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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 3, 1895)
THE CXMAIIA DAILY I3EE : MRIDAY , MAY 8 , 1805. 11 JAILED DOWN THE BELL Is getic Rivals Secura a Connection and Do Some Effective Talking. THE TUMBLE IN TELEPHONE RATES nn of Trolley I , Inn nnil Their Kftcct on Htcuni Itonilf I-ORII ! I'liane of tlio industrial Revolution Piuslug of the Hone. Th" expiration of fundamental patents , the declit. n of the circuit court In the Darllner case . . J the moro recent decision of the leder I supreme court In the Bates case wren * . J several vital praps from under the Belt T.jsphone company , and the remit Is alria y manifest In a revision of rates In gene ,1 and a radical reduction In many cities. A f weeks ngo a partial reduction was annou d In Omaha and connected cities , coup , 1 with the cheering Information that the r vis.d rates were granted by the parent company at the urgent retnio.it ot the local ju-itTicnt. [ There Is little doubt that couip i U9I1 prompted the reduction , which is bu n scant fraction ot the cut In rates whlc. . the Dell company has Inaugurated In other r tics where competing companies have eecur I. or arc seeking , business concession ) from Municipal authorities. An effort was made In the New York legls * . tare to pass a bill fixing maximum rates for telephone service throughout the nut" When the bill was Introduced the nnnu.it rates ranged from $18 In towns up to Jl 3 and $200 in New York City and ( Drool , yn. The bill proposed maximum rates rantf ; from $25 to $75 per annum , based on p , ulation , the las > t named figures being for till 3 ot 500,000 and over. The measure was d bated In committee for a month or wore RBI ! was talked to drath , receiving Its qulctjj by an open vote last week. The meas ra was endorsed by thousands of busi ness m n and by all commercial bodies , but their Influence was unable to cope with the oggrc slve forces cf the lobby. Although the b II was killed the agitation taught the tclep1 no corporations a salutary lesson anil InfiiE ' 1 new life and vigor Into the arteries of y Tig rivals. To both agencies may bo nttrlbiled the reduction of rates recently put Into effect In western New York. The old r ta of-$18 per annum Is now $30 , and the r iJenco rate tumbled from $30 to $21. CAMPLES OF CUT RATES. To how what a fall in prices Is going on , ft for more cases may bo cited. In Fort Scotl Kan. , where the Dell rate Is $48 , a rival iompany Is making contracts for $12. In me places the Hell organizations are cvon offering telephone service free of char , o. In Helvlderc , 111. , the Central Union coniji ny ( Hell ) la trying to place new can- tract ? at $18 per annum , with the first year's norvl a free , In order that the new opposi tion cimpany may be crippled. In Dubuque , la. , where several hundred business men liave It Is said , signed contracts to use the Harr'son ' company's telephone for flvo years , the 1 ell company , which has boon exacting n ra'3 of $48 , threatens to furnish service for rcthlng. The electrical Journals report that ths Hell company's minimum rate In FhllaJelphla has been reduced from $120 to $50. The organization of a competing com pany in Pensacola , Fla. , has caused the Dell company to reduce Its rate there from $60 to ? 40. In Nllcs , 0. , competition has reduced the annual charges from $50 to $18. At Ko- Icomo , Ind. , the noli company has reduced Its charges one-half , but a now company , which has 200 subscribers , promises to make rates still lower. The old company In Em- jiorla , Knn. , has made a concession of 25 per cent , but n now company recently organ ized cltcrs much lower rates. The Wiscon sin Telephone company ( Hell ) has deter mined to reduce Its rates In all parts of the stale ( Milwaukee oxceptcd ) by 25 per cent. A reduction of 10 per cent la noted In Lock- port , N. Y. The organization of now com- potlui ? companies of local capitalists In Car- bondals , Pa. ; Laporto. Ind. ; Staunton , Va. ; Sacramento , Cal. ; San Jose , Cal. ; Mo bile , Ala. ; Tampa , Fla. ; Elkln , N , C. ; Shrovcport , La. ; Dalton , Ga. ; Fort Wayne. Ind. ; Canton , O. ; Petersburg , Va. , and Bal timore , Md. , In reported. The Canton com pany Is bound to mnko rates not more than one- ! alt as high as the present rates of the old company. The new organization In Petersburg has fixed Its rate at $21 for busi ness offices and $18 for residences. In Fort Way no the new company starts with 700 cubs rlbcrs and a rate equal to one-half of the old Dull rate. The Harrison company already has ICO local plant i In active operation. In Topeko , Kan. , the eld rates were $18 for business houses nnd ? 3G for residences. The new local cx- chans of the Harrison company made Its rates $36 anil $24. Now the rates of the old exchange In that city have been reduced by the Missouri and Kansas company ( Hell ) to 324 and $18 , and this reduction has been met by tin Harrison exchange. The Missouri and Kancis company cutu Us rates 25 per cent throughout Ita territory , except In Kansas City i.nd St. Joseph. The Central Union com pany ( Dell ) ts reducing rates throughout the Etatc cf Ohio. A new company offers to fur nish K lisas City with telephones at $36 for busln 33 houses and $2i for residences , against the Kill rate of $72 and $60 , respectively. RIVALS MULTIPLYING. The Harrison company Is the most active com ] otltor of the Dell now In the field. Other gigantic combinations of capital threaten to beconio rival factors In the fight. The Standard , If reports are reliable , will com- rnnn-1 Eiifilclent resources to cope with the Dell anywhere. It Is said to have the backIng - Ing pf the Standard Oil company , the Sugar trust , the Pullman company and the wealthy Crocker Interests of California. The strong- lioldi of the Dell for some time to como will bo the largo cities , where