\ ' " ' H THE OMAHA DAILY BEE , SUNDAY. DECEMBER 21 , 1890.-TWENTY PAGES. 8 THOSE OPPRESSED RAILROADS Condition of Nebraska Bail ways Analyzed by Attorney General Lecso. TO FIGHT THE BATTLE ALONE. lli < ; Stntn Hoard or Transportation Fnrcc 1'aylng Dividends on Wntcrcil block An Inter- Document. Lixcoi.v , Nob. , Dec. 20. ( Special to Tun Iii.1 ! : Tlio annual report of the attorney general to the governor Is now In the hands of the printer nnd is probably tlio most im portant document ever written by General Lceso. Ills comments on the board of trans portation are the result of his long connection with that body nnd may create something of sensation. The following extracts are inad from the document : "Tlio subject of transportation Is ono of the most Important questions that wo are called on ns state ofllcers to meet. "I have given tills subject as much atten tion ns my other oflldul duties would per mit nnd I am free to say that thu present sys tem Is a complete failure. I am thoroughly convinced that the only true solution to the railroad problem must bo worked out through a railroad commission , but any system such as oiii-s tint requires three men to do the work and mnko all reports pr recommenda tions to the various companies only to bo signed by certain state ofllcers who Jiuvo not had n chance to ex- nmlno Into the subject matter is to my mind very unsatisfactory , especially so when the board nlono Is the responsible party and hold to a strict account for the work by the poo- Iilo of the state who place them In olllce. experience has fully demonstrated that the railroad corporations of the slate are too powerful In their Influence mid too corrupt in their methods of defense for the people to expect much relief from extortlonato rates or unjust discrimination under our present sys tem , Our board Is too cumbersome , nnd I believe that the present law should ho re pealed and a maximum schedule of rates bo adopted by the legislature on a basis with other states similarly .situated. That the governor bo given the power to appoint thrco secretaries to see that the law Is not violated , nnd I feel sufo In saying that such a law will n'nswcr until a constitutional amendment could bo submitted to the people to elect n commissioner nnd will certainly bo nn im provement on our present system. "This board lias not acted in harmony on nil matters , and yet f do not claim that I am entirely to blame for the discord , believing ns I do from n conscious standpoint that the railroad corporations hnvo been and are now charging too great a rate for the transporta tion of freight in this Htato. 1 have tried my best to so reduce the tniiff or sehcdulo of rates as to bring it down to something near nn equality with the rntos charged for simi lar services in the state of lown. I do not claim that tbo rate in Nebraska should bo tlio same as that charged In Iowa , but did claim and claim now , that the basis of rate- milking in the two states should bo tbo samo. and whatever the conditions might bo that entitled Iowa to a loss rate than Ne braska let her hnvo it , nnd no good reason has ever been advanced to tlio board why a tax on every article of produce nnd merchan dise a person uses should bo placed on the same the moment It Is placed on Nebraska soil. soil."It "It Is true that Iowa has a greater milcnga than Nobraskn mid has n greater tonnage than wo have , still when wo como to consider the advantages of constructing and maintain ing the roads that this state has over these In Iowa , I am not prepared to say that our rates should bo much in excess of those charged in lown , If any , in fact. The grades In Nebraska nro very light compared with these of Iowa , wo have less bridging to do and less wash-outs and snow blockades. But the majority of the board could not or would not vlow the question as I did and stead fastly refused to mnko any reduction what ever. The question has agitated the publlo mind for some time , and at times has re ceived public recognition In our party plat forms , but all to no purpose. The result Is found la the political revolution of November 4 , IbllO. "It seems to mo that If the railroad com panies could bo made to understand that It was for their interests to lighten the .burdens of the people and that the prosperity . of this people was the prosperity of the cor poration It would bo a step in thu right direc tion , lint such is not the caso. In fact It Is directly opposite , for when the people pros per the railroads prosper , and when the people - plo suffer the rates go on and tbo railroads prosper Just the same. " 1 can only account for this on ono hypoth esis and that Is the nocosssltv of iho maim , gcrs on the western lines making a largo per cent us dividends to the stockholders. This Is whcro the great ulfllculty lies. The rates charged todny are largo enough to yield a dividend amounting in some cases to S par cent on stock that costs the stockholders nothing whatever but for the printing , nnd the officers of these roads use every effort and strain every point to hnvo the stock holders of their respective lines of road receive - coivo their annual dividend. " "How can tills bo remedied ? " is the ques tion wo ask ourselves. Hull road corporations nro entitled to a fair return on the money they have Invested , and nothing more. "What then Is the actual capital Invested on which n corporation Is entitled to hnvo n dividend ) Is It the money received from the sale of mortgage bonds or Is it the amount in actual cash paid In by the stockholders for the stock they have received ! Or is it the actualcash put in the road and derived from the snlo of bonds nnd for stock issuedi Any other capital , cither in bonds or stock , Is fic titious mid expressly declared by section fi of article 11 of our constitution to bo absolutely void. "It Is a notorious fact that the roads In Nebraska are openly violating this plain pro vision of our fundamental low and In many Instances the only money Invested in railroads - * * roads is tlmt derived from the sale of bonds , and then stock to tbo same amount Is issued gratuitously to the shareholders upon which the people of this stuto nro required to pay dividends by paying exorbitant rates of traus- - . portation. "Tho capital of a railroad cor poration cannot legally exceed the cash , labor and property actunlly re ceived nnd applied to build , operate and maintain a railroad , and yet It Is an ad 1- mitted fact that the railroads In this state have outstanding bonds und stock to n very large amount that hnvo not been Issued for money , labor or property. If a state officer endeavors to bring the corporations to nn ac count for such open nnd notorious violations of our fundamental law , tlio nlllcer lu charge of the road and the press of the stale