Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, April 24, 1892, Part Two, Page 10, Image 10
10 THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : SUNDAY , APRIL 21. 189JJ-TWENTY PAGES. UNITED STATES SENATORS Should They Bo Elected by the Direct "Voto of the People ? INTERESTING TALKS ON HIE QUESTION Itosownter , Ilnlllunn , rlt7intrlrk | nnd Ilnpowell Trrtcnt U In Its Vnrloni Arguing tli * AltrlU ofa I.I The regular bi-monthly mcotijif of the Llvo-Issuo club was held In the Llnlngor Art gallery with William K Baxter , president of thn club , in the chair. The subject discussed was "Uesolved , That the United States onotors bo elected by n direct vote of the people. " Mr. Edward Uoiowntor , who opened the discussion In the nfllrmntlvc , ipoVo substantially as follows ! "Tho primitive form of government for Iho United States of America were the articles of confederation , and the legislative power for tbo first twelve years was vested in n congress made up of delegates elected by the respective legislatures of the various stales that were members of the union. The llrst congress then of the United States was not n representative body of the people , but a body ( Jhosen Indlroptly through the legislatures who hud been cbosen for the most part by plantera lena holders nnd men who paid taxcft. The < delegates , or rather members of the first federal congress , were restricted to three years of service , that Is , they could only servo during a consccutlvo term of thrco ycaisnndwcro burred from holding any oflUo of profit or trust uudor the colonial or state governments while serving ns member * of congress , and they could bo recalled at the pleasure ot their respective states. "After the adoption of the constitution of the United States , promulgated on March 4 , 1789 , the legislative power of the national government was vested in n congress com posed of two separate bodies the house of representatives elected directly by the poo- ploand apportioned according to population , and the senate of the United btates elected by the legislatures of the respective states nnd apportioned in equal numbers to the states that constitute thu union , each state having two members or that august body. "It Is.a matter of history that the framers ot the national constitution , in adopting that form of government , had In view the restric tion of the people in their primitive capacity. There was a profound distrust manifested in tbo people , and an aristocratic disposition to fence out tlio people { from the choic-o of rep resentation in the upper house of the na tional legislature. Whether that was wlso or unwise experience alone could demon strate. "While tbo American union had only n sparsely &ettied population and the settlers of tho'vailous states were nearly all land owner * and free from the inllucucos that now surround the American voter , there is no doubt that the senators chosen by the legislatures wore in largo part the ablest und the most trusted men that could have been chosen in tbo respective states , but as the country multiplied In population and wealth , there came a marked change and it. became manifest that the senate was gradually being - ing converted into a House of Lords ; that , it no longer represented the real popular demo cratic spirit , but that it represented unre- publican tendencies and in fact had become B source of corruption and menace to popu lar solf-govcrninont. Modnrn llosulU of the Syxtcin. "Those of us who have been at senatorial elections end are familiar wltu the practice as well as tbo theory of government have lound that the legislative branch of our gov ernment deteriorates and becomes seriously demoralized by reason of the&o periodic sena torial elections. In theory , perhaps , tt would bo all right to say that the mon who repre sent Iho people , UDliDcrntlng coolly and con scientiously upon the claims of the men who aspired to scats in tbo senate , would bo actu ated only by one motive , that is , ns far as poislblo to ascertain who among tha aspir ants was tha most worthy and the most capable , who would best represent tbo state nnd who would contribute most to the glory and thn.ioputatlon of the state and of the re public. But what is the practice ? "Whenever it is known that the term of a senator is about to expire and that a legisla ture Is about to be chosen charged wUh tbo duty of electing a senator of the United States a class of.inei. push to the front for places in the legislature who really ought to bo always kept to the rear , They are a class of men not merely ambitious to have it Bald of them that they helped to make a senator , that they hnd contributed toward elevating the standard of national law makers , but they are a class of men venal and pliant and pliable. They go to the legislature with the dollbf rate design to bolter their own condi tion through bribes received In various forms or with pledges of appointment to federal onicea that insure for them lucrative places for which they have bartered their votos. "The greatest scandals that hnvo ever smirched the pages of the history of Nebraska are to bo found iu tno legislative proccoJIngs pending the election of United States senator. I could cite several in stances , hut will refrain. 1'artlos who were not thought of as candidates , parties who did not-present themselves before the people for their suffrages , deliberately bought whole blocks ot members , and by n combina tion of tbo corrupt with thu ambitious , by promises of federal appointments , by par celing out the United Stales marsbalshlps , land oil ! ccs ana postmasu > rblps and atturncyslups , were elected to scats in the upper branch of congress. H was this cenernl prevailing ballot that our legislatures had boon debased - based and corruptly manipulated at every senatorial election that bega' . a sentiment nmonirthe ncoplo regardless of party , In favor of having the senators of the United States aubjoctcd to the crucial test of an election , and when the framers of tbo con stitution uudor which wo now live convened In 1B75 that sentiment was so powerful that by an almost unanimous vote the convention baa Inserted into our constitution a pro vision that the people shall , at every election when a senatorial contest h pending , have the right to express their choice for senator through the ballot box and hnvo their votes counted and ro corded. This is as far us any state can ic under the present constitution of the United Stntos. That Instrument must first be amended before wo can hope for that reform form which the great body of tha people ol 1 tha United States are now demanding on al hands. It bcurcoly needs to ba poiuiud oui ' that while the various states formulatct their constitutions on the model of the United States constitution , not a single state In this union has aver undertaken or over attempted to plnco nn intermediate boaj between tbo electors and the choici of thu senato. Kvory suto senate I : elected by iho direct vote of th < people * and that fact ulone afford : striking proof that tbo pcoplo tbomsolvn since the formation of tbo constitution havi reached thu conclusion that the aristocrat ! ! features copied from or modeled after tLi English system of government , where the ; have a House of Commons chosen by tin people and a House of Lords perpetually holding power , is an uurepubltcau part ot ou political machinery which soouer or into must be eliminated , Tlioro Are Uufortn In Our Hjrstem. "It stands to reason that every attomp that so fur has been made In iho Unitoi Btates congress to submit to the pcoplo ni amendment placing the election of senator wlthlu the direct reach of thn people has uio n 1th very little favor nt the hands of tin body that U to bo abolished us a 'Houso o Lords' ' aud