THE OMAHA DAILY BEE , FRIDAY , MARCH 5. 1880.
, THE DAILY BEE.
OMAHA OFPICK.NO. 814 ANnoioKAnxAM ST
New Yonu OrncK , Iloow Ki.TiitiWNK IIL-II.DISG
WASIUNOTOS Orticc , No. 618 FOUATCBMII ST.
Fubllrtiod every morning , except Sunday. The
tily Monday morning pnpor putllsboJ in the
etntc.
Trillin nr MAIM
OnoTcnr . tlO.OOIThrco Months . $2.50
eixJIontlis. . t.W.Ono Month . 1.00
! tnE WEEKLY DEE , 1'iibllslioil Every Wednesday.
TEHMS , POSTPAID !
One Ycnf , witti promlum . . . . J2.00
Otttt Your , without premium . , . . 1.2S
Fix Months , without premium. . . 75
Ono Mon tli , on trlftl . 10
All comtminlcntloni rolntlno to new * nnd oill-
loi-lnlmnttor * should bo addressed tothoUw-
ion orUK HER.
All Ini JlnoM lottPinnd romlttnncos alionld bo
itudrcctcd trt THE UEK I'um.tsiiiNn COMI-ANV ,
OMAHA. DrnftR , oliockn nnd po tollco ( orders
to bo ttindo payable to Ilio order of tlio company.
WE m poBLisHiifilipAir , PBOPBIEIORS ,
E. HOSEWATEH. Eniron.
TUB frequent reference to t'hllllppi by
the noble Greek of the Omaha Herald is
excusable. It shows that he cannot fop-
got his native hind a very commendable
trait , indeed.
GKN TntmVhad tlio longest political
polo anil the persimmon came down.
But after all , ought politics to dictate ap
pointments In our military establishment ?
Tlits is tlio question which will press itself
upon the attention of civilians.
Tun finding of n stone wall in Dawos
county is referred to by the Herald as an
nrchniological ilnd a strange relic of n
prehistoric ago. This is rather a round
about way of informing its readers that u
stone quarry has been discovered in
Dawcs county.
FnoiiiiimoN continues to prohibit in
Maine. In Saco , a town of 0,000 , inhabi
tants , ono drug store put up 10,000 pro
scriptions during the si.v months ending
March 1 , a record which is believed to
beat anything yet produced in Kansas or
Iowa , whore epidemic diseases , such as
parched larynx nnd red-oyc , are very
common.
"Tun Chinese must go , " is very likely
to bo answered in China with "The
Americans must emigrate. " Retaliation
in all probability is the programme. If
Ilio men who are engaged in mobbing
Chinamen in tills country would pause
for a moment and think they would see
that they are jeopardizing the lives oJ
thousands of Americans in China.
DOUOLAS county has but ono inmate in
the state reform school , at present , ami
In the live years since that institution was
opened the county has sent only five chil
dren there. This is certainly an excel
lent record for the most populous county
in the state. It must bo admitted , how
ever , that Douglas probably has moro
juvenile toughs that ought to bo reformed
than any pther county in Nebraska.
Ouii Washington specials announce
that the Blair educational bill is losing
ground and will probably bo defeated.
Mr. Blair's ' measure Is n protectionist
L
trick to increase the drain on the national
treasury In order to prevent tariff rcvi-
flion. For the government to place its
surplus among tlio states in proportion to
' their illiterate population is to place a
premium on ignorance , which the intelli
gence of the north and west resents.
THE San Francisco Alia wants to know in
regard to Van Wycl : and that bulldog at the
British legation , whether "anybody has con
sidered the sufferings of the dog by being ex
posed to Van Wyclc. " Herald.
For the bouofit of Mr. John P. Irish ,
who is "quite English , you know , " wo
Will state that the bulldog which troubled
Van Wyck's slumbers has been chained
and muzzled by its owner over since tlio
senator notified the legation of her maj
esty that as nn American citizen he would
not allow himself to be bulldozed by Brit
ish bulldogs.
TUB stock yards management arc workIng -
Ing hard to concentrate the business of
'local slaughtering in South Omaha. With
this end in view , they are offering strong
inducements to several of our heaviest
butchers to move to the stock yards. The
Omalm stock yards are in the hands of
business men who know that the quickest
way to increase the value of their invest
ment is to create and foster business en
terprises dependent upon the yards
proper.
NIWAUK , N. J. , which has given hy
drophobia and Pasteur their great boom
during the past winter , now deals the
whole hydrophobia rage n heavy blow.
The .New York Wines notes the release
of seven dogs in Newark which were bit
ten by the supposed mad dog that at
tacked Pasteur's patients. They loft their
confinement ns healthy as they entered
It They were never inoculated with
rabies because there was no rabies with
which to inoculate them. The whole hy
drophobia scare was a bogus one.
SKNATOU WILSON'S bill to increase the
rate of postage on fourth-class matter ,
excepting seeds and plants , is receiving n
general drubbing throughout the coun
try , especially hi the largo cities , but
there are some seek reasons for its intro
duction and arguments for its passage.