It has acquired . valuable franchises nnd exerts such power that rivals will find It extremely difficult to obtain a foothold. Franchises must bo ob tained from city councils , and with the en trenched corporation resisting a grant the applicant will bo obliged to fight and flash its roll from start to finish. Incidentally It may bo eald the outlook Is roseate for alder men. men.THE THE DELL'S UISE AND FALL. It may be doubted If any single enterprise has reached such gigantic proportions In a dozen years as the Hell Telephone company. It cannot be classed In the same category with trusts , many of which surpass It in capitalization. Trusts are combinations of business already established. Tha Dell grow from a patent , an original device , and repre- eents a single Interest built from the ground up. Its present proportions may be gath ered 'rom the statistics presented at the last annual meeting of the company In Iloi , ton. Up to Decembsr last 582,608 InstnimniU were In use , a gain cf 16,015 over the pre vious year , and a gain of 256,932 in ten years. On the first day of January , 1895 , there were S67 exchanges , 572 branch olllcss and S9G.674 miles of wlro In operation In this country alone. Of this amount 232,003 miles of wlro were on poles , 14,525 on build ings , 1.S36 submarine , and 1IS.2S5 under ground. There was expended during the year on extensions and apparatus the sum ot $4.1S8,000. and the total Investment In tele phone property In the United States Is given ttt $77.600,000. Tin high water mark of the company's tiustnsss was reached In 1S93. Since then there has been a marked decline In the re ceipts. The first to cut Into Us Income was the reduction In the rent paid by local ex changes for the use of the transmitter from JC to $1.80. which cost the company $1.000- 000. To show the amount and sources ot the company's Income' for the past two years the following table Is reproduced from the Western Electrician : 1SD3. JS3I Jlentil of telephone * $5.513.711 jtM ! , ! j Plvlt rada . . . . . . . . . . . , . , , , . . . . . . 1,824,431 ) 937 6J7 ix-teirtnrlal ! tines 10S.KI ComnvMlon from telegraph tits- . . Ttral rstuto . , . , . 64.09 ? 6S. 7S . . . . tlltc Igneous . 11,034 MT3 O-ixw earnings J3.7Sl.OTt ; l 8I8.JI2 Expt i , 1.8SJ.5JI l,7.M. < 5'j N.'t earnings U.93MS3 J3.1 3,7U "The Doll company's greed , " says the New York Times , "has overreached Itself. If that organization had been content with the largo Income which reasonable rents for ita Instruments and reasonable rates for erv < * o would liavo yielded upon the Invest ments ot the local exchange ! as well as Us iwn ; It It had not pursued an elaborating jollcy ot high-handed exaction with reipect to both tbo public and the local companies , ind It It hod dpntt fairly with the people In III relations with the patent , ofllce , It could now meet competition with confidence. In- Jecxl , It Is probable that formidable competi tion would not have appeared , and that the original organization would have been per mitted tu remain In practically undlstubcd possession of the field. " Tim ADVANCINQ TROLLEY. The Irrepressible trolley continues pushing Us way Into regions wherein steam has here tofore held undisputed sway. All attempts to check Its strides are lutllo. and tbo man agers of steam roads , which have hitherto enjoyed a profitable monopoly of suburban trainc , are bowing as gracefully as possible to the Inevitable. The New York , New Haven & Hartford railroad , one of the east ern roads most seriously menaced by par allel trolley lines , sought to check their ad vance by appealing to the Connecticut legis lature. In an argument before that body the general manager stated the receipts of the company from travel between given towns fell away from SO to 00 per cent , and unless the legislature restricted the exten sion ot trolley lines the company would be forced into bankruptcy. The legislature was not atfccted by the appeal and agreed to consider applications lor trolley line charters. Now the company proposes equip ping Its local lines with trolley trains , and will meet Us competitors lu their chosen field. field.The New York Central li taking time by the forelock. It has made a scries ot ex psrlmtnts , the result of which Is ths an nouncement that It will equip Its IlufTalo- Nlagara Falls line with trolley trains , the power to be obtained from the Niagara Falls plant. The belt line around Duftalo is to bo operated In the same way. It Is said thai within a year this company will transform most ot Its local lines Into trolley roads The contemplated changes will throw out o employment a considerable number of train hands , but there will bo a correipondlng In crease In motormen and conductors , more trains ' and a reduction In cost of transports tlon. tlon.Not Not the least Instructive feature of thli mighty Industrial revolution Is Its legal as pect. The Pennsylvania supreme court , In a recent decision , held In effect that , when trolley roads extend beyond the boundary of a town or city , they lose their charade as street roads , while at the same time they assume none of the functions and power , veiled In the ordinary steam roads. PASSING OF THE HOUSE. A prominent electric company has col ected seme startling figures , which shov ho almost Incalculable Influence of the In reduction ot the electric car , taken merely Hi Its one basis of replacing the horse for ractlon purposes. It Is estimated that elec- rlo cars hive already displaced 1.100.00C .orses . , and this estimate Is manifestly fa iclow the actual number. The feeding o hese horses would entail the consumption o ; 00.000 bushels of corn or oats a day. Th nlnials are now back on grass , and th normous decrease In corn and oats con umptlon caused by their withdrawal Is sut- dent to appreciably affect the prlcc-s o , heso grains. In round figures , It amounts o 