Nebraska Newspapers

    TIDD OMAHA DAILY BEE : MONDAY. DEOEMKEH 1O. 1804.
THE OMAHA DAILY Ite
n. nosnwATKti , Ediior.
t'UOMBtllM ) nVEHY MOHNINO ,
TKIIM8 OF 8UI1HC1UPT1ON.
Dally n < > 9 ( Without Hundnr ) . One Year t S 00
Dalljr Hee and HunJay , Ono Year. . . . . . 1904
Hlx Month * JW
Three Months JW
BunOnr U r , One Y ir. J W
Patunfay Ilee. One Year 1 JO
Weekly Hee. One Yenr M
OKI-'lCKfJ.
Omalia , The He IlulMlng.
South Omnhn , Corner N nnd Twenty-fourth 8t .
Council llliirr , 12 rear ! ftrcet.
Chicago OlJlre , 17 Chamber of Cnmmerce.
New York , Ilooms 1J , II anil 15. Tribune llldg" .
\Vaitilngton , HOT K iilrcct , N. W.
All communication ! ! relating to nw nml edi
torial matter should bo mldrewod ! To the IMItor.
IIUHINKSH LETTE11H.
All business letter * nd remittances should be
addrcared to Tlie Ilee PuMlshlnjt company.
Omnha. Draft" , checks nnd pnntnlDce ordern to
lw made. piynMo to tlie order of the cnmpanv.
THE 1IBE PUIIUHIIINO UOMl'ANr.
*
STATEMENT OF CIUCUI.AT1ON.
Oeorgo 11. TiBclinck. nccrelnry of The Ilee Pub-
Hulling company. belnB iluly worn , K thiit
the nctunl nuinlwr or full nnd comideticoplp
of the Dally Morning. Evening nnd Humlny lice
printed ilur'ng Hie month of November , 1S8I. wn
lui follows :
1 21.8M 16 21.511
2 2U17 U 2I.CB )
s. , . . . 2r,2n IS 21.173
4 24,025 15 SMSI
r a.r.rr 2) 31.512
2I.17S 21 21,110
7 3I.2M 23 2'MSI '
8 MOM 2.1 2 < > ,2' > l
9 21,5JS 21 21,351
10 21,108 2.- , 21,79) )
11 23 ) 2(5 ( 2),121
13 2DM7 27. . . . 2)IT7fi
] J 21,001 2 l .OfiS
14. . . ! < > . & 23 , 2),02) )
13 20,070 30. . . 19lii2 !
Tolil . . . . .KI
* deductions for unsold and returned
copltfl . . II.2
Total old
Da.ly . averaKe net .
Sworn to before me and uLscrlbeil In my
presence this 3.1 day of liwcmbcr , 1801.
( Heal. ) N. P. KUI Notary Public.
Water pressure stronj ; cnoiifrh to burst
a hydrant must linvu some lltllu force
nftor all.
One experience with a $108 charity
baby ought to be enough for our county
commissioners.
The Industry of miinufncturluK Imagin
ary presidential states Is gradually re-
Binning Its old-time prosperity.
The supreme court commission Is a
child of necessity. The legislature must
take action to remove the necessity.
Why should one man have his suit
passed upon by appointive supreme
court commissioners and another his by
Judges elected and answerable to the
people ?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
If the United States grand jury uow
In session In this city will do as well
or half as well as the grand jury now
In session at Sioux City there would be
n rattling of bones among Moshcr's old
cronies and coparceners.
If Tom Murray would be satisfied
with having a boulevard named after
him , we should be Inclined to favor the
ancient purveyor of anchors , Noah's
arks , stuffed bears , log chains , colilns
and articles out of general use.
If the Sugar trust docs not soon re
sume operations in Washington some
of the numerous candidates for United
States senator In various states may
be forced to conclude that a scnatorshlp
Is not BO attractive as It used to be.
Well , even If President Cleveland
didn't write all of his message , he did
nothing worse than a great many con
gressmen and senators who are addicted
to the delivery of speeches carefully
compiled for them at a stipulated price.
Council IJluffs Is to have Its electric
lighting operated on the Philadelphia
schedule at $8t per lamp per year. We
believe that reduced to an all night
basis this Is even cheaper than what
OnnUia Is to have under Its new con
tract.
Over $5,000,000 have been taken from
New York banks In the past ten years
by dishonest employes. That Is defal
cation. The enormous amount taken
from the people by the Sugar trust can
not bo computed. That Is commercial
Hhrewdness.
It Is a very serious problem whether
any more villages should be Incorpor
ated within live miles of Omaha. The
tendency everywhere else Is for cities
to annex suburban towns and villages
and unite them under one municipal
government.
We are now approaching the period
when public bodies and public otllclals
arc making quiet preparations for turn-
lug- over a new leaf. The Indications
are that several new leaves will bo
turned over In the court house and city
hall with the advent of the new year.
Sioux City Is to be congratulated upon
the effective work of the grand jury
that bus Just run down the gross frauds
so long perpetrated by certain of Its
public otlleers. A few equally persistent
and painstaking grand juries In some
other western cities that we know of
might perhaps earn the eternal gratitude
of some fraud-ridden communities.
