Nebraska Newspapers

    THE OMAHA DAILY HE H.W : HONKS DAY. FKHRUAKY 17 , 1802 ,
THE DATLY BEE.
HOSHWATEU. KMTOH.
I'UDLISHED KVEUY MOUSING.
TMIMS OP SIJIISCIUI'TION ,
Dnllyllco ( without Fundny ) Ono Year. . . I R f 0
I nllr nml Snmlny , Ono Year. . in (10 (
HIT Month * . . . . . BOO
TliM > oMontli < i'f > >
fundiiy HOP , Ono Yrnr. . 200
Hntnnlfiv lice. One Your' . . . ' ' '
.uklyllee. Uno Year. . 1 W5
OIT10ES.
OinnliB. Tim lloo llulldlnit.
f-'nnthOimiliH , pornnr N lind Mth StrcoU.
Council Illnfft , K Vnnrl Street.
Clilfiiroonicc. : ii7 ( InimLcrof Commnrco.
Now York , ItoomnI'Mlnnill.Vrrlbunollulldln ?
Wiishlngton , Si : < Ponrtocnth Street.
All communications rolattmt to newt nnd
editorial tnntlcr should bo uddrossod tc the
l.dllorliil DcpurlinonU
MTTBU : .
All buslni-Fi letters nnil remlttnnoo * Mmnlil
I c nddres'i-d to The lire Publishing Company.
On , aim. Drafts , checks tind postolllcn onion
to bo mndo pnynblo to the order ot the com
pany.
TIIK HER LUIMMNU.
tWOUN .STATEMENT OF OIHOULATION.
ttnlo of Nebraska ! _ -
County of Donclns. f1"1 .
Oco. II , Tztclmek. secretary of Tlio Mr.r.
IiibllRhlim ( onipany. dues solemnly * wear
that the actual circulation of Tin : IMit.v RK
for tlio wool ; endltiK I'ohrnury III , Ib'J1. ' , wns as
follong ;
t-nnday , I'ol ) . 7. ? .lt
Mnnilny , Tnh. tai.M
Tnrsdiiy. I'oli. 11 j1-1..1 '
Wednesday. I'ob. 10. l.ii. ;
Thursday. I-VU U 2 . ? *
Friday , Kob. 12 -WIO
( Saturday , Kob. l.'L g4.m' >
Avornco si,4il !
OKO. II. T7.SOIIUOK.
Bworn tn I oforo me nnd subscribed In my
rrr enro tills Illlli day of robriinry. A. I ) . IflDi
6KAI. N. lv. I'KIU
Notary 1'ubllc.
Avrrag ) ; Clrt-iiiiitlnn lor .luniiury 4li'JI. :
TOBTUUNOTHKN tllO WOOQC11 vllldllUtOll
Sixteenth street la ut boat only n tcin-
porary mtikoshlft. The council should
without delay talco the ncccssivry stops
to replace It with u stone and iron
structure.
_ _ _ _ _ _
A SI'L'UT of reform amounts to tiolli-
ln . It is more froth in the bottle of
political champagne. It is the steady
application of business methods nnd the
> iiforcciiiQtit of honest and faithlul
jorvico in every doparltnont , nnd above
all the uprooting of boodlcism und job
bery , that constitutes roiil reform.
TIIKHK is altogether too much inti
macy between plumblnir contractor
Free and Mr. Johnson , who has been
desifjnated chief phimbiiif inspector.
The relations that are said to subsist be
tween Mr. Johnson and Mr. Free would
make it very difllcult for Mr. Johnson
to enforce the city hall plumbing con
tract.
MUNICIPAL reform .should not stop
with reducing salaries and doing auay
with taxcators. Business methods
should bo enforced in every branch of
the service. Every employe , high ami
lo\v , should bo required to disconnect
himself from all franchised corporations ,
either as an agent , contractor , furnisher
of materials or beneficiary. The
charter is very specific on these points.
MA YOU BUMIS and tlio police cotnmls-
Jion should put a stop to gift-taKing or
soliciting of donations in the police and
llro department. It is a pernicious prac
tice. No olllcer , high or low , should bo
permitted to contribute toward the pur
chase of gifts to any other ofllcor , or be
permitted tosolicit gifts or subscriptions
from citizens. Business mon and
respectable pcoplo conernlly do not like
to refuse any favor to policemen or fire
men and the lawless classes and keepers
of questionable resorts dare not refuse.
AIIOUT four years ago the principal
performer of Hitchcock's famous petti
coat troupe of trained acrobats applied
for a position on the editorial stall of
TUP : BIK : with a proviso tlmt a place be
reserved also for his wifo. The offer was
respectfully hut firmly declined. This
offense has never buen forgotten or for
given by either or both and their petty
spite has made itself manifest at every
turn. That accounts largely for many
of the despicable personal thrusts that
have periodically appeared in the
doublo-cndor.
' town elections have little
general significance , the results being
largely dependent upon local inlluonces
and conditions. But considerable iiu-
portatico is being ascribed to the elections
of this class in New York last week , in
which the republicans made great gains.
.This is held to bo an unmistakable re
buke of Hilllsin , and undoubtedly it will
bear that construction , though it is
quite possible that this is not tho'only
explanation , There is u good deal in the
general conduct of the democratic party
at this time calculated to drive intelli
gent voters away from It.
Is IT not about time to force n re
duction of tolls on the Council Bluffs
and Omaha brldgn ? Section -ID of the
charter provides that the mayor and
council shall have power to license and
rugulnto the keeping of toll bridges
within or terminating within the city
for the passage of persons , teams , and
property over any river passing wholly
or iu part within , or running by and ad
joining the corporate limits of any such
city ; to fix and determine the rates of
toll over any such bridge or over the
part thereof within the city , and to
authorize the owner or owners ot any
such bridge to charge and collect tlio
rates of toll so tlxed and determined
from all persons passing ever or using
the same.
A LONDON newspaper kindly presents
as un available candidate for the presi
dency the American minister to Eng
land. The American people have a gen
erous appreciation of Mr. Robert T.