The cheap rates at which tlio government
is carrying merchandise ) through the
BItills has long been u source of com-
plnlut to merchants outside of tlio great
cities. The effect of the cheap postage
on tuorchandiso Is to give largo dealers
in the cltius a. ho.ivy advantage ovoi
J/ ' smaller merchants and to stimulate pur
chases in the east at the expense of west
ern retail merchants , Tlio "mail order'
syjitom which has sprung up under the
cheap rates is what Is complained of ,
on the ground that the tendonoj
to concentrate the retail business
in the hands of largo houses
is greatly fostered under the operation ol
the sixteen cents postage. This is im
doubtcdly true. But the countorbaltuia <
lug advantages are too important to be
dispensed ivith. Cheap fourth-class rate :
on postage have forced cheap express
rates on merchandise just as the cheap
ncsa of thu postal money order system
bos compelled correspondingly low taril
rates for money transportation by com
mou carriers. While the iucreaso of tin
postal rates on fourth-class matter wouk
benefit thn country merchant it would
work n sorlous injury to every patron ol
the express companies.
Government Development or
IlOUtCB-
The debate over the bill directing the
government to expend some $9,000,000 hi
the construction of the Hcnnopln canal
is bringing , as usual , the railroad lobby
at U'ashington to the front. The Honno-
pin canal scheme is denounced ns a use
less waste of government funds in an uu *
dortnking which cannot bo classed as na
tional in its character. Its projectors are
abused as visionaries and the country is
informed that Ilio opening of n Water
route from tlio Mississippi to the lakes is
an improvement of purely local inter
est , which should bo carried into
effect , If nt all , by the taxpayers of
Illinois. Tlio many nnd urgent reasons
for the construction of Ilio Honnopln
canal need not bo repeated In detail. It
is enough to stale that Its construction
would give water transportation to the
products of the west from the Mississippi
valloyto the Atlantic coast. Kates on
produce which are now from 12 to 10
cents to Chicago would drop by canal to
0 cents , nnd a bushel of wheat could
readily bo carried by water from Hock
Island to Now Tork for the same sum
now charged for the transportation from
the same place to Chicago by rail. The
Erie canal gives to Now York
the key to the railroad situation
in that slate. The cost of water
transportation from Chleiiiro to Now
York determines the rate of rail trans
portation , nnd the rate of rail transporta
tion is made the base line upon which
through rates are determined and fixed
throughout the country. The Erie canal
as the great adjuster of railroad rates is
of incalculable benefit to tlio country.
The extension of oanal facilities to the
Mississippi would bo a scarcely less ad
ditional advantage. The certainty that a
fostering of water routes would throw
some of their staggering systems into in
voluntary bankruptcy is the solo basis of
the united opposition which the
great corporations are making to
any government development of our
internal waterways. The stagnation in
canal construction during the last twenty
years is not so much due to n feeling that
the country has outgrown this means of
transportation as it is to the adverse in-
lluences of the railroads. In Pennsyl
vania and other stales they have boucht
ii ] > the canals and abolished them. In
the words of n recent witness on the sub
ject before the senate committee on inter
state commerce , "whenever a river and
harbor bill is pending in congress the
railroad representatives will vote millions
for Improvements which do not material
ly affect them , but when it comes to an
item like the Ilcnnepin canal , which
promises to bo of value in extending our
system of waterways , the railroad repre
sentatives , whether democrats or repub
licans , are found voting solidly
against it. " Can there be any bettor
illustration of the necessity for the
people to insist upon tlio extension and
improvement of our country's water
ways ? Franco lias just entered upon the
construction of a comprehensive system
of canals designed to furnish water com
petition to the chief sections of that coun
try. In England , where tlio canals have
been largely bought up by the railways
and dwarfed or closed , as has been done
ot some extent in this country , the princi
pal commercial organizations are now
advocating the re-establishment of the
canals , on an improved basis , as a check
upon railroad extortion. Our canals ,
connecting the great lakes with
tlio ocean , which nro really na
tional highways , oucht to bo as
much n recipient of the national bounty
as the isolated trout streams , bayous and
potty harbors , for which liberal appro
priations are provided each year in the
river and harbor bill. A comprehensive
system of improving our principal water
ways should bo undertaken upon a scale
which will enable steam , the great motive
power of the world , to bo advantageously
used , and thus reduce the cost of water
transportation in the same proportion
that the same motor has reduced the cost
of transportation on land. If Franco can
expend $300,000,000 in constructing n sys
tem of canals how much bolter can the
United States afford to undertake the
same work.
A Year of Democracy.
The first year ot President Cleveland's
administration is concluded , and the
country is in possession of material
enough to judge of the success or failure
of the rejuvenated democracy. Whether
judged by the standard of its own pro
fessions or by comparison with its repub
lican predecessors , the result can not bo
considered ns flattering to the adminis
tration or n subject of congratulation for
the majority in congress. Mr1 Cleveland
began Ids term of oflico with liberal
promises of reform. His inaugural teomcd
with assurances of radical changes in
the administration of the government
and particularly In the methods of the
civil service. "Publio oflico n public
trust" was blazoned on his shield and "n
business administration" was his cry of
defiance. Twelve months have passed.