come down to tha level of th commons. It etauds to roasoi because a very largo porccntng > of the mon who for the last twonty-liv years , 1 need not go further baoV , have heli places in Ibo United States son n to would no have been in their teats had their olootioi boon submitted directly to the voters ot th reapecUvo status , "It U no discredit to the American peopl to point out the defects of thu government Wo know that the United States senai eve a at itbls tlmo and at all time lias had within its body torn of the greatest , ablest and purest stotostnoi thl * country , or , perhaps , any other country baa produced , but wo also know that qulto percentage ot tha mo.nbcrs ot the United btates senate' nro there simply because they either were capable of manipulating the leg islatures nil paying' for their scats or be cause thhy bad boon sutnorvtont to largo corporations with ( ? rcat wealth nnd com manding influences in legislature ? , nnd that their seats nro ro&lly sltnpljr filled by the decree - croo ot ttioso corporations , and not by the people. " 1 know , for Instance , that the great state of Pennsylvania has boon represented in the senate for a number of years , for moro than n generation by ono lamlly , The head of that family hold that scat by sheer force of character and nblllly nnd by prominence in the councils of the republican party ; the son holds It not bccaus'-t of any ability , but be cause of tno vast wealth nt hU command and the corporations that are behind him , I could stale numbers of other oases , but I will refrain , nlmplv pointing out the fact tl.nt according to my belief the interest of the people ot Iho Unilcd blntcs demands n radical reform in the na tional legislature. I believe that ere long tbo sentiment will bo overwhelmingly In favor of remodeling the senate nnd making it re sponsive to the popular pulso. It may bo said nnd I presume it will bo suld that this is a body for which wo should have rever ence ; that this part of the constitution has remained intact for moro than 10(1 ( yonrs : that wo Unvo gene through many trying ordeals under the present form nnd that n change should never he attempted unless there is Bomo very grave wrong or grnvo abuse. But after nll'wo must remember that oven the constitution of the United Stales was n change. It was a change In the forms em bodied In Iho articles of confederation nnd the nitlclcsof confederation were a chang.0 from the form under which the colonial cov- crnmont hnd existed. The declaration ot independence - dependence points cut clearly that the forms of government must necessarily change with the changed conditions nud wants of the people. Wo cannot hope to continue in the straight Jacket Into which wo were put before steam and electricity were utilized , before the steam boat nnd rallwny nnd telegraph brought the most distant sections closov logothor. before telephones nnd electric lighting , oven be- foru the press , with its millions ot papers kept our people Informed about every move ment m the social , commercial and political world. If wo nro to have any changes in our condition none are , In my opinion , moro im peratively needed than a reconstruction of the senate upon the basis of self-government by the people and for the people. " [ Loud applauso.j Mr. IIiilllRnn's Itrpljr. Mr. C. P. Halllgan , who look the negative side of the question , said : "Tho first propo sition tlifit Mr. Uotowatcradvanced was that the senate arose from a distrust , in too pcoplo. Could they believe for a moment or could the honorable gentleman bcllevo that the scuato ot the United States arose from a distrust of the pcoploi Not by any means. The men who assembled in the colonial congress came from the pcoplo ; they had the Interest of the people nt heart. What , then , did it arise from ! They were about to construct n structure thafwns to extend ever the whole people , and they wunled to do it in such n manner as would subserve the inter ests of the ceopio aud would perpot- unto that structure to their posterity. They consulted the paces of history to dis cover what other governments had done and they carao.to the conclusion that they must have ono legislative body to act as a restraint upon the other. They saia that the great mass of the people should have a representa tive body , but as the great mass of the people nro influenced bv their passions , by zuul and by questions that momentarily arise , we must have something to check the action of the purely representative body of the mass of the poopto and they created the senate to act as a chcclt upon the houso.of representa tives. "Then the question nroso how should this sonata bo elected. If elected by the direct vote of the pcoplo then it would partake of the Bruno elements that the house of repre sentatives is composed of. They said if wo do that it will be just about tbosamo as if wo divided up the house of representatives'and they determined to make the senate ns inde pendent from tbo house of representatives as possible. They made the one to servo ai n check upon the other. They also gave to the sonata the power to reject bills passed by the house of representatives and they gave to tlio house of representatives power to reject bills Introduced by the icnato. This served as a balance wheel. They foresaw that and they constituted the sonata because it did serve as a balance wheel and not Decauso they bad any distrust in the people. ' Tbo next proposition the gentleman ad vanced was that tbo senate converted itself gradually into a House ot Lords , Now , sup posing the house has converted itself into a House of Lords , what does that signify ? Docs it moan that they would not convert thomselvcs Into a House of Lords it they were elected directly by the people ? Does it certify that they would be any different from the HoUse of Lords in England ! Did wo not take our legislature from tho- English house ) Is it not n fact that the House of Lords has been hampered and controlled In its action from time immemorial by too house elected by the people ? The House of Lords , or the upper house in England , is an hereditary af- fuir , which is worse than the senate of the United States , and yet it has never controlled the legislative acts of Encland lo the detri ment of England , or perhaps it would bo bet ter to say very seldom has it done so. Nut the Fault of the System. "Granting that tt is true , as Ibo gentleman says , that tno representatives go there to better their condition ; that Is all right , pro viding they go there also to better tbo con dition of tno people. But bo says that they go there to better their condition by accept ing bribes when there Is a senatorial elec tion to take place In the legislature. Now , supposing they do , what does that provo 1 Does that detract from the senate ? Is that an nrgumont that tno sonata of tbo United States should bo elected by the pcoplo ) Let us see. Grant that every sena tor , in the United States sonata buys bis .sent in tbo senate through the legislative body , even in that case it is impossible for that senuto sitting. 111 a body at Washington to enact a law that is detrimental to tha in terests of the people until it also bribes the representatives of the people sitting in the house , nud the sanction of the president of the United States would also have to bo secured. True , they may pass a law by the aid of iho lower house without the presi dent's signature , but bow do they do 111 They do it by the concurrence of two-thirds of the members of both bouses , "How are the state legislatures elected ? By n direct vote of the people. How is it that wo can-elect men by a direct vote of clia pcoplo who are so corrupt as to accept bribes ! what guarantee have wo that if wo elected United Stntos senators by a direct vote of the people that they would not bo equally corrupt ! Wo have none , "Hu says the pooolo of tba stata do not constitute an Intermediate body and that la a reason for electing the senators of the United States directly by tbo peoplo. What is a state ! 