THE OMAHA DAILY flfe ; SUNDAY , JUNK 2-J , 1894.
Btoto University Having Trouble Over the
Merrill Fund ,
ONE LITTLE ITEM OF EXPENSE DID IT
Two Hundred Dollar * I'nlil Amitmllj to J.
8. flnlat for Ills Trouble In Handling
the Money by tlio Urgent *
Must Ito Kctnrncd.
LINCOLN , June 23. ( Special to The Bee. )
The government authorities have refused
Jo forward to the State university the appro
priation known as the Morrlll fund , which
noes to agricultural colleges and universities
having agricultural departments. The max
imum amount of the fund Is $23,000 , and the
regents of the university have deducted from
It $200 a year to reimburse Steward J. S.
Dales for his trouble In caring for It and
securing the rctiulred bond. The United
States Treasury department claims that the
regents had no authority to appropriate the
$200 for any such purpose , and until It Is
accounted for no further appropriation will
bo made , The regular salary of the steward
Is $1 000 a year , and thn $200 Is for extra
labor In caring for the Morrlll fund.
LINCOLN IN BRIEF.
Judge Strode today sentenced Green
Gravely , the colored murderer , to nine years
In the penitentiary. Gravely murdered
Charles Thomas , also colored , In Ivlson s
billiard hall In 1802.
Tlio claim of the Union Savings bank
against Dora Wltte's estate was heard by
Judge Wnrzburg yesterday. The case Is one
where the estate sets up the defense tltat
Louie Meyer had defrauded the estate out
of $35,000 , the disputed note being ono of
many floated by him.
Rather an animated meeting was held by
the Lincoln Labor club last night , the prin
cipal subjects of discussion being the pil
grimage of the Coxeyltes and the arrest of
nn old citizen named James Campbell , who
refused to move on when so ordered by the
police. Charles N. Mayberry of Pawnee
county was one ot the speakers and received
a vote of thanks for his address.
Cotnor university has a now chancellor In
Mr. Jennings
the person of President Dungan ,
nings , the former chancellor , having retired
to travel among the churches In the Interest
of the Institution.
J. N. Tolman and C. F. Hodgman of Au
rora , III. , propose to Invest $50,000 In an Ice
manufacturing and cold storage plant in
this city. The building will be located at
Twentieth and P streets and work on It will
begin within the next ten days.
A number of delegates to the national con
vention of republican leagues at Denver lolt
the city today. The Iowa delegation , headed
by Governor Jackson and ex-Postmaster Gen
eral Clarkson , with the Iowa State band ,
passed through the city at 8:30 : this evening.
A vigorous effort Is being made by Lincoln
democrats to secure the state convention for
their town. , ,
The capital city will have a grand blow
out on the Fourth of July , when the new
viaduct will bo opened with appropriate
ceremonies.
John White , the Ilaveloclc man who dis
appeared yesterday , has not yet been heard
of ,
QIIANO ISLAND'S GUKSTS.
Interesting 8e loii of tlio KpivortU League
Convention YpHtnrdny.
GRAND ISLAND , June 23. ( Special to
The Beo. ) Four hundred or moro visitors
are now In ll\o \ city In attendance on the
fourth annual convention of the Nebraska
State Epworth league.
Last evening's exerolses.held at the Ancient
Order of United Workmen hall , were attended
by an unusually large audience. The hall , a
very largo o'ne , was filled to the doors. A
. IJong'antl praise service , conducted by Prof.
Kates and In which the Trinity Methodist
choir rendered some excellent music , opened
the services. Following this service Rev.
Frank Crane of Omaha spoke for over an
hour , and his eloquent discourse was lis
tened to most attentively.
This morning's session was opened with
a "Look Up" hour , conducted by'Rev. A. V.
Wilson of Dannebrog. Rev. L. C. Lemon
of Ashland preached an excellent sermon at
9 o'clock and oven at this early hour the
auditorium of Trinity Methodist church was
well filled. Rev. Dr. W. II. H. Plllsbury
road a paper on "The Relation ot the Ep
worth League to the Class Meeting , much
ot which was taken on tne note books ot
the members. Rev. G. H. McAdam , pas
tor of Trinity church , this city , made a few
" Guards.
apt remarks on the "Epworth
Department normals were then conducted ,
both In the auditorium and in the basement
of the church. . .
This afternoon's session belonged to the
junior league until 3 o'clock , when ' 'Uslness
. Reports
of the convention was transacted.
of various officers were received. The re
port of the corresponding secretary. Rev.
local chapters
McAdam. showed an Increase n
ters ot forty-one. The Grand Island dis
trict , which has ten more leagues than
charges , has the largest number of leagues
coniimred to charges of all districts In the
state. The condition of all the leagues of
the district wore shown to be good nnd
most encouraging. The treasurer's report
showed assets of $3IO.aver $150 being volun
tarily paid and subscribed here. Indebted
ness of league. $140. "
The election resulted1 : President. G. \ \ -
Berge of Lincoln ; first vice president , L. E.
Lucas ot Omaha ; secqnd vice president ,
George Gordon , Crawford ; third vice pres
ident. S. A. D. Henllne. Kearney ; fourth
vice president , Miss Etta Fltchle. University
Place ; corresponding secretary , Rev. ! ' }
Brass. Columbus : recording secretary. Miss
Anne Randall , Falrfield ; treasurer , R. M.