The regents of the State university ask
for a special half-mill tax for two years
only. Let them succeed In getting this
additional revenue now and they will
present equally plausible arguments for
the continuance of the extra half-mill
tax by the legislature two years hence
and every succeeding two years there
after , even If the grand assessment roll
Is doubled or trebled.
The action of the council In ordering
ono steam lire engine In addition to
those already In use will be approved by
the taxpayers. While three additional
steamers were demanded by the In
Burauco agents , the council Is not b.
position to grant the request. If tut
contemplated Improvement In the water
works system Is carried out , there ma > '
also be no necessity for purchasing ad
dltlonal lire steamers.
As has been clearly set forth In Tht
Bee , the great Hour makers of Mlnne
Botn are undertaking to crush out the
inlllera of this state. Since the IIOIUL
patronage sentiment spread thrqughou
this state- Nebraska millers have beei
nblo to sell their product at home ant
the Industry has nourished as never
before. We hope the people of this cltj
and state will continue to glvo preference
enco to Nebraska-made Uour.
IfOS/fBfl'S PK&tTKNTtAKT COtiTHACT.
Once upon a ( line HOSH Stout , the
milder of the penitentiary and lessee of
convict labor , offered to put the editor
of The Dec on his pay roll as a matter
of courtesy , but the generous tender
vas promptly declined with thanks. To
n man up a tree It would look as If a
similar offer from Mosher to Congress-
nan Ilryan's editorial substitute on the
World-Herald has not been spurned.
The zeal with which that person volim-
ecred to champion Mosher at the time
ho Douglas county Jail scandals
vcro the sensation of the hour
eft that Impression , nnd this
mprcsslon receives strong con-
Irmatlon by the alacrity with which
ic Jumps Into the breach on behalf of
Mosher Immediately on the heels of the
nibllcatlon of the Stout contract and
he history of the transfer under which
Jorgan now represents Moshcr's Inter-
Bsts In the penitentiary contract. It Is
still fresh In the memory of most people
icreabouts how Mosher played the role
) f cuttlefish at the time his Illicit tola-
ions with women of 111 repute and his
Islts to low dives while he was pro-
umed to bo In Jail were the town tnllc
jy writing llbelous letters , In which he
ought to besmirch the editor of The
! eo by baseless Inuendoes. It was at
hat time , also , that the World-Herald
vas favored by Moshor with a copy of
tlleged testimony given by K. Hose-
vater before a legislative committee In
801. This testimony Is again rehashed
o make It appear that the editor of The
lee favored the Mother contract origin
ally and volunteered to advocate
Mother's Interests before the committee.
Kven If this were literally true It
vould afford no Justification for contln-
ling the present contract. Mosher was
> resiiined to be solvent In181)1 ) and was
n position to fulfill the contract and
exercise the supervision which Is pre-
equlslte on the part of the contractor.
A great change has taken place since
'
ISU1. Mosher Is not only bankrupt , but
te Is confined In the Sioux Kails pent-
entlary and therefore beyond the reach
if process to compel him to live up to
he conditions of the compact , and will
tot be In position to resume his rela-
lens with the state before the time for
vhlcli the contract runs. Manifestly ,
herefore , something must be done by
lie state to meet existing conditions.
The object of the publication by The
[ lee was tp place the incoming leglsla-
.ure and administration In possession
of the facts and In position to deal with
the problem when It comes up for solu
tion.
tion.The
The testimony of E. Rosewatcr was
n no sense a defense of the contract or
of Mosher. On the contrary , It Is a
candid and unbiased presentation of the
facts as then known. The concluding
> art of the testimony throws sufficient
ight on this point. After discussing at
some length the advantage and disad
vantage of convict labor , Mr. Uosewater
said :
The state penitentiary should have been
at Weeping Water , Beatrice , or some place
where there Is power and material on which
these men could work , where an ordinary
aborer could be set at work , where there
was work any laborer could do. It will be
necessary some day to remove the peniten
tiary to some other place. As It Is now ,
the 40 cents a day , and the 30 or 40 cents
ho gets for subletting , the men , appears
quite an amount. You could board a
good many In a good hotel for that. And
they had to be guarded. That Is where
the big expense comes In. You could not
possibly make more than . $25,000 a year If
you tried , because there are only 350 or 360
convicts , and If It Is figured at the rate of
50 c nts a day for each man he would be
getting $170 a day , nnd at the outside from
$500 to $700 a week , and that , of course ,
would run all the way from $25,000 to $35.000
a year. It Is a good income , but the state
might lose the whole amount , and lose
more. That Is the difficulty. One Impro
priety Is that It did not open the doors
wide and Invite other people to come In
and compete for this extension.
Q. The people had Heard so much com
plaint In the past that they thought that
there was a terrible steal In some place ,
nnd they got It from these papers , and we
thought you could tell us all about It.
A. I charged that Stput monkeyed with
the legislature every session to get his ap
propriation through and used up all the
lands of the state given to the penitentiary
and a great deal of other land , and gave a
second rate lot of buildings when he had
the contract to make Improvements. I
think since Mr. Mosher has been In that
there has been a stoppage of that and they
have got about all the water works they
want.
