave regiment, of that valiant troop.
Chattanooga in the distance, so long
the plaything of contending armies,
shows the smoke, not of cannons
mouths, but of furnaces and factories.
Lookout-Mountain frowns uppn the
town. Orchard Knob, headquarters
during the fight of Generals Grant,
Thomas and Gordon Granger, is liter
ally covered with artistic monuments.
The winding river, the mountains,
each with a history, add to the vari
ety and beauty of the drive.
"Leaving the site of the Ohio memo
rial one follows the boulevard past
Braggs headquarters. There stands
the old cedar tree which sheltered the
Confederate general, while he wrote
and received dispatches, during the
memorable engagement. There stands
the triumphant tribute Illinois has
raised to her soldiers brave. There
stands the observation tower, where
a marvelous view is caught.
"All along the road are the names
of regiments and men who fought the
'Battle Without an Order.' In fancy,
one recreates the struggling force, the
long, thin line of brave men in gray,
the army of enthusiastic men In blue
who went past all resistance to the
summit, while Grant, at Orchard
Knob, watched through field glasses
the progress of the unexpected fray
Covered With Snow Blanket.
"The men of some companies in the
old army," said a veteran, "called
themselves 'destroying angels', and
when it came to building fires or pro
viding shelter they were. In the early
spring of 1864 our brigade was twenty
or thirty miles east of Chattanooga
and with no expectation of severe
weather the men lay down under
blankets or the thin shelter tents, and
during the night were .literally snowed
under. When reveille sounded the
next morning there were six Inches
of snow on the ground. The camp
looked like a cemetery, with its clus
ters and lines of little hillocks, and
there was only one fire in the brigade,
and that was at guard headquarters.
"As the men were roused from
heavy sleep and threw out their arms
to lift overcoat, cape or blanket from
their faces the snow startled them to
sitting or standing posture, and the
scene was comical beyond any other
I ever saw in the army. Those who
had taken off their shoes could not
find them. Many could not find their
hats. All were chilled, but the boys
laughed :.nd swore by turns. Then
they started to build fires, and while
some cut down dead trees as big as
saw logs, others tore down an old
barn, and in half an hour dozens of
big fires were going, coffee was boil
ing, breakfast was cooking, and with
bodies warm the men were as frolic
some as children."
The Soldiers' Homes.
SupL J. M. Anderson of the Soldiers'
heme at Sandusky is coming in for
somo very sharp criticism by the old
soldiers. In his annual report, sub
mitted a few days ago to the gover
nor, he found fault with what he
called the sending of old and infirm
soldiers to the home to die and be
buried at the expense of the state.
The soldiers upon whom fortune has
smiled, and who will never be under
the necessity of going to that home,
are asking the question:
"If the home Is not for the old, de
crepit and poor soldier, who then is it
forT"
"When a soldier has reached the age
ot infirmities, coupled with a poverty
he could not help, and he can care for
himself no longer and has n friends
to care for him, there is but one of two
places he can go the poorhouse or the
soldiers' home, and the home, they
say, is the place for him. It was con
structed especially to avoid the humili
ation of the poornouse; it was intend
ed as a recognition of the services of
the soldier, and was not intended to
furnish an easy place for the able
bodied man who can take care of him
self. Ohio State Journal.
Captured Under Difficulties.
Lance Sergeant Murphy of the
Singapore (India) water police visited
a barge moored off the boat quay to
arrest two notorious gamblers whe
had taken refuge there. The gamblers,
however, immediately dived under the
water. Sergt. Murphy followed, found
the two criminals lying flat on the
mud at the bottom of the harbor,
seized hold cf them and brought both
to the surface. He then swam with
his captives to some steps, and took
them to the police station.
Horse Sought Death.
An unusual sight, that of a horse
beating its brains out against a tree
and iron railings, was witnessed the
other afternoon in front of the Bethle
hem Home for Aged Colored People.
Baltimore, Md. The animal took fright
at something in the street and ran
wildly east and then turned north. At
a street corner it knocked a little col
ored girl down, and then dashed into
a tree head first. After a moment or
two the animal, evidently maddened
or suffering intense agony as the re-'
suit of the blow,- ended its life by beat-'
ing its head against the iron railing.
Conundrums.
Which is the only way a leopard can
change his spots?
By going from one spot to another.
Why is the Danish coast a bad place
to go for a quiet holiday?
Because of the sound which is there.
What is the best early closing move
ment? Go to bed at 10 o'clock and close
your eyes.