'It is only a portion of our coun try. At tlio present time the forty-fourth part of Mn union. It Is a small body. Would it bo advhablt ) to elect state senators by an intermediate body ! The smullnoss ol the states In comparison with the union shows the difference- between this com parison , "Tbo gentleman says ihe United States senators becoino sunst-rrlont to corporate power. Supposing they do. Would thov be any Ios so It elected by the people ) Tba uuostion Is not whether the senators become subservient to corporate power , but whether In their capacity ns senators they : an cmicl laws detrimental to the Interests of tba pee ple. Not how they mo elected , but whal laws they give us. "Tho great trouble with the American people plo is that they have a great anxiety U enact new lawn. Every legislature wants tc modify , change , repeal or amend soinolhliig , nnd our statute books nro full ot the amend ments of such errors. Now. tha sonata acts ns a check upon that tendency , and that is whntritii for. Wo can find in tbo pages ol history uxninploa of governments similar tc ours , but witnout our salutary system ol chocks , In ancient Athens and Florence , bui these governments wont down , just as ovorj ono must go doviu that does not provide uhociis ; that does not prorido balanct wheels for tha government. ] t is an oas ) thing to say that wo should have our lawi changed aud modified nnd now modes pro vided , but nt the sumo tlmo wo should no overlook the evils that these changes oftef bring about. " ( Loud applauso. ] Vorjr IMulitly lluimucil , Prof. Frank A. Fltipatrick made a few remarks marks and among other thlucs aaidt "I d < not thluk there can bo very much quoatloi in the minds of anyone who lias listened ti Mr , Uosowator in his ppcaoutatiou of thi subject matter of his talk to us this evening but that all bo has. . said bus proceeded fron a perfect conviction on his part produce < from a moro perfect knowledge of tbo bid dou wheels that move legislatures than an ; ot us possess , and I coula not help but think while listening to my able friend on. the loft that perhaps ho has niU been unfortunate enough to oo vcrv much on the Insldo In the workings of our legislative bodies , The diagnosis that Mr. Kosowator manes seems plain , that is , the cor porations control the senators or the upper bodv because they can work by dovl- ous ways. It Is a well known fact that leg islators will resort to all sorts of devices to delay legislation , In order to effect their pnrposo they will mnko a motion to recommit a bill to n committee or to adjourn nnd nvall themselves of a thousand parliamentary tac tics to delay action upon n Dili , well knowing that if It comes to a final vote they will hnvo to vote for it. Undoubtedly wo would bo to n largo extent saved from thosa klad of leg islator * If the senators were oloctyd by n di rect vote of the people. I think wo need n chock , but I fall lo sea how the chock system would be uny loss than it ts now If Iho sena tors were elected directly by the people. In my opinion It would remain just Ihu snmo. "It Is also a mnttor of hUtory , I think , that nt. the tlmo of the training of thu constitution there wns what might bo termed a Hamilton parly nnd a Jefferson party. Mr. .Jefferson who had Just returned from Prance , wav filled with the doctrlnoi ot fraternity and equality nnd ho desired that the people should have the fullest sway ia selt-govornincnt. Mr. Hamilton repre senting the other slda had no conlldonco in tha pooplo. Ha had no conlldonco In the ability of the mass of tlio people to decldo Wisely on questions of vital importance lethe the country. These ihlngi were foughl out backwards nud forwards. "As a country grows It changes Its condi tions nnd so we have made numerous amend ments to our constitution from tlmo to tlmo. 1 imaglno if wo trace the history of the sen- nlo nnd inquire into the calibro of senators wo shall find that wo got the best senatorial limber in these states whcro Iho strength of the parties is pietty evenly divided , became In order to succeed the best men of both par ties must bo put forward. In states which nrc mostly democratic or mostly republican it Is notorious that men who have compara tively no Illness for the ofllcn uro elected to the 'United Stale * senate , nnd thuy nro elected by all kinds of peculiar niothods. I think tno remedy proposed Is n good ono. I bellovo that only mon of character and standing In the party should bo nominated as candidates for the important oftlco of United Stutos seu- alors nnd the battle should bo fought out In the conventions and it this were dcno I think it would result in our having a much hotter grade ot men In the senate where now wo have men whom everybody knows nrooo- Jectlonubln. " The meeting was also briefly addressed by J. L. Woolson , Frank L. . . Weaver , John Wll son Battin and Dr. A. F. Jonas. rixlnp ; tinIlo ioii5llilllty. .fudge Molvln U. HnpowolL roio In rj- spouse to calls and said : "I will not under take to make n speecb on 111 is question , but L may state a thought or two which the re marks that have bcon tundo hnvo called to my mind. I was very much interested in the opening remarks and the speech of Mr. Kosewater. Ho has stated very succinctly and clearly the history and the mamier In Which the election of our senators came about , nnd his principal reajon foi1 desiring a change in the method ot electing-senators is tbo idea that now our senators nro oleclod by Improper Influenced , by bribes. Now , 1 &m unwilling to concede that the majority of our mombcrs ot our stale legislatures uro men who are susceptible to thodo corrupt in fluences. I am nut willing to say that thn " majority , or a largo proportion of"tfio mem bers of an ordinary legislature , would bo controlled by such , influences. If , however , it were true who is responsible for It ? If corrupt mon are sent tq the legislature tha people who nominate and elect thorn are di rectly responsible. But how would the ovll bo remedied by electing the United States senators directly by tbo people. If this sys tem was adoptai it seems to mo that instead of doing away with those improper methods it would simply relocate them from the legis lature to Iho nominating conventions. ' 'When wo look bncic over the history of our country wo see , I think , thi t some of the greatest minds of our country have been in the senate of the Untied btates. Wo all acroo to that. Such men as Clay , buraner , Webster and many others that we readily cell to mind , have been the very ablest mon that our country has produced , and they havo'boon elected by the legislatures as provided by our con stitution , and after naving worked so well so far where is there a good reason for making the change now unless 'thoro ivonla bo greater freedom from those improper meth ods that have been suggested ! Now there Is a difference between 'the senate of the United States and the house of representa tives , und it Is well that it is seAs a mat ter of fact , one is a dignified , deliberative body , the other is not so much so at least , 'and quite tbo reverse in many instances. In Favor or the llllnUiisrSyHtfiin. "Now , it sooras to mo that the only nrgu mont is a supposition or a fear , for "which , perhaps , there are good reasons , that some senators have obtained their scats in thosa questionable ways ; yet , ns a matter of fact , it wo bring it down to pure politics 'and have thu benUoi-3 ; nominated by our political con ventions and elected directly by the