150,000,000 bushels a year. There Is an ther view ot this subject , tha significance t which will ba probably more apparent 'ew ' years hence than It Is even now. Th oss of commercial demand for these coars grains In the clt' s means an enormous de rcase in the tonnage of the railroad frelgli rafilc. This failure Is already put at minimum , of 250,000 carloads. Hut It Is no nly In public trafllc that the day of th norse is waning. In son-o cities the elcc rlc car lines have been so Judiciously dls .rlbuted , and give such excellent service , tha many private families have given up thel : arrlage3 , and use the electric cars Instead n many places the business of the livery man Is practically ruined by the electric car , nd , as at Niagara Falls , the formerly arro gant and extortionate hackman has beconi a comparatively civil and temporizlntr Indl Idual. The electric car and the blcycl ave sounded the knell of the horse as lommerclal factor. IN CIVILIZED AFRICA. Glimpses nt I.lfo la itmt About tlie Tonri of JohaniKMburjr. William Dooth , a former resident of Wy imlng , furnishes the Laramle Doomerang a nterestlng sketch of life In ths southern sec ion of the Dark continent. Writing fron ohannesburg , he says : The natives are the greatest source of In ercst to a foreigner In Africa. Their man ner of living , habits and customs have bee great source of Interest and study to m since I have been in thl } country. Tha first Eight that greets you at Cape Town Is the negro. All the dock labor Is naIve - Ivo labor. Not a white laborer Is to be seen i\s scon as the steamer Is made fast to the : andlng the negroes commence to load the boat with coal , even before the passengers are allowed to land they commence to fill the boat with coal , which they carry on their backs in bags , and they go In a continual string , one- after another , Jabbering away In their own language. The majority of them wear nothing but a coffee sack with holes cut for the head and arms. This , the first sight of Africa , gives you a very poor Impresson of the country , and coming up country from Capa Town to Johannesbug the only sights that you see worth mentioning are the native villages , Hocks of ostriches and herds of sheep and goats. The only city of any size you pasa through Is Hloomfontaln , the capital ot the Orange Free SJate. Here you see hundreds of natives , but as soon as you reach Johannes burg you see them by the thousands , and the natives here are the most ImlepenJcut people In the world. There are more natlve-s In and around Johannesburg than there are whites. This mine employes between 1S)0 ) and 2.COO. They are paid from 3 to f5 piT month and "coff" furnished. Doard la called "caft" in this country , but the company fur nishes the natives only corn meal , That Is what they live on. They areas a rule , healthy , and the majority of the men have as line physiques as I have over seen. They wear but very little clothing and nothing on the head cr fe t. I will not try to de scribe their clothing , for In most cases there Is none to describe. They no\er come to the mines to work except when they want to buy a wife. They cannot get a wife unless they buy one , and they can have aa many as they want If they have money to buy them. They are the only race ot people In the world , I think , who can work three months and rest nine , and after they get a certan num ber ot wives they never work. They have no established currency. Their wealth consists of live stock and poultry , and some of the-m are well-to-do , and all of them have pi nty to eat. Con that ba said of the white race ? This brings me to the subject of foreign missions to Africa. The employers of native labor do not want a christianized nation. Most every one would ask the reason why. Simply because he Is no good to himself or any one else > . Ninety per cent of the native criminals of Africa are said to be natives who have been christianized , I saw moro actual poverty In traveling from Wyoming to New York City than I have ever seen In this country. All the poverty I have e-ver seen In this country was among the whites and not among the natives. This govtrnmcnt U on the eve of having war with a tribe called the Swazles , who are a very warlike and barbarous trlbf. The Portugueie are at war with a tribe on the east coast , two days' travel from here by rail , near the town of Laurenz , but the na tives htro are like the American Indian , they will have to give way to the advance ment of civilization , and I think the ad vancement of civilization In this country will accomplish more than all the Christian missionaries who have been sent over here or ever will be cent here. bliot mi a Killed Her Stepdaughter. PEHRY , Okl. , May ! , Mrs. Zo9 Larh. wife of a prominent and wealthy farmer at Still- water , Okl , , shot and killed her stepdaughter , Mrs. MacIIenry , The women quarreled Tuesday and the daughter left the house. When the returned she was met at the door by Mrs. Larh , who told her If she came In she would kill her. Mrs. MacIIenry turned around to leave , but Mrs. Larh mistook her motion and thought she was entering the door. She thot her Just above the heart. Mrs. Larh gave herself up. There U some talk ot mob law. REAL ESTATE FORECLOSURES Argument Against Legality of Appraise ments Based on Tempcraiy Value. ORIGINAL VALUE THE TRUE CRITERION Mortgagee Protected bj Tower to foreclose t Two-Thirds of Heal Value Any Ho- dnctton from Hnnl Times Vnlno Would Ha Legalized Ilolilicry. It Is a notorious fact tliat loan companies require written applications for loans with out any exceptions. The ngent of the company and the ap plicant agree upon the value ot the property ffered as security , \\hlch ralue la to be etermlned by too disinterested appraisers ho are residents of the locality. The company then In the duo course of me offers to loan. 40 per cent of the valua- on