Laverty. Ord ; superintendent of junior
league , Miss Mary E. Bron. Vesta ; directors
Nebraska contlrence , Rev. L. C. Lemon.
Ashland ; nortJJ Nebraska conference , Rev.
C. II. DawsrA , South Omaha ; northwest
Nebraska conference , Rev. C. T. Moore ,
Alnsworth ; w < ft Nebraska conference , Rev.
II. D. Forsyth Gothenburg.
The AustrlaSan ballot was used In thh
election with most satlifactory results. A
nominating committee had been appointed to
propose two names for each office and the
typewritten ballots did the rest.
This evening Chancellor Crook delivered an
address a * Workmen temple. Though rain
kept some away the hall was well tilled.
The following la the program for tomor
row :
9 a. in. , at the Bnrtenbnch opera house ,
10 ? sermon by Rev. J. W. noblnson , Cen
tral City , followed by communion service ,
conducted by Rev. J. U. Mnxlleld , U.U. , of
Omaha.
2:30 : p. m. , nt First Unpttsit church , nong
Horvlci * ,
3 p. in. , sermon by Dr. Mnxlleld of Omaha.
7 p. m. , open nlr meetliu ; ut court house
square led by Dr. 11. I * . I'alne of Lincoln ,
In which nil congregations and young pee
ple's societies will join.
8 p. in. , convention sermon nt the Tlarten-
bach opeia house by Rev. Dr. Jesse How-
man YOUUK. editor of the Central Christian
Advocate of St. LoulM.
* The good byes will then bo spoken , and
the guests will depart from one of the beat
conventions yet held.
Cost Him mi hye.
\VAKEFIELD. Neb. , Juno 23. ( Special to
The Beo. ) Whllo In the act of filling the
end ot a cane with molted lead , John A.
Peterson of this place loat the sight of ono
of his eyes and seriously Impaired the sight
of the other. He was pounding the hot
metal Into the end of the cane , which was
somewhat damp , when the metal sploshed
Into his eyes.
lli'liron'n Summer Nornml.
HEBRON , Nob. , June S3. ( Special to The
Bee. ) The Hebron summer normal Is In
session here at present with an enrollment
of seventy-three. The Instructors are : Prof.
A. J. Morris. Prof. J. II. Cramer , Prof. H ,
M. Katun and Mrs. Cameron. The enroll
ment will reach 100 next week , and a most
successful term Is predicted.
Fnlrmont Hrxlilimre Itohhnil.
FAIRMONT , Neb. , Juno 23 , ( Special to
The Bee. ) Yesterday afternoon , whllo the
occupanU at Mayor R. L. Martin's residence
were all away , the house was broken Intend
nd robbed. It Is supposed that two tramps
ilid the work. All that has been missed from
the house thus far Is a revolver and a small
amount of money.
A game of base ball took place hero yester
day between the Nickel Plates of Geneva
ami the Indian Creek nine. It wan rather a
one-sided affair. The score at the end ot
thn alxth Inning stood 1C to 2 In favor ot the
Nickel Plates.
Lou Bailer , a brakeman on theFairmont
& Cheater branch , who resides at this end
of the line , whllo switching nt Strang , got
his hand between the bumpers , nnd , while
he did not lose any part Of the member , his
fingers , It Is thought , will always bo stiff.
I.A8T NHJlir.H IIKAVV 8TOn.1I.
Almost Orncral Throughout Ncbridka
Three Inrho4 of IVntnr nt I'niiihllii.
FRANKLIN , Neb. , Juno 23. ( Special Tclo-
'grarn to The Beo.The heaviest rain storm
hero In three years occurred this afternoon.
Three Inches of water fell In two hours.
There was same hall , but It did no damage.
ThH Is the first real good rain In fourteen
months.
HASTINGS , June 23. ( Special Telegram
to The Bee. ) During the progress of the
storm the basement of the wholesale house
of Trimble , Blackman & Alexander , Rrocors ,
was flooded with two feet of water. Con
siderable damage ivns done to fruit and
paper stored In the basement , but nearly a
ton of raisins was saved. At least three
Inches of water has fallen In Hastings dur
ing the l.iit twenty-four hours , an Inch ot
which foil early this morning and two Inches
this afternoon.
CEDAR \PIDS , Neb. , June 3. ( Special
Telegram to The Bee. ) The heaviest rain
nt this season visited this place and vicinity
late this afternoon , beginning about I
o'clock and continuing several hours. Lately
planted millet will start nicely and corn will
be greatly benefited If not made sure , though
It was still locking line before _ the rain ,
which has brightened up everything wonder
fully. The potato crop Is assured.
WAYNE. Neb. , Juno 23. ( Special Tele
gram to The Bee. ) A fine rain fell this
evcnlnu. Insuring excellent crops. Wheat
will be about four-fifths of a crop and oats
and hay light. Corn Is looking fine.
NORFOLK , Neb. , June 23. ( Special Tele
gram to The Ben. ) Norfolk and vicinity Is
rejoicing over an extremely heavy rain ,
which began falling at G-30 p. m. and gives
promise of continuing throughout the night.
This well help some small grain , while grass ,
corn and sugar beets will be Immensely ben
efited , thus keeping up the unbroken record
of no crop failure In thli part of the state.