people I fail to sco how It wonld bo better. "Tnero are political questions that must bo met and dealt with aud it ia very , difficult to say what is the best way to deal with them. Take nn example. Wo have from this state two senators and thrco representa tives. Are the representatives from this state so much superior in ability and wisdom to our senators that they couldao offered ns an argument ) As It has bcou suggested by ono speaker tbo very fact that the senate seems to occupy an exalted position , to bo different , to bo in ere deliberative , more in _ tbe nature of a House of Lords than tbo house of repre sentatives , and that the position of senator is looked upon as much moro honorable , makes it n matter of strife among our politi cal parties to put forward before the legisla ture their very best mon. As has boon said , men of marked ability who bavu'flrst cone to inn Plato legislatures , and have shown them selves capable nud worthy ot tlio confidence of their'respective parties , nro tno mon usually that are put forward oy-thoir pirtlos in Iho'legislaturos for senatorial pp-iitlons. "I think tbo history of our country shows that thu elections made by the legislatures have in the main been from the very bust men in the stales. Instead of conducing to the election of abler rccn and less' corrupt mon it seems to mo that tha tendency would bo ralher Iho reverse and that an cldction ' by the pcoplo would gradually bHng 'tho two bodies moro on an equalitymoro upon a par at least in the minds of the people than they are now or than they will bo so long as the present method of electing senators i.i con tinued , because if the influences which nro brought to Dear in tlio primaries , in the county conventions , in the distrlcA conven tions nnd state conventions fpr the nomina tion of congressmen , which are open to criti cism of my friendMr. Uoiowator , and which receive thorn , are not the nomination of sen ators equally open , to the same criticism ! Wmild tbo results bo any better if the sena tors were elected by precisely .tho' " sarao people who elect the members of 'tho state loglslatuntsf I think you will find ibis bribery nnd corruption is conllaed- > princi pally to a very few persons. "Most of the men who co to the sonata of Ibo United Stains are supposed > to bo tbo best men of the state , mau who have .reputa tions nt stake , but by cnanco there are a few who go there for mercenary-purposes. They , of course , do all they can to keep that from being known. It is almost impossible to prevent - ' vent omq undue Influences from 'buiug ox- crtcd , yet ns 1 liavu said I have faith enough in my followmun to boliavo that thpso mat ters nro largely exaggerated. Afnny rate the actual facts naver grow less by being car ried from mouth to mouth and coming to tha 'oars of Iho public through tbo medium of the newspapers they da not always got the cxaot facts. They always jjot them largo onougl and : is they circulate Ihoy spread and grow. " j Applauso.e ] Mr. Koioiviitrr'H Ili-Jotuilur. Mr. Uosowator being requested to reply to the objections raised Uv these iyho hud op posed tbo'btcction of United Spates'senators by a direct vote of thu people , uid : "After a hundred years of government we havo' passed from Ihu speculative and ex perimental era to the era of nxporienco. The men who framed the con&titution.wero simply grappling with n theory 'ana they did what they thought bust foi perpetuating free government for.tHoniselvoa und their posterity , but after u hundred years wo certainly ought to act for ourselves and , the posterity that comes after us aud provide the puockg aud safeguards which experience suggests are absolutely necessary. As lo the denial that the framnrs of tha constitution did not Intend to put a barru-r batwoon the people and the choice of senators from dis trust of the people , it is historiotbat not onlj was there a manifest distrust of the ppople but a contempt for the people by many ol those who took part in framing thu couitllu- ion , and not a-fcwof them were believers in a sort of doml-nnlslocr.icy rather lhan n pure republican foriU } < lf government. Now Just ook nt the Ufnted states senate of todnv nnd the United States sonnto in wnloh Web ster , Clay , Calbotm , Bcnton , Douglas and Sumner had scats , It was composed of mon who will bo iltimAous for all tlmo. What have you got tBern today ? "When wo had a population of someihtng ilio 15,000,000 or-SO , uo,000 and still had rep resentatives that , cnmo from the people , although , parQUjU , through the filtration process of n legislature , wo did got the iblostand bnst men. What do wa get now ! The filter is otfv , { iiffcront kind , Now Ihoy are Illtorcd throuch tbo murky waters of corruption nnd Instead of being able to count our great stat is'myrf" by the gcoro wo have cot inly half n dozen on both sides of the houso. Look nt the sennto today. What hnvo you ; ot outstdo ol John Sherman , General Hawley - ley , William E. Chandler and three or four republicans , nnd possibly Mills nnd Carlisle on the democratic side ] You have got a lot of money bugs , coal baron ? , lumber barons , silver kinus and representatives of all thu concentrated wealth of the country , but the common people have no representatives or very few , and \vhou n man does dare to stand up and tell the truth as regards the motnods used In throttling the legislation the pcopto demand then hu is treated anin out cast nnd ostraclsod ; ho does not belong to that charmed circle. If you were in Wash ington as often 11 % I have boon , and I was thura In ISO'J for the llrst time , you would bo very much surprised nt the marked change In' the niiikd up of the sennto. You talk to mo about sending back men who have made n record. Here wns this man Payne , nn oil baron , sent from Ohio instead of Pcmlloton. Look nt Bryce nnd look at other senators that have bean sent there bj Americu's plutocracy , Not fur the 1'coplo. "A gentleman has stated It makes no dif ference how n senator gets his election , ho Is exalted and purlllcd ns soon us hu grU into the senate. Wo niu told that he is ' .hero us n check. Yes , ho Is there as a chock upon legislation which is wholesome ; ncheck upon every kind of legislation that is demanded by the common people , but when it comes to the ' { Islntlon that the corporate Interests doma . llion ho Is no check. I for mvsolf fool tin. ' the time has como to mnkon change. I feel It because 1 nm convinced that wo are on the ovu of a crisis. If wo nro to retain our form of government wo must restore and in- fusu confidence In thn minds of the people that It Is a republican form ot government and that it Is going to stay that way , and not nn aristocratic government , modeled attor the pattern of England , in which wealth nlonu coutrols anil brains nnd ability go for nothing. "Ono thing this reform would do ; it would save nn immense amount of time that is now wasted by the Icaislaturos of the various states wrcbtllncovor senatorial con tests. Look at the stale of Illinois. The whole session fritted awny botoro tno sena tor wns elected. They fight and pull and tug nnd odor bribes and make promises of posi tions nnd there have been occasions when legislatures have adjourned without electing a senator at all. "It is true that sonic bad mon are elected 10 Iho legislatures by the peoplo. 