Since that testimony was given Mosher
has blossomed out Into a more danger
ous oil room lobbyist and boodle dis
tributor than IIlll Stout ever was
reputed to be. He engineered the $40-
000 cell house Job through the legisla
ture , tampered with the Impeached
state house officials , and finally brought
on the smashup of the Capital National.
It Is Just this deplorable state of affairs
that forces Itself upon the next legis
lature.
Another point upon which new light
has been shed since 1S01 Is the validity
of the Mosher transfer. It was first
assumed to be legal , but very eminent
attorneys now assert that the act of the
legislature was null and void because It
was a usurpation of executive powers
and did not provide for computing bids.
AS TO 7V/K FinN CinKF.
The letliement cf Chief ( Jalllgan , after
fully twenty years' hard service , co'm
pels the fire and police commission to
appoint a new fire chief. The council
and business men's committee , which
has had the question of better fire pro
tection In hand , has reached the conclu
slon that the etllclency of the depart
ment will be best promoted by the selection
lection of a chief from among the ox-
perlenced and best disciplined fire de
partment officers In one of the larger
cities. As might have been expected ,
there Is much opposition to the Importa-
'lion of a man from the outside before
the officer next In rank to Chief Onlll-
gan has been given a chance to show
his capacity for running the department.
All things being equal , there Is no doubt
that this should have been the policy
In lllllng the vacancy. There Is a good
deal In holding out the prospect of pro
motion of men from the lowest rung In
the ladder to the top.
As against this view the advocates of
a new man from outside point to the
fact that the Hoard of Education has
Imported superintendents from the out
side every time there has been a vn
cancy , becnuso the position requlros ex
ecutive ability and experience of n high
order , of which no public school man
n Omaha was possessed. It Is also
urged that we cannot afford to take
chances In experimenting. Assuming
that Mr. Baiter Is well qualified to
landle an ordinary fire , It Is urged that
10 lacks executive ability nnd has com-
mrattvcly no knowledge as to the disci *
illne which prevails In the large cities.
There Is much to be said on both sides
of this controversy , and It remains for
the commission to get the best solution
of the problem.
AXOTHKH 1.MIV11TAXT 11ATG CASK'
A rate case of but little less lm
) orlanco than the one which Involved
: ho enforcement of the Nebraska niaxl-
mini freight rate law Is to come up for
tearing next month before the Judges
) f the federal circuit court for the dis-
rlct of southern Ohio. This case turns
lot upon the power of a state loglsla-
tire to enact measures for the control
and regulation of railroads operating
vlthln their jurisdiction , but upon the
correct Interpretation of the1 provisions
of the Interstate commerce act. Com-
ilnlnt secms'to have been made some
nonths ago through Commissioner Iglc-
tart of the Chicago freight bureau that
he merchants of that city were , as com-
mred with New York shippers , being
subjected to flagrant discriminations in
the matter of rateu on goods trans
ited by the southern lines. The Inter
state commerce commissioners listened
o the evidence that was brought before
hem nnd came to the conclusion that
the Chicago merchants were justly en-
Itled to relief. The roads , as was
laturally to have been expected , re
used to obey the order of the commis
sion to reduce rates , and the present
H-oceedlngs have been instituted In ac
cordance with the federal statute to
compel obedience by the railroads. The
suit Is expected to open up the whole
question of the powers of the commis
sioners to enforce their decrees , and
so great Is the Importance attached to
the result that the attorney general has
Migaged ex-Senator Edmunds to appear
for him on behalf of the commissioners
n conjunction with the district attorney
of the district and the attorneys for the
Jhlcago and Cincinnati freight bureaus ,
ivhllo the Interests of the railroads will
of course be looked after by their regu-
arly employed attorneys.
The Southern rate case has more sig
nificance than the particular rates di
rectly affected , although thosa are quite
nomentous enough. It Is asserted that
should the Interstate commission make
good Its claims to the authority exer
cised In making this order the gain in
trade for Chicago would amount to not
less than $15,000,000 annually. Cin
cinnati and the other distributing points
for southern business would make pro
portionate gains and all these gains
would be at the expense of New York ,
which now occupies the point of ad
vantage. We , furthermore , have a
repetition of the cry that should this
case be finally determined adversely to
the Interstate commission that body
may as well disband for all the actual
results that It can accomplish. We have
heard this cry so often In connection
with former rate controversies that we
must be excused for Insisting on ac
cepting It at a discount. The commis
sion will certainly continue operations
whatever the outcome , but Its useful
ness would unquestionably be materi
ally Impaired by a defeat In Its con.
tenllon. The decision will let us know
Just where the interstate commission
stands and at least Indicate the direc
tion further congressional legislation
ought to take , If such legislation Is
necessary.
A TREATY WITH JAPAK.
Japan has assumed a place of unques
tioned prominence among the nations
and It Is obviously her destiny to attain
much greater Importance and Influence.
