TIIK OMATtA. DAILY flRK : SUNDA PKOEMBMR 25. 1802H8lXl81SlSy PAGES.
! DAILY jBIfllS.
K. IIOSKWATKItf Editor.
' "pt'HLlHHKt ) BVKUY MOUN1KO.
PAPER OP THE CITY.
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COUUE.sL'ONDiNOE. :
All cnminunlciitlnni relatlns to news nnil
rdltorlnl iniilter should IK > addressed to the
Kdltorlnl Depart incut.
1UTSINE9S T.ETTEUS.
Allbuiliienslettcr * nnd ronilttnncM MiouM
bo nddretipd to Tlio lloo Pulillsblnc Coinpnny
Otnnlm. Driifls , cliec ) < H mid | iostonico ordon
mlioinnilopiiyiiblu to the order of tlio com'
jinny.
TUB BEI3 PUBLISHING COMPANY
BWOHN STATEMENT Ol' ( ; IUOUIJATIO
Btuto of XcbrnsUn , I
County of DoiiRlan. f
OrnrK" H. TMcliurk. secretary of Tnr. TIKI
I'ublislilna row puny , HOPS solemnly Hwpnr Ilia' '
tlionctiiiilcliculiitfiiiMif Tun DAILY lien foi
Iho wecki'iidlng DuconibcrlH , 1802 , wns as fol
lows :
Hnmlny , December la 20,04 !
Monday , Docembur 10 .oa ;
Tue.sdiiy , December 20 23-SJ
WediicMlny. December 21 -'ZR ,
ThurMlnv , December 22 23,00
Trldny , fhvcmliLT 23 23,941
( aturuuy , Doccmbiir 24 24,76
OEOUOi : It. T7.SOHUOK.
Sworn to before mo mill Hilbncrlbfld lu mj
Jiipscncotbls2ltli day ( if December , 1H02.
ISenl ] N. P. l-'EII. , .Notary Public.
Avt-rnRO Clrciiliitlon fur .November , 20,0511
ti nro iv good tunny very agree
able places In the world , but there is ni
pltxco UUo borne on Christmas.
TllK Georgia legislature lias mot am
adjourned for tlio winter. They di
Bomo things in the right way dowi
thoro.
WE Aim pained to learn that the sonn
toritxl hoomlct of our esteemed j&'al
jFa&n'cfl/orlias / boon quarantined off th
mouth of Salt Croo'c.
TiiKquosttou is Will the now assessor
of Douglas county return the Bo1
Line proparly at $94,000 , when it
owners olaim it to bo worth ova
SS.OOO.OOO ?
UNDKTI the luwa ot Nebraska a !
insurance companies uro required t
pay a tax upon their profits on buslncs
done in this slato. Arc they complyin
with the law ?
ONE of the oxtcnsivo industries i
Russia is tlio manufacture of woodo
spoons , of which 30,000,030 are mnd
annually , and yet there are agood man
hungry people in that country.
THE organization of a now Gorma
singing society in this city with a men
borship of 125 speaks well for our mus
cal development. Few cities have
greater number of taloutod rausichu
than Omaha lias.
GOVKHNOU FLOW.KU of Now York '
a man of some nerve and not a littl
gonorosity. Ho vetoed a bill to subs
ilizo "university extension. " and the
contributed $1,000 to the object out <
his own long purso.
NKXT March the Boll lolophor.
patent expires , which will leave tli
field open to competing companio :
Competition will doubtless result in
reduction of telephone rates. Hero is
cloud with a silver lining.
TIIK daily average of motor accidon
has increased considerably since th
advent of snow and ice. It is gratifyin
to note , however , that the conducto :
'and motormen , or some of them , ai
talcing greater precautions on accout
of the increased danger.
THE Importance of malting bolide
displays uttructlvo Is moro and more a ;
.predated by our merchants every yea
Soinu of the local stores have oxhibi
of holiday wares that are marvels
beauty ahd good taste. With the a :
of printers' ink judiciously Uaod tl
dealers of the city are likely to reap
good holiday harvest
Tm : health authorities of Philadc
phiasay thntthoj cannot account for tl
oxtonsivu prevalence diphtheria i
-that city , and yet one of thorn ncknow
edges that there are nineteen familii
huddled together in ono of the housi
that ho visited. Under such conditioi
It is not surprising that there should 1
diphtheria and pretty much ovorythir
else in the way of disease.
IN PENNSYLVANIA , where the subjo
of public road improvement is now inuc
discussed , it is suggested that the eta
mnko an appropriation , tlio same to 1
distributed in proportion to local offo
nnd interest , and that tho. , townshu
create a loan and sol aside a corta
Bum each year for a sinking fund ,
lias been demonstrated that the into
est on the loan and the principal can 1
paid for less money limn it coats to r
pair dirt roada under the present sj
to in.
TllK caper activity with which son
of those Fronohmun are using the Pa
uma canal frauds to promote politic
ends has never boon surpassed even
. the polities of tliia country. The sea
dal is attended by real danger to tl
very oxiatonoo of the republic , for
ivffords opportunities for the onforo
jnont ot all sorts of Bchotnoa to advan
personal and party interests. Consldc
ing tlio temperament of the French pc
plo it is no woudor that the whole imti
ia in a ferment ot oxcltuniunt.