'This is duo largely to the fact that they nro chosen from little districts nnd very sparsely set tled districts. Tnev como because they nro not Icnown nnd Just as soon ns the public has got acquainted with them they do not como any moro. fLnURttVer.J But that , does not nrguo that the pcoplo should be deprived of their right to voi $ for United States senators for tno checks \VilI remain just the sauu as if they were 'elected by legislatures. A man to bo a suriator must bo thirty yuarj of ago and huvo < been a full citizen of the Uniled Stales nine roars ; a member of the ' house needs to bij'on'ly twontv-llvo years old , so wo have provided for ago nnd some expe rience. It is not { rap that mon graduate from the house to thoivsonato. You will find , ns has been staled hero tonight , that the sudden acquisition of wealth or subserviency to some big corporntlttn sends a man leaping ever the heads of others right into the sen ato. Ho lands tlioru und asiuincs' tlio dignity of ono of the lords. ' The House of Lords Is preferable. 1 have-seen it in session nnd their appearance afut decorum indicated a good deal more intelligence on the average than our lords , arid this must bo said that being , . burn. to tho. places .npd reared and educated to rule ith'oy ore betlep , fUloalo da BO.Our men are seldom educatad to lill iho places. They may have won a capital pnzo in the Louisi ana lottery , or struck a bonanza , or struck 011 or anything else that makes men suddenly rich and lands them iu the snnatn to niako laws or obstruct legislation .tho people want. "I have been asked whether the hope it a sanatoria ! position.is not an incentive for keeping close to the people. Oh , yes , it is nn incentive. Senator Stanford wants raonoy lent out at 2 percent to everybody who has land to mortgage. He has moro land than anybody in California , Wo have been told that these diniiied gentlemen never support any measure that has not boon well weigieil , nnd yet we have seen snvoral schemes matured nnd weighed in the senate which finally did not materialize just because the checks came at the other onti of Iho capitol. \Vlillt Would Io C.lined. . "As a matlor of fact there is a radical difference between the House of Lords and our sonata. The House of Lords cannot onginato u single bill ; not a dollar can they vote out of the exchequer of Great Britain ; whereas In the house of lords of America joa can get all sorts of schemes introduced and attached ns riders to appropriation bills. "I consider that some ot the objections are well founded. To a certain extent you would transfer the struggle of senatorial selection to the floor of the convention , but the floor of the convention is an open Moor npd usually the time given is about a day , end the liltlo corridors ana closet * and "side places in which legislators nro soon and in which ar rangements are mndojiight after night ; In which men hot money and lose it purpose- ! , ull ttioso things nro absent. Again , suppose after ah it wns discovered that a man was. nominated by fraud , could tlm party dare stand up with- him ) It It did there Is a free press ready to expose corruption. There would bo no chance , in my opinion , or not ono in a hundred , of buying tbo majority of the delo- gatoi of a convention , and then tbo buyer would have to got u majority of the votes at the ballot box. It is true thai Mr. Hill wns elected and re-elected In Now York as gov ernor , but Mr. Hill probably was elected be cause ho was about as good a man ns the democrats had lo present for Iho ofllco of governor. It Is simply a struggle for the Ill- test or the "llghtlest , " and the man who has" ability nnd n clean record would como to the front. Now It tal in * subtle , ingenious schemer that gets lo the front or some soulless - loss corporation that 1ms no front or roar [ Laughter ] that gets in its work against any man thai is not friendly to IU interest ) . Our sonata ii gradually and surely being filled with that , cluss of 'mon wro represent only wealth , nnd ugttUo mlddlo and bettor class of tbo pcoplo. Wo must remove the charted for temptation which now surrtrotads our law makers Legislators woulil.upt bo bribed if there was no incentive for n'nbJiry. If you romovcthat temptation you wqul < ( .top a great deal of Jobbery which cnudldntos for tha sonata and frioiids of the candidates countenance and support In tvmirill/with bogus claimants and Jobbers. You1yould have a boiler class of men in your legljiiuros who would legis late for the public-KQpd. "In my judgmauilthcro Is no noea for reverence - oronco for tlio constitution on account of ngo. The constitution 'IIa ? ' boon changed boforo. Almost every mad in9tho constitutional con vention from GoqrgQ Vasblugton down was a slave holder. , lutiwo have chanced thn constitution , and abolished slavery. I would rather trust the iH-oxt mass of the peopla than n lew peopler * jTho safety of our yov- ornmontis in laraft giynbers , The best gov erned states aro'the Now England states where they have town rcprosentalion. The Massachusetts legislature has moro than TOO members , It Is pretty difficult to manipulate sucn u largo -body , In this state wo only have 133 members and slxty-eight votes make a boaator. Twenty years ago wu only had flfty-iwo member * and iwcnty-savon votes was a majority and they were not very dlftlcult to corral , But our most numerous legislatures uro moro easily manipulated ami corrupted than tbo people of a whole stale. " Whatacrazo for'circus entertainments I In Now York at present throe first class theaters have productions with a circus leaning ingviz. . : "A Night at the Circus" nt the Bijou , "The Lion Tamer" nt the Broadwaj and "Tho Country Circus" another nttiao- tion with the flavor ot the sawdust ring , wil outer the list of motropalltan amusements. And all this lluia liaruum'sclrcm U rampanl Madison with "Columbus " at Squuru garden , a gigantic spectacle of no circus pretentious , as its chief exhibit. SUMMER OPERA FOR OMAHA The Season to Begin Hay 22 and to Run Twolva Wooka. TWENTY-FIVE OPERAS WILL BE GIVEN Contribution * tut ( toil for tlio Actors' Fund Fair StiigoCuroor fn Ulinrmlng - l Coining Attractions llicntrlciit Chut , A season of light opera has como to bo a 'outuro of summer entertainment in Now York and Chicago , and Omahu Is about to assume this modern air of motropolltauism. tt Is n rather venturesome undertaking , because - cause it has boon trlod hero before nnd proved a failure , but Manager Burgess of the b'nrnnm .Street theater Is confident that , pro- Hint ; by the oxporlonco of others , ho can begin the enterprise with prospects and ad vantages never before enjoyed by an Omaha theater. Ha has a popular house and back of him is tno Crawford circuit , 11 by no moans undotlrnblo ally nt times. To secure n company on terms that will permit popular prices , which must provall to make summer opera go , It Is necessary to guarantee an on- gngomontof four months. Manager Burgess will not have to dopoud solely upon Omaha in this venture , for if interest lag * hero ho will Jill out the season on the Crawford cir cuit. cuit.Ho Ho returned from Chicago the other day , nnd now nnnouucos the closing of a contract for a season of comic opera Beginning May 2,3. Tlio company will bo furnished uy Henry VV. Dodd , who , besides mnuaslng con cert companies In England , has boon connected with the following or ganizations ns n comedian and stugo carpontcr : The Carl Kosa , Hoyal English , Clara Loulso Kellogg , Duff , Carleton , Morrlssoy aud Gustnv liln- rich opera companies. Ho is now organizing two companies , ono for Chicago und the other for this city. The choruses and some of the principals nro already at work in Chicago , and the companies will bo filled out with sinners who nro now on the road with opera companies and ave fitted to stop into their places on short nolle J. Manager Buiguss Is assured that the com pany will have good people because there are plenty of singers anxious for summer engage ments , nnd Us members will bo thoroughly drilled before appearing In Omaha. The com pany wll | begin Its season May 9 , appearing in St. .loo. It will then make u tour of two and perhaps thrco wcoks before