Lincoln , who was a urcdllablo secretary
of war and is representing liu country
In a worthy manner at the court of St.
James , but it would not improve hit )
I jhanees for the prosulonuy to have it
fonornlly understood that ho would bo
particularly nccoptablo to England as
iho chief executive of the United States.
That is n mutter regarding which Hug-
llsh sentiment Is held at a very huavy
discount. Doubtless the suggestion
ought to bo regarded as complimentary
to Mr. Lincoln , but if ho has presiden
tial aspirations ho will bo wise to dis
courage the ondorbomont of the English
press.
The newly converted democratic
organ declares that an extra session of
the legislature "is needed for the pur
pose of dividing the BUito into presi
dential districts so the presidential
electors of Nebraska may bo elected by
districts an they uro in Michigan , and
each party may have its proper proportion
tion of representation in tbo electoral
college. "
George Francis Train would pronounce
this very incoherent , but wo will charita
bly ascribe the muddled yontenco to a
sllu of tlio pen caused by the effects of
the recent Boyil jamboree. In plain
English , it is proposed that the legisla
ture shall substitute for the present
mode of choosing ulcctors by the voters
of the whole state , the choice of two
olcctors-at-largo by r. plurality of the
voters of the state and ono elector by a
plurality of the voters of oai'h of the six
congressional districts. In other words ,
it is proposed to Mlchigatii/.o Nebraska.
From stiqh a scheme republicans have
very Httln to fear. Ulghtniiiidud- people
of all parties will justly regard it as u
high-handed attempt to capture the
electoral vote of Nebraska for the demo
cracy by a gprrymandor. That is much
moro undemocratic than unropubllcan.
It violates the JoiTorsonian principle of
stnto sovereignty and is in defiance of
all democratic precedents that have rele
gated the appointment of electors to
the states.
From the republican standpoint the
Michigan idea of choosing electors would
bo correct in principle , because it brings
tlio choice of presidents nearer to the
pcoplo. But if wo are to have election
reform it musi bo of universal and uni
form application. It all the states were
required to cheese their electors by con
gressional districts wo would got a fair
expression of the popular will.
This is not , however , the object of the
democrats who introduced the electoral
gerrymander in Michigan and want to
introduce it in Nebraska. Why don't
they Mlohlganlzo Kentucky , Georgia ,
Texas , Virginia , West Virginia or any
state which they fcol confident of carry
ing ? If they honestly dcslio to ropro-
wont the different political parties in the
electoral college , why don't they Michi-
gnnizo Now York and giyo the people of
the Empire state a chance for minority
representation ?
So far as Nobrnsua is concerned the
republicans will run less risk if tlio stale
is Mii'higani/od and their eggs are not
all in ono basket. They would have the
same chance to carry the two electors-
at-largo , and a lighting chance to carry
live out of the six congressional dis
tricts. They would , moreover , ba in
better position to command the earnest
support of every man who has over been
a republican on a popular appeal to re
buke the political chicanery and un
scrupulous trickery by which the state
is sought to bo turned ever to a party
that mustered only 39 per cent of the
popular vote of Nebraska for Grovcr
Cleveland in 1888.
l'llll\'AIllCATlOy \ AXD
Tlio defense of prohibition is largely
made up of prevarication. There lias
never been u contest for that cause of
which this could not bo truthfully said.
Wherever prohibition has made its light ,
from Maine to Nebraska , falsehood and
misrepresentation have constituted the
greater part of its ammunition. This
uniform experience is being repeated in
the discussion now in progress in the
Towa legislature , where the defenders of
Iho policy which lias been so calamitous
to the material prosperity of that btato
maintain that it has been a success , in
brazen disregard of the known facts
that prove the contrary.
Ono of the most notable utterances in
tills line was the speech of Senator Mack ,
made yesterday in opposition to the
license bill before the senate , which ac
quires peculiar significance and impor
tance from the fact that ho is the chair
man of the republican state central com
mittee. Ono of the statements of Mack
was that in states where license la\v are
in force such laws are not effective and
not as well enforced as prohibition.
Every man at all familiar with the facts
knows this to bo untrue , and particularly
so as regards prohibition in Iowa , whore
thousands of government licenses to sell
liquor were issued last year.
What state is it whore the license law
Is not effective or enforced ? It cer
tainly is not Massachusetts , wlioro
prohibition was tried and failed , or
1'onnsylvnnnia. or Missouri , or Minnesota
seta , or Nebraska. The testimony of
the authorities of all thuso states is in
contradiction of the assertion of Senator
Mack , and the olfect of license in these
states has boon distinctly in thu interest
of temperance. Another of the mislead
ing statements of Mr. Mack was that the
material progress of Iowa had boon
greater than that of Illinois when the
city of Chicago was oxcjptod. In popu
lation the census of 1890 gives Illinois
8,820,1151 and Iowa 1,011,890. Deduct
tlio population of Chicago , 1,100,000 , and
Illinois still loads Iowa by several
hundred thousand , and the increase in
the population of the two states for the
decade from 18SO to 1890 wm rospaa-
tlvoly 7-18'J80 and i87UBI. ! Equally un
warranted it. the comparison of the pro
hibition champion with Minnesota and
Missouri. The fact is that Iowa hardly
realized n natural growth In the ton
years ending with 1890 , and if the stale
hits donu butter Hlnco it is buuauso of a
prospect that , prohibition would Boon bo
abandoned. But when vro talk of ma
terial progress it is not to bo measured
by increase of population alone. In in
dustrial advancement Illinois in the last
ton years has fur outstripped Iowa , and
thu game is true of the other atatoa
referred to by Mr. Mack.
It may bo granted that prohibition
had not everything to do with the elec
tion of a democratic governor of Iowa
last year , but It was the cnlof cauo of
that result , as it wiw in 1889. Twelve
yours ago the republican plurality in
Iowa was nearly 80,000. It was then the
banner republican state of thu country.