ORD , Neb. . June 23. ( Special Telegram to
The Bee. ) Tills section , was visited by a
magnificent rain this afternoon. More
water lias fallen than at any time for three
years. A first-class crop Is assured and
much ot the wheat will be saved. Italn Is
still falling.
HEBRON. Neb. , Juno 23. ( Special to The
Bee. ) This county was again treated to a
heavy rain lasting all night , soaking the
ground thoroughly.
NORTH PLATTE , Neb. , Juno 23. ( Special
to The Bee. ) A fine rain fell here last
night , the second good rain ot the season.
The fall amounted to six-tenths of an Inch.
Corn Is growing finely.
MADRID , Neb. . Juno 23. ( Special to The
Bee. ) The old adage , "It never rains but It
pours. " is being practically verified here.
The tremendous rainfall of a week ago of
over seven Inches was nearly duplicated
yesterday , beginning about 3 o'clock In the
afternoon by quite a sprinkling of hall , and
soon turning to rain. All the level prairie
was soon n a sheet of water. It continued to
pour down until about 7 In the evening , nnd
seems to have been general throughout
Perkins county. It would bo difficult to
estimate the beneficial results which must
accrue from this frequent drenching ot the
productive soil ot this county. All crops , ex
cept small grain , which the rain came too
late to save , are in a most promising condi
tion and farmers and nil are jubilant.
KEARNEY , Neb. , June 23. ( Special Tele
gram to The Bee. ) During a severe thunder
storm last night the house of Mr. Hicks ,
seven miles northwest of here , was struck
by lightning nnd burned to the ground. Mr.
Hicks was away from homo and Mrs. Hicks ,
who was In the house with her eleven chil
dren , was severely stunned , but none of
them were seriously Injured. The family es
caped In their night clothes.
INAVALE , Neb. , Juno 23. ( Special Tele
gram to The Bee. ) Tlio drouth of several
months past Is at last broken. Several small
rains have fallen In the last few days , but
this morning this locality was visited by a
generous soaker and this evening by a very
hard two hour's rain , putting the ground In
excellent condition. Quite a little damage
was done at Red Cloud and other points near
by wind and water , but none here. The pros
pects for a corn crop never wore more flat
tering than at present.
YORK , Neb. , June 23. ( Special Telegram
to The Bee. ) The heaviest rain since the
flood of 1891 fell hero tills afternoon and
evening. A heavy wind accompanied the
rain , but no damage was done except from
water running Into dwelling homes In the
lower part of the city. Many families have
bcon compelled to move out for the night.
About live Inches of water fell.
IRVINGTON , Neb. , June 23. ( Special Tel
egram to The Bee. ) There was a heavy
wind storm this evening , which destroyed
a church , blew Mr. Green's barn off the
foundation and did damage to many outbuild
ings.
WEAI.nilS Altl ; DISCOUKACIU ) .
They Will Ail < JmlRO Duiitly lift Iinnic-
illutft Sriitftiico Mnmliiy.
SIDNEY. Neb. , Juno 23. ( Special Tele
gram to The Bee. ) All the evidence Is now
submitted In the trial of the seventeen Cox-
eyltcs for delaying United States mall and
stealing nn cnglno at Julesburg. Monday
morning the arguments will bo made by
Colonel Sawyer for the prosecution and Lin
coln C. Stockton for tlio defense.
The evidence today was someCvhat son-
flictlng , but was strong enough to hold all
of them to the United States district court.
It Is barely possible- that the defendants will
nsk immediate sentence , as they see the
hopelessness of their case. A great deal of
Interest has eecn manifested during- the trial
and the Improvised court room has always
been crowded.
Judge Dundy , Commissioner Frank and
United States Marshal White went to Chey
enne tonight with attaches of the court for
a Uttlo recreation and will return Monday
morning. The other Wealcrs are anxiously
awaiting a hearing and the probabilities are
that by Wednesday their cases will be con
cluded. _ _ _ _ _ _
Will Tint n T.lfo 111 the Flold.
DAVID CITY. Neb. . June 23. ( Special to
The Beo. ) Company E ot the Second regi
ment , Nebraska National guards , are pre
paring to camp out over Sunday. They will
load tents and equipage , march out to a
grove two and one-half miles from town and
go through the routine of real camp llfo In
the field. Army customs will bo observed ,
and as an Innovation dlvlno service will be
hold In the afternoon , after which the com
pany will march Into town.
llli InjiirlcH Trinuil Vntnl.
GRAND ISLAND , Juno 23. ( Special to
The Bee. ) Chris Brusk , the man who , while
working on a section the other day , was
knocked off the track by a locomotive , died
from his Injuries yesterday. Ho was single
and a native of Denmark. Ho has relatives
at Dannebrog , who have been notified. No
Inquest will be held , The funeral will take
place In this city tomorrow afternoon.
Crushed by nil Ice Wilson.
PERU , Neb. , Juno 23. ( Special to The
Beo. ) Yesterday a serious accident occurred
near hero In which Earl Hatsell , aged 13 ,
nearly lost hU life. Ho was seated on u
wagon loaded with tee enrauto to a picnic
when ho lost his balance aiid fell , the wagon
passing over him. His lungs are badly
crushed and spine Injured.