opening in this city , The Omaha season will continue twelve weens or longer if the patronage will , warrant it , and then the company will go on tour. The munnger of the Kansas City thea ter * is anxious fora four weeks' engagement , and the rest of the season will be put iu on the Crawford circuit. For thoOmnlm season the repertory will include from twenty-five to tlilny Hunt operas , nnd tho.bill will oo chnncoi twice a wcoU , which ivill giro an nbunda'nco of vari ety. The list will include such standard works as "Bohemian Girl , " "Nanou , " "Fra Dluvolo , " "Pinafore , " "Three Black Clonks. " "Girollc-Girolla1' nnd "Trebizon. " To popu larize the onterprbo and give evorv induce ment for a liberal patronage iho prices of the Fiirnnni will bo reduced. They will ranso from 50 cents for the host seats down to the iuhlgnillcantsutaof 10 cents for the gallery. A correspondent ot i'HE Bun writes that the contributions to the Actors' Fund fair in Now York , including cash and goods , amount to about iuO.O'JO. The uctors of America tiavo given bpneflts lor other charities that have needed many hundred * of thousands of dollar ? , and now their appeal for help is re ceiving a generous response. President Harrison bus contributed a num ber of rare ola medals once owned by his grandfather. With them are autograph let ters to provo their genuineness. Edwin Booth has plven $1,500 , and Joseph .lotferdou a painting by liimsBlf. Mrs. W. J. Florence has presented a copv of "The Rlvuls , " illustrated by her husband , the dead comedian , who worked upon It for sev eral yaars. The expense of decorating Mad- hon Square garden , which will cost many thousand dollars , will be borne by the theat rical managers of America. These Indicate the character of the con tributions of members of the profession. The nubile has beou invited to join in the goad wonc by the donation either of cash or of rare or quaint articles to be placed on s le. The dry goods men of Now York have slsiued checks for $5,001) ) , and the brokers have done likewise. Now York women have donated costly laces , curios nnd corns. Painters have given canvases , and other friends of the causa have donated curious pieces Fathered in far countrios. The actors' fund is caned for the purpose of relieving sicl ; and disabled actors , and for the cnro ot the orphaned children of actors. Money has been raised horotofo o by benefit norformances at theaters , and the coming fair is the first general call upon the public for donations. Contributions , however small , will bo gratefully received by the woman's exccutivo committee , 29 West Thirtieth street , Nexv York. Miss Olive May , the lovely girl who plays the part of Bertie's sweetheart in "Tho Hen rietta , " is a Nebraska girl. Her parents moved from their homo in Uoatnco to Chicago , so that the daughter , who had boon highly complimented and much encouraged by Mmo. Modjoska , might have proper trainIng - Ing nud advantages. She entered the Chicago Conservatory und in the dramatic department worked and studtod persistently. Her manner und np- poaranco were so much improved that she bad the satisfaction of knowing after a short time that she was not only tno beauty of the conservatory , but i > most promising pupil. Three tlmoi did stunrt Uomori olfer her n pl-aco in hi ? company before slio accepted , far like most , young and inoxpjrlonccd artists she had visions of roactiing thn heights at once nnd would bo a Lady Muc- botli or nothing. Ono nftornbou , however , after a matinee nt the Chicago opera uouie , where snc created the rdlo of Lois in Jerome K. Jerome's little play of "Sunset , " und made n hit , Mr. Uobson made his last offer. Mlsi May realised by that tima that blio wns not formed " by nature" for a trngodionno.andafter a sum mer with the "Two Sisters" company , she Joined Mr. UobaonM corapanv two soa- tions ago. It Is said that she will lonvo the company nt , the close of the proaont season , the relations betwuon her nnd Mr. Kobsoti's wifp , Miss May \Valdron \ , not being entirely congenial. Miss Muy has youth , beauty , ability nnd tbo proulco of a charming part In oun of the most successful comedies of the day , so there will bo little difliculty In her bccurlug another dcsirublo engagement. Till } At Boyd's ' now theater this evening Carroll - roll Johnt > on , the Irish singing comedian , will begin a thrco nights engagement in his matolile.ii scenic production of Iho romantic Irish play , ' 'I'lio GossoonI1 Mr. Johnson , who was originally a famous mliutrol , slnco ha made bis debut in white face in "Tho Fairies Well" thrco year * ago has gradually forced hli way to the front until now ho stands without n rival in his particular line of work. Ho is a born Irishman , being n nutlvu of CarJIugford , County Lodth , and by vcrv nature of his manner is particularly sultod aud relined with comedy work. The play , "Tho Goisoon , " deals with the darker and lighter sides of Ufa in the Green Isle. The scones are all laid in that paradise of scenic beauty Killarney. The play is hand- so.iioly staged and ha-t a s-jonlu mounting HL-laom been { n an Irish play , The Farham Street tnoator comes to the front again this week with a nu'.v company In a play unknown to this city opening with the usual imulnee this afternoon. Tlio "Devil's Mine" company has boon bcou in every city of any note , east of Omaha , at least oneo every year for the past three sea sons and the business it invariably dcoi , tolls the tain of popularity , which speaks the merits of a dramatic attraction. It Is on the molo-dmmu order. The story is ono of west ern llfo , not as it Is supposed to bo , but a * it la. For in the hills of Montana sro found ladies and gentlemen , who can teach some of the inhabitants of eastern cities , what nat ural honor is. An old miner who having found a rich claim , endeavored to protect it from tbo human sharks , to bo found in all mining settlements. His ondcnvors In this direction are aided by a Denver gambler. Of course the Rd ventures of the three sro thrilling. The romantlo vein of the play nro furnished by the gambler and the old mlnor'i daughter , n character ot the M'Llss typo. In the whole play , there-is dot ono thing to which nn exception could bo taken. Thu company promUod la a strong ono nnd Is the original cast of this piay ns produced In Philadelphia three years Of Uhon , who will bo at Boyd's ' theater on Monday night. May 2. Iho Critic savs : "Uhoa has made the hit of her ilfo ns Cnlhn- rlno I. in 'Lu C/nrlnn , Emprosj of Ktmin' ( her now play this season ) . The o of her admirers who nave soon her as Adrlonno Lo- couvrotir nnd .losonhtno will forcot her beau tiful rendition of these character * when they witness her masterly acting in this ono. " "Uluo .loans" Is the pfav to see now tiy nil means. Improve the ohnnco when it comes to uoyd's theater the last three evening * of next week. It U strong , original nnd deeply Interesting. The play is unquestionably American , the most genuine so of any drama on iho stage. Thora is nothing traditional in It , The characters are altogether now to the stnco. and they have the merit , moreover ever , of being vigorous , picturesque nnd com mnndlntr. There Is the typical , Ignorant , blatant , yet withal general politician who Is ono of the forces in the machine , who has no notion of the use of politics nsldo from the spoils of ofllco , nnd Is already to mnuo n speech or to coerce refractory voter * . There Is the Hooslcr himself In tha pot-sou of lion Hoonc , big , awkward , comlcnl , yet withal capable of furious passion. There Is the old settler , Impersonated In .lacob Tutcrwollor , shoemaker , philosopher nnd politician In n mild way. The women , too , nro extraordi nary in their Interest. There Is June , n girl from