The republican vote ot Towa has buon
declining over since the adoption of
prohibition , and after olclit yours of the
trial of that policy , duflng nn period ot
whjoh it haa bon generally enforced ,
Iowa has a democratic governor twice
elected.Vill \ any candid and fair-
minded man protund that prohibition
haa not been chiefly instrumental in
bringing about this result ? Moreover ,
the fact that the republican party ap
pears disposed to maintain this policy is
causing Iowa to bo regarded as a doubt
ful state in the national election of this
year. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
nn : AXTintACiri ; Moxtn'orr.
The Now Jnrsoy legislature proposrs
to Investigate the arrangement , by which
the Central railroad of that slate re
cently passed into the control of the
Hendlnff company of Pennsylvania.
Reference IIIIH heretofore been made to
the combination of anthracite coal roads ,
by which the Heading management
secured the control of two Important
Bvatoms , with all their franchises und
privileges , nnd made an' arrangement
satisfactory to Itself with another system
idontiliod with the anthracite monopoly.
The resolutions in the legislature of
Now Jersey providing for an Investiga
tion rcclto that it is believed the obioct
of this combination is to increase trans
portation rates and advance the price of
coal nnd the legislature desires to know
by what right a railroad , owing its ex
istence to , and subject to the authority of ,
the state outers into such tin arrange
ment. It Is manifestly a very proper
inquiry , although it is to bo apprehended
thiil the great monopoly will take care
that it shall not amount to much.
After the big railroad deal was con
summated the Heading management
gave out that it would bo moro likely to
result favorably to the consumers of
coal than otherwise. The idea presented
was that there would bo n general in
auguration ot 'economies which wotiM
reduce the expenses of the roads in Iho
combination several million dollars , and
that in this saving the public would bo
permitted to share , it is hardly neces
sary to say that this idea was not re
ceived with universal credulity. A
great many people wcronot ready to believe -
liovo thnt the Heading management had
boon scheming for years to effect this
important deal to the interests of that
company from a mairiinnimous dusiro to
benefit the public , or moro p.u-tleularly
the coal consumo-'s , Iho trunaportation
of coal and the manipulation of coal pro
duction being the principal business of
the combination. Doubtless economies
will bo put in practice , but it by no
moans follows tint Iho price of eoal will
bo lowered , or indeed that it will not bo
advanced. The destruction of competi
tion will give a bettor opportunity for
limiting production , and. this will fur
nish a sufficient reason for advancing
the price.
It is a question whether this combina
tion is not in conllict with the constitu
tion and laws of Pennsylvania , there
being very respectable opinion that it
is. The language of the constitution of
that state seems clearly to prohibit such
a consolidation. The decisions of the
courts regarding the hostility of com
binations of this character to public
policy would also appear to apply. It
may bo found to bo in conllict with the
interstate commerce uct. At siny rate
the matter is not one of merely local in
terest. It concerns a very largo body of
the people in every part of the country.
Those who were on the insideof the
deal have doubtless already reaped a
rich harvest. The development of plans
for the future , if the combination is al
lowed to stand , will bo regarded with
very general interest.
ovisnn'oitKKD on
The t'llk about cutting down the sala
ries of the poor overworked clerks in the
city oHiccs is the vories't bosh. The
salaries as revised by the council are
still higher than those paid for similar
work in any bank or business house.
The hours uro easy and nobody need bo
overworked if the men in charge will do
their hharc of the work. If thorn is
really any hn-dship in working for the
city , why are the mayor and cityolilcinls
hodingcd for the places ? It is an open
secret tlmt clerical salaries have boon
advanced from year to year for the
benefit of relatives of councilmen and
their political favorites until the list
had become burdensome.
Two years ngo Councilman Beclicl
mndo a report on those vxcassive salaries
and presented a revised list framed to
correspond with the pay of the express
company's clerks under his own charge.
But the late watch dog of the trcas.iry
nnd the old combine tabled the recom
mendation because it interfered with
the perquisites of taxcators whom tnoy
has helped to foist upon the city.
Now that the reform council has made
iv very liberal revision tlio organ of the
taxcators seeks to create the impression
that the poor clerks are overworked and
underpaid. Members of tbo council tire
Hiieoringly asked In one breath why they
don't reduce their own salaries and at
the same time the acrobatic fraud ad
mits that ho would raise the salaries of
councilmen if ho had his own way in
order to make them moro honest. Up
to the lime he lost the ofllcial printing
ho had not heard of such a thing as a
dishonest councilman. Ho hud not hoard
of It oven when they had voted to lot
him filch ever 82,1100 out of the city
treasury to which ho was not entitled.
TIIK MAX IX 'J'llH Ult.iSS 7/WW / ; .
Our half-baked democratic contem
porary still keeps on harping about the
rental the city pays for the treasurer's
and comptroller's ollloes in TIIK BKK
building. Ho also studiously refrains
from calling attention to the rental the
city piys : to tlio foreign corporation that
does nothing for Omaha 6xllopt to col
lect rents. lie knows nothing about
the other buildings in which olllcials of
the government are quartered , and caps
the climax of linpni'tlncnco and down
right meanness by calling upon the as
sessor to raUe the valuation otTin : Hiu :
building to correspond with its rental
income. Suppose the rental wan five
times as much us it is , whoruin would
that justify a raise of assessment ? The
Now York Life building and grounds
are carried on the company's .Ixuks at
$1,1BK)0. ( ) ( ) but it is a 60h od only fc > 0,000
moro than TUP. BKB bulHHhg. 'Why does
nol the malicious mountob.ink cull the
attention of the assessors to tills gluring
discrepancy ? But thli woul'd not servo
hispurpo.so.