Why is a cornfield like a galvanic
battery?
Because it produces shocks.
Why is a-spider a good correspond
ent? Because it drops a line at every
post.
Why is there never anybody at
home in a convent?
Because it is a nun-Inhabited place.
What is it we often tell others to do.
and. can't do ourselves?
Stop a minute.
Why are teeth like verbs T ,
Because they are regular, irregular
and defective.
Why are gloves never meant to sell?
Because they were meant to be kept
on hand.
Doctors ought to make good politi
cians, as they are professional healers.
LINCOLN. THE WHITE HOUSE:
AND SPRINGFIELD MONUMENT
iV j' a aV I T R'sbbPT JdT3aaiaNW. .X
T ul 1 a Jr m V vl assaaaasM- .. ."BOa''ll"vrvV'aaaCV.i..
. , saMsaHLk sr "1 .M CT A .V f r ml9W7Tms j "X& uivw Alit 7-SioW
stfllLBBBBaW iX -Jrl- C-. laC - j " ii" J WAkuZr &&Z&sT?ri4K JCV ' 7X CaXVivX
mrfKmmwSnmWmM1fo 4Sw 1 ,vJlsa:aVBtfaBBsZ?9VaV t
JSmPTri&j2'ffis'S wMki X. VVtfaw3tWFaaaam.s PfSfilaSailSaSaaBaaS2lS!V'l
JyBmwmmmmmmmmm y' M m IbbbvKVbP IbsI scVftl stafea BK'Er mmmmmW bbbbbb 11
mfiKmWflvkmaaaaawfymaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamh $r'Jr XrmJb I Br I jsbHKiBcI 84 3fcatB 4'vbwSbWI bbIbbbbbI ssall
I If flflSBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBU9BBBsV SBb1sBBBBBBBBBBBBb BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBw'i y k 4 ' Kflifcyyt v BBBBBBBBBbWsBWbSsBBb"I 1 TWjfcJ JiBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBWSSjSSSaWn oSSBBBBBBBBBBSBSr
iOltlll SBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBrBrSBB? SBBBBBBBBBBBBBr BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBPBL lBBf 'y jf C 74 tlSBBBBBBBBVaBHBBBBBBBH SiJgJSjpSjSSSBTJBBJSBBJBBBSJBBgy y BT ". J,-.; SBBBBBBBBBBBrT''
laf UlN BBBBBBBBBaar BBsm " J- " 7, jBbbbV v,t. ' 1 51 ?'i IbHbbbIbbTMbbbbbbbb JS$'sJ'gCMBBiBBliiatB
HIbVI BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBaB ff V Z 1 C WBV H ife $ W.bSbBBBBBBBBBBbH f XJuJiSs'SBUijMOsJ!!
UVt BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBS ' ' MaBflSBBBBBBBV mMW . $5- V tyA R bMbBBtVbBbH I ""- SBJSrSTriJjb
SfiT t BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBkB, TLVBBBBBBBBBBBBBT V'SJ'f Ws ff B BsVBTbVbVbBb'bBBBBbI I aj"BSaSaS5SSR-'--mS -mjYlf7
mftfl F ' SfBBBBBBBBBBki' 'i JVbBBLBBBIBBTBBBBB 1 " ' "MF A X A UtfrSt
1b1RYVbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb' sbbbbv ai" t yJ bbbbbb HbVbBsbbbbbbTbbhbb IsT is aw mar JUHbbbVbVbbbbbbbf';''' V? HHIBBBaxP'. ylAl
IflVfeX'rV'ararararararararararararaaB: jSafcy. r4aMMMaaMmm9f-mmmmmmmmmmmmmm- f XJ fBmmrmw SBBW BBBB'SBBBhSv Mm M bmh as Bar " BBBBBBHBBBBIhBBSfck Ov i ,V
vgr a9MwjmmwmjRr v v MMMMMMMMMrstfwmWMMMtfr'jmM'l mm BMBCS.'B"K'My SsSSSBBaB?"BB"BBaar f:
sSs$9flB?afBB CmmmmmmwssflmimwMKAmfmwmwt I I WAmmw'Tm3Pm'mlSSSSZmmmmmmmm i
SS u.v.arJSBBVLi'r aJC "a IM KHbbsZiS l"5""54 V SObbbjbjbj L
MM0&' - fc-NfBB"BrB"EIaBwSB' i. MfVkw""'""JF BT '-LJ JlBB?"""52ay mwfSSmwSy
'mxmmJZml 'SBBBBfcl'" ' JSBff ' iSBBBW S TfBT4"2Say'-:'-'
Thomas W. Lloyd of Montoursville,
Penn., relates the following interest
ing remiscences of Abraham Lincoln:
"I saw Abraham Lincoln for the
first time in the winter of 18C3, at one
of his public receptions. I was only
a child, but had heard so much of
Abraham Lincoln that I had a sort of
vague idea that he was not a mere
man, but some kind of a divinity to be
worshipped from afar, and naturally I
was anxious to see him. I was there
fore permitted to accompany my
father, who was then serving as caief
clerk of tne House of Representatives,
to one of the presidential receptions. I
knew nothing of public functions at
that time, and bad some sort of no
tion that we would only be permitted
to gaze upon the great man from a dis
tance. When we came to him in the
line, however, and he bad greeted my
father with a few pleasant words and
we were about to pass on. the Presi
dent said: 'Wait one moment; I
haven't shaken hands with this little
man.' He took me by the hand,
patted me on the head, said a few
kind words to me and we passed on.