The partisanship of the administration
has shown itself in the removal and dis-
.placement of a greater number of federal
oflicolioldors than has cvor before been
recorded in the history of American poli
tics. Public otlico has boon a party per
quisite , not n public trust , and partisan
ship has boon the chief recommendation
of successful place hunters. Abide from
tlio thousands of country postmasters and
clerks not affected by the operations
of the civil service law the
suspensions and removals of ofliciuls
whoso terms have not expired have aver
aged over fifty iv month. The swooping
reforms promised huvo failed to put in
their appearance. The attorney gen
eral's ofllco in now dlouded with scandal ,
the state department has ucon involved
In a series of blunders owing to disgrace
ful appointments , tlio postollico has been
conducted with an eye single to furnish
ing offices for tlio squabbling democracy
while the investigations in the conduct
of past naval administrations has resulted
In nothing moro serious than au undi
gested bohcrne for u few unimportant
changes In the bureaus. The books tiavo
been ransacked to provo tlio
charges of corruption so freelj
nindo against republican rule without
n single startling development as the re
sult of the labors. The end of the first
year finds the president at Issue with his
party on every loading question of the
day , antagonized to thu sonata and prac
tically witho.it influence with congress ,
If wo turn to the democratic congress the
view is eycu less cheering so far ns the
interests of the party urn concerned ,
With n heavy .working majority in the
lower house the democracy has succeed
ed hi accomplishing loss work than any
congress , republican or democratic , for
thirty years past. With four months of the
session gone , the appropriation bills are
umeporlcd , the silver question undo-
bated , tlio bankruptcy hill on tlio shelf ,
tlio vaunted measures for coast nnd naval
defenses sleeping quietly in pigeon-holes
and the house given up to windy discus
sions of topics of moro interest to the
members themselves than to the public
at largo. There is no cohesion in the
parly on n slhglo issue of the day , and
the promised aggressiveness has sim
mered dowh to an earnest desire to dodge
every disgusting question presented. The
party which howled so fiercely for tariff re
form is busily working to shelve any re
vision of the tariff which might' lese votes
in the Industrial districts , is deferring to
the last moment the silver dis
cussion with n view of conciliat
ing all sides of the eontrovorsj' , while
tlio most arduous labors of it congres
sional representatives linvoboon bestowed
in the anto-rooms of department chiefs
and the lobbies and bar rooms of the
capital. It is a sorry showing of n year's
failure which the new administration
makes after twelve months' ' tenure of
oflloo. It presents no arguments to provo
the wisdom of the change which the
country was persuaded to believe was
necessary.
Grade :
When the liability of the city for grade
damages was decided by the supreme
court , It was feared that the result would
bo disastrous to public improvements.
Such , however , has not been the case ,
and Is not likely to bo under the rule of
determining such damages , as declared
and adopted by the courts. If , in consequence
quence of grading n street , the city would
bo obliged to pay the cost of grading nnd
adjusting all property along the line of
improvement , so as to make such proper
ty boar the same relation to the street ns
graded , ns It did to the street surface
prior to such Improvement , then there
would bo good ground for fear
ami apprehension. But if the true
rule is the depreciation , if
any , of tlio market value of the prop-
Cl'ty , by reason of the grading , and is not
the cost of cutting , filling or changing
the property so ns to conform to the street
as graded , then there can bo no danger
of liability In ono case out of fifty on ac
count of street grading , for it is a notor
ious fact , and ono that cannot bo ques
tioned or doubted , that in ninety-nine
cases out of every hundred of street grad
ing in the city of Omaha , the property
opposite which either n fill or a cut has
been made has been , in a greater or less
degree , enhanced in its market value.
The position taken by City Attorney
Conncll as to the rule of damages insucii
cases , was sustained by Judge Wakeloy
in the Pcabody case , and has boon ro-
afllrmcd in several other cases.
A recent opinion lias been ren
dered by Judge Dyer , of tlio
United States circuit court , in n
case against thn city of Chicago ,
Wherein the same views are expressed.
Judge Dyer , concerning the rule of dam
ages , says : "The question is whether tlio
property was injured by the improve
ment. If not , there is no damage and
can bo no recovery. If there is , then the
recovery must bo measured to the extent
of the loss. If the property is worth .as
much after the improvement ns it was
before , then there is no damage done to
the property. If the benefits received
from making tlio improvements are
equal to , or greater than the loss , then
'
the property is not damaged' . "
If vested by the above rule as aid
down by Judge Dyer , and held by our
courts to bo correct , the claims of many
who have already commenced suits , or
contemplate bringing suits against tlio
city , will prove unromunerativo , and in
place of profit to the plaintiff , will result
only in costs.
The practice of the city council to re
quire waivers of damages before grading
streets or changing grades , is a good one ,
but a few mossbacks or selfish , short
sighted individuals , who , unfortunately
for the city are to bo found along the
line of nearly every public improvement ,
ought not to bo permitted to stand in the
way of improvement.
It will be safe in such cases to proceed
without waivers , and trust to the good
sense of parties , guided by the law from
the courts , as it lias nlways been an
nounced , mid as it will unquestionably
stand.
Lonvemvorth Street Grade.
The question of a proper grade for
Loavonworth street , which for the past
two years has been agitating the owners
of property along that thoroughfare ,
promises to bo now settled by tlio adop
tion of tlio grade recently approved by
the county commissioners. The grade
now proposed is the most radical of any
yet suggested , and if carried out , will un
doubtedly make Loavonworth street , as
Is proposed , ono of the most Important
thoroughfares of the city.
The county commissioners , bv resolu
tion , have declared that if the grade from
Sixteenth street to the city limits , as re
cently certified to by City Engineer Rosewater -
water , nnd which was approved by
County Surveyor Smith , is carried into
effect , that the county during the present
year will continue such grade
westward , making a cut of not
less than twenty feet nt the top
of the hill in West Omaha. In order to
obtain the changes of grndo , and make
sure of the grading of the street during
the present season , it will bo necessary to
secure waivers of damages from nil prop ,
crty owners , which , In view of the great
benefit to bo derived , will , no doubt , bo
readily given.
Tlio property owners most seriously af
fected by tlio proposed changes of grade
nro citizens of public spirit and foresight ,
who , for the good of the city and the im
provement of the property along the
street , favor the enterprise , and nearly
all have signified their willingness to
waive all claim for damages , and tints se
cure nt once the benefits of the grading ,
which otherwise might bo delayed for a ,
number of years.
