Che Conservative * 3
carrying more than a billion and a half
of insurance. The growth of some of
the large companies has in it an element
of danger. The racing for business nec
essitates a big expense account and if
carried beyond a reasonable limit is a
positive detriment to the insured.
Whether it is best to try and correct it
by legislation is another question. If
left alone it would perhaps remedy it
self. When the companies see that vol
ume of business is not the only or chief
criterion of success , self interest would
cause them to no longer make special
efforts in that direction. It is usually
very unsatisfactory to restrict the opera
tion of the natural laws of growth by
arbitrary legislation.
response to the
ONE THOUSAND
TREES. public sentiment
aroused in Boston
on the subject of tree planting and tree
preservation , Mr. Doogue , Superintend
ent of Public Grounds , has generously
offered to give one thousand trees to
those who will plant them along the
streets , as many as possible to be plant
ed during Arbor Day week. Here is
practical encouragement for Arbor Day
celebrations of the kind we need , an ex
ample it is hoped that will be followed
by city foresters and tree wardens
throughout the state. Tree lovers will
watch with interest the progress made
by our newly elected tree wardens.
THE BOER WAR. .
South Africa has
been one of waiting , with but little ac
tivity. General Roberts is still at
Bloeinfontein , busying himself in at
tempting to reestablish the civil govern
ment of the Free State on a basis to en
courage the friendship of the rebellious
inhabitants. Their apparent willing
ness to surrender is looked upon in some
quarters with suspicion. The arms
thus far taken are not those used in the
conflict against the British , but are old
pieces of little utility. It is also report
ed that many of them as fast as they
are released , are moving northward to
rejoin the Boer forces. President Steyn's
proclamation , declaring all who took
the British oath of allegiance , re
quired by General Roberts , to be trait
ors and punishable by death , is thought
to be responsible for the action of the
Free Staters.
On the other hand , the opinion is ex
pressed that the people of the Free
State have had little sympathy with the
war from the start ; that they were forc
ed into it by way of a treaty , made with
President Kruger in 1897 , whereby a de
fensive alliance was entered into be
tween the two republics , each agreeing
to go to the defence of the other , in the
event of the independence of either be
ing threatened , and that they had
no real grievance against Great Britain
and wore only waiting for a chance to
honorably withdraw.
British interest is just now centered
in Mafeking which has for some time
been holding out against the siege of
the Boors. Col. Plummer has been at-
emptiug its relief , but thus far uusucs
essfully , and has finally been driven
ack to the position occupied two weeks
go. The situation at Mafeking and the
necessity for its immediate relief has
disarranged the plans of Roberts , and
ll probably compel him to detail a de-
achment of his force to drive away the
besieging Boers. At the earliest oppor-
unity he will move northward with the
main force of his army , upon Pretoria ,
ivhile Buller will look after the Boers
assembled at Biggarsberg. A large
nglish force is being concentrated at
Kimberly , which will probably be led
against Pretoria by Gen Kitchener , thus
getting at the Transvaal capital from
the west while Roberts advances from
the south.
Presidents Kruger and Steyn and
ueneral Joubert recently addressed an
. , assemblage of
. _
Boor Strength. .
Boers at Kroon-
stad , advising unity of action and stat
ing that Salisbury's reply made peace
impossible except by loss of independ
ence so that there remained only the al
ternative , to fight. The available fight
ing force of the Boers does not number
more than 40,000. This force strongly
intrenched about Pretoria , would be
able to hold off , the British for many
days as was shown from the operations
about Ladysmith.
Publishers of
TARIFF ON PAPER. . . ,
books and news
papers and all job printers will be inter
ested in reading the following resolu-
lutious adopted at the annual meeting
of the American Newspaper Publishers
Association at New York on February
,28 , 1900.
The distinguished republican congress
men from the First and Second districts
of Nebraska , who have always taught
the benefits of protection , are requested
to vote for or against the tariff laws
which build this trust and raise the price
of literature to all American citizens.
A protective tariff always leads to
combines and attempted monopolies as
to the things protected. Burkett and
Mercer will read the following and then
vote as their party dictates :
WHEREAS , The price of printing paper
used by newspapers in the United States
has been arbitrarily increased in price
from sixty to one hundred per cent ,
without reason or warrant to be found
in ( he conditions of the industry itself ,
and
WHEUEAS , It is the common belief
that this increase is duo to the workings
of a trust ;
THEREFORE , Be it
RESOLVED , That the American News
paper Publishers Association , represent
ing in this case not only its own mem
bers but the 2 ,000 newspapers of the
United States , calls upon Congress to
make inquiry by means of a special
c oinmittee into the conditions above de-
s cribed , to the end that suitable legisla-
ion may be provided to remedy this
c ouditiou of affairs in the interest of the
I > est source of public information pro-
ided for the people , to wit : the news-
iapor press , whoso interest the founders
) f the Republic held in the highest re
gard.
The attention of congress is directed
o five bills now in the hands of the
Ways and Means Committee , not nec-
sssarily to aid the passage of any of
hem specifically but as evidence of a
jreat demand for some form of remedial
egislation , to which the inquiry we re
quest would be preliminary. We be-
love that the entire agitation against
irusts presents no more concrete ex
ample , than this , and your petitioners ,
relying upon the desire of congress to
legislate in the interests of the people ,
believe you will accept the opportunity
to make this inquiry in the spirit in
which it is demanded.
The newspaper , it is fair to state , un
like most forms of industry , sells at a
fixed price , and has no means of putting
the increased cost on the consumer.
In many instances it means the complete
onfiscatiou of profits , and in many oth
ers creates an actual loss.
The apparently sincere desire of all
parties to deal with the trust question
removes this inquiry from the charge
of partisanship , and makes it what it is
intended to be , an inquiry in the public
interest.
MACBETH.We print this week
a short but very
significant article by Mr. George A. Mac
beth on the lead trust. He has for
years been the largest manufacturer of
glass chimneys in the world. Since his
concern combined with several others
under the name of the Macbeth-Evans
Glass Company , his leadership is great
ly increased. Mr. Macbeth has always
advocated free trade , both on moral and
practical grounds. Ho has always said
that with free raw materials he could ,
while paying the highest wages known
in the business , command the markets
of the world and leave all competitors
in the shade. Even without cheap raw
materials he has for years been export
ing millions of chimneys to all parts of
the world. His enterprise and ability
have enabled him to compete in foreign
markets in spite of the tariff-protected
prices which he has to pay for lead ,
lumber , soda ash , etc. Why should the
government encourage industrial men
dicants by protective tariffs and discour
age the enterprise of self-supporting
men and industries who ask for no fav
ors , except to be let alone ?