TjNDKit the forest preservation act
March , 1801 , ever 4&fKi)03 ( ) acres In d
foronl tracts have boon reserved
forest- lands by the authority of t
president , and numerous otherlocatlo
are now on file for oxaminailon. T
law does not close those tracts of limb
to Bottlers , but ' its purpose is to proti
them from ll'ro and depredation wh :
ullowing the public their bonoQU. T
onforco'tiient of laws has 'jocomo ab
lutply _ necessary to prevent the raugii
Icont'tlmbor tracts ot the country fn
being wholly dcstroyoci.
TAXATION UP VUMMAtt I'MOPKHTV.
The I'ullitmn I'nlnco Tar company hna
ohlrltod the pnymontof Its taxes In thl
olty and county ever Mnco ISM. 1U un
paid cltv tax for the seven years bogln'
ning In 1880 and ending with 1802 , In
cluding Interest , nggrog.uos 910,4 0.03 ,
The unpaid county tax for the same
period Is not loss than $5,0 < )0 ) , making in
nil ever 920.000 delinquent at this time
to the city and county. There is also r
very marked discrepancy between the
amount assessed against the Pull mat
company for 1800 , 1891 and 1802
In 18.SO the Pullman company's cars in
Douglas county wore appraised at $80 , '
890.-J5 and the city tax on this appraise
ment amounted to $3,817.20. In the
year 1600 thotisscssmont of the Pullmar
cars had dwindled down to $1,121 unt
the tax to 340.52. In 1891 It had shrunk
Btlll further and the property was onlji
appraised at S780 , with a city tax o
$20.87. In 1892 the assessor bocatm
more conscientious and raised the as
RosMnont to 81,124 , on which there ii
levied a city tax of S 10.09.
On the face ol this exhibit it is cvl
( lent that the appraisement for 1890 and
1891 was a rank ciso of parjury , and the
assessment for 1892 is either an evidence
of imbucillty or downright rascality li
Douglas county , as well as in the stall
auditor's ofllco.
The ground on which the Pullinai
company has boon enabled to shirk it ;
local tax in tills city and county , as wol
as in the stale , was a temporary In
junction -granted on the llth of November
vombor , 1833 , In the United Stitos :
court. This Injunction was sorvoi
upon the city treasurer of Omali !
and the treasurers of Douglas , Sarpy
Cnss , Otoo , Nomiiha and Richard
son counties. This temporary in
junction has boon hanging ii
the United States district court mor
than six years and is still clalmo
to bo in full force. Why has this Ir
junction case remained untried all thus
roars , and how can It bo ho Id legally 1
'orco ' in defiance of doclsions rendorc
n other stales by the United States cit
cult courts and state supreme courts ?
The plea made by the attorneys of th
Pullman company is that the proport
of said company is domiciled in th
state of Illinois and taxes thereon pal
n said state ; that said sleeping care
larlor cars and other cars running int
and through said city and counties ar
engaged in interstate commerce and ar
not subject to taxation by the taxin
minorities of said several counties.
The interstate commerce plea , whicl
is the only basofor this attempt to shir
taxes , has boon squarely disposed of i
the case of the Pullman Palace Cii
company versus Twombly , treasurer , i
the United Slates circuit court for tli
southern district of Iowa , in which d <
cision was rendered January 14 , 188'
Justice Bi-owor , who is nls.o one of th
justices of the supreme court , in his exhaustive
haustivo review of the case says :
This is , in substance , a bill brought by tl
complainant to restrain the state of Io\\
from collecting from certain railroad cor
panics doing business In that state a portlc
of the taxes levied upon them , on the groun
that the basis of the assessment upon wlik
such portion of the taxes was Icvlc
was a number of sleeping , drawln
room anil parlor cars , belonging to tl
complainant , and usad only in into
state commerce. It appears tbat the coi
plainant is a foreign corporation , create
under tlio laws of tbc state of Illinois ai
domiciled in Cook county , in that stato.
is engaged in the business of manufacturin
using and hiring to bo used sleeping , drai
ing roam and parlor cars. It has certai
contracts with.the various railroads i-unnii :
through the state of Iowa by which it fu
nishes to them such cars under contrac
providing for their use and operation. In
general way it may be said that the inter !
management of these cars remains with tl
complainant , the exterior with the railrot
companies , who reccivo also the full pay f
the mere transportation of passengers. The
cars are all used in interstate commerc
that is , all of them run from points outside
the state of Iowa into or into and through tl
state of Iowa , or from points' in the state
Iowa to points outside the stato. * * *
The state aims to tax that property whli
it protects , and only to the extent that
furnishes protection. If it cannot do this
requires but a moment's reflection to si
that the state will ho shorn of much of win
every candid man must feel to bo hone
revenue. Sleeping cars are not the only v
hides used in interstate commerce. A va
amount of rolling stock used on the vario
interstate railroads belongs to car trust coi
panics and is simply leased by railroad coi
panics. Is it taxable only in the eustei
cities In which the car trust comp.inlcs a
domiciled ? More than that , how many ink
state railroads , traversing often sever
states , are owned and operated by a corpor
tion created by and domiciled In a sing
.state ) Has that state alone the power
taxation ?