so fur ns lie has subsidized It , turn loose on him and brand him ns n demagogue. This Is wrong. The day hjuot far distant whent he people will bo bound hand and foot if these monopolies are not checked , "I would recommend a law forbidding any railroad corporation from Issuing any niort- gngo bonds or stock until an iteml/.ed ac count of the cash , labor or property duly sworn to , has been presented to some ofllcor of the stuto for examination , nnd if found to bo n true account of the money , labor or property received , to register and certify the same as Issued in pursuance of law , and as constituting n part of the capital stock of such corporation. Such n law would strike out all fictitious increase ) of cupital stock of all the roads now in operation , as well ns all these to bo formed hereafter , and with such n luw the rates of transportation could bo ilxod so that an honest dividend could bo made on an honest dollar invested. Such n law now governs all counties , cities , pro ducts and school districts la this state , limit ing the issue to n per cent of the valuation , and I Unow of no good reason why such a provision could not bo carried Into effect , limiting the Indebtedness of railroad corpora tion to jiu Issue of stock or bonds , or both to Its full value. "Two years ago , In my blcnnlnl report , I called your excellency's attention to tbo bill I H.'ml I tig before congress to extend the debt clue to the government from the Union Pa- clllo railway company. And whllo my views may not have been couched In the nicest lan guage , your excellency criticised the same ami refused to concur thorolu. The notice given to that part of my report In your mea- Biigo did , however , attract the uttontlon of congiasa , ua well as tbo citizens of this ntnto , and " 0,000 people of Nebraska bavo petitioned congress to voU against the bill to extend the debt duo to the government , nnd praying that the gov ernment might foreclose their lien and put the Union Pacific railway on n cash basis. On January 'JO. IS'.H ) , I culled the attention of W. H , II. Miller , the attorney ircneral of the United States , to this company's many viola tions of the law , but all to no purpose. The bill to extend the debt , I nm happy to say , has not thus far become a law. "It Is true tlmt the government lien Is Inferior to the first mortgage of f.- ( ) r > 3' > , r > l , but by extending thu government deot. amounting now to nbout tOTi.OOO.OOJ , it will ho Inferior to $1115,000,000 indebtedness. The net of IstW nnd 1S73 sccureJ the govern ment debt as follows ! "Klrst By a second lien on 1,400 miles of road that net the company about $ iWO,000Ot)0 , ) annually. "Second By n first lien on nil Union Pacific assets , surplus , not earnings and properties acquired since IS73 , and therefore , n first Hen on all branch liens , purchased or built with iticrtle1) . "Third By n lien on all tno unsold land of the Union Pacific road , amounting to over 810,000,000. "Fourth-By u first lien for S',000.000 ) on the land , notes nnd cash In hand of the land trustees , valued at lJ ! , ( 00,0)0. ( ) "Tho Fryo funding bill , the ono now pend ing , proposes that the government surren der thlslien , and accept a now lien duo in tlfty years , Inferior to all the bonds nnd indebted ness amounting to about $ lir > ,000W)0. ) Such nn unbusincss-llko transaction has never been known before hi any civilized country excepting tbo one transaction made by the government with the Credit Moblller. "IV ) the recent chungo In the affairs of the Union 1'nclllu rallwav , one man standing in his oflico in Now York city can , by raising his hand , advnnco the rates of transporta tion over the routes that ho con trols , reaching from China to the Atlantic coast. This transaction Is only a part plajed In the formation of a gigantic railroad trust that is a menace to public rights , und unless something Is done , nnd that , too , immediately , the day is not far dis tant when tlio people of this country are bound hand and foot and condemned to per- potnul bondage. "Tho people of this state nro cocmlrnnt of the above facts , und their appeals year after year for relief have been laughed to scorn , and It remains only for some stronger means lo bo used , and that Is government control of nil railroads. "This Is a question that takes precedence over many important ones that are now agi tating thu public mind. And the question wo ask ourselves is whether or not It is better for the people to submit themselves and their business to the tender mercies of the railroad trust or to the government of our country ? "The principal objections made against the government control and ownership is that competition will bo destroyed ami that thu vast increase of patronage of the government would bo dangerous to our republican insti tutions. The llfht objection is as untenable as the latter.Vltlionoman controlling the piincipal roads of this codntry competition will bo ns much destroyed as it Is now be tween Sownrd and Lincoln , where the Chicago cage , Burlington & Qulncy is the owner of both lines of railroad. Competition will bo destroyed In cither case and it resolves Itself down to the ono question whether or not the profits go into the pockets of the ono man or go to the government. If the masses were to determine this ques tion there would bo ouo unanimous voice in favor of government control. "Tun second argument Is absurd. There Is no corner of this union that Is free from rail road Influence hi ull political matters. It enters the doors of the merchants , the sanc tum sanctorum of tlio press , and the courts of our states and nation , always taking nn nctivo part from the election ol a chalrmai : of n board of village trustees to the election of n president of the United States savagely holding buck in its ranks those who wouli break from Its corrupting embrace and do tcilorullng Influence. If the government should take the control , this growing danger to the people's rights would bo forever re moved. The civil service rules could bo strictlv carried out , where removals cannot take place without cause , and ability and per sonal merit alone , and not political influence , would bo ttio test for advancement. "Tho croWneU heads of Europe have operated railroads In a very satisfactory manner. And can it bo said that a government of the people , for and by the people is so dishonest and cor rupt that wo cannot trust it with the same power , or must wo continue to trust to the Jay Goulds and Vanclerbilta and Kock- afellcrs. "I bellovo In the government control and also believe that a commencement should be made by foreclosing the lien of the govern ment against the Union Pacific railroad and taking possession of the sumo , and trust that your excellency will bring the matter