"Latter in the same winter I met
him again at my own home in Penn
sylvania. At the beginning of the
war, as a mere child, I was fired with
patriotic spirit and went about the
streets of my native village making
speeches, urging every man to enlist. I
did not then know what the war
meant, but I knew 'our side' was right,
simply because it was 'our side,' and
my appearance on the street was a
signal to get me up on a store goods
box to make a speech. My father
had related this to Lincoln and asked
permission to bring me to the White
House. This was granted and one
morning we drove there and were re
ceived by the President alone. As he
rose from his chair to greet us I re
member thinking he was the longest,
ugliest and most ungainly man I had
ever seen. When I was presented to
him he leaned down, and. taking me
by the hand, said: 'So this is the
little patriot. Ah, Mr. Lloyd, in these
times the boy is indeed father to the
man. I wish all the men in the North
had his spirit.'
"As he took me on his knee and
talked to me of the war, all the ugli
ness was forgotten, and as I looked
into his face and saw the deep set,
kindly eyes, the firm mouth, about
which a smile hovered, and listened to
his gentle voice, I began to think he
was positively handsome. As I look
back upon the scene, it brings many
tender memories of the man who,
amid all the cares and burdens of his
position and witn the fate of a mighty
nation weighing upon his heart, could
find time enough to say a few kind
words to a little child.
"As a still further illustration of
this kindness of heart is the following
incident, which I have heard my
father relate. A young boy who had
served with distinction in a naval en
gagement on board the gunboat Ot
tawa, and in another as captain's mes
senger, was recommended to a cadet
ship at the Naval Academy at Annapo
lis. This appointment President Lin
coln was glad to make and the lad
was directed to report for examination
in July. Just as he was about to start
from home it was discovered that he
could not be admitted, because he had
not reached the required age of four
teen, his birthday occurring in tae fol
lowing September. The boy was
greatly disappointed and wept bitterly
in the fear that he would not be able
to go at all. He was told, however,
that he would be taken to see the
President, who would 'make it all
right. Some time afterward he was
taken to the White House and pre
sented to the President, to whom he
made a graceful bow. The difficulty
was explained and the President said:
'Why, bless me, is tnat the boy who
did so gallantly in those two battles?
.Why. I feel as though I should take
off my hat to him and not he to me.'
The President took the papers, and as
soon as he learned that a postponc-
LAST STORY LINCOLN .TOLD.
It Connected Pardons and the Pata
gonian Way of Eating Oysters.
The last story ever told by President
Lincoln was just bbfore he left the
White House to go to the theater on
the nisbt he was killed. This is
vouched for by Thomas F. Pendel,
who is tae oldest employe of the
White House, and who went with Mr.
Lincoln to his carriage on the lata!
night.
"I have every reason," said Mr.