Now , as stated , the claim of complaina
is that because this property is used In iuti
state commerce It Is exempt from state ta
ntlnn at any other place than the domicile
its ownur. I deny the proposition , and allh
the law to bo that personal property co
tlnuously used in a state acquires
situs in that state for purposss of tax
tlon , and may , at the option of the state ,
subjected to an equal property tax , and th
notwithstanding It bo used exclusively
interstate commerce. The state Is sovi
cign , except as limited by the federal cons
tutlon making some provision taking aw ;
this power , and the state of Iowa may i
questionably tax this property used wltli
its territorial limits.
This is certainly clear and omphat
enough , aud applied to the case at
hanging in the United Slates dislrl
court must result In the prompt dlasol
lion of the Injunction.
* II la maiufoslly the duty ot the cl
attorney of Omaha and the attorneys
every county in wliioh the Pullman coi
puny I * delinquent to take stops for t'
dissolution of the injunction and for t
recovery of every dollar of back tax <
witli Interest and legal ponaUius ,
payment is resisted the respective tro !
urors should enforce col'cctlon upon t
property ot the Pullman company. Tl :
IB simple justice ; nothing moro and not
ing loss. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
CO I WT/jr FHKIl DKMVKH 1 *
Ono ot the things which the rui
population has special reason to
grateful to the present national tidmi
ietration for is the introduction of t
free delivery of mall in the towns a
villages. Tlio practical judgment
Postmaster General Wamunakor d
corned tlio. feasibility ot this oxtonsli
of the free delivery system , while t
justice of It was oorloua and unqui
tionahlo. So far as this feature of t
postal uervlco was concerned the g <
ornmont was pursuing acourao ot pur-
tlallly to the detriment of n very largo
proportion ot the population. The rlty
resident was being tavorod , whllo the
oqunlly worthy rural resident was nog-
octcdi Till * condition the present post *
mister general nssnilod as essentially
wrong and unfair , and ho Inshtod that
'rco ' mail delivery could bo profitably
extended to the country. Tlio results ot
-ho experiment so ftt'r as It has gona
lave most fully vindicated his judg
ment.
Two years ago congress authorized
iho postmaster general to test the
practicability and expense ot extending
; ho free delivery system to offices of
Lho third Nand fourth class and other
ofllcos not then embraced within the
tree delivery , appropriating 510,000 for
the experimental service. The ox-
[ lorlincnt became at once successful and
[ lopulnr. So well was It received by
Lho people who wore favored with
It that when it was feared
that the appropriation might not bo
continued by the present conzrcss pri
vate arrangements wore made In moro
than one ot the affected communities
by which the service should bo contin
ued , whether or no congress should
order It maintained. The appropria
tion , however , was granted , and , ns the
postmaster general says in his report ,
the experiment continues to bo success
ful. It has boon applied to forty-six
communities with populations ranging
from 300 to 6,000 , and the dally service
has boon carried on at a profit. Such
being the' case , it is plain that the free
delivery can bo inexpensively extended
further and further , and there ouaht to
bo no dissent from the suggestion ot the
poalniastor general that this should bo
dono. whether it pays a prollt to the
department or not.
Besides the practical advantages ol
this service to the communities reached
by it , there are found to bo moral and so
cial benefits ot very great value. Ru
ral life Is rondnrod less monotonous and
isolated , correspondence is stimulated
and reading encouraged , and thereby
"the long evenings lightened and the
long working 'days brightened. The
farmer receives his periodicals , his
prices current , his special information
that ho desires. The grown-up children
stay at homo moro readily and the old
place Is every way made happy
The family is in touch will :
the rest of the world. " The
amount of good to bo accomplished
in this w.ay ib incalculable , and in con
tribuliuir to the moral and social elevation
tion of the people the government i :
making bettor and moro patriotic citizens
zons , which is unquestionably an osson
ial function ot government. It ought ti
bo safe tc ; assume that this policy wil
bo maintained and extended , but a gooi
deal willdopund upon the interest taker
in it by the moral communities them
selves. The administration of the gov
ornmoDt is soon to pass out ot the contro
ot tlie political parly which inauguratei
this departure aud it is impossible ti
say what view the incoming party ma ;
take uf this matter. The tnalntonanci
of the policy may bo endangered if thi
people most concerned in it are indilTor
out.