before our legislature so that they can send a momo- rinl to congress and bring the question to an Issue before the people of the country. "I believe that the government Is even going to try the experiment. Tlio time Is now nnd the place Is here In Nebraska , by foreclosing the lien of the ( rovernmont on the Union Pacific railroad. Tlio road is worth the first mortgage bond , which the govern ment has to pay anyhow , and could lose noth ing by taking the rond. Tlio trial could bo made , and if the experi ment was successful on this one road , the ways and means could be provided by the government to take charge of ull other roads , and nt the same time the most gigantic trust this world has ever seen will bo nipped in the bud. The government will settle n loug- standing debt wl'h an Insolvent creditor. "Tho question should have a starting point from our state , through our state legislature. Tha cry of J Individuals goes unheeded , and If Nebraska through her chief executive causes our legislature to speak on this subject our representatives will obey their will. It only resolves itself down to ono question ; the will of the corporations or the will of the peoplo. "I will say in conclusion that I have men tioned these facts because I nm about to ro- tlro from ofllco , whcro for six years I have labored to restore some of the rights of the people of the state Jthat have been stolen from thorn by the continued encroachments of the railroad corporations , but 1 urn sorry to say that I have discovered that the people cannot obtain any relief under existing con ditions nnd believe that the best way to relieve - liovo the people from the Impending danger Is for the government to take the absolute con trol of the railroads of our country. " Pollock and Patterson. Last Wednesday evening Mr. T. II. Pollock and Miss Llda Patterson were united in marriage In the parlors of the bijou Hotel Hiloy of Plattsmouth. The ceremony was performed by Kov. Mr. Bntrd of that city assisted by Uov. Mr. Kcrr who , for some tlmo past , has been connected with Bellevue The parlors and the bay window In which the couple stood when the nuptial cor- oniony was performed were banked with flowers , the effect of the whole being that o a partorlo in the Juno tlmo. The groom was attended by Mr. Jainos Pollock of Platts mouth and the brldo by Miss Lucy Wolcott of Weeping Water , the weddlnc march being performed by Miss Edith Patterson who with artistic skill , presided at the plans. Ttio groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs Thomas 1'atterson , and the bride the daugli tor of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Patttorson o ! Pluttstr.outh and a cousin of Mr , Joscpl Campbell of Tin : lUi : : . The brldo was nttlrod in a cream colorei brocaded silk , which but enhanced her rnro personal charms. After the ceremony the wedding party adJourned Journod to the dining room where Host Van iminm had spread the most elaborate am aplR'tliing tables over set under similar clr cumstancos in that city. Tbo groom Is ono of the confidential clerks in the Frst National bank of Plattsmouth , nnd hundreds of friends congratulate him upon his nuptials. High Five. The Premier high five club was enter tained at the hospitable homo of Mrs. Moritz Meyer last Wednesday evening. Eleven spirited games were played , after which de lightful refreshments were served. Mrs. A Haas was the lucky winner of the high prize n pretty silver botLboimlore , and Mrs. S Kutz won the consolation prize , u huudsom suchot. Mr. Lobman carried off the gentle men's high prlzo whllo Mr. Aaron Calm won the booby , a quaint tobacco pouch. Th members of the club nro Mr. nnd Mrs. Merit Moyor. Mr. and Mrs Max Meyer , Mr , nm Mrs. H. Polnck , Mr. and Mrs. S. Katz , Mr and Mm. Martin Calm , Mr. and Mrs. Allter Calm , Mr. and Mrs. I. Now , Mr. and Mrs Lobman , Mr. and Mrs. Hoyu , Mr , and Mrs H. Hutu. V11Y CONTINUE THE FARCE ? Futllo Efforts of Prohibitionists to Prove Outrages on Election Day. DENIALS MADE BY ALL PARTIES , Contestant's Attorney's Fall to Show a Single liiHlanoo of IiiteiTor- cnuu with a , Voter's Itlghts lit ttio I'olls. Interest In the contest Is waning rapidly , ns spectators about tlio Hoyd tnblo can only icar of continued pcaco timl good will on election day niul other things that they til- ready know. At tlio 1'owers tnblo the stock of prohibitionists Is apparently running low and the contestant's ' attorneys tire now glad to offer the evidence of parties who Imvo oven heard tlmt assaults were madebutItnow nothing of it personally. S. K. Hush was the first witness examined yesterday morning In behalf of Mr. Powers. He said ho was u lawyer , and had visited the polls on election day to see what was going Ho saw one or two drunken men a few blocks from the polls in the Third ward , and hoard ono of them say ho was hungry for prohibitionists ; did not see anything that was a menace to the llfoof nry prohibitionist' based upon what ho saw and heard , ho could not say that n person ped dling prohibition tickets would ho in danger - of oven bodily harm ; peddled tlcl'cts for Boyd at the iourth pro- cmctofthn Fourth ward the greater part of the day und saw ninnv republicans voting for the democratic candidate for oovornor. James O. Alton , a colored man , was next sworn. Hud lived In Omuliii sovcntccnycun. Voted the republican ticket and for the amendment nt the first precinct of the Third ward. Peddled tickets and remained there nil day. Was sure ho voted for the amend ment. Cross-Examinod The election passed very quietly. Had seen many rougher ones und somu that were "lots pcaccuhlur , " Could not tell how ho voted on the judgeshin amend ment. Is engaged in no business whatever. Heads the Lincoln Call mid New York Voice. The man conducting the con test again inter rupted to state that the olllclnl returns might show prohibition votcsbuttlioy did not show as many as they hail proven to have been voted. Ho was advised by Mr. Offut to get sworn evidence into the record and not od- vance his unsupported statement. During the cross-examination of Allen , Mr. Offut stated Unit ho liked to hoar the witness talk , as ho was born hi the south himself and had n colored "mammy. " "Tho colored fdlks are nlco people , aren't ' they J" ho inquired of the witness. "Why , some of 'em Is , " was the reply , "an" some of 'cm is as mean as any of the white folks. " The laugh which ensued was engaged in by everybody. At the noon hour nn adjournment on this side of the cuso was taken until Monday morning nt 0 o'clock , .vhon Cashier Davis of the First National bunk will again bo placed upon the stand. Christian lloslckor , a painter at the Union Pacific shops , was tlio llrst witness called on the Boyd side of the house. Ho was a candidate for county commissioner