of the security. In many cases they educe the amount because they feel that m valuation Is a little too high. In every are , however , there Is a common under- landing , If not ati express agreement , of definite valuation , ot the land which Is 'ar ' In excess ot the amount of the loan made. The money advanced Is notoriously nd universally loaned at not exceeding 40 ier cent of this agreed valuation. Let us Inquire what arc the conditions of ho mortgage securing this loan. The agreement and conditions In a mort- ; aga are made In contemplation of exlst- ng laws. It Is unnecessary to embody ny condition In this contract , which Is irovlded by law shall In every case be a omlitlon. These statutory conditions arc therefore .list as prominent conditions of the mort gage as It they wcro printed In the Instru- uent. The mortgage Itself provides that f the Interest Is not promptly paid when lue and If the principal Is not paid at ma- urlty the morgage deed shall become an bsoluto deed. The further conditions of every mortgage ; ontalncd In the statute and upon which very mortgagee relies at tlmo of executing his mortgage are that If default should be made In the payment of the debt secured hereby the mortgagee may nio a pe- lllon , and upon proof of such do- 'nult ' cbtaln a decree for the sale of ; uch land. That In case of any misfortune ho mortgagor might avail himself of a stay tf nine months. If at the expiration , of this line the debt cannot be paid the contract ilso prlvldes that bcforo the sale can be naile the land must bo appraised at its real value not temporary value not Its Iran- lent value but the language Is Its real . alue. That value Is not meant to ba the most money that could bo gotten out of It ivlthtn a few months , because the statute hews the negative ot this. The law pro- Ides that after thirty days of the mott .lubllc notice that could bo given , the land must bs offered for sale at the most public place In the county seat , and cannot be sold tor less than two-thirds of Its real value , ivhlch Is stated to be the same as Its ap praised value. In the light of this law U It possible for a court to hold that land may be appraised at merely what money can bo realized from Its sale ? THE LAW SPECIFIC. How can that be true when the statutes say that although the land Is publicly ad vertised and sold at the highest price ob- alnable the sale shall not bo confirmed un- esa the amount bid shall ba at least two- hlrds ot Its real value. The mortgagor relied upon these conditions , jellcvlng that If ho could not pay his debt at maturity ho might avail himself of a nine months' stay , and believing' that at the ex piration ot this time the mortgagee might sell the property at not less than the enor mous discount of 33V5 per cent upon its value In order to ralso the money due ; or the mort gagee might bid In the property and take it at this discount , but not rob a man by tak ing It below that price. That Is what It shows. That Is the plain meaning of the conditions of a mortgage , and every mort gagor Is warranted In believing as I have suggested. How can a court conscientiously permit ap praisers to value land at Just what It will sell for In such a depressing season as the cue through which we are passing , when the stat ute provides that tne value shall not be based upon what the property will eell for , and puts the minimum price , which , of course , Is the highest bid , at two-thirds ot the value of the land offereJT Does the statute say at what tlmo this value should be found as exist ing ? No , It does not. Therefore I maintain In the light of all reasoning and the- general law of contracts that such value should be determined , as It existed when the agreement wan entered Into when the contract or mort gage was made. MORTGAGE A CONDITIONAL SALE. The mortgage transaction being a'condi tional sale , should be- treated as any other conditional sale , with due respect for all of the conditions therein contained. The conJl- tlons are not "It the money cannot be paid the grantea may take the property at Its value , " but the conditions are "that If the money cannot be paid the grantea may take the- property at a discount of one-third Its value. " This provision did not spring up for the first tlmo when a petition to foreclose waa filed , but It was a condition from the mlnuto the mortgage was signed. The word "value" used then was certainly In the pres ent tense. It expressed an existing condition. It It was meant to express a future condition It would hcvo been necessary to have quali fied the word "value" with another word era a phrase. In conversation , If we speak of the value of a piece of property , we mean what It Is worth at the time wo are t'pealc- Int , ' , and not what it might be worth In the future , In case of a boom or In case we should be successlvaly plagued with hot winds , grass hoppers and hailstorms. If the government should have Issued $500- 000,000 of bonds , payable In fifty years , it would have been an agreement to pay the article In the form known as a dollar at the tlmo the agreement was made * , and not what the nama "dollar" might signify at the ex piration ot fifty years. At that time so ma other name might be used to signify what the nama dollar now signifies , and the name "dollar" may be provided by law to designate * bookmarks. Fifty years from now the use ot gold and silver 0.3 money might be abandoned and tba most wildcat paper imaginable bo adopted by the government. If such bonds had been Is sued and sold for value and the wildcat money should ba substituted by law for the present dollar , would not these shylocks - locks rail against such acts ot repudiation ? Would there pot be some cause tor protest upon their part ? They would say we did not understand that we were to take any of your future dollars , but we gave you value upon your promise to