OF TllK COLLKCTIO1
Nebraska collection laws are notorl
busly la > ; . A man who wishes to defraud
fraud his creditors must bo a stupii
blunderer If he does not succeed
Credit is easy whore comnotilion i
sharp , and the thief who masks hlmsol
with a frank demeanor finds no difll
culty in filching from his good-natuioi
creditor. Our assignment law is of vor ,
little consequence. It may help th
honest debtor , butTit is no advantage I
the honest , but misguided creditor , wh
is about to bo victimized by a dishoncs
debtor. What is needed is an assignment
mont law , which shall , so far us this i
possible , compel the insolvent debtor t
Iroat all his creditors alike and give t
each his proper proportion ot assets
Under the Nebraska law a debtor can
not make an assignment naming prc
forrod creditors , but ho is not compelle
to make an assignment to protect hi
creditors. Ho gives bills of sale o
chattel mortgages to his preferred croc ]
itors for enough lo cover all his assols
and Iho creditor who is not favore
meekly stands by and sucks bis thum
while his attorneys skirmish about fo
some flaw or fraud whereby the couvej
anco of the chattels may bo sot asido. I
nine cases out of ton the debtors' attoi
noys have been shrewd enough lo con
sti uct a conveyance which the court
will not mi mil.
In Minnesota mid seine other state
assignment laws have boon onncte
which make it practically impossible t
perpetrate frauds sucli as have disgrace
the commercial history of Omaha r <
contly. By those assignment laws
debtor can not raako a preferential ni
signmonl ; neither can 1m by judgmor
in default or confession in favor of roh
lives or friends defeat the olTorts (
general or outside creditors. Aconvoj
anco or transfer of property made Imini
diatoly nntorlof to assignment is ir
valid. These assignment laws are nc
complicated , nor do they sink the righl
of debtors. So far us such a thing 1
possible they simply provonta dislionoi
debtor from cheating his creditors fc
either his own benefit or the bonollt <
relatives. At the same time provisio
is made whereby the unfortunate dobtt
who is honest , can make the best torn
of settlement possible , nave his oxoni ]
lions it. ho desires and obtain a di :
charge of his Uobts upan a basis fal
alike to all his creditors.
In the days when Nebraska was
frontier Bottlutnent subject to the ui
cortainllcs incident to inadequate Iran
portation , poor markets , lack of omploj
mont and spardo population the ail vat
tagos given to debtors may have boo
excusable. The ttmo is long pai
however , when such conditions were
sulllctont reason for laxity in this pai
tlcular. Wo have roaohod the porlc
in the development of the state who
the vendor and vcndoo should b
equal rights before the law. Our jo
bing and manufacturing Interests ha\
grown into an importance which d
mnnds consideration at the hiuids i
logl&lnlors , They do not insist upon <
expect anything unfair. They have
right , however , to ask that the la
which makes the owner of a house r <
aponsiblo to the laborer and matorl
dealer for debts IncurYod to thum by the
contractor constrjhftlng it , nhnll at lontl
bo dhapod so thaVinlovos unnnot comply
with the loiter jj. the statute in per
petrating thefts , and fraud shall not be
conuonod by Ilia courts.
The loglslntufil soon to convene can
do nolhlnu more creditable to Itsolt ot
the atato than to tnko up and carofullj
rovlso our 0011001100 laws.
TIIK CHlltfTM.lS T1MK.
Another year ( , ) ins nearly run Its
course , and again.the feast of Christen
dom Is al hand. This is the most gotv
oroua and boiioficont ot the seasons the
ono that calls into activity the purest
and political sentiments , that does more
than any other to break through the
crust of solllshneas and open the heart
to kindly ofllcos , that exerts upon olt
and young alike a sotlonlng and
elevating Influence. It does nol
matter greatly whether a man rccog
nlzos or appreciates the Chriatlati
idea that is associated with this season
If ho have the bettor instincts of human
ity , if all the nobler and tenderer tool-
lugs that belong to rt ti'uo manhood arc
not fro/on within him , ho cannot altogether -
gothor resist the pot-Bunding lulluoncc
of the Christmas times. Unliappincs ;
may" como to the man who cannot on
this day find the moans to testify his
alToction for family and friends , or tc
him who realizes that in splto of all hi ;
efforts ho cuuld nol do all that ho woult
have done , but thrice unhappy is hi
who banishes all thought of kimllj
largess at. this tlmo and condemns him
self to abide In tlio gloom and cheerless
ness ot hlsBolllsh or sordid nature.
The custom of giving presents ot
Christmas , although not universally ob
served.in Christian countries , is as oh
as it is beautiful , aud it has made hu
manity all the bettor by making i
moro loving and selt-sacrlIcing. ( It i
sometimes loads Iho moro generous It
go beyond their means , allll Iho Impulsi
which prompts the extravagance is t
noble one. The benignant influence ol
the custom is ot inestimable worth
How shall wo measure the flood of glad
ness and gratiludo that will swocp eve
Christendom today in response t
the remembrances of affoctioni1 IIo\
weigh the joyous heart-thrills of child
hood in millions of homes in ever ;
Christian land , or calculalo the volumi
of pleasure that ago will derive fret ;
the offerings ot love and friendship ?