on the Independent ticket at the lust general election. Ho said that the election was very quiet and peaceable. Ho formerly lived in Utfca and in New York Ity , and ho found the election the most rderly that ho over saw. It was fur more so linn ho over witnessed in Now York under ho Tweed regime. Ho saw nothing that vould indicate that there was any truth in no stories told by the prohibitionists und ho id not bellovo them. John T. Clurho was the next witness and 10 was still on the stand at the hour of ad- ournnicntnt noon. His examination was con- Incd to what ho saw on the day of election. lo repeated the sumo story of prevailing icace.Jqulot and good will. At noon ho was ixcused until o'clock. The cross-examination of Mr. Clorko was onttnued In the afternoon. Ho was certain liat the great interest felt in the defeat of irohlbltion was what caused the unusually arge representation of business men about no polls. Charles Wusncr sworn Have resided at irand island for nineteen years. Voted hero at the last general election in the Second end ward. Saw Mr. Whitney and Mr. Law- oil challenging for the prohibitionists. They challenged principally old residents of the vard , well known citizens , and delayed the vote so much that at 10:30 only about thirty or forty votes had been cast. The mayor , at the request of the judges. In structed the marshal to clear the room of the people standing about. There was no at- .oinpt to prevent nnvono from voting for . 'owers or any other candidate , or for ho prohibitory amendment. The elec- ion there was quiet and orderly. Lawton und Whitney dolled Mr. Tloyco to have thiMii arrested and lie swore out a war rant for them for having challenged him in order to obstruct the ballot , ho being an old resident und well known citizen. Whitney Ived in the ward and know the voters ttioro. Lawton did not reside in the ward. Whitney is In the real estate business and I nm engaged in thosnmo business. Ho has known mo eight or iiino yours , yet ho challenged my vote. Ho bus lived within fotr ( blocks of mo. Lee and Strong ot iho independent party brought a contest against Hall on account of I alleged trouble in this ward , but the contest has been dropped. Cross-examined Am n republican. Don't , know Whitney's politics. Uon't know that ho is a republican. Know that his son is a democrat. A police officer was at the polls all day. Shoved Whitney aside when no challenged my vote. Ho gave no ro.ison for tils challenge. Huknew that I was a legal voter. ThtnK that Is a democratic ward. Was a member of the Bunkers' and Business Men's association. Did not naturalize any citizens. A. 1' . Tukoy , sworn Have resided in Ne braska twelve years. Was judge of election nt the First precinct of the Fourth ward at the lust general election. Was there all'day , and saw no trouble , jostling or acts of violence. Huvo voted in Maine and Minnesota , and this was fully as orderly an election as I ever saw. Heard no complaints of anyone about not be ing allowed to vote. Am n real estate man. Saw prohibition ticket peddlers about the polls. Captain Lyons was ono of thorn. Saw no ono molcbt him. Ho was close to the win dow several times during the day. No voters were challenged. About two-thirds of the vote was cost before 2 o'clock , and It was largely a vest pocket voto. There was n larger rep resentation of the bqttcr element than I over saw before at the polls. J. C. Oyorum sworn Was at the First district of the Third ward on the day of election and saw Hev. Mr. Shinn there. Ho challenged about every other voter for fully half an hour. About fifty voters complained - plained that Mr. Shiun was not a voter in that ward , and an ofllcor told him several times to getaway from the window. Ho was u largo man and took up more of the window than was loft for the voters. Ho said some times that ho know n voter did not live In the ward. Ho refused to leave the polls and an oftlcer throw him away from the window , telling him that if ho returned ho would ar rest him. Mr. Shlnn acknowledged that ho did not live in the ward. There was o llttlo oxi-ltomeut over Shlnu's conduct , but after ho loft everything was quiet. Cross-examined Am a painter. The of- llcor leu Mr. Shlnn u few feet and told htm to keep away from the polls , as ho had no right to challenge in a ward whcro ho did not live and obstruct voters. Saw no drunken men about the polls. L. A. Goldsmith , sworn Am n saloon keeper. Have resided in Omaha eight yours. Voted at the last general election at the First precinct of the Third ward , and was there nil day. IJov. Mr. Shlnn was there nod we stood opposite each other as challengers. There wore several challengers , and wo agreed to keep back from the win dow , Mr. Smun among the num ber , and wo nil stopped away. Mr. Shlnn went back to the window , but finally was persuaded to leave again und an otllcor went to the corner with him , as ho said ho was willing to keep away from the window but did not want to go through the crowd , Ho challenged my voto. The crowd was good natured and Mr. Shinn gave mo his card. The only trouble was between young Pat Ford and O'llrlen. Ford was n special policeman and ho pulled U'Drlen olT the ix > reh , They are both democrats. Cross-examined Saloons were closed on election day. They opened in the evening after the polls were closmHand some wo reopen open In the morning bcfori ) | ho polls opened , Court adjourned at 4 o'elflj.vif until 10 o'clock Monday morning. , * A Sugar Dct lfelati , WASIIINOTOX , Dec. 20. Acllug on the nd vice of the attorney general the treasury de partment has decided that ttio provision In section 211 of the tariff act , for refining im * l > oi ted sugar In bond li nppltcaolo only to sugars In solid form nnd not to molasses. Itlllfllilo The entertainment given Friday night nt the Hillside Congregational church was well attended and was the best of the kind given lor somu time In this church , The selections were alt well rendered , especially those of the Misses Evnns , Loggctt , Colby and Holi day and Messrs. Fostncr , Fcnton and Gellon- beck. Mr. Festnor's zither playing was heartily applauded and ho would have re sponded to the second cncoro hut for the late ness of the hour. Messrs. Gollcnbeck and Uumgardncrniso gave some very line selec tions on tlio banjo. SOUTH OJl.tn.l XEll'S. Special Mail Service. Postmaster Glasgow states that no has lot the contract for the special mall service to Lewis II. Potts. The mails will bo carried to the Union depot , Omaha , at S o'clock a. in. mid nt " o'clock hi the evening. Cttilnhy Kiro Coiupiiuy Daiion. The flro department of the Cudnhy packIng - Ing company gave n social and dance Friday cvculnir. Vennto's orchestra furnished the " music. Twenty-live couples joined In the grand * march , led by Captain