return dollars of a substance and form described as a dollar by the law at the tlmo we mads our agreement. So also I contend that the definition of the word "value" used In the present tense at the tlmo when the mortgage contract was entered Into means to convey the sense that It the mortgagor cannot pay "tho debt In specie the mortgagee may sell the prop erty to realize the money. The provision to sell It , not merely for what It Is worth and apply the money to the extinguishment of the debt , but sell It even at a third less than what It Is worth. The existing valiw Is the only value meant by the word. Any future value did not cxlat , and was not known and should not have been spoken of as In the present tons : ) . The value several years hence was purely speculative a. fic tion. tion.The The value meant Is most certainly that which existed at the time the contract was entered Into when the loan company requires the borrower to make application In writing wherein two disinterested ap praisers fix the value under oath ; and when the loan company accepts Uie application and examines this appraisement and the land lUelf to see that this value Is correct before they advance the loan. RFA'nusiNG Tun CASE. When mortgages are made would the mort gagors have consented to have sold their mortgaged lands for merely the amount of money borrowed upcn them ? Never. He- cauie the property was worth moro. Would the loan companies have loaned what they did upon the security If they did not believe the property to be worth jnore than the sum advanced ? No. sir. Doth parties understood and as explained expressly agreed upon an ippralaed value , which wai accepted as satis factory ; therefore that value must control. The supreme court of this state has held that the appraisement Is not jurlsdlctlonal nnd also that It can be waived. Therefore I maintain If the appraisement at the partic ular time can be waived by not taking ad vantage of It before the confirmation of sale It can be waived by the .parties who make the agreement , especially when the agree ment upon what the real vfiluo. Is , at the time of making the loan. Is found at that time. Men can agree upon the full value and consideration , tor the sale ot real estate and make 'a valid sale and transfer ot It. They can make a valid agreement to sell nnd upen the future pay ment of a certain agreed , valuation of such land. So also can they agree In a mortgage as to what should bo the lowest value n mortgaged plcco of land could be sold for at I the foreclosure , and obtain the enforcement . ot such condition In an action to foreclose. ! In the same manner men can agree what the real value of land mortgaged Is , and that the sale upon foreclosure shall not be loss than two-thirds ot this agreed value. Such are the conditions partly agreed to and partly provided by statute. The only reason the value of real cst&te. agreed upon at the time ot the execution of the mortgage , can bo changed Is on account of fraud , accident or mistake. I maintain that our statute requires the mortgagee to assume a part ot the hazard ot panics. n fact , It operates as a check to the great ' multaneous scramble for money that often tries results as disastrously to society as scramble for exit Is ruinous for the occu- ants of a burning theater. It Is the heavy nd of the burden to compel the debtor to ese one-third of the value ot his land in rder to pay a debt contracted on the trength ot certain existing values upon which : iey both relied. Therefore , creditors In No- raska during temporary depression should a content to wait until a part of the money 1,1 Id follow creditors can bo earned back or iorrowcd back ncaln to pay the rest , and ot bo permitted to demand what the court mist recognize cannot bo obtained to pay , r else compel the creditor to take the prop- rty Itself at not less than a ruinous dls- iount of 3314 per cent , which the debtor must sacrifice because the money Is with- eld. eld.Henc Henc ? the leg'slators made the wise p-c- Islons that exist upon our statute and only eed be * enforced to grant rel'ef to the lumerous debtors of this state and absolute ustlce to the creditors. The statute also provides that If no one bid at , such a sale nd the order of sale Is returned not sold for kvant of bidders , at any subsequent time a lew order of sale and appraisement can be had. Search through the whole statute and > -ou will not find a , single word , phrase or lenience used to show that this subsequent ippralsement should be at any less than the 'eal ' value. INTENT OP THE LAW. The natural presumption Is that Und should n ordinary times sail at the enormous dis count of a third of lts valce ; and If It does not a mistake In the appraisement might have ben made. Therefore , after the second end advertisement , a new appraisement at ts real value can bo had. In many cases of uucontested foreclosures n ordinary time we have setn the neces sity of such a provision , but now , when lanl s not sold for money In one case out ot en , but simply taken at two-thirds ot the average conscience ot the mortgagees , no one could contend that the mortgagees who are bidding ; In such property , even at prices far below what was paid for the Improve ments , are swindling themselves. Yet , It hese mortgagees did not bid , but forcsd all property to sell fcr money , how low would the modern appraisers estimate the value of property ? , This Is a very simple question upon the construction of a contract , upon th& mean- ng of certain sentences of the English lan guage. No matter how Intricate the law may sometimes be , the law of this class of cases Is to carry out the meaning of the mortgage contracts. I submit that a fair and just Interpretation of these conditions were that the value meant s that value existing at the time the mort gage was rrade ; that when that value la fixed by the