The children will enjoy the new animals at
Courtland Beach. Sao the cute Uttlo fawn.
Died nt Hydrophobia ,
CHESTER. Pa. , June 23. John D. Moore ,
Jr. , ox-chlot of the South Chester fire de
partment , was bitten by a dog some months
ago , but no serious coniequences were ex
perienced at the time. He was taken with
symptoms of hydrophibla Wednesday night
and died today , after terrible suffering.
< Jimrrel d Over u < ! lrl.
PRINCETON , Ky. . June 23 , At Greon-
vlllo last night Jack Wyckllffo shot and
killed Albert Reno , firing two loads from a
thotgun at close range. The two men were
rival * for the affections or a young girl In
the community , Wyckllfte baa been arrested.
CONDITION OF TflE FARMER
A Reply to Secretary Morton's Article on
"Farmers' Fallacies and Furrowa. "
WHY THE PRICE OF WHEAT DECLINED
Increased Production mid Multiplied Acreage -
ago Cutsn riRtiro it'rlccit of Knrm 1'ro-
iluctn Docllno with tlio Co t ot
What I'nrmor * Consume.
Ily J. Henry Wood.
In the June Issue ot Tlio Forum Hon. J.
Sterling Morton , secretary of agriculture ,
Rives us some light upon matters pertaining
to "Fanners , Fallacies nml Furrows. " Ac
cording to this authority there was A time
In this country when tlio popular aspiration
was to bo n farmer. H was , however , moro
than fifty years ago that such a condi
tion existed , and since that time popular sen
timent hag reversed Itself. Mr. Morton
saya that "In those primitive days there was
oven more anxiety on the part ot towns
people to get Into the country and become
farmers than there Is now on the part of
farmers to become city people. " Hut while
Mr. Morton almost dollies the colonial farmer
and his moro Immediate successors ; calls
attention to the fact that eleven earlier
presidents of the United States were called
from their farms to take charge of the coun
try ; and says that ho ( the farmer ) was looked
upon as "the ono man whose virtues , In
telligence and standing In life" was to be
emulated with advantage whllo thus eulo
gizing the farmer of tlio good old days that
are gone he ( Mr. Morton ) talks as though
farming were overdone , and as though the
very act ot emulating the much-praised
farmer of olden limes has resulted In over
production ot farm crops and the perma
nent reduction of prices of farm products.
The purposa of the article , as judged by
Its contents. Is to argue that the Morrlll
and McKlnlcy high tariffs have been workIng -
Ing disastrously against the farmer by forc
ing him to make his purchases "In the home
markets , whence- all competition ot the out
side world Is excluded. " nut the weakness
of this argument l exposed by Mr. Morton
himself , for he boldly makes the assertion
that "the American farmers are better off
today than the workers In any other voca
tion. " If Mr. Morton Is correct In this lat
ter statement , then the farmer should be the
last one to complain.
Overproduction , Mr. Morton shows. Is the
agenc ? which has cheapened the price of
wheat. The productive capacity of each
farmer has been doubled by the Introduction
of improved machinery , so that if the per
centage of farmers to population had re
mained the same there would now be twice
as much grain raised per capita as there
was In 1S57. The percentage lias , however ,
decreased from CO per cent to loss than 40
per cent , but even though that be so It must
bo true that the present 40 per cent of
farmers can grow twice as much as could
the 50 per cent fifty years ago , and this
leaves a balance in favor of Increased pro
ductiveness equaling the capacity of 30 per
cent.
cent.Why should there bs a point against a
protective tariff In this ? The farmer pro
duces more , and has more to sell. Where
he bad one bushel fifty years ago , he has
two bushels now , and ho has more land as
his property. On the other hand , we surely
cannot be asked to' bellevo that the farmer
Is paying higher prlcea for what he buys
than ho did lifty years ago , nor that he Is
paying any more than his brethren In other
civilized lands. . Men who have recently
como to this country from Europe tell us
that the necessaries of life are about as
cheap hero as there , and certainly no one
expects the farmer to be able to Indulge In
the luxuries that are high here , as evary-
\\here.
The Increased acreage of land under plow
"has furnished another , and possibly greater
factor of the decline of profits , " says Mr.
Morton , and this Increased acreage Is
"largely attributed to the operation of the
homestead law. which rame Into vigor In
18G6. " In other words. Uncle Sam dealt the
farmers ot the country a serious blow when
ho opened up to the people the millions ot
acres which have been "homesteaded. " Not
only did that act deprive the farmer of his
profits , but It has tended to a degradation
of the profession of agriculture. For if we
must bo directed to the high standing ot
the farmer during the period when the
claven presidents were selected , from his
ranks , and arc compelled to look back fifty
years to recall the worthy agriculturalist , it
follows that the farmer of today , even
though he may be "better off than the work
ers In any other vocation , " must have
sadly deteriorated in virtue. Intelligence and
standing In life , and is no longer worthy ot
our emulation.
Such la the Idea which Mr. Morton's Illus
trations are calculated to create. And this
tarrlble backsliding is traceable to the republi
can purpose of fostering American Industries ,
says the eminent secretary.
It Is hardly likely that the present condi
tion of the farmers of Otoo county would bo
used by Mr. Morton as a proof of the suffer
ings which farmers are undergoing. There
the farmers , all home neighbors of Mr. Mor
ton , are well-off , and they can sell their
broad acres for many times their original
cost. Crop failures are almost unknown.