WHILE fanners in the western part of
the state are plowing for wheat , Omaha
is plowing through snow. It is a great
country.
"LET us for oiico , " says the Boston
O/o6o / , "elect decent men to the city coun-
ell. " In this game of "progressive
oucliro , " wo assist.
Canon Fnrrar came to this country for n
rest and took away 83,0 < X ) , lie will tnko the
rest on Ids next visit , ,
Mr. Lovely hns been qonflrmcd as post
master at ParK Kentucky. But this Is about
the only nppolntmcnt.tliit the senate thinks
Is Lovely.
Henry Irvine prefers the Bible and Shaks-
peaio to all other books. 'But Mr. Irving has
not yet seen the advance sheets ot Gen. Lo-
gnu's book. '
There Is n cool wave between tlio Eov.
Robert 8. Howe , of. Italtlhiore , and his con
gregation , because ho referred to chhtlty
balls ns "godless hops in the name of sweet
charity. "
The duke of Edlnburg , who plays the flute ,
has been sout to the MciUtomuictui. The
people of the Mcilltcriancnu must rejoice
that lie is not also addicted to the nccoidlou.
From the fact that a week has now elapsed
fllnco young Miss Perkins recovered 875,000
from Lucky Baldwin for breach of promise ,
and she is still single. It Is Inferred that her
attorney Is n niariicd innn himself ,
Mr. liccchcr lost his watch by the aid of a
pickpocket , and as soon as U was known ho
wns presented with four now on.es. Henry
ought to open n jewelry store and lese that
watch every day.
Queen Victoria's order that n circus per-
foiinanco be given at Windsor this week for
her benefit would sonni to Indicate that she Is
getting rnntly Ulailstono's greatest show on
earth with homo rule attachments which Is
billed for next mouth.
Thomas Cruse , a millionaire , ot Helena ,
Mont. , who is CO yoais old , has just mauled
n young dressmaker ot that city. She re
ceived a check for 8500,003 as a wcildlni ; pros-
nt from hei husband. Many young women
would like to take ns successful a Ciuso us
this.
lion. William Morilson Is a tnrlu" reformer
and a useful citizen , but when ho says there
is more loss to distilleries In "suckngo" than
theio Is In "soakagc" ho exhibits an Ignor
ance of the profits in n ton-cent drink which
almost entitles him to a place on the ticket
with St. John.
Chicago News : Wo hear It said that J. C.
Flood , a bonauzi fellow , Is anxious to suc
ceed Senator Miller of California , lie has a
boodle ns big ns a meeting house , and picks
his teeth with a jack-knife. The prospect is
that hn would eclipse old Tabor of Colorado
if lie were only given the clinnce. We hope
ho will get the clmnco. What this lemiblic
needs nt this particular juncture would ap
pear to bo u renaissance ) of rullled nlght-
bhirts nnd big , vulgar diamond cuff-buttons.
"War History.
St. Louis Republican.
War history Is never complete till all the
old letter books have been thoroughly ex
plored.
Rnmul to Spoil.
I'hllaacliMa. Time * .
Greece appears 'to be spoiling for war , and
the chanced aio that it vnmctually came she
would begin to spoil for pe'ce. .
No Sardine.
PMladcliihla ( Sail.
It Is said that Queen Victoria Is very fond
of sardines. That Is why she doesn't like
Gladstone , lie is no sardine.
j. -t
Full 'Stop.
I'Mladcliilila Ilras.
Tfiey say that Senator JOB liawloy ot Con
necticut plays on the piano beautifully. The
resemblance between him and Carl Scliurz
ends right theie , however.
The Negotiations.
Kansas Qlt\i \ Times.
As nearly as we cniMinderstand It Geron-
imo demands the unconditional surrender of
Gen. Crook , which tljat great soldier lirmly
and conscientiously declines.
Has Not Found It Out.
St. Louis Globe-Democrat ,
Tlio story that a member of congress has
been prostrated by overwork must bo taken
with several grains ot allowance. If thcio
has been enough work done by that whole
body during the present session to prostrate
a [ single Individual , the country has not
found It out
Only Smnttoratlon.
PliilaildvMa Record.
A writer In the Popular Science Monthly
hits tlio schools a sounding and deserved
whack when ho says that they teach children
the use ot words they do not comprehend to
ctcscillio things they do not understand. This
Is called education , but it is , In fact , only
smattemtion.
In a Good Voting Majority.
Humfilircu Independent ,
The State Fanners' alliance , In convention
at Hastings , gave Senator Van Wyck an en
dorsement that demonstrates how sincerely
the farmers appreciate the efforts of the
senior senator. There's fun nnd lots of hard
woilc ahead , but the farmers are In a good
voting majority , and willdonato to the "antt-
monopoly crank" a now pair ot senatorial
shoes as a token ot their appreciation ,
Knocked Silly.
Ficmont Tribune ,
Senator Van Wyck's bill providing that the
Union Pacific fund bo used for constructing
branch lines to that railway , thereby placing
It on a good paying basis and developing the
state of Nebraska , lias knocked the corpora
tion editors silly. They have been In the
habit of perpetually prosecuting and slan
dering him , and are not fair enough minded
to admit that ho has done good service In
the introduction of the bill , though In any
body else It would call forth unstinted praise
and loud hallelujahs.