But the theme is inexhaustible , am
every heart that is made glad am
happy today will understand it In it
widest application. ; To its thousands o
renders TIIK BKU most hoar lily &xteud
the season's greeting.
ii OF A uaKVL'r *
The chief of the Bureau of Industrie
Statistics of Pennsylvania prusonts som
interesting facts4n ro'.ation lo loan ai
socialions in that ' 'state. Ho allege
that in Philadelphia moro people ow
their homos than in any other city , an
this is attributed'to' the fact that loa
associations are moro popular ther
than anywhere else in the country
Philadelphia is the tnbthor of tlio sys
tern , which had IU" birth tuero aboi
sixty years ago. The spread c
these associations was at firs
slow , and for forty year
after the origin of the system the groa
mass of the people had no knowledge c
it. Few people took any notice ot i
outside of those who were members c
who were in seine manner intereslod i
its fin ncial results. Unlil recent !
there was no published information \
1)0 had concerning the system and up t
a few years ngo many people still coi
siderod it an open quoslion whether tli
loan association was a logitioiato an
practical instrumentality for the savin ;
of money.
It is staled by Judge Dexter of No
York , who is a recognized authority o
the subject , that since I860 no mov <
meut of Us Kind has over attained sue
marvelous growth and development i
has marked Iho progress of the loan a
Bocuitions ot the United States. The
development is no longer sporadic i
character , but is an organized movement
mont in every state and territory
Numerous journals are devoted to thei
interests , and several books have hoc
published describing their methods an
giving information us to their lustor.\ \
manner of organization and how to coi
duct them. In sixteen slates tongues ha\
boon formed and hold meetings aunt
ally , and a United Stiles league hi
also boon organized which will meet i
Chicago during the exposition. In IBf
the htato of Pennsylvania had 1,21
associations , having asants ot aboi
* 0 j,000,000. Their assets are now est
muted at $1120.000,000. Even BO small
state as New Jersey had 272 association
last year , with assols of $23.000,000. No
York has 400 associalions , with ussols <
about $28,000,000 , and it Is estimate
that the whole country has ever 0,5 [
associations , with total assets <
about $550,000,000. It is prodicte
by Judge Dexter thai on Iho 1st day
January , 1894 , the accumulated tisso
of these associations will exceed tl
capital invested in the national banl
of the United States. H\ch : ot the !
associations is a growing influence i
Ino community wlicr'b ' it is located , nth :
ulntlng the building and owning
homes. It is also useful in oncouragii
good business habfts on the part
members , for it requro3 ) promptness i
mooting obligations1 ; ! ! well as frugalit
Tlio magnitude ot , ' the loan nssoolatu
aysiom , as indicated by the llgur
nbovo quoted , is surprising in view
the fact thai It isbn , | a few years sini
It became firmly rooted. It is sprou
Ing in Nebraska jy. rapidly as in oth <
stales , and is accomplishing a great dc
of good for Iho wago- earners who hir
taken advnnluga ot its benefits.
Tin : "SH'K.iTixn" SYSTKM.
While the very good majority of th
American people are prosperous ai
happy , thorp are In the great cities
the country thousands of men , wumi
and children who are subjected lo
system of slavery as debasing and d
moralizing as it is possible to concei
of. In order to bocuro a incagor su
dlstcnco thoao unfortunate poopl
mostly ot foreign birth , are coi
polled to labor long hours f
very smull compensation at
are the victims of a cru
and relentless tyranny on the part
heartless and rapacious omploym
Many imdntmpnUiotlnBtorloiof mlflory ,
privation and suffering have boon
drawn from what ib known ns the
"sweating" system , anil could all that
system Is responsible ( or in the debase
ment and demoralization ot human
souls bo known It would sliamo our
civilization.
K.\High Information regarding the
nature and effects of this system has
hcon elicited through an investigation-
by a subcommittee cw- the house manu
factures conitnlttoo to arouse public
attention to the great wrong and Injustice -
justice Involved In U and to create a
sentiment in favor of legislation to sup
press it , It it bo practicable or possible
to do so. The commltloo was informed
that one-half the clothing made in Now
York City Is made under the swoallng
sys'om , and the accommodations
generally ot the tenement house
workers thus employed are appall
ing. What Is true of Now
York is measurably true also of Phila
delphia , Boston and Chicago , and there
are other cities whore this system Is
practiced. Speaking of the results ot
tlio Investigation the chairman ot the
stibcommitlco , Representative Warner
of Now York , said that the wo'rnt that
has boon alleged hail boon verified. In
Chicago Iho sweating business Is car
ried on in dilapidated buildings entirely
unfilled for human occupants. The con
ditions lu Boston and Now York nVo not
qnllo so bad , though they are wretched
enough , and as lo dangerous contagion
there is llltlo choice between thojo
cities. In a great nuny instances ope
ratives worlt from 5 or ( i o'clock in the
morning until ! ) and 10 o'clock at night ,
earning In those long hours of con lining
and enervating toll barely sulFiciont lo
Bust-tin life. What woudor that from
such an existence children are easily
lured lo crime and women to vlco.
O God 1 that bread should be so dear ,
And Hush ami blooil so cheap !
The states in which Ihosc condl
lions exist have laws Intended
to remedy them , but Iho laws
are nol properly enforced. Tlio
best results from such legislation have
boon altalncd in Massachusetts , but , as
shown , the system isstlll practiced thoro.