John M. IJItchoy and Mrs. Phillips. ' The office was used for tinncltiL' and a musical onlertnia- mcnt was Riven in the parlors. A sumptu ous banquet was servec. Clan Gordon locution. Clan Gordon , No. 0.1 , Order of Scottish Chins , elected the following ouleers Friday evening : A. C. Troup , C. ; H. Lowrio , T. ; J. French , chaplain ; Frank II. Ciiutlle. recorillutf secretary ; H. A. Me- Furluml , iltmnclul secretary ; T. Falconer , treasurer ; J. C. Buchanan , 6. u. ; Alexan der Lynll , J. II. ; W. H. Ituthciford. J. ; A Duncan , \ \ ' . ; A. B. Uutherford. S. ; H. Mo Dontild , physician ; George \v. McDonald , piper. Trustees H. Drown , W. U. Drum- moud and Jehu Wilson. Notes About the CHy. Emll Strauss of the Cudnhy ofllco force is in Chicago. Mrs. C. W. Phclns hus gone to Schuyler for a visit. Mr. and Mrs. Ell II. Doud have returned from Chicago. George II. Masson lias returned from Pluiuwcll , Mich. Fred Suunders Is confined to his room with a painful abscess. Mrs. Albert Sloano has gone to Loup City to visit a daughter. Constable Andrew A. Donnelly is confined to his room with fover. J. P. and Michael Murphy will sojourn u fortnight with friends in McCooic. A , V. Miller has reuiovod to the Brandos block , Twenty-fourth and N streets. N. W. Wells of the Cudnhy fo-co has gone to Baltimore , Md. , to spend the holidays. Misses Ella Donnell , Lotltia Scunlon and Mary J. Kenney will go to Denver to visit frleiids. Patrick C. Qulnn of the Cudahy flro de partment loft last evening for Chicago for a fortnight's visit. William L. Grcgson of the ofllco force at the packing houses of Swift & Co. has re turned from St. Louis. Ulchard Fcnnosy anil Michael McNnmoo will go cast to spend the holidays. U'hoy will spend New Years in Chicago. Superintendent A. C. Foster of the pncltlnt ? houses of Swift & Co. Is in Ashland , assist ing in the construction of the new ice houses. < The I'OHC IMnstiqtic. The pose plustiquo craze , and now the pose plnstiquo fad. Those who saw Genc- viovo Thompson last season in her statue poses remember a very graceful and pretty woman whoso Grecian draperies and attitudes mildly suggested certain famous statuary. This season the statue pose will bo carried out with great atten tion to detail , says the Now York \Vorld. Dress , make-up , wigs , will bo quite as important as the attitudes , and the pose plastiquo will have a run as a drawing ; room entertainment. One , two or three moving statues may bo scon upon a par lor stage , hung severely In folds of black cambric. The lights are all turned out save the lantern whioh illumines the stngo , bringing out in sharp relief the pobour or posouro , as the case may bo. Wo will take for granted that you are a Dolsartlnn and accomplished in nil lithe , supple turns of the body and facial expressions convoying all the passions of the soul. If you tire of the ioinlnlno gender your costume must bo a simple little gown of white cashmere or cheesecloth - cloth , cut in Parthonin-llko fashion , falling loose from the low neck and drawn in a hit nt the waist with a loose ly knotted white cord. Your wig must bo white and the hair caught in a eronu- ino Psycho knot at the base. Neck , arms , fuco and hands must b whitened , and then you are ready to poso. A limn must woiir a sort of Roman toga , white tights nnd buskins , and a white wig. All sorts of beautiful plas- tiques may bo done by u graceful man and woman together. At a Sorosis en tertainment at the Cordova the other evening Edith Chalmers , the young Canadian who does this sort of thing nd- niinibly , created a sensation with her her pupils , a youth as graceful as n , fawn and with the face of u young Au- gustus. "Tho Storm , " "Paul and Vir ginia , " "Tho Carnival , " are all suitable subjects for poses , besides hundreds- others , including representations of jeal ousy , consolation , temptation , protec tion , in fact nil sorts of subjects will easily suggest themselves to the poseur. Soil , low music , accompanies the posing , changing from grave to gay , according to the subject of the plastiquo , and a very pretty and now entertainment is provided. Dresden china effects are spe cially attractive in those plastiques. A'Alnii'o Idea. Hero is n man's idea of what the per fect woman should bo , for some sweet girl to cut and paste in her scrap book , says the Now York Sun. First of all , bocuus.'q , ho Is a man , ho insists that the perfect woman shall always bo well dressed , in as much taste- as tlio silly fashion of the day will allow , and in such a way n's "to bet oil her beauty when she is young ; to make her scorn still beautiful wlfou she is past her youth , and to lildo the ravages of tlmo when she Is old. " She must bo sympathetic , and not talk so ao to show how clover she is , but to bring out tho.bcst points of. tlio man she is talking to. She must bo intelligent and gracious , us well as sympathetic , and always a woman , of whom o her women th'ink und speak well. She must love everything that is beautiful and good , and hate everything that is coarse and ugly. And tlio man who has sot forth this comprehensive little gospel of woman- hooa , which every girl would do well to road , mark and inwardly digest , is nonc > other than Waller IK'sunt. Ruskin gives dressing , also , ns ono of the three cardinal virtues which every womanly woman must possess , and says that woman should always "dross beau tifully , not finely , unless on occasion , and then very llnoly nnd beautifully , too. " It would appear that , in con sideration of rullnoa inon , true women are queens of the realm by right dlvlno , nnd lose Homothtng of their high pre rogative when their robes of state are shabby nnd crumpled , ll'TTFRS ' FllV\I ( \ TI1F PFflPlF JL/Lil lulYO 1Iwili lilu IJjulLlvi A Suggestion for Saving the Time of the Supreme Court. TOO MANY DECISIONS IN WRITING. Money fur tlio Support of Jails and 1'oor House * ) Govern ment Construction of Hullronils The Usury QuoUlun. McCooic , Neb. , Dec. 19. To the Editor of Tin : Bin : : I dcslro to take advantage of your liberal offer to express my Ideas on the sub ject of "necessary legislation , " and mora es pecially in regard to relieving our already overburdened supreme court. Bad the amendment to the constitution , In creasing the number of supreme Judges , car ried , it would have for the tlmo being facili tated business , and probably the docket would have been cleared up , but oven this would have afforded but temporary relief , ns in n few years oven flvo Judges would bo overwhelmed with the number of cases that dally ix > ur Into the onlco of the clerk of the supreme court. If the coming legislature would amend section 18 of chapter 10 of the revised statutes , which now provides tnat the supreme court must lllon wiittcii opinion In nil