This bill and his efforts In Its bolmlf give
the lie to the oft-repeated assertion that Sen
ator Van Wyck Is opposed to railways. The
tiuth Is nobody knows the value of these
great enterprises and precursors of civiliza
tion better than ho. Ho Is not opposed to
them except when they abuse their power
and grind the people , in which case It be
comes his manifest duty to take tlio fearless
stand ho has. Ills blll'wli n It becomes a
law , will bo of great benollt ) to thn state and
valuable assistance to the Union Pacific com
pany , t '
Those newspapers which are gangrened
with malice and wnrpcdioutpf all reasonable
shape by prejudice should hold their pence In
this connection. Thulr > silliness Is too
flagrant.
-
Banlslipd.Uoro.
Victoria 11. Harrison tii'lhe Centura ,
0 shnphorda ! have yn wandering scan
A winged boy with blinded oyosV
1 drove him trom mayojtere'en ,
Despite his tears and pleading sighs.
Ho bears a pretty bo\v \ , and keen
Tipped arrows In IM quiver lie.
O shepherds , tell me | have you seen
This banished Love come wandering by ?
Why shines the sun , regret to mock ,
Why Haunt the flowers in hues so gay ,
Why skip with joy the snowy flock ,
When poor lost hove Is far away'/
Unfeeling shepherds , wherefore smile
And point toward my breaking heart'/
What I close behind mo all thU while'/
O sweet I wo two no more shall part ,
STATE AND TKOlilTOKY.
Nebraska Jottings ,
The postofllco at Chadron is a thing of
booty.
Pluttsiuoutu contributed $311 to the
Parnoll lund.
The Catholics of Ainsworth hayo de
cided to build n church.
A farm of 100 acres , two miles from
llillard , was sold lust week for if 7,000.
A Butler county undertaker advertises
nilsaflt cofllns , warranted to keep in any
ollnmto ,
Tocumscli is still talking of building n
$10,000 , hotel. As yet tlio project is in a
colario state ,
Cuuitng county raked together ? 10,000 ,
with which to take Up outstanding rail
road bonds.
Twenty thousand brook trout have
boon planted in the Bordeaux and
Chadron creeks ,
The schools of Nebraska City report an
attendance of 8CO. Tliero nro $5,203 in
the school treasury.
Tlio Curtis Record , the ndvocnto of n
now town in western ftobrn&kii , wns
christened last Saturday.
Four hundred mounted hunters , armed
with shotguns and rifles , succeeded in
bagging two hungry wolves in Antelope
county ono day last week.
The business men of Hastings hold nn
indignation and anti-discrimination meet
ing Wednesday night. The object of
their wrnth was the alleged discriminat
ing rntcs of the B. & M. against the city's
business interests. The company nnd its
servitors were pummolodqullo vigorously
nnd viciously , nlul n committee was ap
pointed to Bcouro concert of notion in
diverting the business of tlio city to the
St. Joe road. It is a boycott pure and
simple.
The right of wry of the Ashland cut
oft'through Sarpy county has for the most
part been scoured bv the company. The
commission appointed by the county
court met last week and assessed dam
ages ns follows ! Jacob Palmer , $715 ;
John Donahue , $800 ; Henry Fuse , $2,71)2 ) ;
W. II. Blunier , $1)30 ) ; A. L. Sander , $15 ;
James Untidy , $030 ; Catherine Lnngdon ,
$1,700 ; Anthony Langdon , $700 ; Henry
Bnrlcll , $1,000. The right of way agent
of tlio B & M. states that the company
will contest most of the awards in the
district court , ng all but two nro exces
sive.
lown HCIIIB.
A Dtibuquo baud lias decided to move
to Omaha.
Burlington hns joined in tile race for
the slate soldiers' home.
Sixty-four marriage permits wore
issued in Scott county in Lebruary.
Tlio business of the Sioux City post
oflico for February amounted to ! ? ' . ' , OOU.
Tlio nsst nnnuaUnirof the Palo Alto
County Agrioiiltur il society will be held
September 22 , 23 ind 81.
The Northwcstorn Missouri and South
western Iowa Veteran association will
hold n reunion ut Creston on August 17.
The cops of Davonnort made 7(18 ( arrests
during the year ending February 28 , besides -
sides furnishing lodging to 1,035 tramps.
A strange freak of eccentricity is re
corded in n will received from the cast
by an Allison law firm , in which is be
queathed to the sum of $50 for
being an unswerving democrat.
Johan Emll Boogo , the crook run in
near Sioux City last week , proves to have
been the richest catch of the season. In
his quartern were found drafts , checks ,
notes and cash orders aggregating about
$0,000.
Expert Smouso , who was arrested and
taken to Davenport on ( ho charge of run
ning a private distillery , has been re
leased by order of the Washington au
thorities. He used the still to test the al
coholic properties of n temperance drink
called Zcodme.
It is said that at SIgournoy a ghost has
been looking around evenings tor some
one to devour. Pat King , u few nights
since , was looking for his gliostship with
a revolver , when the weapon was acci
dentally discharged , the ball entering his
hand and inflicting a painful wound.
Stephen Young , a young man who lias
been living nt Emerson for several years ,
while assisting the express messenger a
few days ago.appropnated . a money package -
ago containing $1,000 and then loft the
country. He was traced to Burlington ,
but there the detectives lost track of liim.
It is presumed that he is in Canada.
Idaho.
Arbor day has been made n fixture in
Idaho.
Shoshone has organized an antl-Chlnnso
protection league. A territorial league
has also been formed.
The residents of north Idaho have peti
tioned consress against the proposed
annexation to Washington territory.