Already the arbiter In the Orient there
Is every reason to expect that In the
years to come the Island empire will
make itself felt 'over a wider area of
the globe , exerting Influence upon the
affairs of western as well as eastern na
tions. No country has a larger Interest
than the United States In the develop
ment of Japanese power and In the ma
terial progress of the empire. The
American people have peculiar reasons
for sympathizing with the spirit and
alms of the Japanese. The political In
stltutlons of the eastern nation arc to a
large extent fashioned upon ours and
that country has looked to the United
States for precept and example. There
has always been a strong feeling of
friendship between the two countries
and It Is manifestly In the Interest of
both that It be maintained , and if that
be possible , made stronger.
This country was a little slower than
England In negotiating a treaty with
Japan , but the one which has been con
eluded and now awalls ratification by
the senate Is sufficiently timely as well
as highly satisfactory In Its terms. By
It the United States recognizes the posi
tion of Japan among the nations and
accords to her every consideration that
is shown to the most favored natlpns.
The citizen of Japan visiting or residing
In the United States will enjoy equal
privileges and protection with the cltl
zons of any European country. No re
strictions of any kind are Imposed
and no conditions required dlf-
ferent from those In the case of the
people of the most favored nations. In
the matter of commercial relations pro
vision Is made for the utmost reciprocal
freedom consistent with existing laws.
The citizens or subjects of the contract
Ing parties have liberty to come with
their ships and cargoes to all places ,
ports and rivers In the territory of the
other open to foreign commerce , nnd
shall enjoy , respectively , the same treat
ment In matters of commerce and niivl
gallon as native citizens or subjects , or
citizens or subjects of the most favored
nation. All the possessions of citizens
of each of the contracting parties In
the territory of the other shall bo re
spected , and the citizens and subjects of
the contracting parties are to enjoy In
the territory of the other exemption
from all transit duties and a perfect
equality of treatment with native citi
zens or subjects In all that relates to
warehousing , bounties , facilities and
drawbacks. Neither country will make
any discrimination against the other In
the matter of shipping , or , Indeed , In
any other respect. An Important pro
vision of < ( , ' / Jlie\v ( treaty Is that which
says that Uie9 citizens or subjects of
of thc'lliph contracting parties shall
enjoy In thjc' jrrltorleB of the other the
same protwiUtm as native citizens or
subjects lif" regard to patents , trade
marks nnd tclilgns upon fulfillment of
the formallUuH prescribed by the law.
The treaty 1W to go Into operation In
Ttily , lSOO"aui ( | remain In force twelve
years , i f
The friendly1 relations subsisting be
tweon the JJnU'od ' Stntos mill .lapan are
assured continuance , and there Is every
eason to ex3ot ; that the commerce be
tween the t.w countries will steadily In
crease. Wh6ii 'the ' war In which Japan
s engaged Is ended and the government
> f that country can again address Itself
; o the work of material development
.here Is every reason to believe tliat the
inule of the umpire will rapidly expand ,
'omlng ' out of tlio conflict with China
splendidly triumphant , ns It now np-
icars certain .lapnn will do , with all
lor people milted In a patriotic determi
nation to advance along the lines of the
dullest civilization , the Island empire
will make an effort to enlarge Its com
merce , and there can he no doubt that
the effort will bo successful. In that
case the United States ought to secure ,
and probably will , a very gerenous
Rhare of the Increasing Japanese trade.
The market of a country having 50,000-
000 of Industrious , thrifty , progressive
icoplo Is worth looking after , and there
s obvious wisdom In cultivating the
nest Intimate business relations with
such a country.
Chairman Habcock of the republican
congressional campaign committee de-
iles that the committee is advising
would-be contestants for seats In the
lext house of representatives that the
louse will consider all cases of this kind
on their merits , pure and simple. This
lees not mean , however , that the re
publican majority Is going to follow the
example of Its democratic predecessors
n unseating members honestly elected
merely to give their places to partisan
ilalmants. The next house of repre-
sntatlves ought to set a new precedent
> y discouraging contests that are not
supported by reasonable evidence of
fraud or trickery. It Is high time to
stop the practice of stealing congres
sional seats that has so long been In-
trenched In the capltol at Washington.
Old Fort Omaha must by all means
be preserved Intact and set apart to
some public use. When the garrison
shall have been removed to the new
fort below tile city steps must at once
le taken to protect the old fort from
vandalism wptil .such time as the gov-
eminent may cede the property to the
state. This' ' protection will doubtless
have to be [ iroVldcd by the state , and
the subject wllj claim the attention of
the Douglaslvcounty delegation In the
coming legislature. The matter should
be thoroughljr'v'cinvasscd | , nnd not be
permitted to go by default.
Among the lirst things which the state
organization of chiefs of police proposes
to do is to brilis pressure upon the legis
lature to provide : for an Increase In the
salaries of the heads of the police de
partments In'tltles' ' of the first and second
end class , This Is , of course , a laudable
purpose from the standpoint of ( lie men
who hope to profit by such a change In
the law , but the taxpayers In these
towns may insist on having a word or
two to say on the subject The times
are not very propitious for Increasing
the pay of public officers. _
There Is nothing on the statutes or In
the constitution to compel congress to
remain In session until March 4. It can ,
If It wishes , pass the appropriation bills
and then go home without dabbling In
other business , nor would such a lauda
ble determination encounter any objec
tion on the part of the public , while we
are sure the president would soon re
cover from his grief. But , of course ,
congress will do nothing of the kind.