Mortgages are plentiful , but Instead of being
evidences ot poverty , they are proofs of
wealth. A capitalist who can put up as good
collateral for a loan as la an Otoe county
farm. Is far from being Impecunious , and
just so far from being In straitened cir
cumstances Is Mr. Morton's fellow farmer
who can borrow money on his much-coveted
land at G to 7 per cent. To claim that the
farmer is being robbed because of a pro
tective tariff , and at the same time admit
that ho Is In better circumstances than any
one else , is a self-destructive argument. It
Is , moreover , purely democratic to reduce
the mill operative to starvation by cutting
off duties and shutting down mills , at a time
when tlio farmer Is said to bo best off , but
wiiosi ) ranks are overcrowded. Consistency
Is ax Uttlo apparent hero as It Is In the con
trast between the democratic promises and
the democratic performances.
Slide for life , Courtland beach tonight.
SHOCKLEY NOT BOBBED.
Complaint Clmi-gliiK Hmuoaloment 1'llcd
IIus r.uft tlio City.
A complaint was filed yesterday by Wil
liam Felltr , of Feller Uroi. , grocerymen ,
Twenty-fourth and Clark streets , against
Charles A. Shockley , a clerk formerly In
their employ , for embezzlement.
The Information charges that Shockley
took $50 and other Rinall amounts ,
the sum of which is not yet known , but It
is thought it may reach something like $100.
It will bo remembered that Charles Shock-
ley went to the police station last winter
and made the statement to the police that
he had been waylaid In his haymow and
robbed nf $50 and a watch. The Btory was
not believed and yesterday Special Officer
Davis fo nil the vat'h that was all ged to have
been stolen In William Trennery's pawnshop ,
1021 Farnam street. Five dollars had been
advanced on It. It was placed In the pawn
broker's shop under the name of Shockley.
This led to the- filing of the complaint.
Shockloy was discharged by the firm a
week ago on suspicion ot crooked work In
the handling ot goods as a delivery man. Ho
left the city yesterday.
Everybody and their neighbor will bo at
CourtJand Ueach this afternoon or evening.
Fruit dinner * OrgunUo n Trust.
SAN FRANCISCO , June 23. Nearly all
the fruit canners ot the atato have organ
ized a trust , which will Incorporate under the
name of the California Canneries company ,
with a capital stock of $500,000 , of which
$300,000 has been subscribed and paid up.
The expressed Intention Is to stop cut-throat
competition , to maintain prices at profitable
figure * ami to reduce expenses , The now
company will control five-eighths ot the en
tire output ot the canned fruits of the state ,
and It Is expected that the percentage will
bo Increased before long.
Zoological garden Courtland beach.
jrt- DAYS
ill
-WITH THE-
LTJ
_ nJ
-AT-
June 26 ; 27 and
DAY WILL BE
Flying Jib 2:04 :
W. W. P 2:10 : %
Online 3:10 : %
Lena Hill 2:12 : %
"Carbondale" and "Directly , " the Champion 2-year-old pacers , and more than 200
others of
THE FASTEST HORSES IN THE COUNTRY
are now at Union Park Track , ready for the races. Don't miss the chance to see
the cracks of the East and West meet in "Batde Royal. "
QO EVERY DAY
ELECTRIC CABS RUN TO THE GRAND STAND.
TIED DOWN WITH RED TAPE
Amazing Quantities'-Wrapped Around Army
Business , Accounts.
j.ii.
CIRCUMLOCUTION IN ALL ITS GLORY
3
Tedious unit1 Noodles * ' Forms Which Must
Ito Observed In Keeping Itookg nt a <
Military I'o'jt Sanrplo Absurdi
ties of the .System.
A soldier could hardly be expected to ad
mit that the pen Is mightier than the sword ,
but officers of our army find It only too true ,
and soon learn , sometimes to their cost , that
It Is necessary to be accurate and methodical ,
and , above all things , well up in the intri
cate system of paper work connected with
their profession. Intricate and cumbersome ,
indeed , Is this system , and even when a life
time has been spent In struggling with It
there Is always something to learn. The re
ports , returns and other papers are separate
for each staff department , and when a young
ster just out ot West Point Is suddenly put
on duty with half a dozen of them at once ,
as he frequently is at our small posts. It Is
a wonder that he does not then and there
Jump Into the river and drown himself. I
was fortunate In this respect , says a writer
In the New York Herald , for I passed my
first years of service at a large post , where
there were plenty of moro experienced officers
for duty In the staff departments. Out I was
not wholly free from paper work during this
time , for boards of survey , courts-martial
and a dozen other things come to all alike.
I well remember my first experience on a
board ot survey. A day or two after JoinIng -
Ing there was handed to me by the adju
tant's orderly a formal printed order conven
ing a board ot three oflicors to "Investigate ,
report , upon and fix the responsibility for the
damaged condition of one can of French peas ,
for which Lieutenant A. II. Is responsible. "
The board met at the appointed time In duo
state and "sat upon" tlio peas figuratively
speaking. Each ono gravely smelled of them
In order of rank , and then , after duo delibera
tion , which had been enjoined In tlio order ,
tlio board decided that they wcro sour and
that Messieurs Crapaud et Cle. , Havre ,
France , who , as It appeared on the label ,
werv tl',1 canners , should bo "stuck" for the
whole \aluo-vlz. , 21 cents ! This finding was
In strict conformity with army regulations.