the poorhouse , perhaps ns original n tvpo of American womanhood as the stugo has ever soon. Another Is Sue Eudaly , n wnlf from the Bouth , beautiful but with n llondiih disposition , loving nnd hating with equal ardor. These are the principal charac ters In the play. Among the many attractions nt Wonder land this week may bo found lilnman , the Couoy Island Llfo Saver , the savor of fortv- ulno lives. Ho will give n lecture on the subject. Uuth. the Dancing Quakeress. The little lady will dance the Mantoloto dance , the dance of the Spanish. Dr. A A. Wane nnd Master Hnrry In their spiritual mani festations. Tiernoy , the Irish comedian , formerly of Tlornoy & Cronin. Lane & Voronn , acrobats nnd skaters. Scott , the Frog Alan , in contortions. Waxworks , | pan- oramlc views and many other attractions. Duncan Clark and his Female Mluistrols will give thrir second and closing perform ance nt the People's theater this < Suudny ) evening. Since their appearance here last season the compauy has undergone many changes and a first class bill will bo pre sented. Dan Htco , the old circus manager , has un- dortnkon to teach Nclilo McHonry to ride barobat-k , nnd in the near future Miss Mc Henry will end her now play , "A Night nt the Circu , " by dancing on the back of her pretty white horse while ho gallops around The wife of J. II. btoddard , the character notor of A. M. Palmer's company , dlod re cently. Mr. Stoddard remained out of the cast In "Tho BroKen Seal , " and his part was pl.iyod by James H. Hackott , a young nmn- tour , who acquilled himself so well that ho was permanently engaged by Mr. Palmer. Moro than a half million dollars for a year nnd a half's ' presentations of a play presented by but two companies nro astounding tlgures to bo given out as the profits of a stngo pro duction , but thosa figures represent a claim which Managers Kovjnqucst and Arthur of fer to substantiate by nn exhibition of their books lo auyono curious enough lo mvosUgato " .Mine Joans' " profits. Judge Gnrborof California , has refused the application of Mrs. McICeo Uankiii for ali mony in her suit for divorce , on the ground that she seems to bo iu a position to support herself. Mr. Hankin , in his answer to his wife's petition , denies that his income is large , and cites the fact that , In order to pro- euro the necessaries of life , ho is playing at a low-priced theater in San Francisco ou a low salaiy. Mmo. Bcrnhardt gayo several perform ances at the Metropolitan opera house In Now York last week , which mark ? n now departure for Managers Abbey and Grau. They will attomnt to put all their companies nt various times Into the Metropolitan until the co nplotlon of their now theater , nearly two years hence. Tbo firm now nas a theater tor of its own in Boston nnd is in negotia tion for the purchase of McVIcker's iu Chi cago. Their theater in New York is to oc cupy half the block extending from the Casino to Thirty-eighth street , nnd It is their purpose in the future to present their at tractions mainly in their own theaters in the three principal cilies. "Polly Middles , " Annlo Plxlov's new comic opera , was written by A. C. Gunter , the author of "Mr. Barnes of Now York , " eight years ago. Its production came about in u curious way , Mr. Gunter had written a play for Miss Pixloy , the principal character of which was a niannish sort of woman , whom Miss Pixley did nni care to imperson ate. After conslderablo discussion of the matter Air. Gunter agreed to take the play back if Miss Pixloy would undertake to act in a comic opera which ho would deliver to hor. Mr. Gunter then lurned Iho play into a boon entitled "A Florida Enchantment. " The most expensive prize over offered for Iho purpose of finding out the name of the most popular woman in the country will bo on vlow at the Actor. * ' Fund fair. This will bo a diamond wticli is ot the actual vnluo of $3,000. It bsars the name of the Cleveland diamond , and Is known by every prominent Jeweler in the world. It Is tabulated nnd listed among the great diamonds of civlll/.a- tlon. The word "gift1" U used here In Its usual significance in connection with charity fairs ; that is , it will bo "given away" uflor the owners hnvo received $8.000 for it. Everybody can vote by paying $1 a vote for it and the woman who receives the greatest nutnoor of votes will have the diamond , pro viding 8.000 votes have baen received. Tea management of the Madison Square garden , Now York , has arranged with Abbuv , Schoeffol & Grau foru Paid musical nnd oporalic festival on May 10. 1" and 11. Mine. Adnlinn Patti will bo assisted by her own opera company , together with n chorus of 1,000 voices , and an orchestra of 100 musi cians. Signer Ardltl will bo tha conductor for Mine. Paul , and William It. Chapman will bring touotbor nn immense volume of male and female voices. The Metropolitan Musical society , the Kubonstoin nnd the Meloplu of Plamlleld , the Kingston Philhar monic , the ilublnstcm of PouirhUeepslo , and ether musical societies are numbered among tnoo who will bo heard tit the fouivul. Crane seems to have niadu another hit In Now York in his now play. "Tho American- Minister. " Most of the personages of the play are Americans , but the scones are for eign. Mr. Crane at the outset appears nt the American embassy in Homo , where ho represents Iho United Stales as minister inudo up to look very much ns Houry Ward Boechor did at 50. The story told Is that upon his arrival a cipher dispatch from Washington concerning the threat of war over the New Orleans massacre has been re ceived by his predecessor In ofllco , a man whom the stress of debt and embezzlement has induced to steal the message and so delay it 03 to make It a ( Toot the stocK murkut. Thu now minister has , however , a HOD , sure to bu convicted on circumstantial evidence should thu mutter become public , and so the father , In order to discover the dispatch , participates In the carnival , flirts with countesses , attends a ntate ball , nnd Indnlgos In oilier foolery nnd considerably American buncombe. A writer in The Theater asks : Havoy ou over noticed the ( Jain poutl U U thu cutest thing out , nnd , likoull good thing * of life it is worm u lltilo oxlra exertion for the privi lege of enjoying it. When thlnirs go wrong aboul Iho stage , or when there U u hitch In tha workings of the mechanical accessories of the drama , Miss Gala does not Jlaro mi nnd got mad all over , froth at Ihu mouth , or maku the atmosphere around her blua by tha use of vindictive adjectives , but she merely displays her dlsploaiurq by pronuclng ono of the cutest and bweotoit htilo pouls that over graced the feminine features , I caught on lo it some time aL'O during ono of lha per formance of "Tho Hunchback. " Something happened lo mar the effect of the bcono , and at lha end of the net Miss Ualo walked off the stage with her face ornamented with ono of the prettiest pouti that mortal man ever witnessed , Slnoo that lima 1 have studied every conceivable schcmo to bring that pout into existence. I have caught the stage man ager at an Unguarded moment und ciusod him to prematurely ring down tlio curtain ; I have started the noble army of "supers" on tbo stage at Die wrong cue ; I have caused the lime-llcht to spurt and dlooutat Inauspicious moments , and I have persuaded tha gas man to suddenly transform th ? brilliancy of Iho sunshine In pitchy darkness. It Is Impossible to rcnumorato the dovillih devices 1 have ritudtcd and practiced solely for tha pleasure ot gazing ou that bewitching lulls pout. SO TRICK TO ROB A BANK Omaha Banks That Have Suffered Losses at Their Employes' ' Hands. ROBBERIES THAT ARE NOT MADE PUBLIC Story of n . .TnnltorVI fniinil Flro Tlinu * nutl on the SUlo but Unit to lj- | C < ii-jo UrmlnUcviieo * of u Cnililor. They were seated vls-n-vls , and between thorn spread the expanse ot n brand tablo. Two groups of dishes littered with ronmnnti of food were grateful witnesses to an elab orate monl , and the character of the rostnur- nntaisiirod a good round charge. The young men had done the nropor thing by the luuoi man , nnd they were also filled with that sat isfaction which conies to a man conscious that his follows know ho has spent hu money lavishly nnd with apparent luiooti- corn. corn.They had dispatched the meal nud glvoi IhciiHolvos up to the comforlnblo languoi which falls upon n man who can oat n relish- able midnight lunch In the knowledge that ha need not bo at the ollloo baforo U. There is no other pleasurable Bonsatlot qullo ns soothing to the aspor- tllos of llfo , and if n loisurly smoke followi the dainty morsels the nemo of mnsculliK enjoyment Is reached. These two young mon were well nlong wllli Ihoir cigars nnd had evidently reached tha meditative stage. The fushionnblo cut ol their coals sitcgosled the bank clerk , nn Imj prcsslon which proved correct , Uiuior ihojc conditions men generally dis cuss their conquests ( real or Imaginary ) among the falr&ox , become.reminiscent "ol larks not entirely blameless , or talk shop. 1 ho two diners , as I ecamo their IIRO and oc- cupatlon , dwelt upon the harmless toplo ol business. The older hnd Iho confident air born of sti. porior knowledge nnd oxporlonco , und his manner toward his companion had the lingo of a potty condescension. The younger man was a uovlco In his calllne , with the Inquisl- tlvenoas of a boglnnor Intoresied in bis work nnd anxious to lonrn It nil In n week. Ho had the popular notion that the machinery of a bank Is so perfect thai theft bv employes U next to impossible , nt least without immedi ate deloclion. His companion know bolter , Ho may have hold the exalted position of an assistant lollershlp , which brought with it some confidences from his superiors , nnj ho could not resist the temptation to improu the novlco with his Imaginary importance. The conversation which followed rovoaloJ n unmoor of thefts and losses among Omaha bank : , that have not hitherto t-eon made pub lic. It Indicated that the robbery of n banli by its employes is not only nn easy mallei bat actually occurs oftener than is suspected bv outsiders. It is not necessary here to give fie queries of the novice. "Why , it's ono of the easiest things In tin world , " said Iho young man of the superior air , "for the mon employed in a bank to rob It. Of course you know nil about how Paul Tail got awav with a So.OOO sack of gold from the Merchants' National , because it was published In the papers , but the banks hnvo n great many losses that don't got out. It's galling ' .o n banker to own up to suoh thin/is / , because they are reflections upon his stability. "Now there was a case at the Nebraska Nnllonal not so very long ago. When the cash was counted up ono day It came out $5,000 short. A careful examination of the books showed that it was not nn error In the accounts. The money had actually disap peared and there wns no Iraca ol how it had boon spirited away , for everybody pleaded Ignoriinca Detectives were engaged and Uve employes were shadowed night nnd dnv. Nothing came of it and attention , was turned to the janitor. Tbo evidence against that individual bocama strong enough to haul him up. Ho disgorged nil ho had left and the matter was hushed up. It seems that lha teller ovorlookcd a sack of gold ono night when putting the cash into the vault. Tha janitor discovered it when ho came to clean up the bank , and ho simply carried It away. Now thai loss was a mailer of accident , bill you can see how easily two men might de sign and carry out such a robbery. Fur that matter a teller can do It alone uudcr favoring ciicumstancos. "A case up at the Commercial National shows another scheme. The clerk who kepi the record of depositors' balances had n confederate - federate on tha cmtsldo. Tha confederate opened un account at the bank. Ho made deposits aud drew checks as though engaged in business. Of course the paying teller do- points on the balance cleric if ho has any doubt about there being lunili on hand to meet a chocic , and a balance clerk can easily lot a depositor overdraw nis uo _ count by reporting a large nud fnls" ninount to his credit. Ordinarily it is notovon necessary to tamper with the booksbut m Ihis case Iho balance clerk bad the nerve to talcj n vacation , and ho changed the figures on his book to prevent discovery by his substl- tulo during his absence. In some manner Iho bank discovered Iho swindle , but not until it had been robbed of ever fWJ. The clerk had kept this scuomo in operation for about two years , so you can Imagine the chances of doteclion Ibat ho ran. "Ono of tbo other banks had an expansive experience with nn express company , " ha continued , and tlio abicnuo of names and details - tails may bq accounted for ou the supposition that his own bank was concerned. "An express company mojsougdr delivered n number of sacks of money to the bank , and wont away with a receipt for live sacki signed by the teller. vVho'n the money eama to bo counted lalur at the haul- , only four micks ( could bo found. There may or may not havu been n firth sack. That is the mystery ol iho thing , The express company insists on thu amount named in the receipt , and tha bank declares there wns n mistake. TUoynru still quarreling about it "Tho oIllcoM of Homo of the hanks have adopted a rule that the president or Jho cashier , nnd not the teller , shall receive and receipt for monuy delivered In bulk. Some of the olllcors have a habit of turning over such monuy to a toiler without having him count it or'receipt for it. bupposu ho should hold out n package and muko wav with It. Thu teller could deny that ho und received the inissliiu monoy. What proof of theft could the bank produce ! "Jn ono of lha banks n while ago there was n shortage In the cash to tha ninount of g'J.W. 'iho toiler scratched Ills head nnd scratched numerous llguriiig tablets until ho concluded Hint sack of silvnr dollars had disappeared , The shortage continued several days , when thu mUslng sack was found In the vault but partly concealed. It wns evident thai someone . The only explanation one had placed it under cover. planation wns that ono of the clerks , improv ing n chance opportunity , had tried 10 con ceal the Hack with thu Intention of HneakltiK itoutoftho bank at some onpoituuo tuna lalor. " , , Then Urn vounz man of iho superior nlr wandered off Inlo n narration of cases in Which Omaha banks hud bfcon bled by out siders by fraudulent warehouse receipts und other devious schemes , And as tlm ptkir urosi to go the voung man with the Importance ol un nssistu'nt teller again assured his compan ion with confidential earnestness that It was not a difficult : eat lo rob or cheat an Omaha hank. Spectacles , Ur , Cullunoro , Ba o building. AiliiUorittoil .11 M | > li ) Sugar. It is Bald , according to tlio Now York Tribune , that people in tlio wool are BO accustomed to adulterated mtiplo Biijiir that they will rojuct tlio guriuino urticlo with disdain If llioy happen to como across it. A western linn that iiianu- facturca an imitation article ) endeavors to eivo it something of the conuino llavor bv boiling a pleco of maple wood in it. Some bclontiBts , however , Buy Unit tlio > < peculiar llnvor of maple Bucar is duo to the presence o ( Impurities iu thoaap.and that if tlioso impurities could bo elimin ated the sugar would taato exactly like pnro loaf sugar , Tliua irradually is Bol- otico taking all tlio old tlmo lluvor out of life. I'retly soon It will bo giving in unimproved buckwneat llo.ii1 , with no moro laalo limn u pleco of chalk