By tlio way , liow will TUB Bun build
ing assessment compare with Hitch
cock's addition , which is atvcssocl at
? li,82i ! ) and has Irion put into the lUtulv
cock Investment < Xinpiny's : IIBJCU ut a
valuation of $180,000 after moro than
$ .10,000 wortiTof lots had boon sliced
and swappoftdffP Is the Hitchcock In
vestment o6)fjjany ) [ a Peter Funk concern -
corn ? , it
How did If Ojomo that the block In the
postolllco SqfiSfo for which the govern
ment paid ouojO. M. Hitchcock $77,00 ( ! ,
cash down , wtYA assosseil at only $7,000
for the year $ which it wns sold ? Tin :
BKK has never attempted to meddle
with Mr. llUchcock's private affairs ,
but It may b.'a necessary to .euro him of
the grip frflln which ho is a chronic
Btifforor otijiiccount of the rentals of
olllcos for public use In Till ! Btu build *
ing.P.
P. S. When Mr. Hitchcock has mus
tered enterprise enough to build thnt
great hotel toward which Tins BKK
Building company subscribed $5,000 as a
bonus , or when ho duplicates Tun BKP.
building , ho will bo in very" much bettor
position to command public respect and
attention.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
TIIK SlriK TitIlCK < HWIXAXCK.
Whether the Union Pacific railway
reduces its switching charges or whether
it persists In exacting these extortionate
rates , the ordinance repealing the grant
of right-of-way for sldo tracks should bo
passed by the council. After this privi
lege has been withdrawn from tlio rail
roads the council will bo in position to
impose such conditions upon parties and
railroads who desire switching privi
lege. ' " as may bo deemed fair to nil con
cerned and will alford ample protection
against extortion , In any event the
pwiU'hing charges should bo regulated
by ordinance.
That the council hitsthc right to with
draw the sidetrack privileges granted
to railroad companies is beyond a doubt
The railroads have no vcsted rights in
our streets. 'I ho mayor and council
have the right to open , widen , extender
olo'o any street. They have closed
Ninth street and several other streets
for the benefit of the Union Pacific road
und they certainly ought to have the
right to repeal the side track right-of-
way in any street as may in their judg
ment bo conducive to the public interest.
THU establishment of a poatal tele
graph system is being boriously consul ,
orccl by the Canadian government , ana
legislation for this purpose will prob
ably bo asked of the tlou'so of Commons
nt its coming session. The superin
tendent of government telegraphs esti
mates that ut n greatly reduced cost for
service the syBlem can bo made to yield
n generous revbtiuo. If this can bo as
sured of Canada and the official who
makes the estimates b tsos them on the
knowledge acquired uftcr 40 years' ex
perience in practical telegraphy there
is still groatorcortalnty tli.it the postal
telegraph wj > ull , ) bo profitable in the
United Stnto v. It is not as a source of
revenue , hojvpyor , that the system is
advocated id.-this country , but as a
moans of benefiting the public by extending -
tending and facilitating communication
and improving , the service.
TIIK committee appointed to investi
gate the expenditure of the appropria
tion m.idir by'congress Mr the World's
fair ought to proceed with the work as
signed it with the least possible delay.
There is no time to bo lost in connection
with any matters relating to the fair ,
and if there is any disposition in con
gress to do anything moro for the enter
prise it should manifest it ut an early
day. But little moro than a year re
mains in which to got this immense un
dertaking ready for the world's inspec
tion , and it will take extraordinary
hustling , oven for Chicago , to accom
plish it
Wu MUST have a first-class stone and
iron viaduct on Sixteenth street , and the
sooner the work is begun the bettor it
will suit the vast number of people
compelled to travel on that thorough-
faro.
ll\id ; SIIUH Wood.
b'fftfiC-Zteni'HTrif.
Hill's ' enemies in Now York ar. ; dolus the
talking and lie is getting the delegates.
Tin.Monliry anil I'nrrot.
JVcH1 Yoil ; Atlrcillicr idem. ) .
The RiiauiiliiK and snarling in the demo-
cratiis household noes on vigorously. Tno
snap convention will bo held oa the OLM inst.
Tlio smirl conventloa was linlil In Cooper
union last ovenlng.
IFcr.i IK u rriiplii'l.
.S ) ) ) InaJldil ( Jfiiwu liejiiW/c ) / in.
Wo bollove that Grover Cleveland will bo
the cam'Idato ' of the democratic party for the
presidency. All the signs po to show that
thn stronpr men of that party ore not polng to
surrender the ehlp at tho.outset ot tlio DOW
voyage.
ColtiipHml llonuiN.
St.Vint Glotic.
Blrxiuo'saya ho will not permit his iiamo to
be used In Minneapolis. Thurston of Nc-
brnslia snys ho will not than take the second
place. Bo far thcso are tuo only two repub
lican statesman tn the land who have da-
ollnud to po on thu ticket.
Another lluronliil Sciiri'o. |
IPd hfill/foil .SVur.
Tbo proaoat cool combination proposes to
avoid oxpenslvei&ellltifT agencies and heavy
commissions jto tlnjt while conl may bo no
'more expenslv o consumers the producers
and carriers c'jwir'U ' bettor profits. It scorns
a preat pity thatutho consumer unnnot bo lot
into the dual so'mbwboro ,
( IroviM-'i Trllmtr.
Ymli Nil n
Tlio stuffed ji > o | > nol's application of his
own pharisnlcatil platitudes to the oulocy of
Samuel J. Tilti'drr ' * reminds ono of the tnilloss
fox trvliiB to Impress his r.ico with tlio bpllnf
that ho wns lUo typaof fashion. Immense a *
Is ( ho dlffcrcnoflu'butwoon an Intellect lllte
thnt of the ureqVi'ioniocratlu stutotman and
the dull and piw0ntlpuR | mind which enables
O'-over t'lovoliioU.to keep up his monotonous
paritdo ot morvitl ( votlon , it appears in the
Cleveland lottonto Iho Cireyjtono Club of
Denver. _ _
Ulrrtrli'Ul l > iiviiloimtint. |
Electric heater' arc to bo put in the elec
tric cars in Omaha. The York Street Hall-
wov company in to nuandor. horse * and try
the olectrio motor. The electric card In opur-
atlou in Otluwa ( Cannda ) , and Rochester ( N.