questions that eotno before It , nnd sub- stltuto In Its pluco a section with sonic pro vision similar to thu following : "Tho opinions o ! the supreme court on all questions brought before it shall ho rendered orally , and no opinion shall ho written for publication unless a majority of the Judges of the supreme court determine tlmt the points Involved nro new nnd Unit such opinion will add something of import ance to the Jurisprudence of the state ; In which case the Judges shall ofllclnlly certify to said fact before same shall bo printed in the oftlclul reports. " As ills novv the tlmo of the supreme court is to u considerable extent taken with writing opinions in cases which nro ncltuor now or novel , and an oral opinion would sufllco as well ns ono written out at great length. lu a great majority of cases where there is an oral agreement by tlio attorneys , the Judges of the supreme court would have no difficulty in reaching a conclusion and imme diately passing on the questions Involved , and as there would bo no opinion to prepare could pass on to another cuso. And lu cafes whcro the Issue is submitted on briefs , but n few minutes of examination woud bo required m n majority of the cases to determine whether there were tiny "novel" questions presented , An amendment to section IS would per haps out off a part of the "perquisites" of the supreme court reporter , but his loss would bo the gain of the yooplo of the state at largo , and instead of the supreme court being "two years behind , " in a short tlmo would bo caught up mid there would bo some hope of getting a decision In matters whcro the do- clsioa of the highest court In the state is do- slrcd on the questions at issue. As It is now , it is possible to wear out or practically bankrupt n poor litigant , and in a measure defeat Justice , as it takes about five years from the time of the commencement of the case In the district court to get a decision in the supreme court of the stuto. And now as the amendment providing for additional Judges was defeated , and ns I think through an honest but mistaken desire to reduce - duce expenditures , let the coming legislature adopt a measure substantially as above out lined and in this way relieve our overbur dened supreme court. Hunii W. COL.I : . MociiHO Money and the Schools , Wn.sosvn.LE , Neb. , Dec. 18. To the Edi tor of Tin : Bus : You will not find my name in your list of subscribers , but for all that I road several copies of TUB Bru curing the last campaign. I conclude that you tire sin cerely In favor of any means that will lessen the evils of intemperance out that you be lieve , ns I do , that moro cm bo done under the present laws than with a nominally prohi bitory law and joints. But , Mr. Editor , I think there might bu a chungo made in the use of the license money that would have a better moral effect than to apply It to the school fund. Wo do not need saloon licenses to educate our children. But If such money could bo used to support Jails and poorhouses and to prosecute criminals , I think prohibi tion might see how Just it was for the saloon keeper to pay for thodamago ho does. I write to you because I know that if the Idea strikes you favorably you will know how to present it and can secure the change. Mils. G. O. Btmxs. The Construction of Jtnilrondi. Oscr.ou , Neb. , Dec. 20. To the Editor of TIM : BIE : The railroad question in Nebraska Is certainly a leading question , in which the cry of class legislation will not cease till the government considers the interests of the people , in preference to being the collecting agent ana guardian of the present system of railroadlsm. I bellovo the best way to solve the railroad 1 question is for the government to build rail roads , issuing guaranteed currency for the sumo , payable twenty years , or more , after date ; and 11 ko the "greenbacks , " a legal ten der for all debts , public and private. The j earnings of the roads may DO used to redeem i the sumo. The greatest benefit to ho gained from this system would bo : 1. Increase in volume of currency. 2. Labor for the unemployed. ! ) . Cheap rates of transportation. With u railroad between Now York and Omaha constructed on this plan , Nebraska fanners would get their produce to New York for less than it now costs to got it to Chicago. JOHN H , AXDEKSON. The Usury QucHllon. PAI.MVUA , Neb. , Deo. SO. To the Editor of THE BEE : Your invitation to the readers of TIII : BEE to send in their respective views of the leading issues of the day meets with my approval , and 1 will lay before your readers my opinions of tbo usury laws and their cure. It Is a well known fact that all the usury laws of our several states are failures. Now the question arises , can this evil not bo mot ! t answer unhesitatingly that it can by the homeopathic principle of "shnilia similibus curanter" llko evils cure like evils. Let tlio general government loan to the several states , taking their bonds at 1 per cent , the stuui loaning the money borrowed to the citizens at a per cent , under the same laws that rcguInto our school laws. It may bo said that this would create a redundancy of currency , or in other words inflation , but when wo reflect that the loaning fraternity would at once liiul their loans paid up , and of course would be com pelled to come down to the invel of the gen eral government , and Instead of an Increase it would only unloclc the treasuries ilot of Uncle Sam but of the shylocks , Now in this Idea wo would bolvo two problems . lems llrst , wowould supply the volume of currency needed , secondly usury would bo abolished , and nil violators of the law dis posed of at one foil swoop. This plan need not interfere with our beautiful national elas tic banking system , for If the business men would rather borrow of the national bank at 10 per cent , who is to say nay I JOHN S. lemming Ploiuls Guilty. Chief Seavoy received word from Kirk- wood , 111. , yesterday to the effect that Frank Morris , alias Lannlng , who was arrested In Omaha some tlmo ago with a largo amount of money m his pockets , had pleaded guilty to the charge of grand larceny. Ho was sent to the reform school. The i 185 that had been lying hero since It was taken from Lannlng was forwarded to the owner. Your l.nst Clinnco. This evening will bo the lost chance to see Donnelly and ( Jlrnrd in their funny comedy , "Natural Gas , " in a now meter. Since seen hero last season many Important changes have taken iilaco , both In tlio picco nnd the company. The present company In the main Is thu strongest Donnelly and Girard huvo over had. OIMMI Ted ty. In some way the Impression has gained currency that the Orrmlin nrt exhibition would bo closed on Sunday. This is n mistake. The exhibition , will bo open today , both afternoon nnd evening , Just the same ns on week dnys. I'o.stonlco Grades liaised. WASHINGTON , Dec. 20. Tlio following fourth class postofllces will bo raised to the third or presidential class January 1 : liny Springs , Nob. ; Dumlep , Harrlsburg , Kclthsburg , Kosubiu' ' . Augusta , Hamilton. Ill , ; Dexter nud Elkadcr , la. ; Lake Mills nnd Bayflold , Wls. Tin ; KVoijtinoN OF WOMAN. Man IlnHlird , Tint She Ilns followed Closely in Ills Footstep * . Wn can notice everywhere tlmt man has taken the load , on the whole , In the process of social evolution , but that sooner or later woman has followed In each stop , writes T. W. Illgglnson in Harper's Ba/.ar. Thus a woman can now go about the streets with n freedom which an unarmed man did not always enjoy. It Is not thrco hundred years since the toilettes of man Implied IVB much elaboration , ns much OXUOIIBO , and ns much tlmo as did those of woman at the same period , and far moro than the toilettes oven of refined women now con sume. Men have reduced all that magnificence to a simple working cos tume , varied by an evening dress suit of plain black , and the great mass of women now tend In the same direction. Even the daughter of luxury lays aside splendor for her tennis dress. Any great change , within the limits of mor ality , that comes over the social habits of men Is sure to bo rolloctod u century or two later In these of women. It is a curious fact pointed out by philologists that many of the terms now most often applied to women were once applied with equal freedom to men , as girl , hoyden , shrew , roquotte , wlteli , terma gant , jade , all of whioh have now passed out of tibo except for women. It is , I believe , the same in French with the word dame. Now the same thing that hus gradually happened to these words has taken place with many soelnl usages that have boon wholly changed for men , and only partially changed for women ; but they nro undergoing the alteration nevertheless. Women are no longer expected to bo wholly absorbed in their homo duties uny moro than they are expected to go veiled on the street. Indbcd , a larger part of these homo du ties have boon taken from thorn ; they are not expected to do any moro spin ning or weaving , for instance , and tbo tlmo which that once cost , if it Is not to ho wholly wasted , may well go to tbo cultivation of their own minds and the healing of the world's Borrows. They have ceased to bo moro dependents or appendages , and there is nothing left oi-thom but to go on and ho individuals. The Management of [ Cliildron. If you would BOO a woman or a child graceful , beautiful and charming , you must find ono that is loved , says Har per's Uiunr. The child tlmt dreads to ho corrected or criticised for every word or movement never has a manner of o'.p- ganoo or an expression of charm. Fill your child's houl with an ideal of good 'manners , of benevolence and beauty ; toacli it abstractly to dislike vulgarity , bollishness , rudeness , and to fool that you love and admire It , and expect of it charming nrinnorH , and the work is ac complished. It is impossible for a slave to have anv stylo. If yon would have your child dignified , you must treat it with dignity. It is wrong to correct a child in public. Any proud child feels degraded by it. It should bo a case of dire necessity when you find fault with u child before strangers , and to destroy a child's pride is to do him an irreparable injury. Take advantage of borne intimate hour when parent nnd child are alone together , and then lot the parent tenderly explain how the child has behaved ill the day before or that morning , nnd why the child's conduct was wrong , and how it should have behaved , and show the child that the parent respects it and loves it , and believes in its capacity to do all good things. This will have the effect of punishment , when tno child is in a state of excitement and the parent usually angry. Got in the habit of explaining the reason of things to your child. Lot there bo as little confusion in its mind ns possible , Above all , keep the fact of your love uppermost In tlio child's mind , and let it understand that you Jiavo no wish to domineer over it. only that being older and wiser , and loving the child so much , you would save it from its Inexperience , that this is your duty , that you are teaching it to bo its own master. Jf your child is cross , do not punish him , but distract his mind from the subject that annoys him. If ho con tinues to bo cross , suspect his stomach , and n sure yourself that this is in per fect order ; a troubled digestion is the root of bad temper. A Minute With Oulda. Mine. Ouidu , us she is fain illarly called , is the most Bought after and at the same ttmo tbo most acrimonious woman in European society. As a hostess she is said to bo most charming , says the Now York World ; as a guest slio is both feared nnd dreaded. Not long ago she was ono of a dinner party In n London house , the other guests being Mrs. Campbcll-Prnod , author of "Affinities ; " Mrs Lynn Lynton , Mrs. Herman Morl- vnlo , Rider Haggard , George Mnnvillo- Fonn , Jubtln McCarthy and Mr. nnd Mrs. Edmund Russell. When Mrs. Rus sell was being presented she anticipated her hostess and with irresistible gra- ciousncss advanced to the erratic writer , baying : 4Ono scarcely needs an Intro duction to Mine. Oulda , whom everybody knows. " "HumphI" ejaculated the author of "Puck. " I pity Mmo. Ouidu if she had to know everybody , " and bottled back behind the big black fun she always carries. Mrs. Lynn Lynton quietly remarked , "Now are you not disenchanted ? " "No , " was the reply. "I will not bo disenchanted. Slip ( Oulda ) who wrote 'Under Two Flags , ' is the Ouida I know nnd ndoro. " "Oh , yes ! you come from Now Eng land , I see , " bald Mrs. Lynton , to which Mrs. Rubsell replied : "Yes , where she is loved in spite of her mannerisms. 