mortgagor and mortgagee at the line the mortgage was made no appraise ment Is necessary ; ' and that upon .such showing the courts should not confirm any sale for Isss than two-thirds of such agreed or existing value. ' Some may contend that although the con tract means as Interpreted the law of pre cedent should not bo violated. I maintain that we have no precedent for these out rageous practices ot low appraisements In modern foreclosures. In normal times land ; ias generally been abcut the same value at both the date and maturity of mortgage debts , and has always sold at more than two- hlrds of Its real or appraised value , and mora than two-thirds of its value at the date or maturity of the mortgage debt. It ias never been necessary to raise this ques tion before , and the courts have no pre cedent whatever but the one they are at this noment making , which , In the name of jus tice , should be stopped before It can become respsctable solely by the white hairs of age. Th ? history of all progress Is the. breaking of unjust precedents. Precedent should not be a perpetual bar when riper judgment knocks at the door of justice. JOHN O. YEISER. FEMININE GOSSIP. An Ingenious bride has evolved a happy scheme for keeping her husband true to the piotestatlons ot his wooing. The engage ment was a long one , the love letters ex changed legion. With the envelopes of these letters she has papered their rooms , and finished the unique decorative scheme with a frieze o ! ink-stained blotting paper. No man could. In the face of such nvldenco of eternal devotion , bo such a monster &s to get Into a rage because his divinity had paid $30 for a bonnet , or Invited her mother to spend the winter with them. How could he scold about the butcher's bill , cr be sulky even If she did give his winter flannels to the old-clothes man , or put her poodle to sleep In his Sundiy hat , or cried because he stayed at the club and for got to come In until midnight , as In his bachelor days ? The Joy ot the latter day girl of Inde pendent typo Is her ability to travel alone or with companions cf her own age and sex without an approach to an unpleasant ad venture r.r an unfavorable comment. Not a few girl bachelors of limited Incomes look forward to their annual Jaunt to Europe with no less assurance and often far greater pleasure than their luxurious society slbter.i IJy a little forethought and management $150 may bo made to pay all the expenses of a six weeks' vacation on foreign shores. In cluding passage both ways. Of course , traveling about cannot be In dulged in , but the. girl tonrlst'may go to one of the charming Scotch or Irish lakes , or If she prefers , to London or , Parjs , and , which ever she chooses , be made thoroughly comfort able for her money. To begin with she must not expect to sail on on * of the fashionable "llnera" unless she goes 'secohJ ' class , which Is repellant to her sentiment. however desira ble It may be otherwise ? Butt there Is a line of freight transportation I'teamers which are prepared to accommodate a few passengers , and excellently prepared , too. The state rooms are much larger than on the regular big passenger steanrshlps , and the table Is good enough for anybody. The round trip ticket Is only $70. This leaves $80 for the sojourn. N'ne d It F4 a week so , s3y thc J who krow by experience will provide i > girl traveler with excellent boird and 'lodging * In a thor oughly respectable neighborhood , and she will have $20 margin for cab tares , laundry work , etc. The vexed question , whether beauties make good wives , deserves a word of notice. Whlla great personal attractions do not , as a rule , tend to ollmulate the purely domestic side of the character , there are to many Instances of pretty women becoming models of wifely per fection that It would be obviously unjust to Insist upon too close a connection between good looks and bad household management. Still , a girl accustomed to the deference and adulation which beauty everywhere commands la liable to find the dutle-s of family life some what Irksome , If not actually distasteful , mora especially If the means of her husband forbid and deprive her of those opportunities of social success to which , perhaps , she has been accustomed. The audiences of the Swalm Vlnekananda , the handsome young Hindoo , whoso visit to the authoress , Kato Sanborn , Is BO amus ingly described In her boolc , "Abandonlns an Adopted Farm , " and who Is just now giving a course of lectures In New York , are composed largely ot women. Tba lee- ures , on such serious subjects as "Tho DCS- tilDi ot the Soul , " "Our Isolations with the Jcpartcd" and "Tho Kellslona of India , " ire delivered In native costume , consisting otal n long , brilliant orange garment tied ibout the waist with a red sash. A striped illk turban ts knotted about the head of sith ho speaker , who , with his clear skin , ibout us dark as that of an Italian , nnd his arge , lustrous , black eycti. looks like some orclgn bird ot brilliant plumage , and inuny of the ladles who listen to hta lectures lulto openly admire uiul flatter Mm , as It 10oro a phenomenally handsome and prt i : oclous child , Others hang upon his words ' vlth the most obvious reverence and alien- i Ion. How nil this strikes the young Orl- mtat philosopher Is n matter of conjecture , I since ho Is a pattern ot discretion In his be- mvlor , and Is Impartially courteous to all. [ hit ) It ho doesn't go homo to India with .vliat Is vulgarly known as a "swelled head" ind a higher opinion oven than that of Max O'Uell ot American women It will be be- : auso his head la singularly level. Mr. Healey , the ortljt , was a man ot ex- cellenl tact , as shown by the following In cident : A young woman one ? came to his studio with her face so covered with paint and powder that every characteristic line was obliterated. He was , of