Pendel, "for saying that the last
pleasant little story Mr. Lincoln ever
told was right nere in this house. As
is generally known. Speaker Colfax
and Mr. Asamona of Massachusetts,
were the last men to call on the Pres
ident prior to his departure for the
theater. When these men called I
carried their cards to Mr. Lincoln, and
I know that they were the last to sec
him. However, not very long before
they came Mr. Lincoln had received a
visit from Marshal Lamon, who was
from the iresident's home district,
and it was Mr. Lamon who had intro
duced me to the President when I re
I 'oV,s-;'--''--Ui Mm SbtSS4?S
? i'' vii) MfBBnBMBNHflBl
w ' ' SaHSlBBPlPBaBjBaBEJSK'
t :TCt- ' f jPKL-wwnBBYaaBri('&
& .-.r r At"SaMBWBBBBC'-'?i T
BBb"S'bbV iMMwmWM VBBBBi
rBBBar bbbbbbbbbtJ "VbtbbT
at &&y&BZZD,ZLJL
ment until September would suffice
made the order that the lad should re
port In that month. Then, putting his
hand, on the lad's shoulder, he said:
'Now, my boy, go home and have good
fun during the two months, for they
are the last holiday you will get.' The
little fellow bowed himself out, feeling
that the President, though a great
man, was at the same time a kindly
one.
"It was these simple characteristics
of this large and manysided man that
endeared him to all with whom he
came in contact, and while we admire
the Intellect and ability of the states
man we love the man."
KNEW WHERE LINCOLN STOOD
Simple Way in Which He Manifested
His Earnestness.
While I was an inmate of Gleason
Sanitarium. Elmira. N. Y.. I heard the
following anecdote of Abraham Lin
coln. We had at the sanitarium a very
old gentleman by the name of Z. C.
Bobbins. He was of New Hampshire
by birth, but had lived in Washington
for fifty years, his business being a
patent lawyer. He was intimately ac-'
quainted with Mr. Lincoln and was
selected by him as chairman of the
first police commissioners after his in
auguration in 1SG1. To this Mr. Rob
bins I owe the recital of the story to
which I have alluded. He said:
After the emancipation proclamation
had been written, it will be remem-
f bered. six months were given to the
Confederates to lay down their arms
and come back to the Union, before it
was to go in force. Providing the
South returned to the allegiance to the
Union as of yore, the proclamation
was not to be issued. But God was
working cut the destiny of this na
tion, and not man, and the result is
known to history.
The early elections had gone against
the Republican party. Republicans be
came alarmed. A tremendous press
ure was brought to bear upon Lincoln
to withdraw the threatened issue of
the proclamation, upon the day fixeuV
They declared that it was against the
spirit and wish of the people, and
would ruin the party. letters came
pouring in from every state in the
Union begging, imploring, sometimes
threatening, and it was feared by a
few stanch anti-slavery men of the
countrj that Mr. Lincoln could not
withstand the pressure. But he said
nothing, kept his own counsel, and no
man knew his mind.
One day about a week before the
time in which the proclamation was
to go into force. Mr. Bobbins, as was
his privilege, walked into the office of
Mr. Nicolay, private secretary to Mr.
Lincoln. He was feeling very anx
ious, for it was a dark and gloomy
time for the country. Mr. Lincoln's
room adjoined that of Mr. Nicolay, and
while Mr. Robbins was sitting at an
open fire, talking to Mr. Nicolay, Mr.
Lincoln walked in, put his band upon
the shoulder of Mr. Robbins and said:
"Well, old friend, the important day
draws near."
"Yes." replied Mr. Robbins. 'and I
hope there will be no backing down or
backing out en j-our part."
ceived my appointment, in November.
18C4. Mr. Lamon wanted to talk to
Mr. Lincoln about a pardon for an old
-friend, a soldier who had been found
guilty of some slight violation of army
regulations. The case was thorough
ly gone over by the two, and. with pen
in hand, Mr. Lincoln was in the act of
signing the paper which would make
tee soldier a free man when he turned
to Mr. Lamon and said:
" 'Lamon, do you know how at Pata
gonians cat cysters?'
" 'No, I do not, Mr. Lincoln, was
the reply.
"'Well. Lamon. it is their habit to
open them as fast a3 they can throw
tae shells out of the window, and
when the pile of shells grow to be
higher than the house, why they pick
up stakes and move. Now, Lamon. I
feci like beginning a new pile of par
dons, and 1 guess this is a good one
to begin on.'
Mr. Pendel cays that he had everyt
opportunity to study the President, for
ac was in the room with him nearly
all the time a bodyguard. Mr. Lin
coln did not like tae idea of being
guarded and aide frequent cbjecticcc
"Well, I don't know." says Lincoln:
"Peter denied his Master. He thought
he wouldn't, but he did."
Mr. Robbins says that he felt a
thrill pass over him. He knew by this
simple but subtle hint that the soul of
Lincoln was determined, and the
Union and liberty were secured.
The great day came and with it free
dom to both black and white. Hypoc
risy had fallen; sincerity and manhood
had come to abide. A few days later
Mr. Robbins met Mr. Lincoln and the
latter grasped his hand and said:
"Well, friend Robbins. I beat Peter."