Y. ) . have rue steadily despite of heavy
rtuowa ih | winter. Ii | nearly every state In
the union tli 11 people nro availing themselves
of Ihu wondm'iul odvuaco la the application
of elect rinU foruu'in nunUtorlui ; to the com
fort and con vealeaco of mauUlml. "I have
reached that point , " writes an electrical en
gineer , "whero I bollevn tilmost anything of
flcclrlcity. inventors are itaintftliliiRs today
that a few yours ace werti hooted at and con
sidered lm Oi ! > IblimoA. It lukoi nearly all
my time to kaep track ot now
ni 1 f { Hi , rjwn.i/f.
SM-ri > tiiry Anilri-Mit HUM Not ( Jlto It lniiinl | *
Illnl iniliir rm < Mit ,
SiHiiKTiuv' Orritt : , STVTI : Ho\w > or
HRU.rii , DIM Moivr * , ta. , Pob. 13.To the
Kditorof Tin : Hisn : The enclosed circular
letter has been sent to mo. presumably uv the
person to whom It wai originally sont. The
hi foron con that the sender desire * to Itnow
whether or not 1 ondono it , I had no prov-
lotii luiowlO'lgo of * urh u circular. Portions
of It 1 endorse ; iho remainder I do not.
Hero it It ;
t ONMOI.IlmEllTAMt I.INKfOMI'ANV.OMUIA ,
1 ub. t.To . Somn fans In rotttit-il tu | io-
irnUMiiii olti nliluhMI thlnKoulil ho toyiiur
Inli'icsl ID roiul uuiefully.
A slioi-l time ago thurn wcro a number of
urtlrlu iiettnlnlni ; to petroleum ( ills iiulilisliiMl
la niir dully p.iport , which worn very mislniui-
IIIR to tlnwo nnt iiciiuiilntod with tlm iiiilnni of
cnrhon oils , and would nr.tur.i ly lead them In
bellcvu thnt , h ( ! lilshur tlm lire test the licttrr
thnoll. Tlili Is certainly n mlstaliu. When
oils luivn u HiiMlsleiilly lilji llro test to miiko
tlu-in Hitfo to burn In an ordinary lamp , nil
thnt In lidded iiliovn tlmt point detracts or
dlinlnlilicHllio Hglit-KlvlHK properties.
The law of Nuhriiskn requires that nil
potrtileiim oils shall stand lui)3 ) ll.ish tint In
thu I'ostur cup , and speclllo * lint Iho I'mtor
cili | slmll lo ; used In niiiUnn all Inspcotlons ur
IrMu , Tliaiu beliinubout 3.1 ° I'Ulirenhidt illf-
forrnCfl licluri'n tlm Hash and tlio test tn fluid
I'ostur 1'iiitj therefore , all oils sold in Nebraska
linvnii Urn tPM of nt least l' = . In t'ennsyl-
viuil i the law only rrmuros u lire test of liu =
I'lihii'iilinlt. which Is LMinsldciod perfectly
safe , nnd all pi'linlmim oils ( > \pmud only
stand ilia i-nnsvlvanln test nt l.O3. If the
oils uso.i In IVnusyiValili : , and thoseexporti-d ,
\\Gro tpsliMl or Inspected with iliu I'oiturctip
they would Hash at about 85s I'nhronholl.
\\orvitiilnty burn oil for the lluht It lvcs ;
therrforo , wr nant the lire test .lust as low as
posilhli ! and yel liavn thu oil alHuluti'l.x s fe.
slni'o HID publication of the articles lefem-d
to , many of oiii'viisiomors ate now ordering
Headlight oil. Some nmy think this
mine safo. ns It has u fire test of about
I''i3. Thoorotlealty this Is true : but
thu lilclit-'i1 the lire test Ihu Denser nnd hu ivlor
tin * oil , Huavy oil coiiKcnls more or less In
roll ) weather , will not rise freely , hence thoru
Is ImpiMfoi't eombiisllnn and pour llcht. Our
I'urfui'tlini an I also WutiirVhllu oils. In fuel
any of the Manor urndoolK only havuu flash
of frniii | : i = to ll ! ) = . utvini ; u llru ti-st of fiom
1.10 = lo 111) ) = , inaliliu tliem porfeetlv snfo.
In writ n . Mm aliovou h.ivu unilunvored to
Khr vou just Ihu facts null nothing moil * , anil
should you h.ive iiny doubts about what \\a
ha\o written lilo-iMs eorre-jioml with tin-state
oil inspector at l.lnuiiln , Noli. , or with Mr I , ,
I' AndinWH. assistant secretary , Stuto lloiird
ot lle.illh , llc-i Molnus , In.
Wt > eiiulu'o you wild this somu hints In ro-
Kind to Keepliu IUIIM : | In proper shape , which
please vntufiilly read and oblige , yours tx1-
Spl'Ctflllly. UONSOMIIATKU T\NK 1 > INK CO.
The second par.iKrapli , statins ' .hat . "when
oils have a sunicicntty high llro test to mnho
them sn.ro to burn hi nn orulnnrv lamp , nil
that Is luidcd nbovo that point , detracts or
diminishes the lluht-K'ivhiK properties , " is
true. But the llro test necessary to tnuko them
safoto burn in an ordinary lamp is nn Impor
tant question.Tlio danger Is not in thu uoint at
which Ihu oil will ignite and burn whoa a
Htrhtod match Is applied to It the tire tost.
It is in the naphtha vapor thrown off , or uon-
orated from the oil as it becomes heated ,
which is liifthly inflammable ) , and u
dangerous explosive. No ono need
bo tolu the explosive nature
of ( Msollno , sobi > cnusoof thu cxcessof naph
tha It contains. It is the presence of naphtha
in kerosene , therefore , that renders it dan
gerous. To have a safe llro test it must bo
so liizli that thu oil will not generate a naph
tha vapor in lamps as ordinarily used that
Is , Inmj- . k'-'pt clean and In pond condition.