But that didn't end the matter not for me.
Dy virtue of rank , or rather lack ot rank , It
was my privilege to write up the proceed
ings , which had to bo In triplicate. Each
copy began with a transcript of the order ,
word for word. Then followed an account of
the doings of the board , with spaqo for the'
signature of each member and the action of
the post commander. Attached was the cer
tificate of Lieutenant A. B. , to the effect
that lie had taken duo care of the peas since
they came Into his charge , and outside ot all
was a sheet containing a brief epitome ot
what was within. The work took me half
a day , and I was lilcM not to have It sent
back for correction. '
HEARTY ME'L'fFOR A DULL.
The proceedings ot another board , whoso
members tried to be facetious , did comeback
back , accompanied ) iy a sharp Indorsement
from tfio post commander. It seems that
the quartermaster hal | found five tons of hay
missing. About the s amo time a stray bull
had been soon wandering over the reserva
tion , and one morning the fence around the
haystacks had been1 'found ' broken down.
Uulng able to discover' ' no other reason for
the shortage the bqahl gravely reported
that the bull had cdlctf the five tons ot hay
on the night In question !
An officer must enerclsa the utmost care
for property coming Ihtb his hands , for If ho
loses even a cent's worth through what can
possibly bo construct 'as carelessness by the
officials at Washlngtbn he must pay for It
himself. H Is related''of ' a certain officer of
the engineer corps that , after having paid a
contraotor $100,000 for constructing n break
water , lie took the latter up on his returns
as acquired by purchase. During the fol
lowing winter there cume up a terrlblo storm
and carried the breakwater away. H was
then duly dropped from the returns , but two
years later the officer was notified that he
had failed to properly account for one break
water valued at | 1QO,004 and that In consequence
quence the amount would t > e stopped against
hla pay until It had been made good to the
government. It took n small volumg of
corroanondenca to clear the matter up. An-
otler officer was quartermaster of his regi
ment just previous to the battle of Cedar
Mountain , and had In his charge among
other things ton slx-mulo teams. During
the battle ho was taken prisoner and nev r
beard of the teams again. Only a few yeara
ago ho was notified that their value bad bean
charged against his pay , but fortunately ha
was able to cite an act ot congress , which ,
on account of the great loss ot property '
Incident to the valley campaign , had been
specially passed for the relief of quarter
masters serving thero.
Many are the tricks resorted to by dis
honest contractors to deceive the officer for
whom tlisy are delivering supplies. A fa
vorite ono Is to bribe employes , by which
means it Is easy to deliver short weight or
measure. When this trick Is not possible
others are tried. The writer once saw a
contractor who was delivering hay at a
western post stop at an acepula a short
distance from the reservation and deliber
ately pour bucketful after bucketful of
water upon his load. The quartermaster
was quickly Informed of the fraud about to
be perpetrated upon him and the contractor
had to take his hay back whence It came.
But looking after the property Is not all.
In addition the responsible officer must make
quarterly returns of everything In his pos
session. To each staff department a sep
arate return must be sent , and to the
quartermaster's department two one for
clothing and tentago and the other for mis
cellaneous property , classified as "stores. "
One of these returns frequently has 1,000
headings , and with the Invoices , receipts ,
abstracts , etc. , that must accompany It may
take a week's work for Its preparation.
Moreover , every paper In a return must be
In duplicate , ono to be retained by the
officer and the other to bo forwarded.
FORMULA FOR BUYING A KEG OF
NAILS.
In making purchases the paper , time and
labor consumed are enormous. In no de
partments except the medical and ordnance
can purchases be made without executing
a formal contract , and In these only for
small amounts. If a quartermaster needs a
keg of nails he writes for the necessary au
thority to purchase to the chief quartermas
ter of the military department in which ho
Is serving , and the letter must go through
the hands ot the post and department com
manders. It the request is approved the
letter comes back with a statement to that
effect through the same channels. Then
the quartermaster , who has probably
waited a week or ton days already , must
Issue a circular Inviting proposals and giv
ing all bidders ten days' or a month's no
tice. When the contract is duly let to the
lowest bidder and the transaction completed
the following papers must accompany the ab
stract or purchases which goes with the
property return : Letter ot authority to
purchase , copy of proposal , certificate stating
whore the proposals wcro sent and posted ,
copy of each bid , copy of letter notifying the
successful ( ? ) bidder to deliver the property
and voucher for payment. And , mind you ,
everything Is In duplicate ! Can you wonder
that bidders charge for the trouble they are
put to In such red tape business and that the
War department can rarely make purchases
as cheaply as a business man who simply
buys what ho wants and pays for It ?
At Fortress Monroe ono time ono of the
buildings on the wharf was scon to bo on
flro. Promptly hailing a flro boat that hap
pened to be near by the quartermaster of
fered the captain $100 If he would turn his
hose on the flames until they were extin
guished. The captain compiled , and In duo
time received a check from the quartermas
ter. But when the Intter'a accounts came
to be audited the amount was stopped against
him on the ground that he had not adver
tised for flro boats , giving the usual time for
competition. The matter was afterward
explained , however , nnd the charge removed.