The purpose of the investigation by a
congressional committee is to ascertain
what can bo done in the way ot national
legislation to remove or rcduco
this evil , the effects of which
must bo deplored by all per
sons of humane feelings. It is probable ,
however , that htllo could bo accom
plished by a general law. II isHie func
tion and duly of the states to deal with
the mailer , aud humanitarians and phil
anthropists tftiould find in it a subject
worthy of their most serious ntlonlion
anil moil onrncsl efforts.
TUB testimony of Mr. C. B. Cqxo , n
Pennsylvanian who is said to bo 'famil
iar with the coal question , before the
house committee appointed to investi
gate the anthracite deal , was to the
effect that there is no profit in the busi
ness at present and that ever since Ihc
war people who have invested In it have
failed to realize a fair ralo of interest on
their monoy. This testimony exactly
agrees with that of the coal
barons themselves and it is nol
easy to believe thatMr. . Coxc
is in every way a disinterested witness ,
as ha is staled lo be. The fact that he
is called an expert fooms to Imply ai
least that ho is or has boon in the coal
producing business. It is exceedingly
strnngo lhat capitalists should have
gene on pulling Iteir money into a los
ing Dusiness for so many years. It is
not at all like them to do it. And then ,
too , the statement that the coal businesi
is not profitable even now , when the
price of coal 1ms been pustiod up to r
fanny figure by the combine , leads t <
the conclusion that it must have beer
carried on at a great loss all llioso years
This is hardly credible. At any ralo
Iho plea of the combine lhat it canno
make any money has not greatly softened
oned ttio public heart.
IT WAS noted in llieso columns a fov
days ago that the union tailors of Oinalit
were preparing to oppose the introduc
lion of Iho sweating system in this city
In view of this fact the recent invesligu
tions of Representative Warner ot Npv
York as chairman ot the house subcom
mittco on manufactories have a loca
interest. After thoroughly invcsligatiiif
the workings of Iho sweating system it
Now York , Chicago and Boston , Mr
Warner finds that the worst thai hai
boon said about it is short of the roa
truth. Ho found that the wretchci
people who earn their living by thii
means are obliged lo toil from fj or I
o'clock in the iroruing until 10 o'olocl
nt night and often oigbt or ton pcopli
with their machines are crowded into i
room 12x15 foot in extent. In ono of tin
sweating shops ho found a litllo girl i
years of age at work at 0:30 : in the even
ing. Tliis misurabla system should no
longer be allowed to exist anywhere
and it should by no means bo allowed ti
giiin a foothold in this city.
IT is said , though it booms too good ti
bo true , that during the ptisl fcv
weeks Ihero have bcon KCOI-CS o
women in Philadelphia theaters win
voluntarily removed their hoadgca
either as BOOH rw they took their seater
or before tr.oy entered the parquet. I
tho'cuslom were once started in ourncs
It would not bo long before the big lia
nuisance in theaters would bo abolished
The Philadelphia innovation docs no
scorn to bo spreading westward vor ;
*
rapidly. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
TIIK city of Beatrice is just now exercised
cisod ever the aamo question tbat ha
lately disturbed .South Omaha , namely
whether it IB n city of the firtt or neconi
class. An action lian bcon commencci
ngainbt the mayor of Beatrice to compe
him to certify thai Iho city has a popu
lation ot moro than 10,000. This wil
probably bring about some importun
charter changes.
Is TllKllii any good reason why tin
B. & M. road does not run its Chicagc
Denver llyor through Omaha ? Tills i
the largest cily on Its line between thoi
polnls. Why are wo snubbed ? Is I
because Omaha does nol give Iho B. i
M , enough business to warrant fal
treatment ?
TIIK pupils and touchora of our publl
schools will gel a good deal ol solid or
Joyinonl out of Iho holiday vfumtlon nml
will doubtless resume their work nttor
it IB over with renewed zonl and en
thusiasm , Omaha IM justly proud ot her
public schools. They are doing splendid
work and vrcro never more prosperous
thnn they nro this year. May teachers
and pupils have a merry Christmas and
got both pleasure and profit out ot their
piny spell.
Tin : sphere of woman's usefulness is
constantly growing wider. Miss Flam *
ing of the Harvard college observatory
has discovered twenty-one now variable
stars , Iho only ones ever dlaco'voreil by
a woman and a larger number than have
been found by any man. Susan B.
Anthony will doubtless find In thU anew
now and forcible argument In favor of
woman suffrage.
.Ami Drug Tlicm In tlip 'Mirp.
jtftic Vnrli It'diW.
The Panama e-rnial seems about to 'llti-h ' all
connected with it.
Snfrty In Niitliiinil OtiuriiMtlnr.
.
The popular sentiment In favor of a na
tional quarantine is in-.u-t It-ally unanimous.
ami congress has nn excuse for delay in the
mailer of providing such a safcKiianl against
n possible visitation of cholera ,
- *
NII NanoU-iiti In sight ,
KYinnfH CItu Slur.
It Is lucky for Ifivnuv that no Napoleon
has as vet appeared on the scene ot disturb
ance , but tlu'i-o Is no ti-lllnit when the
volatile nation will seek war as a relief for
Us present high pressure excitement.