The Snake river pincers arc panning
out profitable. Over 150 claims have
been staked out nt Glenn and Salmon
Falls. Some 100 men being at work the
production nvernges about $10 per man
per day.
Montana.
The Boston nnd Montana mine last
month produced $ § 1,583 of bullion.
The Granite Mountain Mining com
pany declared a dividend last month of
§ 00,000.
During January tlio Elkhorn mine
turned out 22,401 ounces of silver and
15,474 ounces of gold.
Two theatres are planned to bo built in
Butte tills year. One will cost $25,000
and the other $10,000.
The silver miuo high up on Mount
Helena has n well-defined ere vein.
Assays show $ -I > 0 to $00 per ton.
The Fort Dcnton board of trade mem
orialized congress to commence improve
ment of the Missouri river at the head of
navigation , nnd also asked for increased
appropriations.
The ElUhorn Mining company will pav
their twouticnth successive dividend oil
tlio 28th of February of ton cents a sham ,
aggregating $5,000. , Total of dividends
$105,000 , or $2 per share.
Tlio Pool lie Coast.
The ere product of the Comstock mines
now averages 050 tons daily.
A company lias been organized to es
tablish u creamery ut I'licunix , Arizona
territory.
An average of 2,100 persons monthly
now arrive nt San Diego by sea and rail ,
but the departures do not nearly equal
that number ,
f A fine sea otter was taken off the har
bor of Victoria , B. C. , recently. The
skin brought $100 , Fur seals are taken
every day m tlio harbor.
Thirty-two fried eggs were eaten at a
single silting a few days ago , by Joe
Gunson.a STerra City minor. And ho
got on the outside of much other viands.
General Bidwell hns commenced the
manufacture of olive oil on the Chico
( Cal. ) ranelio. Ho has only seven olive
trees now bearing , and from those about
eighteen bottles of oil were made this
year.
A deposit of antimony has been dis
covered near Pcavine , eight miles from
Bono , Nevada. The deposit is said to
cover an area of several acres , anil is pro
nounced absolutely pure. Antimony is
used ns un alloy , Its general color is
silvery white with a slight bluish tinge.
Recently , while sinking a well on the
desert south of the railroad , near Flor
ence , A. T. , there were found , eighty
foot below the surface of the ground ,
fragments of A'/teo pottery upon which
were found figures resembling in design
nnd outline the ornaments on the pottery
of the Papagoes and Pimns of to-day.
Tlio resignation of Frank Fielding , ns-
sayer of the Nevada state university , is
announced. In resigning , ho donated to
tlio state his last two months' salary ,
amounting to $500 , to pay for thn com
pletion of the chemical laboratory , for
which the state failed to make an appro
priation.
There has beon'paid out of the Califor
nia state treasury since February 1 the
enormous amount of $3,688,3y3.23. This
has been paid out on over MX ) warrants ,
nud is believed to be largest sum ever
paid out of the treasury in the same
length of time.- During the month the
receipU amounted txj $ a-815tUt > .37.
INTER STATE COMMERCE
Senator Oulloin's Bill Dissected nnd Blow :
to bo a Fraud ,
Something More ISfTcotlvo Tlinn Tills
"Kiuiisoiiliuod" Ulllls lc
nintulcili
It. Jniirs til nicago Gitntnt ,
Through till llic mass of ovltlonco col-
looted by the intor-stato conunorco com-
mlitce , tlio most distlngulahlng feature if
the complaint of the want of stability
and publicity of rntcs. The complaint *
of the representatives of the railroad In
terests nro as loml as those of the general
public. It LI ndmlttoil by the rnllromh
that real publicity would bring stability ,
Nominal publicity exists at present , luas-
muah ns the ordinary rates between nnj
points can nlways bo obtained for the
asking. TJio onormotis extent to which
the secret rebate system is carried , how
ever , makes such publicity valueless ,
The general public have no conception
of tlio millions of dollars paid out annu
ally by tlio railroads of Ghicaeo , In the
shape of rebates. The disclosures made
before the llrpburn committee , of Now
Yorkastounded people oven who thought
themselves posted. It was estimated
that ninety per cent of the Syracuse busi
ness and fifty per cent of the whole busi
ness of the Now York Central was done
at special rates. An article In the North
American Review , referring to the rev
elations made before the committee on
the .secret rebate system , by which the
Standard Oil company was built up.says . :
"The .Standard Oil company has taken
very high r.mk among ; the powers built
by transportation. " "The Standard be
came practically a dictator to the rail-
loads of their relations to petroleum. "
The general manager of the Sav. Flo. &
Western railroad , speaking of the cor
rupting Inlluonccs of the rebate system ,
says , "ono tissue of fraud and deception
was woven after another , until the web
beeamo as line as to bo worthy of the
father of lies himself. " The evolution of
monopolcs by the street rebate system is
going on at a still moro alarming rate
than when the North American Review
article was written. The railroad com
panies did not bmld up tlio Standard Oil
monopoly voluntarily. Every concession
granted by the railroads , to obtain the
favor of the largo shipper , makes him
more powerful to wring still further con
cessions. The tendency of modern civili
zation to make the rich richer , nnd the
poor poorer , is no more bugbear of social
ism , but is n rccogui/.ed fact by philoso
phers. One of the greatest , if not tliu
greatest element in producing this result ,
is the rebate system.
The Culloni bill recognizes tlio impor
tance of tlio subject by devoting the prin
cipal part of the bill to an attempt to
abolish it. Every competent railroad
man knows that the provisions for the
purpose arc utterly inadequate. It en
acts penalties for charging more or less
to one person than another , but provides
no machinery for making such ( lihcrimi-
nation easy of proof. Without tills , it is
not worth the paper it is written upon.