Ucpoatod experiments have demonstrated
that the tire test , so called , is not reliable in
detc-rmlniiiK this safety point. An oil by the
process of rollnlng may have considerable
density nnu a comparatively high burnini ;
point or tire test , nnd yet by heating the
U101X3 volatile nnol'lha bo thrown off at a
comparatively low tomooraturo. It is this
naphtha vapor which is to bo euarded
nraiiist ; for If it become iciiltod in u lamp an
explosion follows , the lamp Is destroyed and
the oil is scattered in a thin surfneo , the moro
readily to iKtiite , oven though it have n com
paratively high tire test.
The llro test Is beinc discarded in all states
and countries and is not recognized ns having
ny certain and definite relation to the safety
or uutir.il quality ol the oil.
The third paragraph snvs thnt tested with
the Fo > t. ; r cup "all oil s > old in Nebraska has
4i lire tei t of at least l'J5 = . " This is nottruo ,
for the reason that the open Fouercup is not
rcliabln and can bo easily manipulated sons
to Rive un oil 1 ° to 1(1 ( ° higher Hashing point
than it ai'fjnlty possesses. It is easily uf-
focled oy wind or air currants , which will
carry iiwny the nnphthous vapor as fast as it
ilses Irorn the surface of the oil. I deem it
well nlsh impossible with that cup to not
uko results Irom the same oil in dilTorontlo
caluies , nnd more especially with the use of
thermometers that have not been corrected
for errors. No two thermometers are alike.
Their errors may bo from I3 to 10 = . What
reliance could bo placed in n test of oil made
in such a cup by one inspector with n ther
mometer 1 ° iu error and that made by an
other inspector of the same oil with a thermometer
mometor in error 10 = and in a railroad
freight car on the orairio with a wind blow-
ins forty milosan hour.
Tno circular further says : "In Pennsyl
vania a tire test ot only 110 = is required ,
and all oil exported must only stand tuo tc.st
of 110 = which if tested In the Foster cup-
would Hash at 85 = . " Tl av is true , but the
tc.it is made with an olectrio spurk in the
Siybolt cup , and for export the oil must
hnvaaspociticgravUy not below I53 Bonumo ,
and woitfh six and onp-hnlf pounds to the gal
lon , which i a differonro with a distinction
thnt would largely increase tlio llasning
point.
An oil that will Hash at 8j = in any cup
is not safe. In summer , without being
lighted , it would fill a lamp half lillod with
oil with naphtha vapor , whioh , if accident
ally ignited in lighting the lamp , would ox-
ploco nuicker than gunpowder. 1
admit Mich nn oil will give a Dottcr
light , nnd burn moro freely than nn oil with
a Hashing point of 1IW3 , but safety nnd not
illumination Is the objective point. Iowa haa
fixed tlio flash point ut 10.)0 after thorough
investigation by experiment and observation
as the lowest point thnt Is suf > for ordinary
use , and this will secure good UlunliMtion.
with proper care of lamps , but no oil is safe
with negligent and careless uso. Oil with a
Hash lest of lliil3 to 111- ! ) , or a lire test of
IfiO3 to ITS3 will not burn freely In lint wiolt
burners , especially In cold weather. Such
ill requlra , special burners , ns the Duplex ,
Argand or the Student lamp , where the oil
reservoir is ubovo tlio burner nnd U fed to
iho llame by gravity.
A closed cup is used In Iowa for testinp ,
as Doing the nearest in accordance with the
lamp ns ordinarily usod. It also has the ad
vantage that it cannot bo manipulated , nnd
can bo used in any nluco , regardless of wind
cr weather , which is not true of the Poster
cup. nor the Huybolt cup.
f would recommend iho use of oil with a
( lash test of lui ! ° to 110s , a Sun burner
or Us equivalent , an American or Fletcher
wide and n load glass chimney to secure the
most satisfactory results.
U ASIIHKW * , Assistant Secretary.
rim Mill r nit ic no.iit.
Kansas City Star find , dom ) : Bettor an
other lour years of high taxes , protected
monopolies , pension fr.uuls. Kganlstn and
other ills that wo now bear than the rule of
Hlllism.
Now York Advertiser ( dom. ) : Anyhow ,
Iho situation Is interesting , and will becomu
moro so as thu midwinter convo'ition speaks
ami .Inno rolls round with her row. Itopub-
llunns IOOK into the future und smile ,
Now York World ( demi ) Thu roqoest of
tills mi'oting is reasonable , It represents the
wish of the great mass ot democratic voters
In thU stiito und in the country. It u the
only wav in which harmony can bo restored
to thu puriy In this stato.
Now York Times ( Ind , dom. ) : The moot
ing wns the llrm ana cnerRotia expression of
the dojerminnlloa of thu ripht minded demo
crats of Now York tn save their oartr bv
finslilng tno candidacy of Mr , Hill. Un-
qnoilloimbly that U but dono.
Now Yarn Sun ( dem. ) : The democratic
party fs too big to 1 > n ho'd hi Icadini : struiL-s
uv u few dozens of mugwumps. It is too
sonsilhlo to repeat mistakes or Invite ills
astar. | t I * mmiK to try to win , and whotbor
it win ? or loses It will suffer no moro ironi
fatty dcconuratlon of Its principles.
H | . r.ou.ls Hopublio ( Uom.j : The present
nioVi'mrnit fn Now York means that tuo Hill
baifcism will not bo tolerated. IfthonaniB
gang which knifed the democratic tlckot in
lh S is to attempt It again , thu attempt must
bo iiiado openly , They cannot both boss aim
betray the democratic party after Iho record
they have nmUu.
Chicago Horuld ( dum. ) : The mugwumni
nro both forgetful mid short-sighted , The
doctrinu of a tariff for rovonua onl.v wa * n
cardinal prluclp'.eof democracy bjf.iro Cleve
land was dreamed ot for the presidency. It
will remain an linporUhahto article of the
true democratic fnllh lone after Mr. Ulovo.
land and iho mugwumps have passed away.