I11K COXUHKSltlOffAL IIOLL CALL.
New York Sun.
"Benton McMIHInl" the house clerk cried ,
"Here I" was the answer loud nnd clear ,
From the lips of the member standing
And "Here ! " was the answer the next re
plied.
"William Springer ! " Then silence fell ;
This time no answer followed the call ;
Only his people had seen him fall.
Killed or wounded they could not tell.
There they stood In the fading1 light ,
These members of congress , with grave ,
dark looks ,
As plain to read aa open books ,
While slowly gathered the shades of night.
The fern on the hlllsldo was splashed with
And down In the corn , where the popples
irrcw ,
Were redder stains than the popples knew ,
And crimson dyed was the river s Hood.
For these men had crossed from the other
Thate'day , all In the face of a Tarlftlo fire
That swept them down In Its terrible Ire ,
And their life-blood went to color the tlue.
"Aleck Dockery ! " Quick there came
Two stalwart members carrying1 In
This one from old Mlzzourn'a din.
Wounded and bleeding , to answer his name.
"James McCreary ! " and he answered
"Here ! "
"Aleck Montgomery ! " no man replied.
From the same state these two ; the sad
winds sighed ,
And a shudder ; cre.pt through those stand-
Ins near.
"William Wilson'then ! n member spoke :
"Wllbon carried our colors. " he wild ;
"Whcro our ensign was shot I left him
dead , , 7
Just after the Pearly wavered nnd broke.
"Close to the white * house his body lies ;
I paused a moment to give him a drink ;
He murmured , tip president's name , I
And death came with It and closed his
eyes. " I > o
" " "Patchings " " "
"Wheclcrl" !
"Crisp ! and
"Crane ! " ll *
And "Hero-replied ! the little band.
"Cockran ! " "Cummlngs ! " Holman ! "
"Hland ! " , ,
But the roll was called on these In vain.
'Twas a dreadful tlilnir , and It cost them
dear ; .1 >
When the company's roll waa called that
nlBht. " '
Of all the host who went Into the fight
Not a handful was left to answer "Herel"
AVIHTUK aiUOKK'S JtltrKLATJUXS.
Fremont Herald ; Why not check up the
books In the ofdco ot the secretary ot
stnto ?
Western Wave ! The auditor of stnto , Hon.
Eugene Moore , Is winning the pi mid ts ot an
appreciative constituency by his fearless ex
posure of reckless and wanton cxpcndlturo
ot public funds by some of ourtocalled hon
est and trusted state officials and legislative
members. Auditor Moore very sensibly
recommends reform In tcvcral Instances
where Is seems to be sadly wanting.
lllalr Pilot : All eyes are now turned
towards the coming session tit the legislature ,
and the people are wondering It there will
bo I as much waste and extravagance as there
has been In the past several cessions. When
It comes to each member using- six jackknives -
knives , two pairs of shears , 118 pencils , six
teen t < penholders , one gallon of Ink nnd nearly
two cuspidors , It seems time to call a halt.
Blair Pilot : U Is well for Nebraska that
one state official has the nerve and Independ
ence to "speak out In meeting. " The report
ot State Auditor Eugene Moore , which ap
pears In full In The Bee , should bo nn eye
opener to the people. They should ndt only
study Its disclosures , but they should Insist
that their members-elect to the legislature
make themselves familiar with It nnd give
heed to Its teachings.
Seward Ileporter : Auditor Moore , In his
report to the governor , shows numerous places
where the money of the state might be han
dled with more care , nnd calls especial at
tention to the expenses of the legislative ses
sion. He has compiled a table ot Incidental
expenses ot the secs'ons ot 1891 nnd 1893 ,
which contains some rather startling facts ,
Dozens of Items are specified In which It
seems that state funds have been recklessly
wasted , and the auditor very properly recom
mends that such matters be held a little more
In check.
York Republican : The biennial report of
Eugene Moore , auditor ot public accounts , dis
closes a 'growing deficiency In the revenues
of the state under our present recklessly
rascally method of assessing property , In
many cases not R per cent of Its actual value.
He points out the rigid economy necessary to
ba practiced In the state Institutions and the
lavish expenditures of legislatures , notably
those of populist persuasion , which crippled
the state Institutions In the name of economy ,
while Indulging In $20 gavels , $18 Ink stands ,
and running up the Incidental and cUrlcal ex
penses for each member to $585 , exclusive of
salary nnd mileage. Reforms are necessary ,
and Mr. Moore knows how to point them
out.