course. In a dilemma. Ho could not order the girl to go and wash her face ; ho would lose his com mission , and he was too polite a gentleman. Ho I could not lay the same paint on canvas that there was on her f.icc ; It would not be satisfactory to the family.When the sketch was lined In he rose from his seat , sat down bsslde his subject and kindly asked her If she was feeling as well as unul. Surprised , of course , she replied that she was. "Out , Miss J . you walked from your hotel , did you not ? " "Yes. " "And you came hurriedly up stairs without stopping to rest ? " "Why , yes. of course. " "Ah. yes. Miss J , but , you see , though you may not ba feverish , you have exerted yourself to severely that there Is so much color In your face that I fear It would mislead - load me. Now , tomorrow , If you would be so good , plcaso bathe jour cheeks In cool water the last thing , come In a close car riage , and Btop and re t yourzelf upon the cola you will find on each lan.llng. If you do that I am sure \\o shall have no more trouble. " Tie faint flush en her check when she came the next day was perfectly natural , and did not at all retard the picture. "I am Impressed , " said a woman recently , "with the fact that a taste for and facility at card playing , cultivated early In life , Is a valuable possession and resource against the monotony of My father and mother , after busy lives , the one at his office , the other looking after a large family , never found leisure or Inclination to become Interested In any games of cards. Now. In an empty house from which every son and daughter has gone , except for temporary visits from tlmo to time at the old homestead , they pasa their days In peace ful but often lonely and monotonous quiet. Heading palls after awhile , and I have wished again nnd again that they had the resource of cards. I have tried to interest them In crlbbage , bczique or casino , but find that tliey have no liking for any games , having passed the responsive years. One enjoys cards as one Is skillful at the games played with them. If I had children I should see that they learned to play cards , and In par ticular became adepts In several varieties of solitaire , than which nothing , to my mind , Is moro restful or diverting. " The latest buttons to be worn In the front box-plait ot shirt waists , like studs , are ot white enamel , Imitating pique , covered with tiny colored dots , pink , blue , red , black , etc. Palo yellow chiffon and bands and cascades of Jet are used as trimming on several beau tiful Imported brown crepon gowns. The chiffon Is put on In front In Fedora effect and the jet falls over It. The newest cotton shirt waists have the high , two-button turnover collar , generally of n ctilor contrasting with the waist portion. Light green and brown , pink and lavender are some of the favored combinations of color. The spangle craze Is as universal as ever , and row that spangles and paillettes can bs bought by the pound. It la tolerably certain that they have reached the height of their favor. Still they are not likely to pass out of fashion for a season or two to come. THE COST OF WARS. Tlmt of Jnpnn anil Uhlut a Unsls of Tutoro Calculation. A retired army officer In New York has collected Important data on the cost of modern wars , and makes some Instructive comparisons with the cost of the Japan- China war now drawing to a close. Accepting the obtainable figures of cx- per.EH and losses on both sides as approx- mately correct , he has arrived at the- con clusion that in modern warfare there Is a steady decrease In the number of men killed n proportion to those engaged , and a very argo Increase In the money cost to the na- .lons invclvcd. Assuming that Japan will exact a largo Indemnity from China as the price of peace , the total cost of the war to the two nations Involved vrlll be larger In proportion la the number of men actually Migaged In hostilities than that of any other war of ancient or modern times , while , If the cabled reporto of the loss of life are any where near conect , the numbar killed in pro portion to those who went Into battles will bo much smaller. The struggle between Japan and China Is the tenth important war In thirty years , and when peace has been conclu-Jcd It Is probable that all the European powers will study the cost and result very carefully as a basis for calculation In the future. According to the most reliable figures obtainable , the wars of the past thirty-five years , not counting tha present struggle m the far east , cost 2,250- 000 lives and the enormous sum. ot $11,000- OOJ.OOO In money. This estimate of the cost does not take Into account the damage to commerce and other private losses , but only the sums pild out by the varlouo nations In volved In maintaining armies and navies and raying Indemnities. The Italian war ot 1S50 Is not at this late date ranked as very much of a struggle , yet It cost $300,000,000. The Crimean war was the bloodiest struggle ot modern times , and also n very expensive one. Very few battl& < were fought , but the total loss of life. countIng - Ing all those who died of wounds or sickness , aj well as those killed In battle , was 750,000 , or only 50,000 less than the loss of life on bath sides during the war ot the rebellion. The cost In money ot the struggle was $2,000- 000.000. The Franco-Prussian war cost France the enormous sum of $3,500,000.000. The French armies loot In killed and deaths from other causes , 155.000 men , while their sick and wounded numbered 477,421. During the same struggle the Germans , according to their own reccnU , lost CO.OOO men on the field and In tilt- hospitals , while the money expended ex ceeded by $600,000,000 the Indemnity ot $1.- 003.000,000 paid by France. During the Uusso-Turklsh war 250,000 men were killed In battle or died of wounds or sickness. JuJgcJ by modern standards , how- eve.1 , It wau a cheap war. It cost only $123.