SHE IMITATED MISS H'CINN '
Keeper of a Fashionable Ohicago Boarding
* House Turns up Misiiiig.
MOURNED BY MANY OF HER CREDITORS
.Mnny tiilrriMtlni ; ll < Mn i > r N > < Alinnl tlm
World' * l'ilr ; ( ' < > nr < ' Hl < iii of Hir Til HIT
\VISHIICI | | > ; IKUI-I | Attorney \Vnllirr
Otlili 'unit IIinls.
Oiwvfio Uritnf w Tin : Hr.i : , )
Ciui'.Kin , li.i. , Feb. 10. f
Oronlin young men who wcro recently
tni\to ( vlctimi of ovorconlldoncc , will doubtless -
loss feel n noculiar Interest In n eoso which
hua Just ilovoloDCtl in tlmt Interesting .section
of this city wlioro boarding houses most do
congregate , nnd Known to Innio as the West
Sldo. For tno last few years MM. Cyrus A.
Cook has conducted a Imvun of till * descrip
tion at yilrt , liM and'J10 LnSallu nvcnuo , mid
ns the ptnca was welt located , being within
the shadow of Mr. Moody's church und In
the same block with the residences of some
very exceptional people , lilcluilint ; u promi
nent judge nr.d a titled evangelist , she lind
no dlillcultv In IlllthgtUo largo establishment
with n good class ot boarders. Last Saturday
slio loft homo , siiylng she was going to the
south sldo to visit it couiln. As she has not
not yet returned the boarders hnvo mnilo
public the fact thnt Mrs. Cook has burrowed
money from thorn In sums ranging from J10
to ? 'IM ) , whirl ) Is still duo uud unpaid. The
gentleman who supplied the cslnbllihinmit
with nullc 13 a mourner to the oxlunt of $000 ,
the butcher looUcd ns tlerco us a incut ax
when tin called with n bill for * 700 today , and
"
ho grocerymuu Is out SiJOO. Mrs. Uoolc"wroto
several Sunday school books before yolng
into thu boarding aouso business.
World's I'nlr Muttrn ,
Collector of the I'ort Clark lias addressed it
communication to tno secretary of tiiu treas
ury requesting un opinion ns to how fur hu
might go in considering what are oxhinlts
lor the fair. The question came up over nn
antiquated chair consigned toVulltur Fern ,
chief of the foreign department , which wiii
received at the custom house from Austrlii.
It was Intended for the Columbian exposition ,
but there was nothing In thoinvoieo to iiuli-
cutu that it was fur the fair.
The joint committee on ceremonies , aided
by a number of Columbian Ward McAllis
ters U endeavoring to formula to n now code
of social otiqtiolto to bo introduced nt ttio In
auguration noxtX > ctobor.
The director general has received n cable
dispatch from United States Consul General
Uoldschmldl at Vienna announcing that the
emperor of Austria has Just appomtnd a dis
tinguished commission to represent and pro
mote the interests and exhibit of Austria at
the World's fair.
The Latin-Amorican department of the
World's Columbian exposition has received
n letter ftom tlie presidontof Bolivia , written
with his own hand , in which he expresses
the greatest interest in the fair and gives as-
siiranco that his country will bo well roiro-
soiilcd.
The llrst communication from the ofllco of
the commission of Costa Klcn , located at San
Joo. has boon received by thu Latin-Ameri
can department , stating that the work has
been entered upon with enthusiasm of preparing -
paring n splendid exhibit for that republic.
Odds null Kiuls.
The Belfast Kopo Worn company ( limited )
of Belfast , Ireland , tno largestcordago manu
factory within thothrcekingdomsof England ,
Ireland and Scotland , Is scottiugto establish
a branch of its enormous factory in or near
Chicago. Ono hundred thousand pounds are
reaily for investment in a plant with the
necessary machinery , awaiting the report of
three exports who uro now in America look
ing over the territory.
James Briscoo , the negro arroited in Detroit -
troit for sandbagging Attorney Walker , has
confessed bis guilt. Ho not only admits thnt
ho and Butler assaulted Mr. Walker , but
says they have com-nitted : i series ol burg
laries and robberies during the last two or
thrco months.
The local Grand Army posts will erect n
stntuo to Admiral F.irrngut. It xvill prob
ably be placed in Lincoln park.
.1. A. Gallagher , treasurer of the Trade
and Labor assembly , Is authority for the
statement that "unless relief comes , and
comes quickly , for the present conditions
in the industrial world , there will bo u reign
of terror in Chicago before the winter is
over. "
Comptroller May estimates that 520,000,000
will Do needed to moot municipal expenses
durine the coming yuir.
The Lcland hotel was sold todav to a syn
dicate for $1,0 > 5,000.
The latest acquisition of the Chicago
jnivorslty Is Prof. Kicnnrd U. Moulton of
.Cambridge university. Ho is to t > o professor
of English litor.ituro.
Mayor Washliurno has submitted a message
to the council railing attention to the fact
that Micro were 'tOU people itiMcd at grade
crossings last year.
Farmer William .1. Harsh of Tislcilwa ,
Bureau county. 111. , whoso myjtonous disappearance -
appearance in this city February 1-1 , 181)1 ) ,
was ' .ho tallc of the wbolp western country ,
occupied a cell at the Harrison street
police station for a few hours.
Ho haa been arrested upon bis
arrival hero from Boston on n warrant sworn
out by Iiis wlfo. Ilurih was found at the
Orneo hotel bv dntoctiVi * . wbero ho had i
registered ns ' "William Harsh and wlfo , '
Uoiton , " The "wlfo" Is Mrs , Annn J. Ur '
rlneton of 1 ! ) Docntur street , Boston , and It < ,
! > said she presides over a furnUhod room I
house. The guilty roupie were arraigned In '
court this morning. F. A.