The greatest annoyance In money matters
arises when an officer has to make purchases
or hire services from civilians who are un
acquainted with army methods. For In
stance , a recruiting officer takes a small
party of men and goes out Into tlio sur
rounding towns to look tip llkuly young men
for his regiment. Quarters having been secured -
cured , ho hires an expressman to take the
baggage up from the station , for which
service a charge of 50 cents Is made. Is a
sum ot money furnished to meet such con
tingencies ? Not at all. The expressman
must make out two hills and sign two vouch
ers , or receipts , stating on the latter that ho
has received 50 cents , when ho hasn't. The
whole thing now goes to the disbursing of
ficer of the recruiting service at New York ,
and a few days after the end of thu month
there comes a check to the luckless man. In
the meanwhile the recruiting officer has re
ceived dally visits for the collection of "that
Uttlo bill , " and having vainly tried to ex
plain that "everything Is all right , " pays It
himself , as he does the bill for taking the
baggage back to the station when ho leaves
town the next week. At the next stopping
place the program Is repeated.
SAVES TRUNKFULS OF PAPERS.
H is a great annoyance that returns and
accounts , after being examined by the head
of the staff department to which they per
tain , mu > t go to the treasury officials for
final scrutiny. There are but few exceptions
to this lule. From tills final place of review
an officer usually waits two or three years
to receive notice that his papers have been
closed. Frequently he waits loiiKer. A
shrewd old paymaster of my acquaintance
has cheats enough to fill a good tlzed room ,
containing the retained record of every money
transaction ho ever made. Theio he moves
about thu country , wherever he may bo sta
tioned , for he docs not Intend to be caught
napping.
Ilullngs In tha Treasury department are
Alix S:07 : %
Edina 2:13 : %
Sumatra A 2:16 : %
Betsey Cotton 2:16 : %
often absurd ! and as often contradictory. To
such an extent was this true In ono case that
the officer concerned was exasperated enough
to writa : "Consistency , thou art a jewel , but
you do not seem to bo In the Jewelry busi
ness. " A disbursing offlcpr must be very
careful or he will come out behind In his ac
counts. If he makes an under payment ho
Is ordered to complete It ; It he overpays he
must make the excess good himself. And
the slightest error Is liable to lead to the
stoppage of a voucher.
Not long ago the writer was In the office
of a disbursing quartermaster when the lat
ter opened his mall. Among the letters was
a bulky one from the Treasury department ,
stating that he was In debt to the govern
ment to the extent of $30,000 , and then fol
lowed the Items which made up this amount.
They wore all suspended for trivial reasons ,
several being on account of the fact that the
number of the check by which the voucher
had been paid was not put down in the place
provided for It on the back , notwithstanding
that It did appear on the face of the voucher.
To the paper work required outside the
administration of the staff departments I
have scarcely alluded. Suntco It to say that
It Is equally great. Our whole system Is
very trying , even In peace and to experienced
officers. What It will be for the volunteers
of the next war can be Imagined. And when
you ask why the matter la not corrected , I
reply , "Ask congress , in compliance with
whose laws the system exists. "
Balloon nightly at 8. Courtland. IS
LABOtt NOl'KS ,
A new Knights of Labor assembly has
been organized at Cozad with thirty-one
members.
The union carpenters of Omaha are talkIng -
Ing of regularly employing a lawyer to pass
upon questions of law that are of interest to
the union.
The Machine Wood Workers In Omaha
are getting In better condition In spite of
the hard times. Their co-operatlvo mill Is
now an assured success.
The committee on arrangements for the
grand labor picnic to be hold at Sarpy Mills
on July 4 has prepared a part of the program
that Is to bo carried out on that occasion.
The opening address Is to bo delivered by
Hov. Gregory J. Powell of the Second Con
gregational church. General Master Work
man Sovereign of the Knights ot Labor will
deliver an address upon the subject , "The
Requirements of Patriotism. " A game of
base ball is on the program , which will be
played by teams from the Knights of Labor
and trades unionists. The district master
workman says It can be depended upon that
this will bo a "hot" game , as both sides will
bo at their best. The knights have their
team In training now and promise to carry
off the prize unless the trades unionists got
to work very soon. Thcro will bo a number
of other athletic sports , such as boating ,
turning , ten pin alley , dancing , 100-yard
race for gentlemen , 75-yard race for ladles ,
potato race for members of tlio Knights ot
Labor only , 75-yard egg race for ladles and
various other sports that will bo added In a
few days. The committee has not as yet
decided upon the prizes that will be glvon ,
but It Is understood that valuable prizes will
be given for all the games and sports. Sev
eral hundred tickets have already been bold
and It Is expected that 5,000 or 6,000 persons
will take part In the picnic. ' The speaking
will commence soon after 2 o'clock In the
afternoon. Trains leave the union depot at
10 a. m. and 1:30 : p. m. Tickets for the round
trip are sold for 35 cents , which Includes
admission to the park.