Orand Island Independent : State Auditor
Moore has done a good service to the people ,
drawing In his report attention to the
abominable extravagance of furnishing to the
members of the legislature largo amounts of
"Jack-knives , Inkstands ( some of them at
$18 each ) , gavels at $20 each , safes , stepladders -
ladders , barerls of oil , dictionaries , hammers ,
bolts , boxes of soap , leather valises , rope ,
chains , hinges , plato glass , thermometers ,
mirrors nnd other similar purchases , which
tends to the belief that the public funds are
not being used to the best purposes , and
these seem to bo largely contracted for and
bought prior to the convening of the session
of the legislature and without any special
authority thereof being provided by statute. "
And the auditor might have added that a
great many of these things , If not most of
them , arc carried away ( to use a polite ex
pression ) at the end of the session by many
legislators of a grasping disposition. This
annexation fever our statesmen have prob
ably caught from the great European states
men , who at their pleasure annex whole
countries , doing It though for the benefit of
their country and not for their personal
gain. Our representatives ought to give up
this dirty habit.
Geneva Journal : The worst leak In the
legislative expenses has been In the employ
ment of high-priced clerks , typewriters , proof
readers , etc. Generally not more than half
of these pretend to do much work and often
many of them are utterly Incompetent to
perform the class of work required if they
had the Inclination. A few male hangers-on
get places In payment for political services of
ono kind and another , but a majority of these
Idlers are generally women who are provided
with places without any expectation that
they will perform much labor for the benefit
of the state. This Is n serious thing to say ,
but It Is absolutely true. At every session
there are hard-working. Intelligent and able
women doing the necessary work of the ses
sion as clerks , typewriters , etc. , and a
woman has as much right to work for the
state as anybody , but their presence does not
niter the fact stated above. Now what the
people of Nebraska hope to see this winter
Is a strict compliance with the law prescrib
ing the number of employes and the selec
tion of men and women who are expected to
earn their salaries , and a refusal to purchase
or audit claims for thousands of dollars worth
of stuff that the members cannot possibly
use legitimately as the state's law makers.
So far as this paper Is concerned , It proposes
to Inform Its readers of every deviation from
correct business principles that It learns of.
The j last two sessions were controlled by the
populists , but the politics of the members
should make no difference In the treatment
of the people ) of them , and previous sessions ,
controlled by republicans , were some of them
bad enough In all conscience.
.TEST * 0\tiKX8K.
Slftlngs : It Is common for a man to bring
up his niece , but what do you think of a
fellow who raises his ante ?
Buffalo Courier : Bangs I'd give a good
deal to know how It feels to be drugged
and robbed. Btnthere Why don't you go
nnd get a prescription filled , then ?
Syracuse Post : Voice-at the head of the
stairs George , have you been drinking ?
George No'm. Voice Say chrysanthemum.
George ( silent for a moment ) I'm drunksh ,
my dear !
Boston Courier : New Yorker ( sneerIngly -
Ingly ) I thought you were going to have
nn elevated road In Boston ? Hubb True
Blue We have lots ot them : In fact , every
thing about Boston Is elevated.
Cincinnati Tribune : Mrs. Wlckwlre Do
you know that the doctors say that too con
slant piano practice Is likely to produce
curvature of the spine ? Mr. AVIckwIre I
didn't know It before , but I don't doubt It.
At least. It makes the neighbors get their
backs up.
Syracuse Courier : Mrs. Youngwedln But
George is so good to hl j workmen. Mrs.
Beenthere How do you know ? "Why , he
was talking In his sleep last night , and he
said : 'Jim , I'll ralso you ten ! ' And In
these hard times , toot"
Puck : Mrs. Fidgets O , John , did you
bear the awful thing that happened to that
young man next door who practices on the
llute ? Well , ho was crossing the track of
a trolley car , and O ! It's too horrible to
tell the rest.
Mr. Fidgets ( excitedly ) WhatJ Wasn't he
killed ?
GET A HUSTLE ON.
New York Press
Pluck brings Its. reward ;
Reverses don't kill ;
If fate lilts you hnrd
Strike back with a will ;
Let It do what It can.
Still hold up your chin ,
For the world loves a man
Who never gives In. -
o
Ilurrnh for Jny and fritz.
Kansas City Times ,
The recent election In Nebraska has
brought to the front two statesmen whose
names will go down In history side by side
with such political celebrities ns Port Pli-
mukn nnd Colonel Ratio Hose , In Thurston
county Mel Jay , tha defeated republican
candidate fur the legislature , Is contesting
the election ot Nick Fritz , the successful
democrat. Georgia may have her Pod PIs-
muko und Missouri her Hatlo Hose , but
Thurston county Is satlslled to emblazon
on thn banners of fame her two favorite
sons Mel Jay nnd Nick Fritz.
Hllclc a I'og There.
Indianapolis Journal ,
It Is worth while to note the fact that ,
even with Mr. Bryan for lender , the ma
jority of the Nebraska delegation In the
Tronsmlsslsslppl congress waa opposed to
the free coinage of silver.
Highest of all in Leavening Power. Latest U. S. Gov't Report
Baking
Powder
ABSOLUTELY PURE
ItKl.V fOU THIS Nl'
NebranUan- The mayor Informed
the Ncbraatmn that the city had been paying
out at the rate of $300 to J100 per month for
redef purposes , nnd us winter has hardly
commenced yet It will readily bo seen to
what extent this charity dlspcnilng business
would run before spring If continued. The
people ot this city should come to the
assistance of the council In this matter 10
that a thorough Investigation of the circum
stances of those who have been Rotting
assistance from the city may bo made , and
that the aid extended In the future may bo
given In the right place.