. .ICMrriinft TirVlrTrt VICTIMS ,
( Inn nrriirni Tells the Smry ol lloxv lh
IHsrnsn Mprriul ,
NKCSTI.I : , Pa. , Fob. Id. Nine of the tins ,
songors of thn typhus foyer Infected Moamor
Mnssllm hnvo been t'nced In I.nwronct
county nnd great alarm Is felt lest the tnfco
tlous spread. Two of the Immigrants an
known to bo very sick , but so closely are
they corralled by tholr countrymen that It is
almost imnod lblo to loam their condition ot
with what disease they are suffering. The
health oulcors have boon notified nnd nro
scouring the country for the pUtonts. Ono
of the company , Mary Hosana , sister of Fred
Kotaim , a woU known Italian Importer of
l.awro'.ico county , was seen last night.
Through nn Interpreter she said :
"Thoro were on boird L'OO Russian .lows , ,
100 Italians nnd 200 Swedes , Huns nnd tier-
mans. They were only out n few days when
n Russian or Polo mala passenger was taken
down with the disoaso. The immlirrnnls were
told that It was some harmless malady and
all the passengers In our quarter passed by
him many times nday , About the ilmo the
spots broke out the Russian was removed tc
another part of the ship , but ttio removal wltvi
too late , nna ono Hay eight moro were tnkcc\
down. Still wo did not think It dnugcroui '
until those people also were taken away
Ono nftor another the immigrants were
snizod with the aiTectlon until tucro must
hnvo been ilftv cases. It was only after the
dlscaso beeamo epidemic that wo were told
to stay aw.iy from the sick pcoplo. I do nol
Know whether any of the patients died , but
some of those wno shipped with us were lost
sight of. Seventeen Italians and Russians
wont to PI its burg , nnd many got olT the train
along the ro.ul betwcoti Now York and
Plttsburg. "
Health Ofllcor Satcher said ho was satis
lied none of thu immigrants hero have the
Infection , but a close watch is being keptand
If the disease breaks out every precaution
will bo taken to prevent it.s spronding.
Onn Case In rlttHlmrj ; .
PiTTsiifiHi , Pa. , Fob. 10. The health do
purtmcnt was notified this morning of n case
of typhus lover in a building occupied bv
Italian barbers. The victim was ono of tbu
Mnssilin immigrants. The house has been
quarantined and immediate slops will betaken
taken to stamp out the disease.
r.in.Hiit irnic
S rthiKfi : In spite of tlmlr nrovorhlnl s'.ow-
ness , lelogiiiplilu nivs-.eniois go about with a
great deal of ulspiiUh.
Put n rich man on a mule's back aim I tin
mule will 111 row him just as quickly as hu
would a bongnr.
Poinorvltlo .Journal : Thu man who guts the
largest inimmiicnt in tno cemutry Isn't alwayi
the man WHHO ! .oas Is most hlnterely mourned
llarticr's ll.irnr : "llowdld you tot In ? "
" 1 wanted to MM ) If the Ice would beur me
nnd my wife , and - "
" \VhiTu K shoV"
"I'm itandlni ; on her. How the iloni'i1 could
] keep my head above water tn yell for liulii
if 1 didn't ? "
Kate Kleld s Washington : Half a loaf
tietlur than u r.iilroud .sandwleh.
IMitludelphln Era : Klrst Druggist-Well
how are vou this nun nltiiry
yoconil DrusKlst Itroko.
Klrtt DriiKislstThPii whj' don't vou use
Home of tlmt liquid u'lne , winch you claim will
mend uvurytlilng ?
Chicago Trlbgne : "ICatio , " ho said t'mldly ,
"I 1 have allowed myself to hope that yon
roguid me us hoiiiuthlng more than n friend "
"Oeorue. " shoiinswored softly , "you you
are away off. "
And George understood , lie came nonror.
THE I'llKSIllKMIAr. IIIIK.
Now iloth iho presldontl.il boo
HUM loiind tliucainllilate.
And In ! on uvurv sldo wo .sue
The favorite of bis stute.
Ili'i'iier's Voiiiu I'cnnle : "Hullo ! " snld tin )
chestnut to tlio rotiin : "what are you ? " "I'm
a little bird , " & : ilil thu robin ; " hit ; luoyour"
"I'm a little burred , too , " .said thu ohuilmil
\Viislilngtnn ti > r : "lloforo ho inirr'ed : ' mil
.lolin - > aul lit : would love me too well uvor to
SL-I ) mi ! build llro. "
"And < loi-s he ? "
"Yes ; ho never looks at mo when I am
bnildliii : It. "
HltiKhnniton Loader : Everybody knows .1
wonrin Is har.l to please. Hue likes tint mat
rimonial harness , hut doi'sn't lluu to ho
lilU'lituI up llh aiiiiin wholsslr.ipped.
llarrisburg 1'atrlot : A wcstarn Judvu snys
booi1 Is not IntoMcallniWliat n wonderful
capacity that mun must have.
Klmlr.i Gitzetlt : Klectrlclty Is a great edu
cator. Think whit It has done to nuke mun
sou tilings In a new light ,
Vonl.urs Statesman : Thu cool actor not
only "lakes the cuku. " but he usually tukus
the pilnclpal role.
Yonkcrs ( ! ii/ettii : It must h.ivu put n 111:1 : n
in gooJ spirits to see an old Hoiir'jim niuUo u
wry face.
ItoMon Courier : A layman m.iy ho u | inr on
of good Htandlng all thu .same.
Hum's Horn : It you want to make a liny
work without knowing It gut him a snfoiy
bicycle.
& CD.
H. W. Corner l. li ! an.l . Don ' 1m SU.
The Long and
Short of It
We've got too many suits left yet , and
as we've only got about
ten clays in which to
dispose of them , before
spring goods arrive , we
place them before you
at inducement prices ,
Monday , The styles
and sizes are many and
the colors are popular.
They will go fast next
week if prices arc an inducement. The
overcoats are not numerous , but the prices
are such tlVat if you can wear one you buy
it. We can 'save ' you money.
Browning , King & Co V
Oncn Palurduyn till . IDp. . in. | C \\r * "or' ' cth anci
Oilier livening * llll H'.W. I'D- " ' 'S111