- 000,000. The war between Prussia and Austria In ISCfl cost $330OuO,000 and 45,000 llve.s. The Servo-Bulgarian war cost $170,000.000 ; the Afghan war $18,250,000. and the South African wars $8,770,000. There are no ac curate records ot the total number ot lives lost In these struggles , but the number killed was less In proportion than In most of the other modern wars. It ocst the United States $5,100,000,000 to put down the rebellion , and the southern states spent $2,300,000.000 In the hopeless struggle for a separate government. Tha lives lost on both sides foot up the enormous total of 00,000 , counting or estimating the deaths from all causes. These figures of the cost of wars show only the money expended by the various na tions while war was actually In progress and the indemnities paid afterward. They do not Include the cost of maintaining standing armies , building navies or any other expense Incurred In time of peace In preparing for war. If the cost of standing armies and navies , fortifications and all the other ex penses ot preparation were Included the ag gregate ot the cost of the wars of the past thirty-five years would probably be doubled. Karl's Clover Hoot wll purify your blood , clear your complex ! n , regulate your bowels and make your head clear aa a bell ; 25c , SOc and $1.00. ' < ' The Boston Store sold moro Furniture on May 1st than all the other stores combined. The Bank rupt Sale of Hoilow.iy Smith's creeds will continue until all arc sold- Many took advantage yesterday of the rare bargains offered- You cannot afford to miss this opportunity if you wish anything for your house Think of these Prices on Furniture : HOLLOWAY SMITH'S SALE IMUOK. Combination Hookcnsos $10.00. . . . B 4,90 Combination Hookeasos IlS.OO. . . . 13.08- Library Hookoasos 18.00. . . . 0-00 Combination Desk and Hookcase. S.no. . . . 3,78 Open llookcnse , with roil 7.00. . . . 3,00 Cane scat Hookers antlo.no llnlsh. . Sl.OO .8f Cam * seat Hookers , antin.no llnlsh. t.tX ) . 1.58 I'lush seat Hookers , aiitliitie llnlsh. 11.00. 2.78 Plush seat Hookers , autliiuo llnlsh. S.tX ) . a.48 Hattan Hookers fi.OO . l..iS Hatan Hookers 11.00. 3.04 Oak Parlor Desks .r.o. 3.48 Oak mahogany Parlor Desk lt0 ! 5. 0 Antliuo ( Wardrobes 11.50 4-87 Folding Hods , < nmrtored oak -I. . ( K ) 20 OO Folding Hods , mantel fniiit. . . . M 12:1.00 : 8-04 Oak Ollloe Desfca a..OO 14-70 Oak Dining Tables D.OO 3.-00 Oak Dining Tables t'J.OO 490 Plush covered Hod Lounges. . . . 11M10 0. 4 Quartered oak Hed Hoom Suits . * . ( ) 42-00 Quartered oak Hed Hoom Suits Sd.OO 38.00 Oak and curly birch Hod Hoom . % . - Suits ( M.OO 29.00 Oak and birch Hed Hoom Suits. . . 'i : > .00 22.00 Child's Hods IL'.OO 4.20 Oak Sideboards Uo.OU 10-80 The Best Goods and the choice of the stock is going off rapidly and yon will be too late if yon don't conie early and get the first chance. Sale only a tew days. OK OMAHA. INCANDESCES1 HOT A DARK ELECTRIC LIGHTS OFFICE ROOM VENTILATION , ANY FART OF THE NIGHT AND DAY ELEVATOR BUILDING. The Bee SERVICE Building. DIRECTORY OF OCCUPANTS. BASEMENT PIOOK. DKI3 nUILDINC ! lUnnnil SHOP , Fred , II. W. COWDUROY , Buffet. lluelow , Propi letor. It. K. CAMIMJISLL , Court liotunda , Clgan PIUKL1TY TItUST COMPANY , llorteago nnd Tobacco. IxMns. THR OMAHA LOAN AND HUILDINa WYCKOPP , SHAMANS & UENEDICT , ASSOCIATION , G. M. Nattlnger , Secre- IlemlnKton Typewriters anil Supplies. FOXIEST TION. LAWN CUMKTJXIY ASSOCIA MU'IMJAL LOAN AND BUILDING ASSO. FIHST FLOOU. DEO BUSINESS OFFICE. MIIS. A. S. CONVCnsn. Beauty Cultur AMKIUCANVATKUWOUKS COMPANY. Hoom. SUIM4UINTI5NDKNT Hl-B UUILUINU. C. U. ALLRN. Clerk Alpha Camp , No. L WKSTEUN UNION TKL13UHAPH OF \Voodmen _ of the World. FICE. Agent Fort Wayne Y. W. CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION. SECOiND FLOOU. MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE IN- Bit sfssisa jjgg di r1- SU11ANCK COMPANY. HARTMAN & ROIHUNS. C. S. KLGUTTlSn. Law Oillce. ' " HARTMAN , Inspector Fire Ii. . _ CHRISTIAN SCIENCE HEADINQ ' KK INSUUANCE SO- HOOMS. riBTY111'13 - J. W. SOUIHE. Loans. READ & BKCKET , Attorneys. QEOItat ! E. TUUKINOTON , Attorncy-at- P. F. EKENBKRO , Fresco Painter , Luw. TUIHD FLOOH. MJJS 1 t W. A. WEBSTER , Real Estate. EQUTY COURT , Itoom No. C. HUGH MURI'HY , Contractor. J. A. WAKEFIELD. Luinbor It. W. PATRICK. Law Oillce. PHOVIUENT HAVINC38 LIFE ASSUR. UNITED STATES LIFE INSURANCE CO. ANCE SOCIETY OF NEW YO1ASSUR. UR. O. S. HOFFMAN. - M. R. TRAUERMAN. Attorney. AND EQUITY COURT , Rooms No. 0 nnd 7. U. W. SIMERAL , WM .SIMERAL , Law OMAHA LIFE ASSOCIATION VIAVI Oflices. COMPANY LIFE AND TRUST COM. FOURTH FLOOR. NASON & NASON , Dentists. STEARNS FRUIT LAND GALURAITH & QELLER. Brokers. DR. HANCHET. PACIFIC LAND CO. , Portland , Oiegon. DEXTER L , THOMAB , ' * - * < * * * 4i .4ivv.ti4\r ) Real l niilLi ? C. E. ALLEN , Alpha Council No. 1 Wood DR. EMMA J. DAVIES. Homconath man of the World , NNKCTICUT ! MUTUAL LIFli INSUIt. PACIFIC MUTUAL LIFB AND ACCIDENT - ANCE CO. DENT INSURANCE CO. I'ENN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCR fO WEBSTER , HOWARD & CO. . Fire In HARRIS TITLE AND 1NIJBMN1TY CO surance. A. M. HOPKINS. Court 8tenol DhefL J. L BLACK , Civil Engineer. EDWARD L.- and U. W. SUES & CO , SollcltoM of Patents. Ioan . STANDARD ACCIDENT INSURANCE CHARLES L THOMAS , Real Estate CO. , Percy B. Ford. Agent. LINI ) BROTHERS , Tailors. 3lalc' OMO1LV COAL EXCHANGE. WASHINGTON L1FU INSURANCE CO. , New York. FIFTH FLOOU. ARMY irnADQUARTERS.DEPAUTMENT OF THE PLATTE. SIXTH FLOOU. BATES & SMITH , Mortgages and Loana. 1 STATE MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO , BEE EDITORIAL ROOMS. Worcester , Mass. Frank E. Hartlgati , Gen BEE COMPOSING ROOM. eral Agent. C. F. BniNDORFF , Architect. AND U. 8. GOVERNMENT. PRINTING OFFICE EVKNTH FLOOH. HOYAL AXICANUM LODGE ROOM3 ,