StromsburR Nowa : When the legislature
meets Its first business should be to consider
the means whorcby the farmers of Nebraska
can bo relieved. The crop of the past season
was almost a complete failure all over the
state , and the only thing saved In most cases
was corn stalks , and In many Instance * not
even that , llellcf committees are organized
In all localities and will have plenty to do
this winter. The hardest times will ba next
spring when fodder Is exhausted nnd the
farmer , when he has fed his stock the last
grain In the bin If ho has any or the last
corn stalk and bunch of straw , stands
without means to put In his next crop. The
legislature should Bee ( o It that the farmer
has the means to plant his next year's crop.
The future of the state of Nebraska depends
upon this move.
Qroeley Citizen : Once more wo grow
alarmed at the situation of things In our
county. A long nnd continuous system of
robbery , followed by two partial and ono
entire failure of crops , has mndo things look
very serious to us. The winter Is at hand ,
and the hungry of our county must bo fed
and the poor clothed , With the present
condition of things It seems to us that It
will be a difficult thing to do. The treasury
Is as empty as the farmers' granaries.
Warrants Issued for food and clothing- will
not bring over DO cents on the dollar , or a
man with a $10 order cnn get f5 worth of
goods. If It requires $10,000 to keep the poor
this winter nnd buy seed In the spring It
will cost the county $20,000 and Interest to
pay the same. Now wo do not want to say
to the commissioners , do this or do that ,
for we do not know what Is best , but wo
earnestly ask them to do something that
will save the taxpayers $10,000. Do some
thing with our present Indebtedness If you
can , Float It In some manner and the people
will call you blessed. God knows It will
be hard enough for us to pull through
another year without this great expense
mentioned above ,
Superior Journal : Over the perplexing
question as to what to do to help the destitute
people of our county , the county commission
ers have wisely hit upon the following plan
a plan that Is made possible by the fact that
In the various funds raised from the levy
of 1892 there was some $5,100 unexpended
and lying Idle , subject to draft : They de
cided to expend this sum on ths public high
ways. Each member of the board has super
vision over his respective district. Thevc-rk
Is distributed over the county ns equally as
circumstances will permit , the greater part
being done where people are most In need
ot help. Only such as are sorely In need
of money for the support of their families ,
and who have no other means of gaining1 n
livelihood , are allowed to work. The limit
has been placed at five days to each man ,
except In very extreme cases of poverty.
They will be allowed 25 cents per hour for
man and team. About $2,100 was paid out
at the last session of the board and there
Is cash enough on hand to pay off all the
warrants. This Is a good scheme , as It not
only assists those who sorely need It , but
puts them , not In the position of mendicants ,
but gives them a chance to earn what they
receive. It Is false charity to old any ono
except with work. If the parties are able to
work.
Broken Bow Ilepubllcan : At the recent
meeting ot the county board the members
joined In a petition to the legislature to pass
a law authorizing counties to vote bonds for
relief. This Is a question of great Impor
tance to Ouster county. Without some pro
visions by which farmers can be provided
with feed and seed next spring there can be
but very little farming done In Ouster county.
It Is < stlmated that not more than one
;
farmer out of ten will be able by spring to
provide feed and seed unless some provisions
ate made by which they can purchase the
necessary feed for their teams and seed for
planting on time , and they will be compelled
to go where they can. Wo do not favor
donating the feed and seed to nny , and we
doubt whether there are any who are tax
payers that want to become objects of char
ity to that degree that Ihey would accept
aid from the county as a donation. There
are thousands of good citizens who have
struggled hnrd and In ordinary clrcumstancis
that were well-to-do that have been reduced
to ; want by the past two years of drouth and
:
. the depressed condition of finance. They have
bscn compelled to sell off cattle and horses
for little or nothing. Their hogs , on which
they were calculating to realize , had to bo
sold , while pigs for a song. There Is no one
In shape , as was formerly the case under
days ] of protection and republican rule , that
can sell their seed and feed on credit. The
whole county and everybody has reached
bottom. A very few can provide for them
selves. The state or county has not only
got to provide for a very largo number dur
ing I the winter , but seed and feed will have
to bo furnished for them In the spring. If
they ralso a crop they can repay the county ,
and they and the county will gain by the
transaction. Under the present law bonds
cannot be voted for relief , nnd It will re
quire special legislation before It can be
done.
HINTS fUll LK
Stnnton neglstcr ! The people of Nebrruk *
expect the leglslaturo to pass some kind
of a railroad bill. They should giro in a
law that can bo justly enforced.
O'Neill Sun ! The legislature ought to try
and devlso some method of counting the
ballots * t elections. U Is exasperating to
have to wall for nearly n whole week bJforo
> \c ran halt learn who hns been elected.
Fullcrton News : The Idea ot publishing
the session laws of the legislature In two
newspapers of each county Is being1 strongly
advocated throughout the state. This would
be n good plan to keep the people Informed
on the doings ot the legislature. In no other
way could the same money bo expanded to
do as much good.