There will bo three very Important lalwr
meetings held this morning at 10 o'clock
nt the southeast corner of Twelfth and
Farnam streets. The first will bo the
meeting of the committee on arbitration of
the Central Labor union to consider the
business referred to this committee at the
last regular meeting of the union. After
this committee has concluded Its delibera
tions the special committee appointed by the
Central Labor union to prepare for the cele
bration of Labor day will convene and take
under consideration the manner In which
Labor day shall bo celebrated In Omaha tills
year. It Is the general opinion that the
celebration and parade this year will far ex
cel all previous demonatratllns , as the unions
are much stronger now In Omaha than ever
before. There will be ten organizations In
the parade this year that wore organized
since last Labor day , besides nearly all of the
older organizations have greatly Increased In
numbers. The Omaha and South Omaha
vrorkorH will combine on this occasion and
an effort will bo made to Hccurn Syndicate
park for the afternoon and evening. A long
list of athletic sports and other amusements
will bo carried out and a number of speakers
will be Invited , The Central Labor union
will moat likely ask the business men to as
sist them In making the &rrangornentx ,
which they are noted In Omaha for giving
liberally. After thu meeting of this com
mittee * the executive council ot the State
Federation ot Labor will convene to make
arrangements for Its annual moetliiK , which
takes place In Grand Island this year. At
this meeting there will bo present snvoral
members of organized labor of Lincoln and
ether cities throughout the state.
Elegant mualc tonight Courtland bo ch.
WILL KNIFE NEWS FRIENDS
Wyoming Democrats Divided with a Denvof
Citizen Leading Ono Faction. ,
MONEY FOR CAMPAIGN PURPOSES
One Side Accuses the Other ot Falllnc to
Account for Flvo Thousand Dollars
lars Contributed by the Na
tional Committee. '
CHEYENNE , Juno 23. ( Special Telegram
to The Bee ) The democratic state central
committee of Wyoming met here today. The
meeting was anything but harmonious. Bui
few of the prominent members of the partjr
were present. A largo number of Chairman
New's friends wore on hand with proxies. .
Consequently ho felt no timidity In tenderIng -
Ing his resignation In response to the demands -
mands of the antl-admlnlatratlon faction ot
the party , which has been Insisting upon hl
retirement from the chairmanship of ths.
committee because of his removal to Denver. .
As Mr. New anticipated , action on the resign
nation was indefinitely postponed.
The committee decided to hold the con
vention to nominate candidates for stata
offices In Cheyenne August 8. The populist
convention meets at the same place ono daj1 , '
later. This Is an Indication that the demo
crats will endeavor to consummate anothoa
fusion with the populists this year. AN
though the anti-administration faction , led
by John Charles Thompson , ox-secretary of
the committee , created somewhat of a sen
sation by making a demand upon Chairman
New for an accounting of the $5,000 which
it is alleged ho received from the national
democratic committee during the campaign
of 1802 , Mr. Now positively refused to ac *
cede to the request , stating that ho had made
a statement of the expenditure of the mono
to tlio parties from whom It 'Was ' received. ,
and this was sufficient. Hon. A. C. Camp
bell , ono of the leaders of this faction , who
conducted the legislative contest cases for
the democrats In the last legislature , alleges
that the money was contributed by Senator
Gorman of tlio senatorial steering committed
for the purpose of paying the expense of tha
contest. Mr. Campbell has a bill for $307
for professional services as attorney In thosa
cases , but Mr. New has refused to pay tha
same. Today the claim was presented to
the committee , but It was again rejected.
This afternoon Mr. Campbell Instituted suit
against the chairman of the committee to
recover the amount.
The party Is completely disrupted. The
anti-New faction openly declare that they ,
will not support the ticket nominated at the
stata convention If the Now men succeed la
controlling affairs.
Union 1'arlflo ttmpluyo Killed.
CHEYENNE , Juno 23 , ( Special Telegram
to The Ilco. ) Jerry Collalmn , an employe ot
the Union Pacific shops , met with an accident
which resulted in his death last night. Ho
was on a platform endeavoring to throw a
belt off a pully In the blacksmith shop
when ho fell to the floor sixteen foot below ,
sustaining a fracture ot the hip and con
cussion of tlio siMno , from which ha died
four hours later. Thn deceased was 17 years
old. Ho leaves a wife and two daughters ,
Improving tlin Union I'urlllc
LARAMIE , Wyo. , Juno 23. ( Special to
The Bee. ) Assurances have been received
from Omaha that the Union Pacific man
agement will proceed with the erection of a
new depot at this place this year. The plan
of the depot at Ilolso , Idaho , will be adopted.
Stone for the structure will bo furnished by
the Board of Trade.
Switchback and carousal Courtland ,
1'uttorn Miikora Klrct Ollli'nra and Adjourn.
CINCINNATI. Juno 23. The National
League of Pattern Makers adjourned after
electing tha following olllcer.i ; President ,
L. R. Thomas , Pltuburg ; vice president , K.
McKulken , Philadelphia ; r.ccrctary and treas
urer , E , H. Dlehl , New York ; executive
board of managers , H. Froman. St. Louis ;
J. W. Mulr , Omaha ; Joseph Uuvul , Balti
more ; J. Hill. San Franclsoo. The next
meeting v.111 bo In Philadelphia , the first
Monday In Juno , 180C.
Killed by an Imbedlo.
NEW BRUNSWICK , N , J. , Juno 23.
Frederick Ilulir , who has been regarded for
several years as mentally unbalanced , killed.
his wife and then himself today , uslnu a
pistol. The couple had four children , tba
youngest but 2 years old ,
A cooling ride to Courtlaol