The payment of a rebate may ho quite
legitimate in consequence of crrorx by
rate or bill checks , or otherwise What
is required , ih some machinery by which
legitimate and illegitimate rebates can
easily be detected , ' ( "hose who are ac
quainted with the ingenious methods by
which the railroad companies , in even
the btrongcst and most successful pools ,
cover up the tracks of their broken faith ,
can appreciate the difficulty. It is quite
possible , however , to provide means by
legislation , which will reduce these uvils
to a minimum. Tlo ) railroad men who
shriek loudest against the iniquitous re
bate system , demand the leguli/.iiig of
pools , as the only way of abolishing it.
The fact that tlio vast majority of tiic
Standard Oil company's ' rebates were ob
tained from "pooling" roads , effectually
disposes of that remedy. The railroad
man would like you to legalize his pools ,
but he still shrinks with holy horror
from any attempt to curtail his divine
right to build up corporations , Individ
uals or localities.
In England the system of special rates
and rebates in vogue hero is practically
unknown. To a largo extent this is duo
to the influence of the railway clearing
houso. Tills is. an independent organi/.a-
tion for the division of through charges ,
rebates , etc. , amongst the dillercnl com
panies. All attempts to devise n similar
institution bv the railroads of this coun
try have failed.
An illustration of the different system
of dealing with special rates in the two
countries , will have u valuable bearing
on tlio legislation required for dealing
with tlio rebate system hero. If A wants
a special rate for potatoes from Belfast
to London , the policy of granting it is
decided by the manager of the initial
road. If granted , tlio rate , terminal al
lowance , and basis of division are re
ported to the clearing houso. The rate
then becomes the rate for potatoes for
all parties between these points , and not
alone for the party who applied
for it , and is billed openly at that rate.
With us , if B wants a special rate
from Davenport to Now York for
wheat , and he brings convincing argu
ments to the general freight agent in its
favor , the rate is granted to him person
ally. Probably , after iv time , if C finds
out that 13 has got a special nito , he too ,
will demand and obtain the same conces
sion , The railroad company's agent will
know nothing of B's special rate , and his
freight will bo billed at tlio saino rate us
Tom , Dick and Harry's. 1 $ will probably
get his rebate from tun general oillce of
uomo fast freight line , a body not only
without u soul , but without n. corporate
existence , if such a delinition can be ap
plied to a body , The initial company
will , months after , refund its proportion
through AH intricate adjustment of the
through charges with the fast freight
line. It will be seen by the unprofes
sional reader , that Tom , DIok and Harry
would find it very diflleult to nrovo that
13'a freight was carried at A lower rate
than theirs.
The principle that congress has the
power to compel the railroad companies
to keep their accounts in the way it pre
scribes , is admitted in section fifteen of
the bill. If the promoters of tlio bill nro
really In earnest in desiring to ahoiifah
the secret rebate system , there should be
no reason then why the companies should
not bo compelled to do as follw.i , in addi
tion to what is uskcd in the bill ;
1. I'nrninh copies of all rates special , or
taiilV , local or through , in operation on
the road , and the changes tnereln , n de
viation from any rates reported to the
commission , to be considered n proof of
discrimination. ( Section 5 only calls for
the tnritls , which , according to the Hep
burn committee report , would only apply
to ten per cent , of the trulllo from Syra
cuse. )
3. All percentages am bases of divis
ion existing with other companies for di
vision of through rates.
8. The initial line to bo held respon
sible for any contints , agreements , or re
bates made by a fant freight line ,
4. That no change in tlio charges , as
billed , be made without a cony of the
under or overcharge voucher being sent
to the commission with u monthly ah-
blract. In case of reduction on account
of weight , the weigher's certificate to ac
company the voucher.
C. That a lioaty penalty bo inllictcd
on weighers giving false certificates of
weight.
0. That when the same freight has been
billed twice or more on the same roud , n
fetatcinent of ( he readjustment of the
charges be sent to the commission ,
7. That thu companies be compelled to
show , in their annual reports , Ilia
amounts of gross freight earnings ns
billed , freight earnings not billed , and > l
amount of freight charges refunded , the
difference being the not earnings. The
total amount of the freight charges re
funded should agree with the total
amount of the vouchers furnished to the
commissioner.
8. The same penalty which is Imposed
on the trafllo manager for violations of
section 0 of the art , should bo imposed
upon the auditor for rendering false
statements or withholding information.
0. Duplicates of the monthly summa
ries of tonnage and freight charges , local
and through , with division of through
charges as adjusted and taken to account
by auditor.
10. Monthly statement of demurrage.
storage , and all other charges included
in freight earnings not billed ,
Tlio unprolcssional reader will , per
haps wonder what USD such additional
information wonld bo to tlio commission.
Ho would also probably imagine that the
commissioners would require a largo nnd
expensive staff to utlll/.o the documents.
To this It may bo answered that ,
1. The commissioners will have , or
should have , a record of all billlne rates- ,
which should bo thoonly legitimate rates.
2. That any variation from those rates
will eolite under their supervision ,
through the vouchers.
0 , That if Toul , Dirk , or Harry believe *
that H's ' freight is being carried at a lower
r-ito than their , the proper olllclals of the
commission ( as already provided for in
the act ) , by an inspection of tlio billing
of the freight auditor's accounts and of
the record of Touchers In tlio commis
sioner's ' ofllee , can easily detect the fact.