G. S. Kimball in the Bangor (Me.)
Commercial.
LINCOLN A PLAIN MAN.
Had Little Time to Waste on Appear
ances or Style.
When I first knew Lincoln-he had
all the habiliments of rusticity: his
hat was innocent of a nap; his coarse
boots had no acquaintance with black
ing; his clothes had not been introduc
ed to the whisk-broom; his baggage
was well worn and dilapidated; bis
umbrella was substantial, but of a
faded green, and for an outer garment
he wore a short circular blue cloak,
says Henry C. Whitney in Leslie's
Weekly. He commenced to dress
better in the spring of 1S58, and when
he was absent from home, on political
tours, usual!)' did so; after he became
President, he had a servant who kept
him considerably "slicked up:" but he
frequently had to reason him into
fashionable attire by telling him that
Ms appearance was "official." He
probably had as little taste or style
about dress or attire as any man who
was ever born. He simply wore
clothes because it was needful and
customary; whether they fitted or
looked well was entirely above or be
neath his knowledge. He bad no 10
gard for trivial things, or for mere
forms, manners, politeness, etiquette.
official formalities, fine clothes, rou
tine or rtd-tape; he disdained a bill
of fare at table, a program at a thea
ter, or a license to get married. The
pleadings in a lawsuit, the forma!
compliments on a social introduction,
the exordium or peroration of a
speech !i either wholly ignored or
cut as short as he could.
In all his political campaigns, the
music, flags and bunting were nothing
to him: he was thinking rather of the
statistics how many votes were prob
able, and what the tendencies of
political thought were to change
opinions and votes. And he also hat!
a thorough contempt for the oflice of
bailiff or crier of a court, doorkeeper
of a legislative or Congressional body,
floorwalker in a store, drum-major in
a band, or even of mayor of a city or
town. He disliked to be called "Mr.
President" or even ".Mr. Lincoln" by
his intimates: he called men by their
family names.
Lincoln's Love of Truth.
Slower of growth, and devoid alto
gether of many brilliant finalities
which Douglas possessed, says William
G. Brown in the February Atlantic.
Lincoln nevertheless outreachtMl him
by the measure of the two gifts he
lacked the twin gifts of humor am!
01 brooding melancholy. Bottomed by
the one in homeliness, his character
was by the other drawn upward to
the height of human nobility and as
piration. His great capacity of pain,
wnich but for his buffoonery would no
doubt have made him mad, was tli
source of his rarest excellencies. Fa
miliar with squalor, and hospitable to
vulgarity, nis mind was yet tenanted
by sorrow, a place of midnight wrest
lings. In hfm as never before in any
other man, were high and low thills
mated, and awkwardness and ungain
liness and uncouthncss justified in
their uses. At once coarser than his
rival and infinitely more refined and
gentle, he had mastered lessons which
the other had never found the need of
learning, or else had learned too rsad
ily and then dismissed.
tc having some one constantly near
him. On one occasion he said to Mr.
Pendel:
"Pendel. I (to not like to be guarded,
but I have received a number of
threatening letters lately. 1 have no
fears, however. That fellow we saw
over at the War department crouching
at the foot of the stairs, anil who eyed
me suspiciously, answers perfectly the
description of a man I was warned to
lcok out for in a letter I received tho
other day."
Lincoln's Playmate a Flagman.
Working as railway flagman in Ko-
komo. Ind.. says the Cincinnati Com
mercial Tribune, at 70 cents a day. is
John Rooney. formerly an intimate
friend and associate of Abraham Lin
coln. Rooney is past 80 years of age.
He lives alone, keeping house in addi
tion to serving the railway as watch
man. Rooney was always Lincoln's
partner in "town ball." Wrestling was
Lincoln's athletic sport, and Booncy is
the only man who ever threw him in a -rough
and tumble wrestlo. "John." -said
Lincoln, "you are th3 ouly man,
who ever did that."
: i
- b
A -
?T-
' "i-
'.VV.
: -
' " r -ii i i i
M'l.p II Eil ..npf'jl..
f. Ajv.A(L. " ,
-r -? V-fA-. .. -J5A--1 -Tj H?-.
II III piiMi ! Ilium
,
Srftyii
WmimrtTir.m ; r "Ml u i i ii
U
Z.f
HJUVjJfe ;rs
'J.'iAmJr'm mnA-.i'jiLA
-??-
-ir