O' '
Tliu ( ! ri : | > nCdrrcil.
Cliidniwff ro/miicrcldl.
If ono burns coal oil he must buy of a mon
ster monopoly. If ho resorts to hic-amlesccnt
t'k-ctfic Hunts he strikes another big monop
oly. The business of the country SIMMMS to
bo running to grasping syndicates ami
monopolies. .
_ _
s An linpiirliint UUtlnrtlon.
The democratic- party is now engaged In
tr.vitur lo analyze the relations between
Prcstdenl-clect Cleveland and the Chicago
platform , with a view to ascertaining what
part of the platform ho stood on and what
part he stood off.
I'rnyrr Jfroilli'HH Thrrp.
St'iiiil IVJHfYT-/Tf ( .
A Texas newspaper is kicking ngalnst the
payment of $3 per day to a chaplain in the
legislature. A state that gives IfiO.OOn demo
cratic malority is excusable for having
journals which doubt the enicncy of prayer
hi the law-making branch of Us government.
All MvllinviMl by DrittliV Approach.
Vhllniltlphia llcciinl.
During the sixty-two years ho has lived
Air. Ulaino has had many proofs of the affec
tionate regard of a largo number of his
country men. Ho now has Iho grieved nnd
grateful remembrance of all. Asperities ,
prejudices and dislikes are thrown to the
winds when a great man ilnally goes
trembling toward the undiscovered country.
o
The Vnnt-Klllrr'H Opportunity.
/iiil/rnuijwlfs / Jrmnml.
Some blooming idiot proposes the holding
of a world's fair in Now York Jive years
hence to coinmoniorale the discovery of
North America by.lohn Cabot in lliir. Wo
move as an amendment the passage of an act
of congress making itta penul offense to men
tion world's fair in any portion of the United
States for the period of twenty years from
and after 1S94.
Ciiimitu's FlrHt. Duty. "
I'lillatclitit ! Inquirer.
When Canada wants political union she
will not have much trouble to get it upon
reasonable terms. That much is certain.
Nearly all the arguments bcnrincr on the
subject start out with this admission. But
a condition is attached to consent which
bears more strongly on the question than
even the desirability of the union. This is
that she must first secure her independence
from England. Just how she is to do this is
her own lookout. There would seem to bo
only two ways : To llRht for it , as the United
Stales , or to secure it by purchase or other
peaceful means. When she has secured that
the arguments against her admission will
have no force.
HITCHCOCK AXU TllK O'UHAIH'S.
OMAHA , Dec. 21. To the Editor of THE
Bcu : The World-Herald of lust Wednesday
evening had an editorial under the title of a
"Homeric Battle. " This editorial narrated
a row In the O'Grady family , which took
place ( outside the imagination of the "Fake
Factory" ) supposedly in Now York. Sup-
jxse the alleged facts really did ocvur , of
what ) > ossiblo interc st could they bo to the
editorial readers of the World-Herald ?
7'osslbly wo should be charitable , and
imagine the great orator newspaper prodigy
and powerful politician , Mr. Hitchcock , was
only Innocently trying , according to his
notions of humor , to relieve himself from
the overburdened task of helping his con-
Jiilenlial political adviser , Mr. Cleveland ,
in the formation of a cabinet.
The object of this O'Grady editorial , its aim
or purpose , any wit or scuso to it under any
* interprolation would tax the ingenuity of a
Philadelphia lawyer to decipher. There is
but ono possible inlRrprclulion of Ibis sneak
ing assault. The motive of its publication
is simply a cowardly Jling at the Irish. Tlio
O'Ciradys this fellow lampoons never strike
In the dark or Mnb In the Imok. If their
cnomlca always know where to find them , BOde
do tlielr friends , It Is nn undoubted fact
that the very cln this political nondescript.
who Is neither HMi , llcah nor yet peed ml
hen-luff In anything , nRsnlls the very people
ho would covertly Insult , nro these \vlio imvo
thus long kept allvo his well nniued ' Fake
Faetorv , " with what n keen , nalneloim rel
ish ho tried to ridicule Put Kgnn. Pat , n a
poor emigrant with pick and shovel to do lit. *
drudgery , Is welcome : but Pat or his sons
equipped with the advantages of eulturo Is
something to bo followed with a dark lan-
leni. Usually the fellow who persists In
Insulting the. Irish nml "JJuteh" Is ono who
hlinsnlf Is either Just on this side of the
Canndlnn Falls or less than thrco leagues
rotnovcd from the emigrant ship. But after
all Is It not as well to lot such fellows RO on
reading Hltlpalh's Universal history anil the
like and harmlessly vent their villainous
spleen upon the O'Orndyst Perhaps so.
True , It might Hud less entertaining the )
news of family brawls In Now York and "no
Irish need apply" might appear more often
in Its advertising page , but what can wa
expect from n man who has been spilling
water on Iwth sides of every fence ? U li
tlmo the O'tii-adys left him nlono to squeal
between the rails of the fence ho can ncllhcr
nose through nor straddle. T. B. M.
itfff.fif.YH , i.s.so6'Mrfo.v xoris.