'Mine. Oulda could swim in the tears that Now England alone lias shed over her books. " Oulda in society is , to say the least , queer , her indilToronco to the conven tionalities amounting to audacity. She wears her hair cropped oil in a jagged way as nearly on a line with her oars nn a Bleockor street mother trims tlio wig of her small boy. She is never on her foot. As soon as she enters a drawing- room she starts for n couvorsutlouul or round-framed corner chair , into which she falls in an attitude best described as sitting on her hip. She is never with out n big black fan. Any ono who cares to moot the lady must go to her , and it makes no difference who tlio lion hunter may bo she never rises or in any way changes her position. If the now comer is unintaroBUng up goes the huge fan like a Kcrcon , and tonmkotho cut doubly fatal she will carry on aa audlblo and. ollubivo conversation with KOIHO lady on the other side. MORSE'S ' , Dolls , ToyB , Innoy Qoodi Now Art D partmont , Op on Momlny Night till to O'Clook- Men ICNpcelnlly Invited New Uolli Opened livery Times may bo hard with somebut cor- talnly the majority of people have plenty of money to spend. Never In the history - " tory of o'ur business have wo handled tha quantity of goods that wo are now bulling. ART DEPARTMENT. Lumps , bronzes , tea kettles , hrlc-a- brae , statuary , etc. , In our now art room nro lovely. They nro all now nnd wlth out doubt have boon the greatest attract tlons to the THOUSANDS who visit ua each day.STORK STORK DIRECTORY. Unsoment or 1st floor : Lovely prest onts , bron/.cs , clocks , china , vases am } all kluus of lamps , housekeeping goods , etc. etc.Main Main or 2ml floor , reached from 10th or Farniun street : Silks , dross goodti , pocket books , men's furnishing goods , boys' clothing , holiday books nnoj our celebrated art room with cut glass silverware , statuary , bronzes , ok1. 3rd floor , reached from Faniamstreotl Ladles' silk hosloi'V , underwear , art do- nnrlmont , sofa pillows , c ushioiiH , rib * uons , handkerchiefs , shoes , utc. 1th tloor : Sealskin garments , cloaKH , furs , corsets , muslin undorwonr , chil dren's cloaks , etc. 5th floor : Rugs , carnets , portieres , draperies , fancy China sllkii , Hilk tnpos * try , tnblo covers , flro screens , brass beds. 6th floor : Toys , dolls , guns , horses , games , &c. Olh floor : mall order dojiartmcnt , storerooms and maiuifacturliig rooms. Tlio largest and best retail store In the whole west. Open tonight. Coma and see our Dolly's Dream and Bit ftalo ) Bill's reception on tov floor. THIS MORSH DRY GOODS CO. GI3N. OUBTRU'S I/AST UAM/V. Tlio MnRRncro of tlio Srvnntli Cnvnlry nt the Lilttle Illg Horn. The massacre of General Ouster and his command in tlio valley of tlio Little Hlg Horn Juno 1 ! , " ) , 1870. and Sittinj ? Bull's part in it are part of the hKtrry of the border. The nlTuir has been koptfroil in the public mind for over fourteen years , and there is necessity foe giving the details at length of the horror at this juncture. Of the entire ) ' command but 'ono an Indian scout ) known us Curly alone escaped. Curly'd account of the light , which was at first not wholly credited , was subsequently confirmed by Chief Gall , says tlio Chicago cage Tribune. Tlio story , briefly , was that Cuatorwith his live companies , sep arated from Reno's seven , according to Terry's orders , and moved around tlio base of a hill through a ravine to o > point where the Indian village in tlio valley of the river could bo seen. No signs of Indians had been noted. Ujion getting sight ot the camp Custor ordered a charge and moved at the head of his column. Aa the cavalry came to the river the In dians , concealed in the underbrush , opened flro. Warriors came from tlio village in hundreds upon the llrst shoot ing. Finding it impracticable to cross the river in the face of the fire , Custor took ills men diagonally into the hills , bearing down stream. The hostilca crossed the river confident In their num bers , and Ouster , arranging his men in n sort of a rude circle , prepared for the inevitable. As long as their ammunition hold out , the troops , though losing heavily , maintained their position in spite of repeated charges by the Sioux. The buttle con * tinned Irom 2HO : in the afternoon , as could he iibcortalned until shortly bcforo sundown. Prom the lessoning of tlio lire the Indians concluded that the am munition was exhausted , and with n final grand sortie killed the last of tlio bund. The gallant Ouster was killed in the last onslaught During the entire slaughter Sitting Bull was with tlio women and children , Chief Gall being at the head of the war * riors. The finding of the 815 mutilated bodies of the unfortunates and their burial by General Gibbon has also hbun unnalizod by the newspapers. Along the Rosebud and Yellowstone , on tlio Tongue and Llttlo Missouri , Generals - orals Morritt , Crook , Terry and Miles lound no end of fighting. The running series of battles was also a series of defeats - feats for Sitting Hull's hoslilos , although the government troops suffered consid erable loss , and by their rapid marches and insufllciont food were made to suffer much ill and loll that they earned their full pay. The Indians receded from ono point to another , until they at last made a break for British America , where Sit * ting Hull , who well know the goograph leal boundaries , know ho was mifo. The HiKlit Hurt of n AVI To. Rev. Dr. A. J. Rowland of the Franklin - lin Square Baptist church , lectured to the young people lust night on "Ths Right Sort of u "Wife , " says the Ualti. moro Sun , "Almost all young people , " ho said , "expect at some time to marry , " It is not absolutely necessary that they should marry , but , as a matter ol fact , they almost all do. It is im portant , then , that they should consider such a subject as this. The trouble nowadays with miirringo la that it is too often based on mere sontl- inont. If it were made , as it ought to bo , a subject of reflection , and proper wibdom were exercised , the number of ill-assorted murriiiges would bo greatly reduced and 'wedlock ' would boeoma what God meant it to bo the spring ol perpetual comfort and joy. if young ladies value their present and otorniil interests ns they ought , they will strive to bo , when murriugo comes , the right ) sort of wives. If young men would bavo themselves from life's worst burdens and troubles , they will bo careful to so * cure the right sort of wives. "It is to bo feared that a great many people regard us the right sort of a wifa a woman who possesses beauty or nccom * pllshmonts or money. Now , those things are wall enough as far as they go. Bui if they form the only qimlitlculiona , there will likely bo disappointment and dissatisfaction before many years luivo ptibsod away. Beauty is apt to fade and accomplishments to bo forgotten , and money to to either take wings or brlii ( | with it a spoiled and solllsh nature. Real wlfohood miiht found Itbolf In deeper and more internal qualities. The marriage relation , to bo the source and support of life's bust blessings , must call into activity the nobler powers ami feelIngs - Ings of the mind and heart. "To bo moro specific , the right sort o ! a wife will know something of the duties of tlio homo over which she is to pro- side. She will have tnct to manage ita alTalrs so that it will bo the Hweotojt place in the world for her husband and children. She will bo a woman of intel ligence , who will be able to understand and sympathise with her husband in hla biiHlness or studies. She will bo of aa amiable disposition. She will bring to her husband an undivided h 'apt ' ivj heart lllled with unselfish ulfoo'tloiv'