Fremont Tribune : Whatever the legisla
ture docs this winter It must always keep
In mind the necessity of strict economy nnil
see to It that If n wise economy makes It *
necessary to raise a larger fund than Is possi
ble under our present revenue law , then the
auditor's suggestion that It bo amended seas
as to provide for a larger fund should ba
heeded. The state should not run In debt.
lilnuoln News : There Is good food for
thought In the very fact that Omaha
proposes to change Its method of assessment"
by assessing all property at about one-halt
Its actual value Instead ot otic-tenth will
compel Lincoln to follow suit. This plan will
reduce the tax rate to 10 mills , and the good
results that will certainty follow should In
duce Lincoln to join hands with Omaha and
secure the benefits at the same time.
Hastings Tribune : It U prob.iblo that the
next Nebraska , legislature will In a measure
restore the bounty upon beet sugar. If so ,
provision should bo made by which the largest
share of the bounty would bo paid to the
farmer who raises the beets. The grow
ing of sugar beets needs more encouragement
than the manufacture of the sugar. The
former Is a comparatively new and experi
mental Industry , while the manufacture ot
beet sugar Is thoroughly understood and Is
no longer an experiment ,
Geneva Journal : Wo hope the legislature
to convene the first of next month will go
at the business ot the session as they would
at their own private business. It Is truly
said that custom makes law In some In
stances , but the custom ot making1 the leglsla
turo a disgrace to the state and to every
principle ot sound business economy should
be abandoned , and the largo republican
majority In the next legislature can firmly
Intrench the republican party In Its control
of the state government by being honest ,
economic nnd sawing wood Instead of playIng -
Ing horse for two-thirds of the session ,
Chadron Signal : This paper cordially seconds
ends the motion of Brother Paradls ot the
Homlngford Outdo for an amendment to
our election laws providing for representa
tion ot all political parties on election
boards. Perhaps the outline of a bill pre
sented two years ago by the Signal will beef
of Interest now. It Is this : Abolish the
election of judges and clerks of election.
Divide the election board as nearly ns pos
sible pro rata among the different parties
according to the average vote at the last
election , requiring a party to vote 20 per
cent of the precinct vote In order to entitle
It to one representative on the election board.
Let the party caucus elect the party repre
sentatives on the election board and certify
them to the county clerk as they do other
nominations.
Grand Island Independent : The members '
of the coming legislature are keeping an eyi )
on the Hall county delegation , regarding any
legislation which may affect the future of
the beet sugar Industry In Nebraska. So
vociferously did the former members of this
county fight measures before the last ) two
legislatures that the remainder of the state
had begun to believe that tugar beet raising
was a fake and all connected with the fac
tory were cut-throats and robbers. The gen
eral Impression eeems to have gone abroad
that In order to victimize the balance of the
state the farmers hereabouts were quietly on
the side paid a little extra to raise beets above
what was paid In other communities , and many
similar and absurd stories have been circu
lated to the detriment of the Industry , which
have placed Hall county In a questionable
attitude as regards Its standing on the sugar
beet question. In Dodge county , where moro
beets have been raised than In any county
not In close proximity to the factory , on en
tirely different sentiment exists. The Stand-
are Cattle company at Ames alone Has had
from 700 to 1,000 acres each year , and1 has
fifty learns at work now In their Immense
fields cultivating the toll and fertilizing1 , pre
paratory for another'season. . It Is also
learned from one of the exchanges that a bill
is being prepared In that county , to ba pre
sented at the next setslon , that will give $1
per ton bounty to the farmer which , with
the $4 per ton the Oxnards are paying1 , would
make the same price as paid last year. How
ever , whllo the Independent Is not Informed , .
as to the attitude of all the members oC the
Hall county contingent In this matter , It Is
to bo hoped that whllo a largo majority of
Hall county's citizens favor encouraging the
farmers In their efforts to permanently estab
lish the beet sugar Industry our senators and
representative * will earnestly support all meas
ures for upbuilding and encouraging an
Industry which promises so great returns for
Grand Island and Hall county.
The ICvll of rniitiirlnl Auctions.
New York World.
The senate resolution In favor of the pop
ular election of senators ought to be called
up and debated with a special view to Iho
prospective sale of senatorshlns In West
Virginia , New Jersey and Delaware. The
senntorshlps belong to the people , and If
they are to be auctioned off the people have
a right to manage the auctions.
"Money's Worth or Money Back , "
Santa's
Watching You.
He's going to wait till you go to sleep Christmas
' Eve , Then he's going to sneak down
the chimney and find your clothes , 7
and if they've got the "B. , K. & Co. "
label on them he will think you are
a pretty good fellow and will pro
ceed at once to fill your old sock
full of snare drums , peanuts , pianos
and houses and lots. Let him see
one of our now overcoats or suits
in your room , They are an orna
ment to any back and it takes as
little as $7.50 to secure either ono
of them.
Little boys , big boys and grown boys all receive
special attention at our hands the largest boys
clothing stock in the west and the choicest goods
all first class in quality , no matter if you pay $2 for
a suit or five times two.
Browning , King & Co. ,
Reliable Clothiers , S. W. Cor. 15th and Douglas.