A meeting of the executive committee of
the Slate league will bo held In Omaha next
Thursday.
Chicago has nearly HOO building associa
tions with actual working capital of W,000 >
( XXI. This enormous sum Is largely employed
lu homo building , the fruit of which Is to be
seen In the marvellous Inereaso in the num
ber of homo owners In the World's fair city.
Mr. C. F. Bentley of draml Jslaml , the
newly elected president of the State Bank
ers' association , la an active and intelligent
advocate of building association principles.
T.Ike many of the country's notoil llnauclers ,
ho regards this branch of co-opcrativo olTiirt
a most I'lTocllvo Incentive to economy and
prosperity among the largo class of wago-
canioi-s who otherwise squander their
means.
It Is proposed at the coming session of the
Illinois legislature to create a department
for the government nml supervision of build
ing ami loan associations In the stato. The
safuty of millions representing the savings
of the working classes require government
rare and attention , so as to prevent any ) > or-
llon of the savings from falling into the
clutches of speculators nud irrosponslbla
parlies.
The thirty-eighth annual report of the
Omaha presents In statistical array the
prosperous condition of the premier associa
tion In the stale. There are ! J'J7T shares ot
stock in force , distributed through twenty-
eight series. The total receipts to
date , exclusive of the llrst scries ,
amount lo { OT.IUIUW. The re
ceipts for the quarter ending October 81
wcro SS.-sa.M ) , and tlio actual running cx-
pense for the same period was § 289.27. The
amount now Invested is S30,41H ) ami the
prollts foot up $1VI7.S3. ! ! ! Shares in the
second series on which eighty monthly pay
ments have been made are now worth
$ i : .fi7.
A number of foreign associations Imvo
combined to Ignore tno law ami do business
in Nebraska. They have been unable to dose
so hitherto , but expect a new deal from the
incoming state olllcers. Under the law
foreign associations are obliged to secure a
cci-titlcato to do business from the state
hanking board on the llrst of each year , and
are also obliged to have a resident agent in
every county where they do business , These
provisions have been a stumbling block to
their operations. Now the combine conll-
that with " " with
denlly hope a proper "pull"
the new olllcers they will secure the neces
sary permit to do business contrary to law.
Tlio scheme insults the intelligence of the
banking board , and is not likely to bo suc
cessful.
SKCVLAIl SHOTS AT Till' ; I'UTA'IT.
Chicago Mail : The Rev. .To. Cook of Bos
ton says the fair must bo closed on Sunday.
That ought to keep it open if anything can.
Washington Post : Perhaps Dr. Park-
hurst llnds it necessary to bo the least bit
fast in order that he may keep up with the
other fellows.
Boston Glebe : An Atchlson , ICan. , man
who is going to bo baptized on Christmas ,
day weighs 00 pounds. He will bo useful ,
at all events , in breaking through the Ice.
New York Advertiser : The restoration of
Father McOlyim to his priestly functions
demonstrates that the Church of Koine is
growing moro conservative and liberal as it-
grows older. I
Detroit Free. Press : The narrowness oi
the majority by which Prof. Smith was con
victed suggests a doubt whether the doc
trines of the church are as well defined and
settled as Iho professor's accusers claimed.
St. Paul Pioneer Press : llov. Preserved
Smith can heal the wounds in his purse by
going on the lecture platform , but what the
cliuivh will bo able to do to salvo over the
wound in its own vitals Is not BO easily told.
Chicago Times : The Presbyterian breth
ren might Just as well understand that trials
for heresy , now that the nnciunt accompani
ment of the burning of the heretic at the
stake is abandoned , are but Hat , stale , and
unprolitablo after all.
Indianapolis Journal : Between the ex
planations of the Catholic prelates who do
not agree and the proceedings of the Presby
terian tribunals to try heretics the person
who reads the whole of his newspaper will
get a great deal of doctrine , if not much
practice.
St. Louis Republic : If the clergy need to bo
cautioned regarding the length of their ser
mons , the brethren stand in equal necessity
of a warning respecting the character of
their prayers in midweek meeting. Wo could
not understand the doleful strain of n certain
brother's prayer , says a noted dovine , until
Largest Manufacturers nii'l ItotallaM
xIn tlioVortJ ,
A Merry Christmas.
We wish you. May you live long , be happy , grow
up to be good and use
ful inhabitants and
buy all your clothes
of us. If you do you
will always have good
reasons for being mer
ry , for you will not
only get an abun
dance of satisfaction
out of it , but you will save a whole lot of money ,
Ono of our garments , no matter if it is an overcoat
or suit for man or boy , will'wear just as long and
'ook. ' just as well as those made by other tailors.
We study to please and have our business down ,
to a science. We are , therefore , highly pleased with
ourselves , and will be amongst the merriest of
merry-makers v/e wish you the same.
BROWNING , KING & CO. ,
Btoro eon ftiturcliiy ) every even In ] 111) ) ! ) , SW , Cor , 15th and Douglas St