-I. Valuable information for thu bureau
of statistics would be on lilo in an access
ible form ,
AH regards the expanse of the staff , Uio
bill already provides for such a stall' , but
It would bo useless expenditure , unless
the companies wore compelled to furnish
information ot some value.
It may be Bald that the farmer in Iowa
and Nebraska is not interested in those
secret rebates , that , as far as ho Is con
cerned , it is purely a light among the
grain buyers themselves. This is not
really the ca.se. It will bo found , as u
rule , that the prices for grain in his dis
trict , are based on the regular rates to the
best market , Chicago , St/Louis , or what
ever it may bo. Ho is satisfied If ho gets
the market price , leas freight charges ,
and this saves commission it shipped by
himself. If tlio grain buyers in tils dis
trict nro 13 , Tom , Dick and Harry , and B
only has a rebate of 0 cents a bushel
from the railroad , it will not bo neces
sary for IJ to underbid tlio others moro
limn half a cent a bushel to got the bulk *
of the business. Tom , Dick and Harry
cannot pay the farmer more than the best
market price , loss the open rate of freight
to that market. How much of tlio dif-
forcni'o of live and a half cents per
bushel comes out of the pocket of the
farmcr.and now much out of tlio railroad
company , will bo an Interesting subject
for the tanner to study.
Tlio.quos.tion . of long nnd short hauls
sink into comparative insignificance ,
compared with the soorot rebate system.
No harm will dp done by leaving the
other questions in tlio shape proposed by
tlio commission.
The public demand that the gigantic
operations of the railroad companies in
building up monopolies , bo curtailed
with sonu'thing moro directive than Mr.
Cullom's "emasculated" bill. It is re
quired not only in the ipturo t of tlio pub
lic , but of the railroad proprietor ! ! . The
latter are still guided by their oilicials ,
who are controlled by their traditional
horror of government interference. Tho'y
will bo apparently hostile to the Cullom
bill as it btands. but will secretly stand
shoulder to shoulder with the pbwprful
beiieliearies of the rebate system in its
support. Uoth elements are well iwaro
that , as it .stands , it is powerless to a fleet
their interests It will again serve , how
ever , to stave oft * effective legislation.
Tin : couirr KNOWS ITSELF ,
Judge Tiffany Tongue Lashes Two
Rtlltora for Contempt.
O'NEH , ! , , Neb. , March 1. [ Correspon
dence of the Bnn. ] When the district
court ' "convened last Saturday morning
the dull monotony usually nttondinc
court proceedings was somowhal changed
when n case a little out of the usual order
was called by the court , and the editors
of tlio O'Neill Tribune nnd tlio Holt
County People wore marched into court
by the shorilV to answer to tlio charge of
contempt of court. Last week's issue of
the above mentioned papers contained
charges reflecting on the competency and
criticising the manner in which the court
lias been conducting its duties at this
term. Tlio articles were uncalled for , en-
tirclyunjustiliablo , originating altogether
in the great heads of those would-bo dis
turbers of public conlidcnco in the judge ,
who is admittedly conscientious and fair ,
and nn untiring worker. The editor of
the Holt county People was somewhat
, nnd stood up and took his medicine
Ramo man , but tlio editor of the Tribune
made a very poor showing , and trembled
like a school-boy.
The judge went for thorn in great shape ,
and in the comse of his remarks said :
"There are n class of young men who
have acquired sullicienl chunk to obtain
control of newspapers , but have not the
necessary amount of brains to conduct
them in n decent and respectable man
ner , and to all suoli I will norn give no
tice that such conduct us in this ease will
not bo tolerated. Personally , I care noth
ing for such attacks , but the court must
be shown proper respect , whatever your
personal ideas may bo ns to the judge in
dividually. As this Is your first oil'enHO
that 1ms come to my notice , ( | HTO the edi
tor of the Tribune , with bowed head ami
trembling kners. managed to utter , "Yes ,
your honor , this is my first ofliinso , " ) as
tlii-s is your llr&t offense I will line you n
nominal sum , enough to cover the costs ,
but 1 will say In coneltibion that if this
kind of thing is repeated I will give you
not less than thirty day * In jail on [ bread
nnd water. " The action of the court is
sustained by the better class of the people
of O'Neill. _
Making Hotel I/I Co I'orfuctly Homo *
Llko.
Peck's Sun : The rather numerous
Dakota delegation now in Washington
was increased by another arrival one day
this week. He registered at u hotel and
said to the clerk ;
" 1 may want to stay some time' , can
you give mo a good room' "
"I think we can let you hayu ono ( hat
will suit. "
" 1 suppose you u-y to make it pluubtint
for pioiitsy"
"Certainly , we aim to. "
"Of coui-ho. Wlint I like in a hotel is
something homo-like , "
"I think wo can satisfy you on that
score. "
"I hope so , Now I'll toll you ; If you 1
will heo that I am made to feel perfectly
at homo during my May you fchaii'l ' lese
anything by It. "
"Oh , we'll make it home-like for you.
Let mo sec , " lie continued , glancing over
the register , "you are from Dakota ? " 4 J
"Yen , I'm n member of the Dakota
legislature , and " 41
"Here ! " exclaimed the clerk , turning
to a bell-boy , "feliow this gentleman to
the poker room. "
I , Horner , the mulberry tree enthusiast ,
has submitted to thu Santa Fo
u scheme which , if put in execution , will
beyond a doubt prove a successful reme
dial agent against the drifting of snow
upon tlio railroad track. The plan ik to
line the road with groves of the thrifty
growing Itu&liiu mulberry.
